I featured these adorable bird coat hooks from Kikkerland in the Boston Globe on Sunday. Something about them just makes me happy. They’re designed by Dutch artist and designer Jorine Oosterhoff, to capture a beautiful moment in nature. She told me that she based the bird coat hooks on real bird species. Clockwise, there’s the toucan, bullfinch, woodpecker, and nuhatch (Fruit Loops and Woody taught me something in the ’70s, but I had to Google the other two.)
It’s time to kick off the holiday buying season with gift guides. I’ve put together rather a lot of them, which I hope will be helpful. The hyperlinked price will take you to the site where you can buy it. If you get sick of so many guides, let me know and I’ll cut back. Happy shopping!
Here are 25 hostess gifts, all under $50. I’ve split them into three categories: Glam Hostess Gifts, Rugged Hostess Gifts, and Preppy Hostess Gifts. You may be tempted to make a little purchase for yourself, or stock a few extra for any last minute invitations.
Glam Hostess Gifts
1 Cheers! Letterpress Coasters, $26/set of 15
2 Gold Dipped Porcelain Spoons, $18/set of 3
3 Gold Plated Glass Vase, $68
4 Gold Animal Figurines, $25 each
5 Rose Gold Champagne Pop Candle, $42
6 White Opal Soap Rock, $12
7 Juliska Cocktail Spreaders, $38/set of 3
8 Brass Crest Bottle Opener, $44
Today, Maurice Sendak, author of Where the Wild Things Are (1963), died at age 83 in Connecticut due to complications from a stroke. Although for some reason I did not have his books growing up, I read them over and over to my own boys. I always savored the illustrations in this one, and really enjoyed the silliness of Into the Night Kitchen (1970). I put together a few decorating ideas inspired by these wonderfully creative tales. RIP Maurice Sendak, storyteller.