I LOVE finding special pieces for my home and in my little fashion world, so I’m really excited to share my newest obsession of handmade goods with you; Deep Dark Africa. This cool company has beautiful handmade bags I’m drooling over, some amazing little bowls I’m ready to put in my kitchen, and some very neat pillows I could get used to in my guest bedroom. Everything on this site is handmade from designers and artisans in Africa. They create their work in the hopes they can share their art with the world. They pride themselves on evolving their own style into modern pieces while remaining true to their roots. I hope you love these pieces as much as I do!

xoxo Jennifer

Here are some recent polaroids Kristen shot in La Jolla, Ca this December. They’re so beautiful! I wanted to pick 3 images to share with you, but couldn’t resist adding all of them. You can find these images in our Lucy + Ellen shop by clicking on each individual image down below. Enjoy!

©Kristen Beinke Photography

©Kristen Beinke Photography

©Kristen Beinke Photography

©Kristen Beinke Photography

©Kristen Beinke Photography

©Kristen Beinke Photography

xoxo Jennifer

Don’t get stuck in a wrapping rut this holiday season. Melinda Morris, owner and visionary of Brooklyn-based paperie, Lion in the Sun, offers these tips to make your gifts shine on the outside.

1. Think outside the paper. Fabric, scarves, tote bags, jars are the perfect eco-friendly way to keep your gift under wraps.

2. Waste not, want not – use extra scraps of paper for paper ribbons, decorative fans and flowers on other gifts. Double-sided wrap is even better.

3. Color code. For big families, color coding gifts for each not only makes a pretty picture under the tree, it is a huge time save for Christmas morning.

4. Stamps, stickers, and more. Choose one base color for the gift wrap and buy it in bulk. Then personalize each gift with stickers, stamps, decorative tape, twigs, feathers, and leaves.

I’m always looking for special pieces to give to friends and family, products that are different and something I’m hoping they haven’t received before. Well, I stumbled upon this seriously amazing shop called Herriot Grace and I have fallen in LOVE with everything about them! From their beautiful products, to their images, to the fact they are a father and daughter duo, I really wanted to share this amazing company with the rest of you.

Their products range from beautiful handmade linens for the kitchen, to wood pedestals, to little cake flags; everything is so special and unique in its own way. Thanks Herriot Grace for providing beautiful handmade products, I’m so excited to make my first purchase!

xoxo Jennifer

I just discovered this amazing website, Bookhou.com! This site features artists, John Booth and Arounna Khounnoraj and their beautiful work. I LOVE their work so much I have to share them with you as our new fav designers in our ‘Designers to Watch’ monthly feature.

Both Booth and Khounnoraj specialize in natural handmade materials and small production pieces, and feature their many creative sides through textiles, art, letterpress, and woodwork. I seriously can’t find one piece in their collection that I don’t absolutely LOVE!  All of their work is so beautiful and feels so pure, I just can’t get enough of it!

2011 Calendar Tea Towel

Leaf Tree Pillow

Leaf Tree Card

Steam Bent Table Tube

Bookhou

Bookhou

Booth and Khounnoraj opened a brick and mortar shop in Toronto in 2008. The shop looks amazing! Hope to make a trip up to Toronto some day soon!

xoxo Jennifer