elfing it

It took me a long time to appreciate succulents.  As a matter of fact, it wasn't until I began my study on sustainable gardening that I completely changed my view on the amazing, self-sufficient, and beautiful ways of the succulents. This Living Succulent Wreath is as eco-friendly as it gets. It will continue to grow with very little sprayed water, providing long-lasting beauty for your enjoyment. Plants can be replanted when they grow too large to be contained on the wreath. So amazing and lovely.

Unfortunately, it takes 4-6 weeks to arrive, so you'll miss the Christmas deadline, and it is not inexpensive at $190 for a 16" wreath. It is justified though. They are hand-made with specialized skills.  I recommend it as a gift for housewarming, thank you, or new home. They're simply too beautiful to ignore.

 For the modernist in your life, a mid-century styled gingerbread house for the holidays. Quite nice, though less festive than the traditional house ($55) and more expensive. Believe it or not, it's not easy to create. Large pieces of gingerbread are fragile, and because of its odd shape, they require more time to assemble.

$78 at RedEnvelope. (Allow 5 extra days for delivery, with or without personalization.)

via ThisNext

These gorgeous John Derian plates are handmade in New York by Derian, with assistance from a small group of artisans.  Derian uses decoupage, the art of cutting and gluing paper to surfaces, to create designs of antique images and letters. Single plates can be given as a great collectible or sets of plates can be given as highly functional dinnerware. The $44-$48 cost is quite reasonable for their artisan quality and unique designs. The Red Letter Plates are 5-3/4" and go for $44-$48. They can be purchased at at JohnDerian or ShopatGood.

My other favorite Derian picks...

5-3/4" Plates $48

 

 

 

 

 

Dome Paperweights $60

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reader Comments (1)

 

November 17, 2007 | Chief Elfen

I think I'll add these to my wishlist. I got one for Greg and Melissa and had a really hard time sending it to them.

How about a hand-written page from Napoleon? And a love story of all things. In Paris today, one page from Napoleon's manuscript about an ill-fated love affair will be auctioned off for around $29,000 to $44,000.

From Forbes.com on Dec 1, 2007...

The tale is about a young officer who befriends two sisters and falls in love with the more spiritual of the two. The story was loosely based on Napoleon's short-lived romance with Desiree Clary, the sister of his brother's wife.

The page has been part of a private French family collection since the 1950s. Before then, it belonged to Andre de Coppet, a financier who amassed a significant set of Napoleonic memorabilia in the early 20th century.

The manuscript is estimated at between $29,500 and $44,300, but is expected to sell for more than the base price, said Jean-Pierre Osenat, auctioneer at the Osenat auction house of the Fontainebleau outside Paris.

If you think $44,000 is a bit much, how about $557,000? This was what someone paid for one of Napleon's love letter to his mistress Josephine. The love letter sold for five times the original estimated price of $100,000. As one commenter perfectly responded, "Someone has too much money." [via ABC News]

What better way to greet your guests, before you even answer the door. Peace. It soothes the soul. Though not a part of Feng Shui practices, I'll it would get a nod of approval nonetheless. Hand-crafted using organic Shore Pine gathered from the Pacific Northwest, this 18" Peace Wreath is available at Organic Bouquet for $64.95.