Free Scottie Dog quilt pattern from Denyse Schmidt

In honor of this weekend's California Quilter's Conference and Showcase in Ontario, we'd like to share this free pattern from quilting goddess Denyse Schmidt, who will be showing her latest creations at the design exhibit space Ralph Pucci in New York on Jan. 28.

Schmidt fell in love with her first quilted scottie dog at the Elephant's Trunk flea market in Connecticut many years ago and has been collecting vintage patchwork pooches ever since.

Now you, too, can have the perfect pet. Click here for the free download which includes pattern and sewing instructions.

-- Lisa Boone

Photo credit: Denyse Schmidt Quilts

Get a glue gun and steal this holiday look:Barneys New York's recycled wreath

Like most things at Barneys New York, this fashionable, handmade one-of-a-kind Christmas wreath is great eye candy.

But at $225, it begs for a rip-off.

Featuring a wild assortment of recycled ornaments, it appears to have everything but the kitchen sink attached to its base. (Is that an onion in there?) Our suggestion: Get a glue gun, a wreath from Michaels and those broken ornaments that never make it to the tree. You'll create a distinctive wreath for years to come and save yourself about $200. 

-- Lisa Boone

Photo credit: Barney's New York

DIY snowflakes: Yes, Martha Stewart CAN make snow fall in L.A.

These snowflakes made from stiffened doilies will almost make you forget this is Southern California.

The simple DIY project from Martha Stewart (who else?) calls for textile, paper and glassine doilies you can find at flea markets or local crafts stores like Michaels.

Here is the how-to:

1. Lay textile doilies on a covered surface.
2. With a foam brush or roller, coat both sides of doilies with undiluted fabric stiffener until just saturated.
3. Let dry overnight.
4. Press with an iron.
5. Hang from thread or monofilament.

Voila! Winter wonderland!

-- Lisa Boone

Photo credits: Martha Stewart Living

Frances Gearhart color block prints at the Pasadena Museum of California Art

Usually I'm allergic to publicists' pitches, but a few days ago I received a press release about “Behold the Day: The Color Block Prints of Frances Gearhart” at the Pasadena Museum of California Art, which included this amazing rendering of Big Sur Bridge.

Maybe it’s because I just returned from a romantic pre-Thanksgiving trip to Big Sur, but this made my heart swell. I love everything about this print -- the colors, the perspective, the subject matter. It’s thoroughly Californian, but not in the sunny palm tree way.

Desperate to know more about this artist, I called up Susan Futterman, a former television executive who almost singlehandedly put together the show at the Pasadena Museum.

Gearhart (1869-1959) worked as a school teacher, never married and lived with two sisters who also were artists and teachers. (Sounds like the makings of a Jane Austen novel to me!) Well known in her time, she fell into near obscurity in recent decades. This show is the first retrospective of her work.

More images and show info after the jump...