Fabulous Stationery: Garance Dore' Paper

Happy Monday! A few weeks back, I was able to attend an intimate launch of a new stationery line. Let me tell you, this is not a paid post. It's just a pinch-me moment I have to share because I got to meet two very inspiring women.

They are Garance Dore' and Anna Rifle Bond.

If you are a big fan of stationery, you might have heard of Anna. She owns Rifle Paper Company together with her husband Nathan. And it is her brilliant mind and creative hands that have produced these:

Prints of cities, people and mundane objects.

The cutest greeting cards.

And now phone cases! All in her signature gouache illustrations. 

Now, if you love fashion, you know Garance. She's a blogger and photographer with a passion for fashion. 

She's also a very talented illustrator. Wouldn't this be a great cover for a greeting card?

Indeed! And thus the Garance Dore' Paper line was born in collaboration with Rifle Paper Company.

I love this write-up of a dream coming true.

The launch was a pop-up shop in New York City.

With a series of fun activities -- letter-writing, calligraphy, tattoos, food!

Inside, a beautiful boutique set-up.

Featuring Garance Dore' Paper in her favorite colors: pink, yellow, silver, gold and black.

There was also a talk with Anna and Garance where they discussed their creative process, how they each started in their fields, and how it was like to work on this line. 

If you'd like, you can watch it here.

Oh, there was free coffee.

And snacks like doughnuts and macarons, too!

Judging from the long line at the register, I'd say this is one successful collaboration.

Tomorrow, I'll show you the goodies I bought. Take care!

Painting Tulips

How do you turn a blah home into a TADA! home?

Just add flowers! They instantly add color and life to any room, don't you agree?

The sad part is they wilt and die. So we're back to blah.

I make these tulips last by turning them into a muse for an afternoon of watercolor. And now, I've got art for my blank wall. TADA!

And here's how I turned a blah piece of cardboard into TADA!: paint on a tulip and let it dry. Just like that, it's a bookmark waiting for the spring and summer novels on my reading list.

Have a colorful Tuesday!

Spring Awakening

Slowly, I am feeling spring's arrival. "Slowly" being the operative word. It's still very cold on most days and my winter outfits are still on rotation.

But it's almost seven in the evening and the sun is still out.

And look! The barren trees are beginning to blossom. A very exciting prospect!

While there is nary a flower in the neighbor's lawn or backyard, I found a truckload at Macy's:

This year's Macy's Flower Show.

This arrangement is TADA!

The same one from a different angle.

I truly loved being surrounded with flowers that I don't see everyday like these...

This is part of the store display -- not exactly the real variety but TADA! just the same.

And look at this lady in red!

Decked in scarlet blossoms, front and back.

I hope these photos brightened your day. Tomorrow, my version of flower preservation.

Painted Beads

Happy Wednesday! I'm in a necklace-making mode this week.

Today, I'm adding color to these wooden beads.

I've chosen pink and silver from my paint stash.

Here are the beads after several coats of paint.

Once dry, string them on a chain, leather cording or ribbon.

The lonely silver bead is a bit of a rebel. There's always a naughty one in the family, right?

I wasn't expecting the paint to add some texture to the beads. But I'm slowly appreciating the crackle finish.  

The beads that were blah are now TADA!

Have a great week...see you on Monday!

Joyful Jewelry

Ah, the promise of spring! It's that time of year when the dark, heavy winter coats are slowly put away in favor of lighter, more colorful frocks. Add to that, cheerful accessories.

That's why I'm in the mood to make necklaces!

I'm using these as materials. They were blah handles from paper shopping bags. Aren't the colors attractive?

To take them off, just remove the knots and slide them off the shopping bags. The crazy ends have to be tamed, though.

Cut these off and apply some glue to the ends to prevent unraveling.

Line up the cords and trim them to the same length. After choosing this alternating color pattern, I sewed the cords together with a needle and thread.

I sewed them tightly from end to end.

Look! It's shaping up to look like a necklace.

Gather the ends and insert them into these gold caps {add some glue inside the caps beforehand for a sturdy grip}. 

Here is what the ends should look like.

I'm adding a few rhinestones because a little bling is always TADA!

First, I decided where they should go. Once I was happy with the placement, I used some glue to keep the rhinestones in place.

Then I sewed them on with needle and thread to keep them secure.

I finished off with a gold chain that I attached to the caps. The length can be adjusted so the necklace can be worn like a choker or as a bib.

Presenting...a cute necklace that went from blah to TADA!

Using the same technique, you might want to make a knot bracelet, charm bracelet, bead necklace or barrette.

See you back on Wednesday for another necklace idea.