Etsy Pick-Of-The-Week

The promise of Springtime hangs heavy in the damp, chilly Northern California air.  We yearn for renewal and remind ourselves that Easter is around the corner - April 24!

These simply delightful, whimsical creations by Bossy Feltworks make us smile. 


What could be better than a lasting token for a child's Easter basket from this collective of talented women, who toil joyfully together on Orcas Island, in Washington State?

Etsy Pick-Of-The-Week

We salute and hold close to our hearts the people of JAPAN, as they struggle to come to terms with the devastation caused by the recent earthquake.

Sheryl Iledan, a talented San Francisco graphic artist with a shop on Etsy, has created several 81/2x11 prints and is generously donating the proceeds to the American Red Cross.  Be sure to check out her shop , purchase a print and 'like' her on Facebook!

Etsy Pick-Of-The-Week




I love these witty Letterpress messages from Lisa Krowinski of Sapling Press.

Check them out in her store on Etsy.

  

                        

You Are The One

  


 

The cards are 'printed one by one on 100%  post consumer paper made from recycled clothing'

Image Credits:  Sapling Press

 

     (Image Credit:  Nicole LaFave)

At Chic By Design, we're  committed to the craft and elegance of Letterpress.  Both our business cards and gift notes were made locally for us by Dependable Letterpress and  designed  by the multi-talented Nicole LaFave. 

The cards, though expensive to produce, always elicit raves!

And on that 'note', it's time to send out my weekly handwritten notes to everyone I came in contact with this past week...

Happy Gifting!

Heather

 

On The Hunt In New York City

When it comes to finding the stuff that makes my heart sing, I am relentless in my quest.  You cannot call your company 'Chic by Design' and offer anything less than, so finding those ‘pearls’ takes drive and abundant energy, not to mention shoe leather.  When I find ‘it’, I know it at once but oh!  the journey getting there could be a prescription for the next great fitness workout, especially at a gift show the size of the Jacob Javits convention Center, with 675,000 square feet of exhibition space!

February’s trip to the New York International Gift Show, two days after a blizzard had blanketed the city, was no exception.  I hit the aisles running, despite a sleepless night on the red-eye from San Fran. After a welcome shower and nap, I put on my winter gear and headed out on foot (my preferred way of navigating NYC), trudging happily through Hell Kitchen’s snow covered side streets, stopping for a delicious lunch at my favorite bakery on 9^th Avenue, Amy’s Bread. Restored, I was primed and ready. 

Last year, my first at the show, I was determined to find the ‘perfect’ wine holder, but it wasn’t until my 3^rd day there (and many, many vendors of less-than-chic wine holders) that I discovered the charming duo, Holger Graf & Daniel Lantz, and their eponymous LA based company, Graf & Lantz. I instantly fell in love with their felt and leather wine holders, and returned the following day to propose a bespoke order of felt baskets with which to anchor our collections.

This time, my all-consuming objective would be to discover exceptional items to merchandise as part of a Baby Collection.  With that I became obsessed with finding the perfect mobile to hang in the nursery.  Two days and countless miles of aisles later, far away from the Baby/Child section, I fell upon a small company from Canada called Pi’lo .  There, hanging above my head, were the most perfect mobiles - handmade, white felt, fairies, angels, birds and tiny teddies.   Pure whimsy!  Delightfully etherial!

Eureka!

Heather

Happy Gifting!