May 24, 2013

Pretty Paper Things for Dads

Yay it’s Friday! How has your week been? Mine has been ok – too much cleaning (rent inspection -blurrrgghh) and not enough working. It’s getting colder too, which reminds me, I really need to drag out my heater from wherever I shoved it at the start of summer. Chilly mornings are not fun!

So…I shared my first Father’s Day round-up of cards for our international friends the other day. This got me thinking, I wonder what pretty paper related things Dads might like?

1. Glass Knot Paperweights from West Elm.
2. Porsche Design Aluminum Ballpoint Pen – Anthracite from Notemaker.
3. The Mini Black Book by Russell & Hazel.
4. Dad Memory Book and Case by kikki.K.
5. Defy Bags Aesthetic Leather Mini iPad Mini Sleeve from Notemaker.

(btw Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea celebrate Father’s Day the first Sunday in September so be prepared for more Dad celebrating later on in the year!)

May 23, 2013

Akimbo’s Clever Hello Club

Yet another reason to love Akimbo! Alicia has started the Clever Hello Club recently.
It’s a monthly subscription service where stationery lovers (psst that’s us!) receive two greeting cards every month. Join the club and you’ll never be without a fun, quirky card for any occasion.

Sound good? Find out more about Akimbo’s Clever Hello Club.

May 22, 2013

Beautiful Business Cards with Miranti

I’ve had business cards on the brain lately! For some reason getting business cards has been a task that I’ve been putting off but this week I’ve (finally!) been looking into getting some of my very own.

It can feel like a rather daunting task to try and figure out how a tiny two-sided piece of card will represent you, your business, and your brand. Your business card will help others determine how they view you. You want your impression to linger long after your conversation has ended and you want that impression to be positive and a accurate representation of what you do.

The good news is that there is no shortage of beautiful business cards on the interwebs to inspire you! Here are some of my favourite business card designs for your inspiration. Enjoy!

1. Letterpress Balsa Wood Business Cards.
2. Joy Ever After.
3. Card Observer – Hand Stitched Business Cards.
4. Haven Business Cards.
5. Sodapop Design.
6. Brad Goreski Calling Cards by Sarah Drake Design.
7. Designspiration.
8. Identity for Marawa The Amazing by Mind Design.

- Miranti Kayess pen&peplum

Miranti is a self-confessed stationery nerd and workspace junkie, and is the creator of Pen & Peplum. Miranti strives to simplify women’s lives by creating bright thoughtful stationery that supports their biggest dreams. Miranti believes in beauty, play, and courage in our everyday lives. When Miranti is not writing on her blog, designing or creating stationery, she can be found daydreaming, drinking chai, watching movies with her husband, or rocking it out on her yoga mat. Connect with Miranti: pen&peplum | twitter | Facebook

May 21, 2013

Krissy’s favourite things

Sooooo it’s my birthday today. I’m 39 this year. Yep, the big 3.9. The one-year-til-40 panic has well and truly started but it’s cool because I don’t actually feel old. I think my brain stopped aging around 30, at least that’s what it feels like.

I’m not above celebrating myself and my birthday milestones so today’s post is in honour of things I love. I’m dubbing it Krissy’s favourite things (very original, yes?). If I was as rich and as well connected as Oprah I would give you all one of each of these things because without you, dear reader, this blog would be nothing. Thank you. Happy My Birthday to all! xoxo

1. Do or Die notepad by Rifle Paper Co.
2. Chanel – Le Vernis Taboo nail polish.
3. Kate Spade Pop Art Check iPad Sleeve.
4. Alan Ginsberg print by Lucy Loves This.
5. Delfonics Mechanical Pencil – Notemaker.
6. Pieces of Porcelain.
7. It’s All For You – Canton Box Company.
8. Ampersand pillow by Linnea Swedish Design.

May 20, 2013

Father’s Day Round-up Part One

Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June (that’s Sunday June 16th this year) in a lot of countries around the world. While Australia doesn’t celebrate this special day ’til later in the year it does give us a chance to get our cards picked out nice and early, which is never a bad thing!

1. Meow Kapow Shop.
2. Method Letterpress.
3. Stranger Days.
4. Craft Goblin.
5. Inklosures.

May 10, 2013

JooJoo – Afsaneh Tajvidi

I really love the work of Toronto-based artist Afsaneh Tajvidi (check out some of her sketches too – amazing). Her art is incredibly beautiful – it manages to perfectly capture softness and detail which I find is something that a lot of artists shoot for but few actually manage to pull off.
Her work would fit right in to a nursery or kid’s room don’t you think?

1. Watercolour Bird.
2. Dream Big.
3. Love.

My favourite is this one though. So lovely.

May 9, 2013

Perfect Printables for Mother’s Day

O.K. so Mother’s Day is this Sunday (May 12th). If you’re still hunting down the perfect card, stop what you’re doing and have a look through this monster list of 25 perfect printables to honour your Mum.

Love Party Printables

Love Party Printables

Spark My Mind Designs

May 8, 2013

Things for a rainy day

I love the rain. We don’t get much of it here so when it does finally happen each drop feels like a release. A release from the long hot summer. A release after the sweat-filled nights of the early months of the year. A release from all of life’s problems and complications.

Perhaps I place too much significance on raindrops?

1. Quill & Fox.
2. Creatiate.
3. Naked Pastor.
4. Yes Sweetheart.
5. Skysetter Mobiles.

May 7, 2013

Abigail Penn’s Esther

I’ve said this many times on the blog but occasionally I come across works of art that make me stop and stare in wonder.

I came across Abigail Penn’s Esther (Part 1 and 2) the other day after another piece of hers (Orange Cats in Love) was featured on the front page of Etsy. Esther, as a whole, is comprised of two silhouettes that are formed by (I believe) text from the Book of Esther, which is the story of a young Jewish woman who foiled the attempted genocide of her people and became Queen of Persia.

Abigail hand wrote all the text which is beautiful, amazing and time consuming. I can’t imagine how long it took to do – just amazing stuff.

May 6, 2013

This Paper Ship

Hello! Happy Monday! I’m pretty excited because this week the Weather Department is saying there will be rain and storms and you all know how much I LOVE rain and storms. Western Australia is a pretty big place (you could fit Texas, California, Montana, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada inside the state) so sometimes my little corner doesn’t get all the weather that is promised but I’m crossing my fingers, toes, arms and legs that we’ll get something.

O.K. enough about the weather. Today I wanted to share the work of This Paper Ship. They are a husband and wife team based in North Carolina. I fell in love with their poster You Make Me Happy a little while ago and I just love their mix of cute illustrations with typography. Their art just works and I think you’ll agree it’s pretty cute.

1. You Make Me Happy.
2. Keep Looking for the Wind.
3. Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Classiness.
4. Under the Apple Tree.

Have a great week!