rock paper scissors

I love what I do

Today I received a letter from one of our manufacturers, The Smead Manufacturing Company. We carry their line of MO products which are addictive for those of us that get that special little thrill out of organizing our papers and life. The letter was one of those "We've spun off our European division, blah, blah, blah" but I read the whole thing any way. And the treat I received was in the very last sentence of the very last paragraph: "As always, thank you for your support of Smead and for working with us to help keep the world just a little better organized". ". . . TO KEEP THE WORLD JUST A LITTLE BETTER ORGANIZED." GOD I love what I do! I mean, how freakin' exciting is that? It made my little Virgo heart skip a beat. I had to share. Thanks for reading. Now go file something.
Love,

Amy

You want real change?

Well, I'm afraid it's not going to magically spring forth from any major political campaign. But that doesn't mean we all can't make tiny, little changes in our own lives that can then, in turn, change our relationship to the world. Sounds deep you say? It is, and it isn't.

Take for instance a place you spend nearly every day, where you write those brilliant proposals, process those beautiful pictures, shop online during work hours. It's where the magic happens, it's where you're on your game—and yet it is a pigsty.

That's why we are so boldly screaming from the rafters: People, change your desks and change your life! We're even thinking of putting Amy in an infomercial. (That's right, can I get a witness?!?)
"Go ahead and just try our theory for 30 days. If you're not completely satisfied, then you just don't get it and we can't help you."

But really, we think you do get it: Russell+Hazel binders to collect all those papers you won't get around to looking at. Moleskine pocket calendars to keep your appointments straight. Tins of Clippiola spiral paper clips, Rhodia pads, Lexon calculators, Three by Three magnetic strips, Parkhaus eyeglass holders, Orla Kiely spiral notebooks, Tollit & Harvey filing systems and even a little Michael Ruh hand-blown glass vases because, well, we appreciate a little nature while we're posting an anonymous comment on our ex's blog as much as the next guy.

You want real change people? Then trust us—change your desk and watch how things just seem to fall into place. And after that, if you're not completely satisfied...

rps has summer fever

just a heads up that our store hours are going to be a little tweaked for the month of august as we all try to get in our last-minute summer vacations (who can say no to a good water park in heat like this?!).

v

we'll be closed august 4th, 5th, and 6th but will be open thursday the 7th, friday the 8th and saturday the 9th from 11am-5pm.

after that our august hours will be monday-saturday, 10am-6pm.

happy summer!

(image borrowed from pools by kelly klein)

watch your fingers!

birthday lunches are a contact sport around here, and kathryn's birthday proved no different. after being surprised with the coveted michael ruh vase that had mysteriously been "sold" a couple weeks prior to her birthday, we all dug in to the bday lunch of choice: wayside chicken. holy smokes. what happened next cannot be accounted for because we all blacked out the food was so good. after coming to, we topped off the celebration with a fabulous pie from breadworks and some haagen dazs (because you can't have one without the other). the rest of the day was a little blurry and we apologize for any poor customer service...we blame the collective food coma we were all in.

the before, during, and after.

keeping up with the gardner(s)

we've always thought amy was tops and not because she's our fearless leader. if you shop at rps or our sister store scarpa you know that she has an eye for design like no other; not surprisingly that keen eye carries over into her home as well. now the rest of the world can get clued in on what we've known for ages as cottage living magazine features amy's kitchen in its latest supplement "cottage kitchens". ranking as number 15 on the editors' list of the top 25 best kitchens, amy's tiny modern culinary nook is on display featuring the island built to resemble a piece of furniture and showcasing the way that the living room and kitchen flow seamlessly. we have a sneak peek for you here, but you can check out the full spread when you pick up your own copy on newsstands.

ps: you might be racking your brain thinking, "but wasn't amy's cottage featured in cottage living?" well, yes, it was. but the kitchen didn't get the attention it rightfully deserves.

celebrating summer in belmont

Happy to say that the 1st Annual Belmont Avenue Block Party was a huge success. Ten households came together to create an evening of grilled meats, covered side dishes, kegs, a kiddie pool, one gut busting slip and slide and a once a year opportunity to ride a tricycle in the street. For the adults it was a great excuse to roll out of the house and enjoy a beer with neighbors while someone else watched your kid. For the kids it was an evening to be free and play in a way that's matched by few other evenings in the year. I mean, how often can you draw with chalk on and in the middle of Belmont Avenue?

What does any of this have to do with rock paper scissors? At first blush, not much. But when you think about what we do and why we do it, well the photo below pretty is a good clue. We help get the party started. Cheers to summer and cheers to your party.

PS My neighbor and dear friend Julia Williams took the photo. I love it! It reminds me of a modern day version of an Old Master's work. The level of detail and the number of scenes within the frame delight me.

Orla Kiely is finally here!!!

It's been like Christmas around here awaiting our shipment of Orla Kiely paper products, but alas, the eagle has landed! Man oh man, you need to see this stuff to believe it: Fresh and bright colors and patterns that scream happy, happy, happy! If you're familiar with her geometrical genius on totes, wallets, clothes and luggage, then you'll flip your lid when you see the same geometry play out on paper.

From perfectly sized journals (and travel journals with color-coded stickers; an INTJ 's dream) to bodacious boxed notecards and the cheeriest compostition book any school kid could ever want, I think we can all agree that Orla has done it again. But you'd better haul it in here to pick some up, or buy right now online.....because this stuff is flying out of here faster than a big gulp of Britney Spears' purple draaank at a backwoods barbeque.

a weekend off

Thanks to the lovely and generous Anna Towns, Ben and I got some quality time in the hills of Southwest Virginia last weekend. There is much to love about an old house at the end of a long road with a stream in the backyard.

The too short time was filled with hikes, naps, horseback rides, outdoor showers, good food, laughs and some quiet 'me' time. I'm one of those extroverts who enjoys some solid peace and 'don't talk to me' quiet every now and then. When I get it, and I try to sneak some each week, I usually spend some time with my journal. I've kept a journal since college, sometimes more reliably and religiously than at other times. Now that I've got Ben there's so much I find myself wanting to write about. I'm not diligent enough to keep a baby book, but I'm keeping a journal for him. I started when he was about three weeks old. I call it my Bournal (you know, Bennifer and Bradgelina - bad joke but that's what happens when you're seriously sleep deprived. You think you're funny.) Anyhoo, I spend some time each week writing to him and telling him what he's doing new, how the week went, about our first trip to the swimming pool (not such a success), that he likes to dance, I how feel about being a mom. I wonder if he'll ever want to read it.

Sometimes I opt for that true blue moleskine to get my through my need to navel gaze. To celebrate Ben, I wanted something a little more spectacular. A little more razzle dazzle jazz hands. No seriously, I wanted hable construction. I wanted a pretty thing that made me exhale when I look through my jammed bag. I put a slice of vintage ribbon in to mark my place. And I use my all time favorite pen, the AG Spaulding capless roller ball, to ink my thoughts for better or worse in that sweet book.

So if you're thinking about the experience of recording your thoughts, I say just do it. But do it with some jazz hands.

THE SALE OF ALL SALES!

SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE!

that's right.  rock paper scissors is kicking off summer with the sale of all sales.  not only is the whole store 25% off (time to get that michael ruh vase you've had your eye on for pretty much forever), but we also have a sale section with deals so good you will pretty much black out (we're talking 75% off here people).  fear not, we're not going out of business. we're just itching to get in fun new wares but currently have no where to put them (that, and we're trying to do our part to help stimulate the economy). 

don't live in charlottesville?  that's ok.  you can still get in on the action at the sale section of our website. 

shop soon, shop often.

when it rains, it pours

gas prices have never been higher. virginia has never been hotter (temperature wise). the economy has seen better days. and that's just the tip of the iceberg. while the outlook is bleak, and there seems to be no relief in sight, here in our own little piece of the world, rps has much to celebrate.

part-time rps-er and full time mom alissa welcomed the newest addition to her family, little miss maeve madeline, in late may. miss maeve kept us all on our toes awaiting her arrival, and now that she's here, we couldn't be happier...but probably no one more so than big sis cora (that smile couldn't get any bigger!).

our other invaluable set of hands shannon will sadly be leaving us, but will be moving on to greener pastures none of us dare venture: resuming her post as a middle school english teacher. while we cower at the thought of overseeing 20-30 hormone-ravaged tweens, shannon can't wait to get back to the land of emotional distress and leave her mark.

last, but certainly not least, after a near-six month stint in iraq, shannon's husband morgan has returned to US soil, safe and sound.

indeed, when it rains, it pours.