They’re here! Holiday gift tags are now available in the shop. They match some of my best-selling holiday cards and are perfect to decorate your packages this year. Hand lettered and illustrated by me.
[ Snowman Gift tags, Merry & Bright Christmas Tags, Peace & Joy Holiday Tags ]
Happy Friday!
Here’s a preview of my new gift tags! I have 3 different sets. They are adorable, I just want to hang them up around my desk! I can’t wait to decorate my presents for the holidays (ok, I can wait). They match some of my best-selling holiday cards and come in a fancy assortment of 6 tags with matching twine.
They’ll be available this week! Check back by Friday, I’ll have a limited supply available until they sell out.
Happy wireless day! I’ll be busy making patterns and packaging gift tags!
I did this bunny pattern in early 2013 and I really haven’t done a series of patterns since. I have to set aside a lot of time because I get lost in making patterns and playing with color. I’m working on a new pattern series for 2014 and yes there will be ukuleles.
[ bunny haven pattern by cynla ]
I’m a little anxious.. since I moved out of the city, I’ve lost access to my beloved Tekserve. So my computer is commuting to the city for (hopefully only) 2 days for an upgrade and checkup.
I will have internet access, but unfortunately, no design tools! Oh the horror. So now is the time to actually test my wireless capability.
I’m going to pack some cards of course, start this book that has been sitting on my shelf (the new Amy Tan one, it might be old by now), go for a walk, finish drawing the new patterns I’ve been cooking up, look up a yoga class that I’ve been meaning to get to, and enjoy a computerless brain for a couple days. Can she do it?!
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All jokes aside, it’s ironic that my paperful, tangible job of a greeting card manufacturer is so tied to a computer screen. Not to complain about my dream job, but my hand constantly aches, I dim my computer when I’m not retouching to go easy on my eyes that now I need glasses for, and I am sitting in one spot for hours at a time. These wireless days have been helping, but it’s time for me to build more wireless time into my days. Instead of being anxious, I should be relieved.. how do you limit your tech time?
[ new: I love a good quitter. Will be in my shop as soon as I get my computer back ]
My mom makes these hand sewn, beautiful pea pods. She takes forever to carefully choose the fabrics. She used to use all greens, but has recently added pinks and blues, with matching cords and bells. We’re now offering them as an ornament set! They make great gifts, the cutest ornaments and perfect to keep around all year and add some charm to your home. I also created a matching card, available as a set here.
Had a great, busy weekend at the Chappaqua Holiday Fair! What was the best-seller at a holiday fair? Surprisingly not the holiday cards.. but maybe it’s still too early. This cat lover gift box I put together for the fair was the best-selling item! It has 4 of my most popular cat card designs and people just loved them. Very excited to now be offering this in my shop.
But I do love the bunnies still..
With all this nice weather we’ve been having in the Hudson Valley, it’s hard to think of snowmen already.. but I’m busy getting ready for the holidays. I have a holiday fair on Saturday – the Chappaqua Craft Fair – in Chappaqua, NY, right across from the Chappaqua Train Station. Come visit between 11-4.
I’ll be debuting my new Wish series and new gift tags! Coming to my shop soon.
Happy wireless day!
[ I have a couple Snowman Box Sets in my holiday section ]
Happy Halloween! Can you believe it’s halloween already?! The holidays have a way of sneaking up on me.. especially since I’m neck-deep in holiday cards and gift tags at the moment.
Hope you have a great halloween and get some candy in you! Maybe next year I’ll have some halloween cards for you.
[ Fabric Envelope by Yukishop (my mom!) ]
The sight of this leaning tower of boxes makes me happy…
It was a great weekend over here. Spent some quality time with friends and their sweet baby, including a friend who crazily biked to Beacon from Brooklyn!, had great brunch, homemade pizza, made a fire (s’mores!), went on a date with my husband, and continued working on some holiday ideas. It was a satisfying, relaxing weekend.
I also had a big order for box sets of greeting cards! They will soon be holiday gifts. It’s so very satisfying to see all of these designs next to each other, in their pretty packaging, and know they are going out to good homes.
Oh New York, New York. Love you in all seasons. Beautiful during Christmas time with the tree, the Empire State all lit up, holiday events and shopping, and snow that melts in 2 seconds on those busy streets.
Celebrate the holidays by giving some NYC holiday cards and reminiscing about some good new york city times. Hope you like my designs! Both are available now in the shop.
NYC Card
NYC Holiday Card
NYC Holiday Card Box Set
I designed a slinky! To clarify, I designed a logo that was put on a slinky – but this has to be up there with coolest products I’ve seen my design on.. and for a great new school.
The logo was for Hunter’s Point Community Middle School – definitely a lot of text for a logo. They wanted a clean, eco-friendly design to reflect their new school with eco-friendly practices and the environmentally designed building on the waterfront in Long Island City, NY.
Now I’m going to go find some stairs to slink this slinky down.
We planted these seeds during the summer. There are red flowers and they’re now just starting to change to yellow with the rest of the trees around here.
But I love geting up real close to this plant. I like the shape of the leaves and the way it looks like a tiny forest you could get lost in. It also reminds me of underwater plantlife swaying in the waves. It’s funny how a lot of things in nature look the same.
I’ve been really inspired by nature up here and hope to do some serious sketching soon before everything turns bare and snowy. What has been inspiring you lately?
[Photo by me]
Here’s a page from my sketchbook. Excited to start a new project! A Beacon hand lettering design. Hopefully I can share the final later this week. Have a good one!
~ Cindy
Congrats! We’ve made it to Friday. This is a soon-to-be card! One of my hand lettered designs.
New in the shop this week are holiday boxes. Go check them out, bookmark it, and specify your ship date.
Not ready to buy? Comment here (include your email) and I’ll send you a reminder in mid-November.
I think the holiday threw me off – I completely missed my wireless day! So no worries, no guilt, welcome wireless Thursday.
We live in a Land of Make Believe, we make the rules, we decide how to live.
I’m feeling especially thankful today that people are liking my art, my etsy shop is picking up (I reached 100 listings! and almost 150 sales – I can’t believe it), and I have a lot of new designs that I’m so excited for!
Happy Wednesday and Thursday!
These are the favorites from the Pumpkin Festival on Sunday!
Ever since I started offering 6 for $20, I’ve been noticing people picking the same group of cards. They choose a Storybook one, a Starry animal, a Cloudy one and then some birthday or love ones. The lantern one surprises me. I have a lot of flourishy birthday ones, and even a red lantern design, but people like the blue one. Probably because of the message inside.
Which one is your favorite?
Pumpkin festival today! I hope you were wishing for no rain all week!
I’ll be at the Beacon waterfront today 12-5. Come say hi, see my cards in person, and enjoy some beautiful fall!
~ Cindy
[This photo I lettered over was taken at Fishkill Farms Pumpkin patch by me.]
So.. no pressure.. but I put some holiday cards up in the shop. If you’re an early bird when it comes to Christmas, go nuts. Please use code EARLYBIRD for 10% off through November 1!
I have a lot of snowmen this year, some merry patterns and a couple hand lettered cards. To view all of them, visit my website.
I’m getting things done: 1 2 3 today! Happy wireless Wednesday.
Unfortunately, my #1 is finding this DVD I borrowed from the library that jumped out of its case. Perhaps a kitten helped it escape.. They want $33 for it if I don’t find it! When was the last time you bought a dvd for $33? I’m a big fan of renting from the free library, but this might turn out to be my annual dues.
I’ve been doing a lot of sketching lately. One day soon these will become patterns.. and then maybe they’ll grow up to be bags, or iphone cases, or sheets – who knows? Which one do you like best? 1, 2, or 3?
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Update: I found the dvd! It fell down the secret crack in the back of my tv shelf! Anyways, I feel like I found $33 today! Now we can all move on. Sorry kittens! Not your fault.
Oh my goodness, the rain coming down (on Monday) in the Hudson Valley… Reminds me that I have to put up a blog post so everyone can hope for good weather on Sunday. I’ll be doing another fair – the Pumpkin Festival in Beacon, NY. Mark your calendar, put on a phone alert, figure out transportation, and start wishing for sunny weather on Sunday please! Every wish counts! Thank you!
Pumpkin Festival • Beacon, NY
October 13, 2013 • 12-5 pm • Beacon Waterfront (near train station)
SHINE or rain
[above] another sneak peek at my new Make a Wish series. Printing soon!
about me
Hi! Thanks for visiting. Drawing and creating has become a way for me to de-stress. I'd like to do it more often. This is a space for me to share my art and inspiration, my card designs, and to remind myself to stress less.
My card business and moving outside of NYC [gasp] is a new adventure in my life and I'm happy to be able to share it with you. Feel free to drop me an email cindy [ at ] cynla.com, leave a comment or two, or visit my website (www.cynla.com) and shop (cynla.etsy.com).
Happy de-stressing!
~ Cindy
