Business Ready

Photo courtesy of Moo.

Unpluggd has a roundup of some stellar online business card vendors. Think rounded corners, think long, lean lines , think anything except your ordinary 14pt, 3.5"x2" rectangle.

Seems that there are some really innovative business cards coming out of the UK right now. My favorites are the Mini Cards from London print shop, Moo. Starting at $19.99 for 100, these little guys are great.

The thought did cross my mind that these business cards, which are 1/2 the size of a standard business card, might be easily lost, the range of great colors makes them stand out.

And as I was poking around on Unplggd's recommended sites, I stumbled across this very impressive and functional card from food blogger Mark Ramadan.

Built in cutlery set! So amazingly clever. Mark explains:

Have you ever been in a situation where, without warning, you suddenly found yourself needing a knife, fork, and/or spoon? We all have, trust me. Well, that's where my business card comes in: it serves as a handy dandy emergency break-out dining set for those moments where you've left your wherewithal at the door along with your utensils.

This card was designed by Plasma Design, a UK creator of metal and plastic business cards. Designers cut and chemically etch designs onto the surface the surface of their stainless steel cards, creating business cards with serious staying power.

I'd love to get these for Post, although they're kind of the anti-paper?

Where Your Goodies Come From

OK....not about paper exactly, but how about something to gather and carry your papers in?

This year for D's big birthday I went on an online hunt for the best briefcase. Starting my research about three days after seeing The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs, Mike Daisey's dramatic expose on poor labor conditions in China, I had sort of a crisis of conscious about buying goods made in China.

But finding a well crafted case that wasn't made in China proved to be really difficult....even the nicest leather bags are crafted in gray places. I kept calling these top line leather producers asking where their bags were made and each and every one of them said made in China.

Finally, I came across the Filson and APOLIS Philanthropist Briefcase, hand crafted in Seattle with fair trade cotton from Uganda.

Here's the scoop:

Since the 1970s, Uganda's cotton exports decreased due to the civil war in Northern Uganda. In 2009, Invisible Children started their Cotton Initiative to help rebuild the industry and create opportunity for the whole supply chain - from grower to sewer.

It's the perfect blend for form, function and peace of mind. A total do-gooder bag AND it comes well stocked with pencils and a ruler. Happy Birthday, D!

Spotlight on BHLDN

With much buzz, BHLDN, the romantic and willowy wedding shop that sprung out of Anthropologie, launched in February, and the new shop is carrying an eclectic line of wedding paper goods, from invitations, guests books and photo albums, to gift tags and place cards.

Here's a little color on the store's mission:

We want, more than anything, to help a woman create an event that reflects her own unique perspective… to a tee. We want to give a bride that edit she’s been searching for—with heirloom-quality wedding gowns, artisanal hair adornments, footwear, and lingerie. And we want happy bridesmaids—in mix-and-match frocks with rich hues and unexpected details.

And here's a peek at some of my favorite items:

Bridesmaid Handkerchief

Collaged Lilly Place Cards

Slate Heart Place Holders

Three Ring Thank You Cards