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Every day I walked into my little office this month, I’ve been greeted by these cheerful cherries on my wall calendar. And wow has this July been all about the cherry! We’ve had a record crop here in Washington, and I have definitely been taking advantage. Cherries are my absolute favorite fruit. The little open air produce stand near my house has had amazing sweet red cherries and Rainiers for a steal. I’ve bought between 2 and 4 pounds a week for the last month! And Dave does not eat cherries (what is that about?). It’s all got me very full and feeling inspired to make some cherry-themed stationery in time for next cherry season.
The calendar is one of my favorite things in our house. I picked it up at a book arts festival several years ago. It’s a gorgeous collaboration of several designers and artists from the School of Visual Concepts in Seattle. It’s actually a perpetual calendar, so it’s great for keeping track of dates that never change — birthdays, anniversaries, etc. — and you can leave it up forever. It’s page after page of complex, hand-cut linoleum block prints. Every month is interpreted beautifully. I have never actually been able to bring myself to write in it, of course!
July by Tracy Guza; Cover by Jenny Wilkson; June by Kerrie Satava
Happy summer!
Tara
Whitney, Michelle, Heather and I spent allllll daaaay in a warm room lovingly bundling, stickering, grouping and color-coordinating a TON of paper for Paperpalooza tomorrow!
If you are crafty, DIY-inclined, a paper-lover, and in the downtown Seattle area tomorrow, please do stop by! Even if you’re not nearby, it’s totally going to be worth the trip. You will make out like a bandit. Details here.
I’m exhausted — time for pizza and brews. See you tomorrow!
–Tara
If I took a photo of the closet to my left, you would be shocked (and I, shamed). It is filled to the brim with boxes of envelopes… Envelopes in all kinds of shapes, sizes in colors like Aquamarine, Sage, Violet, Chartreuse. There are literally thousands of them — all leftover from previous projects.
Enter PAPERPALOOZA to the rescue! We, along with 3 other local stationery designers, are hosting Paperpalooza — a can’t-miss, veritable paper feast this Saturday, July 11th.
And it’s not just envelopes… We’re clearing out rolls of fine ribbon, beautiful handmade papers from India, Italy, Japan — all at way-below-retail prices. This is a great opportunity for all you DIY brides, scrapbookers, crafters, and assorted paper fiends!
DETAILS:
Date and Time: Saturday, July 11, 2009 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: Real Card Studio 117 First Avenue North, Seattle (enter from the alley between 1st Avenue and Queen Anne Avenue North)
RED ALERT:
The first 20 people to email sale@mmmpaper.com will receive an invitation to our EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW HOUR from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM! Get first pick of all the goodies! Coffee and Cupcake Royale cupcakes will be served.
Hosted by Brown Sugar Design, Ephemera Custom Letterpress, mmm…paper, and Real Card Studio
I recently got back from a wonderful weekend trip to Orcas Island, one of my favorite places on earth. I wish I could live there year round, but I think that dream will have to wait awhile longer. It is such a peaceful place — there is something about being on the San Juan Islands that really makes time stop — you feel like you really got away.
Some pics from Cascade Falls in Moran State Park:
We splurged on this beautiful linocut print on display at one of the shops in Eastsound.
Winter Branches by Natalia Moroz — visit her Etsy shop!
Almost at the last minute, on the way to the ferry home, I discovered Warm Valley Orchard (which I am now calling The Yarn Farm). Did I tell you I’m a knitter? That’s kind of a lie, as I haven’t finished anything lately. Didn’t stop me from picking up some new hand-spun wool and super-soft alpaca.
If you ever have the chance to visit the San Juan Islands, I highly recommend it. It would be a great honeymoon idea, as well (and not too expensive, depending on how far away you are). When you go, don’t miss my favorite place on Orcas: The Orcas Artworks and Cafe Olga. They have tons of beautiful things from local artists, and a lovely cafe with lots of deliciousness!
Back to work… for now…
–Tara
Well that took a dark turn, didn’t it? Not to worry.
I think I’ve figured out what to do with all my ephemera, but I’m still mulling it over a bit. Stay tuned.
***
When you’re feeling a bit low, there’s nothing better than getting a little lost. As luck would have it, Dave’s company’s holiday party was Saturday at Maximilien downtown — it’s a sweet little French restaurant right inside Pike Place Market. I am a sucker for pomegranate martinis and good company, so plenty of that plus a lovely 3-course dinner made me feel lots better (and only a little fat).
Dinner was amazing… French charcuterie, foie gras, fromages and other things I don’t pronounce properly. Dungeness crab cakes, fresh salmon, fall vegetables, crème brulée, chocolate, and plenty of wine.
To make it even more of a treat, we got a room at the boutique-y Inn at the Market for fun. May I just say that the Inn is totally AWESOME? If you are visiting Seattle and can swing it (pricey), or looking for somewhere fun to spend the wedding night, I highly recommend. At just one block uphill from the hustle and bustle of our world-famous public market, the location could not be better.
The market is always cool, but this time of year there are lights strung everywhere. There’s a Christmas tree vendor, another selling evergreen garlands, and this one booth that had these gorgeous herb wreaths with lavender in them. I really should have gotten one… I’ll have to go back. Plus, about a million great gift ideas.
Then on Sunday, we hit the Hatch Show Print exhibit at the Experience Music Project in Seattle Center. We’ve been here for almost 7 years, and I had still never been to the EMP. Oops! It was good to learn more about the Seattle music scene — particularly the grunge I was so into in high school. I think I may have worn some flannel shirts. (Yeah, I totally did.)
I just loved the Hatch Exhibit — there’s a pretty big Chandler & Price platen press on display inside. (I don’t even want to know how they got that thing up to the 3rd level of the building… moving mine from one ground level garage to another was enough drama for me.) Nashville is now on my list of cities to see — a road trip around that area is definitely in order. It would be so cool to visit the Hatch shop and splurge on a monoprint. I’m especially digging this one:
“Type” (source)
And then it was north on the I-5 to Edmonds! Twenty minutes later I was at home, refreshed and relaxed. Back to my messy studio, weddings, printing my Festivus cards, getting ready to go home for the holidays, blogging. It’s good to be back. 
–Tara
