A Little Grammar... a Little Fun.

This grammar poster I discovered yesterday by The Oatmeal kind of made my day. Maybe I thought it was so funny because, well, I've never been great with the darned semicolon. Or maybe it's because, if I didn't run Simple Ink, I'd like to be an English teacher.

There is more to the poster beyond what I've shown above and there are many more great ones -- some grammar related, some just plain funny. (Like 10 Things You Need to Stop Tweeting About and How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You.) Buy the semicolon poster here.

Also important to note is that I discovered The Oatmeal via a great piece of advice (given my awsome blogger Melissa of ISLY) as part of a very cool Blog and Business Workshop being hosted by the lovely Marta, of martawrites.

If you're a blogger... or a small business owner... or both... seriously check out all of the wonderful information Marta is offering as part of her workshop. It has become my little guilty pleasure checking on her updates every day this week.

{images courtesy of The Oatmeal}

Happy Valentine's Day!

Okay, okay. So it's the sick-and-twisted side of me that is posting this in honor of Valentine's Day. But I just think it's hilarious.

I've had this little piece of torn newspaper sitting in my desk for years and every time I unearth it, I crack up. I'll never forget sitting, holding hands with my husband (then fiance), eating an ice cream cone, and laughing hysterically when we read this.

Yeah, it's a little dark. But mostly I think it's a reminder that love -- true, deep, partnership kind of love -- isn't about the sappy stuff. It's about the decision -- a decision you make every day -- to love and be loved. Dontcha think?

Anyway, roses, chocolates and a Valentine don't hurt either. Here's hoping you get everything you want this Valentine's Day. :)

Writing Notes

I saw this discussed over at one of my very, very favoritest blogs last week and haven't been able to stop thinking about it. We certainly encourage the handwritten note over here at Simple Ink... just not the angry, Post It variety.

If ever I did receive a raging Post It on my door like this from a neighbor, I'd: (1) want to melt into the Earth out of embarrassment/horror and (2) hopefully respond this way.

So read this and tell me if it doesn't make you laugh out loud. And be sure to check out the author's blog, Alex Bogusky. Pretty darned funny, that guy.

Friends

Ain't it good to have friends?

I was just sitting here reflecting upon all the wonderful people that have helped Simple Ink along this year. From my husband, to my mother, to a my wonderful web developer, letterpress teacher, blogger friends, and PR talents. And of course all of the wonderful store owners who continually offer encouragement.

Then I stumbled upon these photos from my little guy's 3rd birthday in October. This is my Benjamin (in green) and his bestest buddy, Matthew. We used to be neighbors and the boys saw each other often from the time they were babies. Our move across town last year, different preschool schedules and, well, Life, have conspired to make their visits more and more infrequent. Before the day these pictures were taken, they hadn't seen each other for months. I love that you can see their glee bubbling over. They could not stop laughing and holding hands.

It's great to have friends.

So thanks to Ben & Matthew for reminding me of that -- and thanks to all of the wonderful folks that have been friends to Simple Ink this year. I love you and I don't tell you often enough.

Origami Dragon

Happy New Year! Did you catch the Rose Parade on New Year's Day? I know I'm a paper nerd, but I thought the Origami Dragon float was the best I've ever seen.

And it only took 8,000 roses and 15,000 lemon leaves to create. Now that's a project.

Do The Deed

I stumbled across the Do The Deed campaign this morning. What a great a idea. Talk about true holiday spirit. Check out the campaign video above and go to their site here.

Sending a handwritten note on lovely letterpress stationery is a nice, inexpensive way to spread the joy, too. Just an idea. :)

Have a good weekend!

Good Tunes

I'm doing some printing today and listening to my new favorite album, Pacific Dust by The Mother Hips.

My husband first introduced to me to these guys (college comrades of his from Chico, CA in the early 90s) and I've always been a fan, but I'm especially smitten with this new album.

Living in Oregon now I don't often admit to my California Girl roots. (Yeah, us "Calis" are not popular here. Shhhh. Don't tell the neighbors.)

But, well, you can take the girl out of Nor Cal, but you can't take the Nor Cal out of the girl. The Mother Hips make me tear up thinking about my motherland sometimes. I miss that Pacific Dust.

If you're interested in some new tunes -- something totally fresh and different -- please check out The Hips. I'm betting you might just fall in love with them, too. (Go ahead. They're good guys. They won't break your heart.)

"Any legacy of mine's gonna be sunshine, and I leave it behind as a sign of my love for mankind..." ~ White Falcon Fuzz, The Mother Hips

Carol Hannah is My Winner

I admit to still (after 6 seasons) being a Project Runway fan. I just eat up every minute. Watching creative people produce spectacular things just with fabric, needle, and thread is riveting.

That said, last night's finale diappointed. Although all three remaining designers created impressive runway shows, there was a clear winner in my eyes.

And she lost. (sigh.)

Above are a few images from Carol Hannah Whitfield's final runway show. Are they not fabulous? (And she has an Etsy shop! Check out those cool belts!)

Well, what did you think? Did you think "Mean-a Irina" deserved her win?

Snoopy Doopy

Ben pulled this old book of Snoopy cartoons off the shelf today and begged me to read them. At age three, I thought he might not appreciate Snoopy's sometime-nuanced humor, but he giggled right along (whether he got it or not).

When he turned the page to the cartoon above, I noticed that Snoopy and I have the same feelings about winter's arrival.

I feel ya, Snoop. I'm not ready either.

Vandercook Model

File this under the heading: "How Cool is That?"

As a bona fide paper geek, I got such a kick out of stumbling across this all-paper model of a Vandercook letterpress in honor of the company's 100th anniversary. This press is an exact model of the fist press I ever used... *hug*.

Kudos to the very talented team at Logos Graphics who created this baby! How cool is that?!