Oh So Beautiful Paper

Maybe it’s from all my trackpad use, but when I sit down at the computer and my mouse doesn’t function smoothly, I find it a bit disruptive.  Which is why I still use a mouse pad. (The bit of padding for my wrist is a plus, too!)  Though it can be tricky to find one with a little personality for your workspace.  So I’ve put together a round up of some of best mouse pads out there that are both functional and fun. – Julie

No. 1 Leather mouse pad by Draught Dry Goods; No. 2 A4 mouse pad by Kitmen Keung; No. 3 Leather and gold mouse pad by Freshly Picked; No. 4 Bulletin mouse pad from Anthropologie; No. 5 Blue chevron mouse pad by In His Name; No. 6 Beetle paper mouse pad from Anthropologie

{images via their respective sources}

There’s nothing better than a good look behind the scenes, especially when it involves something as gorgeous as calligraphy.  We’re so used to seeing the final product, but it’s a real treat to see how it came to be.  The beautiful writing, the colourfully styled tables. When Kathryn Murray sent over this behind the scenes video, I knew I had to share it with you!  You may remember Kathryn’s amazing work from a previous post and countless real life weddings.  Here she gives us a glimpse at what goes into showcasing her work in her perfectly styled photos. – Julie

Thank you so much for sharing with us, Kathryn!

Photo Credits: Matt Murray

No matter what the office, or what kind of work you do, a good pair of scissors is pretty much a requirement.  I always find myself snipping something, be it for work, craft or a whirlwind wrapping day.  It’s only then that I realize that not just any pair will do; you need the right scissors for the task at hand.  From fabric to paper, and even a pair suitable for traveling, I’ve put together a round up of scissors big and small that will surely make the cut. – Julie

No. 1 Brass scissors by Hay; No. 2 Tailor’s shears from Sundance; No. 3 Yellow scissors by ANYTHING; No. 4 Classic school scissors by Garrett Wade; No. 5 Owl embroidery scissors from Sublime Stitching; No. 6 Little gem blue scissors from The Workroom

{images via their respective sources}

I have been eagerly awaiting to share some new work of this month’s calligrapher with you.  As one of my top calligraphy crushes, I love to check out Mara Zepeda’s blog and swoon over her client work.  Mara started Neither Snow, a calligraphy studio, in 2009.  Over the last three years she’s had the pleasure of working on tattoos and commercial identities, along with collaborators, designers and countless couples.  In September 2012, Mara will be moving to Florence, Italy, where she’ll spend the year exploring how her calligraphy can be translated onto different surfaces for weddings, events, installations, displays and custom projects. - Julie

Clean and simple yet highly expressive, Mara’s calligraphy is often all that’s required to create beautiful details for your wedding and evoke a sense of whimsy.

A glimpse into Neither Snow’s future; decals, fabric, laser cut, glass etching, ceramic, screenprinting, embossing and foil are just some of the materials and processes Mara will be experimenting with during her time in Florence.

Mara creates some truly gorgeous pieces, like this custom seating “star” chart.  For this wedding, she worked with the couple, Mr. Boddington’s Studio and the wedding designer/stylist Jolene Sullivan for nearly a year.  Below is a wonderful detail of her work and a couple’s wedding vows.

I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Neither Snow with a year abroad and medium explorations. You’ll be pleased to know Mara will still be doing client work, and looks forward to hearing from those with wildly creative and grand visions of how to employ the written word on just about any surface they can dream up (in addition to paper, of course!).

Photo and Printer Credits: image no. 1 printer: Paisley Tree Press and no. 2 (right) printer: Evince Design, both shot by Jose Villa; image no. 3 shot by  A. Bryan Johnson Photo; image no. 4 & 6 shot by Neither Snow; image no. 5 by Rylee Hitchner Photography and  Joy Thigpen; image no. 7 shot by Tec Petaja