all things girls can tell

with belated birthday wishes to Mr. Jefferson

It's no secret that my favorite historical figure is Thomas Jefferson. I adored every minute I spent at the University of Virignia ("Mr. Jefferson's University") and one of my very favorite jobs of all time was giving guided tours through his unbelievable home, Monticello, which he designed himself and was a decades long work in progress as he continued to improve and innovate on the grounds atop his little mountain.

So when the lovely ladies of Rock Paper Scissors (a most wonderful stationery shop, on the quaint, perfect downtown pedestrian mall in Charlottesville) approached my booth at NYIGF in January, I jumped at the chance to work on a UVa-specific design for them to carry.

And here it is! A little diagrammy rendition of the north facing (street) side of Jefferson's rotunda - the original library of the University, and centerpiece to the world famous, prestigious Academical Village. They're now available in the web shop for all the Wahoos in your life... just in time for graduation!

proof approval

 

things are finally falling into place for the New York International Gift Fair next week (and subsequently, the Buyer's Market of American Craft two weeks later).

after days + days of putting it together, making changes, redesigning, imagining new products, + going over every little detail with a fine tooth comb, the hardcopy proof of the spring catalog arrived this morning. approved! seeing this little guy all printed up in real life, and being completely pleased with the results, felt fantastic. exactly as i imagined!

 

holiday towels are here!

new in time for your holiday decorating this year? some holiday + winter wonderland fun on your favorite towels.

jolly snowman towels

the snowman is my new favorite. he's just the right amount of completely adorable + traditional, but drawn in a totally unique, deconstructed way. perfect for anyone who loves lots of marshmallows on their hot chocolate or the joy of waking up and realizing you get a surprise snow day from work. he's sure to make even the grinchiest of grinches crack a smile.

vintage holiday ornament towels

inspired by my favorite ornaments - you know the kind, the really bright, shiny, delicate vintage glass ones - this design celebrates the art of holiday decorating (but in a non-breakable way). these towels would make a lovely hostess gift for holiday gatherings and bring lots of seasonal cheer to your favorite kitchen this time of year.

the return of the tea towel!

after much anticipation, i couldn't be more delighted to announce the return of girls can tell tea towels! after much deliberation, the new towels are a little different than the classic girls can tell towel.

they're now square (well, near-square - 28"x29"), but just as soft + absorbent as ever. as always, girls can tell towels are responsibly sourced + milled in the US. you can use these towels often, as they're completely machine washable + durable. each one is printed with a girls can tell original diagram - i've brought back many of the favorite diagrams, of course, and will also be introducing new designs into the line periodically. and the best news is that the each towel is now printed with an even better, bolder, bigger diagram image, so you can better enjoy all the illustrative details!

 

 

right now, there's a handful listed in the shop, and be sure to check back in often for additional designs. i'm also planning on posting limited edition towels in special color runs every so often! follow me on twitter + like girls can tell shop on facebook for occasional specials + announcements. xo!

new item! blank notecards

since it's been a while since i've introduced a completely new item, i figured it was about time to post something new. and i couldn't be more pleased than i am with these.

it's my pleasure to announce the perfect little line of blank notecards. i was always looking for a good all-occasion set of cards - nothing to sappy or girly or fussy. just something a little fun + different, versatile enough to be just right for whatever the need may be.

they're $4 a piece, or you can snap up a set of four (in designs of your choosing) for $12. find them all listed for sale here!

 

introducing occasionette

the past few weeks, aside from prepping and selling at the philadelphia home show, i also printed unique coasters for the upcoming interaction eleven conference in boulder, colorado. the conference sounds incredibly interesting, and i'm proud to have created custom coaster favors for all the attendees.

which leads me to the most exciting news, which i've been hiding up my sleeve for some time now...

in 2011, i'll be accepting many more custom orders like this one! if you have a wedding, party, small business or some other thing you'd like me to print up favors or gifts for, now you can! introducing occasionette, the custom order branch of girls can tell illustration + printing!

enjoy poking around the site, and if you have questions, please feel free to email me (sara at girlscantell dot com!)

limited edition / this weekend only!

go baseball!

my design featuring this guy probably won't be available long (um, see my post on the sports fan art crackdown from yesterday...) but he's too fun not to share. i love it. i can't actually think of anything funner. ;)

floursack towels: $20/pair or $12/single
coaster sets: $16 each

use the code OSWALT at checkout for 20% off your entire order all weekend!

new diagrams: unicorns, beer + wine, oh my!

 

three (or two, depending on your views on the existence of mythical beasts) of the greatest things ever to exist - beer, wine and unicorns - are now diagrammized and available on assorted goodies in the girls can tell online shop!

 

be the first kid on your block to have a coffee table sporting a magical one horned horse like set of awesome coasters, or celebrate your inner beer snobbery with an accurate set of tea towels featuring my original glassware diagram.

 

yay! fun beverages + fairy beasts! now through until monday, enjoy 15% off your entire shop.girlscantell.com order when you enter the code "magic" at checkout. happy weekend!

can't decide? grab bag mystery super surprise!

 

yes, that moment you've been hoping for is finally here. after all this time, i've come up with a solution for all you crazy kids out there who just looooove diagrams printed onto useful things and can't decide which diagram is the perfect one for your kitchen / living room / bathroom / anywhere else you use a coaster / towel / all the other things i print...

mystery listings!

that's right! i make all the decisions for you! for slightly less than what a set of towels / coasters / you know, all the things i always talk about here usually cost, you can leave all the hard work up to me, sit back, relax and wait for a superfun surprise set of whatever arrive at your door. isn't that just the sweetest thing you've heard all summer? (what's that? summer hasn't officially started yet and it's still actually, technically spring until the solstice next week? pshaw. details, schmetails...)

have fun!

 

bottle openers make a triumphant return!

 

when i got it in my head last year to have some super fun bottle openers made, featuring a few of my favorite diagram illustrations, i didn't realize how supremely popular they'd be! so, back by popular demand, i give you bottle openers.

they'll be accompanying me to the upcoming girls can tell events (which you can always find listed right here on the events page!) in brooklyn, baltimore and, of course, here in philadelphia, and after that little whirlwind of shows, they'll find their way to the girls can tell online shops.

new diagrams on the openers include the coffee diagram (specifically, the french press corner of it), the robot (everyone's favorite!) and the classic holga (which somehow got overlooked in the creation of bottle opener images the first time around).  super thanks to the completely awesome sarah (with an H) of the wistful republic for all her help in getting these puppies printed + pressed. they look fantastic!