January 7, 2011
Okay. I’m ready for summer to get here!
Corps de Ballet photo by Howard Schatz; found via Thoughtful Day
December 21, 2010
It may have been down to the wire, but yesterday I crossed number 84 off of my 101 in 1001 list:
84. Mail Christmas Cards out before Christmas
I have been a slacker with holiday cards over the last few years, so I feel pretty victorious that I accomplished this one. In 2008, we should have been sending our first Christmas cards as newlyweds, but instead we were saving our pennies after hearing that Nick was laid off in early December. In 2009, I just couldn’t find the time and instead sent out Valentine cards a few months later. This year, I was determined to design, print, and mail our cards before Christmas!
Sticking with a small, flat, typography-based design (much like my V-day cards), I based the layout on the lyrics of a classic holiday favorite, by Nick’s request. I gave it a bit of a weathered look which worked great with the cards I chose — Paper Source’s A2 flat cards in Paper Bag. I used red Riso ink and printed the design with my Gocco, and I think the final result is pretty cute.
Now I just have to pick up a few more gifts and finish my wrapping, and I’m officially all set for Christmas this weekend!
Anyone else coming in right under the wire with their holiday cards? Do you make your own or do the smart thing and order them from somewhere? (I’m a glutton for must-design-and-print-them-myself punishment. It’s just my way.)
December 3, 2010
You all know that I love my Kindle, but I still adore beautiful real books, too, even if it is just for the covers. I love how many classics are being brought back to life with fresh new cover designs lately, and this bunch from White’s Books (founded by designer David Pearson and publisher Jon Jackson) particularly strikes my fancy. Each cover was designed by a different illustrator and has it’s own unique aesthetic, but the type style and placement tie them together nicely as a series.
images via Creative Review, found via The Naked and The Read
If you like them, too, you can buy the books here.
December 1, 2010
Interested in ordering save the dates, wedding invitations or other letterpress accessories from Claremont Collection but hoping to see some samples in person first? Now is the perfect time to place your order and see what we have to offer while saving a little dough!
Explore the collection, or order samples now. Be sure to hurry, and tell your soon-to-be-wed friends — the sale ends Friday!
November 15, 2010
I met Deanna Staffo a few years ago at a Weddingbee meetup, and I have since enjoyed following her blog and perusing the illustrations on her website. I love her style…I hope I’ll someday have an excuse to commission Deanna to create something fabulous for me or one of my clients.
all artwork via deannastaffo.com
November 9, 2010
I started a Pinterest account a few months ago, but didn’t really know what to do with it. It sat lonely for a little while, but I decided to give it another shot a few days ago and now I’m officially hooked.
What is Pinterest?
“Pinterest is a social catalog service. Think of it as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can post collections of things you love, and ‘follow’ collections created by people with great taste.” (via Pinterest about page)
Basically, when you’re on a website or a blog and you find an item or an image that you’re in love with, you can “pin it” and add it to a virtual pinboard of your choice. Several boards are already created for you when you create an account, but you can delete or revise them, or add more of your own. You can also follow other users’ pins (I love Kelly’s and Joy’s in particular) and re-pin their finds to your own boards.
a sampling of some of my recent pins
I love that I’m being introduced to items and images that I would not otherwise find in my daily perusing of my favorite blogs and websites. It’s a great way to get inspired and discover new products, artists, styles, etc. at a glance.
Want to follow my pins? You can find me here. If you’d like to start your own Pinterest account and need an invitation, comment below and I’ll invite the first 10 commenters (who comment using valid email addresses — no need to post your email address publicly in your comment). You can also request an invitation directly from Pinterest.
Happy pinning!
October 26, 2010
I posted about this on the Curious & Company blog a few weeks ago, but realized I never mentioned it here! Since many of you have followed me here by way of Weddingbee, this will certainly be of interest to you.
Several months ago, my partners and I had the pleasure of designing a 6-page spread for Volume 3 of Southern Weddings Magazine, which just hit newsstands a few weeks ago. When Emily first contacted us, she told us about the unique idea for a “Choose Your Own Southern Wedding” feature, and left it up to us to perfectly execute the concept with illustration and design. It was a challenge, but we could not be more thrilled with the outcome.
This issue of Southern Weddings is truly one of the most beautiful magazines I have ever seen, and I am so honored that my partners and I had the opportunity to be a part of it. Be sure to buy a copy if you see it on newsstands, or order a copy here to check out the rest of our spread and a magazine filled with some amazing eye candy!
October 20, 2010
You may have noticed that I’ve been a bit quiet over the last few weeks, and my blog posts have not been as frequent as usual. Well, I promise that I have a very good excuse for being otherwise preoccupied lately.
Wondering what it is?
Today, my colleagues and I are extremely proud to announce the launch of Claremont Collection, a line of delightfully distinctive letterpress wedding stationery from Curious & Company!
Claremont Collection has been my baby since partnering with the other four designers who make up Curious & Company, and I’m so thrilled with what we have created. We currently offer ten designs, each customizable with any of our 25 ink colors, three paper colors, and twelve envelope colors. Each letterpress suite comes complete with your choice of invitations, save the dates, response sets, celebration cards, detail cards, menus, thank you cards, escort/place cards, and favor tags.
The designs are available exclusively through our website, and nowhere else — that means when you place an order, yours truly will be seeing it through from design to completion! We offer samples of each letterpress invitation design, as well as each of our 25 ink colors printed on all three of our paper colors — so there is no guessing what your final design may look like in person.
I hope you love the collection and will share it with all of your soon-to-be-wed friends. If you feel so inclined, please do head over to our website to check out the designs!
Labels: Curious & Company, adventures in adulthood, claremont road, design, self-employment, weddings
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September 22, 2010
I love a pretty clock. Find me a clock that looks the slightest bit retro and I’m pretty much enamored with it. I’m fairly certain that one (or both?) of these cuties needs to live in my home.
cubist retro clock in turquoise and chartreuse; found via Design Mom
September 9, 2010
I don’t think I’d ever be in a bad mood if I saw this out my window every day.
Rio de Janeiro project by Favela Painting; found via Oh Joy!
Click on that last image to get the full effect. Doesn’t that take your breath away?
