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.