I picked up these cards designed by Ryosuke Uehara last week and couldn't wait to share them with you. I don't even think the photos do them justice because they just look like a collage right? But really they are one solid printed piece with complicated die cuts and spot varnishes. Kind of a printers nightmare I think. But they look lovely and are some of the most unique stationary I've seen in a long time. If you think the cards are cool, the envelopes that come with them are even cooler!
I'm going totally rustic with my holiday wrapping this year. Brown craft paper and manila tags with my pretty japanese making tape. But I think I also need some kind of twine. I've been doing searches online for baker's twine looking for unusual colors or just something a little more exciting than the standard red. I'm leaning towards the brown and white and blue and white combinations. I also love the idea of using vintage stamps on the packages. Hmmm, where do I find those? I'm running out of time...
If you're also looking for baker's twine try these great shops:
nice package on etsy {my favorite, lots of great ideas here for simple yet beautiful packaging and wrapping}
Carta, inc on etsy {she also has some cotton ribbon that I love}
Ornamentea {a craft lovers superstore}
Bird Haven {sadly the shop is closed right now because she is moving but she has great multi-colored sets of twine}
Sorry for the lack of posts everyone. This past week was super busy and one of the toughest I've had in a long time. I was art directing a week-long photo shoot for a cookbook and simultaneously fighting off a nasty cold. I lost the fight, and the cold won. I also had to drop out of the Renegade Holiday sale that I love so much. But my work schedule has just been too demanding. I have no doubt that it will get better and a girl can have it all, but right now I need to focus on what's in front of me. I have some great posts to get up, some holiday craft projects that I can't wait to get started on, and an amazing cookbook to design. Stay tuned!
The best magazine to get your holiday creative juices flowing has to be Marie Claire Idees. I treated myself to a subscription last year and my winter issue arrived a few days ago. I can't stop looking at it. It's so pretty, and full of great projects to try. It is all in french, so I'm not sure how helpful the instructions will be, but honestly just looking at the photos is enough for me.
Happy Friday everyone. I thought I'd share a pretty photo of my jewelry with you and let you know the necklace in the shot is new and now for sale in my etsy shop. It sure would make a great gift!
Photo by Rory Earnshaw.
I was excited when I saw a holiday card by one of my favorite illustrators, Chris Silas Neal. It's the card on the left. I fell in love with an illustration very close to this one that he did for ReadyMade Magazine a few years ago. I was so excited when I saw these I bought three packs! Chris lives in Brooklyn and teaches illustration at Pratt. He also shares a studio with Ted McGrath and Grady McFerrin, two other very talented illustrators. The card on the right is by Snow and Graham another favorite of mine, and I was happy to see they're doing more than letterpress this season. Now let's see if I actually send any of these out to family and friends. I always have the best intentions but...
Chris created these illustrations for me when I worked at Yoga Journal Magazine. It was a story about finding happiness within.
this today:
It's no secret I love Orla Kiely. Today's "wish i was wearing wednesday" features her dress, coffee cup wallet, and adorable cape coat. I just wish it wasn't so expensive. I have a feeling this cape might become my new obsession. For all the details go here.
Can you believe it's December 1st already? Time to make my new inspiration board. I have to tell you that I'm supposed to be up here in my studio cleaning for a guest who is visiting in a few days, but instead I'm working on this post and I totally just got caught by my hubby. ;-) But inspiration is important! This month I'm all about a white and neutral palette mixed with chunky rustic textures. And my theme for this month is "find stillness". I don't know about you, but around this time of year it gets crazy. I'm usually prepping for several craft and jewelry shows, doing all the christmas shopping, trying to find time to spend with family and friends, not to mention dragging out all those holiday decorations and making new ones. Plus I still want to knit that project I started last year. It's all too much. So this year I promise myself to find the stillness in the crazy. Find it with me! Don't forget to have a moment, take a deep breath, sip a cup of tea, do a little meditation, or a yoga class, whatever helps make you a little less crazy. Okay it's late and I've got some cleaning to do, bye!
Over the weekend I visited a store that recently opened in Japan town called New People. I was expecting some cute japanese goods, but it was way better than I expected. I was seriously overloaded by cool stuff and I already know I'll have to go back to do some christmas shopping. This trip I purchased some colorful masking tape, pretty organic string, mushroom gift tags, and lacy paper. If you're on the hunt for some unique holiday wrapping supplies check out this store and head to the back right corner. They have the best selection of Japanese masking tape in town. I bet you didn't even know you wanted Japanese making tape? Well you do!
I prefer baking over cooking, always have. Starting in October I get the urge to bake all kinds of homemade goodies. It's a good thing I don't really have time to bake all day because that could be trouble. But this morning, it being a holiday and all, I made scones from scratch. I used a recipe from this Holiday Baking book. I pretty much followed the instructions, except I added raisins. They were yummy, a great start to Thanksgiving. I hope each and every one of you have a wonderful holiday and long weekend.
