proud...

Feeling very proud to be an American today. Proud to know so many men
and women who have served this country (including my boyfriend).
Proud.
DC does that to me. The monuments, the memorials, the constitution on
display for all to see.
Proud.
Happy Memorial Day!

inspiration can come in many forms . . .

I love when inspiration just hits me. I often go looking for it . . . and come up short. I took a big leap to find it this week and fell. (more like FAIL) That's too harsh. Let's just say it wasn't as great as I had hoped. 

{Let me explain}

Monday I left DC at 5:30 am to fly to NYC for the day to attend the National Stationery Show. I have so many and yet so few things to say about my experience there. My head's not put together enough just yet to write the words though. So, for now, I'll explain were I DID find my inspiration this week. I wasn't even looking.

Someone wrote me a message on my Etsy account today. Though I could read the message via my email, I had to login to respond to the message. As soon as I got into my mailbox I saw a message I had sent to an artist on Etsy a while back. (I don't have anything for sale on Etsy right now, so I rarely log on.) I had discovered a while back that Leanne Marshall, Project Runway's most recent winner, had been selling her clothing on Etsy. I was SO moved by her clothes on the show that I sent her a message just to let her know how talented I thought she was. Let me just say . . . I heart PR! I mean I really really love that show! But Leanne's line of clothing was BY FAR the most beautiful and inspiring I had seen to date. Normally I never would have messaged a complete stranger in such a manner, especially a now famous one. But . . . I was inspired!

So today, feeling a bit overwhelmed, exhausted, confused, discouraged, and challenged to get my creative juices going, I saw the message I had sent Leanne many months ago. Of course she didn't respond . . . she's famous now! Seeing the message made me decide to google her and she what wonderful things she is up to now. I clicked through the beautiful pictures of her new clothes and her awesome line from PR and began to feel a little smile come across my face. Something amazing was happening . . . I was INSPIRED! By a clothing designer! 

Paper, clothing, textiles . . . design is design I guess?? 

I immediately got my juices going again and got through my busy day with flying colors! So, thanks Leanne. Thanks for pulling me out of my paper funk.

And for those of you who are in a funk. Look and be amazed . . . again.

(first 2 pics are some of her new work from her blog)

i {heart} letterpress

Yesterday I visited a very small local letterpress company. It was SO cool! I really do love letterpress. I'm hoping to get more involved with it in my designs. I may even take a class from them to learn myself. I would really love to get a small press and print some of my own cards. Advice on the matter is welcomed!