Happy Weekend

Have a good weekend. I will be gone next week. We are heading up to the Finger Lakes in New York and then onto Montreal. But... Don’t forget there will be a guest blogger next week, Natasha. Natasha is a wonderful friend an extremely talented graphic designer and an outstanding jewelry maker. She’ll be posting about jewelry all week. This is stuff you can’t find anywhere but here.

Also remember to sign up for the user group. I’ll announce the winner when I get back into town.

Gocco at Paper Source

I just had to post this. Paper Source is selling Gocco. Where's my credit card!

Creative Apples

I want to eat these! These are actually note cards. They are 4.5" x 6.25" and come individually wrapped in a clear bag. You can find these in the Etsy shop of Creative Apples. They look so yummy!

Music!

I'm a huge fan of music. I'm always on the look out for up and coming bands. It's hard for me to not post about music everyday, but I'm sure most of you are not coming here to read about music. But since it's friday I thought I'd do something different. Hopefully you'll enjoy this post and can learn a little more about me from what I listen too.


Everyday has to start with a little Imogen Heap. If you don't know Imogen Heap, maybe you know Frou Frou. Frou Frou which was Imogen Heap's first project was featured on the garden state soundtrack. By the way I think that was the best soundtrack of all time. I get a lot of my new music tips from Zach Braff, who directed the garden state. I'm pretty sure he hand picked the songs for the soundtrack too. He always knows the best new artists!


The Shins were new to me also when the garden state soundtrack was released. I've become a fan ever since. They have a very different sound, and different is good.


Along with being a huge music fan, I live for concerts. This weekend I'm going to see Ben Folds. I've never got to see Ben Folds 5 so this should be good! Some other concerts I have coming up this summer are Counting Crows and Modest Mouse.

But I can't leave out one of my favorite bands:
I actually have front row seats for The Killers concert. I saw them once before and it was awesome.

As I'm writing this post I realize that not only do these musicians make wonderful music that gets me through my days but they have incredibly well designed web sites. I guess it all goes together, you can't make great music and have a poorly designed brand.

Here are a few more of my favorites. Enjoy.

Fort Minor
Amy Winehouse
Pete Yorn
O.A.R
Remy Zero
The Postal Service
Snow Patrol
My Morning Jacket

Sabrina Linn

Since I have a fabric obsession lately, I was happy to see these pillows at PoppyTalk and Cuteable this morning. Sabrina Linn has some gorgeous pillows for sale. Her website is great and super user friendly. Make sure you check out her bio, she's an interesting woman!

Pink Loves Brown

If you're looking for some personalized stationery, here is some from Pink Loves Brown. Pink Loves Brown features the art and craft of Nicole Balch.

Nicole also has a blog called Making it Lovely. She is in the process of decorating or should I say remodeling her house. This is a fun read. I find myself checking it everyday to see what's new with Nicole.

Wannabe Quilter - That's me!

I wanted to share with you what I bought yesterday during lunch. A Huskystar EM10 and I have no idea how to use it. I'm going to take classes and learn though. I thought it was about time I learn something new. I've been seeing so many awesome fabrics lately and thought it was to bad that I couldn't use them for something. Below are some of my favorites.

Amy Butler has a wonderful selection of fabrics to choose from. I'm sure most of you are aware of her beautiful products.
Another favorite of mine is Freshcut™ from Heather Bailey. Heather Bailey's website is so inspirational to me. Hopefully someday I'll be wearing this fabric, carrying this fabric, furnishing my house with it or whatever else.

If there are any quilters out there or sewing machine experts, I need any advice I can get. I'll be starting classes on July 12th. Wish me luck.

Pink Bathtub

I'm sure I've written a post about Pink Bathtub in the past but here's another one. You can find these New Block Letter Cards at Etsy. Today when I was looking through the Pink Bathtub Etsy shop I noticed that there is a new link associated with Pink Bathtub called the Pink Bathtub Pantry. Here you can find card making supplies. Nice!

Paper Shop ink. Google User Group

In the past I have found User Groups to be very useful in more ways than one. Now, Paper Shop ink. has its own User Group. Hopefully some of you will find this useful. You can use it in many ways, such as to let us all know about your new designs or to ask for help in finding a specific type of stationery.

Sign up for the user group and automatically be entered to win these Note Cards from Mudlark. Contest ends Monday July 2nd at 12:00 pm EST. If you have any questions feel free to email me.

Night Owl Paper Goods

This is a new site to me. Night Owl Paper Goods sells some nice letterpress correspondence cards. The site is cute. Check it out.

Dsix Design

Dsix Design is a fun site. They have some unique i.o.u. cards. A simple and fresh style. For a list of stores that carry Dsix Design, click here.

Sale!

Oh the temptation!

Modern Art Everyday

I really love both these prints from Modern Art Everyday. Actually, I like all of her prints on Etsy. What to buy?

Etsy Featured Seller

If you haven't already checked out the featured seller on Etsy, then click here. PataPri has beautiful silk screened towels for sale. All the towels are designed, hand silkscreen printed, and sewn by hand. Each design is limited of 100 prints. They are 100% white linen unless stated otherwise. You can get more info on the towels at PataPri.com.

Winner

The winner of the Hammocks and High Tea Notecards is Emily. Emily said "They are so beautiful!" Congrats Emily. Please email me your address.

Have a good weekend!

I have a lot of work to finish up today so I'm not going to get to post much more this afternoon.

Couple quick things...

Skye Hoppus is going to be the guest blogger at DesignMom next week. Make sure to check that out. I'm looking forward to her posts.

I'll announce the winner of the Hammocks & High Tea Notecards sometime over the weekend. You still have time to Enter!

and

Paper Shop ink. is going to have its first guest blogger the week of July 2nd. Natasha Fletcher is a local jewelry designer. She makes a lot of her jewelry from Swarovski Crystal, and it's gorgeous. It will be a week of Younique Jewelry!!

Melissahead Designs

These appointment cards from Melissahead are so cool! Love the designs. I probably really need something like this. I never write anything down! (I have a hard time remembering to update my palm too) Melissa is having a contest right now on her blog. Go check it out, you could win these appointment cards!

Giveaway Reminder

Fiona Richards

Yesterday I came across the website of Fiona Richards. Fiona worked as a graphic designer for years and is now running her own stationery business. She has two websites, Cartolina and Dominion Post & Salvage.

Dominion Post and Salvage was born in 2004. The success of the first line encouraged the launch of Cartolina in Spring 2007.

The Cartolina collection features colourful patterns and designs. Many of the cards feature centuries old block prints and antique cartouches, combined with twentieth century lead type.

The Domino Post and Salvage stationery line is a collection of handmade contemporary cards with vintage roots. The image above is from the Domino Post and Salvage collection. It's a beautiful line of stationery.

Paper Table

Last night when we were eating dinner I was looking at my paper napkin thinking "who comes up with the designs for these napkins". Usually I just grab whatever at the grocery store but the designs are always so boring.

Later on last night I clicked over to the hostess blog and saw Jen's post about Paper Table. I love the designs of these paper products! I want to use them everyday. What a cool site. On the site you can virtually create your own table. Click here to set your own table.

Here's a little background about Paper Table.
"The idea behind Paper Table is to make setting a beautiful table, easy. We wanted to make a contemporary line of paper tableware that was sophisticated, affordable, and kind to the environment. In short, something we would buy.

Our initial line consists of 26 products that can be mixed and matched, dressed up or used casually. Our place mats are printed on reusable, synthetic paper that is tear proof and waterproof. We love the smooth matte finish of the mats, but we especially appreciate that they are 100% recyclable and tree-free. Our napkins and coasters are disposable paper, printed with water-based inks, no chlorine, and are completely biodegradable."

Simply Put

Simply Put is a boutique card company established by Ashley Toporek Woodman in 1999. I love the softness of her style. At Simply Put you can purchase baby invites, save the date cards, moving cards and more. If you are interested in purchasing Simply Put cards you can do so at the following online stores: tinyprints.com, sophiesays.com and finestationery.com

9SpotMonk Letterpress

I received an email yesterday from Tiffany at 9SpotMonk. I've been a fan of their style for a while now. Besides having an awesome line of stationery products 9SpotMonk is launching a graphic tee's line for kids. It is so cute! They match the kids paper line and come packaged in a kraft cylinder. They are available in the following sizes: short sleeve onesies: 3-6 and 6-12 months. short sleeve lap tees - 2T and 4T.

9SpotMonk is in the process of launching a new website. If anyone would like more information about purchasing the kids tee's, email me.

Don't forget to scroll down and enter this week's giveaway!

Prints

My office currently has one large orange wall. I think the actual color name was tangerine. The other walls are white. Above are three designs I'm considering to frame. I really need to get some artwork on the bare walls. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I'm also in need of curtains that will match the room.

GIVEAWAY!

Hammocks & High Tea was recently launched by Karen Young. The site presents a collection of notecards inspired by her South American background. The Spring 2007 collection features contemporary tropical imagery that is drawn and screen printed by hand.

She has also teamed up with Nest to create a card that where proceeds go towards microloans for women entrepreneurs in developing countries. Nest is a really great organization.

Today, Hammocks & High Tea is offering a box of the hibiscus cards in coral and a surprise card to one lucky winner! To enter post a comment below. Contest ends Friday June 22 at 12:00 am.

Lexie Sullivan

I came across the work of Lexie Sullivan on another blog (sorry can't remember which one). She has a nice selection of cards for sale on Etsy. I like the free flowing form of her art.

Elum

I just saw a post over at the hostess blog talking about the new releases at Elum. Of course I had to check them all out. They are gorgeous. I'm thinking of buying the ones I like and framing them. My problem with cards like this is that I don't want to give them away. They're to nice and I just want to keep them and admire them.

Pinecone & Chickadee

Since I can't be at the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend, I'm going to have fun going through the vendor list on the website. Pinecone & Chickadee are going to be at the Renegade Craft Fair.

The company is run by Amy & Noah. They recently moved from Brooklyn New York to Maine. All of their products are silk screened by hand.

Renegade Craft Fair

We need something like this in Cleveland. I wish I could go to the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn this weekend. I can't believe how many vendors are going to be there. Poppytalk is doing a guide for anyone that can't be there. I'll be checking back for part two of her guide!

Ask a Designer

Design*Sponge is currently doing another installment of "ask a designer". The designer this week is Maria from port2port press. If you'd like to ask Maria a question go over to Design*Sponge and post. Today is the last day so hurry up!

No Such Thing As to Many Shoes!

I'm all about Gocco today. These are new limited edition notecards from Imagine That Art Studio. Pretty cool!

Gocco

Recently I bought a print from Sugarloop on Etsy. I was interested in learning more about the process, Gocco. I've heard a lot about the process but I wasn't quite sure how it worked. I feel like I'm the last person to find out about this process. I asked Bernadette of Sugarloop if she could explain it to me. She pointed me to a step by step tutorial on Flickr. The process seems really interesting but Bernadette told me that the process has been discontinued and supplies will run out. That's to bad because it seems that the pieces that are created with this process are really great.