tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45728440625939942142012-01-29T13:36:48.445-06:00Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.comBlogger1471100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-24435369124863430342012-01-27T23:54:00.001-06:002012-01-27T23:54:11.457-06:00

  The sad state of my studio right now.   Oh well. Might as well have a glass. Sharon 

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-47885264119186096182012-01-15T16:38:00.006-06:002012-01-15T17:02:17.242-06:00

A month and a half later, here is the follow-up post on Austin, Texas. While we were there, we did a lot of shopping on South Congress. Of the many fine retail establishments we visited, my favorite was Uncommon Objects. I had run across this amazing shop when Secret Leaves was still selling wholesale and fell in love with it immediately, so I was excited to visit in person. The unusual antiques

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-12043510626815106922011-11-24T09:40:00.004-06:002012-01-15T14:06:57.576-06:00

Austin, Hotel San Jose, Jo’s Coffee, Home Slice, Woodland, South Congress Earlier this month, my husband Michael and I spent the weekend in Austin with three other couples, celebrating his sister Vicki's birthday. It was the first time I'd been to Austin and I liked it a lot. Because we didn't have a car, we weren't the masters of our own destiny, so there were some things we might have done

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-80034891900482720172011-10-01T08:15:00.001-05:002011-10-01T08:23:15.489-05:00

paper sculpture, paper artist, bird sculpture, paper art I have been meaning to post about this artist’s work for a long time. From the Sundance Channel, here is a lovely interview with Anna: You can read more about Anna and see more of her beautiful work here. Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-16235183266722014852011-07-09T21:15:00.002-05:002011-07-15T21:27:22.189-05:00

make a book, book binding how to, sketchbook, recycled Last weekend, for the first time in ages, I was able to play in my studio. Not only that, I made something -- something I like. It was NOT an easy project, and I'm happy I stuck with it. I made a longstitch book with a leather cover cut from a pair of old motorcycle pants from the 1930s. It is the second book I've made from these pants. You

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-6161649832772902782011-04-18T19:48:00.001-05:002011-04-18T20:19:03.777-05:00

vintage cigar boxes, vintage typography, packaging, lettering, graphic design, design inspiration Look what my wonderful co-worker and friend Gerry gave me! This is not all of them. Oh no. This is a just a fraction of the bounty. Go get yourself a  cup of coffee. This is going to take awhile.     Cremo. 5 cents straight. 3 for 10 cents. I love the excise stamps. I successfully soaked one

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-12408276778195102222011-03-15T12:06:00.005-05:002011-04-29T23:34:45.388-05:00

cool lettering, typography, retro lettering, signage, chalk, chalk lettering, Dana Tanamachi Look at this: You can learn more about Dana and see more of her incredible work here. Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-72156840183879884302011-02-22T20:59:00.004-06:002011-02-24T16:24:02.380-06:00

travel theme, ideas for a vintage wedding, guestbook, wedding pictures Since Spring has sprung (sort of) and love is in the air, I thought I would post about a beautiful Scottish wedding I had the pleasure of being a (very small) part of. Rachel Boyce (now Mrs. Iain McCallum) contacted me last summer about doing a map-covered guest book for her wedding, which was to have a vintage travel theme.

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-43901328972883383902011-02-13T20:33:00.005-06:002011-02-22T21:09:16.173-06:00

Esther Howland, Valentine, handmade Valentines, history of the Valentine card Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and being that I am a purveyor of paper goods myself, I thought it would be fitting to do a post about Esther Howland, who is known as the "Mother of the American Valentine. Esther was born in 1828 in Worcester, Massachusetts. After her graduation from Mount Holyoke College in 1847,

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-39152637907209170972011-02-06T10:37:00.004-06:002011-02-13T20:45:24.153-06:00

vintage photographs, vernacular photography, John Foster, Teenuh Foster, Accidental Mysteries John and Teenuh Foster have amassed a fascinating collection of vernacular photography, which can be viewed here. Following are a few examples from their collection: And here are a few from my collection: John Foster also has an excellent blog. Until next time... Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-47965455843567760452011-01-29T19:31:00.014-06:002011-02-13T20:44:51.649-06:00

bookbinding, paper arts, paper crafts, cool tools, bookbinding tools If you are a paper crafter or book artist, you have most likely heard of the bone folder. I have a bone folder, but haven't used it once since I purchased a Teflon folder. The advantage of a Teflon folder is that, unlike a bone folder, it doesn't leave a shiny spot on your paper. The Teflon folder is used for burnishing. If

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-7728480990125617262011-01-23T20:58:00.007-06:002011-01-24T12:20:18.801-06:00

Hello all. I want to let you know about some changes to Secret Leaves and to this blog. I don't think I've mentioned it here, but 8 months ago I took a full-time job. I am working in the Office of Public Affairs at Washington University in St. Louis (which also happens to be my alma mater) and I love it. The downside has been that I am finding it far more difficult that I anticipated to continue

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-49862159134792346212011-01-02T17:14:00.003-06:002011-01-02T17:24:06.789-06:00

My friend Ria, of My Mommy Manual, visited the studio last week with her little ones. The kids and I made books while Ria took Hipstamatic photos of the studio. Here are a few of them: Pretty cool, huh? For more information on the Hipstamatic iPhone app, click here. Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-24736662215450862472010-11-08T20:32:00.005-06:002010-11-08T20:40:07.009-06:00

This weekend, November 13 and 14, Secret Leaves will participate in the Garden Gate Shop Green Art and Craft Show at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The event will run Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the upper level of the Ridgway Visitor Center. If you've never been, the Missouri Botanical Garden is a wonderful place--one of my favorite places in St. Louis. And the gift shop, the

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-89335214806747840982010-10-17T12:02:00.003-05:002011-02-22T21:09:16.175-06:00

I have been featured in a few Etsy treasuries lately, which inspired me to create a couple myself. Here is my second treasury, Inkadinkadoo, which I like quite a bit. The theme is, of course, ink. Here are a few highlights: Pen and ink drawing from Nan Larson  Vintage ink bottles from Sushipotparts Vintage ink bottle from TwoVintageAvenue Here's a look at my first

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-13710086530274188802010-09-19T19:11:00.004-05:002010-09-20T07:28:56.162-05:00

Last weekend, we had company visiting from out of town. As I always do when I have out-of-town visitors, I took them to the Missouri Botanical Garden. And why wouldn't I? Within walking distance of our house, it is one of my favorite places not only in St. Louis, but one of my favorite places, period. I didn't take many photos this trip, but I did get kind of fixated on dragonflies in the lily

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-8817430581212732452010-09-04T09:56:00.004-05:002010-09-04T10:02:37.795-05:00

Last weekend, our extraordinary friends and neighbors, Jan and Connor, lent us their newly purchased lake house for the weekend. It is at Lake of the Ozarks, a sprawling resort area in central Missouri. Lake of the Ozarks was created when the Osage River was dammed, resulting in a large reservoir. Over the years, it has been heavily developed, with many high-end hotels, upscale homes and

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-75846403302784476852010-08-14T12:14:00.004-05:002011-02-22T21:09:16.177-06:00

Secret Leaves' Book Spine gift boxes have been getting a lot of play on Etsy recently. They have been featured in three different treasuries in the past few weeks. Click on any Treasury for a larger view: The full Treasury with links to all items can be found here. Click on Treasury for larger view: The full Treasury with links to all items can be found here.  Click on Treasury

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-12658358414152747362010-07-19T21:07:00.004-05:002010-07-19T21:18:56.877-05:00

Years ago, I purchased a pair of 1930s leather motorcycle pants at an estate sale. They were jodhpur style with canvas-lined pockets and they laced up at the waist like football pants. The leather was a rich, warm brown, beautifully weathered and worn. They were wonderful. For a long time now, I have been wanting to make a leather journal out of them and I finally did. The journal/sketchbook was

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-35858960724034242342010-06-08T22:44:00.002-05:002011-02-22T21:09:16.179-06:00

I just listed two Scrap Journals in the Etsy store. For those of you not familiar with the Scrap Journal, it is a hand-bound, recycled journal with bits of vintage ephemera for its pages. It is a relatively petite book at 4 1/2 x 6 inches. The first one has a lovely color scheme, which is echoed throughout the interior pages. The graphics on the old sheet music cover are pretty fantastic too. Be

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-62382779354083300692010-05-27T16:46:00.002-05:002011-02-22T21:09:16.180-06:00

Here are some photos from around the studio today. No beauty shots, just some snaps of how it looks right now. Wide shot of the studio. Click to view larger. Bookcase full of old books. Some I will keep and some will be made into journals or other projects. That's the leg of my tripod extending into the picture. Top of the bookcase with two small collages, one completed and one in

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-15923718843717898952010-05-15T12:18:00.001-05:002010-05-15T12:20:50.371-05:00

I shot some photos for my friend Jen earlier this week. The lovely (in every way) Julie Malone was kind enough to model. Here are a few of them (click for larger view):   I'm slowly learning to use my new camera more effectively and my Photoshop skills are improving. Jen's beautiful cashmere pieces can be found here.  Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-3410290290118695692010-05-09T19:16:00.002-05:002010-05-09T19:27:49.246-05:00

I have a confession to make. My neighborhood is ugly in the winter. There, I said it. Rows of red brick buildings, sooty ice and snow on the ground, the trees bare...but my neighborhood sings in the Spring. Flowers everywhere! Trees blooming and then leafing out in green. And a healthy dose of pride of ownership in evidence. I wish Spring could last longer, but perhaps its fleeting nature is what

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-36693190115589937452010-04-23T12:17:00.002-05:002010-04-23T12:26:54.352-05:00

Last summer (has it been two summers ago?), I visited my old friend Melissa at her home in Ohio. Melissa and I go way back. We grew up across the street from each other in Indiana and I've known her since we were both 3 years old, making her my oldest friend. I hadn't seen her for years when she emailed with an invitation to come and visit. It was a nice trip. I love the little village where she

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-91537106264812430482010-04-14T14:24:00.001-05:002011-02-22T21:09:16.182-06:00

In the Etsy store now...click on image for larger view. Victorian Calling Card gift tag set Gallery framed Paint Chip print - Bird's Nest Gallery framed Paint Chip print - Garden Fairy Letter writing kit - from the desk of Elmer Kiel Letter writing kit - from the desk of Edna Kiel  Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-14911571234179026942010-04-06T12:17:00.001-05:002010-04-06T14:05:51.719-05:00

This post is kind of a horse of a different color... a little off the subject of my usual posts, but I've been meaning to write this for a long time. Last autumn I reconnected with a friend from high school, Elizabeth Lorenzen, through the wonders of Facebook. I was fascinated to learn that she had founded a horse rescue. I have always been a lover of horses, so I was really interested in what

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-55417796430827347672010-03-25T20:25:00.001-05:002011-02-22T21:09:16.184-06:00

It was rainy today, perfect for holing up in the studio and making stuff. I spent the afternoon working on a custom bulk order for some Vintage Index Card gift tags and Vintage Paper key tags. Here is what the studio looked like (click on any image for a larger view): The studio is not as dark as it looks in this picture. Some book "guts" I am using for the key tags and other things. My

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-35991767754370887062010-03-22T09:04:00.001-05:002010-03-25T20:29:08.150-05:00

This artist's work is incredible. Watch the whole thing--I promise it's worth it. http://aigahouston.net/2009/08/02/remixing-found-imagery-cassandra-c-jones/ Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-26615571818169402122010-02-26T15:25:00.004-06:002011-02-22T21:09:16.186-06:00

I just put these letter writing kits up for sale in the Etsy shop. I would love to see more people embrace the lost art of letter writing. Wouldn't it be nice if these encouraged the practice? Each kit has everything you need to write one artful letter: a page or two of interesting paper, a cool envelope and two or three postage stamps or labels for embellishment. These would be perfect for those

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-47582022486433268422010-02-24T19:38:00.003-06:002010-02-24T19:46:01.145-06:00

For those of you just joining me, I am attempting to blog every day this month as part of NaBloPoMo. The theme for the month is ties, in both the literal and metaphorical meaning of the word. Earlier, as I searched around the web for the term ties, I stumbled across a hussif. I had no idea what a hussif was, but found myself fascinated by these homey little objects. Here is some history: a

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-8242512384180501392010-02-23T21:22:00.002-06:002010-02-23T21:26:39.276-06:00

Some images with ties in them from Daily Poetics, whose photostream is my favorite on Flickr. She also has a wonderful blog. I believe this is a collage by Kariann Burleson (Daily Poetics) The font on the bottom hang tag is called Great Circus and was designed by Eduardo Recife, a Brazilian graphic designer, artist and type designer whose work I love. Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-71968384074821271772010-02-21T22:12:00.004-06:002010-02-22T08:20:19.832-06:00

Last night I went to a symphony concert with my good friends, Cindy, Ann and Teresa.  It was a performance by the world-class Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra of music from Warner Bros.’ Merry Melodies and Looney Tunes cartoons. Needless to say, watching Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, the Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote while listening to fabulous music was a good time. The show’s creator and conductor,

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-46076716947551307802010-02-19T21:19:00.001-06:002010-02-19T21:22:14.812-06:00

On Monday my friend Cindy and I took the day off. We went out for lunch and visited some of our favorite antique haunts around St. Louis. Once of those was a little shop in University City called Meli Melo. We were surprised and saddened to see that the shop was empty--closed for good. The space was diminutive, but the owner kept it stocked with the most wonderful, carefully curated items. I

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-7489499414399012832010-02-17T20:31:00.003-06:002010-02-17T20:34:51.609-06:00

Just a quick post today. Yesterday afternoon I went to see the movie, A Single Man.  It was directed by Tom Ford, the fashion designer. Even though it dissolves at times into scenes that look like a Calvin Klein ad, it still has a moving story and a very human performance by Colin Firth. It really got to me. If you see the movie, you will understand the title of this post. Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-15336790299895292472010-02-16T20:18:00.003-06:002010-02-16T20:21:10.369-06:00

Yesterday I posted some sewn bindings on books that I have made. Today I am going to show examples of sewn bindings by others. As I mentioned yesterday, the long-stitch binding offers endless variations. Here are a few from San Diego Book Arts: I love the raw aspect of this one from Garlic Harvest Studio and the way the stitches occupy such a small area on the spine: Interior

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-88887835017749424332010-02-15T18:21:00.001-06:002011-02-22T21:09:16.188-06:00

I love binding books by hand. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find time to do it as much as I would like. There are some really simple sewn bindings that are beautiful and easy to master: the long stitch (of which there are absolutely endless variations), the pamphlet stitch (very easy), and a criss-cross binding that I don't know the name for but that I love because it is gorgeous and easy--like

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-37148947963549924432010-02-11T17:16:00.003-06:002010-02-11T17:21:21.433-06:00

For those of you who are coming in at the middle (of the month), I have taken the NaBloPoMo challenge to blog every day in February. The theme for the month is ties. In looking for something interesting to post about today, I Googled the term "ribbon ties" and stumbled across this: I'm finding myself inexplicably drawn to these little sewing kits even though before this month, I

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-59819510078079717862010-02-10T21:26:00.001-06:002010-02-10T21:35:33.465-06:00

Last evening I had drinks...er, I mean a meeting with the Willows. Ann (my former business partner) and I have written about the Willows here before. The Willows is a group of five women who meet on a regular basis to talk about work, family, love, life. It started out as a business group to offer ideas, inspiration and encouragement to women who owned emerging businesses. It still offers ideas,

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-18410305654891746122010-02-09T16:38:00.003-06:002010-02-09T20:49:29.138-06:00

Off to meet my Willows. More tomorrow... Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-44983376837187209622010-02-08T15:23:00.004-06:002011-02-22T21:09:16.189-06:00

I just listed these sets of mini journals in the Etsy shop. Three pamphlet-stitched cahiers nestle in a muslin gift bag with an attached tag and vintage postage stamp. This would make a great hostess gift, party favor or wedding favor. Set of mini journals in red colorway. Set of mini notebooks in blue colorway. The bottom one has crushed silver leaf embedded in the cover

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-64529188511079197162010-02-07T16:41:00.002-06:002010-02-07T16:43:12.600-06:00

Early 1900s football from here.

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-39945064736489889772010-02-06T17:46:00.003-06:002011-02-22T21:09:16.191-06:00

'Tis sweet to feel by what fine-spun threads our affections are drawn together. ~Lawrence Sterne Needlecase by Hen's Teeth available here. Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-84408125005073047272010-02-05T16:57:00.003-06:002010-02-05T17:04:37.618-06:00

Gorgeous photos of Japanese obis from Okinawa Soba on Flickr. I've only scratched the surface.  I could look at his collection of beautiful images of Old Japan for hours...maybe even days. This is the famous geisha Terua. Born in 1896, her real name was Tatsuko Takaoka. She was a geisha at 13, went on to great fame and infamy, then retired as a Buddhist monk--the Chief Priestess of a temple in

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-18394694601693050982010-02-04T17:53:00.003-06:002011-02-22T21:09:16.193-06:00

Around the studio... Muslin bags containing 3 pamphlet notebooks. Will soon be for sale here. Binding on an old photo album Funeral program Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-77709133010806341132010-02-03T09:38:00.005-06:002010-02-03T13:05:13.433-06:00

My mom and dad, who live a couple of states away, came to visit this weekend. I really enjoyed spending time with them and my brother and his family, who also live here in St. Louis. I have a lively, vocal, animated family, so it as a fun weekend--lots of spirited conversations, lots of eating (LOTS of eating!), and lots of poking around town with no real purpose except to spend time together.

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-81825504979175259172010-02-02T17:46:00.005-06:002010-02-02T19:45:21.233-06:00

While researching ideas for posts about this month's NaBloPoMo theme, ties, I came across an article on National Geographic's Intelligent Traveler blog about an age-old custom in India that has changed with modern times. The custom is part of a Festival called Raksha Bandhan, or Bond of Protection, and it recognizes the bond between brother and sister. The sister ties a special thread, a rakhi,

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-22924550786696182602010-02-01T15:39:00.003-06:002010-02-01T15:41:55.200-06:00

I have decided to participate in NaBloPoMo this month and attempt  to blog every day. Why? I don't know. I'm a masochist, I guess. The theme for the month of February is "ties." Stay with me. They'll get more interesting, I promise. Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-41266078472452452362010-01-25T20:14:00.007-06:002010-02-01T09:14:44.515-06:00

I have put some new items up for sale in my Etsy store, including three Valentine card designs: Mini side fold card in vellum envelope Bluebird & Hearts - inside message: You make my heart sing   Inside message: You stole my heart There are some non-Valentine items as well: Vintage paper key tags - packet of 6 Paint Chip prints - click images to view larger (

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-46517649705468295142010-01-15T11:17:00.004-06:002010-01-20T14:02:55.013-06:00

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with St. Louis-based jewelry designer Peg Fetter: Dish ring Snap ring Toggle bracelet    Street Cleaner ring Wrap rings I love the juxtaposition between steel and gold, industrial and refined in these pieces. You can purchase her work here. Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-21377849869593154352010-01-01T14:33:00.002-06:002010-01-01T14:36:40.953-06:00

Anyone who works in a paper studio, especially paper studios involved with bookbinding, will tell you it can be a dangerous business. Awls, punches, drills, Exacto knives, utility knives, stack cutters, needles...injuries waiting to happen. But in exchange for the privilege and joy of being an artist in the studio...totally worth it. I've been making this Map Album by hand for several

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-6228782580585463352009-12-10T16:36:00.002-06:002009-12-10T16:38:28.039-06:00

Just found a blog I love... Thanks papergirl, for featuring and tweeting out the single letter kits.Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-77716795757518282702009-11-12T15:20:00.002-06:002009-11-12T15:33:36.083-06:00

I am excited to announce that Secret Leaves' work has been published in a design book. And not just any design book. The book, 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse is one in a series of my favorite design books, the 1000 series from Rockport Publishers. In my opinion, Rockport is one of the best, if not the best publisher of books on graphic design. I already have 1000 Graphic Elements and 1000

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-56339735870366054362009-10-07T16:05:00.003-05:002009-10-07T16:16:19.843-05:00

Just got back from visiting my dear friend Kelley in Las Vegas. We have been best friends since fifth grade...and without going into how old we are, that's a l-o-o-o-n-g time.That's me on the left, Kelley on the right.I don't have a single picture of the Strip to show you. Frankly, I was kind of appalled by it. It is pretty--in a way--but I just kept thinking that only in America could there

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-28500412117782680402009-09-08T23:00:00.005-05:002010-01-21T10:26:57.264-06:00

I have been tagged by my dear friend Tyler at periwinklebloom. Ten random things about me: 1. I wrinkle my nose when I laugh. Sadly, the evidence of this has become a permanent part of my face. 2. I don’t like sushi. 3. I have, at various times, had red, blonde, black, brown and burgundy hair. Currently, I am a brunette. 4. When I was younger, I used to say ‘No husbands, no children, no pets, no

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-81627329467648143422009-09-01T09:12:00.002-05:002009-09-01T09:24:08.557-05:00

Look at this artist's work:Little Anacin Tin - Brooks Salzwedel High Forest Tin - Brooks Salzwedel Broken Wires - Brooks Salzwedel Home Like Me - Brooks SalzwedelGraphite, acrylic, resin Hanged #2 - Brooks SalzwedelGraphite, resin, pipe end Found via the excellent Bioephemera blog. Many thanks to Joe Allgren http://twitter.com/thedarkengine for alerting me to this artist's ethereal, evocative

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-11216585532154666112009-08-10T09:13:00.002-05:002009-08-10T09:18:12.795-05:00

Below are pics of a custom-designed trip photo album I completed recently. It is to be a wedding gift for a couple who are traveling around the world for their honeymoon.The cover was a map of Central Europe taken from a 1924 World Atlas. The back cover was a linen-textured handmade paper.The album was tied with two pieces of vintage French seam binding. The endpapers were from an old 1950s atlas

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-83196639127060978482009-07-13T13:53:00.004-05:002009-07-31T22:47:39.498-05:00

I have a few pieces of news to share and thought I would share them here. First, I am excited to announce that handmade stationery products from Secret Leaves paperworks have been selected as movie props for upcoming Screen Gems feature film The Roommate, starring Leighton Meester of Gossip Girl, Minka Kelly from Friday Night Lights and Cam Gigandet of Twilight fame. Recycled paper journals,

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-68398799314300123662009-07-07T11:51:00.002-05:002009-07-07T11:54:26.030-05:00

Our good friends over at periwinklebloom have their sweet organic cotton toddler clothes on sale right now. Loose-fitting and carefree, they are perfect for these hot summer months and will take your little one right into fall and winter as they are perfect for layering. From top left: mangle dress; sack dress; fern halter (a collaboration with Lotta of Inleaf); gathered dress; bubble and

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-83488498402299275242009-05-30T11:37:00.004-05:002009-05-30T15:10:40.233-05:00

It has been a Scrap Journal factory in the studio lately. I thought you might be interested in seeing the process of making the covers. Above are some of the basic tools. From left to right: Micro-spatula, brass rule, Teflon folder, brayer, damp rag, baby wipes, apron. Book boards, upper right. Glue brushes I almost forgot the most important thing! The glue! Here are the covers,

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-1866307775311955582009-05-15T10:03:00.004-05:002010-02-03T13:10:09.119-06:00

Here are some goodies given to me by my wonderful family and friends. Below is a small fraction of the cool old sheet music my dad found for me: From Elizabeth Maxson (purchased at Miss Frenchie's) The buttons on the button cards are velvet. Really special. From my wonderful sister (and soap-maker), Sheila, owner of Yellow Moon Antique Mall in Mooresville, Indiana:

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-49874819109104627802009-05-12T19:14:00.002-05:002009-05-14T07:39:43.419-05:00

Speaking of flowers, I cut these from the garden yesterday. Peonies, irises, azalea and some little yellow flower that I don't recall the name of. They smell like heaven.Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-34750007868955413422009-05-11T11:24:00.002-05:002009-05-11T11:27:53.355-05:00

Here are some things I've found around the web: Cracked china is given new life. Ornamented Life fills cracks and chips with 24K gold and then embellishes them with delicate flora that "grow" out of the imperfections. What a lovely idea. Via Oh Joy! Michael and I just bought three photographs from this artist: Above by Erin Tyner I love the packaging of Saipua's soaps: Her floral

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-70479572916767895372009-04-28T14:59:00.002-05:002009-04-28T15:08:05.836-05:00

My husband Michael and I recently returned from Siesta Key, Florida. The Good Life. My bounty: Angel Wing Gift This shell is the size of a baby's fingernail. I am as inspired by these: As I am by this: Florida flora and fauna: Myakka River State Park. Do you see all the logs in the water? They are these: Good trip. Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-36594760305821502832009-04-21T10:43:00.003-05:002009-04-22T10:57:13.314-05:00

I was recently tagged by my good friend Tyler of periwinklebloom to "share an interior that best represents me." I'm not sure these best represent me, but I found something appealing in all of them. First, I loved Molly Sims' New York apartment from the moment I saw it in InStyle magazine: The entire apartment is done in shades of gray ranging from platinum to dove gray to charcoal. I also

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-84553932552500921672009-03-11T18:49:00.003-05:002009-03-11T18:53:22.110-05:00

Here is another wonderful bookstore I found in NYC: The Argosy Book Store at 116 East 59th Street. Michael and I had an incredibly good meal at Pane e Vino on Lexington Avenue: I gave our waiter, Davide, the vague order of "a fruity cocktail, maybe something with orange in it." He brought this. I have no idea what it was, but it was delicious. This was our appetizer. Charbroiled

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-289752591278466722009-03-07T11:40:00.002-06:002009-03-07T11:41:37.893-06:00

Early evening in the City. Some beautiful wrought ironwork on the Upper East Side, near where we stayed: I had no idea New York was such a European-style city: This looks like it could be in Amsterdam or Paris. Gracie's Marketplace on the Upper East Side:

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-20535007354018743592009-03-03T19:35:00.004-06:002009-05-15T09:26:17.413-05:00

Michael and I just returned from New York. I found this wonderful little bookstore right on Rockefeller Plaza:I had read about it online, so it was a treat stumbling across it. Sadly, after 73 years in business it is closing. Opened in 1935, it was the first retail tenant in Rockefeller Plaza. Their lease is up and the new rent will be upwards of $1,000 per square foot, so they are closing

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-36392264225515126332009-02-13T14:53:00.003-06:002009-02-13T14:59:16.390-06:00

Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-73243490138555218722009-02-11T10:09:00.008-06:002009-02-11T10:37:19.905-06:00

I have been listening to this man's haunting and profoundly moving voice for two weeks straight. I am mesmerized by the beauty of his music.The clip is from the Leonard Cohen documentary, "I'm Your Man." Leonard Cohen:"A lot of those songs are just the response to what struck me as beauty--whatever that curious emanation from a being or an object or a situation or a landscape, you know. That had

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-65340533893920283672009-02-05T16:03:00.002-06:002009-02-05T16:05:52.635-06:00

Ann and I have blogged frequently about the Willows, a group of women business owners we meet with regularly for friendship, encouragement and support. This small group has become so important to all of us, not only in terms of our businesses, but also in terms of our lives. The only Willow I haven't posted about yet is the lovely Ria Sharon. Ria is, among other things, the co-author of a web

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-3769903358193254912009-01-21T18:46:00.002-06:002009-01-21T18:49:04.148-06:00

This is not really a "finder" blog, but I've stumbled across a couple of sites lately where the work is so beautiful, I felt the need to share. A customer, Barbara, turned me on to J. Morgan Puett. I think her work is stunning: All of the above images are from an installation entitled Wholesale To the Trade Only. I strongly urge you to visit her site and take a longer look. Emma

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-54934242196660028362009-01-05T10:42:00.003-06:002009-05-15T09:25:07.982-05:00

Ann and I have been waiting for the right time to announce this, and with the beginning of a new year, it seems like the right time: Ann is leaving Secret Leaves. Since I know you will all be curious as to why, she is going back to school to take some graphic design courses. She also wants to spend more time doing this: Stop by and see (hear) her here. Her music is lovely and she has a good

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-11016940994881289242009-01-01T15:42:00.003-06:002009-01-01T19:40:03.347-06:00

Happy New Year to you! I am happily sitting here in my pajamas (it's 3pm on New Year's Day), writing this post. The hectic holiday sales season has left our studio in a state of chaos and I have spent the last couple of days cleaning and organizing. I still have a LONG way to go. Over the past few months, we have amassed several large boxes of old maps, books, postcards, vintage photos, French

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-83511321185410051452008-12-16T09:48:00.002-06:002008-12-16T09:49:43.343-06:00

These are for Curtis James... Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-14612548529804951992008-12-02T08:37:00.003-06:002008-12-03T09:31:07.270-06:00

Everything our good friend and fellow Willow, Tyler Stallings, does is beautiful and Periwinklebloom, her line of toddler clothing and letterpressed greetings is no exception. Made of domestically grown, 100% organic cotton, Periwinklebloom's tiny togs are handcrafted by local artisans. She also reclaims vintage bits of fabric and notions to nurture the idea of hand-me-downs. Subdued hues,

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-37750203505634208412008-11-13T17:48:00.002-06:002008-11-13T17:57:53.257-06:00

Here are some more of our wares... Write me a Letter single letter kit Birds & Bees card bundle we will be selling at Unique Boutique. It is filled with beautiful blank cards, notes and gift enclosures with birds, flowers and bees on them. Christmas stamp gift bags. These are lovely. Perfect for a small gift or gift card. Map Albums The vintage brads are so pretty. Topographical

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-3485807088539261902008-11-12T18:20:00.003-06:002008-11-13T17:54:11.244-06:00

Our good friend Elizabeth took some nice product shots for us recently and I thought I would share them here. There are a few new products and some items that are holiday-related, so here goes: Bee gift enclosures. These are sweet and petite and come with their own tiny ochre vellum envelope. They are blank inside to be used as a gift enclosure, but can also be ordered for Valentine's Day with an

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-19528444927724615512008-11-07T23:58:00.002-06:002008-11-08T00:01:45.501-06:00

I have just a few minutes to get a blog post in and still have it count for today (NaBloPoMo). Here is a shot of our business card taken by our good friend Elizabeth, who is getting married tomorrow! Congratulations Elizabeth and Randy! SharonPS. Our cards were designed by our other talented friend, Tyler. Thanks Tyler, for making us look so good.

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-16453007732880060772008-11-06T18:30:00.002-06:002008-11-06T18:39:56.283-06:00

Here are some blank greeting cards under production in the studio right now. We are selling these individually and also bundled to create a "greeting card emergency kit." Each ribbon-tied bundle contains 3 blank cards, 2 blank notes and 3 gift enclosures. Nice to have on hand when you need a quick thank you, get well, congratulations, sympathy or just a hello, how are you. Secret

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-8032556424484291422008-11-05T10:10:00.003-06:002008-11-06T18:40:37.189-06:00

Our good friend Tyler at Periwinklebloom did a wonderful blog post on us recently. Tyler designs a line of toddler clothing using domestically grown organic cotton and bits of vintage fabric and notions, encouraging the idea of "lovely little hand-me-downs." And soon she will be launching a line of letterpressed greetings. Her wares are absolutely lovely and I will be posting about her here soon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-67187374320455218862008-11-04T20:40:00.003-06:002008-11-06T18:41:08.659-06:00

November is National Blog Posting Month and we are participating this year as we did in 2007. The idea is to post every day for a month. Since I have already missed two days, I'd better get started. I thought I would use the opportunity to share some inspiration. Bats and Swallows is a mesmerizing blog serving up evocative and ethereal images unencumbered by words: Be sure to scroll

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-76242162995548218622008-11-02T09:07:00.004-06:002008-11-06T18:42:25.280-06:00

Look what I received in the mail yesterday!Look at the creative gift wrapping! (By the way, I will be putting the beautiful tissue paper, glittered star and pink seam binding to good use.) Maija at Maigirlz Madness made three different pieces to commemorate Maria Antoinette's birthday and I was the lucky recipient of this one. The altered canvas has all kinds of beautiful details and tiny

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-33449270384650893832008-10-14T09:29:00.003-05:002008-10-14T09:37:34.619-05:00

A shout out to our dear friend and fellow Willows, Jen Sertl of Angelina Accoutrements, who has a trunk show at Mark Shale in Atlanta this weekend. Jen designs the most beautiful, sensual women's clothing and accessories, all repurposed from vintage cashmere. To make her goods even more enticing, 10-20% of each purchasefrom the current offerings page of her web site is donated to Amani ya

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-72026333996684174432008-10-05T17:17:00.003-05:002008-10-06T07:22:57.982-05:00

I have been meaning to do a post on Winslow's Home & Farm, a wonderful new St. Louis store, for a long time. Now that our products are being sold there, all the more reason! Winslow's is a true general store. You can walk in and purchase items as diverse as a ticking striped market bag, all-natural suntan lotion or a Swedish salad spinner (all of which I purchased on my first visit). In addition

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-22454910081365320042008-09-26T10:58:00.005-05:002008-10-05T17:03:05.304-05:00

We are featured in two magazines right now--one of them, interestingly, is a Bulgarian publication called Intro. As nearly as I can tell, it is a cross between Vanity Fair, People and InStyle. So there we are, four full pages of color photos, wedged right between Snoop Dogg, Metallica and a bunch of pretty Bulgarian boys wearing the latest edgy fashions. Sadly, as it is in Cyrillic (or

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-63263713780671905452008-09-15T14:00:00.003-05:002008-09-15T14:07:19.240-05:00

We would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our customers. We recently filled an order for Maria at countrybymail.se. Maria is the proprietor of a gorgeous Swedish web store by the same name. We were so thrilled when our products showed up on her site, because they were so beautifully styled and photographed. See for yourself: These Take Cover Journals were selected

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-47038405664146630872008-08-26T16:23:00.002-05:002008-08-26T16:25:39.438-05:00

Here are some shots from around our studio. Stack of recycled paper for Scrap Journals. Really old books Made by hand. Stamps Good Spiced Grapes Old books...are you beginning to detect a theme? (Very) old German paper Stack of Take Cover covers waiting to be bound. Scrap Journal stack with props We heart old stuff. Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-19068101920557215812008-08-19T14:29:00.003-05:002008-08-20T09:45:48.536-05:00

My husband Michael and I just returned from Estes Park, Colorado. The trip was restful, restorative and inspirational. Here are some pictures from our trip. View from the balcony of our room at Taharaa Lodge Lily Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park Mister (formerly known as Mischief) Mischief and me Not as dramatic as the sub-arctic tundra, but for me, the most beautiful

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-16173372203237971742008-08-07T22:49:00.004-05:002008-08-07T22:58:44.368-05:00

Ann mentioned in the previous post that we were given a blog award by Little Brown Sparrow. Thanks! We are to pass along the Brilliante Weblog Premio 2008 Award to seven other blogs. But due to my pathological tendency not to follow directions and the fact that it is 10 at night and I'm exhausted, I am only passing the award along to three. To the folks below--Please don't feel obligated, but

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-43779671532650545732008-07-28T10:59:00.004-05:002008-08-07T20:19:24.923-05:00

One of Little Brown Sparrow's exquisite cuffs. We were recently given a blog award by Little Brown Sparrow. (More on this later.) If you haven't yet visited this blogger you must do so right now! She features her work and often showcases the work of others. All of it a breathless venture into a world of texture, color and beauty. Little Brown Sparrow recently blogged about the conundrum of

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-59171361810011131742008-07-22T11:48:00.004-05:002008-09-30T13:26:00.962-05:00

"There is not a particle of life that does not carry poetry within it." - Gustave Flaubert Bonjour Mon Coussin on Daily Poetics Steve Wiman on Daily Poetics A thank you to Kariann of Daily Poetics for posting about our Stamp Notes and Femme Fatale mini-notebooks on her lovely blog. I introduced you to Daily Poetics' Flickr photostream here. Now I

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-63330017169559575982008-07-14T15:24:00.006-05:002008-07-17T21:03:42.344-05:00

We talk about it often--the importance of recycling and how it impacts Secret Leaves. We use much of the old paper that comes our way, but what we don't use ends up in our handy make-shift recycling box, shown here. Very fancy, I know.About 12 weeks ago this dumpster showed up in the alley right behind my house. How convenient for me! I quickly found out that the city was testing this idea and

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-83620721334958138572008-07-07T08:15:00.002-05:002008-07-07T08:17:33.804-05:00

Hope you had a great Fourth! Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-4252870005447385402008-06-25T20:48:00.003-05:002008-06-25T21:00:20.861-05:00

Like many of you, I'm constantly searching for inspiration. Sometimes it's artistic inspiration I seek; sometimes I am just looking for something to inspire me to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Without further ado, here are a couple of my favorite places on the web to find inspiration:My favorite Flickr photo stream belongs to Daily Poetics. She features all manner of beautiful

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-13166360137551658342008-06-16T19:56:00.004-05:002008-07-31T10:22:58.278-05:00

Here are some Cigar Box Kits Ann and I are working on. These contain everything you need to make your own journal, album or scrap book. A typical kit includes bits of vintage ephemera, old buttons, postage stamps, ribbon, twine, old-fashioned picture corners, tags, labels, mini envelopes, fancy fasteners and more, all housed in a beautiful cigar box. Kit also includes two book boards, pre-cut,

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-48014961891314872632008-05-29T11:28:00.003-05:002008-09-30T13:22:52.070-05:00

John Malkovich animated short film on Not the Kinda Cool You're Looking For ABC in physics diagrams on NotebookismWe are so pleased to have been featured on two excellent blogs recently. Curtis James featured our Scrap Journal on his blog, Not the Kinda Cool You're Looking For. From an amazing animated film by John Malkovich to a heartbreaking documentary about hoarders (scroll down the post to

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-59868292393663932402008-05-20T14:20:00.005-05:002008-05-20T14:32:18.860-05:00

It seems we have been doing a lot of custom work lately. This is a card set we did for a woman who rides horses competitively. Below is a custom correspondence kit we designed for Elizabeth Maxson's soon-to-be mother-in-law, Diane Benitz. It is a housewarming gift for a writer. It contains blank cards, Stamp Notes and gift enclosures. Contact us if you have a need for a special personalized

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-72107775060209037022008-05-09T10:04:00.003-05:002008-05-22T18:31:59.455-05:00

Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-17832839068334011852008-05-08T23:35:00.001-05:002008-05-11T09:04:14.516-05:00

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. Love you. Sharon

Sharon Derryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936372418431412749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572844062593994214.post-25054373109207505412008-05-01T15:22:00.003-05:002008-05-01T15:31:40.784-05:00

These vignettes from the Museum of the American Circus are kind of creepy. This may not be altogether inappropriate: I am reading a novel called Water for Elephants, and if it is at all accurate, the circus back in its heyday was a little bit of an unsavory place behind the scenes. Sharon

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