Recently at a dual baby shower at work, while admiring the myriad adorable decorations the teams had arranged (baby showers are serious business at my office) I was struck by a minute detail that made a big difference. Outfitted with gorgeous flowers, the vases on each table had also been finished with the perfect touch of …frozen peas. Such a simple, sweet idea! The peas tied in with the rest of the green theme nicely while also offering an unexpected pop of color and texture to the otherwise minimal tablescape. For a summery alternative, Southern Living comes to the rescue with this simple vase makeover involving fresh lime slices. Readers, have any similar, kitchen-friendly tricks for dressing up centerpieces? Share in comments! — Sarah C.

It seems like only yesterday we were getting our britches in a twist over the Calypso for Target collaboration, and now, looking ahead to fall we’ve got another target (ha!) for our affections: Missoni for Target. If you haven’t already heard, take notes: Missoni’s first collection for the big box retailer featuring more than 400 products will launch September 13. Clothing for men, women, girls and baby and home decor including bedding, tableware and stationery will be featured, with prices ranging from $2.99 to $599.99. Furniture and bikes help to make up the higher end of that spectrum, but many items will retail for $40 or less. What do you think, readers? Does your Calypso excitement translate to this new colaboration with Missoni? Check out Racked for the complete lookbook. — Sarah C.

Awhile back, we mentioned the DIY wine cork bathmat. We love repurposing, but there’s always that small issue of “having enough time and energy to actually sit down and make that thing we like.” So for those of us who have the sneaking suspicion we’ll never actually make the mat, Sarah Racha’s Etsy shop has done the work for us. It can be yours for $120. Cheers! –Mary T.

Via Unconsumption

Potato print some groovy geometric outdoor pillows for your patio with this tutorial at 8foot6.

Super-stylish bookends to support your massive stack of summer reads at Whorange.

Kickflips and ollies encouraged: a house designed for indoor skateboarding, at CasaSugar.

Cool down with this 20 minute dinner: Cantaloupe soup and prosciutto sandwiches . A brilliant twist on the classic, at Leite’s Culinaria.

Avoid these top cleaning faux pas at Shelterpop (no, not by avoiding cleaning altogether).

Hummers into micro-homes? Yeah, it’s true, but would anyone really want to live in something that unattractive? At GOOD.

Can you can? Do you kick out the jam? Pickle some peppers? Or do you want to learn to preserve your garden bounty, but don’t know where to begin? Then tomorrow is your day, folks. National Can-It-Forward day is Saturday August 13, and FreshPreserving along with Canning Across America have organized a massive Seattle-based teaching event at Pike Place Market this weekend, — also live streaming from here all weekend at home-canning parties across the nation. Best part, it’s all free!

Last summer, I tried my hand at blackberry freezer jam, but it never set, so I wound up with 10 jars of delicious compote. This summer, I WILL succeed! Do you can? What’s your favorite thing to “put up”? — Megan B.

Jar photo courtesy of TheBittenWord on Flickr.

I’ve been following Nashville-based blogger ModFruGal for quite a while now. I really love her home, her stylish DIY tutorials, and her way with polished brass — this self-proclaimed “budget minded modernist” is worth a regular visit. Even a recipe post contains brilliant ideas I want to use in my own home, like using chalkboard contact paper labels on her food storage containers. That way, when you change out your item, the label can be easily changed too. It’s the kind of simple genius that makes me smack my head and say, “why didn’t I think of that?” Functional, simple, and attractive: that means this is my next organizational project! What do you think? — Megan B.

Update: ModFruGal, in response to our linky love, has given us the full tutorial on how she made these! Click here to see how.

I’m a bird-watching geek but even if I wasn’t, I have to think I’d still love these handcrafted textile birds by UK artist Abigail Brown. It’s not just the texture and layers of stitching that’s so appealing. It’s also that she seems to capture the spirit of each bird in her work. The shy, sleepy owl. The hummingbird that even while sitting looks poised for flight. The curious blue tit with its head turned, watching. While they’re not cheap — prices range from just under $100 to over $600 — they’re beautiful works of art and certainly special-occasion worthy. Which one’s your favorite? — Sarah L.

It’s no secret that we’re java junkies here at Shelterrific, but who else can claim that coffee is literally in their blood? (My grandmother’s maiden name? Coffee. No joke.) My birthright coffee geekdom previously consisted of meticulously pulled shots, searching for the perfect foam, and even visiting a coffee plantation. But after being gifted a ziplock bag full of tiny, sage-green tinted beans — Kenya, Grade A — I was going to the next level.

I had seen a post about popcorn-popper home roasting a while back at Not Without Salt, but being without the means or inclination to purchase more equipment, I consulted my friend and polymath Solange, who has been playing with home roasting herself. She had been using her oven with great results. She pointed me to this basic how-to and off I went.
Click to read how to roast your own, after the jump!

Okay, I admit to not having a place to hang it in my house, but I’m fascinated by this Jenny Haniver nonetheless. Originally created by fishermen as fanciful hoaxes, the Jenny Haniver is a dried skate fish that is then carved and lacquered. You can get your very own sea devil on eBay for $75. Hang it if you dare. — Sarah L.

Lately I’ve been thinking about getting a countertop hot water kettle. Whether to make tea, miso soup, or oatmeal, I’m enamored with its potential uses. But, like most new things I introduce to my kitchen, I’m having an internal debate about its usefulness. Is this going to be one of those items I own, but hardly use (ahem, bamboo steamer)? Or, will I wonder how I lived so long without it? So, help me, Shelterrific friends – do you think an electric kettle is worth having? — Rebecca F.

Photo credit: Bodum USA