island crush: pacific impressions

happy may day wherever you may be! my love affair with vintage maps has been well documented on h|h along with my paper crush on pretty letterpress goods. so you can imagine my delight when i happened across the loveliest letterpress map featuring the hawaiian islands.

and it's printed in turquoise ink!

{sigh}

the etsy shop of quail lane press woos with hand drawn illustrations of seaside locales (the lost art of cartography just happens to be a hobby of the designer) impressed on a vintage vandercook press. each print is then carefully tinted with watercolor for an extra helping of handmade sweetness.

limited edition and only 75 will be printed so hele over to peek our part of the pacific in all its glory.

$45 online.

p.s. a chocolate print is also offered if you prefer a more subdued design.

island pride roundup

most of my blog time of late has been spent behind-the-scenes in an attempt to organize the random collections of possibilities stashed in my online and paper notes. happily, one such scribble prompted me to gather up a few pretty finds so you can wear your island pride with lovely abandon.

let's embark on an impromptu island hop, shall we?

1 - s.o.y. jewelry coaxes golden wire into simple and embellished pairs of b.i.g. earrings.

2 - kris nations charms with recycled metal meticulously cut to help you embrace your state pride.

3 - a single diamond marks your favorite surf break in maya brenner's golden outline of the hawaiian islands.

4 - island sparkle by kai ea can be customized to represent your hometown with a perfectly placed gem.

more to adore after the jump!

5 - oahu represents the 808 with rachael sudlow's handcut sterling silver pendant.

6 - graphic designer ashley johnston mingles typography and cartography with delightful totes and prints mapping out kaua'i and maui neighborhoods.

7 - souvenirs and sundries will be kept tidy when a hawaii maptote is kept in your carryon.

8 - tiffany chou's understated island charms are made to linger around your neck or wrist.

p.s. select styles may be offered in other islands so do ask the maker if you covet a design.

island crush: poster pop

a little design love for your aloha friday!

nick from everything is jake! recently printed up the very fun aloha 'aina series filled with cheery island pop destined to brighten up blank walls.

the foursome features happy hints of island delights: the iconic big waves surfed on oahu, the wintering whales off maui's shores, the sweet country life embraced on kaua'i, and the breathtaking adventures awaiting on the big island.

currently sold as a set which can be purchased in the etsy shop.

p.s. you can now find select EIJ! prints over at the greenroom gallery in beautiful waikiki.

beach reads: the descendants (& a giveaway!)

my mister and i finally escaped to our neighborhood movie house to watch the descendants on what turned into a blustery winter day here on the mainland. dear hawaii, your breathtaking beauty certainly shined on the big screen . . . a lush love note to our island home!

the story, if you have yet to page through the debut novel by kaui hart hemmings, juxtaposes two life changing scenarios - the impending sale of a land trust inherited by the ancestors of a hawaiian princess and her banker husband while the 21st century branch of the king 'ohana (a.k.a. the clooney clan if the movie trailer is your only introduction to this unconventional tale) deals with the agonizing wait of losing their adventure-seeking first lady who traded her heart to a secret sweetheart.

cue sticky predicaments.

read on for more love for the descendants + giveaway details after the jump!

Click to read more ...

kisses from kaua'i

lisa from bungalow 9 just shared the newest addition to her design shop's print collection!

i love you from here to kauai is an especially sweet notion for homesick kama'aina and faraway loves of the garden isle.

offered in five colors and sized to fit standard issue frames.

$42 in-store (phone & email orders welcome).