happy america day

My oldest sister and I, when we lived closer to each other, used to decorate cookies every holiday. I'm not talking about slapping some icing on and a few sprinkles and calling it a day. I'm talking about meticulously planned cookies, with shading and words spelled out carefully with each little sprinkle and outlines and...the list could go on and on. We'd stay up for hours making these. These little flag cuties from Martha filled me with those happy memories. Happy fourth, everyone! Cute Husband and I are off to a waterfall hike in upstate New York today and tomorrow we plan to watch the fireworks over the Hudson River with some friends! Finally a weekend where Hoboken beats Brooklyn! What? Kidding, Brooklyn friends, kidding...

keep saving the whales

I'm thinking that the whale image might be the next bird/owl/bear/deer image craze in the world of design. I speak with authority because, well, you know, I'm a style setter and all (yeah, right). No, but, really...I kind of like this new whale thing that I've been seeing around, don't you? So I'd be pretty pleased to see more of them around. It might even be cute to try a whale glass shape for a necklace! So simple!

1. Enormous Champion beautiful whale print here
2. Desire Lines whale necklace here
3. Enormous Champion whale letterpress card here
4. Cutey pie stuffed whale here

So, is anyone else humming "baby beluga in the deep blue sea, swim so wide and you swim so free..." or something like that from Third Grade music class?!

wrinkle free

I'm going to the beach in a week and a half (who's counting down?) and I really do need a hat. Pale is the new tan, kids. At least, that's what I'm telling myself (with some strong mental assistance from Cute Husband who emails me pictures of leather handbags with the caption "this will be your face on sun" when I say I'd like to go lay out...subtle). Oddly, it's been kind of tough to find one that doesn't make me feel like I'm trying to be J-Lo circa 2003. This lovely number from Urban Outfitters might do the trick though. Sweet and simple, with a wide brim.

print madness

Remember that little project I wrote about a few weeks ago? Well, I went on ahead and go those babies produced! I'm kind of in love with them. Right now I have a copy of each within my sight, their bright colors sending me smiles this morning. I hope they'll send you some smiles, too! Check them out here and, because I love ya, 10% off for you if you'd like to grab one before Friday of this week. (note: because the shopping cart is through paypal, I can't give you a fancy code, but once I get the order I'll adjust the charge on my end so that the total is $18 a print instead of $20)

fashion for the fourth

Well, I haven't done one of these in awhile, huh? Loving this cute little i heart america/fourth of july week-inspired outfit.

dress here

flops here
sunglasses here
hat here

and i quote

laurel denise promotion

A special June/July promotion on the laurel denise website starts today! 15% off of all online orders with code "summerlove". You're quite welcome, lovelies!!

martha does craft blogging

I'm sure everyone already knows this (not sure how I missed this particular train), but Martha Stewart online has a craft blog. Yup, a craft blog. This is where they show off all of the things they effortlessly make and encourage us to put forth our A-game and attempt a reproduction. I've only skimmed through a few pages and already I have filled up my "future projects that I would really like to get to eventually" folder for the day. But, somehow, my little creations don't ever wind up looking like the beautiful goddesses of craft that are featured in their photographs. How does it always seem to wind up like that?

fanny made cool

Dude! This is cool! And, yeah, that's a fanny pack you see up there. And, yes, I did just call it cool. I could totally use one of these for all of my retail shows. Might bring some organization to the messy lump in my pocket that's my current retail show cash box situation.

up!

Anyone else cry like a hungry baby when they watched Up? Seriously, one of the best/saddest/happiest/most uplifting movies, um, ever. I think even Cute Husband might have shed a little man tear toward the end. There may or may not have been a contact falling out situation. Thank goodness my salty fingers from the popcorn didn't interfere with a quick recovery! I love, love, love, love this movie - it's definitely a must see (again and again and again)!

best thing since sliced bread

Freakin' brilliant, man. I love this packaging and this idea. How do people get to be so creative and cool?!

Link to artist: Burak Kaynak
Link to the fine blog that found it first: Packagings of the World

medium rare, with extra sugar

Oh my word, the cuteness! So, these little mini hamburgers are cupcakes. Yeah, cupcakes. And the french fries? The french fries are sugar cookies! And, so, that pretty much makes them the happiest things I've seen all week. If they had mint chocolate chip ice cream dressing (you know, in place of the ranch dressing that all hamburgers and french fries must be dipped into), I might just have to jump into the computer and devour them all. And that would be bad, not only because I can't really eat sugar, but because it would hurt my dear laptop even more than the time I spilled my morning tea all over its keyboard.

The lovely blog with the recipe: Bakerella

The lovely blog that found this first: Twig & Thistle

for your party

I've been meaning to write about this for a full year. No, seriously, a year! How on earth does that sort of time pass so quickly? Ah well, anyway...onto the thing I've been meaning to write about. Have you all ever heard of For Your Party? They are a really cool customizing party site. Get napkins, matches, coasters, gift tags, and a load of other cool stuff with whatever you want written on them! So cool. But the coolest part? (Well, for me anyway...) They've included laurel denise as one of their get the look designers! So you can grab some of my best selling sayings (like "hugs & kisses" shown above) and feature them at your event! They have quite a few sayings listed right now and a ton more on the way. I just sent some cute new handwriting phrases a few weeks ago and I can't wait to see them on the site! I've got to say, it would be pretty cool to walk into a party one day and see some little laurel denise cocktail napkins sitting on the buffet!

a new project maybe?

So...this is a new project I'm working on and mulling over. Just a little glimpse. Hopefully available on the laurel denise site and in my Etsy shop soon. I mean, I think that I kind of like them a lot - especially that "let your life become" one. Which means that I'm kind of obsessed with them, but like any creative person, kind of nervous to put them out there because what if no one else likes them and so I'm cautiously putting the word out there instead of really going out on the limb and saying "Hey, check out this new awesome thing I think I'm going to sell". Oh the joys of selling something you yourself produce and put love into.

give studio some love

The first thing I loved about Give Studio was their absolutely amazing booth at the stationery show this year. Seriously, it was like a 60 square foot dream spa and wasn't so over the top that it made a gal feel inadequate, know what I mean? It was pure perfection. The second thing I loved about Give Studio was the fact that when I walked into the booth, the designer's husband Brian was standing there, ready with a smile and willing to chat. Loved that. Reminded me of Cute Husband and made my heart melt just a little bit. The third thing I loved, after finally getting a chance to look through their site, is how lovely the designs are! I mean, seriously, how cute is that "i seriously like you" card above? Right??