Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Classy People™Cards - Artwork by Alice Hinther

Mother’s Day is right around the corner.  We’ve made it easy for you to find a memorable gift with these terrific ideas.

You can never go wrong with a personalized greeting. Choose from several of these clever and humorous cards from the Classy People™

card line.

For the Mom on the Go

Travel Mug

Choose from a wide array of vibrant images. Each mug holds a generous 16oz serving. Our Thermal Travel Mugs have a secure travel lid, and a stainless steel interior ensuring that her drink is piping hot or arctic cold throughout the day while she’s in or out of the office.

Travel Mugs - Artwork by Nel Whatmore
and Louise Cunningham

Slim Journal - Artwork by Nel Whatmore

Slim Journal

This hard cover journal’s compact size makes it perfect for taking on the go. A glossy finish, adding shine and texture, enhances the vivid cover artwork. Details we love are the 176 lined pages, a handy magnetic clasp and a ribbon bookmark.

Mouse Pad Planner - Artwork by Nel Whatmore

For the Tech
Savvy Mama

Mouse Pad Planner

Add something pretty amongst all of the high tech products she currently owns. These 55 sheet Mouse Pad Planners will compliment any work environment. It features a perpetual date pad with lots of room for notes, as well as a non-slip backer.

Stoneware Mug - Artwork by Nel Whatmore

For the Calm and Collected Mommy

Stoneware Mug

She won’t want to miss her morning coffee in these stunningly colourful mugs. Each Stoneware Mug holds a generous 16 oz serving of her favourite beverage.

Tea-for-One

These tea-for-one sets are sure to put a smile on her face. They are so cute and each set comes with an inspiring message such as “A family is nature’s masterpiece,” “Cherish forever what makes you unique,” and “Take time to enjoy the little things.” Its hard to choose a favourite!

Tea-for-One - Artwork by Amanda Hillier

Hopefully these ideas have helped you out and if not… Just remember to show your mom just how much she means to you. As long as she feels loved and appreciated that’s all that matters.  

Organize in Style

If chaos is overpowering your life leaving you feeling messy and overwhelmed as a result, its time to get organized! Being organized takes time but with these tips and tricks life can become much easier.

Tip # 1 - Use a Calendar

Obtain a calendar and put it in a place where you see it every day during the mornings. Try to keep your calendar close at hand when sorting through papers. You’ll find that you can file or even toss announcements for an event if it’s recorded on your calendar. Calendars can remind you to do things on time and there’s no need to rely on stacks of documents.

2014 Bold and Beautiful Desk Calendar by Nel Whatmore

Spectrum Collection 2014 Planners

Tip # 2 – Use a Planner

Planners are especially useful if you have a lot of appointments and have trouble keeping track of your schedule on a day-to-day basis. It’s easy to carry a planner with you for frequent consultation. A bonus of having a planner is being able to fit more information! Take a peek at Pine Ridge Art’s Spectrum Collection 2014 Planners. For all of you fashionistas out there, several of the luxurious faux leather trendy colours such as Jade, Cobalt, Lemongrass, Persimmon and Brick Red are very similar to the featured colours found in Pantone’s Fall 2013 report. These planners contain 13 months including January 2015. Other features we love include a ribbon bookmark placeholder, an elastic ribbon for secure closure, and a memento pouch to use as an organized repository for papers, business cards, and receipts.

Spectrum Collection Journals

Tip # 3 – Write it Down

Anything and everything you need to remember should be written down. It’s a good idea to carry a journal and pen with you at all times in order to write things down as they come to you. Record, phone numbers, appointments, birthdays, shopping lists, and things to do, and record them where you can easily find and refer to them when you need it. Pine Ridge Art’s stylish Spectrum Collection Journals come with 192 pages of lined paper – perfect for taking notes. Take time to organize those receipts or store those tickets, photos and special keepsakes using the special pouch found on the back.  

Store those phone numbers using our upbeat and colourful address books featuring 12 alphabetic, laminated index tabs. This small binder easily adds or subtracts pages and its universal icons identify the contact information.

Spectrum Collection Address Books

Tip # 4 – Make Lists

Make a to do list for your day. Create a daily or immediate list, a to do list for the week and for the month. Need visual initiative to write those lists? Our vast array of list pads should help you out.

With a little time and perseverance you are well on your way to having that organized life. For more inspiration view our Pinterest board for office organization ideas including stationery and accessories.

Spring's Renewal

His paintings hang in many homes around the world. People who’ve met him are surprised at how humble and grounded he is. Perhaps this is because Mark Keathley is one of the brightest stars on the art world’s horizon. Everywhere he has gone, he has found great acceptance for his work.

When he was nineteen he attended a small one man show in his college art class and saw, for the first time, someone selling artwork. This was all it took for his renewed interest in painting. Mark was determined to learn more and painted for twelve to fourteen hours a day, six days a week! Within a year he found that many people were beginning to collect his work.

Clockwise from top left: Stoneware Mug, Slim Journal and Coasters

Pine Ridge Art features a variety of products with Mark’s “Spring’s Renewal” artwork. The second of the Seasons of Life series, this painting portrays that spring is a gentle reminder of the new life that comes after the cold and grey winter.

Click on the video below to hear what Mark has to say about this beautiful painting.

For more information on Mark’s work including Painting Workshops and Artwork demos, visit his website at www.markkeathley.com.

Laughing Out Loud!

Classy People™by Pine Ridge Art's clever greeting cards have struck a chord with customers and many local and national card and gift stores. Talented artist Alice Hinther has been featured in Ottawa at Home's Winter 2013 publication. Find out how it all started by clicking on the article below.

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Ottawa at Home
16 Feb 2013

Gourmet Dining at Home and the Art of the Coaster

How does your home cooking stack up against the fare at your favourite restaurant?  It seems that more and more people are asking themselves that question these days as tighter budgets put the pinch on those fancy dinners out.  Just like many of us are now indulging in “stay-cations” rather than pricey beach holidays, many people are challenging themselves to create a fine dining experience at home that’s high on taste and style, but easy on the wallet. 

This desire to wow guests and family members has turned into a bit of an obsession.  It seems like there is a constant supply of new recipes, ingredients, techniques and gadgets to try out, and not enough meals in the day to fit them all in.  And that’s just the food itself.  While great tasting food is always the main goal, budding foodies everywhere are also trying to replicate the style and ambiance of a fancy restaurant right in their dining rooms.  This emphasis on table top décor is an ongoing trend that shows no sign of stopping any time soon.  After slaving away in the kitchen, it can be a little discouraging to watch your family distractedly gulping down their dinners and scattering as soon as the plates are clean.  Using table top décor to set the stage of a meal turns an ordinary dinner into an experience that’s more likely to hold an eaters attention – at least long enough for the chef to collect his or her well deserved praise.  One table top item that’s experiencing a bit of resurgence lately is the humble coaster.

Coasters have long been used to protect furniture from unsightly heat and water marks.  In recent years however they’ve gone from practical necessity to stylish décor.  Coasters are now being used to accent table tops and come in a huge variety of colours, patterns and styles.  Unlike flatware or china, coasters are a fairly inexpensive item, and an easy way to change up dining room décor without blowing the budget.

I love the floral design above – the rich red background creates an elegant feel (and I just realized it matches my dining room walls perfectly!) 

I also love this fun and fresh Art Boutique design – perfect for freshening up a brightly lit breakfast nook where family can gather for a casual meal, or of course, protecting the coffee table in the family room. 

Both Pine Ridge Art and Art Boutique coasters are stain and heat resistant and feature non-slip cork backings.  These and many more designs are available now in-store and online at www.pineridgeart.com

Happy Dining from Pine Ridge Art!

Last Minute Gift Ideas from Pine Ridge Art

With only a week until Christmas, many of us are still scrambling to check those last few stubborn names off our list that just won’t seem to budge. One of the hardest groups of people to buy for, in my humble opinion, is men. They seem to have everything, or they don’t really want anything, or they want something but they’re not prepared to share this secret knowledge with anyone. And while it would be easier to just throw up our hands and give up, no one wants to see a disappointed Dad, or brother, or husband, and so we bravely struggle on in the epic quest to find that perfect gift.
Not to fear, Pine Ridge Art has the solution! Actually Giftware news recently pointed it out in their November Feature – “Guy Appeal”. What’s the perfect gift for any man? A Calendar of course!

It’s functional, simple, and everyone needs one going into the New Year. Giftware News focused on the desk calendar, which I agree is a wonderful gift, perfect for the home, office, den or anywhere else you need the date in view. I also think a wall calendar makes a great gift for a man...or a woman for that matter. Pine Ridge Art has 21 different 2011 calendars available, so you’re sure to find something to suit the person you have in mind. If you’re looking for a bit more of a substantial gift, you could get a wooden calendar frame like this

– big bonus here, your difficult-to-buy-for loved one will need a refill every year from now on, so that’s a pretty much permanent checkmark on your list.

Another last minute holiday gift idea that I love is this new bone china travel mug.

It’s perfect for that friend that’s always on the go, a beautiful teacher gift, and wonderful for a busy Mom. This design is perfect to give around the holidays – and you could even fill it with a package of gourmet hot chocolate or coffee for an added surprise. Plus, BONUS – it comes in its own gift box – so you can take a nap by the fire instead of wrapping until you have finger cramps.

My final last minute gift idea is fantastic for anyone who’s looking to add an element of surprise to their holiday gift giving. This Tin Christmas Ornament opens to reveal a hollow interior, perfect to tuck away a secret surprise. The lucky gift recipient will open the gift box (also included with the ornament – see my earlier comment RE: finger cramps) and find a beautiful ornament.  But imagine their excitement when they find a pair of earrings, a bracelet, or even (gasp.) an engagement ring! These are also perfect for hanging on the tree for Santa to fill up with treats; why not start a new family tradition?

All of these items are available at http://www.pineridgeart.com/, or check out your local retailers.
 
Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season!
 

Keep In Touch....

With the holidays starting to sneak up on us, I’m seeing visions of family gatherings, and get-togethers with friends.

It’s got me thinking about how important it is to keep in touch with the special people in our lives all year round, not just at the holidays. With work, and family, and every day chores, it can be difficult to keep up with all of the people in your life, but at least it’s a comfort to know that we’re all in the same boat. I know with my busy schedule, it’s so easy to lose track of time and suddenly realize I haven’t seen my niece since her birthday three months ago!

And technology doesn’t let us off the hook. Checking up on somebody’s facebook status every once in awhile isn’t the same thing as giving them a call, or better yet seeing them in person (quite a rarity these days). One habit I’m trying to get into is sending notes, and not the electronic kind, actual hand written notes – in the mail. This antiquated practice is actually experiencing a revival, as people of all ages and walks of life are yearning for real personal interaction. It takes a little more effort, but sending a hand written thank you note, congratulations, or an invitation can make a huge impression on someone, and really shows that you care.

Keeping a box of note cards like this handy can help you remember to send those little messages when an opportunity presents itself. These are great, because the box is so pretty, you won’t mind keeping them out in the open, where you’ll actually remember to use them (each box holds 12 cards, 12 envelopes, and 12 cute decorative seals).

If you need a way to keep track of all of those long forgotten mailing addresses, an address book like this  can help you get organized – now all that’s left is to start working on your penmanship – mine is terrible.

Happy Writing!
 
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It's All in the Details

Have you ever noticed that it’s the smallest details that make an event really come together? Little touches can add up to big impact, and impress your guests into thinking you’re a professional party planner! For example, I recently attended a “French Bistro” themed Bridal Shower. The hostess set up round folding tables with white table cloths in her back yard (all borrowed), and put a tiny vase with a single flower on each table. She strung up some white twinkle lights, and played some French sounding music, and voila – it was a living breathing Bistro, right in her backyard. The combined effect of those little, well thought out details made the event a smash hit, and the bride to be was thrilled!

One of my favourite, often overlooked details at any event is the guest book. All too often I see either no guestbook at all, or a plain white book paired with whatever pen happened to be lying around, and I can’t help but see a missed opportunity. Guest books are both a fantastic way to provide a great souvenir for whoever is being honored at an event, and a great way to add a surprise design element to your function. I’m very excited about some of our new guest books, and they’re so stylish, you could design a whole event around them.

I love this design by Jillian Phillips – perfect for a baby shower. Pile some apples in a bowl for a centerpiece, use lady bug invitations, and put up some green and light blue bows/streamers/balloons, and you’re done!

This design would be perfect for a spring, or even a fall wedding. The green and brown would make a beautiful and unique colour scheme, and you could even pull from the “two doves” motif for your invitation, cake topper or centerpieces. The guestbook and pen would add the final touch, and you end up with a unified event design that will leave your guests raving.

 Have you ever pulled from an accessory to create the design for an event? Let me know, I’d love to hear your ideas.

Remember – it’s the details that count! Join us on facebook and let’s keep the discussion going

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is coming - on Sunday May 9th, 2010.

Mother's Day is celebrated internationally - though not always on the same date in every country. The American/Canadian Mother's Day in May is now over 100 years old!

The first attempts at creating a day to celebrate mothers were in the 1880's. For the following years the event had some success and recognition in smaller communities, but it wasn't until 1908 that Anna Jarvis of West Virginia named the second Sunday in May "Mother's Day". Jarvis tirelessly promoted the day in honour of her own mother and in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson made it official.

Popular Mother's Day gifts include flowers, jewellery and greeting cards. In fact, sales from Mother's Day alone will account for over 8% of total jewellery sales in the US this year! We wonder if Mom could have too much jewellery by now? Perhaps it is time to change it up this year.

Pine Ridge Art offers a lot of great product that would suit Mother's Day. When we began writing this post, we weren't sure what product to recommend. Mothers are all different! So we decided to consider what we might do for our moms this year.

At left is our Photo Album Journal. Available in 10 themes, these journals hold photos and also offer space to write memories or notes at the foot of the page. We plan to gather up some of our favourite photographs of the family, place them in the album, and write a short memory or story to go along with it below the picture.

The albums holds 80 photos, so we think we'll leave the second half of the album blank, with the offer to continue to add to it over time - as more memories are made. The journals are archival quality and acid free so this would be a great memory book for years to come.

What are your plans for Mother's Day?

Product Spotlight: Mousepad Planners

Our mousepad planners have been a somewhat-unexpected hit. Though we, at the office, thought they were fantastic, we weren't sure if everyone out there in the world would agree. As it turns out, what we want for our desktops is no different from what everyone wants!

Mousepad planners are the solution that resulted from a simple complaint; "I have too much junky stuff all over my desk!" We sought to create a product that was both functional and beautiful, and most of all, that would lessen clutter. Our mousepad planners have 55 sheets of beautiful art-covered paper. These are sealed onto a foamy mousepad backer, so it adheres to the desktop just like a traditional mouse pad would. From there we decided to add a perpetual calendar - you just circle the month and day, et voila! You have the ultimate location for your jotted down notes, to-do lists and more.

Personally, I use mine to keep a priority list of things to do. I circle the month and day I wrote the list, so that I can keep an idea of how long those things have been top priority. It also serves as a scrap peice of paper if I need to jot down phone numbers or internet passwords. Best of all, it is always easy to find in a jiffy, since it sits right below my mouse!

Buy the "Deco Chic" design pictured above here if you are in Canada and here if you are in the US.