Right on Target

This past Sunday, the fall installment of Shops at Target hit stores and online. First appearing in May 2012, these “shops” give us easy access to specialty stores from coast to coast without having to buy a plane ticket. This time around, the quirky mix of housewares, from the clever-kitsch of San Francisco’s Curiosity Shoppe to the vintage-chic of Boston’s Patch NYC, had our art director, Jennifer Moore, channeling Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom with all its nostalgic campfire charm. What a great way to jumpstart fall coziness.

1. Patch Woodgrain Pillow 2. Patch Chevron & Deer Journals 3. Salad Servers  4. Patch Woodpecker Lamp 5. Melaboo Salad Plate 6. Patch Deer Cookie Jar 7. Silicone Whisk
 

Flower Hour

Head to Bloomingdale’s Home (600 N. Wabash, 312-324-7500) on Saturday for two events featuring florist extraordinaire Mike Hines. In the first session, which runs from noon to 1 p.m., Hines will show how to take traditional vase arrangements and make them more exciting by putting them in alternative containers, such as bathroom wastebaskets and water pitchers. In the second session, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Hines will reveal the botanical color trends that are going to be hot next year and show how to use color blocking techniques with flowers in your own home (such as the green plants in the image here). You’ll never be satisfied with tossing some daisies in a vase again.

All’s Fair

There are a lot of places to buy rugs around Chicago, but this weekend the place to go is Ten Thousand Villages in Evanston (719 Main St., 847-733-8258). Through Sunday, the store is teaming up with the rug company Bunyaad to host a special fair trade Oriental rug event. You’ll find more than 300 hand-knotted rugs, such as the one shown here, that begin at 512 knots per square inch and go up to 800 knots per square inch. To make the rugs, Bunyaad works with more than 850 families in Pakistan, paying the workers a fair wage and increasing employment opportunities for women.

Lost and FoundRe!

As a huge fan of the salvaged wood frames from FoundRe, I was so excited to hear that they are expanding their products offerings. They’ve just launched a new line called Renew, with frames made from 100-year-old heart pine coated with zero-VOC clay paints (available in six colors and in various sizes). The line also includes lamps and clocks. The lamps are crafted from interior panels of old solid wood doors and the clocks come from antique molding plinths and rosettes. The new goodies are up now on FoundRe’s website.