Summertime...

...and the living is easy. Well, ok, it's not exactly easy livin' around here, but it is getting hot out there, and I'm getting really excited about our long-awaited beach vacation next week. How pretty are these strappy summer dresses by Tracy Reese?

Thanks ShelterPop!

One of our card designs was selected by ShelterPop as one of 10 favorites from this year's NSS. Hurrah! The Circle Collage notecard is featured along with products from 9SpotMonk, Chewing the Cud and several other great companies. This is Fine Day Press' very first award, and I couldn't be more thrilled. This blank notecard, based on a collage that evolved into a tote bag, has just been added to the etsy shop. Thanks ShelterPop!

Tomoko Maruyama

I met San Francisco-based illustrator Tomoko Maruyama at this year's National Stationery Show, and fell in love with her super-cute style. How can you resist the sweet donut and two little tater friends? Her work has a very consistent and unique look, something that is hugely important for standing out in the vast aisles of the trade show. As noted on design*sponge, both animals and food were big trends this year!

Jessica Swift

Wow! I can't believe tomorrow is the last day of the Stationery Show! It's gone by in a blur of new contacts and friends. I'll be doing a more extensive write-up of my experience as a first-time exhibitor later this week. I did a quick run-through of the Surtex show today; I always love seeing the different artwork and pattern designs. The work of artist Jessica Swift completely caught my eye. Her website and etsy shop contain an amazing collection of work! I hope the show was a huge success for her.

Wrap it up

Whew! Just a super quickie this morning, it's day 2 of the Stationery Show and I've gotta hit the road. Although most of the day was a flurry of activity, there were moments of chilliness yesterday in the vast expanse of the Javits Center - one of these gorgeous Virginia Johnson shawls sure would have been nice! Best of all, these are on SALE. Loving the magenta sombrero dudes!

Press Kit Sneak Peek!

Here's a sneak-peek at our press kits for the stationery show - I think they came out pretty cute! Decided to make them in a few different colors and pattern combinations just to keep it interesting. Extra fabric (from our wedding binders) was cut into squares using pinking shears to add some color and pattern to the front label area. And of course, the all-important booth number, prominently displayed on a sticker! Inside, I used brads to hold the pages together. I also tucked a cd with product imagery into a sleeve attached to the inside back cover.

We'll drop these off in the press room on Sunday, but we also made a few extras to keep at our booth just in case. So excited!!!

Lovi-ng it

How totally ingenious are these? Colorfully stained birch-wood flat cards are pre-cut and ready for you to fold into fun shapes; some come with a string for hanging. By Finnish company Lovi. And the company works with an initiative to plant trees in developing countries, so you can buy these babies guilt-free.

A Moment of Zen

In the calm before the storm, i.e. these last few days of prep before my first-ever National Stationery Show exhibition, I'm really enjoying this imagery of artist Tara Donavan's installations and drawings. She turns everyday objects like plastic straws, pencils, and buttons, into things of ethereal beauty.

Wood & Wool

I spotted one of these wonderful recycled wooden stools with wool covers by Wood & Wool Stool over on Decor 8 a while back; so so cute! The company, founded by Holland-based designer Ingrid Jansen, also makes adorable pillows, frames, blankets (below) and more fun things.

This is inspiring me to get motivated for my next crochet project... The "blanket" I started back in March is still around, oh, potholder size, but still! It looks very much like the one below (top), only a LOT smaller and a different palette.

Vintage Finds

I picked up these vintage early 1950s McCall magazines over at Brooklyn Flea last weekend. Aren't these covers just the best? They just scream "domino" to me, a magazine I still miss dearly. I'm thinking they'll look great framed in my office. While the insides aren't quite as exciting to me as the color-drenched covers, I did find the "Opening a shop of your own" article interesting (just to the left of the groovy sunburst pillow) - that back in this era of housewives, there was support for creative, independent businesswomen!