I made up a big ol’ batch of recycled journals to ship out to the ICE Pop-Up shop and just couldn’t stop making them so I’ve put them in the shop. Most of them are made from used gameboards, but there are also art journals and adorable pocket notebooks made from playing cards and garth’s old baseball card collection. There are dozens of bow ties coming into the shop later this week too to stock up for the big sale (yay! And if ya’ll want an invite to shop the sale a day or two early sign up to be on the mailing list over at the botton of the right sidebar there where it says, “get quarterly updates” ——->)

The days are squished full for us here at the Hawker/Plouzek household. We’re preparing for the holidays and getting as many hugs from each other as we can.

Lots o’ love,
Laura. =)

Have I mentioned yet that I’ll be at the Port City Market in November and December? I will. We’re on the corner of Palafox and Main Saturday mornings from 9am-1pm. I’m starting a clearance bin to try to lighten some of my inventory before my move to Hawaii. The market will be operating (and I’ll be vending!) these dates: Nov 20, Dec 4, 11, 18. Love the market.

And, tonight is gallery night! I’ll be participating by setting up outside of my friend Bia’s brand-new-not-open-yet shop at 208 Alcaniz (it’s just a block away from Seville). Come by and see me (and where Bia’s shop will be opening up in just a few weeks!) and grab some journals for the holidays to gift to the people you love.

I’ve just made dozens of journals and some pretty rad little notebooks too. Here are a few that have made me smile the last few days while working on them:

Operation, Heroes and Hero Worship, FDR (the title was, “When the New Deal was Young and Gay”), and a beatiful German book that I almost didn’t cut up because it’s so stunning (but then Jack ripped some pages out, so that was that). And I finally got around to making another batch of the art journals. They’re the delightful journals that are made entirely of non-blank paper. They’ll all be there this weekend, as will I. If you’re not local, have no fear, I’ll be adding all of these lovelies to the shop early next week.

see some of ya’ll there

much eckses and ohs,

elle

I’ll see you there. And, I’ll bring the bow ties this week. woo-hoo!

elle

Happy Friday friends!

Just a little update here that does not involve my darling girl. There’s a whole batch of new journals in the shop and they’ll be packed in the car bright and early tomorrow morning for the Palafox Market. Yes! We’ll be back at the market after a 6 week babycation. Please be kind to us, Florida weather.

And to tease ya’ll, there’s radness coming into the shop on Monday and fall plaids’ll be in the shop by Thursday. I am up to my elbows in pumpkins, cinnamons, butternut squashes, and chocolate browns (does anyone else notice that I always choose food references when identifying colors?) and I can’t wait to photograph them and start mailing them out to the far corners of the earth. Anyone jonesin’ for a pumpkin spice bow tie?

See all ya Pensacola-ites at the market tomorrow!

elle

Of course I should. =) And, I’ll be at the Palafox Market tomorrow too. If you’re in Pensacola, FL, swing on by- I’m discounting a bunch of journals that have been around a while to give me some room for these new beauties. I can’t wait to cut them up.

gosh, I love my job.

xoxo
elle

I didn’t plan this, but the most recent additions to my etsy shop speak all about what’s going on with my life right now. They are all made from vintage cards (flash and game) and I could just eat them all up!

There’s the Florida playing card notebooks that remind me that our three years in the sunshine state are almost over. We have this list of things to do before we move and it looks like the next few months are going to be filled with adventure!

The state flash card notebooks and monopoly property card notebooks are all about the conversations between Garth and me that are occuring every evening as we plan out the next couple of years of our lives. We have so many options! To be stationed in Hawaii or Maryland next? To stay in the Navy or get out? To keep renting or to purchase a home? And of course, each of those questions, once settled, produces dozens more questions. Stay enlisted or go into the seaman to admiral program? Settle down where? Teal or white walls? Own a bakery or a makery?

Questions that’ll all be answered as our life unfolds. Oh sweet adventure.

Happy 09/09/09!
In celebration, all xoelle journals will be offered at $9. We’ll be at the Port City Farmer’s Market tonight from 5-9pm- we’d love to see you!

For those of you far and wide- look for my journals rolling out into my etsy shop this month- you’ll be in love!

xo
elle

p.s. All t-shirts at Threadless are $9 today. I’m off to snag a few!

psst! Have you voted today?

A million & gazillion thanks to everyone who has given me a thumbs up over the past week. WE made it to the finals! My video is included in the final twentyfour and this weeks voting will determine who takes home $40,000! Please (pretty please with sugar on top) sign into your youtube account give me a thumbs up each day this week. I am amazed and humbled at the support I’ve gotten so far- I know that I’ve got the best friends and family a girl could dream of!
Voting takes place at http://www.youtube.com/hp.

Speaking of millions & gazillions, our house is turning into a maze of books, piles of half-started costumes, and ties. The above picture is one tiny (clean) corner- where half of the books that are waiting for their turn to be journals are tucked away. I think that I could lock myself in this house and have enough work for a year and a half.

I’d better get started.

lots o’ love
Laura. =)

In my quest for super quirky books to turn into journals, I often find books that fit the bill but I can’t bring myself to destroy. Here are a collection of just such books from my journal-making adventure this last year. Many of these are now in Jack’s room, waiting for the time when he needs a story to fall asleep.

These last two actually will be journals- but they are so reserved for me.

I see large full bookshelves for me in the future. The distant future.
In the near future I see stacks of books crammed into every corner in this rented space. And boxes of them in my parents basement.

loves all ya’ll.
elle