Spring Cleaning Has Sprung…

So, here I am. It’s July and New Year’s came and went – exactly six months ago! Some of my resolutions I kept – get a job (thanks Chronicle!), eat less chocolate, and shop less. But unfortunately my real resolution – to get organized – has NOT been kept. Sure my apartment is clean-ish, my car stays relatively junk-free, and my errands get done eventually, but my personal life is a mess.

Each morning my alarm goes off at 6:30 and I open my eyes to a busy day. Showering, dressing, sometimes making a lunch, dashing for the bus, working, working, glancing at my to-do list, working, sometimes cooking dinner, snatched conversations with my devoted boyfriend, maybe 10 minutes of tv, and then sleep. What have I accomplished? I’m treading water in a sea of lengthy to-do lists, unfinished business, canceled social plans, and frustration. This isn’t the life I had imagined for myself as a young professional, was it?!?

The challenge has become apparent. Can I cut down on the craziness and refocus, re-center, and reshape my life – can I really, finally, get organized?

Lucky for me (and now for all of you readers out there), I have The Personal Organizing Workbook by the lovely, sparkling Meryl Starr. And, even better, I have Meryl’s phone numbers, too! Famous the world over, Meryl has a legion of adoring fans (even celebrities) whose lives she has changed through her simple, solid advice. I am her latest guinea pig.

To be perfectly honest, I’m a little bit nervous. Sure I go on cleaning rampages, but I’ve never found lasting success with any of my tidying. And organizing my studio apartment is not the same as organizing my life. This will really be a test- can I achieve the freedom, happiness, and clarity that Meryl advertises for her clients?

With Meryl’s voice ringing in my ears, I started by confronting my disorganized reality. Don’t judge me – I’m laying my disorganized “cards” on the table.

My next task was to start reading Meryl’s book. As I read, I found myself nodding my head. Constantly.

I can never find the things I need.
I’ll never get through my mile-long to-do list.
I never get to see my friends and family.
I never did host my housewarming party/cocktail hour/book club meeting.

“Will I ever succeed?” I asked Meryl the very next morning. “Yes,” she said, “but you need to want to change. You need to organize one piece at a time. Don’t try to fix the whole picture, just take it one step at a time and everything will fall into place.” Here goes nothing.

Follow along every Friday to watch my process and see for yourselves. Post your own tales of disorganized woe and share your tips for staying afloat. And at the end of the series, one lucky commenter will win an autographed copy of Meryl’s Personal Organizing Workbook and her Home Organizing Workbook. Isn’t that enough incentive to get organized?

Allie Frey
Assistant to the President

Popularity: 1% [?]

Email This Post | Permalink | Trackbacks (0)

HelloLucky! Studio Tour

One of the things I love most about my job is meeting all of the talented and inspiring authors each year. With each passing season my rolodex expands and my list of new friends grows. This season, I am pleased to add authors, artists and sisters (!) Sabrina and Eunice Moyle of the famed letterpress studio, HelloLucky! to that list.

I love reading their blog and seeing what new cities they visit, people they meet and new designs they’ve been working on. And I’m especially excited to be working with them on their new book, Handmade Hellos.

Last week, a group of us from the Home Publishing Group (or Homies, as we like to refer to ourselves) decided to pay their new studio a visit.

When we arrived, we were graciously greeted by both Sabrina and Eunice and promptly shown upstairs to their adorable, cozy and organized office. The ladies took us back to their beginnings on how HelloLucky! came to be (Eunice - the artist - was first lured into the world of letterpress after taking a class at the San Francisco Center for the Book) and even whipped out Eunice’s first sketchbook.

Sabrina [left] and Eunice [right]

I love the die-cut detailing on this bookshelf!

We met the rest of their friendly staff and watched how their famed sock monkey card came to life. It was amazing to see the way the old metal machines clanked and chugged into action and quickly presented me with a beautiful letterpressed card.

It was a wonderful visit and for those of you in the bay area, I encourage you to pop in, say “hello” and if you’re lucky, pick up a card or two.

Check out more Handbound posts.

Nancy Deane
Senior Marketing Manager

Popularity: 1% [?]

Email This Post | Permalink | Trackbacks (0)

Asparagus and Scallops

This is a perfect dish for springtime, served with fresh rolls and a crisp white wine.

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons sugar
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 whole canned chipotle chile pepper, pureed or minced
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 pound sea scallops
3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound asparagus, trimmed
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Lime wedges for garnish

In a small bowl, combine the oil, lime juice, sugar, garlic, chile pepper, and cilantro. Let sit for at least 30 minutes.

Remove and discard the tough muscle from the scallops.

In a small bowl, combine the cornmeal, coriander, salt, and black pepper. Toss the scallops in the cornmeal mixture and set aside.

Pour 1/2 cup water into a heavy skillet. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add the asparagus. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 4 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Remove to a platter and keep warm.

Wipe the skillet and add the butter. Place over medium heat to melt the butter. Add the scallops and cook for 2 to 4 minutes, turning once, until lightly browned and opaque.

Divide the asparagus evenly among 4 plates. Top with the scallops. Drizzle with the chipotle dressing, and garnish with lime wedges.

Makes 4 servings

Kitchen Tip
Often scallops are soaked in sodium tripolyphosphate (STP) to help keep them moist. To avoid these chemical-laden scallops, look for scallops labeled Day Boat, Diver, Dry Pack or Chemical-Free. These scallops are more readily available these days and of course, are a much healthier choice. They may not be perfectly white and uniform in size, but those qualities are not natural to scallops; they are man-induced. As always, opt for the most natural products available. And as always, ask questions. The fishmonger should know exactly where the fish is from and how it has been treated.

Purchase Simply Organic.

Click here for more great recipes.

Peter Perez
Senior Marketing Manager

Popularity: 1% [?]

Email This Post | Permalink | Trackbacks (0)

I always thought I had some sort of culinary ADD. I’ve always had trouble sticking to a recipe. I’m always straying from the ingredient list and making substitutions. I thought it was because I was creative and curious but I have since found out that my actions go deeper than that. I think I am listening to the ingredients.

I start to hear them the minute I go into a store or stroll through the farmers market, “Hey you, the one with the curls… I’m talking to you. Don’t I look delicious, green, and crisp, and I’d be oh-so-good with caramelized onions and crunchy toasted almonds. You have those at the home right??” “Pick me, pick me!”

No, I’m not hallucinating. I don’t really believe in talking veggies, but I do believe that if we open our ears we can hear all kinds of important things.

I guess when I’m walking around the grocery store, I fall into a sort of culinary meditation, a trance-like state where I become like a kid in a candy store. Mouth agape, I pick up things, smell things, look closely at the spices and fruits. And my brain is quickly calculating whether anything in my pantry would taste good with this particular pear or with that ripe red tomato.

I listen to the people around me too. Being used to the high-pitched sound of my daughters voice, my ears perked up when I heard a similar voice nearby. Right next to me a child was begging for “rainbow” carrots–a beautiful bunch of golden, beet-red and orange carrots. I saw a few more moms and dads shopping with their kids and I heard their conversations clearly, “Dad, I want to try these tomatoes, please.”

I was so taken by these little ones who were so interested in the fresh produce section. It was such a departure from what I am used to hearing in the store–the frantic scurry to find the sweetest, most colorful boxed snack or lunch item. I smiled to myself and wondered if perhaps the vegetables were talking to them too?

Popularity: 1% [?]

Email This Post | Permalink | Trackbacks (0)

Meet Sukie: A Q&A With Darrell and Julia Gibbs

Darrell and Julia are the creative folks behind one of my favorite Chronicle stationery lines, Sukie. We’ve published a number of great products with Darrell and Julia including Sukie Sticky Notes, the Sukie Box of Labels, and Sukie Correspondence Cards. Soon we will be releasing three new products with this prolific duo, Sukie Mix & Match Stationery, the Sukie Perpetual Calendar (both available at the end of August), and the awesome Sukie Craft Pad which will be available in October.

Here they are, answering a few questions.

Sukie: Darrell and Julia Gibbs

Names:

Darrell and Julia Gibbs

Location?

Brighton - UK

How did you end up there?

We meet at art college here and after spending a few years in London returned.

Where are you from?

Darrell is from Broxbourne and Julia is from Watford – both just out side London

How long has Sukie been around?

8 years!

Where did the name Sukie come from?

Sukie was Julia’s cat when she was a little girl.

Favorite (Chronicle) product(s) you’ve worked on?

The Stationery Box is beautiful and quite classy for us! I loved doing the Correspondence Cards as the characters were fun to do.

Favorite (non-Chronicle) product(s) you’ve created?

The new Sukie Agenda is cool and the Junior Travel Journal and Scrap Book are our newest items so we like them. We have always loved our first product – the Rescued Paper Notebook.

What are you currently excited to be creating?

2 new textile patterns, which will be repeat patterns on organic cotton

Favorite artists?

Robin and Lucienne Day
Eames
Josef Frank
Bill Traylor
Olle Eksell
Alexander Girard

Who/what are your biggest influences?

Nature, Traveling, ephemera, vernacular design, flea markets

How do those influences shape your work?

Nature – endless subject matter
traveling – makes you look at familiar things in a fresh way
ephemera - colors, printing and papers
vernacular design – composition and typefaces
flea markets – old notebooks and old stuff that inspire.

What is necessary to your creative process?

I [Darrell] am always collecting things and buying the odd old book. When I get a chance I sit down in the studio with a pencil and paper and look through all my latest acquisitions and my resent ideas folders. From these I make lots of tiny sketch ideas, Julia and I then go through them to see which will be turned into new products.

Favorite blogs or websites?

Wonting
Jasper Goodall
eBay
Sanna Annukka
David Foldvari

Your playlist, so far, for 2008?

Tunng
Big Black
Some UK Dub Step
Mice Parade
Hot Chip
Elliot Smith
Murkof

Cheers,
Hannah Cox
Marketing Mananger

Popularity: 1% [?]

Email This Post | Permalink | Trackbacks (0)