Cutting Boards by Little Studio
Spring is here! This season of fresh starts and new beginnings has me wild for bold patterns and geometric shapes.
Here’s a couple recently loved favorites. What do you think? Do they put a spring in your step too??
Comments Off
Men’s Leather Aries Cuff from The Ravens Daughter
Independent, generous, optimistic, enthusiastic, courageous … these are all characteristics that have been used to describe Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac, from March 21-April 19. Aries is symbolized by the ram, which has come to represent aggression and courage, making Aries an active, energetic sign. Arians are direct, straightforward, and uncomplicated and expect the same from others. Throughout history, rams were often symbols of leadership, and as such, Aries people are said to be natural-born leaders who venture out and approach life “head-on”.
Aries are complex. They have a combination of strong masculine and feminine expressions all jumbled up together. But don’t fret. If you have an Aries in your life, there are ways to show them you love and appreciate them and these gifts will do just that!
DIY Paint-by-Numbers Coasters, photo by Halligan Smith
You guys, please tell me I’m not alone in my obsession with coasters… I mean, I really can’t get enough of them! Good thing there are so many fantastic DIY possibilities out there, including these colorful paint-by-number style beauties created by Halligan Smith. The way I see it, everyone needs coasters, right? Consider making and giving a set for birthdays, thank-yous, house warming parties, or just because! Halligan shares the process (and even offers free templates for all four designs) over on Design*Sponge, so go check it out!
Have you spied any other clever DIY coaster designs? Let’s have a coaster part—share your faves in the comments!
Comments Off
More Love by TheLoveShop
Gifts that express love all year long are quite possibly the sweetest gifts you can give. And what easier way to do that than with a piece of art?
TheLoveShop is filled with amorous, inspirational, and happy sayings creatively rendered and embellished by the lovely JJ St. James.
After facing down a very trying time in her life, the Australian designer chose to focus on love—joy, peace, happiness, gratitude—and created The Love Shop to share that love. I’m so glad she did!
Pass it on by gifting a lovely print to someone you love. I can’t get enough of the top print titled More Love. More indeed!
I Heart Love by TheLoveShop
Endless Love by TheLoveShop
Comments Off
Don’t let Amanda‘s Scrooge face fool you. She’s actually one of the internet’s most thoughtful gift-givers. She’s a kindred spirit who dishes up gift ideas on her site, You’re Welcome. Yes, the name indicates precisely her sense of humor, as you’ll see.
You’re Welcome is “a gift guide for all of life’s awkward occasions,” including estranged family members’ weddings and assorted accidental pregnancies. She just wrapped her 12 Days of Gift Guides featuring 11 Pipers Piping: Gifts for a Stoner and 5 Golden Rings: Gifts for a Golddigger.
Amanda lives in Brooklyn and currently works in publishing in NYC where she interviews people such as Sheryl Crow, appears in publications such as Every Day With Rachael Ray, and writes “about ridiculous topics such as how to keep your lunch safe from a lunchroom bandit.” Thanks & happy gifting, Amanda!
Comments Off
Today’s guest gift-giver is the wonderfully fun Amy Ferguson. She’s a southern girl who has lived in New York for the past seven years. Amy’s a crafty, artsy, goofball—it’s no surprise why we love her so. She works as a freelance Art Director at various ad agencies in NYC and there’s a very good chance Amy’s work has popped across your TV and made you laugh.
She lives in the West Village, blogs happy things at Old Sweet Song, and has single handedly brought back the ultimate DIY gift idea here at Wantist, Rob Gordon style. Thanks, Amy!
I really love the look and versatility of wrapping gifts with brown kraft paper. I like tying the gifts with string but I mix up the variety of string. Sometimes I use red and white bakers twine or just plain old white twine. And I just got an awesome spool of neon pink twine from the hardware store and it looks fantastic with the brown paper. There’s something sweet and retro about the look but it’s also polished and chic. Plus you never have to worry about holiday specific wrapping.
I think there are few more personal and heartfelt gifts than a good old fashioned mix CD (Really, I miss mixtapes. But does anyone have a cassette player anymore?! And I wouldn’t even know where to buy a blank cassette tape). Mixes might be my favorite thing to give. I love curating the songs for the specific person, picking the order and then designing a personalized cover. I take it all very seriously! But getting a mix made with love is also really amazing. There’s something nostalgic about it that reminds me of my teen years. Can we all just stop what we’re doing right now and make a pact to not let the mix CD die? Long live the mix CD!
Read More
Alyssa is all kinds of cool. She’s a tastemaker, trendsetter, and terrific graphic designer. She publishes a blog of inspiring things to like and love—music, art, fashion, it’s all there. In addition she’s also the creator of welikewelove, a quarterly magazine of wonderful things, currently in it’s 9th issue.
welikewelove is born out of a love for discovery, and the belief that discoveries are best shared with excitement and the barely controllable urge to include someone. You may remember this interview we did with the mag in the summer—so fun!
While I miss her IRL, she’s here virtually today to share gifting secrets with you! And for a dose of Christmas cheer, be sure to check out her Joyeux Noel board on Pinterest. It’s dreamy.
I’m not sure I have a favorite GIFT I’ve given, but I love giving gifts to my husband, family or friends when they least expect it. Any time BUT their birthdays, anniversary, Christmas, etc. (Don’t worry, I still treat them well on those days!) Randomly when I’m shopping at a store or online, I’ll see something that is so perfect for them– a record, t-shirt, necklace, book, etc– I’ll pick it up and either give it to them right away or save it for a special moment. I love giving when they least expect it. I love the element of surprise!
Some people in my life are really hard to buy for– they have what they need and what they want. Or they buy it as soon as they want it. My ah-ha moment came when I realized I could buy them “an experience”. So, I buy a ticket or two to a concert, theatre, dance, orchestra, art opening, art class, restaurant tasting, cooking class, etc… and the best part is, buy yourself a ticket and you can do it together!
Read More
Comments Off
I met Amy shortly after Alt last year. She’s a hoot, a poet, and the wood queen of Little Alouette, an organic wooden toy shop she runs alongside her master carpenter husband, Joe.
Their toys are beautifully handcrafted, wonderfully natural, and the kind you keep in the family for a long time. I gifted a wooden letter H to baby Harper last spring and I’m still waiting for the right little person to come along to give these gorgeous stackers to. Love the grain, don’t you?
If you need a gift for a wee one in time for Christmas or Hannukah, this wooden guitar and mustache rattle are in stock and ready to ship. And they’re awesome. Naturally.
Amy’s a mother of 3 in Columbus, Ohio. She’s also a public speaker, novelist, twitter addict, and blogger. Babble has named her as one of the top 50 Etsy Moms two years in a row. Thanks for joining us Amy!
When I had my last baby my friends bought me hours of mothers helpers in advance. That was ace. I will always think about that. Mother’s are good gift givers.
I think when I collected a life scrap book for my gran’s 89th birthday. I took photos and letters from everyone in her life and mementos and compiled them together in a large book. She cried for days and days. She held the book for a long time.
Read More
Comments Off
