a design collaborative

Pardon our dust…

extrajumbo — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:32:51 +0000

…a new and improved extrajumbo website & blog is coming soon!

Posted in Uncategorized

Start the year off right…

lidia — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:00:08 +0000

…with recycled office supplies. Online vendors GreenLine Paper and Treecycle offer a large variety of recycled office supplies such as notepads, Post-It notes and the popular Rebinder (corrugated cardboard binders). Many of the products offered are as stylish as they are useful. Update your office — and do the environment a favor — by thinking “green” before you buy.

Posted in business, green

Now is the time to say thank you…

extrajumbo — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:40:58 +0000

Click the image above or visit the promo page to browse the shops that are participating.

Posted in art, fun

Eco-friendly (and stylish) party goods

lidia — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:38:43 +0000

Throwing a party usually means throwing away lots of plastic and paper. It doesn’t have to anymore with these stylish biodegradable party sets from Plum Party. See more eco-friendly party goods here.

Posted in fun, green

Ocean size

extrajumbo — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:35:27 +0000

Behold my new favorite book, Still: Oceanscapes by Debra Bloomfield (Chronicle Books). A fabulous book to wade through (pun intended) as the weather turns cold and snowy…

Posted in art

What’s in your Moleskine?

extrajumbo — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:50:39 +0000

We all know and love them: the classic Moleskine journal. Chronicle Books is inviting readers to share the contents of their Moleskine – for a chance to win a free Moleskine Pack of Notebooks (includes Pocket Ruled Notebook, a Pocket Sketchbook, and a Pack of Plain Kraft Pocket Cahiers).

Send your photos and comments to: webmaster@chroniclebooks.com (subject line “MOLESKINE”). Entries must be submitted by Fri, Nov 14th. Images will be posted on the Chronicle Books Blog.

Read up on Moleskine history (used by the likes of Van Gogh and Hemingway).

From the Chronicle Books e-newsletter

Posted in art, design

Treats for the discerning canine…

extrajumbo — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:36:33 +0000

Store-bought treats are just so… pedestrian. Elevate your dog’s level of sustenance with personalized dog treats from A Dog’s Life. Just upload a JPG of your dog’s mug and voilá – a package of treats with his or her adorable face will arrive at your doorstep. And by the way, the treats are 100% natural.

And while you’re perusing A Dog’s Life, vote for the fetching (pun intended) and charming Essie: candidate for Dog of the Month and (we hope) soon-to-be cover model.

Learn something new! Take an art class!

extrajumbo — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:47:17 +0000

Get inspired, learn something new, or just take a break from sitting in front of the darn computer. Fall classes at the Art School at Evanston Art Center start on Sept. 8. No time? Take a workshop – some are as short as 2 days.

I’m famous (sort of)

extrajumbo — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:54:41 +0000

Check out the shoutout for Lidia Varesco Greetings on the beautifully fabulous blog, The Blah, Blah, Blahg. We were the featured designer of last week’s “Friday Download” — a weekly offering of a free paper goody (in this case, a lovely notecard). Now get over there and download your free card!

Why am I writing about perforated papers?

extrajumbo — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:38:13 +0000

Because perforated papers are now available at (one of my favorite places) The Paper Mill Store in multiple layout formats — and in lots of environmentally-friendly options, no less. If that’s not exciting, I don’t know what is….