Coquette

DIY for the Holidays: How to Wrap Gifts with Fabric

This month has been a crazy/busy crafty month for me. I've been traveling to all kinds of craft holiday fairs on the weekends and yesterday afternoon appeared again on the local Bay Area show "The View from the Bay" to show you how to wrap your holiday gifts with fabric -- the Japanese art of Furoshiki. I also showcased a few other quick and easy DIY projects to help decorate your home or tree. It's been fun to work on all the projects for the show so I hope you like this really fun and easy technique for wrapping that's good for the environment too!

Watch the Video
Project Links on craftzine.com

This is my second time on the TV show. I went on a couple months ago to show off one of the projects from the premier issue of CRAFT. How to make a light switch cover from a vintage tie. That project video is here.

Web Snob Roundup

Stylebites dishes out tips on looking red carpet ready for every holiday party.

Aesthetics + Economics - Haute for the Holidays Pt I: the first installation in a series of holiday style recommendations.

Bag Snob - Brooke's Hope- Help save a soul..

Fashiontribes - Whether you celebrate 8 days or 12, Fashiontribes finds the Top 10 best gifts that give back.

Kristopher Dukes says Gift It: Swarovski Orchid Rodo Clutch. Boys aren't born knowing diamonds aren't a girl's only BFF, so gift yourself this clutch.

Second City Style concluded their 12 Days of Christmas (Shopping) of staff picks. Here is a link to a recap (or a little last minute inspiration).

The Jewelry Weblog reports on Lindsay Lohan's latest jewelry score.

LA Story - Get Your Holiday Glam On with NARS Holiday Collection. A SPECIAL Face Chart Just for US!

Glamour on a Budget is all about Fake Eyelashes: The Ultimate "Natural Look": The ultimate fake-o is disarmingly natural if you use nothing else on your face...and by 'nothing' I mean concealer, a bit of powder and lip gloss.

eBeautyDaily - Things Christina is wishing Santa to bring this year. :)

Stylehive - iPods, Nanos, Shuffles, oh my! Get the Top 5 iPods and iPod accessories at Stylehive.

Girlawhirl can mix and measure in her Prep Bowls from Mario Batali

Winter White

Wear white with sophistication this winter with plenty of shades to choose from as well as styles, like this Chelsea coat by Augustine ($440 on girlshop.com). How you wear white as well as what piece you choose will help define your entire look. Tie together a winter white outfit with brown or black accessories or give a peek of color with silk shirts. Find pieces with cool textures and knit patterns that are decidedly different and definitely not your easy breezy summer whites. Winter White has a classic modern edge you just can't resist!

Need more Winter White inspiration? Look no further than these winter fashions:

Chloe Jersey Baby Doll Dress ($925)

By Francie Cropped Popcorn Sweater ($182)

Anthropologie Turtleneck sweater dress ($168)

Charlotte Ronson Cable Knit Sweater Neck Scarf ($121)

Nordstrom Cable Cashmere Beret ($42)

Calvin Klein Waxed Calf Mini Tote ($460)

Circle Skirts

A young fresh take on the bubble skirt that's sweeping fashion is a mini-circle skirt version. This look also looks great with tights or leggings. Picture here is the Kimchi and Blue Deep Pleat Skirt from Urban Outfitters ($58).

Lux Wool Flannel Circle Skirt ($58)

Lux Knit Pleat Circle Skirt ($48)

The Octonauts & The Only Lonely Monster

Meomi is one of my favorite illustrators and makers of cute craft goods. I've got a few of their cute desktop wallpapers for my computer to make me happy when I work. Now they have their very own children's book out called The Octonauts & The Only Lonely Monster ($15.95) . I love collecting children's illustration books and this one is a keeper -- filled with lots of pages of beautiful digital illustration. I love all the shading on the animals and scenes that gives them a nice 3Dish look.

The book is a story about these adorable animals who go out on special adventures in their Octopod. Helloooo, how can you resist a story of adventure with cute animals? I love their travels around the world especially into Japan. The illustrations just draw you in and this book is a perfect holiday gift for the kids or the kid in you!

Here are the Meomi iPod cozies taken by my friend Chrissa at Magpie in Somerville, MA.

Web Snob Round Up

Stylehive shows you how to accessorize your party dress with these intricate Lara Bohinc's Art Deco gold hoop earrings.

Bag Snob says, "'Tis the season to spend wisely!" with Net-a-porter's winter sale extravaganza.

Fashiontribes shows how a bubble skirt makes a flattering holiday ensemble -- get a Fendi runway look for less.

Girlawhirl finds a cashmere halter is the perfect holiday top

KRiSTOPHER DUKES - Gift It: Give Your BFF a Monogram Versace Bracelet

Second City Style opens The Store. Our hand picked favorites from Chicago designers.

The Jewelry Weblog suggests watches by Fossil for this years timely gift giving.

Bon Bons in the Bath gives you a peek into the showers of our favorite beauty bloggers!

eBeautyDaily wants you to Join the conversation about the Victoria's Secret fashion show.

Glamour on a Budget gives you tips on gifts for the guy who is still using creepy towels he's had since college.

Craftland and Craft Fairs

Hi everyone! Things have been quite busy for me which accounts for the light posting here on Coquette. I was in Seattle last weekend for Urban Craft Uprising and today I'm in Providence, Rhode Island for the Craftland show (70 Eddy Street). If you are in Providence stop by tonight and say hi. Diana Eng (Project Runway Season 2 and Black Box Nation) and I will be doing a special session at 5:30-7:30pm that night. I'll be showing you how to take a vintage tie and make a lightswitch cover. But the fair runs all month through Dec 23 and is a run like one big o' cool craft store where you can shop till you drop for indie holiday gifts.

My one problem is instead of holiday shopping for friends and family, I end up buying cute jewelry or other stuff for myself. I did happen to get one gift in Seattle. Even though I create these rules to not buy anything for myself this month, I can't resist!

Here's a run down on some cool things happening this Saturday, perhaps near you!

NEW YORK:

Fred Flare's Carnival of Cute (Amy Sedaris will be there!)
175 N.10th St. #3 Brooklyn, NY
Saturday, Dec 9th
11am-5pm

LOS ANGELES:

Felt Club XL Holiday Edition
Ukranian Cultural Center
4315 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles
Saturday, Dec 9th
12pm-7pm

Come check out the CRAFT table and meet Carla Sinclair our Editor in Chief!

SAN FRANCISCO:

Pandora's Trunk
916 Natoma St., San Francisco
Saturday, Dec 9th
1pm-7pm

ATLANTA:

Indie Craft Experience
The B Complex
1272 Murphy Ave SW, Atlanta
Saturday, Dec 9th
Noon-8pm

Support indie goods this holiday season. For more info on events near you, check out the CRAFT calendar.

pretty techy things

Most of you know I'm a tech gal and I'm dying for a new digital camera this Christmas. Photojojo has a holiday gift guide together and has posted up this beauty of a camera -- the Canon SD800IS which is small and sleek but packed with lots of goodies like the "optical image stabilization" (sounds fancy), which basically means it will still take great sharp photos in low light. I gotta find one to test it out. Buy this camera through Amazon for only $354.95 and support Photojojo, a great site about digital photography.

Here's more great tech gift ideas that are stylishly sleek:

iPod Shuffle - 1 GB ($79)
I don't know how this thing got smaller but it did. I actually have one now and it's so amazingly perfect for traveling. Stylishly discreet.

Nike + iPod Sport Kit ($28)
The kit is a wireless reciever for your iPod Nano and a wireless sensor for your Nike shoes. With this, you'll be able to keep track of all your workouts. Take it back to your computer and sync your data with iTunes and nikeplus.com. Set your goals and see your performance history.

Sidekick 3 - Diane von Furstenberg ($349.99 + T-Mobile service)
I want to upgrade soon to a sidekick 3. This one seems like the best choice for a fashionista right now. I could still hold out for the Juicy Couture 3.

Motorola H500 Bluetooth Headset in Pink ($44.99)
This one is smaller and prettier than most of those wireless headsets you see around. Plus, you can't beat pink!

Nintendo Wii
It's currently sold out on Amazon but I'm hoping it will be in stock soon. I don't mind if it's even way after the holidays. This is the most sleek looking video game console I've ever seen. My friend Ryan has this and I can't wait to test it out!

Sheila D Reversible Corduroy Totes

A gal can never have too many totes and Sheila D's totes are extra special because they are reversible! Yes, that's right, You can turn these cuties inside out and have a whole different looking tote bag! Her bags were recently featured on Daily Candy earlier this year. I love this pomegranate colored corduroy bag with contrasting polka dot print ($28).

See all of SheilaD's products

SheilaD also has a holiday special: Buy 3 totes or spend $80 and get a beautiful, limited edition Coin Pouch for free. Spend an additional $50 and get another free, surprise coin pouch for free.

Support great indie designers this holiday season!

Web Snob Weekly Roundup

Stylehive Hot Brand: Soia & Kyo - fabulously chic coats with a vintage touch for the modern woman.

Bag Snob's exclusive interview with top bag designer Anya Hindmarch.

Fashiontribes shows a stunning long sleeve mini-dress with metallic accents - a la J. Lo. - is a great look for evening. Fashiontribes breaks it down.

Second City Style's Blahnik Tonic. So long Uggs...Hello wedge.

Stylebites gives you a guide to hats, gloves and scarves that won't make you look like a snowman.

The Jewelry Weblog says "Bead" charitable this holiday season with some beautiful beaded jewelry from Beads for Education.

LA Story reports from the recent Victoria Secret Fashion Show with an interview with Linda Hay, the Key Make-up Artist for Victoria Secret Beauty.

Beauty Buzz says forget the drippy, gooey sunblocks, Get Sunforgettable!

Bon Bons in the Bath recommends some gorgeous, limited edition makeup palettes that are available only at Sephora for the holidays.

Girlawhirl shares great office-mate holiday gift ideas

Glamour on a Budget informs us that sleeping on bad sheets is unconscionable now that there are so many luxurious options at great prices.