The Best of Big D: Home and Garden 2012

Last year, Marty Walker Gallery renovated its main exhibition room, limiting the space, but still managed a string of shows that included some of Dallas’ best young artists. The gallery has lost a few stable artists as a result of the downsizing, so though it has been impressive to see what Walker has done given the limitations, let’s hope this coming year sees a reversal in the trend.

READERS’ PICK: VALLEY HOUSE GALLERY & SCULPTURE GARDEN

Katherine Clapner had us at blue cheese fudge. She got us again with her box of Chubby Nuts, which includes hazelnuts, almonds, and macadamias. We love pretty much all the creations the spunky Oak Cliff chocolatier comes up with. Few things are better than eating at one of the many restaurants in the Bishop Arts District and then moseying over to taste some of Clapner’s newest creations.

READERS’ PICK: DUDE, SWEET CHOCOLATE

Nest owner Heather Wiese-Alexander’s house is filled with treasures that she finds on her travels. So, too, is her McKinney Avenue shop. Wiese-Alexander and store manager/buyer Donald Fowler journey everywhere from Italy to France to find home accessories you didn’t even know you needed. Good luck selecting just one or two Eva Sonaike accent pillows or trays by Kartell. You’ll also want pretty much everything from the Blu Dot line.

READERS’ PICK: NEST

From Waterford crystal and hand-painted Herend china to Le Creuset cookware and gourmet foods courtesy of Fort Worth’s Cherith Valley Gardens, Polly DuPont has your dining needs covered. If that’s not enough to inspire you to get busy in the kitchen, stop by on a Saturday, when you can sample recipes made from ingredients in the Polly DuPont Pantry.

READERS’ PICK: POLLY DUPONT

Graphic designer Jason McDaniel of Missing Q Press is not afraid to experiment. This fearlessness—along with great taste and an endless supply of creativity—makes him the go-to guy for custom stationery, invitations, and holiday cards. Hand-printed on a vintage letterpress, each of McDaniel’s pretty paper creations is one of a kind.

We’re not sure if it’s the southpaw slant of Nicole Black’s wrist that makes her calligraphy as gorgeous as it is. But we do know that whenever Black, aka The Left Handed Calligrapher, puts pen to paper, she never fails to charm us. More than likely you’re already familiar with her work—Dallas brides often use her hand-lettering services to ask friends and family to be a part of the most important day of their lives.

READERS’ PICK: Boo Owens