DIY: Driftwood & Terrarium Airplant Wall Hanging

Lindsay and Jeremiah of the Portland-based blog Ladybird and Fellow sent in this fantastic "weekend project" to us today but we couldn't wait till the weekend to share.  So make a plan and head down to the beach to scoop up some driftwood (or the forest for some dropped branches) soon to make this au natural project!  Click here to see how they made and hung theirs (including how cheap it was).  Did you know you can get those little terrariums for just $3.95?  Thanks Lindsay and Jeremiah!

DIY: Terrarium-inspired Display

Harmonica Jane

This weekend I popped over to a neighborhood thrift shop and came across some gigantic pickle jars for a dollar.  I'm now kicking myself for not getting them because when I got home from there May's House&Home issue was in my inbox with this fun editor DIY (creating a terrarium-inspired window display - see image below) which they would be perfect for.  And then today Etsy blogger, Christine posted about eclectic comforts in her Get the Look Decor post which featured some beautiful vintage glass domes from Harmonica Jane. What I think makes Harmonica Jane's display (above) look so special is the interior bottle holding the random twig inside.  Actually, it's the red label too don't you think?  All these little details create such a quaint vignette.  I thought of my downloadable labels that I made for another project and am attaching the link here as well. Just print them out on some label paper, attach to some cute bottles you have hanging around, find a glass dome (maybe even a huge pickle jar) from a thrift store, add some twigs and greenery (maybe a fern) and you've got a super-fun and cute little project.

Photo: Tracy Shumante - House&Home (May/11)

Inspiration: Video Interview with Amy Rice

This is a little gem. An inspiring video interview with one of my favourite artists, Amy Rice.

Amy sent this little email gift to me today and I just had to share. There are several aspects that she (and now, I) thought you would really appreciate; a description and demonstration of a Gocco printer, terrariums, hand-cut stencils, antique paper collecting as well as awesome interior shots of her working studio in the California Building , a former grain mill turned studio building for working artists in NE Minneapolis.

Amy was featured in the latest episode of Minnesota Original: a new weekly series produced by Twin Cities Public Television.

www.amyrice.com

2010 Most Influential (Part Three)

Colour

Colour seemed to be everywhere this year and we were inspired by the Let's Colour Project by French paint company, Dulux Valentine. Vibrant hues of colour filled cities around the world inspiring us all to bring more colour back into our lives. More inspiration was found via the street artists and graffiti writers of the world (by the spectacular global street art site Eckosystem- below). Click here to see more.

South Africa, Nuria Mora

Beautiful Terrariums




Terrariums just got better and even more beautiful this year, like these white sand terrariums by Litill.
(Notice the air plants, succulents and cacti).


The Backyard Summer House

With the popularity of the "staycation", we found a fair amount of backyard summer houses gracing the pages of magazines and their websites this year. Loved this one from designer Jean Oddes who brilliantly installed two black painted garden sheds (to face each other) via marieclairemaison.com. Click here to see more. Photo credit: Vincent Leroux/Temps Machine.



Gingham, Checks and Plaids



Napkins from Fog Linen (Photo credit: Scout Magazine)

We loved seeing the gingham, checks and plaids and especially in the Fog Linen brand of napkins (these from Old Faithful here in Vancouver).

Retro Lighting


Lighting from Old Faithful (Photo credit: Scout Magazine)

Retro lighting was at the forefront this year as lighting choices, and we especially loved the industrial-themed ones like these (top) from Old Faithful and from Wo & Wé out of France.

Chalkboard Walls

Chalkboard walls still hung around in 2010, and were updated by painting entire rooms, and adding fun semi-permanent drawings, like these frames from Anthropologie or decals by Shanna Murray as styled by Victoria of Sfgirlbybay (Photos from Rue Magazine andAnthropologie).



Bright Ideas

Fluorescent colours of pink and purple sprinkled our lives this summer bringing cheer and happiness to rooms, jewelry and even banners! Click here to see more.



The Art of the Display

It's amazing the creative ways people continue to display art. We've always tried to write about those we see that inspire us in our "The Art of the Display" posts, and this one featured in the July '10 issue of Livingetc from the home of Suzanne Dutton was more to add to the list using vintage postcards and japanese washi tapes. Click here to read the post.



Decoupage

Decoupage showed itself a little more this year, we loved the how-to's from Style at Home and ReadyMade magazines along with personal projects such as Cori Kindred's bike makeover.
(From top: ReadyMade, bike makeover, Style at Home)

Stay tuned for Part 4. Click here for all parts so far.
Read our previous years' most influential:

2009 Most Influential
2008 Most Influential
2007 Most Influential
2006 (Best of '06))
2005 (Best of '05)

Weekend Project: Light Bulb Terrariums

Just in time for holiday gift giving Etsy's How-To Tuesday features Kimberly Sevilla of Rose Red & Lavender showing us how to create a terrarium out of an old light bulb. FYI: Etsy's videos are all Creative Commons so feel free to post this video or pass it along. (Produced by Tara Young | Animation by Julia Pott | Music by Eric Beug)

Contributor's Holiday Gift Guide Series: Pinecone Camp

Ahh, it's Christmas shopping time. Janis here, from Pinecone Camp. I have to admit, it can cause slight stress for me as I usually go shopping with nothing in mind, to face massive crowds all doing the same thing. The shopping trip usually ends up in a hotel bar (which I thoroughly enjoy), with no shopping done whatsoever. When Jan asked if I could come up with a list of 10-12 gift ideas, I had to say yes. It's made me come up with a list of ideas for friends and family, and a bit of a wish list for me as well. I thank you Jan!

I'm a huge fan of Bison Pottery from Australia. Their colours are gorgeous, really beautiful shapes, and the price is right. They ship everywhere, fyi. I'll be in Melbourne for Christmas, so I plan on making a trip to Bison. This is my own vase, above, but check out their site for the wide range of colours and styles.

Rescued Paper Notebooks by Sukie are perfect for jotting down ideas, 'to-do' lists, doodling when you should be working, etc. They can also be found in Vancouver, at Orling and Wu. The image, above, was taken at Orling and Wu.

I have a bit of an obsession with Totem Poles, so I was pretty pleased to find these Totem Cups, by Rob Southcott, I believe.  They can be found in Vancouver at Old Faithful where I took this picture, and on line here.

Ok, I know. Here's another Totem find - Totem Pole cupcake molds by Kikkerland. I love baking, and I know a few others that do to. I really want to make a stack of Totem Pole cupcakes now.

Love these necklaces, by Becoming. I really do need to "believe in the future" more than I do. This would be the perfect gift for the jaded and cynical, on your shopping list. They can also be found at Walrus, here in Vancouver.

Hanging terrariums still have it. I found these ones here in Vancouver, again, at Old Faithful. Image found here.

Love the colours of these happy "o clock" watches, made in Italy. Great price at $39 and they come packaged in a reusable tin can. Found in Vancouver at Walrus and here.

Kate, at Tiny Warbler, makes these adorable stuffed creatures. The hippo is my favourite.

"Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk" is the name of David Sedaris' new book. Want it. His books have kept me laughing, when I should have been sleeping. His sister, Amy Sedaris, is pretty fantastic as well.

 For a new baby I know. I found these cute mobiles, by Baby Jives at Poppytalk Handmade. So sweet, and it something that you'd hang onto long after the baby stage.

Plan Canada has some fantastic ideas for gifts. I've got a certain goat loving person in mind for this. A great cause.  You can help plant a mango tree in a school yard, give the gift of reading with a 'library in a box', and so many more gift ideas.


Last but not least, is a "symbolic adoption" at World Wildlife Fund. I've been thinking I might just order a couple of these. I love this idea.

That's my list. Hope you've found it helpful.  If you need a list of good hotel bars in Vancouver, just let me know. Happy shopping!