The New #PostCircle Stationery Range by AnneeApple

When I started #PostCircle I had no idea that over one hundred and seventy of you would be as enthusiastic about sending and receiving happy post as I am. Neither did I know what other sorts of wonderful things could come out of it! I'd like to share one such thing with you today. Introducing the brand sparkly new AnneeApple stationery range!

Inspired by all things #PostCircle, the talented Anne McBride has designed her very own range for fellow post lovers. And this is just the tip of the iceberg; she has many more design ideas up her crafty sleeve!

I love the idea of lettergrams (above), as after all this is how original written communications started out, with none of this separate envelope business! 

Who wouldn't love something so cheery to land on their doormat in a morning? (Much better than the tax return forms I received yesterday. Sigh.) Annee has cleverly merged bright, modern colours with vintage-style themes to make something for everyone.

Annee's stationery range will soon be available in her new Etsy shop (keep your eyes peeled for listings appearing soon!) with prices in the region of £6 for 20 sheets of writing paper, personalised linen writing paper (20 sheets) at £8 and five lettergrams at £5 (prices subject to slight change as the range is fully developed). For the latest on the range's launch, and news of a giveaway soon, follow Annee at her blog and on Facebook.  

Personally, I think my fellow otters are going to be very happy to get some of this #PostCircle stationery in the post very soon!

Razzle Dazzle 'Em With Art Deco

I've always been interested in the culture of the 1920s. I studied 1920s America as part of my A-level in History (albeit a fair few years ago now) and got caught up in learning about the glamour, liberation and razzle dazzle fashion of those interwar years, mixed in of course with prohibition, scandalous gangsters like Al Capone and the march toward the Great Depression.

2012 has been heavily influenced by the 1920s in many ways too, partly because Downton Abbey entered its 20s phase, but mostly because the new The Great Gatsby film was supposed to come out this month. Fashion designers have taken their inspiration from the much anticipated film... only for it to be announced that it will now be released next summer. Oops. Perhaps the catwalks should have featured hobbit feet and elf ears instead...

Anyway, I've certainly been taking more of an interest in Art Deco over the past few months. The sharp edges, angular shapes and black and white all make an interesting contrast to the pastels and ditsy prints I'm usually drawn to. 2012 has been an iconic year, so it seems rather magical to me that the dominating style influence of this year has been eighty years old, yet it still looks totally modern and cutting edge.

Hopefully I'll find the time to add some art deco influence to my craft projects over the next few months, perhaps with some fabulous new buttons? But in the meantime I've been browsing Etsy for some rather hotsy totsy art deco style finds. They're the real McCoy...

1. Plush Flapper Doll by Flapper Doodle 2. Chevron Art Deco Pendant Necklace 3. Up Art Deco-style film poster 4. Aphrodite Pill Box Case 5.  Verdigris Over Rose Gold Cuff 6. Art Prints 7. Perfume Bottles 8. Wallpaper 9. Aqua Blue Watch Pendant

1. Cocktail Shaker 2. Owl iPhone 5 Case 3. Dragonfly Bracelet 4. Rose Print Make Up Bag 5. Portrait of Inventor Nikola Tesla 6. Stained Glass Mirror 7. Theodora Bracelet 8. Diamante Hair Grips 9. Bauhaus Poster Print

I was soaking in the bath last night and imagining having a black and white art deco bathroom one day. I reckon a mirror and a few perfume bottles like the ones above would look marvellous! Perhaps I'll pass on the bath having clawed feet though.

Does art deco do it for you?

Have a swell Monday,






PS: Hello and thank you to all new readers and followers! x

Pink Pig Sketchbooks

Time for a quick stationery geek-out! Since opening an Etsy shop I've been forever sketching button designs, so I needed a new sketchbook. I've been really impressed by this one from Pink Pig. They come in all sorts of colours and sizes, contain lovely paper, and feel really good quality. I've been carrying this pink A4 one around with me everywhere I go!

Pink Pig is based in Huddersfield, so in buying one you'll be supporting a British business. They in turn support the RNLI. 

I must confess that I bought mine through work, as we sell them in a little stationery shop there, but if you want one yourself you can buy them from Amazon. The students where I work seem besotted with them!

Of course, I had to add a little crafty embellishment to mine...

Have an ideas-filled Wednesday,






P.S: This was not a sponsored post; I just like to praise companies I'm pleased with!

Exciting News! Miss Beatrix Opens an Etsy Shop

I am pleased to announce that I have opened an Etsy shop! I have spent many hours making and painting my own buttons and am now able to present them to you.

The buttons are available in three different sizes, and while only a few are in the shop at the moment I have a whole notebook full of more designs in the pipeline, so you can expect more arrivals over the next few days.

I am also able to take custom orders, so if you have an idea for an image you'd like to see on a button just drop me a line - there's no extra charge!

Each button is individually made by hand and then painted - so each and every one is different, quirky and unique.

As a little celebration tonight's Creatives Unite will be a two hour special - a sort of Twitter party if you will - from 8-10pm. There will be virtual tea and cake aplenty, as well as a button giveaway.

Hope you can make it,







PS: Hope you liked Bea hosting in my place this week - she certainly enjoyed the biscuity fruits of her labours! x