Design is Everywhere

Get your Paper Here!!!

2011-02-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

The second round of the Paper Carnival is on! A group of fabulous stationers have readied their etsy supply shops so that we can share our overstock of cards, papers, envelopes, embellishments and more, with you!! I've been stocking and re-stocking my shop, Bride Supplies all this week! Today is our turn so check it out. How about these Pink 5x7 Foldover Invitation or Program backings? Besides being just right for wedding use, they'd also be useful for baby announcements, shower invitations, or for a little girl's birthday party.

If you're a do-it-yourself bride, scrapbooker, cardmaking enthusiast, or just a paper lover you're going to want to check all the supply shops posting their paper goodness on the Paper Carnival facebook page. You can also keep an eye on the blog for more Paper Carnival related posts coming soon!

Next up, Feterie's SupplyMe Shop. My favorite listing? This gorgeous Japanese Yuzen Chiyogami Washi Paper. Bearing a traditional flying crane motif, this hand silkscreen-printed paper imported from Japan comes in two of this season's hottest wedding colors Purple and Lilac. Perfect for invitation making!

Do you love paper crafting?

2010-06-27T15:02:00.002-04:00

Well then I've got the event for you! A Paper Carnival! Right now, a bunch of fabulous stationers are readying their etsy supply shops so that we can share our overstock of cards, papers, envelopes, embellishments and more, with you!! I've been stocking and re-stocking my shop, Bride Supplies all this week! Check it out.

If you're a scrapbooker, cardmaking enthusiast, or just a paper lover you're going to want to check all the supply shops posting their paper goodness on the Paper Carnival facebook page. You can also keep an eye on the blog for more Paper Carnival related posts coming soon!!

Step right up to the Paper Carnival!

2010-06-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

One of the coolest things about Syracuse, New York, Bride Design's home town, is the great New York State Fair. The entertainment, carnival rides, and even the butter sculpture, change from year to year. But one thing always remains the same: I come home with more fun stuff than I know what to do with (and a bit less cash). And while you might not find prizes, stuffed toys, or a tummy-ache at this carnival, you will likely go home with something way better in my opinion...paper goodies!!

So grab a deep-fried twinkie and check out BrideSupplies, our etsy supply shop. Where, in an effort to keep our studio tidy and your DIY crafting needs met, Bride Design offers our high-quality extras to you at extremely affordable prices. We offer many of our items, like these 6.25 inch Square Cheery Orange Cards, in large quantites. Making these cards ideal to use for creating wedding or large event invitations.

My favorite item in our shop right now? This gorgeous and eco-friendly lokta paper from Nepal.

Next up, fellow New Yorkers Invitations and Beyond! If you liked our overstock of metallic champagne papers, you might just want to pair them with their elegant metallic champagne "champagnium" pocket folds! Love the repousse floral pattern.

If your using this gorgeous champagne color as part of your wedding, I could see using this package of 9 pocket folds to hold the invitation and itinerary for a pre-wedding girls' weekend in Chicago, wine country, or even at a resort or spa. They're that versatile.

Miss some of the previous Paper Carnival stops? Check us out on Facebook and Twitter…and happy shopping!

Back from Beyond...

2010-03-13T11:56:00.003-05:00

Where have I been? Well...is there a place called "busy?" If there is, then that is definitely where I've been. Wedding season is in full swing and the studio has been bustling with activity. It's actually really exciting and invigorating!

I've also been busy with my other passion and blog Erin Illustrates! When I'm not creating invitations and wedding stationery, I'm painting and drawing these days. So please, visit me there. And as the year rolls on, I think you'll find that my passion for paper and illustration will meld further...resulting in some new ideas, products, and growth for me as designer and for the face of Bride Design. I can't wait to see where it leads!

Jewelry + Print Design = One Fantastic Giveaway

2009-11-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

One of the many things I love about the stationery world, is the opportunity I've had to meet incredible fellow designers. Enter Cathe from Feterie, master of pattern and typography and all around cool girl. One thing I love about the broader indie design and handmade community are the collaborations I've seen grow and prosper between artists who work in different mediums. Enter the husband and wife design team over at Blend Creations who've partnered with Cathe to create a limited-edition, two-of-a-kind product featuring two designs from Feterie's fab gift wrap line.

Giveaway starts on 11/2/09 and ends 11/16/09. Be sure to enter HERE and while you're at it check out the many other ways to achieve additional entries. The designers will be selecting 4 winners total (each necklace has a retail value of $108) to win either the Grape Just Dots Round Necklace or the Lemon Vendome Round Necklace. Mmmm....gorgeous design and modern jewelry. My kind of contest.

It's in the bag!

2009-09-28T14:11:00.004-04:00

I love my peeps over at Wishpot and just had to share their latest giveaway. The Wishpot team has joined forces with Avelle, the new Bag Borrow Steal, (think the Sex in the City movie) to give readers the chance at winning this fabulous fun red kate spade designer handbag! Just in time for my birthday. Holla! Retail value $429.

Here’s how to enter:

Tell, Show or Share what you want to carry in your Avelle Designer Bag!
(Your fave accessories, your pets, your dreams, the kitchen sink and more….)

Tell: for each response on the Wishpot Blog, on Avelle FB Fan Page, or on Twitter RT #Avelle, you'll get 1 entry.

Show: post a pic of what you want to carry on Avelle FB Fan Page, or on Twitter and get 2 entries

Share: sign up at Avelle, follow Avelle on Twitter or blog about this giveaway like I did, and get 3 entries. Woo-hoo!

Be sure to leave a comment on the Wishpot Blog with what you did. Giveaway lasts one week and a winner will be drawn by Wishpot on Monday Oct 5th. Good Luck and leave a comment here as well. I'm nosy like that. As for me, I'll be carrying my ipod touch, my phone, pictures of my kiddos, lots of pens, a journal and sketchbook, a load of bare escentuals and kiss my face products, and more in this bag when I win!

About the bag: kate spade ‘Quinn’ Knightsbridge Croco Tote
The clean lines and elegant croc-embossed patent leather of this kate spade tote transition effortlessly from daytime to evening. Designed to fit snugly under your arm, it’s finished with an open top, goldtone hardware, metal feet, three center compartments, signature lining and interior zip and cell pockets. Dimensions: 12"L x 3"W x 9"H. 7" handle drop.

Inspired by...

2009-08-17T16:09:00.005-04:00

These days, I'm deeply inspired by my garden and all the delightful things I've managed (surprisingly!) to grow along with my co-gardeners. Those would be my preschool-aged daughters, who love to water (or over-water!) our crops and who get ridiculously excited about harvesting. You should have seen the excitement over the ceremonial picking of our first cucumber this morning at 7:30 AM. I've also been really inspired by the contents of our organically grown crop-share box that we get from a local farm each week. I've discovered veggies I never even knew about, like these heirloom "dragon tongue beans." Sautée with garlic and oil for an absolutely heavenly experience! And I've been forced to be more creative with my cooking. The creativity doesn't stop there though. In these veggies, I've found new color combos, shapes, and textures that I've been recording for artistic purposes. I can't wait to begin experimenting with them this fall and I've already been thinking of ways to incorporate some of these new ideas into my designs.

It might seem odd, wedding invitations inspired by summer's vegetable bounty, but it's these types of connections that I find spur the most interesting and fresh ideas for me. I love looking at bridal mags and trends, and while I never discourage a bride from doing the same, I strongly encourage couples to explore a wide range of resources. Why settle for a wedding invitation inspired by another wedding invitation, when you can have something truly unique and inspired by YOU, the connections you've made, the things you love? Look beyond the "typical" and allow yourself to be inspired by more than just "wedding ideas."

For those brides or planners out there, what decidedly non-wedding thing, place, or theme has inspired you? Fellow creatives, what randomness has been inspiring you these days? I'm dying to know! I on the other hand, need to get down to work, creating some dragon tongue-esque invites!!

Home is where the (artist's) heart is...

2009-08-11T13:47:00.004-04:00

I've lived in a lot of places that are packed with creativity: Manhattan...Chicago...Providence, RI. Each one has a vibrant art and indie craft life of its own, brimming with coolness. When I first moved to Syracuse, NY I wondered if I'd find that same type of creative scene. At first, I thought hope was lost. And then? I found the most welcoming, interesting, and hungry art community I've come across yet.

I was thrilled when I landed, by complete chance, in the Strathmore section of the city. A neighborhood with it's own art show, Art on The Porches, designed to celebrate the area's historical homes, as well as the many local artists who live here. Check out this year's poster I created for the event, inspired by the great Government WPA posters of the 1930's.
Syracuse has indeed struggled with it's artistic identity over the years, but as a city resident I've been impressed by how many artists and non-artists alike, deeply value what Syracuse has to offer in the way of locally produced art and handmade goods.

Now, even my wildest expectations are being surpassed with the start of The Salt City Urban Art & Craft Market! More delightful indie goodness, right here on my home turf? It's almost too good to be true. My application is in and I hope to be part of what sounds like it will be an incredible display of local and regional NY talent. Thanks to the event organizers Briana and Vanessa for believing in Syracuse and beyond...

The Times They Are a Changin'

2009-08-04T13:25:00.005-04:00

Soon the leaves will be turning autumn hues and school will be back in swing. Honestly, I can't wait! It's my favorite time of year. Lucky for me, I get to experience autumn early every year as I create fall invitations on these hot summer days. Here's a sneak peek of one I truly enjoyed creating for a very fun couple. These invitations featured a natural pressed maple leaves and as highlighted in the photo, an original illustration I created with watercolors. Almost every bride I've worked with this year has come back for programs, or place cards, or some other paper-related delight, so I'll keep you posted with pictures of the items I'm working on to match this lovely suite.

In the meantime, I've got something of my own in the works and am hoping it will be ready for September release—the all new, revamped Bride Design website! The new website will include an online shop, a fully redesigned and self-hosted blog, new additions to our couture portfolio and more. I'm really excited to expand Bride Design's offerings and make shopping our products and services easier for our clients. Perhaps I'll even have a sneak peek into the site's redesign soon!

More etsy treasury goodness!

2009-07-15T05:26:00.004-04:00

One of the things I like about etsy is that having a shop has led me to see and find more cool art, jewelry, clothing, accessories, supplies (the list goes on...) than I could ever find roaming the internet on my own. Treasuries are a fun way to do just that. As a shop owner, I love treasuries for the exposure they provide the featured artisans and products. But as a shopper, it's the chance treasuries give to sneak a peak into the mind of my fellow creative consumers and crafts-people that thrills me.

I was thrilled to have my Modern Circles Wedding Invitation included in a very cool treasury entitled Grey Charcoal Red Pink. I think I faved about 4 items, and found a bunch of shops I probably wouldn't have found on my own. How delicious is that yarn? I totally want to renovate my bathroom with a parisian theme around that little toothbrush holder. And I wish I had $450 hanging around for that painting.

I also love that the patchwork sweater blanket included accents the grey and red colors, with an ochre-type yellow. Just like my invitation. Oh yeah, and it gets cold here in central New York...so I'll be needing that too! Thanks to Lesha's Workshop for creating this treasury and including me, and I promise not to send you the bill for all my subsequent etsy purchases {*wink*}.

Living, Loving, Laughing...Working!

2009-06-30T14:15:00.006-04:00

Sorry I've been away so long, but the end of the school year, start of summer, and the wild activity of "wedding season" has had me up to my ears in a whole lot of all of the above. I'm really excited about the pochette invitations shown here (and the programs, donation cards, and possibly a few other reception elements that will go along with them!). I had a blast creating them for a lovely bride and groom, who also share tattoos that include the words used in the "logo" I designed for them.

The bride's vision included lots of bright white and the invitation reflects that, but I also enjoyed using her unique accent colors: coral and olive. They provided the perfect pop for the envelope lining and underscored key elements of the interior design. The inside also boasts swirl elements used to evoke the same aesthetic as her gorgeous wedding gown. I'm so thrilled that my friend Jen from She Takes The Cake is creating the wedding cake for this couple's event and I can't wait to see where she takes these ideas on what I know will be a sugar masterpiece!

Between this and my last post, I bet you are thinking what I'm thinking..."it's the year of the rings!" I've moved on to new looks, but I have certainly found wedding rings to be a big inspiration this year, especially in regards to typography. More to come, very soon. We're moving out of summer weddings and into fall and winter now, so I'll get some pictures up soon of more of our summer creations and give some sneak peaks of what you'll be seeing in September and October too!

Design is everywhere...even on fruit.

2009-06-03T20:13:00.004-04:00

I have no need for a fruit cozy, and yet I want this one from Unravel Me Designs something fierce. I'm a green apple girl myself, and doesn't this crisp, juicy apple look so...well, cozy in its little sweater?! And don't get me started on the Cheshire Cat closure!

I don't work in an office anymore and so my apple-toting is limited these days, but this just might be the ticket to more fruit eating for me. A little cozy sure would protect my apple from getting banged up in a diaper bag and I think my little girls would love an entire family of apples all dressed in different colors and stashed happily in a ceramic bowl. I can see it now a pile of discarded Barbies and clothing, abandoned in the name of dressing up fruit. I like it.

Be sure to check out Unravel Me Designs. I don't ever think I've been more inspired to write a blog post about an etsy find, as when I saw this picture. Keep up the decidedly creative design work UnravelMe!!

Sunshine (on this rainy, rainy day...)

2009-05-29T05:21:00.011-04:00

If you're not reading (or should I say, reading and commenting on) The Bright Side Project blog, well...then you're missing out. Bloggers Miss K and Miss B "deliver sunshine daily" by offering up giveaways for readers that at the same time support emerging and established artists and designers. That's a cause I can certainly get behind!

Not only are the offerings from these artists, gorgeous and unique, but the questions The Bright Side Project asks contest entrants to answer are thought-provoking. I did a workshop for some fellow entrepreneurs, on Unleashing Your Creativity a few weeks ago, and in talking with a few of the women in attendance I mentioned how much visiting and commenting on The Bright Side Project encourages my own creative thinking. Not only do I gain inspiration by getting a peak at what other members of the artistic community are working on, but through answering questions I would normally never think to ask, I'm led to explore new creative territory and discover new inspiration inside myself. Pretty cool, eh? You've gotta try it!

If you do, you just might find yourself a winner. I did, and from quite and unexpected answer I might add! I didn't have to think long when answering "What scent reminds you of your childhood, and why?"
Here's what I said:
As a result, I was lucky enough to win an incredibly awesome hand-poured soy candle from Linnea's Lights! Choosing from their delicious list of scents was difficult. They ALL sound captivating. But in the end I went with Sweet Grass, in honor of my 4 year old's own springtime "kid-sweat" scent. Honestly, I am so loving this candle that I'm going to save my rave reviews of Linnea's Lights for another post...

I'll admit, winning is very fun, but as they say...it is not everything. Trust me when I say, The Bright Side Project has a lot to offer. Now get yourself over there right now and start answering some questions! Enjoy...

Sending Smiles...one card (or several!) at a time

2009-05-11T14:20:00.004-04:00

If you haven't heard of Spirit Jump...check it out. As it says on the website "Spirit Jump is a program that directly connects the gift giver with a person battling cancer. It was founded in November, 2008 by two young women who have both battled cancer." Handmade gifts are especially encouraged, and I've been so fortunate to have found this organization so that I can share my craft and (hopefully!) boost some spirits in the process.

Today I sent out the two cards above, which are designs I created for Sweet Talk Boutique. I hope it lightens the load a bit for the two people who receive them, or at least helps them crack a smile. I for one, always underestimate the joy I feel when sending a little gift, or encouragement and good wishes to someone who needs it. I never fail to be moved and blessed by the experience. Thanks to The Sprit Jump ladies Meaghan and Stacy, for all the effort they put into Spirit Jump. They are true inspirations. And I love being a "Jumper!"

DIY Delight!: Bride Supplies

2009-05-08T10:00:00.000-04:00

At Bride Design we're forever creating new stationery designs for weddings, events, and life's most meaningful milestones. But that often leaves us with an overstock of cards, paper, ribbon, embellishments, art supplies and more. In an effort to keep our studio tidy and your DIY crafting needs met, we thought we'd offer our high-quality extras to you at extremely affordable prices through Bride Supplies! If you're planning on making your own invites or are thinking about another stationery project, check out what we've got. The shop contents will be updated whenever possible. Please let us know if you've got any questions and don't hesitate to visit our studio's official shop as well!

Weddings: Logo Love

2009-05-06T10:00:00.001-04:00

Earlier this week, I delivered an order of custom blush pink and ivory invites to a lovely couple. My favorite part of their design? The very simple monogram I created using the lowercase version of their first initials "p" and "d." The second I started playing around with the letters I knew what font I wanted to use for this part of the design: Century Gothic. Besides the "m_______________" on the response card, the monogram is the only part of the design that uses this face and I chose it for it's pure geometry and consistent stroke. It's "o" character is a perfect circle and the "p" and "d" match perfectly. Creating couture invitations that capture a couple's unique qualities is always a thrill for me. And when I can work with typography? That's even better. The best part of all, the bride and groom love their "logo" and we'll be using it on some additional ceremony and reception items for their upcoming July wedding as well. I can't wait!

Thom Felicia Style: Design Meets Generosity

2009-05-04T11:29:00.008-04:00

Last week I had the fortune to attend a book-signing event featuring interior design powerhouse Thom Filicia. You might remember him from TV's Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Held at the lovely Fingerlakes winery Anyela's Vineyeard, this event benefited local charity Positively Pink Packages—a great organization that provides vital resources to breast cancer patients. The amazingly designed cake for the event was created by my friend, sugar artist Jennifer Comfort of She Takes The Cake. It was stunning, complete with 3-tiers and a full-size, hand-painted cookie replica of Thom's book "Thom Filicia Style!"

Since meeting Thom (so fun!) and getting my book signed, I've had some time to flip through the pages and it's great. As a designer myself, but not one of the home decor ilk, I've found Thom's approach to interiors strangely similar to the way I design for print. Design maxims like "less is more" or "lose the matchy-matchiness" are things I subscribe to when working with paper, but often fail to apply to my own home. Thom's philosophy includes incorporating texture, unique surprise elements, and balance into the rooms he creates. Again, those are techniques I use when creating invitations, logos, and stationery, but they somehow manage to slip my mind when I'm trying to redecorate my living room. Well, no longer. I'm ready to unleash my personal design sense on my home (which is probably why I started ripping down wall-paper in my foyer), and do it with style, smarts, and OK...a little help from Thom Filicia's book (*wink*).

Design Fun : Lying Eyes

2009-04-29T05:24:00.002-04:00

If you, like me, fancy yourself a color theory or design buff, I think you'll enjoy this quick little puzzle over at Wired Magazine. Can your "lying eyes" find the two shades of gray that are the same? Thanks to @willfrancis for sharing this over on twitter.

While you are over at Wired, you might want to check out this fun design tidbit on ambigrams (a phrase written so that you can read it right side up and upside down). Very cool. I can't wait to share the one that reads "Reverse Engineering," with my engineer husband. Hope everyone has a beautiful and design-filled day!

Sometimes it's OK to play with your food...

2009-04-24T09:00:00.001-04:00

Especially when it's part of a valiant effort to make mealtime more appealing, or fun for some preschoolers. Spring has officially sprung here and I've been sure (even when it's pouring outside) to serve up a little sunshine on my daughters' plates as a reflection of the season. I'm definitely no Hippo Mum, but I do give it my best shot making healthy and pretty meals for my little girls. And with increasingly picky taste-buds, a little design aesthetic applied to their foodstuffs seems to make everything go down a little smoother, and lunchtime a lot less tiring on this Mommy. How do you spice up your kids meals? With new and interesting tastes? Sneaking in some stealthy and healthy staples? Or do you just fall back on making pretty pictures like me?! Whatever works, right?

The Earth Laughs in Chocolate: John&Kira's

2009-04-23T05:38:00.005-04:00

Ever since my sister attended her sister-in-law's chocolate- and wine-tasting bridal shower, I've been meaning to tell you about John&Kira's gourmet, artisan, chocolates. I was especially delighted when said sister gave a box of chocolates to my husband for Christmas and I got to try their delicious, melt-in-your-mouth flavor combos. As if producing incredible tasting, and gorgeous looking chocolate wasn't enough, I also appreciate this Philidelphia business' community involvement and earth-friendly stance. They use local and family farms for their fresh ingredients, and support an urban school garden program in West Philadelphia where the mint for their Garden Mint chocolates is grown. I never thought I'd say this but mmmm....Earth Day.

With other flavors like Lingering Lemongrass, Popohaku Farm Ginger, and Lavender Honey...you know you're in for a unique, and often organic experience when trying these chocolates. Carefully embellished squares of chocolate and beautifully packaged product speak to John&Kira's design sense as well and make their sweets even more of a joy to eat. I was delighted to discover they also offer wedding favor versions of their fine product. I think the lovebugs pictured above would be perfect, and a welcome treat for guests, such an event. So happy earth day (a day late) and why not celebrate with some chocolate!?

"You mean when you were a kid, you didn't have music uploaded directly to your brain?"

2009-04-15T14:11:00.007-04:00

Rhett and Link s Dead iPod Song @ Yahoo! Video

If you are my friend on Facebook, you're probably already aware that my 2 year old threw my iPod touch in the (albeit clean, but very wet) toilet a couple of weeks ago. My amazingly awesome engineer husband actually got it to work again for about a week and it functioned almost perfectly (except for a little sound glitch here and there). That was until I let the charge run out completely and then...nothin'. This song pretty much sums up the experience. Except for the 18 months to two years part. I only had mine for (gulp) 3 months...but then again the Apple Care Warranty plan does not protect against water damage or 2 year olds. Needless to say, I am lucky enough to have a shiny new iPod and my tinkering husband is still working on making the old one work so he can use it for himself. We shall see. I also now store it at locations that are shoulder height or higher. Lesson learned.

Bride Design's First Etsy Treasury

2009-04-01T08:12:00.003-04:00

I was thrilled to wake up and find my Ring Pillow in Dreamy Cream and Beige was selected to be in a lovely and subdued Etsy Treasury titled "What Dreams May Come" by shop owner diaspora. I love the pale and stirring colors, contrasted with some lovely darks. Also included is some great photography, a gorgeous wedding gown, jewelry and more. I love the hanging art that looks almost like falling ginko leaves as well. A nice way to start a cloudy, rainy Wednesday!

Whooo says design isn't everywhere?

2009-03-29T15:06:00.003-04:00

Indeed it is. In fact, I love the intricate design that is life, and how it enables us the chance to collide and interweave with other people, cultures, ideas and more. Sometimes life's designs cross in unexpected places, like malls, athletic fields, hospitals, or in the case of me and artist Lucy Mink...a preschool.

I was thrilled to meet Lucy, because our kids are the same age. While facilitating an art project at the school our kids attend, Lucy met my daughters and thought our older girls would make excellent playmates. In true "mother knows best" fashion she was right. But what's even cooler is that Lucy is an artist, designer, and all-around creative, which means we grown-ups have lots to chat about while the kids play.

Besides being an amazing painter, Lucy makes these adorable stuffed owls and sells them at minkstuff.com. My favorite is the sleepy-eyed guy above. I love his velvety-looking red wings and if I were a little kid I could envision myself sleeping cheek to cheek with my owl and wrapping those wings around my face for some nap-time peace and quiet. As I've mentioned before, I love all the benefits that come with buying handmade and I have a special fondness for handcrafted toys. But it's even more thrilling when I can find such treasures local to me. It's better for the environment, good for the community and local economy, and it warms my heart. So check Lucy and her owls out. Enjoy!

Twice as Nice!

2009-03-18T13:56:00.004-04:00

I sort of stumbled upon myhandmaderegistry.com the other day, when one of my wedding invitations had the fortune of being featured in a wishlist by Nicole of the etsy shop Nicole's Homemade Treats, on the front page of the site. I was excited to see a site that encourages brides, couples with new homes, expectant moms, hostesses, or anyone who loves handcrafted items, to buy handmade. Needless to say, I joined up. Much to my surprise I was promptly notified that I am the lucky 400th member of this delightful group, and as such Bride Design is happily featured on the front page again. Too cool. Thanks to Dorana, and all at myhandmaderegistry.com. I know there is nothing more I love, than to give and receive gifts that have been designed and crafted with care. I wish you success as you continue to foster that attitude among the masses!

Éirinn Go Brách: My Favorite Irish Exports

2009-03-17T14:08:00.007-04:00

With a name like Erin Patricia McKenna (I added my husband's Polish surname after we got married), it's safe to say I'm Irish. My maternal great-grandfather was once the Grand Marshall for New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade! Luckily, I had the chance to go to Ireland back in 2001 when my husband interviewed for a job there. We stayed living in the states, but that visit only increased my love for "Dear Old Erin's Isle." Yummy pints of Guinness, the freshest oysters to be had from Galway Bay...what's not to love? In fact, I love so many Irish things I thought I'd share some faves (not the least of which is my own Irish lassies dressed up and wearin' the green, see above). From beauty to culture, weddings to handmade finds, there just might be something on this list that you'll love too!

BEAUTY: I'm a lover of perfume, and one of my favorite fragrances is from Ireland. I've never smelled another scent like Inis, ever since I was introduced to it years ago in Boston by a friend. One thing I love about it, is that it is not at all "girly." You can find it online and at many stores that import Irish goods.

BRIDAL: If you are an Irish or Irish-American bride and are looking to incorporate your heritage into your wedding attire, check out the beautiful creations from Colleen Collections of Ireland. They create gorgeous tiara's out of Co. Galway. Each on is stunning and unique.

We all know about "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." But the Irish take it a bit further and add "and an Irish 5 pence for her shoe." I wanted to cary the luck of the Irish with me on my day, so I taped one into my wedding heels. 5p are no longer minted, as Ireland now accepts the euro, but you can found them online. I also love using Irish blessings for the "Take a Wish" portion of the Make-a-Wish/Take-a-Wish bowls I create for weddings.

MUSIC (and one very cool etsy find!): I grew up loving and listening to Irish music. My favorite album to jig to as a kid was Paddy Noonan and His Grand Old Band's, Live Irish Party at the Barleycorn. Too bad it's sold out, otherwise, I'd have totally scooped up this awesome recycled journal on etsy made from the albums cover. Too cool. On a more modern music note, had you been at my wedding, you would have seen an awful lot of crazy dancing to The Saw Doctors. I've seen this band many times, mostly in Chicago, and they never fail to get the crowd singing and dancing with some serious spirit.

DESIGN/HOME DECOR: Now, even Irish design is everywhere, including your local Target. Check out Irish designer Orla Kiely's Target Collection and get ready to swoon at her mix of bolds and brights. Just lovely.

I'll leave you with one of those Irish blessings I mentioned. Something I truly wish for each and every one of you!

"Wishing you always...
Walls for the wind,
A roof for the rain
And tea beside the fire.
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you,
And all that your heart may desire!"

Spring Cleaning!

2009-03-05T10:20:00.004-05:00

Back when I started Bride Design, I was so excited to create anything having to do with weddings. I even made a few ring pillows that matched some of the invitation suites I was designing. I was also pregnant with my first child, so I credit this graphic designer's desperate need to sew with a bit of "nesting" syndrome too. That's how these sweet little 6" handmade ring pillows were born. I loved making them because they were miles from the big ol' white satin whoppers you see everywhere.

Designing invitations and stationery now takes up so much of my time, I reserve what little sewing I do for fun home projects (up next a sink skirt for my new bathroom!). As I make room in my studio for new papers and products, or just try to reclaim a bit of "white space" on my desk and shelves, I thought I'd find a new home for these lovelies. If you know a bride or are a bride using a brown palette then this pillow might just be for you. Or if a dreamy mix of cream, white, and champagne beige are your colors check out this sweet white pillow. Both are embellished on the underside of the pillow with antique buttons from my personal collection.

Help clean my studio! When these are gone they're gone. Oh and rings are not included of course! They belong to photographer Crystal Herry, who took the shot, and her husband. We'll be listing more old favorites in the shop soon as well!

Do Something Good for Goodness' Sake

2009-03-01T21:36:00.005-05:00

What's better than online shopping? Doing something good for others while online shopping! Maybe it sounds too good to be true, but it's not thanks to the Grand Opening of the Goods for Goodness' Sake boutique. Think of it as a new way of shopping —where your purchases do make a difference!

I'm so thrilled to have partnered with this fabulous new endeavor, whose list of amazing stationery designers also includes: Artful Sentiments, Feterie, Hen & Barley Press, Loop, Marzipan, Paper Stories, PaperLuxe Studio, Rock Scissor Paper, Shimmer Studio, Three Wheels Design + Paper, and Tiny Tales! Bride Design is offering three different styles of In Lieu of Favor Cards, exclusively through this fabulous site. So if you're a bride or event hostess who plans to forgo favors and make a donation in your guests' names, do some additional good by supporting the GFGS charity of your choice with your purchase. Stop on by, get to know the GFGS charities and designers, and shop shop shop! 100% of the site's profits are donated to customer selected charities. A very GOOD thing!

Sneak Peek: Bear and Bunny

2009-02-27T14:54:00.005-05:00

So, as I mentioned earlier in the week, there is lots in the works here. Weddings are of course my main gig and never fear there is certainly more to come this year for Bride Design, but over the years I've noticed that as life changes your needs change as well. Not the least of which are my personal stationery needs. In recent years, I've ended up designing a lot of social stationery on the fly...invitations for kid's birthdays, note cards to give to a friend, play date calling cards so I would no longer have to rummage through my diaper bag for a pen or a slip of paper.

They say necessity is the mother of invention and my latest project, Bear and Bunny, is proof of that. I figured I'd finally take all the cute and cool designs I've been creating over the years for kids and grown ups and share them. A web shop is coming soon. In the meantime, take a gander at our new logo! It's still a bit of a work in progress, but the main idea is here. The logo and the majority of the designs included in this new line were inspired by my own little bear and bunny (which are my husband's nicknames for our daughters). I'll be back to share some pictures of new designs in the next week or two and I'll let you know when we're up and running officially.

Coming Soon: Brand Spankin' New, Self-Hosted, Blogging Goodness!

2009-02-24T13:58:00.004-05:00

I know I've been quiet here for the past month or so, but that's about to change! March will see Bride Design celebrating it's 5th Anniversary in business and there will be links, launches, events and more to celebrate. Perhaps the biggest change for you guys will be the upcoming switch to our fabulous new self-hosted wordpress blog. I'm a little nervous about making the switch, but I hear only amazing things about the wordpress platform, so I'm actually getting pretty pumped! I'm in the process of working out the kinks and getting the new blog together, but I did want to share this little tidbit of excitement in advance so that when transition day does take place, I won't be over there all by my lonesome. I'll let you know when we've got a date. Thanks for being the heart and soul of this little blog! I look forward to many more years of design discussion, fun finds, and occasional rambling. I love me a good makeover!

Bride Design's Interview with Genevieve Fridley Photography

2009-02-17T13:07:00.003-05:00

For those of you who saw my personal Christmas card, you'll probably remember the shots of my dancing daughters in their tutus by incredible local talent Genevieve Fridley. Today, I have the distinct pleasure of being Genevieve's first victim (ahem, I mean guest) over on her blog. Her interview questions were fun, challenging and even taught me a little bit about myself. I was reminded of how much I deeply love weddings and creating invitations. Weddings are in my blood I think! As well as how much I love working from home in my slippers. Genevieve's keen photographic eye and easy-going way with her subjects are only a few of the things that make her an amazing photographer. In fact, I wish I could see my life through Genevieve's lens on some days, because I think it possesses the useful super-power of making ordinary (or even somewhat messy) things, look just plain, beautiful. So head on over and check out her photos, or more of my ramblings. I borrowed the picture above since it includes one of my favorite shots from our session, the one of me and my Pantone books.

Love List: Places I Love

2009-02-16T09:52:00.003-05:00

After my last post on motivation (thanks for all the sage advice by the way, some of which I've already put into practice!) I was delighted to see the most recent post from Melissa of Operation Nice. Her challenge today? Make a list of places you love. I'm eager to do this since I find writing these lists really inspiring and motivational. Try it yourself, I think you'll find you love it! Here's mine:

I love Chicago. I loved sitting by Lake Michigan right near where I lived on Pine Grove and Diversey. I also loved riding through the city in a taxi with the windows open on a summer night. Most of all, I loved to lay on my bed in my Chicago apartment and look out of my window...just sky and thousands of little lights from all the other apartment buildings. I Love Alfred where I went to college. One stop light, two colleges, and not much else. Unless you count hundreds of college kids. A strange place with lots of quirks (and snow) and that you just might not "get" unless you lived there. I love the art building especially. It was like being in an amazing museum everyday, except everything was changing and growing. I loved to watch other artists' pieces evolve and felt inspired at every turn. I LOVE New Paltz, NY. It is the most beautiful place on earth to me. The craggy, ridge of the Shawangunk Mountains stirs me every time I see it, which is crazy since I lived there for years. It is a symbol of home to me. I love Awosting Falls in Minnewaska State Park. It's where my husband proposed to me. And what's not awesome about a cool waterfall? I love Providence, RI for all the amazing restaurants and fun memories. I'm planning a trip there solely to eat at all my favorite places sometime soon. I love the apartment where I grew up. The crazy closet doors that never worked, the parquet floors, the stereo with huge headphones where I would lay for hours listening to records and 8-tracks, the flowered couch, my blue bedroom and all my "stuff" which mostly consisted of "stuffed animals." I love Ireland. And promise myself I will go back and drink tea and eat brown bread in Galway while looking out at the ocean. I love Peter Island, in the BVI, where I went on my Honeymoon. Tropical. Beautiful. Amazing. Enough said. I love Strathmore, my neighborhood where I live now. I love that this is a place my children will remember and hopefully love. Our park, the close-knit community of people who truly care for each other, the events, our first home, and the warm homes of all our friends. I love my parents' house. It is where my family comes together to celebrate or mourn. It's always VERY full with children and grandchildren, but I like it sort of crowded...it means there's more love.

"Where" do you love? I hope you make your list. And if you do, share the link here. I love to read these. And in fact I find reading others just as inspirational (if not more!) than I do writing my own. Thanks Melissa, for another challenge. IT's back to work for me now!

How do you stay motivated?

2009-02-13T11:20:00.004-05:00

I don't often struggle with motivation, but lately I've noticed myself getting off track here and there and failing to manage my time as well as I should. I've got lots of creativity flowing and I'm definitely pretty busy these day, but I need to get some momentum, maintain it, and stay focused. Not always an easy task when you've got work and technology, clients you love, colleagues, and a husband and two kids vying for your attention. For goodness sakes, even this little blog here has been a bit neglected!

So my wise readers, I ask you, how do you stay on task? What are your tips and tricks for staying motivated? Do you have a special method for triaging your projects? Do you use a reward system? I'd love to know. Comment now and my burgeoning schedule thanks you in advance! Happy Friday!

Fab Find: Etsy's Amalia Versaci Design

2009-02-02T09:00:00.001-05:00

As we all know, there's a recession going on. As a result I've curbed my buying habits, which were never all that crazy to begin with. Still, every once in a while I see something so perfect, so different, and so cool that I have to have it. That doesn't always mean I buy it. But when that perfect, different, cool item also speaks to me in a very meaningful way, I do make that purchase. Such was the case when I stumbled upon Amalia Versaci Design's shop via the etsy front page the other day.

With a love for all things zipper, Amalia's shop offers bright, colorful, fun jewelry and more, created from vintage and custom painted recycled zippers. I haven't even received my order yet, but I am so thoroughly excited about the vintage Talon brand zipper earrings (for me!) and the zipper pendant from the 1930s (pictured above) that I couldn't wait to blog about them.

So what's so meaningful about this jewelry? When I was a kid, in the suburbs of New York City, my aunt worked at Talon as a receptionist. The company produced (awesome) scissors, sewing notions, and probably a whole lot of other stuff, but we're working from my 5-7 year old memory here. I probably only went to visit her once or twice at the company's Manhattan offices, but that was enough to etch in my mind exactly what I was going to do when I grew up. I was going to be just like my aunt and work in the city. Although, I swore I would never wear sneakers with my skirt suit, no matter how uncomfortable that made my commute.

Eventually, I took off for another city (Chicago), but I always felt proud to have honored my childhood dream by working in Manhattan for several years. I solved the sneaker/commute problem by living there as well. Every once in a great while I'll buy myself a little something to celebrate a milestone. When I saw these earrings I instantly felt they'd perfectly commemorate the times "grown up me," has made "little girl me," proud. I bought the pendant as a gift for my aunt, for always being a mentor and source of unwavering encouragement, whether she knew it or not. How serendipitous that I should come across Amalia's delightful shop. But I wonder, what do you do to celebrate yourself? And what do you give to others to thank them for impacting the complicated but beautiful design that is your life?

You Twitter, but do you Qwitter?

2009-01-29T14:37:00.001-05:00

A while back, I was chatting with my Sweet Talk Boutique buddy Jen about Twitter and mentioned I stopped following someone. I wondered, does someone know when I stop following them? That's when Jen filled me in on Qwitter. With one quick sign-up, you'll be sent an email every time one of your contacts chooses for stop following you. Things lay pretty dormant for a while. But fast forward to the past few days, when I've had a bunch of "qwitters" stop following me. Do I take it personally? No. Especially because my main reason for using Twitter is as a social media marketing tool and a way to stay connected to the online community of design professionals I've come to know and love.

In this respect, Qwitter is actually really helpful. The emails you receive let you know the last post you made before your follower decided to "qwit" you. As a result, I learn more about what my current and former followers are interested in hearing and learning about from me. When I recently joined a wedding related twitter chat, I lost several people who may have followed me for "tweets" on design, mac software, or family life. All topics I enjoy posting on, but that differ greatly from the wedding-themed posts I made during the chat session. The upside? I gained some great, new, targeted followers from the wedding industry.

Is the last post you made before someone qwit you always a good indicator of why they quit? Certainly not. I have people qwit me after benign posts about the weather. I do give a second glance when someone qwits, and much of the time, it's a twitter spammer anyway. I wouldn't give qwitter too much thought though. I know I need to go in and do some un-following myself, just to keep my stream more manageable. Still, I've learned it is a tool business owners can use to better observe their twitter audience and to help them make more informed posts for better marketing impact.

What has using Twitter or Qwitter taught you?

Bride Design Valentines

2009-01-16T18:10:00.009-05:00

When I was in college I had an incredible crush on my friend. He gave me a collection of ten poems by W.H. Auden for my 21st birthday entitled "Tell Me The Truth About Love" and I wrote his name in the back of the little chapbook and cherished it. Years went by and we lived in many different places. He in California, South Carolina, Ohio and Rhode Island, and me in New York and Chicago. Sometimes we'd do a decent job of keeping in touch by phone, or we'd even manage a visit. Other times we'd fall out of touch, dating other people, and busy with our individual lives and careers. Still, I always kept that little book in my night stand and read it periodically.

When I was 21 (or even 25 or 26 for that matter) I never imagined that the boy who gave me that book would end up being my husband when I turned 30! And a wonderful husband and friend he is. As a result I decided to make Bride Design's first release of Valentine's Day Cards a tribute to him. Here are the first two designs, inspired by my favorite poem from that treasured book, "O Tell Me The Truth About Love.". Throughout the poem, the poet speculates on and questions what love is, often with humor and a simple beauty that I've come to appreciate in much of Auden's work.

These designs are based on the line "Some say that love's a little boy" and further into the poem, the line "Does it look like a pair of pajamas?" I hope you like my interpretation. I had such fun creating these designs, inspired by a great poet and my own love story as well. You can find these designs, with more to come, at my etsy shop bridedesign.etsy.com. Of course if there's something you'd like to see in our shop, let me know! I love to hear feedback from customers and friends.

We Have a Winner!

2009-01-16T13:19:00.003-05:00

Happy Friday Everyone! It's time to give away some movie tickets!! We have a winner. It's #6, Kristy!!

Six, while not my favorite number (that honor goes to the number 2), is a number I've always liked and I'll tell you why. As a kid, I figured 6 was the perfect number of people to go to the amusement park with. You could get on a ride in two groups of three, or three groups of two. No one gets left out! Hey, how many people fit on those giant water rafting rides? Either six or eight, so you could probably score one of those all to yourselves if you are in a group of six.

It was a pretty exciting day when my parents let me know they were having a 4th child. I would now be part of a perfect amusement park family of 6 (not that we went to amusement parks very often!). Too bad little brother is 11 years my junior. He was still ringing the bell on the kiddie fire truck ride as I went off to college. So that's my story on the number 6. And now you've all had a glimpse into my lifelong strange (or is that estranged?) relationship with numbers and math.

Kristy, shoot me an email at: admin [at] bridedesign.com. When I get your email address I'll transfer $20 in Fandango bucks to you and you can head to the movies!! Thanks to everyone who entered and here's to a few more giveaways in the future at Design is Everywhere.

Have something you want to share with the world? Or OK, maybe just with the Design is Everywhere audience? Let me know and a giveaway might just be in order! If it seems like a good fit with this blog's content and mission (to find design in unexpected, and not so unexpected, places and share it), I'd love to give away more treats to my readers!

Baby It's C-C-COLD outside!!!

2009-01-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

That's why I want to introduce you to the yarn-a-riffic stylings of Le Meow Le Mew! With a high of 8° slated for tomorrow, I live in a place that I believe entitles me to say I know a lot about layering and cold-weather fashion. As I've mentioned in the past, it also means that I love me some knits. That's why I was delighted when fellow shivering local and fashion-forward knitter, Beth, opened her shop.

Beth's work for Le Meow Le Mew, focus on quality and originality. I like how her shop announcement says that she wants customers to "feel good wearing your accessory, knowing that it is of top craftsmanship and that no one else will have a piece quite like yours." It's always the unique pieces from my wardrobe, usually made by an indie artisan, that get the most compliments when I'm out and about. My favorite from Beth's current offerings? I almost don't want to tell you in case you manage to buy it before I can run up to her house and grab it from her, but I'll be kind and share. It's the Broody Tuileries Cowl. That's right. You may not know this about me, but I'm a pretty broody girl. And I learned early on the importance of keeping your neck warm. Many, many years in a children's choir will do that to you.

So do yourself, and your body temperature a favor and check out Le Meow Le Mew. For more on Beth's work, take a gander at her blog Knitted Mews. I'm looking forward to seeing more from this knitter extraordinaire!

PS If you haven't entered our ticket giveaway below, check it out and tell me your favorite wedding movie or scene. What better way to stay warm, than by wearing a lovely knitted accessory and eating popcorn at the movies!

Bride Wars Ticket Giveaway!

2009-01-12T08:30:00.002-05:00

I'll admit, it's been a while since I've been to the movies. But then again, having kids will do that to you. Happily, fellow Central New York Wedding Vendor, Jennifer Comfort of She Takes The Cake convinced me to indulge in a girls night out so that we could see the new Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway flick Bride Wars.

Sure there are a lot of clichés about weddings and today's brides throughout the plot. Then again society's steady diet of Bridezillas will do that to a film. But I am a sucker for a comedy, as well as a wedding and ALL that emotional, insane, and thrilling planning that goes along with it of course! This movie had all three. Do we chicks deserve a better flick? Perhaps, but Anne Hathaway's Mystic Tan mishap did crack me up. I also loved her doing the "Sprockets" Dance. While I don't believe real-life best friends would ever go to the extremes these brides do, there were a few moments where I realized how much ridiculous pressure I put on myself to have "the perfect wedding" when I got married 5 years ago. Thankfully, I was also reminded of just how much I loved weddings as a little girl and how blessed I am today to be able to be part of so many couples' special days through creating their invitations and stationery wardrobes.

So while it might not be for everyone, I think a trip to the movies for Bride Wars would be perfect for that bride who's hit her planning wall for the moment and needs a laugh. It also might be right for the bride who wants a fun evening out with her maid of honor, to thank her for not being Anne Hathaway or Kate Hudson, but rather an amazing best friend and support system. Hey, these two wedding vendors even found a few things to chuckle about and discuss. That's why Jen and I are both both giving a pair of tickets on our blogs!

Just leave a comment telling me what your favorite wedding movie (or wedding scene from a movie) is, and you can win $20 in Fandango bucks, accepted at most theaters around the country. If you're not sure if your theater works through Fandango.com, just type your zip code in on their home page and find out. After I sift through all the entries and come up with a very scientific way to choose the winner, I'll let you know who has won Friday morning and send out those fandango bucks post-haste via email! You can even double your chances to win by entering on Jen's blog too!

Looking forward to hearing all about your favorite wedding scenes and movies!

An Artist's Toy—Painter's Palette Constructibles Building Set

2009-01-08T12:31:00.000-05:00

My 4 year old and I don't always agree on toys, but my Mother-in-law just hooked up my little girl with a plaything we both love! We've been having a blast with Mudpuppy's Painter's Palette Constructibles Building Set. My little one is quite proud of her creations. Creations which naturally need to wait in a safe place, away from 2 year old sister, until Daddy arrives home and can view said masterpiece. I've enjoyed discussing the set's "not-your-everyday preschool colors," like chartreuse, olive, or coral with her.

Besides being very well conceived and designed, this toy also encourages hand-eye coordination and creativity, as well as an understanding of balance, shape, structure. I also like the Bold Patterns version. I'll admit, I found the set so entertaining I've considered busting it out and playing with it on my own time. Of course it's purely for doing research on color combinations for future wedding invitation suites. Of course (*wink*)...

Back to Bedtime Basics

2009-01-07T22:11:00.003-05:00

You know the good advice you get, that you know you should take...but you just can't seem to make it happen? Lately, I've come across a lot of that, especially when it comes to sleeping and getting enough rest. That's why I was thrilled to spot this gem of an article on Best Bedroom Habits To Start In The New Year at apartmenttherapy.com. The article makes some excellent points and offers a few ideas which I could stand to try (ahem, making "putting stuff away" part of a pre-bedtime ritual). As I often find to be the case with blogs, there are additional good points and ideas throughout the comment section as well. Plus some humor which is always nice. Much of it was stuff I already knew of course, but had just "tuned out" over the last few months. With two little ones, it's just a lot easier to get work done late night sometimes...like, um, now...

Somehow, for me, good advice is just easier to take when it comes from of a stylish, design blog. So check it out and maybe you'll fine some quality zzzs soon too. Now I'm off to go fluff my pillows and hit the sack!

A New Year, A New Perspective on Success...

2009-01-03T15:41:00.006-05:00

A few weeks ago, I was assisting in my daughter's preschool class when this quote that was taped up on a wall, caught my eye:

"The Creative Arts are an important part of learning, discovering, developing coordination skills, and expressing feelings. To engage in creativity is to build self-confidence and gain self-image, because everything a child does in art is successful. There is no right or wrong." -Fran Batchko

I don't know who Fran Batchko is, but I like the way he/she thinks! I know that not everything we entrepreneurs do in business can be successful, but as an artist this quote gives me a new outlook for 2009. By believing that everything one (be it a child or adult) does is art is successful, we allow ourselves to create more art! If there is no chance of failure, we take more risks and try things we've never tried. Boundaries are removed and many times we create something we had no idea we could create in the first place!

So this year I resolve to build my self-confidence as a designer, and to gain an increased positive self-image for myself and my business, by using art to learn, discover, develop and express. How will you be creative in 2009? Whether you are a bride, a fellow stationer or entrepreneur, a blogger or writer, a visual or performing artist, an accountant or an engineer, I look forward to seeing what you'll create in the coming year!

Anatomy of a Family Holiday Card

2008-12-22T12:38:00.004-05:00

I think most greeting card and stationery designers would agree, that designing a card for yourself is more difficult than designing a card for the masses. Strange but true. So where to begin? This year I knew a few things right off the bat. I knew I wanted to depart from (gasp!) my favorite color red. I wanted to steer clear of holiday colors in general. I knew that I did indeed want to use photography. Specifically pictures of my daughters. The picture of my oldest dancing in her EllieBellie Kids Tutu is what ultimately served as inspiration. I love it that she's dancing on our unfashionable little basketball court/tricycle track. Aahhh...the magic of photography! Especially that of photographer Genevieve Fridley.

What does a holiday with atypical colors and tutus bring to mind? Well for this former ballerina, it instantly conjured up sugarplums! And thus the card was created. I went reverse with the color this year, keeping the card itself black and white and letting the punch-colored plum envelope, lined with a deep, shimmering aubergine, do most of the "talking." Inside is a picture of my littliest sugarplum fairy (also in a tutu and looking rather herself with an impish look on her face), the famous "while visions of sugarplums..." quote from 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and a holiday greeting from my family. This year, I actually had a fun time creating my cards. I like to design by setting up some limitations for myself, and the challenge of creating something to fit within those boundaries. It's almost as thrilling as getting cards from around the country delivered to my mailbox! Well, another design challenge complete. Time to put this job to bed for a long winter's nap...

Happy holidays from my studio to your studio, home, iphone, or wherever it is people do their blog reading nowadays. Oh and p.s., Santa, if your listening...I'd love an iphone of my own someday.

Everything old is new again!

2008-12-16T08:00:00.009-05:00

The holidays are a busy time and it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the "stuff" in your life. If you've been good, gifts will be making their way into your home, adding more "stuff" to the "stuff" you've already accumulated. One way I de-stress and hopefully prepare for an influx of stylish gifts, is to go through my makeup bag and start tossin'!

Even though there's rarely an expiration date on makeup, it does go bad. So it's important to periodically check products and throw them out accordingly. Chuck mascara every 3-6 months (I'll admit I lean closer to 6) and eyeliner every 6 months. No one needs nasty bacteria hanging around on stuff that goes near those precious peepers. You can keep eyeshadow and blush for a year or so, after that it generally becomes hard and kind of chalky. If it's still in great shape, use your best judgement. I can usually finish a lip color within 2 years, but if you've got one that's been around longer than that, I'd give it the heave-ho. These days, I use powdered mineral makeup for the most part. Since I love it so much, this makeup cycles in and out of my makeup bag at a reasonable rate, limiting what I need to chuck due to old age. We'll save the talk on taking care of your brushes for another post. Overall, I keep a relatively pared down makeup collection these days, which keeps the clutter to a minimum.

Wondering what to fill that empty cabinet up with, now that you've completed your clean sweep? Have no fear. I've got a couple of lists going over at Wishpot for just this reason! If you're a bride-to-be definitely check out my Bridal Beauty Blitz list. You can even email a favorite item to your groom for easy shopping, or start a few lists of your own. Or, if you're like me and love to share the gift of beauty with the already-beautiful mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends in your life, then take a peek at Holiday Hot: The Best Beauty Gifts Ever. Who knows, you might even end up buying something for yourself. Go on, you deserve it! After all, you did just do all that cleaning and organizing. Happy gift hunting!

Crazy about: Cameos

2008-12-15T08:00:00.004-05:00

1. Vintage Cameo Necklace, 2. Kelly - Cameo Necklace, 3. Ghost Cameo Necklace, 4. Alabaster kitty cameo necklace, 5. Bakelite cameo necklace, 6. Very Romantic Vintage Cameo and Pearls Necklace, 7. bow n vintage cameo necklace, 8. Bronze Cameo Charm Necklace, 9. Vintage Cameo Necklace Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

I opened my most recent issue of Victoria Magazine (yes, it's back!), and immediately came across a huge ad for this Italian cameo maker. I know! Isn't their stuff gorgeous? I have always been taken with the beauty of cameos and the history behind them. Both the history of how they are designed and created, as well as the history of ownership. Gotta love the mystery and nostalgia of antiques! Unfortunately, I can't afford an Amedeo cameo at the moment. Still, I have hope that someday I might! In the meantime, I decided to scout around flickr and etsy, and there is much to be had. Just take a look at the diverse group of cameos above!

How about that stunning black bakelite cameo? Or the sweet one with the kitty and the delegate gold bows? The traditional cameo paired with the modern green stone necklace is a total knockout. And that indigo blue one with the subtle, shimmery orange accents. What can I say, I love 'em all! In the meantime, I'm off to check out these designer's shops! Happy Monday everyone...

Girls Night Anyone?

2008-12-10T14:39:00.003-05:00

Things here at Bride Design are about as busy as they are at Santa's workshop. Holiday time is always buzzing with activity, but I've also been swimming in card proofs and table numbers, ceremony programs and Sweet Talk Boutique cookie designs. I love being busy, but this morning I found myself thinking that when the opportunity for a break comes up it might be nice to unwind with friends for a Girls Night Out! And what better way to get those sweet girlfriends together than with a cookie invite, right?

Feel like hitting the clubs and dancing? An invite with our fab martini illustration just might do the trick. Want to meet-up for dinner and that new "chick-flick?" Then let Sweet Talk's own little chickadee, shown here, do the inviting. Feel like dishing while eating some delicious desserts? Try personalizing your invite with our box of chocolates illustration. Your friends will be sure to feel the love. And in the meantime, while they think about what outfit to wear, they can curl up with their cookie ( don't forget a paper invite is always included!), a cup of tea, and a good book. Which is just what I'd love to do right now...

Design jobs await, but I'll be back soon with another post. Until then keep busy (that shouldn't be hard, if I know most of you readers out there!) and of course, be good to yourselves!

Ellie Bellie Kids' Classic Play = Classic Design

2008-12-05T14:36:00.004-05:00

Just got an email from one of my favorite, favorite, companies...EllieBellie Kids. I've blogged about the EBK tutu before but I couldn't resist giving them another shout out. I recently ordered...Ahem, I mean put a PO in to Santa's elves for...two ADORABLE EllieBellie super hero capes for my daughters. In fact, I went on and on about them so much to my sister, that somehow I infiltrated my 3 year old niece's consciousness and now she's obsessed with being a super hero too. So, I just had to order two more. This time I was smart though and paid with the husband's account (*wink*).

The email was alerting me to the latest issue of EBK's online Magazine Classic Play. I love how the clean, modern, and classic design of the ezine highlights and further brands EBK's totally sweet product line. Of course the photography (by Dave K Cooper) and art direction are brilliant as well. My first EBK purchase was for two delicious orange and yellow tutus (with pink and yellow reversible ribbon), and I so loved the Dave's shots on the site, that I knew I had to use them in my own photoshoot with a local photographer Genevieve Fridley. The pictures of my own little sugar-plum fairies in their EBK tutus came out so great I'm using them as part of my personal Christmas card this year. Keep an eye out for a future post. I'll be sure to share them with you just as soon as they get back from the printer!

In the meantime, check out EllieBellie Kids to find gifts for any super heros or fairy princesses you might happen to know!

Dear Santa...

2008-12-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Recently, I helped my 3 and 2 year old daughters write letters to Santa (using this adorable freebie from stationery pal Three Wheels Design). I was charmed by my 3 year old who asked me to write "I was mostly good this year." And chuckled at the fact that my 2 year old is way more into reindeer than Old Saint Nick himself. This little endeavor, combined with some encouragement from Melissa of Operation Nice, has me drawing up my own little letter to that right jolly old elf. So here's what I want this Christmas.

Dear Santa,
I've grown up a bit since we last talked (which was oh, I don't know...when I was 25 or 26 and desperately wanted a husband for Christmas?!). You've always been generous with me. I'll never forget my cabbage patch kid from Christmas '84. I was 11, but still loved (and played with) Patrice Suzanne, for a good while (*blush*).

What I'd really love this year Santa is TIME. I know that's not exactly something you and the elves manufacture up at the North Pole, but maybe you can still help me out just a bit. I would love more time to lavish my children with kisses, and listen to their thoughts and feelings. I'd love more time to design and dedicate to work, building up my business and helping it to grow. Of course I'd love some date-time with that husband I finally ended up securing not long after I placed my request with you (go figure). Of course, I knew him all-along, but isn't that always the way?! I would love more time to volunteer for causes I care about and give of myself to those in need. I'd love time to help my parents and mother-in-law adjust to their eventual retirements, and the life changes that come with getting older (and wiser and better). I'd love some quality girl-time with my sisters and best friends. And last but not least, I'd love a smidgen of time to myself...to listen to the music I like (rather than Dora The Explorer), draw a picture, or for goodness' sake—take a well-deserved nap.

The impossible gift of more time is what I'd like, but here's where you come in. Santa, please help me remember how precious time is. I'm all about Christmas spirit (as you well know), but admittedly there are times throughout the rest of the year when my spirit lacks. Right around June my tidings of comfort and joy, can turn more towards cranky and jaded. I get stressed, and the little bit of time I am blessed with ends up getting wasted on worry, frustration, and disappointment. So, if you could just leave a bit of extra holiday cheer and spirit in my stocking this year, I'd be oh, so thankful. Help me remember that time is a gift to give myself and those around me, all year long.

Thanks Santa!
Love your friend,
Erin

PS plenty of cookies and hot cocoa will be waiting for you at our house!

Holiday Deals and Donations

2008-12-01T09:38:00.004-05:00

I was saddened to hear of some of the events surrounding one of America's largest shopping days, Black Friday. A store employee getting trampled on Long Island, a shooting in a toy store in California. This year Black Friday really was black, and not because retailers are moving out of the red.

I'm a lover of deals, but the older I get the more inclined I am to stay home and out of the stores on Black Friday. This year I ventured out but shunned the throngs of shoppers for a visit to the gorgeous new Burchfield Penney Art Center in Buffalo, NY. It is amazing. As for the deals...there is always today, Cyber Monday. I haven't found anything good yet, but it's fun to window shop. Even if that window is one of the internet browser variety.

In an effort to focus less on getting and teach my little girls about giving more during the holidays, I'm trying to think up ways to share what I already do have. I think I'm going to gather my book club for a no-stress evening of chatting and fun sometime this month and suggest that we all bring one of our favorite books to donate to a women's shelter or another worthy cause. Do any of you have a way that you love to give during the holidays? Do tell. You just might inspire someone else!

A Bride Design Studio Tour

2008-11-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

As an avid MTV Cribs watcher back in the day, I'd always eagerly wait for the part in the program where the rock star or NBA player who's showing off his or her mansion (or guest house, luxury apartment etc.) arrives at the bedroom. Nine times out of ten, said celebrity would quip "...so this is where the magic happens." I'd roll my eyes and think..."typical," then go back to munching my Doritos. For most artists, including me, the studio is "where the magic happens" (at least the work-related magic). I thought I'd offer you guys a little tour through my world via a Flickr set. But today I wanted to focus on my favorite part of this office, my studio desk.

I think I probably spend more time at the computer these days, but in my view this desk is still the birthplace of much magic. It's where ribbons get tied, papers get chosen and cut, drawings are created and embellishments attached. It may look like just a desk, but it is a friend to my creativity. It's also where a lot of the affection I feel for the projects I do, gets added in to the mix.

My favorite thing about this desk is the large self-healing cutting mat. I almost don't remember what it was like to live without it. Other faves include, the space saving stacking canisters (perfect for eyelets and brads) I got from Jen for my birthday, and prismacolor colored pencils with a great box that doubles as a "stand." Forget the ribbon dispenser box that's off to the side there, it doesn't work a lick! I think a ribbon storage/dispensing area is going to be my next project. Right after I get around to making those curtains...

Chenille Stems: A Fancy Word for Pipe Cleaner?

2008-11-21T14:19:00.004-05:00

1. Pipe cleaner star ornament, 2. Pipe Cleaner Christmas Ornament, 3. pipe cleaner, 4. Pipe-Cleaner Flowers, With Panda, 5. Pipe Cleaner Tiara, 6. pipe cleaner wreath by stephanie, 7. Bunny butts, 8. DSC_0001.JPG, 9. Pipe cleaner star

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

I was recently flipping through Parents magazine, when I came across a piece on some cute Christmas crafts. Over and over the article kept saying "using brightly colored, cut-to-length, chenille stems" and "take your chenille stem..." I found myself thinking, "am I crazy or are these just plain, old, pipe cleaners?" I'm probably just late to the party, but I've always called them pipe cleaners. I'd never heard the phrase "chenille stem" before. I suppose the term "pipe cleaner" might be considered politically incorrect these days. And truthfully, "chenille stem" does sound a lot prettier. Anyway, my linguistic conundrum got me thinking about some of my fave pipe cleaner projects, and I got curious to see what other creatives are doing with their chenille stems. Here's what I found. I must say, that oviraptor sculpture impressed me! Have a great weekend!

and furthermore...

2008-11-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

Have you ever seen a doily clock? Neither had I, until I stumbled across and furthermore's delightful etsy shop. There's something really striking about simple clock hands on an intricately patterned background. I like the textures and the contrast. What's even cooler is that these clocks are made from reclaimed materials. Great design in a green format. Now I just need to figure out which one to add to my wish list!

Social Networking Overload?

2008-11-17T20:46:00.004-05:00

I'll admit it. Life has been hectic lately. I love social networking (maybe a little too much?). I give talks to other entrepreneurs about how to use the internet as an effective PR tool. In these times, blogging, forum participation, email press release blasts, and social networking are near requirements for staying current or creating buzz. For the most part, I feel my activity on the internet greatly benefits my business, especially blogging and forums. But does it benefit me personally? Well, in some ways, yes. In other ways? Not so much.

In 7th grade I had perfect attendance because the social butterfly in me was convinced that if I missed a day at school, I would miss something HUGE. Silly, right? Looking back, I can't even imagine what sort of HUGE social event, shift , or explosion, the 7th grade me could actually envision taking place at her school. Sillier still, is that I sometimes feel this way about social networking now, as an adult. Am I twittering enough? Should I post about my new blog post on facebook and twitter? Do I need to be on Linked In and Plaxo as well?

The answer to that last one, for me, is no. I went with LinkedIn if it matters, and said "no thanks" to the couple of Plaxo invites I got, as well as to some additional invites I got from a few other "business" social networks. Social networking is great for business, when utilized with a bit of a internet marketing plan in mind. My internet marketing plan, may be on sticky notes (thanks Vicki for turning me on to this idea from The Start Up Princess!), but it is something I try to consider when joining a social network. I have finally realized that I just can't be a part of EVERYTHING out there.

I think we all know what a "time-suck" social networking can be so, I'm monitoring my use these days. In an effort to keep myself sane and my "friends" list manageable, I've kept my personal facebook page just that, personal. I have some awesome industry colleagues as my "friends", mostly people I've really gotten to know over the past 5 years. But in an effort to keep the "social" in at least one of the social networks I'm using, I created a business facebook page for my business and try to direct more of my industry activity on the site to that page. I know a true entrepreneur can't completely separate themselves from their business, but social networking works best personally, when it's fun, connects you with others, and most importantly when it doesn't feel like work. I suppose one could say the same for business social net working as well...

Of course in doing my research for this post, I stumbled across this interesting list of the 10 Most Beautiful Social Networking Sites. I'll try to resist, but I'm a sucker for usability and a cool design aesthetic. I promise, I'll try not to wast too much valuable work time checking those out. But before I go, what makes social networking work for you? How do you use it to your benefit? And how do you not let it consume your time (this twitter lover is always looking for tips!)? I'll look for your comments here...but if I don't see them, I'm sure I'll catch most of you on twitter, or facebook, or friendster (remember that one?), or Linked In...and the list goes on!

Another Operation Nice Love List: I like me...I really like me!

2008-11-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

The oh-so-nice Melissa at Operation Nice, recently assigned another love list. You may remember my last attempt here. A visit to Molly's Artful Sentiments Blog reminded me to get crackin' on this one. Her list was so inspiring. I knew it was time to make my own. This one seems a bit tougher as it needs to be all about me. I even tried to challenge myself further and include a self-portrait I took not too long ago (still feeling the cringe-factor on this one, but I'm powering through!). So here it goes. Here's what I LOVE about myself.

I love my freckles. And my choice in red highlights (so much so I included them in the last list too!). I love the color of my eyes (green with gold flecks) and that their color changes depending on what I'm wearing. I love that I've become a good cook over the years. I love that I've grown to be more accepting of me as I've gotten older. It really takes a load off! I love it that I was raised in a loving family with great parents, two sisters and a brother. I love it that I shared a room with my sister Kathleen my entire life. That made adjusting to a college roommate easy. I love it that until I was 16 my family lived in a small apartment. It seems unique, as I don't run into many people that grew up that way. It also made me respect others' privacy even when it's hard to come by, and allowed me to experience the joy of a busy, fun, brimming with love home. I love that my youngest siblings are 9 and 11 years younger than me. I cherish my memories of them as babies and toddlers. I love that I was a late-bloomer and didn't really date much in high-school. Conversely I love that I was a boy-crazed maniac who always had a crush on some cute boy. I love that I eventually became confident enough with guys to get one of those crushes to ask me to marry him (10 years later, but who's counting?). I love doing my hair and makeup (when given the opportunity). I love that I have to sing at least 3 lullabies to my two year old EVERY night. And I love it that I probably enjoy it more than she does. I love that I grew up singing and know the gift of song and music. I love that I can not have looked at a clock for an entire day and still guess the time correctly within a few minutes give or take. I love being a mom. I love that I am spiritual and have faith. I love that I can draw and paint and that I can use these mediums to express things I might never be able to express otherwise. I love that I spent the majority of my life dancing. I love it that I have made mistakes and learned from them. I love it that I lived alone in a big city where I essentially knew no one and made a life (complete with friends!) for myself. I love that I get stronger every day. I love that I have the power to love.

But enough about me! What about YOU? What's one wacky thing you love about yourself? Whether you've done this assignment or not, I'd love to hear what you guys have to say. So get your comment on kids. Making that list was difficult but encouraging. I've gotta say, being nice to yourself is a pretty nice feeling. Thanks Operation Nice!

Champagne Wishes: A Kir Royale Tasting

2008-11-12T08:00:00.002-05:00

1. Just playing..., 2. kir royale toast, 3. the kiss, 4. Kir royale, 5. Alexia & Nils #16, 6. Kir Royale!, 7. Kir Royale, 8. Strawberry Kir Royale, 9. Kir Royale and Pantheon
Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Before our fabulous anniversary dinner in New York, Pete and I decided to stop for a cocktail at a Flûte, a cozy spot in Gramercy. Everything on the menu looked delightful, but our best choice was the Kir Royale tasting flight. A Kir is made with crème de cassis (blackcurrant liquor) and white wine. The Kir Royale, substitutes champagne for the white wine. Yum.

First a little history (from Wikipedia of course). The Kir is named after Félix Kir, mayor of Dijon in Burgundy, who after World War II popularized the drink by offering it at receptions to visiting delegations. Besides being a wonderful host to his international guests, Felix was also brilliantly promoting two key economic products of the region, white wine and crème de cassis.

There are many varieties offered for the flight at Flûte, but we decided to go unconventional with Violet, Ginger, and Blackberry versions. They were all delicious. The violet perfectly perfumed the cocktail, but didn't overpower the champagne taste. The ginger was a refreshing palate cleanser, and the blackberry was smooth and sweet.

The colors of the drinks were lovely. A Violet Kir Royale would be a great signature cocktail for a wedding where lavender or sage green were the colors of choice. A Lemon Kir Royale would add some hip and colorful sparkle for an event using everyone's favorite neutral these days...gray. We had so much fun tasting and talking, that it got me thinking. A Kir Royale tasting would be a fun offering a New Year's Eve party. After all, there's always bubbly conversation and high spirits, when champagne is around! Clink! Clink!

Lather Up!—Sweet Soapylove® Bars

2008-11-11T08:45:00.003-05:00

As most of you know, Jen and I love a good collaboration. Which is why I was thrilled when Jen told me she was "cooking" up an idea with the delightful Deb from Soapylove®. The result? Super cool hand made soaps exclusive to Sweet Talk Boutique! Sweet smelling, with loads of lather, these non-edible soap bars are available in round with cupcakes in vanilla frosting scent, or square with our tiara and bubblegum princess scent. Mmmmm...

Just in time for the holidays, our Sweet Soapylove® bars make perfect gifts! Paired with our Signature Stationery or one of our fabulous and functional new purse hooks (how cool are those?!), these soaps are an even bigger hit. Of course you could send 'em along with some of our famous cookies too. This way, when you're done washin' up...you can throw on your cozy bathrobe, kick up those fuzzy slippers (you know you've got 'em), and enjoy a yummy snack. Now that's sweet!

Edit: Hey, Jen just commented that we're offering fab little poufs (you know...those sudsy, scrubby shower thingies!) free with each order while supplies last! Hooray for freebies!

A voice for the voiceless: speaking a language all children can understand

2008-11-10T10:44:00.003-05:00

Bloggers Unite is an opportunity for bloggers to use their space to make the world a better place. Today, Bloggers Unite has urged participants to raise our voices on behalf of more than 40 million voiceless refugees. In researching this crisis, one particular statistic spoke to me deeply: "An estimated 80% of refugees are women and children." Easy prey when it comes to abduction and violence, defenseless and frightened refugee children seem to be the most voiceless victims of war and global crisis.

As I dug further in my research, I came across a UN site featuring the artwork of refugee children. Visual and performing art have been two vital forms of expression and recreation for me since childhood. I quickly realized that one inroad to giving refugees a voice, is to speak to them in languages that are universal, cross-cultural and understood by all. And to provide them with resources and education that will allow them to do the same. Kicking a soccer ball is fun, thrilling, and empowering whether you are in Des Moines or Darfur. Dancing, singing and athletics can all help young refugees regain bits of their childhoods which in many cases are lost to terror, uncertainty, and persecution. Here are three (of many!) organizations that aim to do just that:

ninemillion.org campaign: A partnership between the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in partnership with Nike and Microsoft, that aims to give more than nine million refugee children better access to education, sport and technology by 2010. Runners around the world have already raised over a million dollars and heightenedawareness of the plight and the potential of refugee children.

A.R.T. (Art for Refugees in Transition): This organization provides curriculum and training programs to engage both children and adults in refugee communities in visual, performing and creative arts drawn from their own cultures, aiding in recovery from the trauma, terror and dislocation of war.

The Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children: This group has an extensive gallery of photo essays, some of which include moving and informative artwork from refugee children.

How can we help these organizations and others support the plight of refugees? Contributions and donations are always needed. Activism is essential and costs little except your time. Ask Congress to support the International Violence Against Women Act, legislation that would make ending violence against women and girls a a key priority in U.S. foreign assistance programs. The International Rescue Committee has a great website thejourneystartswithyou.org, that gives lots of ideas and motivation for how to volunteer and assist the IRC's 24 resettlement offices, and their efforts on the ground in 42 countries.

Most of all we need to educate ourselves, and those around us. By teaching the children in our world to have a global perspective, a love for the environment and respect for themselves and others, we are producing a future where understanding is the basis for action and reaction. Ignorance is a contributing factor to war and crisis. It is my hope that increased understanding will prevent or lessen such atrocities, or at the very least provide us with caring individuals to meet the needs of those least fortunate. On the ball field or court, voices raised in song, dancing together...these are life's moments when it seems little "work" is needed for us to all gather together in true understanding and peace.

For the Love of Marriage!

2008-11-06T21:20:00.015-05:00

Tomorrow, my husband Pete and I will celebrate 5 incredible years of marriage. I can't wait. If the rest of our years are anything like these first five, then they'll be fun, thrilling, full of surprises, and just plain joyful. I think my expression in the picture above from my wedding day, says it all...giddy, totally in love, and blessed to have found the right partner. All things I still feel today. Side note, I also feel pretty blessed to have found the perfect wedding photographer for my day Maggie Heinzel-Neel. She captured our love, friendship, and the completely amazing celebration we had in a way that no one else could.

As a corporate graphic designer for many years, I had a revelation while creating my own invitations. I love weddings. Combine that with my love of all things paper, typography, art, and communication, and you get Bride Design. In March my business will celebrate it's 5th anniversary as well, and it too has enriched my life in many ways I never imagined. These were the invites, and programs, that started it all and I am so thankful for the many wonderful opportunities they've brought me. I've met wonderful couples, business associates (including photographer Crystal Herry, who took the still of my work above) and friends, and have created designs I never would have created, if I had not found exciting and adventurous path I now walk on.

An Uber Amazing Honor

2008-11-05T08:10:00.000-05:00

I'm tickled pink that the FABULOUS Gift Girl at The Wishpot Wedding Blog chose Design is Everywhere (along with a bunch of other KILLER wedding related blogs) to receive The Uber Amazing Blog Award! If Design Is Everywhere meets even one of the requirements below with each post, then I'm a happy blogger. Thanks so much Gift Girl and if you haven't checked out wishpot.com yet, I'd highly recommend it. I love keeping lists of my favorite beauty and bridal recommendations, as well as a wish list of gifts I want (or neeeeeeed!). If you'd like to see what I'm loving lately, check out my wishpot lists here. Maybe you'll even end up starting a few lists of your own!

In the meantime, let's celebrate! The Uber Amazing Blog Award is a blog award given to a site that:
~ inspires you
~ makes you smile and laugh
~ or maybe gives amazing information
~ is a great read
~ has an amazing design
~ and any other reasons you can think of that makes them uber amazing!

The rules of this award are:
* Put the logo on your blog or post.
* Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing!
* Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog.
* Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.

Here are 5 blogs that keep me feeling creative! I could have listed every single one in my links list (as they are all awesome) but I decided to keep it short and sweet. I even took it a step further and stated why I chose them. Here goes...
- suffixabuse (for unparalleled commitment to blogging and amazing design sense!)
- threewheelsturning (gorgeous photography and witty writing that captures the perfect blend of "mom meets designer.")
- feterie blog (modern design musings, great giveaways, and a touch of French-American chic!)
- cafecartolina(beautiful vintage finds and insightful writing which never cease to inspire me.)
- She Take's The Cake's blog (Hilarious posts about the world of weddings and caking. Uumm hello? The woman went as a cupcake for Halloween. Now that's loving what you do!)

Check these ladies out, as well as the rest of the peeps in my link list. Like I said, each blog listed there offers a unique perspective on design, style, parenting, weddings, crafting, or all of the above. I'll just be here trying to think up posts that live up to the title "Uber Amazing." Thanks Gift Girl!

Fan us on Facebook!

2008-11-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

I've got to hit the road for the day and I'll be back tomorrow (ready to vote at my local polling place!). You should see a new post on Wednesday, filled with lots of holiday cheer. All those Christmas trees that have been up at stores for the past week are putting me in the mood. In the meantime, check out Design is Everywhere on facebook! I know most of you do not need yet another addictive social network in your life, but if you are already sucked in, please become a fan of this little blog. We hope to use facebook to keep you posted on giveaways, guest bloggers, special features, Bride Design and Sweet Talk Boutique news and so much more! Have a stylish day everyone and maybe I'll see you on facebook!

Happy Halloween...

2008-10-31T11:23:00.003-04:00

1. Ofrenda, 2. The Killing Fields, 3. El Dia de los Muertos, 4. Untitled, 5. busy altar, 6. Calavera Cupcakes, 7. The Death of Marilyn Monroe, 8. flores y mariposas, 9. Dia de los muertos 2007 Jes
Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

or Día de los muertos as the case may be! Looking for a little colorful, Halloween-inspired, creativity today I jumped on flickr to browse through some Day of the Dead shots. And boy...what inspiration I found! How cool is that shadow box? Enjoy and have a terrifyingly spooky day everyone!

Picture this: Fin + Roe Photo Correspondence

2008-10-30T07:30:00.000-04:00

There is a HUGE demand for photo correspondence these days. How do I know? I send out a lot of personal holiday cards (around 100) each year, and I always seem to get around 80 or so delivered to my mailbox. Most of those are photo cards, featuring the smiling faces of new babies born over the past year, groups of unruly children in soccer uniforms, or perfectly preened young ladies in their holiday best. I LOVE the shots of cute children. The big bummer? The photo retail giants out there offer a limited selection of designs. Worse, those designs often fall short when it comes to enhancing and highlighting the best part of photo cards: the picture.

Which is why I wanted to tell you about Fin + Roe. Besides the fresh colors, modern patterns and the ability to mix and match, I love the way this company's designs let the photography SHINE! So if you're thinking about a holiday photo card this year for your family, check these guys out. As a stationery designer myself, I feel compelled to create my own cards from scratch each year. It's become a holiday tradition. But for those who prefer to have a little elf create your cards for you...do take a look at Fin + Roe's adorable collection. The grandparents and your friends will thank you. And If you're one of those people who send me a card each year, I'll have something a little more unique to deck my halls with. Alright kids...smile for the camera!

Entertaining Etsy

2008-10-28T08:15:00.004-04:00

Just in time for the holidays, Bride Design is now offering an etsy shop! Currently we've got a small selection of social stationery items up, but we will be adding new designs (and a few old favorites from our bridal and baby collections) every day for the next week or so. One of my favorite items is this elegant set of thank you notes embellished with fine Japanese yuzen paper. Traditional yuzen paper features stunning and intricate designs in colorful and sometimes metallic patterns. This set shows off the crane, a familiar and auspicious symbol to the Japanese. We also offer these A2 notecards with an incredible autumn leaf pattern, as well as a regal design featuring frothy ocean waves on a black background (I'll be uploading those to the shop soon). Thanks for checking out our wares and keep us in mind for holiday gifts and stocking stuffers. If you are an etsy shopper and like what you see, please "heart" our shop as well! We'll love you for it!

A Yippee-Ki-Yay Christmas!

2008-10-22T13:52:00.004-04:00

Recently, our friend Sheena from Totally Tabletops gave the Tip Junkie blog "the low down on a hoedown!" Sheena shared every idea under the sun for hosting a unique holiday themed "Ho, Ho, Hoedown" and included this custom made cookie invite we whipped up over at Sweet Talk Boutique. As Sheena mentioned, a western theme for a holiday party is quite unexpected, but it's also a theme that is fun to use year round for birthdays and other celebrations. The colors of this card/cookie and its packaging can be customized to match the color palette of any event.

Full custom designs like this one with extras like bandanna and raffia start at $18 and one time art charges apply for design. Matching stationery and thank you cards, as well as place cards and favors are of course available as well. And you'll notice in the photo, there's a paper invite included as well. So go ahead...EAT THE COOKIE. You'll still have the sentiment and all the info you need. Yeee-Haaaa!

Fashion and Fortune, Crisis and Creativity

2008-10-21T06:00:00.002-04:00

Photo by Marcio Madeira and from style.com
Recently I've been hosting a lot of fashion shows. My 3 year old's bedroom which houses the dress-up toy chest serves as "backstage", while my 2 year old's room functions as the runway. My daughters are the models/princesses and I am the DJ, master of ceremonies, and audience rolled into one. I love to see what crazy concoctions they'll walk through the door wearing. One thing is for sure...every outfit MUST include wings! But amidst the clunking heels, enthusiastic wand waving, and billows of tulle and organza, I got to thinking. What does our current economic crisis mean for the world of fashion design?

High-end clothes are NOT a necessity and I don't own any couture designs (*wistful sigh*). I teach my daughters that it's the princess' kind heart and leadership skills that matter, not the poofiness of her skirt or the sparkly shine of her crown. Still I follow shows because innovation, style, and artistry, deeply inspire me. Enter Style.com with their list of the ten 2009 Collections that "will count come spring." They make some pretty good points such as "In uncertain times, a name like Chanel is something you can believe in." Amen.

D&G honored their signature style, but changed it up just enough to keep us interested. Marc Jacobs, ever the over-achiever, did his 2 collections (his own and Louis Vuitton) with such unique flair and relentless design precision that it boggles my mind. Lanvin's Alber Elbaz, slam-dunked it with perfectly draped designs that I can only assume, feel as good as they look. Sometimes when I'm feeling down, just the process of attempting to look good can go a long way towards cheering me up.

The economic forecast for 2009 might seem shaky, but I've often found the best response to crisis is creativity. Hard times frequently force us to rise to the occasion and test some of our weirder and wackier ideas. Will haute couture become irrelevant some day? I'm not sure. For now, I'll continue to examine and learn from the market and style trends that make the fashion industry so artistically cutting edge. Yesterday my eldest said "Mommy, today let's pretend that our fashion show is in a tent in New York City." So apparently I'm rubbing off on my kids. As long as they continue to use and care for their precious imaginations as they grow...I think they'll be alright.

More Halloween Treats!

2008-10-20T08:00:00.003-04:00

1. Heirloom Pumpkins, 2. Pumpkins, 3. the pumpkin patch by pinhole, 4. patch o' pumpkins, 5. smiley pumpkin, 6. multiformed pumpkins, 7. Sea of Pumpkins, 8. Good Morning Pumpkins!!!, 9. the storm-clouded, infrared pumpkin patch
Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Last week, Jen and I were invited to a Halloween Blog Party! Actually, it was more like our cookie was invited, but we didn't mind. As evidenced by the Sweet Talk Boutique line of products, Jen and I are all for non-traditional invitation fare. Many thanks to Lyns of Sweet Cuppin Cakes Bakery for bringing us along for the ride and for introducing me to artist Vanessa Valencia's blog A Fanciful Twist. Very cool. To keep you all in the Halloween spirit, here are some super cool pumpkin shots from around Flickr. Enjoy!

Spooooky Cooookie!

2008-10-16T12:18:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago I blogged about my haunted house illustration. Now Jen and I have finally got it on a yummy cookie, and ready to ship to your favorite haunted houses around the country!

You can find our super cute and slightly spooky greeting available right now in the holiday section of the shop. This design is exclusive to Sweet Talk...right down to the creepy, slime covered font! Design note: The "liquify" filter in Photoshop is my new favorite toy! My little girl Leah asked if I could draw her into the illustration as a trick-or-treater. I told her I'd make a haunted house picture just for her, but as Jen said "I can totally imagine our little ghosts and goblins walking up those steps to find a broken door bell. Would they be too afraid to knock? What would be waiting for them behind the door? Yummy cookies I bet." Yummy cookies indeed!

This cookie is available with coordinating ribbons and we've opted to send them with only the Happy Halloween message so we can expedite your order. Get over there and pick one up today! Orders placed by the 24th of October will get to your favorite 'trick or treaters' in plenty of time! Once received I'll bet they'll be gobbled up before you can say "BOO!"

Stay tuned for more Holiday Treats! We're on a roll and will be releasing our Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year's designs very soon!

Winning is FUN (especially when paper products are involved)!

2008-10-14T14:26:00.004-04:00

I LOVE stationery. And one of my favorite things about being a stationery designer is the countless number of talented and bright stationers I've gotten to meet (be it in person or just via the internet). When I started Bride Design in 2004, I had no idea that I'd eventually be reading 20 or so different blogs each day on the subjects of design, weddings, stationery, home decor, style and more. I also had no idea I'd pursue my own design and style blog with such excitement and fervor. My experience as a blog reader has brought me so many delightful treats....the chance to participate in amazing craft swaps, a trip to The Martha Stewart Show, unexpected PR for my business, the chance to help others, exposure to new products and lots of knowledge that could never have been obtained from traditional news sources. Now I can add to that list, my personal favorite: PRIZES!

To celebrate the fact that several Cartolina Cards designs will be featured in the December/January issue of the always hip Domino Magazine, designer Fiona Richards held a Holiday Giveaway on her fabulous blog. All one had to do to enter was pony up with your favorite magazine. While I am a big fan of both InStyle and Real Simple, when it comes to old-school eye candy there is nothing like Victoria. Thankfully, I am blessed with an elegant and tasteful mother in-law who gifts me with a subscription. With the click of a button, my comment was entered and the fates were left up to Mimi, Cartolina's studio assistant. Luckily, she pawed my name as well as two others and I will soon be the lucky recipient of some sweet holiday cards. I can't wait! Want these lovely cards for yourself? Check out Cartolina's retailer page to find a shop that carries them near you!

Test Your Hue IQ

2008-10-14T08:10:00.004-04:00

Many thanks to Jen of She Takes The Cake for directing me to x-rite's Color IQ Test. The ever resourceful Mary of Supafly Designs, also posted this test a month or so ago on her always inspiring blog suffix abuse. I didn't quite get Mary's perfect score, but I did get myself a decent 8 (the lower the score the better, on a scale of 0 to 100). Apparently, I'm slightly hue deficient in the blues going into violets. In my defense, that 3rd bar down was the one I did last and I was a little too eager to see my score. I also found it interesting that that bar was the most difficult for me. Perhaps I'll need to try it again to try and get my score up and my eyes in fighting condition! Want to know your Color IQ? Check it out and arrange the color blocks in order according to their hue. Oh and have fun!

Feet Up Take A Break Friday

2008-10-10T08:00:00.001-04:00

1. Scientific FUTAB, 2. almost-finished sock FUTAB!, 3. This is 14 of my co-workers that were willing to help me out for FUTAB, 4. FUTAB #1, 5. Incognito FUTAB, 6. 14 | 365 ... futab, 7. FUTAB- Keep on Rollin', 8. FUTAB a la Daisy, 9. Day 267/365......sunrise FUTAB
Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Ever hear of FUTAB? It stands for "feet up take a break." If you're a Flickr member I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. There are over 300 Flickr groups just for FUTAB pictures! They run the gamut, from creative and tasteful to the well...not so tasteful. But overall I think the FUTAB idea is a great one and as you can see here, it often results in some artistic photography.

Between the daily stress we all face at times, concerns about the economy, and our societal need to move fast and get as much as we can, I began to think that those who practice the FUTAB philosophy are on to something. For you FUTAB might mean an hour getting lost in a favorite novel. For others FUTAB could be having fun with some co-workers (how cool is that shot from the cube farm?!). Or perhaps all FUTAB requires is just enough time to set up your shot and take it. But however one chooses to enjoy their FUTAB time, I can pretty much guarantee it will re-set or refresh you. Maybe not for the rest of the day, but for a little while at least. So enjoy some FUTAB time today. And if you do, feel free to chime in and share how you spent it. I might end up with a good book to add to my reading list or a new tea to try as a reult! If you are really ambitious snap a shot. Feet up, take a break...C'mon, you know you deserve it!

Crazy (wedding) Train!

2008-10-07T12:31:00.004-04:00

As I mentioned before I love the color red and it was the color my bridesmaids wore. I was recently doing some searching around Flickr for other weddings that incorporated scarlet and crimson. Instead what I found was this story of a 999-meter-long scarlet wedding dress displayed in a shopping mall in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province. The hand-knitted dress features 2,008 pieces of jade, 29 golden phoenixes and 880 peonies that took dressmakers three months to finish. Not sure why one would want a dress this long, but WOW. That is some dress!

It got me thinking about gowns and trains. From sweeping trains, to chapel and cathedral lengths, there are so many choices! Going into my wedding I wasn't sure if I wanted a train or not. Once I started trying gowns on I knew a train was a must for me. That trail of beautiful fabric just made me feel like a bride. And besides, when would I have another train-appropriate occasion, right? Still I had no idea what length to choose. When considering a train, think about the dress and veil styles you like, how you want to incorporate your dress into pictures, and bustle style (Ballroom? American? French?). Moms, planners, seamstresses, shop owners, sisters and friends will all be glad to give you their opinions as well. You'll know which ones to take to heart and which to take with a grain of salt.

I ended up with a semi-cathedral length train and loved it. I always thought a train made for dramatic ceremony pictures and fashion-forward formal portrait shots, and they do. But the photojournalistic style pics of my mother and sisters giggling and fussing over my bustle as they did it up, are the real favorites of mine. A true bonding moment captured forever on film. Thank goodness we didn't have to bustle up 999 meters. I would have been stuck in the bridal suite bathroom and missed most of my reception!

Honeymoon Destination Daydreams

2008-10-06T09:35:00.005-04:00

I'm exhausted, so I figured I'd pep myself up (or chill myself out) by sharing one of the most beautiful and relaxing places I've ever been, Peter Island. Peter Island is a gorgeous tropical paradise in the British Virgin Islands. In 2003 it won out over a short list of several other Caribbean hideaways, including Petite St. Vincent in the Grenadines, Hotel Guanahani in St. Barths, Cap Jaluca in Anguilla, to become the honeymoon destination for myself and my husband. As you can tell, we were going for remote and restful with our choices.

Since we're from the Northeast we chose the Caribbean because we only had a week and didn't want to spend too much of it traveling. That removed places from Fiji and Hawaii from the list. My husband had never been to a tropical location, and we knew if we went to Europe it would be "go! go! go!"...a never ending tour of museums, eateries, concerts and more. A Caribbean resort would give Pete a new experience (I swear the name had nothing to do with our final pick!) and we'd actually be able to re-charge after a year of wedding planning. The whole experience was just that! The food was incredible, the scenery breathtaking, and the service was second to none (I wish I could have taken Jean, the breakfast hostess home with me so that I could see her smiling face every day!). I discovered the best drink ever, The BBC (Bailey's Banana and Coconut) and got to lounge on the beach contemplating the days of pirates and shipwrecks as I gazed over at the island "Dead Man's Chest." The weather didn't really cooperate, but otherwise it was perfect. A very sweet way to start a wonderful marriage.

It's chilly as I write this now, but all it takes is a quick glance at some pictures for me to feel transported back to this amazing island. We're about to hit our five year anniversary and I have to laugh when I think about us sitting over a delicious lunch making plans to return in 5 years. Those years have gone by in a flash it seems, with two little adventurers of our own to show for it. So, a trip is not in the cards this year. Maybe at 10 years or twenty? Until then, all I need to do is look at a photo, throw on some Coppertone (it helps with the mood), and I can almost feel that sugary sand between my toes.

What honeymoon destinations do you love? Or what locales make you feel supremely rested? This traveler's imagination needs some more fodder for additional daydreaming, so do share!

My Own Illustration Friday

2008-10-03T11:18:00.003-04:00

I love to illustrate as well as design. So I was excited, when Jen asked me to whip up a little Halloween illustration/inspiration for some Sweet Talk Boutique stuff we've been working on. I know it's only the start of October, but I'm already getting into a festive and spooky mood. I'm sure most of you are familiar with the wonderful site illustrationfriday.com. I myself am a huge fan, even if I never get to create illustrations for the site's wonderful weekly challenges. If you are ever looking for inspiration, this is a great site to check out.
These days when it comes to Halloween, I need little inspiration. I've got two little ghouls of my own who have no problem getting in to the spooky spirit and they love to share that scary enthusiasm with me every chance they get (the 3 year olds new favorite word is "terrified.") Happy Friday everyone!

Color My World: Dark Teal

2008-10-02T09:00:00.003-04:00

" alt="Dark Teal from around Flickr" />1. thick & thin zip - dark teal, 2. Puffed Heart Dark Teal, 3. Cheapy Blue, 4. Cable detail, 5. Sheila D Zippered Corduroy Pouch: Dark Teal/Burgundy Tosca Lines, 6. poison ivy, 7. Maelstrom Handspun Merino Yarn - 85 Yds, 8. Dark Teal Chairs, 9. Azure~
One of my greatest design inspirations is COLOR. So I thought I'd start a regular blog feature about just that. I love watching wedding and fashion trends to see what colors are going to inspire the latest events and designs. I've also got a few great resources for you on this topic. One is the COLOURlovers Community, a site that bills themselves as a resource that monitors and influences color trends. Pretty cool. The other is something I'm sure many of you have heard of or have even used, Pantone's Color Trends Reports. Like this one for spring 2008 fashion and home. There is so much that influences my color choices as an artist, designer, and individual: my clients, my moods, industry trends and plain old personal preference. I thought I'd start this feature out with a new personal favorite, dark teal.

My favorite thing about this color? Its versatility. It goes great with black AND with brown. I love it paired with other darks, like burgundy, plum, or rust. I also think it looks great with peach, pale pinks, and a variety of light greens...colors I would not normally wear or choose to work with, but which gain some depth when paired with a strong partner like dark teal. For an unexpected punch of brightness, this color looks great with magenta or a lemon yellow. My favorite pairing...dark teal and crimson. 'Cause I just LOVE red. Enjoy these gorgeous photos from around flickr, and be sure to chime in if there's a color you love or one that I've missed that you'd love to see with this delicious, deep sea, dark teal!

Light My Fire!

2008-09-30T13:55:00.001-04:00

My fabulous friend and neighbor Sue gave me an awesome, scented Votivo Candle a few years ago. It happened to be the Joie de Noël fragrance from their seasonal collection and smelled heavenly. With that, a tradition was begun. Now we both love to search (or should I say sniff) out delicious smelling candles and surprise each other with them for birthdays and holidays. I discovered Jimmy Soy Candles, when searching for a gift for Sue a few years ago. I'm thinking I either got her Tuscan Sun or Thai Ginger Citrus. Both sound yummy.

One of the biggest fans of our candle exchange is my husband. I mean, who doesn't enjoy living in a nice smelling home? His enthusiasm encouraged me to find some candles that were a bit more manly than the usual floral and fruity fragrances out there. That's how I came across Books Candles from French Publisher Assouline, and offered in limited edition wood, leather and bibliothque scents. I was so excited about these that I wrote about them as Style Mama, for mommyscompany.com last year. There's a new Style Mama there now, but I still love Assouline's idea of a candle designed to evoke the warm and earthy smells of a library. The leather scented candle I chose is a hit with my husband and guests alike. If paging through a first edition volume fireside in a cozy leather armchair appeals to you, then these candles are perfection. I found a few still available over the internet and at a fairly reduced price, which is nice.

My wonderful friend Sue got me a candle last week from Chesapeake Bay Candle Company. It's part of a travel-themed line that showcases the fragrances of exotic locations. This one is Casablanca and features a blend of nutmeg and cinnamon rolled in crushed cloves...mmmm. I'd say it's yet another addition to my candle collection, but I love lighting good candles so much, that they never are around for too, too long. I'm a one-candle woman I guess. My delightful friend Sue? Well I hope to keep her around for quite some time and with many more candle exchanges as well!

You are cordially invited to CRUNCH!

2008-09-29T21:00:00.001-04:00

I wish I could say I came up with that title all by myself, but the credit goes to the lovely staff of Westchester Weddings Magazine, who recently featured Sweet Talk Boutique's Invitastions in a piece on festive foods and drinks for their Fall/Winter 2008 issue. Having spent the first 16 years of my life growing up in Westchester, this bit of press was especially sweet. In the mean time, Jen has been busy baking and (as usual) is a never ending idea-machine. There's lots in store over at Sweet Talk, and we'll be sure to keep you posted!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2008-09-26T14:52:00.004-04:00

I've been hit with some creative inspiration this week, but have had no time to get anything on paper. As a result, I'll make this brief and my birthday present to myself will be some time to design! I thought I'd celebrate today by sharing with you the delicious birthday treats from one of my favorite parties! My eldest daughter's First Birthday. All of the delightful creations you see above were made by my friend Jen of She Takes The Cake, and were inspired by the two fairy illustrations I created especially for my daughter. One is a heart fairy and the other a star fairy. Guests were treated to heart and star cookie wands! There was cake for the grown ups, cupcakes for the kids, and the adorable pink fairy-dusted smash cake for my daughter.

A few years have passed since this occasion, but my love of parties, celebration, and fun never seems to go away. I think that's why I love creating invitations so much. It's a joy to share in the events and milestones of others and to help them make their own visions come to life. I was a little freaked out about turning 30, but I'm actually kind of excited about 35. There is something special about every year, aspect, and phase of life. And I hope my life continues to include lots of art and design and happy celebrations. Thanks for reading guys! And as Alice in Wonderland might say, "a very merry un-birthday" to all of you who aren't enjoying a birthday today. Alice is so right too...there is ALWAYS a reason to celebrate (even if you have to make one up!). Have a great weekend!

Playing with Pinecones

2008-09-25T08:25:00.001-04:00

1. Cluster of Pinecones, 2. Origami Pinecone, 3. pinecone on the piled ginkgo-leaves, 4. Pinecone 2, 5. Pinecone, 6. pinecone bokeh, 7. pinecones, 8. Pinecones, 9. Pinecone rose

I love seasonal decorating. Rich colors, luxurious textures, and holidays on the horizon, are just a few of the things that make Autumn my favorite season. Easily found (where I live at least) and free (always a plus!), I love to decorate with pine cones. Their simple presence makes my mantle just a little bit warmer. You can also string them into a funky, rustic garland. That always makes my relatively uninteresting staircase a tad more fun. I've made Christmas ornaments from pine cones or coated them with peanut butter and birdseed and hung them outside as a tasty birdtreat (Kids love to make them and watch the birds flock!). I've also filled big baskets with them and put them near my fireplace, they look great and make excellent kindling.

Recently my friend Jennifer over at She Takes The Cake posted a lovely shot of a cake she did that featured pine cones. I think pine cones would be a lovely accent to any Fall or Winter themed wedding and it seems brides are increasingly using this motif as part of their day. Pine cones can be used to create the florets that adorn these cute Place Cards from Martha Stewart, or they can be used as simple but beautiful place card holders themselves. I think I need to get going on some pine cone themed invitations.

Looking around my yard and at some of the decorating I've already started should provide some inspiration, as well as the fabulous resource that is Flickr.com. I so enjoyed scouting around for these shots! How cool is that orgami pinecone? And don't those sparkly ones look charming on that gift? Alright, time to design. But before I go let me ask...are there any other natural objects you like to decorate with? Do tell! When I'm not on the hunt for images, I'm always looking out for great ideas!

My Love List

2008-09-24T10:13:00.004-04:00

If you haven't heard about Operation Nice yet, I guarantee you'll find out about it soon! Back in early September Nice Blogger Melissa gave her many readers an assignment to make a Love List (I know some of you have already made yours!). The only caveat? You can name anyone who you know personally (this is tougher than it sounds). I'm a little late but I've been giving some thought to mine. Here are the things I love:

I love getting out of my car to fill it with gas and hearing an awesome song playing over the station's speakers. I also love when I manage to hit a round number on the pump (YES!! 30.00 EXACTLY!!! WOOHOOO). I love wet, sloppy, kisses from babies. Oh and their chubby wrists too. The red highlights in my air that make me feel like me. A beautifully composed photograph. A brand spanking new set of Windsor-Newton watercolors and a block of cold-pressed Arches paper. A cozy sweater on a chilly autumn day. Creamsicle twist soft-serve in the middle of summer. Picking fresh strawberries or blueberries. Anything with goat cheese! The power of prayer. A couple's first dance at their wedding. Actually, just weddings in general. Restaurants with open kitchens. Dancing like a crazy woman. The ballet. Dress-up clothes. When you get a hug from someone who really means it and isn't just phoning it in. Walking on a trail in the Shawangunk Mountains. Chicago. The alphabet. Typography. Words. Stunning graphic design. Sitting by my fireplace and drinking a cup of tea. My parents' Christmas tree. My bedroom, when it is all clean and straightened. Handwritten letters. Japanese paper. Stationery. Love notes written on graph paper. VIntage tea cups. Postcards (stamped and sent ones!). Finding a chore already done for you. A well-written blog post.

I'm sure I'll tie this post up and think of a million more, but those are a few things that make my world a nicer place. Actually, I'm glad I did this assignment, even if I was a bit tardy. I'm now going to make an effort to ensure I do (or eat, or find...etc.) more often. I've been finding that when we brighten up our own world, we often brighten up the worlds of others as well!

Summer's Flowers Fade

2008-09-23T10:00:00.008-04:00

1. gladiola with no phubbles..., 2. Gladiola, 3. pink gladiola, 4. Stunning "Volunteer" Gladiola on Historic Hamer Hills Farm, 1837, 5. gladiola la la, 6. gladiola, 7. Gladiola, 8. Gladiolas, 9. gladiolas may 2008 006

It's rare for me to get misty about the passing of summer. I love autumn that much more. But with the Farmer's Market looking just a bit bleaker as the weeks creep on, I do find myself missing the armful of flowers I come home with each week between June and August. My favorite Farmer's Market bouquet? Gladiolas!! I love them! Perhaps it's because I'm a Morrissey fan, or maybe it's because they are colorful, big, and abundant.

When I lived in Chicago I'd go to the Farmer's Market with one of my most beautiful (inside and out) friends. The one thing we could never agree on, was gladiolas (or is it gladioli?). I couldn't get enough of them and she wouldn't be caught dead with them in her apartment. "They're FUNERAL flowers!!!" she would always emphasize during our little debates.

That made me wonder...are there any other flower varieties out there with an undeserved bad rap? What flowers do you think add extra oomph to your home interior? We all know to try and stay with flowers that are in season, but what else should brides think about when choosing flowers for their wedding? I had lots of autumn colored callas at my own wedding. Funeral flowers or not, I still love glads as well as my wonderful friend who had such a distaste for them. Summer may be over, but its blooms live on over at flickr. Alright, I've gotten that out of my system. Time to go find a pile of leaves to jump in!

The Beauty of Bento

2008-09-22T09:00:00.005-04:00

Anpanman Sandwich, originally uploaded by hippoPAPA +mum (Bento~Life).

You don't need silly old words from me to help you appreciate the beauty of these INCREDIBLE Bento Boxes created by Flickr Member, photographer, mom, and artist, Hippo Mum. When my daughters are old enough to start bringing their lunches to school, I can only hope that I too will provide them with a treat so caring, healthy and creative. Thanks for showing me that Design Is Everywhere Hippo Mum...even in a kindergarten lunch box!

Me...on The Set of The Martha Stewart Show!!

2008-09-17T20:57:00.005-04:00

Perez Hilton as the celebrity guest (Jen and I TOTALLY called that one!), a segment taped for a later date with Martha sampling 27 different hot dogs (surprisingly entertaining), AND a parting gift of an HP all-in-one printer? Who could ask for more? My day at The Martha Stewart Show was filled with tons of fun and a bit of the unexpected. Jen and I arrived right on time and had the pleasure of meeting fellow Posh Mamas, the Partybluprints Girls! They blogged live from the show, and even included a picture of Jen and I in their post! If you're a Posh Mama, check it out HERE (along with the MANY comments they got!). After getting our tickets, heading through security and a pre-show briefing, we were led into the studio.

Jen was packin' a laptop (which unfortunately lost juice) and was seated in the main blogger section. Some of our favorite bloggers were in attendance. The Wedding Bee and The Cupcakes Take The Cake Girls, to name a few. Jen was lucky enough to get a mention from the she CTTC Girls as well! As a designer of wedding stationery, and fan of Martha Stewart Weddings it was also fun to see Darcy Miller in action!

I was slightly bummed that Jen and I wouldn't be sitting together, until I landed my own awesome seat in the FRONT row...up close and personal. And right in front of the GORGEOUS set they use for the crafting segment (I thought that was meant to be), as well as the "potting shed" set. The entire studio is really beautiful and very impressive. I also had the pleasure of being seated next to some of Martha's team from Sirius Radio Channel 112. You can see their post about the show HERE. That's me in the second picture down, turned around and seated next to radio host Mario Bosquez of "Living Today." They also gave a shout out to our site sweettalkboutique.com! Thanks guys!

The guests were terrific. I learned about a few blogs I had never heard of, such as A Year of Evenings (everyone in the audience was lucky enough to get a copy of the book inspired by their last blog A Year of Mornings) and A Way To Garden. I'm not much of a gardener (yet!), but this blog is really beautiful. I also came away with a ton of ideas for this blog (read: changes). It was inspiring to be around so many people, including Martha, who really do seem to enjoy the blog medium as much as I do.

There's more to tell, and I'm well known for the run-on post, so I'll save some more for tomorrow. Thanks so much for your encouraging and supportive comments, and if you have any questions about the Martha experience, I'm happy to share...ask away!

We're off to see the Martha!

2008-09-15T09:00:00.001-04:00

Recently, The Martha Stewart Show announced they'd be doing a special show about blogging! I saw a tweet about it over on twitter and couldn't resist requesting tickets to the taping, which is slated to feature an entire audience filled with bloggers! Happily, I was granted two tickets and will be heading down to NYC this Wednesday along with Jen from She Takes The Cake.

I'm thrilled to be attending a show on this topic as I truly love to blog. Writing and conceptualizing Design is Everywhere has been so helpful to me as a designer and business owner. But even more important to me is the personal blog I've kept since early 2005, a chronicle of my experience mothering my two daughters. Initially started to update long-distance friends and family on our daily life, that blog has been a touchstone, a joy, validation, a blessing and so much more. While I've kept it relatively "unlisted" over these years, for myself and more importantly for my daughters privacy, I was amazed with the following it developed. I nearly fell over the day I got a comment from as far away as Australia.

While there's a lot of hot air blowing around in some corners of the blogosphere, I find that the blogs I read are authentic and offer information that I'd never get from traditional media sources. I especially enjoy the unique voices found on the wedding and event planning, style, design, and business blogs I frequent. And I have found a great deal of comfort on some of the hilarious parenting blogs I subscribe to. While I may not blog forever, it has been a great source of PR and networking for me as a business owner. At the moment, I find blogging provides a satisfying outlet and some genuine enjoyment.

While I may not be the ultimate domestic diva (let's just say hardcore housecleaning is not my forté), I love to cook and get crafty. Over the years Martha and her publications have definitely helped me in the decor department, and when it comes to wedding ideas she's had some gems. I'll be interested to catch a glimpse of Martha in person and I'll definitely keep you all posted (pun-intended). Thanks for all your comments. You guys are what makes blogging so FUN!

"The CHANGE"

2008-09-11T09:00:00.002-04:00

No I'm not talking about menopause. I'm talking about the change a designer makes when they switch from using one layout program to another. It can be painful, frustrating, and perhaps a bit enlightening...as I am finding out now that I've FINALLY chosen to start all new projects in InDesign CS3. I guess that means I'm breaking up with my former love and best friend, QuarkXPress. And yes Quark, "It was you, not me." I shouldn't say breaking up, that seems a little too final (commitment phobic much Erin?). I'll admit it, I still have feelings for Quark. But based on the reaction of my friends (read: printers and fellow designers), this really seems necessary. The straw that broke the designer's back? Not being able to add a simple .25 pt stroke on some text in Quark...grrrr. And the fact that more and more professional printers aren't even equipping themselves with Quark anymore. It's the Adobe family or bust apparently.

I know what you are thinking, "How could she have stayed in this relationship for SO LONG?" It's true, I should have changed when I was still on Quark v.4. Then I would at least be able to open up my files directly in InDesign. But you get comfortable and you're used to the control panels. You think, I'll get out and try something new...explore my options. We'll take a Ross & Rachel type break. Does Quark really even need to know I'm looking? But then that tight deadline rolls around, you're stressed out and next thing you know your back with your old boyfriend Quark again. Frustrated with your lack of communication with each other, you think...."can't you even TRY to get along with my friends Photoshop and Dreamweaver?", "You won't open up a PDF for me EVER?", or "I love that you added enhanced typography features. That glyphs palette is great. But It's just not something I can build an entire relationship on!"

The idea of opening up files in a new program and having them look terrible is scary, but scary isn't always terrible. I'm guessing part of my reticence about this switch is based in the fact that Quark and I were together for so long. Through good jobs and bad, great clients and the not-so-great ones, Quark was there for me. Sure there was my on-again, off-again hookup in college: Aldus Freehand. But I had no problem getting rid of that one. The more mature, and attractive Adobe Illustrator was waiting right around the corner. And when I got my first job, believe me...I was delighted to get rid of that stalker PageMaker. I honestly can't think of a more annoying piece of software. There was Quark, the hunky 1995 standard, ready to make my desktop publishing dreams a reality. Looks like those days are over and there's a new hunk in town, but as St. Augustine once said it is "better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all."

CARGO Cosmetics' Glossy Greetings

2008-09-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

As I've mentioned before I've got holidays on the brain, and while I'm perfectly capable of making my own gift tags thank you, sometimes I like to throw friends for a loop and do a little something special. In other words, something purchased and not handmade by me. That's why I'm hoping CARGO Cosmetics releases another annual addition of their Holiday GlossyGreetings™ Tags! Last year this set of 5 seasonal greeting tags with a little button of CARGO lip gloss built right in retailed at around $7.50 for 5 tags (not bad). Even more appealing, CARGO donates 100 percent of the proceeds to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

I'm sure I'm a tad bit too early for this product release. It's only September after all and the USPS doesn't even release their holiday stamps until late October or early November. But like any good (and fashionable) girl scout, I like to be prepared. What girlfriends' backpack, uuuhh I mean clutch, couldn't benefit from some stashed single-use lip gloss ready for any holiday party emergency? That mistletoe will get you every time! So be on the look out for these adorable little tags, I know I will be!

Design and Dance

2008-09-09T10:01:00.005-04:00

I had long been planning a post about two of my personal passions: graphic design and dance, but was hesitant since many of the people (including designers and artists) that I've spoken to over the years just don't see the same deep connection that I see between these two art forms. While part graphic design's goal is to be accessible and communicative to the masses, dance just doesn't seem offer that same appeal to the general public (at least here in the states).

During my years of studying dance and choreography, quite a few of which coincided with my studies in art and graphic design, I found that my work in both areas highly benefited from each other. Design helped me understand the structure and composition that I infused into my dance pieces. And dance encouraged me to be expressive and fluid when designing on paper, two characteristics I may have never worked to cultivate as a designer if I had not loved dance and dancing so much.

I was delighted when I opened up "T" the New York Time's Style Magazine this weekend to find a quote on this very subject from French designer Philippe Apeloig. Saying "I think of typography as being frozen motion," Apeloig cited Merce Cunningham and Alwin Nikolais as two of his favorite choreographers. I couldn't agree more and have long been inspired by these choreographers as well as many others.

There are probably three posts here. Apeloig's, highly influenced by architecture as well, has some amazing work that I'd love to share. And tomorrow, I'll have to post a short video of Nikolais' Tensile Involvement. For now I chose to highlight Cunningham's work. Organic, yet structured, his dances are exquisitely composed (one might say, they are precise and well designed too). While being highly expressive, Cunningham's work is not about story, but about dance itself, which I think can be pretty cool. And it makes me want to make a design that is about the design and nothing else. Is that even possible?

So often throughout my education and career, I heard "we don't design in a vacuum." I've heard it so much I don't even know if this is an actual quote or just a design maxim we've all come to use over time. We're all inspired by what's around us. What non-design subject (or seemingly non-design subject) inspires you?

Tickled Pink!

2008-09-08T09:00:00.001-04:00

With cooler temperatures around the corner for those of us in Northern United States and Canada, I've set about looking for some stylish and luxurious knits to enhance my wardrobe. I was google searching this season's fashion buzzword, "capelet," when I came across Tickled Pink Knits' Etsy shop. When I saw the Rococo Wool and Llama Shawl pictured above (available in 18 custom colors!), I fell in love.

Tickled Pink's designer and knitter Elena, shows exquisite attention to detail in her work. I love the matching ceramic button with a floral and grapevine motif that finishes off the lovely Vineyard Shoulderette. And what about the hand-crocheted flowers that adorn the tassels on Tickled Pink's Victoriana Scarflette? Made of the warmest wool and silky bamboo (a highly renewable resource), this delightful accessory can have you looking elegant and eco-friendly at the same time! I am also inspired by how multi-functional some of the designs in the shop are. Quite a few Tickled Pink's designs can be worn in a variety of ways, but this funky Rasberry Knit Headband, Scarflette, Neckwarmer, and Belt takes multi-tasking style to a whole new level!

I may need to save up some funds if I ever want a that Rococo Shawl, but I am definitely going to drop quite a few hints about this shop to my husband before holiday time rolls around. Being that I live downwind of the Great Lakes, square in snowbelt country, I hope to indulge myself in a Tickled Pink neckwarmer sooner rather than later though. Honestly, I wear neckwarmers and shawls indoors (thanks to my 1920's colonial) and out, throughout the entire winter season. The only problem is going to be which one to choose! Merino Wool? Boucle? Alpaca? It will be a tough decision. But whatever I get I'm sure I'll end up being Tickled Pink!

Home Designs with a Truly Modern Twist

2008-09-05T10:00:00.000-04:00

Perhaps you all know about www.modern-twist.com, but this company recently come to my attention and I was quick to swoon over several of their products. I mean how awesome is this PJ Pocket Pillow?

Still I like their entertaining and dining offerings best. Their Coaster Notz, pictured above, are particularly fashionable and functional. Easily personalized (over and over again) with a ball point pen, your guests will always be able to find their drinks or could easily jot a little note to you about how fabulous you looked or what a delicious meal you made. Modern-twist suggests using them as coasters, placecards, or even wine-tasting notes. I also appreciate that part of the company's goal is to enhance your home, by highlighting the grain of the table the coaster sits on, rather than providing the consumer with just another knick-knacky type coaster. They come in lots of hip patterns as well. I'm loving the black and white ones the best I think.

Also cool, Modern-twist's designed Vinotagz. Again these work along the same lines as the Coaster Notz, as they're easily personalized and wiped clean. With a storage holder that fits over a bottle neck, these would make a great hostess gift for the holidays. Most of their products can easily be found online or at a brick and mortar boutique.

Of course, I have to leave a disclaimer that I'm not employed by this company, and know little about them except that I like their designs. After al,l any site that claims their products have a "clean, versatile aesthetic" is a welcome (and much-needed) twist to my home interior. Happy Weekend everyone!

Beautiful Buttons

2008-09-04T10:00:00.003-04:00

I love buttons and have acquired quite the little collection over the years. When I lived in a studio apartment in Chicago with some sweet retro metal kitchen cabinets, I fashioned a bunch of my favorites into magnets. But between having a business and two kids three and under, I feel like I NEVER get to do personal projects anymore. Still, I did manage to squeeze in these awesome little rings not too long ago. They come from a pdf tutorial that can be purchased (quite affordably might I add!) from Sew Bettie. Easy, and super fun, I love the results and just how creative I could get on my own, while sticking to the pattern. Now instead of these lovely buttons sitting in a box, I can wear my collection wherever I go! So the next time you are feeling crafty or the need to expand into some other media for a change (I know we've all been there!), check out sewbettie.com. There just might be a pattern or tutorial that inspires you!

Wine Design

2008-09-03T10:00:00.002-04:00

I've been putting off doing a post on all of the beautifully designed wine labels I've come across recently, but after seeing a photo of the The Amazing Food Wine Company's Wine That Loves™ line in this month's InStyle, I had to move this topic to priority #1 status. I love the highly graphic and simply colored packaging for this product, deftly designed by the firm Lippincott Mercer.The idea is pretty genius: an easy way to help buyers pair their wine with whatever it is they're eating (for example, wine that loves pizza, wine that loves grilled salmon, etc.) I like the challenge of testing different varietals against the various recipes I make and educating myself about wine, so while I'll definitely give these guys a try (I'm a sucker for a pretty bottle!), I'll be interested to see if the idea behind the bottle is fad or fabulous.

Another delightfully designed wine I recently had the chance to try was Mano A Mano. Another graphic looking label with a striking orange color that reflects the flavorful punch of this wine. I also love the eye-catching typography on the label. This Tempranillo from the area of La Mancha, is a deliciously simple red wine with a very fruity flavor and just a hint of smoke. It went perfect with the barbecue ribs I was having. Thanks to my very tasteful best friend Nicolle, who introduced me to me to this inexpensive (easily under $15 in most areas) and yummy wine.

Last up Polka Dot Riesling. I'm a Riesling lover, especially when paired with thai or indian food...anything spicy really. The husband picked this one out for me to try one Friday night. The cobalt blue bottle says it all: bright, cool, and refreshing. A great summer wine. Again, the label design is simple, but uses color nicely and I think the font is perfectly paired with the product.

So why not enjoy a glass of wine, while enjoying some sweet label design...two great tastes that go great together!

Shopping at Swank with Becky OH!

2008-09-02T08:33:00.006-04:00

Custom note cards, originally uploaded by Becky OH.

As I mentioned on Friday, myself and Jen of She Takes The Cake had the pleasure of visiting the "Fondue and Fashion" celebration at Swank this weekend in Hamilton, NY. Swank is a lovely boutique with a whole lot of vintage, yet modern feel. Even more thrilling was the chance to meet Becky, of Becky OH! who lucky for us, was having a trunk show at Swank this weekend.

I've gotten to know Becky's work through forums and Flickr, but it's not often I get to meet designers from outside my local area in person. As a result I wanted to make Becky some stationery to celebrate the start of show season, and I thought her tag line "Thanks for being so stylish" was perfect for paper. Pictured are a few fun shots Becky took of the cards, complete with some fun Japanese and Indian papers (which I thought captured Becky's flair for pattern) and one with just a smidge of "bling" (because who doesn't need some sparkle?!). I love designing for other women business owners, especially designers, artists and creators of all types. Jen of course took along some of her awesome custom logo cookies for Becky too. We find it's always nicest to come bearing gifts.

Becky's was definitely shining at Swank this weekend! What a delight to meet such a sweet and talented artist. I LOVE the handbag I got and I hope to share a picture with you guys today or tomorrow. Now I'm off to start coordinating all of the outfits I'll need to go with it!

Back, and ready for another vacation.

2008-08-29T14:21:00.003-04:00

Thankfully, for us stateside ladies Labor Day is here. Nothing like coming back from vacation, working for a day or two and then settling right into a long weekend. I am so ready for Fall to begin. Cozy clothes, brisk mornings, my two little ones headed for preschool three mornings a week (9 whole extra hours to myself!!!). It's totally going to rock. And while I'm sure I'll spend a good chunk of those 9 hours right here at the computer desk, I still feel the need to get ye olde wardrobe back up to speed. Which means...SHOPPING.

I'm going to kick my own personal fall fashion fest off with a little girls' shopping trip this weekend. Jen of She Takes The Cake, did some sluething and found a Becky OH! trunk show in our area. Becky's unique and fashionable bags are little symphonies of color and pattern. I also have a great appreciation for the shapes and forms she uses in her designs. Thanks to the internet I've known about Becky's work for a while, but I'm looking forward to checking out these goodies in person.

Enjoy these last few days of summer everyone! Of course I realize it will still be very warm, even where I live, into much of September. But I can't help but think of breaking out my boots, shawls, and smartwool knee socks. These are the BEST socks ever and they come in super sweet damask, herringbone, and stripey styles. HAve a great weekend and I'll be back Tuesday with regular posts and lots and lots of design ponderings. After all, it is EVERYWHERE.

Sounds in the Studio: August Day Song, Bebel Gilberto

2008-08-22T10:00:00.000-04:00

When I'm in full-on design or production mode I like to listen to music. Oh, how I love you and your smart playlists itunes! I am a longtime fan of bossa nova music and I'd love to travel to Brazil someday, kick back with a capirinhia on a balcony somewhere and watch the sun set with corcovado in the distance (can you tell I'm on vacation?). My first love when it comes to samba is the music of Astrud Gilberto. Who doesn't love the sultry sounds of Summer Samba: So Nice, and of course Girl from Impanema? I actually had the pleasure of seeing Astrud in concert years ago in the city I'm writing this post from, Chicago.

But these days, when I reach for some beach music to brighted a dreary day, I go for the more modern Brazilian sounds of Bebel Gilberto. August Day Song is my favorite and I had to mention it before August fades away. Every once in a while, on a snowy winter day, I'll bring a little summer to my work day. I just slather on a little Hawaiian Tropic sunblock (just for the beachy scent), mix up some minty iced tea, pop on this song, and let those bright and sunny designs flow...

Still Hot? Stay Cool.

2008-08-18T10:00:00.000-04:00

I love me some beauty products, but nothing sounds worse than loading on makeup on a hot summer day. Thankfully, I've gathered a treasure trove of refreshing bath and beauty products over the years. I figured while it's still pretty warm out, it might be fun to beat the heat with one or two of these cooling ideas.

Purology HydrateCondition: Hands down the BEST conditioner I've ever used. Period. It's expensive, one of my few splurges, but I've got some seriously color treated hair and Purology's products have astounded me with their antifade and color retention properties. This conditioner smells so deliciously minty and gives my scalp an invigorating wake up call with each use. Rinse with cool water for an extra treat.

CO Bigelow Mentha Lip Tints: Last winter I did an article for mommyscompany.com where I mentioned the shine and sheer color of this gloss. The bonus—peppermint oil used in the formula actually freshens your breath and imparts a pleasant cooling sensation. Lip balm never looked (or smelled) so good! If you're not such a mint fan, you can try one of their refreshing soda fountain or citrus flavors. Of course there's always the original Mentha Lip Shine for ladies that want the same moisture and breath-freshening features without the tint.

Fragrance + Fridge = Heaven: Years ago, on a hot summer day I got a tip from a Bath & Body Works clerk that I still use today. Take your favorite body spray and stash it in the fridge for the summer. Whenever you need that quick, pick-me-up it's chilled and ready to go. My all time favorite spritzer for this purpose was Bath & Body Works Cool Citrus Basil. It was discontinued in stores, but looks like it's back online as part of a Signature Classics Collection (happy dance!). Not too feminine, and leaves behind the nicest low-notes, especially for such a reasonably priced product. Anyone got an indie B&B spray they like? I'd be interested in trying some new ones and am always up for spreading the indie love.

Kiss My Face Moisture Shave in Cool Mint: Yet another obsessively natural KMF product that I wouldn't want to go without. While it does come in other scents, I love the tingly sensation of Cool Mint best. A little goes a very long way, and I love the pump dispenser. No nasty propellants or rust stains in my bath anymore! Best of all this formula is kind to sensitive skin and offers superior smoothness unlike any other shave gel or cream I've tried. I know, I sound like a saleswoman for these guys but I just honest to goodness love how their products work for me time and time again (and all while being earth-friendly).

Evian Brumisateur Facial Spray: Years ago I received a sample from a friend who was working a fashion show. I on the other hand worked in book publishing. Wonderful, but not as exciting. Ever work in front of a computer for hours at a time in an overly warm office? I'd do OK for most of the day, but about an hour after lunch I could feel sleep setting in. Enter my trusty bottle of Evian Brumisateur Facial Spray and some instant refreshment. Some people use it to set makeup or for moisturizing purposes as well. If you do jump over to the Evian site you must check out the Christian Lacroix "Prêt-à-Porter" 2008 Limited Edition Evian bottle...now that's designer water! I've also used Burt's Bees Complexion Mist over the years (the lavender scented one was effective), but they seemed to have discontinued the majority of their offerings in that department.

So next time you feel hot, or feel like you're looking not-so-hot thanks to some steamy weather, enjoy a cool rinse, swipe a refreshing tint, or grab a chilly spritz. You'll be glad you did.

Off the Rails

2008-08-15T13:52:00.006-04:00

Sorry I've been out of touch for a few days! I've been finishing up some large projects and getting ready to take (gasp!) a break from the office. I guess I shouldn't say I've been "off the rails" as that implies some damage or abnormality, but I wanted to choose a phrase that went nicely with this 1930 poster design I found at enjoyart.com, of the Storm King New York Central Lines by Walter L. Greene. I could honestly look at vintage travel posters all day long! It's pretty easy for me to sit and daydream about the adventures I'd have in some exotic or scenic locale. What's great about vintage posters like this one is that it inspires you to not only ponder the location, but also the time period as well. This one got me thinking about a line from an Ani DiFranco song "I dream of touring like duke ellington, in my own railroad car. I dream of waiting on the tall blonde wooden benches in a grand station aglow with grace..." I can almost see myself there with a cute pencil skirt, gloves and a hat of course. Maybe wearing something like this.

Daydreaming aside. I've been eyeing this print up for a while and wanting it for my home. Being from the Hudson River valley, Storm King Mountain is a familiar sight. During the times when I commuted from Poughkeepsie to Grand Central Station on a regular basis, I had the fortune to soak up the landscape originally labeled 'The Water Level Route' by New York Central Lines. Sure the "upwards of sixty luxurious passenger trains a day...that coddled patrons in leather and mahogany, offering fine meal service in well-appointed dining coaches and restful sleep in hushed Pullmans" has changed into the Metro-North Commuter Rail or Amtrak, but in many areas the river landscape still retains the charm it had back in the 1930's.

There's a few new sights added to the line as well. These days the Storm King Arts Center sits beneath the mountain's gaze. Gorgeous in any season, this outdoor museum celebrates nature almost as much as it does sculpture. But as their website notes it's really about the relationship between the two, which is also what I've found most captivating on my visits. I live a few hours away now, so I think this poster would be a nice reminder of home (and some excellent fodder for additional daydreaming). I'll be out of town the middle of next week into the week after, but I promise to have a few posts to share while I'm away. Gotta love blogger's advanced scheduling feature!

Hit the Deck! Design samples on display at the Cooper-Hewitt

2008-08-12T11:00:00.002-04:00

Photo from cooperhewitt.org
Sample plate, Chantilly, France, ca. 1920s Glazed earthenware
Museum purchase from Charles E. Sampson Memorial Fund, 5/5/03

One of the things I miss most about living in Manhattan (and Chicago and Providence as well), is convenient proximity to a huge amount of art and design. One of my favorite New York museums is the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. If you are ever looking for inspiration this is a great place to visit. Currently they are hosting an exhibition called Multiple Choice: From Sample to Product which looks completely fascinating! The exhibit looks at sampling media from the Cooper-Hewitt collection and Smithsonian Institution Libraries. From Pantone books, to earthenware plates transfer-printed in rainbow colors, this collection highlights the many beautiful and different ways manufacturers marketed available design options throughout history. The exhibit also connects samples to the final products they inevitably become.

Multiple Choice: From Sample to Product is only running until September 1st of this year. So if I've piqued your interest and it's possible, get there now. Although I do have to say, quite a bit of info and inspiration can be gained just by looking at the exhibit's website. I do have one question for all you designers, decorators, planners, and artists out there. Have you ever done anything creative or inspirational with an old sample deck, be it one for color, pattern, wall coverings, or paper finish? Do tell!

Must-see Mondays: Jen's Cake-tacular Grand Finale!

2008-08-11T13:34:00.002-04:00

Last Wednesday I blogged about assisting my friend, and collaborator over at Sweet Talk Boutique, Jen Comfort with an incredible She Takes The Cake project. When I say assisting, I actually mean that I stood around gawking and providing a few laughs while painting fondant. These beautiful cakes were for a New York City Movie-themed wedding. There were 16 (count 'em!) centerpiece cakes each depicting a different movie. The name of each movie provided the name for that table. I'd tell you more about the actual wedding cake, but I'd rather send you over to Jen's blog to hear the scoop direct from the sugar artist herself. Jen's amazing project is finished and you can read about it, and check out pictures HERE. Enjoy fans of weddings and just wild creativity in general! Beautiful work Jen!

What's in Your Widgets?

2008-08-08T13:48:00.004-04:00

Yesterday's post conveniently gleaned from my Typographica widget, reminded me that there are lots of things I love about my mac and computing in general (yeah, I just used the word "computing," So '87!). Widgets, those lovely little apps that keep me tuned in, make life a little bit easier (or offer the illusion of convenience), and add a pinch of fun to my desktop or home page are certainly one of those internet perks I enjoy. The widgets I use (or as google calls them, gadgets) are either part of my mac dashboard or my google home page. I like to let a widget hang a while in either of these locations to see if I use it or not, or how useful it is. Honestly a few wonderful sounding widgets have let me down (I'm looking at you Sing that iTune!, but perhaps I'll give you another try with your newly updated parser.) And a few I was feeling "eh" about have shown themselves to be very helpful. For example, the epicurious widget has served my hungry family well. I'm thinking this Delivery Status widget sounds fabulous, but again the proof is in the pudding. I'll let you know how it goes.

I use my google home page widgets most frequently (what does that say about the time I spend on the net?). I even have a second home page tab expressly for wedding related widgets. My favorite google gadgets are Be Twittered, The Onion, Flickr, and Gmail. I love the convenience of opening up a single page and seeing new twitters from those I'm following, recent entries to my gmail inbox, newly uploaded photos from my flickr contacts, and of course hilarious Onion headlines like "Soundgarden Inadvertently Reunites At Area Cinnabon."

I'll admit it, I always swear I'm going to take greater advantage of the apple dashboard, but I never do. It takes a long time to load and I'm only patient enough to wait for the most useful of widget apps. Those would be The Weather, The Calculator and my all-time, hands-down, most frequently used...The Dictionary/Thesaurus Combo (love it!). I'm pretty sure those may all come with the operating system. Still, the dashboard looks pretty and I am always on the hunt for new toys, especially those of the freeware variety. So do tell readers...what are your favorite widgets? I need something to keep me occupied while I save up money for an iphone.

Dangerous Curves

2008-08-07T19:13:00.004-04:00

After reading an interesting review of Doyald Young's book Dangerous Curves over at Typographica, I'm thinking it's got to go on my reading list (or should that be...my design eye-candy list?!). Of course it's a little on the pricey side and I've got about 15 books about parenting my (spirited, persistent, insert other adjective here...) child gathering dust on my night stand, but I'd like to get to it down the road. I spent almost my entire sophomore fall semester in design school hand-drawing roman type. Think Trajan's Column, or the modern day all-caps version of this beauty by Young himself which has a little more finesse than my version (no pun intended). A dastardly assignment that I secretly sort of enjoyed, my endless attempts at drawing the perfect roman "O" left me deeply intrigued by the creative process of designing fonts, drawing letter forms (be it on computer or by hand), and the improvement and editing that goes into such an endeavor. It sounds like Young's thoughts on that last note are very informative. So many books...so little time!

Wedding Wednesdays: Caker In Training!

2008-08-05T14:07:00.003-04:00

One of the many things I love about my job is the opportunity it has afforded me to meet (be it virtually or actually) other creatives like myself in the stationery and wedding industries. I'm sure I've blathered on about this in the past but I count myself especially fortunate to have met Jen Comfort, the butter and sugar to my pen and paper over at sweettalkboutique.com. Besides being a great inspiration and a dear friend, Jen is also owner and sugar artist at She Takes The Cake, and right now she has got an EPIC project going on for a very special, movie-loving, bride and groom!

Jen is in the process of creating SIXTEEN centerpiece cakes each with film canister cakes and on top of each a pastillage film reel with filmstrip matching the movie poster on a pastillage plaque that will be positioned on each reel. I KNOW, right? It's going to be AWESOME. So awesome, that I had to go see Jen at work for myself. I also delivered her some dinner and $20 worth of cotton candy which may or may not make it into the final cut (a little film humor there...). We'll see. For those who have not experienced driving with a huge (very clean) hefty bag full of 20 or so bags of cotton candy riding shotgun, I need to let you know that it smelled very yummy. I love my job (and my baker friend, who of course sent me home with cupcakes).

During my visit, Jen was working on the actual wedding cake. Yes, there is an incredible pièce de résistance to go along with all those amazing centerpieces. I don't know how much I am at liberty to give away and Jen is chronicling the progress of her amazing work over at her blog, so for the real scoop you'll have to check it out. What I can say is that I think it is going to ROCK. While there, I got to assist in adding and painting fondant, doing some measuring and also some general standing around and gaping with awe at what Jen does. I also snapped a picture of her putting a portion of the cake together. We laughed and had a great time and I hope I was a slight bit of help. I learned a lot about a different aspect of weddings and I saw first-hand something I already knew...that Jen puts true love and passion into every single one of her designs and every last morsel of delicious cake. I can't wait to see the finished product girl!

Thinkin' Christmas

2008-08-05T13:32:00.002-04:00

Our Family Christmas Card 2007, originally uploaded by Bride Design.

It's August so I don't even have the "Christmas in July" excuse, but for some reason the holidays have been on my mind! I even picked up a few Christmas gifts today while shopping for supplies (gotta grab it while it's on sale!). As a completely custom stationery business, I do holiday cards but I don't have to deal with drop dates and advance orders from retailers. Still, I'd eventually love to produce more greeting cards and come up with a holiday line since it is my absolute favorite time of year.

Again, there's no real reason for me to think about Thanksgiving or Christmas now except for the fact that I love to enjoy the actual holidays themselves (when they're happening) so advance organization is key. One weapon in my arsenal: organized christmas.com. I certainly don't take advantage of all this site has to offer, but I do love their Christmas Countdown printable calendar and checklists. I'm sure it's a little over the top, but honestly it's helped me feel less stressed at holiday time. This were my personal cards last year. Gotta love the October photo shoot I did with my girls when the Hanna Andersson stripey Christmas jammies arrived in the mail. Sometimes that's all it takes to catch the Christmas spirit!