Review: Daycraft Made My Day!

Posted on September 8, 2012 by Anna Denise - 1012 comments
A little while ago I got a very charming email from Mr. Foreal Lee from this Hong Kong-based company called Daycraft. They make a crazy large variety of notebooks and sketchbooks. Whether he could send me some - for review. Uhm. YES!

A few weeks later a package arrived with two diaries for 2012, a travel journal, and a card holder. Wheee! So. Let me dive right in.

The Executive Diary for 2013

This 'Executive diary' directly caught my eye. It's small and sturdy (handy for girls with big bags), silver and shiny with a pink strap (!), and it has one spread per week, which I like so I can keep track of my projects and see all appointments for the week all at once. Also, 'executive' makes me feel all important-like.


Very cool and handy for working ladies (in this case, but it comes in different colors, too). Paper is nice and thick and my regular felt pen doesn't bleed through. Also, it has inspirational quotes on not wasting time, an international conversion table, a list of golf clubs, and a table giving stars to vintage wines. Ahhh yes. I will soon be needing those. For sure.


The Signature Diary for 2013

The first thing I noticed about this 'Signature diary' is that the cover is made of incredibly soft PU leather. It feels so nice and luxurious. It's a bit bigger than the executive and it's nice and thick. No strap, but the pages' sides are colored.

The paper seems a bit thicker even than the executive diary, and every page has one day each (except for the weekend). I personally don't like this very much, as I like having an overview of the entire week, but if you've got like ten appointments a day - this might come in handy (believe me, when I worked as a PA, I was very grateful for the any space I could get in my analog director's diary).


Funny detail - this journal helps you stay healthy with information on calories, food groups, and exercise. Which is, actually, kind of depressing. But the pictures are pretty. That helps.



MyTravel Notebook

The third notebook I got was the 'MyTravel Notebook', which is a lot more simple than you would think. Refreshingly simple, to be honest. I do love those very elaborate travel journals, where you have to fill out questionnaires, paste in all sorts of treasures, etc. But in practice, I never use those features and prefer a blank notebook instead.


This travel journal has a hard, cardboard cover embossed with a world map, and an offbeat strap. It opens with a fun quote, has a pocket in the back for small keepsakes, and the rest are just thick white pages with a nice grid on them. Nothing more, nothing less. The pages are good for drawing with pencil and regular ink pens, but less ideal for markers and watercolor.



Cardholder

I personally never use little nicknacks like these (unless they have Hello Kitty on them, of course), mostly because I keep my business cards in my wallet. I guess if you want to be a bit fancier, this very soft little pouch could come in handy. I can also see it working very well as a metro card holder, instead of those ugly plastic grey things they hand out here in Brussels. Pretty, but really not as functional as the other three items I received. And as you know, all things featured on this blog are superduperfunctional. Honestly, judging by this blog it's almost like I invented Calvinism, really.


Soo! That was my review. I am definitely going to be using the executive diary next year (and have already been carrying it around in my bag), but I think the other three items may make lovely gifts - to you! So, who's interested in receiving the travel journal, card holder, or Signature diary? Let me know in the comments what and why you would like any of those items and I might pick youuu!!

Of course, a HUGE thank you to Foreal Lee and to Daycraft! You can find all of these and many, many more awesome and useful things over on their website Daycraft.com.hk. Oh! And they have a special deal on personalized embossed diary covers going on until the end of the month. Check that out here. It would really make a lovely gift for your friends or relatives (or yourself, hehe).

See you on the flipside, buddies!


--- Comment »

Henrike, I'll move in with you

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Anna Denise - 40 comments

When it comes to Etsy Shops, product photography is so, so very important and Henrike Schoen has got it down to an art. Her photos for her Etsy shop bastisRIKE make me want to bag my bags and move into this beautifully designed space that I'm assuming is her home. Since that would be kind of stalker-y, however, it makes me want to buy her gorgeous items instead.



Henrike is from Germany and sells beautiful stamps, prints, cutting boards, and tape. She has a gorgeous blog, too. Very suitable for Sunday morning procrastination.




Link: Etsy Shop | Blog | Facebook | Twitter


--- Comment »




It Was All Yellow

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Anna Denise - Thirteen comments
By Anna Denise
I remember there was a time when I was young (ah, remember that) and dramatic (*sigh*) but mostly heartbroken in only the way you can be when you're still unsure of who you are, when I would listen to Coldplay (of course) over and over again. In particular to that song 'Yellow'. So sad. Now of course, yellow is my favorite color and it cheers me up tremendously (actually, most things are more cheerful now, hehe). So, here are some of my favorite 'yellow' prints of this week!


Love this girl in a yellow dress by Paule Trudel Bellemare - it's so girly and dreamy! Link: Etsy Shop


Now see, this print by Baltimore Print Studios cheers me up a whole lot. I never thought of myself as 'strategic', but now I see myself in a completely new light. Anna, The Master of Strategy, Denise! Links: Website / Shop | Twitter


How adorable is this? I adore the simplicity of Amanda Kindregan's work and this one would just be so amazing for a kitchen, or children's bedroom. Links: Website | Blog | Etsy Shop


I'm always looking out for postcards to send to people I love and care about (although I forget to send them quite often), and these would be amazing to send to my aunt, who could use a bit of sunshine right now. I don't call or see her nearly enough, but these cards by Freya Art are worth remembering to mail out. Links: Website | Etsy Shop


Have a very yellow Thursday everyone!


--- Comment »




Birthday Top 5

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Anna Denise - Thirteen comments
Happy birthday to meeee! Happy birthday to meee! Yess, thank you thank you. I know, I don't look a day over 27. Honestly. I don't.

Anyways. Every once in a while I come across something so awesome, I almost don't want to share it with you guys, because I'm afraid you'll all buy it and then I won't be able to anymore. Other times, I come across something so awesome yet expensive I'm pretty sure I won't be able to afford it, so I share it, hoping one of you guys can. Today I am showing you a combination of these two kinds of things, sharing with you my top 5 of things I loved this year.


5. CARSON CONVERSE'S EQUILATERAL TRIANGLES QUILT

Links: Website | Etsy Shop | Flickr


4. CUSTOM HEART PORTRAIT PRINT BY ANNA BOND

Links:Weblog


3. CUSTOM LEATHER WINTER MUKLUKS FROM SPIRO CREATIONS

Link: Etsy Shop


2. 'LOCKET' PAINTING BY MICHELLE ARMAS

Links: Website | Blog | Shop


1. NEIGHBORHOOD RING BY J. DAVIS STUDIO

Link: Etsy Shop


--- Comment »




Library Dork

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Anna Denise - 37 comments
By Anna Denise
So apparently it has become trendy to label oneself as a nerd/dork/geek, so I just want to assure you that I actually WAS a dork and I LOVED the library (whereas now I'm like 'ewww used stuff', j/k. Sorta). Like, I was the real thing. Like, I didn't have friends that lived outside of the books. Okay, maybe one. But she used to hit me with a stick during recess (to be fair - I DID bite her in the nose on our first encounter). Now, of course, the library has turned supertrendy (and rightfully so), and I'm glad to see designers taking notice.

First of all, I think I need this book, 'The Repurposed Library' by designer and artists Lisa Occhipinti. I did and still do judge books by their cover and how can a book this pretty looking possibly be sucky? It features 33 ways to repurpose old books. Now, I don't own any old books (only new, pretty books), but I am pretty sure I could get my hands on some and make my boyfriend very unhappy (he dislikes any kind of decoration I manage to sneak into the house). Links: Buy (me) the Book | Lisa Occhipinti's Website | Blog


Also, I came across this amazing personal library kit via Pinterest and I think I should buy it for my friend D. I am pretty much borrowing all her books lately and I'm not sure she's keeping track (she's having me read science fiction for the first time in my life and I am LOVING it. Is that okay to say now that libraries are cool again?). Links: KnockKnock


Finally, I couldn't resist showing you this cat-library by Belgian designer Corentin Dombrecht. Not because I think it's particularly beautiful, but because it's such a brilliant idea. Our Meneertje loves to sit on top of closets and high up shelves and I think he'd know exactly what to do with this one! Links: Blog


Alright, bye for now. I need to get back to drinking herbal tea and reading my scifi book. I'm still officially bedridden. Cheers!


--- Comment »




Review & Giveaway: Rad and Hungry!

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Anna Denise - 78 comments

WHUT WHUT? You ready for our first ever giveaway? I thought so.

RAD AND HUNGRY: WORDLY OFFICE SUPPLIES
A few weeks ago I was approached by Hen Chung, cofounder of this awesome little company called Rad and Hungry to review one of their products. Rad and Hungry was started by Hen and her friend Sam Alston in October of last year and when I heard about the idea behind the company, I kind of wished I would have thought of the concept. Every month, Hen and Sam travel somewhere and during their travels they look for travel-inspired, locally sourced, stylish goods for those who love office supplies as much as they do. So far Hen and Sam have brought out three limited editions kits called the Something Mighty Collection – Colombia (sold out), France, and Mexico! Hen was so kind as to send me a Mexico kit to review AND to give away! Needless to say, Hen and Sam are now my two new best friends. SWEET!


REVIEW: STMT X MEXICO KIT
Each kit comes standard with a writing instrument, paper goods, a mystery item, and a narrative on where the goods came from. The first thing that stood out to me when opening my package from the post office was the amazing care with which the products were wrapped. Each kit comes with its unique packaging and I love the unique card they attached to the ribbon here.


It’s the kind of attention to detail that I find with every item in the kit. The notebook looks pretty straightforward, but the paper is thick and my markers don’t bleed through, and it’s the brightest yellow I’ve ever seen! The triangular pencils are cute enough (as is the gold engraving with the word México on them), but I truly fall in love with them after trying them out. These are not just random pencils, they’re soft and perfect for drawing. The labels that come with the kit have these perfectly round shaped corners and are actually sticky (nothing bugs me more than labels that don’t stick).


So yeah, this is probably the point where I admit I have a weak spot for office supplies. I never leave our local grocery store without checking out the office supply corner first and I always, always buy pencils and notebooks every city I go. Getting the Mexico kit in the mail was like getting souvenirs from a trip I have yet to take. Awesome. I loved this kit and am definitely considering buying some of the other ones yet to come out. Yes, you’ll probably only want to get a subscription on the STMT kits from Rad and Hungry if you feel the same way about office supplies as I do… but I think I know at least a few people who would go absolutely crazy over these!


GIVEAWAY: STMT X MEXICO KIT
Rad and Hungry will give away ONE FREE STMT X MEXICO kit to one lucky winner!

Entry rules/details:
Contest is open to everyone and anyone!
To be eligible please leave a comment below. One comment per person only.
Comments will be open until Friday evening February 18th, at 11pm CET.
The winner will be chosen randomly and announced via email and as an update this to this post on Monday morning, February 21st, 2011.


I would like to thank the awesome folks over at Rad and Hungry for this amazing giveaway. I can’t wait to see what country you’ll have us travel to next!

Link: Rad and Hungry website


--- Comment »




Lovely Paper by Dawbis

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Anna Denise - Eleven comments
By Anna Denise
I have posted about the work of Dawbis before on my blog annadenise.nl, but since I'm not sure how many of you read that blog, I'll just post about her work again over here. HA! And I'm getting away with it, because I am completely smitten with the work of Dawbis and I'm sure you'll love her as well.
Dawbis, or Dawn, is a self-taught paper artist from Texas, who makes the most lovely paper cut images and dolls. Her collages are so detailed and expressive - every tiny little thing in them seems to tell a story. And her paper puppets are just, well... to quote the always eloquent Rachel Zoe: I die. Bananas. (Sorry, I've been watching a little more of 'The Rachel Zoe Project' than is objectively good for me).
Oh, and the girl has an obsession with vintage paper goods and stationary. I mean. This love was just meant to be.

Dawn is in her final weeks of pregnancy and I wish her all the luck in the world with those final weeks and meeting her little one for the first time. She'll just have to promise us she won't stop creating these beautiful works after she becomes a mother. Okay Dawn?

Links: Lovely Paper Blog (paper art) | Paper is Lovely Blog (vintage papers) | Paper Quilt Project | Flickr

--- Comment »




Happy Bunting!

Posted on November 10, 2010 by Anna Denise - 21 comments
We recently had a birthday here at Maison Yellow Umbrella, and for the first time since I was a little kid, I bought a bunting to make it feel extra festive (it worked! Check out my blog post about it [here]).

The ones I got were pretty simple of course. Had I known that there were buntings like this one by This Neck of the Woods, I would have definitely gotten this one, since it's pretty enough to leave up all year around! Party every day! Wooh! Links: Website | Etsy Shop


I adore this picture by Cassia Beck. I'm not sure if it's one picture or a combination of two pictures, it works wonderfully. And yes, all of Cassia's photographs are this dreamy (her Flickr stream always kind of makes me crave ice cream for some reason). Links: Weblog | Etsy Shop | Flickr


Ok. If I appear (even more) incoherent today - it's because this bunting necklace by Emedemarta for sale in the Bakers Dozen shop just made my head explode. N E E D. I love the idea behind the Bakers Dozen shop as well. Designer Amy Borrell invites artists to create an object in a limited edition of 13 (hence the bakers dozen) to sell exclusively through the shop. Links: Bakers Dozen Shop | Emedemarta's Website | Emedemarta's Etsy Shop


Dutch designer Ninainvorm has a perpetuating obsession with buntings and well, I'm obsessed with her obsession with buntings. It's all connected, isn't it? Oh, and it's a teapot. That's basically the meaning of life right there. Links: Blog | Etsy Shop


When you're done decorating your house and yourself with all of the prettiness featured above, you'll have to throw a party of course and invite your friends with these lovely bunting invitations by Tumbleweed Press in New Zealand. I'm so doing this for my birthday. Oh wait. It's not my birthday yet. Links: Etsy Shop Comment »