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Photo © Melissa Camacho

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving weekend. I am starting to decorate around the house for the holidays and having fun taking pics. I finally have an Iphone! I was living in the stone ages for quite some time. Anyhow, I am very excited to set up an Instagram account. Stop by time to time to see what I am photographing and hope you find some inspirations.

The photo I took above is a recent purchase from Tinsel Trading. They carry a line of Wendy Addison products for the holidays.  I am a big fan of her art and the materials she uses. It feels so magical and dreamy. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Artwork © Melissa Camacho

Here is a design I have up at Tiny Prints for Turkey Day. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Enjoy the time.

I Heart My Mom!

Artwork & Photo © Melissa Camacho

Artwork & Photo © Melissa Camacho

Artwork & Photo © Melissa Camacho

As a mom to young kids, it makes me so happy when they would create something and give it to me as a gift...from paper cuttings to drawings. It made me realize it has been a long time since I made or painted something for my mom. So for her 70th birthday which was yesterday, one of the gifts I had for her was this painting I did with flowers in her favorite colors and of course in a heart shape to express my love.

The painting was done in various acrylic paints I had from Liquitex to Martha Stewarts craft paints. The material I painted on is actually primed canvas sheets that you can purchase a pad of them in various sizes at the art store. What's great about painting on this canvas sheet, it's easy to roll up and mail.

         

Kid Books as Inspiration

Photo © Melissa Camacho

I can't seem to help it but I love to share new childrens' books that I have discovered. There is so much variety of talented artist and wonderful stories. How cute are those patterned strawberries?! Discover the world of Bloomsberry. Here are a few that I keep turning the pages:

1) Virginia Wolf,  2) Pomelo,  3) I Can Do It Myself,  4) Now I Am Big

I Heart Pinterest

Melissa Camacho  ©  Pinterest 

So I finally getting into my pinterest account! Come check it out with what I fancy these days. You can click on the tab that is posted on the right side of my blog.

You're Truly Awesome

Illustration © Melissa Camacho

Hello Everyone...It's been a while since I have posted. I hope to get back to the swing of things with my blog. Hope you are all well. Here is a lettering illustration I did while doing some sketching with my kids over the summer. I also used it as a thank you note to send to a friend. Have an awesome day!

Chloe, Instead by Micah Player

All Images © Micah Player

Long before my daughters were born, I have built a library of children books from vintage to current ones. I find them to be a great source of inspiration visually as well as feeding your soul. This is one of our new fave in the household, Chloe, Instead. I was drawn to the vivid pops of color at the bookstore. The story itself is very touching and fun too. Soon after, I also came across this site Lately Lily which sells fun t-shirts for girls. I was attracted to the colors and illustrations and its fun loving traveling character, Lily. Turns out, it's co-founder is the artist, Micah Player who also wrote Chloe, Instead.  Micah Player was a creative director for Paul Frank the brand which I also have items of clothing and books. Needless to say, I heart Micah's drawings and colors!

Neon Pom Poms & Tassels

Left Image: Plate - Lisa Grue - Right Image: Necklace - Aleishall Girard-Maxon

I am having a major crush on these two beautiful and handcrafted pieces by these amazing and creative artists/designers! Aleishall Girard (who created the necklace under Studio Deseo) is a descendant of one of my fave designers, Alexander Girard.

Craft Projects - Monthly

Photos © For the Makers

LOVE THIS! Need something to give to a creative friend or for yourself? This is such a great idea and gift to give to someone who appreciates crafting and beautiful materials! For the Makers offer monthly kits that you can subscribe. Each month, there are four beautiful projects that you can learn and create that range from jewelry to home decor items, etc with full instruction plus photo tutorials online. Sure you can get some stuff at your local craft store but what's cool about this one is that you skip all that and you get carefully curated supplies. The subscription is flex...you can get just one month or a year subscription. Each month is $29. Go check them out and order!

Stationery Show & Surtex 2012 - Part 1

Well…look at all the things that I lugged back home! Love the beautiful business cards some of the companies have! Especially marketing material with neon on it. It is still a big trend in stationery and you see it in various products at the show. Plus the yummy sweets and goodies that you get as you walk down the aisles is such a treat.

I’ve been walking the show for more than ten years and when you have gone as long as I have, it feels like a high school reunion sometimes seeing old friends and colleagues. The show has gotten a LOT smaller these days. All in one floor (both NSS and Surtex), the new small upcoming companies get a chance to be in one floor with the big guys. This can be a benefit if you are starting out and you want to get exposure. Back in the day, getting business and orders was tougher for a new company or new artists with a booth. Most people (not just small shops but larger retailers and manufacturers looking to license) did not get a chance to walk the bottom floor to see up and coming talent. It's nice to see these smaller companies who started out a few years ago doing well since they get such great exposure being on the same floor.  I am happy to see them prosper and continue to do the show.

NSS mostly caters to the retailers who are shopping for the right product to fill their shop. For a manufacturer, it’s a good source for inspiration and to find new talent to license. I enjoy visiting the show as a spectator versus having to set up for the show (which I don’t miss). Being such a magpie for stationery and cute things, I want to get my hands on the products to my own to admire. I tend to daydream about having a shop to fill it with all these wonderful things as I walk through the aisles.

I know, it’s been a few weeks since the show but I still have a few things to share about it from my fave artists and the trends I see in general. Will be posting more stuff about it in the weeks to follow. In the mean time, have a great weekend!

Check out these places and their products. I love their use of neon!

1) Fig. 2 - Design Studio

2) The Great Lakes

3) Linda & Harriett

The Best Part of The Stationery Show

Hi there. I had the chance to attend the NSS over the weekend. It was so nice to see some old friends and speak to wonderful and talented people. I will be collecting my notes and look forward to sharing with you my point of view. After 15 years of attending the show, I have to say, this product has been the highlight for me. They were giving a sample away to anyone who visited their booth. (Great move since I was stopped like every 15 minutes with people asking me where did I get this? Even as I walked the ICFF - Furniture Show...LOL.) Just seeing each of my girls with a big smile on their faces as they each got one of these when I came home makes all the aching muscles from lugging catalogs and samples all the worth while. By the way, they named their pet balloon Princess and Coco. Have a good week!

Inspiration & Illustration

© Alyssa Nassner - Small Talk Studio

Do you sometimes feel like in a rut? Can be creatively or you next career path? Or something else? I go through it from time to time. Sometimes it's needing to see the challenges as opportunities and not give up, right? Here are some beautiful illustrations and inspirations from Alyssa Nassner which she sells as prints on her Etsy site. I think I need to pick up some of these to frame around the house and studio to give me that extra boost.

Paper Lanterns

Loving these paper lanterns from The Land of Nod. They can be clustered in the corner with a bunch of other solid paper lanterns or mix and match with other patterns they have. It's tempting to buy a few since they are pretty affordable.

Class of 2012 Graduation - Tiny Prints

© Umbrella for Tiny Prints

Hello. Know anyone graduating this year? Here is a new set of Grad invites that I have designed that are up on Tiny Prints. And on this link is an grad invitation set. Thanks for visiting.

Kid Made Modern-Todd Oldham

Photos Credit: (left) Lil Sugar, (right) Target

So two things aligned for me to write this post. The other day as I was doing my routine run to Target, I pondered about the next designer collaboration that Target would do that I can get excited about. Earlier this morning as I was catching up with long overdue blog reads, I saw this link in Jordan's Oh Happy Day blog. On May 20th, this collection of craft products for kids will be at Target! Ok...one set for my girls and another set for me. Eeek!

I heart Lisa Congdon's current project

© Lisa Congdon

© Lisa Congdon

© Lisa Congdon

Lisa is a fave among many with her art and commercial art. You see her stuff in products, mags and blogs. I am one of her fans. I drool over her design and color sensibility. I was thrilled to see this project she has started. I have a weakness for hand drawn lettering. Go visit the many sites she has up! I am just in awe.

New Birthday Invite Collection on Tiny Prints

Hello. I wanted to share with you a new collection that I have created for Tiny Prints. This was a fun challenge to come up with an invite to celebrate twins birthday! I am also happy to see it featured on their birthday site. Thanks for visiting.

Dana Tanamachi and Oprah

How awesome is this designer, Dana Tanamachi? Love her mad lettering talent mixed with the chalk medium! She has been all over the design blogs...so check out her work!  Great inspiration and nice to see design that is not on the computer! She had done a big chalkboard design project for West Elm this past Christmas in their stores and catalogs. She also has paperweights for sale at the store. I'm crushing over the "M" and "C" of course.