Something really wonderful happened this afternoon. These note cards were featured at the top of design*sponge’s best of diy 2011: notecards and stationery. Now, I don’t know about you, but I absolutely adore design*sponge. Grace Bonney has such elegant and beautiful taste, yet uncovers intriguing and unusual finds. And, I love Kate Pruitt who edits all the diy goodies. To be on the top of any design*sponge list has me over the moon. It gives me a reason to celebrate!
Still, this reminds me how important it is to take things in stride – both disappointments and successes. I was actually contacted about these notes by Better Homes & Gardens back in July – which was also thrilling. They wanted to potentially include them in a handmade hostess gift feature in the November ’11 issue. The opportunity to be featured in a widely distributed magazine blew me away. I madly worked to get off a set of cards in color schemes they wanted. 
I loved how they turned out.
But, in the end, they did not include them in their issue :(. That felt like a whopping blow. I think they wanted jewel tones all together, which is not really my thing. These things happen, and how you handle disappointment is just as vital as how you handle successes. Inevitably, they will both happen.
In my case, I garner true and untarnished joy from making something that feels beautiful to me. Its even better if it carries meaning. Whether its knitting or sewing or crafting or photography, pretty much anything I do with my hands, I love it. As a result, I love this blog.
I’m thrilled with my design*sponge exposure and my place in their “best of” list. Yet, rich as this success makes me feel, and I do want to enjoy it, I’m going to celebrate and then take it in stride, because I never know what’s around the next corner. I’m just gonna keep on doing what I love to do.
Image above: Brenna’s linoleum-cut monogram correspondence set with vintage wallpaper-lined envelopes
Image above: Derek and Lauren created a personalized stationery suite using samples of pretty vintage wallpapers and blank notecards.
Curly Birds says
These cards are beautiful and very lovely. Will be trying them out soon…
Amanda says
Lovely cards! How sweet!
Melissa says
These are wonderful! I love them
Lexy @ The Proper Pinwheel says
Oh my goodness. This is just the sweetest idea! I had to share it on my blog today!
http://theproperpinwheel.com/post/16161551399/fresh-find-friday
I found your blog through D*S and Craftgawker and I just love it! Love all you do!
anne says
Lexy, Thanks so much for sharing my cards!
Kristina @ ReMadeSimple says
First I would like to say the cards are beautiful and simple. Second how exciting to be featured on Design Sponge! Happy Blogging.
anne says
Thanks so much Kristina!
Kristin Nicholas says
Publishing is difficult. You have to take the disappointments with the good times. So nice to be featured on D*S. My congrats. Lovely cards BTW. My best.
James Cooper says
Though this is an old post on designing note-cards still I am getting amazed seeing such clean and beautiful works. No doubt on why they had been featured at the top of design sponge section!