Current Obsessions: Parcels and Packages

Ahead, things to read, wrap, and make while you sit by the fire (or stay in bed) this weekend:

• Or, a DIY wrapping paper idea: adorning parcels with the scrolling letters that used to be part of penmanship lessons, via Toast and Edinburgh-based bookbinder/paper artist Rachel Hazell.
• A clever use for extra trimmings from the Christmas tree.
• We’re following Raini Home, the new furniture and objects shop by Brooklyn-based entrepreneur and design savant Kai Avent-deLeon, opening today (with some of her own designs, too).
• And introducing perfect moving-in gifts via The Modern House.
• Is cauliflower having a moment? This week we’ve been reading the peculiar history of a 1780s mahogany chair with carved cauliflower detailing by our friend Eve Kahn—plus Twelve Surprising Ways to Use Cauliflower in The New Yorker by Remodelista contributor Ella Quittner.
• Attention Coloradans: Margot’s artist-naturalist sister, Jody Guralnick, has a solo show opening this Saturday at the Denver Botanic Gardens’ new gallery space; take a look.
• We like the origami-like canvas face masks made by canvas bowl cover specialists Aplat of San Francisco (an apt 2020 stocking stuffer).
• “I love this vintage seller’s curious offerings that he posts on Instagram,” writes Margot; follow along @tihngs.
• Plus, last-minute gift ideas: the 11 best design/architecture books of the year and comfort presents for keeping calm and staying in.