My Rob Ryan Plates & Collection

I have a little collection of Rob Ryan work. None of it original, original - unless you count my signed lazar cut. (which is signed!)

This was my first purchase.

Rob Ryan is an artist, based in England and is quite well known for his intricate paper-cuts. He was really one of the first well known and established paper-cut artists, before paper-cutting became incredibly popular.

He lives and works in Spitalfields, London, where you can visit him in his shop named Ryantown.  Two years ago on my trip to England, I missed an exhibition of his and contemporary British craft artists. I was literally a day late and was kicking myself to the point of bruising! I even went to Spitalfields to find his shop later and got distracted by a huge street market.

 One day I hope to own an original but it is out of my price range at the moment )-:

My 3rd Acquisition ... his little story book.

Well I did manage to visit a gallery/shop that represented him and managed to buy some lazar cut cards. You can check out Castor & Pollux here. It's a really cool little shop...

My camera died before I could photograph them for you!

Today I purchased his plates. YAY!

Oh, to eat off of them or hang them on the wall - decisions, decisions!

Japanese Trinket Love

There is something about how incredibly cute Japanese or Chinese stationary is. All the cute pens and paper with funny anime characters on it. I am such a sucker!

Heaven forbid if I come across a store that sells the stuff. I should just hand over my wallet.

Trust me, it is so difficult working in Chinatown. It is good I got contract in another location for awhile. I don't need anymore stuff. I don't need to spend anymore money.

But then I just happened to stumble upon a new store called Ka Ka Fa Fa. Looooove it. Cute overload!

Uh oh. I need therapy. This is what I bought: (this time, anyways)

Recycled post-it notes for my friend in Halifax with a little note saying "no matter how far apart we are, my thoughts always find their way back to you. missing"

I think the worm covers up the you in that sentence. As in all stationary purchases, if the English is bad, I love it even more.

This is for my pen pal in Taiwan who loves cats. I'm sending her a package soon containing a baby blanket I am knitting. This will match it purrrrfectly.

Two super pretty envelopes that can also serve as a single page letter note, depending if you write on the inside.

Yup that is teddy bear mushroom tape. Funky tape rocks and always impresses the mail clerk at Canada Post, let me tell you. I have a reputation I need to keep up you know.

Alice Adventures in Wonderland postcard....there were a few to chose from.

For two of my pen pals that love cats - keychains! OMG - while I'm allergic to cats, you gotta love these "cheese cats," so they are named. Soooooo cute!

OMG they have little paws! EEEEEEK!!!

Money as a Wedding Gift

I am attending a wedding this weekend and it sounds like a no gifts affair, as the couple is based in NYC, but getting married in their home province of Alberta.

I was going to buy the lovely couple a gift certificate for Eataly, Mario Batali's Italian version of Whole Foods. They have awesome food and products despite the horrific layout and crowding of people! EEK! But they don't sell gift certificates online (WHY?!?!?!) Actually I don't think they sell gift certificates at all!

Boo - money is so boring. Now I am wondering do I give them Canadian money or American?  And how do you present it in an interesting way? Origami of course!

There are videos on You Tube on how to make a basic heart. I didn't include them here on this blog but they are very simple. In the video above, this heart has a flower in the centre and is a wee bit more difficult. I like this one. If I make this one out of a Canadian fifty, it can be pretty in red. Then I thought about getting some American dollar bills and making some basic hearts. Maybe put them all on a string? If only they could pop out of the card....I'll let you know what I decide on!