A new year means 365 days of new possibilities!
I’ve always been an agenda girl and I take my time finding the perfect planner. Some of my preferences in design change year to year. Like the changing Pantone colour of the year, I’ll go from loving red, to purple, to grey, to good old black and white. Then there are the endless patterns! From vibrant polka dots to bold giraffe prints, here are five agendas that have caught my eye for 2012.
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Fab find
2012 year in food calendar, $18.75; AmeliaKayPhotography on etsy.com.
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Fab find
Striped notepads, $12 US for each; Kate Spade.
Fab find
Kate Spade All Occasions Boxed Set, $35; indigo.ca.
Fab find
Jonathan Adler Patterned Cards, $10 per pack of 10; Horchow.
From here on out, I’m going to be positive and believe spring is here to stay. As soon as the weather starts to warm up I’m instantly drawn to bright, happy colours so it’s no wonder I’ve fallen in love with these correspondence cards from Jonathan Adler. With four different designs, boasting a multitude of colours, you can use these cards for party invites or to catch up with an old friend. From the cards to the matching envelopes, I guarantee this stationery will brighten anyone’s day – and mailbox!
Do you still send letters and cards? What are your favourite stationery stores?
I recently had the opportunity to visit with Gloria Wall, Creative Director and founder of Kate & Birdie Paper Co.
about Kate & Birdie: Founded in 2004 and based in Downtown Winnipeg’s trendy Exchange District, Kate & Birdie specializes in hand-illustrated note cards, invitations and stretched canvas prints. The designs are vintage inspired and are chalked full of colour and charm! Located on the top floor of an historic building, the K&B studio is bright and open; and, it boasts as much charm as the company’s note cards do! As I sat in the K&B studio looking out at Winnipeg’s landscape, I felt like I had been transported to a metropolitan city like New York or Chicago!
Kate & Birdie Studio: 708-70 Arthur Street, Exchange District of Winnipeg
Gloria admits that most people are surprised to learn that K&B is based in Winnipeg. Having grown up in a small town outside of Winnipeg – loving art, food and design – Gloria had always aspired to live and work in a big city like New York. Of course, after marrying and having a child, New York was less of a priority, but that didn’t stop Gloria from launching a successful stationery design business.
Today, K&B products are available in 600 stores worldwide; and, in November 2010, Chapters / Indigo stores picked up the line. Last year the company launched a brand new collection, which included a line of wrapping paper featuring popular K&B designs. Creating designs that will have longevity is a primary goal of Gloria’s so she refrains from getting too caught up in trends. Instead, Gloria looks to old cinematography, local architecture and nature for inspiration. Here are two of Gloria’s favourite pieces (and mine too!):
Yellow Bunnies Card, Kate & Birdie Paper Co.
Kate & Birdie’s yellow baby bunny card is an original, hand-drawn illustration printed on recycled stock made with wind power using vegetable-based ink. Paired with a 100% recycled brown bag envelope and enclosed in biodegradable cello wrap. $4.50 / card.
Forest Squirrels Note Card, Kate & Birdie Paper Co.
Kate & Birdie’s grey forest note card is an original, hand-drawn illustration printed on recycled stock made with wind power using vegetable-based ink. Paired with 100% recycled hand-dyed charcoal envelopes. $12.00 / box of 8
what’s in the works: In May of this year, Kate & Birdie’s website is scheduled for a new look. The revamped website will feature an online shopping component that will allow customers to stock up on their favourite products from the comfort of their own homes. Also in the works for Kate & Birdie is the release of a new wrapping paper collection. The new collection is scheduled to debut at the National Stationery Show in New York this May, but Gloria treated me to a sneak peek! I just love how this new wrapping paper design blends a modern pattern with a classic colour palette of charcoal and white. Take a look…
Evergreen Wrapping Paper, Kate & Birdie Paper Co.
Kate & Birdie’s hand-illustrated evergreen and pinecone design is now available in charcoal and white wrapping paper. Printed on FSC certified 100% pcw recycled paper with vegetable-based ink and processed chlorine-free. $3.50 / flat sheet or $7.00 / roll of two sheets.
at home with Gloria: Gloria has a passion for interior decor and hopes to one day expand her home goods collection of stretched canvas prints to include a line of textiles, bedding, wallpaper and area rugs. Gloria believes a home should be an expression of the owner’s personality. What could be more perfect for personalizing a home than K&B’s playful patterns and colourful compositions? Looking forward to it Gloria!
Kate & Birdie Paper Co., 708-70 Arthur Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 1G7 t: 204.943.6827 f: 204.943.6827 e: info@kateandbirdie.com www.kateandbirdie.com (all photos provided by Kate & Birdie Paper Co.)
amy*
Amy Walters is a Winnipeg-based design enthusiast and blogger. For more design inspiration from Amy, check out her blog aDESIGNdock.
It’s almost Valentine’s Day — are you ready with a little something special for that special person in your life? I love the idea of making something by hand; it’s such a thoughtful gesture. The cards pictured here can all be made using DIY cardmaking kits and accessories. Perfect for children and adults alike. So this year, personalize your Valentine’s Day card and truly brighten someone’s day.
For more information, visit: stampinup.ca; you’ll find tons of creative inspiration for special occasions and every day. Check out some more pictures below.
I`m a bona fide gadget girl. I can`t get enough of my tech toys. But no matter how much I love my Blackberry, I still love gorgeous paper products — stationery, calendars, notepads and journals. And so, one of my favourite things to do at the start of a new year, is to search out beautiful agenda books. Below are some of my faves. Plus, check out 9 more stylish 2010 calendars.
My favourite calendars (from left to right, top to bottom)
Agenda Coelho 2010: Inspirations
Available at: amazon.ca
Price: 26.58
Cath Kidston 2010 Mini Engagement Calendar
Available at: chroniclebooks.com
Price: $12.99
2010 Designer Dogs Calendar
Available at: peterpauper.com
Price: $3.00
2010 Wall Calendar
Available at: seejanework.com
Price: $34
It`s been a while since I blogged about stationery, no? Today`s fabulous find is from Linda & Harriett. Offering a wide assortment of notecards, greeting cards, notepads and personalized stationery and invitations, Linda & Harriett`s letterpress ink is soy-based. The greeting cards and note cards are printed on 30% post-consumer and 100% carbon neutral paper. So not only are they gorgeous, but they`re green, too.
The card collection includes all the usual messages you`d expect: Thank You, Thinking of You, Happy Birthday and a sweet collection of Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays cards. But my favourite are the paper petal pins (pictured top right). Reconstructed by hand from letterpress misprints, even the scraps don`t go to waste. Stylish and socially responsible. If this was Facebook, I`d give that a thumbs up.
Visit lindaandharriett.com for a peek at the entire collection and check out the personalized letterpress stationery and the custom invitations and announcements.
I`m at it again! More pretty papers — this time, from New York-based designer Thomas Paul. Born and raised in the Big Apple, Thomas boasts a career working for design powerhouses like Bill Blass, Calvin Klein and DKNY. He started his own collection in 2001, featuring pillows made of exquisite silks. Since then, his collection has expanded to include all manner of things for house and home, all graced with his signature patterns.
So, imagine my delight as my online travels brought me to his lovely website. (Aside: Do you remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books? I used to read them as a kid. Within the pages of one book lay numerous possible stories and outcomes, depending on the choices you made as you read. Anyhow, the Internet is just like that. You never know where you`ll end up. It all depends on what you click. But I digress … )
Pictured left are examples of the items in Thomas Paul`s stationery collection, all done in pretty colour stories. Up top is chocolate – orange — marigold; followed by persimmon — pink; and aqua – peacock — leaf. I love the chocolate, orange and marigold line! Each line comes with a variety of products from notebooks, journals, notecards and desktop accessories like pen holders and desk trays for papers and miscellaneous items. Working is not my favourite thing to do but if you have to be behind a desk, these pretty accessories certainly make things more interesting!
For more information, visit thomaspaul.com but be warned: Your credit card may be safer in the freezer in a block of ice! Otherwise, have fun shopping! Click here for a list of online retailers selling Thomas Paul products.
PLUS:
Don`t forget to check out our other Style at Home blogs, if you haven`t already.
Executive editor Laurie Grassi`s blog Natural Chic is about stylish eco-friendly and green living.
Senior editor Lauren McPhillips` blog Tech Style is about the coolest gadgets for your home and your life, plus handy tips on technology.
Associate design editor Brett Walther`s blog Style Sleuth keeps you up-to-date about what`s on the market and behind the scenes in the design world.
Enjoy!
Médias Transcontinental
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