Happy 2017 everyone! Sorry for the delay, but we all know that sometimes a break is necessary. Between getting sick just before Christmas and taking some time to spend with family, I decided to put things on hold during the holidays. However, let me assure you it was worth the wait!

Big things (literally) are here for you to enjoy as you cozy up at home this January!

For some time now I've been seeing "giant knitting" and loving the look! However, I was afraid to purchase, based on the fact that I thought they would fall apart and be too delicate for actual use. I am happy to report that is not the case! I came across the online shop of Boston maker, Morgan Metz - Loose Knits, and loved the work she was doing and had to find out more!

Clearly this was fate, right? Giant Knits AND Boston?! <3 #dbsobsessed

This throw is the perfect addition to any room! It comes in a great bag (see below), should you want to store it -- who would hide this -- and my favorite thing about Morgan's knits, as opposed to others I have seen, has to be the unique herringbone knitting pattern she uses. I am so in love. As you can see, I sometimes keep it on the back of the fold-out I have (which is otherwise hideous), and at other times I keep it on the couch, so it is ready for some serious snuggling. This chunky knit blanket packs a big punch in the warmth deparment, and is incredibly soft!

And yes, I ACTUALLY use it, so I have been able to see that while there is some initial shedding, it really is not nearly as delicate as I initially expected. Toward the bottom of this post, you will see that there are some close-ups of a blue blanket. These are from a blanket of Morgan's that she has been regularly using for over a year. As you can see, it is in great shape!

Because I love that she lived in Boston (aka I am totally jealous), I asked Morgan to tell me not only about her knits, but also about her connection to that amazing city, as well as to tell us about some of her favorite spots:
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 "I'm actually from Florida originally, and moved up to Boston for college and fell in love with the city instantly. Freshman year is when I really started getting into knitting. It started just as a way to relax, and it slowly turned into a full blown addiction. Now when I'm not knitting, I work full time in clinical oncology research, and knitting is still the best thing to destress and decompress. I just naturally gravitated to the bulky yarns even from the beginning. So as the years went by I just kept searching for thicker and softer yarns. I quickly realized that mass produced yarns only went so chunky, and most unfortunately were acrylic (which is a petroleum based product). That's when I decided to reach out to local farms in the area, and I discovered roving and thats how the idea for Loose Knits came to be. 

As for favorite places to eat in Boston...
-Tatte Bakery- Has amazing pastries (the raspberry fruit box is my personal favorite), drinks, and sandwiches. Perfect for a knitting break snack!
-Tremont 647- Best brunch place in Boston hands down. Homemade poptarts and ridiculously good coffee. Always has a great throw back playlist playing and all the waiters wear their pajamas.
-SOWA Open Market- This isn't necessarily a restaurant. Its an artisan market/farmers market/food truck gathering that is open only Summer Sundays. Between all the delicious freshly made goodies from the farmers market and some amazing food truck, what more could a girl ask for! They also opened a beer and wine garden there this past season. Loose Knits will have a market booth at SOWA in 2017!
-Tasting Counter- Technically in Somerville, but this place is heaven for any serious foodie! Its a 9 course completely chef curated dining experience. The chefs cook right in front of you. It is definitely for special occasions."

I can certainly vouch for Tremont 647 as well. Many a brunch, many a bottle of bubbles, many gossipy mornings.... MEMORIES.

Let me start this post by telling you that this is going to be a bit different from the typical dbsobsessed post. Because Christmas decor is just about my favorite thing in the world (she typed while sitting by the fireplace, blasting Christmas music), there are many incredible artists and makers that I have been working with in order to provide you with a bit of an online 'holiday bazaar', complete with MAJOR DISCOUNTS! So, read on and find out all about the look I went for when decorating this year, as well as how to nab those deals!

I need to introduce you to these FAB finds ASAP, so more info will come over the next week in terms of details on how I love to use these pieces to make my space special, but for now... BUY!

This year I knew that I wanted to go with a new look for Christmas, given the new look I have gone with for my living room. I went from a warm and cozy space that began to feel cluttered instead of cozy, to my version of Scandinavian.
Let's call it 'Warm Scandinavian Chic', shall we?

The changes I made to the living room were to get rid of a large and leaning Crate and Barrel wall storage system and to paint from a beige color to a warm white (the famed Swiss Coffee). Additionally, I moved a large longhorn sculpture (from Restoration Hardware) onto the big living room wall from another room and eliminated most of the wall decor that was previously in the living room. The final big change was to put the TV above the fireplace and get a mantle (FINALLY --- more on that below)!

In putting together this look for the holidays I wanted to focus on unique pieces from different makers. I didn't want something that I would see in everyone else's house. Yes, I love a Target decoration every now and then, and you will find some here, but I didn't want everything to be so cookie-cutter.​

Hands down, the best thing I did for my apartment decor, holiday or otherwise, was add this floating shelf 'mantle' from Rollins Rustic Designs.  Having a fireplace is such a perk in an apartment, but not having a mantle REALLY takes away from the whole situation. This shelf was easy to install, available in a number of colors to make sure it was perfect for the look I was going for, and fully customizable in terms of size!

I will be able to easily take it down when I move and patch the holes, without screwing with my apartment deposit. After having hung the tv above my fireplace, the addition of this mantle really made all the difference!

For the holidays, I added this incredible sign (Merry Christmas... can you guess the language?), some real and fake candles, gorgeous greenery from Toby's Trees at Heather Farms in Walnut Creek, and ornaments and stockings hung from some simple hooks. I LOVE the end result and can't get enough of sitting in front of this space!

These signs have 100% MADE the look for my desired theme. Keena's designs, both custom and otherwise, are such a festive and gorgeous addition to any holiday setup that is not looking to be too over-the-top in terms of color. I can't get enough of the 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' chalkboard look. It is great for hanging or placing on a dresser or bookcase, as I have here. It is so classically rustic and lends itself to being themed however you would like to have your holiday decor look. Another win for the apartment dweller! No matter what look I am going for in the coming years, this sign is going to work!

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How about this natural looking wood sign?! This is SUCH A BEAUTY! As I mentioned, I wanted to go for 'Warm Scandinavian Chic'. I guessed I better make sure to add something Scandinavian, beyond the sparse white walls! With this in mind, I asked Keena to create a sign for my mantle, with the words 'Gladelig Jul', Danish for Merry Christmas.
OH WAIT I DIDN'T DOUBLE CHECK AND SENT HER SOME WEIRD AMERICANIZED VERSION OF THE SPELLING.
​So, it should have been 'Glaedelig Jul', but I actually don't care at all and love it anyway! The writing is gorg, the size and color are perfect and lend themselves to the same diverse options for theme as does the other sign.

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Keena is a joy to work with and is VERY communicative and willing to work to collaborate with you on custom orders, to make sure she is doing just what you want, and that you love the finished product. Let me reiterate about the spelling mishap: this was ALL on me, and I confirmed and reconfirmed the spelling with her. #DERP

I currently have Keena working on a sign that will be used for ongoing blog photoshoots, branding the images in an organic way. Stay tuned for more on that front. I can't wait to see how it turns out and to share it with you!

Below you will find some of the other signs available in theKeenaAlyceDesigns shop!

When making purchases for decorating an apartment, whether for a holiday or any other time of year, there is one thing I always have to remind myself of: where the hell are you going to keep it when you don't have it out?!

I used to be a BIG fan of having different throw pillows for a variety of seasons, but I not only hated the actual pillow quality, I also had so many seasonal pillows stuffed into the tiny closet space I had in previous apartments! That was until I came acrossElemenOPillows on Etsy! I literally ONLY use these on my 24x24 throw pillows and change them out based on the season, or any other whim I may have. As you can see, I am currently mixing it up with red to go with the green sofa, for a perfect Christmas look!

And don't worry... Alfie FULLY approves.

Here are some other great holiday options from ElemenOPillows. Make sure to use code 'ElemenOPillows2016' for 10% off any order made in 2016!

Anytime someone uses the following to describe the work they do, I know I am dealing with a winner: "The common theme in many of my creations is the regal Dachshund. I’m owned by a Doxie and find their image brings a smile and laugh to almost everyone. They are ambassadors of absurd joy and that’s the essence of what I try to put out to the world in my creations."

So. Much. Yes.

It's no secret that I too am owned by a dachshund, so these cards and garland were a MUST have for my holiday season to be complete. If you know a doxie lover, or are one yourself, visit PeaceMealArt and take advantage of the great offer on some very special pieces.

I love giving gifts more than your average person. So, holiday shopping is always a time of joy and insane spending for me. I love the feeling of giving someone the PERFECT gift! Now, with all of that giving in mind, you might think that you are about to read about something I bought for someone else for Christmas, right? Well, it is a story of finding the perfect gift for someone, but that someone, in this case, is ME!

How amazing is it when you pop into a small shop or online store that is totally in-keeping with your style?! I mean, on one hand it is terrifying, because you literally NEED all of the things, but on the other hand it is thrilling! Well, I recently had this feeling when I discovered sbynumart // sallie bynum anzelmo art + decor.

Honestly, it is borderline weird how much this shop speaks to what I love... gold, white, oysters, animal hides, wine, antlers, tassels, wreaths... IT'S ALL THERE.

So, buckle up, because we are about to embark upon a visual journey through the
gilded and gorgeous pieces from sallie bynum anzelmo.

Let's start with the glassware. Hand painted with golden oysters, in a number of colors. These are so unique and beautiful. I don't know about you but I am OBSESSED with raw oysters, so I live for these glasses. Personally, I have been using them for cocktails, and think they are perfect for use as a cocktail glass!

Worried about whether or not you have what it takes to maintain hand painted glasses? Read on:

​Glassware Care:  "We recommend gentle hand washing to clean your S.Bynum glassware. Although the paint and processes used to create your glassware may result in a “dishwasher safe” product, the harsh chemicals and high temperatures of various dishwashers may damage the paint.  “Dishwasher safe” is not guaranteed. Also, do not let your glass “soak” in water."

The glassware in this line is handcrafted with a specialty glass paint that is manufactured to be top rack dishwasher safe but Sallie does state that she prefers customers hand wash. Her work is carried in many boutiques across the gulf states, east coast, and even Indiana. I am so glad I came across these gems, even though I am out here in California!

Before we go on with the pieces I love most, let's get to know more about Sallie!

 From spending time on her family’s farm, to enjoying life along the Louisiana gulf coast, Sallie Bynum Anzelmo has a passion for painting and designing pieces inspired by the colors, textures, and natural elements that surround her life in the South.  After teaching art for nearly ten years, she now focuses on her growing business,
Sallie Bynum Anzelmo Art & Design.
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Sallie currently resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with her husband, Charles, and bluetick coonhound, Mamie Blue and British Lab, Gunner. Working with oils, acrylics, graphite, and multiple texture mediums she creates a variety of compositions depicting the environments that have been her inspiration since childhood. Her one of a kind décor items, signature gold oyster shells, and paintings can be found in various locations throughout the Gulf States and East Coast.

What I am currently loving most about this entire line is that it works so well for Christmas decor! Something that would clearly also work for any summer look, these gold accented oyster shell trinket dishes are such a crisp yet rich addition to holiday decorations.

The same is true of this divine oyster shell ornament, which is anything but Christmas-specific! This would be great hanging from a ceiling fan pull at a beach house, hanging in a garden or as part of a seriously decadent chandelier! 

"I never thought of myself as crafty, but I wanted something to do while my husband and I watched TV so I started to crochet and knit.  One day I saw an adorable embroidery on a random Buzzfeed article and I thought "hey, I bet I could do that!" I taught myself how to make them and started giving them out as gifts.  Once I had covered my sister's wall in hoops, she suggested I open an Etsy shop and so I did!  I'm hoping to add some knit headbands and clutches to the shop soon.

If you could, please stress that I would love to create custom orders for people.  Recently I made a custom piece for a customer and I've attached a photo of that.  I love to work with people to make something they will truly love." 

Here is a post that has been a long time coming and one I am thrilled to be sharing, finally! I am lucky enough to have an amazing friend name Emily, who knows how to throw a killer party and is kind enough to let me assist in her doing so! This year was the second annual Friendsgiving at Emily's house, and it was an affair to remember!

The decor was (as always) gorgeous, the food was incredible and the company was unbeatable.

When thinking of what I could bring to the (literal) table this year, I decided that I wanted to do something that would act as not only something to eat, but an interactive and engaging part of the party, to get everyone chatting and gathered together, prior to dinner.

As fate would have it, my friends at Cowgirl Creamery JUST came out with a wonderful 'Fondue Redux' collection, and I was inspired to try my hand at a full-blown fondue set up! I was instantly in love, and plan to show you more fondue fun in the future!

I am happy to say that everyone seemed to love the fondue table, and it was a great place for everyone to gather before dinner. I will be doing it again for sure! I did the fondue from the collection and recipe in the Cowgirl Creamery Fondue Redux Collection, as well as the Emmi Pre-Made Fondue, with a number of accompaniments. 

With the fondue I served: Dill pickles, sweet baguette, sour baguette, sugared-currant breadsticks, roasted garlic, grapes, grape tomatoes, green apples, new potatoes+ broccoli. 

I know it sounds like a lot, but it was so fun to be able to try all of the different combinations and I would recommend any and all of the options we went with.

Another special touch from the table that I was in LOVE with, was this Wood Slice Art from mlejay on Etsy! I am so in awe of the work she does, and can't wait to show you more from her, in the wonderful world of holiday decor! BUT, the good news is that you don't have to wait to start shopping! Now through December 10th, 2016, use the code 'DBSHOLIDAY' at the mlejay Etsy shop for 20% off your entire order!

What's not to love about my newest obsession, Southern Draw Designs?! I came across this gem of a shop on Etsy and instantly fell in love with everything that was being made by owner Charlotte, out of her Georgia-based studio! She describes her shop and passion for making by simply saying that she has "always had a passion for creating beautiful and unique home decor items. Each piece reflects my appreciation and love for rustic details and beautiful typography".

​While I can't wait to show you her whole shop, there is one thing that REALLY caught my eye, and I cannot wait to share the most bad-ass decor item you ever saw (see what I did there)!

Talk about a unique addition to wall decor... I am so in love with my 'Fortune Favors the Bold' hand-painted sign, that I simply had to see what else this Southern Belle of a maker, with a serious edge, was creating. Suffice it to say, I was not disappointed. Here are some of my personal favorites!

How could I not love these unique and beautiful thank you cards? 'Thanks a Bunch' of daffodils, indeed.

​It's time for another feature, and this is one I have been beyond excited to share with you. The look of the items created by Jessica Cortes of SoLoMarket is  SO my style. So yes, I am fully #dbsobsessed. With the Holiday Gift Guide now up and running, how could I not start with these babies?! I don't know anyone who wouldn't LOVE seeing something from this shop, wrapped under the tree.

I am going to mix things up on this one and let you read Jessica's story first. Here is how she describes herself and her amazing business:

"I'm a creative Stay-at-Home-Mom to almost four little ones, who began missing the interior design world after having been an Interior Designer for the last 17 years (with a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design degree). I sometimes missed the projects and creative work so I decided to open a shop and sell the vintage things I love (note from DBS: Jessica is phasing out the vintage finds on her site at the moment, so look for great deals).  

Then at the beginning of 2016, I decided I wanted to look at entering the handmade world of Etsy.  Don't get me wrong, I was still enjoying the hunt for awesome vintage finds, but was starting to find my time limited for that due to my little ones...hard to get a good haul of furniture and decor items with three carseats taking up space in our minivan! ;)  So my husband and I started brainstorming for cool ideas we could do, but some of the stuff we came up with was already being made and sold on Etsy and we didn't want to encroach on another individual's idea. 

Why don't we reproduce it ourselves and make it a more modern, contemporary version of the vintage one?  So I spent the following 24 hours researching how to go about doing our own clocks and posted our exclusive Made to Order listing that evening.  We received 6 orders within an hour!  We got to creating and building our SoLo Agate Clocks and now we are official clock makers!  I will say my favorite part is figuring out the best placement/position for the agate on the base and/or stand and deciding what looks best by using either roman numerals, dots, dashes and brass, white and/or black clock hands.  The "design" of the clock takes me back to when I designed commercial interiors.  It's seeing the end product come together that I love the most!  Each SoLo Agate Stone Clock is made by us exclusively :)

In addition to the clocks, I started thinking what else could I do with agate since I LOVE the stone and all the colors it offers and thought what about a keychain or purse charm...I wanted it to be something inexpensive and unique and liked the idea of adding an accessory.  So in the beginning of August I started making that product and brought 28 agate keychains home with us on our two week vacation to WI to visit my family.  All my friends and family went crazy over them and I ended up selling all 28!  At the same time, I had listed them in my shop and the orders started rolling in.  They are a cute item to add to your keychain, handbag and/or diaper bag even.  Just something stylish and with 9 colors and 3 styles of hardware to choose from, there is something for everyone :)

I love this SO much and I need it in so many colors. What a great way to bring some personality to an otherwise plain bag. I especially love it with the tan Mark and Graham bag with my initials. The black fringe CC Skye bag is a clearly perfect pal for some agate and gold as well! 

First of all, how cute is the name 'Inspired Peaces'? I am in love with this Etsy shop that sells functional items with inspirational messages. Talk about the perfect gift! 

I was lucky enough to come across Taisha (a girl boss from NY) and her shop, while looking for fun and functional items for my office! But, before we get to the goodies, here is a bit about Taisha:

"I am a maker at heart. I love creating things with my hands. If I can figure out how it works, I rather make it/do it myself! I work full time at a regular 9-5 and have an almost 2 year old daughter. My shop is my way of keeping my maker spirit alive and as important, a way to encourage others. A way to spread hope and faith.  Life is tough and we all need hope, some days more than others. So...in a little corner in my home, I print my mugs and I work on my wood pieces.  Each one, every order is made by me. And each order is special to me. There is a person behind that order who may well need encouraging and who chose my shop to spend their hard earned money.  I try to reflect my appreciation through my packaging. I normally write out a name tag, a special note and a thank you."

What an amazing message! As you will see in the pieces (peaces?!) highlighted below, while some do have a religious message, others do not. The point being that there is something for everyone in this adorable shop!

This set of three wooden spoons, each with a great message, is a fun gift with some sweet sentiment attached. Housewarming? Tie on to a Christmas gift as part of the wrapping bow? The possibilities are endless!

Even the packaging and hand-written note from Taisha were works of art! You better believe these are both on display in my office!

And now, my personal favorite, and the item that brought me to this shop! While this mug would of course only be a fit for some people, it really resonated with me and I knew it was the PERFECT item to sit on my desk as a source of daily encouragement and motivation!

Here are a few more items that Taisha sells in her shop:

Coming to you from Oceanside, California, here's a real treat for those of you who love bath bombs! Bare Naked Bath is an Etsy shop that makes TRULY AMAZING bath bombs, bubble bars and other bath goodies. They look great, feel fabulous and smell so good that I have never in my life wanted smell-o-vision to be real, more than I do now. No words can describe the magical unicorn-like bliss of the smell of these products. When dropped in a tub, the purple and white Sparkling Snowdrops transform into what can only be described as a liquid fairy tale.

Two other facts about this shop that make me #dbsobsessed:

1. The prices are great! Compared to something like Lush - wait, there is no comparison.. And while there are many people making and selling bath bombs on Etsy for lower prices than the big brands, they are NOT all high quality. I have been lucky enough to find some great shops that do (more to come on that later), but have found some not-so-great bulk sellers as well.
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2. They come in collections/boxes! How fun is it that they are seasonal groupings that allow you to try out new things each time? Speaking of which... Can you say perfect for the GIFT GUIDE?! What a fun present for the person who has it all (and likes to take baths). Fun little indulgences that someone may not be inclined to purchase as a treat for themselves. What a great idea!

 A bit more on the concept of these boxes: The boxes will be a monthly, themed feature and each is handcrafted by shop owner and product maker, Tiara! They contain between seven and nine indulgences in each box  (always be at least three bath bombs, two average sized and one larger and two bubble bars). Other items that are included are anything from perfume sprays, roll-on perfumes, lotions, lip scrubs or balms, salt or sugar scrubs, soaps, and/or nail polish. Most items or fragrances are box-exclusive and won't be available in the regular shop inventory. As a bonus, some boxes will include something from another Etsy Handmade seller, allowing you to discover something new!

I'm back from a much needed vacation (so much to tell on that front- stay tuned) and thrilled to bring you another amazing maker that you simply need to know about! Why? Because I am #dbsobsessed, of course!

While I love an embroidery hoop of almost any kind, I know that the country look/feel of some of them are not for everyone. For that reason, I love the more minimalist look of the hoops done by Lindsey White at Urbann Nest!

Crisp, clean, cute and different from many decor items you see, these are GREAT!

For me, this piece that says 'Life is Too Short to Wait' is just perfect for my office. Having a go-getter attitude is everything in terms of running your own business. I know that complacency in the work world will get me nowhere, so I love looking at this hoop from that perspective. 
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However, it clearly has a great message from a personal perspective as well, and given that I have committed to going out and experiencing more things in this 33rd year of my life, it is a perfect fit.

There is something for everyone in this great shop! Here are some more Urbann Nest favorites of mine:

So what's the story behind this great shop? Here's what Lindsey has to say on the matter:

"I've always loved being creative and I've been able to explore more of that in college. I studied photography for the first two years, but when I took my first weaving class I immediately changed my major to fibers and I loved it! When my husband and I moved to Utah about a year and a half ago I started my Etsy shop to help keep myself inspired and motivated since I wasn't in the fiber program anymore. I began making woven wall hangings and soon added travel themed embroideries. I traveled a bit when I was younger, but when I met my husband he really inspired me to love travel and I wanted to share that feeling with my embroideries.

I love the minimal aesthetic so I try to keep my work semi-minimal and I think travel quotes are the best way to go! I think it's so important to surround yourself with what you love so we strive to create simple and modern pieces that will add style to any home.

I've had the opportunity to sell my work at a few different local markets and I have some of my products available at a store called HERE in Provo, Utah which has been a great experience. I love sharing my art with others and hope to do so even more in the coming future. One of my motto's is to say yes to as much as I can and with it's really brought me a great experience with my shop and in sharing what I love to do."