in the bag

Mother's Day is coming fast. This versatile little wicker bag is a new addition for us. Give it to Mom this Mother's Day filled with her favorite flowers and you'll have a vase that has style in the bag. Put some sunscreen and a book she has been wanting in it and she'll have summer in the bag. Combine the great price with the great style and you'll have Mother's Day in the bag.
Available here.

here come the May flowers

Do you celebrate May Day? I remember making cones and hanging them on my friends doors and of course running to avoid the kiss. I saw these quite some time ago and thought they would make the perfect May baskets.

{image and instructions found here}

For anyone out there who doesn't know what May Day is, it is celebrated on May 1st. There seems to be many different traditions and stories, but just about all of them use flowers. The popular tradition I know is to hang a cone or container of spring flowers on your friend's doorknob. However, you have to sneak away before they see you because if you get caught, you are supposed to get a kiss. With May Day only a couple of days away, I thought you might like to make these. You may even want to stick around and get that kiss...you would certainly be deserving.

gift baskets...raised

Time for an interior photo that inspires a gift. We all recognize this kitchen....yes, it's Thom Filicia's space in Soho. See the bar in the basket on the counter? Those baskets are available at any Home Goods, Marshall's, and TJ Maxx type store. Pick one up the next time you need a hostess or housewarming gift. Fill it with liquor bottles and mixers. Talk about raising the bar on gift baskets. Okay, you can roll your eyes, the irony was too obvious.

{image via loftlife}

Gift of Gab...sale

We only have two tiffin boxes left. So in honor of summer approaching and the idea of reducing the usage of disposable food containers, we have reduced these by 25%. You can find them here.

Friday Favors...for the forests

Want to add a little mystic and magic to your next get together? Brazilets have been a tradition for the last 200 years in mystical Bahia, Brazil. They are worn by wrapping around your wrist and tying three knots for three wishes; when the material wears down and the Brazilets fall off naturally, it is believed that your three wishes will come true. A portion of the proceeds is dedicated to saving the Brazilian rain forests. At just $5 each they certainly meet the affordable favor category. I would pick colors that tied in with my event and then tie them around every one's napkin for visual impact.

Available here

Take your sons and daughters to work

Since it is take your sons and daughters to work day, mine are with me. I started this blog to increase awareness of our business. So today, I have two guests who are eager to contribute. (Well, maybe eager is a stretch.) I asked them each the question, "What do you like to do to make a gift special?"

(Lily, age 7)
"I like to include something on the top of the package. Because not many people do that and I like it to be unique. It also makes them excited to open it. It's just advice...you can use it if you want."

Drew (age 12)
"I like to make hints on the tags to make it fun and more interesting to open the gift. It is also fun to think up the clues. It is good when they have irony in them."

Now we ask you..."What do you like to do to make a gift special?"

Earth Day

I've been writing down the funny and cute little things my kids say to do this. I couldn't resist sharing what my 7 year old said about a week ago after coming back inside from walking our dog Newton. (sorry, indulge me...I'm a parent)

"Someone needs to tell Newton that when people talk about going green,

they don't mean pooping green."

Speaking of green and poop and since it's Earth Day, (nice segue way, huh) these hygienic and 100% biodegradable bags would make a clever gift for someone looking to improve disposing of their doggie's leftovers. For more colorful and humorous options go here.

Happy Earth Day everyone.

frock season

With summer approaching and a certain little girl's birthday in the next month, I would love to see her running around in this adorable frock. I'm always a fan of children's clothing that has a simple grown up look.

Frankly, I'd love to have this adorable frock to run around in myself. Do you get in the mood for dresses this time of year? Available here.

Gift of Gab...imagination

Could anything be better than hours and hours of entertainment using their fantastic imaginations? The "I'm not bored anymore" art jar is filled with funky art supplies like googly eyes, pom-poms, pipe cleaners, glue pens, construction paper, wavy craft scissors, wooden buttons, spools, beads, craft sticks and more. Just add imagination. Available here.

I hope not.

it's 8pm somewhere

I want to send these soaps to friends in different time zones. The fact that they are made by a Brazilian company called est just makes it easier for me to purpose. I would include an invitation to share a glass of wine and a phone call at say 8pm est. Who says favors can't arrive in the mail?

Not only are they beautifully packaged, but they are made with all natural vegetable oils. They contain no alcohol or animal products and are manufactured with the environment in mind, using only biodegradable materials.. Here is the only place you can get them in the US. Packaged well and preserves the environment is perfect to me.....or make that fabulous*.

*Fabulous Friday...click here to see.

containing ourselves

With the disappearances of some big favorites, giving a new magazine subscription just may bring someone out of their sorrow. Include one of these industrial magazine racks for storage and they just may say...domin..who?

available here

need an uplift?

This is the most moving thing I have seen in a long time.....47 and unemployed, but still dreaming. Never quit dreaming. Click on the image....I promise you won't be sorry. (it wouldn't allow me to embed).....go....now.....and it is worth all 7:34 minutes. With 1440 minutes in a day, you'll be glad you spent those 7 and a half watching this. Then I dare you to come back and tell me that you didn't get goosebumps.

Thanks Karen!

list makers anonymous

Have someone on your list? Dignify the back of receipts and scrap pieces of paper everywhere. These letterpressed cotton sheets will have them looking forward to grocery shopping or making the phone calls they've been meaning to make.



available here
P.S. For some reason blogger was not allowing comments on yesterday's post, sorry for the confusion.

eat your greens

We did Easter a little differently this year. In the past, we've gone all out....clear down to the custom made crosswords puzzles at each place setting. I love to do that and it has it's place, but, we decided to make it more casual and relaxed....which of course, took us right to the beach. Everyone brought some food, their own dishes and utensils, and their own drinks. We took a large table and a bunch of chairs....waited until about 4:30 when the crowds were thinning out and the sun wasn't so hot and we had a picnic. One of the things I made was this salad. It's so easy and so good that I thought I would share.

Blanch your green beans (use the haricot verts or French green beans since they are a little thinner, crispier, and sweeter). Add some thinly sliced red onion, chopped tomato, crumbled feta, a little olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.

I couldn't decide between these two quotes and since it's Monday, that allows for being indecisive.

Happy Easter

I couldn't resist playing with the saturation on this image.....Easter is a colorful holiday after all. Enjoy your weekend.

The blue eggs on the top left are the original color.

creating a nest

I like to wrap gifts with excelsior. Wrap the robin's egg blue gifts from yesterday like this and you will have a very fresh and interesting presentation. Excelsior is biodegradable and all natural which takes it from visually interesting to smart.

I had to do an example so I used this stunning blue topaz necklace.....if you would love to find it in your Easter basket, it's available here.

nest egg

Gifts that are robin's egg blue appeal to me any time of year, but with the arrival of spring and Easter, they are even more charming. Here's a few that I found on The Obsession...more commonly referred to as etsy.

birdie vase

tea towel

vintage Japanese glass bead bracelet

Easter Gift Tags

It's time for another free download. I made them into gift tags, but they could also be put on the bottom of note cards, place cards, recipe cards, or anything else.* To use them as gift tags, cut them 3.75 inches long x 2 inches high, clip the corners, punch a hole, and thread your ribbon. Download the bunny image here and the flower image here.



*The fine print: You may print as many as you like, but sea and jae retains all rights. For personal use only. May not under any circumstances be used for commercial purposes or by a commercial enterprise.

butterfly kisses

I made these for a little girl's party once, but I was thinking they would be a cute addition to an Easter basket. All you have to do is cut out a butterfly shape from a hard paper of your choice, glue it to some felt also cut out in a butterfly shape, slit the butterfly on each wing for the ribbon and thread the ribbon through. They can wear it as a necklace or bracelet.

Friday Favors...putting your egg on a pedestal

Remember the multiplying bunnies? Well, they're not the only item we were inspired to recreate. Sea made a dozen wrapped eggs like these 30 or so years ago. Each year we say we're going to make some new ones, but this year we did it. Placed in an egg cup and waiting at every one's place setting, it becomes a favor worth showcasing. Have crayons poke out of the grass for the kids. Keeping them entertained while you finish up in the kitchen, is always a plus.

available here

green thumbs?

I'm researching growing my own moss for an upcoming project. Making or propagating it seems fairly easy, but I'm wondering how long it takes or if any of you have done it....have any tips?

image one credit, image two credit

The elusive chocolate egg

It's the time of year when chocolate is expected and I have finally found large chocolate eggs. I can't explain why the 'chocolate makers/buyers of the US' believe we only want large chocolate bunnies, but every Easter, that is our choice. I don't believe in doing things the typical way, so each Easter I am on the lookout for large chocolate eggs and am always disappointed because apparently the idea that someone would want to put a large egg in an Easter basket is unheard of. However, I have found this stunning egg online here. Beautiful and from reading their story, I can see they believe in quality chocolate.
Now take a look at this one. Who wouldn't love an egg like this?
Cheeky, quirky, and tasty all wrapped into one glorious chocolate goodness. Alas, they are in the UK and not the US. Baby steps....maybe next year. They're the perfect mix of beautiful and childlike. If that isn't enough chocolate for you, check out this mammoth egg. It is 285mm or over 11 inches tall......now that's a chocolate egg.bottom two images available here (for our friends across the pond)......while you're there, check out their adorable chocolate egg sandwiches.