On a quest to find the best gifts for mom? With Mother’s Day around the corner we’ve rounded up some of our current favorites that a modern mama might enjoy. Because gift giving can be a bit of a pickle, especially for a parent. Luckily all the goodies below are available to order online – no frantic running around necessary!

Instead of 1 card give her 12, for year-round note writing pleasure! Masha D’yans Twelve Months Set, $24 | Ren Serum, $65 is formulated to support the improvement of skin elasticity, smoothness, and decrease the appearance of wrinkles without harmful chemicals – yes please. | Quilted Pot Flowering Oregano, $58 is a fresh take on a spring bouquet that lasts. | Best Mom Tea Towel, $11.95 can double as a gift wrap, furoshiki-style! | Spring pastel Gilded Chocolates, $25 are guaranteed to delight the senses (and maybe she’ll share with you?) | Stache & Hyde Williamsburg Black StacheBook for iPad, $95 keeps things simply elegant, n’est-pas?

“I love you Mama” has been a leitmotif of Masha’s entire artistic career. She’s lucky to have been raised by uber-talented, creative, brave mom (you can read about Galina in Artists We Love) and grandma and she forever thanks them for the painting + fashion genes (and for toting her around in her extra chubby baby phase). Since this year is already zooming by, we thought we’d get ready for the mother of all card holidays ASAP with a small tribute to these incredible ladies and remind you to honor the super-women in your life. Let’s not forget, hand-writing a beautiful card for mother’s day, or any day, never goes out of style – we hope you enjoy our sentimental mix below.

1. We were inspired by Dolce & Gabbana‘s mother-themed Fall 2015 collection and imagined our keepsakes spilling out of one of their whimsical “I Love You Mama” bags. You can preorder one at Neiman Marcus.

2. Photos from the Soviet era are certainly brightened by Masha’s mom’s and grandma’s beauty and handiwork – almost every outfit depicted was made by them.

3. Bring your mama a sweet and timeless surprise of gratitude with our Kangaroo Mom.

4. Celebrate the springy beauty of a mother-to-be with our Baby Bump.

5. Our new Monkey Hug celebrates parenthood and cuddles. Send your love along with this cozy pair nestled in exotic blooms and melt your recipient’s heart.

6. Our new and lavish Peonies Beautiful puts it simply: go with the floral and stop to smell the blooms. Like a fresh bouquet, this card will beautify your mama’s day.

View all our cards for mother’s day here.

This week’s Inspiration Couture post is all about our slight (ahem) obsession with fashion. With one fashion week ending and another seemingly always beginning somewhere in the world (yay), we couldn’t help but find parallels between some of the gorgeously romantic details on the runways and our very our own painstakingly painted flights of fancy in greeting card form. Here are select pairings from the latest collections for your enjoyment. Because why not (isn’t that what internet’s for)?

Dolce & Gabbana gets opulence and killer femininity (that’s why they’re our all time faves)! In their Spring 2015 show, the designers took it to the max with crowns, flowers and gilded Spanish splendor. Masha’a Frida card shows off a similar full-blown reigning queen sensibility.

For your haute folk and Slavic fix go with Valentino Spring 2015 OR our Tractor Birthday card. Russian traditional ornament and style provide a leitmotif for both. Side note – we’re so excited that our friend, and quote en quote lil sisa, Valery Kaufman is modeling the show’s favorite look (she’s in all these shows, come to think of it). If you haven’t read an interview with this fierce kitten in our Fashion Crush you can do so here.

Dior was all irresistible lightness and soulfulness for Spring 2015. Kinda like our Lace Couple card – a perennial favorite for celebrating weddings.

Dolce & Gabbana celebrated Mamas in grand style for Fall 2015! No better subject exists as far as we’re concerned. Don’t forget our similarly outfitted Baby Bump for the fast approaching Mother’s Day (or any day) for a glowing mom-to-be.

Florals are going strong at Chanel Spring 2015 as well as other designers’ collections because they’re never not awesome. And how mind-blowing are the Chanel moving paper garden sets? It took six months to make the 300 flowers. Each of them had its own engine. We’re obsessed. Celebrate the enduring flower power with our Awesome Flowers card.

Haute Couture may be a mostly unattainable fantasy but you can get your paws on our fanciest cards any time in our shop. Truth.

All runway photos curtesy style.com.

Masha cards on Paper Crave, new and springy! So glad to be featured on the fab blog started by Kristen Magee in 2006 as an outlet for sharing her favorite paper finds – we sure have found many a paper craving there over the years!

Here’s a little taste of the article: “Masha’s bright, vibrant, and expressive designs feature a unique blend of organic watercolor elements and illustration, and I can feel the warm energy that exudes from her new, springtime cards, which were inspired by an obsession with cherry trees and all things blooming.” Thank you, Paper Crave! Read more and shop these beauties here.

In newest Masha news: Refinery29 + Target + Etsy. We’re so excited to share a few of biggies this week.

Our Pack Leader Wolf card is featured in Refinery29 current gift guide! We’re addicted to R29 so it’s extra sweet to be part of it and in such good company. Check out the full post with gift ideas for any age.

We’re also thrilled to introduce two new bespoke collections at select Target stores.First up: Prints Charming, a 12-card line that cleverly marries exclusive watercolor illustrations with irresistible holographic metallic foils and glitter processes. The combinations make for a treat that’s sweet and rich – yes please!

The Water Typo 12-card line juxtaposes free-flowing and abstract watercolor palette with offbeat messages done in Masha’s hand (painted into the washes – see how the color pools around ;)?) and printed in various holographic metallic foils. The whole effect is fast, festive, artsy fun, don’t you think? If you or your recipient(s) are color and texture junkies like us, these are for you! Let’s get psychedelic.

Both these card lines are part of our diffusion brand M by Masha D’yans and have messages inside and out for a complete package. To see more, please visit your Target store. You’ll only find these gems of color happiness in the boutique section of Target cards so be sure to check them out while they last!

Last but not least, good news for all you Etsy addicts! We just added an Etsy outpost of Masha shop featuring our bestest sellers. You’ll notice the pricing is a bit different, but with lower shipping on smaller quantities it comes to the same deal. Give it a whirl – we’d love to know what you think. The plan is to add one-of-a-kind products in the future.

Happy shopping.

Join us on an Easter Card Hunt boys and girls! Look for mischievous bunnies and festively colored eggs among the flowers in our shop. Spring is a hop and a jump away – come along and collect them all (clockwise from top):

1. Escape into an enchanting vista with our brand new Bloom Mountains Bunny and marvel at the majesty of spring this Easter or any occasion.

2. Get lost in the garden with our classic Easter card – Flower Field Bunny.

3. Look who just hatched from a nicely patterned egg! Eggshell Bunny.

4. More is more when it comes to pretty eggs and fresh carrots, enjoy with Egg Pile Bunny.

5. Remember, being sweet and crazy cute scores major points with any recipient. That’s Heart Holding Bunny in a nutshell.

In other news; we have new Etsy outpost, where you can shop more social – come say hello, we love to hear from you!

Our new cards have arrived! And they’re looking pretty springy and hopelessly romantic. Enjoy fresh picks for all occasions from the garden of #watercolormischief. We’re talking year-round Birthday, Just Because, Thinking of You, Encouragement, Mother’s Day, Bridal, Love and Thank You – when cards are this irresistible the possibilities are endless! Read about the inspiration and process behind the bloom-eriffic designs here and get your mittens on all nine in our shop starting March 1.

Escape into a stunning vista with our Bloom Mountains Bunny.

Fawn all over your birthday girl or boy with a cheerful bouquet via our charming Flower Branches Fawn.

Let’s be honest—it’s all about winning the best dressed. Send our Sakura Gown to a bride, a bridesmaid or use this card in any girly fashion.

Row Boat Among Trees takes you to a stunning, tranquil world of love and friendship.

Send our Plum Blossom Thanks to someone’s who’s been as marvelous as nature in the spring.

Let this magical Bonsai Kisses tree shower all in smiles.

Monkey Hug celebrates parenthood and cuddles.

A Gift From Bunnies makes for a cheery, hoppy birthday.

Peonies Beautiful puts it simply; “a single flower – like a messenger from another realm – contains a depth of beauty that has the power to elevate consciousness… and thereby heal.” -Siddhārtha Gautama

Who will you share these happy stunners with?

We’re starting a brand new series here on masha.com – Paper Muse, to spotlight people and shops we love to work with in the stationery industry! Today we’re so excited to chat with Eliza Brown, Retail Manager of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. This beautiful museum makes us feel like kids in a candy store for two big reasons. First, picture books is a major enduring love (something we very much share with Eliza) and influence on Masha’s art and this place exhibits original works from the very best. Second, the founder – the great Eric Carle wrote a beautiful endorsement on Masha’s first pop-up picture book Razzle-Dazzle Ruby – a dream come true! Read on for a glimpse of what it takes to run a well-curated shop and what’s coming up next in this magical place.

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Ever wonder how #watercolormischief comes about? Here’s a peek at the process as we work on our new spring collection going on press this week and coming soon to our shop! Our 12 Months cards have long been perennial best sellers especially the Cherry Tree Bird so we revisit our (and apparently our esteemed customers’) favorite subject of all time – flowering!

It all starts with looking out the window. We’re lucky to be treated to endless floral fireworks of every variety year-round here in Los Angeles. The magnificent magnolia tree outside Masha’s studio does this indescribable perfect explosion every January/February and has already inspired last year’s Flowering Deer. It simply cannot be ignored so our vibrant pink tree happily makes it into the new collection in many forms.
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Chances are you probably heard that we’ve been making #watercolormischief in fiber form with the fabulous Seattle-based Clothworks, who focus on premium quality quilting cotton fabrics masterfully printed in Europe. Look for them in independent quilt and fabric shops all over the United States and internationally. This week we thought we’d highlight the creativity of some of our awesome fabric customers. There are few things as exciting or gratifying as seeing your artwork take on another form and a whole new life. Sew… let’s check out fun with Masha fabric!

This lovely throw pillow was made in the Check Republic using our doodle pattern, found here.
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