Phil says there are going to be six more weeks of winter. Why console yourself by grabbing a copy of Groundhog Day and laughing at Bill Murray tonight?

image from amazon.com

Happy New Year from everyone at Design Public! We are looking forward to spending more time with you in 2010. While I received a pretty good cocktail guide from Gwynnie over at GOOP, my favorite is the Mad Men one on amc.com:

image from amc.com

Oh, again, this comes from the Etsy there’s no place like here flickr group, this time from member GeorgiaPeachez (check out her blog here). This is such a ReadyMade-worth reuse I can’t even stand it. Can you teach me how to make me something from my probably-dangerous 10-year old tiny white lights? I feel really guilty throwing them away, but I watch Hoarders too often to keep them.

photo by GeorgiaPeachez

I was just perusing The Storque Blog over at Etsy after reading this really interesting article in The New York Times yesterday, and I found a flickr group where Etsy peeps share their Christmas trees. It’s awesome.

This Smurfalicious tree is from flickr member PollyPainting.

So, we aren’t that great about posting pictures of holiday decorations here at Hatch. We used to beg you guys to send us pictures of your decorations, and now I’ve just relied on other blogs to school me on the subject. Do you have any favorites? I’ve been digging The City Sage this week. From goofy holiday cards to non-traditional trees, it’s full of decorating both of the Martha Stewart type and the funky independent Swedish avante garde type, and everything in between.

photo via from Canadian House and Home (by the way, I LOVE that magazine! It’s helping me fill the void left by the loss of some of my favorite shelter mags of late), via The City Sage.

I don’t do a whole lot of Christmas decorating, but a little wooden villa model and some greens made for a good base for gifts at a party the other night. Just thought I’d share it with you! Also, I am still recovering from said party – does anyone know how to get red wine out of a rug that’s been there for a few days?

Sorry to deviate away from inspiring home design ideas, but I have to share the look my 3 year old niece presented me when I gave her a zid zid kids bird cushion:

Needless to say, she liked her gift.

I know a major round of holidays just ended and the last thing anyone wants to think about is another holiday. I also know that a lot of people are not too gung-ho with what will soon be coming our way…Valentine’s Day. Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but the fact is V-day is approaching and whether you are super, semi or hope to be chummy with your love he/she probably wants a small token of appreciation whether you like it or not. So, I thought I would collect some of my favorite Design Public Valentine’s Day-ish gift ideas…

For the guy/gal you feel a super strong attachment to, one of these may symbolize your love. You’d be surprised by how many pieces we have of two people attached to one another…

1.) A Hybrid-Home Anatomical Print:

2.) Donna Wilson Creatures – Terry Tina: Read the rest of this entry »

A very merry New Year from Design Public! Always fun to start a new year with fresh excitement and anticipation for what may lie ahead in the world of design.

As a little teaser, next week we’ll be doing…

Each day we’ll post articles chock full of tips and inspiration from favorite bloggers, DP designers, professional organizers and DP staff members to help you get your home in order. Get your cleaning clothes on and pop open a beverage of choice…it is time to get organized!

My first ever attempt at a gingerbread house with my three year old niece. It came out a bit messy, was almost a disaster and not all the modern pre-fab home I was shooting for (trying to teach the three year old to appreciate modern design may take a bit of time) but at least it was a cavity invoking treat to make!

Happy Holidays from Design Public!