If your a buyer, or a fellow creative, and would like to chat face to face, visit us in New York this weekend. We’d be thrilled to meet you! Our booth in Accent on Design, #4155-4054. You can also see some of our product at the front of the show in the esteemed Sustainability Display.

Now, off to catch a flight, see you on the other side.

We love our customers! Thank you so much for continual support, it’s not easy to run a small shop and keep up the momentum, but your feedback and enthusiasm keeps us going. This week we’re giving away a suite of Hello Hanna products! Choose one item from each category of Wishing Tree, Wishing Tree Extras, a Family Photo Tree, Paper Dolls, Hello Books, Get-Set Placemats, Sweet Stands & Cupcake Toppers. Just leave a ‘hello’ in the comment area, or better yet a comment on what you’d like to see in 2012, and on Monday the 30th we’ll pick a winner at random. Thanks again everyone!

A new Marimekko flagship store has recently opened on 5th Ave in NYC. For me, this is a must see. I grew up around the bold prints & colors of Marimekko. My Mom and big sisters were avid sewers and would seek out the Marimekko fabric to make rompers, pillows, dolls, headboards, wall art, and more. No doubt the design has had a permanent influence over me.

How amazed would your mini-me be to walk though this exhibit?  I’m excited just looking at the photos.

Perth-based artist duo Pip & Pop (Tanya Schultz and Nicole Andrijevic) have created an immersive and vibrant installation for children and families to explore in We miss you magic land! – on display now until March 4, 2012 at the Children’s Art Centre, Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

hmm, another great excuse to travel to Australia.

as seen on LMNOP

I’ve worked as a professional stylist and designer for years now. I know what goes into getting a ‘beauty shot’ – weeks of preparation and a talented professional photographer to boot. This year I’ve set my sights on taking better photos, one’s that reflect the beauty that I see and feel in my daily life, I’ve been a slave to auto focus long enough! At long last I’ve signed up for one of Nicole Hill Gerulat’s online classes. I’ve been a fan of her work for a long time, and can’t wait to get started with the class. Progress report coming soon…

Hard to believe that my best friend’s baby boy had his Bar Mitzvah last month, seems like yesterday we were celebrating hers! When she asked me to personalize a Wishing Tree for him, I jumped on the opportunity. Along with the monogramed Star of David, there were some gold notes to symbolize his love of music. The celebration party was at San Francisco’s historic Cafe Du Nord after all! Way to go Sammy.

photos by Jennifer Paschal of Bruce Forrester Photography, San Francisco

In a few weeks we’ll be heading from our studio in San Francisco to NYC to attend the NYIGF. Trips to NYC are always a favorite, there’s so much to see & do, we can only slowly tic off places to see with each visit. This trip I’d love to get over to Brooklyn to visit Taro’s Origami. Origami is one of my favorite activities to do with my kids. I love to observe their focus & relish in the final results. Last month my daughter attempted to fold 1000 cranes for her Grandma on hospice. She didn’t get finished, but the 30+ cranes she did finish served as a symbol of love & wellness. Taro’s looks like a warm, inviting, creative space, can’t wait to visit.

As seen on LMNOP.

How much delight does it give you to see this gorgeous & ephemeral children’s art project in Shibaura House, Toyko? Torafu Architects developed a DIY paper stamp kit where children could make their own designs to imprint on a paper airvase. Several workshops were given, including one where participants attached a balloon to an airvase in which a miniature photo-doll of themselves was placed, and launched them into the display. I can just imagine the joy.

Original post found at the one & only, Upon a Fold, always a great source for Japanese paper arts and design.

As much as I’m a fan of all our old ways of printing and producing art, It’s always a thrill to to see how innovative new techniques can shape design. I’m in love with this new product from Lumi, an ink that makes durable prints on sustainable materials. WOW, check out these results. Obviously the top images are from their design studio, but they have some cute ideas on their site, on projects you do at home. I just ordered some inks, so I’ll post my own results soon!

Happy New Year everyone! We hope you had a holiday full of love, family, laughter and enjoyment.

Today I got back into work and one of the first things I saw was this inspiring post over at our friend’s Raspberry Kids.

Few things make me as happy as watching a child fill a blank canvas with creativity. This instillation by Yayoi Kusama at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art is just gorgeous. A large domestic area was created, painted all white, and children were given stickers and allowed to put them wherever they like.

Let’s make it a great year.