The Art of theSoft Christmas
Make Yourself at Home
Forget red and green—think candlelight, velvet ribbons, and a table that glows like a winter’s dream
After decades of blindingly bright, Crayola green-and-red Christmas décor, I have finally retired from grandma’s colorama explosion. Now, the vibe has shifted from “Santa’s workshop on a sugar rush” to “elegant winter retreat with hot cocoa and a Pinterest board.”
Go GooeyGump Something!
Make Yourself at Home
Breaking down how to upcycle furniture with GooeyGump Designs.
At GooeyGump Designs in Portland, creativity is a way of life. “GooeyGump” was my childhood nickname, both a term of endearment and a verb of frustration used whenever I went a little overboard on a project. As an only child, I was often told to “go GooeyGump something” until dinner and would spend hours in my own little world of egg cartons and puffy paints.
Creating Luxury in Everyday Life
Mrs. West Approved
Come early Saturday morning, most are still fast asleep and enjoying an extended weekend snooze. But not me. It’s time for competitive flower shopping. (A tongue-in-cheek nickname, I assure you, as I avoid any stressful encounters.) I am heading to our local farmers market to check out the season’s blooms before they get picked over—or worse, sold out. The earlier you arrive, the better the blossom selection.