Book Plates

I know most people read books on tablets, but I still love a real book. And if you love real books, then you've got to have real bookplates. The elephant motif is hand colored. And Detroit is...Detroit. Don't forget the Motor City. Ever.

Love is in the air!

My sister Michele was born on Valentine's Day, so it's always been a special day in our family. This year my sister celebrates a milestone birthday. Her energy is inspiring, her imagination boundless and her love all encompassing. My Valentine's Day cards were made with her in mind.

Holiday Boutique

 I am loving the garlands and ornaments I've made for the Mt. Olive Lutheran Pre-School Holiday Boutique! There are several different designs available for the garlands and the lantern ornaments add a really festive touch for the holidays. Please stop by tomorrow, December 1st,  anytime between 9:00 and 3:00 to see all of the goodies!
Mt. Olive Lutheran Pre-School
1343 Ocean Park Boulevard
Santa Monica, California.

Holiday Boutique

I am excited about the upcoming Holiday Boutique at Mt. Olive Lutheran Pre-School. I've been working non-stop creating a lot of new items~garlands, wreaths, ornaments and gift tags~that I'm very excited about. I hope that if you're in Santa Monica on Saturday you'll stop by and say hello.

Birthday Wishes!

My family and friends are all "old school." I actually get handwritten cards in the mail for my birthday. It's awesome. I have a stash of cards that I've saved over the years. If there was a fire, that box is one if the things I'd grab. So I hope that these two cards inspire you to sit down and write a note to someone you love!

      

Turning something old into something new

 I love finding unusual papers and creating something new with them. The inspiration for this new set of cards came from a roll of vintage French wallpaper that I found in Carmel, California. The images were meticulously cut out and mounted on a subtle ivory patterned background with a soft pink blush card as the base. I added just a bit of glitter for that sparkle that I love. The urn, basket and wheel barrow designs have a traditional French feel and I love the whimsy of the windmill. Très joli!

Happy Spring!

This bunny is ready to hop! I've been busy getting ready for Easter, inspired by my beautiful new nephew who will be celebrating his first Easter. I love the Babaloo font, designed by my friend Lisa Holtzman. It adds that perfect touch of whimsy!

Papier Amore

What is it about paper?
I still read books, ones made with paper. So, I make bookmarks, ones made with paper. I like the weight of a book in my hands. I like looking at a book and seeing how far I've moved the bookmark, how close I am to discovering "whodunit." I have a dictionary that I keep in a bedside drawer that has a really crisp feel every time I turn a page looking for a word. I love the feel of the heavy deckle pages in a journal my sister Alston gave me. I love how tear stains on a letter my friend Max wrote to me after my mother died have made the paper all wavy. I like that I can open up my copy of Jane Eyre right to the page where Rochester proposes to Jane, because the pages are so worn from re-reading them. I like that I can make a card out of paper that I love the look and feel of and send it to someone I love.
One of my favorite quotes is from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: "Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius." How do I know that? I read it in a book.

In Memoriam

My cousin Jack Lewis passed away on Friday, November 11, 2011 at the age of 24. That information goes in my head, bounces around and disappears. And then it comes back. He was smart, sweet and full of love. This card is for him. 100% of the sale of this card is donated to the Humane Society of Napa, California in Jack's memory. Each card is $5.00, plus $1.00 shipping.

Jane Austen Flower Power Again!

"I cannot help but think that it is more natural to have flowers grow out of the head than fruit. What do you think on that subject?" ~Jane Austen, letter June 11, 1799, on buying a sprig for her sister's hat.

The minute I read that quote, I filed it away, knowing I'd use it at some point. Just in time for the JASNA SW Conference on Sunday, I was able to put the quote together with a wonderful image. Now if I can just find the perfect hat to wear, I'll be set!

New! Jane Austen Notes!

I'm getting ready for Sunday's JASNA SW Conference with a few new notes. These are a smaller size (3.5"x5") than my greeting cards and I've been adding bits of organza to them, for another dimension. Some of the images are Jane Austen postage stamps that were issued in the UK (in 1975) and some images are idyllic Georgian scenery. Jane Austen never ceases to be a source of inspiration!

Jane Austen Flower Power!

"Indulge your imagination in every possible flight."
~Jane Austen

I'm getting ready for the annual Spring JASNA SW Conference in May with a few Jane Austen Flower Power framed cards! These 5" x 7" cards have a burst of spring color and pattern, with lovely Jane the center of attention.
I will also have on hand some new Jane bookmarks in spring colors.
At the end of May I will be launching a Jane-inspired store on Etsy. If it sounds as if I have Jane Austen on the brain~I do! How could I not, when I come across a quote like this:

"I cannot help thinking that it is more natural to have flowers grow out of the head than fruit. what do you think on that subject?"
~Jane Austen, letter June 11, 1799~on buying a "sprig" for her sister's hat.

New cards!

I think that paper has become an addiction for me. I spread out dozens of sheets across the floor and drool. I sit and stare at paper. I hold it in my hands. I marvel at the range of colors and patterns. And then I panic when I've only got a little bit of something particularly beautiful left. I always want more until I find the next most beautiful paper. It's a never ending cycle. Thank goodness there is an endless supply of lovely papers out in the world to feed my addiction.

Speaking of feeding an addiction...I recently had lunch with my friend Carol, who has a heart as wide as the world. One of her many talents is baking and she described to me a cherry pie she'd baked that had my mouth watering. I came home and couldn't help myself...I just had to make a cherry pie card for her! It's hard to tell in the photo, but the "cherries" are red glass beads. Yummy!

Imagination is everything

I've been hard at work...okay, hardly at work, but either way, I'm having fun. Here is a new bookmark with an imprinted quote on the back. Everyone looks at the front of a bookmark, so I love the idea of a little surprise for those that turn it over.

The lovely Nancy Gallagher, Regional Coordinator of the Jane Austen Society of North America SW, has asked me to participate in their annual spring meeting in May. I am so excited! I'll be making a lot of new cards and plenty of the new quote bookmarks just for this event.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving. I'm thankful for the cool weather and pumpkin pie. I'm thankful for the time I get to spend with my family. I'm thankful for my wonderful friends. I'm thankful for the fun I have making cards. I'm thankful for everyone who supports my small business. xoxo

JASNA Portland, Oregon 2010

I came home exhausted but exhilarated by my first JASNA AGM. My Jane Austen cards and bookmarks were met with enthusiasm and brisk sales! I am very grateful to all of the Janeites for supporting my small business and their kind words of encouragement. I could not have had such success without the generous help of my sisters Alston and Michele. Alston came between lectures to relieve me for a bite of lunch or a bit of rest. Michele worked all three days all day long without complaint and did double duty selling books for Juliet McMaster! I am one lucky sister!
One of my favorite aspects of being a vendor at the conference, was meeting other vendors. Masha Laurence had a wonderful collection of Jane Austen watercolors that I fell in love with. Masha accepted a commission to paint a portrait of a favorite non-Austen hero of mine, John Thornton.
I came home with boxes of the most wonderful tea from Bingley's Teas. Not only are their teas delicious, but their Jane Austen Tea Series has the most delightful names: Wicked Wickham, Longbourn Wedding Tea and Mr. Bingley's Reserve. I think I need a cuppa right now!
I loved being in Portland! Since Michele and I got there a little early, we had time to explore. Okay, we had time to shop. One of my favorite finds was Button Emporium & Ribbonry. They have the most astounding selection of buttons and ribbon. I would move to Portland just to shop there. Hopefully I will be able to incorporate the beautiful ribbons I bought there into my cards. Or just stare at them endlessly until I make it back to Portland to buy some more!
But now it's back to work. My inventory is just about down to zero and I'm on top of the world with all of the inspiration I found in Portland.

Jane Austen Society of North America, here I come!

In a few short days I'm off to Portland, Oregon to sell my cards at the Annual General Meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America. This will be the second (and largest) event for JASNA that I have participated in. I've had so much fun making the Jane cards and look forward to meeting other Jane enthusiasts. I'll be in Portland with two of my beloved sisters and will hopefully get to visit with a friend from Washington. Jane Austen, sisters, friends, Portland. Life is good!

New bookmarks!

In addition to the new cards that I've posted in the last week, I've been making bookmarks. These are embellished with brass findings and glitter.

More new cards!

I made this Buddha card for my sister Alston. It can be blank inside or printed with "Buddha say relax!" on the inside. Since the weather has turned cool the last day or so, it's made me think about Thanksgiving. The maple leaf is made by weaving strips of decorative papers and cutting them into maple leaf shapes.

New cards!

These are two new birthday cards. The first one is inspired by a vintage postcard. It is embellished with glitter and shells. I love the balloon birthday card with all the pattern and colors!