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Etsy Find: Chroma Lab Fruit Stripe Dresser

casasugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:00:00 -0800

I love people who aren't afraid of color. Take, for example, Laurel's Rainbow Bright Home. Thanks to her fearlessness of color, her home shouts personality . . . the kind of style that simply can't be replicated. But, given that I like my color in small doses, I'd be more likely to fill my house with items like the Chroma Lab Fruit Stripe Dresser ($480). Its turquoise acrylic satin polyurethane topcoat is certainly bold, but its slivers of watermelon and lemon color are hidden until you open the drawers. The colors aren't always competing for attention, but you know they're there.

Etsy Find: Jean Pelle Vanity Cabinet

casasugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:15:35 -0800

My Etsy Finds normally fall under the categories of crafty things, textiles (napkins!), or artwork. But it's rare to find a furniture piece that's not just a reupholstered ottoman. So, I was surprised to come across this Jean Pelle Vanity Cabinet ($129). Quite the unique, modern piece, it's a small vanity cabinet with an extending side mirror, three interior storage cubes, an interior cork board, and door-front knobs to hang jewelry from. The cabinet is also fixed with a light bulb to illuminate while you're applying makeup or trying on jewelry. The cabinet can be attached to a wall or rested on a table. It's certainly not for a traditionalist, but for those with a contemporary home, it's a wonderfully functional piece to own.

Etsy Find: Matryoshka Doll Ornament

casasugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:00:27 -0800

Somehow Matryoshka dolls are still trendy after a year, but I suppose that's because they're so darn cute. I couldn't pass up the Saidie Matryoshka Doll Ornament ($9), which will bring a bit of traditional Russian kitsch to your Christmas tree this holiday. The original Matryoshka illustration was printed with a Gocco onto linen fabric, hand sewn, and stuffed. I love how the embroidered ribbon adds an additional little touch of ornamentation. If dolls aren't your thing, Saidie also sells sweet birdcage and bird on a branch ornaments.

Gift Guide: Handmade Gifts For Indie Girls

casasugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:30:19 -0800

Last year, many of you told me that you were making or buying handmade gifts. Many of you also took the handmade pledge. So, if you're in the market for a one-of-a-kind gift for a special someone in your circle of friends, I thought I'd round up some of the best handmade gifts I've come across, using, of course, my favorite purveyor of everything DIY and handmade, Etsy.
These gifts are great choices for all of your independent-minded, design-savvy friends and family members who are looking for something as unique as they are this holiday season.

To see my handmade finds,

Etsy Find: Sharon Montrose Photographs

casasugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:00:38 -0800

I just came across these Animal Prints ($25) by photographer Sharon Montrose, and I'm totally smitten. The LA-based shutterbug snapped these real live animals, who mostly "live happily at a small California Zoo," perched in front of a white backdrop on hardwood floors. The details are truly amazing, and I applaud her for getting these zoo dwellers to stand so still! There's something so human about these images that I love; Montrose brings out each animal's personality with just the click of a button. Oh, and did I mention that the price is right?! What do you think?

Etsy Find: Tiny Shoe Advent Calendar

casasugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:00:01 -0800

In my house, we hung an advent calendar each year, made of miniature gift bags filled with candy. I think it's a fun tradition for children that fosters their excitement for Christmas — as if they weren't already bursting at the seams. Although it's obviously a religious tradition, the countdown calendars can be used for all sorts of celebrations, like birthdays or even the election! That is, if the calendar itself isn't specifically Christmas-y in theme. For example, the Great Craft Disaster Advent Calendar ($45) is composed of 24 tiny fabric slippers, although Christmas fabrics in particular weren't used. Considering that I love anything mini, I can't get enough of this calendar! Each slipper has a numbered tag on it denoting the date, or the number of days left in the countdown. What do you think?

Etsy Find: Cinderella Pumpkin Napkins

casasugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:00:49 -0800

When it comes to pumpkins, we often think of jack-o-lanterns and pumpkin carving at Halloween, but the gourd-like squash is stylish all season long. There should be nothing preventing you from decorating with pumpkins until Christmas comes along . . . then poinsettias and fir trees can have their heyday. I'm smitten with these Cinderella Pumpkin Napkins, a set of four olive-green cotton napkins each embroidered with a freshly harvested pumpkin, recalling Cinderella's Fairy Godmother's coach. Their warm-colored palette is ideal for Fall. If not these, you should pick up an alternate set because by now I hope you all adopted cloth napkins in lieu of paper!

Etsy Find: Do the Dishes Tea Towel

casasugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:30:48 -0700

Sometimes we all just need a straight talkin' to. That's especially true when the pots and pans are piling up. So beyond a bit of Palmolive and some elbow grease, perhaps the answer is the Show Pony Do the Dishes Tea Towel ($20), a fair trade organic cotton towel with the kitchen commandment spelled out in screen printed stacks of dirty plates. Perhaps you're a gal who goes for the three-packs of striped dish towels from the grocery store, so this one may not be for you. But I love me some tea towels, and have an ever-growing collection, so you can bet your bottom dollar that this Show Pony piece will show up in my kitchen.

Etsy Find: Mr. Casual and Miss Noble Placemats

casasugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:30:48 -0700

The Petek Guven Mr. Casual Placemat ($49) and Miss Noble Placemat ($49) are two cheeky characters well-trained in etiquette, who'll give your guests a good laugh before they're served the first course. Each placemat has two slits on each side which work as fork and knife holders; so unfortunately, the placemats cannot accommodate the silverware required for a seven course meal. I love how Mr. Casual sports a watch, and Miss Noble a bracelet: it adds personality! What do you think? Are they too whimsical for you, or just playful enough?

Etsy Find: Seven Deadly Sins Floral Frufru Plates

casasugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:30:36 -0700

I love repurposed plates. Some of my favorites are Sarah Cihat's rehabilitated dishware, and I loved Danny Seo's DIY take, too. GiggleSugar recently directed me to these very cool Seven Deadly Sins plates ($140 for set) from Esty seller Trixiedelicious.

To find out more about these plates, and to see some more of the artist's unexpected designs,