Yearly Archives: 2005

One of my favorite “best kept secrets” these last few years has been the travel writing of Ludwig Bemelmans. The author and illustrator of the Madeline series, published fantastic illustrated travel books for grown ups in the late 1940’s. It looks like the cat is out of the bag though! Daily Candy sent an email…

Happy rainy December day to you! Click on the advent calendar image or here to see today’s cozy holiday picture.

Instead of giving boring presents like Old Navy gift cards and scarves, be creative with your holiday shopping this year. Check out Feria Urban (over by Golden Gate Park) for crafts and art gifts made by San Franciscans. They are having holiday sales tomorrow night and this weekend. Also, look for gifts in antique stores.…

Today’s advent calendar image is super cute! Click on the calendar or here to see today’s surprise.

Want a fun holiday scent in your apartment but happen to be anti-tree? Try making pomanders instead. This easy project combines cloves and oranges to make festive decorations. It’s also a great project to do with holiday visitors. If you have children visiting or friends coming for tea, set out some oranges and cloves for…

It’s getting cold out there! Warm up today with this advent calendar picture! Click on the calendar or here to see today’s image.

I am throwing a holiday dinner party in a few weeks and wanted to make something that was really festive. I came up with a fun idea but I think it may be a little too crazy to work: Serve twelve “small plates” to the guests, each one corresponding to the lyrics from the 12…

Browsing on Fay Cullen, you occasionally stumble across an odd Victorian piece of jewelry. Jeeze, they were weird back then! Some of it is just “eccentric.” For example, this gigantic locket or this John the Baptist pearl necklace. But this Victorian mourning bracelet woven from hair of the deceased person is downright gross. You would…

I am apparently a huge accidental fan of Lotta Jansdotter. The Swedish/San Franciscan designer is almost omnipresent these days! Open Sunset Magazine, there’s Lotta in her cute apartment! Open a present from my aunt in Chicago, it’s Lotta’s post it notes! Shop on Fillmore, look at Lotta’s textiles! That cute store on 16th, featuring Lotta’s…

I hope your weekend was full of Christmas tree decorating, gift shopping, cocktail party chatting and crab feasting like mine was! Click on the advent calendar or here to view today’s holiday image. Trust me, this one is a must see!