PRETTY OFFICE SUPPLIES

I am a self proclaimed office supplies junkie. I also love stationary but I think that should be saved for its very own post because there is just so much lovely stuff out there!

A few of my favorite and some of my most coveted items are as follows:

No. 2 Task Clips

[via See Jane Work ]

French Magnets
[via Traylor Papers ]


Self-adhesive Note To-Do
[via Russell+Hazel ]
note: I love everything from this store

File Folders
[via Cavallini & Co.]
note: Their Easter section is to die for

Beautiful Ballpoint Pens

[via Paper Source]
note: I cannot pick just one so I linked them all

MAGAZINE-A-HOLIC

I've got a soft spot for magazines. Martha Stewart in particular and lately, Real Simple. Three years ago I got a Martha Stewart Living subscription for Christmas and I still receive this delightful treat in the mail once a month. I devour each issue like a piece of triple chocolate cake savoring each page. I take notes and dog ear pages before adding the issue to my growing collection. I cannot bring myself to throw them away which has brought me to my current dilemma. Where/How do I store them and for how long? I love these magazine holders from See Jane Work.

I have dreams of these organized by month filled with years and years of delicious ideas. Every month I could sort through dog eared favorites and new discoveries. Mmmmmm.

The other idea I have been contemplating is a series of monthly binders. These ones in particular (from See Jane Work).

With page protectors (of course).

I would put all of my favorites from different places, organized by month and have a gigantic resource of great ideas. Even the binders are pretty.

This is on my list of Spring Cleaning To Do List.

How do you organize the great ideas you've saved over the years?

OH LOVELY DAY

I forgot to mention that these lovelies arrived at work yesterday from a very special someone. They make me smile and think of spring. Have I mentioned that I love spring. The almost warm weather, pretty trench coats, little sweaters, tulips. I am ready for it.

EASTER GRASS A.K.A. WHEAT GRASS

Ok, so I've always loved the look of potted grass but never really knew the ins and outs of it all. Design Mom just did a GREAT post on how to plant (and grow) this awesome stuff!

My sister works at Whole Foods so I've sent her on a mission to find me some wheat kernals while I hunt for the perfect containers. Honestly, I cannot wait to have one of these on my desk.

I was also informed today that my sister made me a white ceramic regtangle pot at school! She is even going to attempt to make a saucer a la this picture that I am in love with:



I am more than lucky this spring!

CHARMING PORCELAIN KNITWARE

A knitter by trade (you can find my shop here Lux Risa) and porcelain lover by nature it was inevitable that I would adore these:

Brooklyn based artist Alyssa Ettinger designs amazing "knitware" porcelain pieces. I could not love them more. From the fine detail of the ribbed edge to the gathered round bottom each peice is not only a work of art but a perfect representation of knitware. I know that not only knitters will find these pieces charming and down right lovely.

You can find Alyssa's shop here.

{Photos via Alyssa Ettinger Design}

BIRTHDAY INVITES: MINI SLEEPING BAGS

{updated}

My friend Wendy asked me to help her with an idea for invites for her daughter's birthday party. She knew that since it was going to be a sleepover that she wanted the invites to somehow be in the form of sleeping bags. My immediate thought was little mini sleeping bags made out of fabric!

Originally I was going to put a zipper in the side so that they really would be a working mini sleeping bag. When I actually got to sewing them, I realized that I could sew it halfway shut and tack down the corner (to get the sleeping bag look) that way the invite would have a pocket to slide into.

Each sleeping bag is two coordinating fabrics with some polar fleece in the middle for that puffy look. After sewing the three layers together on three sides (right sides together with the fleece on the bottom), I ran a straight stitch across each third of the fabric. I folded the bottom open edge in and ironed it, then folded the whole shebang in half. Sew down the bottom half of the open side then across the bottom 'hem' to seal the deal. The last step was to fold down the open corner and then tack it from underneath to hold it open.

Viola!

There was no real pattern that I used - I kind of made it up as I went along and the whole project went pretty quickly. Wendy had some AMAZING vintage fabric to work with that were all cut out in the same size squares so I just cut the polar fleece to fit.

The pocket will hold a check sized invite (the top picture shown has a check in the pocket). These were a bit hit with everyone - I wish that I was having a sleep-over so that I could send these invites out!

If there is enough interest in these buggers I am happy to put together a real tutorial with pattern so that you don't have to wing it like I did!

Update: Wendy and her daughter decided to print the invites on paper dolls!

BELLE AND BOO

I have been in love with Belle and Boo for awile now. For my birthday my best friend got me the print and I cried it was so lovely. See that little speck next to Belle's shoe? Here is the close up:

It is a one inch horseman. Adorable. Everything about Mandy's work is amazing. The little details on the back of the knees, Belle's sweet little haircut, the city scene on Belle's skirt...I could go on and on and on about her work but, I think you should check it out for yourself.

Also, there are now prints with boys!