My cousin Molly is settling into her freshman year of college. I can clearly remember two things about my freshman year:

1) How rough my transition was.

2) How much I loved getting mail.

Thankfully, Miss Molly’s transition seems to be going much more smoothly than mine did. I still, however, thought she would enjoy some mail, so inspired by Brooke of inchmark, I settled on sending her a custom tote bag.

If you’d like to make your own, here’s what you’ll need:
— a tote bag (mine was canvas from Joann’s)
— freezer paper
— a pencil
— an x-acto knife (scissors could work)
— a self-healing cutting mat
— fabric paint + a brush (mine was foam)
— a letter to trace

1. Print out one letter in the typeface and size of your choice. Trace the letter onto the paper side of your freezer paper and cut it out carefully with an x-acto knife. Remember that you’re making a stencil, not cutting out the letter.

2. Iron the freezer paper onto your bag, wax side down. Make sure to press down firmly, especially if your letter has narrow areas (you don’t want the ink to bleed underneath).

3. Tuck an extra sheet of freezer paper inside your bag in case any paint bleeds through. Paint and then let dry overnight.

4. The next morning (you won’t be able to wait any later than that!), peel off the freezer paper. Admire your handiwork. Then iron again to heat set your letter.

5. Fill with your most indispensable college goodies. J helped me pick, and we decided on Vosges chocolate, ricola cough drops, a Tide to go pen, travel Advil, lip balm, and custom mixed CDs.

Lots of love to you, Molly!

I’m sorry for the plethora of photos in this post, but I just couldn’t pare them down. They’re all from the Haven in Paris site, which lists luxury apartments for rent in Paris. Aren’t they amazing? So much inspiration for interior design, too, I think.

J’adore Paris.

My Mom’s birthday is today (hi Mom!). This is the card I sent her. I repurposed the letterpress graphic on the front from this card that my pen pal Molly sent me (hi Molly!). Molly has excellent taste in stationery, and I was happy to be able to pass on the letterpress love.

P.S. Y’all should acquire a pen pal. It is really an excellent thing to have.

I have an October wedding coming up in a month or so. I will most likely end up wearing my favorite little black dress, but at the moment I am tempted by these numbers from Anthropologie. Isn’t the plum jacquard darling? (Really, I think that’s the only word for it.)


Water & Roses, $148

Behind-the-Clouds, $138

Nights at the Lyceum, $138

I’m also really loving this shift dress, even though it’s not quite fancy enough for an evening hotel soiree. Perfect for work, however, and it comes in navy, my fave. I’m thinking it would look really cute with leggings or cowboy boots.

Carambola, $98