Off the Rails

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

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!

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?

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

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!

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

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!

Must-See Mondays: Mad Men

Alright, so I'm new to Mad Men on AMC but I am already in love. The clothes, the style, the times (1960's New York), the somewhat soapy yet cinematic vibe. This show was made for me. The success of Mad Men definitely lies in the details. The show's creator Matthew Weiner obviously cares a great deal about production design and has researched everything from what sort of drinks should be poured at the office or how a 60's psychiatrist would treat his patient, to what shade of lipstick the ladies should be wearing and the exact look (and girth!) of a Xerox 914. I personally loved how the premiere episode of season two featured Jacqueline Kennedy's 1962 Valentine's Day tour of the newly-restored White House and used it to link various story lines together. But I must admit design nerd did kick in when copywriter Peggy presents an ad mockup to creative director Don Draper using the typeface Zapfino designed by Hermann Zapf in 1998. Quell 'horror! Still, I'll overlook that little blunder (aaah the blinders one wears in a new romance), but my eyes are now very peeled and looking for some authentic 1960's advertising design. C'mon Mad Men, show me what you've got!

Consider me inspired!

I'm headed out of town today and I won't be back until Monday, but I did want to leave you guys with a post while I was gone. I'm sure almost everyone who reads this blog has heard of and is more likely also a reader of Helly Becker's fabulous blog decor8. Not too long ago I was reading a really thoughtful and neat post by Stephanie over at Design Healing, where she talked about her contributions to decor8's Inspire Me Giveaway. I was so inspired I decided to clean studio myself and send a few contributions from Bride Design and Sweet Talk Boutique. The stash included fabric, papers, cards and envelopes, embellishements, notions, ribbons and more. It was a joy to compile this little package and also quite fun to see some of my lace trim and peacock feathers show up in pictures on the (newly redesigned I might add) decor8 blog. After 1,060 comments/entries (can I just say WOW) the winners were recently announced. I was so thrilled to have Bride Design and Sweet Talk Boutique listed as a contributor, beside so many other AMAZING artists and businesses (Of course I was not surprised to see a few of you guys on that list too!). This was a great lesson to me on the VERY contagious nature of inspiration! Have a great weekend guys!

Down from the shelf, "Creativity for Graphic Designers"

When I'm feeling creatively spent or (I hate to admit it) a little blocked, I often turn to "Creativity for Graphic Designers" by Mark Oldach. It's not much of a picture book, which I like since most other design books are. Instead Oldach focuses on getting the most out of the creative process and more importantly the client/designer relationship. One trick of his that I quickly added to my routine while working in the corporate world was to have a "decompression" session with yourself after the initial client interview. Unloading all of the many ideas that stem from the energized back and forthing of a client meeting, while you are still energized, can be really helpful! To this day I struggle a bit when working from notes and find myself wishing I had made time to flesh ideas out further right after meeting with clients or collaborating designers. Oldach also has great tips for stretching your creative muscles, setting up all important boundaries with clients, and more...

Sweet Deal!

Since I got so many great comments about my post on Kiss My Face's 3Way Color, i just wanted to follow up with a few comments from KMF Product Developer Heather, just in case anyone missed them. This delicious makeup comes in 4 shades and can be used to accent the eyes, to give your cheeks a bit of sheer color or on the lips. If you're looking for more "all over" coverage, check out KMF Tinted Moisturizers (in 6 tints).

Personally, I've got a load of products that I love from this company, especially their Obsessively Organic Skin Care line. As I've said before I've been familiar with (and a fan of) KMF products since I was a high schooler, since the company is based right next to my own little hometown New Paltz, New York (see picture above for a taste of the local scenery). I'm headed back for a visit at the end of the week and of course I'll be taking my little tube of 3Way Color with me. Most importantly, Heather also included a discount code for Design is Everywhere readers! Get 25 % discount on online purchases when you use the code KMFBLOG3 before August 7. So get your shop on guys!

Must-See Mondays: Any Movie with credits by Saul Bass

I once got to hear Saul Bass speak and share his process and thoughts on designing film titles. It was a huge highlight for me as a designer. For those that know Bass' work, the Star Wars vs. Saul Bass video I've embedded here will give you a good chuckle. Obviously it's not by Saul himself, but like any good spoof it's soooo spot on. And it's based a bit on the graphic style of Bass' work for Anatomy of a Murder.

Perhaps you've seen Bass' work in a Hitchcock movie? Psycho (1960) and North By Northwest both have title sequences that make me swoon. Two other Bass classics are the titles for Around the World in 80 Days and It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, where Bass channels his inner cartoonist as well as his brilliant design sense. The title sequence and the end credits for West Side Story are based on simple (but visually different) design concepts that let the music truly do the talking. Next time I need an infusion of creativity, I'm going to make a note to watch these two portions of this film (which of course is one of my all-time favorites!). If you need more evidence check out Grand Prix. I was blown away when Mr. Bass showed it on a large screen at the seminar I attended. The visuals certainly spoke for themselves, but as a design student I hung on every word this guy said. I mean where else could I hear the story of creating the titles for Cape Fear (Bass did titles for both the original and the remake), which included a picture of some highway signage from the North Carolina DOT, and a litter pan filled with water. Isn't the creative mind a beautiful thing?

If I've really got you interested, check out this site which urges you to "Forget the film, watch the titles." Enjoy!

Color on the Run!

I'm a fashion fanatic, but honestly there are times when jeans and a tee are all I can muster. I love color, but can't always get it together to apply makeup before my day has to begin. Enter Kiss My Face's 3-Way Color for lips, cheeks and eyes. Whether you are a bride-to-be, a working or a stay at home mom, a busy college student or just a low-maintainance kind of girl, this little tube of sheer natural color is the one makeup tool you won't want to leave home without.

It's no secret that I love KMF face products, but it was my newly formed gym habit that finally convinced me of this particular product's charms. After my post-workout shower I no longer look clean yet extremely over-taxed and exhausted. "Ruby" is my color of choice, and with just a few swipes and some blending...my eyes are brighter, my cheeks glow and my lips look naturally flushed. Simple AND pretty. I love it when a plan comes together!

3-Way Color is scented with truly yummy natural fruit flavors (pink grapefruit, pomegranate, raspberry and white grape for example!) and is formulated with olive and mango butter. It's gentle on skin (I can attest to that. My skin is highly ornery!) and I love that it comes equipped with an all natural sunscreen (Titanium Dioxide) as well. I was surprised that this color works as well on my eyes as it does my lips and cheeks, but it's versatility makes it just right for creating custom looks. It doesn't always last long on my eyes, but that's easily remedied with primer and I'm not looking for long-term here. I just want to get me and my preschoolers from the gym to the house as quickly and happily as possible. And if we can do it with me not looking like death warmed over...even better! Kisses to everyone over in gorgeous Gardiner at Kiss My Face!

Crafty Style: Textile Fetish

I would be a sad designer, business owner, crafter, mom and friend, had I never found the creations of Jennifer Ramos of Textile Fetish. I am in luuuurve with my stylish, sushi-themed crafty work apron. Perfect for working in the studio (or around the house), it's sturdy pockets easily hold scissors, a crop-a-dile, bone folders, pens, your phone or ipod, and more. Plus, it makes me feel extra skinny when I wear it, which is a nice bonus. I don't do many craft shows, but I'd think this would be a must-have for those that do. My best friend Nicolle liked mine so much, she got one of her own for cooking!

At the National Stationery Show I got a bunch of compliments on my Textile Fetish sock monkey card holder and I can't wait to stuff a few stockings this year with these adorably green coffee cup sleeves. I'm no knitter, but my friend Cynthia is and once I saw Jennifer's knitting needle and dpn/crochet hook rolls, I knew I had to get one for her (In the skull bandana pattern of course!).

But my favorite Textile Fetish offerings by far are Jennifer's children's clothing. I mean, just look at the Mod Jumper...could there BE anything cuter?! I love the added touch of the vintage buttons. And I know I need to get a couple tiered skirts for my girls who love to twirl. Recently, we took a family trip over to the Farmer's Market in Ithaca and everyone we met gushed about the gorgeous pants set from Textile Fetish, not unlike the one shown here, that my daughter was wearing.

It is such a joy to dress yourself or those you love in handmade garments. I'm sure that joy is doubled when you actually made the garment yourself. But while I may have my own textile fetish, my sewing skills don't quite see the action they used to. Textile Fetish's offerings are beautifully crafted with high quality fabrics, in the coolest of patterns. I really enjoy Jennifer's fabric pairings and feel she sincerely considers the end-user in her designs. Her kids clothing is roomy for lots of active play, but fits well (a good fit can be tough to come by in Toddler sizes). So whether you are an artist, a best friend, a kid, or a coffee cup....you might benefit from knowing about Jennifer's wares. As I said before...I'm glad I found Textile Fetish!

Wedding Wednesdays: MOB vs. MOFG

I love weddings, but these days I'm usually just a vendor. But when my youngest sister got hitched last summer, I had the distinct pleasure of being both a Matron of Honor and Mother of a Flower Girl. Mercifully, I was allowed to split these duties with my other sister. I had an incredible time and it's a night I won't soon forget! I'll also say that being Mother of a Flower Girl wasn't exactly easy. Especially the part where I had to chase a two year old at top speed in full make-up and hair, while sporting a slightly tight bridesmaid's dress and heels, on concrete no less. A truly joyous occasion, my daughters and niece definitely got into the spirit. They taught me that while most all mothers approach a wedding day and their daughters' involvement in it with love and care, that approach varies a bit depending on whether your daughter is the bride or the flower girl. For example,

Mother of the Bride: Watches lovingly as her daughter and husband dance the father daughter dance.
Mother of the Flower Girl: Looks on in horror as her daughters and husband do the dance of "Try and stay still, don't bang on the glass! Here, you need some goldfish? NOOO! Not on your dress!!!!..." in the church's crying room during the ceremony.

Mother of the Bride: Acts as hostess and thanks guests for coming
Mother of the Flower Girl: Tries not to act shocked when she thanks guests for complimenting her child on their good behavior (Uum, were we watching the same child?!)

Mother of the Bride: Helps daughter pick out her dress and attends fittings
Mother of the Flower Girl: Helps daughter into her dress, usually with a struggle, and attends to any stains or damage (Got baby wipes?)

Mother of the Bride: Holds back tears of joy as her daughter says "I do"
Mother of the Flower Girl: Holds back a smile as her daughter asks the priest "Is that your friend Jesus?" at the rehearsal (True story).

That's just a smattering of responsibilites. Believe me, I'm not saying Mothers of the Bride have it easy. My Mom spilled champagne on her dress before we even left the house. But she did handle it with grace—a trait that most mothers of toddlers have to just learn to live without until their kids are at least 6 right?

Graceful or not, children often bring a unique charm and enthusiasm to their part in a wedding. And I don't think my sister, the bride, would have had it any other way. Having my children involved in such a meaningful event, also reminded me why I love weddings so much...celebrating a couple's love and the merging and growth of two families. Any fun flower girl/ring bearer stories out there? Do tell...

Siblings share the news!

When there is news to be told, my daughter loves to be the one to tell it. So when I gave birth to her sister (yikes, almost 2 years ago!), I figured she should do the announcing. While I love birth announcements of all types, my favorite ones to design these days are the ones from the big brother or sister. I'm not the only one who loves letting the siblings spread the news. Check out these darling (and funny) announcements from Petite Alma for Tiny Prints. So sweet.

The announcement pictured here was a great excuse to take lots of pictures of my little girls and go hog-wild with the pinkest papers I could find. The sash slides off to reveal all the important baby stats. Now that they're 3 and 21 months, I have no want for pink in my life. It's Daughter #1's favorite color (of course) and the first color Daughter #2 learned. Of course the second color she learned was purple. Looks like Daughter #1 is quite the little art instructor.

Must-See Mondays: Helvetica

I'm sure by now all my fellow design nerds have seen the feature length, 2007 documentary "Helvetica." Besides the awesome interviews with "celebrity designers" (OK maybe they're only celebrities in the graphic design world) and theorists, I promise that even the most jaded designer will be stunned by the fact that Helvetica is literally used EVERYWHERE. Yes, EVERYWHERE. Did I know this? Pretty much. I knew it was used by Massimo Vignelli when designing the identity and signage for the New York City Subway System and the like, but geez...the opening segment alone will remind you that Helvetica is no longer just "classic" or "standard." It's ubiquitous, pervasive (almost viral), and well, like I said...EVERYWHERE. It's so all over the place that I almost forget I'm looking at Helvetica sometimes. Which is actually why some designers think it's so great.

Of course, for those who know the aesthetic of the various designers included in the documentary, you'll probably react as expected to each of the interviews shown (based on your already formed opinions of said aesthetics). For me it went kind of like this...I wished I worked for Michael Bierut, would love to listen to records with Stefan Sagmeister and hear his thoughts on music and design, realized I dislike David Carson a little less than I thought, and wanted to give Tobias Frere-Jones a big kiss (total font crush!). The most interesting part of the film for me was definitely the historical information about the creation of font—the details and the human interest side of the story. Listening to Hermann Zapf...totally awesome. Seeing Matthew Carter work and talk about the alphabet was also pretty exciting (wow, I AM a nerd!) and very impressive. Eric Spiekermann gave me a chuckle. And it was cool to learn more about firms like Experimental Jetset and Norm, which I hate to admit I hadn't heard of (see I do have a life outside design!).

To sum up...if you like typography, I think you'll enjoy this one, no matter what your thoughts on Helvetica itself. Honestly, I rarely use the font. When I'm going san-serif, I'm more of a Futura, Century Gothic, Frutiger or Univers gal (depending on the occasion). I always shied away from Helvetica on principal, thinking it was just so familiar or overused, but this movie had me considering Helvetica and it's strength and weaknesses more deeply. Perhaps it is the near-perfect, universal font with unprecedented legibility and without excess thematic baggage, that many think it to be. It may not be tomorrow, or next week, but maybe someday I'll find the right moment or job and give Helvetica another chance. Thanks for the encouragement design celebrities! I think...

An Artist's Hotel Bar Tour In NYC: Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle

You probably know Ludwig Bemelmans as the creator of Madeline, a plucky children's book heroine from Paris. What you may not have known is that the Carlyle Hotel, at Madison and 76th, is home to a bar named after the famed illustrator and author. According to the Carlyle, the hotel was New York's luxury residence du-jour when Bemelmans was commissioned to paint large scale murals in the hotel bar in 1947. In a turn of total brilliance (if you ask me), Bemelmans bartered his mural work for a year and a half of accommodations for himself and his family. Simply awesome.

This classic New York haunt, Bemelmans Bar, was the second stop on our Day-After-Christmas Hotel Art Bar Tour (I posted about the St. Regis' Old King Cole Bar Lounge on Tuesday). From the authentic prohibition era cocktail menu (I recommend the Gin-Gin Mule...gin, homemade ginger beer, fresh mint, and lime juice) to the leather banquettes, the cozy atmosphere evokes a feeling of nostalgia... almost as if you're in old Manhattan. From the walls to the lampshades, almost every surface in the place are kissed with Bemelmans' signature style. The murals depict Central Park, but Bemelmans-style. Rabbits out for a picnic, a balloon vendor, artists painting al fresco (and of course a special stateside appearance of Madeline)...the bustle of the park is perfectly captured, but with a whimsy and charm that only Bemelmans brush could imagine. Bemelmans is pretty upscale and that is reflected in the pricing, but again...for a special occasion it's a great place to visit and definitely worth the stop.

Like Parrish's Old King Cole, The Bemelmans Bar murals were also given a touch up in 2002. I look forward to returning to this swank grown-up scene, and as luck might have it I could return sooner than planned. This time with my own little girls in tow! Every weekend The Carlyle hosts Madeline's Tea Party at Bemelmans Bar. With treats like Petite Banana Splits Fontainebleau, a storyteller spinning our favorites (Madeline's Rescue and Madeline and The Gypsies, come to mind), as well as songs sung from the Madeline songbook...it shouldn't take much to get them on board! Besides...who doesn't love a day out in NYC. On my list for Future Art Bar Hotel Tours The Monkey Bar at the Hotel Elysée (complete with a 72 year old mural of simian monkeys (of course!), and a visit to Everett Shinn's murals at The Plaza's Oak Bar. So much art, so little time!

Wedding Wednesdays: Unique Guest Book Alternatives

As much as I love the hand-bound guest books I've created over the years (including my own), the tide seems to have changed. A traditional guest book is perfect for some couples, but many brides want more than just something that will sit on a coffee table. Or sit on a coffee table and eventually get moved to drawer.

You might be surprised at the variety of non-traditional guest book options available. And I'm even talking about going beyond the signature photo mat, an idea that I'd say came about in the last 10-15 years but which has become pretty standard and traditional in that time. How about a keepsake guestbook tray that guests sign with an engraving pen? This can also be done with unglazed ceramics, that you can later glaze and fire. These Wish Trees I found over at Here Comes the Guide are stunning! Of course you could always put a new twist on the old guest book tradition and go with a book that combines guests signatures and photos. More and more wedding photographers are offering this as part of their engagement and wedding services these days.

After creating an invitation suite for one of my favorite brides Lucia, she shared with me her plans to create a "Make-a-Wish, Take-a-Wish" bowls for her reception. I loved her idea so much I fashioned my own version for my sister Devon's wedding last year. The premise is pretty simple. Two jars (bowls, or vases work well too), one for guests to write wishes or bits of advice for the happy couple (Make-a-Wish) and another bowl filled with well-wishes from the bride and groom for their guests to take home (Take-a-Wish). Most of the wishes my sister chose to include were Irish blessings, delightful proverbs from around the world, and even a few affirming mantras. We also included a framed poem, along with instructions on how to use the jars, on the table. Everything was done to match the colors and scheme of the event and guests enjoyed the interactive aspect of this keepsake. Cards can be stored in a variety of ways, in a photo book interspersed with pictures or a lovely box are fun choices. Extra special notes might also be framed and placed in the newlyweds' home.

I truly enjoyed making these and would love to make more custom "Make-a-Wish, Take-a-Wish" bowls in the future. But, this is also a pretty easy project to DIY and put your own spin on. Have fun and if you do make your own send pictures! I'd love to see them and share them!

An Artist's Hotel Bar Tour In NYC: King Cole Bar Lounge at the St. Regis

As a freshman in art school I became enamored with Maxfield Parrish. A highly innovative and creative painter, Parrish also had an illustrious illustration career. You know when you've had a color named after you ("Parrish Blue" in this case), that you've pretty much made it in the art world. Not long after discovering Maxfield, I determined I needed to see his work in person. Did I head to the National Museum of American Illustration in Newport, Rhode Island (a state I used to live in no less!)? No. How about the Philadelphia Museum of Art? Nope. Instead, I waited 10 years and dragged my family on a hotel bar tour around New York City. And one freezing cold late December day, I got to warm up with a cocktail and some bar snacks, while sitting in front of Parrish's 1906 mural depicting Old King Cole. Forget summer vacation at the beach, I'll hold out for a brisk wintertime walk down 5th!

Located in the posh St. Regis Hotel (55th Street B'twn 5th and Madison), the intimate and inviting King Cole Bar Lounge is tucked away from the vaulted ceilings and gilded interior of the hotel's expansive lobby. Dark wood and dim lighting in the seating area make for cozy conversation. They serve their function and then fade into the background letting the true star in the room shine, Parrish's mural. I've heard the bar can be packed to the gills with a ritzy after work crowd, but during our visit it was quiet and subdued. Most patrons seemed to be shoppers dashing in from the cold for a quick drink or regulars chatting with the bartender. Drinks are pricey, but the family agreed this was a special occasion and the atmosphere is worth the price of admission alone.

Since I took the picture above, Old King Cole has been restored. After being taken down in January 2007, everyone's favorite merry, old, soul, was given a cleaning and returned in late Spring 2007. I can't wait to make a trip and check out his new glow. A lot has changed on my end too...the family has grown with marriages, pregnancies, new houses and moves. As a result we haven't taken another tour, but I'm already compiling my list of hotels (and lining up a sitter!). I was shocked at how my entire family, creatives and non-creatives alike, truly enjoyed this jaunt. I get lots of "when are we going to do that again!?" Hmmm...just as soon as that crisp city weather rolls in and I can line up that sitter.

Thursday, stop in for the second stop on our tour...where I had drinks in the park with one of my all time favorite authors!

Must-See Mondays: Sigur Rós - Heima

Break out my Fair Isle sweater. I'm moving to Iceland. A year ago the band Sigur Rós did a brilliant and beautiful thing. A series of 15 free, unannounced concerts in their homeland over two weeks. What's even more brilliant is that they filmed it all (the film's title 'Heima' is Icelandic for "at home"). The Husband knows I'm a fan of this band and as a result, did me a total solid by unexpectedly DVRing 'Heima' when it aired on IFC Friday night. Sort of romantic, huh? I kinda thought so.

'Heima' is part intimate concert film, part documentary. I can't describe it better than this one quote from the band's website "'Heima' also serves as an alternative primer for Iceland the country, which is revealed as less stag destination-du-jour and more desolate, magical place where human beings have little right to trespass." Words like magic and desolate only scratch the surface in describing the incredible images that pack this movie from start to finish. I mean, just have a look at the trailer...


A bright yellow dress reflected in slick midnight blue sands, a visual symphony of circles lining a decomposing factory wall, a stack of school room chairs piled high to create a geometric backdrop for a heartfelt song. Design and music have always been deeply fused for me. But 'Heima' takes that combination to a new level, and wraps it up in the quiet, simplicity, and the majestic strength that is Iceland and it's people. If you'd like to see more, do yourself a favor and check out this excerpt from the film, a song entitled "Agaetis Byrjun."

What truly amazed me most about this film, besides it's look and aesthetic, was that these concerts attracted whole villages. I mean EVERYONE, from 80+ year old grandparents to babies. And it worked. Actually, it was so touching it made me cry. That sort of coming together is rare in the United States (and many other countries as well). Rare, and very, very beautiful.

Beautiful Budget Wedding and Event Design Ideas

I love helping hosts, especially brides, make their wedding vision come to life. It's even better when I can help them work within their budget. I refuse to sacrifice style and quality of workmanship, so often times my money-saving solutions come in the form of "killing two birds with one stone." Such is the case with the table number towers I've created.

These lovelies serve as table numbers (or names) on two sides of the square. They can also include fun trivia about the bride and groom, a message of thanks, a note about a charitable donation in lieu of favors, or as in the case of these towers, a menu, on the other two sides. These pearl and ivory towers photographed by Laura Brazak, were a big hit with the couple and guests alike.

Other budget friendly stationery design techniques that I like to use are a postcard response, for more casual weddings (fun and they save on materials and postage), and menu or favor cards tucked inside an envelope that can serve as your place cards. These envelopes look charming addressed and lined up on a table at an event. They're also stunning pinned to a fabric covered board placed inside an open frame. My favorite part of these envelope/place card combos is that the various table names or numbers are printed in the menu or favor card that goes inside the envelope. Only the guests names appear on the outside envelope. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Yes, that means the event hosts or planners can make last minute table additions and switches with ease and without stress (and without having to call the calligrapher when time is running out!).

Bride Design offers table number towers like the ones featured here starting at $15 each. They're shippable nationwide, made with the finest papers and embellishments, and can be created to match the color scheme of any wedding or event. For more info on these, our invitation suites, or other reception items, head to our website or contact admin at bridedesign dot com. Happy planning...and never ever give up beauty for budget! Hopefully these ideas prove you don't have to!

Looking Closer

Yesterday I met with a corporate communications director. My corporate graphic design portfolio which deals mostly with print publishing (book and magazine) identity and corporate communications, was a bit dusty. It's been a while since I talked about the annual reports and direct mail pieces that used to be my bread and butter. Now that I am a mom I mostly talk about bread and peanut butter. Since I've evolved to be as much entrepreneur as designer, I think about business and strategy almost as much as I think about aesthetic. Since most of my work is now stationery and couture invitations, my life revolves around hosts, guests and events, rather than editors, buyers and drop dates. Showing this portfolio was fine, I really enjoyed the discussion as well, but I was reminded that I love what I do now too. I also remembered that the graphic design student in me is very much alive. All artists constantly grow and change, but the one thing that never seems to change for me is my desire to learn more about design.

When I graduated with my BFA in 1995 I attended the International Design Conference at Aspen. It was a dream for me to attend. While there I picked up a copy of Looking Closer: Critical Writings on Graphic Design. I have read and re-read many of the articles housed in these pages over the years. "Why Designers Can't Think" by Michael Bierut has got to be one of my all time favorite essays on design education. Having been schooled at a university where visual problem solving was valued first and a slick portfolio came second, this article reminds me of my duty to make everything I touch attractive, legible and appropriately communicative. Famed children's book illustrator and graphic designer Leo Leonni's article on "The Urge to Make Things" is another favorite that captures the designer as artist. And as a designer in book publishing I found William Drenttel's essay on the written word, to be a valuable resource on a daily basis.

I could write FOREVER about the great modern and post-modern, and post-post-modern graphic designers of our time (do I feel a new blog feature coming on? Would you guys even want to read about Massimo Vignelli or David Carson?) and how they influence what I do today (make wedding invitations...wha?). I know it sounds crazy, but as I design stationery you'd be surprised at how often some of these pioneers come to mind. I mean, how awesome was Bradbury Thompson?! The guy tried to revolutionize the alphabet, by using only one symbol for each of the 26 letters. Alright, this design nerd sees that you are glazing over and clicking onto another blog (I know that look and I am not offended, I used to teach design to liberal arts undergrads after all). I'll wrap it up by saying that as a designer what I design may change and the passion with which I design it may ebb and flow, but for those who truly love what they do, the initial spark in some way, shape, or form will always be there. Sometimes I've had to dig deep to access it, but when I do even that smallest spark has lit my way.

Break me off a piece of that ART!: Feterie

I love words. Just look at the length of some of my posts and that should be pretty obvious! I also love, love, love me some good design. Good, old school, graphic design. Design from the mind of someone who knows their way around a trap, a kern, and some color separations. When I recently attended the National Stationery Show, I found all of that and more at Feterie. One look at the work of Feterie designer Cathe Huynh-Sison (who is also, I'm proud to say, a visitor to this blog), and it's easy to see why the company's tag line is "modern stationery and bespoken lovelies." Wow...four of my favorite words strung together with an "and." For a lover of design and writing like myself, it doesn't get better than that!

I'm always looking for something special to write on. Something cool. And for the wordy girl I am, Feterie's WordPlay Greeting Cards are perfect! I love the colors, the typographic style, and of course the sassy nod to "internetese" and how it has impacted our culture. OMG!! I can't wait 2 write some snail mail on these fab cards, LOL! See what I mean? The irony is awesome. This is also a serendipitous time for me to write about Feterie's wares as their online shop will be launching soon. I know I'm going to be first in line (or should that be ONline) to stock up on some of their original WordPlay cards, as well as their stunning Eco-Luxe gift wrap. Keep an eye on Feterie, I think there's probably lots more sassy, colorful and beautifully modern bespoken lovelies to come!

Win with Weddiquette!

The Weddiquette Blog is hosting its first give away and Sweet Talk Boutique has the honor of being featured! Comment on Weddiquette's give away blog post and let them know which listed items you would most like to have either for yourself or perhaps a bridesmaid or new bride. What's in it for you? A $30 value, that's what! That's TWO cookie greetings or Invitastions for you! Or for you and a friend. Or for two friends who you can convince to share their cookies with you...(I'm sneaky eh?). Jen and I can't wait to see who the winner is, so I can get designin' and Jen can get cookin'. And "Voila!" your cookies are on their way.

While you're there, take a look around Weddiquette's site. From wedding etiquette, to style, and planning, Weddiquette offfers a ton of wedding related dos, dont's, links and tips. I sure could've used this site when I was getting married. So if you're getting married, know someone who is, or heck...if you just want to try and score yourself some free cookies...get on over to Weddiquette and comment baby!

Make mine a Minima 3-column bartender!

Alright, so I hacked me a lovely little 3-column blog layout. I know this is probably simple stuff. But for me it was not easy as I am an HTML novice. Needless to say, I feel proud. Still, you might need to deal with the blog looking a little wonky for a day or two dear readers until I figure out the ideal place for all of my links and crap. Is there designing I could be doing? Posts I could be writing? Contracts I could be drawing up? Emails I could be answering. Oh yes. But do they offer the same nail-biting suspense that messing around with your blog layout template does? Of course not! You know the feeling...Will that column show up when I hit "preview" or will it look like some HTML gremlins got hold of my site and decided to have their way with it? The internet is such a time-suck! Last call...I'm done for the night.

Drizzle Day

Super Springy Flower Power Square Stationery, originally uploaded by Bride Design.

It's been a gray day here and of course I've got actual work to do. Not fun work, like making invitations or working on designs. But quickbooks work, paper work, the day-to-day office/contracts/email sort of work we all love. To perk myself up, I thought I'd post one of my more recent cheery designs. These were truly inspired by the orange and pink color scheme, my love for stardream quartz paper, the need to justify purchasing envelope liner templates, and my never-ending desire to use my crop-a-dile (hello eyelets!). The flowers are cute too.

Now I just need to find an outlet to sell these puppies. I toyed with the idea of an Etsy shop, but I don't think that's for me. I'd love an online shop of my own, but the programming, expense, and decision making that goes into that seems overwhelming at the moment. Obviously, I'm leaning towards the latter and exploring the many other delicious, but frightening options available for selling my work. I'm sort of stalled at the moment, but looking at this vibrant shot makes me think I need to take a leap of some sort. A leap that radiates the same amount of energy, juiciness, and shine as these cards. But until then...it's back to paying bills.

Kick the CROP out of those other Hole Punchers!!!

Everyone piped up when I wrote about my love for the Scotch ATG, I figured it was time to give props to the other love of my (art, design, and crafting) life— The Crop-A-Dile!™ from We R Memory Keepers. Honestly, I was living in hole-punching misery before this baby walked into my life! My hands hurt, I was using terrible foul language whenever I had to punch holes, and every once in a while I'd end up punching 1/8 of an inch off from where I was aiming. Grrrr. One of the designers who recommended this tool to me (and I must say that MANY designers recommended this tool) said "it cuts through eight pieces of card stock like butta'!" That's no joke.

The Crop-A-Dile!™ is very quiet. It wasn't like I was waking my kids from their nap with previous punchers, but at least now I can hear Lil' Mama's questionable critiques (I mean can't we do better than "Next time ya'll need to GO HARD!" after every single performance?!) when I am watching my latest obsession America's Best Dance Crew and happily punching paper at the same time. No need to mock my TV taste (my husband has that covered), but I danced all my life and through college so that's my excuse for being ridiculously into this show.

And if easing the horror of hole-punching was not enough (you can choose between 1/8 and 3/16 inch diameters), it also sets snaps and eyelets of both sizes! What more could a paper-loving girl ask for? OK, well maybe an Accucut, but that's super expensive so I'll just have to be satisfied with the thrill I get from my $25 Crop-A-Dile!™. Even more thrilling? "It's PINK! FOR GIRLS!" as my 3 and half year old would say, much to her delight. Warning: the Crop-A-Dile!™ is pretty heavy, so don't leave it around the kids or on the edge of a table where it could fall onto scantily sock-covered toes (can you tell I speak from experience?).

I think the only thing the Crop-A-Dile!™ can't do is plant an eyelet or a hole smack in the middle of a large piece of paper. I've needed to do that in the past, but not often and you can always get a universal eyelet setter for under $10 for that task. My favorite Crop-A-Dile!™ feature? Far and away, the depth gauge! Punching two holes in the same places every time on 300+ invites? Priceless. Oh yeah, and did I mention We R Memory Keepers touts the Crop-A-Dile!™ as cutting through wood, poly, metal, leather, fabric (ever tried to hole punch fabric? More Grrrr...), chipboard and more? I love my Crop-A-Dile!™ and I need to keep her in fighting form for my paper projects, so I haven't tried her on other media. But if someone else has a "My Crop-A-Dile!™ cut through this!" story...do tell. Thanks We R Memory Keepers for taking the pain out of punching!

Feeling a little aristocratic? Get your own peculiar title!

I thought this was fun...now if only I could figure out where Helions Bumpstead is...

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Royal Highness Erin the Incontrovertible of Helions Bumpstead Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

How do I love thee Scotch ATG 700? Let me count the ways!

There are a few pieces of equipment in my paper crafting arsenal that I truly love, and the Scotch ATG (Adhesive Tape Gun) is one of them. Over the years I've created thousands of custom invitations, and believe me...in the beginning I did many things the hard way (and the not-so-economical way as well). I've tried many adhesives and adhering methods since I started the business and the tape gun is nothing short of a God-send for certain jobs. I get a lot of invitations out of one roll of tape, the adhesive is powerful sticky, and it's a time saver. I can work pretty fast with this sucker. Unlike other methods I've tried, there is very little adhesive residue left on or near the edges of paper, so that's another plus. Currently I'm working on a really big job and this tool has been a huge help (as has my well-loved studio desk). I'm not finished yet, so it's back to the grind but trust me I'll be whistling while I work with my ATG.

Break me off a piece of that ART!: GIGART

I'm headed off to Brooklyn this week to get a much needed date night with the husband and to see one of our all time favorite bands, Swervedriver. For those not familiar with The Shoegazer scene, these guys took that swirly shoegaze sound and merged it with more traditional rock aesthetic (driving guitars, songs about cars etc.). The husband and I met in college in the early 90's and even though we didn't get married until about 10 years after that (I'll save that for another blog post) this band's music became a big part of the soundtrack to our romance.

Being that my husband used to buy cds like they were nickel fireball candies at the local Woolworth's (aaahhh to have a bachelor's budget!), there are a lot of bands that were part of that soundtrack. With toddlers in the house we're often stuck listening to Dan Zanes or Ralph's World. We're working on introducing them to kid-friendly pop from our own collection like The Beatles and They Might Be Giants...but it's not like I can just go around listening to Joy Division or Rage Against The Machine when the mood strikes me anymore. As a result, we've started investing in some amazing concert posters to decorate the walls of our home. One of my favorite's is this 2003 Jets to Brazil poster from artist Gregg Gordon of GIGART.

Besides it's unique design and incredible colors, this poster has a story that I love. Before I was a fan of the band Jets to Brazil, I was an even bigger fan of the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. The Band takes their name from a Brazilian tourism poster that hangs in the background of Holly Golightly's perfect New York apartment (perfect to me at least!). This sweet silkscreen is created to look just like that poster and the added addition of the concert info, from one of my favorite Chicago haunts, makes it even cooler to me. I have it framed and hanging in my home office and I love that I get to "live" with this piece everyday. From Blur to Interpol, Jenny Lewis to Cypress Hill, many beloved artists are represented in the GIGART portfolio. I love that each design is as unique as the music and band it's created for, yet still stays true to that GIGART style.

If your interests go beyond concert posters, GIGART has done a ton of packaging design, album art, editorial illustrations, logo design, and more. GIGART also has a sweet line of apparel called Tough Chick. My 20 month old most certainly fits that description, so I think I need to grab a toddler shirt for her real soon.

Good Design with Kids in Mind

Because who doesn't want to be their own superhero or the girl with the fluffiest (reversible!) tutu in the neighborhood? ellie bellie kids truly does deliver just what their tagline says: "Classic Play For The Modern Child." I love the clean but playful look of their site, the highly targeted nature of their product offerings, and the fact that these are toys free from licensed cartoon characters. Isn't that what imaginative play is all about?! Finding your own inner prima ballerina, or branding yourself as the next "lightning man" or "super happy heart girl?" Now if only this mocha/gold tutu came in grown-up size....

National Stationery Show Review, The Pen Pavilion

At first blush, I figured "The Pen Pavilion" would be sort of boring, and there was definitely a different vibe for the most part in the writing instrument aisles (lots more men, business suits and important looking meetings going on). But a girl who truly loves paper of course loves pens and pencils too, so I had to check it out. I am attached to my ultra-fine point sharpies (perfect for writing on stardream by the way). And I have always loved drawing with roller ball pens...I'm looking at you sad collection of almost empty Pilot Precise V5 pens in extra fine point black. You have served me well.

My husband, an engineer, also enjoys a nice pen and recently introduced me to Uni-ball's Signo Micro 207. It's spring-loaded which is not a real plus for my needs, but I'll give it a chance. My three year old did some preliminary quality testing today while doodling with "Daddy's Pen" and managed to bust the spring, but it was easily fixed...so points for that Uni-ball. I'll definitely put it into my rotation and perhaps I'll sleep easier at night knowing I can now prevent check washing and make cute illustrations with a single writing instrument.

But back to the Pen Pavillion. I put aside the above preferences and found two items of interest. One was the Yoropen, a uniquely designed pen that reduces writing strain and was a NSS Best New Product Winner in 2007. I didn't get to try one at the show, but plan to try one soon. I'm wondering if it might take some getting used writing with this very different design? I'll keep you posted, and if anyone has tested one out, feel free to comment with your thoughts on it. Offered in several lines (Standard, Superior, and Executive) and styles (ballpoint, pencil, and even crayon)...there seems to be a price point to fit almost every budget. I'm thinking one of these would be a perfect stocking stuffer for my husband since the design is advertised as beneficial to left-handers for a variety of reasons.

My favorite writing instrument booth of all was Batle Studios. These graphite sculptures you can write with stopped me in my tracks they were so beautiful. The Olive Branch, Twisting Leaf, Wing and Thatcher Shell from their current collection are my favorites, along with the Calla pictured here. Stunningly crafted, these beauties won't rub off on your hand. Now if only I had an awesomely clean and organized workspace fit to place one on.

Got a pen or pencil you adore? Comment and let me know. I love writing of course, but I'm even more curious to know what other illustrators and designers like drawing with. As for the Pen Pavillion, I'm glad I strolled through. Not quite the rush I got (am I geeky or what!?) as toured the actual stationery aisles, but fun nonetheless.

Mad Nibblin'!

Jen, Sweet Talk Boutique's Butter and Sugar, recently debuted our new MadNibbles cookie on her blog. Honestly, I can't say it any better than Jen. After all, these word wacky cookies were her crazy idea and I've got boatload of work to do. If you're not a regular reader of Jen's blog...take a look around while you're there. If you're a wedding fanatic like me, you'll love her bubble-bursting post on wedding cake myths entitled: Attention Please...Not All Fondant Tastes Like Crap.... It's that sort of stuff that makes me happy that I get to work with Jen on a regular (not quite everyday, but almost) basis. But anyway...Here's her MadNibbles post word for word (Oh yes, and I asked permission first!):

Didn't you just ______those cool ______ fill in the blank note _______ that you could _____ with all your ______? LOL We loved 'em. We loved 'em so much we could just eat 'em...now you can too. We've designed our own text to suit any fill in the blank craziness you can come up with and put it on our yummy cookies to ship out fresh to you or your pal.

Just like all our Invitastions, you get to pick the box color and ribbon color, but this time the matching card that comes with the cookie is a pre-printed post card all ready to be addressed and mailed from the recipient to you or anyone else they want to share the fun with. We also send an edible marker to fill in those blanks! Hey, we'll even try to match or compliment the marker color to the ribbon color when possible.

$20 each and available now at Sweet Talk Boutique! In addition to the new fresh look on the home page and the introduction of MadNibbles, we've got some other goodies in the works. Check back often this summer to see some cute gift ideas we're bringing to our boutique just for you!

National Stationery Show Review, Part 1

I'm going to guess I need a couple posts to share all of the wonderful, new, and interesting sights I came across during my first experience walking the National Stationery Show in New York this past week. I'm still in the process of looking through all the tons of materials I brought home with me, and I'm also mulling over the direction I'd like to take my own business in over the next year. Attending the show is extremely beneficial to aspiring stationery designers, those stationers hoping to exhibit sometime down the road, or for artists wondering where to focus their creative energies. But watch out kids, you might walk out wishing you were a retailer. For those who truly love the art of letter writing, you will certainly feel the urge to shop!!!

Perhaps the most exciting part of the show for me was meeting fellow stationery designers whose work I admire and am familiar with. In many situations it was great to finally put a face to the name and/or marvelous work. First up is Jill, from Jilly Jack Designs, who was kind enough to share a photo of her hip and stylish booth for this post. Jilly Jack's designs are fresh, eco-friendly, and manage to be bold and capture a certain softness at the same time. I'm loving the line's sweet felt folio packaging, which holds and coordinates with the enclosed note cards and envelopes. Just perfect for stashing in your desk drawer.

I'm a printmaker at heart, and while etching has long been my favorite media, I'm completely enamored with the woodblock designs from Artful Sentiments. Artful Sentiments designer Molly offers a huge selection of cards offering a wide variety of images charmingly printed in bright and catchy colors. My personal choice, her lovely desk calendars which are sure to spice up any home or workspace.

Letterpress was at the forefront of the show this year. There was lots of it! I was delighted to see a few familiar faces as I walked the rows, including fellow upstate New York locals Debbie Urbanski and Harold Kyle of Smock. Debbie and Harold are committed to printing sustainably, using fine bamboo paper and all while reducing the carbon footprint of their business and giving back to environmental causes. My favorite designs from their social collection are "horsey", "ellie" and "giraffe." Too sweet. Having had some of my own work printed with Smock's parent company Boxcar Press, I have seen first-hand this shop's love for the historic art of letterpress. With their beautiful colors and deep impressions...if there is such a thing as being gorgeously green, Smock has it down. Just scroll through the images on their home page and I'm sure you'll agree.

Whimsical preppy is how I'd describe the many deliciously colored offerings from The Paper Menu. Carried by a whole bunch of authorized online and brick and mortar retailers, you should have no problem tracking down the greetings, invitations, calling cards, and much more, that designer Marie has become known for. My favorite pick from The Paper Menu? Their gift wrap that can be personalized with a message, monogram or image. I'm definitely going to be hunting that down sometime before the holidays hit!

This is just the beginning. I promise there is more to come in a future post!

Sweet Talk Boutique Gets the Cool Mom Treatment

I was delighted to find that Sweet Talk Boutique was recently featured on Cool Mom Picks! In between nibbles, Cool Mom Liz managed to write a totally tasty post about our cookies!!!

I'm headed off to the National Stationery Show this week to immerse myself in new trends in the stationery industry. Which reminds me—now you can get all the sweetness of our STB designs, but without all the calories (although a little cookie never killed anyone's diet right?). Our signature illustrations are available on note cards and sets. Oh yeah, and Jen's got a ton of changes cookin' for the Sweet Talk site so check back soon!!!

Blogging for Hope: Las Mariposas of Yesterday and The Rights of Women Today

Bloggers Unite is an initiative designed to harness the power of the blogosphere by challenging bloggers to blog about a particular social cause on a single day, in this case the cause is Human Rights. Today, my single voice will be joined with thousands of others in an effort to make a real positive difference in our world. I want to positively impact our world by shedding some light on the need to support and defend women human rights activists. These courageous and deeply dedicated women fight for basic economic and social rights and in many cases they have been assaulted, harassed, threatened, imprisoned, and tortured for it.

My interest in women human rights activism was sparked after reading "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Dominican-American author Julia Álvarez a year or two ago. I became obsessed with The Mirabal sisters, three of four Dominican sisters who were assassinated by the dictator, Rafael Leónidas Trujillo in 1960. Throughout my education I was a great lover of world history, but I am ashamed to admit that I had little knowledge of the political history of the Dominican Republic (or most other Caribbean countries for that matter). I know it is easier said than done, but one way in which I would like to see our world change is to see American students educated about history other than our own. In many cases, I realize students also lack knowledge about the United States and our own current events, but in order for our society to maintain influence and the ability to change the world around us for the better, I believe we need to KNOW that world. That means better understanding other countries ad their culture. Just like my interest was sparked through a fictional account of a true story, I pledge to nurture sparks that I see in the young people around me.

As part of the Movement of the Fourteenth of June, The Mirabal Sisters (also known as "Las Mariposas") and others fought valiantly to end Trujillo's dictatorship. After the sisters' numerous imprisonments and torture, Trujillo sent men to intercept the three women after they had visited their husbands in prison. The unarmed sisters were led into a sugarcane field, then beaten and strangled to death. Their car was later thrown off of a mountain. Besides being wives, daughters and sisters, these women were also mothers. Thankfully, Trujillo's plan to eliminate the sisters backfired somewhat. Their deaths caused public outrage in the country and raised support and awareness for their cause. Trujillo was assassinated six months later in 1961.

On December 17, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated November 25 (the anniversary of the day of the murder of the Mirabal sisters) as the annual date for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in commemoration of the sisters. This day also marks the beginning of the 16 days of Activism against Gender Violence. The end of the 16 Days is December 10, International Human Rights Day. The Human Rights of women are perhaps more endangered now than they were during the time of "Las Mariposas." If you do nothing else, then please make yourself aware of the violence perpetrated daily against women around the globe and in our own country. Colombia and Darfur may seem far away, but unfortunately violence cuts across boundaries of country, economy, and culture.

You may not feel like an activist yourself, but I guarantee you will be inspired by the stories of today's Human Right's activists from around the globe. I was particularly affected by Mao Hengfeng's story. A mother of twins, she was dismissed from her job in 1988 because she became pregnant with her third child, in violation of China's family planning regulations. According to Amnesty International, Mao Hengfeng is reportedly detained at Yangpu District Branch Police Station in Shanghai, where she is kept in solitary confinement. Lastly, I urge to to seek ways that you can support and defend these brave women and the many nameless victims of violence around the world. Whether it is through signing petitions, educating yourself, involving yourself in aid or relief organizations, or just simple prayer, I believe we women can make a difference in the world, in the lives of our global sisters, and within ourselves.

Picture Book Ponderings: Higglety Pigglety Pop! Or, There Must Be More to Life.

Think Illustrator Maurice Sendak, and I'm sure "Where the Wild Things Are" is the first thing to come to mind. I tend towards some of Sendak's lesser known favorites, like "Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue" (which I just used to help teach my 3 year old the virtues of caring, or rather the perils of not caring) and this little gem of children's lit and illustration "Higglety Pigglety Pop! Or, There Must Be More to Life."

Sendak wrote this book to deal with the death of his beloved Sealyham Terrier, Jennie. You might remember her from "Where the Wild Things Are" as she has cameos in a few of Sendak's books. And if the real Jennie was anything like the salami and pancake loving Jennie in ""Higglety Pigglety Pop.." then she was quite the character. Jennie is a dog who has everything. Discontented, she goes out in the world to find something she doesn't have. When she comes across a pig wearing a sandwich board advertising an opening for a Leading Lady in the World Mother Goose Theater she jumps at the opportunity. But there's one hitch, the job requires someone with experience. One thing Jennie does not have.

When I was in high school I used to read this book to my brother who is eleven years younger than me and I'm not sure who enjoyed those read-alouds more...the child or the teenaged big sister. Sendak's signature pen and ink style became a major inspiration to me as a young designer and illustrator, encouraged my interest in etching (which often uses similar drawing techniques), and showed me that with a little imagination an artist can take something small (a brief nursery rhyme bearing the a portion of the book title in this case) and spin it into a sweeping visual and literary narrative. Whimsical yet dark, this book speaks to that childhood, teenage, and well...even that grown-up...desire to take risks, seek more, and find out what the great big world and that "castle yonder" hold for us all.

Filled with crazy characters—an ornery baby who refuses to eat, a milkman who is also a cat, a very hungry lion, and the equally food-obsessed Jennie, this book offers quirky quips that you are sure to find yourself quoting after the reading is done. The warmly detailed illustrations, never fail to suck me in and the story is just plain charming. I mean who wouldn't love an adorable but spoiled dog, who is put through her paces and ends her story with this: "As you probably noticed, I went away forever. I am very experienced now and very famous. I am even a star. Every day I eat a mop, twice on Saturday. It is made of salami and that is my favorite."

Maurice Sendak's work has taught me that to illustrate something is to do more than just re-interpret the words on the page as a companion visual. True illustration illuminates the text, bringing additional dimensions to the story and stylistically branding the narrative at the same time.

Keyed In!

I've recently decided that I am going to start carrying Lilie's A Planet 4 Creation cards around with me every time I wear her awesome Green Skeleton Key Pendant. I literally get no less than 3 compliments on it EVERY time I wear it out. And I'm wearing it more and more these days, because who doesn't love compliments? From pre-school teachers to sales clerks to neighborhood friends or visiting family members, everyone I talk to seems to have a question to ask or a kind word to say about this lovely little piece of jewelry.

Actually, it's not that little, which is one of the things I love about it. The design I own is from a previous season, but it looks similar to this beauty which is currently for sale on Lilie's site. Just switch out the stunning red heart for a lovely green glass bead. Plus this key looks like it has a history. It brings some mystery to the pendant and I think that's cool. I have been collecting found keys and wearing them around my neck since I was a teen, but Lilie's additions of czech glass and porcelain beads, or Swarovski crystals, definitely take wearing keys as jewelry to the next level. A Planet 4 Creation also carries a wide variety of key jewelry! Check out the whole section here! There are pendants that use antique numbered keys, skeleton keys, or iron replicas of treasure chest keys, and a large selection of earrings using different key charms.

A Planet 4 Creation is also celebrating a birthday this month, so take advantage of this discount code "Birthday3" for 30% off! It expires May 31, 2008. And don't forget to mention this blog, Design is Everywhere, in the Customer Referral. If you do, you'll get a free gift! Happy birthday A Planet 4 Creation...and many more to come.