Lovely Pieces

Stunners

2012-01-25T10:00:00.000-05:00

Sean Freeman sure knows how to work some type. I can't stop staring
at his piece for The Decemberists, below.

Bob Gill, A to Z

2012-01-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

I recently heard a great interview with Bob Gill on NPR. He's a graphic design legend, one of the founders of Pentagram and the creator of a plethora of extremely clever visual ideas. I'm particularly fond of this colorful, mod, simply illustrated flipbook (spotted here), published in 1962.

Spreading the OM

2012-01-17T17:36:00.000-05:00

I'm excited to share a really fun project with you today: I recently had the opportunity to work with the wonderful folks over at Yoga Journal magazine, designing the t-shirt for their 2012 Conferences! The design, above, was inspired by some of the elements that are part of my Yoga Cards collection (shown at the bottom of this post), combined with a modern, graphic mandala shape.

The bright aqua and sunny orange colors really pop on the charcoal gray Alternative Apparel tees. The t-shirts will be sold before each conference event and will be available for purchase on site at each event (including San Diego, New York, and Colorado). At the last weekend's conference in San Francisco, the shirts completely sold out! As a long-time Yoga Journal reader, I'm so thrilled to have been able to contribute to this awesome event.

2012-01-11T13:19:00.000-05:00

I love these charming folk-art-esque woodland illustrations by Helsinki-based illustrator Aino-Maija Metsola (who also does patterns and illustrations for Marimekko).

V-day Cards are here!

2012-01-09T14:25:00.001-05:00

Valentines are back in the etsy shop! Four different designs, lovingly letterpressed by hand on luxe recycled paper produced with renewable energy sources. Check 'em out right here...

Starting the Year Off Right, If a Little Slowly

2012-01-03T15:40:00.000-05:00

My brain is feeling a bit sluggish today and I'm finding it hard, on the first
official work day of the new year, to dive into the workload with the usual
gusto. But I'm pretty sure a hearty dose of exercise and a lot of vegetables
will help me get back on track....

I made this yummy broccoli soup yesterday to have for lunch this week.
Delicious, and super easy to make. You can find the recipe right here; photo
by Con Poulos via Real Simple.

2011-12-28T16:38:00.001-05:00

Happy holidays!! With all the pre-Christmas craziness here
at Fine Day Press, along with a bunch of (very fun) design
projects I hope to share with you soon, I've taken a short break
from blogging, as well as unplugging from email and twitter
for a couple of days. It's giving me a chance to clean up the
studio, rejuvenate my mind and body, and prepare for a great
creative year to come.

After a few wonderful days in California with family, my hubbie
has the week off, and we're enjoying some much-needed downtime
that includes watching lots of movies, cooking, and relaxing
around the house. I hope you and yours get the chance to savor
some pre-2012 moments too!

for my kitty peeps

2011-12-15T13:23:00.001-05:00

Just a little something for all the cat-lovers out there - I love these
adorable handmade kitty Snuggle beds, and I am 100% certain
Harold and Luke would love them too.

Joss & Main

2011-12-06T08:21:00.003-05:00

We're thrilled to be participating in an exclusive event with Joss & Main today and tomorrow only; if you're not a member of this site already (featuring well-selected furniture, home goods, stationery and artwork from great designers), you can sign up right here.

holiday to-do...

2011-12-05T09:14:00.004-05:00

• Decorate with this colorful vintage sari garland

• Hang these graphic screen-printed stockings

• Crank up the heat and hang out in this "ugly christmas sweater" tee

Holiday Heads-Up

2011-12-02T11:02:00.005-05:00

For all the NYC folks, come and join us at Littlefield on December 17th
for the Brooklyn Craft Central Holiday Market. I'm excited to be a part
of this market for the first time. There are going to be a bunch of really
great vendors, and you can pick up lots of nice gifties. We'll be selling
calendars, art prints, and, of course, cards.

breathing space

2011-11-30T12:28:00.002-05:00

The upcoming holidays have me feeling a bit crazed; it's a busy - but good -
time of year for a stationery designer. Taking a moment to enjoy these stunning
varnish-on-canvas paintings by Dale Frank is just what I needed today. Enjoy!

It's on

2011-11-25T15:26:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow we're having a SALE in the etsy shop in honor of
Small Business Saturday! To get the discount code, sign
up for the email list on the website, or like our facebook page.

Happy shopping!

2011-11-23T15:58:00.002-05:00

Wishing you and your families a happy and homey Thanksgiving!

A Cozy Dinner

2011-11-21T17:17:00.003-05:00

Last night, we made Tyler Florence's french onion soup recipe.
It was amazing! Sometimes, the best thing about french onion
soup is the cheese; surprisingly that wasn't the case here as the
crusty bubbly cheese was (almost) overshadowed by the rich,
creamy (but no cream!), incredibly warm and delicious soup.
Maybe it had to do with caramelizing the onions, low and slow,
for 30+ minutes, or the cup of tasty Pinot Noir added to the broth.

While we followed the recipe, a good thing about french onion
soup is that it can be easily transformed into a vegetarian of vegan
meal by switching up a few ingredients - veggie broth instead of
beef, soy cheese instead of Gruyere. Plus it's one of those recipes
that does not have a ton of hands-on time - you can leave it alone,
hanging out on the stove while you relax or tend to other things.
It was the perfect winter Sunday night dinner! Yum!

Photo via Gourmet.com

Coolest Couple Ever

2011-11-17T10:17:00.002-05:00

What are you doing this weekend? If you live in NYC, you should
head to IFC Center to check out the new Eames documentary,
opening tomorrow. For a sneak peek, watch the trailer.

A full list of theaters and cities right here.

Tuesday Inspiration

2011-11-15T10:22:00.003-05:00

Colorful, mod prints by the talented Linda Ketelhut.

Her work reminds me a bit of some of my fave artists/designers, Rex Ray and Orla Keily.

P.S. You can check out a design*sponge sneak peek of Linda's Austin, TX home right here.

Vintage Travel Posters

2011-11-11T10:37:00.003-05:00

Wishing you could escape the office this Friday
for some exotic locale? Here's some colorful
vintage travel posters to fuel your fire...

Hand-Painted Perfection

2011-11-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

OBSESSED with this hand-painted sign. I spotted it right here.

Recent Collage Fun

2011-11-08T12:43:00.002-05:00

We had a wonderful weekend away visiting the amazing Storm King
Art Center, Woodstock and the Catskills. I'll be sharing some photos
soon! In the meantime, here's a look at some recent collage work.

Sometimes I make collages for no particular purpose; it serves to warm
up the creative muscles for actual projects (and often sparks a new idea,
or two, or three!) and it's just fun to cut up paper and get out the old
glue stick. While I'm always on the lookout for random bits of paper
ephemera for my collage cache, I usually have a stack of magazines
ready to go in the recycling bin at any given moment, and they serve
the purpose quite well.

Double-Birthday & DeKooning

2011-11-03T11:10:00.001-04:00

My mom and I are going to see the DeKooning exhibit at MoMA on Friday
as part of our double-birthday outing (her birthday was on Tuesday, mine
is tomorrow!), and I couldn't resist a little sneak-peek on the exhibition site.

The colors and compositions are stunning; I can't wait to see all the work
in person. And I can't think of a better way to spend my birthday than art +
lunch with my mom. My hubbie and I will be driving upstate on Saturday
morning for a short birthday-slash-anniversary getaway - it's a very
celebratory time of year over here!

Super Awesome

2011-11-01T15:23:00.004-04:00

As you may have already figured out, I have a penchant for stripes,
rainbows, patterns and colorful, happy modernism -- so it's no wonder
that I am totally gaga for these super simple abstract polaroids
(the one immediately below, at right, is aptly named "Super Awesome)
by Grant Hamilton. LOVE.

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T12:21:00.002-04:00

Instead of doing any laborious and messy pumpkin carving this year, I got three small pumpkins and painted them in a white wash, for a cool minimal centerpiece.

Jan over at Poppytalk has a fun feature on painted pumpkins too.

Of course, all this pumpkin covering gave me an idea for next year: glitter pumpkins! Would look great on a white tabletop with lots of tea candles.

Hope you all have a happy and festive Halloween!

It's a rainy day

2011-10-27T11:36:00.004-04:00

On this dreary rainy NYC fall day, I'm thinking of ... macaroons. The pastel palette is a nice counterpoint to autumn's grays and browns, no? Below, top right fashion shot is Philip Lim, via New York magazine; bottom left, j.crew.

P.S. Have you been to the Ladurée website? It's so freaking cute.

A Shot to the Heart

2011-10-24T11:04:00.003-04:00

Loving these bold new arrow and bow necklaces by Brooklyn-based studio
Digby and Iona. They manage to be romantic without venturing anywhere
near sappy or sweet.

Celebrating the Love

2011-10-21T11:46:00.005-04:00

It's Friday, and I'm in a celebratory mood! I'm happy to share with you some fabulous, festive photos from last weekend's wedding ceremony, taken by the lovely Joy.

These pics really capture the magical ambiance of the occasion. Thanks, Joy, for sharing them!

Hand-painted signs by designer & friend Amy Gorrek.

Simplicity 101

2011-10-20T12:16:00.003-04:00

I love these elegant and understated stationery sets by stripe and field. Restraint is a good thing.

Magical Weekend

2011-10-18T11:15:00.003-04:00

Last weekend, we celebrated the marriage of my very dear friends
Christy Briggs and James Carter! The ceremony was held outdoors
in beautiful Sherman, Connecticut, right by the water surrounded
by fall foliage. Christy and J.D. are such a special couple, and it was
evident how loved they are by all the wonderful friends and family
who paid tribute to them this weekend.

Whether it was designing the pavilion decor (my friend Amy),
performing the ceremony, giving a reading or a song (the uber-talented
Maya Azucena), or participating in the hilarious and awesome flash-mob
style tribute to the bride (coordinated and choreographed by the groom
himself) - everyone brought so much love and energy to this event.

I'm holding my breath in anticipation of the sure-to-be-stunning pictures
taken by photographer Pat Furey.

We spent the day after the ceremony at a laid-back barbeque at the
bride's parent's home; I can't think of a better way to end the weekend!

Photo above of Candlewood Lake, Sherman, CT by the lovely Miss Cheryl Zibisky.

A breath of fresh color

2011-10-13T12:52:00.003-04:00

Loving these pastels by Jennifer Gardner. I came across her large-scale pieces at an art show in Connecticut, and was blow away by the rich bright pigments that seem to glow on the canvas.

A Very Special Occasion

2011-10-10T10:30:00.007-04:00

I'm so excited to share a really special recent project with you. We recently had the opportunity to design wedding invitations for our dear friends, Rob and Katherine. The invitation design is inspired by the couple's love of hiking - in fact, Rob proposed to Katherine while they were hiking in the romantic English countryside.

The invitation suite is simple and elegant, and evokes the wedding palette of charcoal gray with a fresh outdoorsy green. The envelope is jazzed up with a custom-made stamp and pretty striped washi tape.

The couple had a stunningly beautiful ceremony in the hill country outside Austin, Texas (below). It was my first visit to the area and I'm totally smitten! We were so honored to be a part of our friends' special day.

Note: Wedding photos by Jeana Costa.

Spicing it up

2011-10-05T17:04:00.004-04:00

I made some sweetly spiced nuts to jazz up my usual salad lunches this week, yum. I used
walnuts here but almonds, pecans, just about any nut would work and be equally delicious.
This recipe is so beyond easy, it can barely call itself a recipe! But it really adds a little
something extra, especially if you like sweet and crunchy things.

Spray a bit of cooking spray on a foil-lined baking sheet (as shown below), and spread
the nuts out in a single layer. Generously dust the nuts with light brown sugar, and sprinkle
on some cinnamon. Drizzle a little honey over the top, as much as you like. Then put them
in a 375 degree oven until they are lightly toasted and the sugar has melted a bit, 7-10 minutes. You can smell when they're toasting, so be sure to get them out quickly or they will burn.

I added them to a mixed greens salad with organic grape tomatoes and a bit of blue cheese - they're also good on their own for snacking.

My new obsession

2011-09-28T09:16:00.001-04:00

These luxurious richly-patterned handmade pillows from Sukan
are to-die-for. I would like to buy at least 10 of them - enough
to cover the (imaginary) Moroccan daybed in my (nonexistent)
well-shaded garden courtyard, creating the perfect spot to sip
mint tea and dream away an afternoon. Ah...

So long, Summer!

2011-09-26T10:49:00.005-04:00

My favorite season, summer, is officially over. Why do I love
summer so much? Long days, sidewalk cafe seating at night,
trips to the beach, flip flops, cute summer dresses, toenail
polish in a rainbow of colors, evening jogs in the park, feeling
the warm sun on my skin ... I could go on for days.

This year, I'm fully embracing fall: cozy sweaters, leggings and
boots, sipping hot chocolate while strolling the farmer's market,
college football games, pumpkins, you name it. I'm all in!

But before that happens - it is still 80 degrees here in NYC today
after all, so I'm not totally in the fall spirit YET - I'm savoring the
summer moments and memories with a few favorite pictures
from the season.

The first picture is from late spring actually - one of the first really
warm balmy evenings - and we spent it at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.
The other images are, from top to bottom: the calm waters of St. George
Island, FL; a sultry night in Kiawah Island, SC; purple thistle against a
foggy backdrop in Marin Co.; and my bro's backyard in Corte Madeira, CA.

Blocks of Color

2011-09-22T15:40:00.005-04:00

From Matthew Williamson's Spring 2012 collection; I'm loving the rich palette
and bold color blocking. I'm usually a fan of his ethnically-inspired patterns
but the solids here are just awesome.

(Images via New York Magazine)

yes, these are edible

2011-09-21T10:00:00.000-04:00

Wow, I am totally blown away by these edible cake toppers
from Andie's Specialty Sweets (via Unruly Things).

I would love to see a simple white, stacked wedding cake coated
in the vintage buttons. And the ferns! Just amazing...

Around the Web

2011-09-17T16:13:00.004-04:00

A few fave posts/items I've seen lately:

This fab mirror-tile wall with do it youself instruction on Lonny Mag

Neon wedding tabletop via design*sponge

Ombre tote fabulousness via oh joy

letterpress love

2011-09-16T12:01:00.001-04:00

I love the color combinations on these super-cute letterpress
cards by moxie house.

2012 Calendars

2011-09-12T08:27:00.002-04:00

Just finished shipping a whole bunch of our watercolor art
calendars out to stores, whew! We'll be listing them in the shop
very soon. If you'd like a heads-up when they're ready, just
sign up for the mailing list on our home page.

Zigs, Zags, Stripes

2011-09-08T10:39:00.007-04:00

Spotted some fun patterns while running errands in the city: an eye-catching wall of striped ribbons from M & J Trim , just down the street from the Missoni for Target pop-up shop on 6th Avenue.

I must admit I'm pretty excited about the Missoni/Target collaboration! I've long been a fan of Missoni's intricate patterns and fabulous color combinations. Let's hope it doesn't all sell out in two seconds...

SFMOMA + me

2011-09-07T12:12:00.003-04:00

Snapped a few shots with my i-phone of some Fine Day Press cards
in the SFMOMA gift shop while we were visiting San Francisco.
SO excited to see our Popsicle notecard set and Birdcage Thank You cards there!

They also had some great gifts - including this colorful geometric
city tote, weighty fabric-covered Pucci book, and adorable Paris onesie
by Maptote. I picked up one of the onesies for my preggo amie who
loves all things French.

A riot of color

2011-09-01T10:41:00.002-04:00

Dahlias, my favorite flowers, are in season right now! I took
these pics at the Grand Lake Farmers Market in Oakland
last weekend on our visit to the Bay Area. Gorgeous.

New Weaves

2011-08-25T09:00:00.002-04:00

cb2 has some seriously snazzy rugs, and at amazing prices too.
Usually "art rugs" (not sure that's a real term but that's what
I call 'em) tend to be really expensive so I was pleased to see this
collection. Now if I only had a big beautiful space to decorate!

Around Town

2011-08-24T09:23:00.004-04:00

Fun art and design snapped around Brooklyn and Soho:
Fab Marimekko umbrella in the window of Goldy + Mac, one of my favorite neighborhood shopping destinations; A mural by Little Annie; Beautiful, modern prints in the window of Sigerson Morrison; Vintage Fonda del Sol menu by Alexander Girard at Bright Lyons

2011-08-22T16:11:00.003-04:00

Our yoga calling cards are featured on Papercrave today -
you can view the full post right here. It's a beautiful Monday
here in NYC and this is a great way to kick off the week!

Recent Work

2011-08-17T08:58:00.006-04:00

In addition to the stationery line, I've been lucky to have some really fun design projects come my way lately. One of my summer goals has been to update my design website - helloashleyaustin.com - and I'm finally thisclose to getting it done! Here's a sneak peek at some of the identity projects I'll be adding to the site: Truth Art Beauty, fresh, organic, custom-blended skincare; Arghand, a natural beauty company (with amazingly gorgeous handmade soaps) based out of Kandahar, Afghanistan supporting local artisans; and LunaStar, a mom-made line of kid-friendly, all-natural mineral makeup (see the company's current site here: Luna Organics).

Ugmonk

2011-08-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

More typography inspiration, this time from Ugmonk. In addition to
these beautiful hand-silk-screened prints, they have some killer t-shirts.

Sign Watching

2011-08-07T16:24:00.005-04:00

Well-designed, thought-provoking signage for the Ace Hotel, by the Original Mfg. Co.

Summer, Slow Down

2011-08-04T12:30:00.005-04:00

New York City summers are just so jammed-packed with fun things
to do that it's inevitable you're going to miss something. Case in point:
the Knoll Textile exhibit at Bard Graduate Center, gone and done.
I had every intention of visiting this, but somehow July sneakily slipped
by, like a black cat on a moonless night. Luckily, some of the highlights
are online, at the link above.

P.S. If you haven't seen the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met yet,
stop whatever you're doing right now and get over there. It closes this
weekend and is simply not to be missed!

Industrial Chic

2011-08-03T11:13:00.005-04:00

I'm not a stamp collector by any stretch of the imagination,
although I do have a few of the Gee's Bend quilt stamps tucked
in a drawer somewhere that I refused to use - and I'm planning
to do the same with this collection, Pioneers of American
Industrial Design. These guys are perfect for the promotional
mailing I'm sending out this week, and I ordered an extra sheet
or two for keeping.

The future of stamp design seems uncertain, as we hear more
news about post office closings seemingly on a daily basis. These
little gems are perfectly minimal and modern in design, and
showcase some deceptively simple, iconic everday objects. The
Henry Dreyfuss phone might be my favorite (a design that was
once ubiquitous and is now more likely to be spotted in a period
piece, a la Mad Men), but the super space age pencil sharper
is a close second.

Happy mailing!

Summer Romance

2011-08-01T09:28:00.003-04:00

Pretty textures and patterns to kick off the week. Bohemian tiles tunic by Emerson Made (loving everything in the E.M. India Collection...), sweet-yet-glam gold doily heart bag by A.S.I.S., Montmartre pillow by Rosie's Armoire

DeKalb Market Faves

2011-07-27T16:09:00.010-04:00

Here's an overview of a few of my fave vendors from the DeKalb Market. Be sure to check them out on upcoming weekends. (And we'll be there soon too, stay tuned for dates!)

Top: Beautiful pillows by the talented Nasozi of Origins Stuyle Interiors (I picked up one of the Candy Stripe pillows shown here, along with one other vibrant pattern)

Above and below: stunning and luxuriously soft patterned baby quilts, and super cute tunics, from muny.

Bottom: Gorgeous hand-dyed silk scarves by Katrin Reifeiss (she also had several beautiful dresses and other items)

One Hot Weekend

2011-07-25T14:49:00.011-04:00

With record-breaking high temps here in NYC, it may not have been the best weekend for being out-and-about - even so, we had a blast at the DeKalb Market on Saturday! Check out the scene below:

Love the multi-colored stripes welcoming visitors to the market:

Shipping containers as mini-shops: genius!

Mmm, sweets - great hand-painted type on this sign.

Shady tables were a must.

A seriously delicious lunch from Sour Puss Pickles:

Cooking up beats:

Fine Day Press will be selling at the market soon, so stay tuned for details! Tomorrow I'll post some of our favorite vendors.

All Things Popsicle

2011-07-22T12:36:00.003-04:00

Today I'm in the mood for popsicles! Those of you on the west coast have managed to avoid the "heat bubble", but the rest of us are roasting. It's the kind of weather that makes people talk about frying an egg on the sidewalk. I'm not looking forward to the 10-block walk to the post office - the only thing gearing me up to brave the heat is the idea of picking up a cold popsicle to accompany me on the perilous journey.

I found this homemade popsicle recipe over on the super-cute Armelle blog.

More popsicle goodness: how great is people's pops, below? Their unique all-natural frozen flavors can be found at Brooklyn Flea and many other outposts in NYC.

Lastly, our own little popsicle notecard set: stay inside by the A/C and write your friend a note!

Happy Weekend.

Equal Rights Art Prints

2011-07-20T14:18:00.004-04:00

It's been almost a month since the New York State Legislature made the landmark decision to legalize gay rights here, and the ceremonies officially start this Sunday!!!! It's the inspiration behind the two art prints I created, and just listed in the etsy shop.

Prints of original illustrations, printed on thick, bright white art paper with archival inks, are 8"x10" and ready for framing. 10% of the profits of this print will be donated to Human Rights Campaign.

Me-ow

2011-07-18T14:37:00.005-04:00

Did you know today is Cat Appreciation Day? Well, it is... Who knew, right?? Show your favorite feline(s) some love today.

Adorable brooch with bow by Gemma Correll; cute card by Kathryn Whyte (spotted on PaperCrave).

(Crazy vintage cat lady image: source unknown)

Simple Summer Necklaces

2011-07-14T13:22:00.004-04:00

These light-as-air necklaces from A Lovely, Little Shop are perfect for sultry summer nights. The stark minimal designs make me think of road-tripping through a wide-open desert landscape...

New (to me) Inspirational Summer Reads

2011-07-11T15:10:00.003-04:00

Loving all three of these books right now!

Modern Vintage Style by Emily Chalmers

All Cakes Considered by Melissa Gray, Annabelle Breakey and Stephen Voss

Handmade Soirees by Kaari Meng

Fun Summer DIY

2011-07-08T12:20:00.003-04:00

Etsy featured a great outdoor-themed DIY on this week's "How-Tuesday" post. I've always loved cocktail umbrellas, those tiny little paper constructions of whimsical color - and they made great accessories for my Barbies as a kid. I've never thought of using them en masse like this, such a fun idea.

Happy Summer Weekend!

Summer Smiles

2011-07-05T20:14:00.004-04:00

We just returned from a fun family weekend full of sun & sand in gorgeous Kiawah Island, SC. I could have stayed all summer, exploring the miles of shady bike paths and playing in the surf.

I've got a whole stack of creative projects going on over the next few weeks - including some exciting custom wedding invitations and a photo shoot next week for our 2012 Fine Day Press calendar (you can see it here over on design*sponge for now). So, lots of work to jump back into!

I thought I would kick off the post-holiday work week with three lovely images that are making me smile right now:

• a colorful doorway, above, spotted on Getty Images

• a beautiful letterpress card, below, from the sweet and talented ladies over at Sugar Paper

• and, last but not least, a funny yellow friend, bottom, source unknown...

Enjoy!

Accept and Be

2011-06-28T11:51:00.004-04:00

I am obsessed with these limited edition prints by Kennedy Prints for cb2. They are no longer available online, but I spotted some in the Soho store in NYC just the other day. Each print is unique; the combinations of colors and wood type textures are just awesome.

Calling all yoga aficionados

2011-06-23T11:20:00.005-04:00

I'm excited to introduce our new custom yoga calling cards! I've created a few business cards for yoga teachers inspired by my Yoga Cards collection, so I decided to launch four new calling cards in our etsy shop. They make great business cards for yoga teachers, acupuncturists, massage therapists... For any yoga lover, it's a stylish and professional way of handing out your personal information.

It's super easy to order - just pick your favorite design, and make it your own by choosing your colors and type style. We'll create a card complete with your personal information. View all four designs and customization options in our shop.

Yummy lunch

2011-06-20T14:33:00.003-04:00

One of the best things about working out of my home office is that I can make salads for lunch any way I want to. NYC has so many of these salad places where the guy behind the counter will toss in whatever ingredients you choose, and invariably it's waaay more goat cheese than any human would normally put on their salad, for example, or they drown it in dressing. I'm not super-picky with food, but when it comes to a delicate salad, I love being able to have complete control over the proportions of toppings and lettuce and dressing. I've been eating a lot of salad-lunches these days.

Inspired by this lunch over on Oh Joy's blog, I made a delicious mixed greens salad with parmagiano reggiano cheese, pumpkin seeds and hard-boiled eggs. I was actually going for a slightly softer (medium-boiled?) egg, but I got a little distracted during the egg-cook phase of lunch prep. But, it was delicious anyway! I finished with a few squares of dark chocolate for dessert, so nice.

Mesmerized

2011-06-16T15:17:00.002-04:00

Bold graphic paintings by Stephen Westfall.

Poketo Love

2011-06-13T09:12:00.003-04:00

These new eco-friendly upcycled leather clutches and passports from Poketo (known for their funky illustrated artist-collaboration wallets) totally caught my eye. They're made from vintage sofa material and each one is unique in color/texture. Love the ribbon closure on the clutch.

Fun finds

2011-06-06T15:46:00.006-04:00

Love this funky Guildmaster furniture I spotted over on Rue La La... Kind of flea market meets Anthropologie chic.

Cupcakes & Noisemakers

2011-06-06T11:57:00.004-04:00

Back from vacation, and already hard at work! Missing our leisurely mornings at the beach, sipping coffee on our deck and staring out at the ocean, waiting for dolphins to swim by. The kitties are happy to have us home, though, and I'm trying to get back into the swing of things...slowly. First on the agenda, a few new additions to the etsy shop - our cupcake wrappers and noisemaker birthday cards, plus a special birthday 3-pack. Check them out right here!

Vacation!

2011-05-31T08:09:00.004-04:00

It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is to go from a full-tilt, crazed work schedule to doing absolutely nothing. Well, not absolutely nothing - our first three days here on beautiful St. George Island have been filled with swimming, sunning, marathon paddleball sessions (briefly cut short when our ball rolled right down a crab hole on the beach, which we took turns tentatively digging out, all the while anticipating a painful crab pinch on the ends of our fingers), reading and more reading. We've also enjoyed fresh-off-the-boat shrimp and devoured our fair share of oysters. It's been a blissful way to kick off the summer season, and the perfect escape from our usual workday routine. I hope you had a winderful Memorial Day weekend!

Images via right here.

Some inspiration

2011-05-24T12:05:00.003-04:00

Today I'm admiring the work of Spanish illustrator Manuel Rebollo. Aren't these images gorgeous? And he sure has a way with hair.

I'm working on getting back up to speed on projects post-Stationery Show; it's been quite a whirlwind! Will be posting more images soon.

Rad.

2011-05-13T18:46:00.003-04:00

Rad is not a word I use every day but it's the first descriptor that popped into my mind when I saw these crazy repurposed plastic dinosaur succulent planters. The planters are priced around $20; they also have "party package" of a bunch for $200. These would make the coolest table toppers for an offbeat wedding or hipster baby shower... You can read more about here on etsy's blog. Looks like the shop itself is taking a break for a few weeks but I'm sure they'll be ready for new orders soon.

I'm off to tie up a few loose ends before we kick off our second year at the National Stationery Show, starting this Sunday here in NYC!!!! I can't wait for the show to begin, and I promise to post pics of our new products ASAP.

Happy Friday!

Chalk it up

2011-05-05T14:19:00.004-04:00

Poor little blog! It's my busiest time of year over here at Fine Day Press, prepping for the National Stationery Show. I can't wait to share some of the new products here. We'll start setting up for the show late next week, and then it's showtime, baby! Between that and some wonderful freelance clients, I have been a bit lacking for time in the blog department.

One of the final details I have been working on is signage for my booth - very important stuff! Communicating my logo/brand and designs to our booth visitors is crucial in getting our messages across. I've seen Dana Tanamachi's chalk lettering pop up around the blogosphere - isn't it amazing? The Mad Men Holiday Soiree sign = dream job! And with her fabulous sense of typography, it's no surprise that she works for the legendary Louise Fili. She does custom projects, large and small. You can learn more about her and her work right here.

Lyceum Spring Market

2011-04-29T09:33:00.003-04:00

Fine Day Press will be at the Lyceum Spring Market this weekend! Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 7pm. There will be lots of great vendors, yummy food items and entertainment.

Fine Day Press + Brides New York

2011-04-28T11:47:00.000-04:00

There's a lovely feature in the recent issue of Brides New York magazine on wedding ideas inspired by fabulous hotels around the world. The section inspired by the trés elegant Mamounia Hotel (see gorgeous image above) in Marrakesh includes our Mykonos invitation - I think it fits in quite nicely with the exotic elements and mint color scheme! Morocco has always been a dream destination of mine; I'd love to spend a night or two in one of those fancy tent resorts in the Sahara that you have to take a camel to get to.... and of course hit the markets in Marrakesh for some serious shopping.

Below, a close-up of the Mykonos invite.

Happy Earth Day!

2011-04-22T12:17:00.000-04:00

Now, go play outside.

Flowers for Mom (and something for Dad, too)

2011-04-20T10:49:00.003-04:00

Just added our brand-new Mother's Day card to the shop! Get 'em while they're fresh. And they coordinate nicely with our all-purpose gift tags (below).

And while I know it's a little early - especially if you're like me and tend to purchase cards at the last second - I'm also doing a Mom-n-Pop special that pairs our Mother's Day card with the also-brand-new Father's Day card, featuring a cute tie-tying illustration (that's such a Dad thing), together for $8.25. Yay.

Beach dreams

2011-04-15T19:56:00.003-04:00

How cute is this tulip bag by Monday's Milk? The blue and white color combo is so fresh and would be perfect for a beach vacation! Can you tell I am counting the days until our vacation at the end of May? My current state of work overload combined with stationery show prep (I'm so not ready yet!) has me dreaming of a full week of relaxing on the sand and reading magazines.

All Tomorrow's Parties

2011-04-15T18:53:00.002-04:00

Loving this print from Lola's Room. Tons more gorgeous, cool prints in her etsy shop.

Radiant Child

2011-04-13T15:03:00.007-04:00

Last night, we watched an excellent documentary by Tamra Davis called Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child. The film chronicles the incredibly prolific painter's short yet meteoric career and features tons of archival footage of the artist working and talking about his life and art. Although I've seen other pieces on his work (including Basquiat, which is also a great vid) this felt like the most honest and in-depth portrait I'd seen of the sensitive and ambitious artist.

A Sunny Print

2011-04-11T13:22:00.004-04:00

It's 70 degrees and sunny here in Brooklyn today; I sat outside for about 20 minutes and nearly died of happiness. Finally! In keeping with this sunny spring mindset, I'm feeling inspired by this amazing collage print by Valerie Roybal (available via 20x200).

New Store Locations

2011-04-07T09:05:00.003-04:00

Good news for paper-lovers in the west and south: you can now find Fine Day Press cards at Union Street Papery (above) in San Francisco and Young Blood Gallery & Boutique (below) in Atlanta. Union Street Papery is known for its well-curated selection of gorgeous stationery and gifts; Young Blood features superb indie artist talent. I'm honored to have my work in their shops and thrilled to have some product in my old stomping grounds (ATL), as well as in one of my absolute favorite west-coast locals. Go and support these great locally-owned stores!

Matt, Nat and me

2011-04-05T09:51:00.004-04:00

I love Matt and Nat! They have so, so many cute bags. The bags also happen to be vegan with linings made from recycled bottles. I just bought the Santogold bag (above left) in purple, and it's perfect. Also, for each sale of their new Ikat bags, Matt and Nat will donate to charity:water, a non-profit that brings clean drinking water to the developing countries where it's most needed. Good bags, good karma.

Have a seat!

2011-03-28T14:09:00.003-04:00

How amazing is this rainbow chair? Wow. Jaw dropping. From Alexandra Angle Interior Design, spotted over on Thoughtful Day's blog. They also created the really cool chairs below...

Trendy trends

2011-03-28T11:02:00.002-04:00

This week is a little nuts over here at Fine Day Press headquarters - I'm cranking out lots of fun ideas for the upcoming National Stationery Show that I can't wait to share (once they're done, that is!) Our kitchen ceiling is being replaced (yep, replaced) this week, adding an extra dose of chaos to an already packed week. On top of that, my poor 15-year-old kitty is undergoing some not-so-fun medical procedures. Whew! It's gonna be a crazy one.

Here are some pictures I've been meaning to post for a while now - Fine Day Press featured in Stationery Trends magazine. Our work is featured not once, but twice, in the Winter 2011 issue. Our Ceylon wedding invitation is featured in the "Fresh Picks" section, and our Yoga Cards collection is part of a "yoga lifestyle" highlight. Thrilled!

Hello?

2011-03-22T13:34:00.005-04:00

There's a fascinating article in the New York Times about the demise of the telephone call. While this is not new information - we've all noticed the trend towards texting, emailing, using email to schedule phone calls to avoid any unwanted, unscheduled interruptions - but it's nice to see it dissected a bit. Do you miss the phone call? I do sometimes. Luckily I have some close long-distance friends and family (some not-so-far-away) who enjoy a nice chat. Often a phone call is seen as an intrusion, but hearing someone's voice can be a nice break from silent, faceless emails. Every once in a while, when I get an unexpected call, I actually pick it up, and end up having a good spontaneous conversation. Happy Friday!

Morning Commute

2011-03-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

I found this amazing picture of the Stockholm subway over on 2nd Floor Living (via Gothamist). A good way to start the day!

Peace + Love for Japan

2011-03-18T13:24:00.004-04:00

All proceeds from the Lotus Flower Peace letterpress card (part of our YogaCards collection) AND the Modern Love art print will be donated directly to Red Cross for Japan Earthquake Relief.

Chris Duncan

2011-03-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

Loving the colors and shapes in these works by Oakland, CA-based artist Chris Duncan. I'd love to see some of his work in person, so I'm keeping my eyes peeled for any word of an NYC-area show.

Collage Card Sets

2011-03-14T09:00:00.001-04:00

A bunch of collage card sets have been added to the Fine Day Press etsy shop! I've been wanting to get these up in the shop for a while now, and I finally had some time Saturday morning to do a little photo shoot. I think the gray background really helps the cards pop, and the fuschia ribbon makes for a fun visual detail.

These all-purpose blank notecards are printed on sturdy, recycled stock and are great for thank you notes or just saying hello. They come packaged in a labeled clear box and make a fun gift.

Dive in

2011-03-11T14:43:00.002-05:00

I love this collage piece, 125 Swimming Pools by Jenny Odell. Happy Friday!

Siiso

2011-03-08T11:43:00.003-05:00

It never ceases to amaze me, the quality and variety of artwork available on etsy. I love these quietly explosive abstract works from Toronto-based shop, Siiso.

Carrot-ginger goodness

2011-03-04T10:15:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted recipe-related items on the blog, and that's just because I've been mega-busy and eating too much takeout food (but trying to keep on the healthy side.. most of the time). One of my usual takeouts is sushi, and I'm enamored with ginger-carrot dressing. It makes even that sad little iceberg salad that accompanies my takeout so delicious... Plus, you're getting an extra little bit of veg in there. I've always wanted to know how to concoct a batch of it myself, so I was glad to see this recipe for homemade carrot-ginger dressing in the latest Real Simple magazine. yum.

Singin' in the Shower

2011-03-02T11:34:00.004-05:00

I've been a fan of Leanne Shapton's work for a while. The girl's got an incredible knack for turning simple visuals into objects of more meaningful beauty. She's just begun a series of illustrations for the New York Times that will debut the last week of each month and will contain a work for each day of the month. Her current selection, "Monday Shower Songs", is all about singing in the shower; each one features a shower-esque still life accompanied by a seemingly random song lyric (much like the way tunes float into your head while shampooing). Just reading through these lyrics got a few fave songs (Prince, the Stones, INXS...) stuck in my head for the day (in a good way)!

Clip it

2011-02-28T11:19:00.000-05:00

I love this idea! A simple clip pendant that lets you turn any little thing into a temporary jewel/adornment. So clever and fresh.

Spotted on Design Crush.

The Daily Coyote

2011-02-23T11:47:00.002-05:00

I'm in love. With a coyote named Charlie. I can't remember how I first found out about him a few years ago, but ever since I've been enjoying weekly photos documenting his domesticated life on a Wyoming farm. The story of how he came to be a pet, and of the courageous former city-dweller who raised him, is quite a captivating tale for any animal-lover.

Monday Inspiration

2011-02-21T10:13:00.004-05:00

Cecil Beaton created iconic portraits of celebrities and luminaries over a career that spanned many decades, capturing everyone from Greta Garbo and Marylin Monroe to British royalty, and later shooting Mick Jagger and Keith Richards among the burgeoning hippie generation in Morocco in the late '60s. The Art of the Scrapbook is a hefty volume showcasing Beaton's personal scrapbooks, filled with his own prints along with magazine clipping and various ephemera. This is inspiring me to spend some much-needed creative time with my own sketchbook and a glue stick. Love!

Sonia Delaunay

2011-02-14T12:23:00.003-05:00

I'm really looking forward to the upcoming retrospecitve on Sonia Delaunay's work at Cooper Hewitt. Sonia was known for her abstract geometric colorforms and her work with textiles, fashion, theater and costume design. Her colorful constructions, combined with today's super-sunny break from the freezing temps, are putting me in the mood for spring, big-time.

Have an E- V-Day

2011-02-10T14:13:00.004-05:00

Adorable e-Valentines over at katespade.com - send one to someone you love! They've collaborated with talented indie artists (like Julia Rothman and stationier Hannah Berman of Pie Bird Press) to create a whole gallery of fun v-day art that you can personalize and email to the (be)loved one of your choice.

A Bit of Nature

2011-02-09T11:11:00.003-05:00

Stunning & minimal nature prints, from Miles of Light, created by Texas-based artist Romina Bacci. Romina's work makes me think of lying in a field, looking up at the clouds and inhaling deep breaths of fresh country air. La!

Gertrude

2011-02-07T10:26:00.003-05:00

There's a really cute story in the New York Times about a lost chicken named Gertrude, above, who eventually made her way back to her home in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Ever since I was in college and had a friend with a henhouse who would regale me with his tales of "the girls", as he called them, I've been slightly envious of the proud owners of urban (and sub-urban) mini chicken coops. I particularly enjoyed this little tale, as it also illustrates how the feathered friends bring together a neighborhood known more for its grittiness than its farm-life...

In the name of love

2011-02-04T13:10:00.003-05:00

A special V-Day discount... you can get 10% your Fine Day Press order, right here in our etsy shop! From now until February 14th, enter the code "love" in your message to seller and we'll deduct 10% off your order via Paypal after your payment has been made. Do you love it?

luli sanchez

2011-01-28T15:26:00.005-05:00

I have recently become enamored with the work of textile artist Lourdes Sanchez. A fellow Brooklynite, Sanchez spent many years designing prints for the fashion industry before setting up her own shop in 2004. Her wonderful patternwork has been used for everything from pillows and rugs to handbags and swimsuits. Lots more gorgeous work on her site.