There is a bit more chill in the air, fewer flowers blossoming, and the sunrise now appears after I am awake. All signs point to the end of Summer. It's been a delight and I am sad to see the long evenings fade, but Fall will bring her own delights. How about cozy lakeside cabins? A vacation with your favorite books? And a birthday soirée? Yes, please.

Click each image for source information.

I have had the same desk since grade school. I picked it out at an antique shop and still love it! It's big, painted white, with carved flowers and brass pulls on all the drawers. It's role has changed with me over time, but it will always be a place where I feel creative and focused.

My focus this month is on the way I work at my desk and the tools that I frequently use. Having a space, however small, that can be designated for work/play is a real treat. The way we use our space is a personal process, but I love being close to a window. The sunlight keeps me motivated and also lets me know when it's time to wind down for the day. I've gathered these images to see how other people create their beautiful space. 

Please click each image for source information. 

Enjoy!
Julia

Last weekend we took an outing that I was looking forward to for months in advance: picking flowers and berries on Sauvie Island! Specifically, I knew I wanted lavender and blueberries. What I didn't know was how many hours I would spend wandering through a flower farm fields! It was a feast for all the senses... 

Our first stop was the Sauvie Island Lavender Farm, where I picked bundles of lavender while D. picked a basket of mulberries. There were lots of happy bees and we also came away with lavender honey!

Neighboring the lavender farm is Sauvie Island Farms, where they offer many different kinds of U-pick fruits, vegetables, and flowers!

Our focus here was blueberries, but I couldn't resist bringing home a couple bouquets. And spent about an hour wandering through the flower fields. The dahlia hill was magical. 

This is what 11 1/2 pounds of blueberries looks like! :)

Each farm offered the tools required for picking: pruners, bands for flowers, and containers. I did opt to bring a bucket for water to keep lavender fresh while we picked blueberries. Note that most of the Sauvie Island Farms flowers are sold per bloom and not per stem. 

As a designer, I spend many hours at my desk. Over the years, I've discovered the essentials that make my workflow easier and elegant. Many of these tools are items I use regularly and were collected over time, others are still on my wish list! 

1970s MERA POLTIK Alarm Clock

Miles Desk Lamp from Schoolhouse Electric

Dachshund Letter Holder -- no longer available from Anthropologie, but is my favorite desk buddy. :)

Brass Pencil Sharpener

Lamy Safari Fountain Pen

Brass Midori Pen

Cedar Pointe Pencil Set (with good eraser!)

Iconic Pencase - perfect for pen and ink supplies

The Classic Pica Pole

Midori Polar Bear A5 Spiral Notebook

Brass Ruled Letter Opener for all of your snail mail

On the rare occasions that I use stapler (I'm more of a paperclip gal), I'd love to have an Ace!

Please click on each image for source information.

With a growing number of pen pals, I find myself seeking out letter writing sets these days. While cards come in handy for birthdays and other occasions, I prefer a letter sheet and envelope for my longer-winded correspondence. Sometimes the page count reaches seven!

Here are the styles that I use and love: 

Made by Three Potato Four

Life has discontinued the full size notepad I use, but this is my go-to for classic stationery.

Handmade in Tokyo by Haibara

French style by Ilfant Press

Letter Writing Kit by Paper & Type and Paper Pastries (I use the floral edition).

I'm always on the lookout for new sets, please share your favorites! (Click on each image for a source link.)