63 | (Bachelorette Party) Weekend Survival Kit

Though a Bachelorette Party Weekend in Santa Barbara may seem exciting enough, LOTUS&ASH added to the anticipation with custom survival kits, sent to each guest before the big weekend.

The pool blue mini suitcases arrived in each guest's mailbox with the essentials for three days at the beautiful Bacara resort.

On tap for Friday night? A reunion for close friends over margaritas... and the potential consequences of such an affair. But Alka Selzer (attached on the back of the card) would be there to save ease the next day...

Saturday was pool day - so SuperGoop Suncreen was a must...

And at night, the girls would convene for a Champagne Toast, written on a custom notecard, for the Bride-to-Be.

Though they had to say goodbye on Sunday, a mini frame lay at the bottom of the mini suitcase, waiting for a photo to remember the weekend by.

And a polite reminder, that of course, their presence was their present.

10 boxes were shipped off across the U.S. from the Palo Alto Post Office (The L&A favorite) and from all accounts, the weekend was a success.

~

Speaking of Suitcases... I'm off to the birthplace of paper -- China! -- for the week.

(And my suitcase is a little bigger than the ones above...with lots of room for all the paper treasures I hope to find)

55 | SO FAR FROM SF

Dear San Francisco,

It's been too long. I know I've been away, and I was poor at keeping at touch. But I'm back and I'm here to stay (until my next adventure, that is) and would love to share my month of travel with you.

LOVE, L&A

| NEW PERSONAL STATIONERY . designed (on a plane) 02.2011 |

Indeed, February was a month of travel, in which weekend after weekend was full of new sights, sounds, and tastes... of paper, design, and experiences.

LAKE TAHOE

From the Natural Beauty of Squaw Valley  t0 >

 

NEW YORK

Work called me to the Highline Ballroom where I spent a full day in the dark, but I did manage to find some time to explore...

Of course, no trip is complete without a walk in Central Park,

experiencing Chelsea for the first time...

and a visit to The High Line (beautiful even in the winter).

I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I had the Cereal Milk @ Momofuku...

until I visited the paper room at the NY Central Art Supply.

I (creepily) observed and drooled over the printing classes at SVA...

and  recommend a visit to the Cooper Hewitt to drool over the Jewels at the Van Cleef and Arpels exhibit. The exhibit is beautifully designed, and integrates the space, new media and display techniques in a gorgeous way.

next time, i will...

  • have a bowl of noodles at momofuku
  • visit the whitney museum
  • go back for wine and breadsticks at blue ribbon bar

 

PORTLAND At the other end of the pace spectrum, Portland set the scene for a perfect slower-paced weekend getaway.

After a morning yoga class, a delicious cup of stumptown coffee (holler! mountain blend) and a supremely positive AirBnB experience in Southeast Portland ...

The Ace in Downtown provided the perfect stay for the modern hipster - complete with in-room record player.

The Artist's Book exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Craft in the Pearl had me written all over it...

as did the Dragon Bowl and Zucchini Hummus at Prasad.

Geek out with PacMan and PBR's at GroundKontrol - an arcade with all the classics for adults (a.k.a amazing).

And, after watching the stage-version of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest (which I highly recommend) at the Center Stage theater, we found ourselves at the Doug Fir Lounge for the Millionyoung concert.

And...Dare I say it?!...

Skip the line at Voodoo donuts, and get yourself a Chocolate Chip Cookie at Pearl Bakery instead.

 

next time, i will:

  • get (more) lost in the purple room at powell's books
  • watch a movie in the comfort (of someone else's) living room at living room theatres
  • in the summer ... hike in forest park, eat at a food cart, and shop at the farmer's markets

 

 

(FINAL) TRAVELER'S TIPS:

Planes are a Design Studio in the air...

check with your companion about diversifying reading materials, before you get on the plane...

and airports are a perfect date spot for two traveling roommates passing in the night.

~

blog spoiler: there is so much delicious design and paper-y goodness to come soon!

 

51 | L&A HOLIDAY & CHEER

*  *  *

The season is upon us, and the L&A holiday workshop is in full swing. Dean Martin is blaring, and the spice candles are burning, and there are ribbon cuttings all over the place.

December snuck up especially quickly this year - dreidels are already spinning, and the christmas countdown is well under way!  But despite the hustle and bustle, there has still been time for:

 

custom letterpress greetings...

personal illustrations with metallic touches...

brown paper packages tied up with string...

stationery gift sets...

in this year's L&A holiday gift wrapping.

HARK! There's more work to be done... including more greeting card and gift designing...

to my favorite holiday tunes.

So, before Christmas arrives in a blink of an eye, L&A wishes you a happy December, filled with present-wrapping, friends, plenty of merriment, and of course,

paper.

 

*for holiday paper inquiries, click here.