It's Me, KP

So Goodnight, Dear Void

I make it no secret that one of the reasons I moved to New York was the movie "You've Got Mail."  I'm sure you understand.  And I can't help but feel like a bizzarro Kathleen Kelly watching my favorite Barnes + Noble, the gorgeous one at Lincoln Center on the UWS, close.  And then comes the closing of Borders stores.  It's particularly hard to see the one at Columbus Circle go.  Don't even get me started on the closing of H+H Bagels on the UWS... which has nothing to do with bookstores but I have a hunch that it would certainly shake Kathleen and Joe Fox's world. 

I love books.  And bookstores.

My parents started taking us to bookstores when we were young and I still have such good memories of browsing them.  Books were always accessible, enjoyable, and good company.  And coming from a girl who has her iPhone glued to her hand 90% of her waking life (friends, I know you're nodding in acknowledgement) I'm sorry but I hate this new technology.  Kindles.  Nooks.  eBooks on iPads.  UGH.  Give me my books!!!  I admittedly sleep with books in my bed and call me old fashioned but who wants to wake up face to face with a computer.  Give me my books.  Let me keep my bookstores.

I am a lone reed, standing tall, waving boldly in the corrupt sands of commerce. 

Grahamwich

If I had a sandwich shop named Purkeywich, would you come visit?  I hope so. 

But until then, we can enjoy a trip to Grahamwich (check out the website, it's pretty cool) - one of my new favorite places.

Owned by celebrity chef (yes, I totally buy into the celebrity chef jazz) Graham Elliot, this little place is right downtown Chicago and the perfect place to stop while shopping up + down Michigan Ave.  I first visited in January right after it opened and I was pleased to find that the lunch was just as good as I remembered it.

On my first trip, I had a grilled cheese (it was amazing) and this time I went all out with the Wagyu Beef sandwich.  It's safe to say this might be the best sandwhich I've ever eaten.  The flavor combinations along with the juicy meat and soft pretzel roll were perfect.
I also treated myself to a bag of G'Wich Chips which I would love to have accompany every sandwich for the rest of my food lovin' life.  We'd tried the G'Wich Popcorn before as well and if you ask me, it beats Garrett's down the street.  No offense to the beloved Chicago Mix.

I had also previously tweeted my delight over lunch at Grahamwich and was promptly tweeted back by GE himself.  Gotta love Chicago chefs, especially ones who are on top of their social media, and most especially ones who make a mean sandwich.

Boardwalk

Studio Calico's August kit, Boardwalk, is now on sale!  Check out the pretty pretty color combinations in this one... so perfect for summer + vacay photos.  I want to scrap all my beach pics with this kit.

Again, this month I picked up Add-on #1 Sea Glass, Add-on #3 Tide Pool, and extra SC Patterned paper.  I wish I had more time because I would have made a lot more layouts for the gallery!  Here's what I came up with...
In my head I wanted to do a cool paper pieced woodgrain... and yeaaah it was good in my head and then on the layout I see fried eggs ;)  But I couldn't not use the Hambly overlay from Tide Pool this month, so I just went with it!

I got messy this month.  And I kind of like it.  This is Mister Huey's Heirloom Blue (new from CHA), Bonnie Blue, and Clover.

Inspired by this Instagram I took of the Anthropologie Rockefeller Center window...
I might use this again as inspiration, because I'm a wee bit obsessed.

Inspired by the SC Patterned Paper hexagons, I handcut out some pieces then misted over top with Mister Huey's White.  Once I pulled them up, I added in some map hexagons from the PP and then stamped in the other shapes with White Zing.  The star stamp from Add-on #4 Sandcastle got White Zing-ed too.

Hope you enjoy Boardwalk this month!!! (Also, Blog Blitz winner posted below!)

SC August: Boardwalk Sneaks

Eeek I am a major slacker this month. Reveal totally snuck up on me and I barely squeaked my layouts out in time.  I'm definitely going to be pulling this month's kit, Boardwalk, out again soon because I adore the color combination!

This month I got Add-on #1 Sea Glass, Add-on #3 Tide Pool, and extra SC Patterned paper (yep that's Brooklyn on the paper.)  There's so much good stuff this month.  The map stamp in Sea Glass is one of the best.  And I've got few sneaks to share...

This month I used Mister Huey's Heirloom Blue (new from CHA), Bonnie Blue, Clover, and tons + tons of White (GET IT WHILE IT'S IN STOCK!)  Along with my staple - White American Crafts Zing paired with Versamark. 

Last month's kit, Mind the Gap, is still for sale... how I'm not sure because it's one of my favorites!!!  There's also SC Patterned Paper available as well.

See you at midnight for full Reveal!

SC Blog Blitz

Welcome to the Studio Calico Blog Blitz!  I was lucky to see the layouts + projects in person that the awesome SC team made for the booth... they were incredible.  So glad that we're all sharing this week.

I was assigned to create a layout with the new bookplate stickers and I love them... so many fun ideas for using them.  My circle punches got pulled out once again to make them pop as accents on the page.
I did a few cards and a little journal for the booth, but unfortunately no photos of them! 

As part of the Blog Blitz, I get to do a giveaway! 

The new wood veneer are one of my all-time favorite products... and I'm giving away a set of houses, banners, and asterisks to one lucky gal.  This work so well with Mister Huey's and are the perfect little accent.  Love them.  Just leave a comment and I'll pick a winner this week.

And I have to say what a wonderful time that I had at the show.  Thank you so much to all the buyers, SC message board members, and fantastic friends who came to visit the booth... it was such a treat to talk to every one of you.  I am so thankful for the little snatches of time that I get to have with my friends.  The late night laughing and the great talks over meals really mean so much to me.  Looking forward to Anaheim in 2012!

Eight Days in Chicago

First there was this...

1: buttons made by Stephen, 2: cheese pie from Giordano's with the SC team (twice), 3: our booth, 4: loved hanging with my homies Lisa + Nik, 5: team dinner at Harry Carary's where I ate a cow, 6: thankful for the chance to catch up with so many wonderful friends who came to the booth, 7: snuggles with Baby Henry - I think I held more babies in those three days than I have in my entire life, 8: there are no words to describe how thrilled I am for Amy + Amy Tangerine, 9: this Midwest girl misses her Jimmy John's and woohoo they delivered to the convention center, 10: my favorite new SC product - the wood veneer houses, 11: love love loved seeing Julie in action at the Crafter's Workshop booth - can't wait to play with her new stencils, 12: big props to Embassy Suites for the free happy hour everyday - we can't thank you enough.

Then there was this...
After the show I headed downtown for the rest of the weekend.  Let's be honest, I slept most of the time.

13: the view from my window, 14: I almost forgot how to ride the EL - it's been too long, 15: I used to get take in this sight every morning on the way to work and it still gives me goosebumps, 16: walked through my old neighborhood, 17: Molly's cupcakes - so yummy, 18: enjoying Saturday night out with Tony, 19: brunch with Gasparilla Girl Kelly - she's planning our trip to Fiji in that photo, 20: saying hello to my favorite Picasso in the entire world, 20: sitting, thinking, watching at the Art Institute of Chicago.

And arrived home tonight very tired but feeling really refreshed and ready to make stuff. Hope to have lots of scrappy post this week and more from CHA to share.

A Visit with Lisa

 
The other night I got a visit from not just one, but two, of my dear friends.  Well, one was in the form of a head on a stick, but irregardless it was wonderful to see her!  My lovely friend Lisa was in town with her family from L.A. and it was so good to see her.  She brought along our other friend "Flat Kelly" who has come along on all the adventures this summer with her.  I've been lucky to know Lisa for for over five years and as she wrote in an email the other day - I feel like I'm her little sister!

We met up in Central Park where she was taking engagement photos for her sister Ciel.  Back in 2005 when I desperately wanted to move to New York Lisa put me in touch with Ciel, who has a job that I envy at MTv in Times Square.  So I've "known" Ciel for such a long time as well, but this was the first time we've finally met. 

So before the sun set, Lisa took some gorgeous photos for them... and I couldn't resist playing with Lisa's incredible lenses and snapped a few along with her.

Happiness all around.  And next time, KG - you better come visit in full form!!!

There's No Crying in Baseball

My parents would be the first to tell you that I am a crybaby. A big one in fact. Usually tears are reserved for a warm shower or a dark movie theater, but since I moved to New York I've joined the millions who cry in public and just don't care. I believe, and have an episode of How I Met Your Mother to back me up on this, that it makes me a real New Yorker.

Who knew that this little island could contain so many tear inducing landmines. I continue to pass by many of them almost daily. The A train late at night. Not once, not twice, but three times on the phone in Verdi Square. An ugly fight on the corner of 34th and 3rd. More times than I could probably count leaving a bad situation in South Street Seaport. In Times Square, which is probably the last place in Manhattan you could ever feel alone, but I have in fact succeeded. Two blocks from my apt on the UWS when I really thought I had to get the hell out of this city. And most recently in the rain on the corner of 12th and 4th because I absolutely hate saying goodbye.

Truthfully, crying in public has become a therapeutic way to get through sadness in NYC. No doubt you will be far from home so you're left with no choice but to pick your head up, wipe your tears away, and continue on your way through the city. You realize that there's something bigger than you going on here. Life goes on. And then you promptly walk yourself to a nearby cupcake shop which will always conveniently be located only steps away from your recent puddle of tears.

Articles I enjoyed on crying in NYC...
How to Live in New York City
The Town Criers

Cooling Down with Coolhaus

Sometimes working from home makes me feel like a hermit. I get stuck in my dark little apartment just glued to my computer and POOF! the day is gone, it's 3 am and I haven't seen a single human being for the entire day.  So I've been trying to take some breaks lately and actually see the sunlight this summer.

One of these breaks a couple weeks ago came in the form of a ice cream sandwich from Coolhaus.  I knew I'd be working all day, so I got of out my pj's, put myself on the A train, and headed down to the Highline for a mid-afternoon treat.

You might remember Coolhaus from this post about my stay with Jessica + Scott.  They introduced me to the truck out in LA and Jess promptly informed me when Coolhaus announced that they were bringing trucks to NYC.  The east coast version is doing the west coast proud... just as delicious as I'd remembered.

This time I had Nutella toasted almond ice cream with a potato chip cookie... along with their signature edible wrapper (genius idea, btw!) I don't know why I always insist on getting these wacky combinations, I'm just so tempted to try these delicious sounding flavors.  But luckily it was wonderful together.

Coolhaus has arrived, now I just have to wait for my sweet Jessica to follow their lead.  Then my summer would be complete.

Project Life

I am currently in Chicago, my second city. I'll be here for CHA all week + a little vacation time, so I've prescheduled some blog posts this week.  And hopefully I'll have time to jump on and post some fun stuff from the show as well!

I am a huge Project Life failure.

Back in March I purchased the Project Life page protectors and put them into an album, with plans to record my 29th year starting with my birthday on the first page.  I collected lots of paper, had some photos printed, added in memorabilia from everywhere. 

Then I got busy.  Then I started traveling too much.  Then life got heavy and I didn't really care about documenting it so much anymore.  I needed to invest more time into the actual project of my personal life than in scrapbooking.  

And so there it all sits on my coffee table, just waiting for me.  I've kind of given up.  There are tons of holes, photos that need to go in, memorabilia that needs to get cut down.  Eight weeks that haven't even been started.  After I got back from Thailand I stopped collecting things.  Now what, Project Life?

I'm not sure what to do with all the stuff.  I thought about combining it all into just one mini album and call it done.  Or bind it all together like Elise's summer album.  Or just put it in a box and deal with it later. 

Someday I think I will want it all.  I think.

But now what?