Faith

Over my Christmas print-stravaganza, I printed a verse that my mom had requested a couple years ago. I had light blue on the press and I thought it would look great, but after just one impression, I knew this verse would be better un-inked. Powerful words need nothing extra, and I hope this piece reminds you to have faith.

Have faith in others.

Have faith in yourself.

Have faith that it will all work out.

Have faith in your decisions.

Have faith that you are exactly where you’re supposed to be.

Have faith that you’re the only one who knows what is right for you.

Two Wheels

A few weeks ago, I finished a print I’ve been working on for several months now. Bike Race is a limited edition of 10 prints featuring my bike illustration in five cheery colors. I love this print and plan to frame one for my own home, the rest can make great gifts for your favorite cyclist or anyone who enjoys a leisurely ride.

I also printed up a new batch of one of my most popular cards. I switched the orientation this time around and I love the way the design fits on the horizontal layout. This card is available here, enjoy!

Paper Circle Projects

Every time I mention my recycled letterpress paper circles, my mom laughs and muses about what buyers could be using them for. Several etsians have told me they’re using them for price tags in their shops and at craft shows—and if you’re not a seller, they make great gift tags as well.

When I first thought of the circles, I imagined they’d be popular with scrapbookers and card makers. Some paper, a glue stick and voila! Festive paper goods for any occasion.

If you’re feeling a little more ambitious, the October Afternoon blog has easy instructions for these adorable paper flowers.

With bunting and garlands gaining popularity at weddings and events as well as for home décor, a string of circles sewn together make for a sweet celebration. This is an easy project to do yourself or find them here!

The circles also create a beautiful textured pattern when glued in a fish scale pattern. Another easy project to DIY or click on the photo below!

Lampshade by Eclu
Lampshade by Eclu

Don’t Worry, Bee Happy

Oh yeah, that just happened. Well kids, once again life has gotten in the way of ye olde blog, so instead of coming up with new, original content for you, I bring you the words of one of my favorite bloggers (and full disclosure: very good friend), Mollie Shambeau.

Miss Mollie is getting married in just over a month and I helped design her wedding stationery. She was kind enough to feature our work on her blog here.

Her invitations were a fun project, both because she has an impeccable sense of style and wanted to add a little whimsy with a play on her soon-to-be last name: Busby (Bus-bee, get it!?!).

Whenever I have a little down time , I try to pop over to The Mollie Shambeau Show to see what that girl is up to. One day she’s in Wisconsin, the next Australia, then Utah, then who knows! Just over a month ago now (jeez, has it been that long?!), she wrote the loveliest post that expresses exactly why I chose to create greeting cards with my letterpress.

On a day when life was handing me too much, I had dinner with a dear friend who brought such positivity to everything I blabbered on about, I really did intend to send her a thank you card just for being herself. And of course even I—with boxes and boxes full of beautiful ephemera—didn’t follow through on my intentions.

A week or two later, I came across Mollie’s words and after kicking myself for my lack of follow-through, took the same vow:

I vow to try my best to not take anyone in my life for granted

2011 July 6
by Mollie

The last few weeks have been a learning experience for me. Not only because I’ve been living in my parents’ basement (oh yeah) and planning a wedding that’s happening in LESS THAN THREE MONTHS (mini heart-attack) but because I’ve learned a lot about myself and my relationships with others.

And though I should be feverishly working on another set of important vows in my life, I have one I’ve been wanting to disclose here:

I vow to try my best to not take anyone in my life for granted.

It began with a stack of cards. There are people out there (some of whom are probably reading this) that actually thought to send me a congratulations card after Sean and I got engaged. HOW THOUGHTFUL IS THAT? Seriously, it was so thoughtful that I started to question my own track record with cards. Lets just say I came up a little short.

There is something to be said for “card people,” right? Are you a card person? Prior to recently, I was not. Thank you notes? Of course. Birthday cards? Maybe, if I was seeing the friend in person. Cards for lesser occasions (arguably the cards that really matter) like Get Well Soon, Thinking of You, Congrats, etc.? Er, no.

Card people… how admirable are they? You know, that one person in your life who NEVER forgets your birthday, always calls, and makes sure you get at least one card (and $5 to spend on chocolate) on Valentine’s Day. I always thought to myself, “Maybe someday I’ll have time to be so thoughtful.” I resolved I was simply too cheap and too busy to embody the “T” word—two excuses that make me cringe as I write this. Plus, living in Utah a world away from many of my college and high school friends and family  didn’t help to engage my sense of connection.

Well “someday” happened, baby. It’s time I climb aboard the Thoughtful Train… and I would like to extend an invitation to you.

I’d like to hope every woman reaches this point in her life. The point when she realizes that making that extra effort is important. Sure it may not be convenient to respond to an email or send a congratulatory card to a recently engaged pal, but you know what? Life isn’t convenient. I’ve got one hand on the computer keyboard and a sandwich in my other hand while I add, “Pick up dog poops in the yard” and “Write 1200-word story for the paper” to my To-do list and catch snippets on my iPhone from the Casey Anthony trial, all the while cursing my well-intentioned suggestion to watch “Father of the Bride” as tears of nostalgia run down my face (true story).

Life isn’t convenient and it never will be.

Going the extra mile for the important people in your life is—I believe—one of the most imperative and rewarding actions a human can take. Without friends and family in your life, would it be worth it?

Think about it. Hop on the train. Send a freaking card ☺ And have a wonderful day!