Happy New Year

Let me tell you, I am happier than ever the new year is here! I am beyond ready for a fresh start in 2011. Not going to lie tho, 2010 brought some amazing times and an awesome Hubs! Getting married was hands down the best part of 2010. I couldn't be happier with the Dude I get to share my life with.

Now, expect a resolution post from me tomorrow (or so, we are going out of town this weekend). I have quite a few of those puppies to jot down while I am still determined to fulfill them.

Do you have any resolutions? Lay 'em on me.

{image cred: Vintage Culture}


Punctuate away, 


Jessie-Lee

It Doesn't Get Better Than Letterpress

I am seriously wishing I had access to these puppies. I mean letterpress gift tags? If I got one of these it would go up on an in-office inspiration board for the entire year.

hawkgerber

praxium

headcasepress

PortHopePress

missive

creativitycards

I just absolutely love those last ones, don't you? Clever. Simply genius! They would be so perfect for a white elephant party. 

{image cred: below their respective images}

Punctuate away, 

Jessie-Lee

P.S. I hope you guys enjoy the new navigation. Those pages that are still blank, I am working on (a girl can only get so much done in one weekend). Check back every so often for new stuff, I am hoping to get everything completed very shortly!

Speachless

There is nothing about Coldplay that doesn't make me swoon. We even utilized their talents for our wedding song. Yes, it is that serious.

Then this morning I saw this, and I think I am even more in love.



There is nothing about this video I don't love. The song, that piano, the Elvis characters playing violin.

Swoon.

Download "Christmas Lights" here.

{image cred: Coldplay}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee

It's Settled. Well I Wish It Was...

OK, so I have made a final decision on the New Year's wear. That is, if the Hub's decides I am allowed to spend the cash right before the holiday's (hence the wishing). But, if I had the available funds, this would be my final decision.

All hail, Modcloth!

It's sexy, but classy, gorgeous, but with a little pizazz. And much more cost effective than my last take on the New Year's outfit. All in all it is just perfect.

Maybe I can find the shoes (yup, they are these!) at Consolidated Shoes, here in Lynchburg. Poetic Licence at a discount!

So what do you think? Love it or hate it? Would you pair a nude pattern tight with this? I am thinking about it.

{image cred: Modcloth here and here}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee

Decorating Type

I love Christmas! And I am beyond excited to decorate our little apartment for the holidays. Although, I will say that the whole red and green thing is getting a little overplayed. It's nice, but I want something more original.

Enter, TransitDesign.

Christmas decorations and awesome typography. Who could ask for more?

Either one of these would look stunning next to my tree. I wonder if they make typography based ornaments. Now there is a thought. A whole type tree! It would be wonderful.
 
{image cred: TransitDesign via Etsy}
 
Punctuate away,
 
Jessie-Lee

If I Could, I Would

...totally rock this outfit for New Years Eve. Yup, I have officially eaten a Thanksgiving dinner. So, now I can feel shameless about focusing on the holidays. Case in point, New Years. I finally get to go to a fancy-shmancy par-tay with my favorite friends and the Hub's this year. Needless to say, I need to look good.

Now, I would buy this outfit if I could afford it.

But I can't, so I won't. A girl can dream. 

{image cred: Modcloth: here and here}

Punctuate away, 

Jessie-Lee

P.S. Happy Turkey Day to my U.S. readers. Hopefully you have as many things to be thankful for as I do! Life truly is wonderful. 

Tea Time

So as you may or may not have noticed the blogosphere has been blowing up calendars and Christmas cards. Not to add fuel to the fire, but they are a little hard to ignore and I am going to have to show you my favorites.

Now, I am not going to show you a million plain old paper calendars. I have high standards when it comes to this stuff. Which, is why I am showing you my favorite Etsy tea towel calendars. Mainly because the sheer concept is cooler than their paper cousins. And it reminds me of my Mom-Mom. I swear she used to have a ton of these, one in particular from like 20 years before I was born that was adorned with cardinals. But any-who, here are some options for the big 20-11. Jeez, that makes me feel old. Into the new decade we go.

avrilloreti

brookewoolley

CampyStudios

CampyStudios

1canoe2

claudiagpearson

iota1617

cicadastudio

I have to admit, the first and last are my favorites. I might have to purchase one to hang up in the apartment. No offense Mom, but these are way cooler than the Labrador desk calendars you usually provide me with at Christmas. Give these a go? Ok, great!

Love it or hate it? I could get the hate thing, I would miss the brand new picture every month. Not going to lie, that is exciting. 

Any calendars you guys care to share?

{image cred: links under their respective images}

Punctuate away, 

Jessie-Lee

Classic Black

Yesterday I noticed downtown Lynchburg was festively adorned with Christmas wreaths. A little early, no? But the holidays have been on my brain all day! All the glitz, glamour, and get togethers that the holiday's bring has got me in the mood for festive attire.

I found these. And I love them. Even though they were not created with one ounce of practicality. It is all about the glamour, dahling!

Yeah, these take the LBD to a whole new level. 

{image cred: BCBGMAXAZRIA}

Punctuate away, 

Jessie-Lee

What A Treat

So, plans change. I was going to tell you how excited I was about holiday cups debuting at Starbucks, but then I decided to do you one better. Actually, Google did. Google is my hero today, hand down.

Johanna Basford is a spectacle that was unknown to me until this morning. I am now obsessed with her work, and I am sure you will be too after you see these amazing images. Ms. Basford is an old school illustrator. Yep, she uses pencils and pens. Ink, graphite and paper, that is all there is to it people.

"I love the tactile nature of the materials I use and the joy of smudgy fingerprints. For me, computer generated work lacks soul and depth of character - hand drawing captures a sense of energy and charm which no pixel can ever replicate." --Johanna Basford

She clearly has a mantra, and it works for her.

This past September she caught the holiday cheer bug. (I know, a little early but hey I was going to tell you all about mine today until I found this.) Instead of Christmas shopping she used her powers of loveliness for a better purpose. This is how she envisioned the Starbucks Christmas cup, and let me say I am no longer excited about the coffee cup I am holding in my hand.



And because she goes above and beyond, here are some more lovely creations for all seasons:

I mean really, these are astounding. These cups are just plain beautiful. Starbucks needs to notice, and then commission this girl because I want to drink my lattes from a cup like these.



Besides these cups Johanna Basford sells amazing prints. I really could get lost in this pen and ink world. Check out her website and her blog, she posts her own work on a regular basis. Swoonworthy, that is all there is to it.

{image cred: Johanna Basford via her blog}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee

Food for Thought

I have been sitting on these a while, and I didn't realize it until today. I originally became obsessed with this recipie set about a year ago (see told you it was a while) and the fact that we are in the holiday gift season (cringe!) this might be a good idea to share.

Whisker Graphics is pretty brilliant, I am not going to lie. Let's take a step back and remember Grandma for a second. If your Grandma is anything like my Mom-Mom was, she has a slew of recipies and one tiny recipe box that is overflowing with oodles of delishious goodness. Now, I know I have always really liked the idea of having a box of recipies on hand to dig through when you want to cook. My only problem with this theory is I like things unified. More specifically I like things graphically unified. This lovely printable set makes all my recipie box dreams come true.

It is just utterly perfect! And the greatest part is, you can buy this .pdf set for $10. How perfect is that for Christmas. Buy it, buy some super fancy paper, a new ink cartridge, some bakers twine, and you have all the lovely ladies in your life covered! And if you are feeling extra crafty, I hope this inspires you to come up with your own recipie card set to distribute this Christmas.

{image cred: Whisker Graphics via Etsy}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee

P.S. I am going to strive super, extra hard to keep up with the blog this week. I have a new, extra special loathing for my job, so that inspires me to commit to you readers instead! Thank you to those dedicated readers that still check up on me when I don't post. Here is to doing better!

'Tis That Time of Year

So, lets add just one more thing to my ever expanding to do list. Unfortunately, or fortunately(?) it is becoming that time of the year again. That time of the year where every good designer takes the time to get a one up. Yup, I am talking about designing the yearly holiday card people! Last year I went the lazy route, I bought cards (eek! I know) and then designed a bad ass envelope. I like to think I gave the post office people something awesome to look at, while being a major pain in their ass at the same time. But every card made it where it needed to go.

This year, new plan. Be done with my design by the end of October. In my mind right now, that seems pretty much impossible but I need to find a way to make it work.

What sparked all this holiday talk you might ask? I fully blame Give Studio. While not working, at work I happened to stumble upon their wonderful stationery. Bad idea. Now I am inspired to live up to this potential.

I especially like those ones that mention peace, stillness and rest. What is that? I would love it if someone could show me.

I really enjoy the personality in these cards. It's heartfelt without being too craft like. Oh, and I also enjoy the non-traditional colors. It sort of makes me want to go entirely blue this year. I think it would be a nice break in most peoples massive collections of red and green. Plus I have had my fair share of the color red this year after my wedding. Just say no to red stationery for a while.

Well, there you have it. The first reminder that these things are looming in the near future!

{image cred: Give Studio}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee

P.S. I am REALLY sorry if this brought any of you designers to a "holy crap, seriously" moment. Really, it wasn't my initial intention.