Posts from November 2007

Sometimes when I’m low on gift wrap, I’ll just go graphic black or white with something I can find around the house!

The black wrap is just a sheet of paper printed black on my laser printer. Color copy paper works best for this because the toner won’t come off when you crease the edges.

The white wrap is plain wax paper; it looks so pretty because of its semi-opacity. It’s almost opalescent without having any real “metallic” finish.

The labels I used here are from Martha Stewart Crafts, but you can make one with a simple rectangle of paper and a piece of double-stick tape. If you don’t have any lengths of ribbon around, a strip of colored paper works just as well as a colorful band beneath the label.

Well, truth is, Laura is kind of my go-to girl for exquisite wrapping... she somehow always manages to turn those seemingly unusable scraps into a gift that's almost painful to rip into... like the gift above that was my birthday gift from L this past summer.

Besides using your stowed away scrap for little gifts (and as the gift tags, too!), I'm always a big fan of using fabric instead of paper... like these little bundles of nonpareils from Chicago Bookbinder Bari Zaki of Ardour Bookbinding... simple and elegant!

happy wrapping!

I carry little notebooks with me wherever I go. I like them small enough to fit in a purse, but large enough that I can write in them easily. I've found that Moleskine pocket cahiers are the perfect size - 3.5 x 5.5 inches. I even like their minimalist, soft kraft covers. But sometimes it's fun to make them over with pattern and color! And a set of 3 covered notebooks makes a fun gift; separately, they could make great stocking stuffers, too.

The process is incredibly simple. First, I cut sheets of scrap paper slightly larger than the size of the notebook, taking care to make one long side perfectly straight (because it will align with the spine of the notebook). Then I run each piece of paper through a Xyron 900 machine. (If you've never heard of this, it's an indispensable tool that I frequently use for putting a thin, flat layer of adhesive on the back of paper, fabric, etc. Alternatively, spray mount can also be used in this step to adhere the paper to the notebook cover; be sure to spray evenly so it attaches well.) Then I attach the adhesive-backed side of paper to the notebook cover leaving about 1/8 inch of spine exposed, and use an X-acto knife to trim off the excess.

That's it! Tie a coordinating ribbon around the set of three to finish the package; no other "wrap" is really necessary due to the decorative nature of the papers. If you want to get really cute, find a small golf pencil and tie that into the ribbon knot.

Regular readers are already familiar with my Loeffler Randall obsession. My heart leapt for joy several weeks ago when I heard that designer Jessie Randall had agreed to do an accessories line for Target!

You can imagine my elation upon discovering the sophisticated, ballet-esque peep toe flats pictured above, available in Rose Gold and Metallic Linen. I love both of the subtle colors so I'll take one of each, please.

These shoes do seem to directly correlate with LR's designer line, including the Mina and Addy flats, pictured above. (To the left is LR's stylish husband-and-wife team, Jessie Randall and Brian Murphy.)

Back to the Target collection...I am also intrigued by this Rosette Clutch (specifically the Metallic Linen version, below right). Again, I am drawn to its crisp lines and soft palette paired with a single adornment. The collection is scheduled to debut December 30. In case I am in labor on that date, I am actually putting someone in charge of locating these items for me!

Top and bottom images from Target pressroom. Center images from Loeffler Randall.

I've always loved giving (& getting) magazine subscriptions as gifts... this year, give a subscription where 100% of the proceeds go towards a charitable organization:

GOOD Magazine lets you choose from 1 of 12 different charities, and every penny of your subscription (6 issues for only $20.00) go directly to that organization or fund.

* * *

Sidedown is donating all the proceeds from sales of its quarterly zine, HEY Quarterly, to a different charity each year. This year, the profits are being [!donated to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. A yearly subscription (4 issues) is just $39.80, including shipping.

sample pages from various issues of HEY Quarterly.

images c/o GOOD and SDDWN.

As gift suggestions continue on, I'm excited to share a company whose concept is brilliantly simple: to use the medium of well-designed apparel to spread messages and help people in need. Rosa Loves creates artistic, quality tees, each meant to convey the "story" of a particular need. The proceeds from the sale of each shirt go toward the specific cause, and the conversations the shirts are meant to generate serve to help spread the word (and increase the cause's funds).

100% of the proceeds of the 2007 Holiday Meal tee pictured above will go toward providing holiday meals for 10 families in the St. Augustine, FL community. But as the product's description reads, the greater intent is to "urge you to move in your own community and use the resources you have to help those in need during this holiday season and beyond."

Image from Rosa Loves. The 2007 Holiday Meals Tee is $25; available in XS - XXL; printed on American Apparel organic cotton T-shirt.

As promised, here are more pics of the blissfully stylish Hudson on Shawmut in the South End (Boston). The minute I walked into this store, I was in love with everything I saw.

Being in this store actually reminds me of the way that I feel at L's house: everything is exactly as it should be. Even the most eclectic items fit in with their surroundings with thought and purpose. There's a great mix of high-end, very finished items inter-mixed with those that are one-of-a-kind and handmade.

I absolutely adore this coral & gold chair (a pair of which sat in the middle of the store)... Jill, the owner, let me know that after a big sale or event, they tend to change the store around completely so that it will feel fresh and new every few months. (That makes me want to go back for another visit even more!)

I'm terribly in love with the green "wicker" wallpaper that was on the back wall: another specific thing that Jill mentioned that they change up every so often...

Check back in on this post - I'll be adding some product details in later today! (And if you have a question about something specific in any of the pics, just let me know & I'll check into it for you!)

images by Jw... and for a few addtl. pics, see the first Boston post here.

Now that the holiday season is "officially" in gear with Thanksgiving come and gone, Emily and I thought we'd focus on gift-giving throughout this week. Today is supposedly the busiest online shopping day of the year, but instead we're thinking about gifts we can make for others - by hand - using items or ingredients found around the house!

For me, a major tradition of the season includes the Christmas cookies my grandma Jodie bakes and brings with her when she visits from Texas. One of her specialties - sugar cookies - was actually passed down from my great-grandma, and they are somewhat famous within my circle of friends; they are so delicate and light, there is really nothing quite like them. Therefore, a stack of sugar cookies wrapped in wax paper makes a tremendous gift!

Because of their delicate nature, packaging them in the wax paper alone doesn't provide enough support. They need a sturdier base, so I made a quick little box out of a 8.5 inch square sheet of cardstock. The directions for the box are shown in the diagram above. The recipe for the cookies is as follows:

Great Grandma Edie's Sugar Cookies

1/2 cup butter; 1/2 cup oil; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 cup powdered sugar (packed); 1 egg; 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla; 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 cups of flour

Mix the first 6 ingredients with electric mixer in order given; beat or cream until the batter is light. Then add the remaining four ingredients which have been stirred together when measured. If the dough is soft, chill it before shaping into balls. Pinch off some dough and shape into a ball about the size of a large marble or larger. Drop ball (each cookie) into a bowl of granulated sugar and roll around until covered. Then, put cookie on a greased cookie sheet; gently press down cookie with the bottom of a dampened glass that has been dipped in sugar so the sugar sticks to the bottom of the glass and then to the top of the cookie. You want the cookie somewhat flattened but not mashed onto the cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees approximately 10.5 to 11 minutes, until slightly brown around the edges. Dough makes about 4 dozen cookies. Cookies can be frozen.

My Friday-after-Thanksgiving was, thankfully, not spent in too much of a 'turkey coma' (however, several naps were had)... we all actually got up fairly early and headed to Boston's South End to check out a few reader recommendations:

1st stop: South End Buttery (314 Shawmut Avenue), for coffee and a quick breakfast. The dark roast was knock-your-socks-off strong - exactly the way I like it - and my chocolate croissant was delicious! (Jw's chocolate chip scone is pictured above.) It was pretty crowded, but we easily found some stools to sit on by the window, giving us a lovely view of Shawmut Street. Thanks to Amy in Somerville, Mara & Jane for the recommendation.

2nd stop: We headed right next door to Hudson (312 Shawmut Avenue), a fine home furniture & accessories shop that I'm pretty sure would make Laura cry with joy... I had checked out Hudson's site beforehand, after Jane suggested it to me, and I was already excited by what I saw. Needless to say, the shop, in person, did not disappoint.

No worries, I'll be posting a much more thorough write-up on Hudson later.

3rd stop: After looping back around the way we came, we stopped in to Motley Home (652 Tremont Street), a pretty undefineable store as far as theme goes... definitely don't read the reviews on the above linked Yelp.com for a better idea, because they're all over the place.

This shop has everything from lovely high-end Jonathan Adler menagerie pottery pieces to kitschy holiday ornaments, laquer boxes, crazy drinkware... and everything in between.

4th stop: We made sure to drop by Vellum (55 Dartmouth Street), but were sad to find that the owner, Radhika Mathews, is actually closing up shop after 4 years to focus on custom design work... So, lucky Bostonians can currently get 50% off everything in the entire store, as they prep up for shutting the doors forever. (Trust me, I walked out with quite a large bag full of goods myself!)... Thanks to Narmis for the recommendation!

last stop: The last shop we hit was the oh-so-lovely Black Ink in Beacon Hill... I love this store! Not only did they have goods from some of my favorites (Bob's Your Uncle, Parkhaus and Jane Jenni, etc.), they also had several awesome Totoro items, ribbon-by-the-yard & lots of products that I'd never seen before! Thanks to Kelli B. from Tangled & True for this suggestion!

Once I get back in the studio (Tuesday), I plan on posting more on our shopping excursions in Boston (and the things I bought!) - Thanks so much to everyone who submitted their recommendations... I really appreciate it!!!

images c/o Jw.

1. being able to spend time with my 5 favorite people: my dad, my brother, my sister-in-law, my nephew & Jw - all in the same place, on the same day...

2. having time to relax & focus, so that, when I return to the studio next week, getting ready for the upcoming One of a Kind Show won't seem quite so daunting...

and, last but not least, I am thankful for:

3. bacon in the green beans.

images c/o Jw.

This Thanksgiving, I'll be in Boston visiting my brother, sister-in-law and nephew (!)... I've been there several times, but I figured I'd see if anyone out there has a great must-see shop (or must-eat-at restaurant, etc.) I'll be doing a few posts about some of the places we visit... maybe your suggestion will be included!

Everyone have a great holiday... and keep an eye out for some gift-y, holiday posts from both Laura and myself after the long weekend!

Those of us who watched Project Runway last week saw designer Simone auf'd...but the question is, how many of us think her departure was premature? Admittedly, she wasn't able to complete a beautifully constructed dress in the allotted amount of time. However, I completely understood her vision of modernizing a romantic, vintage look. I also loved the bright yellow waistband that accented the neutral-hued, pleated dress; I agreed with Heidi that the outfit's colors were very pretty. Her subtle, feminine approach intrigued me, and I would have liked to see what else she might create.

After some digging, I happened upon Simone's collection, TS BLOOM. With partner Tara Miko Grayless, she designs easy, pretty silhouettes in organic, sustainable and end of run production fabrics. The pieces shown here are from the Spring 2008 line; I love the colorways and the patterned accent of the obi-style belts.

Images from TS BLOOM.

I'll be the first person to stand up and say how I annoying it is to have holiday crap show up in October (I think it actually started in September this year) - but, well, I just couldn't resist posting about some holiday stuff myself two days before Thanksgiving (sorry.)

I saw an ad in the front of the most recent issue of I.D. Magazine for an "informational design" company called Funnel, Incorporated. In the most succinct terms, Funnel, Inc. "is an information design firm that makes the complex clear through the use of infographics, icons, maps and instructions"... got it?

For me, the best part of the whole ad was the text at the very bottom that reads, "visit FUNNELINC.COM/HOLIDAY for a free winter greeting card pack"! I've already sent in for mine... and you can get yours right here.

image c/o Funnel, Inc.

Well, Friday night's open house was a huge success!... thanks to everyone who attended - it was so great to meet so many new faces and to see so many past clients & friends that I really don't get to see enough!

Everyone really rallied together to help me make this event possible:

• B, for helping with the planning and with putting those (awesome) schwag bags together (and for being awesome, herself).

• Dave & Erica, for getting all the food & drink together (esp. those coffee-infused brownies - oh, man!)

• Jw & Jeremy for lugging things around & getting the music together (and to Jw, specifically, for taking the photos seen here)...

and

• April, of April Joy Events, for the AMAZING flowers!!!

We hope everyone had a good time... and enjoyed their schwag bags (shown here on top of our paper trays).

images by Jw.

Today there are 2 more posts up over at the d*s guestblog: one is entitled Small Business is Still Business, which is about the 'nitty-gritty' side of running a business; and the 2nd is an interview with Chicago-based artist, Dolan Geiman... read that one right here.

So, B & I have been getting everything prepped all week for the big OrangeBeautiful open house. I've kept a bit hush hush about the whole thing, mostly because - as of just a few days ago - we hit 100 "yes" rsvps (!) and we, honestly, aren't prepared for many more than that (the studio is only 800 sq. ft. after all ;) Thanks SO much to everyone who replied, and we really look forward to seeing you there!

limited edition print from Kennedy Prints.

So, 2 more posts were set to go up today over at the d*s guestblog, but either Grace didn't get them, or I just got them to her too late... (she's running around Chicago, as we speak, hosting a Ladies Biz Meetup over at Jayson Home & Garden! - so, she's got a lot on her plate at the moment...

Hopefully, they'll go up tomorrow - so, if you were looking for more today - no worries... you'll get to end the week just right!

thanks for reading!

I've always appreciated the beautiful symbolism of the menorah; plus, its sculptural form lends itself well to creative expression in a variety of media. I have to say, the Utopia menorah by potter and overall genius Jonathan Adler is one of my favorite examples ever. Couldn't you just picture it with these Adler-esque candles?

(By the way, for those looking to purchase, I'm not sure if the candles fit the menorah. If not, you could always go with these slim beauties by Jordan Ferney.)

Menorah image from Art Effect. Cyan-and-cocoa-stripe tapers image from Paper Source.

I'm gonna have to pick up a pack of cards from the annacote etsy shop... too cute & what great packaging!

or maybe these... what do you think?

image c/o annacote.

Balanced Kitchen, design from 2 Point Perspective.

I've posted another interview over at d*s. this one is with Lisa Elkins of 2 Point Perspective, a architecture & design firm here in Chicago... it's a good one, so check it out (right here)!

image c/o 2Point.

A new post is up today over at d*s on some of my reading recommendations for existing & aspiring business owners... hope you like it!

If you're an Erin Fetherston fan, you'll want to check out this cute little clip on what inspired her collection for Target, which is now partially available online and scheduled to hit stores this week.

The film was shot in Fetherston's Paris apartment, which has previously been featured in domino. It's fun to catch glimpses of the lovely architecture and over-the-top furnishings (remember that marble throne?) in the background of the collection displayed throughout the apartment.

Other vignettes feature Fetherston wearing pieces from the Target collection around the city. Pictured above: my favorite piece, the cream wool coat with its playful bubble shape, tailored pleats and banded hem. I love how it looks with her signature black tights.

Fetherston explains that she brought in elements of whimsy from Parisian patisseries into some of the details of her party dresses...

...and of course her little Parisian pup makes an appearance during filming!

Stills from Meet the Designer: Erin Fetherston clip on Target.com.

if you haven't already done so, please head on over to design*sponge and check out my latest post - an interview with Richelle Albrecht of Girl Metro, Inc....

and keep checking in all this week for more d*s guestblog posts by yours truly!...

image c/o Girl Metro, Inc.

Remember Spirograph? I logged many hours as a child creating patterned circles, using various colored pens and the gear-like plastic disks included in the set.

These new designs at Paper Mojo bring out the best Spirograph memories, yet the designs look much more sophisticated than the scribbles I remember. I particularly like the white on green and black on white versions, shown above and below.

Images from Paper Mojo.

Every time a new issue of Blueprint arrives, I get the urge to repaint a room due to the consistently stunning wall colors featured on the covers. I can't stop staring at the golden hued walls (Benjamin Moore's Westminster Gold - #200) on the November/December issue cover; so festive, but unexpectedly so and in a color that would certainly look appropriate year-round.

The lilac walls on the September/October cover generated significant reader interest, particularly because the color source was not noted in the issue. The kind Blueprint staff responded to my inquiry regarding the color in a series of emails, the first to tell me the exact color was no longer being manufactured(!) but that they were sleuthing out similar shades. Here's what they found:

"We have two options for you. Fine Paints of Europe makes a similar shade (#E15-52), as well as Benjamin Moore's Beach Plum (#2072-60)."

Mystery solved! Thanks Blueprint!

Images from Blueprint.

shift + by Ivor Williams, shooshbang.

Being a binder myself, I'm always a sucker for a beautiful art book & the works on paper at shooshbang don't disappoint... the best part is that the artist - graphic designer, Ivor Williams - graduated from The Glasgow School of Art, where I studied printmaking back in '99!

Check out the rest of Ivor's work here, and be sure to specifically take a look at his pieces: retorts and replies and shapers of the landscape.

images c/o shooshbang.

...now I'm also guestblogging the week on the ever-lovely design*sponge!

The whole week will focus on small business, design, being good & all sorts of other (hopefully) helpful & informative stuff.

thanks so much to grace for asking me to participate!... I'm looking forward a to great week. Check out the posts here!

images from d*s.

The temperature has dropped and so I'm gearing up for winter. (Especially since I've discovered none of my winter coats will button/zip over my now-pregnant belly.)

While I search for a coat to keep me warm, I also need some weather-proof boots that will not only keep my feet totally dry but also make me happy. The abundance of printed wellie-style flat boots, while sweet, are a little too cutesy-looking for me right now. I want something that looks, dare I say, elegant and will combat winter dreariness.

Enter the Tretorn Plask W, available this year in white (previous colors including black, brown, red and olive are still available too). The pretty white color is at once simple and dynamic, and I adore the 2-inch wedge heel, which will help me avoid the sloppy looking water-and-snow-saturated pant leg...

Image from Tretorn.

So, over the course of just 4 days, all 19 prints remaining in L's limited edition of 20 have sold out on OB's Etsy shop... wow.

I've now posted the 2nd run of the same laugh dream love design, printed on the following color stocks :: Yellow, Green and Turquoise... same price ($10 each), but only 5 available of each color.

Get 'em while you can!

images by me.

Float, limited edition giclee print, by Julie West, $125.00 - available here.

Ah... it's good to be back. I hope everyone had a great week last week & an even better weekend. Things are pulling themselves back together here - on many counts, and I'm definitely feeling quite a bit more mentally (and physically) organized than I was this time last week.

Above is another stunning image by Julie West... it's a pretty great representation of how I'm feeling lately: a bit 'un-grounded,' but free & floating nonetheless...

image c/o Julie West.

I'm in the midst of writing thank-you notes from baby showers. I decided to make them because I couldn't find exactly what I wanted. I flush-mounted wrapping paper to pre-cut Luxe Blush cards (4-bar size), and paired the cards with metallic antique gold envelopes. I think I'm writing more personal notes, having put a personal touch on the cards themselves.

For other tips on writing thank you notes, visit this refreshingly honest post at Linda & Harriett.

As you know, my love for chevron never ends. Yesterday I picked up this fabulous little cardigan from Ann Taylor Loft for only $9.98! With my pregnancy, it's perfect for layering (unbuttoned of course) over a solid color maternity knit top. It would also provide a great dose of pattern peeking out from underneath a cropped jacket. Sometimes the thrill of the bargain is too exciting not to share!

Image from Ann Taylor Loft.

I received many thoughtful gifts at my baby showers, including original artwork by two of my favorite people, Molly and Emily.

My sister-in-law Molly (an artist and art teacher) created the beautiful pair of tiny paintings shown in the photo above. The lilac is a photo transfer of the first baby carriage, and the green is the initial "B" (for baby) - since we haven't yet revealed the baby's name. Both paintings are acrylic and gold leaf, and the colors were used specifically to coordinate with the nursery palette.

Emily created the graphic "Laugh...Dream...Love" poster and printed it on a Gocco. She presented it to me in a floating glass frame with a border of lilac around the poster. You too can have a copy of this limited edition print - she just added it to her Etsy shop. (Lucky me; I got print Number One!)

There are a few additional items I would like to create for the nursery. I was inspired by the work of artist Jeana Bartroff, whose home was recently featured in Cookie magazine's blog. The silhouette paintings above were painted with white wall paint on brown paper bags. I would love to do a monochromatic silhouette series of book characters like Madeline, Eloise, and Curious George...we'll see what I come up with.

Finally, the chandelier pictured above by Lisa Congdon was featured recently in a Design*Sponge post on Rare Device. I would like to create a mobile using favorite papers, similar to the idea shown above, that can be switched out at whim to keep the baby interested!

Painting images by me. Poster images from OrangeBeautiful. Silhouette painting images from Cookie. Chandelier image from Design*Sponge.

I spotted these Mary Janes, appropriately (but oddly) named "Smart Spending", and immediately thought of upcoming holiday parties...my choices of formal footwear tend to fall into the black or metallic categories, and I like how this blends the two. The Mary Jane style is a nice departure from the usual slingback or pump, especially with the platform. And the gold piping gives its form a such a sleek outline.

Finally, did I mention they're $40?

Smart Spending, indeed!

Image from Piperlime.

Today is my dear Uncle Don's birthday, and while we live in different states and I'm unable to celebrate with him in person, if I was able to bake him a birthday cake today I would top it with these tall beeswax candles ($4.90 for 8) from Jordan Ferney's Flood Street Curiosity Shop. They are so elegant! And of course, I love the packaging and how they're photographed.

Be sure to read Jordan's daily finds and musings on her blog, Oh Happy Day.

And Happy Birthday Don!

Image from Flood Street Curiosity Shop.

Splendid, 7-color limited edition screen print by Julie West, $100.00 (printed by Bloom Press) - available here.

Given all sorts of unforeseen "stuff" that's happened over the past month, I'm officially taking a week off from posting here at the SCOOP ...I know that L will be able to keep things moving along just fine in my absence & I plan on having all sorts of great new stuff ready to post when I return next week.

I just need a little catch-up time and a bit of rest to regain some of my former 'splendid-ness' ;) Thanks for your patience in the meantime...

image c/o Julie West.

Felt Camellia Rings, $22.00 ea. by Mixko - available at ReForm School.

Just when I was hoping to come across a delightfully excellent online shop for me to peruse and adore, along comes LA-based ReForm School... right off the bat, their website is STUNNING, easy to navigate and full of things I really want. Co-owners Billie & Tootie (whose adorable grade school pics are featured on the "staff" page) started with a brick & mortar shop - and thankfully, for those of us not in the LA area - they decided to expand into an online store as well...

from top to bottom: Skateboard Clutch, $102.00 by Beck(y) - available at ReForm School.

The shop is full of books, garments, jewelry, bags, etc. etc... I love the above Skateboard Clutch by Beck(y) Bags The fact that they carry Freitag bags just seals the deal for me... And you might recognize the image on that last bag from a previous post of Laura's?...

Native Herb Journal, $9.95 by Jill Bliss - available at ReForm School.

I'm a huge fan of one Jill Bliss - not only for her Save GOCCO campaign, but also for her lovely line of paper goods... I've been eyeing her journals (above) for quite a while now - it's probably time to pick one (or two) up...

Oma Bike, $895.00 (1-speed) by Jorg & Olif - available at ReForm School.

Jw and I were introduced to Jorg & Olif back in April when we visited their booth at the GreenFest... I adore their Oma Bike... esp. the "no-lean" kickstand!

images c/o ReForm School.

I'm swamped today, but thought I would share this little snapshot of some grocery store-bought flowers that have been alive and well in my home for over 2 weeks now. What a great $5 investment!

Enjoy...