Gift wrapping is one of the easiest ways to personalize a gift. In Japan, the art is known as tsutsumi. In Kunio Ekiguchi's book Gift Wrapping: Creative Ideas from Japan, tsutsumi is described as the "gentle concealment" of the object: "Just as one helps a friend into a coat carefully and courteously, a gift should be wrapped tenderly and conscientiously." In that spirit, we offer up these simple but thoughtful ideas for presenting your present.

Above: A feather adds a flourish to a package discovered via Haus Press. Wrap with White Butcher Paper ($26.12 for a 200-foot roll on Amazon) and Gray Hemp Cord ($6.28 for a spool of 205 feet from Hemptique on Amazon), and attach a Kraft Paper Envelope ($6 for 25 at Jam Paper) and a feather from your nearest coop.

Above: Fresh fir and pine strike a holiday note; photographs via Sunday Suppers. Tie up a brown cardboard box with braided jute twine (Natural Twine is $9.42 for a 325-foot spool at Amazon), and tuck in cypress leaves or acacia florets.

Above: Go monotone with a fresh sprig of rosemary imperfectly wrapped in White Cotton String (a roll of 475 feet is $5.48 on Amazon) against white paper. Photograph courtesy of Love That Party. 

Above: Keep it simple with a reusable cloth bag; photograph via In Haus Press. Charming and affordable, Cotton Drawstring Muslin Bags are $17.90 for 25 from Amazon.

Above: Paint splatter adds a little amusement to kraft paper. To personalize it, attach a Soft White Gift Tag (a pack of 50 is $3 from Etsy seller Prairie Dog Paper Co.) to black string (see below). Photograph by Molly Winters. 

Above: Brown paper packages tied up with string; photograph from Cox and Cox. Black Waxed Twine is $6.24 for a 25-meter spool from Fire Mountain Gems.

Above: Repurpose an old magazine or newspaper by using its pages as gift wrap. Use Shimmery Gold Washi Tape ($3.95 for a roll of 25 feet from PaperChase) and red berries to make it festive. Photograph by Erin Boyle for Reading My Tea Leaves.

For more inspiration, take a look at Having a Moment: Black Gift Wrap. Wondering where to stash your wrapping paper? See 7 Quick Fixes: Wrapping Paper Storage Solutions. 

Looking for gift ideas? Take a look at all our Holiday Gift Guides.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original ran in December 2011 as part of our Christmas Parties issue.

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The camp blanket is a versatile piece: It's good for the bed, the sofa, a picnic; you can beat it up; and it will only get nicer with age. Here are 10 current favorites.

Above: The Tourne Wool Blanket is made in Canada of supersoft, 100 percent virgin wool and measures 76 by 104 inches; $245 from Brook Farm General Store.

Above: Designed by Best Made Co. of New York and woven by Pendleton Woolen Mills, the Lumberlander Camp Blanket is made of domestic wool blended with a small amount of cotton for softness. It has a whipstitched top and bottom, and comes tucked in a leather blanket sling—making it perfect for campers on the go; $184 at Best Made Co.

Above: Utility Service Blankets are made by a family-owned American company that has been milling wool for over a century. They're available for $145 to $210 in a range of sizes from Schoolhouse Electric. 

Above: A small company in Switzerland makes these replicas of the original Swiss Army Blanket. They're 78 3/4 inches by 55 inches and are $225 at Guideboat Co. in Mill Valley, California. (Read about Guideboat Co. in our post Merchant Marine.)

Above: The light gray Camp Blanket by Auntie Oti is woven in India of 100 percent wool khaddar patterned with simple contrasting stripes. It measures 56 by 96 inches, and no two are exactly alike; $220 at the Primary Essentials.

Above: Modeled after the all-purpose favorite blanket that the designers grew up with, the Topo Camp Blanket is made in the US from 100 percent wool and comes in three different colors, white (shown), charcoal, and red. It's 65 by 90 inches; $169 at Topo Designs.

Above: Branded Boiled Merino Wood Blankets are $700 from M. Crow & Co., a new venture of Tyler Hays of BDDW. The blankets measure 65 by 50 inches and are knitted in Hays's Philadelphia studio. 

Above: Objects of Use in Oxford, England, collaborated with Filkins-based weaver Richard Martin and Skye yarn dyers Shilasdair to re-create the traditional trader's blankets similar to the originals first produced in the 1770s. The Filkins Point Blanket is made from unbleached wool and natural plant-dyed indigo; £110 ($173.21) each.

Above: This Wool Cabin Blanket was inspired by a vintage photo of a bed in a lakefront cabin in Maine. It's 100 percent merino wool finished with whipstitch edging, and can be machine washed and line dried; $250 for twin size at TRNK.

Above: This blanket comes from Faribault Woolen Mills, the oldest manufacturing facility in Minnesota—they've been crafting heirloom blankets since 1825. Available at Old Faithful Shop in Vancouver in queen size for $325 CAD ($278.97 USD).

For more ways to get cozy, read Janet's report on fuel-efficient Freestanding Woodstoves and Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Alexa's textural throw blanket roundup. 

On Gardenista, learn how to make Erin's Aromatic Fire Starters. 

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For that someone who is eternally—and effortlessly—stylish, here are our five best ideas (all things, by the way, that we'd love to receive ourselves).

Above: Salt, a New York City–based surfboard company that makes its goods in California, ventures onto land with the Skateboard. The 22-inch-long design has a veneered walnut top and bottom sandwiching layers of maple. It comes detailed in Pigeon Grey (shown), mint, and mustard, and includes all hardware and wheels; $220 from Salt. 

Above: Punch, a "cocktail-obsessed" online magazine, collaborated with W&P Design of Brooklyn to bring you the Carry On Cocktail Kit, a pocket-size tin with everything you need to make two Old-Fashioneds at 30,000 feet (well, except the whiskey), linen coaster included; $24. 

Above: Stylish stampers and desk accessories are the specialty at WMS & Co., a NYC-based online store. The Self-Inking Stamp (with a logo, return address, monogram, or other design) is available in several different materials and colors starting at $135. Each comes with one stamp plate and others can be added.

Above: Four times a year, John Herschend and Will Rogan, the artists behind The Thing Quarterly—a conceptual publication that comes in the form of an object—invite a different creative talent to create each issue. For Issue 23, LA visual artist David Korty came up with the #23 Ceramic Dice Game, six ceramic dice (handmade by Oakland ceramic studio Atelier Dion), a dice-carrying bag, and the rules for a game called Mr. Natural; $65 from Shinola. 

Above: Choose from a Pointed End Tie or Square End Tie from vKnit of London. Both options are made of soft, finely knit lamb's wool that's hand felted and comes in 120 different colors; $58.18 via vKnit's Etsy store. 

For more present ideas, take a look at all our Gift Guides. We've rounded up finds for Outdoorsy Kids, Teachers, the Tech-Obsessed, the French Chef, Under $50 Gifts for the Garden Lover, and more.

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A few years back, an in-the-know cook gave me grill pan. I was admittedly underwhelmed—until I put it to work. That grill pan has become of the most indispensable pieces of cookware in my kitchen. With their characteristic raised ridges lining the bottom, these heavyweights do more than add aesthetically appealing grill marks—thanks to charring, they impart real grilled flavor to meats and vegetables. Here's a roundup of our favorites.  

(Note: Because grill pans are best used at high temperatures, we avoid pans with nonstick coatings and instead use well-seasoned natural nonstick options, such as cast iron.) 

Above: My Le Creuset Signature Square Cast-Iron Grill Pan only gets better with age. Its loop handle makes it easy to maneuver, and the side spouts are great for pouring off excess fat. The 10-inch square pan has a black enamel interior (that requires no additional seasoning), and is available in six colors; $160 at Williams Sonoma.

Above: Designed with small storage spaces in mind, the circular Le Creuset Bistro Grill is another pan worth considering. Measuring 12.5 inches in diameter, it fits well on a stovetop and tucks into a cupboard with ease. Cast iron coated with porcelain enamel, it can be taken straight from stovetop to table for serving; $120 at Williams Sonoma.

Above: An American-made, cast-iron classic, the Lodge Logic Cast-Iron 10-Inch Square Grill Pan has high sides that contain splatters and work well for moving straight from stovetop to oven (this is how I cook sausages). It comes pre-seasoned and ready to use: $19.97 at Amazon. For those who prefer low sides, consider the Lodge Pro-Logic 12-Inch Cast-Iron Grill Pan; $33.18 at Amazon.

Learn more about the care (and occasional feeding) of cast-iron pans, by reading Megan Wilson's Object Lesson: Lodge Cast Iron.

Above: Generously sized for a single-burner pan, the Staub Cast-Iron Double-Handled Grill Pan measures 15.75 by 13 inches. The matte black enamel cooking surface requires no additional seasoning and is also resistant to rust, chips, and cracks; $179.95 at Williams-Sonoma. 

Above: For stainless steel devotees, the All-Clad Three-Ply Stainless Steel Grill Pan is dishwasher safe and measures 11 square inches; $149 through Amazon.

Above: Pair your grill pan with a Lodge Logic Cast-Iron Grill Press that keeps bacon curl at bay and can turn your grill pan into a panini maker; $24.95 at Sur La Table.  

Short on serveware? See 10 Easy Pieces: Oven-to-Table Cookware and The World's Most Beautiful Dutch Oven (by way of San Francisco). 

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David Stark Design is known for staging some of the most inventive events in New York—at places like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and for people such as Beyoncé—and for using materials that are green, affordable, and reusable. They apply the same principles to entertaining at home: "Keep it simple—and fanciful," says David, who is a longstanding Remodelista reader. He and his team at David Stark Design created this holiday place setting just for us. The napkin is a $2 white bandana block printed with a subtle white pattern; the tassels are snipped from the closest pine tree. Ready to make your own?

Photography and styling by Corrie Hogg, special projects designer at David Stark Design.

Ingredients

• White bandanas. Michael's sells Back-to-Basics Solid-Color Bandanas in 100 percent cotton for $1.99 each.
• A Speedball Speedy-Carving Block; the three-by-four-inch size is $2.99 at Dharma Trading Co.
• Pencil
• Linoleum carving tools, such as the Speedball Cutter Set; $11.60 at Dharma Trading Co.
• White fabric paint, such as Jacquard Products Fabric Paint; $5.86 for 2.25 ounces from Amazon.
• Small foam paintbrush
• Iron and ironing board

• Pine needles
• Twine
• Scissors

Instructions

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Step 1: Come up with a design you want to block print onto the napkin, then, in pencil, replicate it on the carving block. We chose a pinecone to tie in with the pine needles, but it can be anything.

Step 2: Once your pattern is drawn, carve out the negative space and leave the desired shape as the high relief on the block. Be sure to brush away any loose bits.

Step 3: When the design is complete, use a knife to cut off the excess block around your shape; this makes it easy to see where to place the block on the napkin.

Step 4: Iron your bandanas.

Step 5: Use the foam brush to apply a thin layer of paint to your stamp. Try a couple of practice rounds on scrap paper until you've figured out the right amount of paint. 

Step 6: When you're ready, stamp away on the bandanas. 

Step 7: Allow the paint to fully dry, then iron the bandanas again to set the paint (to protect your iron, it's a good idea to use parchment paper in between).

Step 8: Snip the pine needles from their branches and line them up in two equal stacks for each place setting.

Step 9: Using about three feet of twine, create a six-inch tail of twine and loop it up over the top of the needle bundle (as shown above). Then wrap the twine tightly around the needles until you've covered about a half inch. Tie the long end of the twine to the tail, double knotting it to secure the twine in place. Repeat with another stack of needles, so you have a tassel and tail at each end of the twine.

Step 10: Tie the tassels to your bandana napkin: Wind the twine around the napkin two or three times, thread in a place card if you like, and connect the two loops with a bow. Add flatware and glasses and your table is set.

Natural linen works well as a tablecloth for the place settings. Or consider David Stark's DIY Painted Runner Tablecloth. 

Peruse our Tabletop posts for more ideas, and see Gardenista for holiday recipes and drinks, including a Weeknight Holiday Party Menu. For party-planning inspiration, take a look at David Stark's book, The Art of the Party.

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Brücke 49 Hotel Pension, a modern-rustic guest house in the alpine spa town of Vals, is exactly where we'd like to be right now. Located in a 1902 house with four guest rooms, the B&B is the work of Ruth Kramer and Thomas Schacht, a Swiss-Danish couple who traded careers in Denmark—she as a designer, he as a business developer—for mountain village living. They restored and designed the place themselves: It's not fancy," they say, "just very personal with a lot of thought going into what we think will give you a cozy feeling." From what we've seen, they got that last part exactly right. 

Above: The century-old house is painted slate gray with white shutters. Vals is a historic Alpine village with a population of 950 (mostly farmers and craftspeople, say Ruth and Thomas). It's situated in the country's largest canton, Graubünden, not far from the borders of Austria and Italy, and has a five-lift ski resort and an extraordinary thermal hot springs resort, Therme Vals, designed by architect Peter Zumthor (day visitors welcome). Read about the spa in our post Poetry in Space: Vals Thermal Spa in Switzerland.

Above: We love the B&B's glossy black front door. The house had been damaged by a fire before Ruth and Thomas took over; they've resuscitated every inch of it.

Above: Vals is famous for its limestone, and the B&B entrance has its original, locally quarried stone floor and stairs. The couple painted the walls in a charcoal gray that carries over from the exterior. We like the way they paired it with doors in a soft brown. The side chair was in the house when they bought it and is emblematic of the way Ruth and Thomas introduced a mix of old and new: They upholstered the seat in a Paul Smith stripe from Kvadrat.

Above: All the floors in the house, including the living room, shown here, are original wide-plank pine—"long, massive planks that came from the local woods." The couple added new panels to the walls in the old style. The rug-free room is furnished with Danish classics, including a 1940s armchair by Finn Juhl.

Above: At Brücke 49, guests are not only welcome in the stainless-steel-appointed kitchen but also encouraged to cook if inclined. Note the apples stored in a wooden crate on the floor and the for-the-taking drinks on the window ledge.

Above: A guest room under the eaves. The B&B sleeps a maximum of 10 people.

Above L: A turn-of-the-century doorknob with its original key. Above R: A bentwood chair hung on a peg rack in a bedroom.

Above: A patchwork-upholstered vintage Danish chair in a guest room.

Above: A case for the (nearly) all-white bathroom.

Above: A montage of Brücke 49 details, including tasseled towels designed by Ruth and made for Brücke 49 by a friend in Turkey; a Royal Copenhagen mug; and a window railing that Thomas describes as "a little bent and bitten by time."

Above: Breakfast is served on Royal Copenhagen's hand-painted Multicolored Elements porcelain. Yes, that's the B&B's signature homemade bread and muesli with yogurt and fresh fruit. 

Above: An alpine arrangement that we plan to replicate.

Above: The 1902 knob on a bathroom window. The couple went to enormous trouble to restore the house's details—this closure is original, but "the rest is handmade new" to fit it, explains Thomas, and includes old handblown glass "that makes looking through the windows a little unsharp."

Above: Folding wooden chairs for taking in the mountain air year round. For rates and reservations, go to Brücke 49 Hotel Pension.

For more design and travel inspiration, browse our posts on standout lodgings around the world. And don't miss For Rent: A Ski Cabin by Peter Zumthor, World-Renowned Swiss Architect.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on November 15, 2013, as part of our Under the Covers issue.

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We're ready to gather by the fire—and let the competition begin. Here are the season's best small-batch games. And for artists and pacifists, there are blocks to build (and to display on coffee tables).

GAMES 

Above: The Casamidy traveling backgammon set features a handwoven saddle-blanket that comes in several tricolor combinations (custom requests are an option). It has leather game pieces and comes in a waxed canvas travel pouch; $400, including shipping. Go to Casamidy to see the company's full line of furniture and accessories, all made in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Write to casamidy@casamidy.com to place an order.

Above: Travel Checkers by Brooklyn artist duo Fredericks & Mae has a hinged board made of Baltic birch that holds its 30 magnetic playing pieces; $160. See more of Fredericks & Mae's reinvented games in our post Good Sport.

Above: The River Stone Tic-Tac-Toe Set from Schoolhouse Electric is the work of the Pi'lo Studio. It has a stitched canvas game board and smooth pebbles in two distinct shades of gray; $32.

Above: Moon Dominoes, another Fredericks & Mae design, replace the classic dots with silkscreened phases of the moon. The pieces are made of Baltic birch and come in a birch box, instructions included; $80.

BLOCKS 

Above: The Mini Facemaker Block Set by UK toy company Miller Goodman consists of 25 wooden blocks that can be configured into thousands of faces; $45 from Neo-Utility. Other variations are also available, including a colorful ShapeMaker set of blocks.

Above: Brinca Dada's award-winning Large Constructures add a new design element to building blocks: The pieces resemble windows. They're made of hand-finished beech and come in three sizes. A set of 51 pieces is currently on sale for $26.99 (marked down from $44.99) from Brinca Dada of NYC.

Above: Puzzlehead is the work of New Yorker cover illustrator and children's book author Richard McGuide. It comes in a small version (shown here) for $20, and a larger one for $40 from Areaware 

Above: Coming next: Blockitecture Series 1: Brutalism, a create-your-own cityscape designed by James Paulius that will be available this spring from Areaware.

Above: Don't Tip the Waiter by Chris Collicott is a simple stacking game: pile on the dishes and don't be the one to make them topple. Good for one or two players, and recommended for ages six and up; $25 from Kikkerland.

Get more ideas at 10 Easy Pieces: Building Blocks for Children. And go to Fait La Force for a hand-stitched indigo checkerboard with horn pieces made in Haiti.

Expecting snow? Take a look at the Ultimate Sled.

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Stumped when it comes to figuring out the best lighting in your bedroom? Consider hotel rooms. That’s what lighting designer Thomas Paterson of Lux Populi suggests, and here's why.

Above: Think of hotels as case studies in efficient and effective lighting, advises Paterson. At New York's Marlton Hotel in Greenwich Village, the rooms are small but they feel just right thanks to artful lighting. 

Why look to hotels for lighting ideas? 

“Hotels sell one product above all others—sleep. But they also know all the other ways guests use the room and are expert at illuminating each, whether with atmospheric lighting or task lamps," says Paterson. "Think of hotels as lighting labs." The next time you check in to a place you admire, take a walk around your room and notice the way the lighting is carefully considered. It might be worth copying.

Above: Designed by Neri & Hu, the Waterhouse Hotel in Shanghai demonstrates that lighting can be subtle and still effective. 

But don’t hotels have huge lighting budgets? 

If there’s one thing hotels know, it’s how to budget. Spending is carefully considered. “Hotels realize that every wiring point is expensive,” says Paterson. “Every extra dollar they shell out on a light fixture is $400 if they have 400 rooms.” One way that hotels look at planning the most effective and cost-conscious lighting is with a so-called “point strategy," a tally of how many lighting points are required in a space: one point means one light only, and so on. Two points is the bare minimum.

Above: A bedroom at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. See LA Confidential: A Visit to the Newest Ace Hotel for a full tour. Photograph by Laure Joliet for Remodelista.

What kind of point strategies are typical? 

Hotel rooms vary dramatically. Here are the common lighting configurations:

The Two-Point Strategy: This is the approach in budget motels: one ceiling light in the bedroom and a second ceiling light in the bathroom.

The Five-Point Strategy: Still considered a budget solution, the arrangement offers a ceiling light in the bedroom and bath, two bedside lamps, and a downlight in the entry.

Above: Paterson's sketch of the five-point strategy.

The Seven-Point Strategy: This strategy typically combines an entry light, a ceiling light and mirror light in the bathroom, two bedside lights, a large floor lamp, and a desk lamp. “Business hotels find this cost effective, and it does serve the needs of most guests,” says Paterson.

Above: An illustration of the seven-point strategy.

Above: The seven-point strategy used in a velvet-clad, extra-large room at the Soho House Berlin. 

More and More Points: “Of course, a simple hotel room can have far more points than seven,” says Paterson. “W Hotels often have as many as 18 points, not to mention control systems and other perks.” Are more points better? “Sure, to an extent, but sometimes less is more.”  

Above: Task lamps sit bedside in a room at the High Road House in London.

How can I use the point strategy? 

First, consider your space. Start with the most basic ambient lighting need as your first point of light, then follow with lighting focused on task-specific areas, such as a work space or reading area. Develop a point for each. Then look back to the hotel room model. What do they offer that you don't? Borrow the light, such as an illuminated magnifying mirror, that you wish you had.

Above: For kids, Paterson suggests a basic lighting strategy that's flexible enough to change over time. “Maybe just a center light in the ceiling, a bedside table lamp, a desk lamp, and you're done,” he says. Photograph via Design Vox.

For more bedroom lighting tips, see our posts Bedside Lighting and Bedroom Lighting Secrets.

Looking for lighting in other rooms? Read our Remodeling 101 primers:

• How to Install Flattering Lighting in the Bathroom
• Lighting Your Home Office
• How to Choose an Overhead Light Fixture
• Afterglow: 10 Solutions for Romantic Lighting

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It's a dog's life: gifts for the canine.

Above: Dress your dog as you would have them dress you—in a Hemingway Dog Pullover from Mungo & Maud; prices start at £75 ($118).

Above: The handmade Braided Dog Lead with brass fitting is $45 from Nickey Kehoe in Los Angeles.

Above: The German-made Reisebett 
Tweed Grey Folding Travel Bed from Cloud 7 is perfect for roving canines; prices start at €99 ($124).

Above: Keep your companion mentally stimulated with the Nina Ottosson Dog Domino, a puzzle that sends dogs searching for hidden treats; $49.50 via Amazon.

Above: Made of nautical rope, the Rope Pull Toy from Mystical Knotwork will fit in with even the most minimalist decor; $15 via Shinola. 

Above: And to keep the dog walker's hands warm, a pair of gray wool Dachsund Gloves from Etsy vendor Talkingloves; $36.

Above: When it's time to go walkies, consider a Twisted Striped Rope Leash in your team colors: UK company The Magnificent Hound created its line with the UK Premier Football League in mind. Each is made of strong acrylic rope with brass fittings; £22 ($35).

Above: UK company Bone & Rag makes distinctive (and durable) dog beds. The Denim Dog Bed  starts at £80 ($125).

For more present ideas, take a look at all our Gift Guides. We've rounded up finds for Cookbook Aficionados, Teachers, the Tech-Obsessed, Garden Lovers, and more.

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A few years back, we discovered Irene Finne's blog Loppelilla, a chronicle of her life in the pristine Norwegian town of Evangerand, and ever since we've revisited her site for holiday decor inspiration. We especially like her simple, organic ideas for Christmas decorations: knitted ornaments, stars made of kraft paper, and her surprising use of black.

Above: The snowy Norwegian landscape surrounding Irene's home.

Above: Irene sticks to a simple palette of white, gray, and black.

Above: A clever Advent calendar fashioned from a clothes hanger.

Above: Layers of Norwegian and Icelandic sheepskin meet pewter plates, candles, and antlers in the living room.

Above, L to R: A knitted ball ornament, a branch and crocheted taper candle holder, and a crocheted fir tree ornament. 

Above: The simple dining room features a gray painted floor.

Above: A branch displays ornaments; a chair is casually draped with a sheepskin.

Above: Irene favors edgy black Christmas ornaments.

Above: Irene's holiday table.

Above: Star ornaments made out of natural and white kraft paper and twine.

Above: The house is filled with wooden bowls, nature brought indoors, and candles.

Above: Irene is a master at creating knitted sleeves for ordinary household items.

Above: The kitchen is neutral in color and simple in style.

Above: An antler lamp with a crocheted shade.

Above: Little house in the big woods.

For another winter house with a similar palette, have a look at PS Arkitektur Fjällhus in Sweden. And to get your own rooms ready for the holidays, don't miss Single-Ingredient Holiday Decor, 10 Ideas.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on December 22, 2011, as part of our Christmas Parties issue.

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At Gardenista they're decking the halls, whipping up their own gifts (in minutes), and coaxing bulbs to bloom. And today they're moving on from flowers to chocolate.

Above: Certain doors and wreaths are meant for each other. In Curb Appeal, Meredith presents a survey of inspired examples. For more entryway swagger, see 11 Holiday Miracles to Add Instant Cheer.

Above: Even mudrooms stand ready for a bit of greenery. In Steal This Look, learn how to Deck the Mudroom to Greet Holiday Guests.

Above: "Nothing is more luxurious than spring flowers blooming in winter," writes Michelle. "And no one understands this better than Scandinavian gardeners, who fill their rooms with fragrant blooming bulbs." Take a look at the possibilities and learn where to source bulbs in Trend Alert: 13 Beautiful Blooming Bulbs.

Above: More popular than pie: In today's Entertaining post, Gardenista's new contributor, Lindsey Love, has us convinced that it's a cinch to make holiday bark—and you get to sprinkle in your favorite toppings.

Above: Equally easy, Erin's Three Last-Minute DIY Holiday Gifts—a fire starter, an old-fashioned pomander, and a potted bulb—are so winning, we want to make them all, for others and for ourselves. 

Above: For the more ambitious, a DIY Roll-Up Gardener's Tool Apron, stitched and fully loaded.

Above: How to tastefully decorate a small room for the holidays? Go to town with green sprigs and washi tape. See how in Christmas in a Tiny Apartment.

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I know I'm not the only one who is enamored of cats—in our office alone, pictures of Jojo (Julie's cat), Mars (Dalilah's cat), and Minou and Reine (my cats) get passed around like photos of new babies. But even if you're not a feline fan, I trust that you know one or several. Here's a gift guide for cats like us—and our pets. 

Above: No two cats are exactly alike, but most like to be warm and to hide in things, which makes this Crocheted Cat Bed an almost guaranteed hit. Handmade in Alabama of all wool, it's available in a range of colors, including Vanilla Cream, shown here; $45 on Etsy.

Above: Vegan Feather Cat Toys are cotton denim that's machine embroidered and filled with organic catnip. Made in San Francisco, the toys come in sets of two, one dark and one light, for $12 from Etsy seller Miso Handmade.

Above L: Brooklyn designer and cat lover Leah Goren's Black Cat Dish is glazed in shiny black on the top and unglazed on the underside; $20 each via Etsy. Above R: We also like Goren's Black and White Cats Newsprint Gift Wrap created for Brooklyn retailer Knot & Bow; $6 for four sheets on Etsy. 

Above: The Outdoor Heated Kitty House meets the needs of several kinds of cats: arthritic indoor kitties, feral outdoor kitties, and pampered kitties who run outside but whose owners want to keep them close by; $79.99 at Overstock. 

Above: Toronto designer Michelle Matsui of Kempton Jones studio is "inspired by life's soundtrack." On her Purring Cat Tea Towel, she captured the sound waves of a content cat and screen-printed the graphic onto a white cotton towel; $20 each at Brika. 

To make sure you have something for everyone on your list, consult our Holiday Gift Guides, including: 

• Gift Guide: 8 Presents for the Dog Lover
• Gift Guide: For the Kitchen Crew
• Gift Guide: 15 Presents for the Host (for Less than $50)
• Gift Guide: For the Young Bookworm
• Gift Guide: 3 Last-Minute DIY Holiday Gifts 

More Stories from Remodelista

• Happy Holidays
• Object Lessons: The Classic Cocktail Shaker (Plus 5 to Buy)
• Trend Alert: Peasant Chair Roundup (Plus 5 to Buy)

Honestly, I never imagined I'd meet a God's eye I liked. But recently, when trying to conjure a Christmas tree star for Gardenista (see A Star Is Born: DIY Foraged Tree Topper), I remembered the old camp craft, and I thought, maybe it's not the object itself that lacks appeal—perhaps it's just the rainbow yarn. And so the idea of the non-gaudy God's eye was born.

Photography by Justine Hand for Remodelista.

Instructions

Above: I began with some red and black ribbon and white yarn, and then threw in a little glittery gold and silver string for extra holiday cheer.

Materials

• Natural yarn, ribbon, or twine. I used a selection of Italian Cotton Ribbon and Wrapped Cotton from Studio Carta, as well as Twine from Anthropologie. 
• Balsa wood or popsicle sticks. Balsa wood is readily available in strips at your local hardware or art supply store. 
• Scissors
• Exacto knife, or other sharp utility knife

Making God's-eyes is a bit like riding a bike. After a brief refresher, you'll find you settle right back into the rhythm of it. Let's start with the basics.

Ornament 1: The Simple God's Eye

Step 1: Cut your balsa wood into two pieces of equal length.

Note: Although you can use popsicle sticks, I chose thinner widths of balsa wood, which seemed a better way to conjure the light snowflakes that I was going for. 

Step 2: Place two pieces together to form an X. To secure, simply wrap your twine diagonally in each direction to create an X across the front. I do not tie my yarn to the sticks because it creates an unruly lump. Simply wrapping around in each direction several times is enough to secure the center of the God's eye. Once it's wrapped, I trim any lose ends.

Step 3: Wrap your twine once, back to front, around one stick.

Step 4: Bring your twine across the front to the next stick, wrap around the back and across the front to the next stick.

Step 5: Repeat: Wrap around, quarter turn across the front to the next stick, wrap around, and so on until you reach your desired width. 

Above: Made with Studio Carta Wrapped Cotton String in red ($22 for 90 yards), my simple God's eye is a festive ornament. I finished mine with a simple knot around the final stick and then created a long tail with a loop at the end for hanging the ornament.

Above: The back of the God's eye is also lovely. Here is a step-by-step guide to making a classic God's eye.

Ornament 2: The Multi-Textured God's Eye

Above: To create this pattern, I wrapped the first two layers in the traditional manner, pulling the ribbon and then white mohair passing the yarn over each stick. For the final layer, instead of moving over, I passed under each stick. (You can also simply turn the God's eye over and continuing working across the front of the opposite face if that's easier for you.) To switch materials, simply tie one to the next with a knot and trim the tail. Once you begin experimenting with different patterns, you'll find that the possibilities are endless.

Ornament 3: The Complex God's Eye

Above: For a more elaborate design, start with four sticks crossed into a star form. (Note: I found that it's easier to secure this many sticks if I notch them with my Exacto knife.) The techniques for making complex God's eyes are the same as the simple, you're just dealing with more quadrants. First, to secure the sticks, wrap a thread diagonally across from one quadrant to the opposite moving around the star. Then work your yarn around in eighths instead of quarters, wrapping it around each stick and across the front to the next one.

Above: You can create more intricate patterns using the complex God's eye framework. Here I applied the basic technique in the center. For the outer pattern, I skipped a stick to create a square pattern. To do this, tie two pieces of string to two consecutive sticks. Wrap one once around in a square, tie off, and then use the other to go once around.

Above: You can also alternate the yarns that form the squares to create a radiating snowflake look. To do this, begin as you did above with two pieces of string tied to consecutive sticks. Work one string around the square, but don't tie it off. Simply hold it taught, while you work the next string once around. Continue to alternate once around with each piece.

The Finished Look

Above: Smaller God's eyes make great gift tags.

Want more Scandi-inspired holiday decor? See:

• DIY Holiday Candelabra
• DIY Video: Scandi-Inspired Holiday Wreath
• DIY: A David Stark–Designed Holiday Table

More Stories from Remodelista

• Last-Minute Holiday Gift: Homemade Orange-Spiced Wine
• DIY: Giant Origami Cranes as Holiday Decor
• Last-Minute DIY: Holiday Garlands Made of Star Anise

We're in full festive mode. Take a look at what's on our radar right now.

• Above: Proof that a bit of greenery can bring just the right amount of holiday spirit. Photograph by Melissa Oholendt.
• An amusing new take on the cup and saucer. 
• When the stores run out of gift bows, don't fret. You can make your own. 

• Above: We got an advance look at Vincent Van Duysen's new lidded glass pottery for When Objects Work, coming next month.
• Add this to your list of weekend projects: DIY Porcelain Holiday Lights with a Scandi twist. 
• Take a look at how Hollywood decorates for the holidays.

• Above: Could you live in a yurt? Writer Alexandra Fuller planned to just pay a visit to a "yurtian" community in Wyoming—but never left. Photograph by Laure Joilet. 
• Before the overnight guests arrive, try this trick to whiten discolored pillows.
• Upside-down Christmas tree.

• Above: Aesop opens its 100th store, this one is in Oslo, Norway. Photograph courtesy of Dezeen.
• Six ways to gift wrap.
• The creator of the game Minecraft recently outbid Jay-Z and Beyoncé on a $70 million mansion.
• The best-dressed books for 2014.

Instagram and Pinterest Picks of the Week

• Above: Blogger Joy E. Jaynes (@morningslikethese) advocates for a slower, more mindful start to the day. 
• All the festive inspiration you need is in our Holiday Decor board on Pinterest.
• Stories about so many of our favorite makers.

For more of the latest from Remodelista, go to Holiday 101—and don't miss Gardenista's week of Feeling Festivus. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• Happy Holidays
• Object Lessons: The Classic Cocktail Shaker (Plus 5 to Buy)
• Trend Alert: Peasant Chair Roundup (Plus 5 to Buy)

This week we're devoting our days to end-of-the-year festivities (cocktails included). 

Above: Deck the table with flowering bulbs and a branch in a bottle. Photograph by Northern Heart via Mornings Like These.

Monday

Above: Noticed lately: rustic peasant chairs in stylish interiors. Check out the possibilities in today's Trend Alert.

Tuesday

Above: In Tuesday's Object Lesson, Megan presents a nutshell history of the cocktail shaker and where to source the ultimate examples. 

Wednesday

Above: The perfect-for-right-now detail: wintery throw blankets. Find the ones you've been looking for in Wednesday's 10 Easy Pieces.

Thursday

Happy holidays! Today, we're looking ahead to 2015, and toasting Remodelista and Gardenista readers near and far. 

Friday

Above: From Boxing Day until early January, we'll be presenting the best of Remodelista in 2014. Watch for favorite design discoveries from a different country each day, First up: Switzerland, including these rental chalets by renowned architect Peter Zumthor.

Ice lanterns, a garage turned studio apartment, favorite shades of gray paint—catch Gardenista's best posts of 2014 in this week's Snow Days issue. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• Happy Holidays
• Object Lessons: The Classic Cocktail Shaker (Plus 5 to Buy)
• Trend Alert: Peasant Chair Roundup (Plus 5 to Buy)

After years of sneaking in visits to see Architecture on our family holidays, my sons are now onto us and wary of our ways. ("Do we really need to see another cathedral?)" Next trip, I’m going stealth with a ski vacation at Chesa Wazzau, a renovated 17th-century Engadine farmhouse in the Swiss mountain village of Bever. Restored and preserved with care by a husband-and-wife team (he’s a photographer and she’s an interior designer) who have owned the property for 30 years, the house maintains its original character and charm—vaulted ceilings, rustic wood framing, and windows embedded into thick walls. With all modern amenities included, my sons won’t even notice that they have skied back in time.

Photography by Christian Küenzi.

Above: Above the entry at Chesa Wazzau, the sgraffito (Italian for "scratched") plaster decoration framing the small window embedded into a thick wall—a detail designed for heat retention—is typical of 17th-century Engadine architecture. 

Above: In the kitchen, the thick walls create a deep window sill ideal for the display of potted greenery. Modern kitchen cabinets provide a base for a granite trough sink.

Above: "Much of the furniture was inherited," says owner Christian Küenzi. "Some pieces were already in the house and others have been with us for a lifetime."

Above: Vaulted ceilings in one of the house's six bedrooms. It has two baths and sleeps 12.

Above: The small walls embedded in thick walls do a respectable job of funneling light through the interior.

Above: The vernacular wood furniture of the region contrasts with a 1970s-style globe light and glass side table.

Above: The palette of rustic wood and white walls extends into the bathrooms.

Above: A small bedroom with wood floors and ceilings has a balcony from which to take in the Alpine views.

Above: "It took many years of gentle and respectful renovation to create this idyll and retain the charm and originality of Chesa Wazzau," Küenzi says. "It's an ongoing process; there is always something to do.”

Above: The village buildings of Bever represent the vernacular architecture of the Engadine, a long valley in the Swiss Alps known for its sunny climate and proximity to St. Moritz—a five-minute drive. See Chesa Wazzau's location on the map below and go to the site for rental details.

For more snowy idylls, explore:

• Rental Ski Cabins by a World-Renowned Swiss Architect
• A Minimalist Ski Resort in Sweden
• A Modern Ski House in the Alps
• An Off-the-Grid Cabin in Vancouver, Candlelight Included
• 61 Cabins to Lust For

More Stories from Remodelista

• Poetry in Space: Vals Thermal Spa in Switzerland
• For Rent: A Ski Cabin by a World-Renowned Swiss Architect
• A Swiss Chalet Reborn (with Rooms to Rent)

Spotted lately: the classic carved-wood Tyrolean chair (also called the Swiss mountain chair) and other folk art versions in stylish interiors.

Above: Tyrolean chairs in a holiday house by Pedevilla Architects (see more at The Mountain Rental: A Holiday House in the Italian Alps).

Above: Chinese farmer's chairs surround the kitchen table in Vincent Van Duysen's kitchen. Photograph by David Spero for the New York Times.

Above: Humble peasant chairs from New York antiques dealer Paula Rubenstein in the home of Gardenista contributor Laura Silverman. Photograph by Michael Mundy (go to At Home in Sullivan County, NY, to see more).

Five to Buy

Above: The Swiss Mountain Chair III from Bliss Home is $310.

Above: Venetian designer Luca Nichetto reinterpreted the traditional Tyrolean chair for his collaboration with Casamania. The chairs are made of ash and available in a range of colors; go to Casamania for ordering information.

Above: From Jan Kurtz Mobel, the Stuhl Vienna Chair is €198 ($242.47).

Above: Colorado furniture maker Tim O'Brien trained with an Austrian master; his Handmade Alpine Chairs are $750 each via his shop, Shamrock Fine Woodworking, on Etsy.

Above: An Antique Folk Art Spinning Chair or Brettstuhl Baroque peasant chair ("early 19th century or before") is $607 from Etsy seller Owl Song Vintage.

See what's next by reading our Trend Alerts: 

• Kitchens with Brass Accents
• File Cabinets as Storage in Every Room (but the Office)
• Ugly Marble Bathrooms
• Chevron- and Herringbone-Patterned Walls
• Bathroom Storage Tricks in the Kitchen

More Stories from Remodelista

• Happy Holidays
• Object Lessons: The Classic Cocktail Shaker (Plus 5 to Buy)
• Table of Contents: Winter's Tale

With its spicy fragrance and stellar form, star anise is perfect for holiday decor. Here are two garlands that are quick and easy enough to make at the last minute.

Photography by Justine Hand for Remodelista.

Instructions

Above: Unlike cinnamon sticks, which can be overwhelmingly potent, star anise has a more subtle, spicy scent.

Materials:

• 1/2 pound of Whole Star Anise (illicium verum). I ordered mine from Glenbrook Farms; $10.29 for 1 pound.
• 4 or 5 raw cotton bolls. Similar Cotton Branches are available at Save on Crafts; $5 for two stems. 
• Several yards of silver thread (Garland 1) and ribbon (Garland 2)
• Glue, such as Elmer's 
• Wax paper

Above: Raw cotton bolls were left over from my Winter White Holiday Bough created earlier this season.

Garland 1: Star Anise and Cotton Bunting 

Step 1: Take a small bit of cotton in hand and roll to form a slightly more uniform boll. (Note: You can also substitute white felt balls.) Using a needle, string your bolls along the silver thread, making sure to leave enough room for the star anise in between. Don't worry too much about the spacing at this point because you will be able to move the cotton bolls up and down the thread.

Step 2: I experimented with trying to pierce and drill a hole through the anise, but it just fell apart, so in the end I went with glue. 

Once you have your cotton bolls evenly spaced, place one star anise face down in between each boll. Lay the thread over the back near the top of one of the arms of the stars and add a drop of glue. Note: You don't want to affix the star anise across the middle because the weight of the star will cause it to flip horizontally when hung. Allow to dry overnight.

The Finished Look

Above: Voila, your simple garland. I hung mine over a bare branch and some beeswax candles made by my friend Niho Kazuru.

Above: A celestial landscape: Up close the finished garland looks like a sky filled with stars and clouds.

Above: As the sun goes down, a string of LED Fairy Lights add a warm glow; $17.99 for 20 feet.

Above: A detail of the star anise and raw cotton. 

Above: Not bad for about 10 minutes of work.

Garland 2: Star Anise Clusters

Step 1: On a piece of wax paper, arrange a pattern of contiguous stars in a slight arc. Once again, make sure that most of the weight falls at the bottom of your garland. 

 Step 2: Apply a liberal amount of glue along the length of the garland. Don't worry if some glue seeps through to the wax paper. 

Step 3: While the glue is still wet, lay a ribbon across the garland leaving at least six inches of bare ribbon on each end. I used Studio Carta Thin Metallic Tight Weave Cotton Ribbon in silver; $9 for five yards. Again apply a liberal amount of glue. Leave to dry overnight. The next morning, gently peel the garland off the wax paper.

The Finished Look

Above: Moon and stars on my mantel.

Above: A detail of the star-anise cluster garland. 

Looking for other easy holiday DIYs? See:

• A Star Is Born: DIY Foraged Tree Topper 
• A David Stark–Designed Table Setting Made from Pine Needles
• God's Eye Ornaments with a Scandi Twist
• DIY Poinsettia: A Common Christmas Plant Goes Luxe

More Stories from Remodelista

• Last-Minute Holiday Gift: Homemade Orange-Spiced Wine
• DIY: Giant Origami Cranes as Holiday Decor
• DIY: God's Eye Ornaments with a Scandi Twist

What to get the do-gooder in your life? We suggest a present that comes with a promise to give back. Here are five good-looking products that are born from a charitable place.

Above: Far & Wide Collective works with artisans in developing countries to bring their products to a global market. In return, Far & Wide invests a portion of its profits into their workers, providing new tools and resources. We have our eye on the outfit's handwoven baskets, such as this Yellow and Pink Striped Basket made by a group of 30 women weavers in Kenya, $145 for large (similar smaller designers are available for $59).  

Above: Francesca put the Mercer Backpack ($225 from State Bags) on our radar in Editors' Picks: 11 Favorite Urban Backpacks. For every backpack sold, State Bags delivers "a backpack packed with essential tools for success for an American child in need." 

Above: To combat the growing number of displaced and unemployed US veterans, accessories company Sword & Plough works only with factories that employ vets. The iPad Sleeve is made of repurposed military canvas and leather; $69. 

Above: A portion of the proceeds from the sale of S'well Water Bottles goes to WaterAid, an international nonprofit that works to provide clean water to 27 countries. The stainless-steel bottles keep cold drinks cold for 24 hours and hot drinks hot for 12 hours; they come in three different sizes and a multitude of colors and finishes—black from the Matte Collection is shown here—priced from $25 to $45. 

Above: Based in Uganda, Sseko works with fair-trade women artisans to make scarves, sandals, and leather accessories. The group provides a source of income for women who are working to get to college or are already pursuing a degree. Handwoven in Ethiopia, the all-cotton Gillian Scarf is $48. 

Find the perfect presents—take a look at our Gift Guides, including:

• Gifts for the Hipster Man
• Games for All Ages
• Books for the Architect
• Finds for the Cat Lover
• Gifts for the Host (for Less Than $50)
• Gifts for the Gardener
• Last-Minute Holiday Gift: Shop the Supermarket (and Disguise It)

More Stories from Remodelista

• Editors' Picks: 12 Best Pajamas for Lounging
• Gift Guide: 8 Presents for the Dog Lover
• Gift Guide: For the Hipster Man

A common thread here at Remodelista? Our obsession with Scandinavian design, especially during the holidays. So as we gear up for a season of entertaining, I was inspired to pull together a dinner party table setting mixing vintage and contemporary Scandinavian design, from Iittala's Alvar Aalto vases to Kartio's glassware by Finnish master Kaj Franck. Where to find everything in one place? Using eBay's Click & Collect feature, I scoured the site and came up with a shopping list for a Scandi table setting. Vintage glass pitcher? Check. Festive cordial glasses? Check. Gray linen napkins? Check. Now, arrange branches and boughs from the yard in a giant vase and we're done.

Photography by Luke Abiol for Remodelista. 

Above: I searched eBay using terms such as "Scandinavian modern candlesticks" and "Aalto vases" to find what we were looking for, and chose items with "Fast & Free" shipping. 

Above: Within a couple of days, packages started to arrive, and in less than a week, I had everything we needed to decorate our holiday table.

Above: My dining room, looking a little bare before the transformation.

Above: I stuck to a simple, subdued color palette of dark gray, green, black, and white.

Above: A set of linen napkins with subtle silvery stripes, perfect for our palette.

Above: My Abyssinian cat, Jojo, surveys the scene; the vintage Swedish glass pitcher was a favorite find.

Above: Beeswax candles are available on eBay (who knew?).

Above: A Ferm LIving cork trivet, another favorite find. (I already had the covered dish; it's from Heath Ceramics and can also be found on eBay.) 

Above: The table is set, the candles are lit, ready for the guests.

Want to create something similar? We consulted with eBay to come up with a list of top tips for shopping the site:

1.) Consult eBay Collections, which offers collections of curated products, and look out for Click & Collect items that allow you to pick up your purchases on a day and at a time that suits you (choose an eBay Collection Point location near you, including one of over 650 Argos stores across the UK).

2.) Want it fast? eBay offers a range of delivery options, including express delivery and Click & Collect on select items. 

3.) What if you're not happy with your purchase? The return policy at eBay allows you to return items with a minimum 14 calendar-day returns window from all business sellers who are on board.

4.) Did you know that if you use PayPal, you're eligible for the eBay Money Back Guarantee? Get the item you ordered, or your money back, postage included. 

—Julie Carlson

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• Steal This Look: Dinner in an Atelier
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• Object Lessons: The California Colors of Bauer Pottery