After a conversation on twitter amongst some lovely blogger friends a week or so ago about a giant blog collaboration or 'community' day of action, the idea of 'Blogging It Forward' was born. Victoria over at sfgirlbybay did an absolutely amazing job of putting this together, organising 300 bloggers who will all be writing about what inspires them over the next month or so.

Basically it is going to be like a kind of progressive dinner or relay, we've all been divided up into 10 groups and starting Wednesday on 10 different blogs each blogger will write about inspiration, and then link to the next person in line. If you want to follow along, you can see the schedule here. I'm up on Friday, and I'm sure there's going to be a lot of amazing posts to check out!

In the thick of it all.

This was my view earlier in the day as I was quickly checking my emails (and twitter, and google reader...) this afternoon, and trying to pull myself back up the off the bed and get to work on my ever growing to do list. All I could think of was how jealous I was of Grayling getting to lounge about in the sun all day. He looks so comfy and content, lucky thing. We have been so crazy busy over the last few months it seems, and with Richard going back to work this it just feels like we have that much less time to get all the things done that we need to! I always feel kind of bad for complaining when we're busy, partly because I know I do it to myself and even more because the fact that we're busy with store stuff means that we're doing well - and that's a good thing! I guess I just feel a little overwhelmed by it all, and that maybe that going on one of those reality tv shows where your house gets cleaned out and organised wouldn't be such a bad idea after all. In saying all this, I really do love the things I am doing at the moment and I consider myself really lucky to be able to be doing something I love. If only my computer would stop eating documents and the internet would remain un-sketchy. That would help.

Ok, pity party over!

In happier news, we finally released a new product this week that we've been working on for awhile. Being the bibliophiles that we are, anything bookish strikes our fancy. We are also both big lovers of wood, and so looking through Richard's wood veneer collection we decided that they would make beautiful and long lasting bookmarks. No more dog eared books for us! Or you, if you'd like to pick one up over here. They're made from two different species of wood each, so that you get two beautiful grains and to make the bookmarks nice and strong. We've then added a little vintage image on them all from various books and paper ephemera we've collected, to peek out the top of your read. I'm really loving the birdseye maple grain that is on the front of this one! You can also find them over on our Poppytalk Handmade 'School Days' Market table, along with chalkboards and writing slates. Be sure to look around the market, as there is many a treat to be found!

Alright, before I leave I wanted to say a quick thank you and hello to the new readers who have been leaving me such lovely comments. I absolutely love hearing from you, and my hope is that this blog is a two way conversation between myself and all of you. I have yet to respond to your comment, or visit you at your blog space I promise I am coming soon! I also wanted to say thank you to the following few lovelies who have featured us on their blogs recently. This means a great deal to us, and we get rather excited when we see it! Please go and check out these blogs, some new and some old, they're all fantastic! Paper & Vintage, The Design Alphabet, On The Dot Creations, Hudsonny & the love Zoe from Conversation Pieces for bestowing a little award on this here blog!

Happy Birthday to us!

It is my one year blogiversary today! Like I mentioned yesterday, I very nearly missed it as I was pretty sure that it was on Saturday for some reason. I celebrated with a little slice of lemon tart (my favourite!) and some new notebooks from Yoko Yaya (partly because I can't help myself) which are too cute and funny. I love that one says 'When you wish to share what's deep in your heart'. Exactly what a notebook is for!

When I first started this blog, I wasn't sure that I would be able to keep it up over time to be honest, but I have come to really love it. That first entry is so terrifying, not knowing if anyone will ever read or care about what you write, trying to figure out how to sound like yourself and still make sense to everyone! For sure the best part about keeping this blog has been all the amazing people I've met. Yes, that means you! When I first moved to Vancouver as a rather shy wee thing, the online crafty community was totally my saving grace. That's totally the beauty of this blogging world, being able to connect with like minded people and sharing your lives with them. Anabela and I talked about this a little while back, how we both talk about bloggers as if we know them while most of our real life friends would think we're crazy for doing so, but that is really how it feels to me, like we're just one giant group of friends!

So, speaking of Yoko Yaya, it is pretty much one of my favourite shops. Its like a little baby Daiso (the giant Japanese dollar store) and it is virtually impossible for me to leave there with out some kind of stationary, fruit scented highlighters or dog shaped markers. Obviously, there are only so many notebooks a girl needs (or so Richard says) and secretly I think part of me just loves the shopping experience. This, my friends, is good for you because I would like to celebrate my blogiversary by sending out some stationary packs to a few lucky readers! All you need to do is comment and tell me what your favourite item of stationary is. I'll admit that I saw this question on Found Paper Co. as part of their customer appreciation week, but really stationary is one of my absolute loves/obsessions and I can't wait to hear about yours!

I'll leave the entries open until midnight Friday August 7th, bring on the stationary love!

p.s. We have started a newsletter for the store/blog, that will let you know when sales, new stuff and giveaways are coming up. There will even be some secret squirrel subscriber sales! Go here if you'd like to sign up!

Blog Lovin'

Last week the lovely Evie from Handmade Romance awarded me with the pretty award you see up there. I was pretty chuffed when I saw it, it's my first blog award! I started reading Evie's blog right around the time I started writing mine (in fact, I think our blogs are almost the same age) and she has been one of my first bloggy friends. She is not only a very clever artist and crafter, but she has impeccable taste in finding fun new online spaces to explore. Of course she is also very sweet and you should all go visit her!


I starting writing this blog almost a year ago, with the idea that it would be a space to put my ideas, thoughts and inspirations down on 'paper'. Along the way I've met so many fantastic people through this space, and am daily inspired by what I see and read. The list of blogs I follow has grown exponentially this past year, and I really enjoy checking in with you all as I sit down at the laptop in the morning. Also along the way, I've thought a lot about what I want to fill this space with. Right around the time I was getting ready to start writing, a friend of mine asked what kind of blog I was planning on starting and the only answer I had was, 'Well...a life blog'. To be honest I sometimes find this a bit tricky, and I definitely don't think it is the best or only way to blog. There are many craft/feminist/political/food, etc, etc specific blogs I read and love, but I just knew I'd never be able to be organised enough for that, haha. However there is always the worry that if for this last week I've blogged about pretty dresses and fabric, and then tomorrow about transphobia or breastfeeding activists, that I'll alienate people. I guess it's most important to be honest with yourself, and what you think is important to talk about though, right?


Thanks so much to those of you who read and follow my blog, I have loved getting to know you all. Thank you for all your lovely comments, support for our little store and lovely emails you've sent me. A big 'Hello!' to the new followers I've noticed over the past wee while, I'm so happy to see you!


Now, to pass on the award. It was tricky limiting this to a few, really I could have just uploaded the entirety of my Google reader and there would still be millions of other blogs I love and am inspired by. These few are ones that I stop in at regularly, many of which have become friends over this little blogging life of mine.

The Small Joys
Oh Sweetie!
Poppytalk
The Little Lads
Lady I Swear By All Flowers
The Boss of You
Shining Egg
Small Town Stories
The Adventures of an Urban Environmentalist
Fieldguided
Clever Nettle
Have Cake, Will Travel
Tiny Warbler
The Small Object Steno Pad
Sandra Juto

Please pass it on, if you please!