The Nimbus Factory Blog

A Savannah Wedding

2012-01-31T14:27:00.000-08:00

Our own Claire Teschel is getting hitched in Savannah this spring, and I was thrilled to collaborate with her on these invitations. Although I've only been to Savannah a handful of times, she and I were able to capture the feeling of Savannah in the springtime, thanks to her great direction. I love how everything came together!

February Newsletter

2012-01-24T11:29:00.000-08:00

See the latest news from The Nimbus Factory

Subscribe to our newsletter here! (we promise we won't spam you, we're classy)

Share the Love

2012-01-23T13:31:00.000-08:00

Come back between February 3rd and 6th to get 10% off on our Valentine's day collection!

Check out our new cards here <3

Preview of new Valentine's day cards, coming soon!

2012-01-19T10:08:00.000-08:00

This year, the four of us decided to each create a couple Valentine's day cards that really highlight our individual unique styles. And voila! Here you have it...an eclectic mix of quirky, charming cards for you to give your quirky and charming love or bestie on V-day.

Keep an eye out--they'll be available in no time!

Cheap Valentine's Day Card alert!

2012-01-17T13:10:00.000-08:00

Oh man, Valentine's day is coming up super fast. Snatch up our $1 Valentine's day card soon before they're all gone!

And grab our 'Falling in Like With You' card to give to that cute boy or girl you like to hold hands with.

Visit our shop to purchase.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T09:34:00.000-08:00

Happy Hanukkah from the ladies at The Nimbus Factory

2011-12-20T18:21:00.000-08:00

Last Minute Holiday Specials

2011-12-16T11:10:00.000-08:00

Our newsletter is up and running! Click here to view some special holiday news!

Also, we're offering 10% off plus FREE SHIPPING on orders over $75 until December 18th, so don't wait around! Just enter HOLIDAYSHOP at checkout to redeem :)

Thank you!

2011-12-07T11:34:00.001-08:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in our giveaway! We're grateful to have such awesome fans.

Please keep an eye out for more special events!

Giveaway #6: Totebags!

2011-12-06T00:30:00.000-08:00

Today's product feature is your final chance to win, but we're going to give you your choice of one of two designs for today's prize.

Introducing our debut line of tote bags!

Cloud Creatures Tote

This beautifully illustrated tote features an assortment of creatures floating in our signature nimbus clouds above.

Measures 17” x 14.5”

'Sweet Jams' Tote

Store all your favorite groceries in this eco-friendly tote, including your PB and JAM.

Measures 14" x 13" x 4"

Click here to enter our Nimbus Factory Giveaway contest!

Enter before midnight tonight (PST) to win your tote bag of choice!
Note: Totebags may vary slightly from photo.

We'll send you an email tomorrow if you've won! Good luck!

Giveaway #5: 'Fantastic Beasts' Birthday & Event Calendar!

2011-12-05T00:30:00.000-08:00

Today we're giving you a chance to win our
'Fantastic Beasts' Birthday & Event Calendar!

Record your most important events and special dates in this mythologically themed perpetual calendar, featuring fantastic beasts of myth and legend!

Click here to enter our Nimbus Factory Giveaway contest!

Enter before midnight tonight (PST) to win the 'Fantastic Beasts' Birthday & Event Calendar!
We'll send you an email tomorrow if you've won! Good luck!

Giveaway #4: Flights of Fancy Journal!

2011-12-04T00:30:00.000-08:00

If you're a fan of the 'Flights of Fancy' stationery notecards, then you'll love these

'Flights of Fancy' journals.

Each journal is 5.8" x 8.3"and perfectbound with 96 artfully designed pages for you to record your daydreams and doodles.

Click here to enter our Nimbus Factory Giveaway contest!

Enter before midnight tonight (PST) to win a 'Flights of Fancy' Journal!
We'll send you an email tomorrow if you've won! Good luck!

Giveaway #3: Flights of Fancy Stationery Notecards!!

2011-12-03T00:30:00.000-08:00

Today we'll be giving away our 'Flights of Fancy' Notecard set!

Each set includes 5 double-sided notecards with flying pigs, tigers, whales, snails, and elephants. You're sure to impress anyone you send these quirky, colorful notecards to!

Designs included are shown below:

Click here to enter our Nimbus Factory Giveaway contest!

Enter before midnight tonight (PST) to win the 'Flights of Fancy' Notecard set!
We'll send you an email tomorrow if you've won! Good luck!

Giveaway #2: Everyday Occasions card collection!

2011-12-02T00:30:00.000-08:00

We're on day two of our giveaway! You still have 5 more chances to win :)

Proudly presenting our new line of colorful Everyday Occasion cards, perfect for sending to friends you want to reconnect with!

We're giving away a set of (4) 5x5 cards with matching white envelopes (shown below).

Click here to enter our Nimbus Factory Giveaway contest!

Enter before midnight tonight (PST) to win the 'Everyday Occasions' Card Collection!
We'll send you an email tomorrow if you've won! Good luck!

Giveaway #1: 'Mythical Creatures' Holiday Card Set!

2011-11-30T21:00:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the release of our new products, we've decided to give you a chance to win a different new product each day from now until December 6th! It's our little way of spreading the holiday cheer this year :)

Today, we're featuring our brand new
'Mythical Creatures' Holiday card collection.

The set includes 12 4x6 cards, each profiling a different mythical creature. The cards are printed with silver metallic ink for a festive shimmer and have cheery bright red interiors. Matching red envelopes included.

Click here to enter our Nimbus Factory Giveaway contest!

Enter before midnight tonight (PST) to win the 'Mythical Creatures' Holiday Card Set!
We'll send you an email tomorrow if you've won! Good luck!

New Product Giveaways starting December 1st!

2011-11-29T16:26:00.001-08:00

In honor of our new line of holiday and everyday products, we're going to give you a chance to

win a different new product each day

from December 1st until December 6th!

New products include:

Mythical Creatures Holiday Card Set

Spread some holiday cheer with this limited edition, metallic printed holiday card set,

featuring 12 mythical creatures with seasonal greetings!

Creatures include:

Mermaid | Nymph | Sphinx | Unicorn | Yeti

Each boxed set includes (12) 4"x6" metallic printed cards

with bright red interiors and matching red envelopes.

Everyday Occasions Card Collection

This set of punchy, geometric cards are fitting for a friendly hi.

Set of (4) 5 x 5" cards with white envelopes

Flights of Fancy Notecard Set

Each notecard in this set has a friendly greeting to pass along to your closest pals!

Set of (5) double-sided notecards with A2 spearmint envelopes

Fantastic Beasts Birthday & Event Calendar

Record your most important events and special dates in this mythologically themed perpetual calendar, featuring fantastic beasts of myth and legend!

Includes (1) 6"x17" 12 panel hanging calendar

Flights of Fancy Journals

Our Flights of Fancy journals come in 4 unique themes with piggies, orcas, elephants, and tigers each hopping from the clouds above!

Each journal is 5.8" x 8.3"and perfectbound with 96 artfully designed pages for you to record your daydreams and doodles.

Sweet Jams Tote

Store all your favorite groceries in this eco-friendly tote, including your PB and JAM.

Measures 14" x 13" x 4"

Cloud Creatures Tote

This beautifully illustrated tote features an assortment of creatures floating in our signature nimbus clouds above.
Measures 17” x 14.5”

Keep an eye out this Thursday for a chance to win! We're so happy to share our products with you!

Pre-launch madness

2011-11-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, I flew down to San Diego to assist Phyllis with packaging and labeling our new products. I'm really proud of what we've accomplished for this launch, and I can't wait to share our products with the world!

It's so rewarding to see everything printed and packaged :)

We even had a little helper!

Check back on November 26th to shop our new line of products (and maybe even win some!)

Support small businesses (like us!) and receive $25!

2011-11-20T14:52:00.001-08:00

You can receive a one-time $25 statement credit when you register any eligible American Express^® Card and use that Card to make a purchase of $25 or more at a small business on November 26, 2011.

So...buy from us, and you'll basically get your money back! Pretty awesome deal, huh?

Click here to register your American Express card!

Kali Ciesemier

2011-11-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

Kali Ciesemier, a MICA grad, has been rockin' the freelance illustration scene. Her attention to detail and color is simply amazing. She blew me away with this children's activity booklet she illustrated for Amtrak. Every page is beautiful! I want to take a train ride just to pick up one of these.

You can follow her tumblr here!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T10:41:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is having a delightfully spooky Halloween! Although I usually have a hard time settling on an idea for my costume, I love keeping an eye out for super creative or funny costumes. Friend and former colleague, Dan Liuzzi, easily took the cake last year for most creative/effective/funny Halloween costume. Check out the 8 bit version of himself! Truly amazing.

p.s. Dan is also an amazing artist, so while you're at his blog, take a look at the other awesome stuff he makes!

Music Painting

2011-10-24T13:07:00.000-07:00

This is a great video to start the new week. Watch Alice Ninni animate the serene song “Lacrime de Giulietta” by Italian composer Matteo Negrin.

Angie Wang, Illustratress

2011-10-11T12:57:00.000-07:00

I came across Angie Wang's booth at the Alternative Press Expo and was immediately in love. I am currently trying to figure out where to hang this print, entitled 'Secret Jungle', in my apartment. The movement and colors are fantastic.

Check out more of her beautiful art at http://www.okchickadee.com/

Animal Kingdom playing cards- Back by popular demand!

2011-10-06T04:00:00.000-07:00

Get 'em here!

Thank you, Steve

2011-10-06T00:25:00.001-07:00

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.

The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward.

Maybe they have to be crazy.

How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?

We make tools for these kinds of people.

While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

APE and Kate Beaton!

2011-10-03T10:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone! I just had an overwhelming experience at this weekend's APE (Alternative Press Expo) in San Francisco. I was totally unprepared for such a huge amount of talent, all in one place. For my next few posts, I'm going to profile some artists from the expo that are simply amazing.

To start off, I'd like to introduce the hilariously clever Kate Beaton. Her comics are delightfully smart, absurd, and laugh out loud funny. It's so refreshing to see comics that incorporate history in a fun way. I would highly recommend picking up her book, 'Hark! A Vagrant'.

Check out her comics at http://harkavagrant.com/

Cutest Food

2011-10-01T06:42:00.000-07:00

There are many interests the four of us here at Nimbus share, and one of those things is food. More specifically, cute food.
I've been drooling over this blog I stumbled upon the other day called Cutest Food. Everything is so cute, I could just gobble it up.

HOW Magazine's 2011 Design Business Annual- Nimbus Feature!

2011-09-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

We are absolutely delighted to be featured in HOW Magazine's 2011 Design Business Annual. Two sets of our Pass-Along Recipe Cards will be awarded to two lucky readers. So pick it up today and find out how you can score these nifty holiday giftables! Or order from our site here.

Sticky Wallpaper

2011-09-28T14:27:00.000-07:00

Whoa. This is so cool. Not only does this young lady, Payton Turner, make beautiful wallpaper patterns...

but she makes them out of... STICKERS!

I knew I should've kept my sticker collection from fourth grade.

Visit Haus and Home for the full article.

2011 Holiday Collection through Tiny Prints!

2011-09-27T12:22:00.000-07:00

Click the image to be taken to the site! :)

Pumpkin art

2011-09-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

October is my favorite month out of the year. I lived in the midwest for four years and loved going on hayrides, wandering through corn mazes, and returning with a bushel of apples, cider, kettle corn, and a few pumpkins to carve.

While I love the traditional jack-o-lanterns, I love new, tasteful ways to get in the spirit. These painted pumpkins by Alisa Burke are simply gorgeous. Click here for her tutorial!

Shakin' dogs

2011-09-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

These are hilarious photos of dogs in mid-shake by Carlie Davidson. I don't think it needs much more introduction...enjoy!

Book covers reimagined

2011-09-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

I will admit it, I sometimes (almost always) will pick up a book based on it's cover. I'm a sucker for good design, what can I say?
I stumbled across this collection of book covers reimagined on Flavorwire. Here are a few of my faves!

Anne Benjamin, Pride And Prejudice

Jillian Tamaki, The Secret Garden

Nan Lawson, Franny & Zooey

100 Days in Cleveland

2011-09-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

I'm totally on a Cleveland kick, but a well deserved one! I just moved from Cleveland to San Francisco and, while I am in love with my new city, I still appreciate and miss a lot of things about good ol' Cleveland. There are so many hidden gems in that city that make it fun and surprising. Our very own Julia Kuo has tackled the task of drawing 100 things she loves about Cleveland. I think it's such a great idea, and I've even learned some things about the city by following her blog. And wow, she's on #91 already! If you haven't seen it already, click here.

Here are some of my favorites:

Day 46/100

The Cultural Gardens

There are dozens of cultural gardens on MLK and East blvd north of Chester and south of Superior. Some gardens are better taken care of than others, but for the most part they’re all very beautiful in their own way. This one is the Hungarian cultural garden - my favorite for its beautiful cast iron gate. Others have fancy facades or statues of their most respectable countrymen.
I have good memories wandering through these gardens and running around through the little grassy lawns that connect them. One sunny summer day, I saw multiple wedding parties using the gardens for photoshoots. If one garden was occupied, they would just move down to the next one. (I thought that was so clever.) That same day, M.R. and I heard an ice cream truck and caught it by running as fast as we could in the direction of the ice cream truck music =)

Day 78/100

Tremont

This little neighborhood has changed a lot in the past 5 years. Great places like The Loop, Dante, Bac, and Lilly’s Chocolates have popped up and become staples of the area. Lucky’s bought that little triangle patch of grass across the street. Lincoln Park now hosts performances like the Joffrey Ballet! What was once a dodgy place to live has become the up-and-coming place to find great eats and cute boutiques. I used to be perpetually lost here, but thanks to friends living in an apartment above the Fat Cats restaurant and on W.14th I’ve gotten a little better about finding my way around. My favorite spots here would have to be the La Bodega sub shop, Sokolowski’s, the view from W.10th overlooking downtown, and the couch by the window in Lava Lounge.

You might be wondering why I picked this building to draw. It was currently renovated to become a large apartment complex, but can you guess what it was before? Take a second to think about all the street names around the area. Professor, Literary, College, University, Sokolowski’s University Inn…yes, that’s right! Way back in the 1850s, this was a college town. This building was Cleveland University’s Tremont campus - doesn’t it look like a huge dormitory and oldschool classroom building? It’s something to think about how much this town has changed, and even more exciting to look for signs of what it used to be.

Day 65/100

Edgewater Park

This a view of Edgewater park’s beach and pier from the higher, grassy part of the park. I like this park because it feels more ethnically diverse than a lot of other places in Cleveland: there are people of all skin tones here. Unrelated to the diversity is also a little bit of weirdness - you’ll see all kinds of people lounging on the beach in all sorts of … exciting swimwear. I’ve come here to ride my bike, take walks, swim, fish, fly my kite, and will soon get to barbeque here as well! The last time I was here I heard and followed the sound of beautiful music that reminded me of Beirut. It belonged to the choir of a large Ukrainian church service and baptism that was taking place right by the water!

Lil' Burritos

2011-09-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Ok, I absolutely cannot post about Cleveland designers without mentioning Alex Rodgers of Lil' Burritos. Not only are the onesies, tees, and totes super adorable and clever, but they are wrapped up to look like burritos. Brilliant.

Modern Pixie

2011-09-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

To continue spreading the Cleveland love, I'd like to share another one of my favorite local artists, Modern Pixie. Her jewelry is tiny, delicate, and incredibly unique. I could say just the same about the artist herself!

Horrible Adorables

2011-09-14T12:17:00.000-07:00

Horrible Adorables, creations by Jordan Elise of Cleveland, are definitely more adorable than horrible. I spotted one of these guys at Room Service a couple of years ago and was instantly in love. My critter sits in my living room and is one of my most prized possessions.Here are a few of my favorites from her site:

Cinemagraphs

2011-09-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

I've been seeing a lot of these subtle animated gifs popping up on my tumblr feed recently, and I have to say I'm pretty entranced. How Harry Potter-esque...For more hypnotizing images, visit Cinemagraphs.com

Jessica Hische on The Dark Art of Pricing

2011-09-06T14:07:00.000-07:00

There are a few designers who continuously amaze and inspire me, and Jessica Hische is definitely at the top of my list. She is a versatile lettering artist, designer, and additionally offers frequent invaluable (and sometimes humorous) advice on her blog. Most recently, I found her article on pricing to be amazingly eye-opening and down to earth. For those illustrators and designers out there who run their own business, this is a must-read!

One of my favorite side projects of hers is Daily Drop Cap. I love the imaginative solutions these designers use to illustrate the alphabet. Be sure to check it out if you haven't already!

Inspiration

2011-08-19T09:42:00.000-07:00

I'm loving the artwork of freelance illustrator Josie Portillo. Her illustrations have a delightfully playful and textural quality that I will never grow tired of.

cute roulette

2011-07-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

I revisited this site a few days ago and spent a few minutes (or hours) scanning through the cuteness. I love this rolly polly.

Hannes Beer: The All Day Everyday Project

2011-06-28T17:14:00.000-07:00

I spotted Hanne's work on a blog, which then linked me to his flickr page filled with more visual treats. He is graphic designer from Stuttgart, Germany and creator of the All Day Everyday Project. Here are my top picks!

Hop over here to purchase some prints!

Hump Day Tunes

2011-06-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

So I found out about this new Rave On Buddy Holly tribute CD via facebook. I started listening and thought to myself- Buddy Holly sang that?! I think it is a fantastic mix of artists, both new and old. My personal favorites are the She & Him, Florence and the Machine, the Black Keys, and Cee Lo covers. Enjoy!

seriously, how handsome is he?!

What a sweet, little gift

2011-06-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

I love this set of button checkers! I actually think it is a great DIY gift idea. I'm considering doing something along these lines for my bridesmaids' gifts next year :)

Buy here at House 8810.

If you happen to be in Belgium..

2011-06-09T13:56:00.000-07:00

This new Pantone Hotel looks amazing! With a total of 59 rooms and suites in seven different color palettes, I'm pretty sure it would be a designer's happy place.

(I currently have the Pantone 130 C mug on my desk. It makes my pens look fancy).

sale? SALE!

2011-04-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

Hop on over to our site for storewide markdowns! This is NOT an April Fool's joke. We promise!

apartment therapy love

2011-03-29T15:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Apartment Therapy for picking us as one of the Top 10 New Affordable Online Art Galleries! It made our Tuesday. :)

southern flourish magazine: spring 2011

2011-03-19T20:42:00.000-07:00

We were recently asked to collaborate with the magazine Southern Flourish to create an advertorial based on the art of the handwritten recipe card (using our recipe cards). I (claire) was delighted to photo style the shoot which took place in my very own kitchen. :)

I tried making a Chocolate Hazelnut Nutella cake to use as a prop, but it turned into a bit of a disaster. I sure had fun scarfing the leftover nutella down though. ;)

To subscribe to Southern Flourish, mosey on to their site- they have some really inspiring articles!

A new find: Laura Amiss Textiles

2011-03-01T10:39:00.000-08:00

I stumbled upon some lovely work by textile designer Laura Amiss. Nimbus is always proud to support clouds and raindrops. :)

Little house on the hill

Happy tears

Shop here for her goods.

Lavender and Limes giveaway!

2011-02-15T16:03:00.000-08:00

A big thanks to Christine at Lavender and Limes for hosting a Nimbus giveway. Our Year Round calendar is up for grabs! Mosey on over and sign up to win.

Also, she has a lovely new blog design! Here is a sneak peek..

TNF Freebies #7,8,9,10: Sweet Labels

2011-02-14T16:22:00.000-08:00

For those of you who still need a little somethin' somethin' for your V-Day gifts, then you're in luck! We have a lovely slate of label designs looking for a new home on your wrapped packages, boxes of sweets, or one of those free valentines you may have received from a certain Nimbus Factory! Enjoy!

Download your choice of design below:

Happy Valentine's Day (upper right)

Love Birds (upper left)

Signed, Sealed, Delivered (lower left)

Love Floats (center)

S.A.D - Single on Valentine's Day?

2011-02-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

Credits (top to bottom)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gabes/
her0in_chic on Xanga
http://www.buzzfeed.com/drakesan/fml-qut
http://www.ohhellofriendblog.com
(unknown)
Natalie Dee

happy valentine's day <3

The sweetest thing

2011-02-14T07:44:00.000-08:00

Priscilla Ahn's cover of John Lennon's song "Love"

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

V-Day Inspired Color Palette #3: Bright red & blue

2011-02-13T13:32:00.000-08:00

Here's your cure for the winter blues...just throw some bright colors on and seize the day :)

Valentine's Day Recipe #4: Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

2011-02-12T12:22:00.000-08:00

doesn't this look like the PERFECT thing to make for valentine's day?

----

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

1/2 cup butter

2-oz dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp red food coloring

2/3 cup all purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

8-oz cream cheese, room temperature

1/3 cup sugar

1 large egg

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 8 inch metal baking pan. Put a long piece of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan, letting the parchment extend up two sides of the pan and overhang slightly on both ends. (This will make it easy to remove the bars from the pan after they have baked.) Butter the parchment.

2. In a small, heatproof bowl, melt butter and chocolate together. Stir until combined and very smooth. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and red food coloring. Add chocolate mixture and stir until smooth. Add flour and salt and stir until just combined and no streaks of dry ingredients remain.

4. Pour into prepared pan and spread into an even layer.

5. To prepare cheesecake mixture, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until smooth. Distribute the cheesecake mixture in 8 dollops over batter in the pan.

6. Swirl in with a knife or spatula.

7. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until brownies and cheesecake are set. A knife inserted into the cheesecake mixture should come out clean and the edges will be lightly browned.

8. Let cool completely in pan on a cooling rack before lifting out the parchment paper to remove the brownies.

(original recipe from hell yeah recipes)

3 days & counting!

2011-02-11T13:18:00.000-08:00

make a trip to the postal service so your valentines make it in time for monday!

photo cred here

reminder: if you haven't sent us your mailing information for your free valentine, please shoot us that info, along with your choice of valentine to thenimbusfactory@gmail.com so we can get your valentine(s) out by this weekend and hopefully in your mailbox by valentine's day!

romantic date hair

2011-02-11T12:27:00.000-08:00

(photo by jamie beck)

this simple side ponytail seems just special enough for your valentine's day date, or any other date type occasion! i might give it a whirl myself next monday!

see the full hair tutorial at a cup of jo.

simple sentiments

2011-02-11T09:25:00.000-08:00

(photo via ache)

TNF V-Day Freebies #4,5,6: More Beautiful Tags!

2011-02-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

To round out our collection of gift tag freebies, we're releasing three beautiful tag designs for your gifting pleasure!

To download (from left to right), just click on the applicable link!

Happy V-Day | All You Need Is Love | Where We Love Is Home

Love & the silver screen

2011-02-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Photo Love #3

2011-02-09T14:00:00.000-08:00

(photo via art for amy)

a little something classic -- bogart and bacall :).

Photo Love #2

2011-02-09T12:00:00.000-08:00

robert doisneau

kiss by the hotel de ville, 1950

Photo Love #1

2011-02-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

(photo via ache)

Just wanting to share some lovely little photos of random couples today. I actually don't like ScarJo very much, but what a beautiful picture!

Friendly Reminder: Get your FREE Valentine while they're hot!

2011-02-08T15:38:00.000-08:00

(image via herekitty)

Hello everyone!

Just a reminder that we still have a limited amount of FABULOUS free valentines to give away to you wonderful, lovely people :). Just click on the banner at the top of our blog or HERE to leave your comment and email address after you follow us on Google or Facebook!

For those of you who have already shared your sweet stories and received an email from us but haven't yet responded with your mailing info, please remember to do so as soon as possible as we'd like to get these out to you before Valentine's Day. And if for some reason you didn't leave an email address (there may have been one or two), go ahead and leave another comment or just email us directly at thenimbusfactory@gmail.com.

Thank you all!

xoxo

The Nimbus Factory

Superbowl Ad Love (from last year)

2011-02-08T11:31:00.000-08:00

I know this ad is so 2010, but it still reigns as one of my favorites. It reminds me of the movie Love Actually when Colin Firth's character tries to learn Portuguese for his love, Aurelia. Google executes everything so perfectly here. Enjoy this blast from the past.

Valentine's Day Recipe #3: Homemade Nutella

2011-02-08T10:00:00.000-08:00

(photo from david lebovitz)

i'm not sure if there is anything better than nutella except for maybe homemade nutella. everything always tastes better when homemade, don't you think? this recipe, from one of my favorite food bloggers david lebovitz (better known as the guy who wrote one of THE go-to books on ice cream making -- the perfect scoop), seems like a cinch to make once you gather all of the ingredients. and what an amazingly simple gift it would make for valentine's day!

-----

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

by David Lebovitz, adapted from Encyclopédie du Chocolat

1/3 cup (40g) whole almonds

1 1/3 cup (160g) hazelnuts

1 3/4 cup (400g) whole milk

7/8 cup (60g) powdered whole milk

3 tablespoons (40g) mild-flavored honey

pinch of salt

6 ounces (170g) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped

5 ounces (140g) milk chocolate, chopped (use one that’s at least 30% cacao solids)

1. Spread the nuts on a baking sheet, keeping the almond separate, and toast the nuts in a 350ºF (180ºC) oven, stirring a few times, for 10 to 15 minutes, until the hazelnuts are browned.

2. While they are roasting, warm the whole milk and powdered milk in a small saucepan with the honey and salt just until it starts to boil. Remove from heat.

3. In a clean, dry bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, or in a microwave oven, melt the chocolates together until smooth.

4. Once the nuts are well-toasted, remove them from oven and use a spatula to place the warm hazelnuts in a clean tea towel, then fold them inside the towel and rub them vigorously to remove any loose skins. They don’t need to be pristine; just try to get as much off as possible.

5. In a food processor, grind the warm hazelnuts and almonds until they’re as fine as possible. You may not be able to get them completely smooth, depending on your food processor. (I have a brand new one and even after five minutes, there were little bits of nuts in mine, which is normal.)

6. Add the melted chocolate and continue to process the mixture, stopping to scrape down the sides of the work bowl, as necessary.

7. Once the mixture is smooth, add the warm milk mixture and process until everything is well-combined.

8. Transfer the mixture into two jars and refrigerate until ready to use.

Storage: The Chocolate-Hazelnut Paste will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week.

see the original recipe, recipe notes and more photos here!

In Love with...BHLDN

2011-02-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

(photos from anthropologie, originally posted at anthroholic)

Is this silly to admit? Especially since those wedding bells are far behind me :)?

For those of you who aren't familiar, BHLDN is Anthropologie's brand new wedding line, set to launch on Valentine's Day. Given the Anthro-style wedding trend that's been in full swing the past few years, this is probably a financially brilliant move on Anthropologie's part, but for brides getting married this year and beyond, I'm sure it'll also be a convenient and glorious wedding inspiration mecca. Color me jealous! I can only imagine what romantic perfection is around the corner when the line is officially launched :).

TNF V-Day Freebie #2 & #3: Sent With Love Label and Tag

2011-02-07T16:36:00.000-08:00

Here's another downloadable goodie for you! This post contains a love "Sent With Love" striped label with a matching patterned tag! Perfect for snail mailing!

Click here to download the label template and here to download the tag.

Enjoy :)!

V-Day Gift Guide #2: For your little munchkin

2011-02-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

a few sweet ways to bring some valentine's day spirit into the life of your little one!

V-Day Inspired Color Palette #2: Deep red & hot pink

2011-02-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

Unusual Animal Couples #2: Peg + Gup

2011-02-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

It was a crisp, October eve when Peg and Gup met,
She knew it was love when the sun began to set.
Peg was sampling a delicious pinecone when she saw Gup from afar,
His chiseled forehead and squishy blonde tummy made her nearly drop her jaw.

The hills were alive as they jogged to meet halfway,
through the creek and beyond the brush she waited for him to say
those few sweet words every squirrel dreams to hear,
"I'll be seeing you after hibernation and you'll be mine all year, my dear."

Valentine's Day Recipe #2: Heart Cake

2011-02-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

being pregnant and entering my third trimester, i (unfortunately) have very little ambition to spend my time in the kitchen baking a four layer cake, so any valentine's day sweets i have this year will most likely be in a restaurant. but for those of you with a little more time and energy, and want to present a little showstopper to your friends or significant other, i hope you give this marvelous looking heart cake a try. just go here to view the recipes and tutorial! and if you do make it, enjoy a slice for me!

(from i am baker via black eiffel)

TNF V-Day Freebie #1: 'LOVE' Gift Tag

2011-02-05T13:00:00.000-08:00

administrative note: don't forget to tell your friends about the nimbus factory's FREE valentine giveaway! just click on the pink banner at the top of our blog to go directly to the giveaway post :)! we'll be contacting those of you who already submitted your comments later this weekend!

in addition to those lovely valentines we cooked up for our giveaway, we wanted to give those of you with a craftier, DIY spirit some beautiful freebies that you can use to embellish your valentine's day cards and gifts! today we start things off with our lovely gift tag designs!

this 'love' tag would be the perfect thing to scribble a quick note to a close friend or loved one and attached to a gift with a bit of ribbon or twine.

Unusual Animal Couples #1: Oswald + Dorothy

2011-02-05T01:00:00.000-08:00

Oswald stormed in when he heard her in distress,
Poor Dorothy was unsure of how she got herself in this mess!
It began with a piece of cheese- a tasty slice of Havarti,
she loved it when her owners had their late night jam parties.

The paper bag swooped over her head as she reached for the slice,
at least there was a hole so she could breathe (which was quite nice).
Oswald made it there and one glance was all it took,
he saved his feline love with just one passionate look.

A Love-ly Playlist

2011-02-04T13:00:00.000-08:00

Songs inspired by the ups and downs of love & relationships

{brought to you by the love-ly gals at The Nimbus Factory}

Download on itunes

*warning, some songs may have explicit content--listen at your own risk!

V-Day Inspired Color Palette #1: Cream, coral, taupe, & blush

2011-02-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

V-Day Gift Guide #1: For your four-legged best friend

2011-02-03T12:00:00.000-08:00

because your pup could use a little love on valentine's day too!

1. natural burlap dog toy (found here) | 2. letterpressed valentine's day card by bonvivant press (found here) | 3. chocolate covered strawberry toy (found here) | 4. heart shaped dog biscuits (found here) | 5. la vie en rose dog pillow duvet cover (found here)

Valentine's Day Recipe #1: Chocolate Cracked Earth

2011-02-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

I'm going to share a recipe my roommate and I made earlier for our birthdays. I should probably clarify by saying that my roommate made it and I ate it.
At the time, we had a surplus of eggs in our fridge - more than 30 - and I was completely overwhelmed. Each day at work I set aside time to research quiches, egg casseroles, frittatas, and other egg-consuming dishes. While I found some frittata and quiche recipes asking for as many as 6 eggs, nothing came close to this chocolate cake. It requests a whopping 9 eggs! Regardless of eggs needed, it really was quite delicious, rich, and dense. If you ever have so many eggs that you're starting to feel stressed and your boyfriend wants to throw them at a wall so you can finally stop talking about egg recipes, I would highly recommend this cake.

It's Tyler Florence's Flourless Chocolate Cake, featured on foodnetwork.com.

Cook Time : 25 min
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients
1 pound bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces
1 stick unsalted butter*
9 large eggs, separated
3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 tablespoon
2 cups heavy cream, cold
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan.

Put the chocolate and butter into the top of a double boiler (or in a heatproof bowl) and heat over (but not touching) about 1 inch of simmering water until melted. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks with the sugar in a mixing bowl until light yellow in color. Whisk a little of the chocolate mixture into the egg yolk mixture to temper the eggs - this will keep the eggs from scrambling from the heat of the chocolate - then whisk in the rest of the chocolate mixture.

Beat the egg whites in a mixing bowl until stiff peaks form and fold into the chocolate mixture. Pour into the prepared pan and bake until the cake is set, the top starts to crack and a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out with moist crumbs clinging to it, 20 to 25 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes, then remove sides of pan.

While the cake is cooking, whip the cream until it becomes light and fluffy.

Serve at room temperature dusted with confectioners' sugar and topped with whipped cream.

TNF Valentine's Day Giveaway!

2011-02-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

so we're pretty excited to announce our first nimbus factory blog giveaway and you know what's even MORE awesome? everyone is automatically a winner.

that's right, we whipped up some sweet treats for you all, and we're starting out with the best -- your choice of two different valentines designed with a lot of love, and ready to be shipped to your door and given to your favorite person this year (or keep it for yourself if that floats your boat!).

so how do you make sure you get one of these lovely pieces in your mailbox before v-day? simple! become a follower of this blog (just use our 'follow us' widget in the righthand sidebar) and/or like us on facebook for your FREE valentine. then leave us a comment on this post and let us know which one you've done (if you already follow us or like us, then let us know that too!), along with your email address and we'll contact you by this weekend for your mailing info. if for some reason one valentine just isn't enough, you can earn another FREE valentine by sharing your favorite valentine's day memory!

we can't wait to give these away to you! and so much more in the next 12 days...:)

note: we have a limited amount of each design in stock so get your comments in as soon as possible :)! thanks!

Heart Shaped World Part 2

2011-02-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

Love is in the air! Today's post is dedicated to hearts found naturally all around us =)

vintage valentines

2011-02-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

(via wvu libraries collection)

i have quite a weakness for charming paper ephemera and these vintage valentines definitely hit the spot. also, a valentine built around a love for pie? absolutely priceless.

Heart Shaped World Part 1

2011-02-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

So Valentine's day is in the air, and we all know that we love our heart-shaped foods. This year, I'm trying to cut down. You know, I'm watching my womanly figure. So I'm going to pick one edible heart-shaped item and enjoy it wholeheartedly. The question is ... what shall it be?

First on the list to consider are heart-shaped cookies, chocolates, and donuts. They're just so yummy and cakey!

But suppose this year I want more than just the typical heart-shaped fare. I want complicated things! Like heart-shaped macaroons with raspberries stuffed in the filling, powdered sugar heart sandwiches with jammy filling, and heart-shaped pancakes!

On second thought, I think I'm more of a savory person. Shall I have an egg fried in a lovely heart shape? Millions of tiny heart-shaped pasta? Or hopefully not-so-burnt toast cut out to the shape of a heart?

I've found it! This is it - my one heart shaped food pick for the year. It's a pizza. Yes, an entire heart-shaped pizza. It's so beautiful.

the nimbus factory wants to bring some sweetness into your life!

2011-01-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

things have been busy behind the scenes at the nimbus factory (we can't wait to show off what we've been working on next!) but in the meantime, we wanted to celebrate the upcoming valentine's day holiday with a blogging extravaganza! so *drumroll* we're proud to announce our "14 days of love" event!

from february 1st through the 14th, we'll be blogging about everything and anything love, as well as sprinkling in some fun freebies and a sweet little valentine giveaway. so please -- mark your calendars, bookmark our blog, follow us on facebook or google reader, and just tell your friends to check in with us the next two weeks for a special TNF dose of v-day lovin'. we can't wait!

Winsor McCay

2011-01-26T16:35:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard of Winsor McCay? He was a comic artist and animator, best known for his charming Little Nemo in Slumberland story. The movie you're probably thinking of was a Japanese remake, and it was introduced to the US in 1992. McCay's original film was simply called Little Nemo, and it was made in 1911 - that's a hundred years ago! What's much more impressive is that McCay drew all 4,000 cells of this film himself. (On a side note, the talented Hayao Miyazaki worked on the modern Little Nemo in Slumberland until creative differences separated him from the project)
McCays' strips stood out for his time because of his mastery of cartoon pacing and motion. His most popular comics were "set in the dreams of their characters and featured fantasy art that attempted to capture the look and feel of dreams." Although he never became very popular, he has always had a strong following - influencing prominent cartoonists such as Chris Ware (Jimmy Corrigan), Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes), and Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are).

2011-01-25T18:04:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I'm pretty much head over heels in love with Anthropologie. Their November catalog actually took my breath away and impressed me so much that I actually wrote them an email saying how much I loved it.
On that note, I'd like to share a video from their website that I think is absolutely fabulous. The technique isn't incredibly original, but they did it sooo well.

Packaging we fancy

2011-01-20T14:11:00.000-08:00

A few visual treats!

Sara Nicely

Megan Reddish
(my reaction to finishing up a tasty pint)

Alvvino

Gitam BBDO Israel

Post-holiday sale!

2011-01-10T08:51:00.001-08:00

Assorted holiday items are marked down in the shop. You can never be too ready for Christmas, can you? :)

Le Dot

2011-01-04T08:05:00.000-08:00

Some time ago, I came across this zine by Anthony Zinonos. The title sparked my interest- Le Dot. On each page, Zinonos used a clipping from a photograph and one orange dot sticker. He placed the dot in a way that interacts with the photo and and subject matter. I really enjoy these two scenes.

Go here to browse more of his engaging collages.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T14:17:00.000-08:00

A whole heck of a lot of things happened in 2010: the beginning of one of my lifelong dreams, The Nimbus Factory (yay!), new friends, baby bumps, engagements, and many more things to be happy about.
To celebrate, I wanted to share one of my favorite videos that captures moments of life (taken from the Radiolab blog). I love paying attention to the little things and this video does exactly that.

Cheers to 2011!!

working it at renegade!

2010-12-19T13:07:00.000-08:00

don't forget if you're in the bay area, we're in booth 108 at the renegade craft fair holiday sale for the rest of the day. do your last minute holiday shopping with us :)!

the nimbus factory takes on san francisco!

2010-12-15T21:26:00.000-08:00

this week we've been busy primping and planning in preparation for the nimbus factory's very first renegade craft fair! for those of you in the bay area, we'd love for you to come out this weekend to say hello in person and of course, pick up some last minute holiday gifts and goodies for yourself and your loved ones :). this event is FREE to attend and will be chock full of indie design and crafting fun. click on the picture above for more information and we look forward to meeting all of you at booth 108 :). happy shopping!

a special note to our online shop customers: orders placed on 12/16 and after will be shipped out when we return to the studio on 12/20! thank you for your patience :).

write-up round up!

2010-12-13T11:36:00.001-08:00

we've been busy bees here at the nimbus factory getting ready for our very first holiday renegade show, but in the meantime we want to thank the very kind people around the web who have written such complimentary things about our products!

bonnie of going home to roost, an absolutely beautiful visual feast of a blog by the way ;), highlighted our year round wall calendar -- a personal TNF favorite :)! read more here.

naomi over at woodland papercuts had only the kindest things to say about our new product line! read more here and check out her equally lovely products here -- i'm already imagining framing some of those beautiful birdies on my baby's nursery wall!

nicolle over at sacred lotus features another one of our store favs -- the arctic animal holiday gift wrap! check it out here.

iheartcleveland giveaway!

2010-12-08T09:37:00.000-08:00

we are pleased to announce a fantastic giveaway being hosted on iheartcleveland, a really beautiful and enormously informative blog about living it up in cleveland run by the kind and lovely charity! today is day 2 of iheartcleveland's 12 days of giveaways and we're hoping to give your holidays a little something special with two sets of our arctic animals gift wrap set! to learn more about the giveaway, or just to find something cool to do this winter in cleveland, go here!

manomine

2010-12-07T21:56:00.000-08:00

i admire folks who create such beautiful work with their hands. charming handmade critters by manomine.

dear international friends...

2010-12-07T16:44:00.000-08:00

the nimbus factory officially ships to you :). happy shopping!

via allard one on flickr

thank you creature comforts!

2010-12-06T11:03:00.000-08:00

thank you so much to ez of the always delightful creature comforts blog for the kind little write up on our products! read more here!

Shop of the Week Interview!

2010-12-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

We've been interviewed by ShopBug as their Shop of the Week! Click here to read a little about the Nimbus team!

Press kit assembly

2010-12-05T18:48:00.000-08:00

Having way too much fun on a Sunday nite.

SCAD Atlanta's Midtown Pop-up Shop

2010-12-01T13:06:00.000-08:00

We are delighted to be participating in SCAD's first annual Midtown Pop-up Shop on Atlanta's Peachtree Street. Please stop by if you are in the area! For updates, follow their tweets or check out the facebook page.

Made in the 216

2010-11-30T19:42:00.000-08:00

Hello! I hope everyone had a restful and turkey-filled Thanksgiving and you're ready for the upcoming holidays! With my first blog post, I would like to express how excited we are to be a part of this year's Made in the 216 Holiday Shoppe Event at one of my favorite local Cleveland shops, Room Service. It's surreal to see our products outside of our studio, displayed alongside an impressive inventory of fantastic local products.
If you're in the Cleveland area, be sure to check it out during the month of December!

some love from Savannah

2010-11-30T16:22:00.000-08:00

A big thank you goes to Sarah for featuring us on shell & seaglass! We're flattered by all your kind words!