Thanks

I've been feeling kind of reflective over the last few days. We have been very busy - Doug and I are both working on really big (separate) projects and we are putting in long hours in the studio. But this weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving so I'm going to take a few days off, go and see my folks and relax. I'd just like to say thank you for all your comments in the last couple of weeks - the feedback on the new product has been very generous and kind and I am very grateful for your feedback.

I'd also like to share a little something with you that made me very proud this week. Cartolina was chosen as one of the top 10 small businesses in BC in 2011 by the government's Small Business Round Table - who report to the Federal government on the state of small business in BC every year. An annual report is produced and 10 businesses are picked. I still can hardly believe that, out of the thousands of businesses that they considered for the top 10, Cartolina was chosen. We work hard and we stay focused and we love what we do - I feel very lucky.

Fall in the Kootenays!

Random loveliness.

This wonderful, one of a kind piece of painted ephemera comes from here - where you will find as little information about it as I did. But we can still enjoy it.

Prints Charming at Purl Soho

These 2 stitched beauties come to you via Purl Soho! These pieces are part of a workshop next week held by Cath and Kristen from Prints Charming - sound like fun?

Post Office posters

Three great PO posters by Tom Eckersley - around 1940. Fantastically eye catching and effective - luv em.

Cartolina Holiday 2011

Christmas has been in full swing here at Cartolina for at least the last month. We start shipping holiday cards in August usually and, in some cases, earlier - Selfridges in the UK opens their Christmas shop in mid July! Believe it or not, these cards were designed and in the catalogue in January! But I've kept them pretty much under wraps - until today. So here is our holiday 2011 collection - for your eyes only ;-)

Do you need a little colour inspiration this morning? How about these fab packages of trim from Nifty Thrifty Dry Goods? I love how they coordinate their collections of trim with buttons and stamps - gorgeous!

I thought you might like this lovely little crocheted blanket. The fancy edging makes it very stylish doesn't it? From Lebens Craft flickr stream

Hope you all had a great weekend. This is a photo that Doug took from our deck the other evening - the light is so pretty - thought you might like a little glimpse into our neck of the woods.

I bought this mask at our local Wednesday market this week. I paid $4 for it. I think it's fabulous. I understand that it's an Okame mask. She is the female half of a traditional japanese Kyogen theatre pair. She traditionally has very chubby cheeks and laughing eyes. I'd love to know more about my mask if you know anything. It appears to be quite old and very nicely painted.

You have got to love this! How could you not? I know nothing about this fab light fixture because the person who originally pinned it didn't link back to the original post (which is very important.) So feel free to tell me what you know and I'll fill in the blanks. Update: the fixture is by Scabetti. Thanks Artfullife and Theresa!

I adore this. So simple and so interesting and unique. It's by Jamaica Edgell and I spotted it at Apartment Therapy.

These pretty pumpkins are from Alisa Burke - fabulous! I used to think I was crafty but these kind of tutorials blow me away - the imagination of some people is staggering isn't it?

This is so cute and reminds me of a money bank we had when we were kids that sat on the mantlepiece in the breakfast room - I wonder what happened to that. This piece is a cookie jar - and I laughed at a reviewer who wrote that it arrived with a warning not to use it for food - huh?

From Anthropologie

I'm drooling over this vintage inspired dinnerware at Anthropologie - it's really exquisite.

Uh oh, flash back time! I clearly remember these from the 70s - funny, I actually quite like them all over again! From here.

Fabulous shards of design spotted here.

I'd like to show you some jewelry that I've spotted recently. The first 2 are form this Pinterest board - so pretty . . .

This last piece is stunning - from BMLDN. Earrings to match.

Cartolina Collection XII

We have new cards at Cartolina. So exciting!

This time we've gone with a vintage circus theme. Imagine, it's the 1930s, and the big top just rolled into town. The performers have gone to get their portraits taken, starting with the strong man who's so proud of his tattoos! We have a strong man, a trick roper, a juggler, a ringmaster and a trapeze artist. We also have some crazy characters leaping over elephants - 'Happy Birthday from Your Crazy Friends' (I think we all have some of those!) We managed to source some beautiful, vintage circus imagery and combined it with our own illustrations and we're really proud of the results. Hope you like them. If you'd like a line sheet just give us a shout!

Last but not least, we have a sweet new congratulations card - we were really needing a congrats card - I think this will fit lots of ocassions - don't you? For more info on Cartolina cards visit our website at www.cartolina.com