Wow, it’s hard to believe that the National Stationery Show has already come and gone! This trade show is our biggest one of the year and something we start preparing for months and months in advance. So when I say we spent all of 2015 so far gearing up for 3.5 days in the Javits Center, it's no joke!
Knowing all of the sweat and tears that goes into a trade show, first thing you want to do is get retailers and potential customers excited about coming to your booth. The pre-show mailer is an excellent opportunity to do just that. This year we decided to give attendees a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the days leading up to the show. The idea came about after Clayton, having never experienced a trade show himself, wanted to know what actually goes on in preparation. We told him all about the good, the bad, and the ugly, and then he turned it into a mailer.
RECAP: Everything fit in Kate's hatchback (and Deb's mom's SUV). It was fairly quick drive to NYC, only to get stuck in a street demonstration as soon as we hit the car dealerships along 11th Avenue. When we arrived inside the Javits, crates completely overtook our aisle but fortunately none had been left in our booth. But it still made for a good photo op. Kate and I got started on the booth before Deb arrived with her to-scale booth plans. We messed up and had to start again. That's what happens when you veer from the map.
RECAP: We still only have one step stool (gifted to us by our friends at flip & tumble). But fortunately we replaced the rickety IKEA death trap—I mean, chairs—with something more sturdy, upping the safety factor. After a long day, everyone retired to their couches. Well, some of us have graduated to actual beds now. Both Kate and Deb enjoyed their morning runs; Deb in Central Park, and Kate in Brooklyn Bridge Park. I enjoyed my snooze button.
RECAP: We've finally learned to avoid the Starbucks line in the Javits at all costs. Instead, we rely on an extensive call tree where the first person to come across a Starbucks on his/her commute gets everybody's orders. This often leads to confusing texts and having no idea why there is a Mexican hot drink waiting for you. (Wait, I thought you wanted an olé, says Clayton.) Caffeine aside, I have to say we were thrilled to show off our new corner booth! It filled up with customers pretty quickly, and I didn't even have to wear the sandwich board!
RECAP: Oh So Beautiful Paper hosted another amazing rooftop party (thanks, Nole!). That's how the crew looks like after being in the Javits for an extended period of time. We're hoping the effects are not long term.
It’s finally spring over here in Tokyo. Cherry blossom season, with all the socializing, tree-gazing and picnicking that it entails, has come and gone in a blur and there are outdoor events galore to bask in the warm weather. The last three months in Japan have been wonderful, so much so that since moving back to my hometown, I’ve fallen behind on my correspondence with beloved pen pals. It’s time to get writing!
My go-to stationery for writing letters are Midori’s Iyo-style seasonal letter sets. Iyo is an old province of Japan’s Ehime prefecture and the letter sets are made with beautiful washi paper that are smooth to the touch and easy to write on. Midori releases new floral designs each season. The spring sets I own feature bright pink water lilies and delicate morning glories. The minimalist designs with the blooms and leaves on separate pages remind me of ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement. I like to think that my grandmother, an elegant lady who was an expert in the art of ikebana and an avid letter-writer, would agree that coordinating the stationery I use with the seasons adds a special touch to my letters.
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Gardening season is in full swing here in Boston, and after such a grueling winter, I could not be happier. Over the past month, I’ve been preparing my garden and daydreaming about all the possibilities for this season and beyond. I tend to plant perennials in my garden beds; there are plants that re-bloom each year as opposed to annuals which die at the end of the season. If you are wondering how to get ready and make the most of your garden this summer, here are some ideas:
(image: lupine and a lady bug!)
Teachers are some of the most important people in our lives. They inspire us, challenge us, push us, sometimes frustrate us, but most of all, they teach us and they help us grow. While brainstorming a blog post in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week (from May 4 to May 8), the conversation led us to appreciatively recall the ones who were there for us in our very first year of school—our kindergarten teachers. 