happy hale*days 09: mele roundup

big storms seem to be pounding both sides of the pacific today so cozy up with a toasty mug of cocoa and enjoy a little roundup of merry finds from hawaii and beyond designed to delight your december with the xmas spirit!

1 - heather brown's charming peace bird ($20/set) is a budget-friendly way to share a peek of the local artist's work.

2 - tina from joie studio tipped me off on these mele kalikimaka wishes ($16.50/set) by fugu fugu press, pasadena letterpress friends who swoon for a permanent island holiday.

3 - dress up your bulletin board with xmas magnets ($2 each) featuring kat uno designs' adorable reindeer, cheery santas, and sweetly snarky gingerbread (available at alliway).

4 - 100% recycled notes printed with soy-based inks is just one reason why my favorite peeps found norie & lee's sweet surfing buddies ($9/set) in their mailbox last year.

5 - vertallee letterpress wraps xmas lights around balmy palm trees to send faraway friends wishes for a hot holiday ($16/set)

6 - bvik ink from san diego offers up a swell santa ($20/set) letterpressed with folksy charm.

7 - seaworthy silhouettes compose portland-based kapuanani designs' carefully constructed xmas tree cards ($12/set) printed with aloha on 100% recycled cards.

8 - mele kalikimaka stickers ($12/set) by kauai's simply embellish can be customized to adorn gifts or holiday cards.

9 - nix the paper wrap and give cheer ($10) via chewing the cud's reusable eco-friendly furoshiki wraps printed on organic cotton.

10 - hand appliquéd pineapples add an island pop to arcadia home's felt tree skirt ($180).

11 - dimmalimm's hibiscus slip-on coasters ($24/set) i.d. wine glasses and protect your tabletops with a hint of tropical cheer during holiday bashes.

halloween treats roundup

with halloween just nine days away, it seems like the perfect time for a sweet roundup of delightful treats (no tricks!) handpicked for your enjoyment!

1 - ravenchase returns to the streets of honolulu and is recruiting agents for its zombie elimination task force to crush the undead invasion (tix: $35) expected next weekend.

2/3 - trick out goodie bags with niko art's spooky stamp set ($18) and simply embellish's personalized halloween labels ($6).

4 - dress up your tiny hula girl in a sweet tutu ($22) handmade by hilo's palm tree princess.

5 - maui jewelry artist kira ferrer mixes black onyx and sterling silver to create her along came a spider pendant ($52).

6 - keep track of your candy stash with whimsical arach notes ($3) made by our friends at toast.

7 - glam it up all autumn long with a juicy triple stand of carnelian gemstones ($275) by stacey lee designs.

p.s. you can also order up gourmet halloween candy cheesecakes at ottocake in chinatown or stop by sweet paradise chocolatier (kailua & waikoloa) for seasonal artisanal confections like creepy chocolate fingers, pumpkin spice truffles, and green fairie absinthe chocolates.

sweet nothings roundup

with valentine's on the calendar for next weekend, enjoy a show and tell of lovely goods to add a little sweetness to your day!

1 - maui jewelry designer kira ferrer hand stamps a secret message in the you are loved sterling bangle.

2 - delight your keiki with the crochet cuteness of berrysprite's red velvet cupcake.

3 - simply embellish's valentine note set asks to be sealed with a kiss.

4 - champagne toasts get some extra sparkle via space moderne's handcrafted wine tote.

5 - decorate your love nest with lisa brodinski's sweetly titled photographic blossom.

6 - honolulu jewelry designer stacey lee's pink tourmaline drops dazzle with glittering gold leaves.

7 - sweet love tags by simply embellish perk up valentine treat bags.

8 - indulge in gourmet cheesecake bites without waiting to be buzzed to your table.

9 - lilikoi fruit tints honolulu cookie company's yummy chocolate dipped shortbread hearts.

10 - design lovely turns the traditional valentine into a hawaiian love note (print your own here).

11 - craft your own st. valentine's surprise with a swath of denyse schmidt's county fair fabric (the pear tulip medallion is a pretty hawaiian quilt dopplegänger).

12 - style your sweetheart in a long sleeved aloha shirt from sig zane.

13 - candy grams go gourmet compliments of sweet paradise chocolatier's handmade confections.

14 - for the family man - anje design's engraved washers keeps your 'ohana close to his heart.

15 - warm island wood inlays offset sturdy metal in hawaiian titanium rings handcrafted tribal collection.

simply embellish designs

2009 botanical wall calendar

today's etsy find is the lovely handmade paper goods line created by designer karen perreira of simply embellish. the shop is stocked with a mix of stylish stationary with a contemporary flourish and i suspect many offerings will find their way to the gift list of readers on the hunt for budget-friendly holiday surprises.

the 2009 calendar ($15) is a double design fix helping you track your days while adding a splash of color to your office space. it's also a fabulous stocking stuffer for those hard to shop for gifts - teachers, co-workers, hostess, etc. holiday greetings get a modern update (many card sets thoughtfully include return address labels to help you avoid hand cramps and the monotony of jotting down your details over and over again) while personalized sticker packs (loving the surfer design!) pretty up everything from snail mail to homemade treats.

surfer * tomato * monogram * mod trees

and, if you require something special, you will be happy to know that custom orders are welcome - simply convo karen for details.

click over to the simply embellish etsy shop to take a peek at the entire collection!

p.s. karen also keeps a blog which serves as an online inspiration board filled with fabulous indie finds.