Kooky Pottery: Silly designs for kids of all ages

Fridays should be fun, right? That’s why today I’m bringing you a brand that’s cute, quirky and downright silly. Kooky Pottery, the brainchild of artist Lynn Chang, carries household accessories that are cuter than cute. Styled as elephants or Vikings, the pantry accessories to home décor have endless possibilities for storage and are definitely a conversation piece in any home. Food safe, microwave save and dishwasher safe, you can also use these little guys as cups and bowls or to store stray change, fun memories like ticket stubs to your favorite concert, candy, earring backs, you name it.

What’s also great about Kooky Pottery is that it is made for gift giving. Housed in a cute little box, tie a ribbon around it and you’re good to go. So want a little guy for your desk or need a gift on hand for your next baby shower? Kooky Pottery is available for $25 a piece at select retailers including Orange County Museum of Art and Little Flower Café in Pasedena. Also shop online at amazon.com.

P.S. Also check out Lynn Chang’s books like The Breakup Activity Book: Crafting Your Way Through a Broken Heart. How cute is that?

 

Design dish: Stunning wallpaper from Carl Robinson

I’m taking a little bit of a stray from the beauty world to show you something really cool that landed in my inbox: wallpaper. Now, this isn’t just your typical run of the mill wallpaper, this stuff is chic, designer and over the top glam.

A third generation wallpaper artist and creative director, Carl Robinson, is the creator behind these stunning prints, patterns and even murals. Inspired and sourced from Carl’s travels around the world, this is not your ordinary wallpaper.

Throughout the past few years, we’ve seen statement walls and a rainbow of popular wall shades but nothing pushes the envelope quite like Carl Robinson’s designs. He turns walls into gallery-worthy artwork that really makes a statement.

So are you ready to see it yet? Enjoy!

For more information and additional designs, visit carlrobinson.co.uk.

Home must-have: MAME Luxury Soy Candles

A big supporter of small business and an even bigger candle junkie, I am so excited to spread the word about MAME luxury soy candles! Created by two friends and inspired by infusing a little luxury in everyone’s life, the company was born. Absolutely gorgeous and packaged in a signature MAME craft box and a pretty glass container offset by black and white checks, all candles are made from 100% soy wax, pure essential oils and cotton wicks. Also, each candle is hand poured and made in small batches to ensure the best quality.

So what makes MAME different than other candles out there? Because they are handmade, each scent is personal and represents some of the owner’s favorite things. Scents include Sunday Brunch, Farmers Market, Happy Hour, Summers in Coronado and my favorite, French Press Vanilla. Let me tell you, each scent is super yummy and fills your home with clean, pure scents that radiate simple luxury. On top of the chic scents you can’t get anywhere else, because MAME candles are made from soy way, they burn much longer and cleaner than your regular candle.

Ready for a peek into the world of MAME? Be prepared to fall head over heels.

My stunning French Press Vanilla MAME candle.

The owners. How cute are they?!

Behind the scenes.

MAME Farmers Market.

Chic Packaging.

MAME love.

MAME Sunday Brunch.

Swooning yet? Perfect for gifting and an essential for your home, MAME candles retail for $25 each and are available on Etsy. Also, if you’re in the Phoenix or California area, MAME candles are also available in a handful of boutiques. Get the full list here. For complete information on everything MAME, visit their website at mamesoycandles.com.

Etsy spotlight: Custom-stamped flatware from Pumpernickel and Wry

As Halloween gets closer, my décor crush continues with Pumpernickel and Wry, an Etsy shop that carries hand-stamped flatware. Perfect for gifting, holidays and just because, the shop adds character to any kitchen with whimsical and quirky phrased silverware and elegant chalkboards made from silver-plated chargers.

The shop sent me these two Halloween spoons adorned with “Deathly morsels” and “Bubble bubble toil & trouble fire burn & cauldron bubble”.

How cute are they? Not only do the spoons serve as great décor, I can’t wait to use them at my Halloween party and at only $16 a pop, they make a great hostess gift paired with a yummy dish or treats.

Along with their high-quality, pretty products, Pumpernickel and Wry has amazing customer service. All sivlerware ships within 24 hours and everything is food safe, durable enough for daily use and created by using non-toxic, natural methods. All silver-plated items are repurposed vintage or antique pieces and along with the shop’s wide array of items, you can also request custom orders.

Here are some of my must-have items from the shop:

Spoon Me, $15.

 

Spread Love, Joy, Happiness Set, $42.

 

Burlap Silverware Holder (set of 4), $18.

Cake Plate and Fork, $25.95.

 

Shop online at http://www.etsy.com/shop/pumpernickelandwry# and stay in the loop by following the shop on Instagram: @pumpernickelandwry and Facebook for new items and exclusive deals. Also check out the designs at the following locations:

Green Table Gifts – Tempe, Arizona – http://www.gtgifts.com

It’s Vintage Charm – Glendale, AZ

Einzelstueck – Zurich, Switzerland – http://www.einzelstueck.ch

Changemaker – Zurich, Switzerland – http://www.changemaker.ch

MADE – Lawrence, Kansas – http://madeonmass.com

Relish Decor – Frederick, Maryland – http://www.relishdecor.com

Etsy spotlight: Pink Turtle Designs Halloween decor review & giveaway

As a fan of everything Halloween and Etsy, Pink Turtle Designs has the cutest home décor and gifts for Halloween. Created by Caitlin, an Early childhood Special Education teacher with a knack for crafting, her designs are preppy, chic and absolutely adorable.

I fell in love with her Halloween Coasters, made from tile, laminated with a cute shabby chic Halloween design, and scratch-resistant with felt protectors on the bottom of each coaster. Packaged pretty, these make the perfect Halloween gift and are a total steal at $8 for a set of six.

The patterns are so cute, I couldn’t help but make them double-duty as wall art.

Want a set for yourself? Caitlin is giving one lucky reader a set! Enter by:

1. “Favorite” Pink Turtle Designs on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/PinkTurtleDesigns822

2. In the comment section below, tell me what other item from Pink Turtle Designs you can’t live without (provide email please so I can contact the winner!).

3. Like Ruffled Row on Facebook.

For more information and to shop Pink Turtle Designs, visit etsy.com/pinkturtledesigns822. Winner will be announced next Monday, October 7. Good luck!!

Say hello to fall with Nanticoke Creek velvet and fabric pumpkins

Halloween is my absolute favorite Holiday and with the weather cooling down, my all-out decorating has officially started. There’s the coolest boutique called JAM near my house that sells products exclusively made by local artists. A big supporter of small businesses, I saw the most amazing velvet and fabric pumpkins on their Facebook page and of course had to have them immediately.

Janet, owner and creator behind the whimsical designs of Nanticoke Creek, is a full-time Life Coach and Hypnotherapist for a company she created called InHerPeace. So how do pumpkins tie in? About 3 years ago, she started making the pumpkins which became so popular among friends, she created an Etsy shop and is now in local boutiques around Phoenix and Scottsdale.

Handmade and totally gorgeous, I have the leopard pumpkin and mini purple.

Here’s an up-close look at some of the other designs.

Pumpkins are available at http://www.etsy.com/shop/NanticokeCreek?page=1 and start at $5, so there’s no excuse not to go a little festive this season. For complete information on Nanticoke Creek, visit nanticokecreek.com and enjoy this peek into her Etsy shop!

Wild Things Leopard Print Mini Crushed Velvet Pumpkin, $5.

Sweet Orange Circles Fabric Pumpkin, $20.

Halloween Trio Crushed Velvet Pumpkins, $70.

Luxurious Chocolate Crushed Velvet Pumpkin, $20.

DIY: The how to clean silver without polish hack

Cleaning silver sucks. The polish smells bad, it takes forever to scrub and is just an overall pain in the you know what. I honestly can’t remember where I read this silver cleaning hack, but I’ve been doing it for years and it’s a great time saver.

Here we have some Tiffany’s I haven’t worn in forever, a vintage chain and my beloved Lee Brevards. Gross, right? Let’s get  started.

Step 1: Start boiling a pot of water

Step 2: Gather up a large pot, colander, tin foil and about a cup of baking soda

Step 3: Coat the large pot with tin foil (I used 3 sheets)

Step 4: Pour in the baking soda

Step 5: Add the silver

Step 6: Pour in boiling water and wait 1-2 minutes or until mixture stops bubbling. For larger items like trays and platters, carefully dip the item into the boiling water/baking/soda/tin foil mix. Be sure to use a pot holder–it’s hot!

Step 7: Have a colander ready in your kitchen sink for small items. Remember, to avoid tragedy, make sure to tightly secure your sink stopper (we don’t want anything going down the drain)

Step 8: Carefully pour the silver mix into the colander

Step 9: Rinse

Step 10: Dry with a cloth to remove any excess tarnish and lay flat to dry

And voilà! You’re done. How much better do these pieces look?

Home decor made easy with Hen House Linens

With beauty and fashion, interior design and decorating is up there as one of my faves. That’s why I can’t get enough of Hen House Linens. Carrying a variety of home décor and party items including table linens, pillows, guest towels and more, the line packs in playful prints that are too cute to pass up.

Here are some items I’m majorly crushing on:

16 x 16 Pillow Cover, $27

Place Mat Set of 4, $27

Cocktail Napkins Set of 6, $25

Guest Towel, $10

70 x 90 Tablecloth, $70

To see more of the bright fabrics and designs, shop online at henhouselinens.com.

Celeb-endorsed gifts from Alphabet Photography

Gift-giving is one of my favorite things to do but also one of the most challenging. I have so many friends and family members who have different tastes or have it all.

About a month ago, I got the best gift from Alphabet Photography. The amazing, custom float mount picturing “RR Beauty” is pictured below. I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to write this post because this is one of my all-time favorite things.

The leader in photo letter art, Alphabet Photography has launched an innovative, customizable product that gifts gorgeously for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and even students heading off to college in the next few weeks. With just a few clicks, customers can spell a personalized word and have it seamlessly finished in a chic, modern look that’s ready to hang.

Personalized Float Mount, $99.99.

Jennifer Blakely, founder of Alphabet Photography, spent four years traveling the globe photographing architecture and scenery that resemble letters of the alphabet. Since 2007, Blakely has photographed more than 1,000 Alphabet Photography images in more than 300 cities and 15 countries.

Quickly gaining popularity, Nelly Furtado and Drew Barrymore have endorsed the company’s work and custom pieces have been created for Prince Charles and Kate Middleton, Nicole Scherzinger, Kurt Russell and Matt Dillon.

From individual letters to float mounts (like mine), frames and more, get shopping at alphabetphotography.com.

Happy gifting!

Let’s go glamping!

Today I discovered something new. Well, not really new because I’ve seen people post about it when they’re in the woods staying at a big cabin or lounging in a bikini next to a fire pit. Now, after doing some research and “liking” it on Facebook, I can officially say that glamping is a real thing.

Don’t believe me? Google it.

If you’ve never heard the term, glamping is when you go out into the “wilderness” and stay in a 5-star “tent” offered by establishments like the Four Seasons.

Here’s what glamping looks like if you’re a celebrity:

And here is what glamping looks like when you’re not a celebrity:

Pretty sweet, right? Not only does my inner-self want to spend lots of money on pretending to camp, I’ve come up with some items that are a total “roughing it” must:

The Braided Liliana Hobo bag from Anthropologie will make you look like a boho-soul who loves to be outside (even though you don’t).

This snow cone machine from Crate and Barrel doubles as an adult beverage maker. Enough said.

Nothing says posh like snacking outside with a Mackenzie Childs platter.

You always need sunglasses, so I don’t even have to justify Michael Star’s Rewind Sunnies.

Bon voyage!