in the mail

Welcome wee-little one! sending out a baby congrats and I am in love with this charming lil' card from Elum, so sweet and still cool.

in the mail

Yes, I am patting myself on the back. Holiday cards are in the mail. I love sending them out, I love addressing each and every one by hand but I do forget how long it takes! I sent out these fun a.favorite design letterpress cards, complete with labels from Wiley Valentine. Ok now I gotta finish up the holiday wrapping....

so many reasons to adore chronicle

Chronicle Books always has the most visually stimulating books, stationery & paper goods. They promote the work of small independent artists, bloggers & designers so we can all become fans. Chances are you'd recognize one of their publications, they have something for everyone. Well I am a fan and it's hard to not want everything they sell but one of my favorite Chronicle products is there stationery line- Pantone, Liberty of London, Girl Scouts, and my new (it's from 2008 but I love it now) favorite is the amazing Grady McFerrin illustration collection. I would like one of each of these under my Christmas tree Santa...is that doable?

Pantone collection //  Grady McFerrin Stationery box: check out his latest work here 

 Liberty stationery set // Theatre of dreams collection 

Girl scout mix & match collection // John Robshaw collection: check out his latest work here

color love today

I was searching for a photo and came across some photos I took of La Sainte Chapelle in Paris, France. It was the most colorful, bright and graphic church I have ever seen. Hard to believe this was built in 1248! The colors are amazing and each pattern is hand painted perfection.

in the mail today

Sending out this great Chicago postcard created by Star Shaped Press.

snail mail love at postcrossing

If you are a lover of snail mail, you need to check out Postcrossing. It is such a great global project and it's all about sending and receiving post cards. The goal of the project is to allow people to receive postcards from all over the world for only the cost of a stamp & a postcard. The whole thing is based on give & you shall receive- I love that! Check out Postcrossing and send a postcard, really it's fun- think of the sweet sentiments & smiles your sending across the world.

Once you sign up and send a post card, Postcrossing tracks your cards- above is my map 

(I've only sent one so far but some postcrossers have sent thousands!). I got an address and a 

little information about the person who would receive my post card plus a code to track it. 

Here is the a.favorite design postcard I sent off to Rosrath, Germany.

Postcrosser event held in Baia Mare, Romania. They hung 400 postcards in the 

local post office received by postcrossers. See more about this event here.

Check out the Postcrossing Facebook page. Postcrossers from all over have been posting pictures of their favorite mail boxes. I love this one at the Vatican posted by Herald Ket- see post here.

is there an apron on your list?

I found myself shopping for an apron for a gift and coincidentally I have an apron on my
want list this year. I am one messy cook and an apron is a necessity. I've decided in order for
it to be practical it has to have a pocket, be a full apron (none of this skirt business), and
I've got to be able to toss it in the wash and know it'll get cleaned up easily.

Green julep petal pocket apron from Anthropologie $38 // Black & white Marimekko 

fokus apron from Crate & Barrel $49 // Upside down apron with cooking guide from 

Perpetual Kid $25.99 // Scandanavian tree apron from West Elm $12.99 // Color block 

cuisine coutoure apron from Anthropolgie $32 // Lemon slice apron from West Elm $14.99 

// Retro polka dot apron from Vintage Galeria $25 // Rustic denim apron from  

Meyer Textile Co. $48.50 // Retro red bow apron from Rosie Ann Shop $36.33 // Apron 

with built-in oven mitts from A+R Store $32 // Stripes abound apron from Anthropolgie $36 // 

Rustic kitchen workshop apron from Meyer Textile Co. $52

2013 is an emerald year

I was so happy to see this in my inbox today. I must admit I am kind 

of excited about the Pantone color of the the year...drumroll...emerald! 

I love this green and love it mixed with a cool color palette.

Aren't these colors so fresh & bright? I know mood and your personal environment 

has a lot to do with the colors you respond too. On a cold Midwestern day with 

little greenery out my window these emerald colors make me swoon.

all photos kindly borrowed from the Pantone website.

in the mail today

This stationery is one of my favorites. I've had it for a very long time but I love these simple monogram note cards with printed envelopes. I was sending a note to one of my east coast pen pals as I was sitting in front of the TV- 3 sharpies later I created a doodle masterpiece. Well maybe not a masterpiece but some fun mail. Now I want to doodle-up all my mail!

colorful gifts to give

1. Yellow ceramic ball necklace from Mariaela $29 // 2. Brilliant orange earrings from Mariaela $25 // 3. Neon infinity triangle necklace from Yellow Owl Workshop $44 // 4. Feather collection decoupaged tray from Jayson Home $35 // 5. Red flag zipper pouch from EggPress: includes pouch, 2 pencils & notebook $20 // 6. 4 piece Safia tea towel set from Joss & Main $19.95 // 7. 3 mini IKAT journals from Crystal Faye $30 // 8. Cercle pillow from Joss & Main $32.95 // 9. Birch bird card from A+R: mail a piece of art $17 // 10. Yellow dahlia vase from Joss & Main $34.95 // 11. Colorful wooden 7" salad bowl from Wind & Willow Home $39 // 12. Cammeo porcelain storage container with rubber band stripe from A+R $50-$59 // 13. Mustard dahlia ring from Lauren Blythe Designs $12 // 14. Blue glass ring from Mariaela $35 // 15. Color wheel necklace from Yellow Owl Workshop $44 // 16. Red vintage cocktail ring from Mariaela $31 // 17. Brass colored pencil set from Jayson Home $75 // 18. Cobalt blue resin frame: 18.5" x 23"n from elemental $250

wrap it up

I've got a lot of my Christmas shopping done and I can't wait to start wrapping presents. 

I thought I'd see what cool stuff I could find to inspire myself to wrap up a pile of gifts!

Some kraft paper & DIY options, I am partial to simple kraft paper & baker's twine but 

these would all look great under any tree, plus they are good options year round.

Washi tape gift: check out 15 easy ways to make gift wrap \\ Button kraft bags

Simple kraft, baker's twine & tag seen here \\ Newsprint & kraft package seen here

Kate & Birdie gift wrap: 2, 22"x34" sheets, $7 // Chewing the Cud reusable give wrap: 28"x28", $16 // Smock Holiday gift wrap & tags: wrap-2, 24"x36" for $8 | gift notes-6, 3.5"x2.5" for $8 | gift bag- 8"x4"9.5" for $8.50 // Snow & Graham gift wrap & notes: 2, 20"x30" sheets for $6.50 | Classic Holiday set-8, 20"x30" sheets, 12 gift cards for $40

color love & a great 2013 gift!

I love this simple geometric pattern in this updated jewel tone pallette. 

It is bright & fun but has a sophistication. It jumped out at me today from the Satsuma Press line.

Satsuma Press 2013 calendar & gift tags. 7 color letterpress printed (wow! 7 colors!-nice work).
The tags are cut down from imperfect calendar prints, a way to recycle plus make some
great gift tags.