Do Your Homework

Those three words would have been way more happy for me growing up if my desk had been stocked by Present & Correct.



Their mission is to spark a distant memory, make you smile or look at the most mundane in a new, and fonder, light. And I'd have to say that they've succeeded.



The collection is a mix of handmade goods, vintage items and work by designers from all over the world with no shortage of eye candy.

It's been so nice to have a break from homework this summer. It might actually have become my favorite thing about summer. H doesn't like it one bit, so it's always a battle, and I'm sure second grade will only bring more our way. But thankfully, we still have about another month before we have to start tackling it again, and I'm going to enjoy it!

[ITEMS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Homework Pencil Pocket and Homework Pencil Case; Free Schedule; Primary Card Set. Find many, many more smart items right here]

Color Collections

I'm so taken with these color collections by Kontor Kontur. The compositions, the colors, the shapes of all the different items -- it's all so intriguing. Plus the fact that they are largely made up of office supplies doesn't hurt either.



When we were little, we used to get those big ole Service Merchandise catalogs in the mail. My sisters and I would play this game in the toy section where you had to pick one toy from each page. That was the only rule: one item, each page. Even in the boy section, you had to pick one. So now I ask you:

If you had to choose one thing from each of the collections pictured here, what would you choose?

My answers: From the white, I would probably choose one of the stamps, because I heart a good stamp. That library receipt-looking pad was calling to me, but I'm going to stick with a stamp. And from the red one, I would have to pick that red stapler on the right. Although, it was hard to pass up that little hole punch.

[Images from Kontor Kontur; click over to the site to see many more color collection compositions. I spotted these on Poppytalk in a guest post by Lisa Congdon, who just recently published a book based off her wildly popular blog "A Collection a Day" that I posted about here. I've already ordered my copy! I think whatever it is that intrigues me about these is the same as what makes her collections so engaging.]

Eddie

Meet Eddie. The black sheep. I found him last weekend at a little shop in Micanopy. He's made out of bamboo. He saw me from his perch on the shelf and begged me to take him home, so when I discovered his name tag -- and that his name was in fact Eddie -- I said "Sure, come with me." He sits on my desk now and makes me smile, reminding me that sometimes being the black sheep is pretty great.

Gifted, for real

A quick break from cards to tell you about a new online magazine for anyone who likes paper, creative people, fun tutorials, gift ideas and the like. It's called Gifted. Can we take a moment to digest that incredible note to Santa in the picture above?

A highlight for me was the studio tour of Rifle Paper:



Plus the DIY paper tutorials:



Oh, and the clever gift ideas [which have links that will take you directly to the item]:



Oh my Cavalier -- go check it out!

PS: I'm still working on that post from the weekend...hopefully, I can finish before next weekend...

Chance It

Check out this fun installation by Cheree Berry Paper for Kate Spade // The store's entryway is lined with envelopes containing cards printed with a spirited chance, as they say, such as "smile at a stranger" or "crash a party." I like interactive installations, and this one in particular because it has a fortune cookie-like fun to it. One of my favorite parts? The one envelope outside the grid labeled "extra risky." Ooh-la-la!



[See more pictures and read the full description Behind the Kate Spade Curtain]

Office Space

I love seeing the space that other people work in. Design Sponge just posted their best of: Offices, and they've got some wonderful things going on. There should be a poster like the one in the image above hanging in every office across America. Work hard and be nice to people. Two simple things that make the world a better place.

One thing that always amazes me is when I see a desk that doesn't have a gazillion little scraps of paper all over it [like the one below, which is beautiful]. Where might the person who works here jot down all his or her random ideas? Or measurements they need to remember? Really, if you know and can pass the secret onto me, I [and my husband] will be grateful. Some of my best ideas have been written on a torn out magazine page corner or old grocery list. And then they end up in little piles. All over my desk.



[All images from Design Sponge -- check out many more office spaces here!]

Head of the Crew

Miss Mags and I made a trip to see the fam and some friends this week, and the other night, my dad brought home the WSJ. magazine from the Wall Street Journal. He thought my sister and I would want to read it because there was "a big article on J. Crew." Can you can tell he's the father of three girls and has paid more than a few J. Crew bills?



I'm so glad he did save it for us because I really enjoyed it. The article is more specifically about Mickey Drexler, the current CEO of the company, who has been known to play Come On Eileen over the intercom, and rides his bike and rings the bell through the office. Sounds like my kind of work environment! Not that it's all fun and games -- he has high standards -- but he seems to balance personality and professionalism well, fostering an environment of both creative, unconventional thinking and top quality work.

I was actually just in J.Crew the other day, thinking about how much I like it now. There were a few years there in between my college years and now when it bored me a little bit. Not anymore. The patterns, textures, layering -- I love it all. What do I wish were currently in my wardrobe? Glad you asked...



[Cotton Hammock Dress; Ruffled Placket Cardigan; Jericho Tote; Single Chained Mesh Bracelet; Metallic Astria Sandals; Lemlem Nika Wrap]


[Read the full article here]

The Writing on the Wall

[Wall decals by Harmonie Interieure]

Checks, Please

Check Plaid, Check Checks...I'll take them any way I can get them!

[Images clockwise from top left: anyone?; martha; sis cafe; anyone?; burberry; atlanta homes and lifestyles; ditto; sis cafe; center - see by chloe dress]

Wall Calendar

This gives a brilliant new meaning to "wall calendar"...

[spotted on HomeShoppingSpy]

Creative Space

Today, I am all about inspiration for my work space...



[above images from Living Etc.]

[image from domino magazine...sigh...]

Do you get as curious as I do about other people's offices? The folks at Martha Stewart posted a feature about their offices -- very fun to take a look around!




[This is my kind of office...I'll bet the owner of this office knows exactly which pile contains what. That's how I operate, and Ben is always amazed when he asks me for something and I go directly to the pile of papers it is in -- mess with my piles and we've got problems!]