great kid books

I helped Mary Ann the great mind behind Great Kid Books with her business card recently. Can I point you to her site if you have little ones? Super cool.

Mary Ann is a librarian in Redwood City at an independent K-8 school and the mom of three little ones herself. I think you'll be in safe hands with her recommends!

New In the studio - San Fran Save the date

Amy and Dirk are getting hitched in beautiful San Francisco later this year. It's going to be an elegant black and white affair. We designed the save the date postcard chic and simple. The reverse side is white with black writing to give their guests hotel information in the nearby area.

roadside photographs

I'm in love with this Jen Zahigian's work
featured today on the Bright Side Project

Meg are you in there too? how very sexy Jack White of you



The Black Belles [just realized they're on Jack's record label no wonder they sound like him]

you might also like Karen Elson his supermodel wife now a musician too. Can't get the video to embed you'll have to go here if you're into it.

want her hair - even though I've had a version of this already



Leigh Lezark
model and one-third of the NYC based DJ trio the Misshapes

bag lady

I've become a bag lady. As in the canvas totes bag lady kind. Dunno how it happened. Freebies here or there I guess? Not as in the hey-I-bought-a-widget-at-Home-Depot-and-I'm-carrying-around-their-orange-tote. More like, I got a cute free tote from some company and it's stylie enough to throw my portfolio in to take to a client {it says I'm glamorous right?}


but visiting the Crew tonight and these little gems popped up $10. Possibly the cheapest thing at JCrew evah.



$10 bucks. seriously.

new In the studio - pink peony suite

see more over at the studio

you know I'm a fashion slut already - here I go again



I miss Kell On Earth. There were just not enough shows. But alas, a birdy told me that Sweet Andrew, goth glam extraordinaire has his own blog now. I'm in heaven.

*update...it's not Andrew's personal site but run by someone here in LA a friend? not sure how he gets his daily wardrobe posted so often

When Sorry just isn't enough

My assistant Jeff came to me with this card idea today. He gets all the credit.



Me? I've got me a potty mouth as much as the next girl but somehow seeing it in print is making me nervous.
Still... I can't stop giggling.
available here

Summer Bikes

I got talked into a mountain bike a few years ago. I've rode it exactly 8 times. What I really wanted? a granny bike with a basket.
like this:



Public bikes brought to you by the founder of Design within Reach [these bike prices are much more in reach than his furniture]

plus this? Let's bling it out with a Kate Spade basket? a little over the top I know...



but hey if we're gonna do it lets go big

Mom's Day

we inked up some vintage lead type today
available here

sneak Peek New In the studio - Janet and Mike

I'm not ready to show the whole kit and kaboodle but we got some amazeballs stuff printing this week. This will give you a taste till it's all done. click to enlarge the fabulousness.



have a wonderful weekend loves...

I Am In Love

via Habitually Chic today, looks to be quite an impressive movie



from IMDB: A tragic love story set at the turn of the millennium in Milan. The film follows the fall of the haute bourgeoisie due to the forces of passion and unconditional love.

Salon.com calls it "Ravishing" which is such a lovely word don't you think? I would like more Ravishing things in my life.

please note the man at the dinner table with the sikh hat [is it a hat? might not be the right term] Mr. Waris Ahluwalia, accessory designer and owner of The House of Waris I only know him of fashion but apparently he's an actor as well.

So Cal

big weekend here in So California... Down the street from me is the Long Beach Grand Prix and then out in the desert is Coachella I decided the last time I went that I was too old to do festival shows any more. The all day thing, the outhouses [Coachella has very nice ones though]... grandma needs a nap and doesn't like to wait in line for 5$ beer or water.



This year? I was sort of craving it. Probably have forgot the torture of it all.

Going to miss seeing a few people. She and Him on Friday [I really want to like them maybe live would change my mind?], Sia and The Deadweather being a couple on Saturday, Mayer Hawthorne and Thom Yorke on Sunday. Mostly the idea of going to Palm Springs sounds appealing, sitting pool side and heading over to the concert in the evening for a little bit. All by private car of course to avoid parking etc. This all being that I was independently wealthy and all. In my next life maybe

good or bad idea?

Tonight I walked by the local preschool a block from my house, and I had dreams of buying a baby bunny and putting it in the playground for the kids to find when they arrived.

cute but bad idea? all out bunny trauma? why did I have this thought in the first place?

btw...totally stole this photo from the new Favorite and The Best
she didn't have photo credits so I'll just say it's hers.

Mother's Day

It's almost Mother's Day did you know? I think she needs some personalized stationery this year.



I'll wrap it up all pretty with a bow and a note declaring your love and admiration and ship it straight to her for you [if you would like] Maybe it's on your wish list? Send dad and the kids an email with my link and we'll get you all hooked up.

place your orders here

Mother's Day orders must be in by April 30th to ensure delivery.

Solidarité from La Boite Concept on Vimeo.

pretty awesome information and art installation.

From my friends over at Kuro today - thanks for sharing

Dave Lefner

I've mentioned my admiration for artist Dave Lefner before. Los Angeles based artist who focuses on a style of printmaking called lino reduction. I was "in like" with printmaking before Dave but once I saw his work in person I fell madly, deeply in love and ended up going back to school to learn this technique which then lead me to letterpress. I do what I do today because of him, so forgive me if I'm a little over the moon at this video.

The [ahr-tuh-zen] Project: Dave Lefner from Ric Serena on Vimeo.

if you're in Los Angeles the Brewery Art Walk is coming up this weekend where Dave has his studio

happy friday

notice their shoes? made by this man that I reported on some time ago.

love this

calligrapher B Dunlap became tattoo artist with this client
The names are his daughters.

if you're in the Los Angeles Area...

from the Los Angeles Times



Every year, collectors of Bauer Pottery eagerly await the Atwater Village studio's December sale of factory seconds. Beginning today, fans won't have to wait until the holidays, as the newly remodeled showroom will open to the public the first weekend of every month. A variety of seconds -- dinnerware, candlesticks, pitchers and other brightly colored trademark designs with minor defects or uneven glazing -- will be marked down as much as 60%. Purists interested only in first-quality pieces can place orders too. 3051 Rosslyn St., Los Angeles; (888) 213-0800; www.bauerpottery.com.

this months sale this saturday and sunday 10am-5pm

thinking about summer dresses

when Chris graduates this August from his program I will be required to travel to the desert during peek 115 degree temps
I think this definitely calls for a new dress don't you?



Anthropologie $158

stay tuned for more cuties

The Bright Side Project

Surly you know about The Bright Side Project? Free stuff no strings attached? This month I'm participating in their California Dreamin' Month of goodies.



the question I posed? "What letter have you received or sent that meant a lot to you?"

I remembered this story when I was searching for a question to pose for the contest.

Once, a long time ago I was studying at the local hipster coffee shop. At the time they had butcher paper and crayons on every table – it was a cute novelty. I spent hours studying there because there was just enough background noise to keep me focused on college which at many times was not what I wanted to think about.

I got up to use the restroom which was about 10 paces from where I was sitting that day. I made quick of my business because I had left all my goods splayed out in study mode. As I rounded the corner from the Loo a boy stood over my books. I stopped, thinking he was about to steal something, he looked up - saw me then laid down the folded note and promptly left.

He had written me a poem on the butcher paper something about kings and queens and gardens if I recall. It was the loveliest love note from someone I didn't know, and never met again. I hung it above my art desk at home and relished the thought that someone thought I was beautiful.

my live-in boyfriend didn't find it as sweet as I did. We soon had a humongo fight over it and I threw it out. I wish I had stuffed it away in a journal or something. I foolishly tossed it to appease him - stupid youth.

How about you? Love notes, letters from someone you love?

Easter Bunny

My little brother hilariously uploaded some old photos today. Can't beat the polyester outfits or the Easter bunny.

Notice my matching ensemble? mom made all my clothes, I was gingham checked from here to eternity. I'm liking my brothers sport coat and turtleneck though - very European Sartoralist don't you think?

Happy Holidays bunny or no bunny

April 1