I'm not sure if I fell in love with these Quick Snap card holders from The Lonely Octopus simply because it is fun to say "QuickSnap!" over and over again.

Or if it is because designer Kristy is a fellow Torontonian.

Or if it is because Kristy makes them in so many cool patterns, like this sweet pink Whale, that there is sure to be something to suit even the choosiest fashionista out there. 

Or if it is because Kristy made me a completely custom wallet with argyle paper - my favorite pattern, judging from my sock drawer - which I love to pieces.

All of the above, I suppose! 

Photo: courtesy of The Lonely Octopus 

If you long to revive the lost art of letter writing, you must, must, MUST indulge with one of the swoon-worthy glass pen sets from Botanical Paperworks.

This gorgeous writing instrument comes with a matching glass pen rest, and is available in gorgeous shades of purple, turquoise, black, burgundy and blue - all with matching ink! 

I literally had to stop myself from snatching up one of these pen & ink sets - but that doesn't mean I didn't add one to my online wishlist (as well as the Silver Quill Pen Set, and the Silver Pen Rest).

These would be lovely, romantic Valentine's Day gifts!

Hint, hint…

They say that pets are one of the worst gifts to give, since it can be difficult to match owner & pet personalities. 

Well, designer Meowy has the perfect pair of paw-made Pinch Kitties that you can adopt or give to your best friend without the fuss of late-night jaunts to the store for catfood, and no messy litter boxes!

Zippy & Zoey (which also happens to be the name of my cat!) measure in at only 3cm tall, and are made from polymer clay. 

They come with a certificate that details their familial heritage, along with their 'date of creation', parents and family line.  

The Meowy shop apparently has kept track of all their Pinch Kitties, so you will know which generation of clay cats your new pet has come from.

Pretty unique and fun, in my book!  Sort of like Cabbage Patch Kids for the indie set.

There is something about autumn and the changing of the leaves that makes me want to brew a big mug of chocolate almond coffee, curl up under a big, wooly blanket and scribble in my journal.

I literally let out an, "Ooh!" when I first saw Artisan Graham's Monk Journals.  The craftsmanship is spectacular, and I absolutely love the detailing - buckles, leather straps, brass & silver-tone ornaments and industrial-inspired metal brads.

Artisan Graham gives writing a new air of sex appeal with his handcrafted books and journals.

Check out Artisan Graham's shop for other items , including the (ingenious) mini books that hang off your keychain, sleek portfolios, jewelry & other accessories.

Photo: courtesy Artisan Graham 

In the world of graphic design, sometimes "going big" makes a louder statement than some people would like to hear.  Lexie Sullivan's line of modern stationery has found the perfect balance of bright colors and sassy shapes without being overly flashy.

My favorite of the bunch is Lexie's Starlite greeting cards, which come in a set of 6 with white envelopes.  The layered floral motifs are perfectly lovely, and the palette is fresh & inviting, the ideal mix of femininity & style.  

Don't forget to check out Lexie's other cards, including some wonderful Daisies, Spring Leaves, Orchids & Willows.  Each one is a wonderfully carefree tribute to plant life & organic forms.

Photo: courtesy Lexie Sullivan 

Canadian Geographic recently aired an episode on the Canadian Beaver and how they are impacting not only Canada, but waterways around the world.  Even though they may disrupt ecosystems and annoy residents, they also helped to benefit the other species in Alberta's Elk Island National Park.

So, I think the beaver deserves some props - and what better way than to be immortalized - adorably, no less! - by Toronto's Flavour Design in a vibrant & playful greeting card?! I could not resist featuring this delightfully spirited beaver card.  How pleased does he look with his performance?!

Flavour Design's Animal Collection features an entire family of woodland creatures - including a squirrel, a skunk, and a family of quizzical owls (which are all the rage right now) - and brings me back to one of my favorite childhood shows, Fables of the Green Forest.

But the fun doesn't stop there.  Whether it is the adorable smiling tofu on the Miso Happy To Have You card from the Sushi Collection, or the equally sweet Happy Collection complete with a Banana inviting you to go bananas, it is clear that Flavour Design's illustrator Élan Falvai had her tongue planted squarely in cheek when designing this whimsical line of notecards & card sets.

All items in Flavour Design's stationery line are printed on recycled paper and with soya based ink.  Sink your teeth into THAT!

Flavour Design also has a small collection of housewares.To see my other post featuring their ingenious designs, go HERE. 

Photos: Courtesy Flavour Design 

Growing up goth, my wedding day thoughts were always more Morticia Addams macabre than Martha Stewart modest.

But over the past few years, as my gothic sensibilities have loosened their grip (ever so slightly) on all the doom & gloom to let a little sun shine in, I find myself daydreaming about something a little frillier, with a little more frippery.

Jill Bliss' wedding invitations have got to be the ultimate in ethereal elegance.  Available in her signature clovers, tidepools or poppies themes, each letter-pressed invitation, response card and envelope is your intricately illustrated passport to a fantastic realm of greenery & exotic plantlife.

Jill Bliss' California-inspired wedding invitations packages, which are available through Olive-Route, are meticulously handcrafted and illustrate Jill's passion for and dedication to the finer points in design & illustration.

And I figure, if I'm going to get all girly-girl about my wedding, why not do it with wholehearted Bliss!

When the music is pumping and all you want to do is dance, the last thing you need to worry about is where to put your purse.

Leave it to Sewlutions by Amo to come up with a genious idea that will leave you feeling footloose and fancy-free the next time you and your girlfriends want to paint the town red.

Arlene's wrist cuffs are not just sensible - they are super sexy!  With hidden compartments for your cash, industrial inspired snaps and zippers, and buttery leather, you'll slither & slink like a secret agent girl!

Don't feel left out, guys.  Arlene also makes men's wrist cuffs, too! 

Photo: courtesy Sewlutions by Amo 

I'm a writer, and as much as I live it and love it, some days are better than others.

On those bad days, when my Muse is sitting cross-legged on the floor in full-on pout mode refusing to come out to play, cute paper can make all the difference in the world.

Whether penning a silly, sassy, or sentimental note; jotting down the crazy idea you had at 2 A.M., or if you just want to say hi to your sweetie, the products from Three Paper Pigs make every tantrum-fueled moment worth it.

I tried the Tree w/ Fruit notecard flats, the Blue Cat Notepad, and the Atomic Blue Gift Tags.

Not only were each of these items made with hefty stock that stood up to my Sharpies with ease. The rest of the Three Paper Pigs catalog comes in a variety of jazzy colors and with perky graphics that are sure to make even the scampiest of scamps smile.

Photos: courtesy Three Paper Pigs 

It may seem I am a little late in the game, posting about the April Sampler in May. I’m in Canada. For some reason, the customs officials don’t yet know that packages postmarked from “The Sampler” should take precedence over any and all other mailings.

Either way, there is no deadline for talking up the wonderfulness of The Sampler and its contributors. So, here I am, with my April Sampler spread out before me, ready to dish on the cream of the crop (which is actually every item in my Sampler, because I think everyone should get a little press!).

Buttons, Pins, etc.

1. Butteredparsnips.etsy.com – I’m not sure which I like more – the cute floral pin or her shop name!

2. Cute As A Button – Interesting puzzle pin, definitely a unique find

3. One-of-a-kind buttons from re-conceived.com – cute pin pack – for those of you who remember buying those candy & toy grab bags at your local variety store, why not also give re-conceived’s Mystery 1-inch Button pack a try?

4. April showers bring cuteness from barrysfarm.com – rainy days would be a lot more fun if umbrellas, clouds and raindrops were this smiley!

5. Santa dog mirror from My Favorite Mirror – I seriously have a collection from MFM – I think I’ve got 4 mirrors from Kellee & Co. Love them all!

6. Vintage children's book birdie pocket mirror from buttonstorm.com – lovely colors, excellent illustration choice, and their website is a full-service custom & DIY operation.

Jewelry & Accessories

1. Glitter glass earrings from travelingrhinos.com.  I am always up for super-sparkly fun. Plus they have an argyle business card. I am a sucker for argyle.

2. Really lovely earrings from Beadoodles, and there are also some sweet rings in Jen’s Etsy shop

3. Cute flower pendant from pandoraslocker.etsy.com.  Being a crafty gal myself, I may have to restring this, as it is just crying out to be made into a chunky ring!

4. Springy flower pin from Made By Tess.  Fabric choices are perfectly ME.  Love the green, and the sweet packaging.

Items that especially made me ooh and ahh

What is not to love about 16sparrows?  From the stylin' website to the truly original products, it is impossible not to be instantly hooked. I received the “Suck It Up, Crybaby” notecard form their Effin’ Collection, but really – I SOOOO covet their Instant Love Box of Love. Amazingly adorably illustrations, a whopping 16 thank you flats or everyday flats (your choice), 24 love notes and 16 envelopes. This one is going immediately on to my The Things I Want List and if, come July, I don’t get this for my birthday, I will, indeed, be treating myself.

Another favorite of mine – Demarco Designs. I was delightfully surprised to receive a full-sized notepad and pencil set in my Sampler, so I decided to head over to the full website.

With keychains, tag sets, personalized notes and more, you will be itching to hit the ‘Add to Cart’ button more than once while browsing this site! It’s a tough job, seeing so many great things on a daily basis.  But I am willing to test out more of Mariah’s many paper items for the good of indie shoppers everywhere.

Repro Depot fat quarter pack – I loved the generous fabric bounty from this online shop that is a favorite amongst many indie seamstresses.  But really, I was smitten by the mini sewing kit! Look at those teeny scissors! It’s True Love!

The Lucha Libre embroidery pattern kit from Sublime Stitching.  I may kick myself for admitting this – but my fiancé was crestfallen when he realized this wasn’t a pattern to make a full Mexican Wrestling mask. Heh! 

In Closing… 

As much as I'd love to - I can't keep it all! So, watch for upcoming giveaways of selected Sampler items. And watch for my post on May's Sampler (probably coming to you in June as a result of the above-mentioned slackened postal service times!)