Mint

Nole was sweet to feature one of my newest projects on Oh So Beautiful Paper today! Head on over for the details…

Well folks, we did it. My husband and I hosted 13 friends and family in the house we moved into just four weeks ago. Our holiday began with a fridge on the fritz and turkey brine all over the kitchen floor (twice), and ended with a big plumbing problem we’ve yet to solve. Let’s just say that I spent a lot of time thinking about my grandmother, who always managed to make holiday dinners flow smoothly while keeping a smile on her face. Not to mention the ironed linens, polished silver, and creative displays that always graced her tables. As I laid out the tablecloths, silverware, and wine glasses I was lucky to inherit from her, I wished she was there to do her entertaining magic. Not that she would have had much patience for my fleeting thoughts of future holidays on deserted islands…

Fortunately, our moms were around to lend helping hands, our cousins and siblings kept us laughing, and the food was absolutely delicious. How lucky we are to have a home that can accommodate our families, and to live close enough to all of them that they’re willing to make the trek.

Today I’m thinking of things to (quickly!) do with all the leftovers. These three recipes caught my eye: Oh my gosh Spaghetti Squash (for our former centerpieces) from My New Roots, Turkey Enchiladas from Simply Recipes, and Sweet and Spicy Turkey Curry Soup from Goodlife Eats.

I also recommend the Apple Pecan Stuffed Squash from Goodlife Eats, which I made last night from leftover Thanksgiving ingredients. Yum!

Flytrap is Jody Cedzidlo and Eric Haugen, a couple of sweethearts just down the road from me, here in North Carolina. Their beautiful shop is full of screen printed scarves, dresses, shirts, and accessories for women, men, and children. Jody is the designer, printer, and photographer behind Flytrap, “the one with a college degree in what things look like.” Eric is the shirt-folding, box-carrying, moral-support-giving, car-driving, coffee-making, behind-the-scenes psychotherapist that keeps the gears of Flytrap turning every day. Each item in the Flytrap shop is lovingly hand-printed by Jody, and she takes the utmost care in guaranteeing high-quality, totally permanent professional printing.

One of the newest items in the Flytrap shop is the scarf 3 pack, and at only $65, it’s an easy way to cross 3 folks off your Christmas gift list. Or, 2. Cause we know you’ll want to keep one for yourself.

Thanks Flytrap! Sponsors help make Mint possible, and I am so grateful for their support. If you’re interested in advertising on Mint, please get in touch by emailing mintdesignblog at gmail dot com, and I’ll be happy to give you all the details. Holiday spots are still available.

AJ Fosik makes folk art inspired sculptures from paint, wood, and nails. These have made the blog rounds, but I just discovered them this morning on flickr and had to share. You can see an interview with AJ Fosik on Fecal Face.

photo of AJ Fosik in his home by Alex Lukas

photo by emily shaw

If you’d like to read an essay (off-color but hilarious) on “decorative gourd season,” visit McSweeney’s

Or, if you’d prefer to remind yourself of why we celebrate Thanksgiving in the first place (I looked this up after one of my UK clients asked and I mumbled something about Pilgrims and Indians and changed the subject), visit here

Happy Thanksgiving! I’ll be back on Monday!

Illustrations by Mike Lowery! More on his website, and some for sale in his shop, Argyle Academy.

Today I’m on the hunt for simple, modern Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas. My goal is to use things that are around the house, in the yard, or can be picked up with a quick trip to the grocery store. Cause the clock’s a-ticking. Here are some of my favorites!

Top: This centerpiece was styled by Joy Thigpen for Once Wed, and I love that it’s simple, rustic, and fuss-free. Photo by Tec Petaja. This one might be the winner for me…

1: Kate Pruitt created this table setting for Design Sponge. Although the modeling clay is a little too time intensive for me at the point, I think pine cones spray painted white would do the trick, and only take a second. I also love the white paint pen on the leaf! For another great example of this idea, check out Sunset.

2: Feathers on napkins and fall colored grocery store finds in bowls makes this one (via Holidash) the easiest of all! Photo by Seth Smoot.

3: If you have healthy plants around the house, arrange them on the table with candles in between and voila, simple and modern. If you don’t have pretty house plants, pick some up and enjoy them way past Thursday. Created for Sunset and photographed by Thomas J. Story.

4: This is another one I might try. Fall leaves, branches, berries, and a few orange pumpkins. This I could handle! Photo by Thayer Allison Gowdy for Sunset.

5: Found on Holidash and photographed by Seth Smoot, this one just requires a branch from your back yard, a can of spray paint, and 10 minutes of drying time.

6: I have a sneaking suspicion that this one is harder to pull off than it looks, but it’s sort of the same idea as #4. Grocery store finds (mushrooms, pears, eucalyptus, fall leaves, carnations, alstroemeria, and paperwhites) are casually combined with a vintage oatmeal tin by the talented Studio Choo for Design Sponge.