Lily Jane

Add These to My Wish List

Pretty please!

via Urban Outfitters

Happy Wednesday: Paper Snowflakes

Is there anything happier than making something out of nothing?  This year I'm decorating our entry way with paper snowflakes.  Wall to wall, hanging in all their huddled glory above us.  I think it'll bring instant holiday cheer to guests that come by.  My inspiration came from Gimbel's North Pole in the movie, Elf:

 

With any luck the finished product will bring smiles instead of the look on Zooey Deschanel's face in this scene.  If you'd like to decorate with paper snowflakes, too, check out this tutorial on how to make your own.  It's surprisingly simple.  I'll be trying to imitate some of these great designs with my handy little orange scissors.  Wish me luck!

Images via Flickr: simplyironic, kaylovesvintage, -po, Zayneegirl

A Little Give: Gift Guide

In the spirit of the holiday season, this month's A Little Give is a gift guide consisting completely of gifts where a portion of the proceeds (or all!) are donated to a charitable cause.  Here are some of my favorites.

 

Rosemary and Thyme Handwoven Earrings by Pookie & Pierre, $50.  75% of the purchase of these earrings will be donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation to help find a cure for breast cancer.

 

2010 Cloudery Art 13-month Calendar by Cloudery, $22.  Through December 31st, for each calendar sold two books will be donated to children from low-income families, through First Book, a nonprofit organization.

Handmade scented soaps by Besem Natural Scents, $7-$18.  10% of the profits go to the Antares Foundation, an organization dedicated to orphan relief.

Magnificent Cloud Mixed Media Painting by Painting Well, $18.  100% (!) of the profits from all of Painting Well's artwork are donated to a variety of top-rated cancer research organizations.

Organic Newborn Noonie by Lala's Pequenos, $62.  A portion of all proceeds are donated to the Rainmaker Conservation Project.

Cupcake Mountains Metallic Print by Kristi McMurry, $10.  10% of all proceeds are donated to The Shepherd's Haven Day Center, a center for developmentally disabled adults.  You can also purchase products from the Shepherd's Haven etsy shop, where everything is made by Shepherd's Haven residents and 100% of the profits are funneled back in to helping the center succeed.

Do you know of any other charitable organizations who have great gifts to give this season?  Please share!  After all, it is the season of giving.  There's no better time to give to your loved ones and a stranger, too.

Tin Icicles

Yesterday we spent the evening decorating the tree.  My favorite ornament to hang on our tree each year are these tin icicles that my brother sent me as a gift years ago.

They add just the right amount of sparkle without getting too crazy...like tinsel sometimes can. 

Handmade Giving: Nicole Shiffler

I love DIY.  Especially DIY Christmases.  And even more than that - DIY Christmas gifts!  There's something so charming and warmth-giving about a gift that was made with just you in mind, don't you think?  Well, here's a lovely project by the talented and endlessly creative Nicole Shiffler that might just fit the bill for someone on your gifting list this year.

 

This outdoor blanket is perfect for anyone who likes to go on picnics, read outdoors, has a family - even just to keep in the car for those unexpected "I could really use an outdoor blanket!" moments (hey, it happens).  Beyond the holiday season, it would also make a delightful baby shower gift.  Nicole has instructions detailed with step-by-step photographs on her blog, Exclusively Shiffler.

The best part?  This is just one of a whole slew of projects and tutorials she has on her blog.  She's currently doing a Giving Guide with a new something to make every week.  Here's a sneak peek of a few of her other handmade gift ideas.

                 Be sure to keep checking her blog so you don't miss a beat!

Stocking Roundup

Every year I dream about the day when I'll be able to sit down and knit a collection Scandinavian-inspired Christmas stockings.  I suppose I'll continue to until I learn how to knit!  This year I've let my yearnings run wild and gathered a collection of some of my favorite stockings out there.

 

1. Eco-felt Stockings by rikrak; 2. Hand-stamped Burlap Christmas Stockings by My Adobe Cottage; 3. Mini Stocking Ornament by Bloom and Barnacle

4. Christmas stocking of another kind by Moss Hill Studio; 5. Newari Stowflake Christmas Stocking via Moose Mountain Trading Co.; 6. Expandable Christmas Stocking via Instructables

7. Handmade Rustic Vintage Leather Stockings by Captain Cat; 8. Dudes Christmas Stocking by Sew Lola; 9. Vintage Tablecloth Christmas Stocking by Christmas is Love

10. Black Lab Stocking by The Lab; 11. Danish Christmas Knit Stockings via Fjorn Scandinavian

Happy Wednesday: Mistletoe Printables

The tree is assembled, orders are almost on their way, the boy is sleeping and...the holiday printable is ready!  For your enjoyment, I've designed a mistletoe note card.  You never know when you'll need just a few more cards than you originally planned for.  Add a few of these to your holiday stationery collection and you'll never be caught unawares.  This one's a tad nontraditional, but that's why I like it.

Simply click here to download the printable PDF file.  I recommend printing it on white card stock.  Once it's printed, trim down the middle (at the gray line) and fold each card in half.  Voila!  You're ready to go. 

It's Coming...

Between wrangling a bored two year old, mailing out orders and setting up our Christmas tree (hurray!) I'm also working on a holiday printable for today's Happy Wednesday post.  Please forgive my delay.  I promise, it's coming!

UPDATE: It came!  See the mistletoe note cards here.

Heather Bullard

I discovered Heather Bullard via Sunday Suppers, who used her gorgeous zinc tags as name cards for their Fall Harvest dinner.  She has such a variety of things in her store and I'm in love with so many of them.

Pomegranate Soy Candle, French Pharmacy Bottle,  Red & White Stripe Grain Sack, Scroll Zinc Tags

Beautiful, aren't they?  The zinc tags are reusable, too.  Use chalk, pencil or a china marker and you can wipe it clean and start all over again.