This song reminds me of home, of college, and of course, of Christmas.
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christmas
Some simple and clever wrapping ideas using newspaper and craft paper – you really don’t need anything else, ever.
(click on the images to see where I found them)
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This is my favorite Christmas tree this year. It’s in the corner of Carpe Diem – the local gelato and espresso bar and is beautiful to look at and very moving to read.
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I’m getting in the mood to bake cookies – yes, I’m a semi-domestic goddess occasionally. Before you (or I) do it’s always worth checking what’s going on over at Martha Stewart – she’s a household name for a reason (or two). I know this blog is leaning towards ‘crafty’ at the moment, but you have to forgive me – it’s Christmas and that’s what happens to me at Christmas.
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Great Message, great cause. Help VML spread some joy this holiday season by sharing this video. For each new viewer, the VML Foundation will donate $1 (up to $10,000) to Toys for Tots on your behalf.
Whats Worth Sharing | VML from VML on Vimeo. via notcot (thanks for sharing) 
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Apple do it again. Santa and Siri – clever!
(although if you want comedy you should video Siri answering my questions – she didn’t understand my English Accent at all)
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I wanted to share some of my favorite print ads this Christmas. The one’s that made me make my favorite sound “ahhh” – it’s what clever is all about.
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Cute mason jar trees from Anthropologie, but they looked so easy to make so I did.. (see my version below)
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This made me smile… from BeardHead.com – it’s what all the cool Santas are wearing this year!
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What more is there to say? I love the clever twist on these Christmas Cookies. From Crazy Domestic via notcot.
You better eat them quick.
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This week I was in Saint Cupcake in Portland and loved the simplicity of their Christmas displays.
The Christmas tree one really got me thinking, they use straws, cupcake holders, string etc…
I love the simplicity and creativity of these, can’t wait to get home and play with some ideas.
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This year I am thinking about making my first ever gingerbread house so while I was looking for some ideas I came across these… hmmm now I’m inspired.
I mean, how hard can it be?
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The people who bought you Tom’s shoes, TOMS (of course) now bring you eyewear. Each pair of glasses sold means that one person gets the gift of sight, either through treatment, surgery or prescription glasses. This is something worth looking into (what, you thought because it was helping people I wouldn’t put a pun or two in?) – So if you are ‘looking’ for a Christmas gift thatdoesn’t just look good, but does good, this may be your answer.
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What a great way to learn the alphabet and your animals at the same time… this is beautiful.
Can anyone tell me what ‘x’ is?
Available from MOMA
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I love things that show rather than tell. This is one sales flyer that I would have put on my wall.
We Made This Ltd (yes, I’ve mentioned them before here) came up with this card for Benwell’s – a printers, who wanted to remind people to print their Christmas Cards early, in return for 10% discount.We Made This asked themselves what Christmas would look like with 10% off. Make sure you click on the images to enlarge them.
This is their answer. I love these people (no, I don’t know them, but I think we would get on well)
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Last night we launched the DO GOOD project – it was low key. Just the Do Gooders, some of the sponsors, some gelato and some supporters. When I say it was low key – that’s how I would have described it before the event, if you judge it by the energy it was anything but. The Do Gooders were sharing, competing, and yes there was some smack-talking. We created buzz.
NASA may be able to tell when a launch is successful by watching their craft go into orbit, and by all the scientific measures they have, but you know a launch is successful when the buzz created is bigger than the room. When the energy surrounding a project is bigger than the energy of all the people combined.
I didn’t know it, but we are aiming for the moon!
Find out more about the DO GOOD Project here. Thank you to everyone involved.
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When thinking about cookies for Christmas I remembered these from KimCreativeStar.com – designer cookies for designers. (with full instructions on how to make them).
There’s a few colors I would like to eat!
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Back in about 2000 I went to a design show in Islington, London and fell in love with the slide light made by two guys names Sam & Jude. It was one of those “why didn’t I think of that slap yourself” moments. I ordered it immediately. I remember waiting and waiting while they developed the prototype but it was worth it, Sam & Jude even came to my flat once when it didn’t work… now they have grown up to be the very successful SUCK UK, and have products all over the world and are known for keeping clever and humor in their designs. I’m very proud to have known them when.
You can buy the Slide Light from GNR8*
Suck UK also make my favorite mirror ever.. and one day it will be mine! It’s not cheap, at just over $700 but it’s beautiful… maybe they will make a handbag version? Why the price? There is a scrolling LED message board and clock mounted behind the mirror showing the time and date, you can program and save personalized messages, time triggered messages, special effects and fonts – all from the remote control or via your PC. Details here from GNR8*
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As you may have read last week we launched the DO GOOD project. I say “we” because something like this is never done by one person alone and if it wasn’t for those who were willing to help, willing to play and willing to donate it would have been just another good idea.
This is not an original idea, people have been doing this for years, but it doesn’t make it any less fun or valid. Ideas don’t always have to be cutting edge shiny and new, they can just be classic – this will turn out differently for everyone who does it.
The idea is this -we are going to give 20 people $50 to DO GOOD. There are only 2 rules. 1. Do Good. 2. Document it. 3.Have fun (it never hurts to slip an extra rule in there somewhere).
We have been very lucky, we have HOME BANK as a sponsor, as well as a whole host of smaller sponsors made up of companies and individuals. We have CARPE DIEM hosting the launch event (a short kick off where we hand out the money) and are working on an end event to celebrate those who played and those who helped. You don’t have to do it this way, you could just get a group of friends together and make this happen, you could give a group of friends $20 each and an hour to give it away, and get back to the coffee shop, you could give your kids $5 each and ask them to choose who to help. You can start them on their route to being the next Steve Jobs by teaching them to use it as seed money and make more from it.
This is a way for us all to remember that giving is one of the best gifts we have available, but be careful it’s addictive.
There is a facebook page set up so you can follow our DO GOOD project, (we kick off on Tuesday) and I’d love to hear about yours, however small or incredibly large.
UPDATE- WE NOW HAVE A DONATE BUTTON – try it out 
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While we were in London this summer we bought a corkscrew. It looked a little different and I loved the packaging. It was an impulse buy. Since then it has become our very favorite way to open wine. This is genius.
Designed in 1949 (yes really) it was created so the cork came out intact, no cork crumbling here! – and also ” As the legend goes, the Bilame was the favorite tool of waiters in French bistros. Thanks to it, they could have a few sips from bottles and then replace corks without anyone noticing !”
I have searched for a link to get in it the USA and couldn’t find anyone that had it available. I did find this place though, (it’s under $20) they ship to the USA in 2-6 days and postage is calculated by weight. Readers in Europe, you are set, I know John Lewis carries them so I’m sure other places do too. It may look a little strange, but it works effortlessly and is clever and beautiful. A great way to start a bottle of wine if you ask me.
When I have my own little design store (and I will) these will always be in stock)
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