april desktop: free download

Wed
Mar
31

With tomorrow kicking off April, April Fool’s Day (don’t get fooled like i always manage to) and for us living in the Northeast, some fabulous weather – here is a new desktop to brighten up your office!


Download either 1280 x 1024 or 1024 x 768 here.

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Designer file: Jessica Rust

Tue
Mar
30

I have been so excited to share this designer file with you. I 100% can’t remember how I originally stumbled upon Jessica Rust Designs, but when I did i was in love with these dainty pieces. Once you see Jessica’s designs, you will see how perfect of a gift they are! For a bride and groom, bridesmaids gifts, or shucks… even for yourself! :-) I am really wishing i knew about Jessica when i was getting married or when my friends were. Just the most perfect, unexpected gift.

Without further ado, please meet Jessica Rust!

What (or who) inspired you to start your own business?
When I was growing up my father would get up and go to work like all Dads did back then. It was long before anyone ever heard of flextime. He hated it. I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t hate what I do. Long story short when I graduated college flextime still wasn’t mainstream and if I wanted a job that worked around my life I would have to make it myself. I’ve also got to add that I’ve been a natural entrepreneur since I was really young, selling everything from the veggies that we grew in our backyard to making all kinds of weird stuff and trying to pawn it off on people, including mud pies, made out of mud. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized that mud pies were chocolate and not mud. Child of the 70’s my mother fed us lots of health food.

Who is your favorite designer?
I’ve  got lots of designers I think are fabulous, but one that I admire above all, Eva Zeisel. She’s been around a long time designing everything from dinnerware to furniture. Doing it long before women were let into to business. I think she’s amazing.

How do you define success?
Funny I get this question a lot. And I suppose there are many answers to that question, but when I think of success in my business life there are small successes, getting orders complete by a promised deadline and big successes like having enough cash to buy things you’ve been waiting and saving for a long time. I think each day idea of success changes as I accomplish one thing another thing is added to the list.

How do you keep a work/life balance?
This is really difficult. Before we moved to Los Angeles I worked out of a carriage house in our backyard. My children were in and out of my workspace daily and often hourly. It drove me crazy at times and there really wasn’t a separation.  My staff knew what was going on in my house at all times. Now that I’ve got a studio that is an actual commute I’m finding it much easier. I’m at work from 7am to 2:30pm. I’m home in time to be there for my children after school. They are both still young and this was really important to me.

What should we expect to see from Rust Designs as your business grows?
This is a question I often ask myself, how far to do I want to take my product line? Ideally I would like to set the table with all my designs. Right now I’ve designed just dinnerware but I would like to include glassware and table linens to the mix. Not to mention some more accessories like candleholders, cause a girl can never have enough candlelight.

Here are a few of Jessica’s beautiful designs for you!




View the entire collection at Jessica Rust Designs.

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Big, exciting news!

Mon
Mar
29

So for those that have been following, I keep talking about “big, exciting news” that will be announced soon. Well, the day has come! I’m so happy to announce that The Pink Orange has grown and is now in it’s first paper boutique! Remember the story I told you how I used to spend my allowance at the local Hallmark store after ballet class on Friday nights? How I told my mother I could do that? Well, I have!

I would proudly like to introduce to you all, Paperdolls of Saratoga! I have to say, that I am really excited that my first retail location for my product is local to me. It feels like an artistic mash-up! I know that everyone that reads along isn’t local, and i have great news for you too, but for those that are and either might not know about Paperdolls, or do and just haven’t had the chance to stop in, you should! You are missing out on some of the best paper treats and gifts around!

A little bit about the store from Sarah Keefe, one of the owners:
In this crazy world of instant and easy communication, PaperDolls of Saratoga focuses instead on the simple gestures of life: the pleasure one gets from receiving a beautiful invitation, the joy on one’s face when opening the perfect gift, the satisfaction of creating something wonderful from nothing. Whether you are looking to create a keepsake or find the perfect box of stationery, PaperDolls of Saratoga is your source for fine papers, invitations, announcements, ribbon, and unique gifts. We invite you into PaperDolls of Saratoga to rediscover life’s simple gestures.

Sarah, Cora and myself the day their order was dropped off!

Definitely if you are in the area, stop in and say hello to Sarah and Cora, and of course take a peek at all the wonderful goodies!


OK… so now onto the other fun news. The Pink Orange shopping section has changed! Check it out! More letterpress cards added with more on the way. Quick, easy navigation with all the goodies categorized. I hope it makes it fun and easy to find the perfect card for that special someone. Now… go ahead, get shopping!

[ store photo credits: Heather Bohm-Tallman ]

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it’s a wrap!

Fri
Mar
26

Happy Friday everyone! I’m not quite sure if we headed backwards into winter or not. Geesh! Last Saturday we had the bikini top on our jeep, and this morning there was a small coat of snow on the ground! Well, at least there are some things that we have to look forward to for spring…. like  Tara’s giveaway winners! Yes, i said winners. She was so excited about the wonderful response, feedback and congrats, she decided she wants to send goodies to 3 winners!

But first, the week in a quick recap!

* Just my little reminder to do something everyday that you love! Not that that something needs to be your job, but to add that something to your routine each day.
* Ever wonder what a
dog would look like as a typeface?
* Yesterday’s
peek into my studio.

So now, before announcing the winners of the giveaway (unless you have already peaked) be sure to check back on Monday. I have a big announcement to share with you all!

And now for the winners!

So if you could all email me at designs@thepinkorange.com and i’ll get your mailing information and get your goodies out to you!
Thanks everyone for participating and have a fabulous weekend!

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step inside my studio

Thu
Mar
25

I love looking at studios of other artists and creative minds. Each one that i have seen is so personable, inviting and yet unique. I find that with a space you love, it just allows the creative juices to keep flowing.

I have some tidbits of my space, i still need to have the larger vision shot to show you, but i’m also reworking some of the space for some goodies that i will tell you about next week. In the meantime, i thought it might be fun to give you a glimpse of my space!

What is a studio space without tons of ribbon, a mug of coffee and inspirational wedding magazines? I didn’t even take a photo of my paper closet, you would be shocked! I love my mugs. I never registered for mugs, because i prefer to collect mugs from each city or country i visit – or better yet, colorful art mugs. (My absolute favorite is a Today Show mug that a great friends got for my years ago). Even though some of the magazines i have are a few years old, i can’t seem to part with them. They are gorgeous!

A signed postcard from Gary Baseman (that i still need to have framed) that i got at a design conference in New Orleans where he was a guest speaker. He was so cool to chat and hang out with. And what would a creative studio be without Pantone books?

Books and paper swatch books galore! Surprisingly, for a small space, i’m able to stay fairly organized.

And then, there is Clemens. He is the official studio cat. He usually lounges on a sassy floor pillow, in the window, or on the production chair. He is one big cat and keeps me laughing all day!

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dogs as typefaces

Wed
Mar
24

My friend Christy Ann sent this to me and I couldn’t resist sharing. Makes me think of the typeface quiz and how a typeface best describes you, these describe a dog.

{source: Fineline Design}
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do what you love…

Tue
Mar
23

Meet Don Fisher.

Who was Don Fisher you ask?

Don Fisher was the founder of The Gap. In 1969, Don and his wife, Doris, opened the first Gap store in San Francisco. They wanted to make it easier to buy a pair of jeans. They soon fell in love with what they were doing.

And they ended up making history.
Why am I telling you this? Well, because I just love Don’s philosophy of “Do what you love.”

Inspiring creativity, doing the right thing and delivering results. Not that I am looking to revolutionize the stationery industry or anything like that, but I just wanted to say how much I truly and whole-heartedly enjoy working on a daily basis. I get emails more frequently than I ever thought I would asking how I balance my life, how I started my business or how it is to enjoy what I do each day. I really enjoy receiving the emails and it means the world to me that I can offer advice, inspiration or guidance. I also thought about this when working with my friend Tara on her giveaway and how excited she is for her venture. I think creativity feeds from one another.

I think I am lucky. My grandmother told me I am blessed.

She told me that luck is winning the lottery, that luck doesn’t come from not working hard and having determination. OK, I believe her, but I still feel like I am lucky! Shucks, if this is what it feels like to win the lottery, give me a bottle and i’ll package it up!

OK… sentimental stuff aside, I wanted to just step up on my soapbox for a brief moment and shout out and tell you to do what you love! Even if it running, cooking, coloring, photography, archery (yup, that), reading, etc, etc, etc… just do it! Make it a point each day to do something you love. It will make a world of difference and you will thank yourself.

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