jojotastic | category

March 28, 2013

Talk about the perfect stationery to use for all your cat lady pen pals (ahem, Anne and Kelly)! Designed and printed in Brooklyn by Alex Labriola, Al Stampa seriously has some of the cutest notecards I’ve seen in a good while. As the proud owner of a black and white kitty, I love how each card captures one of her many evocative poses. I have to say though, this one is rather reminiscent of Ms. Loaf Cat herself…

Be sure to check out Al Stampa’s entire offering here!

photos by me for Jojotastic

Disclosure: I received product in exchange for this review. However all opinions are my own, and I would never endorse something I didn’t completely love. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Jojotastic going.

let’s get typographic

January 15, 2013

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pen + paper

There are times when I wish I studied graphic design instead. I absolutely have an appreciation for it, but get a touch of anxiety when it comes to putting together fonts and kerning and all of that. What if I do it wrong?? I can practically hear my friend Ash saying, “Jojo, the ligature!” or something akin…

Lately, I’ve been really into hand-lettering, sort of like what I did on these soaps for Anthropologie. There are so many talented people out there who are doing vastly superior hand-lettering though. These are people who take it to the next level and make it a true art form. Images like this make me want to squirrel away for a weekend with calligraphy pencils, paint, brushes, and all sorts of markers to practice lettering and embrace my inner type-nerd. Hmm… maybe this weekend…

top: the new look of Paperfashion / Ladyfingers Letterpress
bottom: calendar tea towel by Avril Loreti / Tumblr

gift guide 24 / for the new year

December 19, 2012

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happy holidays, pen + paper, shopping + gift guides

I’m sorry to say, but this is my last gift guide for this holiday season! I’ve had so much fun helping you guys shop for gift ideas, but hopefully by now you’re finished with your shopping… right??

One last reminder though… 2013 is right around the corner though, so why not ring in the new year with some of these great calendars?

Gregor knitted calendar from Uncommon Goods
Paperfashion calendar
Cats let nothing darken their roar calendar from Finnish Design Shop
Wildflower wall calendar from Terrain
Stitch the stars calendar kit from Branch
Kate Spade Desktop spiral calendar
Year of the critter calendar from Modcloth

gift guide 2 / holiday cards

November 24, 2012

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happy holidays, pen + paper, shopping + gift guides

One of my favorite holiday traditions is sending out a bazillion cards and then watching my mailbox fill up with cards from loved ones! Because I send so many, it’s best to get a head start, so I always aim to send out my holiday cards by December 7. That means I’ve got to be on top of things and order my cards right away. Here some that have made it to the top of my list for giving:

Sugar Paper holiday love card
12 Days card from Paperless Post
Joy to You card from Eggpress
Terrain‘s Chestnuts Roasting card
Bon Noel card from Amelia Presents
Singing Dachshunds card from Kate Spade
Merry card from Ship & Shape
Joyful holidays from Eva B Papergoods

read+write

November 21, 2012

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pen + paper

Do you guys keep a journal? I do. It all started after I saw Harriet the Spy; I wanted to be just like her, so I starting writing down everything. I even peeked inside a neighbor’s house once. It didn’t end well, so that pretty much ended my days of snooping… But the daily writing habit stuck around. These days I use the TextEdit application on my laptop because I was never able to handwrite my thoughts fast enough. However, after seeing these beautifully hand-bound journals by Lee Bennett, I might be changing my tune…

from left to right, top to bottom:

Pick-your-date journal stickers – hand stamped mini calendars made into paper stickers!
Pioneer Days Journal – loving the printed cover. Very susani-meets-settlers.
Vintage Recycled Book Envelopes – imagine the possibilities! Love letters, thank you notes…
Perfect Bound Journal – a slim, little volume perfect for inner secrets and deep thoughts.

all images via ReadWriteBooks

write me a letter

November 6, 2012

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pen + paper, want list

During my time at Nordstrom, I had the pleasure of working with Eva. I’m pretty much convinced we live parallel lives because both she and I relocated to the east coast around the same time, but for very different reasons. We bonded over email though, talking through the adjustment period that comes with any new city. As a fresh transplant to DC, Eva decided to pursue something she absolutely loves — letterpress stationery. When she launched Eva B. Papergoods, I was beyond excited. We’re talking letterpress stationery with bold color and painted edges. Aka, a combination of many of my favorite things!

As we gear up for the holidays, you should definitely check out her Etsy shop here. And while you’re at it, maybe stock up on her Zodiac birthday cards and, my personal favorite, the “Do you want to make out?” card. Believe me, if someone gave me that card, I wouldn’t be able to hold back!

lookbook images via Eva B. Papergoods

make your mark

November 5, 2012

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for him, pen + paper, shopping + gift guides

Kaufmann Mercantile is one of my favorite places to shop for a gift, especially for him. My friend Eva reminded me the other day that they had a whole new assortment of goodies and I immediately fell in love with these lumber crayons. I’m not entirely sure how I would use them in my daily life, but I really, really want them! Slightly over-sized and able to write on metal, concrete, lumber, stone, or wood, these crayons make me dream of leaving love letters scattered through a forest for him to find. And the best part? They have a holder. Check out that lovely leather strap!

images via Kaufmann Mercantile