Need a little inspiration for your inspiration? Holly at Decor 8 has an inspiration board post from Flickr finds that’s sure to get your creativity flowing.

Speaking of Flickr, Hilary at Wee Wonderfuls a Flickr holiday craft set definitely worth checking out.

Why hasn’t someone thought of this before? Toilet tank decals at Mod Cottage.

A more practical invention? The Smart Power Strip we saw at Green Apartment Therapy.

Looking to mix up the holiday menu this year? Give Not Martha’s Osgood Pie a try.

Here’s a quick way to liven up your holiday meals: Pretty holiday table cloths at Casa Sugar.

Faux bois or not Faux bois — we love this hot water bottle holder that It’s Knot Wood found.

When it comes to great finds, Design*Sponge’s Gifts Under $100 can’t be beat.

Once you find the perfect gift, polish it off with this amazingly gorgeous Marimekko wrapping paper that Happy Mundane discovered at Crate & Barrel. It’s so pretty, you could just frame it and put it on the wall!

Just the other day I was lamenting about the lack of well-designed litter boxes and lo and behold, I find one at Ikea’s site. This green molded plastic tray is only $5, and to me looks prefect for our country house (where our city cat has yet to go). I’m not sure if it’s one piece or two, or the size, but I’ll let you know. We’re doing an Ikea stop later tonight to pick up a few things. In the meantime, if you’ve seen or used please let us know what you think! — Angela M.

Our longtime contributor Allison Reynolds — and style editor extraordinaire — spent a day dreaming about her wish list. Here’s what she’s fantasizing about finding under the tree this year.

Flocks Pouf, at DWR, $800. I love this!!!!

Herend Moose, at Dinnerwareetc.com, $500. I triple love this, saw it in the window of a Jackson Hole, WY shop.

A Hydrangea Blue tree, at arborday.org, $4.50. Love!

La Cornue CrnuFe Stove at Williams-Sonoma, $8,000. Oh yeah!

Ladder No. 2 a painting by Robert Perillat. I want this painting; it’s in a Woodstock gallery. It’s also 8000 bucks.

A Donna Cole pet painting. I want a portrait of Owen Meany.

Lucha Loco at AMMO Books, $50. I bought this for a friend.

Vixen Opera Glasses, at binoculars.com, $20. To see Hansel & Gretel better next month.

Marni Short Sleeve Dress at marni.com, $925. To go with my Jimmy Choo patent leather Ramona bag (sympathy gift).

Katai Coat Rack by Chris Martin at the Artful Home, $1400. In person this is a work of art.

Want to see more of gift giving guides? Click here for Erica’s and
Leah’s!

We were checking out Purl Bee, the blog of one of our favorite knitting stores, Purl Soho, and spotted this insanely adorable stuffed owl. He’s the work of purler Mari, and he’s made from an animal kit from Olympus. Each kit comes with all the materials you need plus instructions, and costs between $21-$29. Talk about a stocking stuffer! How can you resist?

Here’s a sweet deal that we’re happy to share with you this holiday season. Our friends over at Jellio want to offer Shelterrific readers 20% off their adorable Gummi Light. Normally $125, you can get one for only $99 from now until Dec. 25th. Just mention Shelterrific when you write in to order at info@jellio.com. Be sure to check out the new colors — blue, pink and purple. These hotties are sure to be future collectibles, so nab one now.

Hello! I found this site where I can design my own pendant ceiling light: alluminaire.com. It seems pretty affordable and fun to use. I was wondering if you had ever used them and if so what you thought. Or maybe you might recomend another site. Thank you! — Scott, Hoboken, NJ.

Hi Scott! Thanks for your question — and for turning us on to this site. It looks like you can change everything from the ceiling fixture to the hanging chord to the fabric of the shade and its trim. There’s a great selection to chose from and we love the look of it, but have to admit we have never personally used. A few magazines (Better Homes & Gardens and Blueprint) have written about them, but we’d love to hear any real life experiences from you, our readers. Have you ever used this site, Alluminare, or do you know of any other “design your own light” sites? Thanks!

Last Thursday there was a really great story in the New York Times that I almost missed (it being Thanksgiving and me being in Ohio): With the Grace of Liberace Go I by Jancee Dunn, who normally writes about rock-n-roll but here is touching on something that pulls at my kitschy, seventies-child heartstrings. Dunn collects “gracious living” books from decades gone by, like Liberace Cooks! and My Way of Life by Joan Crawford and muses romantically about a time when hosts entertained with gusto, injecting their personalities into every aspect of a party, rather than creating a manufactured Martha-Stewart-esque perfection. Click here to read the story, and browse eBay it start your own classic living book collection.

Photo above, of Jancee’s collection, by Lars Klove for The New York Times.

Contributor Leah H. had so many things on her wish list, we had to break it into two. Here’s the first ten in part one, with part two coming soon. And remember, you can always see more great finds at her blog More Ways To Waste Time

Anything by Portland, Oregon artist Hadley Hutton, $13 and up on Etsy. Because her work actually makes my heart hurt a little.

Bitch Plate from Trixie Delicious, $15 on Etsy. Because sometimes you just gotta own it.

Punk House: Interiors in Anarchy, edited by Thurston Moore, $18 at Amazon. Because the Sonic Youth guitarist is one of my husband’s heroes, and because it’s good to be reminded that you don’t have to have tons of money to have a creative home.

Rex Ray: Art + Design by Rex Ray, $23 at Amazon. Because I’m not above ripping pages out of art books and framing them.

Casablanca Tea Glasses, $28 for a set of six, from Just Morocco. Because these are a lovely alternative for sipping wine or holding votive candles.

Walnut Veneer Swallow Wall Stickers, $28 for a set of six from Beearo. Because they’re a fun, inexpensive way to dress up an unadorned wall.

Orange Citrus Reed Diffuser Set, $30 from Amazon. Because I’m addicted to the scent of citrus, but am too cheap to buy one of these for myself.

Divine Coat print by Rob Dobi, $23 at Imagekind. Because it’s beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.

No Reflection print by Linda Plaisted, $30 at Manymuses Studio. Because it takes my breath away.

Unglazed Driftwood Porcelain, $16 to $78 from Green Grass Design. Because I’m obsessed with unglazed white porcelain, and love the organic shapes of these.

Want more suggestions? Click here to see other gift giving posts!

I am completely loving the Sleddin’ Snowflake flannel sheets from Target that we bought over the weekend. And now I find that they’re even further on sale for the ultra-low-ridiculous price of $12.97 – even for king-size! They’re 100 percent cotton and super soft, and while they may not be as heavy as a higher-end brand of flannel sheet, for me the slightly lighter weight is perfect. And the snowflake pattern has put me instantly into “happy and toasty in my bed” holiday spirits. You can also view a few more varieties here. – Mary T.

One of the sweetest details from our wedding came when Chad surprised me with a handmade wood carving of the two of us, our own unique wedding topper. The inspiration was an homage to my grandfather, who was an avid woodcarver; our homes are sprinkled with little figurines of his. This adorable carving from Brian Sims in Kentucky, who does commission based work. Chad had sent him a photo of us, simple instructions (”make it look like grandpa carved it on the porch”) and the two of them communicated via email during the carving process. I’m convinced he can carve anything. Wouldn’t a hand carved ornament be the star of a tree? Click through to the next page, and get in touch with Brain via his site
Hip Shot Wood– it’s not too late to get one started for the holidays! — Angela M. (more…)