Back to School: School Supplies

Ah, school supply shopping! It's our favorite time of the year, when stores are stocked with matching notepads, pencils, binders, and desk accessories. We get all tingly just thinking about it! Of course, school supply shopping is a thing of the past for us (and probably for some of our lovely readers), so we just refer to it as "office supply shopping" and it's exactly the same thing! Minus the Lisa Frank trapper keeper, of course.

Start your school year right -- stay organized with an academic planner! Keep track of exams, due dates, after school activities, meetings, and your social calendar in a cute, organized day planner. We love this academic planner from Staples, as it has both a monthly and weekly calendar, which allows you to make both short term and long term plans! It also comes in a number of different styles to reflect your own personal tastes.

One of the best study techniques is making index cards! Of course this is a very time consuming task, and the absolute worst thing is when, after spending hours making hundreds of note cards, a bunch of them go missing! Now you can keep all your precious definitions in tact, and in order, with this adorable ringed note card jotter by etsy seller CrownBindery. The note card binders come in 5 numbered sets, each with their own unique pattern and 100 note cards apiece.  It's a perfect way to stay organized!

We tend to save everything, from bills and receipts to old letters and correspondence. So to keep your life in order, invest in a file cabinet! Filing cabinets definitely seem retro, since pretty much everything is electronic. But trust us, the paperwork tends to file up, so keep organized with these pretty screen printed file folders by etsy seller paulehewlett!  Not only does it look pretty, you can also organize by color / flower type! Now your taxes can be known as the pink blossoms! Tres cute. 

This Five Star 3-ring binder may not seem spectacular, but we assure you, it is. It's essentially the love child of a notebook and binder, resulting in a reusable, bendable, and practical "notebinder." Like a binder, you add in the loose leaf paper of your choice (yea college rule!), and like a notebook, you can fold it back for easy writing and maximize desk space. Because you can fit 5 subjects in this, you're pretty much set for the rest of your academic life. You're welcome.

Sticky notes document our life, so we love to find different styles to help spice things up. Take this peacock sticky notepad, for example. The twin peacock print designed by etsy seller Michelle Brusegaard is a nice change of pace from the boring yellow post-it, and will make your notes stand out from the crowd. 

If you're an iphone junky, then you'll love this iphone sticky pad by violetgiftshop. It has plenty of room to jot down your important reminders, or just to use as a sketch pad. And unlike the real iphone, this notepad is perfectly functional even if you hold it from the side. Yippee! 

We go through sticky notes like you would not believe, so it's always a good idea to have a lot on hand.  For another take on the traditional post-it, check out these cute fruit slices memos. They can serve as a desk decoration and a functional note taking piece at the same time!

These French notebooks are certainly more interesting than your typical spiral bound or composition notebook.  They have a charming antique quality and are sure to be a great conversation piece, if nothing else.

Bored of the usual square, black, paper clip holders, then check out this adorable bird holder.  The paper clips all jumble together to create a nice "nest" sort of look and keeps the paper clips easily within reach.

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Renegade Craft Fair - Top 10 Finds!

Hey Dolls!  Last weekend we braved the sun, heat, humidity, and tornado-like winds at the Renegade Craft Fair in search of handmade treasures to share with you. Talented local artists were out selling creations ranging from cards to baskets to t-shirts and handmade children's toys and the quality of the work was seriously impressive! Overall we had a great day, met some wonderful people, and, of course, ate more Italian ices than we care to admit. Although it was very hard to choose just 10 out of the many beautiful things we encountered throughout the day we have managed to come up with a list of our favorite items. So, as promised, here are our Top 10 Picks (in no particular order) from last weekend's Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn, New York.

All you need is L-O-V-E... even if it is only worth 7 points. We L-O-V-E these adorable "Letter Tile" coasters by Yard Sale Press. These wooden coasters are handmade, sanded with care, and then screen printed with letters that you can use to create your own words! How F-U-N!  These babies were so popular that they sold out!  But, never fear, there are more in the making and you'll be able to purchase your own set soon, just send Bryan at Yard Sale Press an email!!  

 To say that we adore PaperPastries would be an understatement! Kittens, cupcakes, and candy, oh my!  You will find these common things on many of their products in colors that just drip with ooey gooey sweetness. Their notebooks and cards are beautiful, but, what we really are enamored with is this customizable address stamp! This stamp comes in your choice of one of 4 whimsical fonts and would be the perfect way to add your own personal flair to your next correspondence.

Calling all hipsters!  We've got just the card for you. This card features a tall emo boy and just-a-bit-too-short gal smooching in their crazy colored pants and classic Converse All Stars.  It is simply perfect and we can't imagine a better card to give your sweetie. Plus, the ladies from the Rubina Designs table were completely awesome and we can't help but love girls with a sense of humor that dig classic literature (the one girl told us her favorite book is Pride and Prejudice, one of our all time favorites, so major props for that). 

These chair necklaces, by Colleen Heineman, really rock! There is just something so fun about taking natural everyday objects and turning them into art. These are hand punched out of a sterling silver sheet and strung on delicate silver beaded chains for a modern, yet still vintage, look.  And, if you think these are great, check out her nautical knots series! We wouldn't be surprised if these were making their way to an Anthropologie near you in the near future but until that day comes let us enjoy this talented local artist while we can.  

What craft fair would be complete without unique prints for your walls?! Jason and Briana over at Brainstorm Print and Design are an extraordinarily talented (and super friendly!) duo with big ideas. We were delighted by their totally one of a kind prints, like this one above, that feature some beautiful graphics, bold messages, calming nature themes, and funky retro colors.  These inspiring and creative prints encourage us to set our worries aside, relax, and take it easy... and we couldn't be more willing to oblige.

There is just something about letterpressed invitations - the look, the feel, the history.  Whatever it is, we can't help but be drawn to beautiful things and the gorgeous stationary, by Sesame Letterpress, certainly got our attention. Sesame Letterpress, of Brooklyn, creates intricate and detailed stationary on 100% recycled cotton paper using old 19th century Victorian letterpresses.  We initially were drawn in by the colorfulletterpressed coasters , but on closer examination we fell in love with just about everything else, even their business cards, which are pretty little works of art all in themselves!!

Regardless of the situation, it's always important to stay classy.  So, if you want to call someone a "jerkface" the only appropriate thing to do is to write it in a formal letter or card, which they can hold in their hands and treasure for a lifetime.  But, in all seriousness, Blue Barnhouse is great and their cards are hilariously funny.  Why buy your average run of the mill card when you can get one with a kitschy letterpressed image and unusual and cleverly inappropriate saying??  We have no idea!  These are the perfect cards to give your girlfriends, siblings, lovers,or really anyone with a sense of humor enough to enjoy them.

 How cute!  These tree branch bud vases, by designer Jennifer Fisher, are some of the most original items that we came across in our shopping.  They are minimalist and modern, but are still semi-rustic and romantic. These bud vases are meant to hold just a couple small flowers, but even with just a few blooms, they have the power to make a huge impression. Display one solo if you're going for sleek and modern but we also enjoy the look of all three arranged as a sort of little collection to add interest and drama.

A gift without a tag is like a cupcake without icing..a total travesty. And in search of a great gift topping, we've found these fun little tags by The Small Object. Who knew that one tiny little tag could be used to serve so many different occasions? We dig things like these that are completely practical and simple but serve to display a bit of our own style and personalities. These are the perfect blend of  old fashioned etiquette and modern, personal expression that says you have a sense of humor but still appreciate the beauty and formality of tradition.

No more pencils, no more books... wait, wait... we like books! And pencils! And folders. And, actually, every kind of school supply imaginable. Call us nerds if you must, but we just love school and organization and that is why Urban Posture will round out our Top 10 picks from the Renegade Craft Fair.  They have great style and we are thoroughly enjoying their fantastic line of eco-friendly, ultra quirky, school (or office!) supplies. Being quirky is a good thing and sets you apart from the crowd, so don't be afraid to express your uniqueness, even in something as simple as a binder or folder.


Get crafty, dolls!

XOXO,
Jen & Saira