making with maps

i am endlessly entertained by maps and there are just about a million things you can make with them. why not for the holidays, buy yourself a cheap world atlas or map of the united states and make presents for friends and family. use places that hold special memories, locations with interesting names or funky geographical markings!

i've put together a short round-up of ideas to get the ball rolling.

seen at studio gilead

map lamp from college life diy

map magnets seen on let birds fly

map coasters seen on martha stewart

wall art project seen on the painted hive

charm by the pendant emporium

the possibilities are limitless! more ideas: mod podge plain ornaments, remove the hardware from a drawer or dresser and cover the front, turn a plain box into a map-covered memory box, map envelopes, maps as wrapping paper, etc. 

ps. an awesome round up of decorating with maps

thanksgiving 2011

well how was your thanksgiving?! i for one, had the most wonderful time. my best friend casey flew to san francisco from austin to celebrate with me and some fantastic new friends, stewart, jesús y david. it was both our first "non-parent" thanksgivings and somehow managed to pull it off without a hitch! the best!

 

iphone cases

i see very interesting (and some very boring) iphone cases all around the city but it wasn't until i saw the ones offered on society6 that i realized my desire for the cool case became an absolute necessity. how can you resist such cool images?! they'd make great stocking stuffer gifts too.

sky mandala 

winter stripe

the elephant

the winking bear

ta ta for now

under the sea

werewolves

the list goes on! i warn you...there are 996 pages of iphone cases on that site alone. 

gift guides

i love this time of year when gifts guides are everywhere and thanks to the interwebs, so incredibly accessable. it's rare when i'm stumped with what to give someone for their birthday or for christmas but in those cases when i am, a gift guide is a fantastic resource. 

take for instance the second issue of gifted magazine brought to us for free by ez of creature comforts blog. a few of my favorite picks:

2012 calendar by rifle paper company from terrain - $32

iphone case by dawn gardner at society6 - $35

farmer's egg crate at anthropologie - $14

squirrel match strike from jonathan adler - $42

bea gold necklace at stone&honey - $65
(reminds me of molly's pieces)

gaga for laptop cases

i'm going a bit gaga over laptop cases on etsy. i had been working with a maker in asheville but due to a sewing machine malfunction, she can't make it anymore :(

so now i begin my search for other (fantastic) options. of my favorites, which ones do you like?? goodness...they're so masculine!

rib and hull case

willow and company's style 1 + 2

SANTIleather case

alameda antiques faire

at the suggestion of fellow webinar-er, miranda from one little minute, my roommates and i checked out the alameda antiques faire. this uh-mazing event happens the first sunday of every month and it is absolutely worth the 30 minute drive from the city.

i went there with the hope of finding a mirror for my bedroom and walked out with a fabulous one (and two spools of colored bakers twine), and at a decent price, too! i was impressed with the price ranges for goods -- even for san francisco, things weren't too crazy.

check out the fun finds!

ps. if you click on miranda's post about shopping in sf, she writes about the fabulous ribbonerie...that's my next stop! it's conveniently 9 blocks from my house!! thank you, miranda!

state cutting boards

these beautiful made-to-order state cutting boards from aheirloom's are so lovely and would make such great wedding or christmas gifts. the designers add a cute personal touch to each board with an indented heart in the location of your choosing. 

buy yours here!

{found at cup of jo}