Wish List: The Etsy Edition.

Well, the official request for this year's Christmas wish list came through earlier this week. (Pause. Rewind. Panic.) What?! I swear, I'm not sure I'll ever really get a handle on how fast these days seem to just disappear. Then again, with November gearing up to come knockin' next week & my inability to convince Father Time to slow his roll even just for a bit, I suppose I might as well admit defeat and accept the fact that, despite my persistance, the Holidays really will be here before we know it. Oi vey.

So, for those of you who seem to be suffering from a similar "sinking boat" mentality-- with crazed schedules and endless to-dos taking up your immediate attention-- here's an early Christmas gift from me to you: My Etsy Top Five. Whether you're looking for gifts to give or items for your personal wish lists, the following five stores have long been tried & true favorites of mine that I promise won't disappoint. From the actual gift down to the perfect wrapping, I've got you covered, friends.

Happy perusing!

 

Leah Duncan: One of my all time favorite shops & creative types, Leah Duncan is always my first stop when I'm in need of gift ideas (both for others and, especially, myself). From beautiful letterpress prints to gorgeous textiles, Leah's high-quality products are sure to deliver no matter the occasion. (Oh, did I mention she's a fellow Brooklynite? Yeah. Extra cool points in my book, just sayin'.) Learn more about Leah, here. 

CORIUMI: Lithuanian duo Inga and her husband Arvydas are the creative geniuses behind the beautiful bag brand CORIUMI. With the intent of adding a "special touch to simple looks with unique, attention-grabbing geometric patterns, interesting color schemes and the beautiful textures of leather and suede," all I can say is... mission accomplished. Read more about CORIUMI on their Etsy feature, here.

 

Evajuliet Atelier: Born from the brains of Canadian graphic designer Eva and the brawn of her beautiful, antique tabletop letterpress, Juliet, this little Etsy shop is one you're not going to want to pass by. Simply put, Evajuliet is letterpress done right. Learn more, here.

 

Knot & Bow: I'm a sucker for beautiful wrapping and craft supplies. There, I said it. And trust me when I say Knot & Bow has been a large contributing factor to my obsession-- but hey, can you blame me? From labels and stickers to tags and twine, there's about a million reasons shop owner Erin Ozer has successfully grabbed the attention of the likes of Martha Stewart, Design*Sponge and HGTV. (Oh, and she's an absolute gem to work with, too.) Learn more about Knot & Bow, here.

  

Ampersandity: For the love of stamps-- need I say more? I didn't think so. Oh Ampersandity, you're pure & solid gold. (Pssst-- now through Dec. 10th, receive 10% off all Etsy store purchases using the code HOLIDAY10. Offer is good for all thank you, address and holiday stamps-- Now go!)

Satsuma Press.

I'm a total sucker for letterpress. Total. Sucker. So when I came across Satsuma Press the other day, I knew I was in serious trouble.

A one-person design and letterpress studio based out of Oregon, Satsuma Press is run by founder Lynn Russell whose intention has always been to create "good, simple design that is pleasing to the eye and the mind; refreshing color and lush paper; plenty of open space and quiet, graceful beauty". Mission accomplished, friends. Aren't these pieces just unbearably irresistible?

 

 

 

Check out the Satsuma Press shop, here. And creative genius Lynn Russell's journal, here.

Wit & Whistle.

Alright my fellow note-takes and list lovers, prepare to join me in one giant swoon over Wit & Whistle's beautiful line of handmade Jotters-- I just can't get enough. What more could a girl ask for to have on hand when those moments of inspiration strike?

I've been a long time admirer of creative designer Amanda Wright and all of her unique and oftentimes quirky creations, but I must admit, I think these are my new favorite. For more inspiration and paper good goodness check out Amanda's shop and her beautiful blog as well!

 

Etsy Find: Leah Duncan.

I've made a promise to myself to live my life in pursuit of my 'sugar': my hopes, my goals, and ultimately my happiness. It means living life with courage and going for everything I want so, at the end of the day, life feels sweet. -- Leah Duncan

An Austin based artist, Leah Duncan is a quick-witted, eloquent, and extremely talented visionary who has worked to create a world where "quirky meets beautiful, folk meets modern, and feminine meets delicate." A self-taught creative soul, determined to make a living doing what she loved most, Leah spent her time learning to sew, draw, surface pattern design and ultimately poured her heart into a line of work that in 3 short years was picked up by both handmade and boutique markets around the world as well as household names such as Urban Outfitters and Teroforma. One look at her incredible work, however, and there's no doubt that there is still a bright future ahead, yet to be seen.

 

           

  

Feeling like you can't get enough? (Don't worry, I'm totally obsessed, too) Check out Leah's website & Etsy shop where you can learn more about her background, current projects, and of course purchase her work.
(All above photos via Leah Duncan)

In Haus Press.

A small little letterpress studio based out of San Francisco, In Haus Press has quickly become on of my favorite little shops to keep an eye on. Born as the venture of creative owner Treasa who is both a designer and an engineer, In Haus Press has consistently produced pieces that represent a true appreciation for hand-set type. Take a look--

   

       

     

With both affordable prices and great customizable options, In Haus Press is a great place to stop for some sure-to-please Holiday gifts-- Happy Shopping :)

P.S. To read more about Treasa and the inspiration behind In Haus Press, check out her Etsy Featured Seller interview, here!

Homeward Bound.

Could not be more excited to be on the road today-- bound for Virginia. And just in time too! Can't tell you how ready I am to fall back into life down South for a bit to enjoy the familiarity of life at home with my family. Even if it's just for the weekend, there's just nothing like the comfort of home.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful rest of this Holiday weekend. 'Till Monday, all.

P.S. Totally loving this 1canoe2 print over on Etsy!

Rescued (Cool) Junk.

Etsy friends! If you haven't yet discovered Rescued Junk by Old Crow Farm, there was never a better time to hop on over and take a peek. All of the pieces are one of a kind, vintage items and the shop's items are always changing based on new discoveries that owners Jordanna and Kasey make. What a great way to bring some weathered character into your home or office space & give these unique pieces a second life!

Revived.

Today was a great day—and by great, I mean really, really great. And after a solid few weeks of feeling far more stressed and at times defeated than I’d care to admit, I cannot even begin to tell you all how much I desperately needed a day like today to come.  

And even though I know that tomorrow will probably be stressful & despite what I know undoubtedly awaits me on the flip side of this wonderful weekend ahead, I also know that this awesome feeling from today is going to get me through until my next great day comes. And even better? I'm so excited for whatever it is that tomorrow has in store.

You see, today was one of those days that reminded me exactly why it is that I love what I do. 

Today was one of those days where despite all of the stress & the travel & the last minute scrambles, despite the pressure & the midnight to-do lists & the feelings of anxiety and panic that my job has come to encompass at times—despite all of that—today reminded me that there is a greater purpose and meaning to my work that makes it all worth it. And that, my friends, is the greatest feeling in the world. 

Here’s to more days like today. 

Absolutely in love with this print.