Some liked Nancy Drew but I was a Trixie Belden girl. Actually, I was a Harriet the Spy girl. Regardless, I am loving this secret camera book over at  fred flare! Somehow though I think my high awkwardness factor would prevent me from successfully using it.

photos : fred flare

I painted some thrifted spice racks to use as displays for my cards at a craft show … here’s before (and oh yes, my deck needs painting too):

And after (please excuse the blurriness):

More craft show table pictures here, here, and here.

Hi - just a reminder that I will be at Hoopla tomorrow, with tons of prints & stationery in tow - see all the deets below. There will be lots of great artisans, door prizes, free coffee … so if you live in the Toronto area, stop by!

I picked up the first set of doily cards from Beau Ideal, so I was excited to see that she has created a new, similar line called Coral Gables. (Anyone else use the Etsy shop RSS feature? Great for making sure you don’t miss new work by your favourite artists, bad for the pocket book!) Anyway I just love her use of pattern and colour. Beautiful! (You can learn more about her work at Studio 302.)

Okay technically I guess that should be ‘books for new parents’ (^_^). I thought I’d do a little round-up of books that I love to give as gifts to new parents or parents-to-be, plus a couple that I have on my list for the future. (I’ll do another post soon about the ‘classics’ that make great gifts in the toddler years.)

- When You Were Small by Sara O’Leary with illustrations by Julie Morstad

- Little 1 and Sparkle and Spin by Ann Rand

- Mon Paris colouring book

- Love You Forever by Robert Munsch - extra great if you/the parents are familiar with the tune of the song in the book - like most of Munsch’s books they’re best if you can deliver their readings the way he does!

- The First 1000 Days - Nikki McClure - I gave my mom one of Nikki’s calendars a few years ago and it was a big hit. The illustrations in this book are so lovely, and the idea of recording those important ‘first’ stories so great, I may grab a few of these to hang onto, and just give them out as babies are born!

There are a few non-blog sites I check regularly just to see what they have on offer - near the top of the list is Jack and Lulu and I have to say that I am in love with their new stuff. The designs and fonts are perfect … they make me think of The Great Gatsby, Paris When it Sizzles, trips by steam ship … the best are the wall art and calling cards (calling cards! for sure Daisy Buchanan would have the green and white striped ones).

[all images Jack and Lulu]

Ever despaired at the thought of yet another afternoon spent wandering department store aisles, printed registry in hand, trying to cobble together an acceptable gift (potato ricer, anyone)? unless someone like you is an etsy shop full of amazing ideas (whether the occasion is an upcoming wedding or a new baby), including gifts you can guarantee will not be duplicated (and will provide a much greater thrill than a set of towels or the aforementioned potato ricer!). All the work at unless someone like you is custom: you send a photo, she creates a one of a kind piece. There are wedding invitation posters (an item that briefly made me want to go back in time and do my own wedding invitations over!), save the date postcards, and custom favor boxes, all done in a really lovely illustration style.

My favourite idea is the wedding portrait (see example below - all images courtesy of unless someone like you) - how cool would it be to get a custom portrait of the bride and groom made as a wedding or shower gift? (I am actually thinking of saving up for one as an anniversary present … now to find the perfect candid photo …)

wedding portrait

poster invitation

custom favor box

I got these beautiful notecards from Byvik Ink for myself and my husband (okay, mostly for me) as kind of a New Year’s present.  We went to Japan last year (where we saw  lots of bamboo) for our fifth anniversary, and the font she uses is the same as the one we used for all of our wedding stuff, so they are perfect! I love the idea of giving these as a wedding shower gift - if the bride-to-be likes the style she can make this “her stationary” for her married life (or get variations on it - one style for her, one for them as a couple) … I think this is something people used to do a lot in the ‘olden days’ and with places like Byvik Ink and other Etsy shops I think it’s easier (and more affordable) to get something really specific and personal like this than it may have been in the past.