The cute outdoors >> Duette

It's the great outdoors meets cutsie graphics for French clothing line Duette's S/S line, aptly titled Walden. Makes me want to grill a s'more over a roaring campfire.

Duette Design

sunbrella-ellas

It's taking me a bit to get back into the swing of things after the Memorial Day break. Being in the middle of nowhere with no internet is such a freeing feeling. I'm pretty badly sunburned but I'm trying to think of it as a badge of honor for a weekend well spent in the great outdoors. It would have been nice to have one of these cool graphic sun umbrellas from Basil Bangs instead of the aloe applying routine that I'm now victim to. Hope your week is treating you well.

Basil Bangs

Free Printable: Fun in the Sun Party Invites

Happy {early} Memorial Day weekend to you all! Any fun plans for the holiday? Matt and I are headed out to Lake Isabella in Kern County to meet up with my sisters and their guys for a weekend of fishing, drinking, BBQing and swimming. It's exactly half-way between the Bay Area and my older sister's home with her husband in San Diego. I'm super excited to get some time with my sisters who are my besties and group MMS buddies.

{ Victory Paper Designs }

Before I go I just wanted to give you guys a printable I designed to serve as an invitation for any Memorial Day parties you may be throwing together this weekend! You can most certainly use it for any other summer parties that may be in your sunny future as well. Click below for your download!

{terms and conditions}

This printable is free for personal use, not for commercial distribution. If you wish to blog about this download please link back to this page and not the downloadable image. Do not sell, distribute, or copy this image. Enjoy your invitations and hope you have a fabulous party!

Paper hearts

A big dream I have for Victory Paper Designs is to one day exhibit at the National Stationery Show. Held every spring in New York, some of the most talented stationeers showcase their goods to buyers and spectators alike. {I'm dying to go even just to oogle all the pretty paperness!!} Here are just some of my favorite goodies from this year's show

Top to bottom: Printerette Press // Fine Day Press // Smock // Sugar Paper // Alee and Press // Fig. 2 Design // Fawnsberg // Rifle Paper Company

DVF Home

I have quite a few wrap dresses in my closet. We can all thank the fabulous Ms. Diane von Furstenberg for that contribution to the fashion world. Admittedly my wallet won't allow any of those dresses to be actual DVFs, so I'm loving that I can bring a bit of the fashion legend into my life through her {more} affordable home collection {One Kings Lane is having a big sale on DVF Home through Thursday! I'm coveting these chicly patterned dishes for colorful summer salads}.

DVF Home

Pulling late nights + coffee branding

It's two in the morning and here I am at the computer. It's been one of those work weeks, I'll tell ya that. I'm pouring over a cup of coffee trying to keep my eyes open; how appropriate then to post about this coffee house branding identity from Kish + Co. The hand-drawn laurel wreath is perfect for this Italian beanery, and the behind-the-scenes look into the design just goes to show that most of the time it takes multiple drafts to get it just right.

Kish + Co. for Rhimini's



a few of my favorite things >> summer edition

Thsese are a few of my favorite things this week that conjure up feelings of a warm, lazy summer afternoon. As a former barista, I'm dying to try my hand at making these easy mocha chip frappes at home...with extra extra caramel! (aaah, barista inside joke) check out more of my favorite things by following me on Pinterest!

home // create // wear

Smog Shoppe

I'm pretty much obsessed with the artsy bohemian meets industrial-feel of the Smog Shoppe in LA after seeing this wedding featured over on 100 Layer Cake yesterday...

You can see more of the space from the Smog Shoppe interwebs...

Images above via 100 Layer Cake // Below Smog Shoppe

Poppytalk Lookbook

The Poppytalk Lookbook for their Paper Pops Market is now up, packed full of affordable art prints, cards, paper goodies and even a cool DIY Father's Day inspired gift wrap idea! I'm so excited to be included, flip to page 32 to see our spread! The full book can be viewed below. xo

Open publication - Free publishing - More affordable art

And don't forget to come by and visit our market!

Dip-dyed wood

This dip-dyed wood trend is so pretty...a little natural wood tone next to a sharp contrast of bold color is just the way to add a little pop without going overboard

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Neon paints

These paintings by Yago Hortal are a true study in paint applications: marbeled mixes, splatters and kinetic movement...plus the neon colors are way rad.

Yago Hortal

To Mama

Mama,
Thank you for being my rock, for being the glue that kept our family together, for teaching us how to fight for what we love; thank you for your courage, for letting us get candy at the checkout stand, for showing me how to cook a pot roast and how to throw out a pot roast, for always being on my side no matter what, for your encouragement, for making us a team of wicked badass ladies, for working your ass off for us, and mostly thank you for being my loving mother.
All my love,
Victoria

Graphic canvas totes-magotes

Ah, the ease of the tote bag. Perfect for farmer's markets, summer picnics, and for throwing in a towel and headin to the beach. Here are a few on my radar. I love how so many print shops are coming up with their own graphic totes...maybe in VPD's future...

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Peacocking home

The first blog I ever started reading was Peacock Feathers. It was 2010 and my friend, Dione, had just bought a house and had stumbled upon it while researching interior design on the interwebs. She immediately forwarded the link on to me and I was hooked. Elizabeth has a penchant for all things pretty in interior design and fashion; she seriously satisfies my needs for some design eye candy.

In this blogging world it's so easy to feel like you know someone personally after reading their posts for so long, so I was so happy to see her wonderfully fun and quirky home grace the pages of Anthology Magazine this month! Check out the preview issue here!

Anthology Magazine

Everday scarves

Be still my bold-pattern-loving heart. These gauzy scarves from Proud Mary Textiles has my heart doing cartwheels. These will suit my everyday wardrobe just fine.

Proud Mary Textiles

A Mother's Day gift guide

It's time for another gift guide! This time I've got some suggestions to make mom feel special this Mother's Day...


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This scarf has the prettiest colors that is sure to brighten up her wardrobe. ByBoe makes such lovely, simple jewelry. I'm loving this delicate gold charmed bracelet on a pink cord for mom. This green tea scent from L'Occitane smells so fresh she'll be receiving compliments from both women and men. What woman doesn't love to get pampered? A spa gift certificate could be just the stress reliever she needs. This tea set's packaging is so special, she'll be reminded of your everlasting love every time she reaches for the chamomile. This set of clay soaps will revitalize her skin while leaving lasting yummy scents like grapefuit and ginger.

ps. More gifts for mom and a Mom Lunchbox

In the Studio: A balloon ride gift certificate

My friend Dione is easily one of the most thoughtful and generous people I know. Not only did she have a custom business card holder made for me for Christmas with Victory Paper Designs' logo on it (I'll have to share that in another post!) but she's also a huge supporter of my shoppe having purchased many of my items for sale. So when she came to me with the idea of having a gift certificate designed for a hot air balloon ride she bought her boyfriend for his birthday I had to insist that she just pay me in an Ethiopian dinner at our favorite restaurant. Do you guys do that too? Exchange favors with friends in return for design work??

A huge Happy Birthday to Jabari! You kids have fun floatin over Napa!! xoxo

{ Victory Paper Designs }

Poppytalk Handmade Market!

Super cool announcement: I'll be selling Victory Paper Designs' goods at Poppytalk Handmade Market this month! Every month is a different themed curated market, and I'm excited to be setting up a virtual table at their Paper Pops market. Come pop by over here and check out their lookbook which includes all the shops participating! Thanks guys! xoxo

Poppytalk Handmade

{Amended} A Mother's Day Lunchbox

I've been getting a few e-mails from readers asking for the paper heart 'mom' cut-out as a download from the Mother's Day Lunchbox project. You asked for it and you get it! Click over to the amended post for a free download of your own 'mom' heart, just in time for your own Mother's Day project! Thanks for the support guys!

A Mother's Day Lunchbox

NEW in the shoppe: Desert Walker Mini Notebooks

Desert Walker Mini Notebook

I have a habit of toting around a notebook with me wherever I go. Sure my iPhone has a notepad, but sometimes I'll need to sketch out a pattern that comes to me or scribble out a message or to-do list that just can't be accomplished on a little touch screen.

Desert Walker Mini Notebook

Our newest addition to the Victory Paper Designs shoppe are these cool Desert Walker Mini Notebooks that are small enough to throw into your handbag and have at your note jotting beckon call. The pattern is inspired by a graphic Native American blanket that I came across {and ironically sketched out in my notebook!} and reinterpreted in my own way. So summery, right? Head on over to the shoppe to pick yours up! xo

Cocktail Hour

One of the purchases I'm most excited about in our new house is a gorgeous mid-century styled sideboard in our dining room. I'm looking forward to stocking it full of cute barware to add a little swank to our cocktail parties.

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Free Download: May desktop calendar

Happy May! It's been feeling alot like summer around here lately! Since moving to Dublin a few months ago, I've definitely been feeling the difference of much warmer weather than our home was in Emeryville along the coastline. No complaints here as it's resulted in numerous impromptu BBQ parties, YogurtLand runs and late-night walks along the flowery trails in our neighborhood.

As May is known for its blooming flowers, I've designed a desktop calendar along with the photographic skills of George Bosela. I noticed after designing it that the bee is some kind of accidental combination of Blind Melon's Bee Girl and Dilbert...I love embracing those happy little accidents in design.

Photography by George Bosela // Graphics by Victory Paper Designs

{terms and conditions}This desktop calendar is free for personal use, not for commercial distribution. If you wish to blog about this download please link back to this page and not the downloadable image. Do not sell, distribute, or copy this image. Enjoy your calendar!