yes please, thank you - Polar Project

Loving these cards from Polar Project:

Available with lots others from Polar Project's Etsy store here (cards only US$3.30 and high five postcard only US$1.65)

Stationery Love - Beside that Willow Tree

Loving this card by Beside that Willow Tree on Etsy

Missing you type card A6

yes please, thank you - Wood Whale

Not sure what it is about whales that gets me everytime - but this guy would look so good on my desk!

Each Wood Whale is hand-crafted in Michigan using reclaimed timbers and is available from The Utility Collective. If you want to see some pictues on how these whales come into being - check out the blog post here

Yes please, thank you

Mothers Days Cards for Dads

I know we haven't even had easter yet - but i am thinking ahead to mothers day. Now don't get my wrong, my hubbie is pretty good when it comes to presents, but he does tend to sometimes get a little lazy on the odd occasion and just ask me what i want. This is where this great card by Ambrosia Girl would come in handy

Click through to the blog for the downloadable version!!

quick three: favourite stationery item

Given my love of stationery how could I not play along with kasiabear's quick three: favourite stationery items this week!

I have said it before and i will say it again - I love my box of Stabilo Coloured Pencils

My Staedtler mechanical pencil which i have had since my architecture studying days. I love the thick lead and how you can sharpen it into a super sharp point, or a blunt end depending on your needs

image via Office Works

Greeting  Cards (they are stationery right?) - I have a fascination with greeting cards and gift tags (hand made or small run) and i am growing quite a collection which I store in a second hand carousel display unit in my study. My favourite gift cards at the moment are by Chantal Vincent Art (helps that she is a super nice and helpful person too!). Chantal has just brought out some easter bunny ones - too cute

You can purchase them here

I am playing along with Kasiabear - want to play too?

Pencil Love

Back in my university days, when I was studying architecture, I bought a boxed set of coloured pencils. One of the ones with the wooden box and the lift up layer. Sadly I am not much for an illustrator, but every now and then I like to pull the box out of the cupboard, open it up, and just look, touch and smell. OK I know I sound like a complete stationery wierdo - but I am sure there are some of you out there nodding your heads, and thinking- yep i do that too! So when i saw the image below - my heart speed up. How great would this look on your studio wall.

Image source: suicide blonde and pinned by A Little Ink

Alternatively you could purchase one of these great pencil wind chimes by vanessa boer on etsy

Present & Correct - Be still my beating heart

Present & Correct is not for the stationery faint hearted. With a mixure of handmade and vintage, stationery, gifts and decorations, there is something (actually a lot of things) here for everyone. A small (and i really had to limit myself) selection of my favourites below.

P&C can also be found on etsy (small selection of their goods), facebook and twitter

Random Etsy Wednesday (on Friday)

My days of the week are a little out of whack this week so I apologies for the Wednesday post on a Friday!

1. drikab echino blue bird jute pouch by DrikaB

2. Canal houses - A2 Super large print by lauraamiss

3. Ruler Notebook by baileydoesntbark

4. Dress Up Dolls - Reusable Fabric Wall Decals (not vinyl)  by lovemaestore

5. Spooning Poster 30.4x42cm LIGHT BLUE AQUA by petekdesign

Bespoke - free shipping

Quick one from me today as a little under the gun… You know I can’t go past a good letterpress – so when I received an email last night from one of my favourite’s – Bespoke – I just had to share  – and better yet they are offering free shipping before December 15 (sorry Australia only).

Letterpress Friendship print - coral & grey - would make a great present for a best friend

Letterpress Premium Christmas 6 pack 600gsm large gift tags / ornaments

Letterpress 12 pack kraft christmas swing tags - red

The Calendar That Keeps on Giving

Can you believe it is only 11 more weeks until 2011. Scary! But to make you feel better prepared– check out these gorgeous 2011 Letterpress Calendars by Linda & Harriett.

Not only is each month beautifully letterpressed in two colours – but each month also features a post card on the back for cutting and sending at the end of the month.  What a great idea. The calendar that keeps on giving!

Linda & Harriett only do limited runs of all their work – so get in before they are all sold.

"Do or do not... there is no try" Yoda, Star Wars – Inaluxe philosophy

Given the ongoing strength of the aussie dollar, I am continuing to trawl etsy, much to the detriment of my wallet. Today’s purchase – a set of eight postcards from inaluxe which I intend to admire, frame, send to loved ones, place strategically around the house so they catch my eye and make me smile….. seriously the list of options are endless.

Kristina Sostarko initially created inaluxe in 2006 and was joined this year by Jason Odd who’s work we are yet to see (but I will be checking back frequently). If you have been following my blog for a while you would probably have noticed the similarity between Kristina’s gorgeous designs and a certain Jenn Ski’s work (read that blog here) which is probably what drew me to her work.  

Inaluxe sell their work online or on etsy and they blog regularly

I can’t wait to get my postcards in the post and start admiring, framing, posting, placing….

Everyone needs a pretty outfit - even if you are a piece of technology

It was my intention to do a feature on a whole myriad of laptop and ipad cases today, however I got distracted by two sellers in particular. I know not everyone has an ipad, iphone, or even a laptop – but that shouldn’t stop you from appreciating the beauty in these two seller’s products.

Byrd & Belle:

Handmade by Angie Davis from her studio in Minneapolis, the ipad, iphone and laptop cases are simply beautifully simple (if you catch my drift). Made largely of thick felted wool in shades of greys (you would never know it was her favourite colour!) and a touch of leather they ooze sophistication and make you just want to reach out and touch them.

 

1. laptop sleeve, 2. ipad sleeve, 3. iphone sleeve

Angie’s products are available to purchase on line either at her store or on etsy and you can follow her on facebook, twitter and her blog. For those starting out or even old pro’s at being a small business, make sure you check out the “business of being small” section of her website. Her writing is refreshingly honest and straight forward and I was immediately hooked.

Ambette:

Handmade by Liz in Melbourne Australia, the bright colours of these bags immediately caught my attention. Ambette describes her work as “Clean modern lines with a retro twist…. bold blocks of colour contrasted with natural fibres”. Constructed with german wool felt (apparently “the reason German wool felt is so much better is because it is much more dense (the fibers are packed closer together). This means the felt will stand up better to wear and tear, and be more durable”), tough hessin and durable cotton canvas.

 

1. laptop sleeve, 2. iphone sleeve, 3. ipad sleeve

There is something inherently cheerful about Ambette’s design that makes me smile every time I look at them – and that is not a bad way to start a day at your laptop!

Ambette’s products are available to purchase on etsy and you can follow her on facebook, twitter and her blog.

Feeling a little blue

I was feeling a little blue yesterday and came up with the following etsy treasury:

1 The Skipper Peacoat - Small RoverDog

2 Natural Blue Striped Linen Cotton Napkins Set of 4 -   LinenbyInga 

3 Three Balloons 8x8 Fine Art Archival Photograph - lucysnowephotography

 4 My favourite spot - art print - shirae

5  The Littlest Surveyor - 5x7 Fine Art Photograph Print - ara133photography

6 Royal Blue Tutu - PerryStyle

7 Baby Ballet Booties - JennOzkan

8 Dandies- 10PK Letterpress Notecards - sweetharvey

9  Polite Little Fly 8x10 TheHandsomeFellow

With beautiful items like this made with such love - I couldn't help but cheer up

Welcome Rue

Given I have apparently been living under a rock for the last few years - i have just discovered E-Mag's thanks to the recent blog shout out by the lovely Amanda at Calico & Co. And what better place to start than Rue.

Created by Crystal Centilello and Anne Sage they were "fuelled by our mission to bring the illusive nature of blogging to a magazine". The pages are filled with beautiful images, styling and interesting articles and one of the best parts of an E-mag is that in many instances you can click on a product and be taken to their website!

12

3

4

(Images: 1: Maemae Paperie p. 54; 2 & 4. Victoria Smith's San Fran home p. 88 & 97; 3: Kate's Greats p. 28)

Now if only apple would jump on the flash wagon and then I could read it on my ipad! (and of course you can also follow them on facebook)

Etsy recommendations - Dreaming of Travel

I am in a bit of an adventurous mood today – so for today’s etsy’s recommendations I have gone with a map theme. Maps can be so simple yet inspiring.

1. EcoBangle: Vintage New York City and Long Island ... a Map Lover's EcoBangle(TM)

2. briefmoment: Grandpa's Vintage Globe Collection, Set of 3, 4x6 Fine Art Photographs

3. Bombu: Bespoke map dish

4. studiokmo's: paris mapcut on white

5. VintageJamie: London Map Illustrated Blue Tone Linen Pillow Case(Cover, Slip)

6. walldecor: New Design Wall Art Home Decors Murals Vinyl Decals Stickers---WORLD MAP

7. ismay: Vintage map 'e' brooch

8. boardstiff: SMALL - I am Here (your neighborhood custom map play mat)

9. PachysandraPaper: Map Cards Hand Stamped- Elephant

or alternatively click on the Etsy treasuring link here to see them all at once.

Now if i could only afford a holiday and the time off!

My New Favourite Stationery - Smock

The latest in my favourite stationery – Smock. Smock are based in New York in a print shop that has 20 antique presses, 50 tons of equipment and 17 employees, and according to their website they are the first and only print shop in the US to offer printing on a luxury bamboo paper.


They offer beautiful stationery including letterpress cards, sticky notes, bags, paper, boxes, invitations to name just a few and also do custom invitations and stationery. Their eco gift bags are made in the Himalayan forests of Nepal using papermaking techniques that have been around since the 12th century A.D.

Some of my favourites:

1 custom letterpress stationery
2 persimmon jotter

3 blossom double sided gift wrap

4 koi sticky notes

5 eco gift bags

6 koi letterpress note card

Spend some time drooling over their work, or why not “like” their facebook page for regular indulgences on beautiful stationery.
(And yes they deliver to australia)

Anthropologie - my wish list just got longer

The “Anthropologie” Store markets itself as a “one-of-a-kind and compelling shopping experience that makes women feel beautiful, hopeful and connected.”
Not sure if I feel beautiful after looking at it – but I definitely feel hopeful that I will one day be able to buy lots of things from it!
They offer a huge range of products for the entire house / lifestyle including: bedding, bath, jewellery, kitchen, hardware, table, books & journals, office, hobbies and kids.

Some of my favourites:

1 Cover story postcards

2 Colour swatch door knob

3 Measured time clock

4 Charley Harper Flash Cards & Floor puzzle

5 Tea & Crumpet Apron

6 Birds on a wire dinnerware

Bad news – no stores in Australia. Good news – they deliver to Australia in 7-10 working days!

Beautiful Cards, Notecards & Fun Magnets

As a self-confessed stationery-aholic and a bit of a greeting card fanatic, I love checking out other people’s cards, and whilst I openly admit I love my own cards (which you can buy on line at Made It – sorry bit of a self plug there) I can always appreciate other beautiful cards.


Often I find simple is best and that is the case with fin+roe’s line of cards and products. fin+roe is the custom stationary division of marzipan inc. (According to their website) It all started 7 years ago when lori made her own wedding invitations, moved onto greeting cards for friends and family and then decided to take her dream a bit more seriously (sounds awfully like where I am now!).

fin+roe range includes letter press greeting cards, custom birth announcements, wedding invitations, birthday invitations, alphabet magnets and many products, but my favourite are the notecards. A Set of 25 high quality, professionally printed notecards, measuring 4" x 5.5" and including envelopes is only $1.49 and you can customise the colour, pattern and text!

letter press greeting cards

alphabet magnets

Notecards 

Check them out – even if you don’t order any – they are beautifully simple to look at and dream. And PS – they do deliver to Australia!

Welcome to me

OK - so my first ever blog post. Scary stuff, but as I am about to go back to work 4 days a week after 9 months off (to have my beautiful baby boy O) and launching a new line of greeting cards and gift tags - i feel it has to be done. Yes call me crazy. Making the most of social media i think it is called - my beautiful  friend, from the wonderful Sarah Allen Consulting would be so proud!
My aims of this blog

1. no fewer than one post per week
2. post only those things i love - in the hope you love them to.
3. be positive (it is all about karma!)
4. use this blog for good not evil
5. live a balanced life - sometimes you just need a little me time in this busy busy world we live in.

So to start things of - two things i came across today on the Urban Outfitters Blog which brought a smile to my face:

Marcel the Shell with shoes on - too cute and brought a smile to my face:
http://vimeo.com/14190306
 Written and voiced by Jenny Slate, and directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp. Marcel is kind of a shell, but she has shoes, an eye, no dog and a good heart. Take 2 minutes from your day to watch this gorgeous clip (sorry have yet to work out how to post video clips).

Ghetti Pencil Carvings Dalton Ghetti carves amazingly detailed miniature sculptures out of pencil tips: a boot, linked hearts, a tiny hammer and an entire tiny alphabet

For more go to: http://www.area4.at/blog/kleinste-schnitzereien/ (though you may need to speak German to follow it!)