clockwise: vintage plane from Trampoline; rattan hanger from F/Style; washi cross by Basic Label Sweden; Belgian pharmacy by Caan Architects via Denzeen.

With so many friends having moved to Switzerland of late, I think I’m channeling the Swiss cross. Sandra, Urs, Aline, Silvan, Janine, Volker, Basil, Pauline and Malte, this one’s for you.

From the top: Crux blanket by Pia Wallen; cross pillow by Seabold Vintage Market; cross rug via Hus and Hem.

Bonjour Celine’s handmade baby quilt via SF Girl By the Bay; Pia Wallen plate; indigo bag by Lambert.

boys bathroom from Texas Duplex via Martha Stewart; “moleskin 46″ by Juan Rayes via Un Signe de; medicine cabinet by House Doctor DK at Bodie and Fou.

For the best collection of crosses, visit En Signe De.

above: raffia bustier by John Rocha (Though this looks totally uncomfortable, it’s so fabulous I might just grin and bare it. I’m picturing this layered with an open, sheer, linen top in crisp white for the ultimate summer look.); rattan basket from the Japanese design firm F/Style; crib from l’Atelier du Petit Parc (Be sure to check out their entire site for similar retro rattan furniture of all kinds.)

You know that when blogs and magazines start  to feature rattan, raffia, and sea grass, it’s officially time to bust out the shades and sun screen. Ahhhh summer.

clockwise from the top: banda chaise from Anthropologie; summer setting by Anouk B featuring a pendant much like Landscape Product’s rattan “cage” lamp, rattan bracelet at Choice is Yours

above: sea grass is woven into playful footprints in Martin Azua’s Tread Carpet; rattan pouf designed by Johannes Foersom and Peter Hiort-Lorenzen via Archiproducts; Jan Jensen’s rattan shoe via Virtual Shoe Museum

above: rattan bench at Atelier du Petit Parc; rattan swing from Sarena and Lilly; rattan hammock from the Philippines via Natural Modern Interiors

Spanish designer Martin Azua’s “Get Up” collection is a line designed for resting, riding or relaxing. 

“The Big Bang,” Anna Garforth

Moss has always been one of my favorite plants. Singly it’s a small, unassuming thing. En masse it’s a rich carpet of green, plush under the toes and vibrant to the eyes. It is also among the most archetypal of plants; the garden of faeries, it lines the avenues of enchantment. Yet it also symbolizes decay or the reclaiming by Nature of that which was made by man.

No wonder then, that this tactile, vivid, evocative plant should inspire new heights of creativity. I particularly admire the dramatic installations of artists such as Anna Garforth, or the ceramic “pods” by Mineo Mizuno, or the Eco Street Art by Edina Tokodi. But the more intimate applications for house and even, body, can be equally breathtaking.

“The Big Bang,” Anna Garforth

“Moss Cross” by Anna Garforth

detail “The New Economics” by Anna Garforth. For a DIY on this project see Design Mom.

DIY moss chair alla Anthropologie via TISL Style; moss pendant by Mr. Lentz; terraform sculpture by Robert Cannon

Mineo Mizuno, Untitled Ceramic image via Samuel Freeman Gallery; green grass ring by Seahag and Walrus; moss mound by Flores Del Sol

DIY moss silhouette garden by Studio G; Eco Street Art by Edina Tokodi, via Through a Green Lens; moss garden key chain by Anne Kirstin

Hedgehog brush by Redecker. Photo by Renilde de Peuter.

Yep. A moment of pure indulgence here.

Several weeks ago, I admired Renilde’s portrait of her new hedgehog brush by the renown German brush makers at Redecker. I love the way Renilde plays with both sides of his character – the brush and the Hedge – by surrounding him with flowery debris. Is he going to root around in it or sweep it up? Hmmmmm.

I quickly knew that I wanted to feature this excellent image. But I couldn’t decide. Was he the lead for a piece about hedgehogs or brushes? What to do?

Well sometimes indecision is also the mother of invention (I guess). I decided to follow Renilde’s lead by honoring both Hedge’s form and function.

So here you go. At the very least I hope my motley mix of wiry, spiky things puts a smile on your face this Friday.

one of a set of wooden hedgehog card holders by Mielasiela; hand-felted hedgehog toy by Glad O Art; Redecker lint brush with rubber bristles

lavender pouch from Foxy and Winston; hedge bag in black by Late Night Drawing; Redecker table sweep

hedge glass cup; DIY paper hedgehog; Redecker fly swatter (The prettiest you’ll ever see.)

Spring time for Mama, clockwise from the top: lemon and petal pink planner from Father Rabbit Limited; repurposed lamp by Earth Sea Warrior; yellow striped cotton blanket from Father Rabbit Limited; pistachio twine by Olive Manna; “Vulnerable 1″ by Art Mind

No matter how old you are or how sophisticated your aesthetic, bunnies and chicks have an undeniable appeal. Maybe it’s because they are the archetypes of renewal and spring, and who doesn’t like spring? Or maybe they just make us feel like a kid again. Whatever the reason, it is why Easter* is by far my favorite holiday. I get to indulge in pastels and farm animals and almost anything with a serious cute factor without sacrificing my “cool.”

*As a historian who grew up as a Unitarian, I definitely have a universalist approach to holidays. So whether you celebrate Easter, or the vernal equinox, or just more sun in the sky, here are some solstice selects for you.

spring time gifts for little ones: antique farm animals from AMradio; wool ball garland by RK Designs; chick confetti by Brown Eyed Rose

more for kids (and grownups): bunny by Royal Mint; Keecie silver chick wallet at Bijzonder Mooi; vintage golden wagon from Bella Lulu; Torinosu paper nest/bowl from Upon a Fold

clockwise from the top: leather I-pad case from Scabby Robot; Yellow Bird on Gray Chevron print by Priss Designs; neon geo ring by A Merry Mishap; citron at home by Moa

Somewhere between lemon and lime is citron. After winter’s slumber, I love the shock of this lively hue. Fresh and (err) zesty, it’s a perfect wake-up call for spring.

above: linen pillow at Le Dans La; scarf from Purl Bee; yellow mirror via La Maison d’Anna G. Source Hunch – Camilla Tange Peylecke / photo Peter Kragballe.

above: “Canola Field” Archival Photograph by Lucy Snowe ; citron wallpaper via La Maison d’Anna G. Source: Leva & bo / photo Sofi Sykfont via Husligheter; Mimosa via Wabi Sabi Style.
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Clockwise from the top: ceramic dessert spoons by Atelier OKER; The Four Seasons tea spoon set by Bailey Doesn’t Bark; enamel and steel spoon by Bran from Creatures of Comfort.

Meet my new fixation: white spoons. I’ve started noticing them everywhere and have felt in them a strange evocative power. What’s that all about?

Of all cutlery, to me spoons are the most feminine. Of course, speaking literally, their graceful and curvaceous shapes are suggestive of the female form. But also they are an essential tool in kitchen chemistry – historically a woman’s realm – used to add ingredients, stir the pot, and serve the food. Thus they are a symbol of nurturing and care. They feed the body, and even administer medicine when we are sick.

But what about white spoons? Almost deathly they seem to contradict the life-giving metaphor. Pale and brittle, these spoons look like bleached bones. Yet in Jungian terms, white is also the color of transformation, the dawn, consciousness – a purity that can only be achieved by having slogged through the mire, having lived life. And these bone-white spoons do resemble some grounded, elemental thing that has been burned by the sun.

So perhaps, white spoons symbolize something else altogether – the creative force? Maybe white spoons are so evocative because they represent the process by which we take all the disparate elements of our lives and concoct something sustaining and transformative, not only for the body, but also for the soul.

Clockwise from the top left: porcelain measuring spoons available at Labour and Wait; paper stitch spoon samples, part of “Our Fragile Dreams” by artist Cathy Cullis; bread spoons by Niels Datema provide precise measurements of all the ingredients needed to bake bread.

Clockwise from the top left: vintage ceramic spoons from Mclovebuddy; gold leaf spoon and salt well by designer Susan Dwyer of Up In The Air Somewhere; Kirsten Hecktermann‘s bone spoons available at Analogue Life and Horne. You can also see another beautiful white spoon by Stepanka in my piece on red thread.

Above: wallpaper by Fargerike in Norway, via Unruly Things; cloud scraf by Rose Tung; silver and knit necklace by Branda

With yesterday’s snow, it finally looks like winter in New England should! So even though spring is just around the corner, I’m feeling a bit snuggly. Time for knits!

But actually the staggering variety of materials being purled and braided now-a-days means that knits are not just for winter any more. Old denim jeans make for a beautiful, tactile pillow. Loose linen yarn produces crisp wash cloths for summer, and paper yarn is being knit into airy, gossamer jewelry. Heck my friend once even knit together some long grass from her yard! Whether you wear them yourself, or use them to adorn your home, knits are a wonderful textured accent. I guess that makes knits the perfect anytime accoutrement!

Above: textured bedroom from EST Magazine via Decor8; demin pillow knit from old jeans by Tonje at Forever Love; purple linen/nylon yarn by Fernanda at Owl Mania

Clockwise from the top left: linen dish cloths by A Magpie And A Dove; braided rug by Dana Barnes Design; coin purse by Branda; knit hedgehog mit kit from Morehouse Farm

(Switching gears from the rest of the week here. But Valentines’ is only 11 days away!)

No doubt your Valentine is an original. So here are some of my selects for romantic cards and gifts that are as unique as your Love.

above: “Poosac and his Red Ballon” card by Poosac; Lusty Heart print by JenniPenni; himmeli heart by AMradio; heart garland by Heart Love

“I Love You Funny Valentine” by LAccentNou; Love Tree from Vitrine; card by Mingus

clockwise from top left: praying mantis card by X♥; custom linen love note by Good Measure; red beasts card by Banquet; heart hanger by Rayart; “I ♥ dogs…books…etc” card by Pistachio Letterpress; heart felted clogs by Woolen Clogs

Woke up to a winter wonderland this morning with all the promises it brings: frolicking in a frosted landscape and then snuggling with hot tea. Looks like winter is finally here.

Clockwise from the top left: Rachel’s Garden Art Book by Rachel’s Cabinet; vintage pewter deer from MeshuMaSH; Teabag etching by Carrie Phillip Skieser; hemp and vintage Turkish Kilim pillow by Organic Shine Society; nesting bowls by Suite One Studio; and vintage candle holders from La Pomme. See more winter wonderlands see here and here.