When my youngest sister Quinn graduated from High School I gave her a journal.  On a bunch of the pages I wrote what I hoped at the time would be sage words of wisdom from her elder sister on the ways to navigate the college years.  I asked her once if she remembered what I wrote to her and all she remembered was that I told her to date boys who play guitar.  Such great advice apparently that she is now married to a boy she met in college who is an awesome human being and also happens to be a Dr. and who thankfully has never played guitar!

Everything worked out for the best regardless of my unmemorable gift, but had I been more thoughtful I would have given her something she would remember forever like a one-of-a-kind artist book by Camden Richards (love her name).  Camden is a graphic artist who started Liminal Press & Bindery as a way to commemorate those magical moments in peoples lives.  She can take a personal story — for example, the experience of pregnancy and birth, a couples love story, a grandparents life story or even gather sisterly wisdom and advice — and weave these stories into a gorgeous book.  Her books can be commissioned using a variety of methods such as bookbinding, papermaking, printmaking, illustration, design, painting, letterpress printing, and collage.  Take a look at Camden’s gallery of a few of the books she has created for friends and family. Next time I need a truly unique gift for a special person or moment in someone’s life or even my life I will look to Liminal Press to commemorate the occasion.

Wedding planning is a thing of the past for me and I have no regrets but I can’t help but stumble across things from time to time and wish they’d been around when I got married. Don’t even get me started on J.Crew, if their bridesmaids dresses had been around in 2002 I could have saved my BM’s a lot of agony by giving them more flattering options instead of a boring tank style (I stand by the color though, they all looked amazing in red).

I saw these adorable plastic wishbones from Etsy seller Somethings Hiding Here and thought they would make a memorable and sweet wedding favor. We did mini-daisy soaps and I think somewhere in my Moms garage there is a bag full of disintegrating soap. The cute cotton bag and the Best Wishes sentiment complete the package.

Then the other day I caught site of this fantastic sign over at blogger Chere Amie. Please somebody have this at your wedding and invite me!

Love Friday’s. I am drinking the most amazing coffee from the little Italian coffee window that just opened up two doors down from my office, browsing Etsy and listening to Bon Iver’s album “For Emma, Forever Ago”. I can’t get enough of his song “Skinny Love. It’s the perfect morning album to ease into the day. Here are some pretty Etsy items to brighten your day.

Sketchbook springtime handbags, hand crafted from wool, linen, cotton and leather:

From her cottage in England Alice Apple crafts sweet treats like these stuffed dogs and pigs made with vintage fabrics:

Loveage these shrinky dink rings from Broken Fingers Art, outta Vermont:

Thought I’d send some love out to a few of my favorite Etsy sellers today. Somebody’s sister has a birthday coming up and that lucky sister will be receiving a gift from one of these talented folks.

Felt and sterling silver jewelry from Colleen Baran:

Suezybees felt iPod covers:

Limited Edition Screen Prints by artist Anna Cote:

Lovely jewels from Second Sister:

Dear Martin,

You stole my heart the instant I discovered you on your creator’s blog Sweet Nellie. I first fell for your irresistible smile and the heart on your rump but it was that stylish hat and scarf combo that made me swoon. I had visions of us taking a romantic gondola ride through the canals of Venice sigh*. Alas you have already found a home and I’m sure they will love you as dearly as I would have.

Fortunately for all of us Martin has some equally adorable friends. Winkworth and Head Scarf Hettie both handmade with love and care by Trish Millener are available on her Etsy shop Sweet Nellie.