Fresh, new, Darling

DARLING, the art of being a woman

New, inspiring, delightful...a perfect fit for Paper Delights!  This quarterly makes me smile, over and over again.  One look at the cover and you'll be intrigued, open it up and you'll be hooked!  First of all, nice paper, beautiful photos and articles that engage women in so many ways...entertaining, travel, careers, personal growth, business, recipes, style... Truly indulgent summer reading - don't miss out!

Summer distractions...

We love summer!  As you see here we had plenty of entertainment for our camping trip on Whidbey Island!  Hikes, beach forts, campers' stew, jiffy pop, s'mores, campfire stories, flashlight tag... and plenty of dirt!  We got it all into our overnight camp-out!  Now, back to fun with paper...

Summer Entertaining

Just in - the books that will inspire and inform your own memorable summer gatherings:

Plan the soiree...

Wish you did a bit more entertaining, but intimidated by the thought of all the details?  Fancy bridal luncheon or laid-back Sunday brunch -  every single entertaining question you've ever had is answered!  Simple solutions are the specialty of expert, Susan Spungen.  I especially appreciate the time-saving and money-saving ideas lists.

...the refreshment...

Cookbook or Coffee Table book?  Pure beauty, pure inspiration!  Once you get past the amazing letter pressed cover with white/black pin-dot fabric binding {breathe} you'll be treated to a plethora of healthy, delicious, and visually exciting veggie dishes.  Author, Matt Wilkinson draws from a long career in the culinary arts, taking greens from garden to table.  Even if you never make a single recipe from this book you'll find it a treasure to own!

...the decor...

Stunning floral arrangements made easy.  The women of Studio Choo, the hottest design studio in the country break it down for you, using unusual botanicals and unique vessels. The amazing photos and step-by-step instructions will have you creating the beautiful floral designs you've dreamed of!

Bright brushstrokes - huge spring trend!

Once you see the full selection of invitations you'll want to plan a party!

Double the pleasure - fun to send & fun to receive!  Send a message on these delightful notecards and you'll spread that happy feeling!  Not only are the cards and invitations amazing, but the envelopes are textured, white paper with a gold print inside.  You'll want to drop by the shop to see the full selection.

Anchors aweigh!

Still smitten with anything nautical, the arrival of this fleet of anchor-motif paperware gives us a little summery thrill.  The collection includes a notepad, a little reporters' pad, file folders, coasters and a handy clipboard/portfolio.  Adorn your own workspace or bestow a little yacht-y flair on your best bud or co-worker!

Planning one last party of the summer?  We just did a very fun progressive garden party.  We visited three beautiful gardens, where each host provided yummy apps and drinks {not too much work for any of us}.  Ours was the final stop - dessert.  Darkness - perfect for me because our garden wasn't looking so great and I love to light up the night with lots candles! This playful table setting was fun to pull together with goodies from the shop:  bird parade paper placemats, floral cocktail napkins and frilly umbrella picks.  I actually lit our bird candles - perfect for this eclectic garden theme!  Enjoy these last warm, summery evenings!

Stripes, dots and chevrons!  Use these adorable, printed bags for big impact party favors!  A variety of sizes and colors are now in stock!

Yes, today is the second full day of summer in Seattle!  In Seattle, we have to be creative about convincing ourselves that it really is Summer.  Wear bright, summer colors {of polar fleece or rain gear}, fix summery drinks {Arnold Palmers are delicious served hot - with vodka} and surround yourself with fun, summery accessories!!  We love all the new letterpress coasters that just arrived from Haute Papier.  Despite the fancy {French} name they are happily affordable, fun to use, practical, make great hostess gifts AND remind us of summer!

Fashion at your fingertips!

Our latest crush is for these lusterous, long-lasting, bad-chemical free, bee-autiful colors of Butter London nail lacquer! For less $ than a manicure you can buy months' worth of dazzling polish! Pair the lacquers with their top-quality "Melt away" cuticle eliminater, "Nail foundation" flawless base coat and "Hardware" quick top coat for a long-lasting professional glow! Banish troubled nails with "Horse Power" nail strengthner and you're on the way nail perfection! We've teamed up with Butter London to offer {while supplies last} a free gift with any Butter London purchase.