Month: September 2010

Wash your hands!

~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 1 Comment

Maybe it’s a ridiculous thing to get hung up on, but the new disposable hand towels from Kleenex really irk me. A public restroom is one thing, but you really can’t share a towel with the people you live with? Here are some fabulous alternatives!

First up, for the kitchen:

Coffee is one of life great pleasures (read: my greatest vice) and this flour sack tea towel is perfect for the java lover in your life. The illustrations have such a lovely quality—imperfect but clearly purposeful.

Another flour sack towel—have I mentioned how amazing these are in the kitchen?—this one emblazoned with an aqua banana-seat bicycle. This one just happens to go with my plans for the decor of our new kitchen…just sayin’

And for the bathroom:

Infuse your lavatory with just a little bit of punk—these hand-appliqued towels are just the thing!

If you just can’t bring yourself share a towel, this embroidered number ought to keep your hubby’s grubby mitts off. Love ’em!

Yulia Brodskaya

~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment

While traditionally called “quilling” and referred to by Yulia Brodskaya herself as “papergraphic illustration,” I can think of only one word for her work: Amazing. Painstakingly created from tiny colorful strips of paper, the pieces are so fluid they seem to have grown organically onto the page.

The Russian born, UK-based artist cites her work as the combination of her favorite things: typography, paper, and highly detailed hand-made craft objects. Her work has appeared in publications and ad campaigns around the world, check out more here.

Sarcastic Monday

~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment

I treasure my coffee mug collection. It’s equal parts hand thrown pieces by yours truly (with the early pieces so heavy they’re able to do double duty as a door stop, overqualified paper weight or deadly weapon) and mugs that possess some quality that made my unable to pass by without purchasing—they’re just the right shape for my hands, so large you can eat a full meal out of them, the inside is glazed with the most perfect blue known to man…etc.

However, since my snarkiest friend Sarah showed me this little gem above—which I now covet with my whole heart—I’ve been thinking about mugs that say something. Something funny, yet just a little bit cruel. (All together now, “Just like you!” Feel better? Me too.)

Anyway, to that end, I present: Sarcastic Mug Monday! [WARNING: Don’t scroll down to the bottom of this post if you’re not a fan of curse words…Mom!]

Always a reliable source for paraphernalia covered in the phrases you think, but never say, The Onion store carries the mug above. Now, I don’t have my interns get me coffee, but I think I’ll get the mug and use it around the office nonetheless, just to remind them that I could.

Yeah, I know it’s a water bottle, but it’s so perfect I couldn’t pass it up. I need it!

If you like your cynicism hand-painted, In a Glaze is your mug mecca. I also thoroughly appreciate that this baby can hold a generous 24 ounces of caffeinated goodness!

In case you were wondering, this phrase can also be plastered on a beer stein. So when you drink too much to be clever, your beverage of choice can do it for you. Brilliant!

Last but certainly not least…the promised profanity. This little guy is hand thrown and made to order by Jennifer of JMN Pottery. Despite the excellent craftsmanship, you might want to confine this specimen to the privacy of your home.

A Alicia Handmade Accessories

~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 1 Comment

Are you all sick and tired of hearing about me? Good, me too.

You may remember my post about A Alicia‘s awesome felt flowers a while back, and as it continues to be one of the most popular posts I’ve written, I thought I’d catch up with Anna and see what she’s up to these days.

Turns out, she’s just released a new collection with the idea of taking a simple material—wool made from organic fair trade cotton—and making something wonderful! Citing inspirations ranging from Victorian lace collars, Japanese fabric craft and 1970s macrame, these lovely wool pieces are just the thing for your fall wardrobe!