Rosehip Prints at Selvedge Fair Spring 2013

These lovely vintage inspired prints are by Rosehip, who are based in Bristol. A range of stationery, notecards and wrapping paper are available -I particularly like these box files covered in Rosehip prints, especially the yellow 50s floral (see pic below on the left).
Rosehip is just the sort of company that I seek out because, to quote from their website:
We always strive to use as environmentally friendly materials and processes, and take pride in always using British manufacturers where ever possible.

COMPETITION - win a Barbara Wiggins 2013 diary

Win a Barbara Wiggins 2013 diary in gold leather (do you call that crackled? or antique?)

Here's how:

(1) Subscribe to this blog

(2) email your contact details to saraheleyblog@gmail.com - so that I can contact the winner

(3) Spread the word! if you heard about this competition through Twitter, please follow @MrsOsbornSpree, or if you found out about it on Facebook, share the post with your friends

Closing date: 9th December 2012

A winner will be chosen randomly using a computer generated thingummybob.

Handmade in Britain: Barbara Wiggins

I lingered for far too long at Barbara Wiggins' stand at the Handmade in Britain show at Chelsea Town Hall earlier this month (last blogged about here)- her leatherbound notebooks, address books and diaries glinting at me, tempting me to buy not one but several. She had also brought her satchels, purses and make-up bags in a rainbow of colours which were very popular with the swarm of customers around her stand. I nearly bought the neon pink satchel (see pic below).
One of the reasons I couldn't tear myself away from Barbara Wiggins stand was Barbara herself - we did have a good old chat. One of the best things about writing this blog has been meeting the designer-makers, finding out about their inspirations, design processes and techniques. Barbara has a training in fine art, and comes from a family with artistic and creative skills, which has influenced her designs.

Bookery stationery - special discount offer!

 To celebrate 10 years of designing and making stationery Bookery, last blogged about here, is offering 10% off their stationnery range in conjunction with Seek and Adore. I like the Ebb & Flow notebooks - two notebooks in a nubuck cover, and this leather iPhone cover made from cotton-lined calfskin is great - it would be even better if I had an iPhone to go in it.

Enter code BOOKERY at the checkout of Seek & Adore to get the 10% discount

 

 Ebb & Flow - nubuck cover for two notebooks to keep both sides of your brain organised

Seek & Adore sell a range of peices made by designer-makers - check out their website if you are looking for unique, handmade things.

Leathersmith of London: new leather notes books and Dataday Jewel Collection

A little bird told me about some new notebooks from Leathersmith of London (check out my previous post about them here) which are made in their Canvey Island bindery and have been made in celebation of the first National Stationnery Day on the 24th April (one I shall be celebrating each year henceforth).

I know many people store all their important info in digital form but I favour old-fashioned pen and paper - have a look at their leatherbound diaries and addressbooks which are also beautifully made, and won't let you down when the wifi is up the spout.

New notebooks from Leathersmith of London: teal embossed leather

New notebooks: classic neutral snakeskin print in taupe (which goes so very well with my new snakeskin shoes) or magenta snakeskin

New notebooks: Rutland grained leather (shown with the snakeskin print notebook)

The new Dataday Jewell Collection - notebooks available in three sizes, covered with linen-effect cotton in seven vibrant colours, one for every day of the week.

today: Mimi Berry, Sophia & Matt, Quadrille notebooks

Yellow satchel by Mimi Berry, pencil case by Sophia &  Matt, and Liberty print notebook from Quadrille (available via Amazon).

real buckles, not magnets, are the best

 Sophia and Matt pencil case in metallic leather

Quadrille  notebook with Liberty print

Leathersmith of London: music case and notebooks

Music cases make good bags to carry your files and other papers, also handy for your iPad, pittabread sandwich for lunch, and other good, flat things.  How about this one by Leathersmith of London, shown here in red, but also available in duck egg blue, tan and black (prices start at £145).

Diary from the Azure series in embossed leather (£45)

Leathersmith has been making leatherbound books since 1839, and the Azure series of notebooks and diaries have been made since 1928 - all have the fine blue paper which gives the series its name.

Valentine's Day cards from The Plinth

If you want to send a more original Valentine than a 7p card from ASDA, send a Timbergram from The Plinth: 4mm birch postcard (150mm x 100mm) engraved with a message, initials or a love heart. Absolute bargain at £3.85 (incl. postage, can only be sent to UK addresses).
I'm quite tempted to send myself one with the message 'sail on silver girl', but that's a bit tragic isn't it?

The Plinth is a design studio based in Spitalfields - products are made in the UK, and there is always a current offer 'on the plinth' (as they say), so it's worth checking back regularly to see what's available.

Barbara Wiggins 2012 diaries

Lovely leatherbound 2012 diaries from Barbara Wiggins

Notebooks, satchels, passport covers and luggage tags are also available

Notebooks from Bookery

These notebooks by Bookery from the Ebb & Flow range are exactly what I have been looking for  because I always have at least one notebook on the go (for work, and other suchlike) and it's handy to keep them together. The Ebb & Flow is a handmade nubuck leather cover for two A6 hand printed and hand stitched notebooks.
The notebooks below are printed with 'Words' and 'Sketches', £49.

Ebb & Flow is available in a range of colours, and different words:  Work & Play (pink and purple), Here & There (blue), Inside & Outside (green), Ideas & Plans (red). Bookery also sells refill notebooks, but I reckon you could use one from Muji or any other stationnery shop instead.

Bookery, based in Cockpit Arts Studios, London, also makes two-way hand stitched notebooks (12 x 21 cm) out of recycled paper (£16) and A6 notebooks in a range of colours (£6).

card o' paperclips from Cowshed Press

Did you know that the species of paperclip that we use most often is called the Gem? This card by Cowshed Press is a spotters guide to some of the more rare paperclip beasties found in your stationery cupboard.   I've always like the Ideal (the 1.5in size has a 100 page capacity. wooo), but I think my new fav is the Owl. Or perhaps the McGill.

Printed in silver and cyan on smooth manilla board.
Contact Cowshed Press to find out your nearest stockist.

Hope House Press

I like these leatherbound Hope House Press journals available from their website, or Not On The High Street, personalised with your name, initial or a little bon mot.

A Little Book of Big Ideas, £29.50

Notes For My First Novel, £29.50
(it's there, churning around in my head, but I'm feeling terribly inarticulate)

Personalised notebook (£39)

Names printed 2cm high in black ink

Monogrammed notebooks (£39)

Letters printed in black ink approx 5.5cm high

Archivist Letterpress cards

Spotted today at Paperchase on Tottenham Court Road: Archivist Letterpress cards, and also available from the Archivist website.

£5 for a pack of 6 notecards. I especially love the strawberry. Which reminds me, I must make some more jam.

Typoretum & Image Surgery present...

Proto Type: A Typography Exhibition

The Gallert, 20 Church Walk, Colchester

May 6th - June 18th

Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10am to 5pm

Typoretum letterpress

I love letterpress stationery - for a start it looks like a lot of fun for the designer / letterpress-er to create, and the end products are imaginative and beautiful works of art, using a printing method that has great history and tradition.

Typoretum, based in Colchester, make a huge range of letterpress stationery.  Greetings cards - such as this New Year card - are made using antique wooden and metal letterpress type and vegetable inks printed onto 100 percent cotton fibre.

They also make wedding stationery and personalised stationery, such as correspondence cards.

Email / texts begone, use these instead.

Mrs Osborn's favourite shops - Harrington & Squires

I'd really like to have a business card - but I think I need to be more of a ducker / diver / wheeler / dealer and a bit less of a maid-of-all-work before I splash out. Besides, I need some time to work out what info should go on my business card.

Once I've decided, I know where to go: Harrington & Squires, letterpress printers and designers.

Harrington & Spires are tucked away in Tufnell Park, in a tall thin space called The Corridor (1.2 metres wide, 3 storeys high).  They have many, many beautiful examples of business cards for inspiration, and can design one that is just right for you.

As well as bespoke business cards, wedding stationery, invitations and cards, Harrington & Squires also sell hankies, fridge magnets and calendars...

Top row: folded letter Love card £6;
Bottom row: Sneezie hankie printed with the word Sneeze, Boohoo or Atishoo £10 each

shopping list button fridge magnets -
you probably can't read the type as I didn't zoom in enough...
they have essential grocery items to remind you what to buy

top row: perforated calender
(it's long and thin and you tear off each day that goes by) £16.50;
bottom row: postcards £2.50 each

Honesty is the best policy

These 'Honesty stamps' by Dominic Wilcox are genius. Available directly from his website, or from Thorsten van Elten.

I can think of a few choice words of my own that could be stamped all over the house:
'I'm sorry I thought that you left it on the floor because you didn't want it anymore, so I threw it away'.  Hmm a bit long, needs editing but you get my drift. 

brilliant pencil case from Present & Correct

I have to tell you about this brilliant pencil case, for all you school swots out there. In fact, even if you are too cool for school (or too old) this is a very natty item indeed.

It's hand made in London by the people at Present & Correct - do you know P&C? purveyors of new and vintage stationery which appeals to my inner stationery geek.

I wasn't sure if all the little bits and bobs such as cartridges and a tube of 0.8mm leads would stay in, but it's a very clever design - an envelope with a simple stud closure that keeps everything safe.

envelope closure with small silver stud

all pens, pencils, cartridges stay put

A nice addition is the useful info embossed on the top - prime numbers, pi, primary colours - which is the whole point of it being called a 'homework pencil case'.  In fact it is the ideal pencil case to take into school exams.

homework tips / exams cheats embossed on the top for future reference

Dear Diary

Start the new year with a brand new diary.  Hope House Press, based in Leicestershire, make a range of leather bound notebooks and diaries using vintage bookbinding presses.  Notebooks are available in a range of sizes, with either a standard cover, or a more fancy 'wraparound' cover which has an extra flap of leather that is secured with a leather tie.  You can also choose from plain, lined or squared paper.

What I would find very useful, but doesn't seem to be available, is a leather notebook cover for a standard A5 or A6 notebook - the perfect example is Storage.it by Japanese stationer Mark's Inc, (available at Paper Nation) which has spaces for business cards and other bits and bobs.

Cranberry notebook with wraparound cover

Olive notebook with standard cover

my little secret: scratch cards

This is a great Christmas card - a scratch card where everyone's a winner.  Available from Present & Correct, stationery obsessives for the stationery obsessed.

(Last shipping date: 22nd December, so you can still get it in time for Crimbo.)