Echo Park Paper

I may have mentioned in the past that I am a shameless sucker for packaging and gift wrapping is certainly no exception. Not only does Echo Park Paper have ridiculously cute designs, they've taken it one step further and created themed collections complete with stickers and tags so you can wrap like a pro. (Or in my case, hoard it like we're running out of trees!)

Shop Direct!

In addition to our exciting news on July 28th about our products being carried by Favourite gift boutique, we are also happy to announce, you can now make secure online purchases directly through our website. We are continually adding to our collection so please check back often for hot-off-the-press items!

Find us at Favourite!

You can now pick up all your favourite Modus greetings, gift tags and limited edition prints at Favourite gift boutique in the Lonsdale Quay! Favourite is a delicious little shop and the Lonsdale Quay Market is as vibrant as ever. If you don't live on the North Shore, don't fret, it's easy to get there! Just make your way to the Seabus terminal, enjoy the crossing... hop off on the other side, and you're there!


Favourite is located on the second level. It's just at the top of the stairs and overlooks the bustling market.

Some Lovin' for Sock Monkey Love

I recently discovered that back in January, our work was mentioned in a Valentine's Day feature on the popular style blog Platinum Blonde Life out of New York. See our "Sock Monkey Love" up in the top left corner? Thanks for the shout-out Platinum Blonde Life!


Image: Platinum Blonde Life

Sole Mates

My friend Illene is Queen of all things innovative. In fact, she should really be contributing to this blog on a daily basis but since she insists she is a designer not a writer, I will post this for her!

You finally found the perfect shoe to go with the perfect outfit, what more could you ask for? Sole Mates! – little caps that you clip on to the heels of your stilettos to save them from grass, mud, cobblestone and sidewalk cracks. Well, how about that... you don't have to sacrifice your favourite pair of shoes for your best friend's garden wedding!

Bizzy Bee

Well, as always, my more than month-long absence is a definite sign of me being a very bizzy little bee. November was filled with a flurry of visualizing, strategizing, debating and compromising all in anticipation of our marathon of holiday shows that began on November 28th. After display planning, all remaining hours were spent at the Modus Paperie & Press studio, printing, printing, printing, and doing fussy little tasks like folding cards and packaging gift tags.

Our very first market, the Portobello West holiday season opener, happened over the last weekend of November. It was heaps of work and an enormous learning experience. Some silly decisions and omission were made – like to use bricks as display props (duh!) and to not bring a chair – but all in all, it was a valuable first-time experience that established a great foundation for our next show.

A week later, our second show – Got Craft? – was indeed, an entirely different experience. The display had been streamlined (bricks returned!) and everything was organized to fit neatly into two large totes. The show itself was spectacular. The lineup for swag bags started at 7:30 am, doors opened at 11:00 and the hall was packed until closing at 5:00. Randomly assigned, Modus Paperie & Press was one of 4 vendors located on the stage and by what I could see from up there (and from patrons' rave reviews), the Got Craft? organizers, Andrea and Robert, did a fantastic job at vendor selection. Congratulations to them both for yet another extraordinarily successful event!

Get a Grip

Check out these little beauties from Mayfair Lane. Clips that grip to surfaces where magnets don't: stainless steel, whiteboard, glass, mirror. And there's a patchwork of lively designs to choose from.


Photo: Mayfair Lane

Now That's Dedication!

Chronicle Books is by far my favourite publisher and this is just one of the many reasons why I subscribe to their newsletter. They had my full attention with the subject line, Explore the world of Pictorial Webster's, but it didn't take long before I was completely captivated by this video. What a fabulous little short. Bravo to John Carrera for his dedication and to Chronicle Books for championing the fruits of his labour.


Video: John Carrera

Got Craft?

With a record number of vendor applications this year, Modus Paperie & Press is pleased to announce our participation in the 2009 Got Craft? Holiday Show! One of the trendiest craft shows in town, Got Craft? features over 55 local and handmade vendors ranging from clothing to jewelry to ceramics and wall art.

LOCATION: Royal Canadian Legion
2205 Commercial Drive (@ E.6th Ave), Vancouver
DATE: Sunday, December 6th, 2009
TIME: 11:00am to 5:00pm
WEBSITE: click here or on the logo below

Arrive early and if you're one of the first 30 people through the door you'll receive a FREE, handmade swag bag stuffed full of goodies from all the vendors!

The Drift: Art on Main Street

Modus Paperie & Press and The Beaumont Studios will be participating in the annual Drift event held October 3 & 4, 2009. The Drift: Art of Main Street is an art walk & open studio tour similar to the East Side Culture Crawl. Over 100 artists, 35 artists’ working studios & 80 Main Street shops, cafés & galleries team up to host this free 2-day art party! The Drift is a self-guided art tour. Visit their website to download a PDF guide & map or pick up a hard copy on Main Street from one of the many participating small shops and cafés.

The Modus studio will be open after 1:00 on Saturday afternoon only. We look forward to seeing you there!

Tonic Living

I’ve always got a few DIY projects on the go and the latest has led me to Tonic Living, a fantastic online source for creative fabrics. Nearly all the patterns are retro inspired but they’ve also got some great complementary basics. Fair warning: choosing just one pattern is nearly impossible. I checked out with 4 this morning – all in black and white – of course.


Photo credit: Tonic Living

Kiitos Marimekko

I’m a bit of a google junkie and I often find myself searching for something specific and stumbling upon all kinds of great bits in the process. The other day I did a search for “white Queen Anne sofa” and discovered Kittos Marimekko, an independent textiles boutique located in New York City. I love that their textile designs are both bold and organic – what a great combination.


Photo credit: Kiitos Marimekko, New York

Black Chandelier

If the Bendant Lamp had an arch nemesis, this would be it. The Concerto Black Chandelier. Props to The Home Depot for carrying such a cool line. Check out how Color Confidential used it in Episode 75.


Photo credit: The Home Depot

The Bendant Lamp

This piece is noteworthy on so many levels but what I really love about it is the idea that it has the potential to give the average everyday person the feeling of being creative. The Bendant Lamp is ingeniously designed. Each piece comes flat, you bend the leaves however you choose and…voila! A one-of-a-kind designer pendant lamp designed by you! MIO has been creating sustainable products since 2001.


Photo credit: MIO

GI Gogh

I stumbled on this little gem at the AMOA museum store in Austin but just discovered it’s also available from a number of sources online. Check out Shakespeare’s Den. Their shop is packed with totally unique novelty items inspired by the most iconic creative thinkers of all time.


Photo credit: Freitag

What's not to like?

Recycled banner bag companies are popping up all over the globe but these guys are credited with the concept. Swiss by design, Freitag products are one-of-a-kind, totally functional and of course, super cool. If you’re a sucker for design-your-own functionality like I am, check out their “DESIGN A BAG” tool for endless hours of entertainment.


Photo credit: Freitag

Cool as a Cupcake

All cupcakes are yummy but when they’re neatly designed and beautifully packaged they become little works of art. But with a price tag of forty six dollars a dozen, you may want to save these for a special occasion.


Photo credit: Victoria Pearson for Cupcakes

Protection with Style

I love my iPod touch and want it to stay shiny and new forever. Thanks to GelaSkins there’s now a practical and stylish way to protect our cherished toys without adding extra bulk. With dozens of designs to choose from, I spent about an hour on their site before finally deciding on Blow Fish designed by Nanami Cowdroy. My new skin arrived in the mail today and it’s every bit as adorable as it looked online. The vinyl isn’t stretchy like “gel” would imply, but is extraordinarily easy to reposition — for all those perfectionists out there (like me) who want it applied just right.


Photo credit: GelaSkins

Fishs Eddie

A friend of mine and fellow creative visits this shop every time she travels to New York. With her rave reviews and one visit to their website it didn’t take much to turn me into an equally fanatical fan. Their 212 New York Skyline original pattern is a perfect mix of sophistication and charm. And classic black on white—you can’t go wrong. I try to make a habit of visiting New York once every few years and Fishs Eddie is definitely at the top of my perpetual I-heart-NY to-do list!


Photo credit: Fishs Eddie, New York

Last Stop to Shop

As promised, last night’s Christmas party at The Beaumont was brimming with merriment! Clearly, a well managed event, the building was packed with holiday shoppers happily checking items off their list. Exhibitors included tenants of The Beaumont as well as local artists from around the lower mainland. One of my faves was Irit Sorokin Designs. Her handmade jewellery was exquisitely diverse with beads, stones and metals hand selected from all corners of the globe.