For a while now, we've been lamenting the demise of the dinner party (check out the recent article in the New York Times on that very subject). So in anticipation of our third annual Remodelista Holiday Market, we pulled together a crowd of local architects and creatives, including preserve maker June Taylor, linen maker Tricia Rose, and necklace creator Maki Yamada, to enjoy a Monday-night dinner.

We used Cécile Daladier's Parisian Oyster Party as our inspiration and enlisted Inverness, CA, restaurant Saltwater to provide local oysters, food, and wine; our favorite forager Louesa Roebuck decorated the room with bay laurel, mossy branches, and dried cardoon thistles, making it a very Remodelista affair.

Photography by Aya Brackett for Remodelista.

Above: Julie's house in Mill Valley was the venue for our Monday night dinner. Louesa scattered soft cardoon thistles (part of the artichoke family of plants) down the center of the table ("their tawny gold looks like fur," she says). She weaved Usnea Lichen (otherwise known as Old Man's Beard) into the mix.

Above: For the place settings, we used dip-dyed place cards made with off-white card stock soaked in dye made from the leaves of ornamental plum trees (see DIY: Seasonal Vegetable Dyes, Holiday Edition); we penned the names with a charcoal stick.

Above: We asked them to bring something to share with another attendee: the offerings included handmade knitted trivets, home-brewed sloe gin, handmade wood cutting boards, original drawings and sketches, and a collection of podcast interviews. Performance artist Ryan Tacata gave the most original gift: a five-minute performance piece for architect Douglas Burnham of Envelope A + D.

Above: Alexa samples a local Sweetwater oyster from Hog Island, heaped high on a vintage metal tray filled with rock salt and adorned with seaweed.

Above: The aluminum and brass seafood plates by San Francisco artist Arthur Court are from Heritage Culinary Artifacts; $485 for a set of six. The Sterling Silver Oyster Forks are $125 for a set of six (she'll be at our Market too).

Above L: Jay Carroll of One Trip Pass armed with a glass of Cremant de Bourgogne.

Above: Architect Jerome Buttrick, who designed Julie's Mill Valley house, pours rosé for necklace maker Yuki Yamada and furniture maker Julian Paul (opposite). Across the table, architect Douglas Burnham chats with Louesa Roebuck. Hanging above the table are bunches of bay laurel tied with twine.

Above: Maki Yamada (L foreground) shares a dish with graphic designer Kyle Macy. Louesa Roebuck chats with furniture maker and designer Julian Paul.

Above: Tricia Rose (in red scarf) of Rough Linen provided the rustic table linens. Across from Tricia sits Berkeley-based June Taylor of June Taylor Jam. Next to Tricia sits journalist Tania Ketenjian, who holds her one-year-old daughter, Nora.

Above: The menu, by Stacy Lauer and Gwendolyn Meyer for Saltwater, included farro salad with pomegranate and sausage, chanterelles, onions and sauteed greens and a cauliflower hazelnut salad.

Above: The table, set and waiting for guests. The large Napa Valley-made beeswax pillow candles from Culinary Heritage Artifacts give off a sweet smell of honey and are available in different hues, according to the shade of the seasonal pollen.

Create your own indoor winter wonderland with our five favorite paper ornaments:

Above: Create a festive note with the 11 feet long Gold Paper Garland, made in France, $35 from Alder & Co.

Above: Make your own ornaments with pre-cut sheets of gold and silver shapes from Berlin design company, Kolor; €6.90 for two sheets. For more information, contact Kolor.

Above: Bunting can always be relied on to lend an air of festivity; at this time of year, silver and gold add holiday glamor; £9.50 from Toast.

Above: Fold your own origami lanterns to pop over the bulbs on your string lights with this DIY tutorial from Wit & Whistle, or purchase them premade from Etsy; $32.00 for a set of 50. Image via With & Whistle.

Above: Spotted on Annaleena's Hem, white tissue paper honeycomb balls remind us of snow balls (without the melting); $1.29 for 8-inch ball and $1.79 for 10 nch ball through Amazon; £5.00 for 30-cm ball from Not on the High Street.

Above: These Washi Paper Snowflakes from Japan attach to windows and mirrors with a little water sprayed on them. Can be reused up to five times; £10 for a package of either one large and one small or 5 small from Nonesuch Things.

N.B. Looking for other ornament ideas? See 19 back posts of Ornaments.

SPONSORED POST

As we wrestle our rooms into order for the winter festivities, we are inspired by the battalion of old-fashioned cleaning and organizing solutions being offered by the new West Elm Market. Here, the 10 items at the top of our pre-holiday SOS list.

Above: Iron and brass Heirloom Scissors, $14 and $29, from India—pretty enough to put on display and ever-reliable (we've had a pair for 20 years that remains shiny and razor sharp).

Above: Made by Wool Shop in Missouri, the Lambswool Duster naturally attracts and holds dirt particles and comes in three sizes, from $5 to $12, French maid's apron not included.

Above: At long last, the wood ironing board makes a comeback (this one is made of sustainable bamboo, $79.95) with all-cotton covers available in three tidy stripes.

Above: The wood-handled Metal Mop Bucket (medium and large, $16 and $19) makes a great wastebasket when it's not filled with soapy water.

Above: The wood-handled Sanitary Bowl Brush, $9, is made by Brooklyn-based nonprofit NYC Industries for the Blind.

Above: This neutral and natural—and long lasting—sponge makes our day.The Walnut Scrubberby Full Circle, $4, is fabricated from plant-based cellulose and has a walnut-shell abrasive surface.

Above: A Dust Pan, $34, for modernists, made in Germany of powder-coated iron with wood handles and coconut-skin bristles.

Above: The gym locker basket improved—the stainless steel Wire Mesh Tray ($29, other sizes and shapes available) is a good-looking container for laundry, magazines, toys, and towels.

Above: The life-changing Wooly Mammoth Dry Mop, $40, is made by Sladust Mop Co. of Pittsfield, Vermont, a fourth-generation family firm specializing in all-wool cleaning tools that "draw dust like a magnet and hold on tight until you give the mop a shake."

Above: The Metal Mop Bucket, $49, in hard-to-find black stainless steel with wood handles. It's an all-purpose receptacle, good for big mop ups (or bathing small dogs), as well as for gathering firewood.

Enter the West Elm Market Giveaway to win $250 of clever, hard-working, time-saving, clutter-busting solutions for everyday living

On the rare occasion when we're lucky enough to have our makeup done, San Francisco-based Shawn Burke is our go-to artist (she's a favorite with Alice Waters as well). For the holidays, we asked her for some quick tips on how to glam it up a bit. Here's what she suggested:

"There's no excuse like the holiday season to take a bit of a fashion and makeup risk. And what could be more bang for your glamor buck than a new lipstick? These colors will take the Remodelista editors from the office to party perfect show stoppers. As my grandmother Florence always said, 'Put a little lipstick on!' "

Above: Before we begin, you'll need a proper zip bag to carry your makeup, Shawn designs her own line, and has several glamorous offerings, including the Necessaire; $120 from Shawn Burke.

Above: For Christine, I find myself wanting to go for an unexpected deep, dark fuchsia color like L104 from the Ellis Faas collection (I love the unexpected glamor of a dark pink lip for evening). What this lipstick lacks in name, it more than makes up for in its ultra modern packaging. Faas has based her line of makeup around colors that naturally occur in the human body (she was a huge special effects makeup artist), so her pinks are so right you can't go wrong. L104; $35 from Ellis Faas.

Above: For Sarah, I would recommend my new must-have, go-to lipstick by Tom Ford, Cherry Lush. The packaging on this lip color is a conversation stopper, and the color is a perfect pinky cherry pop of gorgeous. This is about as beautiful a shade of red as there is. Just right for Sarah's milky skin. Cherry Lush by Tom Ford; $48 from Neiman Marcus. Image via Roundcheeks

Above: For Julie, who favors brown-toned lipsticks, I think it's time to go big or go home. I would recommend Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in the color Icon. This is a 1930s silent film star, think Clara Bow, deep wine color. This is perfect with lots of black mascara, and if you want to take it down a notch, pat it into the lip with your finger and use it almost like a stain. Otherwise, apply full strength for full-blown glam. This product also boasts amazing staying power, it will last the whole party without reapplication. Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Icon by Hourglass; $28 from Sephora. Image via Temptalia.

Above: For Alexa, I want a lip that is soft and clean with a rosy hint. I think she would look stunning in Serge Lutens Rose de Glaces. Serge Lutens makeup is as understated and elegant as the design of his many homes. His lipsticks come with the quote: "A dainty case designed to have and to hold. The height of sophistication." This color on Alexa, with a bit of black eyeliner on the lower lash line and a light coat of black mascara on the top and bottom lashes, is a perfect balance. The packaging has a wonderful weight to it; you feel like you'll have it forever. In fact, you can buy refills; so fabulously old school. Rose de Glaces by Serge Lutens; $75 from Barneys. Image via Harvey Nichols.

One of our clever readers clued us in to Paula Greif's handmade menorah, which reminded us how much we like the work of this Brooklyn-based ceramicist.

Greif's pieces are available at Beautiful Dreamers in Brooklyn; contact the shop directly for pricing and shipping. She also holds online sales periodically; go to Paula Greif Ceramics to sign up for notifications.

Above L: Contact Paula Greif Ceramics directly for information about her menorah. Above R: Ornaments piled in a handmade bowl.

Above: Plates by Greif.

Above: The coffee pot and dripper is $200 at Beautiful Dreamers.

David Rager, the US-born, Paris-based design impresario behind Paris's Candelaria, recently clued us in to his latest venture: a cocktail bar in Pigalle called Glass that he designed with Cheri Messerli.

"It's a little darker and more focused on the music/DJ vibe. It's in Pigalle in a former 'hostess bar,' where a beer costs 20 bucks because it comes with some extra attention (the street is still lined with bars like this). We didn't change the facade, but we gutted the interior and installed an acoustic 'box' so we can crank up the volume and have some small live performances. Cheri and I designed everything in this one, including the furniture (benches, a circular banquette that converts to a stage, stools, and cocktail tables). We were inspired after a trip to Tokyo, so all of the bench seating has built-in storage below the seat for your jackets and bags. We worked with London-based artist Andere Monjo, who created the distressed/watercolored mirrored tables, and artist Adrian Rubi Dentzel, who made the light-up resin tiles for the floor."

For information, go to Glass. You can also check out the Glass playlist on Peachr.

Above: The interior is painted a moody shade of black.

Above: Artist Adrian Rubi Dentzel created the light-up resin tiles for the floor.

Above: Brass lamps from Japanese artist Oji Masanori illuminate the space.

Above: London-based artist Andere Monjo created the distressed/watercolored mirror tables for the space.

Above: A view of the mirrored bar area.

Above: The banquettes offer storage opportunities.

Above: Rager designed all the graphics for the bar.

N.B. To see more of David and Cheri's work, go to House Call: David Rager and Cheri Messerli in Paris and Restaurant Visit: Taqueria Candelaria in Paris.

We'll be at the new Heath Ceramics in SF today, celebrating our third annual Remodelista Holiday Market; drop by if you're in town (2900 18th Street) to meet our fantastic vendors.

Here's a roundup of what else is piquing our interest this week:

Above: The setting for this year's Holiday Market at the Heath Ceramics building in San Francisco.

• Sarah is desperate to check out Cortez next time she's in LA while Julie is looking into chef Laurin Hackney's regular parlour dinners.

Above: Christine repins from artist Aysen Orhon's Pinterest boards more times than she likes to admit and is currently coveting this painting of hers.

• Thrilled to see some of our favorite visionaries listed in Elle Decor's recent 10 Game Changers to Meet.

Above: Christine has just discovered that you can rent out one of architect Peter Zumthor's winter cottages in the Swiss valley of Leis; don't miss your chance of a possible celebrity architect sighting.

• We never would have thought Swarovski crystals could look like this: installation by Asif Khan at Art Basel.

• Sarah is listening to this by Seigen Ono.

Above: Janet's been coveting this gilded forest wreath on Etsy while Izabella has been admiring the wreaths by Le Dans La.

• Stacey is admiring Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired gingerbread house for the holidays.

Above: Thinking of adding this essential man-read to our Gift Guide for the Man's Man from earlier this week.

• Now this is storage at its best.

• Loving this recipe for Hanukkah sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts).

Meanwhile on Gardenista:

Above: Michelle continues to compile dried flower decor inspiration; this one from San Francisco's Suppenkuche, photographed by Heidi Swanson.

• If you're like us, you have a few gardeners on your holiday shopping list. Not to fear: we've got you covered.

N.B.: Find all of our Current Obsessions posts to date in our Design News section.

This week, architect Ian Read from Medium Plenty speaks about how valuable good communication is between client and architect; in this case, a small-scale Californian bungalow remodel in Oakland. He is available for the next 48 hours to answer any and all questions. Ask away!

The clients’ brief for the remodel of their classic bungalow, with its many small rooms and doorways, was as straightforward as they come, “Open up the back of the bungalow to provide as much entertainment space as possible.” Easily said and done; but what about the rest of it, the actual realization of a space on paper into the kitchen of one’s dreams?

“We were in constant communication,” Ian Read, a founding principal of Medium Plenty and member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory, says. “We had scheduled weekly meetings where the clients brought their continually developing thoughts to the table, giving us new perspectives throughout the process. The regular communication allowed flexibility in the teasing out of decisions as well as leeway in material selection.” A more expensive countertop than planned for originally (at the request of the client) meant that the client/architect team looked for savings elsewhere (to be discussed below). And so on and so forth, to the point where the"‘the final budget was nailed within a few hundred dollars."

Photographs by Mariko Reed.

Above: The initial palette for materials was set around the whitewashed oak flooring and the white lacquered cabinets.

Above: The clients wanted a big kitchen for entertaining so that that food preparation could continue with their guests. Hanover Pendant Lights from Simon Pearce hang over the kitchen island.

Above: A decision to use Calacatta (not to be confused with Cararra) marble for the countertops meant that the design team had to seek a cost savings elsewhere, which they made up in their backsplash, where they used Dimensional Crease tiles the client found at a seconds sale at Heath Ceramics at a 75 percent savings.

Above: The client phoned Read from the Heaths Ceramics showroom and asked, "How many square feet of tile do we need? There's 85 square feet here on sale. Can we do it?" After a few ensuing phone calls between the client, architect, and contractor (who was on site measuring), the team decided it was worth a try. If necessary, they reasoned, they could always make up the difference with a box of full-price tiles.

Above: Mixed into the seconds batch of matte finish tiles were 10 glossy finish tiles, which the design team had to place with care. This required a team meeting with the client, architect, contractor, tile installer, and one bottle of wine where every tile including was laid out and the 10 glossy tiles were hidden in the mix. The tiles were laid out so efficiently that at the end of the process, there were only one and a half tiles left over.

Above: A view from the kitchen into the garden reveals a glimpse of the guest shed that Medium Plenty designed for the client several years ago.

Above: While the clients wanted a bar sink in the island, they didn't want it to get in the way of food preparation. The solution was to design a narrow sink that allows for food preparation in front of it. When filled with ice, the sink becomes a useful wine chiller. "The client fell in love with the Karbon Faucet from Kohler and had to have it," Read says.

Above: Oak veneer cabinetry houses the refrigerator and drinks bar; creating a transition from the modern kitchen to the original wood paneling in the dining room.

Above: A niche has been carved out to store wine bottles.

Above: The plan of the remodel shows how Medium Plenty created one big open space from many smaller ones.

Above: The demolition plan of the existing kitchen. The dotted black lines denote walls that have been removed.

N.B.: Looking for more kitchen inspiration? See 1547 Kitchen images in our Gallery of rooms and spaces.

As a Swede, I am biased to most things made in Scandinavia. Here are a few gift option to consider for your friends who love Nordic design.

N.B.: To make sure we've got everyone on your list covered, see all of our gift guides to date in our House Gifts section.

Above: A Candleholder String by Ferm Living; $120 from Huset.

Above: One of my friends gave me the Erik Magnussen's Stelton Vacuum Jug, and we use it all the time. Available in six different colors, the jug is $75 from Horne.

Above: Gran Pillow in black is designed by Elisabeth Dunker; €37 from Fine Little Day.

Above: The Dala Horse from Mjölk is $25; it's available in black or white.

Above: The perfect book for any Scandi lover, Simply Scandinavian is $19.77 from Amazon.

Located in the medieval inner city of Visby, on the island of Gotland, the Strykjarnet Creperie & Logi features an interior inspired "by the sea and barren landscape of Gotland."

Strykjarnet offers ensuite accommodations for travelers on the second floor; go to Strykjarnet Creperie & Logi for booking info. Discovered via Mitt Vita Hus.

Above: The Strykjarnet Creperie & Logi is located in a Visby neighborhood that dates back to the 12th century.

Above: The dining room features a black and white palette.

Above: Christmas lights add twinkle all year round.

Above: Chairs are draped in gray sheepskins for warmth.

Above: Upstairs, the guest quarters are painted a uniform shade of white.

Above: A concrete lamp by Tove Adman.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on November 12, 2010.

We can think of all sorts of uses for this industrial-chic perforated metal boot tray from VivaTerra: dish drainer, perhaps?

Above: Punched Metal Footed Boot Tray; $175 from VivaTerra.

Recently we've been admiring the inviting interiors of Studio Ilse's Ett Hem Hotel; in particular, this guest suite inspired by a Carl Larsson painting. As Ilse Crawford told Monocle last June, the color palette features "the sort of tones that human skin looks good against."

To replicate the look, see our sources for furniture, lighting, and fabrics below (we even found a source for the tiled Kakelunger stove). See our previous post on the rest of the hotel: Subtle Splendor in Stockholm.

Above: A mix of rich tones and soft, Dutch colors mingle in the guest suite at Ett Hem.

Above: The 2213 Three-Seater Sofa by Borge Mogensen is available in mahogany (shown), black, and tan for CA$16,495 from Mjolk; it's also available through Fredericia Furniture.

Above: For those in the UK, Ikea's grey Ludde Sheepskin is £20; in the US, you can source Huset's Gotland Sheepskins from the Swedish island of Gotland for $350 each.

Above: Source a small piece of Studio Ditte's Porcelain Wallpaper Colorful to function as framed art; €135 per roll.

Above: Bernard-Albin Gras' Lampe Gras in black is $875 from Design Within Reach.

Above: Ikea's Lack Coffee Table is $39.99.

Above: Studio Ilse's 456 Sidekick Table is made from solid European chestnut with a black-brown high gloss finish; contact De La Espada for sourcing information.

Above: The Fauteuil Chair by Christopher Howe is an upholstered French 19th century chair with deep buttoned horse-hair, beechwood legs, and brass castors; contact Christopher Howe for pricing and availability (also see Manor-Worthy Furniture from Christopher Howe).

Above: Coyuchi's Ruched Muslin Cloud Coverlet is woven from four layers of 100 percent organic cotton muslin; prices range from $518 for a full/queen size to $562 for a king.

Above: A traditional Swedish Kakelunger stove can be custom made in Ontario by Stone House Pottery; antique stoves are also available from Lindholm Kakelunger (as shown above).

N.B.: Looking for more ways to steal a hotel's style? See 216 more Steal This Look posts.

Hemp textile company Saana ja Olli was founded in 2008, but the (love) story started long before.

Saana and Olli (the founders) met at a music festival in the woods of Oripää, Finland, and started dating and studying textile design together shortly after. When they retreated to a secluded cottage in Padasjoki, Southern Finland, they launched Saanja ja Olli. "During the week we spent in the forest by the lakes, we drew our first print design," says the couple.

Sourcing organic hempuu (hemp fabric) from nearby European sources, Saana and Olli manufacture their textiles with transparency and proximity in mind. The printing is done in Aitoo (population 403) and sewing in Keikyä (population 2,862), two towns north of their main location in Turku. The couple live by their ethos: "In our works we value rectitude, timelessness, and human touch." A webshop is to come; in the meantime, contact Saana ja Olli for pricing and availability.

Photography by Unto Rautio for Saana ja Olli.

Above: The Tea Cozy from their latest Maailman Synty (meaning "Birth of the World") collection inspired by Finnish creation myths and wall rug traditions.

Above: Tea Towels in black and white.

Above: A folded white Table Mat.

Above: The interior pillows are available in two different sizes: a 16-by-24-inch version and a 24-by-32-inch version.

Above: Interior Pillows filled with ECOsoft filling are available in two different colored prints.

Above: The black Oven Mitt and white Pot Holder are both filled with recycled textile fibers.

Above: A Table Runner from the Yö Metsässä (meaning "Night in the Forest") collection.

Above: The Table Mat in a pale blue print.

Above: A bright blue print from the Yö Metsässä collection.

Above: Fabric Containers for the kitchen measure 5 by 7 inches.

Above: Two Yö Metsässä Tea Towels.

Above: Olli and Saana in the Finnish forest.

N.B.: Looking for more? Find 103 Kitchen Linens in our Shop section.

We like the simple look of a black industrial pendant lamp; here are two options at different ends of the price spectrum.

Above: The Studio Pendant Lamp by Muuto; $495 from A+R Store. The lamp is available in gray, green, yellow, white, and black.

Above: The Hektar Pendant Lamp from Ikea is available in two sizes (9 and 19 inches in diameter) and starts at $29.99.

N.B.: Looking for more price comparisons like this one? See 73 High/Low Design posts.

We like the restrained traditionalism of this kitchen in Copenhagen designed by Kobenhavns Mobelsnedkeri and featuring solid oak cabinetry with brass fixtures and fittings. Not to mention the serene palette of subdued blues, whites, weathered wood, and brass.

Above: The brass chandelier was custom made by Kobenhavns Mobelsnedkeri.

Above: The cabinet interiors are painted the same calming shade of blue.

Above: Detail shots from the kitchen.

Above: Farrow & Ball's Cooks Blue is a good match for the kitchen's paint color.

I have a thing for S hooks, so when I spotted this clever pot rack in the home of one of the designers behind LuckyBoySunday (it's featured on Design Sponge), I took note. All you need is an appealing ladder and some S hooks; our kind of DIY.

Above: The kitchen of Camilla Ebdrup and her photographer husband, Andrea Stenmann, features a ladder casually leaning against a wall; see more of the house at Design Sponge.

Above: The Submergent Ladder from Lostine is made of oak with a dark stain; $348 at Anthropologie.

Above: The Brooklyn Copper Cookware Saucepan is $259 at West Elm and will last a lifetime (it's made in Brooklyn and features a hand-smithed copper base, a solid cast brass handle, and a pure tin lining).

A Helsinki-based reader reminded us of Ateljé Finne—housed in the former studio of sculptor Gunnar Finne—after she visited for dinner recently.

We first heard about the cafe from Kitka's Juli and John Baker, who stopped in on their trip through Finland. The building's layers are reminiscent of its past life as a simple clay studio: large glass doors open into a gallery-white plaster-covered brick, and the fare is as Nordic as it gets: Baltic herring confit, buckwheat crisps, lingonberry mousse, and licorice crème brûlée.

Visit Ateljé Finne for more information; the restaurant is located at Arkadiankatu 14 in Helsinki.

Photography by Juli Baker (except where noted).

Above: Photograph by Satu Palander for Monocle 2010.

Above: Plein air seating during the summer months.

Above: White asparagus soup served in a bleu chine dish.

Above: Chrysanthemums artfully past their peak in a reused wine bottle.

Above: A Gunnar Finne piece hangs in the back of the dining room. Photograph courtesy of Ateljé Finne.

Above: Chef Antto Melasniemi, photographed by Satu Palander for Monocle 2010.

N.B.: Traveling to Scandinavia? Take a look at our Finland, Sweden, and Norway in our City Guides.

Most of us at Remodelista have owned dogs at some point in our lives, but we aren't experts. So naturally we turned to the editorial team at Dogster (literally turned around; we sit across from the editorial team at our SF office). Read on for Dogster Editor-in-Chief Janine Kahn's gift guide for the dog owner, featuring ideas that marry form with function.

N.B.: To make sure we've got everyone on your list covered, see all of our gift guides to date in our House Gifts section.

Above: I stumbled upon mom-and-pop leash and collar purveyor Sit Up N' Beg at a dog show, and instantly fell in love. My Italian greyhound, Mr. Moxie (above L), has several tag collars from them, as well as a leash and martingale. The brand uses buttery soft yet strong elk and deerskin leathers as opposed to flimsier lamb or pig skin. The Soho Tag Collar Moxie models above sells for $18. Dog lady pro tip: I like to slip a Boomerang dog tag along these tag collars with my contact information engraved—I like that it doesn't jingle when Moxie walks.

Above: For those times—and there are plenty at my house—where the dog could use some deodorizing, there's the Animal Fur Cleanser by Aesop ($35). The Melbourne-based brand traffics primarily in human skin care, but their lone pet product is well-loved; likely because pet parents prefer Animal's mint and citrus notes to eau de dog park.

Above: No canine gift guide would be complete without toys, and UK purveyor Mungo & Maud's smart designs are always on my wish list. Their Cotton Rope Tug and Toss Toys are perfect for playing tug or fetch, and go for $10 (small) to $12.50 (large).

Above: Give your dog the comforts of home on the road with the Travel Dog Bed from Berlin-based Cloud 7. Choose from an organic cotton canvas or hemp-cotton hybrid exterior with either polyester or sheep's wool padding on the inside. Medium travel beds run €99 while the larger edition is €129.

Above: Another aesthetic delight from Cloud 7 is their collection of custom Dog Bowls. Each is handmade and held to traditional craftsmanship standards, and the finished product is close to a work of art. Prices range from €39 for the small bowl, €59 for the medium, and €75 for the large.

Above: If aromatherapy is relaxing for two-leggers, imagine how much more intense it could be for a creature with a heightened sense of smell. Sniff Pet Candles were created with this thought in mind, and this line not only has such dog-appropriate scents such as "Splendor in the Grass," and "Fart & Away" (which contains a deodorizing mix of eland yang, tuberose, white tea, and fennel if you're curious)—a portion of the proceeds go to homeless pets. Each full-sized candle is $38.

Above: Turn your rescue into an haute dog with the well-crafted Reversible Rescue Coat from Found My Animal. One side features waxed cotton canvas in chocolate brown and the other plaid wool. The bright orange rescue badge is a thoughtful touch. Extra small and small retail for $68, larger sizes are priced at $72.

N.B.: Looking for more ideas? Check out Dogster's 10 Gifts for the Dog Lover Who Has Everything.

Ceramicist Cécile Daladier recently introduced her winter collection of ceramics with an opening party at her Paris studio. The collection, composed of pieces shaped like alveoli in a beehive, inspired the theme: waffles and honey.

"It was like a brunch, like tea time all day," says Lucile Demory, a friend who also works with Daladier. Beginning at 11 am on a sunny morning, Demory and Daladier served waffles, pain de mie, a massive brioche, tea, and coffee, and ten different varieties of honey. Both the honey and the decor came from a remote mountain in Drôme, the location of Daladier's second home and studio, from two women (one with a flock of merino sheep and the other with overflowing beehives). Read on for details of the winter party, alveolus collection, and Cécile's waffle recipe.

Above: Daladier and a group of guests home in.

Above: Raku ceramics mix with wooden trays on a bed of raw gray wool.

Above: Throughout the day, the guests meandered through the studio meeting one another, eating waffles, and admiring the new collection.

Above: Daladier's neighbor in Drôme, the one with the flock of merino sheep, provided her with a raw gray wool to cover the studio table (it's the same material Daladier uses to pack her ceramics for shipping).

Above: Dark burgundy hydrangea is mixed with a selection from the garden in the Violettier vase.

Above: Honey varieties: Lavender, Chestnut, Apple, Thyme, Heather, Fig, and Mielandre Fleur (the later from Montagne de Mielandre, Daladier's hometown).

Above: A plate of brioche and honey served on wood and ceramic trays.

Above: Daladier, clad in a pinkish-beige cardigan, smiling and chatting with a party guest.

Above: Guests sipping tea and coffee from ceramic cups.

Above: Alveolus-shaped ceramics displayed on the studio's ledge.

Above: A medium-size vase with a mix of narcissus, fennel, parsley, and white cyclamen.

Above: A friend admires the large Violettiers vase.

Above: Slightly curved Raku ceramic dishes served as plates during the party.

Cécile's gaufre recipe (in metric measurements):

• 1 kg flour
• 7 eggs
• 1 cube of fresh yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• 100 grams melted butter
• 1 liter milk

Melt the yeast with a spoon of sugar in a bowl of lukewarm water and wait for it to foam. Warm up the milk just a bit and add the melted butter. Place the flour in a large bowl ("a really big one, as it will rise a lot"), and slowly mix in the eggs, milk, salt, and butter. Finally, add the yeast and mix well; cover and let sit for about four hours. Then you're ready to press the waffles as desired.

N.B.: For more from Daladier, see her spring party from last year in Steal This Look: Parisian Oyster Party and her ceramics in Flower Arranging a la Parisienne.

Considering a lifelong companion for the infant or toddler? Here are 10 handmade stuffed animals (each with its own story) to add to the holiday gift list.

Above: My Red Fox is handmade by Andrea Vida in Budapest from linen and polyfill with hand embroidered eyes; €22 on Etsy.

Above: The Pocket Darcy Bear is hand-stitched from gray wool felt; $24 from Oh Albatross on Etsy.

Above: Pablo the Pigeon is made from hypoallergenic and eco-friendly baby alpaca wool in Bolivia by a self-managed community of indigenous women operating under fair trade principles; $64 from Oeuf NYC.

Above: The Rabbit Pocket Doll, by New York-based Coral and Tusk, is made from linen fabric and wool and rayon felt sourced by designer Stephanie Housely in India; $68 from Sweet William.

Above: The Anro Ant Anteater (L) is made from cotton and wool felt and is currently on sale for €19.95 from Mondays Milk in the Netherlands.

Above: Ruddie Raccoon is handmade by Donna Wilson in Scotland from black and white lambswool; $81 from The Future Perfect.

Above: The polka-dotted Rhino Riik in dotty blue (left) is €24.95 from Mondays Milk in the Netherlands.

Above: The soft-knit Little Horse is made from lambswool and polyester filling; $56 from Collette Bream on Etsy.

Above: Made by artists Heidi Iverson and H. Lux, the Handmade Horse Doll is made from reclaimed and upcycled fabrics for $98 from Estella.

Above: The White Wolf is made from linen with a hand-embroidered body, for children 3+ years; $37 from Adatine on Etsy.

Above: Donna Wilson's Cyril Squirrel Fox is handmade from 100-percent lambswool for $81 from Future Perfect.

Above: Theodore the Octopus is made from undyed brown wool and organic cotton stuffing; contact Etsy seller Donkey and Lemon for ordering information.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on August 22, 2012.