wishing you a colorful easter!

lovely baker's twine Easter egg DIY from Landee See, Landee do.

easter greetings

I have to confess, I waited to the last minute to send some Easter cards. I really try to drop something in the mail for every holiday for the kids in our lives, snail mail lovers & far away family and friends. Easter just kind of snuck up on me so I scrounged up some supplies and got to work. Here's what I came up with, Washi tape Easter eggs. When all else fails, Washi tape just might be the answer!

yes, i still send snail mail and love it...

in the mail

A few "just because" notes today using some of my favorite stationery!

Bright & fun Pantone stationery set from Chronicle Books

Awesome illustrated Mars Cheese Castle letterpress card from Dingbat Press

Hammer Press "Hello" postcard from Chronicle Books

 

yes, i still send mail & love it...

gift-giver love

I recently got to give a couple lovely brides some sweet gifts. I am such a fan of the Soda by Amy line, I just love her patterning, texture and signature blue. She has something for everyone sure to please and handmade to appreciate.

the thrill of the find

Thanks to my partner in crime/flea market mentor I found some great stuff. A girl can never have too many purses or boxes! 2 carpet bags, a green trunk, an apple crate & wood cheese boxes found at a Chicago Estate sale. Hmm, what else will find me?

color love

Pascal Anson had an adhesive tape collection he decided to put to use on his stairs. I think it's a great way to add a pop of color & huge personality. See his great lil' video here.

photo kindly used from Pascal Anson's site: Ordinary made extraordinary. thanks!

hey thanks!

You can never have enough thank you notes nor can you ever send enough thank you notes. I had some gratitude to mail out and thought I'd check out some new, cute thank you notes. I just love Happy Penguin's "A letter is a hug from far away", so sweet to show up in the mail!

 

set of 8 thank you notes from 1canoe2 | Aztec thanks from Printerette Press

thank you for all your kindness sign from HammerPress 

honeycomb thank you from Smock Paper

a letter is a hug from far away from Happy Penguin | cactus flower thank you from Egg Press

utterly speechless from Fresh Heifers | vintage typewriter thank you from Blackbird Press

casual kraft handwritten thank you from Sugar Paper

another reason to love postcrossing

Look what showed up in the mail today! I did a mail swap with a Postcrossing friend in Belarus. I expected a letter & she had mentioned a magnet but look at all the thought that went in to this sweet gift. In addition to the fun map drawn on the envelope and the lovely Belarus postage stamps she also included: a handwritten note, a translation of phrases I can use (I love to ask for anything I can learn along the way), 2 bank notes that show: National Theater of Opera & Ballet & a Soviet WWII monument, 2 postcards, a stick of gum, a fridge magnet & a used bus ticket. I love that these pieces came from her daily life in addition to things she found. This made my day.

yes, i still send snail mail & love it...

in the mail

A postcard on it's way to Ukraine. More Postcrossing postcard fun!

Postcard from Lotta Jansdotter

yes, i still send snail mail & love it...

chicago tee love

To continue the Chi-town theme today I thought I'd share these. I was looking for a cool
Chicago t-shirt for a birthday present and stumbled across quite a few great ones.

Chicago cartographic map from City Fabric Goods
Chicago Star tee from ParLaWeHo
Transit Chicago thread map from Transit Tees
ORD Chicago from Pilot & Capt.
skyline tee from Efiniti Design
Script Chi from Chi Town Clothing

a happy project

When a long-lost friend approached me and said "We're getting married soon, I have no idea what to do next- ya wanna make me some invites? I was thinking something Chicago & incorporating a motorcycle possibly". Of course, I love unconventional wedding design with meaning and I couldn't resist! Using motorcycle inspiration (they both have a love of bikes & it was involved in the proposal), a vintage Chicago map & a simple skyline, here's the end result:

custom logo & invite happily designed by me (j.leo@mac.com) for the fantastic couple!

color love today

When I stumbled across this fantastic southwest note card design from The Small Things I fell in love with this color palette. It's refreshing and unexpected to me. I have new respect and appreciation for this geometric Native American inspired art.

do i need a globe?

My map iphone app just isn't cutting it, I want a real globe to look at, reference & 

figure out where in the world the Amazing Race teams are this week. But seriously, 

what a cool, functional piece of art and so reminiscent of growing up.

Vintage Replogle world nation 12" globe from Kathat Kreations $45  | Illuminated 10" Replogle library globe from

 Found Vintage Style $175 | Vintage glove bank from Bella Lulu $38 | Vintage stereo relief globe with stand from

 Amelia Jane Vintage $79.99 | 1920's black Replogle starlight floor globe from Haven Vintage $175

Cram's imperial world globe with stand from Industrial Relic $75

color love

These are my first pair of Coverse & oh I love them. I love the simplicity and even more I got to design them with the Converse Create Your Own. These are SO my color...

another reason to love washi tape

I am such a fan of the bright, patterned and fun washi tape out there. Well now you can do even more with it! These great thick rolls can be used to make a wall pattern, line a drawer, quickly refresh a piece of furniture or add a little color to anything your lil' heart desires. Best part is it's not permanent, it's easy to remove and change (perfect for me and my ever changing mind!).
 MT Casa Decor Washi Tape found at omoionline.com.

photos kindly borrowed from the amazing on-line store OMOI Zakka shop

frye on the mind

If ever you buy a pair of Frye shoes, trust me they are worth every penny. They are beautiful leather, handcrafted, and tough. This company has been around since 1863! I love that, check out some Frye's-they are always cool.

photos kindly used from thefryecompany.com

color love

Skinny Laminx creates fun, graphic, bright patterns like this one called "bowls". 

This bright palette caught my eye this morning.

in the mail

A perfect way to say happy birthday with Elum's Birthday Porcupine, all lit up.