Illustration by Michelle Morelan

In this electronic era of emails is there anything more exciting than opening up your "real life" mail box to find a package inside with beautifully handscripted writing on it,,,,,,the type of writing that can only belong to an artist or craftsperson - the sight of that alone makes your heart race thinking about what could possibly be inside!

Custom stationary of Michelle Morelan Design

I immediately recognized the writing of my friend, the uber taltented Vancouver based designer/illustrator/artist Michelle Morelan.  (You may also know her from her popular blog A Schematic Life).  I felt like a kid at Christmas as I opened up this surprise package.  Before I tell you more about the contents, I have to share the opening up of the package with you because it was a treat in itself.  The packaging was a perfect example of someone who lives by the credo of good design, in all the details.  The stationary was worthy of its own moment of appreciation.

Inside the postage envelope was a handwritten letter on a beautiful piece of folded custom letterhead, the back of the paper was a patterned monogram logo print, unfolded, the inside was an off-white linen texture with embossed monogram logo on the top.  Exquisite.  In addition to that was an envelope in the same off-white linen paper.  As if the exterior of the linen envelope with embossed logo and modern grey font wasn't beautiful enough, opening it up revealed the inside of the envelope was lined in the patterned monogram print too.  A really lovely detail!

This monogram print was on the back of the letter head and inside of the envelope.

Embossed card with logo print.

My new old house, illustration by Michelle Morelan.

Its an illustration of my new old house on the East Coast, drawn by Michelle of course, and mounted in a vintage frame that she found at a local flea market - I'm crazy about the frame! She remembered me telling her one time I had some artwork in antique gold frames.  The fact that she's a special friend and one of the most talented architectural illustrators of our time,,,,makes me feel so lucky - its now one of my most favorite things and I'll cherish it always.  It'll have a special place in my home somewhere near my desk to remind me of this talented woman I admire and inspire me to sketch more.  : )





Also, kudos to the talented team at the multi-disciplinary design firm Meade Design Group who designed Michelle's cards/stationary (and website design).  Beautifully done.




All Photos by:  Carol Reed