Hello Old Friend.

Oh the old blog, it's been so long. Last time I wrote I had a two year old daughter and was just embarking on my graduate career at the Smithsonian-Corcoran. Now two years later I have a four year old daughter and a 9 month old son. I am still in graduate school but the Smithsonian has broken with the Corcoran and will soon be the Smithsonian-George Mason. I'm still deciding if the time is right to resurrect Marigold & Georgie.... I'll keep you posted.

All Things Small

Another amazing find by Kait Handler (girl in my graduate program)

Here!

Awesine Blog!

There is a girl in my graduate program who is an amazing finder of things and I can only ride her coat-tails all the way to success. Here is a link she posted on her facebook to an amazing jewelry designer. My version of the site would butcher it so just go to the site yourself- you will be amazed! I promise!

Find it here!

Dale Chihuly

I'm a little late on this but I came across the amazing glass blower Dale Chihuly. He rocks an eyepatch and creates amazing work- some samples below. No, not all his stuff is pink it was just the pieces I was most moved by (yes I'm like a 6 year old girl.).

Dale Chihuly here.

An Advent Calendar I Can Get on Board With

Over the past five years there has been a boom in inventing new ways to count down the 25 days until Christmas. This year Garnet Hill has the cutest one I have seen by far. 25 galvenized steel buckets are yours to fill with treats for your little ones. Garnet Hill has the buckets already attached to the ribbon and filled with the fabric. You have to fill in the goodies- but wait! GH offers the set of toys for purchase on their website. Bucket calendar comes in at $48 and will last you Christmas after Christmas.

More Three Potato Four Shop

Handpainted Block Circus Folk $200. Adorable Americana!!

Love it!

$55.

Adorable Posters from Three Potato Four Shop

$48 Each. Here.

House Warming Gifts

Jonathan Adler - sometimes I love him and sometimes I think his stuff is too easy to understand and appreciate. However I saw this mugs and thought great house warming gift!!!


Boy $ Girl $24.

Can we just ignore this whale image - it's suppossed to be at the bottom and I CANNOT for the life of me delete this image. God I hate blogger!!




Lord and Lady $24.

Below: (Another blogger issue) King & Queen $24.

And totally not a mug set but a cute house warming gift, a whale butter dish. $68. Way to take a price leap there JA.

Getting Ready for Fall!

Excuse me for faling off the planet for awhile. I had work all week and my orientation for the Corcoran- which was amazing by the way. I'll tell you all about when I take the time to tell you about my trip to Kennebunkport- which means never because the information is no longer fresh in my mind.

Digging back in, I just got hold of the new Restoration Hardware catelog and let me just say they stepped up their game 10-fold. I've loved RH for about 6 years now but for the past 6 years their collection has been stagnent with expected pieces and rerun products just photographed differently. However the new catelog oozes nothing but fresh highly architectual pieces in neutral colored rooms. I'm a fan.

Here's a run down of my favorites:

Graphic Design

Have you met? My totally adorable sorority big sis and talented beyond belief graphic designer? You haven't? Well then!!

Introducing Amanda Day, president and founder of Dawn Correspondence. Amanda has created a company that can meet all your stationary needs. From wedding invitations, placecards, personal stationary and everything in between.

Here are some pictures from her portfolio. First up a modern save-the-date card which just begs to be sent!

Red, white and blue anchor themed personal stationary. Perfect for us Delta Gamma sisters!

Stationary fit to be eaten!

Beautifully executed wedding invitations.

And my absolute fav. engraved mini thank-you notes.

And here's a little Q and A with the artist:

1. When did you first become interested in graphic design?

Hmmm.... probably in high school. I took a computer graphics class as a senior, and shortly after getting involved with that class I began meshing my art with computer graphics. I have ALWAYS been obsessed with typography. As a little girl I would write my name over and over until I was happy with the way it looked. I actually conditioned myself to write in the handwriting I use today... and I get compliments on it all the time! I am not OCD at all, I promise.

2. How would you describe your graphic style?

Clean? There are designers who use a LOT of images, drawings, colors, etc... but I typically keep a project to 2 or 3 colors and 1 to 2 fonts. I love white space too.

3. How long have you been in business?

I started designing stationary right out of college while I was looking for a job. My business didn't really pick up until about a year and a half ago, though, and I've been doing it non-stop since then!

4. What are some challenges that face a graphic designer?

There's always the challenge of making your customers happy. Design is very sudjective, so what I might imagine might be very different from what my customer is expecting. I typically try to nip this in the bud from the beginning by asking very specific questions of my customers.

5. What is your ideal end/future in the business?

I'd like to own a small boutique - nothing extravagent, just something small and quaint that I can decorate the way I like, run the way I like and a place that the locals are so satisfied with that they keep coming back!

Thank-you Amanda- you rock!!!

To reach Amanda about creating your own special project contact her at: dawncorrespondence@gmail.com and let her know Marigold & Georgie sent you!

Also check out her Etsy store keyword Dawn Correspondence.

OMG! My Etsy Find of the Week.

Everyday Sailor Skirt be thay name and pure lustful love is how I feel for it. I love this! For sale on Etsy by seller pureEVA and cost is $49. Thank-God I have a girl! What I love most about this skirt: it truly is everyday- it's not like a sailor costume that is hilarious on a 6 month old but ridiculous on a 3 year old- this a girl can wear and just look stylish.

Take Note Hubby

I want this, and I want it baaaad. England has just released a color fan deck with the color standards of England. No pale or muddy colors here- just pure bright hues. Cost: $50 and can be bought through http://www.finepaintsofeurope.com/.

Color Quiz

While browsing through the pages of the current issue of House Beautiful I came across a website that has a color quiz. Take it if you dare- the result ripped me a new one and I proceeded to curl up in a ball and cry on the floor. So take with caution and remember the results are just for fun.

Quiz here.

Back With a Bang!

I am home and officially back on duty maning Marigold & Georgie. I will post about the amazingness that is Kennebunkport in the future- I have to get the post organized. In the meantime I have had a hankering for some Americana and my love/hate relationship with the catelog Wisteria has hit that spot right on the money.

Presenting: 2 adoarable things from Wisteria:

First, an eagle plaque that tickels my fancy. I think I may purchase this and hang it over my bedside table. Price: $ 129

Second, a 100% linen oversized American flag, and by oversized I mean 65" x 150". I adore this piece! And I would get it but my house is starting to look like a museum to America. My other fear with this is that if you get it and hang it in your house or drape it over something you might look like one of those white trash people you hang flags and under it that have a futon with an empt pizza box on it. Price: $ 249.