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As I write this, I’ve just gotten home from National Stationery Show (NSS). My bags are still unpacked, the laundry’s undone — and accumulating by the minute — my expenses are unsubmitted and my notes are barely legible, even to me. Plus I’ve got a slew of thank-yous to write and a birthday party for my almost-6-year-old to plan.

Regardless, I am still walking on air from this amazing adventure. There was so much to be inspired by! Here’s my shortlist of highlights:

• Seeing the staff. Stationery Trends is truly modern because two staffers — Associate Publisher Brian Virgona and myself — telecommute and work from home. Thus only once a year can our staff hobnob and plan face to face. Seeing everyone in person is a gift, and we have begun laying the groundwork for some exciting projects.
• The LOUIE awards. While they’ve always been special, the evening has been transformed from industry gathering to can’t-miss event. This year’s chair, Cardstore.com’s Katy Greenspan, created an incredible carnival-themed cavalcade of fun that was as fun to judge as it was to attend. I loved getting the opportunity to present some awards alongside next year’s chair, Monika Brandup of Up With Paper. Also, moving the awards from Monday to Sunday gave winners an extra day to spread the good news.
• A blogging good time. Monday afternoon I was honored to moderate a panel of four top stationery bloggers: Nole Garey of Oh So Beautiful Paper; Kristin Magee of Invitation Crush and Papercrave; Lyndsey Payzant Wells of The Stationery Place; and Suann Song of Simplesong Design, both a top design blog and amazing letterpress line, and is also the proprietress of the boutique Fifteen/Eleven. I really enjoyed getting to pick their brains on everything from design trends to the whole idea of curating — and I think the sold-out crowd agreed.
• Parties & people galore. From the Greeting Card, Stationery & Giftware Gurus Meetup to the people-packed eighth annual Stationery Meetup, sponsored by Delphine and Oh So Beautiful Paper, I’m surprised my voice held out! I also had a ball having quiet dinners with the creative and business minds behind J. Falkner, Urubbu and Whitney English Paper.
• Booths, booths and more booths. My mind is still reeling from all of the gorgeous product, which I can’t wait to share in this and upcoming issues.

The show wound down Wednesday, and, like a wedding anticipated for months that must eventually end, it’s always a little sad. But the gorgeousness lives on in our NSS coverage on as well the pages of our daily Stationery Today online. And, there’s always next year to plan!