Tag Archives: winter

Holiday Gift Wrap & Trimmings

by Erika Firm Posted on December 5, 2012

Gift Guide 2012 for Holiday Gift Wrap Ornaments TrimmingsI think Christmas shopping is super stressful. I REALLY don’t like crowds — the noise gives me migraines and all the people who shop with runny noses and hacking coughs make me crazy.  But I do really love wrapping gifts. I think it’s one of my favorite parts of the whole holiday season. Finding the right wrap and the right ribbon, with the oh so perfect embellishment is way more fun than shopping for the actual gift, in my opinion.

I’ve rounded up some of my favorite trimmings for a pretty package: 1. Knit owl, fox and bear ornaments 2. Silver deer, penguin and bear ornaments  3. Silver and Gold Washi tape 4. Faux wreath — a perfect canvas  5. Beautiful velvet ribbon  6. Brown baker’s twine  7. Winter scene wrapping paper  8. Woody with Christmas tree ornament  9. Bottle brush trees  10.  Owl on Branch Christmas ornaments  11. Mirrored letter ornaments

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Gifts for the Designerd

by Erika Firm Posted on November 29, 2012

Christmas Gifts for the Design Nerd Designerd via Delphine 2012Hey Santa, here are a few Christmas gift ideas for the designerd on your list.

1. Fonts from Myfonts.com because we can never (ever) have enough fonts  2. A big To Do notepad from KnockKnock because our work is never (ever) done  3. Day of the week washi tape so we can accessorize our day planner  4. A stripey Baggu bag for carrying all our art supplies  5. Cute colored pencils for sketching on the go  6. Rainbow of nail polish because just one color is boring  7. Let’s Make Some Great Art book to help bust through creative block  8. YSL lipstick to make us presentable for meetings  9. a FUNctional birdie letter opener for our desk   10. Warby Parker prescription sunglasses for looking cool at all times  11. Fancy sparkly feather bracelet with rope closure, so it doesn’t clack against the keyboard  12. a custom return address rubber stamp from Delphine for the love of snail mail  13. A Pantone Christmas ornament in a favorite color (PMS 377)  14. Mom Inc. book for brushing up on being a fabulous entrepreneur  15. A vintage typewriter in a fun color (preferably green). 

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Wine and Cheese

by Erika Firm Posted on November 2, 2012

wine and cheese party via delphine

 

Chilly weather is the perfect time for casual get togethers with neighbors and friends. My parents are the ultimate hosts, and they taught me to always have some cheese, wine and crackers in the kitchen, so as to be prepared for guests at any time. The tip has served me well, and I’m looking forward to lots of impromptu happy hours at my place with my neighbors this winter.

Right now I use an old wood cutting board for serving, but it’s old in a scary did-you-find-that-in-a-dumpster way, not in a that-must-be-from-a-turn-of-the-century-estate-sale kind of way. I’d love to have a fancy slate board or a pretty wood serving paddle so I can serve in style (holiday elves, are you listening?). Also on my wish list is the darling juice glass caddy from Bixby & Ball — I’d use it for dips, cornichons, and olives.

Entertaining wish list, clockwise from Crate & Barrel Slate Board / Crate & Barrel Cheese Tool Set / Northern Natives Numbered Wood Coasters via Etsy / Yummy Saxelby Cheesmongers Choice / Orange & Pear Rams Head Knife Set / Crate & Barrel Acacia tree slice serving platter / West Elm Raw Wood Board /Bixby & Ball Juice Glass Caddy

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week in review: january 24 2011

by Erika Firm Posted on January 28, 2011

I can’t believe it’s Friday already. The week was a bit of a blur, as I’m recovering from a double whammie of a painful kidney infection AND a cold (and allergies to my beloved mimosas, which are in bloom on our property now … so I guess technically it’s a triple whammie). But work in the studio went on …

In case you missed it, here’s what happened on the blog this week:

• I shared the final post about our son’s Root Beer Kegger 7th Birthday party (promise I’m done chatting about that now). 

• Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and I laid out the perfect Valentine’s Day date outfit (now if only I could convince  my husband to take me on a date!)

• I shared images of one of my very favorite graphic design projects of all time: seed packet packaging designs for Isabella Smith. This project was a joy to work on!

• Christian Dior inspired me with some truly fantabulous gowns. So dreamy!

• Kathy and I started working on plans for North County Graphic Design (NCGD) for 2011. I’m super excited about what we have in store for the year! If you’re interested in helping out, joining, or just have suggestions please comment or contact me directly : )

This weekend there will be mad work done on the Delphine website, so if something is buggy please let us know. We’re adding new designs all the time — to spot them first check out the Save the Date section of the site. I’m most excited about making Valentine’s Day cards with my first grader. He’s not fired up about it, even though I promised glitter, glue, scissors, pretty papers and doilies. I have a feeling I will be doing all the crafting. Any ideas on how to get a 7 year old boy excited about Valentine’s Day? He’s supposed to make 20 cards for his classmates, and I have a feeling I may need to resort to bribery (candy).

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inspired by: christian dior spring 2011 couture

by Erika Firm Posted on January 26, 2011

I’m feeling inspired by these ethereal looks by John Galliano for Christian Dior (from the Spring 2011 couture runway show). I love the pretty forties vibe, and think these gowns would make amazing wedding dresses. I can totally see the third one (far right) at a fancy, formal winter wedding in Aspen — perhaps with some leather boots (for the outdoor ceremony, and a sexy pair of nude sandals for the reception), a bouquet of lily-of-the valley, and an uber-handsome royal groom (tall, dark, handsome, foreign). I see a horse drawn sled ride to the ceremony, and lots and lots of champagne cocktails.

Visit Style.com to see the full runway report and a slide show with lots more photos. Photos: Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.com

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snow and graham and garnet hill partner

by Erika Firm Posted on October 18, 2010

I was thrilled to see that fellow stationers Snow and Graham have branched out beyond paper and have partnered with Garnet Hill. Love that Zinnia cardigan! Check out their collection of clothes, bedding and other goodies at Garnet Hill. Congrats, Snow & Graham and Garnet Hill, on a wonderful new partnership!

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holiday freakout

by Erika Firm Posted on October 26, 2009

photo: delphine

Christmas is roughly eight weeks away. It’s giving me minor heart palpitations just thinking about it. Shopping, packaging, organizing, planning, cooking, baking, shipping, tights, playing Santa, baking more, Christmas cards, lines, deadlines, dressing up, parties … PANIC. Last year I felt really into the holidays early on. This year the thought of a cookie exchange fills me with dread. What can I do to get into the holiday spirit? Right now I just want to climb into a gopher hole and emerge after Valentine’s Day! Do you ever feel like you just don’t have time for the holidays?

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holiday craftiness

by Erika Firm Posted on December 15, 2008

december craftiness


So far this month I have made turkey pot pie with leftover Thanksgiving turkey, glittered holiday ornaments, braved the Target toy aisles with my almost-five-year-old’s list in hand, packaged holiday goodies for the Etsy shop, wrapped and shipped gifts, sent holiday cards, made homemade bath scrubs, and, just yesterday, baked cookies with girlfriends.

december coping mechanism


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sweet treat: spicy hot cocoa

by Erika Firm Posted on December 9, 2008

spicy maya hot chocolate by chuao


It’s ridiculous how much I love this Spicy Maya hot chocolate by local (San Diego) chocolatier Chuao. It’s seriously spicy: pasilla chiles, cayenne pepper and cinnamon are all blended in with the chocolate. They have another yummy flavor, Winter, that is almost as delicious (and is preferred by my husband and son, who don’t like spicy stuff). It blends bittersweet chocolate with ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and pepper. Dreamy is right next door to a Chuao store, and I have NO IDEA how those girls stay so thin because I’d be pigging out on these chocolates every day and washing them down with a hot cocoa!

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holiday gift wrap rejects

by Erika Firm Posted on September 19, 2008

cardinal and pine cone holiday wrapping paper designs by delphine ©2008

quail holiday wrapping paper designs by delphine ©2008


This year I had two major “wish I could print” goals: a letterpress calendar (done! check it out here) and gift wrap. While delphine won’t be releasing any wrap in time for the holidays this year, I DID design some for a client who will be using it in their stores in Denmark. Above are two rejected designs. After it has been printed I will post photos of the final product.

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