Bella Umbrella - Rain or Shine

Just came across a fabulous website- Bella Umbrella. What did we ever do without the Internet!? Even just for shopping as an evening entertainment... talk about window shopping!

Anyway- as you know I am getting married this summer and like all outdoor wedding brides I am concerned about the weather- to say the least!! After consulting the Farmers Almanac I'm not terribly optimistic. So I checked out this fab collection of vintage umbrellas that you can RENT!

The rentals range from $10 - $30 each from Thursday until Monday, and what an amazing showpiece! I'm even thinking about them for a sunny day, how perfect they would be for a bridal party, and in case of rain- what about hanging them from the tent ceiling as a softening decor centerpiece extraordinaire!?

Any other rainy day inspirations??? Post a comment with your ideas...

Cotton Bird Designs

What is it about birds that we find so irresistible? Found these on Etsy at Cotton Bird Designs This British artist works with paper, vintage linen and other materials to create these charming birds- perfect for wedding and cottage adornments and I confess- I ordered a perfect pair for myself!

Images via cottonbirddesigns - Etsy.com

NY TIMES ARTICLE

Interesting article in the NYT on July 1 by Penelope Green touting the accolades of FINE stationery. Emphasis on the word FINE! The article made it clear that the art of the handwritten note is not only alive, but well, especially for the well endowed.

If your budget simply doesn't allow for the best of the best, fear not! Just remember- there is nothing like a handwritten note arriving in your mail box. It is joy to receive and a joy to send. While the stationery featured in the article was couture and top drawer, less expensive options prevail and are still one of On Paper's top sellers. So if you choose to send the best, (which we also offer ;-) !!!), the most modest or in between- we advocate sending something!

Grab a sheet of paper and write a note today!

Photo via G.Lalo

Plant a Seed- Plantable Paper

Bluewild

Daisy

Sage

Chive

Echinacea

These cards bring us back to our roots- handmade paper with floral inclusions. When we opened the shop almost thirteen years ago, handmade paper with floral inclusions were all the rage and a staple of our diet! After a long absence the trend is back, but this time, with an eco-conscious twist. You can plant these cards which are embedded with seeds and turn your mail in to a letter garden!

All of these cards are handmade paper and the seeds are put into the pulp/water bath during the papermaking process. The inclusions float to the surface of the pulp as it is captured on the mold and deckle screen. It's a relatively simple process and if you've never tried your hand at papermaking...here's are two great places to start:

INTRO TO PAPERMAKING: Illustrated instructions with a supply list

PAPERMAKING DEMO VIDEO: Watch a video on Flickr

BON PAPIER!!!

Independence Day

Photo via: www.oldeglory.co.uk

HAPPY 4th everyone!

The shop will be OPEN today- holiday hours this year are a bit of a moving target:

Noon until ???
It's an odd day with Gallery Hop on the 4th (hasn't happened in eleven years!)

so depending on the crowd it's possible we'll close early

so call ahead if you are coming in after 6 for Hop.

Have a fun day and weekend!!

My Small, Skinny, Interfaith Wedding - Part II - Wedding Bands

Well- now that the invitations are in the mail... I've moved on. On to the next priority- the rings- of course!!

This was really hard for me. I have two very distinct sides - vintage and contemporary. Makes sense if you know what product I have in the shop. That said- finding the perfect ring was really a challenge. I already had a beautiful vintage style aquamarine ring given to me by mon amour last year for Christmas. (similar style shown above) so our search really focused on wedding bands.

applesofgold.com

I prowled the web, honed my style, found inspiration, met with several local jewelers and then finally found "THE ONE", at a lovely retail shop in Chicago!

"THE ONE!" ;)

I looked long and hard and thought I'd share some of the great websites and images I found along the way:

applesofgold.com A great site that has incredibly well priced jewelry - some classic and very traditional and some beautifully contemporary.

applesofgold.com
......

meant4u.com A really unique concept using finger prints to create jewelry. This was our first runner up as a modern twist on a tradtional rings. Super nice guy, interesting concept but in the end, we wanted to support a local business and we just weren't comfortable making our ring purchase site unseen.

meant4u.com
......

Marlene Harris Collection Antique, estate and vintage jewelry from the Civil War era, Victorian Art Deco and beyond. Surprisingly affordable prices for incredibly lovely pieces. Based in Pittsburgh.

marleneharriscol.com
......

Etsy.com- A great way to support a studio artist. If you are looking for something modern and are considering alternative metals- titanium, paladium or silver- there may be some great options. Many also work in gold and platinum. A few artists I loved: beyondtherockz and katezabone.

beyondtherockz - etsy.com

katezabone - etsy.com
.....

Barney's- A fabulously expensive and expansive jewelry department with incredible pieces by contemporary jewelers; Malcomb Betts, Cathy Waterman and many others.

Cathy Waterman (top) Malcomb Betts (below) via barneys.com
......

Clay-pot.com Lots of unique styles by artists that are clearly not what you see everyday. If you are looking for modern classics be sure to check out this site!

Alex Sepkus via clay-pot.com


Yasuko Azuma via clay-pot.com

Carla Caruso via clay-pot.com

Coming Soon... Eco-cards from Loop

Photos via Loop Home

Arriving this week- fabulous note cards and mini notebook sets from designer Elissa Barbieri. Here's what she says about Loop, her eco-conscious company:

"The structure of the built environment and the curve of the natural world. The hum of urban life and the melody of rural living. Patterns of form, shape and texture revealed and reveled in.

Loop connects a love of modern design with an appreciation for nature. By creating useful art in a way that respects our planet’s resources, Loop acknowledges the connection between people and the planet. Our natural world provides endless inspiration but has finite resources; we enjoy its diversity and we love giving back. This is our loop, our responsibility, our pleasure."

To read more Loop (including a fascinating collection of drawings and doodles that are mailed between mother and daughter and grow from artist to artist) visit their site.