The Paper Studio is a teaching studio and paper arts shop that has everything from handmade papers to fabulous environmentally friendly bags. Besides their amazing products they also offer classes and have a video demo blog with great “How to’s!” Very inspiring!

Where would we be without our friends. I have great ones and today that was made clear when an old friend from back east sent me a little package in the mail to warm my heart as she is suffering through a cold winter. I loved everything about the package and it’s contents. The placement of the stamps, the recycled envelope, the craft paper used to wrap it up, the music, the packaging of the Moroccan Sardines and the henna templates — which reminded me of a wonderful voyage we shared long ago. What can I say. Thank you. I feel so understood… and that is the greatest feeling.

Exercise your brain with these cool toys from the Curiosity Shoppe.

We just got back from Istanbul which was fabulous. As though being back from holiday and suffering from travel fever wasn’t bad enough, every day since we got back, Turkey has been in the news as a constant reminder of the wonder we left behind. If you have a chance to get there, go. The people are outstandingly generous and funny. So warm. I will be posting several posts just to spread the good cheer about what we found there… we sought out Ottoman Empire T-Shirts. Every product is well designed (great designers) & well printed… not to mention a wonderful web site and great shop at Kanyon. Here’s a small sampling.