Last week I headed to the art store to restock on blank sketchpads.  (I used the last of my Orla Kiely notebooks from a visit to the Tate Modern two years ago.)  Most of my inspiration lately has been coming from food magazines.  With the slight drop in temperature, some neighbourhood trees have already given up and changed their green leaves to red.  They’re telling me to get back in the routine of staying indoors and keeping warm with soups, teas and quilts.

At the end of my sketching, I decided to go ahead and print the teacup card straight from the drawing.  (Usually, I go to Illustrator and clean them up first.)

It’s a nice little card to use as invitations for a baby or bridal shower or just for saying ‘thank you’ to a friend.  Best of all … they’re in the shop now.

This week, I’ve been busy working on two custom projects.  However, it’s going to be a few more days before I can post photos and write about them.  I wouldn’t want to spoil their surprises.

In the mean time, I’m starting to restock for the Ladyfest Craft Sale.  I’m on the fence over whether or not to print Christmas cards for the sale.  I don’t want to hear anyone saying, “bleh! Christmas in September!  ugh!”  Because, that’s exactly what I would say.

I’m also waiting for some snazzy new binders to be delivered.  I ordered a couple of these cloth covered binders with “Paper Skirt” printed on them in silver to use as my portfolio.   I really hope they arrive soon.

Other than that, life outside of Paper Skirt has officially switched seasons.  I made soup for the first time in months and completed the great “Summer to Winter clothing switcheroo” on the weekend.  Goodbye capris - we’ll be together again soon.

The new Moo stickers are just the best.  I’ve been using them to dress up my mailing envelopes.   They really are the icing on the cake!

I was doing some shopping downtown today and I thought I’d stop in at Workshop to pay my cards a visit.  I was so so happy to see them sitting on the main counter - it was pretty exciting.

My batch of Moo stickers arrived yesterday and they are very cool.  They’re the perfect size for sticking on envelopes.   Or cats.

My order of Gocco inks arrived yesterday - I’m most excited about the ‘brown rice’ colour.  It looks like it’s just the right shade for a new project.

There’s a fresh batch of Gocco cards available in Toronto at the lovely, kid icarus - (quality handmade goods). Stop by 75 Nassau Street in Kensington Market for a peek. Yay!
Store Hours

Tuesday to Saturday - 12pm to 6pm
Sunday - 12pm to 5pm
Mondays - closed

Hooray!  I just received an email from the Ladyfest committee that Paper Skirt has been accepted for their upcoming craft show.  The details?  Saturday, September 22 at the Jack Purcell Center (just off Elgin Street - check out this map!) from 10am - 5pm.

Stop by and say hello!

I know.  My shop subtitle is “greetings & invitations” but there are no invitations online!  Alas!  I’m working on it - I promise!  In fact, today I ordered two beautiful cloth-covered presentation binders embossed with my business name to hold the samples.

Now, to finalize the designs, typefaces, and colours.   Time to get back to work!

Slowly but surely.  I am slowly putting check marks beside all the types of cards I am planning on designing. This one is for the mum-to-be. I think it could even be used for shower invitations.

The idea for this print came to me as I was reading last month’s Blueprint magazine. There was an article on fancy denim and featured a denim jumper. Well, move one anchor point on your Illustrator drawing and you go from hipster dress to hot mama.

I’ve just put it up in the shop. (PS: Check out our new shipping prices!)