Guest Curator: Jess Chamberlain of Sunset Magazine

Vanessa

Story by Vanessa

Published on May 27, 2009 in Shop

Photo by Kelly Jacikas

This week’s Guest Curator is Jess Chamberlain, who writes about decorating, projects, and eco-friendly living for Sunset Magazine. Jess is dedicated to improving readers’ lives through healthy choices. She appreciates thoughtfully-made (smart) products, and she can’t get enough of creative ways to reuse old furniture. Jess also writes for the Home by Sunset blog, loves discovering new shops, and can sometimes be found experimenting (with her wanna-be green thumb or her fancy-looking camera) in the Sunset test garden. She lives for a good cup of coffee and thrives on converting brown-baggers into aspiring environmentalists.

Scouring the market for unique and handmade products is one of the best parts of my job (sampling pinots with our wine editor at lunch time is another). Eco-friendly living is my favorite beat here and a key foundation of life in the West, so I was thrilled to learn of Etsy’s new Team Eco Etsy as well as the Shop Local feature. Well done!

At Sunset we like to celebrate the uniqueness of the West by blurring the lines between indoors and out, so here are some great picks for nature-inspired décor — all by artists based out here by the Pacific.

I love Etsy for gift ideas and applaud the site’s ability to transform everyday artists into design superstars.


Large Tuck Pot (second) with Airplant arrangement


If you haven’t noticed, air plants are a hot design item these days — and they’re die-hard plants for those of us who are botanically-challenged. This beautiful tuck pot by PigeonToeCeramics turns the plants into instant art. By PigeonToeCeramics, $38.

View Item | View Shop

 


Alberta street balloons 8.5×11


I adore this image (that spurs childhood nostalgia) by Andrea of girlhula. We’re big fans of her blog, which playfully follows her photographic musings. By girlhula, $25.

View Item | View Shop

 


Custom Vintage Silverware Garden Marker


Utility recycling at its finest: these garden markers by monkeysalwayslook were upcycled from vintage silver plated forks, knives, and spoons. (Check out my obsession with upcycling here.)  By monkeysalwayslook, $8.

View Item | View Shop

 


Mushroom shaped ceramic pottery bird house


mudpuppy’s ceramics are beautifully detailed works of art. This mushroom bird house comes complete with a ceramic bead and hemp hanger for quick hanging. By mudpuppy, $45.

View Item | View Shop

 


Blue Artichokes Shirt, 6-12m, long sleeve


alittlelark tees make the best kiddo gifts. The unique hand-printed designs are packaged in the cutest little muslin bag (pre-wrapped!). By alittlelark, $19.

View Item | View Shop

 


small cottage vase


No-fail hostess gift — solo or as a trio. Joanna Mendicino’s vases come in gorgeous colors and a variety of organic/modern botanical designs too. By prettyrandomobjects, $38.

View Item | View Shop

 


dogwood pretties-8×10 signed fine art photograph


On a recent trip to Portland I became enchanted by Dogwood trees. (Those petals fall like snow flakes.) The details in this photo by blissfulimages take me there. By blissfulimages, $25.

View Item | View Shop

 


The Open Road Letterpress Journal


I adore vintage drawings. OldSchoolStationers takes us back with their “Camping Circa 1960s” collection.
(Inspired to hit the road with a tent? Check out Sunset’s camping guide here.) By OldSchoolStationers, $20.

View Item | View Shop

 


SALE Five Nesting Lotus Bowls


Whitney Smith brings new meaning to the term “floral arrangement.” These lotus nesting bowls are as wonderful assembled as table art as they are beautiful when used as entertaining pieces. By whitneysmith, $175.

View Item | View Shop

 


Songbird Grasping and Teething toy


These charming little grasping/teething animals, made from reclaimed and FSC-certified wood (and left unfinished), make such thoughtful baby shower gifts. By littlesaplingtoys, $12.

View Item | View Shop

 


Reindeer, 6×6 print


It’s hard not to adore the “The Little Zoo” series by Elizabeth Soule. The miniatures are mesmerizing. By esoule, $25.

View Item | View Shop

 


4 by vessel


This “anything” holder by Paige Russell is the perfect marriage of modern and kitsch. For a splurge, I love it. By paigerussell, $125.

View Item | View Shop

 


Patchie Plays the Fiddlehead Pillow / Cushion Cover


Beauty from scraps: UmberDove fashions her pillows from remnant fabric — each pieces carefully patch-worked together. The fiddlehead playfully brings a little foliage indoors. By UmberDove, $48.

View Item | View Shop

 


Gold Leafed Carantion Flower Pin – Recycled Tshirt


Personally, I’m not one to wear a corsage, but my handbag isn’t against it. I love love love that these flower pins by Marang97’s are recycled from t-shirts. (Check out these pillows we made from out-dated clothing.)  By Marang97, $7.50.

View Item | View Shop

 


10 CUSTOM eggs in a nest.


How cute are these?! Rae Dunn does all her trademark “type” by hand for the adorable little eggs — great for personalized party favors. Try them as place cards. By raedunn, $140.

View Item | View Shop

 


Brown Natalie Bag with Late Blooms Print


The hand screenprinted bags by Appetite do not help curb my handbag addiction. (Check out other Sunset-favorite botanical-inspired goods here.)  By appetite, $44.

View Item | View Shop

 


Summer-Green Flowering Rush


I had the pleasure of observing Lynn of Satsuma Press in her printing studio last year. She’s as sweet as her bloom prints! By satsumalynn, $15.

View Item | View Shop

 

Further resources:
Sunset
Home by Sunset
Fresh Dirt, Sunset’s garden blog
Housemartin (my favorite home-meets-garden blog)

Looking for past Guest Curators? Check out our archive.

Discuss: 105 comments

Related Items

105 comments

Sign in to add your own