This year we’re going to make as many of our holiday decorations as we can by hand. You really don’t have to be an expert crafter to make a simple holiday decoration, and you’d be surprised at how much satisfaction you’ll get in making something yourself. The key is to follow simple instructions and stick with as few ingredients as possible. We’re using super easy craft materials (some from years past) and some found at craft stores and tag sales. One footnote: if you’re planning on keeping up with us in the coming weeks, you might want to invest in a glue gun. Yes, I know it sounds dorky, but seriously, it’s an amazing tool for making almost anything stick–and stay put! We were inspired to make this pine cone ribbon decoration as soon as the pine cones started covering our front lawn, and after seeing a pair of beautifully carved, stone garden ornament pine cones at a flea market this fall. One word to the wise about pine cones: they’re super sticky, and you’ll often find bugs burrowed inside, so before you craft with them, bake them on a cookie sheet in a 200 degree oven for half an hour or so. Bonus: the pine cone scent will stay with you for days! To make a simple pine cone decoration for your door (or really anywhere in your home), we began by plugging in the glue gun so that it was nice and hot. Then, we cut stips of strong, fern green-colored grosgrain ribbon approximately 24 inches long. Next, we folded over the end of each ribbon and glued it to the top of the individual pine cones. Once all of the strips were glued to the pine cones, we embellished each of the thick ribbons with thinner ones using the glue gun. We let this adhere for about ten minutes. Finally, we trimmed off any excess ribbon from the top of the pine cones, to tidy them up. Then we began the glittering process. We used Tacky Glue (our personal favorite) to paint the tips of the pine cones with a thin layer using the handy pointed spout on the bottle. Holding the pine cones by their newly adhered ribbons, we then shook the glitter (think: salt shaker) on to the wet pine cones until enough glitter had stuck. We used silver first, and then green. Finally, we gathered the ribbons together, staggering them a bit, and then tied a very simple knot at the top. This hooked right on to a simple picture-hanging nail on our front door. The entire process took less than half an hour. Not bad! Handmade decorations make great gifts at this time of year for friends hosting holiday parties, and even teacher gifts. If you haven’t got the time or the inclination, that’s okay though. Here are two festive pine cone wreaths we recommend. The wreath on the left is from Sturbridge Yankee Workshop, and on the right, the cool square shaped one, is from Plow & Hearth. Both are $39.95. Happy decorating! – S

Every woman needs a basic black, wear with everything/everywhere, winter coat. Mom is in desperate need of an update, and she’s asked me to do the grunt work to find her some great options to chose from. We both agreed on a budget of under $1,000 (hopefully way under). But if there is one thing we’re willing to splurge on, it’s a well-made winter coat–especially one in versatile black. The truth is, a cheap coat will not keep you warm when the cold weather hits, nor will it look very good. This is the one thing you will wear everyday for the next four months, so invest in something you love! Clockwise from top left: 1. Marc by Marc Jacobs wool-felt military coat at net-a-porter ($570). Both of us own Marc by Marc coats and they have really held up well. Mom has a fantastic one from last season with rabbit hair along the collar and cuffs. Jealous! 2. Theory Parosia puffa coat at net-a-porter ($545). Love the asymmetry of this jacket–makes a formerly utilitarian piece avant-garde! Bonus: the black leather belt comes with it. 3. Vanessa Bruno knit sleeve peacoat at la garconne ($938). Made of 100% fleece wool, this little number is warm and its cut is a more modern take on the classic peacoat–love the peekaboo sleeves too. 4. Givenchy double breasted coat ($840). This is just one example of some of the great deals you can get on designer coats at yoox. And if you live in NYC, check out Century 21–there were some great coats last time we visited. Happy thanksgiving everyone! – L

It’s never too early to start your holiday wish list. In fact, I keep one going in my address book all year round!
1. Alexander Wang Ts at Alexander Wang ($76-118): Perfect tees to wear with your skinny jeans (and everything else), 2.WeSC golden violet headphones at Fred Flare ($65): functional and fashionable–our favorite combination, 3. Yves Saint Laurent Parisienne perfume at Sephora ($39-$85): with notes of blackberry, damask rose, and sandalwood, this is the fragrance of the season, 4. Hope Marian by Lizzie Fortunto Jewels at Urban Outfitters ($28): twin sisters Lizzie and Kathryn’s capsule collection for UO is almost completely sold out, catch it while you can! 5. Rag & Bone Heeled Combat Boot at Otte NY ($495): available in grey, black, and brown, these are the kind of boots I would live in. The heel is not too high, but gives you just enough lift. Now that you guys know what’s on my wish list, I want to know what’s on yours! Do tell! – L

Want to learn about turkey decorated transferware? Go to shelterpop.com to read our story on the festive collectible that adds something special to any Thanksgiving table.

This week, we met one of our favorite textile designers, John Robshaw. John’s fabric’s are made in India using traditional hand-blocking techniques. These exquisite textiles undergo a complicated process of dyeing, printing, weaving, stitching, and worn piqueing (aka distressing) to create their one of a kind appearance. His bed linens and pillows have been featured in magazines like House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Lucky, and In Style to name a few.Below, Lauren, John, and me in his beautiful showroom in Midtown, Manhattan. The tall windows surrounding the space let in so much great natural light. John travels to India several times each year to oversee the production of his textiles and to experiment with new dyeing and printing techniques alongside local artisans. The technique of hand-blocking used to create his prints come from an ancient technique dating back centuries.A close-up of some of John’s blankets and duvet covers.
One of the wood blocks used to print the designs on to the fabric. Aren’t the details amazing? John describes the blocking technique as such: “It’s so simple and natural. You touch a woodblock to wet clay and then to the fabric. After the clay dries, you dip the cloth into the indigo vat and the clay stays on. One dip gives the fabric a sky-blue color, two dips and it deepens to cobalt, three dips and its a saturated midnight blue. Then the fabric is laid out to dry in the sun and later the clay is washed off. The dyer says the indigo vats are like a mistress because they need constant attention. I was completely fascinated by the dyeing and printing processes, as well as how the finished product is used. Textiles become intimate companions in daily life, whether as a pillow, bed cover or sarong.”
A wall of textiles in the entryway of the showroom. John’s textiles invoke a painterly aesthetic in the traditional method of block-printing by mixing up patterns and overlapping them in a more formally artistic way. The results are exquisite.
To set a table with his napkins and table linens? Oh yes.
John recently teamed up with Cisco Brothers furniture to put his fabrics on a series of chairs and sofas designed by John Derian. Looks like a wonderful collaboration to us. Below, a sampling of some of our favorite John Robshaw pillows. Clockwise from top left: this cheery, bright yellow fabric is from John’s vintage collection. Each pillow is one of a kind, made from vintage fabrics from India. The pillows on the upper right hand side are hand painted by an artist in India–we were taken by the soft colors and whimsy of them. Bottom row: a collection of pillows made from John’s textiles. The designer’s foray into fashion! We love these robes for both men and women. Apparently they’re coming out with a shorter, more feminine version soon too. To see more of John’s textile designs go to his website at johnrobshaw.com. – S & L

This Thanksgiving, more than ever before, we long for tradition, comfort, and simplicity. So many families have tightened their belts, but wherever possible, they’re finding a way to come together for a special family meal. Decorating the Thanksgiving table doesn’t have to cost a lot, or require a full day of crafting (though I’ve certainly been there, done that). This year it’s just a matter of planning ahead and keeping it simple. I spent so many years helping to generate and produce ideas for Thanksgiving celebrations that I feel really comfortable recommending a few easy ideas to help you make this holiday a memorable one. Although we’re spending the holiday with my extended family, we’ll still have our own immediate family dinner over the weekend. Lauren and I like to roll up our sleeves and prepare a feast of oven roasted turkey, gravy, stuffing (with sausage in our house), brussel sprouts, and sweet potatoes. As for the table setting, that’s usually done the night before. Less to worry about when we’re cooking in kitchen. If you’ve got the space, we highly recommend doing this. It’s fun for everyone to look at as the day progresses. This Thanksgiving, our table decorations are going to be really edited. Below, our dining room table all “Thanksgiving-ed up!”
We started by creating a makeshift runner out of freshly pressed linen napkins, laying them down next to each other in a row down the center of the table. The runner becomes the first layer on top of which all of the colorful and interesting objects rest. If you love your dining room table (and want to show it off), sometimes it’s nice to use a runner instead of a full tablecloth. We like to use a variety of sized serving pieces like the glass ones you see here, but also compotes, trifle bowls and even cake stands. If they’re low enough, this can look really beautiful. Fill them with gourds, clementines, pears, and nuts waiting to be cracked. We also love using clear glass vessels as well as clear votives scattered across the runner. The glasses we’re using came from a consignment store excursion early last summer. The centerpiece, above and below, is a two tiered iron basket that we purchased years ago, and it’s the perfect container for a colorful assortment of orange, yellow and white gourds, which are plentiful at this time of year. Ideally the centerpiece doesn’t interfere with the passing of dishes, or the view to the other side of the table. Forgo the expensive floral arrangement this year and pick up small plants like these from your local grocer or nursery. They’ll last long after the holiday has passed. Colorful orange placemats (from Target) and chocolate brown linen napkins add color and interest. We’ve become enamored recently with combining only white and clear glass as accessories not only on the dinner table, but also on tabletops throughout the house. On a recent visit to Circa Antiques, in Westport, Connecticut, we were inspired by this simplest of table settings with very little color, but using all organic materials, glass, and white earthenware. Just stunning.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t share our favorite Martha Stewart Thanksgiving table setting ideas from the archives. Below left, using felt, one of our favorite craft materials, to fashion leaf trivets strong enough to withstand the heat of the warmest dishes as they arrive on the table (image from Martha Stewart Living magazine, November 2007). And below right, a table setting showing how simple it is to bring the outside in with edible decorations. The containers here are actual emptied and dried out gourds of all sizes. N.B: Apply a sealant such as Behlen’s Salad Bowl Finish and let it dry before placing food in gourds. (image from Martha Stewart Living magazine, November 2004)
Do you have a favorite table setting idea? Please share! – S & L

If you’re up early, call in to the Morning Show on Martha Stewart Radio today at (1-866-675-6675). We’re scheduled for a half hour at 9:30 ET. Go to Martha Stewart Living Radio: SIRIUS Ch. 112, XM Ch. 157 (Part of the Best of SIRIUS) Don’t have Sirius XM? Stream it live from sirius.com. If you’re not a subscriber, click on: Listen Online and sign up for 30 days free streaming. Martha Stewart Living Radio: SIRIUS Ch. 112, XM Ch. 157 (Part of the Best of SIRIUS)