I couldn’t help but take some photos of this fence I noticed while on my lunchtime constitutional the other day. I’m digging the mix of urban industrial and natural textures, and it seems to be fairly simple to reproduce — just some pieces of rebar hammered into the ground and then woven with bamboo and affixed with wire. I can’t imagine that it’s the most climbable or sturdy fence, but repairs would most likely be a snap. I just may have to try this out when we get around to replacing our ugly chain link fencing. Do you love it, or are you on the fence? –Megan B.

Anyone who’s worked in advertising or printing is familiar with French Paper. Not only are they popular as a source for print materials, over the years they’ve started making their own clever and colorful Pop Ink gift and homeware designs. We’ve written about the Decor-a-Boards, but I was excited to recently take a look at some other Pop Ink offerings I’ve missed. Check out these oh-so-cute and demented Cannibal Kitchen cocktail napkins, or these gorgeous cocktail napkins in Wallpaper designs. Look at these lovely and goofy melamine plates. Get wowed by this fabulous gift wrap selection. Check out all the Pop Ink here. –Mary T.

Faythe Levine’s Handmade Nation, her documentary on the rise of indie crafting, is being shown in special screenings in many states. I’ll be getting out to see it when it comes to Seattle in a couple weeks. If you want to see if a city near you is on the list, check the right column on the Handmade Nation blog — cities in Missouri and Virginia are on the list, as well as Washington, DC. Even if the documentary isn’t screening near you, it’s due to be released on DVD in November — perfect for holiday giving! Watch the trailer here. –Mary T.

1) Some of you are behind…on your Christmas shopping. Tiffany S. says: “We got our dining room fixture at Ylighting, and we still get compliments even though IKEA now has a similar shade. I’ll have to check out the Wax Works! I‘m so behind on my holiday shopping! Thanks for the links!” See all the sales here — you need to get shopping post-haste! (Tiffany, we’re just jealous.)

2) There are yeas and nays on pet insurance. Kelly is on the “yea” side. She says: “Having worked at an emergency animal hospital for 4 years, I can say if you have a pet you should either contribute to a savings account every month or have pet insurance. …I don’t mean to scare people but I can’t tell you how many times I have seen an owner come in and have to decide whether they can pay to save their pet or not. And not even hugely large bills. We are talking $600.” Others have weighed in that they had, and then canceled, pet insurance. Read all opinions here.

3) The right salsa can encourage visitors. Bean says of Katie’s summertime salsa: “oh man is this at your house right now? can i come over??” Learn to make your own here.

4) You also appreciate Allee Willis’ quirky style. lsaspacey says: “I still have magazine clippings from the 1980s on an apartment that Allee Willis had then. The stories are a couple of years apart so you can see a slight transition. Maybe I’ll scan them in and write about them one day soon.” Click here for the link to the LA Times article.

5) With all the solutions out there, it’s a wonder we ever got fruit flies. Lu says: “Needing to get rid of the swarm in our kitchen (really like a swarm), I dug out some leftover fly paper from last year – they don’t like that! But, I dipped a Q-tip in the Garlic Red Wine Vinegar and tucked it into the spirals – and woohoo they loved it! I didn’t know about the drain/breeding issue and am off to treat that now. Thanks!” See the wealth of fruit fly fixes here.

Fruit fly solutions never get old — and this one at The Tangled Nest has the added fun of being green and carnivorous!

Following trash on its journey at the NY Times.

Allee Willis, queen of kitsch — singular style at the LA Times.

This isn’t new, but it is still incredibly useful: a backpacking first-aid checklist from REI.

A few favorite things at Modish — fun to look at.

That’s new: five drink-inspired light fixtures at Casa Sugar.

Hearty garden pasta at The Salty Spoon — looks like a great bridge to fall.

Not Martha was recently “receptioned” and shares some great, simple wedding ideas plus some fun things to do in and around Cleveland — click here to start, but be sure to check out some of her other posts as well.

Now through October 2, shop Ylighting’s first-ever warehouse sale — save up to 80% on brands like Flos, Artemide, Vibia, and Luceplan. We like: Powell Street Pendant, $410.40 (was $570). Spun metal shade with painted interior to supply a wash of white or tinted light — lovely.

This week only, take advantage of 50% off all clearance items at Big Dipper Wax Works — nice way to start your holiday shopping early? We like: Holiday Beehive Glasses. Cute and different!

Save an additional $5 off your $50 online order at Target. Discount applied at checkout. If not, use promotion code TC56TF5T. We like: Zombie Groundbreaker with Lighted Beating Heart Halloween Decor. Because — come on! Just because!

This is half sale, half warning: Marimekko wallpaper prices will increase on October 1, so order now at AlwaysMod, where you’ll also find plenty of additional sale prices. We like: Marimekko Ystävät Wallpaper, fab for an accent wall.

Save 20% on most lamps during September from lighttexture. We like: White Claylight Clamp; simple and beautiful.

Mod Baby is having an Autumn Sale on groovy pillow covers. We like: Pop Daisy Accent Pillow Cover — only $10!

If you’re in Santa Monica, you can trade in your old SIGG bottle at The Green Life at 2409 Main Street and receive 20% off a new, BPA-free, stainless steel Earthlust bottle.

Once again, this was a hard decision to make! We wish we could give shopping sprees to everyone who participated in our HomeGoods Stylescope giveaway. But, alas — there are only two gift cards to give. We read through the most interesting, creative, and fun entries, narrowed it down to our favorites, and of those, selected these two as our winners. Congratulations, Stephanie and Krista — you now have $200 to spend at your local HomeGoods.

We can’t wait to see what Stephanie does with her space. Stephanie says:

“I’m an Elegant Classic. Elegant?? Sounds like it’s all frills, but in actuality, I’m not terribly old-fashioned. It’s true that I do like warm/cozy, though. I’m all about the vintage, one-of-a-kind pieces, i.e. the blob fish photo I’ve got framed on my nightstand. As a medical student, horribly in debt, the SO and myself rented a basement apartment, a one bedroom, stuff-a-desk-and-table in a corner sort of space. My IKEA dresser is falling apart after a year, so my socks are constantly strewn on the floor, adding to the ‘cozy’ ambiance. The ‘classic’ brown/light blue hues on the bed – oh how I’d love to change them to a unique quilt/throw, purchase a cozy feather bed to collapse onto after overnight calls at the hospital. I’d say goodbye to the picked-up-on-the-curbside massive table in the corner, buy something smaller and maximize my space. A little night table for the SO, vs. the plastic drawers he currently uses would be nice. And a nice, colorful rug, some vintage-print curtains…”

Stephanie, your money does go a long way at HomeGoods, but you know it’s just $200, right?

Krista’s response also entertained us, and we just couldn’t pass up a chance to see how she’ll decorate around one illustration. Here’s what Krista had to say:

“Not so shockingly, I’m a Glamorous Eclectic. My plan is to attack my bedroom with a smokey purple, almost exactly the color chosen for me by HomeGoods(!), and all white or silver accents. The dark paint color will be contrasted by the white and silver accents and some mirrors, per HomeGoods advice, to add more light. It will be dramatic, just the way I like. I’m centering the whole thing on this drawing. I think, like HomeGoods said, that it is vital to feel serene and happy in a room in order to feel at home there. That is exactly what I intend to do. With my recent two-day-warning move, I could use a bit of serenity.”

Thanks, everyone for participating. As always, more great giveaways are in the future. And thanks again to HomeGoods and the HomeGoods Stylescope.

I picked up rather an alarming brochure at my vet the other day: “101 Things You Didn’t Know Could Harm Your Pet.” Plants! Cleaners! Foods! Objects! Even holidays are on the list of potential pet hazards. Not that these aren’t real dangers, but the brochure is printed by ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, so yes, they are trying to sell me something. Even though I once had a cat who ended up costing me $4,000 in medical bills over the course of his lifetime, I have yet to purchase health insurance for my pets. If it were offered as part of my health insurance plan, I might. What about you? –Mary T.

Photo by Benjamin Earwicker

There’s something so beautiful about these speakers by Joey Roth. Handcrafted from porcelain, cork, and maple plywood, they are meant to “create a remarkably simple path from source to ear.” If they sound as good as they look, I’m sold. Preorder is available here from GSelect. They’ll set you back $500. –Mary T.

Is there such a thing as a good toilet story? American Standard seems to think so. They’re giving away five Champion 4 toilets for the “best toilet stories” submitted on their Facebook fan page. “There are more than 750 tweets per week about toilets, so we know those stories are out there!” they say. So there’s your excuse: go tell your toilet story to American Standard between now and October 9. It is noted that fan page members will “vote for the story they are most likely to repeat to friends and family.” Does that mean relatively clean potty humor?

P.S. Speaking of giveaways, we’ll announce the winners of our HomeGoods Stylescope contest tomorrow. Want more toilet stories? Click here or here.