I'm working on a special post that may become a regular feature if ya'll like it- but it's taking awhile, so while I finish compiling and editing, take a peek at these cute new cards by sub-studio- they'll be debuting them at the National Stationery Show in New York if you're attending, but non-NY folk can shop for them on the sub-studio website. They're simple and golden and vintagey and original- love them! 
These lovely greeting cards are a new line by MEiC+ViLLENEUVE inspired by vintage imagery and stories from the past- there's lots of florals, butterflies and birds for classic looking, feminine greetings for every occasion!
There's tons of different cards to choose from and they are available with hand-glittered detail for that extra special touch- check out all the pretty new designs at MEiC+ViLLENEUVE!
Feliz Cinco de Mayo! Today has become a day to celebrate Mexican culture in the United States- although I'm sure you'll see many examples of the capitalization that has made Cinco de Mayo so popular here ($1 margarita happy hour anyone?), I hope you'll also find celebrations of the Mexican heritage, art, music and culture that have helped make America what it is today. To help celebrate some of that talent, here are some handmade goods by Mexico based artists and crafters that I found on good ol' etsy!
{cyrano doll, set of 5 cards by Cara Carmina :: Pink strawberry charm by allen! :: hedgehog march notepads by micasita house}
{Fungi print by Rosie Music :: tulips wallet by ziazia :: Mexican embroidered bag by That Retro Thing :: Mexican embroidered tunic by Aida Coronado} 
{filigree flower and bird earrings by tutarubli :: city lights necklace by Colibri Dreams :: seashells box by Sea Debris :: "remember" print by Geninne}
It'd be so easy to brighten someone's day with this chic, illustrated stationery from Freshline!
Featuring note cards, to do lists, art prints, gift tags and more with an entire "pet themed" section (my favorite!), Freshline's cute pastel palette and whimsical styling make these perfect for spring. Check out the whole range of goodies in their etsy shop, and send a cheery thank you to someone you know!
Wah wah wah. Being self employed really hits the slums on tax day, especially if you didn't know about this whole "estimated tax payments" thing that you should have been doing the whole year prior, so you owe a big ole pile money now, a penalty for not paying in anything the whole year annnnnnd an estimated tax payment for next year because you're not going to make this mistake again, all at the same time. Er, maybe that's just me? I'm about to cry myself a river and will be living off top ramen for the next few months it appears, but to make things a little peachier on this most horrible of horrible days, Shades of Violet is easing the pain with 30% off everything in their store, for today only- it's a tax day sale!
Say happy birthday, happy anniversary, happy mother's day with some glitter and goodness from Shades of Violet, all for 30% off, today only! Too bad they don't have a "sorry you had to pay the gov't so much money this year, it would have been easier to promise them your first born" card, but a bottle of wine will suffice for that. :)
Visit A Punkin' Card Co for lovely hand-stamped greetings. Mention code "modish20" in the message to seller at checkout for 20% off! (please wait for revised invoice before paying)
It can definitely be argued that people have lost some sort of personal connection by corresponding simply through email and text messages, having entire conversations in abbreviated text speak (which, as a writer, I absolutely H8! :) but not only is it more convenient, it's actually more eco-friendly (potential brain tumors not withstanding) to write an email or send a text than to send some paper through the mail. But alas, Bombus is here to help us get back to the wonders of the written word and old school correspondence with their notecards and envelopes made from recycled books, atlases, maps and more:
They also create gift items like the paperweight cubes and plates you see above, all decoupaged with re-used images, stamps, and other recycled items. Find more fun stuff at Bombus and start writing in full sentences again!
Five and Half, creator of some of the best eco-friendly journals around (filled with sustainable sugarcane and recycled paper) has a cute new set of skinny "exercise books" called the Science of Culture set. Created with vintage imagery and sage quotes from the Science of Culture, an etiquette handbook from 1923, you can fool your friends into thinking you really do have manners!
You get the set of three, each filled with 25 pages of sugarcane paper, that you can use to expand upon the cover ideas of why "there is danger in the emotions aroused by music" or make some bullet points on how to "discuss the theatre intelligently" (or you can just hide all your dirty little secrets in them.) Find them only at Five and a Half!
I discovered Royal Buffet last week on Bloesem and just had to share their incredible gift tags with you here, perfect to add a special touch of spring to a special gift. Aren't they pretty? 
I am loving these card designs by Yellow Owl Workshop! Not only are they hip and fun, they're hand screen-printed on 100% recycled paper (that comes from a hydroelectric powered mill) with non-toxic, water based ink, and even the envelopes are 100% recycled! 
That's a big step when it comes to eco-friendly correspondence and
it'll let you keep in touch the old-fashion way, and still remain tree
free! Find more cards, prints and recycled journals at Yellow Owl Workshop!
I'm kind of a journal collector- I have so many that have been written on for the first, oh maybe 20? pages and then I get a new journal that I'm excited to start writing in or I just get too busy to write anymore- still, it's fun to look back and see what was on my mind during those little stages of life- the times that compelled me to write it out and hash out situations. I think it's time I start journaling again, and with these beautiful blank books by Nightjar, it seems my half-filled journal collection is about to get even larger.
They're each made from re-claimed/vintage covers or recycled kraft covers and filled with heavy-stock recycled paper, perfect for drawing, doodling, writing and re-discovering after many years. Find them over at Nightjar Books!
I love love love these wonderful cards by Ice Cream Social- they have a whimsical, child-like feel with hand-drawn figures and writing, but they feel so fresh and sophisticated at the same time. Yumm! 
Jenn, the ice cream maker, also offers these little original paintings featuring initials. I, of course, being Jena with a boyfriend named Justin, just had to have this J (or as I see it, Su-per J!) painting as soon as I saw it. She's just getting started with the series- you can request your own initial for a custom piece!
I love these postcard sets by Cori Kindred, a Portlander who I discovered in the Design for Mankind inspiration e-zine #2 (which if you haven't looked at yet, a leap year Friday morning curled up with some coffee or hot tea is a perfect time to do it! :) 
The beautifully styled photographs would be perfect to put up on your own inspiration board, or would make for a wonderful hand-written hello to a loved one. Choose from a set of 4 lovely postcards, 4 deer postcards, 4 shoe postcards or 4 cupcake postcards. So pretty!
Style, utility and earth-friendliness all come together so nicely when left to the hands of prix-prix. The prix-prix label is home to wallets and business card cases made from vintage neckties that have seen better days, giving them new life to enjoy. 
They also create lovely hand block-printed notebooks, using the underside of cereal boxes as the covers, and filling them with 100% post consumer recycled paper.
The results are unique and stylish and a great example of how you can "up-cycle" everyday things that may be in your closet, or in your cupboards, into useful creations. Find many more designs at prix-prix!
In the interest of full disclosure, I'm going to go ahead and say that usually I find the stuff that had been made out of plantable papers (papers with seeds embedded in them) have been a little cheesy, and not generally too well designed. My mind is starting to be changed by the indie community - it certainly wouldn't be the first time - which seems to have started to embrace these earth-lovin' substrates. With Porrige Paper's herb seed card set and Round Robin Press's cute letterpress cards, I'm beginning to get really excited about the possibilities!
It has to be said though, that a lot of the places you can purchase this kind of paper from are wildflower seed exclusive - in other words, that's the only kid of seed they'll embed into the surface. I'm not one to be confined creatively, so I'm not really into the lack of selection, however I found this great tutorial on how to make seeded paper yourself. Oh, the possibilities! If you're looking for a great selection of unique and interesting seeds, I highly recommend Seeds of Change - an organic company that is committed to biodiversity (read: lots of really cool varieties you're not likely to find anywhere else). Tie these seeds together with recycled scrap paper pulp and you've got a great eco-friendly handmade story!
I'm still a pen to page jotter when I have ideas, to-dos, reminders to myself, etc. I just can't get used to the Apple desktop stickies or keeping notes in my cel phone, and that's fine with me because I'm glad that in my super techie computer laden world, I still have something left that requires really no technology at all. Because of this I tend to collect piles of notebooks to have at my disposal and these cute ones by LoucheLab are callin' my name:
The felt covers feature hand-embroidered bear designs in various stages of cuteness and are filled with soft grey paper for something a little different. They'd be perfect to keep in your car or your purse for when inspiration (or shopping lists!) strikes. Find these and other cute felt goodies at LoucheLab!
Seeing hearts? Here's some heart themed handmade gifts for you for Valentine's Day, yes, but also just because I love all you readers, so very much. <3
row 1: for the love of baking by Thea Coughlin ($20), eyes for you card by Kaching Design ($6), so happy together by Chromatics ($70)
row 2: bleeding heart blue by Anna Ruby King ($10), heart vinyl and sterling necklace by Nature vs. Machine ($50), brass heart fobs by Bonbon Oiseau ($50)
row 3: heart on your finger ring by ehmeglass ($56), darling bag by Oprikka (70€)
row 4: sweetheart necklace by Nek ($50), love hurts cactus pincushion by Sheasy ($10), heart of glass II by Nanopod ($32)
Yes, it's a Hallmark holiday invented just to further our consumerist society, making single people feel self-conscious about the singleness they should revel in, making women in relationships feel forgotten by their mates if they don't get a dozen roses. It's a sham, I get it. But I still like it, because I think Valentine's Day has a good undercurrent of meaning- just to spread the love. And when you spread that love by buying handmade, making your own gifts, writing a song, sharing a meal, then you're celebrating the day without giving in to Hallmark's overzealous grasp on it, and that feels so good.
Here's some not so Hallmarky card options to show your loved ones (don't forget your friends!) how you feel:
{yeah you cards by Corduroy :: You stole my heart card by Heidi Burton}
{Sculpture collection cards by Egg Press :: I love you hearts by Things are Better with a Parrott}
{one of a kind Valentine's Day cards with original artwork by Anna Laura}
{Letter-pressed Love cards by papered together at Modish: Handmade Goods}
{Down with Love cards by Mew Paper Arts}
{Darling rabbit cards by Oh My Cavalier :: Vintage Lace Card by BROOKLYN:rehab}
{Owl Love You Forever card by Night Owl Papergoods :: Te Amo card by Susyjack}
{give luv card by essimar :: Rock. Paper. Heart. card by The Paper Princess}
It's time to start sending thank you notes for the gifts you received this holiday season, especially to the people who may have sent gifts to you from afar that you couldn't thank in person. What better way to do that then with a unique handmade thank you card, like this whimsical one by Oh My Cavalier:
These Victorian inspired cards come in a set of 2 and are great for a quick but thoughtful "thanks" for anyone who needs it. Find them along with beautifully inspiring artwork at Oh My Cavalier!
I need to get this for my boyfriend:
And this one for my best friend:
And this one to remind myself!
Find a card that speaks to you at Peridot Press, filled with lovely letterpress cards and beautiful handmade books made by Jessica Pope.
Instead of a gift guide today, I bring you some calendars for the year ahead, all from etsy! You've probably seen the long lists of beautiful calendars on all the other design blogs (that's why you didn't see them here) buuuuut, there's some new calendars out now and still plenty of time to get them before the new year so if you're not overwhelmed with your potential for next year's date keeping yet (I personally already have 3 new calendars for next year, but have plenty more wall space!) here are some of the latest releases for 2008!
{this chocolatey delicious calendar by happify}
{this beautifully illustrated calendar by Cedar Seven}
{the happy and colorful mini wall calendar by SusyJack}
{this super unique 3-D, letterpress calendar with 3 seasons, by Chad & Amanda}
{the slim and sleek calendar by Turtle Papers}
{the retro style there's no place like home calendar by oddball press}
{the wonderful creative thursday calendar, featuring her original artwork}
{the gorgeous limited edition calendar by Rosie Music}
{the wishes for 2008 calendar by Church Animals}
{and the sea inspired Poseidon letterpress calendar by Lizard Press}
Have you stopped by Modishoppe lately to see what's new?
There's cool wood panel paintings by Dolan Geiman:
Gorgeous new jewelry from Prismera Design:
New calendars from JHill and Wolfie & the Sneak:
And new tees and jewelry from Underdog Ink:
There's lots of giftee goodness to be had!
What happens when I fall in love with absolutely everything someone has for sale? Well, first off, I make them site of the week. Secondly, I hide all my credit cards so as to not go on a massive spending spree. And thirdly, I get giddy with joy at the thought of sharing their work with my lovely readers! Case in point: essimar. The colors, the shapes, the style, the cutouts, the designs, the animals! Oh my! I find myself sitting here smiling as I search through the pages of gorgeous paper wonders by essimar, and hopefully you will too.
I want to send these incredible hand screen-printed and hand etched cards to everyone I've ever met:
I want all my friends to have babies so I can present these special children's cards at their showers:
I want to cover my walls with these paper cutout collages so I can smile all day long:
There's life in these goods, colorful and palpable, can't you feel it? For more paper creations and inspiration, visit essimar, and "make someone smile today."
Yay! The Nantaka Joy website is now live! Created by Joy, from the wonderful Oh Joy! blog, Nantaka Joy is a beautiful collection of cards and journals that are (lucky for us!) now available in her shop online- take a peek!
My favorite part of giving a gift to someone is presenting them with a pretty package that looks as special and wonderful as the gift itself- it's allll about the presentation. As of late though, it seems against my ethics to purchase big rolls of schlocky sparkly wrapping paper and bows at big box stores, but apart from making your own wrapping paper (which is also a cool thing, but a little too time consuming for me in the heat of the holiday season!) is there really an alternative? Well, now there is! 
Welcome to a handmade, eco-friendly and deliciously stylish alternative, gift wrap by Rifferaff! Made from paper that's produced with some recycled content at a family-run, hydroelectric powered mill, each piece is hand silk-screened with hand-mixed, water based inks in pretty patterns that are perfect for the holidays, or anytime of year. With contemporary color combos to choose from, you can find the one that fits your gift recipient the best because, as Rifferaff's slogan says, a handmade gift deserves handmade gift wrap!
