January: Thank You note season

From the age we could write my dear Momsters monitored the writing of precise thank you notes by my brother and I. They were always the first thing we did after any present was received, a detailed list of what we were given by whom was our guidance.

Well, now I'm an adult and I still consider myself a well-trained thank-you-note-writer, however I am not a punctual as I used to. You see, I always run out of stamps or notecards, or the envelopes go missing or the detailed list of presents received is accidentally recycled, or I can't find the address to that one gift-giver who keeps moving. You know how it is right?

So I am attempting to find a solution by buying super cute stationary that will inspire me to write beautifully thankful thank you notes. Fortunately there is an abundance of amazing stationary out there. So pretty, it's a shame to use it on thank you notes...

Shop Heats & Anchors

Orange Beautiful

Sweet Beets

Lucky Bee Press

Dozi

St. Johns Pride

When I taught 3rd grade my students and I studied the bridges of our fair city, Portland, Oregon. This awesome suspension bridge in North Portland, the St. Johns bridge, proved to be the most popular amongst my students. It certainly had the most "ooh and ahh" factor.

Even though I grew up in Portland I never went over this Gotham City-esque bridge until I was in high school, when my friends and I would eagerly drive around any part of the city as long as we were seemingly" independent" of our parents.

As North Portland's popularity grows and grows (a.k.a. gentrification) the bridge becomes more of a recognizable and celebrated icon of the NoPo, and of the city at large.

As a tribute to my beautiful city and it's beautiful bridge I have found some excellent St. Johns' eye candy:

Rad, rad, rad! I just purchased this letterpress card from BitterSugar. Like many crafty folk I love my letterpress, but this takes the proverbial cake. Such a simple and delicate image.










Check out this sweet Gocco print from Art Shark Designs. It's entitled Portland Love. The red umbrellas are super cute. Artist Megan Nolton has a series of "City Love" prints on her site. Check it out.


















Get your very own organic cotton "Johnny" pillow by Crazy Coconut. The shop also carries another version of the pillow featuring tiny St. Johns bridges.













Michelle Ramin does great mixed media work. Here is her "St. Johns Bridge in Purple Sky".

I Heart Nikki McClure

I first discovered Nikki McClure in a little PDX gift shop. I love the bold lines, simple colors and crispness of her work. Much of her artwork carries a sense of home and domesticity.

So she creates these by cutting from a single sheet of paper with an X-acto knife. And I thought I was detail-oriented. Her work trumps my handstitchery any day!

Find her online shop here! She has prints, cards, books, calendars, and more!