beautiful papers

beautiful papers is moving!

2008-01-10T11:13:00.001-05:00

I've been blogging for a while now, and there are bits and pieces of my thoughts and ideas strewn all over cyberspace. I've decided to put everything in one spot. It's part of my "De-clutterization 2008 Campaign." I know there are a lot of people who subscribe to the private blog plus "professional" blog system, and I was one of them, but I just can't keep it all up as effectively as I want to.

So, please add my new all-in-one super blog to your reading list, as I will not be adding to this one anymore:
symphony of chaos

merry christmas, all

2007-12-20T10:04:00.000-05:00

i realize i'm still not good at blogging, so i think i'll just be honest. i probably won't post again until january, because we're going out of town for a bit.

the good news is, my new camera is being shipped to dave's parents' house, so i'll be able to update my portfolio and take photos again!

enjoy the holidays!

12 Days of Christmas #12

2007-12-18T09:48:00.000-05:00

umm...how about...

PAPER?!

from martha and paper-source.

12 Days of Christmas #11

2007-12-17T09:41:00.000-05:00

a beautiful journal and really great pens/pencils.

i know there are some people who hate having journals around, but i think it's a lost art. and, really, you can always use them as notebooks:

from kate's paperie

from jenni bick bookbinding

12 Days of Christmas #10

2007-12-14T09:36:00.000-05:00

gift cards...better yet...E-gift cards:

martha stewart crafts

paper source

12 Days of Christmas #9

2007-12-13T12:22:00.000-05:00

treat him/her to a seminar or lessons. check your local paper for offerings. a lot of cities have craft and/or art guilds that hold regular classes. there are even some craft stores that do pretty good classes.

some suggestions that will help people who make paper crafts:

calligraphy/penmanship: having good penmanship can only make things better.

book binding: personal wish of mine. i'd make books all the time.

scrapbooking/card making: even though some of this can be cheesy, it's a good way to get a sense of how to do a simple layout.

photography: the use of your own photography can really personalize a project. it's important to learn about composition, lighting, etc.

art: sometimes a basic 101 type class is a good way to learn about color schemes and simple techniques

12 Days of Christmas #8

2007-12-13T12:15:00.000-05:00

paper tools from martha. things like a bone folder, rulers, cutting tools, adhesives, etc:

12 Days of Christmas #7

2007-12-11T09:12:00.000-05:00

paper organizer/tote and a gift certificate to a local art or craft store.

from ac moore:

from creative memories:

12 Days of Christmas #6

2007-12-10T09:32:00.000-05:00

anything from lovely design:

she uses beautiful found paper in all of her creations. a lot of items are sold out right now, but she seems to turn over new stock quickly. i love everything she makes.

12 Days of Christmas #5

2007-12-07T09:24:00.000-05:00

personalized stationery, return address labels (or stamper), and stamps.

we don't write enough letters anymore. give the stationery and make sure to write the person a letter yourself and mail it off sometime in january. get the ball rolling!

there are lovely selections of personalized stationery at papyrus.

check out these cute return address labels and stampers:

12 Days of Christmas #4

2007-12-06T08:09:00.000-05:00

some things to spice up his/her office:

notebooks:

magnetic/tack board:

cute papers:

magnetic frames:

CD labels:

desk organizer filled with cool papers/supplies:

i absolutely love this book. inside, are inspirational quotes laid out in different type. i would look at it every day:

(all from cb2)
also, i've posted a cute photoshoot i did for a family. check it out. opinions would be greatly appreciated!

12 Days of Christmas #3

2007-12-04T08:53:00.000-05:00

cool gift wrap inside of a really great space-saving organizer.

like the ones from the container store:

martha, paper source, and the container store all have great paper offerings (click image for larger view):

make sure the wrapping represents a wide selection that can be used for any occasion...and don't forget tissue paper, great tags, and ribbon!

12 Days of Christmas #2

2007-11-29T08:30:00.000-05:00

a beautiful desk and/or wall calendar

i know these are all over the blogosphere, but i wanted to mention them as a gift item. to be honest, i think it's probably some form of heresy NOT to have a beautiful calendar if you love paper/design. i want one for my house and two offices...three different calendars...sigh...

letterpress:

from moon tree press

from satsuma press

from green chair press

from indiefixx

from linda & harriet

from paper source

hand/screen printed:

calendar on luggage tags

from annacote

from happify (and they double as postcards)

from snow & graham (they can be framed after each month-the images are printed on the back)

it's settled. next year i'm making a calendar.

The 12 Days of Christmas

2007-11-27T11:59:00.000-05:00

i wanted to start this on black friday but didn't get around to it. plus i'm glad i waited because i've stumbled upon a great starter! i will post 12 awesome gifts for the paperphile in your life (or, ahem, me...DAVE).

here we go!

12 Days of Christmas - 1 of 12:

Structural Greetings

by Josep Ma Garrofe:

"Structural Greetings is a selection of best designs for invitations, cards, Christmas greetings, pop-ups, promotional brochures and other similar way of communication. This selection stands out for its originality, for the technical features of the die-cut and for its exceptional aesthetics, concepts and contents. The projects carefully selected for this book show the power of a well-executed die-cut to convey efficiently, with a highly innovative level and surprising design any type of messages." (summary and pics below are from indexbook)

via swissmiss

christmas cards

2007-11-26T12:00:00.000-05:00

i just want to post that i have a GREAT IDEA for our christmas card this year. dave and i didn't do them last year because of thank you note timing (got married on 12/1), but i'm all set this year. i even bought a special font! it's gonna be cute. i hope.

also, karla gave me a great idea for getting addresses, so i'll be shamelessly ripping that off soon.

usually, i want to punch hallmark in the face, but they do have some decent offerings this year:

how about you? are you sending out cards? making? buying? what's your deal?

aaaaaand i'm re-doing my office:

2007-11-21T11:35:00.000-05:00

russell and hazel has the most beautiful office accessories and supplies. i'm all over it. you can even shop by color!

ahem:

birthdays

2007-11-19T08:52:00.000-05:00

i have a niece and nephew with birthdays coming up, so i have cupcakes on the brain. after i got married, my best friend and i went to claytopia to make birthday plates for our family. i love traditions, and was really excited to start this simple one. here's my plate:

anyway, instead of a cake, i've been doing cupcakes, just because they look so darn cute. here are some amazing cupcake wrappers that i want to invest in:

and these, from martha, i already purchased. so cute:

checkin' it twice

2007-11-15T10:35:00.000-05:00

'tis the season (apparently...according to every store front i pass). i thought i'd gather up some cute lists and booklets to use during this crazy shopping time, whether it's christmas, solstice, etc. if you're gonna fight crowds for good bargains, you may as well have cute paper to keep you company!

these are from a really cute site i love, knock knock:

these are from my expression:

these are from paper source:

and, i think i've settled on a color scheme for my christmas decorating and wrapping:

cute, huh?

friend thanksgiving

2007-11-02T20:49:00.000-04:00

dave and i started a tradition with our friends called "friend thanksgiving." we try to get together each year for a dysfunction-free meal without our respective families. here's the invite i made up real quick for everyone:

and above are a few offerings from paper source. i think i'll end up using the gourds and thankful cards.

oh, and here is a thanksgiving video for your viewing enjoyment:

ok, so this isn't technically paper

2007-10-22T10:46:00.000-04:00

but it's the technology that will help me create better beautiful papers, and i'm excited!
it arrived this morning:

and, of course, this (without which i would be lost):

little known fact about me and adobe: i hate photoshop. a lot. but, my friend rachel loves it and she is giving away beautiful desktop images. check it out. i'm using it and it's so nice to look at.

toasted notes

2007-10-18T10:10:00.000-04:00

how cute is this?

it's easy being green

2007-10-16T11:21:00.001-04:00

if i could re-do my wedding, i'd do it in green stripes. i think this would also work well for a birthday party or baby shower. so cute.

link it up: the knot, martha, paper source, tie, necklace, bouquet, shoes.

how about orange?

2007-10-15T10:51:00.000-04:00

i am loving jessica jones' blog. she is a girl after my own heart. in fact, as i was about to post my tutorial on making a notebook, i read HER tutorial this morning. hers is better. go check it out here.

(i'll still post mine...after the awesomeness of hers is forgotten) ;-)

halloween paper crafts

2007-10-12T08:27:00.000-04:00

i wish i was throwing a halloween party. i have a good friend who's birthday is on the 30th, so maybe we could throw him a halloween-inspired party?! hm...i better get on that. all of the following are made from paper!

pumpkin candy holders and lanterns:

kitty candy holder:

pumpkin bags:

buckets covered in candy wrappers:

invitations:

bat bags:

paper shadows:

"don't forget" finger invitation!

"mad scientist" invitation:

bat pinata:

pumpkins:

trick-or-treat bags:

food tags:

paper:

kitty invite:

gorgeous paper wreath:

via martha, of course (and her craft store).

notebooks!

2007-10-04T11:39:00.000-04:00

ok, i own too many notebooks. there. i said it. none of the above are mine, though i want them very badly. this weekend i'm going to put together a tutorial based on a notebook a friend made for me. it's a cheap and easy way to make a plain old notebook your own. i'll share it with you next week.

for now, check out this flickr pool for inspiration: notebooks

Banned Books Week

2007-10-03T10:14:00.000-04:00

this is banned books week. books are made of paper, so i thought it fit. it might be a stretch, but i just had to post about this. i was shocked at the number of banned and/or challenged books i've read. i think you'll be surprised, too, if you look over the lists. here is a small sampling of the banned books i've read:

here are some links if you would like more information on banned books and the history behind why each book was banned. very interesting stuff:

take a couple days to read a banned book this week! as for me, i'm going to re-read "the perks of being a wallflower." happy reading!

pink

2007-10-02T09:53:00.000-04:00

i know a lot of people have been doing this, but i wanted to spend some time searching for beautiful pink papers in honor of breast cancer awareness month. my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago, and after being clear for a few years, it came back with a vengeance this past summer. my mom spent time with her in california to care for her during treatment. the breast cancer has spread to her nervous system, eyes, and skull. my aunt is a very strong woman, but breast cancer is a very aggressive and tricky disease.

please, please do regular exams and get screenings, especially if cancer runs in your family. there is no reason to wait and hope for something strange to go away or get better. if you suspect anything, go to your doctor.

links for the collage (click image for larger view):

3d flower cards - karterskardz
hot pink owl note cards – snew
3d pink tags – NYPapercrafter
painted cards – tinacarroll
pinwheel notebook – suzyjack
xoxo paper – rose and radish
and the rest is from, of course, paper source (i'll get over my obsession soon, i promise)

tagged

2007-09-28T10:33:00.000-04:00

I was TAGGED to complete this meme by amy!
Four Jobs I Have Had In My Life

paper store clerk (when i was 16...it was horrible, but prophetic, i guess)
cashier
job coaching disabled individuals
graphic designer-ish person (that's what happens when you work for non-profits)

Four Movies I Can Watch Over and Over

steel magnolias
harry potter series
the royal tenenbaums
brokedown palace

Four TV Shows I Like To Watch

the office
heros
american idol
so you think you can dance

Four Places I Have Been On Vacation

england
oregon/california coast
myrtle beach
wadsworth, ohio

Four Favorite Foods

hot tamales (the candy)
chipotle chicken burrito
mom's lasagna
chili and mashed potatoes (again, mom's)

Four Websites I Visit Daily

bloglines
google/gmail
istock photo
grace-erie.dyndns.biz/exchange

Four Places I Would Rather Be

minneapolis
on the couch, under a blanket watching a movie
in my bed
perkins street

Four Bloggers I Am Tagging

i am tagging anyone who reads this and wants to do it.

i received my paper swap from carla. i'll post pics soon.

black and white (aqua accents)

2007-09-21T11:10:00.001-04:00

ever since amy's comment, i've been thinking about how aqua and black could compliment each other in a wedding. i think it works! and, it would be unique, because i couldn't easily find any weddings that used the scheme. the last box on the bottom right is a sneak peek of a wedding i'm working on (they're just using black and white. i substituted the aqua to see what it would look like) some other ideas:

vintage typewriter with aqua paper for guests to write notes (use as guestbook)
white cake with black and aqua polka dots
b&w polka dot bridesmaid dresses with aqua sash and/or jewelry
bridesmaids with white flowers, bride with aqua
black tablecloths, white china and napkins, aqua flowers in pewter/silver vases (or maybe aqua glass beads and a candle scape)

photo credits: vespa, paper flowers, teacup and typewriter, dress, shoes, wrapping, cake

one day at a time?

2007-09-20T08:15:00.000-04:00

when people start talking about halloween, i start thinking about calendars. i love to have a calendar in my office and one in my purse. right now, dave and i have a one on our wall that's made up of our wedding photos, which i love (mainly because i haven't had our photos printed yet. ugh.).

how surprised was i when my favorite paper store came out with a line of calendars?! below is a lovely letterpress desk calendar. the description says it comes in a box for display, and i'm sure it's really cool:

and this is another that would fit in my purse, but i'm not sure about the layout:

and more awesomeness (via flickr):

look at what this girl did on her desk calendar! i must admit that i do the same thing, but mine are usually just black and blue ink. so cool. i've been inspired:

and i can't do a post on calendars without showing the one i covet most:

sigh...

aww...an award?!

2007-09-18T10:36:00.000-04:00

one of my very best friends nominated me for this award. how cute. rachel is awesome.

here are my nominations. i know that maybe this is for girls, but i just want to nominate a boy because i would LOVE to see this icon on his blog:

brian, of weekend gamer. out of the bloggers that i personally know, brian gives the most thought and puts in the most work. most of the time, i can't believe these nerdy thoughts are in his head...but i love it. i don't even understand his posts 90% of the time, but i read anyway. he's been an amazing friend to dave and i, and that alone makes him worthy of this award.
jodi, who is sonotcool. i've been following her for a while and i just love reading about her life, the good and bad. i feel like she's the most real blogger out there. i'd like to have tea with her some day...seriously. she seems so awesome...not cool...just awesome. ;-)
kem, of less clutter and noise. i do not know kem, but i do know that her marketing hints have changed how i do my communications job at grace. she's amazing, and i can tell that she is a nice person. i love the mix of personal and professional on her blog. and her glasses.

gocco

2007-09-17T09:07:00.001-04:00

i really want a gocco. i've been more and more impressed at the quality of craftmanship out there with this little machine. i think i might be attracted to it because my favorite art class in highschool was when we created hand made prints. sometimes i want to go back to highschool and be an art major all over again. :::sigh:::

here's the gocco:

(image via paper source)

and here are some favorite flickr finds:

Hyatt Place

2007-09-13T13:15:00.000-04:00

I apologize for my lack of posting. Don't give up on me! I'm going through a lot of life transitions right now, so things have been crazy.

My husband and I just got back from an interview he had in Cincinnati, OH. The company put us up in a hotel, which was awesome. Apparently, Hyatt has started a new chain called "Hyatt Place." The decor is modern and comfortable, and their papers and identity match:

this is their welcome folder:

paper and pen:

Postcards! I took these with me because they're the perfect size to put behind a 4x6 photo (just need to make sure they're acid free):

keycard:

I guess the two black dots are supposed to be ignored so the other dots make an "H." I was seriously impressed with this place. I'd definitely recommend it.

beautiful paper swap

2007-08-27T09:46:00.000-04:00

Wow. This is a tiny swap...but it will be great for those of you involved. I randomly selected the partners and didn't need to change a thing. Have fun! You can find your partner's blog info in the previous swap post:

If that's difficult to read:
Susan and Firstborn
Danielle and Karla (yea!!)
Camden and Judy

Again, please mail your packages on/by September 15th.

And, if you don't mind, document what you send and receive here.

orange

2007-08-15T13:24:00.001-04:00

I think orange is WAY overlooked for weddings and special events. This would be a great color for a baby shower, especially if it isn't a traditional boy/girl blue/pink type of shower. Orange is wonderful paired with a hot pink, lime green, or yellow.

I'm going on vacation tomorrow and I'll be back next Wednesday. If you haven't already, sign up for the swap and I'll see you next week!

(all photos via the knot. paper from paper source)

beautiful paper swap

2007-08-14T10:26:00.000-04:00

I've decided to host a swap. If you've never participated in one before, let me briefly explain. Basically, you are paired up with someone from around the globe, and you send them a package of items that fall under a certain criteria. At the same time, that person is sending you a package. It's so much fun. I did a geography swap hosted by Jodi a while back and LOVED it. My partner rocked my face off. It's an awesome way to get and give cool things...especially in this swap.

Here's how it will go (a.k.a. "the rules"):

The only criteria for this swap is that everything in your package should have something to do with paper (made of paper, tools for paper, books, magazines, stationery, etc.), and it should be beautiful. I know what you're thinking: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Well, exactly.
Leave a comment in this post letting me know you're in (include your blag address, so I can find you), and I will take all of the user names and randomly pair them up. Also, be sure to indiate whether or not you are willing to ship internationally. Comment by Saturday, 8/25.
Come back on 8/27 to find out who your partner is.
You and your partner work out the details: price limits, exact dates, likes/dislikes, etc.
Please mail your packages by September 15th.
If you would like, go here and post photos of what you received so everyone can see!

Happy swapping!

orisinal

2007-08-13T12:30:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, when I'm lacking inspiration, I go here and play games. They are so beautiful and calming. Try it out. Here are some screen shots:

This one is called "the crossing," and you help little deer get from cliff to cliff, and it is oh so cute:

This one is called "high delivery," and your job is to collect flowers in a glass bottle and deliver them to heaven:

Have a beautiful Monday!

week in the web

2007-08-10T09:26:00.000-04:00

Free Paper! There is an advertising company proposing that ads be placed int he top margin of college-ruled paper. This paper is free for students because of the advertising. Interesting.

Funny Faces: Check out monoface. I found myself laughing a lot. Just mix up the facial features for a Conan O'Brien-esque result.

Inspire Yourself: Desktopography is full of beautiful photos for your...you guessed it... desktop. Really inspiring. Whenever I'm in a creative funk, I just hop onto flickr or look for sites like this to get my brain going again.

Have a great weekend!

8 ways to save money on event stationery

2007-08-09T08:56:00.000-04:00

Of course I am biased here, but I would say that paper goods for your event are one of the most important investments you can make. Whether it's a wedding or baby shower, a well thought-out invitation design will do a great job to set the stage. The downside is that it can be expensive to get invitations, place cards, etc. custom designed and printed.

Oh but people, here is the upside: there are tricks to making it more affordable. Here are some ideas:

Budget, Budget, Budget: When you talk or email with your designer, make sure to give him/her a specific cost/range you have in mind. This will help when designing the piece, and you won't fall in love with something that is too expensive for you and go over budget.
Use one color, and use it well: Some of the best invitations I have seen have only incorporated one color. If done well, it creates a very bold and dramatic look.
Size DOES matter: Ask your designer to figure out the most economical size for your particular design. A good designer will know the methods of the print shops s/he works with.
Envelopes Shmenvelopes: Skip the inner envelope and use specific names on the outer envelope. This could also save weight on postage.
Google Maps is the best: instead of a separate piece with detailed directions, include a small card that leads to a place to find directions.
Dancing Queen: For a wedding, you can include a line about the reception right on the invitation (unless it's a majorly formal event).
Addressing: instead of hiring a calligrapher, have a friend with good handwriting help you out (or, GASP, use labels. News flash: not many people care. How many wedding ENVELOPES do you see hanging on the fridge?)
Return Address: Your designer should be able to make a file for you that can be made into a rubber stamp, using your font. Just take it to a place like Copy Max or Kinkos. The stamp can be used on the actual invitation and the reply card, if there is one.

I guarantee that you will be glad you set aside a little bit extra in your budget for this. At least promise me that you won't dismiss the idea without talking it over with a designer first. Most of us just want to make beautiful things. I know for me, that if I can work within a pre-existing budget, it makes the whole process easier.

light blue and red

2007-08-08T11:34:00.000-04:00

I think this would be an amazing color scheme for a modern wedding. I especially love the use of dahlias in all of these photos. I always love light blue and red combinations on paper, so I'm sure it would look lovely in an invitation. And, seriously, how fun would it be to create a drink that matched your colors?

These photos are from the knot. The middle photo is from Paper Source.

Paper Source

2007-08-07T17:42:00.001-04:00

Since I just used Paper Source for some ideas, I thought I'd mention how wonderful they are to work with. When shopping around a Paper Source Store, my best friend and I fell in love with a brocade paper. That paper became the inspiration for my entire wedding. When I went online to order the actual paper, it wasn't listed. I emailed customer service and got a great response. The next thing I knew, I had all the paper I needed cut to size for my invites (and some left for other projects I was doing.

I'd recommend Paper Source. They are a little bit more expensive than some online retailers, but seriously, you can't beat the quality.

If you look at my portfolio, you will see how I used the taupe brocade paper on my invitations and program.

shower decorations and planning

2007-08-06T09:59:00.000-04:00

These kits from Paper Source would make decorating a wedding or baby shower too easy. Plus, it would be special for the guest of honor to know that you did it yourself! Some ideas:

Use the flower kits to make low centerpieces on each table.
Line the invitation envelopes with paper you are planning to use for the decorations.
The fortune cookies could be assembled by the guests after they write a note of encouragement or advice for the mom-to-be or new couple. The guest of honor could open them at a date in the future.
Make a corsage out of the decoration paper for the guest of honor.
Use the cardboard letters to spell out names or "baby," "mr and mrs," or a word that the guest of honor could use in her house, like "love."

Paper Source Kits

beautiful web: sfgirlbybay

2007-08-03T10:47:00.000-04:00

I recently did a search for "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters and stumbled across sfgirlbybay.com. After ordering my poster from her, I quickly became an avid reader of her blog. She is a lover of all things paper, which you can see by her list of stationery, printing, and ink on paper links. (self reminder: I really need to get my links up and running).

I'd recommend this blog whole-heartedly. She covers everything from furnishings to hand made crafts. Just a lovely site.

As I'm just starting out, her blog is definitely an inspiration to me.

Check it out. You'll love it.

Envelope Sizing and Information

2007-08-02T10:46:00.001-04:00

When I began the process of designing invitations and announcements, the one thing that frustrated me the most was figuring out which envelope to use when and what size to use with which paper, etc. I've compiled a small list of the most popular sizes in my experience. Hopefully, this helps you. There are two different types of announcement quality envelopes that are most popular: announcement text and baronial.

This first one is announcement text, the second is baronial:

Baronial envelopes are formal style envelopes with a large pointed flap. They can be used for invitations, announcements, greeting cards, and anything that needs an added touch of elegance. They are usually made of more expensive papers. Announcement text envelopes are designed for use with matching text and cover papers. You can usually find a paper that matches exactly. These are still appropriate for special occasions.

Here are two charts that show the most standard sizes and then the ideal size for an enclosure. The enclosure doesn't have to be exact, but these do indicate the best, clean-looking fits. Feel free to click for a larger view and save each image for your own use.

You should always double-check postal regulations. Depending on the weight of your piece, there may be additional cost involved, so take one to your local office and have it weighed before you make too many. Sometimes, it is just a matter of trimming a piece or using a lower weight paper to bring down the cost.

pink and green!

2007-08-01T09:34:00.000-04:00

I am currently brainstorming and working up some paper items for a wedding in these colors, so I thought I'd share the inspiration I've gathered. If you do it right, pink and green can be a really awesome color scheme to work with. Personally, I think it works best with different shades of pink and then a really nice lime green. My favorite dresses are in the top row, second from the left...so classy. And I love how lush the bouquet is in the third row down, third from the left.

All photos are from the knot (click to enlarge):

I went berry picking with my best friend last week. I'm looking for pictures that compliment what we picked for the next scheme I want to show you.

Product Review: Crop-A-Dile

2007-07-31T09:00:00.000-04:00

I recently purchased a Crop-A-Dile eyelet setter and hole punch for an invitation project. I went back and forth, mainly because I hated the name of the tool (snotty, I know)! After using it to make 200 invitations, I can say with confidence that it is a great product. In fact, it has become a necessity for me. In addition to using it for paper projects, it can be used to punch holes in metal for those feeling crafty. I tried it and it is quite easy.

My favorite features:

It can punch and set 4 different sizes (including one flat side for over sized and square shaped items).
It feels like a big hole puncher.
Comfort grips.
It costs about $20.00, and can be found cheaper at craft stores and eBay.
The tool makes fast work of what used to be a very tedious process.
It truly is easy.

My only concern would be if you have small hands. Then, it would be a difficult tool to use, as the grip is quite wide.

If you are planning on making your own invitations or stationery with eyelets, this is a worthwhile investment...even if you only use it once.

PDF instructions (on the back of the package) from We R Memory Keepers (photos from We R Memory Keepers).

Found Paper Address File

2007-07-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

A couple years ago, i spent about six months of obsessing over Lovelydesign's address file. When they became available again (they are regularly sold out), I bought one in maple. I am so glad I did. It's a beautiful and functional item to have on my desk. I do still keep addresses and phone numbers written down (I have had too many technical mishaps to put all of my eggs in one basket).

I'm thinking of getting another to use for recipes. Some other ideas:

an "ideas" index with written brainstorms and even small clippings to inspire
birthdays/anniversaries and the gifts you give
restaurants and things to do/places to visit for when you can't come up with an idea or a friend is in town

Of course, it is currently sold out (I think it's because her baby was just born). However, you can buy packets of cards and just use them in a regular old Rolodex if you need to get a quick fix. I think that's what I'll do for my recipe index. Plastic would probably be better in a kitchen anyway.

Have a beautiful Monday!

Here I Go

2007-07-26T09:53:00.000-04:00

Lately, I have been toying with the idea of a blog to help people navigate the world of paper and design (and, really, to get my ideas out of my head on on "paper"). After some practice posts on my own computer, I think I'm ready to go! In order to organize my own brain and have an intentional focus, I'm giving each day of the week a different subject:

Mondays: beautiful things (paper and design items for everyday or special use)
Tuesdays: reviews and tutorials (from products to vendors and step-by-step how to's)
Wednesdays: inspiration (mood boards, photographs, color schemes)
Thursdays: general thoughts, tips and advice
Fridays: beautiful web (the best things I find online each week)

This will be a loose framework, because I want the freedom to tell you about what's going on in the moment. We'll see how it works.

I truly hope that this blog becomes one of your favorite reads! If you have any ideas or suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Also, if you would like to be reviewed and added to my link list, send me an email and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!