shop talk - camellia

After driving by this store for months and always thinking "I gotta stop by there!" I finally had a chance to visit Camellia on Fremont in NE Portland. And boy, was I in for a treat!


Shop owner Emily has scoured the country and come up with a huge selection of beauty products that pamper your body and soul. And best of all, they're all natural and organic! Just think: beauty, cosmetics, skincare, and body care that you can feel good about in more ways than one!

Just take a look at these snapshots to get a sense of Camellia's fabulous selection:


And you'll feel rejuvenated just walking around her spacious store, taking in all the goodness it has to offer. Don't forget to look up at the ceiling for a visual treat:


CAMELLIA
4941 NE Fremont • Portland • 503.287.4645 • www.camelliapurebeauty.com

studio visit

I'm always so inspired when I see where other people work. Ink & Peat's shop (see previous post) certainly was inspirational – Pam has created a fabulous work space for herself! So I thought I'd share with you my own work space, which I happen to love.


I'm one of those people who is influenced by her physical surroundings. When I was in college, I always found it really hard to study in a cluttered apartment. While those college years are decades past (yes, decades!), I still find it hard to concentrate in a messy office.

So when I moved my home office for my design studio Defteling Design from the attic to the basement, I decided I had to have a nice view. A little hard to do when you're six feet underground, but I nevertheless achieved success: I look out on a beautiful, calm collection of various objects and photos while the messes pile up behind me.

Above: view behind me (desk was a great find at the Portland Antique Expo a few years back)
Below: view in front of me (the display ledge above the bead board was my hubby's idea and it turned out great!)


The view to my right: I started collecting old type back when I was studying graphic design. That then expanded into old enamel signs (I picked up the vintage document clip from a Dutch grocery on my last trip to the Netherlands). And my wall of fame, if you will: a sampling of logos that have won design awards over the years.


The view to my left: these simple Ikea magazine boxes store printed samples of various client projects from the past five years. Love the great Pottery Barn clock, which was a Christmas present from my sister and her hubby. The built-ins cupboards at the bottom are where I hide all my various computer manuals and software boxes.


One of my favorite things, though, is my entry way. I had my logo recreated in cut vinyl that makes the window look like etched glass. Now my clients can park on the side of the house (we live on a corner) and know they're at the right place before they come knockin' on the door!


And yes, I work in this very same office when designing all my greeting cards and paper products for Cecily Ink! No need to reinvent the wheel, right?

shop talk – ink & peat

This past Saturday, I was invited to attend the grand opening of Portland's newest floral design and home decor stores, Ink & Peat. I was SO excited – I had been meaning to stop by Pam's store since she first opened her doors a few weeks ago and knew I would be in for a treat based on the pictures she had posted on her blog.


And boy, she did not disappoint! Ink & Peat is filled with treasures big and small that include must-haves for the home and body. While taking the photos below, my heart kept jumping with delight as I discovered piece after piece.


And yes, I did not leave empty-handed! Besides a set of dish towels (you can never have too many designer towels!), I snagged a gorgeous blue serving bowl, a delicious-smelling candle, an adorable silver ring, and a beautiful gift for a friend who's having a birthday in a few weeks.


And the flowers, oh, the flowers! Pam's arrangements are so beautiful, they're like pieces of art! I especially loved how she sprinkled vases and containers with just a stem or two throughout her displays. It made the store come to life!


And what would a grand opening be without a spread of goodies? Pam and her family outdid themselves – everything looked gorgeous, of course, but was absolutely delicious as well!


And aren't these little party favors adorable? Amy with Candywinkel did a great job tying in the favors with Pam's colors and tags!


INK & PEAT
3808 N. Williams Avenue • Portland • 503.282.6688 • www.inkandpeat.com

my inspiration

As you may or may not know, I named my company Cecily Ink mainly after my maternal grandmother Ceciel but also after my mother, who shares that same name as a middle name with me and one of my sisters.

My mother never had any formal art training and it wasn't until just a year or two ago that she picked up a paint brush again. All I can say is wow - don't put down that brush!

During the last month, I have been lucky enough to accumulate my very own collection of my mother's art:


This landscape perfectly captures the fields of my childhood in the Netherlands - it even includes the Peperbus, the church tower in the distance that was a landmark for us kids: spying it on the horizon meant that we were only minutes away from arriving at my grandmother Ceciel's house, who lived in the shadows of that very church.


Our 12th anniversary happened to be on Labor Day this year, and my mom gifted us with this gorgeous portrait of Todd and me. She used my all-time favorite photo of me and Todd so I doubly cherish this painting!


And I was stunned by my mom's talents when she showed me this recent painting she had done of my grandmother. The likeness is amazing and the details of the chair, roses and background represent my Oma to a tee!

Thank you, Mom, for your constant support of my artistic endeavors, and for your generosity and kind spirit! I love you!

Crafty Wonderland this weekend

If you live in the Portland area, come say hi this weekend as I plan to sell calendars and card files at this month's Crafty Wonderland (and yes, I will offer some show specials that are not available online!)

As always, this month's event at the Doug Fir Lounge promises to be filled with lots of fun products from amazing talent. I thought I'd showcase a few of this month's vendors to wet your appetite. In case you can't make it, not to worry – just shop online!

I've shown eSoule's work before – and I'm doing it again! I just can't get enough of her extreme close-ups of small plastic animal toys. This series of horses is especially stunning – they look so alive!


And how fun are these hats by Paula Deer?


Love, love, love these darling illustrations by Barking Bird Art


Hope to see you there!

CRAFTY WONDERLAND
Doug Fir Lounge • 830 E. Burnside • Sunday 9.14.08 • 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

shoptalk – plum blossom press

Today's shop talk takes me all the way across the country to the East Coast to visit Plum Blossom Press, a fabulous husband-and-wife team who create gorgeous letterpress invitations.

Matthew and Erica launched Plum Blossom Press just last year and look at some of their fabulous creations:


They offer custom work as well – they have their own antique letterpress – and now they've expanded their offerings by opening up a store front (how fun!). Look, they carry my Cecily Ink line! (thanks for the photos, Matt!)


PLUM BLOSSOM PRESS
163 Main Street • Staaten Island NY • 718.984.4363 • www.plumblossompress.com

September wallpaper

Wow, it's September already! Time to update your computer's desktop with this month's Cecily Ink calendar wallpaper: