Oh, I'm just so excited to introduce this project! For Valentine's Day, Shanna and I are offering personalized valentines; Shanna illustrated and designed the letterpressed cards depicting a sweet pair of enamored foxes, and my part of the project is inscribing the love note on the back! We love this project and think it is so unique and different from anything out there. Check out our shop and the details here! Send one to your sweetie!
![[gray+dress.jpg]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXkR-yz37vRG0YbbNWXCcSviYGCEnONeN8wTy9Z9Qd8yZTMYmJCb-CZYslsMG0PBzWXFqEjc6NVySKl1NgdOxAOKWYemwC3gguUoX4lvsswLxeWTA8mnMs401snDFOUboNccEOw/s1600-h/gray+dress.jpg)
Here are some lovely gray envelopes I just completed for a bride across the country...opaque or lined envelopes always take much longer because of the necessity of hand-ruling each one and then erasing the line once the ink dries --thus the extra charge per envelope! Result? A perfectly straight address.
These little monogram cards were commissioned by a friend for a Christmas gift, but I can't help but think how sweet they would be as a bridesmaid's gift or a surprise for a newly married couple. Monograms always seem so sweetly old-fashioned to me. Don't you think? Such a tangible symbol of the joining of two names and lives....
One of my absolute favorite parts of being in San Francisco last week was visiting the amazing bakery, Tartine. I have had the Tartine cookbook for about a year, and have loved all the recipes I have tried, including the addicting crackers pictured below, but nothing could have prepared me for the amazingness of visiting it in person. 
We had to wait in a line outside for quite a while before we got in the door, and by the time we got to the counter to order, we had to make decisions extremely quickly, and unfortunately, we got overwhelmed and went a little crazy, as you can see from the top photo, ordering a banana cream tart, a slice of quiche, an eclair filled with vanilla custard, a chocolate croissant, meringue cookies with cocoa nibs, coconut macaroons, iced coffee.....it was so lusciously decadent. The atmosphere was bustling and friendly, the decor was rustic and a little indie, all at the same time. It was a perfectly appropriate way to eat on the final day of 2008, with resolutions for much healthier consumption in the new year making up most of our conversation for the next hour. It was so worth it.
Nick and I had an absolutely amazing trip up the Pacific Coast Highway over the last week. What a beautiful way to start the new year...Happy New Year, everyone!
For our Christmas present to each other this year, Nick and I are contemplating taking a trip up Highway 1 to see the Redwoods. Our plan is to not really have a plan, just to stop in whatever city we fancy along the way. I really can't wait. Is anyone else doing any traveling after Christmas?
This year I am incredibly thankful for my precious sisters, among so many other amazing blessings. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 
So shopping for a new tea kettle last week, Nick and I discovered that apparently we are total kettle snobs. Anyway, one long winding drive around town later, we scooped up this lovely Le Creuset and have been drinking tea like crazy, trying to pretend that it is actually below 70 degrees out during the day. (It's sadly not.)
I know it is totally dorky to blog about tea kettles and tea, but while we're on the subject I had to blather on about my favorite tea in the world for just one minute. I first had this tea that summer I spent in Austria, and it is just the best ever. Ever. It was sold at this shop down the street from where I was staying, but happily I discovered that I could buy it online when I got back home! It's the simple pleasures in life that make it sweet, yes? 
I've also been wearing these cheery new slippers to try to coax the Tucson weather to turn chilly. No luck yet. Still watering the garden in a tank top. Any other Tucsonans inpatient for cozy weather?!
I am thrilled to announce the grand opening of Hello Handmade, the new online shop that I am opening today with the wonderful Shanna Murray. Shanna and I have never met in person, but have become fast friends despite the many miles between us, and I treasure her so much. She is incredibly talented, not to mention the kindest person ever, and we have so many exciting projects swimming around in our heads, that we can't wait to see to completion. We have been lovingly working on these current projects for such a while now, and are excited to finally have them out there for all to see! Feel free to stop by and check it out! Available starting today are a 2009 calendar and a Christmas print, and later in the week some holiday cards and gift tags will be joining the spread. Thanks so much, all!
This is a shot of Tante Lore's house taken from the courtyard below, where I often sat and read and painted. 
These were photos taken as I traveled across Austira with my friend's aunt and uncle. 
A quiet little spot on the farm, in a corner of the vegetable garden. 
A beautiful sky on the last night I was there. (I almost missed my flight home, thinking I had an extra day.....when I discovered I was leaving at 5:00AM the next morning, I ran manically around the farm, taking pictures like a madwoman!)
We went to an awesome Silver Jews concert a couple weeks ago, and I keep thinking about it. I feel, unexpectedly, like it might be my favorite concert ever. Last weekend when we spent almost all Saturday gardening, we blasted Silver Jews albums on the outside speakers to reminisce.
I am creating a 2009 calendar with my wonderful, lovely, talented friend Shanna Murray, who does beautiful work, such as the piece shown above. I can't wait for it to be done!
