I like to keep my treasures—collections that include rings, pendants, coins, and even beautiful buttons—in small containers. Putting these keepsakes in a pretty box not only protects them, but also brings a bit of excitement every time I sneak a peek at them, like opening a present for the first time.
I discovered these cute Pixie faceted ring boxes from Oh Dier while I was browsing around the Internet to find a Mother’s Day gift. Aren’t they perfect for tucking away a little treasure? The wood is cut from salvaged oak stair balusters, and all are handmade in St. Paul, Minnesota, by William Dohman. They come in 15 different colors, which makes it difficult to choose just one! I love the simple geometric shape with a pop of color. You can find these lovely boxes here.
{All images by William Dohman}
by kate on February 23, 2012
As someone with a sizable collection of treasured objects, I always savor the moment when, after reading through the latest copy of Anthology, I finally arrive at the last page and see a person beaming with joy beside their most prized possession. It’s usually something modest, weird, and totally charming.
In Issue No. 6, the smiling face belongs to Sue Daly, who cofounded the wildly successful Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago. A weekend-long event, featuring work from independent artists and artisans, Renegade Craft Fairs now occur in cities across the country—if you haven’t made it to one yet, this should be the year. They are so fun and inspirational, and you can easily stock up on gifts for the entire year. The dates for 2012 have been announced, so mark your calendars and make some room in your home for your next prized possession.
{Images from previous Renegade Craft Fair events}
by meg on December 29, 2011
With 2011 coming to a close, we figured this would be the perfect time to round up your five favorite posts from the past year. Recipes and packaging inspiration were big hits!
Winter Recipe Roundup: Cozy Soups
Instead of wearing three layers of clothes and wrapping ourselves in blankets, we’re thinking we should keep warm this weekend with one of these soups.
Glittering Sandwich Cookies
How fun would it have been to leave a plate of sparkly sweets for Santa, along with a glass of milk? Of course, these cookies have an appeal that extends beyond the holidays.
Gift Packaging Ideas from SHIMTOKK
These ideas are so simple yet stylish, you’ll want to bookmark this post for year-round inspiration, too.
Piles of Pancakes from Une Deux Senses
Up the ante on your next pancake breakfast with Une Deux Senses’ amazing variations on the classic morning fare. Spiced peach pancakes, anyone?
Ribbonesia
While ribbons and bows are often associated with gift-giving, we think the Japanese studio Ribbonesia has elevated them to an art form. We love the idea of displaying their creations in a wall-mounted shadowbox.
We’ll be taking a little break over the next few days—relaxing, ringing in the new year, and perhaps heading into the kitchen or craft room (now that we’re re-inspired by the above posts). Happy New Year!
by kate on December 15, 2011
You may remember this past spring we went a little cuckoo bananas over Christine Schmidt’s new DIY book Print Workshop. It’s just such a great resource for people looking to learn printing techniques, and Christine’s hand drawn designs are so beautiful. If you live in the Bay Area and are still working on your gift shopping, you should stop by the Curiosity Shoppe in a few days. Starting this Saturday, December 17th, Derek and Lauren will be hosting a week-long pop-up shop featuring tons of goodies from Yellow Owl Workshop—including her new stamp kits, note cards, signed copies of her book, and some items you can’t find anywhere else. You might be able to finish all your holiday gift shopping in one visit, which would make it well worth a little jaunt into SF. Hope to bump into you there next week!
by kate on December 7, 2011
I must admit that ribbons aren’t usually my go-to choice for gift wrapping—or any craft, really. And when something ribbon-like is needed, I usually opt for a thin twine or cotton string over a big fancy grosgrain number. I have become wholly aware of the error in my judgement of ribbon, however, after seeing these incredible sculptural ribbon creations from the Japanese studio Ribbonesia.
In 2008, after working for a long time as a painter and illustrator, artist Baku Maeda decided to experiment with ribbon and other soft materials to try to capture the expression and character of various types of animals. Baku continues to create new animals and design variations, and the Ribbonesia creative team now includes six individuals, including the artist.
No two pieces are exactly alike, and they are all stunning—certainly an reminder of how any material can be made into something remarkable, in the hands of an artist. To see more pieces and learn more about the studio, visit the Ribbonesia blog.
{All images from Ribbonesia, found via Vector Equilibrium}
