Pennsylvania-based artist Kimberly Scola’s sweet, earnest embroideries are anything but the subversive variety. And that’s why we love them.

Available at etsy.com, $8-$14.

They’re a PETA-friendly take on tackling the great outdoors. Brooklyn-based artist David Cole sources new and rare blocks from around the globe before packing and shipping them to your door.

Available at shop.davidcole.me, $28 each.

Author Yvette van Boven’s practical predinner drink recipes, preserving tips, and dessert menus jump to life with help from bold food photos and snapshots straight out of her kitchen.

Available at amazon.com, $26.

That third-grade pot holder seminar is actually paying off. Weave paper strips into cards etched with grown-up greetings, including happy birthday and a heartfelt congrats.

Available at presentandcorrect.com, $14.50 for a set of four.

Bone china mugs (displaying Charles and Ray Eames’s own photos) spark lively tableside chatter, no matter the ho-hum weather.

Available at curiosityshoppeonline.com, $95 for six.

One part sculpture, two parts Fantasyland. It’s pricey, but this luxe set is as worthy of a gallery as a grandmaster tourney by the fire.

Available at anthropologie.com, $1,200.

We’re thrilled the London-born greeting card-garden hybrids have finally landed stateside. Choose, tend, send, or keep an array of mini landscapes that don’t require putting on pants to enjoy.

Available at brooklyn5and10.com, $13-$35.

Get a step-by-step guide, courtesy of NYC caterer Mary Giuliani, on how to host a food-filled game night in, from DIY playing cards to a sweet-spicy peach salsa that requires less than a round of you-know-what to prepare.

Dig in and enjoy.

Cheese whiz Chester Hastings whips up salads, soups, pairings (and, yes, even desserts) in an easy-to-follow gourmet guide.

Available at amazon.com, $23.

Colored pencils, envelopes, and a “color wheel” guide set the tone for an artsy afternoon that’s anything but paint by numbers.

Available for preorder at chroniclebooks.com, $17 for a set of twenty.

We can only assume Portland artist Jason Greene spent plenty of time outside as a kid. That said, there’s no shame in taking upcycled tops for a spin across your hardwood or kitchen floor.

Available at branchhome.com, $8 apiece.

The striped, reclaimed denim holder with pearl-snap closure and etching/blending tool is suited for the playroom and art studio alike.

Available at store.alderandcoshop.com, $36.

Takashi Tsunoda’s creatures may look like futuristic playthings, but don’t be fooled: They’re inspired by traditional Japanese art and can be crafted with a single sheet of paper — no tape, scissors, or glue required — right in your living room.

Available at momastore.org, $8.50.

A throwback game you can throw up anywhere. Three balls, two paddles, and a net are no-fuss fun for any flat surface.

Available at parkerandotis.com, $17.

Slow-cooked meals are a snap with hearty pumpkin, chicken paprika, lemongrass, and pozole mixes.

Available at williams-sonoma.com, $16-$28.

Create, mash up, and share home music videos with friends using the Facebook-friendly iPhone app.

Available at itunes.apple.com, free.