February desktop ready for download!

Wow, I was doing so good there with my blogging. Then, wedding season came in full speed and hogged every ounce of my time. My goal is to spend some time each evening to keep posting neat things I find online as well as sharing some of my own work/ideas with you. I am working on a couple designs right now. Once they are finalized, I'll put them up for you to see. I'm really excited to add to my invite collection. So keep checking back.

It's 2 weeks until Valentine's Day. If you missed my post a week or so ago, I had a post featuring some cute cards that I found on etsy. I ordered mine and it's in the mail, don't be late with your valentine!

The new 2010 desktop calendar is still available, I've got a few left and they are available at a discounted price of only $8. Buy a copy for your desk here. Or, download a computer desktop version each month on my blog.



Click on the link below to download your desktop (a new window will open, either drag it to your desktop or right click and "save image as"):

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Featured Wedding Wednesday!

I was flipping through the pages of Downeast Magazine's 2010 Wedding Guide (January), when I came across a photographer that caught my eye, Alexandra Daley-Clark. Before I knew it, I was on her site for a good half hour looking at all the amazing weddings she has photographed.

This one is one of my favorites, and it turns out--I'm not alone! Dave and Linnea's wedding has been featured on Style Me Pretty and on the Boston Hearts Wedding Blog.

Her dress is beautiful and nothing is more perfect for an oceanfront wedding than a seersucker suit.


The bridesmaid's dresses are almost as fabulous. They remind me of a shirt JCrew carried a year or two ago (I'd link it, but I was unable to find...so take my word for it!)


The hydrangeas are simple but elegant. I hope she dried them, I am not a fan of many dried flowers--but they really dry nicely.


Now if this isn't an amazing setting, I'm not sure what is. The activity in the harbor really adds to the Maine-ness of their wedding.


The tables were assigned by herbs. Not only are they beautiful, but I am sure they smelled pretty awesome too. This is such a great idea.


See more of their photos on Alexandra's site. While you're there, take a look around, Alexandra does beautiful work.

My Grandparent's Wedding

As I was going through my photos, I came across my set containing pictures from my grandparent's wedding album. After my grandmother passed away, I took home their album and scanned them all in to share with my mom and her siblings. It's interesting to see how things have changed.

My grandparents were married in January 1948 in Portland, Maine. 62 years ago next week, that's amazing.


My grandpa was quite handsome if I do say so myself!


Not a fan of the bridesmaid's dresses, but I am sure they were quite fashionable back in the day.


My grandmother's dress, on the other hand, I think is still beautiful!


This picture makes me cold just looking at it. I love all the old cars.

Back to more current events next post, I just had to share!

Who would have thought....

that postage would look so good on a cake? I like to think of myself as a creative person, but it's safe to say that this is something I never would have thought of! I've always LOVED the look of monochromatic vintage stamps on an invitation envelope. But I'd never think to make a garland of them to decorate a cake. Leave it to dsharp, an artist in Portland to create such a thing:



The garlands cost $100, which is nothing considering it would make a plain white cake look simply amazing.

Etsy Weekend

It's a dreary rainy day here, so I had no problem curling up under a blanket with Pete and scouring etsy on my laptop for this post. Here are some fun things I found today:

This layered necklace is made of of two stamped discs and your choice of birth stone. And, it's only $28. It'd be fun to change into for your reception.


I'm really wanting some new pillows for my bedroom, and I happened to come across this one from cozyblue. It's screen printed then hand embroidered and oh-so-cute:


I saw moss covered letters in one of my wedding magazines and thought it would be perfect for an outdoor wedding reception. This seller can make them in three different sizes.


Hope you all had a great weekend!

Friday Love!

I intended on calling today's post "Favor Friday," but as I was searching online to find something to post, I came across a wedding video that knocked my socks right off. I've never thought of video as a MUST for a wedding. In fact, I've always thought that would be a detail I'd probably forego at my own wedding...because really, how many times are you going to watch it? I'd rather flip through an album of pretty pictures, until now.

This wedding is charming, that's the best way I can describe it. Every detail is so well crafted and fun. From the candy favor table, to the hand painted cake toppers, to the mustaches on a stick and the pinwheels--I was in awe. And how gorgeous is Sarah, the bride? That red lipstick works wonders on her and I love her birdcage veil (swoon!). The yellow bridesmaids dresses are so cheery and fun, even in the rain. This wedding looks like it was a blast to be at and even more fun to plan.

I promise, you are going to love this and feel totally inspired. This video was shot using a 16mm camera and does a fantastic job at feeling somewhat vintage. The editing brings out the excitement of the day and the music fits so perfect with the style finished piece. The song is "All I Want is You" by Barry Louis Polisar, you might remember it from Juno. The couple did a great job putting this together. Now, it's time for the video:

Sarah & Rupert Wedding 16mm Film from sarahandrupert on Vimeo.

If you want to read more about their Michigan wedding and see some beautiful photos, head over to Style Me Pretty. Bring a towel, because you will likely start drooling. :)

DIY Thursday

(Photos are from Intimate Weddings)


Look at how pretty these lights are! AND, you can make them yourself. They'd be ridiculously cute at an outdoor wedding reception made from different papers using your wedding colors. Attach these origami lanterns to a string of lights and voila, you have a party!

Go to Intimate Weddings to read the post and get instructions. While you are there, take a look around--they have lots of good ideas for your wedding day. I know I am bookmarking this one for my next shindig.

Featured Wedding Wednesday!

I get daily emails from Martha Stewart. Each and every one of them is full of inspiration, if you don't get her emails...sign up now!

Today's email featured a wedding that I am in love with. I'd marry this wedding if I could. Carrie Anne's hair is gorgeous and looks so natural.


And how awesome are the boutonnieres! A mother of a groomsman made them from peppers and rosemary from a local farmers market. They are put together with antique buttons, which were also used on the invitations.


Buttons and purple carried over to the cake, which is really too pretty to eat!


I love the charm of the chalkboard signage, made by the bride herself from items found at a craft store:





See the entire wedding by clicking here. I promise, you'll be in love! I know I am.

Ring shopping?

For those of you who are in the market for a ring, please head over to Brilliant Earth. A friend of mine shared it with me today. Brilliant Earth uses free trade diamonds, but they also donate 5% of their profits to help mitigate the impact jewelry trade has had on other countries. Some of the pricing is a little higher than your average ring, but it's a one-time purchase that you can feel good about...hence their tagline "Luxury with a conscience."

There's also The Green Karat, whose mission is "to provide an ecologically and socially responsible jewelry alternative to those who seek change."

We all know you will look good in your new diamond, but why not FEEL good while wearing it! Because diamonds are forever, right?

Etsy Sunday: Valentine's Day Cards

I love finding the perfect card. I tend to steer clear of Hallmark and head over to etsy. I've started my hunt for a Valentine's Day card. Here are some of my favorites:

Sea Monster card by Littlepretty

Pete loves this one by Sycamorestreetpress

Paperlovelypress has this card that is oh so simple and cute.

SweetLetterpress makes this card that tells it how it is.


This is my new favorite color combination, I'm dying to do an invite set using red and aqua like this card from enormouschampion


You still have a couple weeks to find a card. Hopefully you'll get inspired by these and start your search. Don't wait until the last minute!

Get Crafty!

Most brides end up ordering a handful of extra invitations for last minute additions to their guest lists or to have as keepsakes.

In the last issue of Martha Stewart, there was a DIY project that uses your extra stationery to create beautiful paper flowers. I might have to order a heart punch to make some for a vase in my studio office.



You'll need:
Heart Shaped Punch
1/2" Circle Punch

How to make it:
1. Curl five hearts around a pencil to create a slight curve.
2. Interlock them at the valley of each heart.
3. Glue a 1/2" circle to the back of the flower in the center.
4. Poke a lenght of floral wire through another circle, bending it to create an L.
5. Glue the two circles together, sandwiching the wire.

For leaves, glue two hearts, with wire between them, together and fold!

Look at other great DIY projects on Martha's site!

Featured in CMH Magazine

I'm a little late on posting about this, but better late than never! Early last month, I was flipping through a local magazine (CMH) when I came across an article about destination weddings. I read the article which featured some great tips from wedding planner Jen Wooster-McBride of J. Lauren Events. I had the opportunity to meet Jen last year over a few glasses of wine. We shared stories and talked about weddings and I was able to show her my work. When Jen was interviewed by the magazine, she mentioned my design services. Thanks, Jen and thank you CMH.



If you are in the Columbus area and are looking for a planner, head over to J Lauren events and get in touch with Jen. She's amazing!

You can read the full article here.

Etsy Sunday

It's amazing all of the different kinds of ring bearer pillows there are for you to choose from. Here are just some that I found on etsy today (although this one is STILL my favorite):

Bird Nest on Mossy Green Ring Bearer Pillow ($40), by WhiteThistleBridal


To Have and to Hold($36), by palomasnest


Antiqued Shades of Tea Stain and Swarovski Bloom Silk Ring Bearer Pillow ($55), by RomancingJuliet



Frou Frou Ring Bearer Pillow ($50), by KreatedbyKelly



Ivory-grey, green flower ($36), by PassionArte

January desktop ready for download!

Happy New Year! The new 2010 desktop calendar is still available, I've got a few left. Buy a copy for your desk here. Or, download a computer desktop version each month on my blog.

January's calender design is derived from my Blooms and Stripes invitation seen here.



Click on the link below to download your desktop (a new window will open, either drag it to your desktop or right click and "save image as"):

1024 x 768

1280 x 960

1280 x 1024

1600 x 1200

1680 x 1050

1920 x 1200