Oh, pickles!

Boy howdy, I’d planned to get super-duper-ooper prepared for the mom-dot’ mini-trip to New York and the Stationery Show. Dinner reservations, a clear plan for which booths I want to hit first at the show, good organized lists of which stores I want to make sure to visit (like you and you and you). I wanted to blog about it all, too, and get back to trying to be a cool blog.

And then, life does some really irritating things. A whopper of a day. During which one good friend is in a lengthy surgery for a brain tumor I cannot pronounce or spell; surgery over, now in an ICU, but all “proceeding as planned”. During which I run around like an idiot trying to prepare for a job interview for a job an hour or so away that I don’t even remember applying for; the thought of going back to work full time giving me the start of a panic attack. During which another friend begs me to attend a ridiculous diamond jewelry event at a shu-shu bar - I am out of place at best. After which I get a call from Rob; the phone makes its usual turkey gobble, so I know it’s him on the other end. His voice, firm at first, wavers. Silence, then an announcement I don’t understand at first. “Jack died.”  

So, the cool blogging - the inspiration, the excitement, the energy - yeah, that’ll have to wait just a bit. Ditto the rest of the stuff on the list. Because today is all about holding it together. But I feel lucky to have this to read, which helps remind me about others and about how to handle myself with grace. And to read this and this, which get me to smile and laugh. And to listen to the soulful voices of Mary J, India, Erykah, who remind me to be strong. 

What was I writing about bold graphics and bright colors?  Oh, yes - love them.  So I got great delight out of reading an email from R. Nichols recently, announcing a new collection of original collage art available for sale starting next Wednesday. Clean and crisp mini artworks, created using scissors and construction paper - hurrah! 

Sadly, R. Nichols will not be at the Stationery Show so I’ll have to keep eyes peeled for his notecards elsewhere (perhaps at Cursive / ABC Home?). You can check out (and buy online) notecards, gift cards and (starting next Wednesday) original works on the R. Nichols website right here.

While you’re there, be sure to read up about his favorites and about the fabulous Mrs. Dater.  I adore his willingness to share about his favorite sugars, discovery of Marvis toothpaste (which really is incredible and worth note!) and stories about his 6th grade teacher.  L-o-v-e-l-y.

SusyJack* is near the top of my “must visit” list for the upcoming National Stationery Show. Bold graphics and lots of color = swoon!  This girl seems so incredibly hard working and dedicated; I can’t wait to see her new stuff. She is rocking some super cool printed notecards and notepads.  

And she uses the term “bellybands,” which marks the first time I’ve heard that jargon. And it makes me giggle. I imagine I’m in for learning a lot of new stationery jargon… I’m just glad I’m prepared for bellybands; otherwise, we could have had an embarrassing lemonade-spewing moment if I were to hear it for the first time at the actual show. Giggles, lots. We’re having a silly-slash-manic afternoon, oh, bellybands.

Should be outside right now. Should be enjoying the fact that it is 65 degrees and sunny; an utterly clear, blue sky. Birds are chirping. After a day or so of steady rain, we’ve seen a shift from spring-chartreuse-green to standard-landscape-of-green. It’s been such a long time coming, an awful winter that seemed to have no end. But here we are and this is it, right? 65 and sunny. It doesn’t get better, right?

So I’d spent my winter thinking… a lot. Agonizing… a lot. Obsessing, analyzing. List-making. Idea-generating. Should I do this, pursue that, work here, settle there? And I expected that, on the flip-side, I’d have half a clue about what it is I’m really supposed to be doing. If not a purpose or a calling or discovery of amazing and valuable hidden talent, perhaps I thought I’d have somewhat more of a focus or direction. And here I am, and it’s 65 and sunny and things are green and the birds are chirping and I’m not sure whether here, on the flip-side, I have any more of an idea about those things than I did before. 

The good news is that it is, without a doubt, 65 and sunny, and I can (at least) be a little hopeless in a more friendly environment. I can feel unfulfilled during a long woodsy walk with Olly; I can agonize about job-searching in a miserable economy or whether to pursue “my own thing (whatever-that-may-be)” while I’m outdoors pulling weeds, or I can become totally frustrated about my limitations… while driving with windows down.

I am certain it is nicer outside, and I am certain that not a day goes by that I don’t appreciate something or someone beautiful… thank heavens for the tiny lavender wildflowers in the grass fields… or cheery myrtle blooms… or fluffballs of lilac that brighten the day and put things in better perspective. That from under the miserable snow and ice and blanket of grey that covered for so long came these beautiful little blooms and such vibrant and radiant color.

I was surprised to see how long it’s been since I last posted! Lots going on, so I’ll play catch-up in little dribbles.  For now, I’m starting to get jazzed up for the National Stationery Show, which begins next Sunday, May 18… My mom is joining me on a mini jaunt to New York for shopping, browsing and some good eats. In preparation, I’ve made myself some little cards (pictured above). Using new custom magnesium plates from Owosso Graphic (who will be exhibiting at the Supply Side part of the show), I printed them on the Chandler & Price Pilots at Hollander’s in Ann Arbor.  

I ended up most liking the cards using my last-minute found paperboard from 6-pack dividers (who’s eco?), although I was also pretty pleased with the pink squiggles. If anyone needs anything letterpress printed in hot pink, I’m totally your go-to person. This new can of pink ink is going to last a lifetime and beyond… 

In preparation for the Show, I have to admit that I’ve been more focused on the restaurant side of things and less so on the, um, stationery… So with that in mind, later this week I’ll plan for a mini-run-through of some of the booths I’m most excited to visit. I’m sure that’ll get me back “on track” for thinking about envelopes and printing… instead of pizza… and margaritas… and Mario and Bobby and Michel Cluizel… 

As with many things round, I’m smitten by these wonderful feather spheres and hemispheres by Susie MacMurray.

Seriously fab. Susie has a range of work - including flowing robes made of deflated balloons, you have to check out - and although I immediately consider the materials (feathers, balloons) whimsical, it’s easy to enjoy her work and appreciate her attention to meticulous detail. Such wonderful, touchable texture.

I found Susie’s work by way of Mackin Ink, which also happens to have brought tears to my eyes after I read the last several posts. Beautiful, beautiful, all around.

Dear blog,

I won’t be posting much today because I’m busy. I’ve purchased ink, paper and chipboard, and have ordered my very first custom magnesium dies for my new letterpress contact/calling cards.  I have asked people to hang onto excess paperboard so I may use that for printing as well. Hollander’s has open studios on Monday evenings and their C&P is in my cross-hatches. I am excited.

Admittedly, I have also spent an embarrassing but considerable amount of time visiting Chuck on Dooce. He is fantastic. (The whole site is fantastic, for that matter.) I tried putting a cookie on Olly’s head and he would have none of that.

xo,

Meg

This is the first spring I’ve been so utterly smitten with all the tiny buds, the fresh greens and the early blossoms. I’ve always noticed them, always been so relieved to see winter say buh-bye, but this year I’ve noticed myself getting more and more interested in exactly what is blooming, how quickly it’s blooming, the entire process.

This spring, I’ve noticed the most gorgeous colors - incredibly refreshing and inspiring; here are a few pics in my fave file:

Don’t even know what these little finger-like leaves and fuzzy purple raspberries are (above), but love, love, loved the colors and weirdness.

Behind my mom’s house is a dead-brown-leaf-covered woodsy area which recently revealed some of the most amazing daffodils I’ve seen. Creamy whites with petal-tendrils reaching out, layers and layers of ruffles - gorgeous, right?!

Maple leaves are maple leaves, but these rubbery chartreuse baby leaves made me look twice. And thrice. They really got me thinking about how maple leaves know how to look like maple leaves, always with that definitive maple leaf shape; they don’t wake up in the spring and change it up and decide to look like oak leaves on a whim. How they know, all of them, that they are maple leaves (I AM MAPLE LEAF, no question of identity)… and how reliable they are (maple leaf = maple leaf, year after year after year) - it’s incredibly reassuring in a way.

Can’t get this notion out of my head lately. The kicker is the search for tuning in to exactly what might make me happy + what might also produce income. (This is something Holly at decor8 has been addressing via many interesting interviews lately, if you’re also in the middle of that search for yourself.)

A lovely new piece from Linzie Hunter, who also designed some whimsical illustrative spam, all available right here.