Happy Birthday!!

{Image courtesy of Veer}

Today is my dad's 70th birthday. You would never know it. It's shocking, really, that the man is 70. Saturday was his younger brother's birthday. Both of them are at an age & stage that if they want or need something, they buy it. So, what's a girl to do for their special day??

Why, make them stationery of course!

{Ta-da!}

I've just tried out a new online printer with my fab Ahoy cards. The results are perfect so I boxed them up for Pops & my uncle, pairing them with colored envelopes this time, instead of my usual envelope liners. All of my family members have a love for 2 things - sailing & horses - so I know these will be a hit.

Thoughts?? Me likey.

The Future Looks Bright!

{photo from Kim Last}

This necklace is the creation of Kim Last, a fellow Etsy seller & also a fellow member of the NYC Metro Etsy team, the New New. I want it! Must. Have. It.

How freakin' cool is a sterling silver fortune cookie? In my book, very cool.

Cards of the week - Purple!!

TGIF!! Don't know about you but this week FLEW by for me. My to-do list feels like it has barely been touched although I've been checking things off left & right.

Hello? Time? For the love of Pete, slow down!!

This week we look at cards that are purple! It's an elegant color...

...like in these. They. Are. Beautiful!! These Itlaian Violet Mini Cards & Envelopes are by Pikake Press in Hawaii.

These are cool & clean - Name in Lights Note Cards by Dots And Dahlias. You can have them made in other colors, but I love the soft touch of the purple on the white card. If I were placing this order, I would totally go with this Thistle ink color, but maybe a peacock envelope. Snappy!!

Last but not least, a different take on monograms - and I post about monograms all the time, don't I? These cards - Custom Monogrammed Embroidered Note Cards by Classically Taylored - are REALLY embroidered! Great way to add texture to the card. There are several monogram options & backgrounds for the card. I LOVE this item!

What do you think? Are you feeling any of my picks this week? Next week will wrap up March & our month of color-themed posts. I better pull out the box of crayons & figure out what I haven't covered...

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Farewell Elizabeth Taylor...

2 of my favorite movies of all time starred Elizabeth Taylor. {sigh}...

Cards of the week - Blue

It's Friday, so that means it's time for Cards of the Week. Today I'm all about blue. Kind of reflecting my mood today. Calm, but a bit bummed out. Can't really put my finger on why...

This is Skyline - a really fun letterpress card from Paper Source. I think this is a cool, flat card. There is a picture in my head of who sends this card - someone chic, who always knows a cool, laidback place to get well-made cocktails.


This one, Chinoiserie Navy, from Boatman Geller is also chic, but in a different way. In my head the person sending this has a gin & soda in one hand, their Sperry Topsiders in the other, a copy of The Preppy Handbook on the table. Not overly preppy, just great taste!

Lastly this week, another from Paper Source, called Lake Dots. This reminds me of the song Yellow Polka Dot bikini...just in blue. It feels more retro than preppy due to the size & organization of the dots. It's kind of hypnotic...

Running out the door! Have a great weekend all!!

St. Patrick's Day - Get Your Green!

{image from Cafe Press}

I think of 2 things when it comes to St. Patrick's Day:

1. Where are we drinking...err...celebrating?
2. What am I wearing?

Question number 1 is almost as important as question number 2. I have several St. Paddy's Day stories about that. Picking your celebration spot is important but I will leave those tales to the foggy memories of the peeps that remember what I'm talking about...

This post is about question number 2. The answer to which remains unsought about by many, until the last minute. Or until they are viciously pinched by some St. Paddy's Day smarty pants.

I have a solution for you! Instead of swearing that you are wearing green underpants (which said smarty pants will ask you to prove) download the jpeg below. Print it on sticker paper or tape it to your person & tell that smarty pants what to do with his or her shamrocks.



What are you guys wearing this year? And how are you celebrating? Anyone going to Savannah, Boston or Dublin? Pub crawl? This year NYC is having it's 250th St. Patrick's Day parade. There will be plenty of "Erin Go Bragh" around the 5 boroughs tomorrow. Where ever you are, I hope the green beer & luck of the Irish are flowing!

Beannachtaí na Féile Páraic oraibh!
{Translation: St. Patrick's Day blessing upon you! More fun sayings here.}

PS I plan on making freebies a regular thing here on the blog, so check back often for the offerings. They will also live here on the K. Batty Design & Stationery website. Last year, I posted bookplates & have all kinds of printables planned for the coming months.

In Very Good Company

At first I was really flattered to be included in the Paper N' Stitch exhibition this month. But, after browsing the shops of my fellow exhibitors, I am OVER THE MOON about being included. This is a very talented bunch! Here are a few of my faves...

Maureen Mae has a handmade jewelry shop that has my head spinning. Her charms are all really cool & it is tough to pick a favorite. I would love to have this necklace - maybe one charm with my husband's name & the other my dog's...since we don't have kids...yet...



Laura Trevey has AMAZING watercolor prints in her shop. All sizes, all subjects. These are two of my favorites, but she also has a tropical watercolor that takes me back to Barbados. There is also an amazing lobster on her Etsy shop. Check out the Emerald Green Dresses here and the Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab here.



Mengsel is a great shop full of graphic & colorful silkscreen prints for any room in your home, by Luzelle van der Westhuizen. I chose to feature these two prints because they would fit in at Chez Batty {see them here and here}. We definitely have a theme going here...but I also loved their red print of coffee makers. Over on her Etsy shop, browse her tea towels & handbags. Fabulous!

This is just SOME of the shops I can call company this month over at Paper N' Stitch. Check them all out here. Many of the shops are having sales or promotions for PNS readers. Including me!! Sale ends Monday at 5pm - don't miss it!

Cards of the week - Rrrrrrrrrrred!

Where does the week go? Really, it is Friday already? Gees...

Cards of the week this week are in RED!! In the past I have worn red A LOT, though I have to admit I've been a bit off it for a while. Still. Nothing perks me up like red. It is the color of so many things - confidence, anger, love...in this first card, it evokes laughter...

Maybe this is giving away too much about my sense of humor but I laughed out loud when I read this card from Kate's Paperie. The huge red circle around the booger-picker on the card there drew my eye straight to it on the Kate's greeting card page. {Spoiler alert to my BFF...you will probably see this in the mail for your bday.}


Lovely letterpress card here from Aloha Letterpress in Hawaii. Elegant, simple, classic. Plus, the red envelope really adds a nice finish to the look.

This is Anna Personalized Stationery from Minted.com designer Jana Volfova. Cute, well done illustration on the front of these flat note cards. The red really pops against the blue. LOOOOOOOOVE the back. Especially because it comes in a white envelope so you get this POW of color when you get to the card inside. Great mix of color & design! The item description says they are for children, but I think they would be fun & quirky for any age.
Last but NEVER least is this set from Kate Spade. On the website, the item title lists these as notecards, but the item description calls them notebooks. Hmmmm...whomever is writing Kate's website may have had one too many well-poured martinis when they were putting this item together. Either way, I still love the design & would be excited to pull this out of my bag to take notes in & write down ideas. They would also be exciting to open in the mail, so whatever they are, they are super fun.

How are you feeling about red? Did it cheer you up? Are you throwing things now? What are your favorite colors? Let me know, dear readers! We have a few weeks of color month left to go & I want to make sure I'm writing about things you are interested in. Leave comments!!

And have a great weekend! Next week I have a fun freebie for you to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

K. Batty on Paper N Stitch

Happy Monday!!

Today launched the new exhibition over at Paper N Stitch & guess who is in it?? Did the title give you a clue? 'Cause it's me!

{the K. Batty exhibition space}

Paper N Stitch {PNS} is curated by Brittni Mehlhoff & has been featured in many national publications, on & offline, for its finds. Above is the K. Batty shop site on PNS. Some of the shops thank you notes were also featured on the front page of the site today!

{high 5!! Look at the press!}

****As a way to kick of my month's residence at Paper N Stitch, I am offering all PNS readers 10% off for the next 7 days. That is today through next Monday evening (3/14) at 5pm.***

Head over to the K. Batty page on Paper N Stitch to see the featured products & get your coupon code. Also, check out the rest of the current exhibition here.

Hope today was a great kick off to a fabulous week!

Cards of the week - Green!

Last night I had a crazy dream. Everything was mustard yellow. Odd but I took it as sign from my subconscious.

This month each Card of the Week post will revolve around a color! And because St. Patrick's Day will be here before you can say "leprechaun" we'll start with green.

Love the type treatment on this card from Itsy Bitsy Paper. And! The matching envelopes, which are a little extra, really complete the look. Very nice!


Look at all these greens! Delightfully Noted has created a fun & festive St. Patrick's Day card.


How about these traditional cards from The Zesty Desk? They can be sent for any reason (or none at all!) & would be great for kids. Teach those young 'uns to write thank yous!


Have a great weekend!!!