B Designs Inc.: Correspondence cards for the rest of us

Sure, Crane's paper is nice. And engraving is nice.

But it's so predictable.

I just bought a couple of boxes of letter press correspondence cards from B Designs Inc. The designs are simple and elegant, but not stuffy. And they're guilt-free, because they're printed on recycled paper.

A box of ten cards is $14.00 on line; maybe more if you are fool enough to buy them in some overpriced tourist trap pay retail.

Dominique Cohen at Target

Just as we're all doing back-to-school shopping for the kids and hauling the 10-pound September Vogue off the doorstep (sorry about the hernia, Mr. Mailman!) comes the news that jewelry designer Dominique Cohen has produced a new line for Target.

Now, piled on in careless profusion, as in the picture on their website, it's all a bit much.

However, individual pieces could be a lot of fun. Especially since it looks like this fall, at long last, black is finally the new black.

This necklace could work with just about anything.

The cameo is a bit tricker to work with, but as long as you don't look like you're taking it seriously, it could punch up a lot of casual clothes. Or black and white outfits. Or OK, a Lucy dress you thrifted.

I saved the best for last. LOVE the combination of crystal with black.