NSS: Wrap Up & Us

This is definitely not a winner photo of me - I blame Katie for not telling me my hair looked like a character from Fraggle Rock - but it was the only one I had of the two of us from the show. So here you go, world - Fraggle Rock hair and all. And Katie would like me to add that it was the last day, which was only three hours - so we knew it would be a ghost town and that we needed to pack up & move out -- so we dressed accordingly:)

I enjoy the show more & more every year as I've gotten to know a few other stationers and really look forward to catching up with them. Christine & Evan from Yellow Owl Workshop have got to be my favorite people of all time. And I am over the moon obsessed with Christine's work. It's also fun getting to meet people you only know from the blog world or only know via email. I particularly enjoyed getting to meet Jane, Suann, Nole, Peggy, Maria & chatting with Vané while we were resting our feet.

We'll be adding new stores to our list as we ship out orders over the next several weeks - but if you have a stationery store in your area that you absolutely love - let us know! We can't find them all and love getting recommendations for good ones.

Off to unpack our boxes & get this place back into order!

NSS: Last Day & Thank Yous

Today's the last day of the NSS. I've really enjoyed it this year. Maybe it's the slower pace and less frenzied bleary-eyed buyers, but I've gotten to talk to so many more people this year - which is a big part of why I enjoy the show in the first place.


So we wrap it up today and move out. But before we go, I have to tell you that our homemade banana bread by Lizzy was a big big hit! (Her batch was definitely better than mine - sorry, Sunday attendees.) The recipe is from her grandmother & got rave reviews -- from taking multiple helpings to people telling me it was the best carrot cake they ever had:) So a big big thank you to Lizzy & her Grandmom!!!


Another big thank you to Grace at design*sponge for stopping by our booth & her sweet post on L&H yesterday. We are thrilled that our 2010 calendar is getting such great feedback! (Better & more photos of that to come.)

Until then -- three more hours & then we're back to the studio!

NSS: Day Two & Three

Today is Day Three of the National Stationery Show -- the last long day since tomorrow ends at noon. I was going to post photos of my favorite fellow stationers, but there have been so many great bloggers coming through that I think I'll leave it up to them.

NSS: Day One

Well, by the time you are reading this, it'll be Day Two and I'll be on my way up to or at Booth #2059 at the National Stationery Show. These photos are from Sunday, Day One. Our rug was down & one wall was up by the time I remembered to take a before shot:


And a few shots of the booth now:




I was expecting crickets for the first day - but it was surprisingly busy. It's a smaller show that usual, which I think makes for more action for the exhibitors who are actually there. And it's probably a little easier on the buyers & press people navigating the rows upon rows of fluorescent green carpet - easier on their eyes, heads and feet, I'd imagine.

So far so good. I'm thrilled to have met a few fellow bloggers -- it's so nice to be able to finally meet someone, even though you already feel like you kinda know them. Catching up with some nice store owners is always fun too. I really love the NSS. Once we're in & settled, I'm really so happy to be there and meet people who are just as excited about design & paper & small business as me. Nerdy, fine. But I love it.

I'm hoping to take some photos of some of my favorite exhibitors tomorrow, so stay tuned.

NSS: Move-In Day

We're all packed up & ready to go. It's move in day for L&H. And lucky for us, we're getting a ride from our friend who has a van. How great is that?! No rental truck for us this year! I'm a little nervous about having to install our own foamcore boards that we saved from last year. Yikes! I'll try to keep you posted as much as I can.

So that leaves baking for tomorrow and then it's showtime on Sunday!

Have a great weekend!

Finding My Happy Place

I'm doing a million things this morning, getting ready for the big show. When I start feeling stressed, I turn on my 'hippie music'. I don't know what it is - but nothing soothes my soul like the Grateful Dead. I've got my Pandora Radio turned up listening to Row Jimmy right now and am feeling at peace as prepare for our NSS move-in tomorrow. I don't really get it -- but it works. What's your stress reliever?

NSS Prep: Recipe Postcard

We're baking up a great banana bread to give away at the show, along with a recipe postcard to go with it. The recipe comes from my friend's grandmother. It's a good one. And I'm happy to say I handled it without issue last night. (Phew!) Along with the generous baking help of my friend, we're on our way to have lots to share. So come by booth #2059, have a little treat and take a postcard to share the love.