Something to be said for Simplicity...

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD Morning!

This week has been so outrageous... and if I make it through the rest of the day without anymore calamity-jane-type accidents I will be THRILLED! TGIF doesn't even begin to describe how relieved I am that the weekend is just around the corner.

But before we get there... I wanted to share some Dee&Lala LOVELINESS! Based out of South Pasadena, California, this company does letterpress right - with simplicity and just a touch of whimsy. They use 100% cotton stock for all of their printing (yes, that means tree-free!) and have a solar powered studio. Their greeting cards and super-sweet wall clocks are all characterized by crisp bits of color impressed upon bright white stock. Here's a little taste to inspire you this Friday!

These cool letterpress printed clocks are a new addition to the shop! I think that they'd be a great little addition to a bookshelf or desktop too, if you propped them on a stand. Maybe get one of each and hang them in unison... each with a different time zone represented? LOVE these suckers!

And those of you who scour our card wall regularly will recall seeing some of these fun greeting cards. They are my favorites - especially the "Lettuce Celebrate!"

Dee & Lala's work is a great reminder how far simplicity can go!

Have a lovely day friends - enjoy the sunshine, although I know it is a bit brisk out - and hope to see you all soon!

Kiss Kiss and a REAL BIG HUG

Lizzy

Designer Spotlight: Bella Figura

I'm so wildly excited to introduce y'all to Bella Figura - our newest album of invitations. To say that Whitney and I love Bella is like saying that we're fond of breathing. Or that Gus is a fan of eating. It's a massive understatement.

We heart this album so, so much. Why, you ask? Well, let me count the ways:

1. Bella comes from the same fabulous team that brought us Smock. And you know how we feel about them. We adore them; they have the BEST customer service, the BEST printing, and they walk the walk and talk the talk about corporate responsibility. They use eco-friendly printing practices, donate a percentage of their proceeds to 3 different environmental charities and are members of 1% for the Planet. Truly, we couldn't ask to work with a better company and are so super stoked to offer their amazing products to our lovely customers.

2. There are 200+ designs. Yes - you read that correctly. 200+. The albums are truly eye candy galore. From whimsical to minimalist, modern to traditional, floral heaven to typographers' dream - there is, quite honestly, a style for everyone.

3. And, of course, all these designs are hugely customizable! Change fonts, colors, size, shape. Or add illustration, hand calligraphy, mix and match patterns like mad. Jazz up envelopes with liners or add edge painting to your thick, luxurious invitation printed on 100% cotton. If you can dream it, you can do it.

4. Finally, to make a fabulous company and album even more fabulous, Bella Figura is offering a "Design of the Month" promotion for the month of April. Until April 29th, all orders for the Cecilia design will be 20% off! Say what!?! It's true. (see the design below and a few modified versions - you can change/create so much here, people!)

Now, a bit of visual delicacies to feast your eyes on. They are even prettier in person, so book an appointment ASAP to get your Bella groove on. For reals.

(all photos courtesy of Bella Figura)

Happy Friday!

Afternoon dears! And Happy Friday!

It's sunny and lovely here in Portsmouth today, and I think that we are all experiencing a little itch of Spring fever... so you wanna know what I have to share on this LOVELY FABULOUS GORGEOUS LEMONY-SUNSHINE afternoon?!!

Wait for it.

Wait for ittttt...

We just got these newbies from Rifle Paper Co. ... blank greeting cards and thank yous, and that adorable and vibrant fruit print. As if that isn't enough we have their wonderful heirloom recipe boxes back in stock too! These recipe boxes are such a great gift for bridal showers and weddings because they are not only SO pretty, but also an item that could be passed down within a family for years and years. They are made by local craftsmen in Florida and require 3 months for production: a month for the mill to source and salvage the wood, a month to be built in the studio, and a month for the hand-rubbed stain to dry. I want one, and I'm sure you do too :)

And for those of you looking to put a real spring in your step - the 2011 Jonathan Adler collection has arrived!!! Adler started out as a potter, and built his design business around sleek designs and super fun patterns that liven up just about any space. His style is widely referred to as "happy-chic", how appropriate, right?!

I love the idea of grabbing some of that green chevron wrap and living the drawers in my kitchen with it! So fun, and a great way to spruce things up a bit!

Well, I'm off to finish our new wedding window display for the Spring! Stay tuned for an update from Samantha about our newest custom letterpress album, Bella Figura, early next week!

Take care and enjoy the weekend - enjoy it - have some pancakes tomorrow morning, and a mimosa on Sunday - you deserve it, after all!

XOX Lizzy

Happy 4th Birthday, Augustus!!

(The big birthday boy in all his birthday glory)

Today - let's all take a moment to wish the man in my life a very Happy 4th Birthday!

Dear Augustus (AKA Gus/Gussy/Bubba/3Bean Salad/Hairy Monster),

You are the very best thing of all time. I love you to no end. Stop growing up, ok?

Love,

Mom

Photos from the very first day I held you:

Here you are when I first picked you up at the airport after a long flight from Florida (where you were born):

The very first moment we met. I was smitten; you were exhausted and promptly fell asleep:

Meeting your Grampa for the first time in Marblehead. Look how tiny you are!

Four years later, doing what you do best: snuggling, snoozing and melting my heart:

Birth announcements for a future fisherman

Birth announcements are one of my absolute favorite projects, mostly because the designs are so freaking cute (almost as cute as the babies that inspire them), but the main reason is because in comparison to the number of wedding invitations I design, birth announcements seem like a rarity. This particular design was inspired by the father's love for fishing. He's borderline obsessed with it and lucky for him, his first-born is a boy (which in my mind means that Dad has a better chance of taking his kid fishing than if he was a she, not to stereotype or anything).

Instead of going over the top on the announcement with the fish theme we decided to keep it quite simple using a rusty orange ink, a monogram and simple border and incorporated the fish using an envelope liner. We bought the Flora & Fauna Marine Fish & Irish Algae Wrapping Paper from Paper-Source and trimmed it down into about 8 liners per sheet so that there were a bunch of different cropped images from the 1 large design. What I love most about the liners is that the images aren't small detailed fish illustrations. The fish are so large on the original sheet that when they are trimmed down you see these crazy big eyes or detailed scales. The immediate thought when you open the envelope isn't necessarily that it's lined with fish drawings - it takes a few seconds to realize what you're looking at.

While I was initially a bit put off by the idea of designing around fish (realistic fish, not cutesy cartoon-like fish), I was thrilled with our end result! Take a peek:

{Photos by Brea McDonald Photography}

{Wrapping paper via Paper-Source}

Could use me some fresh clover...

Morning All!

Boy oh boy did I need a little pick me up this morning. What crummy weather! Just yesterday I was pulling the dead leaves away from my little crocus sprouts, and this morning I had to use my snow-scraper :(

Of course, I found a bit of sunshine at the shop, as our new line of candles from Paddywax are FINALLY here!! These candles follow the journey of a bee... from the first sprigs of clover to those luscious wild blackberries that come about in late summer... this line has a scent for every step along the way.



Each candle is made from a hand-poured, natural beeswax blend, and every scent is so lovely. We are carrying both the large black 14 ounce jars (80 hours of sweet, simple burning time), and the adorable 2 ounce gold tins (perfect for next to your bedside). It would be impossible for me to choose a favorite, although the Clover has sparked my fancy and is burning in shop, as we speak :) The packaging is so pretty too... a great housewarming gift to impress a new neighbor or friend, and each box and tin is embellished with a gilded honey bee. I just can't rave enough about these candles, and it is so nice to have something bright and new in the shop to share!

Come by and check these lovelies out! They are just the little punch your home needs to get everyone, OFFICIALLY, out of this winter funk!

xo Lizzy