one of my favorite things ever / seth's birth announcement

baby announcement design & details by SHE PAPERIE / letterpress by somersault / my own snapshots

for someone like me, a birth announcement is more than a trivial tradition. it's the real deal. it's more important than crib bedding designs and hospital bag contents. i mean, nowadays texts and tweets are the first announcements of birth, i get that. but still, a legit birth announcement (sent through the mail!) feels like a right of passage. to me, it's an honored hello to the world. or perhaps that's just the stationery sweet tooth talking; it's another incredible excuse reason to mail something marvelous.

during the nine months, i had dreamed up some simple ideas for seth's announcement and hoped to find time to design it myself. ha! then he was born and all my spare hours turned into moments and holding him (and napping!) seemed more important than any other task at hand. so i turned it over to a designer i could trust completely with such a precious project. enter, suzanne of SHE PAPERIE. (she rarely blogs anymore because she is slammed with creating beautiful paperie projects. follow her instagramming obsession right here!) she totally understood why this project was so important to me. suzanne is so awesome with her custom work; putting her heart into every collaborative effort. we texted nearly every day, usually in the wee (freelance design / feeding baby) hours to make sure we both shared the vision for seth's announcement. she took my ideas and ran with them, taking them into flight up into the clouds. her design really took my breath away. and since suzanne is the queen of details, she thought of all the ways to package it together and present it (all tied up in a bow inside the envelope). she found coordinating twine and washi tape that would tie the loose ends together perfectly! her packaging skills kill me. this announcement perfectly suited our little mr. seth.

and... the letterpress (!!!) printing by somersault was absolute icing on the cake. look at how thick and luscious that stock is. my dreams are made of paper this thick. better than a genie in a lamp. check out more photos featured on somersault's facebook page.

thank you, suz!

am punching the clock to meet a design deadline.
my goal is to rid my desk of its towering paper piles.
any lofty goals for your weekend? hope yours is happy. 

see you monday.

clever image via pinterest. coolest place online.

fonts to fancy

do you get the newsletters from myfonts.com? it's pretty much the prettiest spam email you'll ever get. there are loads of lovelies to swoon over. my recent favorite fonts are: affair, cider script, brandon grotesque, and narziss. be forewarned, you may pay a pretty penny for such awesome letters. i like to window shop. sign up now to be on their mailing list.


today is about to be a busy one. thank goodness the sun is shining. am going out to brunch with bloggers hilary and miranda. (yay. would usually be nervous to pieces for a blogger meet-up, but instead, i'm just super excited.) then crafting with a group of activity day girls and tonight, a game night with friends. complete with a theme and prizes. it feels like it should be my birthday. wishing you a happy wednesday.

mini moo

i love anything mini. maybe because mini mart has been my nickname since i was small. the pet name later shortened to just min. i still love when i get a phone call and someone says, min! on the other end. i already know it's going to be a happy conversation. maybe that's why i have incorporated mini throughout my mini business. or maybe because dan says i'm pint size.

whatever the reason,
mini moo cards are just right.
such a simple way to design
a cute business card.
upload and go. i love moo.
even if they are putting people like me out of business.

we can do it.

to keep all my upcoming deadlines straight, i customized a calendar to hang right next to my computer to remind me of what i should be working on. i'm a visual, hands on type of person, so a calendar that i can scribble on, mark up and tear down once it's all said and done is just what i need. i think i'll be creating one for monthly meals too. maybe a calendar devoted to housework. i can see this might be my new addiction.

if you want a to-do calendar just like mine, email me at marta@martacards.com and i'll send you a 3 month pdf. file. please put calendar in the subject line so it doesn't get lost in the gobs of emails i need to sort through. click here if you want to customize a calendar for your own busy self. have fun.

roll up your sleeves america.

i am off to scour the tub. we've got guests coming tomorrow.

giveaway: i heart photography

the moment i spied irene suchocki's whimsical work, i was in love. her photography speaks for itself. she creates images with imagination. i've never seen anything like it. just browsing her collection of simple and serene scenes makes me want to collect a few belongings, head to the Cape with a scarf on my head and a book in my hand to watch the soft waves roll over my toes. her prints would be an amazing addition to any studio, bedroom or nursery wall. though her new series, city of love (photographs of paris shown below), may be my favorite.

irene is sweetly offering one m.writes reader their choice of any 8x10 or 8x8 print in her etsy shop. start browsing, start swooning. simply leave me a comment on this post by thursday, january 22nd and tell me where you met your sweetheart or your favorite vacation spot. i'll announce the winner on friday, january 23rd. thank you, irene!





ooh la la. love is in the air.
and just in time for valentine's.
{images by irene.}

p.s. today is a national day of service. don't forget to spread the love.

sunlight girl

simply love this photo.
and the sunlight pouring in.
makes me want to get a net.
and catch this afternoon sun.
(before it fades.)
and make it spring.
forever.


featured in UK Vogue / July 2005
photography by brilliant tim walker

take note.

i like clever advertising. especially when it includes clever design. this one is a new favorite. found (and featured on page 22) in the latest version of Creativity magazine. take a closer look at the new poster ad for the Dortmund Concert Hall located in germany. design created by the Jung Von Matt/Elbe Agency.

i heart lovers, tennis players, and hotel guests. which is your favorite?

more than a muse

the photography above is from an ad by strenesse blue. i've always adored miss turlington not only because of her brilliant bob or her grand doe eyes, but because she is more than just a muse. model, christy turlington is a savvy, smart & strong woman; not to mention stylish. her fearlessness to stand up for her beliefs and practice what she preaches makes her a true role model in my eyes.

a li'l christy trivia:

• Her face is used on the mannequins for the Costume Institute at the Met, causing her to be called the 'Face of the 20th Century'.
• She climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.
• She has graced the covers of over 500 magazines.

a ditty from wiki: On June 7, 2003 she married Edward Burns in a ceremony with U2 frontman Bono acting father of the bride. Burns and Turlington have two children, Grace and Finn. She is the author of Living Yoga: Creating A Life Practice

a few favorite pics. such a lovely fair lady.

send a clear message

mail out your love. your thanks. your congrats. and a message in a {plastic} bottle is downright darling. i love these and want to stock up for Valentine love letters. a perfect invitation for a pirate party. perhaps santa's response letters could come from the north pole in these cute bottles filled with red n' green gumdrops. it's clear, the possibilities are endless with these bottled beauties. find them at urbanitystudios.com. it's true, your great stamps can go right on the bottle itself. what a wonderful way to give the mailman a little smile.

pretty paperie at pb.

like you, i adore my pottery barn catalogue. it fills me up with wonder, wishful thoughts and plenty of material to slip into plastic sleeves for my dreamy house binder. the pb team is pretty rad, because not only do i appreciate fine deluxe living, but i appreciate all the details they create to make it look like a home wherein i could feel right at home. i devoured their fall issue {love the autumn decor} and i love the wall to wall paperie looks. an idea even a scrappy law student's wife could possibly create.

for the musically inclined : sheet music

for the well traveled : vintage maps

for the explorer : maps ready for adventure

my personal favorite : ancient torn pages curled into a wreath

thank you, pb.

class picture day

this print reminds me of the kids i used to know (i'd totally be the one on the bottom, far right. the resemblance is scary). i've been reminiscing a lot about high school days (and have decided i'd love to read the notes that he'd tie to the chain link fence again. where oh where is that shoebox?!). this is an ode to my creative writing class: where the goths, the cheer squad and the coffee bean kids unite. a place we all felt comfortable writing our guts out. whether or not it was any good. cool artwork by reddingk. this bunny print is super rad too.

express yourself

i feel like i should have a stationery blog, devoted purely to all the lovelies i find out there that are just waiting for a fine point pen and a 41¢ stamp. i have come across so many enveloped betties because of this national stationery show everyone keeps posting about. boy, i wish someone would explain to me how i get on that guest list. a favorite blog of mine Hostess has gathered a whole slew of beauts under one roof, last week was stationery week. wonderful idea! i was salivating. simply amazing stuff out there. cheers to the love for the letter. although we have blogs, email, cell phones, etc. i feel 'happy as a lark' to know that the art of the handwritten card is not dead, but living and thriving. i'll continue to post about my favorite creative cards that i spot online. here's another..


i like the simplicity of these la familia sketched cards. and that origami papered cake is stunning. the way they set up these photoshoots are hilarious. i love the cupcake and sandwich backdrops. brilliant! who doesn't love snacking while reading a love letter!?

orange bang

met her yet? i absolutely love her artsy, stylin' sketches. especially these orange pop princesses. i want to be one. she's rockin' the description in her bio: "Dallas Shaw creates artwork for the young, stylish art enthusiast." you go girl.

bettylicious

posh meets professional over at russel + hazel. this office supply website is for the most plain of janes to the sassy samanthas in all of us. there is an abundance of color and pattern to meet both of my persona needs. sometimes i'm feelin' like linen, then i hop over the line, wanting a pop of color. {this is exactly how i feel when i want a bit of bobbi brown while maintaining a touch of MAC. i can't ever plant my feet, especially when it comes to makeover madness. a girl should have the freedom to bring out the best betty inside; whichever one wants to come out to play that day.}

back to business, these are a few of my favorite r+h picks:
i have always wanted one of these. this is simplicity at it's best. perfect & very swirlie girlie...


i especially love their idea section featuring..
listie love
holiday letters how-to
cook up a recipe book

go green

somehow landed on this tonight.
greener grass design + gifts: it's fresh as dew.

shakers are splendid.
hoops are hip.
coasters are cool.

go window shop for yourself.

cover girl

la la la love her {especially in this pink-as-cotton-candy frock}

she even cooks with a crockpot. perhaps we could swap recipes..

hurrah. our favorite miss Reese is featured in april's Harper's Bazaar. simply gorgeous. i love that they have taken the dainty girl-from-next-door and placed her in the lush of an exotic jungle. which i think is actually LA. but that green dress... exquisite. a lovely limeade expression. ooh la la.

life is..

found these sweet images over here.
(discover the new uk talents for yourself.)
i think these two belong together.

just a typical englandy day

have discovered something new thanks to this vast blogosphere. who knew i had so much in common with total strangers!?
in a strange way - sitting in my li'l studio alone with my mac, it feels not so alone with all of my new found friends. what great company you are. welcome, welcome.

venture on over across the seas for something better than a spot of tea. journey to such great sites. i love this londonrubbish photo blog and i know you'll like it too. meg seems to have a perky persona and a whole lotta fun. what an adventurous gal.

this just in...

isn't it funny when you hear about something somewhere and it registers with you. (or as my cute sister-in-law would say, it sings to you. she always says, "when something sings to you, you must buy it." therefore, i love shopping with her.) you adore it, you love it, can't put it down and then suddenly it pops up everywhere!?! and you feel like, hey i so loved this before everyone else did. like someone somewhere could possibly give you credit for loving it first. because you know you saw it first. yeah sure, maybe the guys who were arranging the goods on the sale rack, or perhaps the mother-of, the boyfriend-of, the publishers, printers, web guy & fellow designers. but still, you always feel like the first to know.

so i found out about this talented betty from ali. well, i suppose ali put a name (abby) to the face. i had previously gushed over her works (surely, before anyone else) at Jane's (which features the full line of kate spade stationery) in sun valley & downtown Tabula Rasa, my favorite local stationers. and now, another pop up, over at hoping for.. - kelly has blogged an interview with abby. lo and behold, abby went to the beloved byu. her designs are quite clever/beautiful/quirky & fun. i am happy she has quite a following. but i hope she realizes i was an original fan - does this mean i am captain of her fan club? hmm. i'll have to get on that.

{more important than my pride, is that fact that she too lived in provo. it's like a kindred spirits thing when you find out someone resided in provo for a period of their life. it could possibly replace the kevin bacon game. the walls come down and you realize that this successful/intelligent/talented lady and you could perhaps be best of friends or at least fill the time reminiscing about the richest chocolate milk in the whole world - found at the byu creamery.}

you wonder if she still talks about the katsu-don at Demae.
i guess i could just ask her. say, at the first fan club meeting.
maybe it could just be an intimate luncheon. ali you can come too.