Sketchbooks and letterpress

Hi!

Over the weekend I went downtown and got a few moleskines and thought I'd share part of the first page with you. There is something special about beginning a new sketchbook isn't there? I usually like to save starting a fresh one for a new year or birthday but didn't want to wait this time. I got a small, thin one because while I am good at starting a sketchbook, it can take me several years to fill one up. Surely I can complete it sooner than that! Maybe if I dedicate a little time daily to putting my ideas here rather than on bunches papers all scattered about then I can do it. You think?

What I really want to share with you today is my friend Christy's amazing new shop!  You have got to go see it, the site in itself is a work of art!  I'm not kidding.  Not only is her letterpress work unequaled in quality but her beautiful new store design just showcases it perfectly.   One of my favorite new products of hers are these Personalized Seed Packets.  She will letterpress a name of your choice onto these beauties, making them a smart and lovely gift for a gardener you know. Or if you're harvesting some heirloom seeds from your summer garden, these are just the thing you need!  I also love these Wine glass markers and everything on her Assortments and Sets page. Go see for yourself, she has so many lovely letterpress goods.  You may also visit her blog to leave her a little note.  I know she'd love to hear from you.  :)

Till soon,
H

poppytalk print faves

Hi,

I just returned from downtown and picked up some poetry books from the library. I tried reading and walking at the same time but found the movement underneath the pages distracting. However I read one particular poem by e.e. cummings that I recited over and over in my mind the remainder of the way home. Now I'm sitting here at the computer and one of my cats is licking my arm raw; I'm waiting for him to bite me.

Anyway, I want to share a sampling of my summery favorites from the current Poppytalk Handmade Market, Paper Pops! There's so much goodness over there to find, I hope you'll go find your own favorites.

clockwise from top left :

* citrus letterpress booklets by The Petite Press {these really couldn't be any sweeter!}
* island village gocco print by Susan Schwake
* spirograph cards by Blackbird Letterpress
* Rain Rain Go Away silkscreen print by Sub-Studio
* tiny cities cards by Stephanie Levy
* letterpress cherry red bicycle by Bittersugar

Now, I believe there are some unruly weeds waiting for me in the garden,
H

a few faves + guess what?

Hello to you today,

I thought I'd share a little nine-patch batch of my recent handmade faves. Do you enjoy having handmade items around you as much as I do? I think you do. :)

1 } Painter by The Small Factory
2 } Drip Plate by Cat Merrick
3 } Music boxes by Something's Hiding In Here
4 } Little Rustic Raindrop Bottle by Richard Johnson
5 } Custom Birch Bark Silhouette by Jenny Lee Fowler
6 } Crochet bracelet by Laura Normandin/Wren Handmade
7 } urban village print by Rick Beerhorst/Studio Beerhorst
8 } Large and Small Porcelain Serving Bowls by Isabelle Abramson
9 } old cross stitch of a robin at silocurb

Guess what's happening next week? Yes, it's spring break for some of us around here but I will also be celebrating my shop's one year anniversary on March 20! I really can't believe it and I'm pretty thankful for it too. So I'm planning a little something special for you {like a sale, surprise, or the like}. But if you have anything you'd like to see, let me know. I'm always open to your ideas. Seriously, let me know.

till soon,
H

my handmade faves part two

Hi,

I always think it's fun and exciting to see what others are making and I relish in the opportunity to show you things that are handmade. My picks today range from items for baby, to art lover, to the man in your life.

top - bottom & left - right : {please note these images are cropped and don't show items in their full glory}
} Bird love serving plate 2 by Ninainvorm
} Dove and Branch Silver Hoops by Joanna Rutter
} Wool Baby Loafers 6 to 9 months by WhimsyByJess
} Rabbithouse by Elisabeth Omdahl
} Letterpress Gift Tags. Orange and light Turquoise Tree. Set of 9 by Sycamore Street Press
} Multifont Buckle by Steel Toe Studios

* Did you see Stephanie's dreamy German Christmas guest post at Poppytalk?
* And Jen's clever decorating ideas at Bloesem?
* OH! My letterpress tags just popped up over at Poppytalk as I was typing this! :)
* And OH! {again} I nearly forgot to tell you I have a number of items on sale {15 - 20% off} this week only in my shop.

Happy mid-week to you,
H

my handmade faves part one

Hi!

I want to pop in and share my "handmade faves part one" with you before I head up to the studio. This will be a little ongoing series of some of my favorites. The collections I don't anticipate will be thematically arranged but rather ensembles of pieces that are inspiring to me at the moment.
I don't want to jump into Christmas too early because Thanksgiving and autumn are certainly worth embracing. But it doesn't hurt to begin handmade gift giving early so to relieve last minute stress. {I'm telling myself this as well. I'm soooo last minute it's just plain silly!}

top - bottom & left - right :
} silence print by Rachel Saldana|Buttons Magee Photography {shop just updated! check out her lovely teal sequined pillow too!}
} wood pecker collage by Rick Beerhorst
} stamped cup, frost by Kristen Kieffer {Kristen is a long-time friend of mine. We met during an 11 month artist residency eleven years ago. She just updated her shop yesterday with so many beautiful wares!}
} paper ornaments by sprouthead
} tin art - bird on rusty tin by little black rabbit at Poppytalk Handmade Market
} Veranda print by Stephanie Levy {Stephanie now has prints in addition to her beautiful original works and is at Poppytalk Handmade Market.}

Have you seen the Heart Handmade Holiday Zine just released today? You can preview it and download it. You may see me in it along with a downloadable print I made. Marichelle did some amazing work putting the entire zine together!

Off to work for me,
H