if you haven't heard of poppytalk, it is

a Canadian (Vancouver-based) design blog collecting inspiration and dedicated to promoting emerging design talent.  Founders, husband and wife duo (Jan and Earl) both work in the design field, Jan in Communication Design and Earl in New Media as a designer and instructor.

In 2010 Poppytalk was recently featured in InStyle Magazine's "Best of the Web" article (November 2010), in Canadian Living Magazine's "Best Canadian Blogs" and in 2009 was listed No. 7 in Times Online's "50 of the World's Best Design Blogs"and was also featured in an article in House and Home Magazine entitled, "Favourite Design Blogs".

in addition to the design blog, they also host poppytalk handmade, "a monthly online arts and crafts market curated by Poppytalk to showcase, buy and sell handmade goods of emerging design talent from around the world."

one of my main business goals for 2012 is marketing.  with poppytalk's worldwide readership and established brand in the handmade market, i decided to submit my work.  penelope's press has been selected as one of the sellers for their 'valentine's and wedding-themed market'.  their lookbook was just launched yesterday and my little letterpress die-cut heart tags have made their appearance on page 41!  go check out their lookbook and visit the market to see handmade goodness by amazing artists!

over the weekend i was paid the nicest compliment by kasey of kasey hamel custom design + event styling, "I don't know if I've ever told you before, but I'm always telling my husband how you're my inspiration... I always say..."I could be like her one day!!"  blushing!  she had just finished reading one of my previous posts, "a day in the life"... her email said that she felt a sweet relief that her home-based business was going to work with a new baby on the way.  kasey was my first etsy wedding invitation inquiry.  of all my blog entries, her ever popular "lucky in love" invitation post is the most viewed.  kasey is expecting her first born, a baby boy.  congrats kasey!  if you're an expecting mother with a budding business... there is hope for you... you can do it!  if you need motherhood + business advice, i'm always open to sharing my stories!

did you know the cost of postage is increasing tomorrow?  if you are going to mail wedding invitations soon or send a lot of mail in general, snag up a bunch of forever stamps before your post office closes.  i just came back from my post office and take a look at some of their great stamp designs...

go green...

pixar...

and my favorite, pioneers of american industrial design...

social media eats up so. much. time.  i have a facebook page, which i'm pretty good at updating  i attempt to update more often than not.  recently i decided to join twitter.  i still haven't gotten used to it, but i'm trying. then there is pinterest and instagram {search for penelopespress}, they have quickly become my new favorites.  i will write up a future post on my thoughts on social media + building your business, but for now, if you have an iphone {or ipad2}, you must get on the instagram boat.  instagram is a free + fun iphone app {sorry android users, i think instagram is still figuring out a version for you} that allows you to share photos {after all, isn't that what people really want?  after all the text, don't they just want to get to the photos?}.  there are built in filters that can edit your photo to give it a vintage feel, enhance your colors, etc.  i just started using instagram, but it can quickly become addicting.  here are some of my recent instagram photos:

wire baskets from container store...

trying to organize my wood type...

organizing supplies in my new built in bookcase...

 packaging a wholesale order...

last packages of 2011...

standing at the bus stop in spring-like weather in january...

standing at the same bus stop 24 hours later, but in snow...

after some googling, i found http://instaport.me/   the site allows you to download your instagram photos to your desktop {strangely, you have to download the entire set each time, not just your most recent photos... a little annoying, but maybe an instagrammer out there has a better suggestion?}  join the fun... i'll see you over at instagram!

one of my business resolutions is to purge.  the letterpress folk that i've met along my journey all collect, collect, and collect more letterpress paraphernalia {it must be in our blood}.  in the past couple of years, i was either too type happy and bought type i thought i just had to have or it was part of the bundled package that i was purchasing.  i have a number of sets that i don't use.  if you're in the market to purchase metal type, keep a watch out.  i'll be taking photos and listing type on etsy and on my website in the coming weeks.