Lovey, Dovey...

Inspired by all of the red lovey dovey things around...

1: This Is for You* by Rob Ryan (on my wish list)
2: Kiss Stamp -- how great is this?! (via Eat Drink Chic)
3: Pretty Heart Scarf
4: Foxy Valentines Tutorial : How cute!
5: Volcano Candle in red!
6: Butter London Nail Polish*
7: Heart Hot Water Bottle Cover
8: Cute converse red heart sneakers: that heart face is adorable!
9: Mon Oncle* awesome movie if you haven't seen it, I want to watch it again soon. Not really love related but on here just because.


*FYI : purchases made from the asterisk links support B*E

Happy Friday!

Wishing you a great and relaxing weekend! Here are some things around the web that made me happy this week....

1: Peggy scanned in some more beautiful photos from the Banana Republic Ads, they are so... gorgeous!

2: Merrilee from Mer Meg has it going on -- you've got to see this post of the valentine's she and her little ones did. She also has a free download.

3: Have you heard of the Google Art Project? For you all of you art lovers, it is a virtual tour into some of the best museums where you can see famous and beautiful works for art. You can pretend you are walking around, you can zoom in pretty tight to see detail, it is so amazing!

Happy Weekend!

Happy New Year!

Best wishes for 2011, here is to believing that all of your wildest dreams will come true. Yeah, I watched Napoleon Dynamite the other night. I want to thank you so much for your support, kind comments, and reading Black Eiffel in 2010 -- I am grateful to the moon. I look forward with great excitement and anticipation for '11.

Happy New Year!!


(photo by nik daum + White & Wander)

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a most lovely Merry Christmas weekend! I hope you get to be around the ones that you love and create some special memories.

I will leave you with this quote from the Christmas Carol, "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach." - Charles Dickens.

(a few snippets from what we're up to at our house... all photos by blackeiffel)

Last Minute Christmas Gifts

Whew... I think it is because of our sweet little newborn taking up most of my time that I didn't get around to making homemade gifts this year, so yesterday and today we decided to wrap up a little something (Chocolate) for our friends and neighbors in a simple homemade way using tissue paper, Japanese tape, crayons, and markers. Our four-year old of course took the lead.

(photos by blackeiffel)

Cool Christmas Cards

I dropped the ball this year and didn't get out Christmas cards, tears. I think it is my first year not sending them in a long time ... maybe I will send sweet valentines? Here are a few Christmas greetings from some pretty cool cats that I wanted to share with you, aren't they awesome?! Check out Justin + the Hackworth family's card above!



I'm gaga over Allyson from Unruly Things illustration! So cute.



Suann from Simple Song said she created this card last minute, wow! I love the milestone annual report, a lovely way to update your friends and family.

Have you seen any clever ones around? Did you get cards out this year?

Anthropologie Christmas Window Displays 2010

Anthropologie of course had to have its separate post when it comes to window displays. They hit another home run with their various looks throughout the country this 2010 Christmas season. I love how each store has a slightly different take with their creative details.

(Image credits :1 - Spring, Texas 2, 3-4 , 6 - Rockefeller, New York City | 5 Houston, Texas)

Christmas Window Displays 2010

I always love a good Christmas window display. They are creative, fun to look at, and speak volumes about the store behind them. Have you seen any great ones while out and about lately? Which ones are your favorites? Here are a few of my favorites I've seen recently on the web for the 2010 holiday season.

First up and above, the simple yet elegant paper cutouts from this Chanel window in Zurich are just beautiful! (photo by anjoyplanet)



These Fendi lights on 5th Avenue look sparklingly stunning. (photo from NYC loves NYC)



Nicole Farhi teamed up with talented paper sculptor Su Blackwell to create their magical paper creation windows. (photos from here) I also thought that Su may have done or consulted on the Tiffany & Co. windows, but I was unfortunately mistaken. You'll have to read this to find out more.




These sweet Louis Vuitton illuminated lanterns seem like they would be especially brilliant in person. (photos from here)



The Conran Shop went resourceful and recycled unwanted wood to create clever trees for their windows. Cool! (photo from here)

I also have one more post coming up of a store that blows me away with their creativity in terms of window displays... any guesses? Stay tuned.

iPad Christmas Message

The British web-design company Torchbox used iPads to deliver 'A Starry Night' Christmas message. This is fabulous, if you like technology, specifically the iPad, you won't want to miss watching this one!

It was filmed and edited at Torchbox's office in Oxfordshire and the music was recorded and produced at Torchbox by Katie Overbury, Wes West and Tom Dyson. I want that track, don't you? via CR Review

Gingerbread Ideas

We decorated our gingerbread house the other night and my daughter thought it was such a hoot! We let her go for it and do it completely how she wanted. Here are a few of my favorite gingerbread ideas that have caught my eye so far this year. Also, have you seen these adorable gingerbread house invites? They would be perfect for a gingerbread house party. Are you going to decorate a gingerbread house or any gingerbread treats this year?

1: Gingerbread camper 2: Gingerbread laptop

Gifts for Kids (under $15)

Here are some fun gifts for kids all $15 or under.

1 - Walrooz Connectable Sled - Large $12.00
2 - ABC My Favorite Things Flash Cards $11.66
3 - Chunky Chalk $15.00
4 - 14 Piece Vegetable Set $7.99
5 - Alphabeasties Amazing Activity Book $10.03
6 - Imaginary Castle Giant Floor Puzzle$10.17
7 - An Awesome Book of Thanks! $12.99
8 - Eye Spy Camera $11.00
9 - MoMA Modern Shapes Lacing Cards $10.19
10 - The Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale $12.89
11 - Thinking Game $12.00
12 - Boon Scrubble Bath Toys $10.00
13 - Clementine Art Natural Paint $13.10
14- Origami Animals $4.95 or Origami Faces $7.99
15 -MoMA Modern Family $10.39 +/or Modern House $13.59

Find my other children's gift guides 15 under $15 guides here & here.

Ink + Wit

One of my sponsors Ink + Wit has the most lovely wrapping paper. The talented Tara Hogan illustrated and designed all of her products and they are amazing! I love the fox + friends in Paris. Cute huh? I also love her limited edition letterpress calendar. Check out her shop it is full of goodness.



I think it would also be a great idea to get her stamps and have the kids go at it making their own cards or wrapping paper, so fun.

Nisse Landscape Snow Globes

This cracks me up! It is a project by JAJA Architects exhibiting at DAC that explores fourteen architectural based scenarios of how people and pixies aka 'Nisse' (Scandinavian elfs) co-exist. All in the form of snow globes, haha. See them all here.


(via notcot)

Gorgeous Gift Tags

Amy from Eat Drink Chic made the most brilliant fancy hand-lettered gift tags that you can download on her site for free. Check them all out here.

Pom-Poms and Felt Balls

When I see people creating magic with fun little poof balls like pom-poms and felt balls I get totally jazzed. Remember the last few posts about these (here and here)? If you are wanting to get your craft on to make something like these, check out the pom-pom tutorial (via Full House) and Jordan's DIY felt ball garland.

Happy Weekend from coast to coast...

Wishing you all an excellent weekend! Have any fun 1st weekend of December plans? We are headed off to San Diego this weekend to attend our first ugly sweater party, we are excited! I think it is so hilarious, have you ever been to one? Do tell or email me over a picture at {blackeiffel@gmail.com} I'd love to see your shots.

For the ones looking for well-crafted gifts and ideas here are a few things that you may want to check out from coast to coast.

If you are in New York City the second annual Martha Stewart Holiday Craft Sale is going on this Saturday! I really wish I was going, because yet again the vendor list is spectacular. Check out the details here.

If you are in Utah you should stop by the Beehive Bazaar + Communal while you're at it for some yummy food. (*Remember to enter the Communal Restaurant giveaway here.)

If you are want more Advent activity ideas or to learn about local events in Seattle check out Tysha's list -- it is perfection. I'm going to be doing many of her suggestions.

Have a fantastic one everybody! What's going on in your area?

(Images : Martha Stewart Craft Bird | Kate Spade Goggle Hat | Bah Humbug via Two Tall Blondes)