I am a thing for paper goods. One of the inspiring brands is Snow and Graham. I follow their progress for a while now.

Snow and Graham recently launched a new Web site. The new Web site is beautifully done but sadly they opt for an entire Flash site. It is hard to believe that brands still do that in this age of social community.

I can forgive them because Snow and Graham makes amazing products. As I laid my eyes on their catalogue, I was in awe. The patterns are stunning.

Snow and Graham produces beautiful calendars. I hang several big calendars at home and at the office. I am tired of the square box look with a picture on the top page. I will go for something different next year. Snow and Grahams calendar collection is lovely.

I adore their everyday letterpress cards. They have models for every occasion from birthdays, anniversaries to newborns, showers and congratulations.

Sidetracks

If you wonder why I do not like Flash sites from a users perspective, it is because you cannot bookmark a page. This means, I will lose time to find the info I am looking for the next time I need it. I cannot direct you to the proper link either. In their case, the exact same look and feel can be achieved with a CSS HTML Web site while using a Flash engine for their photo gallery.

If you wish for the best search engine optimized Web site or a site that people will want to visit often on their iPhone to show to their friends, opt for something else than a Flash Web site. Thats it for sharing my two cents in Web design. Old habits are hard to die; I used to be a Web designer.

Going Back To Paper Goods

I am also due for new noteBLOCKS. I guess I will be visiting Origami Plus on Greene Avenue in Westmount, Quebec pretty soon. I need to go in Westmount anyway to exchange a defective cake stand I bought at Zone for the Corn Roast Cupcakes.

Snow and Graham products are only available through retailers. Check their Web site to locate a store near you.

SOURCING:
+ Snow and Graham
Via Paper Shop Ink

This is my daily collection of noteworthy stuff that I saw online.

+ We had a big swimming pool when I was a kid so I am totally approve of the advice given by Apartment Therapy Los Angeles in their post May We Borrow Your Pool? One time, a girl that never spoke to me in school rang my door with her swimsuit. The rules apply to any events. Be a good guest and do not extend your stay.

+ If you are looking for fun birthday party favors, why not filled with candies a mini candy dispenser with scoop or give miniature classic gumball machines by Beau-coup. The double-decker mini candy bins are pretty cool. Via Style Me Pretty

+ The Industrial Hand is an intriguing black and white tableware collection designed by Heather Mae Erickson. Glossy and matte finishes plays against each other in an asymmetric pattern. The Appetizer Platter with 7 Slant Vessels (not shown) and the Cup, Spoons & Saucers on Tray have unique shapes. Via designboom

+ The Taka trunk at Crate & Barrel hides removable bottle dividers. That trunk conveys an old-world steamer trunk. It carries a Spanish mood. NOTCOT refers to it as Pirate Bar Coffee Table and I kind of agree.

+ Supplement the pirate bar decor with the impressive Felted Wool Stones by the talented South African textile designer Ronel Jordaan. They are now available at Viva Terra. I met Ronel two years ago when she came to SIDIM in Montreal. She explained her process to us. Her rock cushions look real and each one is unique since they are handmade. I have seen many lookalikes but Ronal Jordaans rock cushions are second to none.

As I was looking for calling card options, I discovered Iomoi, a small Californian brand that makes calling cards, address labels, stationery, invitations, coasters, paperweights, handmade Lucite trays, memo pads and more.

Iomoi also operates an e-stationery service based on a membership. But what I like is really their physical products.

You can select amongst 90 designs for your calling cards. Most designs are available for any products. You can buy one coaster, a pair or in a set of 4, 6 or 12 pieces.

The oval and dome paperweights are packaged in iomoi's signature brown box. A personalized paperweight makes a nice gift to someone that just got a promotion or opening a business.

SOURCING:
+ Navy Coakley Cay Dome Paperweight price: $68 USD
+ Circle Pattern Sky Coasters price: 4 for $95, other quantities available
+ Palm Beach Turtle Oval Paperweight price: $42 USD
+ Address Labels 120 for $42 USD
+ Yellow Pagoda Memo Pad price: $48 with tray and 250 sheets
+ Leaf Pattern Green Calling Card price: 50 for $68, 100 for $108
Via Absolutely Beautiful Things

Style Sheet, the blog of HGTV.ca, published my latest guest blogger post this morning.

I went on a hunt for three desk chairs that would look great in a home office.

I selected three styles that suit three budgets from home furniture stores across Canada. If you enjoy, leave a comment on Style Sheet.

If you wonder, I sit all day on an Aeron chair by Herman Miller. I felt for this icon ergonomics chair ten years ago. I feel that it is money well spent since I passed long hours at my desk.

Via Style Sheet

Originally tian refers to a classic ceramic gratin dish than is frequently used in French Provencal cuisine. With times, it moves to what was inside the dish.

A tian is always made with sliced vegetables arranged in altering rows. Meat can be used to accentuate the taste.

A tian dish always looks inviting. It is comfort food at its best that can easily feed a large group. The tian recipes scream alfresco dinner.

The July-August 2008 issue of Saveurs features 4 tasty tian recipes. For a twist, they propose an entre version of tomatoes, goat cheese and pine nuts. The classic Provencal tian is made of tomatoes, eggplants, zucchinis, anchovies, olives and fresh rosemary.

Tomatoes, Goat Cheese And Pine Nuts Tian Recipe

Recipe by Valery Drouet translated from Saveurs

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 4 tomatoes
• 8 ounces (250 grams) of lightly dried goat cheese
• 1 tablespoon of fir honey
• 4 tablespoon of olive oil
• 2 ounces (60 grams) of pine nuts
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to prepare the recipe:

1. Heat on the stove the honey and olive oil with some salt and pepper.
2. Slice the tomatoes and the goat cheese. Aim for a regular thickness.
3. Preheat the oven grill
4. Place a sheet of parchment paper (waxed paper is not oven-proof) in 4 individual oven dishes. Layer the tomatoes and the goat cheese in an altering pattern. Sprinkle the pine nuts and pour the honey-olive oil mixture.
5. Put under the grill for 8 to 10 minutes
6. Serve immediately with a mesclun salad and a white Bellet wine, if you can find one of the oldest vineyards in France.

It is hard to find a bottle of Bellet wine outside France since it is also one of the smallest French appellations. The Bellet vineyards are located next to the city of Nice. The main grapes are Rolle (80 to 90%) with a hint of Chardonnay. Honey and bananas are the main aromas.

The last two pictures illustrate the charms of using vintage metal pots to serve family-style your meals. Take advantage of the Labour Day weekend to prepare a similar setting.

Calling for Help

If you read French, I encourage you to find the July-August 2008 issue. There is also an interesting article on ice cream. I regularly buy this magazine since it is widely available in Montreal. I am not sure if you can find it on specialty shops across North America. If you know a source in English Canada or the United States, share it by commenting.

SOURCING:
+ Saveurs
+ Tians photographed by Valry Guedes, Styled by Valry Drouet for July-August 2008 of Saveurs pages 26-27
+ Bottom pictures photographed by ric Fnot, Styled by Delphine Brunet for July-August 2008 of Saveurs pages 56-57