http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/12/happy-holidays-happy-new-year.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=happy-holidays-happy-new-year

http://www.designspongeonline.com/?p=40442

ac and i are settling in down south to celebrate the holidays so i’m it’s about time to close up shop here at d*s for the holiday break. each year i give our hard-working editors a week-long break between christmas and new year’s eve, so we’ll be taking a winter blogging break between today and january. we’ll return on january 4th with regular posting and a brand new d*s desktop calendar for january from artist julia rothman!

there’s so much excitement going on for 2010 (a layout redesign for d*s, the d*s book, new columns, biz ladies tours, and more!) that i can’t wait to hit the ground running. until then, i wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for your support this year. you guys are the reason we get to do what we love each day, and all of us here at d*s are truly thankful for your readership. thank you and happy holidays. best wishes for a wonderful new year- we’ll see you on monday, january 4th!

*ps: this beautiful holiday fireplace before and after comes from danielle thompson. click here to check out more on her makeover.

*if you’re looking for more d*s over the break, don’t forget to check out some of the great content our editors have produced in the archives below:

• over 400 beautiful homes in our sneak peek archive!
• traveling during the holidays? d*s has an archive of 80 city guides right here
• spend your time off crafting with our archive of 270+ diy projects
• dozens of product guides for new furniture + accessories (if you haven’t had your shopping fill yet)
• 30+ podcasts with our favorite designers
• hundreds of before & after home + furniture makeovers
• make something tasty for your family with our archive of 100 recipes or make them something delicious to drink with behind the bar recipes
• 15+ d*s videos (crafts, interviews, trips!)
• 50+ helpful articles with business advice (when you’re planning for next year)
• floral fun with we like it wild and weeder’s digest
• ashley’s archives of “small measures” ideas to green your life and community
• bone up on your design history with amy’s archive of past & present columns
• veg out in front of the couch with amy’s “living in” movie style posts

Design*Sponge, 2009. | Permalink | 13 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/12/we-like-it-wild-fascinators.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=we-like-it-wild-fascinators

http://www.designspongeonline.com/?p=40479

The shopping’s done, the table is set, now it’s time to finally devote some time to you this holiday season. Remember you? It’s easy to lose yourself between driving, parking, shopping, wrapping, mailing, traveling, cooking, and all the other ridiculous expectations we heap upon ourselves this time of year. We decided to do something to make ourselves look and feel fabulous this week, and we’re planning on doing it again next week for a New Year’s Eve showstopper, too. Our hair fascinators are a little bit of wearable wildness that will add instant awe to your holiday ensemble.

With a few pieces from the garden (or the grocery store) and a stopover in the hair goods aisle, you can quickly whip up a fascinator of your own. We’re giving you four looks for a variety of possible holiday events and range from easy to complicated.

The Peacock and the Headband are the easiest to master. Both make the most of all the leftover holiday bits you may have lying around. A peacock feather and some poinsettia leaves was all it took to make the Peacock: wrap the pieces together with floral tape for a simple behind-the-ear look for any holiday event. Use a bobby pin to keep in place.

CLICK HERE for the full hair fascinator how-tos after the jump!

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http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/12/in-the-kitchen-with-sunday-suppers-pt-2.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-the-kitchen-with-sunday-suppers-pt-2

http://www.designspongeonline.com/?p=40417

Yesterday the extraordinary photographer and stylist Karen Mordechai from Sunday Suppers went all out to share an amazingly butternut squash and pomegranate galette recipe with us and today she’s back with a delicious recipe for Olive Oil Loaf Cake + Citrus Rosemary Compote. If you haven’t decided on your holiday dinner yet, these two dishes together would make for an elegant and tasty meal. Thank you again to Karen and Sunday Suppers for sharing amazing sweet and savory recipes with us this week!

Best wishes for the holidays for everyone -holidays past, present, and future – and a happy entry into 2010! See you in early January! -Kristina

Credits: Styling + Photography by Karen Mordechai for Sunday Suppers, Amazing intern/helper in the kitchen/hand model Lizzy Sall

CLICK HERE for the full recipe after the jump!

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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/designspongeonline/njjl/~3/NW8Bi4vgXTA/diy-video-twig-armature-with-terrain.html

http://www.designspongeonline.com/?p=40384

last week we learned how to make a beautiful indoor and outdoor birch wreath with the team from terrain at styer’s and today the terrain team is back with a beautiful twig how-to! kat bruni will be walking us through the steps of creating your own natural twig armature (like a support/cage) to surround your favorite holiday flowers and vases. this is a seriously fun and easy (!) project to tackle in just a few minutes- with such striking results. all you need are a few twigs, some wire and you’re good to go! so, if you’re ready to start crafting, just click “play” above. or click here to watch the video (and 15 other d*s videos) on youtube.

thank you so much again to everyone at terrain: melissa bartley, steve olszewski, kat bruni, melissa kissler-hoy, and lacey soslow for their help with this video. stay tuned next wednesday for the second project (a twig armature to go around your holiday flowers and vases). in the meantime you can visit (and shop) terrain right here.

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http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/12/made-with-love-quick-gift-wrapping-ideas.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=made-with-love-quick-gift-wrapping-ideas

http://www.designspongeonline.com/?p=40430

Christmas is in 3 days and I hardly have time to properly feed and bathe myself, let alone write a thoughtful and complicated DIY project. So instead, I’m taking you home with me to wrap some presents. True fact- I have never purchased wrapping paper in my life, it seems so unnecessary when my scrap paper pile is always sky high. I have a proven 3 step method for wrapping presents, a simple paper found at home, a creative ribbon substitute with a tied on embellishment, easy and guaranteed cute every time! -amy m.

CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!

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http://www.babynamewizard.com/archives/2009/12/the-top-baby-names-of-the-decade-revealed

In my top secret Baby Name Cave, I've been crunching numbers, calculating formulas, and mixing potions. At last, I emerge with the revelation all of America has been waiting for, the top baby names of the 2000s decade! And the names were...umm...Emily and Jacob, the names that ranked #1 year after year after year. Obviously.

With Jacob in particular on a decade-long run, how could it be otherwise? Yet I felt compelled to bang the gong on this subject after reading a series of news reports with names like Aiden, Emma and Madeline crowned champions of the decade.

As usual, the problem is that reporters take a company's press release about the top names of its customers at face value. In one particularly egregious example, Reuters ran a whole story reporting name stats based on a press release of a personalized gift company. If you read the company's release carefully, they never even claimed the stats were about BABY names -- just the names that their customers chose to be printed on custom CDs.

So here are the facts. Even without knowing the 2009 numbers, I can report authoritatively that Jacob and Emily were the top names of the decade. They would win the honor easily, even if zero Jacobs and Emilys were born in 2009. What's more, Emma -- the top name of 2008 -- isn't even #2 for the decade.

The key to understanding the decade-long stats is that the top of the curve has continued to drop as parents try to avoid popular names.

read more

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/designspongeonline/njjl/~3/LYtvD6D1MNc/diy-project-kates-log-buttons.html

http://www.designspongeonline.com/?p=40452

here’s a last minute idea for your gifts- wrapping them or making them! these log slices take mere minutes to complete if you have a saw and drill handy. you could also ask your local lumberyard to cut them for you if you don’t have a saw, because it’s just a few quick slices. you can add these to gifts or cards as extra decoration, or add them to sweaters, scarves or hats for a nice organic touch. i hope you have safe, relaxing, and happy holidays everyone! see you in january!! – kate

note: the screen printed faux bois wrapping paper is available from blankspace gallery in oakand.

CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!

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http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/12/gift-packaging-download-felt-acorns.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gift-packaging-download-felt-acorns

http://www.designspongeonline.com/?p=40411

my favorite part of gift giving is the packaging- sometimes i almost like the wrapping better than the gift itself. so i was happy to see this cute downloadable gift wrapping template from karen at maggie makes. just download your cute little branch sleeve, print, fold and customize the name for your recipient. you could even embroider the name on with thread for a little something extra. click here for the download.

also, if you’re loving those little felt acorns above as i much as i am, you can order them right here on etsy from artist reya veltman. thanks, karen!

Design*Sponge, 2009. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/designspongeonline/njjl/~3/J98G2m1N5TM/the-overdue-book-calendar.html

http://www.designspongeonline.com/?p=40407

i really miss the days when i checked out library books on a regular occasion. i remember my mom dropping me off at the library and i would pour over the teen section until i’d found the perfect books to take home. those days are sadly long gone, but after design by the book i’ve felt more inspired to get myself back into a library and take advantage of what they have to offer. so when i saw this fun new “overdue book calendar” from lauren hunt i couldn’t resist sharing. in a world of digital everything, it’s sort of fun to embrace the idea of real books (rather than digital ones read on your phone or a kindle) and keeping track of due dates on real paper, rather than a blackberry reminder. you can pick up lauren’s design right here, as a re-printable pdf for $4. thanks, lauren!

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http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/12/diy-project-marias-zebra-console.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=diy-project-marias-zebra-console

http://www.designspongeonline.com/?p=40402

this diy project is part diy, part before & after inspiration, but since we’re closing up shop tomorrow for the holidays i wanted to share this today.

d*s reader and blogger maria jones came across a “drop dead gorgeous nailhead zebra console table” at horchow for $3000 and fell in love. unable to manage the hefty price tag, maria’s “handy dandy” sister helped her create her own version, by crafting the wood herself and having maria contact paper it in zebra print. the final touch, nailheads, were added my maria’s husband for a total cost of $100. great work, you guys!

CLICK HERE for maria’s full how-to details after the jump!

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http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/12/make-it-mid-century-modern-e-book.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=make-it-mid-century-modern-e-book

http://www.designspongeonline.com/?p=40399

i’ve really enjoyed the way e-books have allowed blogs and other crafters to release fun content that might not have otherwise been published. the team at curbly just released a great ebook called “make it! mid-century modern” that’s full of mid-century inspired projects. i personally love the napkins above the best, but there are lots of great ideas that let you put your own personal spin on this particular style. want to download a copy? just click here to buy ($9.90 – $18) and download/print your own.

*i’d love to go ahead and put a request out for a second book called make it: vintage/flea market chic. i’d love to see the curbly spin on working with vintage or found items. please?

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http://www.babynamewizard.com/archives/2009/12/media-call-are-you-desperately-seeking-baby-name-advice

I’m working on a video project and need the help of a couple that can’t agree on a name! If you...

- Live in either the greater Boston or Philadelphia area

- Expect a child sometime between February and early April

- Are willing to allow a me (and a camera) into your home to film you as you discuss your naming dilemma

...please get in touch with me via the site contact form. Use "video project" as the subject line, and please include this background info in the message:

- Your email address

- Your names, ages, and due date

- Your existing children’s names and ages, if applicable

- Your city and state

- A summary of your naming disagreements

I'd love to hear from you as soon as possible; the deadline for consideration is January 15, 2010. And feel free to pass this request along to other expectant parents!

Thanks,

Laura

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/designspongeonline/njjl/~3/4DOsp7oHp10/in-the-kitchen-with-sunday-suppers-pt-1.html

http://www.designspongeonline.com/?p=40363

I’m already in full swing with the holiday season although I haven’t yet decided what to have for Christmas. However, we’re sure many of you have already thought about what you’re going to make, and have either started to make it, started the shopping or have already made it! For those of you who find yourself in my situation, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to give you a savory and a sweet option to try out over the holidays for your friends and family.

The extraordinary photographer and stylist Karen Mordechai from Sunday Suppers really went all out to make two amazingly beautiful dishes for us and really…I’m speechless! Today she’ll be sharing an amazing Butternut Squash + Pomegranate Galette and tomorrow we’ll follow this savory treat up with a delicious sweet Olive Oil Loaf Cake + Citrus Rosemary Compote. Keep reading to find out how you can have a cooking-dining experience at Sunday Suppers with Karen! -Kristina

Credits Styling + Photography by Karen Mordechai for Sunday Suppers. Amazing intern/helper in the kitchen/hand model Lizzy Sall

CLICK HERE for the full recipe, beautiful images and more about Sunday Suppers after the jump!

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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/designspongeonline/njjl/~3/vGioJsetiic/kristen-hutchins.html

http://www.designspongeonline.com/?p=40349

on a cold day like today it’s nice to imagine living somewhere else a little sunnier and warmer- like one of these beautiful california homes decorated by interior designer kristen hutchins of kristen hutchins design. before starting her own firm, kristen was a senior designer for both ruthie sommer and kelly wearstler (a dream combo in my book). now she’s branching out on her own and has a lovely portfolio of both residential and commercial work to share. i’ve chosen my favorites above and below (i’m obsessed with that elephant pattern below!) but you can click here to view kristen’s full portfolio. congrats and thanks, kristen!

CLICK HERE to see 6 more beautiful images of kristen’s work after the jump!

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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/designspongeonline/njjl/~3/MMO-_JgwBIo/carrie-bobo.html

http://www.designspongeonline.com/?p=40343

they say that smell is the most powerful sense for bringing back memories, and when i saw brooklyn artist carrie bobo‘ work i was immediately transported back to the studio at william & mary. while looking at her monoprint of city streets the first thing i did was remember the smell of turpentine and my head was instantly flooded with memories of printmaking classes at school (that was my major, which sadly i don’t really use right now), rags covered in black ink and the sound of the plate cutter chopping pieces of copper plates for us. i love when artwork can remind you of something so special- and when the work itself is equally special. i love the way of carrie’s pieces, whether they’re prints or paintings, shows the movement of her hand when either adding or subtracting paint from the canvas. as an ex-printmaker it was a delightful trip down memory road to browse her collection. click here to check out more of carrie’s work. thanks, carrie!

Design*Sponge, 2009. | Permalink | 18 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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