10 Fun & Inspiring Finds From Around the Blogosphere+ ETA a VERY Unique Bonus Item

1. Dawn of By Sun and Candlelight made this neat Martha Stewart Hallowe'en craft. I think we may give it a try. Pots and paint...may even be a child-friendly craft.

2. Beautiful handmade pine needle baskets, job's tears rosaries, hand dipped candles made from a local beekeeper's wax supply and lots of whittling will inspire some cool Autumn evening crafting around here. Stop by Alice's a number of things to see the inspiration for yourself.

3. Artsy, delicious fabric + A few inexpensive supplies= Fabric Wall Art Panel. Very cool. Check out Jessica's tutorial over at How About Orange.

4. Or, even easier, how about these sweet little "Swatch Portraits" from the Purl Bee for brightening up a room while surrounding yourself with little bits of all those wonderful fabrics?Skip the glue and make it an ever changing exhibit of seasonal or mood matching fabrics.

5. While your over at the Purl Bee, check out their new book, Patchwork + Quilted Gifts. If I had the slightest idea how to quilt, I would be all over this amazing color wheel quilt:

If you don't think you could ever pull all of those fabrics together, they have now assembled a color wheel fabric bundle to make it easier. Though I personally think hunting and choosing the fabrics would be at least half of the fun. The book also has a pencil roll that applies the same color wheel technique, but on a smaller scale. Oh, and then there is that fascinating puzzle ball that could be made in a fantastic array of color, texture and design combinations. Check out the pictures here.

6. The ever fresh and creative Meg at montessori by hand has proposed a Holiday Traditions Exchange. If you sign up, your assignment is to send your designated partner a hand made holiday decoration, favorite holiday recipe and a holiday tradition tutorial explaining one of your favorite holiday traditions. Of course, as it is an exchange, you will receive a similar package as well. Why not apply this idea to a circle of friends or as an addition to your children's memory boxes?

7. While you are over visiting Meg, take look at her cool recycled bath mat with embroidered feet! She has even promised a tutorial. I do really wish that Meg would make more of her Heather Ross cowgirl shirts, though, because I WANT ONE!

8. Beautiful Virgencita Tea Towel from Floresita.

9. I wonder if The Professor would be willing to use some of our summer crop of now dried figs for these Grown-up Fig Cookies? The recipe is posted on one of my favorite culinary blogs, 101 Cookbooks, but comes from the Gluten-Free Girl cookbook that I have been reading about all over the blogosphere. Anyway, the fig spread itself includes pomegranate juice, port, and meyer lemon juice! I think I just want to whip that up and spread it on a baguette with some creamy goat cheese.

10. Gabrielle the Design Mom posts cool stuff on her blog daily. Really cool stuff, actually. Check out these Lego ads her husband came across:

Brilliant, no? We don't have a play room, but if we did, I would hang these posters on the walls.

And a final note, I have started a new segment on the side-bar entitled, Inspiring. We'll see where it leads.

ETA:
Bonus find: Remember Ken Jennings, the Jeopardy Whiz? Seems he has combined his love for the children's book characters and an ability to paint into an incredibly beautiful (though still in progress) border for his daughter's bedroom wall. Gorgeous. Here is a sneak peak: