Ring, ring doorbell ring...It's house party time!

So I've been tagged again. This time by the excellent Carey of Lasso'd Moon, a fellow stationery designer who can be found at her blog: http://www.theinkspotblog.com. The header is a nod to one of Carey's most embarrassing songs..."House Party Time" by Dan Zanes. Don't worry Carey...you can find my girls and I dancing to this one in our kitchen most weekdays at around lunchtime. You're not alone.

Here's what I'm supposed to do:
1) Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2) Share 5 songs you are embarrassed to admit to others you like and tell why.
3) Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4)Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

But I'm going to have to wimp out on 3 and 4. Honestly, after tagging everyone back in January I think I tapped out my resources. So unfortunately this tag ends with me. BUT, I will treat you to 5 songs I'm embarrassed to admit to others I like and why. Here goes.

First you must know that I am a die-hard 80's and 90's alternative girl, who grew up singing in choirs and musicals. That right there should let you know that I have secret CDs stashed all over the place. Move over my well played friends like The Smiths and Jeff Buckley...say hello to the closet skeletons of my CD collection.

1)"Un-break My Heart" by Toni Braxton— The over the top drama of the lyrics, the moments where Toni gets her super sassy low-register whisper on, the vocal acrobatics (imitated by Idol contestants season after season I might add!), the big "whoo!" at the end. All very cheesy. But I have BELTED (that's the only way to sing this song) this one out in the privacy of my home office before.

2)"Leave (Get Out)" by JoJo- I'm a sucker for a dance tune. Sure she was like 15 when she recorded this, but the girl can sing. As my brother-in-law once asked me (when he caught me jammin' out to this one) "How do you think they decided to add the girl in the background of the chorus yelling 'Leave!, Now! Who? Why! Waste of time!' I would've loved to have been in on that record exec meeting!!!" Lyrics like "Boy you must've gone and bumped your head" make this song almost intolerable but I still like it anyway

3)"Gotta Get Thru This" by Daniel Bedingfield-Again, it's got a good beat and you can dance to it. Still the digitized falsetto is pure cheese. Thank goodness he's European, it's the only excuse I have for liking this.

4)"Stand Up" by Ludacris featuring Shawnna- I am a mother, I should not own music with lyrics like this. I will say though that dancing to this and "Hot in Herre" by Nelly are the ONLY things that got my daughters through "the witching hour" as infants. You know, the period between 1 and 4 months old where they cry for like 2 hours straight every night between 5 and 7 pm? Apparently, when I moved, they moved. And it was in a way that worked for them. Who says hip-hop isn't comforting?

5)"(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You" by N'Sync- I don't think I even need to elaborate on this one. I'll go hang my head in shame now.

So there it is. And I did not go easy on myself with this tag. Those are just a few of the songs I'm embarrassed to admit I like. Feel free to comment with one or two of your own favorite stinkers!

Design Find: helpineedhelp.com

My friend and collaborator over at http://sweettalkboutique.com pointed me towards a great site a week or two ago: http://www.helpineedhelp.com. I love the aesthetic of the site as well as their product ideas. Any company that has this to say about packaging design—"Many companies enjoy packaging their goods inside nasty materials covered in gaudy graphics.That’s because many companies are controlled by crazy people."—is A-OK in my book! While you're visiting the helpineedhelp.com site there are lots of things to do and look at, all presented in an orderly and legible fashion that would make my college Swiss design professor proud. A visit to their blog is sure to give you a chuckle. You can design your own "Help, _______" T-shirt in their store section. I personally want to get one that says "Help, everyone spells stationery...as stationary!!!" Just a little pet peeve of mine. Lastly, be sure to check out their "help I am BORED" area. While there you can find all sorts of easy remedies for toplessness, homesickness, stupidity, aggression and more! So props to the designers over at http://www.helpineedhelp.com/home/. Thanks for adding some more good design to cyberspace. And thanks Jen for for being my design buddy.

Kiss My Face!

Today is Earth Day and I have to share a few of the most well-designed (and earth friendly!) skin care products I've had the pleasure of trying. I am officially obsessed with Kiss My Face's Obsessively Organic facial care line! Why you ask? Because it WORKS. I say that these products are well designed because they excel in both form and function. From the packaging to the effectiveness of the individual formulas, this is a group of stellar products that each stand out individually while also working in perfect harmony with each other. Of course they've all got obscenely cute and catchy names, which makes me love them even more.

Currently I'm using the products geared toward normal to dry skin. I start with "Clean for a Day" creamy cleanser, which is as much a treat for my nose as it is for my skin. Scented with natural vanilla and tangerine, I always think to myself that it smells like I'm washing with a yummy smelling cream pie filling. The best part is I don't gain any weight and there's none of that stickiness! Next up is the anti-aging powerhouse serum "C The Change." I love this stuff and so would the wrinkle lines on my forehead...if they were still visible!! I am new to serum use, but over the past few weeks I cannot deny the changes I've seen in my skin. It looks and feels healthier, with less wrinkles and redness to boot. Since this is my night routine, I follow up with "Under Age" an ultra hydrating moisturizer. This is a rich cream (I use a very small bit with each application) but my skin just sucks it right up. I can't give all the credit to the serum, as I feel this moisturizer contributes a great deal to softening my skin and smoothing out fine lines as well. Of course, it's also got a lovely rose garden type fragrance. Amazingly, not perfumey or too floral, but rather fresh smelling...like a bouquet of botanicals.

There are lots more options you can add to this routine, especially if you have special concerns. There's a botanical acne gel in the line, a moisturizer with sunscreen for day use, a deep pore cleansing mask and a body scrub as well. The only extra treatment I've tried so far has been KMF's "So Refined" facial scrub. I use it once a week or whenever I need a little oomph in my complexion. Next I'm itching to try their "Eyewitness" eye repair cream and "Balancing Act" toner.

When it comes to Kiss My Face I have to admit, I might be a bit biased. They're based right next to my little hometown and I've been familiar with (and a fan of) their products since I was a high schooler. Another fact I love about Kiss My Face is that they're the only independently owned major natural personal care company. And the company is still owned and operated by the founders!

I may be a fan of beauty products, but there have been plenty of casualties over the years—products that just didn't work, moisturizers that fostered breakouts, too heavy, too smelly...the list goes on. How refreshing it is to find a line that works for me, and that works to benefit the earth as well! Happy Earth Day!

To get some of your own earth day treats check out: http://www.kissmyfacewebstore.com/

Break me off a piece of that ART!: Helena Garcia

I have a darling little 18 month old. Those are her gorgeous brown eyes up in the header there. Not long after she was born, I set about designing her room. Of course, with a big sister in the house, much of her room was decorated with hand-me-downs. Determined not to let my second child get the perennial shaft, I made sure there were a few things that are all her own—the lemon colored walls, the white sheer curtains with hot pink polka dots, and a perfect set of prints from illustrator and artist Helena Garcia.

OK, so I had my eye on Helena's work before baby #2 was even in the picture. Who wouldn't be charmed by her colorful world of cheeping birds, adorable rocker chicks, and shared sushi yumminess?! Framed and placed on my little one's walls, I knew they were a hit when my big one, who was two at the time, instantly decided..."that's me! I'm the one with the guitar!" and "Look at me, I'm walking with my music." Notice her sister wasn't mentioned at all there. Still, I'd say little sister is the one who wins out. After all, she gets to wake up with Helena's illustrations everyday.

Having spent a lot of time looking at "I Love Music" and "A Stroll" while I rocked my sleepy, sick, or just plain cuddly baby, I came to the conclusion that for me, good design is truly comforting. Throw in the additional "cute factor" of Helena's art—I mean isn't the little animal ear hat in "A Stroll" is an inspired choice?!—and I'm comforted even more so. Her saturated color choices warm me and the musical themes found throughout her illustrations speak to what it's like being a girl who loves music (which I still happen to be to this day). The flat 2-D nature of Helena's work reminds me why I love being a print designer, and her "less is more" approach makes her art very accessible to children and adults alike.

Speaking of which (my big one's new favorite phrase), I aim to choose art for my children's walls that will grow with them and I felt these prints were perfect for that. Nothing against the "nursery art" trend, I've made some nursery art myself in the past. But much the way adults converse naturally with babies to encourage receptive language and verbal skills, I want to give my daughters more than just the equivalent of visual baby talk. I want my home to be filled with art that they notice, that interests them, and that they enjoy. As I rocked my little one the other night, thinking of how she'll someday be too big to rock, she pointed to "I Love Music" and said "guitar." That's when I was reminded once again, of what a good choice I made buying Helena's prints. Oh yeah, and I was also reminded that one is never too big (or too little!) to truly RÖCK!!!

For more on Helena Garcia's rockin' illustrations check out: http://helenagarcia.com/

Picture Book Ponderings: Miffy

Back when I was "tagged" in January, I mentioned that my ultimate dream is to illustrate children's books. To say that I am a lover of children's books (picture books in particular) is an understatement. As I troll local libraries for books to read with my toddler daughters, I am continually reminded of the many books and authors and illustrators that helped shape my design sensibilities. Hence the regular feature I'd like to start..."Picture Book Ponderings."

I figured I'd start out with the Dutch design icon, Miffy! I found Miffy late in life, after I became a mom and my oldest daughter fell in love with the "Miffy & Friends" television program on Noggin. The show's distinct color palette (basically primary colors, plus the use of white, black, and brown) immediately won me over, as did Miffy's simplistic shape and features. Who knew that with just two little dot eyes, and a "x" for a mouth, a bunny could be so expressive!? Being a print designer, I immediately ran to e-bay to see what sort of actual Miffy books, stationery, toys and products I could find for myself...Uh...I mean my child. What can I say, I'm a design junkie.

That's when I discovered that MIffy is HUGE in Japan. Yeah, I know...big surprise right? With a styling similar to Sanrio's Hello Kitty products, Japanese pre-schoolers and teenage girls alike have scooped up any and all the Miffy they can get. The website Business in Japan notes that while Miffy may not rank as highly as Sanrio’s characters in terms of brand recognition, she still rakes in ¥40 billion (US $332 million) a year on products! And that doesn't include the picture books where our super sweet bunny got her start.

I credit Miffy with bringing me to the real Dutch design icon here, Dick Bruna, the modern master who created her (When it comes to art, when isn't the word "dutch" almost immediately followed by the word "master"?). From the deStijl to Droog Design, Dutch Graphic design is consistently defined by it's pursuit of minimalism and simplicity. Dick Bruna's ability to capture the affection and interest of both children and adults through the use of simple lines and forms, truly inspires me! After writing about the Dutch quest for nothing more than what is visually essential, I'm off to design myself. Thanks Miffy (*wink*)!

Springing Forward!

Yellow Invitation Suite, Menu, Program and Matching Cake, originally uploaded by Bride Design.

I'm not sure it's here to stay (did someone say there might be SNOW next week?), but Spring is certainly here for the moment. Designing this smashing yellow and black stationery wardrobe back in January certainly filled me with a much needed burst of brightness this past winter. I was also thrilled to create these items as part of a collaboration with Jen Comfort of She Takes the Cake, shetakesthecake.com, who designed the matching wedding cake.

I didn't always think so highly of collaboration. As a BFA student and a professional graphic designer in the publishing and in-house communications industries, I often heard that competition fosters innovation. Further into my career I noticed an increased use of the the phrase "design by committee." Wikipedia notes the defining characteristics of "design by committee" as "needless complexity, internal inconsistency, logical flaws, banality, and the lack of a unifying vision." They wrap it up with this: "Design and style much more relate to intuition and aesthetics than science or politics." True that, Wikipedia. True that.

Collaborating with Jen on designs has made me realize that when two people do share a "unifying vision," that vision often has double the impact. Do I still experience "design by committee" situations? Sure, every once in a while I'll take on a freelance job with "too many cooks." Or perhaps I'll volunteer my time and services for an event or organization that's lacking resources, leadership, or proper planning. But, when I do let my intuition and sense of aesthetics inform my decision to collaborate with another artist or design team, I find I am often pleased with the results.

I recently did some business "Spring Cleaning" and decided to let that same intuition and aesthetic ideal be the driving force behind this blog. Using this blog as a platform to promote my products just didn't make sense. Frankly it didn't help me sell anything and I honestly don't enjoy writing 100% PR and marketing driven posts. I also had to admit that as an avid reader of many blogs myself, I in fact HATE reading those types of posts as well! As a result I've decided to change the subject of this blog from my business, to my passion. When I thought about what I did want to write about, I realized that design is what I want to share with the world.

Design is what inspires me to be an entrepreneur, to do my job and in a large part contributes to who I am. I LOVE good design, but am amazed at what I can learn from bad and mediocre design as well. I am especially interested in the random, interesting, and often ignored design that occurs around me daily. Some of it might be mundane, and some of it might be marvelous, but it all contributes to the visual world around us...a world I never get tired of exploring.

Tag! I'm it.

Much to my delight, I was recently "tagged" by jewelry designer, Lisa of L. Stone Designs! Now that I'm "it," along with 6 other lucky bloggers, it's my job to share 7 random and/or weird things about myself. Not the easiest task, but here's your opportunity to get to know me, Erin the Bride Designer, just a bit better.

1. Everyone knows I love stationery, but I am also a HUGE perfume freak. I can't get enough of the stuff. One of my goals is to train my nose to distinguish fragrance notes, so that I can gain a better understanding of and deeper appreciation for perfume.

2. I have been collecting postcards since I was a child. I have tons from around the country and the world and they never fail to inspire me. From the stamps and postmarks, to the pictures on the front to the hand scrawled messages on the back, I should have known I'd end up doing something with my career that had to do with mail!

3. I had a minor in Women's Studies in college, and took many English and writing classes. If I were not a designer, I would probably want to do something in the magazine or book publishing. I loved working in those industries as a designer and art director, but I think it would be fun to try out the writing and editing side as well.

4. Working off #3. I have written and illustrated a children's book but for a variety of reasons I haven't really worked to get it out there or published. My ultimate dream is to illustrate children's books.

5. I love music! My husband and I have over 1300 CDs which are now happily living in our attic while also living on in our itunes catalog. The lion's share belongs to him, but I promise I didn't just marry him for his music collection!

6. I danced ballet until I was 16, and started doing modern dance in college. I would love to start taking dance classes again and getting back on point shoes at some point. Until then, there is always a dance party going on in my living room with my two toddler daughters!

7. I once painted two dinosaur-themed chairs that were autographed by famed paleontologist Paul Sereno, and featured in Chicago's annual Celebrity Chair Auction.

So that's me. Want to learn more about a few of my favorite bloggers? Hopefully they won't mind sharing!

For the tagged, The rules are as follows:
Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
Share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself.
Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

I linked to :
http://shetakesthecake.blogspot.com
http://aplanet4creation.blogspot.com/
http://textilefetish.blogspot.com/
http://penpaintpaper.blogspot.com/
http://designing-diva.blogspot.com/
http://elementsbydawn.blogspot.com/
http://deborahthecraft.livejournal.com/

The Bride Designer is also Style Mama???

Besides having a knack for finding and creating the latest trends in personal, business, wedding and event stationery, The Bride Designer, Erin Nowak, is also an entrepreneur, wife and the mother of two stylish little girls. An author and illustrator to boot, when Erin’s not busy designing invitations or chasing after her kids, she can be found chasing after the latest styles in beauty, fashion, home interiors, music and more! It's this passion for culture that has recently landed Erin the role of Style Mama at mommyscompany.com.. Mommy's Company aims to nurture the specific needs of contemporary moms who own businesses by providing insight, advice, and articles relevant to business and motherhood, a cause that is near and dear to Erin's heart. Erin has been penning the monthly column for the site since September 2007, which offers style and fashion information specifically geared towards busy women who are both mothers and entrepreneurs. Visit mommyscompany.com., scroll down to "Style Mama," and see what Erin's new venture is all about!

Paper Passion!

E_Nowak_BejeweledElegance_DressSwap_1
Originally uploaded by epmdesigner

Earlier this month I had the great fortune to participate in a lovely paper dress swap hosted by Heather of Jeweled Elegance. I was fortunate once again, when Heather matched me with my partner Jen Seals, a talented fine artist who works in the fashion/home décor industry as a graphic designer. One visit to Jen's blogand I knew I was in for a real treat. Her package did not let me down!!

As you can see from the pictures our dresses are completely different! I experienced a real infusion of creative energy designing something expressly for another artist. And it was a joy to have another artist make something just for me! My dresses were created from many of the materials and fine papers I use for invitation making. I used a smoky blue and storm gray colored flocked paper from India for the dress on the left. I trimmed it with ribbon and lace and added a paper corsage pinned elegantly with a gray brad.

The swap required that at least one dress was designed around an autumn or halloween theme. I instantly thought of the gorgeous japanese paper I had lying around my studio. Depicting fiery Fall leaves amidst black branches and trimmed with shimmering gold, I knew this paper would provide the perfect inspiration for my themed dress. I love the maroon vellum bodice, cinched with a chocolate ribbon "belt" and autumn leaf "buckle."

Jen's dresses were incredible!!! Rather than use paper prints and patterns to texturize her dresses, Jen hand painted her dresses from scratch! As a watercolorist myself, I really loved her technique and in her lovely note to me she took the time to explain how she created each one of her gowns. Using velvet ribbon, superfine sparkles, metallic trim, Jen created two dresses fit for a princess! Indeed my own little two year old princess has already claimed them for herself. In fact, we recently took a trip to the art store to buy all the fixins' needed to frame Jen's dresses so that they can hang in my daughter's room. I think you've got a new fan Jen!

The highlight of Jen's artsitry are the handpainted rosettes that she then cut out and adorned the dresses with. I know I had so much fun during this swap that I kept going and even made a few extra frocks to send to the swap's hostess, Heather. I'll save those for my next entry. These may not be invitations, but participating in this sort of activity was a wonderful experience. It gave me lots of ideas for new techniques to use with my stationery products, I met other wonderful and creative women, and I got to read lots of informative blogs about their varied businesses and crafts. Here's to more swapping when I get the chance!

Christmas in the house!!!

Bride Design is happy to announce our new collaboration with http://heyprettycupcake.com!Hey Pretty Cupcake takes the work of indie artists and designers and creates fabulous and useful items for all to enjoy. From buttons and magnets, jewelry to ID holders, there is something for everybody at the Hey Pretty Cupcake Etsy Shop. I'm thrilled at the opportunity to be able to share more of my work with the art-appreciating public. As I submit illustrations, they will be added to HPC's offerings.

I had such a blast creating a cupcake themed Christmas tree illustration for this year's HPC's ornaments. Please support me and the many other talented artists featured on Hey Pretty Cupcake with a purchase this holiday season. HPC is even offering a fabulous deal 1 ornament for $6.00, or 3 ornaments for $15.00 (Save $3.00), or 6 ornaments for $25.00 (Save a whopping$11.00!!!). It doesn’t have to be the same ornament or even the same artist! Which I really like since variety is the spice of life. The Etsy shop link above will take you right to my ornament's page. I think my yummy cupcake tree will surely catch the eyes of your friends and family, so add some awesome art to your Christmas tree this year! I know this independent designer will love you for it.

Babies need Stationery?

Originally uploaded by bridedesign

That question was my husband's response a few years ago when I started getting lots of requests for personalized baby and children's stationery. Do kids NEED stationery? Well maybe not quite like they need naps, or recess, or milk! But does kid's stationery come in handy? It sure does. I love giving baby stationery to new Moms complete with the name of their new arrival and a little icon/illustration reflecting the baby's budding personality or the theme of the child's nursery. In my own experience I've found these cards are perfect for the many thank you notes I had to write for welcome home and baptism gifts, as well as for 1st birthday presents! Older kids who are just starting to write love to chose the color of their note cards, as well as an icon that suits them. Animals, princess crowns, fairy wands, trains, soccer balls, baby rattles, and flowers are just a few popular choices. Children truly enjoy sending off their note or card to grandparents and far away friends. As far as I'm concerned, it's never to early to start cultivating a love for the art of letter writing!

Bride Design also offers correspondence cards for grown-ups too! For business owners I can customize the cards to include your logo. They're perfect for tucking a note into an order or to network with industry colleagues. Sets can be ordered in a variety of colors and quantities, for more information email Erin at admin@bridedesign.com today!

Bride Design Featured on Envision!

I'm happy to report that Bride Design was recently featured on Envision, a design blog dedicated to appreciating design in products, clothing, art, home wares and more. It was a delight to get noticed by a blogger all the way from Australia! And as the owner/designer at SixOneSix, this blogger definitely knows something about style. SixOneSix is a boutique specializing in unique clothing and beautiful handmade accessories. I must say...their little cocktail dresses are so adorable, they have me hoping I'll get invited to a destination wedding in Sydney sometime in the future. I wouldn't even need to pack...I could just buy a dress there! It was also an honor to be featured alongside dozens of other artistic products and fabulously creative businesses. Check out the review here!

Get a jump on your Holiday Cards (with a special bonus!)

Originally uploaded by bridedesign

It may be nearly 90° outside, but I'm staying cool inside developing new card designs for the 2007 Holiday Season! This year we're inviting new and exisiting clients to light up the mailboxes of family and friends, business clients and contacts with a set of our custom designed cards created just for you!

Cards for personal use can feature family photos (adorable babies and cute pets are always popular choices), custom illustration (sketches of a new home or holiday themed watercolors work well), and of course a special message or quote created just for you! Corporate cards can also be created using photos or illustrations and can utilize your company logo or tagline. These greetings are the perfect way to show cleints, vendors and contacts how much you appreciate their business throughout the year.

I have a great deal of experence designing cards for non-profit agencies, schools and universities, and small businesses. Besides creating my own personal holiday greetings for more than 10 years, I've also had the joy of helping many other individuals and families reach out to their loved ones at this special time of year.

Here at Bride Design, I love the Holidays almost as much as I love a wedding so to celebrate I am offering a FREE matching electronic card with every custom holiday card order of 50 cards or more. This electronic version is suitable for emailing and can help you save on postage or at least ensure that all the techies in your life get your greeting.

If you have ideas or a question regarding holiday cards, please email me at admin@bridedesign.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

Invitastions blossom at NYC's Wedding Salon event!

Invitastions at Gotham Hall
Originally uploaded by epmdesigner.

This spring the tastiest trend in event stationery, Invitastions, took Manhattan by storm! Invitastions' innovative and unique product line had brides, grooms. event planners and the press eager for a bite! After launching the Invitastions website in April, invitastions.com, baker Jennifer Comfort took the show on the road and intoduced Invitastions to the world at the exclusive Wedding Salon bridal show at New York City's Gotham Hall. Stationery designer, Erin Nowak from Bride Design was also on hand to share her excitement about Invitastions' fabulous menu of products including cookie place cards, favors, thank you notes and more....

Wedding Salon guests drooled over the custom designed cookie Invitastions. Invitastions in a coordinating decorative box with embellishments are around $12.00 per invite and can be shipped to you for distribution or can be drop shipped to your guests from Jen's studio. Shipping is not included in this price. As always, one of Erin's paper invites accompany the finished cookie so that once the freshly baked Invitastion has been gobbled up, your guests won't miss a single detail about the time, date, and location of your event.

Invitastions' cake truffles, cookie favors, personal stationery and thank you notes were also a smash! All can be packaged in variety of styles to accommodate your needs. At this time all of our products are made to your specifications, but be on the lookout for a full product catalog and online shopping cart for some items in the future.

Invitastions were featured on the April 21st edition of "Weekend Today in New York." Our edible invites also received a mention in the New York Post. Jen was interviewed about our products for a delightful piece for forbes.com's video blog and Jen and Erin are working hard to bring you the newest, tastiest ways to introduce your guests to your fab events. Contact us today for more information and check invitastions.com often for new additions to the gallery.

The Details...

Originally uploaded by bridedesign.

“The details are not the details. They make the design.”
—Charles Eames

This quote from an iconic American designer and architect perfectly captures Bride Design's creative mission. In an attempt to create truly unique and original wedding and event stationery, I often take what seems like a small detail and use it as the launchpad for an entire design. For this reason, I truly enjoy meeting with clients and/or discussing their needs with them over the phone. Getting to know the people I serve enables me to showcase their own style and personalities in the design I create for them.

The invitation shown at right is one of my favorite examples of a detail making the design. My client Susan was in love with the idea of using peacock feathers on her invite. As a young bride, her mother had carried peacock feathers in her wedding bouquet and Susan wanted to continue the tradition while adding her own twist. With its opulence and deep colors, the peacock feather inspired me to create an invitation that was bold, elegant and regal (much like the bride herself!). And while the individual feather hand-tied to each invitation may seem like just an embellishment or detail, it really was the foundation for Susan's entire stationery trousseau. Both her rehearsal dinner and post-wedding brunch invitations also included original peacock illustrations. And recently I was asked to create a baby shower invitation complete with Mother and Father peacock standing over their soon-to-be hatching egg!

For a free consultation or to find out what sort of details might help make your event stationery truly stand out from the crowd, please email admin@bridedesign.com. It's never to early to get on our calendar and begin thinking about the perfect invitation!

Coming soon to a computer near you!

Originally uploaded by bridedesign.

Be on the lookout later this fall for the revised bridedesign.com website. I will be sure to share this exciting launch with all of Bride Design's friends and clients the moment we go live. Recently, I had a talented local photographer, Crystal Petrisak, take photographs of my work for the new site. The result was a fresh look at the many styles and options Bride Design offers.

I loved Crystal's take on this modern and distinctive invitation I did for Elizabeth and Jessup, a bride and groom from Wisconsin. From the urban colors and graphic details to the sharp-looking brad fasteners and vertical shape, this invite truly reflected the fashion-forward tastes of this unique couple. Just as I work hard to express the singular style of each couple, family, individual or business that Bride Design works with, Crystal's shots similarly capture the authentic design approach I bring to each and every invitation, stationery suite, and event accessory I create.

The new website should launch right around the same time that I'm due to welcome another new and eagerly anticipated creation into the world, my second child! I am looking forward to the arrival of both the new site and the new baby and the adventures that await my business and family in the year to come.

Edible InvitationsTM

Edible invites
Originally uploaded by epmdesigner.

Back in March, I promised to blog about Bride Design's collaboration with Jen Comfort of She Takes the Cake. That month, we debuted our Edible InvitationsTM at Syracuse Wedding Magazine's bridal show at the Lodge at Welch-Allyn in Skaneateles and were met with great enthusiasm. After the launch, we were recently featured as a "Women TIES Success Story" in the Spring 2006 Women TIES Newsletter.

Starting at $10 per invitation, hostesses can send their guest a unique custom made cookie printed with the time, date, and location of the event. Pictures and art work can also be printed on the cookie. Shrink-wrapped, tied lovingly with tissue paper and ribbon, and enclosed in a high-quality A7 mailing box with a decorative sash, these invitations hold up well in the mail. And as the Women TIES article noted "...they are just as good as they look."

Just in case a guest can't wait to consume Jen's delicious sugar cookie/shortbread combination recipe, a printed paper invitation is also included along with the cookie. Tailored to the individual needs of an event, edible invitations are perfect for bridal showers, bridesmaid luncheons and teas, birthdays and anniversaries, as well as weddings, corporate events, or any celebration that you'd like to announce with a deliciously different twist !

She Takes The Cake and Bride Design are the only source offering this new and (literally!) tasteful approach to invitations. Inquire today regarding this unique product by emailing admin@bridedesign.com. Bride Design and She Takes The Cake have also joined forces to provide additional exclusive wedding services for the discerning bride. More on that in a blog to come. Happy planning!

Catch your cards in our new custom created cake boxes!

Cake Card Box
Originally uploaded by epmdesigner.

Guests always appreciate the unique details of a wedding. Instead of having guests drop cards in a plain old box, why not dress up your gift table with a custom designed cake card holder from Bride Design? Designer Erin Nowak takes you beyond the typical ivory, satin, and pearl-trimmed options by using tulle, silk flowers, lokta paper from Nepal, and a variety of ribbons and distinct embelleshments to create a functional faux cake that's just your style.

Available in one, two and three-tiered designs, cake card boxes are perfect for weddings, anniversary celebrations, birthday parties, and more. They can even be created to match or compliment your actual wedding cake! For more information or questions about this one-of-a-kind way to collect your cards and monetary gifts, email Erin at admin@bridedesign.com. Happy Planning!

Our Menu

Originally uploaded by bridedesign.

With the new year upon us, I figured it would be a great time to review the many services available at Bride Design. Besides custom designed wedding invitations, we also offer bridal shower invitations, wedding programs, place cards, table names or numbers, and menus. Hand bound guestbooks and albums that match a bride's stationery wardrobe, have also been very popular.

While we've always offered Save the Date cards, we've recently launched a line of Save the Date magnets. They're a stylish and functional way to keep your guests updated on the big day! Call or email for information or a quote today.

In addition to our bridal offerings, Bride Design Baby carries handmade announcements, baby stationery and thank you notes. Each design is as unique as the little person who inspires it! Recently Bride Design has also made a splash with corporate and charity event invitations.

Bride Design is booking up fast for 2006, so please email admin@bridedesign.com for a free consultation today. We've also begun scheduling for 2007 dates, so it's never to early to get on our calendar and begin thinking about the perfect invitation for your event! Thanks for all of your business in 2005! I look forward to hearing from you!!!

Holidays!

Winter Wedding
Originally uploaded by epmdesigner.

The holidays are a busy time here at Bride Design. We are hard at work designing mock-ups for spring and summer 2006 weddings. Each wedding is special, exciting, and a joy to work on. This year we're getting to work with some very cool themes, several inspiring color palettes and a wide variety of media. But there is more than just mock-ups going on these days!

Winter is close at hand, which brought to mind a lovely invitation I was honored to create for a wedding last December. Pictured here, it used embossed holly berry paper and a shimmering soft white envelope. The stylish ribbon resembled a bow on a Christmas gift and the envelope reminded me of newly fallen snow. In addition to wedding invitations, Bride Design gets into the spirit of the season by creating custom greeting cards and holiday party invites. Whatever your needs, we try to help make your stationery dreams happen. We might not be able to ensure that your letter to Santa makes it to the North Pole, but we can certainly help you put on the prettiest paper possible! Email us at admin@bridedesign.com if you'd like to find out more about holiday offerings or Bride Design in general. Happy holiday shopping everyone!