Knock Knock + J. Crew Gift Ideas

Be still my heart. There is another wonderful collaboration happening in the world of paper goods.

I have a semi-serious J. Crew obsession. It is taking over my closet. And I also really love Knock Knock stuff. For example, this Bar Bingo game my dad recently sent me in the mail, and the Pack This! pad I literally use EVERY single time I pack for a trip (err to procrastinate packing for a trip).

So clearly when I read on the Knock Knock blog that their new custom line for J. Crew was out, I was pretty pleased. You can see the full set of new fun things over in their post, but I've decided to pull a few and bundle them together with J. Crew goodies. I think together, you could put together some great gift packages or stocking stuffers. Because holidays.

1 On-the-Go Game Pad // 2 & 3 Neon hair ties // 4 Gifts to Get Jumbo Sticky Notes // 5 Metallic Wallet Case for iPhone 4/4s

6 Holiday Rotating Stamp // 7 Jeweled Leather gloves // 8 Drake's Classic Dot Scarf // 9 Pocket Umbrella

10 Dear Santa notepad // 11 Ceramic Jewelry Tray // 12 Triple C Amplifier Egg for iPhone // 13 Etched Enamel Bangle
// 14 Nars Satin Lip Pencil // 15 The Lip Slip // 16 Colorblock Leather Magic Wallet // 17 Colorblock Leather Pouch

All of the beautiful colors!

See all of the Knock Knock J. Crew line here.

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some of my favorite Knock Knock bookmarks

notebooks from J. Crew

a made-up book called Holiday

literary love from Kate Spade

Puffin Chalk covers by Dana Tanamachi: Peter Pan

Even if you don't know Dana Tanamachi by name, you've likely seen her beautiful chalk work around lately. Her chalk lettering has been featured on book covers, in Nike ads, on skateboards, on magazine covers and honestly the list is becoming endless. Her work has also inspired a huge trend in chalk lettering in the typography and design world.

Clearly, I'm a fan.

So you can imagine the pure joy I felt while I was looking for a copy of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan with a semi-decent cover and found THIS beauty:

Peter Pan is one of three Puffin Classics Dana covered for a new mini-series, Puffin Chalk.

I also love this bright blue that pops out at you when you open the book.

The quest to find a decent, modern copy of Peter Pan to read was inspired by a Storybook Poster that hangs above my desk. It reads, "We should have to go on, for we don't know how to stop."

Here's to staying young.

You can learn more about Dana and see the large variety of her work at TanamachiStudio.com.

{ all images mine, except book trio courtesy of TanamachiStudio.com }

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a story on This American Life about a Peter Pan production that made me laugh out loud

another chalked up cover

more beautiful children's books

Fall Reads treasury collection on Etsy

I had so much fun making this Literary Gold Treasury List on Etsy, I've now become addicted. Instead of getting any chores done today, I made a Fall Reads Treasury List. Here's a quick preview:

To see the rest of the list, visit it on Etsy, or view the Fall Reads pin board I created.

P.S. Visit my Etsy shop!

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more Etsy love

a book I find myself recommending a LOT lately

a little late for Halloween, but I still love this book

The Windows Reflect Everything from 826Chi

Before I moved to Seattle, I volunteered with 826 Chicago as an in-school tutor. We would visit Golder College Prep once a week and work with a junior english class on their research and journalism skills. (I kind of blogged about this for my old job)

It was awesome. These kids wrote some crazy stories.

And now, the book of their stories is out! The Windows Reflect Everything is also just really beautiful. And the cover is incredibly soft. Like, you just want to hold it all day.

Book and cover design by Blank is the New Black, aka Thomas Quinn. You may recognize a few of the typefaces from Lost Type Co-op, which I love.

I also think the "reflected" numbers on the right side pages are a nice touch.

I now volunteer with 826 Seattle in their Greenwood Space Travel Supply, Co. store. Learn more about: 826's national chapters // 826 Seattle // 826 Chicago

The Windows Reflect Everything is available at The Boring Store and also online from Quimby's.

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more love for 826

learn about the Chicago Underground Library

McDonalds introduces Happy Meal Books

Well, this is interesting.

McDonalds is now putting books into their Happy Meals. Through a partnership with Reading is Fundamental (RIF), McDonalds claims it will be distributing more than 20 million books through the new initiative.

As a little girl who was pretty sick of collecting weird tiny barbies, I can say I appreciate this as an adult.

Although I am not the biggest fan of McDonalds being such a large presence in the food world, I do have to say I'm impressed by this. Putting a book into a child's hands is always a good thing.

The books are also available to download, for free, on their website.

What do you think about this initiative? Do you think it will last? Does it change how you feel about the fast food empire?

(photos via McDonalds.com and Twitter)