Scarf Management: A Super Simple Way to Pack Scarves

I have a serger and I love to buy silky fabric at the fabric store, serge the edges and have a new beautiful scarf to scrunch around my neck.  That said, I sometimes (sometimes? always) get carried away when I am "making" and I end up with a huge collection of scarves, all of which I want to bring with me on my trips. 

So "Scarf Management" has been on my mind. I was struck with this simple and effective packing system for scarves when I was getting ready for this last my trip to Seattle.  I was in my office and I came across this pale pink multi-pocket file folder (intended for papers) and thought: scarves!

It worked like a charm.  I folded each scarf into a medium size square and slide each right into the pocket.  No snagging, no becoming unfolded, no problem!

The next time you are packing for a trip, look on your desk to master scarf management!

Craft Show Find: Upcycled Grocery Notebooks

I saw them and I had to have them.  Grocery Notebooks.  I kid you not.  I was at the Leland Art Show last month and I wandered into Laura Wright's booth (she doesn't have a website now, but if I ever get it, I'll link to it here. Her phone is 231-624-0090, if you want to ask about upcoming shows).

Her focus is on paper goods and accordion scrapbooks, but she has started dabbling in these grocery notebooks.  The best possible upcycling, as far as I'm concerned.  She has taken the front and back of cereal boxes, cracker boxes and artisanal beer 6-packs (genius) and used the art of the packaging to make spiral bound notebooks.

She had me at the Rice Krispies (only $1 for the notebook!), but I soon started handing her more and more.  My mom was drawn to the sand dune water scene and insisted I get it to keep by the phone in my kitchen.  She was right, of course, it looks beautiful there and reminds me of Sleeping Bear dunes.  Notice that this was a 2-pack.  A narrow pocket notebook is displayed on top, mirroring the scene, and held in place by rubber bands.

You never know when you will find an artist that is doing something beautiful...and interesting.  Keep your eye out.  Laura Wright, bravo! 

Mochi Set

This mochi set combines so many of the things I love (sugar, Japanese design, pretty packaging) and trumpets what I call "the power of cute."

It looks like Hello Kitty herself designed these sweet treats and put them in gingham check baking cups.  When I was at the Japanese department store, Shirokiya, at the  Ala Moana  shopping center in Honolulu, there were beautiful packages like this filling refrigerated cases. 

The store is a truly a department store (see map) filled with stations selling accessories, paper goods, electronics, cosmetics and then an unbelievable selection of freshly prepared hot and cold dishes.  I was marveling at the sheer number of employees required to staff each station. 

While I have never been to Japan, it is not hard to see what a treasure Shirokiya would be to the Japanese living and working in Hawaii.  Every where you look, an authentic taste of Japan is at your finger tips.

Andy Warhol 50th Anniversary Campbell's Tomato Soup

Tah-dah!  What a fabulous way to honor the 50th anniversary of Andy Warhol's painting of the Campbell's Tomato Soup Can.  A limited edition series of tomato soup in retro label colors.  I love it and bought 4 at my local Target.  You can also get some online (although it is much more expensive this way) here.  My cans will become pencil and paint brush holders on my desk...once I have lunch, of course!  I will cover the label with a strip of clear contact paper to protect the paper from getting damaged.  I cover lots of things with contact paper - it protects the item and keeps me from being too precious with it.

This promotion really is life imitating art!

Doux & Delicat

Isn't this pretty tea packaging? My hotel in Paris gave us these herbal teas to try and I loved them on sight, strictly because of the packaging. Is that so wrong?

I want to shake hands with the person that proposed this color palette. It is very Laura Ashley meets House Beautiful and I love it! The one I am drinking today (center top) is Tilleul (Linden) which is described as doux & delicat (smooth & delicate).

Red & White Packaging

I have always thought that grocery shopping was fun. I love to cook and bake and try. But I also like how everything looks. 

Remember when I bought those salts at Eastern Market just because the packaging was shell pink & soft blue. 

I photographed my own little collage of red & white packaging at my friend's grocery store...isn't it cool?