Etsy pop-up shop at West Elm Chicago

Announcing a fun event for Chicagoans and visitors! West Elm asked for my input as they host a pop-up shop of local Etsy sellers inside their Lincoln Park store. The event will be Saturday, June 22 from 1pm – 6pm at the North Avenue location. Come hang out with me and browse through lovely handmade jewelry, art, home decor, stationery, and more. There will be delicious refreshments, plus I've heard rumors of a DJ and a photo booth...

For a complete list of the participating Etsy sellers, visit West Elm's blog. Find the event on Facebook here to RSVP or share with a friend. Grab somebody and come on out!

Here's sampling of the wares below. Better start planning right now where you're gonna hang that chipmunk.

Design your own stamps

A package came in the mail today.


A stamp I designed! It's from Stamptitude, a shop offering custom-made, self-inking stamps. Run by a husband and wife team, the little company just opened their doors. They agreed to make me a complimentary product sample to review, so I simplified the design I'd put on those foil cards and sent it over. Voilà! It has been magically reincarnated as a pre-inked stamp! When the ink runs out someday, I can just pour in more. No need for a stamp pad.

This thing is going to be really useful. On envelopes and packages, at the top of note paper, on post-its, gift tags, wine bottle tags, treat bags, business cards... I might go around stamping everything. I totally love it.

Some of the first impressions I made with it were pretty patchy, but I figured out I needed to press harder and leave the design depressed against the paper longer. According the website's FAQ's, you can also adjust the amount of ink flow by using the "lift & twist" mechanism at the base of the handle.


Stamptitude's custom stamps are quite affordable; prices start at $12. Just create your design, choose a shape, size and ink color, and upload your artwork. They ship globally..

iPhone and iPad cases for Uncommon

I'm delighted to announce that Uncommon, a manufacturer of protective cases for Apple devices, is now offering Jessica Jones patterns on their products! If you've seen my fabrics, you'll recognize a couple familiar prints in there. Cases are available in the Uncommon online store right here.




The coolest part is that you can customize your own device case: pick from a variety of iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch models, and then choose a design to place on the case. You can scale the print up or down, move it around, and even add text if you're feeling crazy.


One of these might make a nice Mother's Day gift or a present for somebody. I mean, can your phone really have too many outfits? It's like shoes or scarves. The more the merrier! See all six prints at Uncommon.

Jonathan Adler and Pantone at JCPenney

JCPenney is getting cool. They've got Jonathan Adler! I came across this announcement and got excited, then found this bedding on the website by Googling. Google sent me to the Happy Chic Katie duvet set and I starting clicking on related items. Ironically, typing "Jonathan Adler" into the search box on JCP's home page didn't yield any product results.


I'm guessing more items from Jonathan Adler's budget-friendly Happy Chic collection will appear online soon.

JCP also has Pantone products (thanks for the tip, Courtney). As well as collections from Michael Graves and Bodum, the Danish design firm. As part of a desperately-needed effort to reinvent themselves, JCP plans to open a collection of affordable designer shops and home goods boutiques inside their stores. Has anybody spotted these collections in their local JCPenney?

I haven't been to one since Christmas, where I saw those dog collars with ribbons I designed and picked up a really cute $15 blouse.

Treat yo self to orange

Therapeutic benefits can be obtained from admiring pretty orange things. In case you need to treat yo self, to quote Tom Haverford, here are some orange ideas.

Treat Yo Self print, $24. (That episode of Parks and Rec cracked me up. Alex and I still enjoy saying this to each other.)
Dress, $74.99
Jute and leather wallet, $54
Striped sweater, $34.99
Personalized pencils, $7.50
Scalloped pencil case, $22
Paper clips, $4.50
Vintage mug, $5
Purse, $19.99
Cocktail shaker, $29.99