Doesn’t everyone need a babydoll head made from concrete this time of year? Mudstuff’s johnnyheads — available whole or ready for a tea light — are definitely odd, and yet I ended up adding them to my Etsy favorites. They’ll be there for you in good times or bad times, or even mythological times. See it all in mudstuff’s shop, where you’ll find just plain cute (little mice and doves) pottery too. –Mary T.

I love that every once in awhile I can be totally blown away by the work of a new artist, that something as simple as a table or chair can be redesigned in a way that makes my eyes widen and my heart flutter. That is what happened when I stumbled upon the website of artist Valentin Loellmann. Valentin’s work is built from “forgotten pieces of furniture” that are pieced back together in a way that allows the new work to “keep its character and uniqueness and hide it at the same time.” I find the pieces to be both a little bit whimsical and a touch macabre. My favorite is the “drawer” — what an incredible bedside table that would make. –Erica P.

There are certain things I readily admit about myself. One is that despite all good intentions, I am years away from getting to do a lot of the projects I set aside material for. So I gave in: instead of making a quilt from saved baby clothes, I made a pillow that a certain four-year-old is mad about. The inspiration? Country Living’s recent Buttoned-Up Pillows. For mine, I cut a zipped-up blanket sleeper into a square (it’s okay to cut off the bottom of the zipper so long as it is zipped; you’ll seam across it later), measured a matching piece of pink material, and with right sides together, sewed around all four edges. To finish, simply unzip (easing down a bit from the top before before you can reach inside), turn right-side-out, and insert a 14-inch pillow form. Zip back up and you’re done! –Sarah L.

1) Some food rules are fun. Tiffany says: “My #1 rule is that I’m allowed to have butter, sugar and salt as long as I prepared the food it’s in from scratch.” See her other rule and tell us about your food rules.

2) Bloom lounge chair? Not so strange. Paulette says: “This is — strangely — growing on me. I keep picturing it in a really streamlined, almost masculine bedroom, to give a sense of softness.” Not bad! See it here.

3) We can all use more compliments. Uncle Beefy says: “Lord have mercy! I need me one of those! (But being on “back order” makes me wonder… are we all in such need of a little positive reinforcement? Take it where you can get it, I guess.)” Behold the plush scale of compliments.

4) You’ve found your leash, if not your animal. Samuel says: “Living in New York City, I don’t know how so many people are able to own large dogs. Do people just have huge apartments or do the dogs just deal with cramped quarters? I love Manhattan, but I look forward to the day that I have enough space to own a dog that will be afforded the necessary indoor and outdoor space to tear around. Just to hold me over though, I think I’ll get one of these leashes and just hang it on the wall in the form of art.” Find your leash here.

5) You’re also excited about Bugbee furniture. Christine says: “I’m in the process of ordering a ‘Dean’ table … but in birch wood! Can’t wait … Jeff is an amazing, creative, yet affordable wonder!” Click for his creations.

Photo by Nicolas Raymond

A couple of deals for your Friday. Enjoy the weekend!

While supplies last, purchase a Tru-Fit Smart Harness from Kurgo Pet Products, receive a free Wander Leash. Enter code tfsh99 at checkout.

Throughout October, get free shipping from The Green Life — enter code “GreenOctober” through 10/31.

The Rovin Pumpkin at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories — yes, yes, 1000x yes.

Another cool chair still in prototype form — see the Mariposa chair at Contemporist.

Lots of us don’t have cable — Consumerist tells us how to cut the cord and still remain a couch potato.

There are awesome Beatles finds on Etsy — find them at Casa Sugar.

Thinking about next year’s annuals at A Way to Garden.

Check out the Room for Color contest at Apartment Therapy.

Archie Grand notebooks — these are simply great — grace the pages at Better Living Through Design.

Thoughts on “rough luxe” at boatshedchic.

We promised our daughter we’d redo her room for her birthday. Fortunately, she was turning four, so she was happy with the room painted pink, a rearranging of the much-maligned flower decals, and a surprise canopy. The canopy couldn’t have been simpler — once I convinced my husband that it wouldn’t look like a malaria tent. He added a decorative ceiling hook 16 inches out from the wall and, using the directions from Country Living, made and hung a canopy in less than half an hour. The best part? For kids with allergies (or Moms who hate dust), a bi-yearly cleaning is as simple as unscrewing the embroidery hoop! Note: for a canopy with more swag, you probably want to place the hook a little farther out. But for young kids, it lessens the scary shadows that show up at 2 a.m. –Sarah L.

We’ll share how Sarah made the adorable pillow next week! In the meantime, what’s your dream bed?

An “Idea House” built in Menlo Park, CA for Sunset magazine in 2005 is for sale. With green features like solar panels, a tankless water heater, and low-e windows, you’ll only pay $50 in utilities per month. Which is a good thing — you’ll need your cash for the $939,000 asking price. I love the trend in green building, but the truth is, I’m pretty “Meh” about the exterior and the interior of this house — though I do very much like one of the bathrooms! See more and learn more here. –Mary T.

Michael Pollan has an article and fun slideshow at the New York Times about his favorite “food rules” he received from his readers. They range from the purely funny to the quite thoughtful. I think if I have a food rule, it comes from a long-ago boyfriend. He would do things like order and eat a cheese quesadilla, but then lament for an hour afterward about how bad it was for him and how he shouldn’t have eaten it. So that’s my rule: “If you’ve already eaten it, don’t beat yourself up over it. Just enjoy it and move on.” What’s yours? –Mary T.

Kenneth Cobonpue’s Bloom Lounge Chair is made of microfiber stitched over a resin top with a steel base. According to Home Tone, “Its stitching pattern gives it a very fine finishing and the overall look would definitely revive your living area. Your neighbors are sure to envy you for having this new blooming beauty in your house.” Um…I don’t know about that. But you can decide for yourself — more photos at Contemporist. –Mary T.