Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We are off to California until January 3rd. I'll see you soon!

(these ornaments are made by survivors of human trafficking and are available here for "purchase with purpose")

Leafcutter Designs

Have you heard of the world's smallest postal service? You can submit any letter that you personally write and Lea Redmond of Leafcutter Designs will transcribe it to the tiniest of script and mail it to your recipient, all neatly packaged with a miniature wax seal and magnifying glass.


I think that this might be just about the cutest and most clever idea ever. Another way to prove that mail is fun.

A Sketchbook Calendar?

I just heard of someone, a fellow designer, who uses a sketchbook as a calendar. I was so excited when I heard that because now I know that I am not alone! I have been doing that for years but have been in denial about it - I actually don't even think that I realized I was doing that until just now. Every year (except last year because I think she gave up hope) my mom, who is the calendar queen and practically couldn't function w/o her calendar, gives me a calendar for Christmas. And I, with the best of intentions, use it for about a month before I subconsciously switch everything over to my sketchbook.

At least now I can see it. Even though I don't keep a calendar, I do have a love for them. Perhaps that is because it was instilled in me in some level from my organized, calendar loving mom.


I do really love to have a good desktop calendar - one at my desk and one in the kitchen - it's the day planners that I don't do so well with. Desktop calendars are non-threatening because I don't have to write on them and I can look at a new, pretty picture each month.

Pictured above (clockwise) are some of my favorite desktop calendars on the market:

1) Driscoll Design 2) Delphine 3) Snow & Graham 4) Cat Seto 5) Kate Spade 6) Night Owl Paper Goods 7) Egg Press 8) Curly Girl Design

An Old Friend in Town: Curly Girl Design

I met Leigh of Curly Girl Design back when we did our first booth at the New York Stationery Show in 2004. Ever since, I have been a long time fan of both her and her work. Every year in NYC we would look forward to hanging out at the show with her and her crew - she truly is as great of a person as you would expect based on her clever and witty sayings and beautiful artwork. Which is why it's extra fun to see that she is pretty much a design rock star right now! She has really expanded her line and stores and consumers alike are swooning. I have personally been sending her cards and even framing some for years, so I am so glad to see that she has branched out to so many other ways for us to enjoy her art.


I was in the Aspen Bay Candles flagship store today (my favorite shop in town to buy gifts) to pick up a few Christmas gifts and saw some of Leigh's work. I just played it cool, but I could have said, "Curly Girl! I know her! I know her!"

Pictured above are some of Leigh's new wall plaques - not available in the Curly Girl shop just yet, but available online at Cherrylane Collection. Be sure to check out her beautiful Curly Girl Design website and online shop to see her new collection of wall art, mugs, magnets, canteens, and much more. I also highly recommend becoming a fan of Curly Girl Design on facebook - it's a great way to stay in the know as well as read her inspirational monthly newsletter.

I just love her "Live Imperfectly with Great Delight" plaque. (available to purchase here) That's a mantra that I can fully embrace.

Trunk Show Re-cap

Thank you so much to all who came to the iSanctuary trunk show at Little Building Cafe last Saturday. It was definitely a success! We raised lots of money for the girls and had a good time doing it. A special thanks to Annie and Ted for hosting it and to Amy for helping me set up, break down and "man the booth" all afternoon.

See You Tomorrow at Little Building Cafe

If you happen to live in the area, I hope to see you tomorrow at the International Sanctuary Trunk Show held at Little Building Cafe! You'll find jewelry, greeting cards, and Christmas ornamnets that will be perfect for your holiday shopping needs.

I am working on some other things for iSanctuary and this is a quote of some of the copy provided just today. I think it sums up the essence of making a "purchase with purpose":

iSanctuary partners with an aftercare home in Mumbai, India to provide the rescued girls with a revenue-generating handicraft. It’s more than a vocation: it’s the opportunity to reclaim their dignity and their lives. The girls—usually between the ages of 12-19—create beautiful jewelry that is sold in the US at home parties, retailers and community events. The proceeds generated by jewelry sales go back to the girls.

Each piece of jewelry tells their story.

Each piece of jewelry promotes awareness of human trafficking.

Each piece of jewelry represents a stand against social injustice.

I am just so excited about iSanctuary and so thrilled that Little Building Cafe is hosting this trunk show tomorrow. So if you live here in Starkville, do stop by between 2pm and 6pm (the perfect place to get a latte on the way to the Christmas parade!) You can always shop online, but I am telling you that I have 3 boxes of product from iSanctuary that isn't online, is super cute, and very affordable.

By the way, my friend Wendy (co-founder of iSanctuary and long time friend from college) took these photographs herself - and most of the photographs from Mumbai on their website. I love her!

doe-c-doe

I meant to do this post the other week when I mentioned some of doe-c-doe's work geared for children on Designing Moms (click here to read the post), but I guess time slipped away from me as I have been in major manufacturing and sourcing mode. Anyway, I really love the body of work found on the doe-c-doe etsy shop. As I was browsing through Gina's flickr site, I found so much more work that I love - not limited to children's rooms. Like, how great is this piece for your laundry room? (the next time I have an actual room for my laundry, I hope to decorate it in a bright and cheery way to trick myself to do laundry - I think that ordering the above print will be my first step.)



I just really love all of Gina's work - it's so hard to pick favorites. You'll have to visit her blog, etsy shop, and flickr account to enjoy her fresh yet vintage style.