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  1. Thank you Erin!
    You may recall we ordered the Winter Wedding invitations for our wedding in December of 04.
    They came out beautifully. We had gotten many comments about them. Everyone loved them.
    So thanks again!

  5. What a neat idea! I love anything that has to do with “swapping”. It’s just a great way to share what you like to do with people who appreciate it!

  13. OK, I thought Miffy *was* a Sanrio character, but I was also confused since she has a separate website with games and all. No, the Sanrio bunny is named Kathy! She has no mouth!

  14. Hi Erin! You make me want to have a baby all over again! Remember that my oldest is going to college near you? No Babies for me!

    Thanks for the comments about my blog! Slowly, but surely!

    My fingers are itching to knit lingerie! Pick some yarn girl!

  15. Mmm…sounds like lovely products. I have a moisturizer that’s got an orangey scent to it that I LOVE.

    Anyhow…I also wanted to tag you! You’re it…check out the deets on my blog 🙂 (www.theinkspotblog.com)

  16. I had to laugh reading “Unbreak My Heart” one- because that song drives me bonkers (no secret love here), but my husband used to joke that that was going to be his American Idol audition song- and he soooo cannot sing, LOL.

  17. What a wonderful post. Thank you. I have been educated today and feel such a sense of gratitude. I, too, wrote about female human rights heroes and in my research learned of Mao Hengfeng’s story also. In reading her story, I was reminded somewhat of Nora Lamb’s story — different circumstances, but both women in China, pregnant and imprisoned for not “obeying” the government.

    I was not aware of the sisters you wrote about. Thank you for bringing them to my attention.

  19. Wow, you really love pens. I love the sharpie but favor the Micron. But usually stick to the mechanical pencils. I have like a million of them…and lots of kneaded erasers. the computer takes care of the rest for me. Great post, I think I might actually be tired of hearing about the other part of the NSS : )

  20. You hit on something very important there. Children love to take pens apart and, as a result, lose springs! I have an art pencil that is as small as my pinky. I found it in college. It’s softer than a #2, and I’m no illustrator, but I love the way it writes.

  24. I can’t believe I’m commenting on this post above all your others but I have to give a shout out to the Scotch ATG! I use it all the time at work and it rocks! I will admit to using a few inappropriate words when I have to change the roll of adhesive, but that’s probably just due my impatience and unwillingless to admit that I need to look at the directions first 🙂

  26. I have two- best thing EVER! My sis, who does most of my assembly work, took forever to figure out how to change the roll, LOL. Poor thing.

  28. Oh, my Erin… I gotta check this little tool out then if it punches 8 sheets of cardstock like “butta”! I dread using my 1/8″ hold puncheroo…

    And I am dying to get the Accucut, too!

  29. They are so fun! You should do Etsy, just to get you started. Link it to your website. Best to get your feet wet than to dry up in the sand : )
    It’s easy for me to say, doing, I know is completely different.

  30. Etsy would be a good starting point for goodies like these- so bright and cheery!

    I’d much rather make those than paperwork, LOL, what’s that anyway??

  31. I, too, think you’d do fine with etsy. You have nothing to lose.

    BTW, I loved your comment about my son! Thanks! He makes me proud! Don’t forget he is Geneseo bound!

  35. Hi Erin! Thanks for featuring Weddiquette’s giveaway. We definitely need more entries! It’s such a unique idea, and the cookies are beautiful.

    I love your blog, by the way. Would you like to exchange links? 🙂

  36. Awww, Erin! Thanks for the blog love! Funny how I am the first person to comment on your post. Yes, I admit it that your blog is one of the first that I visit first thing in the morning! 🙂

  40. Wow, that brings back my designs school memories Erin! I still have this book somewhere in my house, but you’ve got me wanting to find it, dust off the cover and read it again. I’m a design nerd, too!

    “…as a designer what I design may change and the passion with which I design it may ebb and flow, but for those who truly love what they do, the initial spark in some way, shape, or form will always be there. Sometimes I’ve had to dig deep to access it, but when I do even that smallest spark has lit my way.”

    You go, lady! My thoughts exactly! I tell my fellow designer friends who are still doing corporate work (though I still do a bit of it myself), that designing stationery and paper goods is just an evolution of my passion as a designer.

    Great post! Love it. One of the reasons why I read daily. 🙂

  41. So glad I’m not the only design nerd, or better yet stationery design nerd, out there ladies. Thanks. Knowing readers like you are in my blog audience inspires me to write more about the craft and skill we all love so much!

  42. Erin, these are fab ideas. I love that you’re conscious of the empty pocketbook syndrome we see as the wedding approaches, but you still can offer such beautiful ways to tie everything together to make the event even more memorable for couples and guests.

    The envelope idea is genius! Would be helpful to an additional vendor who has to place dual purpose favors/place cards on that table too! Wouldn’t a box of truffles with the envelope centered on the ribbon be gorgeous? Ooh! Inspiration just hit! (emailing you!)LOL

  43. Very cool 🙂 – I do a lot of combination items too where it makes sense. No reason in using extra paper if we don’t have too!

  44. Hey Erin – thanks for sharing this and introducing me to this cool group. Hope some of the sold out tickets to their 2 NYC Sept dates are yours!

  45. I wish! But I think I used up my concert quota In June when I went to see Swervedriver. I’m always glad when I can share cool music. Sigur Rós is great (even my 60+ yr. old MIL has a CD of theirs!) Thanks for commenting!!

  46. I attended a wedding with old vintage postcards as their “guest book”. Everyone got to right on their own, it was a fun idea.

  48. I love the Make/Take-a-wish bowls. That’s a wonderful idea!! I wish I’d thought of something like that when I got married…if only the Internet then had been more like today!

  49. Stephanie: Love that idea! Especially since I have a huge postcard collection. Except mine are almost all “used.” I love the stamps, cancellations, the messages and the memories, as much as the International locales.

    Isha: I’m going to keep the theme of “sharing” in mind as I set about creating new designs. Thank you!

    Carey: “If only the Internet then had been more like today!” You said it sister!! The sad thing is I got married 5 years ago and I still don’t think there was as much stuff out there then as there is today. What did brides do before the internet?

  50. The Bemelmans Bar(and the Carlyle Hotel) is a well known haunt for illustrators to meet up.
    You can often find some of NYs best known illustrators(and visiting illustrators) in there having a drink. The murals are lovely.
    That’s very cool that you went there 🙂

  51. At a friend’s wedding she sent out a 10″x10″ piece of white silk with her invitation that was in a sweet little package with a note that asked each guest (or couple) to bring it to the wedding personalized. Some simply brought back a dyed piece, some stitched a saying, some hand painted a memory that they had all shared, and some just had little buttons and beads attached. Each one had the name of the guest pinned to it and at the wedding that was at a gorgeous country garden, there was a rod set up and the squares were pinned one by one by the guests into a quilt for all to look at. Later, her mother embroidered the names onto the corner of each square and turned them into a beautiful quilt for the couple’s bedroom. Definitely a unique piece and memories that will last forever. Not to mention something useful!

  52. Sounds gorgeous Andrea. And I’m betting it was warm too (that makes it extra appealing to me!). What a cool idea. I had big plans to quilt my sister a blanket made from all her fun, old t-shirts from childhood and high school before she went away to college. Never did get around to it though. Still this guest book alternative sounds so pretty and moving. Thanks for sharing…and I’ll definitely be stopping by your blog in the future too!

  54. Oh, that is just adorable. From the sea of blue over here, Erin… I can only admire your pinks from afar! Those are such cute announcements, aren’t they?

  57. I love Jennifer’s creations too!
    I was given one of her aprons last year as a gift! I love the fabric combinations.
    I will have to check out all her new things on her web site right now!

  58. I had a similar experience with our eldest. I was a MOH for my friend and she wanted my eldest to bear the rings (I think he was 3 1/2) – after the rehearsal, he ended up with a dummy pillow and walked about half way- before sprinting the final 15 feet to go sit with his Mema (aka Grandma). He never did make it to the altar, LOL. But he was a cutie in his tux!

  60. OK, I am intrigued. I will have to go and investigate at the store this morning after I go to the post office. You put it all over your face and eyes? Sounds simple enough. Does it come in different shades because I have very freckly skin. This could be the answer to my ever shrinking me-time.

  62. Kisses to you from Gardiner- thanks so much for mentioning us! Our 3Way Color comes in 4 shades and can be used to accent the eyes, to give your cheeks a bit of sheer color or on the lips. If you’re looking for more “all over” coverage, try our Tinted Moisturizers (in 6 tints). Feel free to pass this code along to your readers for a 25 % discount on online purchases of these and all our other great products until August 7. KMFBLOG3 Enjoy!
    Heather- Product Developer @ KMF

  63. Thanks all for your comments! And thanks to Heather for sharing a discount code. I’ll be sure to use it on a couple of the products I can’t find locally on store shelves. I can’t even tell you how thrilled my husband is that our local Wegman’s carries the KMF Aloe Vera toothpaste!

  67. I am afraid I am not much of a movie buff, however that was a really interesting post and that movie title web site is very cool – thanks for that!

  70. Oh, I have this one in my design library! You know it’s a classic when you can pull it out years later and the exercises still applies!

  72. Oh, sounds great! Thanks for sharing! I will have to check it out – could use a good dose of creativity right now. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

  73. I saw your name on that list too.
    It was fun to round up all the bits and pieces in the studio that I have been hoarding and send them off to Holly. I still have a lot left. Maybe we should do it again!

  75. Oh, I hear ya! The holidays have been on my mind all of last week and this week. I’m expecting it won’t go away for sometime. The leaves are starting to slight change here in my neck of the “woods” — so that helps me get into the mood!

  77. Merry Xmas Erin – we are all over Xmas at the moment too! In the 90 degree heat, seeing a reindeer or a candy cane cools me right down!

  85. Oh, that sounds like a book I want to have too! Thanks for sharing Erin! Designing typefaces is something I always wanted to set some time aside to do — ever since I met Sumner Stone at his studio for a design school project. Seeing a type designer at work is something that I think is fascinating and inspiring.

  87. I only use the calculator and Dictionary. Every once and a while I will play the memory game. I am on my google apps page more, but that is now filled with blog feeds because i prefer that to google reader.

  88. Erin…sorry it took me so long to comment here! Thank you so much for your help, and wow, thanks for the amazing blog post! LOL. I have updated my blog with the final shots of the cakes and will add more of the progress shots in another post or two hopefully soon.

    We enjoyed the cotton candy…sadly it was too humid to use it for the cake; we had a feeling that would happen. 😉

  89. I’m happy to say I am widget free. It’s too much stimulation for my brain to handle at once.. plus.. I would spend an entire work day toying around with my super fun widgets verse getting any work done!

  90. I have a really good one, the Loren Ipsom widget. Guaranteed to save you lots of time when you need a bunch of Greeking pronto! I use it all the time!

    You can indicate the length and even style of Greek that you need (i.e., paragraph, list, short sentence,e tc.). Or you can just do this super cool variable length adjust in realtime! Now, how design nerdy is that!

  92. I wish my Apple widgets loaded a little quicker too. I think I would use them a lot more if they loaded faster. I too use the calculator and dictionary(not that you can tell because i still have terrible spelling)
    I also use the translator because I am in Canada and so much is written in french( I love french canadian blogs).
    I also use the converter because we are metric and the US uses imperial measures so i have to convert sometimes.
    I just wish they were faster 🙂

  93. Thanks again for your help and company Erin! I hope we’ll have many, many more chances to work together…in the same room at the same time!!

  94. Ok- I’d never get anything done with all that on my desktop. I’m too distracted as it is… (did I mention I should be working..?)

  95. This sounds like a really great exhibition.
    I just saw some cool mugs with pantone chips on them and I think that Kelly Maron letterpressed on paint chips and it looked great!
    The other item that I always think there should be a second use for is the sample chips they give you at DIY shops for Formica – have you seen those? They are really beautiful little tiles of texture anc colour.
    Thanks for this Erin.

  96. Count me as another lover of vintage travel posters. There is something from that era that just captivates… Funny, I was just telling my hubby here that the 1930’s fashion is one that I can be fine with coming back again, completely reinvented.

    Have fun with your time off!

  97. I love your beauty posts! I will have to try a few of these products. I religiously use Arbonne after my girlfriend started selling it a few months ago. It is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I’m going to blog about it soon. I’m interested in the Facial Spray though… that may be something nice for my brides too!

  98. I’ve made that drive up the Thruway quite a number of times myself and it’s beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

    And enjoy your vacation!

  101. Good to hear you are back! I’m so looking forward to fall too — its my favorite season. I pulled out the sweaters and corduroys yesterday and can’t wait to switch over my wardrobe. And of course, I agree, shopping is in order!!!

  109. Those are adorable! You and Jess are on the same wavelength, I’ll have to have her over so you can teach her to make these. I kid you not, just yesterday she and Em were arguing(“we’re not fighting, honest mom”) over how often Jess plays with her button collection and her defense for keeping them all was “Well! Erin has a collection!!”

    Great memory, I barely recall you telling them about yours!

    Anyway…I’ll be sure to show her this post today. Better learn how to make mini’s Erin… 😉

  111. I miss playing with buttons…I use to have a great collection when I was working for the doll company. It was great, I was able to call up our antique dealer and spend hours going through all of her amazing buttons. I love yours, their great.

  115. I love these and they would make great hostess gifts! I love to entertain (obviously!) and these are a must-have for me. I love the designs they have to offer, too… It is hard to find chic coasters, since most run along the novelty lines. Nothing is worse than getting a coaster favor at someone’s wedding with their picture on it!! (and we all have quite a few of those lying around)

  118. OMG, Erin! I was eyeing the same thing a couple of months ago, but the one I was eyeing was a grey or greenish color. I am not the ruffles kind of girl, but I do love these ruffles! They fit! I might be doing the same with you – save up for one and dropping major hints. Luckily, it’s still about 100 degrees here (aren’t we starting the Fall season soon?) so I don’t have the need for it just yet. 😉

  121. Ohhh, this is a good question Erin! For me, it’s really mundane things — a crack in the sidewalk, hanging garden lights, patterns in nature, and architecture for sure!

    You’re not the only one to think that dance and design do have a certain correlation. A designer friend of mine presented his final design project in design school as a well-choreographed performance that I will never forget. (I still remember it, Guillermo!)

  122. ok, the visual has me in a tizzy! As a child of a long time MK consultant…with a daughter who loves it when her Mima unloads all her lip color button sample cards, I can totally see Jess making bootleg lip gloss hang tags now! 😉

  123. OMG, I know exactly what you are talking about. I used Quark since 1994 and only just switched over last year. I really didn’t want to. I loved Quark. And I knew it so well. It felt like a total betrayal when I made the shift to Indesign.I’m not sure that I have bonded with Indesign yet. I still miss Quark 🙁

  127. You won’t regret at all! I broke up with Quark a few years ago and have NEVER looked back. It’s like a bad boyfriend who doesn’t want to admit that he needs to change his ways (not that I bad andy bad boyfriends in my past! :-D)

    InDesign works wonderfully with all the other Adobe apps that you’ll be constantly saying, “Ah-a!” when you drag one design element from one app into another Adobe app’s window!

  128. Oops! My first post didn’t show up!

    What I tried to say is that you so eloquently described a similar affair I’ve had with a (shhh!) Corel product for many years.

  129. I was just reading this again and trying to figure out why I miss Quark. I think its because Quark was the first piece of software that really helped a designer do their page layout without physically having to do “paste-up”. It was such a revelation to be able to shuffle everything around on the computer monitor instead of on the light table. I think, like Cathe says, Quark was like a boyfriend with bad habits – but it was special – it was our FIRST boyfriend 🙂

  132. You will be a great addition to the martha audience. You were one of the first bloggers that I ever noticed who commented frequently on other blogs – and we all appreciate that. I would love to go to the Martha show. I have huge respect for what she does. have fun.

  134. I’m so glad you’re taking me with you…when I grow up I hope I can be half the blogger you are! I’m really looking forward to this, it won’t feel like work AT ALL and maybe we can even squeeze in a tiny bit of SITC attitude!

  137. Erin:

    You continue to be one of Women TIES’s most innovative, creative and exciting women entrepreneurs. I am so glad you and Jen will be heading off to New York City to promote your blog. As a huge fan, I’m sure there is more exciting news in your future. Keep up the great work. I think I’ll blog about you in my Women TIES blog today. Check out http://www.womenties.wordpress.com this afternoon. Go get them! Tracy

  139. Congratulations, Erin! I found out about your trip through Women’s Ties, but after reading through some of your older blog postings, I am now even more excited to hear through you about this experience!

  151. Oh, that is just way too cute! My kid is a picky eater now, all of the sudden! But, when he is ready for a packed lunch in the coming years (several years away!), hopefully I can find the time to do this!

  152. If I would have known you were going to Martha I would have totally taken the train in and met ya! One of the main reasons why I didn’t was I’d have no one to go with (my girlfriends go, “blog? what is a blog?”).

  153. That is way too cute. I wish I found delight in cooking and crafting like that. You’re lucky if I have enough energy to slice a tomato for a sandwich! Seriously. Maybe, someday, when I have little ones, I’ll be more gourmet lunch inclined.

  154. Erin – Callas were once funeral flowers as well, but brides have certainly changed that.

    I think Carnations get the worst rap, when they actually smell lovely and make great pomanders and monograms. Let’s start a campaign for carnation respect -yeah!

  155. I had roses because I couldn’t get tulips (my faves) without it costing an arm and a leg for my autumn wedding. But, they were a mixture of reds, like black magics and other deep reds. I think my maids had callas in their bouquets.

    For brides in the flower selection phase, I would say look at staying with one type of flower and putting a bouquet together that are in a monochromatic color scheme. It does wonders when you see the textures come alive.

    Oh, I’ve got 2 huge piles of leaves in front of my house (the leaves started turning 2 weeks ago!) – I’ll join you in that jump! 😉

  156. I agree about carnations Isha. They do smell lovely and have a charm about them. Every once in a while I get tightly grouped bunch of white or pink ones and I marvel at how sweet they look arranged in a little earthenware pitcher. I’ll pitch in on your campaign for carnation respect anytime!! I think it’s all the dyed ones that contributed to their bad rap anyway.

    Cathe…great advice! Tulips are another favorite of mine. Oh and I am so in on that leaf jumping. Let me just hop on the next flight to the bay area. While I’m there I can get some dim sum too!

    Thanks as always for the comments ladies and your expert wedding advice for my readers.

  158. I LOVE gladiolas (I think it’s an “olas”). I had calla lillies in my wedding bouquet too- that’s definitely changed quite a bit and become a popular wedding flower. But, if I were to get married today, I might do gerber daisies- they’re so cheerful and come in so many colors- including some darker versions that are great for fall.

  159. Brilliant Carey! I never thought about Gerbers for Fall, but they are so pretty and cheery like you said. I also think they don’t need much else to make them beautiful. Gerber daisies are so pretty on their own and I’m going to guess they’re not the not expensive flowers either—another bonus.

  160. I love it! You’ve got some great ones in there that I would have (and should have remembered!) to put on my list! Isn’t it amazing how fun it is when you just sit down and put to paper (or, um, type) all of the things that makes your day? Maybe we should one again, on a monthly basis.. a monthly love list! YAY!

    I love, love tea, too! It’s a nice change up from my usual cup of joe… I love the vanilla tea from Taylors of Harrogate — especially with some creme and sugar (3 cubes, please!). YUM!

  163. Ooh, a monthly love list! That’s a great idea, Cathe!

    I love chubby baby wrists too. 🙂 Thank you so much for making a list! They are so fun to read!

  167. I was just out at the park with my son and saw a few pine cones — thought of your post here immediately! I love branches, bare ones, and then handing things on them. I also love living trees for the holidays that I can decorate and then after the holidays they are still living and thriving! Once, i had a small ivy plant that was shaped into an Xmas tree and that was our tree for the season, complete with mini light strands! Way cute at the foyer to greet guests.

  171. Awww, those are such delicious and wonderful images! Happy, happy birthday! I hope it was filled with good moments, yummy treats and full of hearty laughter!

  173. I'm a candle fanatic – love to collect them but I was always afraid to burn them because then they're gone. 🙁 However, with our recent extended power outage, I had no choice but to start burning every candle we owned. I realized that candles are meant to be burned & enjoyed – not stored and looked at. 🙂

  175. I love the idea of a candle exchange. I have special gift exchanges that are similar between girlfriends. I really love a nicely scented candle that actually WORKS and I am always on the hunt for new ones. The worst is when you buy a scented candle to find out there is no scent!

  178. Oooooh, I love this color board! As a fellow color-lover, you know I’ll be checking back often for your next color post! Who doesn’t want a splash of color here and there once in a while! That teal Merino yarn is making me want to pick up my knitting again (that and the cool season coming up!)!

  179. Fantastic post!
    I love the teal eyeshadow.
    Teal and red is fab fab fab!
    I also love teal paired with a rich cream colour. Actually I like anything paired with cream!
    Thanks!
    Fiona

  181. Hmm…maybe it was good the weather didn’t cooperate? 😉

    We had limited time too- so ended up going to Block Island in RI. We LOVED it- there’s an odd feeling of seclusion there (plus we had no TV in our room at the inn we stayed at, so it was like being in our own little world). No second honeymoon for us for a while either…but it’d be nice to get somewhere warm this winter!

  182. Oh yes, the weather 😉 They have a saying for that in the Caribbean…at least on the island we stayed on. When we’d look down-trodden about all the rain (which supposedly “never happens”) the staff would casually say “Hey! At least you can enjoy the ‘indoor sports!'” It took me a while to figure out what they meant, but when I did I got a chuckle out of it. Aaahh, to have that wonderful island outlook on life!

    AND…I used to live and work in Providence. So I too LOVE Block Island. It is very secluded and beautiful. I’ve only been to one side of it really (which is sort of weird ’cause it’s not like it is crazy big). I have great pictures from a day trip I took out there some years ago (before kids of course :)). What a great honeymoon choice. Actually, there are so many US locations that I think are romantic and excellent honeymoon choices…I think I might have to blog about those next. Mmmm…Rhode Island, now you’ve got me wanting a coffee milk and some johnny cakes! Thanks for the comment Carey.

  183. It is so funny that you posted this! One of my invitation designers and I were talking the other day about my own invitations and we got on the topic of honeymoons. Mike and I are really at a loss — we wanted to go to Italy and bask in the Tuscan country side but with the rate of our dollar verses the euro, we might as well declare bankruptcy now. She told me about Peter Island, where she spent her honeymoon, and now I am definitely going to look into it as an alternative! She did say that it felt as though you were in Fiji and it is such a unique and unknown hide-a-way. I’m not really a beachy gal, but I am an all exclusive luxury resort kinda gal! Thanks for posting this, Erin!

  185. We love the Caribbean – especially the BVI’s. We’ve been to Peter Island for the day. There’s also Cooper Island and the incredibly gorgeous and remote Anegada. We chartered a 50 ft. catamaran and sailed for 10 days in the BVI’s. Ahhh….my absolute favorite place on earth. Thanks for bringing back wonderful memories!

  187. My husband and I went to the US Virgin Islands on our honeymoon. We camped at Cinnamon Bay on St. John, and then went to an “eco-resort”, Maho Bay. It was amazing!! So relaxing, beautiful, and we didn’t even need passports to get there!
    Also, thinking of Block Island… I lived in South Kingston, RI and both of my sisters spent their summers working on Block Island. (Yum, coffee milk!! And Dell’s!)
    The hardest thing about Upstate NY is not being within 5 minutes of the ocean!! Although I love the Caribbean, even walking along the beach on the Atlantic in winter is an amazing experience.

  189. I forgot about Dell’s! There is nothing like it. And I have only heard INCREDIBLE things about St. John. Really great for outdoorsy types, looking to explore a tropical location. I heard the hiking is awesome!

  190. One word, Erin…Paris. But then you knew I would say that, right? 😉 That was our original honeymoon destination – a return trip to our fave city for 2 weeks! Then, 9/11 happened 2 weeks before our wedding. We changed it to Maui, but still kept the Paris plans (we were able to use the plane tix later and the owner of the our rental loft was super cool about the whole situation) and eventually made it there for our first anniversary. Which then kicked off our annual Paris trip until the baby came along.

    Oh, now look what you did? Now I have the travel bug to return to Paris! Sigh…

  191. But does the travel bug ever really go away? I did indeed know you would say that Cathe, but now you can write your blog post, or several, on Paris for Honeymooners (or 2nd Honeymooners, since my husband and I are dying to get there someday!). I would love to read all about your fave spots especially those little-known, but wonderful cafés and bistros.

    PS Have you seen the movie “Paris Je t’aime”? (Of course you have, what am I thinking :)) My favorite scene is the one in Père Lachaise. So that’s the first touristy thing I’d want to do in Paris. Where else could you find Edith Piaf, Delacroix, Isadora Duncan, and Jim Morrison all together in one place?!

  192. I’m loving these comments! Leigh – we’ve camped at Maho Bay (the eco-friendly place) a dozen times! Took our kids there two years ago and they fell in love with it. Did you know you can stay for free in the summer if you volunteer to work at Maho 4 hours a day? It’s in our retirement plans. 🙂

  197. Earlier today I was about to go back to to the computer, when I glanced outside. Gorgeous October day. I was magnetically pulled on to the deck by the Fall air and sun. I cozied into a chair, and I’m happy to say the first thing I did was prop up both feet, crossed, on the table. It was bliss! Thanks for this FUTAB nudge.

  203. Oh, I wanted to win those cards from Fiona so badly! Lucky you! Congrats! When I saw your name as one that I recognized on the winner’s list… I was completely thrilled for you! They are gorgeous! Congrats!

  205. Thanks you guys!
    Hey, we should have a Xmas card swap – what do you think of that?

    Thanks for the mention Erin – your goodies are on their way!

  214. very spooky cookie. I wonder what it would look like if you used nickelodeon slime green color as a background.. that would be too cool for halloween.

  220. Thanks ladies! Vicki, I need to heart your shop too..I love those brown notes with the little bird. I might also be asking you for some etsy shop owner advice. Evy, Looking forward to your shop too. I had the shop for about 9 months before I finally got around to putting anything up…so I know how it is!

  224. Erin, I was blown away at this invite! You ladies whipped this up in no time and it was the perfect customized piece for my posting (and my real life party in Dec.!) You two are the best. When are you visiting Seattle? 😉

  227. They are awesome, Lori! I have tons of those cards from holidays past. It’s hard to toss them every year, so we put them all into a photo album. It’s nice to see the progression of the kids and families as the years go by!

  232. What a treat!! You are too sweet.

    Can I send it back to you? I think you’re the bee’s knees (even before you nominated me):)

  237. Congrats again, Erin! I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating your 5th anniversary! Love the photos of you guys on your wedding day! Makes me smile!

  241. Hey Erin! Great post, I wanted to hop in here and add that I just got that fab little poufs to add to each order for free while supplies last!

  249. Yes, Molly, it does feel good. It’s also interesting. I realized after I wrote it that some of the things I now love about myself were things or experiences I really disliked at one time or another. I guess it shows we are richer for every experience we have!

  253. Hey lemondrop. I have an awesome hairdresser who’s a certified Goldwell master colorist. We’ve played with the formula a lot over the years, and finally have it down to 1 process (we used to have to bleach, then color) for my highlights. Of course we also need to color the rest of my hair for gray coverage (yikes!). The woman is a hair chemistry wiz. If you are from Central NY let me know and I’ll give you her info.

    Gotta give a shout out to all my fab hairdressers over the years…Ivana (Chicago), Melissa (Providence), and Kristi (Syracuse). You guys rock.

    My number one tip to getting great highlights is to ask for someone who specializes in color when making an initial appointment at a new salon. Oh yeah, and when moving and/or switching colorists always try and ask for the formula you’ve been using on your hair. Get it in writing if you can. It will help the next colorist immensely.

    Probably more info than you needed, but I hope that helps. Geez…I am waaaaaay to into my hair.

  257. Love the list Erin! We really are lucky….even if some of the things didn’t seem to be “Blessings” when we were younger!

  259. I would hate to know exactly how much time I spend on this stuff every day. I feel like it is getting so out of hand. I’m thinking of putting myself on a serious online budget or diet or something.

  260. I’m with evy – I need to put a limit on my “on-line” time. And, BTW, I was like that in school too – I never wanted to miss a day. 🙂

  262. Hey there!

    I'm kinda dropping by randomly (& kinda dropping by to hit you with my EC) to tell you about this new selling site I found. It's called ArtFire.com & you should check it out.

    It's still really, really new (still in beta) but it's heading in a really good direction! They are already buying advertising online & in print magazines to bring in traffic to the site. (It's already got almost as much traffic as indiepublic.com)

    It's got stats for shop views so you know where your customers are coming from! I know! Gasp! Faint! Right? hehe

    & it's just $7 a month (for the first 5000 artists) to list & sell as much as you can FOREVER. $7 a month no matter what! I signed up on that alone! haha

    Anyhoo, it is new so there aren't zillions of people using it (which is good & bad) but I thought you might want to take a look at it. With the ad campaign they are working on kicking in soon (or so they are saying), I think it's going to be a good place to start listing!

    If you sign up, give me a yell & let me know what you think!

    Always,
    Amy

    P.S. I saw you on the front page yesterday & loved your shop! Great idea!

  267. In the past, my husband and I would pick a charity and make a donation in each other’s names. Then we’d present it to each other as a gift on Christmas morning. This year I wanted to go bigger though. I convinced my family to chip in to support a non-profit instead of exchanging gifts. And for the first time, I’m doing a neighborhood food drive! I really hope the food drive goes well. I just whipped up some door hangers and put them out this morning. About 150 of them! I’m going to go around on Saturday to pick up items, and I’m really hopeful that a bunch of my neighbors will participate. If it’s a success, I’ll have to make it an annual thing! And it isn’t costing me a penny! 🙂

    I wish I lived nearby because that book club idea sounds wonderful!

  270. Your words are wise and true. I can’t get that poor man out of my head. He showed up for work and was trampled by people trying to get a good deal on holiday presents for a holiday we celebrate in honor of one who gave his life for us. We all need to get back to basics and the true meaning of the holidays, which ever we celebrate.

    I think we have come up with a great idea for this and we are giving it away free. It is a 17 page electronic guide for hosting a Holiday Giving Party. Come check it out on our site – love to know what everyone thinks.

    My best for peace, love , health and happiness this Holiday Season.
    Dawn

    http://www.partybluprints.com/Articles.asp?ID=154

  271. For the past few years, we’ve “adopted” one of the families at my school.

    This year, another counselor and I are going to take one of our students on a girlie shopping trip. The best and only excuse to be at the mall this time of year 🙂

  276. I can definitely relate to that letter! I think having more time would solve a lot of my issues (e.g. the piles of dirty dishes, the paper work that I keep putting off, the fact that I can’t even watch ONE Netflix movie a month).

  277. Fabulous letter! I laughed when I read that you asked for a husband when you were 25, I used to wish the same thing. Maybe it’s having the husbands that make us all need more time now? ;o)

  279. I love EBK! Their stuff is beautiful and so well-made (and local for me in Baltimore too).

    I can’t wait to see your cards and pictures!

  290. I use the mineral powder make up too – love it! (as for mascara, sadly I quit wearing it – only because I’m too lazy to take it off at night) LOL!

  291. I am a pipe cleaner artist myself, but never really knew where the term “pipe cleaner” came from. Always thought they were for cleaning stove pipes! Then one day I went to a cigar/smoke shop and they were selling the original pipe cleaner, and it dawned on me… AH-HA! To clean pipes for SMOKING! I’ll tell you what, the real pipe cleaners are much more dense than the pipe cleaners used for crafts. I guess “chenille stem” will keep the kids away from the “pipes.” =) I have yet to use the real pipe cleaners in any of my creations. I have pics of my creations on my blog if you’re interested: http://fuzzington.blogspot.com

  292. Great perspective! It is so easy to get down and convince yourself that you make crap. Lots and lots of crap. But I need to remind myself of the same thing I use to tell my students: you have to make lots of really bad art if you want to make one piece of really good art.

    Good luck in 09!

  294. That is an awesome quote! I’m going to start 2009 with a creative kick by connecting and being around smart, positive-thinking, forward-looking creatives like you! (And no, that is NOT a kiss-up!) 😉 Positive thinking is contagious!

  296. I’m going to go with ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ only because it always made me feel good after being dumped in college. Something about the gorgeous leading lady not getting guy lifted my spirits and helped me get on with my days… 😉

  300. The flashback montage in The Story of Us includes clips of their wedding. It is totally dated, especially her headpiece, which makes it so real. This section of the movie never fails to make me cry. Every single time. The movie is all about what marriage is really like; impossibly difficult at times, but vital and worth it.

  302. I have to say Adam Sandler’s The Wedding Singer…”Again, something that could have been brought to my attention YESTERDAY!!!!”

    BTW – I loved The Story of Us – Exactly like she said – “The movie is all about what marriage is really like; impossibly difficult at times, but vital and worth it.”

  305. How cozy!! When I see shops like hers, I’m so inspired to lean how to knit (or to purchase something soft and warm!).

    Absolutely beautiful.

  306. Cute! I want one, even though the high’s expected today is 68ºF… It does get a bit nippy here in December, but no where near the 8ºF you’re experiencing. Sending you my warm thoughts, Erin!

  319. I’ve often wondered about whether or not people know if I stop following them.

    There was this tech guy that I was following whose girlfriend broke up with him and he was posting 1100 times a day about how much he missed her. I was afraid that if I unfollowed him, I’d send him over the edge. Hopefully he wasn’t using Qwitter!

  320. Erin, I’m no expert on time management (ask anyone!), but what I try to do is schedule as many things as possible. For example: 3 weeks ago, I decided to schedule our laundry and so far it’s working smoothly! Instead of doing 5-6 loads of laundry during the weekend, I do very small loads throughout the week separated by colors (whites, colors, etc.). I try to do the same for my workload (though everyday there is some curve ball that gets thrown into the mix). I also use a kitchen timer to schedule tasks in 30 minutes increments for anything – breaks, email writing, social marketing, etc.

    Hope that helps. It’s a constant work-in-progress!

  321. I have a ginormous dry erase board for categorized to-do lists at my desk. love it.

    And if I cross of a certain number of things from the lists I make myself go have a glass of wine or read a chapter of mu book. Just something relaxing.

  322. Boy I could use some help with this! I have so many projects I need to work on that I’ve been completely avoiding (filing, uploading, other boring stuff…).

    I definitely reward myself when I get work done. Chocolate chip cookies are serious incentive 🙂

  324. Oh, goodness – I need help with this, too. I have no problem (well, usually) finding motivation to do the things that I enjoy doing. It’s those things that I don’t enjoy as much that I can’t quite find the motivation for.

    A few things that work for me:

    -Set a deadline
    -Make limited lists – I create so many lists that I spend more time making them than actually completing the tasks on them!
    -Do extra when you’re motivated – then you’ve got a little time to relax when you’re feeling a little slacker-ish.

    Good luck! Hope you get some good tips!

  326. Erin,

    I read with delight your wonderful passage about your aunt and the meanings behind The Zipper. This story touched me in so many different ways. I, too, have had so many experiences such as you describe. And I also scoop up those meaningful talismans. In fact, my home is filled with odds and ends that I have collected over the years that remind me of special moments in the same ways you describe.

    They call that decore Shabby Chic, but each item that I have collected has a meaning. I love to see the looks on peoples’ faces when they see these items. I am always anxious to share my memories with them.

    Enjoy your gift and now you know why I continue to make jewelry. It is so special when someone connects with a piece in that way!

  327. The secret on this is to priortize. Having a design biz, the samples (my creations) always get pushed to the back burner because there’s really no deadline. Customer come first. After that I get as much as I can done.

  328. bridechic, you summed up my issue in a nutshell. I wish I had time for “my creations” as you put it. Customer’s do come first. but I will start scheduling in design time now, because it should be a higher priority than I’m allowing. Thanks for the tips all!

  329. I find coffee really helps my mind to focus and stay on task. I am a full time medical sales rep, mommy to a busy 3 year old boy, wife and owner of 2 (yes 2) Etsy stationery shops. I’m no expert, but I find coffe and having my own office space where I can close the door are key:)

  330. As a self confessed control freak I lose sleep if I think that I may be getting behind on tasks or that things are piling up on the ‘to do’ list. And as a 40 something woman I cannot afford to lose sleep!
    So I am driven by the desire to not have bags under my eyes – which means get a good night’s sleep, which means get the work done now!
    So it’s purely a vanity thing for me 😉

  331. I hear you Fiona! I am becoming more protective of my sleep these days as well. I’m a morning person too, so I try to get things done early as well. Inkspot, this morning was a 2 cup morning for me so I can relate to your advice as well! Thanks!

  336. Erin,

    This sounds exciting! As creative people, our minds are always on the go. It is so satisfying to be able to add new ideas to our repertoire!

    Good luck and I will keep you in mind. I will be needing some stationery soon!

  340. This is awesome Erin! I love the logo and the sentiment behind it. The font has such a nice flow, too. I like hearing the backstory on how this came about. Very inspiring!

  353. Ouch!!! Sorry to hear that. Have you tried to put it in a ziploc bag w/kitty litter and let it sit for a few days? It works for phones that have gone swimming!!!

  354. Hey Lisa, Thanks for the sympathy. We did the kitty litter thing, as well as a stronger desiccant “Damp Rid.” I think that’s what brought it back to life for a while. But like I said…when the charge finally went completely, so did the rest of it. Oh well…I’m back online now!! Thanks!

  356. I wish I could say that my kids' lunches look like those! Sometimes the mood strikes and I get creative but I don't do it nearly enough. I could use a little inspiration & motivation every once in a while and this meal looks adorable!

  357. You guys are so sweet. Honestly, It's all about the cookie cutters. That little bunny is a PB&J sandwich (which is pretty much #1 's standard lunch request). Apparently if it's shaped like and animal or flower it tastes better. Who knew?

  363. What a great post and I couldn’t have said it better myself! I think people who become “jumpers” are pleasantly surprised at how much it jumps their spirits. Battling cancer is a terribly difficult, lonely and very scary thing to endure. Getting a little card is a wonderful distracting and give you that little extra encouragement to keep fighting hard.

    If anyone wants to join just email me spiritjumper@spiritjump.com

  372. Hi Erin – this is so cute! How about a few more NYC bar reviews – those were great!? Hope all is well. Let me know if you get out to Skaneateles – would love to see you some time!
    Happy Summer!

    -Rebecca

  373. Thanks for the lovely description of what Treasuries bring to the table – I love making them (and being in them)
    LeshasWorkshop (on Etsy) is my place to sell, but also to connect with all those other wonderful handmade goodies (like yours). Cheers!

  376. oh my goodness i adoooore the color scheme of the yellow, white and black. i want to pull this off for a fall wedding but i'm not sure i can? anyway, have been looking for inspiration from this site and also these wedding cakes pictures. thanks!

  377. What a lovely post. So nice that your little girls are learning about growing vegetables at a young age, I love it!

    I'm most inspired lately by the colors and various creatures of summer. Dragonflies, birds, flowers… And the vegetables, yes! Though I don't have a garden, I'm loving seeing what pops up at the farmer's market each week – the colors are incredible!

    The photo of the beans is beautiful. I've seen them before and never knew what they were.

  378. It's so amazing what can be inspiring! For myself, I've been inspired lately by the weather and also other people's designs. I've found some amazing designers recently and it's been amazing!

  381. That is the hottest bag I have seen all year. I am going to enter that contest now. Love Avelle and Wishpot!

  383. Ahhhh Your blog is wonderful, soo nice to find you! Your pictures are so inspiring and beautiful!

    A footprint from

    Agneta & Sweden
    javascript:void(0)

  385. Love these paintings! I can’t do it yet, but would love to have you paint my home this winter possibly. I love the snow and kids out front. Maybe a couple of dogs too?

    Let me know,
    ANnie

  386. Thanks Annie! Will shoot you an email. I’d love to paint your home. Thanks for all the kind words!
    Warm Regards,
    Erin

  389. Thanks so much Vivian! It can be tough to share one’s writing (especially something unrevised! Gasp!), but I loved the topic and the prizes are so incredible I could not resist. I appreciate the kind words.

  398. I am lucky to work with a large group of culturally diverse kids who live in an urban setting. They are the perfect inspiration. Thank you!

  399. Thanks so much Linda! This year more than ever I am craving inclusive holiday celebrations (and some of that global food!).

  401. What lovely entry, Erin! Love the togetherness and sharing, the opportunity for all the kids to learn about different foods and traditions from different countries and holidays! Nicely done! Thanks so much for joining in the fun! Happy Holidays!

  402. Thanks for having me! I so appreciate your efforts to inspire your fellow kidlit writers. Happy Holidays!