50% off sale

If you like sales, you'll love the one I just launched at Cecily Ink's website: 50% off everything – no minimum purchase required!

Yes, that's everything you can find online: calendars (of course!) but also card files, boxed sets of cards, gift wrap, imprintables, even the popular new paper table settings! But you have to hurry: sale ends Monday, January 5th at midnight PST! Just enter the coupon code PDXpicks during checkout and save 50% of everything in your basket!

Just my little way of saying thank you for a great 2008 and happy new year!

For more great deals, check out this special edition of Portland Picks:

holiday collaboration

Over the years, I've often collaborated with others in my field to create a memorable holiday gift that leaves a lasting impression with my Defteling Design clients.


I was thrilled to once again be working with Randy at Brown Printing to put together a promo that generated lots of oohs and aahs. Along with contributions from West Coast Paper and Rose City Bindery, the project turned out wonderful, if I do say so myself!


I designed and illustrated a nature-inspired set of three little books that help keep you organized throughout 2009: a perpetual weekly planner (you fill in the dates), an address book (a great backup in case your Blackberry croaks), and a note book (blank pages just begging for doodles and jots). The set is kept together with a customized belly band that wraps around all three books.


I was able to take advantage of some great production techniques, including printing the brown line art of the flower illustration on an antique letterpress (creating a wonderfully tactile cover), using white opaque ink and waves of clear foil on the mushrooms (a very earthy yet modern visual effect), and printing silver inks on all the pieces (a little hard to see in the photos but it catches the light beautifully in real life!)


The entire project is printed on recycled paper, and Brown Printing is only weeks away from being a full-fledged FSC-certified printer so we can all feel good about this eco-friendly paper project.

so it did snow...

...but luckily it held off till the day AFTER our fabulous Artisan Holiday Studio Sale!

A big thank you to all of you who stopped by and shopped! For those of you who couldn't make it, I took some snaps of my living-room-turned-store-front to share with you:

what snow?!

There's not going to be any snow this weekend – no, sirree! And if there is, well, then get out your snow mobiles, strap on your skis, or pull out your sleds, because no little snow shower is going to stop the two best artisan sales in Portland this weekend!

Swing by my house on Saturday for the Artisan Holiday Studio Sale – together with four other artists, we'll help you find the perfect gift for all the folks left on your list (and a little sumptin-sumptin for yourself!)
Saturday 11:00 till 3:00 at 1848 NE 58th Avenue.

And don't miss Crafty Wonderland's Super Colossal Holiday Sale from 11:00 to 7:00 on Sunday at the Oregon Convention Center. Remember, the Max drops you off right in front so don't fret about any potential white fluffy stuff on the roads!

Oh, and if you're one of the first 200 shoppers, you'll be the lucky recipient of a fabulous goodie bag, which includes a letterpress calendar collaboration between the Crafty Wonderland gals and yours truly!

trunk show

First off, I must apologize for my recent lack of posting – I've simply been too busy. 't Is the season, after all...for lots of sales, shows and bazaars!

At the end of each event I always am amazed at how many fun and interesting people I've met (definitely worth the sore back and achy feet!). Best of all, I never seem to leave a show without a small coveted treasure that I simply had to have – it will always remind me of that particular day.

Here's where you can find me this week:

TRUNK SHOW Thursday 6pm to 9pm • 4218 NE 26th Ave • Portland OR


I'm excited to see more of Jane Raymond's purses – her modern designs are right up my alley!


These fun skirts from Ginza Girl Designs are so bright and colorful, I love them! And look, she makes adult sizes, too!


Mmmm, chocolate... you can never have enough chocolate – and when it's from Healthy Kitchen, you can actually feel good about eating it!


I have several of Teri Sprouse's funky jewelry and always get tons of compliments when I wear one of her pieces. The trunk show will actually be at her house so be sure to check out her 2Monkees table!


And yes, you'll find me there as well with a full serving of Cecily Ink paper goods!

Or stop by these two events:

ARTISAN HOLIDAY STUDIO SALE Saturday 11am to 3pm • 1848 NE 58th Ave (my house!) • Portland OR

COLOSSAL HOLIDAY SALE Sunday 11 am to 7pm • Oregon Convention Center • Portland OR

december wallpaper calendar

Wow, it's December already – time to update your computer's desktop wallpaper with Cecily Ink's new pattern available here!


And if you're still searching for the perfect gift for that special someone on your list, don't forget to check out your local handmade bazaars!

If you live in the Portland area, here are a few of my favorites this week (okay, slightly biased review since I'll be selling at all of them):

Tuesday 12/2: Handmade NW • 10:00 - 6:00
This should be a fun one with plenty of parking available at the various Smart Park lots downtown! We'll be in the atrium of the World Trade Center, just a few blocks from Pioneer Square. For a list of vendors and more details, check out the website.

Wednesday 12/3 and Thursday 12/4: Scrooge Lives
This show is at Mt. Hood Community College – check the website for details.

Saturday 12/6 and Sunday 12/7: Lake Oswego Holiday Market
I'm really looking forward to this one! It's inside so no matter what Mother Nature has in store for us this weekend, you'll be warm and cozy as you shop your way through some fabulous booths! More info available on their website.

Saturday 12/6 and Sunday 12/7: Da Vinci Arts Fair
While I won't be able to sell in person at this show, you'll find my card files and calendars at this fun sale that benefits Da Vinci Middle School. Shop with a cause and support local artists - it doesn't get any better! Click here for more details.

Artisan Holiday Studio Sale

This time of year I'm participating in a lot of holiday bazaars and festivals across the greater Portland area, but I must admit that the one I'm most excited about is the one happening at my very own house!


It's my first-ever studio sale and I'm so excited to be sharing it with four other fabulous artists, all of whom I admire for their amazing talents and strong spirit.

I've known Amy Smith for years and we've collaborated on many projects, our most recent one being the launch of Candywinkel this past summer. Amy's passion for packaging is a perfect fit for this new venture. Her party favors and corporate gifts are the epitome of style, and her knack for finding unique and tasty candies is simply incredible. She'll have many holiday-themed at hand during the studio sale and will also be taking orders for special events.


Then there's Peggy Flynn with P Flynn Design whom I first met a year ago during the Portland Gift Show. Her aromatic sachets and silk pillows have a wonderfully relaxing and calming scent and her designs are fun and eclectic, especially her newest line, the Brown Box series. Elegant yet mysterious and slightly dark, these designs are what you might stumble across in an old curio cabinet – such little treasures!


Teri Sprouse with 2Monkees creates stunning jewelry and accessories. She has a real eye for detail and knows just what will work as a necklace or which piece will work better as a ring or hair clip. I'm especially drawn to her scrabble tile pendants with fun graphics and simply ball chain. It's such an easy way to add a bit of pizzazz to your outfit, and with Teri's low prices you can pick up several without breaking the bank!


And I just love the felted wool purses that Julie Goughnour creates over at Fuzzbags. Julie has a great eye for color and her whimsical designs are fun without being childish. She uses top-quality wool and her bags are ever so soft. I snapped up one of her purses the instant I spotted it at an event six months ago and it's been one of my faves ever since!


And of course, I'll have my full line of Cecily Ink paper products available. The Fresh Style Card File is a great gift idea (a gift of organization and preparation!) and if you haven't seen the new "mod floral" style yet, this will be a great time to check out all the new card designs. Plus choose from calendars, thank you cards, invitations, paper table settings, gift wrap, buttons, magnets and more. Best of all, I'll be offering several specials not available online!


So bring a friend, enjoy some complimentary cider and snacks, and shop our Artisan Holiday Studio Sale – you'll be sure to find something for everyone on your list. See you there!

ARTISAN HOLIDAY STUDIO SALE
Saturday December 13 • 11:00 to 3:00 • 503.970.8675
1848 NE 58th Avenue (corner of 58th & Hancock between Sandy & Halsey off 57th)

save the date

In just four short weeks, you'll be able to come to my first-ever studio sale!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 13th. There'll be a total of five artists selling all kinds of beautiful and unique gifts - I'll showcase all the featured artists soon so stay tuned...

featured Etsy artist

I was surfing the Etsy home page a week or so ago when my eyes were drawn to their featured seller, Middleburg. The santas shown looked so much like one my hubby and I purchased several years ago at a local gallery, I had to check out her shop for a closer look.


Sure enough: this is the very same person who made our treasured santa! And she's got so many more to choose from:


I love the vintage toy-inspired look of her papier maché pieces – the faces are all so sweet!


Be sure to check out the other holiday and wedding pieces (some great Halloween characters currently in the shop) as well as some of her amazing animals: