La Vie en Rose

In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. ~Albert Camus

I was feeling a little on the downtrodden/weary side today and splurged on some pink peonies at the grocery store. A little old lady, incidentally, told me they were her favorite flower. Then she asked how much they cost. "A little pricey," I said, feeling embarrassed. "Don't I know it," she said. "They're even expensive in New York City." For the life of me, I couldn't think why they should be cheaper in NYC.

Then when I arrived home, I found that this beautiful letterpress print by Sycamore Street Press, ordered a few weeks ago, had also arrived. Kismet.

And this is what happens when you get steam from a tea pot on your lens:

Polaroid Week

The Flickr blog reported the 'Roid Week 2010 group pool, leaving me with three days left to participate. It just happens that I recently took a stack of pictures on Polaroid film.

Mother's Day Cards from Rifle Paper Co.

Rifle Paper Co. has the prettiest Mother's Day cards this year. So pretty, in fact, that I can't show the one I'll probably buy for my mom... just in case she reads this.

But here are some other options:

And for the mothers who love to cook... they make pretty cute recipe cards:

These cards are printed by a husband-wife team, Anna and Nathan Bond, based on Anna's hand-painted illustrations. While not letterpress, they are beyond lovely. I rather like the personalized calling cards and notes in their botanical prints.

Unofficial Flower Week

I started this blog too early, perhaps, since I am not yet printing with my letterpress. I was joking to a friend of mine that it seems like all I want to do is post pictures of flowers and have been trying to resist.

Then, the very next morning Abby Try Again declared it unofficial flower week, so I'm getting my post in just in the nick of time. Independently of 'unofficial flower week' in the blogsphere, automatism and Roe have both recently shared lovely flower posts too.

San Francisco Ephemera

My husband sent me this great film clip (set to music, Air's "La Femme D'Argent") of old footage taken from a streetcar going down Market Street in 1905. That's right, 1905 - before the big earthquake.



I love the slow hustle and bustle, the way everyone seems to be going in every direction. It makes me feel rather small, the way we replace each other but the street remains.

Keeping Calm - With Wine

Inspired by the proliferation of the "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters currently sold as decor, this limited edition "Keep Calm and Drink Pinot" poster was purchased at our local wine bar: Internos Wine Cafe. It was created for a vintner's festival and the wine cafe has limited quantities for sale, in person.

The flowers, by the way, are rather unusual. Called pincushions, I believe, and picked up at our local grocery.

Keep Calm and Drink Pinot is a fun play on the original propaganda poster created by the British government during WWII. We have one of the Keep Calm and Carry On posters in gray, but you can buy them online and in multiple colors from sfgirlbybay's etsy shop. The poster is now public domain, and a brief history of its non-use during the war is here on Wikipedia.

The posters are trendy, yes. I will say, however, on less pleasant days or weeks, as these last couple have been, they do lend a moment of reflection and calm.

And: Other really cool, bossy prints:

~Make Art Not War
~Get Excited and Make Things

Guest posting today at Muse Silk Paintings!

Thanks to Angel of Muse Silk Paintings who invited me to post over here today. Less a sneak preview and more #11 on my 10 stylish stationary finds:

are these Gracias Cactus Letterpress note cards from delphine STUDIO. I just love them; they're stylish, but also fun and not too fancy. Just in time for the weekend, right? Thanks for visiting me at Muse Silk Paintings, and have a wonderful Friday, all.