Count Your Blessings

I just bought this for Ben's room and I'm pretty darned excited about it. Go Etsy! Go Persimmon & Pink!

P.S. - Here's your happy song for the day: click here and scroll down to "Lovin' Arms." You're welcome. :)

{Image courtesy of Persimmon & Pink}

Free Friday

Looking through my color book trying to find the perfect brown to mix... and listening to this and feeling happy (even though I wish I could be here).

If I wasn't a Simple Inker, I'd want to be a Fish Liberator. (You'll know what I mean if you watch the whole video.)

Or, if I couldn't be a Fish Liberator, I'd settle for just being Holly Beck.

Are you free?

Dreamy Thursday

Working on a wedding taking place here in just a few short months. Again, I can't wait for leaves on the trees.

Listening to this and feeling happy.

Gone, but not Forgotten.

Dear Readers,

I am still here -- I do promise that. The last few weeks have been filled with lovely wedding projects and packing the studio carefully for our big move. I'm glad to say that, although I sit here surrounded by boxes and dripping paint cans, the moving is complete. The computer is back up and running and blogging will resume soon!

For now, I'll leave you with this photo -- the view from my new window. I love my little birdie friend, who seems to spend much of his time in that very spot. Can't wait for his tree to have leaves soon.

Missing you, Mr. Sun.

Love,
A

Thanks

Thanks to all the many friends and new customers who came out to see me in Downtown Bend last week. Here are a few scenes from, Silverado, the prettiest store around:



(And my favorite customer of all time. The smile had nothing to do with Mom's stationery and everything to do with a chocolate ice cream cone.)

Thanks again so much, Heather, and all the Silverado gals.

Gift Sets

I'm excited about these boxed gift sets Jeff & I put together for Art Hop in downtown Bend tonight. Get a beautiful box of Thank You notes, a handmade bookmark, and a set of magnets all for the normal price of just the notes! We put together a bunch like these, all colors and styles.

If you're an out-of-towner and would like to take advantage of this same deal, just drop me an email! Shipping is on me!

Luv,
A

Goodies on Sale

All of these little goodies are getting packed up for Art Hop in downtown Bend tomorrow night. Locals, please come out for some great deals! I've put together some really fun matching sets -- a great gift at a great price! More on that tomorrow!

Art Hop - Spring 2010

This week at Simple Ink is all about finishing up some lovely wedding invitations and prepping for this Friday's Art Hop event in downtown Bend. My lovely, lovely friends at Silverado Jewelry Gallery have invited me again to be their in-house artist for the evening. If you're a local Bendite, please come out and join us! (Art Hop = Free wine, snacks, and local artists to entertain you all along the downtown strip.)

Silverado was the first retailer to ever sell a Simple Ink product (way back in 2005).

I *heart* them forever.

Moving Mondays

This room (in the new nest) will likely be Simple Ink's main office. The wall color, well, it has to go. And so does Aerosmith. (Although I found this interesting, considering the Simple Ink slogan is "Dream Big." Spooky.)

I'm taking suggestions on wall colors. Any ideas? At this point, the office has a yellow/grey theme, based on some great Amy Butler fabric I scored on Etsy last year. Should I stick with that? And isn't that little window box cute? Makes me happy.

Stick To It

I'm making up a batch of new magnets for a really fun store that carries an awesome mix of home wares, gifts and clothing. This photo doesn't really do justice to the vibrant colors in the magnets... but I liked how their pretty glass domes looked in the sunshine.

Putting some sets of these in the online store soon. Get a set of 7 handmade, ultra-strong magnets for $8. Your fridge will thank you for it.

Good, Cheap Fun

I spend a lot of time pouring over which ink color to mix, which paper weight to choose, how many replications to print. But this afternoon was a great reminder that sometimes there shouldn't be any pouring over any of these things. Colors should just be picked, used and enjoyed. And who cares if it's never duplicated. It's fun. And lovely. And cheap.

Hello, Spring.

Moving Mondays

This week starts the official moving process; thanks so much for all of the good wishes on the new nest. It seems to be coming together. So for the next month or so, let's devote Mondays to moving updates.

First and foremost, hooray for garage windows. Someday soon my Heidelberg press will sit right there, below the one on the far right. I can see it already.

Risk

It has been a week of risks around here. Big ones. Look out over the edge, take a deep breath, and just jump, kind of risks.

So here's a shout-out to the optimists of the world. You remind me that the lump in my throat could turn out to be a golden egg. And that sailing to an uncharted land is never easy.

Have a great weekend, everyone. Let's be optimistic.

Ribbon Organizer

I love this little ribbon organizer featured in last month's Better Homes and Gardens magazine. All of our wholesale orders of greeting cards and gift enclosures get wrapped in bundles with satin ribbon before shipping, so there's quite an array of ribbon to be organized. This mesh idea would keep everything so tidy! Love!

Books.

I'm looking at all of these books on my windowsill and wondering when I'll find time to read them. Before the library comes knocking for them back. But I want to. I really do.

Ship orders first. Taxes second. (Ug.) Books third. Might not get to third today.

Giveaway!

My new blogger friend, Melissa, is offering a giveaway of Simple Ink goodies today over on her inspiring blog, So about what I said....

Melissa is a freelance writer and newspaper columnist, in addition to being a very popular blogger. If you haven't already read her work, I'll think you'll enjoy her fresh, open commentary on life, love, and dating with disabilities. All that and she has a great eye for design.

Leaving a comment on her blog today can win you a free set of Simple Ink boxed notes ($20 value!) and/or a huge discount in my online store. Check out So about what I said... for details.

Spring Dreaming

These dresses from Garnet Hill have been pinned up on my bulletin board for a few weeks. They make me happy. Hurry, spring. I can't wait.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy Birthday, Mom! Not only do you keep Simple Ink going, but you keep me going! Thank you for all of your love and support. I don't know what I'd do without you.

Save the Date Magnets

I burned the midnight oil to make up a bunch of these sweet Save the Dates. We went for flat printing on these to save on cost, but they're backed with a magnet to add a special touch. Hopefully they'll become fixtures on many fridges. My favorite touch is the bride and groom's monogram carved on the tree... to be reprised on the formal letterpress invitation soon. More on that to come.

P.S. Super sweet with kraft envelopes.

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 Birthday, Dad!

Happy Birthday, Dad! Oh how I love you. Thanks for all you are and all you do. And for always, always being there, believing.

{Dad holding our Ben, October 2006}

Wishin' & Hopin'

For more than a year now, we've been looking for a new home for our little family and for Simple Ink. It feels like a long search. A few times I've gotten my hopes up... but things haven't quite fallen into place.

Then, on my birthday last Friday, the most perfectest place of all came up. In need of love (cleaning, painting, hole-filling, water damage fixing... oh, and some appliances), but on a nice quiet street where Ben can learn to ride a bike. And, ah, those three lovely windows in the garage. So perfect for a printing studio.

The catch is that we're not the only ones who thought it was the perfectest place ever. Someone else did too. Two someones. We won't know until the end of the week who is the lucky winner. A week of pins and needles... in a race where I'm pretty sure we're the underdogs.

I don't like to ask things of you, dear readers. But if you'd say a little prayer for me and my little nest, well, I'd truly appreciate it.

Update, 3-2-10: Thanks, everyone, for all of the lovely calls and messages. No news yet -- hopefully we'll know by Friday. I so appreciate the good thoughts!

Update, 3-5-10: Things are looking good! Won't know for sure until next week, but things are looking good. :)

Update, 3-9-10: Thanks to all of your good thoughts and wishes, it looks like Simple Ink may have a new home soon. I SO appreciate the outpouring of happy thoughts. Will keep you posted.

I Turn Thirty...something.

Me.... thirty-um-something years ago.

This particular shot has become a bit of family lore, as the kid in the high chair looks like my son in a dress. Exactly. (I wish I could say the parallels continue and I now look just like my mother. But she's thinner and prettier. Oh well. You can't have it all.)

I'm planning on having a fun day. Hope you do, too!

P.S. The large black spot on the right hand side was our gigantic lab, Oliver. Who I loved, loved, loved, loved. The kind of dog that lets you crawl all over him, giggling and drooling. When you're one. And it's your birthday. Aren't dogs the best? Family members you never, ever forget. Even when you're thirty... something.

Craft In America

My mom is a great Finder. She finds good stuff. All the time. And, frequently, she's finding things on PBS and that are heart-stoppingly awesome.

Last year she turned me onto the PBS series Craft In America. It's not new news -- the series has been out for a while -- but if you haven't seen it... well, I can't recommend it more highly.

You can purchase the series (like I did for Mom at Christmas) in DVD format or comprised as a beautiful coffee table book. Or PBS has kindly made the series available online for free. Watch it here.

For me, watching the series was inspiring in a life-changing sort of way. Granted, I am someone who lives in the world of craft, but I think there's something for everyone in these amazing stories.

My favorite portion, of course, was the section on Julie Chen, the amazing book artist. Find a quick summary here. Or watch the whole segment on Julie in the "Process" chapter of Craft in America.

Enjoy. You'll be inspired.

My Real Boyfriend.

This morning my husband had a little minor surgery. It involved a trip to the hospital and some anesthesia. When I picked him up, the nurse looked at me and said, "He's going to be a little groggy. Take him home and put him to bed. If he gets home and remembers none of this, that's normal. No major decisions today."

To which, Jeff pipes in, "What do you mean no major decisions?"

"Don't buy a car or a house or anything today."

We smile and nod our agreement.

However, on the drive home this is really bothering (inebriated) Jeff. Despite the fact that he's slurring his speech and repeatedly asking the same questions, he thinks he's going to work and buying a house today.

"I mean, that bothers me. I'm just fine. I know what I want. A Toyota Tundra and a house on five acres. Right? I'm thinking straight."

"Yeah, Honey. Sure."

I was tempted to take him to Macy's and ask him if he likes cashmere sweaters. Or maybe the Humane Society and ask him if he likes puppies. But I didn't. I put him to bed.

{photo from our son's birth three years ago... the last time Jeff had a hospital ID band.}

My Boyfriend, Amazon.com.

I love shopping with Amazon.com for many reasons -- free shipping is high on the list -- but I am also always impressed by how well dear Amazon knows me. He "suggested" this book for me and, well, it's just perfect. Just perfect for me. What a doll.

Here's the publisher's description:

Paper: Tear, Fold, Rip, Crease, Cut shines a light on the beautiful world of paper art, fashion and design. From the traditional art of origami and paper cutting through to contemporary experiments in conceptual paper installations and modular folding, Paper celebrates one of the world’s oldest and most widely used materials in all its visual glory, providing an analogue remedy to the digital world.

Right on. Add it to the birthday list.

P&G "Kids" Olympics Ad

Makes me tear-up every time. Nice work, P&G.

Hope you're enjoying the Olympics. Go Team USA!

I *Heart* Typography

I just love this giclee print by The Birds and the Beasts. It sums up my feelings exactly. This may have to be my birthday gift to myself.

Have a great weekend!

{via the Scoop}

His Holiness Comes to Washington

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is meeting with President Obama in the White House this morning, so I'll use that event to share this favorite-of-all photos of mine.

Taken almost exactly thirteen years ago today, the photo is starting to show some wear, but my memory of the event isn't fading. We were a lucky group of American undergraduates (our beloved professor and her husband have special ties to His Holiness); lucky enough to meet with The Dalai Lama at his home in Dharamsala and have one hour to ask questions.

You know how, when you look back on your life, there are moments of time -- almost like pin pricks -- that change you and your world view forever? This was one of mine.

To read more about the Chinese occupation of Tibet and Tibet's struggle for freedom, go here and here.

The Zax

Is it just me or does it seem like every time you turn on the radio, the TV, or pick up a newspaper "Partisan Politics" smacks you in the face? Partisan this, Filibuster that, Democrats debate, Republicans refute.


Yeah. So, I couldn't help but giggle to myself as I read this yesterday. Have you seen it? Remember it from childhood?

A quick summary:

One day, in the prairie of Prax, came a North-Going Zax and a South-Going Zax. And it happened that both of them came to a place where they bumped. There they stood. Foot to foot. Face to face.


"Look here, now! " said the North-Going Zax. "I say! You are blocking my path! You are right in my way. I'm a North-Going Zax and I always go north. Get out of my way now at let me go forth!" "Who's in whose way?" snapped the South-Going Zax. "I always go south making south-going tracks. So you're in MY way! "

Then the North-Going Zax puffed up his chest with pride. "I never," he said, "take a step to one side. And I'll prove to you that I won't change my ways if I have to keep standing here fifty-nine days."

I bet you can guess where this is going.

Yep, those two silly, stubbon Zax go right on standing there in each other's way.

"Never budge! That's my rule! Never budge in the least! Not an inch to the west! Not an inch to the east! I'll stay here, not budging! I can and I will if it makes you and me and the whole world stand still."

Yeah. Those Zax.

Here's hoping we don't have to build a Zax ByPass over Congress.

Paisley Dog Press

My husband has been the recipient of Simple Ink cards for many, many moons, so now I make it a mission to find him cards made by other fun artists. I just loved this one by Paisley Dog Press. Great quality. Fun design. Find it here.

Babies, Babies Everywhere.

Today I'm working on some cutie birth announcements using this sweet, new Japanese Chiyogami that just came in. Nothing says New Baby like little chicks, bunnies and sheep.

Babies & Weddings. It's that time of year.

Sweetness.

V-Day: Take Two

.

Since Friday's post was, well, not so sweet...here's a little sweeter side of our Valentine's Day.

Because love means not forcing your three-year-old to bring tiny, customized letterpress greeting cards to preschool on Valentine's Day. Even though you thought it would be really, really cute. And nice. And sparkly.

Because Lightning McQueen (making a mean face) is way cooler than letterpress. When you're three. And male.

Sigh.

{Thanks to my new blogger friend, Marta, for the rice crispy inspiration.}

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. :)

More.

Swamped today. (What is it about Thursdays?) Here is some more envelope liner fun. :)