When I travel, the first places I (and most everyone else I know) usually hit up are the local hardware stores, supermarkets, stationery shops and probably a pharmacy or two. Alisa Grifo, the proprietor of the much-beloved NYC shop Kiosk, manages to recreate this oft rewarding pursuit through a series of curated country-specific shows. I bought these Japanese clips at her store when it first opened. And while I have never been to Japan (how is this possible??) at least I get to gaze upon these fasteners daily. I know I should use them, but I can’t bear to break up the happy family.

My friend and all-time favorite librarian, Sue, gave me this book one day not too long ago. As soon as I opened it up I was overcome by a rush of tender memories. I loved that little bunny and his independence. He made me want to escape into the forest and live in the hollow of a tree. Such a good present!

I wish I could remember where I first came across Andrew Bush’s envelope project. It might have been at An Ambitious Project Collapsing –one of my favorite favorite blogs!  And, in fact, I do believe that is the case. No matter, I had to look through ALL of the photographs. I like that we, as a culture, can be identified and even defined by such a quotidian object. One can easily pick out the envelopes that originated here in the US versus those from other parts.