emi's blog

inspiration anywhere: gummy bears!

2012-01-25T11:06:00.000-10:00

Apparently I needed to take a six-month hiatus from my "inspiration anywhere" project, but sometimes you just can't force it. So, no apologies, just my latest inspiration:

Gummy bear key chain designed by Bit of Sugar

This oh-so-cute key chain by Bit of Sugar dangles off the side of a porcelain cup that holds all of my pens. Every time I reach for a pen, the pastel gummy bears make a clinking sound against the porcelain. In the afternoon, around 3:00pm, the sun bounces off the beads and creates a little light show on my desktop. This sweet creation inspired this yet-to-be-named invitation design:

What should I name this invitation design?

I stand by my belief that you can find inspiration anywhere! In case you'd like to check out our past inspirations:

Curtains

Socks

Wedding gown

When You Wish Upon A Star

In Full Bloom

Weddings cards in stock at TWC!

2012-01-20T07:00:00.002-10:00

Just in time for the springtime nuptials, I dropped off a batch of new greeting cards at The Wedding Cafe this week. Each card is printed on metallic stock and is accented with Emi Ink's "signature" touch of Swarovski crystals. Cards are blank on the inside and include a coordinating metallic envelope.

Eat your veggies

2012-01-19T08:51:00.000-10:00

Or, you can just decorate your table with them.

The current issue of Hawaii Bride & Groom Magazine includes a fun editorial spread in which vegetables and other organic produce were incorporated into beautiful tablescapes. Emi Ink contributed to the decor for one of the tables by providing wood-textured favor boxes and coordinating menu cards.

Who knew that red cabbage and bitter melon could look so pretty?
(Created by Watanabe Floral)

This favor box design is one of my favorites. Such a unique shape and no glue or tape required to assemble!

Pick up your issue at newsstands today or check it out online here.

Expo time!

2012-01-18T07:20:00.003-10:00

The Hawaii Bridal Expo is this weekend and I've been busy gathering up a bunch of recent custom samples to display at Emi Ink's booth. If you want to check out our work up close, visiting our booth at the expo is really the best way to do it. There's a limited amount of stationery items that I can carry to a client consultation, short of bringing along a pack mule (and somehow, I think The Wedding Cafe would frown upon that). At the expo, though, you'll see all of our favor box options, our standard invitation designs, a large array of custom invitations, place cards, menu cards, programs...probably more wedding stationery than you even knew existed!

As an added bonus, the first 50 brides on each day to stop by our booth and sign up for our email list will receive a limited time special offer. Here's the info:

Hawaii Bridal Expo

Neal Blaisdell Center
777 Ward Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaii

Friday, 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Saturday, 10:30am - 4:00pm
Sunday, 10:30am - 4:00pm

My latest accessory

2012-01-17T10:20:00.000-10:00

I love picking up new accessories, whether it be the fashion kind or the electronic kind. But my newest acquisition doesn't fall in either category yet it's the most meaningful to me as a business owner.

Each year, WeddingWire selects the top 5% of wedding professionals in its nationwide network based on client reviews. I'm so very honored that Emi Ink received this award. I'm committed to giving my clients the highest level of service simply because they deserve it. I've been blessed with the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing people and it is only because of my client base that I'm able to have a job that I love.

I'm proud to show off my newest accessory (see it over there in the right side bar?). It goes with everything, don't you think?

Real Life Wedding Showcase in Hawaii Bride & Groom Magazine!

2012-01-11T17:01:00.000-10:00

Have you checked out the Fall/Winter 2011 issue of Hawaii Bride and Groom Magazine? I was thrilled to see my lovely couple - Genie and Arthur - featured in the Real Life Wedding Showcase!

Genie and Arthur

I remember my first consultation with Genie quite well. She had seen a menu card that I designed for a photo shoot by Hawaii Bride and Groom Magazine earlier in the year. She was drawn to the beautiful textured paper and elegant colors of ivory and antique gold. That menu card served as the inspiration for Genie and Arthur's entire stationery suite.

Top: ivory pocket fold invitation with inserts, wraparound belly band and organza ribbon
Bottom left: escort card tree with hanging crystals
Bottom right: place card atop menu card placed in napkin fold

There was a seamless transition throughout all of the stationery pieces. From the invitations and ceremony programs to the escort cards, place cards and menu cards, everything was designed to complement the vintage Hawaii theme.

My working relationship with them, had a surprise epilogue a few months ago. Genie and Arthur wanted a special way to commemorate their first anniversary and subsequent anniversaries. They had decided to write letters to each other and asked for my input in bringing their vision to fruition. We decided on an ivory scrapbook with personalized pages - one page for each of them to write on for the first ten years of their marriage.

Thank you Genie and Arthur for allowing me to be a part of your special day!

Photographer: Marcia Campbell Photography

Florist: Designs by Hemingway

Reminder: postage rate increase!

2012-01-09T11:38:00.000-10:00

Just boxed up my first big invitation job of the year and, after reminding my bride about the rate increase on January 22, we decided to use the Wedding Roses Forever stamp for her R.S.V.P. envelopes.

So, it bears repeating. In case you're mailing your invitations over the "hump"...mailing out before the rate increase but your RSVP deadline falls after the January 22 effective date, don't forget about the extra penny required for your response cards. You've been warned (insert scary music here).

hello, 2012!

2012-01-06T11:22:00.000-10:00

First things first, Happy New Year! I'm happy to say that I succeeded brilliantly at succumbing to the annual Christmas chaos! This, of course, is another way of admitting that I failed miserably at blogging throughout the holidays. In my defense, I did think about blogging and even started taking photos of my year-end custom. That counts for something, right?

I couldn't find a way to slow time in 2011 (and believe me, I tried), so I'm committed to enjoying each new day as it comes and embracing every challenge and every opportunity that 2012 brings. It's surprisingly easy to be so committed and passionate when it's only day number 6 of the new year. Anyway, I'm taking a deep breath, enjoying the view and strapping myself in for a fantastic year!

View from my office window...can't complain

Emi Ink 2012 calendars!

2011-11-28T15:43:00.000-10:00

Hot off the presses! Emi Ink's 2012 desk calendars are now on sale at the Menehune Mac seasonal store in Windward Mall. We also produced a set of limited edition notecard sets made with imported paper and blinged out with Swarovski crystals (naturally). Photos to come of the notecards, but here's a quick peek at our calendar:

We've tied a pretty satin bow to each of our calendars - the perfect stocking stuffer!

The acrylic case doubles as a stand, so you can display the calendar on your desk.

We'll be delivering a small supply of calendars to The Wedding Cafe this week for those of you who don't want to make the trek to Kaneohe. For anyone interested in placing a bulk order, just shoot me an email: emi@emiink.com

In the last 18 days...

2011-11-11T08:49:00.001-10:00

...I forgot to decorate my 5" pumpkin for Halloween. It's still sitting on my kitchen counter.

...I finally met with my bride from Australia who was delighted with her hot pink, orange and black stationery pieces: favor tags, stickers for take-home cake boxes, guest book, table cards.

...I moved my studio to a place with a better view and less roosters.

...I wondered, more than once, if I'm a closet hoarder of paper.

...I ignored my husband, more than once, as he accused me of being a blatant hoarder of paper.

...I finished menu cards, escort cards and reserved cards for a Rastafarian wedding today. Simple and modern black and white palette accented with small pops of red, yellow and green.

...I sold a couple of my gold jewelry pieces to The Diamond Specialists and was surprised at how much cash I got back! Am now going to search for more unwanted jewelry from unwanted ex-boyfriends that might still be lying around.

...I met one of my couples the day before their wedding to deliver toss petal cones, reserved seating signs, escort cards, table cards and drink tickets. I'm going to miss working with this sweet, sweet couple.

...I tried out Cafe Duck Butt with a group of friends for pupus and drinks. Lots of laughs (and lots of soju).

...I wished that I could channel Dr. Doolittle and speak to my sick dog. It's heartbreaking to care for a pet that's not well.

...I refused to believe that not only is it November, but Thanksgiving is in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS. Time to plan the menu. Time to break out the stretchy pants.

...I finalized plans for my holiday retail items! More info coming soon.

Off to wrap chocolates at Menehune Mac's seasonal store at Windward Mall today!

For the love of monograms!

2011-10-24T14:37:00.000-10:00

Excited to share this video of a local TV spot that aired during the Kim Kardashian wedding special recently. The Wedding Cafe was interested in pieces with a monogram design (an homage to Kim Kardashian's invitation), so I whipped up an entire suite of stationery for them: invitation, thank you card, menu, mini cupcake favor box, and program fan. I only had a few days to come up with something, but I channeled the inner Kardashion in me and blinged everything out as much as I could! Enjoy!

twc 1 from fisheyestudio on Vimeo.

Real wedding: Cheryl and Chuck

2011-10-20T10:43:00.001-10:00

Oh, how I adore my clients. They sustain me, inspire me and motivate me to keep on doing what I love.

Exhibit A: Cheryl and Chuck

The happy couple at the Royal Hawaiian hotel

I remember my first consultation with Cheryl very well. She came in with photos of her flowers, photos of the wedding attire for her bridesmaids and groomsmen, and a clear idea of what she wanted for her invitations. What transpired was a very modern design in charcoal gray and fuchsia, complete with a custom map/directions card and a fun wedding week timeline.

Charcoal gray pocket fold invitation with multiple insert cards and wraparound address label

I always LOVE this wedding ring shot!

The finishing touch for the invitations was a tag that Cheryl tied to the outside of the pocket folds.

Back in April, I blogged about one of my couples that was mailing invitations to Mickey and Minnie and the White House. Well, that couple was Cheryl and Chuck and I'm happy to report that not only did Mickey and Minnie respond, but so did the President and First Lady! This is what they received from The White House:

A memorable wedding keepsake for sure!

Thanks to Cheryl and Chuck for sharing these wonderful images from their wedding! (Photos by Visionari)

Happily ever after...

A penny earned...

2011-10-19T13:13:00.000-10:00

It's official. The postal rate for a 1-ounce letter is going up by a penny on January 22, 2012 ($0.44 to $0.45). Price for additional ounces remains unchanged at $0.20. Postcard rates are going up by three cents ($0.29 to $0.32). You can download this PDF from USPS for a complete rundown on the rate changes.

Oh, and if you're patting yourself on the back because you're planning to mail out your wedding invitations in the next couple of months, don't assume that you're in the clear. If your RSVP deadline falls after January 22, make sure that you have the correct amount of postage on your RSVP envelopes (or RSVP postcards) so your guests don't have to pony up the extra cents.

Scenes from the show

2011-10-14T21:35:00.000-10:00

My first wedding expo was back in 2005 and it's amazing how much my booth display has evolved. Maybe one day I'll post some photos and do a side-by-side comparison, but this is what my booth looked like at the most recent show:

A few of my favorite custom designs

Rows and rows of chair boxes with escort cards

Lots of cute favor packaging options

Our mini cupcake boxes and custom printed cupcake sleeves were a hit!

Part of our wall display showing all the paper options!

In the week leading up to the expo, I also designed a few stationery pieces for Menehune Mac's new booth display. It was a fun collaboration and I really love working with them!

A place card with vintage lace accent

Menu card with antique gold mat

Place card and table number card (peacock feather adorned with Swarovski crystals)

Menu card with harvest gold floral pattern and chocolate brown accents.

Table number tentfold card with aubergine mat

Wedding Expo recap...and some rambling

2011-10-10T10:38:00.000-10:00

The Thing That I Forgot
Oops, I kinda missed the boat on this one. Emi Ink participated in the Hawaii World Class Wedding Expo this past weekend over at the Convention Center and I had wanted to do a quick post to invite everyone to visit our booth. Unfortunately, time got away from me (shocking, I know). Can we just pretend that the invitation got lost in the mail?

The Part Where I Ramble
I had fun chatting with brides (and grooms!) and I finally got to show off all the new stuff that's been keeping me busy these past few months. Luckily, I had Jessica (aka Super Intern) helping me out in the booth and coaching me through my first attempt to Facebook via my iPhone. Honestly, I don't think I could do much beyond blogging without this trusty 19-year-old secret weapon at my side. She's so patient with me and never makes fun of my silly questions even though we both know that I'm a bit hopeless. I mean it's a little embarrassing that I can never go directly to my business page without first doing an actual search for my business name...I go to the search box, start typing in "Emi" and then I have to ignore the first search result which is always "Eminem." This amuses me EVERY SINGLE TIME because I wonder if someone has ever searched for "Eminem" and then accidentally found my page instead? What a rude awakening that would be! Oh, and then there's the search result that pops up AFTER my business name...Emi Ink Tattoo. Wow. Again, the thought of someone searching for a company to ink their Celtic tribal full arm sleeve and arriving in a world of chartreuse and plum wedding stationery accented with Swarovski crystals just makes me chuckle. I'm easily amused.

I'd Like To Thank The Academy
A BIG mahalo goes out to Jessica (naturally), Les Saisons for dressing my tables in a gorgeous platinum linen, Menehune Mac for the perfect treats to fill my favor boxes, Menehune Mac (again) for including some of my stationery pieces in their beautiful new booth display, Bit of Sugar for the most adorable cupcakes to show off my cupcake sleeves and mini cupcake boxes, Sonya (she's kind of a rock star and just goes by one name in my book) for being my go-to-gal for a lot of my production needs, and a special thank you to my set-up crew (aka my parents). I think it's safe to say that I have the most "senior" set-up crew in the wedding industry but don't let their retiree status fool you...they hustle, take direction very well, and their seasoned craft fair know-how is a big help to me during my early morning set-up. And plus, they work for free.

Ok, the real wedding expo recap is coming later this week complete with pictures!

Destination wedding fun!

2011-09-13T15:03:00.000-10:00

This custom invitation had so many charming elements to it, and from what I've heard, it was the perfect prelude to the couple's FUN wedding celebration!

The bride and groom requested an invitation in the style of a boarding pass which we housed in a vibrant lime green pocket fold enclosure. Complete with bar code, seat number and fun tropical design elements, this invitation surely got their guests excited about the destination wedding in Hawaii.

Inside the pocket, we inserted a card packed full of information for the couple's out-of-town guests. We designed color-coordinating icons to go with each category: shave ice for the "Pig Out Spots", surfboard with orchid design for the "Must-Dos" and a pair of "rubbah slippahs" with purple straps for the "Leisure Activities." This was definitely a fun one to work on!

Sweeeet

2011-09-08T13:39:00.000-10:00

Last night's Invitations, Favors and Special Touches showcase at The Wedding Cafe was a lot of fun! Emi Ink debuted a couple of new products that were oh-so-sweet!

cupcake sleeves by Emi Ink + cupcakes by A Cake Life

I love the ability to add a personalized touch to just about everything and cupcakes are no exception! These cupcake sleeves are designed to slip around the outside of your cupcakes and you can choose from a wide variety of colors to match your wedding (or any other special event!). Emi Ink can do custom printing, too, for that extra special touch:

Clockwise from top left: "Happily ever after" with stripes, solid teal metallic,
custom printing with floral background, custom printing with text only

Kristin from A Cake Life generously donated these delish vanilla cupcakes with Lilikoi filling for my table display. I asked her to keep a neutral palette for the cake and frosting so I could show off the different sleeves, but she offers lots of amazing flavors and design options to make your cupcakes a real showpiece! (Side note: if you want to become BFFs with people really fast, just share a box full of Kristin's cupcakes with a room full of hungry wedding vendors!)

If mini cupcakes are more your style, Emi Ink now offers mini cupcake boxes available in (almost) every color under the sun. You can finish it with a pretty ribbon or a custom-printed favor tag, but I think these adorable boxes are cute enough on their own!

Interior box insert keeps your mini cupcake secure + see-through window shows off the sweet treat hiding inside!

mini cupcake boxes by Emi Ink + mini faux cupcakes by Bit of Sugar

Because I had to think of a long-term solution for displaying my boxes, I asked my friend, Lei, from Bit of Sugar, if she could whip up a few mini faux cupcakes (made from deco clay) for last night's event. Lei also created the mini wedding cakes that I've been using as place card holders for my expo displays. If you appreciate anything that's "too cute for words," please check out her website here. If you're on Oahu, you'll definitely want to catch her at one of the local craft fairs this holiday season to check out her work in person!

Invitations, Favors and Special Touches Showcase

2011-09-07T05:57:00.001-10:00

Head to The Wedding Cafe tonight @ 6:30pm to check out the latest in invitations and favors! I'll be debuting some SWEET new goodies at the Emi Ink table and can't wait to see if it's a hit or miss with the brides/grooms (hopefully, I'm on target with this one!).

In other news, I was lucky enough to work on a lot of fun projects over the summer, and this recent invitation order was no exception. I'll have to wait a few months before I can display the complete design, but here's a sneak peek:

Balloons with Swarovski crystal accents

Can't reveal the inspiration behind the design, although I'm guessing that I've shown just enough for people in the know to figure it out themselves. Definitely an out-of-the-box wedding theme!

Knot so easy, but worth it

2011-09-05T20:53:00.001-10:00

A couple of weeks ago, The Knot hosted a "Cocktails and Connections" event at the Laniakea YWCA for local wedding professionals. Mona Hirata and her team from Weddings by Grace and Mona did a fantastic job of pulling the event together! Emi Ink donated all the stationery for the evening, so there were a LOT of projects to manage in the weeks leading up to the event. Here's an overview of some of the pieces we created for this museum-themed event:

Valet tickets

We produced special valet tickets for Prestige Valet Service, complete with custom logo, perforations for the 3-part ticket, and a hole punch for the key ring. A lot of details went into this one and this project turned out to be the one that I was most paranoid about. Each ticket required three sets of identical numbers and I asked multiple people to proof the stack for me to prevent any mix-ups with someone going home with the wrong car!

Exhibit placards

Beautiful floral arrangements by Spinning Web Florist dressed up the event space and were cordoned off with red velvet ropes. In another area, models posing as living statues were covered in gold paint from head to toe and decked out in gold wedding gowns. For each floral arrangement and living statue, I created a museum-style placard.

Food labels

While the valet tickets made me paranoid, these tent-fold food labels made me frustrated. Ginniberries created an amazing menu of butler-passed hors d'oeuvres and for each food item, I created a raw silk white tented card to go with it. It was particularly hard to create these on an empty stomach.

Tea card

The ladies from A Cup of Tea were stationed in the corner of the room with lovely take-home tea favors for everyone. I designed a simple folded card that listed the assorted teas with a small envelope to hold a tea sample of our choice.

Admission ticket

This admission ticket was more of a decorative piece than a functional piece. It slipped into an antique gold pocket that was attached to the exterior of the program.

Interior view of program/map

While brainstorming with Mona during the early planning stages, we came up with the idea of doing a map or guide to add to the museum feel of this event. I was going to do a simple, black and white map, but after spying a detailed map of Buckingham Palace that appeared in the newspaper on the eve of William and Kate's nuptials, I decided to try a different approach. It was a lot of work, but in the end I was happy with the overall piece.

Soda bottle tags

Even the soda bottles courtesy of Waialua Soda Works were adorned with coordinating hang tags.

Favor bag tags

The finishing touch was a tag hanging from the handles of our take home gift bags.

In terms of volume of work, this was a doozie. I had the help of my normal "supporting cast" but an extra special thank you goes out to my friend, Sonya, who helped me with die-cutting some of the pieces above, and gave up an entire Saturday night to assist with the assembly. (For all of you DIY brides out there, have a crafty friend help you with your projects and it'll make the hours fly by!)

There were a lot of vendors hard at work during the event, but my projects were done by the time I arrived so I could just relax and enjoy myself. Highlights for me included the 10-minute massage courtesy of the Spa at Trump (Trump Waikiki Hotel), the AMAZING cake by cakelava (I took a quick photo with my phone, but it really doesn't do it any justice), and the friends, old and new, that I was able to chat with. Fun night!

From pen to paper to screen

2011-08-31T10:16:00.000-10:00

Loving this...

Obsessions

2011-08-25T14:31:00.001-10:00

My latest obsessions (two are work-related, one is not):

My font obsession isn't a new thing, but the two shown above have struck a chord with me. I have a particular soft spot for fonts that can be dressed up or dressed down depending on how you "accessorize" them with fancy swashes and embellishments. Font treatment often gets overlooked but a subtle change can really make a huge difference in a printed piece.

I've had cupcakes on my mind a LOT in recent weeks, not because of my raging sweet tooth, but because of a fun new project that's in the works. Can't wait to spill the beans as Emi Ink ceases to be fat-free (so to speak). If only I could celebrate with another one of Trophy Cupcake's Chocolate Graham Cracker cupcake with Toasted Marshmallow Frosting. *sigh* I suppose one of those every five years is just enough to keep my obsession going strong.

This last obsession, well, kind of crept up on me. My dear husband started eating Greek yogurt a few months back and challenged me to ditch my Yoplait and try a bite of his instead. I took a spoonful and didn't care for it. It wasn't sweet enough and the texture was just...different. A couple of weeks went by and I decided to man up and give it another try (aka I was out of Yoplait, out of cereal, out of anything else suitable for breakfast). I peeled back the cover of the container, mixed in the blueberry acai, and took a bite. Not bad. Took another bite. Actually, it's pretty good. By the time I was scraping the last of the yogurt out of the container, I was hooked. We stocked up on lots of Fage yogurt over the next few weeks, but I knew in the back of my mind that I could always stop. I could always switch back to my cheaper, easier-to-find, Yoplait yogurt whenever I wanted to. And to prove my point, I bought one, peeled back the cover, and took a bite. Too sweet, too thin, too I-don't-want-to-eat-this-anymore. I was converted and my husband did this to me. I hate it when he's right.

Dashing to the altar

2011-07-29T19:48:00.000-10:00

I didn't really have much to say about reality star, Kim Kardashian, or her upcoming nuptials, but when I spotted a photo of her wedding invitation, my curiosity was peaked. It's hard to see in this photo, but the border on the main invitation in the center is lined with hundreds of jet black hematite crystals. Love this detail and am tempted to try my hand at this. The other thing I love is the monogram that's centered at the top. The two uppercase Ks are laid out so perfectly. It's the little things like this that make an invitation stand out.

a REALLY good day

2011-06-30T09:52:00.000-10:00

I'm turning the blog over to Emi Ink intern, Jessica, for her take on a "grueling" day of work this week...

How can you not LOVE this little guy?

I consider myself lucky to be an intern for Emi Ink. What other company has an internship work day located at a chocolate factory?! Stacey and I went to Menehune Mac to package favors. Of course, we went straight to the samples around the store! After that serious business was taken care of, we got to work.

Pineapple snow and milk chocolate macadamia nut

We encased the chocolates with beautifully patterned sunflower wrappers that Stacey designed.The bright and vibrant shades of yellow will catch the eyes of all the guests at the wedding, and the strawberry, pineapple snow and milk chocolate mac nut will definitely be a satisfying treat!

Strawberry and milk chocolate macadamia nut

Stacey's note: After we finished wrapping the chocolates, Jana from Menehune Mac still had to add the finishing touch by tying and gluing a tiny chocolate brown organza bow to each wrapper! Lots of steps involved, but I think presentation is key, especially for wedding favors. It's so worth it to have the perfect packaging to enhance your sweet treat!

Randomness

2011-06-24T16:02:00.000-10:00

This came in the mail...sadly, it wasn't for me:

If only every company modeled their customer service after Zappos...

Finding this in the dish rack, means someone had a bad day yesterday:

At least he washed the shot glass

Feeling a bit like my breakfast this morning:

Burnt toast = burned out Stacey

But a great consultation with a nice couple, beating the Friday rush-hour traffic on the drive home, and a table full of bright, cheery sunflowers was just enough to turn this day around. Happy weekend everyone!

inspiration anywhere: in full bloom

2011-06-22T07:00:00.000-10:00

I purchased this huge flower pin from The Wedding Cafe a few years back. It's big, it's brown, it's fuzzy...it's totally impractical and that's why I love it. This flower has adorned everything from my tote bags, to my clipboards, to the wire shelving in my office. I often stare at this flower and wonder what spot it will inhabit next.

Today, it finds a home here, as my "inspiration anywhere" muse:

Decided to design a place card today, with the flower hanging off the left edge to leave room for the guest name. I chose a romantic script font with fun flourishes (oh, how I love fonts):

The elephant in the room

2011-06-21T15:31:00.000-10:00

While wedding stationery is our main bag, every now and then we get to produce stationery for life's other special occasions. This little guy (and a bunch of his friends) will be heading east to celebrate the birth of a special little boy soon, and he'll be sorely missed around here. Nothing better than seeing a pack of sweet blue elephants in the midst of our summer wedding blitz!

Daddy-o

2011-06-19T11:32:00.000-10:00

Regular readers of this blog may notice that I rarely post photos of myself. I think I can count the number on one hand, actually: my first wedding here, and my second wedding here. Well, my little blogsters...I'm going to take that running total up a couple notches today in honor of Father's Day.

This is my all-time favorite photo of me and my dad:

My dad with his 6-string Kamaka ukulele, me with my smaller 4-string (and Bert & Ernie denim shorts).

My love of music comes from my dad and I can remember many jam sessions in my childhood with me on the uke or piano and my dad sitting beside me strumming along. He always said that he wished he could read music, but the truth is he didn't need to. He played everything by ear...brilliantly. His rendition of Stars and Stripes Forever was always a crowd pleaser and when he taught me how to play it, we took our act on the road. Yes, back in the day we were the headlining act during a family vacation as we toured the east coast. We played every inn, motel, and hotel that we stayed at and sometimes performed for the rest of our little tour group in our Greyhound bus.

Like a snake charmer with his trusty flute, I had two songs in my arsenal that would always get my dad's attention. On the ukulele, it was Frank Sinatra's "My Way," and on the piano, it was Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life." My dad would hear me playing those songs, stop whatever he was doing, and say, "Wait, wait, wait..." Next thing I know, he'd be disappearing into his bedroom to fetch his ukulele. He tuned his ukulele while walking back to the living room, ready to give his best ol' blue eyes impersonation. Shockingly, Frank Sinatra and Debby Boone weren't that popular among kids my age, but I knew my dad loved them. I played those songs for him.

Fast forward 25 years or so and we come to my second most favorite photo of me and my dad. Now, I debated long and hard whether to actually post this photo (you'll see why), but I guess I'm just going all in.

In 2004, we took a family trip to Japan. My oldest brother was the tour guide, mapping out the cities we'd be visiting, arranging our lodging, even noting the trains we would catch (down the to minute!) in each leg of our travels. It was such a treat to be going on a trip that I didn't have to organize myself! But the planner in me couldn't help but research some fun things to do along the way. For our stay in Kyoto, I read about a place in Gion that you could dress up as a maiko (an appretice geisha) in full make-up and kimono. Seemed like a fun, touristy thing to do so my family indulged me as we added this to our itinerary.

We found the Gion studio with no trouble at all, but quickly realized that we were the only English-speaking people there. No other wide-eyed tourists sitting in the waiting room, just us. I hesitated for a moment and asked my brother if he wanted to dress up, too. Yeah, he turned me down even before I finished asking the question. But then my dad piped in and said, "Maybe I'll do it!" Really? My dad wanted to play dress up with me in Japan? Then we all looked over at my mom and she said, "No way! Not me!" So, it was just me and my dad on our way to the back room where all the magic happened.

We were dressed in separate rooms and saw each other for the first time just moments before the photographer started snapping away. Me, the shy maiko, and my dad, the smiling samurai. I love that my dad was game for this. I love that for as much as my dad likes his simple pleasures and daily routines, he can surprise you with a youthful, silly, zest for life. And I think I've inherited that from him, too.

So, there you go, a 2-for-1 Father's Day pictorial post. Only for you, Dad. Happy Father's Day.

Randomness

2011-06-14T10:27:00.000-10:00

Finally took this puppy for a spin on Saturday. Poor thing hasn't seen the light of day in years.

Sans rum, sans fresh lime, sans mint leaves...something tells me this won't measure up to the real thing.

Opened the doors to our storage closet and was flipped the bird by three gardening gloves. There's just no way to prepare yourself for something like that. I think it's obscene, my husband thinks it's a great way to hang up gloves.

Paradise is...

2011-06-10T14:48:00.000-10:00

Just finished up an invitation order for a couple getting married this summer. Based on the photos that the bride showed me of their rental house in Kailua, the ceremony site will have a SPECTACULAR, unobstructed view of the Mokulua Islands off Lanikai Beach. It's the kind of scene that, even when viewed on an iPhone, makes you want to crawl into the screen and dip your toes in the water.

Because the Mokulua Islands will be making a cameo appearance at the wedding, the bride asked if we could incorporate them into my Palm Trees invitation design. She designed the graphic for the islands (complete with rising sun, birds and waves), and we completed it with layers of taupe and chocolate brown cardstock, and a couple of Swarovski crystals.

It was a fun collaboration and the perfect "teaser" for their beautiful oceanfront wedding!

Just say "omm"

2011-06-09T08:19:00.000-10:00

Many of my close friends and family understand my passion for writing, but these days the extent of my writing is usually just answering emails and a blog entry here and there. But I found something recently that might change all that. My discovery is kind of geeky, kind of new age-ish, kind of unnecessary, and kind of totally awesome. I read about the OmmWriter in some random blog but couldn't really grasp what it was until I watched the video and downloaded the trial version for myself:

It took me about a minute a half on the trial version to convince me that I needed the full version. Immediately. As quickly as I could whip out my credit card.

It's hard to explain why I love this so much. It's not meant for hardcore word processing, but it does a few things that I really like. It fills the entire screen, the control buttons go away and stay hidden if you don't move your mouse, and you can turn on the clicky keyboard noises if you enjoy that kind of thing (and I do). But mostly, I totally dig the fact that I have my own soundtrack while I'm writing (I swear it's different than just opening my favorite playlist in iTunes). My husband doesn't understand what the fuss is about, claiming that watching me use OmmWriter is like watching Doogie Howser deep in thought, sitting in front of his computer at the end of every show. Yeah, so he doesn't understand the awesomeness of this program, and maybe you won't either. But that's ok, to each his own. Now, excuse me while I get my Doogie on.

inspiration anywhere: when you wish upon a star

2011-06-08T17:09:00.000-10:00

I took a very roundabout way to arrive at today's design. Are you ready? I was reading a blog in which the writer had received a teapot charm for her birthday. The teapot reminded me of Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast, which made me think about other Disney movies, the older ones especially, like Pinnochio. Once my thoughts turned to Pinnochio, "When You Wish Upon A Star" began playing in my head...and thus, this design took shape:

I think the stars were a much better inspiration than Pinnochio himself, don't you?

Love is in the air

2011-06-06T11:29:00.001-10:00

So happy to feature Jessica (Emi Ink's fabulous intern) as a guest blogger today! If you stopped by my booth at the Hawaii Convention Center wedding expo in April, you may have spotted my beautiful new logo board. This is how it came to be...take it away, Jessica!

Ever since I've started working for Stacey at Emi Ink, my love has grown -- my love for paper, that is. I have been interning at Emi Ink for a little over seven months, and I am loving every second of it! Paper to me is what a football is to a quarterback, a pair of scissors is to a hairstylist, or a ladle to a chef. With that said, whatever paper-related task I receive, a warm and fuzzy feeling comes over me and a smile automatically switches on.

One of the projects Stacey had me do was her dream sign for her booth to display at the wedding expos. This task included cutting out Emi Ink's signature-styled cherry blossom flowers, sticking the flowers on letter blocks one by one, and a lot of patience. I was eager to start, but excitement was soon replaced by frustration as I put the cherry blossoms on the wrong side of the letter blocks twice! I have to admit that the fuzzy feeling dissipated. I'm glad it returned after the 2,000 metallic paper flowers, accented with crystal rhinestones, were glued onto the letters and the letters were positioned neatly on a canvas. When I first saw the completed sign displayed at the April wedding expo, I'm pretty sure my smile was as bright as the rhinestones that were studded in the middle of the cherry blossoms!

This marked the completion of my first big task for Emi Ink, and also the end of another successful wedding expo. To say the least, I am looking forward to many more to come!

inspiration anywhere: vera wang

2011-06-01T10:53:00.000-10:00

I was wondering what I was going to pull for inspiration this week when inspiration came to me via Mona Hirata of Weddings by Grace and Mona. At the end of a brainstorming lunch meeting, Mona mentioned that she had just written a blog for The Knot about wedding cakes inspired by brides' gowns. What a perfect idea to piggyback on! First stop for me was the Vera Wang site where I spotted this lovely gown from their 2011 bridal collection:

Flora by Vera Wang

I was immediately drawn to the beaded/embroidered bodice of this strapless gown. My interpretation of the design on paper would feature layers of translucent blossoms accented with Swarovski crystals and a pale mauve ribbon that mimics the fabric sash on the gown.

inspiration anywhere #2: socks

2011-05-25T09:31:00.000-10:00

Today's inspiration comes from a sock. This sock would feel incredibly out of place in my dresser drawer amongst my white, whiter, and whitest socks. It would also feel out of place in my husband's dresser drawer amongst the sea of black socks. But here, where inspiration abounds, it feels right at home. Here's the glorious red and white striped, knee-high sock:

And the invitation design that it inspired:

I started with the vibrant red color and the crisp white stripes first. Then I added in the curved lines on the top and bottom. The pairing of red and white gave off a Valentine's vibe to me so I just went with it and used a playful font and added a heart embellishment for an added touch of whimsy.

I heart my clients

2011-05-20T10:08:00.000-10:00

Recently, I've been thinking a lot about Emi Ink's early years. To some extent, I employed a "sink or swim" strategy during my first year...although, "sink" wasn't really an option for me. There was no question that I would accept any job that came my way, I never said "no" to my clients, and I would often grossly underestimate the amount of labor that my jobs would require. It was a learning process, painful at times, but so rewarding in the end.

One of my earliest invitation jobs was for May and Gregg, a sweet couple who probably had more confidence in my design skills than I had in myself at the time! I can't recall how many hours this job took me to complete, but it had EVERYTHING: rounded corners, hand embossing, die-cut flowers, a washi paper band, organza ribbon, vellum, a perforated response card, etc. I probably learned more about the design/assembly process in that one job than I did in the next 20 jobs that followed.

May and Gregg are nearing their fifth anniversary and although the odds of them reading this particular blog are slim, I'd like to thank them and every lovely couple I've worked with since then. My clients, past and present (and future!), fuel my passion for creativity and I'm eternally grateful for that!

inspiration anywhere #1: curtains

2011-05-18T09:15:00.000-10:00

As much as I'd like to be able to have a flash of creativity at any given time, it just doesn't happen like that - for me, at least. I can sit in front of my laptop for hours, eyes fixated on the screen, mouse in hand, "mood music" piped in via Pandora, and nothing happens. When I'm unable to find inspiration within myself, I always look elsewhere...someplace outside the world of weddings or stationery, someplace that's visually appealing or someplace that just makes me happy.

I had a little creative letdown yesterday and I started thinking about all the brides out there planning their weddings. I always tell my own clients to bring along magazine tear sheets or online photos that they've collected as inspiration for their wedding, as these images speak volumes about their personal style and taste. Ninety-percent of the time, brides will bring wedding-related photos - reception decor, flowers, dresses, etc. Once in awhile, I'll get to see something completely different. In recent months, one bride brought in a photo of a henna tattoo, another bride brought in a wallpaper swatch, and another bride wore a collection of beautiful bangle bracelets that reflected the subtle shades in her wedding color scheme.

It's not always easy to think outside the box and allow yourself to be inspired by everyday things, so I thought it was time to start a new weekly series on the blog called, "inspiration anywhere." I hope it helps to unleash some creative possibilities!

First up, I spotted these ombre curtains on the Anthropologie site and instantly realized how it could translate into a beautiful wedding invitation. Here's the ombre curtain in blue:

Wavering Ombre Curtain via Anthropologie

And my interpretation for a wedding invitation:

And the ombre curtain in coral:

Wavering Ombre Curtain via Anthropologie

And my take on it:

These invitation designs represent very literal interpretations of the curtains, but I could have taken it in a number of different directions. Instead of filling the whole card with color, I could have applied the ombre effect to a large flower in the corner of the invitation. Or, I could have translated the crocheted paillettes (they run vertically on the curtain panels) as a background watermark pattern.

If you see something that catches your eye, in colors that you love, don't be afraid to take wedding inspiration from it!

Swim, bike, run

2011-05-16T09:25:00.000-10:00

Did my first triathlon yesterday! It was an amazing experience that, as a first-timer, I'll never forget. Technically, I didn't actually swim...or bike...or run...but I cheered from the sideline like nobody's business. Truth be told, it was my husband who competed and the only thing I did was show up.

From a ~~spectator's~~ cheerleader's perspective, the event was really incredible. I learned quickly where to position myself so I could see my husband running out of the water, whizzing past me on his bicycle, or coming in for the last 1/2 mile of the run. Basically, it amounted to a total of 45 seconds of cheering for my husband and 2-3 hours of waiting. With all this downtime, I didn't park myself on the beach to gaze out at the ocean, didn't read a single page of the "Real Simple" magazine I had slipped into my backpack, I didn't even play a single word on "Words with Friends" the whole morning. The thing that captivated my attention was just watching the other athletes in amazement and wondering how their bodies could do what my own body couldn't even dream of doing. But is it fair (or healthy) to compare yourself to others in that way? I mean, is it a bigger accomplishment to master a 1.5 swim, a 40K bike, and 10K run than it is to, say, assemble 100 blinged out invitations in under an hour? I think the answer's obvious, don't you? Ha, ha...nevermind.

The Honolulu Triathlon is actually just a stepping stone in my husband's formal training for the Tinman Triathlon later this summer (which could be a stepping stone to the Ironman at some point). I've seen an amazing transformation in him as the weeks have gone by. There's the physical aspect, of course, but it's also been a mental victory in that he challenged himself to do something he's never done before. To bear witness to someone fulfilling a lifelong dream, discovering a true passion, and embracing something that fills their soul is such a beautiful thing.

A big congratulations to my husband on his first triathlon!

In a holding pattern?

2011-05-11T16:33:00.000-10:00

I had the pleasure of meeting Kristin Kato of A Cake Life a couple of days ago and we quickly bonded over the creative outlets that our respective businesses provide, the wonderful world of blogging, and our personal design styles. (I'll wait to share more about Kristin because her talent and artistry deserves an entry of its own!)

At some point during our conversation, I brought out my paper swatch books and I told her that I wished that more of my clients felt comfortable using prints and patterns versus the solid cardstock that most of them select for their wedding stationery. It wasn't until I was updating my production schedule today that I remembered that I have three jobs coming up that will indulge my pattern obsession!

This first pattern has a tropical feel, but I love that the leafy outlines are thin and not overpowering. For me, it represents that "tropical elegance" that's sometimes hard to capture.

Purple is definitely a "hot" color this season and I can't wait to complete my pocketfold invitations using this deep purple brocade pattern. The interior invitation will feature text only so as not to compete with the intricate design.

The third pattern is a lovely pairing of aquamarine and Tiffany blue. I love that each individual element of this pattern could be a beautiful embellishment on its own. Altogether, the print is simply gorgeous.

Join me in my quest to give prints and patterns the attention they deserve!

Hawaii Bride & Groom - Spring/Summer 2011

2011-05-10T10:08:00.000-10:00

The Spring/Summer 2011 issue of Hawaii Bride & Groom magazine is hitting newsstands now!

I was excited to collaborate with several amazingly talented wedding pros for an editorial feature photographed at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Here are a few sneak peeks:

Finally changed out my ad, too! Special thanks to Kris Labang Photography for shooting the photo of this custom program.

View the latest issue of Hawaii Bride & Groom online here.

She made me drink soup

2011-05-08T10:16:00.000-10:00

As a kid, I hated soup for whatever reason. So, on those fateful nights when I saw the soup pot on the stove, I would cry. I cried so hard and so long that my mother would give me a time-out...although, in those days no one called them time-outs. While I sat alone feeling sorry for myself, I could hear my parents and two older brothers in the kitchen -- talking, laughing, murmuring about the little girl crying in the hallway and her odd hatred of soup. When my time-out was over, I was allowed to return to the table. Would my mom make me a bologna and cheese sandwich instead? Or maybe my beloved musubi with ume? Nope. I got a bowl of fill-in-the-blank soup (that was once hot and steaming, but was now lukewarm) just like everyone else. Defeated, I drank it. The ironic thing is that my mom is a really good cook and I really can't pinpoint any particular reason for these soup tantrums. I chalk it up to just one of those puzzling mysteries about kids that has no rhyme or reason.

I'm happy to say that my soup aversion is no longer and, in fact, I love my mom's soup. Frozen ziploc bags of Portuguese bean soup were part of my care package when I moved away from Hawaii for the first time. Homemade chicken soup is still her go-to remedy when any of us feels a cold coming on...doesn't matter that her kids are not "kids" anymore and have all flown the nest. For me, my mom's soup equals love and I'll take an extra bowl of that any day.

Happy Mother's Day...

Up, up, and away

2011-05-06T11:01:00.000-10:00

Sad, but true fact: a lot of my design ideas will hit the cutting room floor before seeing the light of day. I suppose it's just the nature of this job, having to come up with several concepts for each client and holding my breath while they pick one and reject the others. Most of the time, I can accurately predict which design they'll pick, but I often throw in an extra design as a "curve ball" of sorts - something a little different, something that speaks more loudly to my own interpretation of their wedding style, something that they didn't ask for but might be willing to consider once they see it fleshed out on paper.

Someone contacted me a few weeks ago inquiring about custom invitations for her son's first birthday party. The theme of the party was inspired by the Disney/Pixar movie UP and she was having a difficult time finding suitable invitations. I loved the movie, loved her theme, and loved the possibility of designing something so fun and youthful. We exchanged a couple of emails, I sent her my proposal, she approved it, and we were just about to start the design process...and then...she found out that her sister-in-law had already taken care of the invitations and was planning to surprise her with it! That meant a lost order for me (which was unfortunate but totally understandable), but even worse, the UP design was stuck in my mind for days! I realized that I needed to move forward with the design to remedy the visions of balloons dancing in my head. This is what I came up with:

I envisioned putting the client's last name on the mailbox fronting the house, and adding a few wayward balloons to the rsvp card...maybe even a single balloon on the mailing envelope. If I'm lucky, this design will find its way into the hands of another client one day and be saved from obscurity!

Help us help you

2011-05-05T09:15:00.000-10:00

When I'm meeting with my clients for the first time, I can normally size them up pretty quickly and assign them to one of three categories after a few minutes of discussion:

1) I HAVE A CLEAR VISION, PLEASE EXECUTE IT FOR ME.
This client knows exactly what they want from distinct color, to style, to specific fonts. They've labored over all the details and may have even put together a mock-up of the design themselves. Little time is wasted in making decisions

2) I KNOW WHAT I LIKE AND DON'T LIKE, PLEASE HELP ME TRANSLATE THIS.

This client may come in with magazine tear sheets, fabric swatches, images of different invitation styles that they've collected off the internet. They have a general idea of the design direction they'd like to go in, but need guidance in how to pull it all together.

3) I HAVE MY COLORS PICKED OUT. THAT'S IT. PLEASE HELP ME...I'M BEGGING YOU

This client wants an overview of every option that's available. They're not sure if they want something simple or something elaborate. They appreciate a slow and steady approach in which they can see lots of samples in hopes that something will spark the perfect inspiration.

Honestly, I don't prefer one type of client over the other. I enjoy quick and efficient consultations with my "clear vision" clients just as much as I enjoy the challenge of helping couples discover their personal style preferences. It's all good. But what makes it even better is when my clients are open to suggestions and can benefit from my experience or knowledge. For example, maybe your dream invitation includes a beautiful satin bow wrapped around the outside sleeve but you don't realize that this will add bulk and require additional postage. Or maybe you're having a plated dinner and never thought to include menu options on your response cards.

You can't possibly be expected to know all the ins and outs of invitations, or anything wedding-related for that matter, but that's what you should rely on the professionals for. Allow them to guide you, offer their expertise, and you can reap the benefits from their years of experience and knowledge. Relieve the pressure to know all, do all, control all. Help us help you.

And in my own personal attempt to not do all and control all, I've decided to give my coffee maker more control in my daily life. For the first time, I set up the auto brew function and came downstairs this morning to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. I never trusted it to actually come through for me like this, but that's part of own silly control issues hard at work. Yeah, anyway...

My shining moment

2011-05-03T09:53:00.000-10:00

The power went out last night at around dusk just as I was beginning assembly on an invitation order that needed to be completed for a shipment going out today. I scrambled to reposition my work table directly in front of the window to soak up the last bit of daylight, but ultimately succumbed to using a single flashlight to finish up the job. I thought about digging out my hiking headlamp but then the lights went back on. I had exactly two invitations left to assemble. Naturally.

Surprise shower for someone, sometime, somewhere

2011-05-02T11:34:00.000-10:00

Completed an order for bridal shower invitations last week and was thrilled with how they turned out! They were the perfect, petite-sized invitations with rich, vibrant colors celebrating the bride-to-be and her upcoming nuptials. I only wish I could post a complete photo of it...but it's a surprise shower and I'd hate to be the party pooper who spoils the excitement. This close-up shot will have to do for now!

Brown paper packages tied up with...NOPE

2011-04-28T06:08:00.002-10:00

Here's a sneak peek of two new favor boxes that we'll be showing at this weekend's expo. The gable box on the left is truly a classic style and if you finish it with a pretty satin ribbon tie, your favors will most definitely add that special touch to your table decor. While I love the look of the gable box and its functional elegance, I have MAD love for the chair box shown on the right! Arrange all of the boxes on the reception table and they'll serve double duty as escort cards. Invite your guests to "take their seat" as they pick up their boxes on the way to their assigned tables. Or, if you prefer to set the boxes at each place setting, they can serve as place cards. I appreciate cool, multifunctional pieces and this is one of my favorites!

You can check out our new collection of favor boxes here (prices and ordering info coming soon!).

And a brief word about these favor boxes. Until now, I offered just a few box styles but after a serendipitous meeting with a fellow designer, we both realized the potential of partnering up and pooling our resources...thus, I'm thrilled to be able to offer more of what my clients have been asking for all these years!

Wedding Expo this weekend!

2011-04-27T06:30:00.002-10:00

Head over to the Hawaii Convention Center this weekend and check out the Hawaii World Class Wedding Expo!

Friday, April 29
6:00pm - 10:00pm
Fashion show @ 7:30pm

Saturday, April 30
11:00am - 5:00pm
Fashion show @ 2:30pm

Admission is $8.00 at the door.

Stop by the Emi Ink booth for a special sneak preview of a new invitation that we're working on and get a first look at our favor box collection!

Silence, please...

2011-04-26T10:28:00.000-10:00

Mark your calendars for the TWC Gives Back Silent Auction on May 4, 2011. Starting at 6:30pm, you can bid on prize packages and services donated by vendors of The Wedding Cafe with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross in a continued effort to help those in need following the Japan disaster. Visit TWC's website where you can download a complete list of auction items. Emi Ink will be donating a $500 gift certificate good towards custom wedding invitations.

Ears and all...

2011-04-20T12:32:00.000-10:00

I produced mailing labels for one of my brides this week and had to pause and smile for a second when I came across this address:

Other notable invitees were President and Mrs. Obama! I remember when I was planning my own wedding, I read on a wedding forum that you could send an invitation to Pennsylvania Avenue and receive a congratulatory greeting from the White House. I never got around to mailing an invitation to the president, but that would have been a fun keepsake to add to my (yet-to-be-designed) wedding scrapbook!

Back to the drawing board

2011-04-19T14:10:00.000-10:00

About a month ago I started working with a bride on Kauai who had an interesting vision for her invitations. While I can't reveal the finished invitation til after the wedding, I can share one design element that was very important to the bride. She requested that blue jade flowers be the main focal point and sent me half a dozen photos for inspiration. This image shows the original photo that I referenced, and the original illustration that resulted from it. To incorporate all the elements that the bride requested, I took a little bit of artistic license with the flower and gave it a green stem to match the green vines that were cascading down the side of her invitation.

It was a challenging design both creatively and logistically since we were on an extremely tight timeline, but I think my bride will be happy with her vision come to life!

Playing tag

2011-04-12T13:09:00.000-10:00

Another favor tag order out the door this morning and handed off to Menehune Mac. Delicate branch of cherry blossoms, kissed with a single Swarovski crystal.

Postal rates going up on April 17, 2011

2011-04-07T10:06:00.000-10:00

Dear USPS,

You are the bane of my existence...yet without you, I would be nothing. For months you taunt me with rumors of rate hikes, then tease me with the possibility of stable and unchanging rates, and then slay me with confirmation of said rate hikes during the peak gotta-mail-invitations-now-for-all-the-summer-weddings season. I know that I'm at your mercy, but you can't make me love you.

Signed,

A begrudgingly faithful stationery designer

Ok, enough melodramatic stuff. Take note of this date, people: April 17, 2011. Postal rates ARE going up on this day, and you can read up on all the changes at the USPS website here. Personally, I dislike wading through mountains of information and found this handy table which outlines the stuff that I'm most interested in as these are the common weights/prices I encounter in mailing out event stationery.

via Endicia.com

If you're in doubt about anything having to do with mailing your pretty little invites, head to your local post office and ask away. Better to ask the experts than deal with a mailing or postage snafu.

Blingin' again

2011-04-05T18:43:00.000-10:00

Just blinged out these lovelies that are headed overseas for a summer wedding in Sweden. Oh, how I wish I could slip into an A7 envelope and hitch a ride for an impromptu European vacation!

Simple pleasures

2011-04-04T17:51:00.000-10:00

There's something about seeing all these pretty ribbons hanging in my studio that makes me so happy.

Just got my hands on hundreds of double-faced satin, organdy, grosgrain and dupioni silk ribbon samples in every color under the sun. If you're looking for a particular color or width for your wedding stationery or favors, please send an inquiry to emi@emiink.com.

Please take your seat

2011-04-01T10:03:00.001-10:00

Escort cards are a common way to let your guests know where they are seated. Whether they're designed as flat or tent fold cards, lined up neatly on your registration table or hanging from manzanita branches with pretty organza ribbon, escort cards are something tangible that your guests can pick up and carry to their assigned tables.

Another option is a large seating chart that you can set up on an easel next to your registration table. Here's a recent piece that we created for a bride and groom that incorporated one of their engagement photos, with alphabetized guest names and assigned table numbers.

And here's some food for thought...

FOR ESCORT CARDS:

Instead of printing the table number directly on the escort card, just leave a blank space where you can fill this in by hand 1-2 days before the wedding.This option provides you with the highest level of flexibility and you can move guests around to your heart's content...until you put pen to paper.
Always produce extra blank cards...you just never know if you'll need them.
Think about how you will be displaying your cards. Will they be protected by the elements (i.e. rain, wind)? Find a way to secure your cards if you're at an outdoor venue. There are lots of creative options to consider...think outside the box!
If you make changes to your table assignments, it MAY be easier (and cheaper!) to reprint a few escort cards than to reprint a large seating chart.

FOR SEATING CHARTS:

The size of your seating chart should ultimately be determined by the number of names you're printing. The chart pictured above measured 24" x 18" and included just under 100 names.
If your headcount is substantial, consider printing two seating charts to avoid congestion with lots of guests crowding around a single chart.
Proof your seating chart. Have someone else proof your seating chart. Ask a third person to proof your seating chart. It's worth it to have a thorough review process if it'll prevent you from having to reprint it.

And because it bears repeating, YOU WILL HAVE UNEXPECTED CHANGES TO YOUR TABLE ASSIGNMENTS. Unfortunately, this is an inevitable part of the planning process so you'll be better off just coming to terms with that now so you're not blindsided with it in the busy weeks leading up to your wedding. I can't even count how many times I've had clients send me frantic emails asking if it was too late to make revisions to their printed pieces just a few days before the wedding. It's stressful, it's inconvenient, it just downright sucks...but it's ok, it happens to everyone, and it's not uncommon. Daily affirmation...done.

Love, Romance and Street Fighter?

2011-03-30T18:15:00.000-10:00

If you know who E. Honda, Blanka and Chun Li are, I'm guessing either you or your significant other is a Street Fighter fan. I had the unexpected pleasure of being schooled in Street Fighter characters when I created custom stationery pieces for a bride and groom for their out-of-the-box wedding celebration.

Beginning with the couple's invitation, I designed a simple Street Fighter-inspired power bar featuring the names of the bride and groom (as opposing players), wedding date, and a single white heart and red infinity symbol to complete the look. The tag was attached to a wraparound belly band that easily slid off the pale gold pocketfold.

The interior of the invitation is where we mixed it up a bit. The couple's wedding coordinator, Mona Hirata of Weddings by Grace and Mona, suggested that we find a way to reflect the bride/groom's medical profession. This is what transpired:

I have fun designing all of my clients' invitations, but this particular invitation was SO much fun! It's hard to make out the details in the photo, but in the yellow section off to the right, I included cute little warnings like "Do Not Read While Intoxicated" and "May Cause Excessive Happiness." With the main invitation designed as a prescription label, it only made sense to design the response card to look like a doctor's prescription.

For the ceremony, I designed reserved seating cards and programs that incorporated the wedding colors of gold and deep red. For the reception, well, this is where things got crazy! Traditional table numbers were swapped for fancier cards featuring different Street Fighter characters. Allow me to introduce you to dear, sweet Blanka:

These images were taken from the custom bar menu that I designed for their signature cocktails:

The groom supplied the character images and I was given the freedom to interpret the rest of the design in anyway I wanted. What a gift to be given carte blanche on this fun job! The last piece I produced for the wedding involved printing the same powerbar from the invitation, but as an oversized 6-ft foamcore sign. It hung inside the reception room as the backdrop to the couple's Street Fighter tournament. Yup, that's right...video games, large screens, tons of fun. I didn't get to see the giant sign in person as it went directly from the printshop to the hotel, but I'm sure it was the perfect finishing touch for this awesome wedding!

Ocean inspiration

2011-03-29T17:28:00.000-10:00

Back in December I received an email inquiry from a bride who wanted to incorporate a painting by a local Kailua artist into her wedding invitation. I asked her to send me the link to the artist's website and instantly fell in love with the gorgeous print that she had in mind:

"Ebb and Flow" by Colin Redican

We had a tight production timeline so I had the bride contact the artist, Colin Redican, right away to seek permission to reprint. A day later, I forwarded a copy of the invitation mock-up for his review and with his swift approval, printing was underway! The couple's beachside wedding and affinity for the ocean was reflected perfectly in this beautiful print.

I'll have a sample of this custom oversized 7"x7" invitation on display in the Emi Ink booth at the Hawaii Wedding Expo (April 29-30 @ the Hawaii Convention Center).

A little aloha for Japan

2011-03-26T16:57:00.031-10:00

So much can happen in a month's time. A few weeks ago, I started a mental log of all the wonderful things I wanted to blog about. Unusual design inspirations, cool clients, fun events happening about town. I had so much to say, but I was waiting for the perfect moment to catch my breath before I could put pen to paper.

Then news came of the Japan earthquake and devastating tsunami. Although most of us in Hawaii were able to count our blessings in those early morning hours, our hearts went out to all those suffering in Japan. The personal stories of tragedy and triumph across the Pacific have inspired an outpouring of sympathy and charitable contributions. Every donation, small and large, can make a difference and in an effort to aid in Japan's recovery, Emi Ink will be donating 5% of all orders booked throughout the month of April to the Aloha for Japan campaign.

To my faithful readers, I encourage you to help in anyway you can. If not with a monetary donation, then with a prayer of support. And to our friends in Japan, 頑張って!

Damask favor wraps

2011-02-21T14:44:00.000-10:00

350 black and white damask favor wraps hot off the presses and ready to be slipped onto Menehune Mac chocolates...yum.

Can you hear it?

2011-02-17T11:59:00.000-10:00

It started as a low rumbling at first, then it got louder and more resonant, like a pack of wildebeests stampeding across the plain. It's the excited murmurs among Anthropologie addicts celebrating the store's official launch of their wedding collection, BHLDN. To say the least, it was highly anticipated and long overdue.

I've been asked on numerous occasions where brides can look for inspiration for their invitations or wedding decor. This, my dear readers, is what would inspire me:

happy valentine's day!

2011-02-14T15:26:00.000-10:00

Hardy (and hearty!)

2011-02-10T15:08:00.001-10:00

Worked on a big project last week. Really big. My normal canvas of choice measures 5" x 7", but my latest project came in at a whopping 4 feet by 6 feet. Here's the story of how it came to be.

PREFACE
A couple of weeks ago, I chatted with Mona Hirata of Weddings by Grace and Mona about her upcoming workshop @ The Wedding Cafe. Mona had an idea for her table and asked if I could help her execute it. Now, the one thing I can always count on happening during any meeting with Mona is that she'll challenge me as a designer. This was no exception.

CHAPTER 1: Mona's BIG Idea
A 4-ft x 6-ft foam core board that would hang from the pipe and drape behind her table. She referred me to a couple of Ed Hardy prints as inspiration and wanted something to pop against the black drape and linen. Mona envisioned a vine with three large roses in purple, pink, and red...and, uh, no thorns and no dripping blood, please. Turnaround on design and printing would have to be QUICK, QUICK, QUICK as she would then turn the board over to Jae Yoo at My Florist for embellishment.

CHAPTER 2: The Basics
Here's the initial concept as I sketched it out during our meeting:

CHAPTER 3: This Is Gonna Be HUGE
We quickly realized that a piece this large with only three flowers would mean a lot of empty white space. Normally, I love white space but the first design concept looked too bare, too simple.

CHAPTER 4: Less Is More...Unless It's Not Enough
With 24 square feet of space to fill up, the first thing I did was add some leaves. The vine needed a little more life, too. Added in some curly cues here and there, a few more roses, and a few more colors.

CHAPTER 5: Off To Print And A Tiny Hiccup
A few rounds of revisions, and the design was approved for print. Successfully submitted my artwork and got it in the print queue. Delivering a piece this large proved to be a challenge for the print shop,though, so we arranged to have Jae (aka florist extraordinaire) pick up the piece in his van. Small hiccup, no biggie.

CHAPTER 6: If I Can't See It, It Doesn't Exist
It's hard for a designer to produce something and not see the finished piece. The turnaround at the print shop was less than 24 hours (yippee!) and since Jae picked up the piece himself, I didn't get to see what the board looked like. Were the colors right? Did they put the grommets in the right place? Did it have the glossy finish that I asked for? I had to hope for the best and wait patiently while Jae performed his magic.

CHAPTER 7: Success!
Here is the finished product with a happy Mona standing next to it:

And a close-up shot of the crystals that Jae laboriously added to each and every petal. Amazing...

CHAPTER 8: Oh, There's More?

In addition to producing this larger than life display board, Mona asked me to create a suite of custom stationery to hand out as prize giveaways during the workshop. To my delight, she gave me carte blanche to come up with something fabulous.

The first set came in a silk portfolio embellished with a large crystal buckle on the front:

Tucked into the interior portfolio pockets were four color-coordinated notecards with smaller rhinestone buckles and Swarovski crystals.

The second stationery set included ten notecards with hot pink and clear Swarovski crystals, pearl metallic envelopes, and a chocolate brown silk pouch.

The final set included pretty floral patterned cards with one super fancy showcase piece finished with a fabric flower and feathers...all housed in a flip-top silk box.

EPILOGUE

I love it when I'm afforded the opportunity to flex my design muscles a bit. I love it even more when I can collaborate with talented individuals and breathe life into someone's fantastic vision. Thanks, Mona!

Photos courtesy of Kris Labang Photography

Last words about the expo

2011-02-04T11:03:00.000-10:00

Almost forgot to post this photo from the Hawaii Bride and Groom Booth at the Bridal Expo. The beautiful florals were designed by Su-V Expressions and the linens, chair covers and napkins were provided by Les Saisons.

To complement the pewter gray linen, I designed this menu card (inspired by one of our new invitation designs):

In collaborating with other wedding vendors, I always get a Project Runway "group challenge" vibe. We're each working on our own designs and hope that in the end we'll come up with something cohesive that brings our shared vision to life.

I'm contributing stationery items for a photo shoot next week and am, again, crossing my fingers that my pieces will mesh with the designs envisioned by the talented florists that I'm working with! More to come on that later...

Proof it. Proof it good.

2011-02-02T10:04:00.002-10:00

There's nothing more frustrating than having to reprint a job because of a typo. Reprinting, for any reason, incurs extra time and cost...the very thing that brides and grooms want desperately to avoid.

I always urge my clients to have a parent or friend review their proofs because sometimes a fresh pair of eyes will catch something they didn't. Maybe the ceremony start time is off by an hour, maybe the reception venue address is missing a number, maybe the RSVP deadline is two weeks too late???

I've got a handful of invitation orders in the queue that are all in the proofing stage and I'm beginning to sound like a broken record: "Check the spelling of names, confirm addresses, times, dates...and then check it again!" If you mispell your future mother-in-law's name, you'll never hear the end of it. You've been warned.

Once your invitations are in the hands of your guests, any error that was overlooked can't easily be fixed. Take another ten minutes and go over your wording carefully, it's worth it.

Note: This post is dedicated to my own personal proofreader who never fails to catch my typos in this blog, which I THOUGHT were few and far between. Apparently not. Thanks, Mom.

Sink or swim? She swam!

2011-01-28T09:36:00.000-10:00

Meet Jessica. I call her the "chosen one."

For the record, she chose me...and I'm so thankful that she did! At the time that her short and sweet email inquiry appeared in my inbox, I wasn't sure if I was ready to bring on an intern. I played out different scenarios in my head, weighed the pros and cons, and ultimately went with my what-the-heck gut feeling.

If you visited my booth at the Hawaii Bridal Expo, you may have met Jessica. It was her first show and after arming her with a short list of FAQs to study a few weeks earlier, I threw her into the bride-infested waters of a busy show (much busier than I had anticipated!). It was sink or swim time and Jess freestyled her way through three days of wedding mania with absolute style and grace.

I don't underestimate my good fortune in having an intern whose passion for paper may very well surpass my own. Her crafty talents also crossover into the jewelry world and she's working towards the launch of her own web site while juggling a full class schedule.

But, the one person who may appreciate Jess even more than me? My husband. With Jess assisting me at the expo my husband had the house to himself most of the weekend to do manly man things. For the first time in five years, he didn't need to be my wingman and he l-o-v-e-d it. Needless to say, Jess is a popular person in my house and a wonderful addition to Emi Ink!

The rose(s) and the thorn

2011-01-27T13:49:00.000-10:00

I'm channelling President Obama today and picking out the rose and the thorn from last weekend's expo. Good news is that it's impossible for me to pick just one rose, since I was blessed with so many in the span of three short days. I'll blog about the biggest bloom in a separate post, but for now here are some of my favorite roses:

#1: My linen fairy came to the rescue again and dressed my tables in gorgeous blush pink linen and beaded overlays. I wanted something feminine and flirty, and was over-the-moon happy with the overall look. Need table linens or chair covers? Contact Naomi Lee @ Les Saisons and she'll hook you up with something beautiful.

#2: Just before the holidays, I discovered Bit of Sugar at a local craft fair. Thought their deco jewelry and accessories were so adorable and made it a point to file away their business card for future gift ideas. Few weeks after that, I read Melissa Chang's blog on Nonstop Honolulu and saw a photo of their miniature wedding cakes that could double as place card holders...*click*...lightbulb moment. Lost no time in contacting company owners Lei and Brad, and asked if they might be interested in designing a few custom cakes for me. Sent them some rough design concepts for my place cards along with color schemes, and this is what they came up with:

"Lovebirds" place card in Tiffany blue and red

"Amelie" place card in black and white

"Kathryn" cherry blossom place card in tourmaline and fuchsia

Prices for the cakes shown above range from $8-12, but Bit of Sugar is also happy to work with your budget and custom design specs. A big mahalo to Lei and Brad for the lovely cakes (and a shout out to Stacey Lee of Stacey Lee Designs for introducing me to their work!).

#3: Ah, rose #3 is a big one, but I can't really take credit for it. I planned on creating a display board to show off our favor box line and our custom designed favor tags. I knew exactly where I wanted to position the board, but had no idea that directly across the aisle would be my friends at Menehune Mac! I've been designing custom favor tags and wrappers for Menehune Mac for about a year now and it truly was serendipitous that I could take advantage of their favor display and they could bring customers over to look at paper swatches. Not to mention, Susan and Jana are just a joy to be around!

#4: I may be the only one who appreciates this rose, but the fact that no one tried to pull on or tug at my plexiglass display was a GOOD THING. I've had the display for many years and have considered removing it because of the time involved in setting it up, but brides really like seeing everything at a glance.

#5: The thorn. In retrospect, this isn't such a huge thing, but maybe if I get it off my chest and release it out into the "interweb," I can just let it go. So, in the booth photo at the top of this post, the #5 marker is sitting just to the right of a large, 6" x 9" invitation. I printed the text on a really pretty pale gold metallic cover stock, covered the top third of the invitation in a pale pink cherry blossom print washi paper, and finished it with a special trim using a basket weave material that I purchased in Japan. It was (was, as in past tense) a sample that I created especially for my booth display because I LOVED the washi paper print (another material purchased in Japan) and I've had a lot of clients asking for really large invitations recently. Anyway, at some point on Sunday, this oversized, not-so-subtle invitation walked away from my booth. Maybe it left me in search of cake samples? I'd hate to think that someone swiped it...and what would someone do with ONE invitation, anyway? Maybe someone picked it up inadvertently and dropped it into their swag bag. I'm hoping that's the case so that this thorn won't be so "thorny."

Tomorrow, I'll wrap up the week with a post on my biggest rose of the expo. Here's a hint, her name starts with a "J"...and ends with a "essica."

I see your true colors

2011-01-25T10:28:00.001-10:00

New color swatches are up on our site! Check them out here.

And if you want your own pretty sample set of all these lovely colors, shoot us an email (emi@emiink.com) for ordering info. The mini swatch decks are $20 + tax. If we get at least ten orders, free shipping for all!

It's a wrap!

2011-01-24T10:31:00.001-10:00

What a great show! Thanks to all who stopped by the booth and checked out our designs. So happy with the great reaction we've been getting to our 2011 Spring Collection. Can't wait to release these new kids on the block out into the world and into your guests' mailboxes!

We've added most of our new designs to the site (late last night) and while emiink.com is still in its transitional stage, we hope that you'll keep coming back to see all the changes we're working on.

More expo pics later this week!

Showtime!

2011-01-19T23:47:00.001-10:00

I'm working at a feverish pace as I prep for this weekend's Bridal Expo! I've been wanting to change things up a bit in my booth for quite a while now, and finally decided that I just had to MAKE IT HAPPEN already. Hoping for a good turnout and am looking forward to meeting all the newly engaged brides/grooms. I know you're out there, the holidays are such a romantic time for so many of you!

Here are the details:

What: Hawaii Bridal Expo
Where: Neal Blaisdell Center
When: 1/21 (5:30-10:00pm); 1/22 (10:30am-5:00pm); 1/23 (10:30am-4:00pm)
Admission: $9.00 (arrive by noon and get a 2-for-1 admission coupon)

And if you can't make it this weekend, here's a little sneak peek of some of our new 2011 Spring Collection:

"Daphne"

"Amelie"

"Sophia"

I should have these newbies, and a whole lot more, added to my web site in a matter of days. The entire site design overhaul is proving to be a massive job as expected so I'm making do for now!

2011-01-03T11:50:00.000-10:00

Day three of the new year and I definitely hit the ground running.

With less than three weeks to go til the Bridal Expo, I've got new samples to print, albums to assemble, booth displays to design...and a website that needs a MAJOR overhaul. I may have to schedule in time to breathe, which is why I chose the photo above to ring in the new year. It was taken during a camping trip last year and looking at it reminds me that in the midst of chaos, it's important to take a step back and reflect on all that is good, all that nourishes my soul, all that centers me.

. . .

And now, back to running.

goodbye 2010

2010-12-31T01:01:00.002-10:00

My fingers are itching to turn the page of my calendar. New year, blank slate, fresh start.

I've been blessed with so many good things this year, but, truth be told, they've been tempered by some pretty trying times. I don't care what anyone else says, I'm convinced that Mercury was in retrograde for the past 365 days...not that I believe in astrology, but I'm desperately looking for a scapegoat here. The bright spots of 2010 were very bright, blinding even. Example: Traveling with my husband was so much fun that it really should be one of Oprah's Favorite Things... if only Oprah knew my husband and was remotely interested in vacationing with him. The low points of 2010 were heartbreaking and tested the limits of my inner strength and faith. They proved to be yet another life lesson that disguised itself as an emotional cha-cha...one step forward, two steps back.

But I have big plans for the coming year, both personally and professionally. I'm exhausted from working straight through the holidays, but the old familiar feelings of motivation, inspiration and determination have started peeking through the clouds and I'm warmed by their rays of hope.

Yoo-hoo, 2011...I'm ready for you.

Wishing you all a joyful and prosperous new year!

2010-12-20T20:27:00.001-10:00

I'm still in denial that Christmas is a mere five days away. Just gonna keep my head down and lay low...maybe even close my eyes for a bit, because if I don't see it, it won't see me. And I won't even address my six week absence from blog land because, again, I'm in denial.

Although the winter months aren't traditionally known as peak wedding season, many stationers are facing busy production schedules and a barrage of deadlines as they ramp up for their spring 2011 weddings. I have some fun projects to keep me busy over the holidays and I can't wait to share them. Also reserving some time to train my new intern and am over-the-moon excited to have some help!

Will try to check in before the end of the year. In the meantime, Happy Holidays to all!

Gold + smelly + Chin Ho Kelly

2010-11-10T14:16:00.000-10:00

It's hard to go wrong when you're working with paper as stunning as this:

I'm working on custom stationery pieces for a wedding taking place in just over a week. From menu cards to programs to place cards and guest itineraries, my studio is filled with neat piles of trimmed card stock and the pretty gold embossed floral paper shown above.

The one challenge in working with this thick embossed paper is that it requires heavy duty adhesive since traditional tapes and glues just don't work. Earlier this week, I spent a good number of hours prepping my materials and trying hard not to inhale all the fumes, while a concerned Chin Ho Kelly (aka Daniel Dae Kim from Hawaii 5-0) kept a watchful eye on me.

Stay tuned for pics of the finished projects!

Calligraphy (for the modern DIY woman)

2010-11-05T13:37:00.000-10:00

Just finished up some elegant place cards for one of my November brides. She had originally planned on having the cards written out by a professional calligrapher, but ultimately opted for an alternate printing method to save on cost and time. Traditional calligraphy, when done right, is a truly beautiful artform, but not everyone has the means to hire a calligrapher to personalize their custom stationery pieces.

If you're looking to tackle some of your own printing jobs at home, search for script fonts that are tagged with words like "calligraphy" or "ornamental." For a fancier touch, look for fonts with swashes (letters with extra flourishes or decorative strokes). I tend to keep other design elements pretty simple when working with ornamental fonts so the focus is on the words themselves...less is more!

Politics, shmolitics

2010-11-03T11:59:00.001-10:00

This blog has been helpful to some, entertaining to others, sometimes fun, sometimes silly. It's been a mish-mash of wedding + paper + food + travel + everyday ordinary things that occupy my days. The one thing it's never been is political. I've never divulged my political leanings, not because I don't have opinions on the matters at hand, because I do. It's just that aligning myself wholeheartedly to one political party or another just never sat right with me. And maybe it's my marketing background that contributes to my skepticism when it comes to slick (and sometimes downright dirty) ad campaigns.

This election was different for me, though. My cousin, Aaron, ran for the State House. I had planned on watching the election results from my comfy couch, but with a last-minute change of plans, I found myself sitting in a roomful of spirited Republicans instead. It was interesting to witness everyone's reactions as the first results rolled in. Aiona/Finnegan....trailing. Djou...trailing. Race after race, the Democrats held strong leads in the majority of the races. And then, State House District 32: Johanson...leading.

Second printout of the night: Johanson...leading.

Final printout of the night: Johanson...wins.

I'm so proud of my cousin, everything he's accomplished, and more importantly, the kind of man that he grew up to be. At least a few times during his campaign, I wondered to myself if he was too good-natured, too kind, too honest to be a politician? But his true desire and passion for serving the people in his community was undeniable. And Aaron knew that the best way to serve the people was to be elected into office.

District 32...you lucky ducks. Congratulations, Aaron!

Smaller than a breadbox

2010-10-26T07:32:00.001-10:00

Sometimes I fall victim to clever marketing. It doesn't matter what the product is really...if it's strikes a certain this-is-a-cool-product-that-might-change-your-life chord with me, I'll buy it. Even if I don't need it. And a few days ago, the chord was struck and I purchased this:

It's marketed as the anti-bottle because it's not only reusable, it's foldable. When the "bottle" is not in use, you can roll it up all neat and tidy. I liked that it came with a color-coordinated caribiner and think it would be cool to use while traveling. I imagine it would be easy to slip into the seat pocket in front of you on planes and wouldn't be as awkward and bulky as traditional plastic water bottles. The biggest question I have is how easy it will be to keep clean. I'll have to take it for a test spin and see how it performs.

Don't know why I'm so obsessed with water bottles, but since this is an "anti-bottle" it doesn't really count, right? I'm just hoping that it will play nicely with my Nalgene, CamelBak and Sigg bottles already sitting on the shelf!

If you get sucked in by the marketing, too, you can purchase it locally on Oahu at Red Pineapple for $10.

Starting with...ending with

2010-10-25T09:55:00.000-10:00

My weekend was bookended with a surprise mimosa on Saturday morning at Kalapawai Cafe in Kailua, and a stunning sunset over Kaneohe Bay on Sunday evening. What happened in between was a blend of work and play with friends and family...oh, and a pumpkin massacre. A fun pumpkin-carving party with some friends turned ugly when somebody's husband (yes, mine) carved into his hand while slicing and dicing his pumpkin. Luckily, we were able to bandage him up and continue with our fun, but I can't say the same for the poor pumpkin. I made a last-ditch effort to save him (the pumpkin, not my husband), but I just couldn't breathe life back into him. A valiant sacrifice by such a brave pumpkin.

Mellow yellow

2010-10-21T14:51:00.000-10:00

It's been a busy week of client consultations, proposals, assembly, and paperwork and it's been challenging to find time to wear my designer hat. I can't really afford to have creative blocks, but when I do, I usually find that a 10-15 minute breather where I pull myself away from the computer does wonders. And if not, I have faith that something will trigger a burst of inspiration...something, like this:

Received samples of this lovely yellow floral cardstock in the mail today and can't wait to start on a mock-up for a special little project that someone inquired about. It's something that I've never designed in the 5+ years that I've been doing this, but I'm excited to give it a whirl and see what transpires. If all goes well, I'll post photos of the finished project. *fingers crossed*

Gray skies are gonna clear up...

2010-10-19T15:44:00.000-10:00

After I posted about my extra "gray" week yesterday, along comes this huge explosion of color today. It came in the form of a long overdue lunch with a girlfriend at Indigo restaurant:

I always tell myself not to let the buffet line servers overload my plate, but it's hard to resist all the brightly colored dishes. I ended up with a plate full of yumminess which filled me up pretty good. But then the waitress brought the dessert menu and I read the words,"Warm Soft Chocolate Cloud in High Heaven." Seriously, how can you NOT order something with the words "chocolate cloud" in it, let alone if it's in "high heaven?"

So, after a splitting a chocolate cloud and a plate full of fresh fruit with my girlfriend, I returned home vowing to not eat for the rest of the day. But just as I was taking my shoes off, I heard half a doorbell. It's funny, I just heard the "ding" and waited about ten seconds for the "dong" which never came, so I guess our bell is broken. Finally opened the door despite the missing "dong" and saw our neighbor's daughter holding a red velvet, Helly Kitty cupcake on a paper plate. It was her birthday and she wanted to spread the joy. So sweet, and lucky for me that birthday calories don't count (even when it's not MY birthday).

Thoroughly enjoyed my colorful Tuesday.

Shades of gray

2010-10-18T12:56:00.000-10:00

This is what my week looks like:

Some weeks are all about vibrant hues and pops of color. Not this one. Over the next five days, I'll be swimming in platinum, graphite, and gunmetal gray as I assemble stationery pieces for three lovely couples.

And in totally unrelated news, I caught a passing glimpse of Tim Gunn this weekend at Ala Moana Shopping Center. As I watched a large group of fans waiting to get an autograph and pose for a picture with him, my husband asked me if I wanted to take my place in line. I looked at Tim Gunn, decked out in a beautifully tailored suit, then looked down at my outfit. Looked back at Tim Gunn, then down at my outfit. Nope, I'd have to settle for admiring him from afar. Just couldn't bear to stand next to that impeccably dressed man while rocking my t-shirt and shorts and without a stitch of make-up on. I definitely could not make it work.

Favor box winner!

2010-10-13T11:20:00.003-10:00

Congratulations to Tori M., the winner of our favor box giveaway! Tori will be receiving 100 favor boxes in the style and color of her choice.

Thanks to all who entered our contest and be on the lookout for some special Fall offers!

Thanks for the support!

2010-10-11T13:14:00.000-10:00

Thanks to all who stopped by my booth this past weekend at the Wedding Expo! I love having the chance to meet potential new clients face-to-face. There's only so much that I display on my website or blog, and nothing beats the personal interaction where I can show brides the huge variety of color, design and paper options. It can sometimes be overwhelming, but hopefully not disappointing in anyway!

A last-minute decision prompted a favor box giveaway at my booth. I'll be picking a winner later today and the lucky bride will win 100 free favor boxes in the color of her choice. Fun!

Just another (10.10.10) day

2010-10-10T15:48:00.000-10:00

Custom sign-in sheets with orange/yellow color theme and pineapple design motif

It's a busy, busy weekend for a lot of my wedding industry friends! 10.10.10 has been looming on the horizon since, well, 09.09.09, and it happened to fall on the very same weekend as a popular wedding expo. For brides and grooms, selecting highly sought after dates like 10.10.10 takes a lot of tenacity and early planning since the demand for wedding vendors can be incredibly high.

As for next year's big dates? I'm already working with 9.10.11 and 11.11.11 couples who are well on their way to finalizing plans for their big days.

Wishing all of my 10.10.10 couples a lifetime of happiness!

Box it up

2010-10-07T16:53:00.000-10:00

Whew! A packed room of brides, eighty favor boxes, four rotations, one hour! It was speed crafting at its finest at last night's DIY Workshop. Loved the projects that my fellow crafty vendors came up with and was so happy that everyone seemed pleased with the favor box kits that I put together. I definitely had more time to chat with the brides this time around so I think I finally came up with the perfect project. This is the finished box that everyone assembled:

If you're an Oahu bride and need a little wedding fix this weekend, be sure to check out the Wedding Expo at the Hawaii Convention Center this weekend! Hours are Friday (6-10pm) and Saturday (10am-5pm). Would love to see you there!

Sweet sakura

2010-10-05T14:11:00.000-10:00

Just finished up an order of favor tags for Menehune Mac. Their clients ordered square tags in pearlescent white and gunmetal gray with blush pink cherry blossoms. Thought it would be interesting to take a couple of "before and after" shots...as in, before bling and after bling. Swarovski crystals aren't everyone's cup of tea, but it's always amazing to see what a difference these little sparkly guys can make.

One degree of separation

2010-10-04T15:56:00.000-10:00

A good day, for me, is sometimes defined by this:

"This" refers to a nondescript white paper bag that occasionally accompanies my husband home from work. Just the sight of this plain white bag makes my heart go pitter-patter. In its simplest form, this plain white bag holds the power to transform a ho-hum day into a fantastic day.

Behold, the contents of the plain white bag:

A recent favorite, a lovely orange creamsicle cupcake from Cake Couture. Normally, my cupcake of choice would involve chocolate or peanut butter or red velvet goodness, but my obsession with orange flavored anything continues.

When my husband changed jobs and I found out that his new office would be a stone's throw away from the Cake Couture shop, I had fantasies of working my way through their menu and sampling each cupcake flavor at least once (or twice). I quickly came to my senses, though, and have made peace with the fact that just because I CAN get a cupcake at anytime, doesn't mean I SHOULD. I can rest easy knowing that the degrees of separation between me and said cupcakes have dramatically decreased and in a cupcake emergency, my husband will have my back.

Two cents worth...

2010-10-03T23:18:00.000-10:00

Staying on top of postal regulations and rates is probably the least favorite part of my job - maybe because I'm often at the mercy of the post office and it's an area of my business that I have absolutely no control over.

A few weeks ago, I informed a roomful of brides and grooms that there was a proposal in the works for yet another postage rate hike expected to take effect in January 2011. I hated being the bearer of bad news, so I made sure that I did my homework, read up on the subject, even asked the postal clerk at my local post office about it...she said it was "pretty much a done deal." Tough decisions loomed on the horizon for many brides -- err on the side of caution and practicality and go with the obvious (yet not-so-chic) choice of Forever stamps? Cling to the fantasy of perfectly matched wedding stationery and purchase pretty Love stamps only to succumb to pairing them with unattractive two-cent stamps? So, the tough decisions weren't so earth-shattering, but in a bride's mind these things matter.

Well, I'm happy to say that the proposal was DENIED a few days ago and while another postage increase is inevitable, we won't have to worry about doling out an extra two cents for first class stamps in the next few months and some lucky brides will be able to send out their invitations without incident. Lucky girls.

I hate it when I'm wrong, but in this instance I'll happily eat my words.

Fold it, wrap it, glue it

2010-09-30T12:03:00.000-10:00

Less than a week to go until the DIY Workshop at The Wedding Cafe! This "speed crafting" night is always fun and definitely keeps me on my toes as I attempt to teach a project in ten minutes flat to four rotating groups of brides over the course of the evening. The key, I think, is keeping the project simple enough to demo without a lot of detailed instructions, yet universal enough that brides personalize it in their own way should they want to do something similar for their wedding.

The "ingredients" for my project this time around are shown above: 2" x 2" x 2" die-cut favor boxes, strips of washi paper and oh-so-sparkly rhinestone buckles. The only pieces not shown are the satin ribbons that go with the buckles.

Hope the project goes over well!

Design challenge!

2010-09-29T20:38:00.001-10:00

A cake artist, a cookie designer and a stationery designer walk into a bar...well, not exactly.

About a month ago, Sasha Reichart of cakelava contacted me with an opportunity to contribute a stationery design for a guest blogging gig she had coming up for Half Baked - The Cake Blog.

Sasha's husband, Rick (of recent Food Network Challenge fame!), had designed a stylish cake inspired by a fabric swatch provided by their clients. This same fabric swatch was the source of inspiration for the adorable cookies designed by Decadent Cookie Favours, and the invitation and place card designed by me. Click here to see what transpired. It's interesting to see how well everyone's designs meshed despite the fact that we worked independently of one another!

Thanks, Sasha, for inviting me to be a part of this fun design challenge!

Photo editing on the fly

2010-09-27T21:47:00.001-10:00

Downloaded the free version of the TiltShift Generator for my iPhone recently and finally had a chance to try it out while waiting for my latte order to be filled. On a side note, is it bad that I can no longer JUST STAND or JUST SIT for more than a minute without whipping out my phone to occupy me?

Anyway, here's the original photo that I took:

Then I performed a bit of TiltShift magic:

In all of thirty seconds, I had applied a radial blur with the edible book acting as my focal point, added a vignette effect, and increased the saturation. Fun stuff!

Benny and the Jets

2010-09-26T21:16:00.001-10:00

Got caught up in some work this morning and almost missed the Blue Angels performance this afternoon. Luckily, we were able to speed over to my old intermediate school and stake out a prime viewing spot on the grassy area, behind the buildings, overlooking Kaneohe Bay. We weren't the only ones with this brilliant idea, though. Lots of people were already there with beach blankets and folding chairs and...dogs. Lots and lots of dogs. So many dogs, in fact, that it resembled a dog park. This is where I met "Benny", a spunky Bichon mix that was more excited to mingle with his four-legged friends than take in all the action overhead. (By the way, I've changed Benny's name to protect his identity...Benny likes his privacy),

Here's Benny...

And, here's "The Jets"...

Wish I brought along my bigger camera, but at least I had my phone to snap a few shots. Loved the precision flying, loved reading the letters on the bottom of the jets as the flew over our heads, loved how my ears had to wait a few seconds to catch up to my eyes. (I know that there's a scientifically correct way to address the whole speed of sound thing, but I like thinking of my ears and eyes in a race, with my eyes actually winning one for a change.)

Great way to spend a "quiet" Sunday afternoon!

Color + Inspiration

2010-09-23T09:41:00.001-10:00

I don't ever seem to have enough downtime to check out the latest and greatest in wedding trends, but when I can steal a moment away from design/production, my "go to" resource is the mile-long list of blogs that I have in my Google Reader queue. It doesn't stop there, though. I start reading one blog, then click on a link to another blog, then another, and then before I know it, I've fully embarked on a fun version of leapfrog - er, leapblog?

Last week, I came across this fun blog and instantly knew the potential value to brides trying to figure out a possible color scheme for their weddings. It's The Perfect Palette, and the feature that I found most helpful was being able to click on a specific color (located in the left sidebar) and seeing multiple inspiration boards pop up that include that particular color. I clicked on "Plum" and zeroed in on this plum and pink color scheme complete with bridesmaid dresses, florals, and even a whimsical hairpiece. Lots of brides build their own inspiration boards based on magazine tear sheets or web site photos, but this might be good place to start for that extra inspiration!

Image from www.theperfectpalette.blogspot.com

And...scene!

2010-09-22T14:29:00.003-10:00

This was the final printed piece for my clients that were married earlier this month. I really enjoyed working on all of their custom stationery, but their thank you card design accented with Swarovski crystals, was definitely the cherry on top! I added a couple of flowers to the back of the folded card, too, for all those people who unfailingly flip cards over lookng for the Hallmark ID.

Island hopping...a quick respite

2010-09-21T16:16:00.005-10:00

I'm trying hard not to get bogged down by the tiniest of details that creep into every day. Consultations, proposals, design, research, etc. Also attempting to take on the role of "efficiency expert" in my own business...challenging, but necessary. Too bad that every time I want to point a finger at someone, that someone is me!

Already wishing that I was back here (my weekend getaway with the family back in July):

Loved seeing the larger than life sculptures on display at the Grand Wailea. The piece shown above is by Satoru Abe, the one below is by Esther Shimazu.

Had a really lovely stay at the hotel. My favorite memories were the morning walks through the grounds, lounging by the pool with Eat, Pray, Love in one hand and a blended mojito in the other, and sitting out on the lanai of our suite while desperately wishing I could freeze time.

We decided to limit our activities so we could fully enjoy the hotel amenities, but we did manage to squeeze in a few low-key things.

En route to Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm, I spotted this picturesque structure and had to snap a quick photo:

Of course, my camera was just getting warmed up for all the beauty at the farm. Both the protea and hydrangea blossoms were h-u-g-e!

And there was this little guy that was hanging around without a care in the world:

We hit up the Surfing Goat Dairy, too, and munched on a goat cheese sampler plate.

Ahh, counting down til my next vacay...

Tears of joy

2010-09-14T19:58:00.004-10:00

I've been looking into redesigning my online gallery and while I decide on the final format, I've been digging up some of my favorite past jobs.

This program, designed for a chic black and white affair, was a memorable one. The bride was looking for a classic style, nothing over-the-top, nothing too glitzy. I used a heavy matte white card stock and paired that with a double face satin ribbon. The interior pages were printed on a crisp white linen paper.

At the bride's request, I added an interior pocket to the back cover with the printed message, "Tears of Joy." Naturally, this was the perfect spot to slip in a single tissue for her guests. Adorable.

Workshop tomorrow!

2010-09-14T19:47:00.002-10:00

Gearing up for another invitations + favors workshop tomorrow night. Come on down to The Wedding Cafe at 6:30pm for an up close and personal session with me and my other designer friends. I'm bringing a small supply of those super cool invisible ink pens with me and will be selling them for $10.00ea. At the last workshop, the pens sold out in about two minutes flat!

I really enjoy this smaller, intimate workshop since I'm able to bring samples of some of the custom pieces that I've designed. It's hard to do a similar set-up at the larger wedding expos because I don't really like leaving too many one-of-a-kind pieces out on the table. Should be lots of fun tomorrow!

She liked it, she really liked it!

2010-09-03T13:30:00.003-10:00

As a follow up to this post earlier in the week, the display at The Wedding Cafe caught the eye of a lovely bride who happens to be getting married this weekend. We met for a consultation, referred to the table display a few times as a source of inspiration, and voila! Her suite of wedding stationery was born. It just so happened that the colors I used for my display pieces were the same colors of her wedding, and with just a few tweaks we came up with her invitation, table tents, escort cards and thank you cards.

The tentfold cards list the guests seated on each table:

We came up with "generic" escort cards on which the table numbers can be handwritten when the guests check in. Oftentimes, clients order personalized escort cards which includes the printed guest names, but these generic cards are a great option, too. They can be ordered ahead of time, even before you've collected the last of your RSVPs, and including a blank line for the table number means that any last-minute seating changes are a snap!

Happy wedding day, Marcy and Michael!

bridges, boardwalks, and brown butter cookies

2010-09-02T16:16:00.005-10:00

It's been quite awhile since I took a vacation during the summer. Normally, I'm a spring/fall/winter travel gal but couldn't resist the opportunity for a quick getaway with my husband this past June. Because of work commitments, we only had about 7 days to explore, relax and rejuvenate and ultimately decided on a mini road trip on the California coast.

We kicked off our trip by visiting with good friends (and the adorable addition to their family) in L.A. Being in the company of a little one meant lots of time spent at their apartment, ordering take-out, and taking short walks for ice cream and mango lassis. What a treat! Sadly, this kind of relaxing quality time with friends is a luxury these days and I loved every minute of this rare indulgence.

Two days into our trip, we had a lovely homecooked breakfast with our friends (by the way, Trader Joe's blueberry juice really is heaven in a glass), filled our gas tank, and hit the road. With our GPS mounted securely to the windshield, we headed north with no real plan. Lunch in Santa Barbara? Wine tasting? Nope, decided to switch it up and check out Solvang, the quaint Danish town that made an appearance in the movie, Sideways. I tried to see only the cute flower boxes and gaslamps without the throngs of tourists walking along the cobblestone sidewalks. I tried to get excited about eating ebelskivers in the shadow of a big windmill without feeling as if I had just entered Epcot Center. Eh, I couldn't really do it. Maybe next time I'll just pay a visit to the ostrich farm on the edge of town and call it a day.

While Solvang left much to be desired, I knew that our next stop would not disappoint. Back in December, a friend gave us a lovely gift of cookies from Brown Butter Cookie Company. The cookies were good. Really good. So good, that I made a mental note to order some cookies online...I've made a lot of online purchases before, but never cookies. That's how good they were. So, as luck would have it, Brown Butter Cookie Company is located in Cayucos, just a stone's throw from the main highway. It was one of the "must stop here" locations that I programmed into the GPS, and stop we did! Loaded up on cookies, enjoyed the smell of ocean air, and continued on our way to a B&B in Cambria.

Cambria, ahh lovely Cambria. Love the stretch of coastline that fronts the row of inns and B&Bs here. Love the long walks we took on this boardwalk. Love the tidepools and seals that we discovered when we veered off the boardwalk and made our way down to the beach. Is it odd that I can travel a couple thousand miles from my island home and still be enamored by the same beautiful ocean?

Our time in Cambria was too short, but I squeezed every drop of serenity I could from the time we spent there. And I knew the road ahead held lovely promises of its own.

This is NOT the much photographed Bixby Bridge that's included in every photo montage of Big Sur. It's Big Creek Bridge, just south of Bixby Bridge. It's smaller, doesn't have the same dramatic coastline backdrop for picture-taking, but I think it's just as beautiful. And I didn't have to jostle my way to edge of the mountain to get a good shot. Because I did that at Bixby Bridge and ended up with only one photo without someone's elbow in it...and all of them had cars in it. I think this bridge is perfect.

After leaving the rugged beauty of the Big Sur coastline, we stopped for a quick lunch of cinnamon rolls and calamari in Monterey, and made it to the Peninsula before the worst of the rush hour traffic. Spent some time visiting my old haunts in Mountain View and Palo Alto the next day, and went on an impromptu 15-mile bike ride along the bay.

Have always loved this long boardwalk at the Palo Alto Baylands Preserve and always make it a point to check it out.

We winded up our California adventure with a couple days in San Francisco where we ate our way through North Beach, Cow Hollow, and Sunset districts. Found some new loves in Hayes Valley this time around including Nancy Boy (am officially addicted to their signature scent to freshen up our home) and Miette (I think I could sustain myself on their Chocolate Fleur de Sel Caramels alone).

Love vacations.

And these guys...never get tired of seeing elephant seals and thought they deserved a mention:

Stationery on display

2010-08-31T12:12:00.000-10:00

Back in May, I teamed up with Naomi Lee of Les Saisons to create a table display at The Wedding Cafe. Truth be told, anytime I work with Naomi I tend to breathe a little easier because everything she touches results in something beautiful! For this set-up, she layered a luxurious embroidered linen on a satin magenta linen...and then...she bustled the magenta linen. It was the first time I had seen this done with table linen and the end result looked just like a pickup skirt on a couture wedding gown. With nothing but a handful of straight pins, she transformed the table into a work of art. Wish I had some nice wide angle shots of the entire table, but do have some close-up detail pics to share.

The "high fashion" linen:

The menu card peeking out of the magenta napkin:

Guest sign-in sheets with antique gold mat:

Decided to create a "wishing tree" for our imaginary bride and groom:

You can leave blank cards out for your guests to write special wishes for the lovely couple:

Once your guests have penned their wishes, they can hang them with organza ribbon to create a lovely wishing tree:

Custom table number insert in 5" x 7" frame:

I created this mock invitation using two layers of metallic cardstock and mounted that to a gold embossed paper for added texture. Gold Swarovski crystals added the perfect finishing touch. I started with this invitation and created all the other stationery pieces to complement it:

Brushing off the cobwebs

2010-08-24T14:02:00.003-10:00

This feels like my first day back at school after a looooong summer break. Oh, how I miss the days of stocking up on school supplies. New crayons were my favorite...especially the big "64" box with the sharpener in the back. Think my clients would mind if I signed their contracts in burnt sienna?

But first things first, since I've been fielding amusing questions here and there from some curious "regulars":

- I haven't disappeared into a black hole (well, almost)
- I haven't gone out business (still chugging along quite nicely *knock on wood*)
- I haven't given up on writing (lack of time, not inspiration, was the culprit here)

My unscheduled hiatus was simply the byproduct of an overwhelming amount of work. Something had to give and, again, it was this blog. Oh, and my feeble attempt to maintain my Facebook page. Thankfully, the whole Facebook fiasco was almost over before it began -- a quick death so there wasn't much pain involved. For those that are interested, my page is still up, along with a handful of (old) posts and photos. Maybe one day I'll pump some new life into it. Maybe not.

But now that I'm committed to carving out some time for myself each day, I'm anxious to return to the things that I love. Truthfully, I've been T E R R I B L E at maintaining balance in my life but I realize that stressing out about this or that 24 hours a day is really a disservice to myself, my family, my friends, and my clients.

So, I'm back. And it feels great.

Elegant in eggplant

2010-05-05T20:53:00.003-10:00

The problem with simple color names is that they leave lots of room for interpretation. If you tell a wedding vendor that your color is purple they could very well envision anything from lavender to violet to amethyst. But describing your color as "eggplant" is much more helpful and will ensure that you don't end up with a "Barney" wedding.

I worked with a lovely bride recently whose beautiful decor consisted of a deep aubergine (i.e. eggplant) and gold. This is such an elegant color combination and one that I was thrilled to work with.

I designed place cards for each guest with a gold/ivory patterned cardstock, names printed in antique gold, and clear Swarovski crystal accents. Guests' entree selections were added to the bottom right corner of each card.

The coordinating table number cards were tentfolds and each number sparkled with three crystals each.

The bride requested a seating chart for her intimate gathering and I designed an 18" x 24" insert for her brushed antique gold frame. The names were printed in dark purple and crystals, again, added the perfect finishing touch.

emi's blog

inspiration anywhere: gummy bears!

Weddings cards in stock at TWC!

Eat your veggies

Expo time!

My latest accessory

Real Life Wedding Showcase in Hawaii Bride & Groom Magazine!

Reminder: postage rate increase!

hello, 2012!

Emi Ink 2012 calendars!

In the last 18 days...

For the love of monograms!

Real wedding: Cheryl and Chuck

A penny earned...

Scenes from the show

Wedding Expo recap...and some rambling

Destination wedding fun!

Sweeeet

Invitations, Favors and Special Touches Showcase

Knot so easy, but worth it

From pen to paper to screen

Obsessions

Dashing to the altar

a REALLY good day

Randomness

inspiration anywhere: in full bloom

The elephant in the room

Daddy-o

Randomness

Paradise is...

Just say "omm"

inspiration anywhere: when you wish upon a star

Love is in the air

inspiration anywhere: vera wang

inspiration anywhere #2: socks

I *heart* my clients

inspiration anywhere #1: curtains

Swim, bike, run

In a holding pattern?

Hawaii Bride & Groom - Spring/Summer 2011

She made me drink soup

Up, up, and away

Help us help you

My shining moment

Surprise shower for someone, sometime, somewhere

Brown paper packages tied up with...NOPE

Wedding Expo this weekend!

Silence, please...

Ears and all...

Back to the drawing board

Playing tag

Postal rates going up on April 17, 2011

Blingin' again

Simple pleasures

Please take your seat

Love, Romance and Street Fighter?

Ocean inspiration

A little aloha for Japan

Damask favor wraps

Can you hear it?

happy valentine's day!

Hardy (and hearty!)

Last words about the expo

Proof it. Proof it good.

Sink or swim? She swam!

The rose(s) and the thorn

I see your true colors

It's a wrap!

Showtime!

goodbye 2010

Gold + smelly + Chin Ho Kelly

Calligraphy (for the modern DIY woman)

Politics, shmolitics

Smaller than a breadbox

Starting with...ending with

Mellow yellow

Gray skies are gonna clear up...

Shades of gray

Favor box winner!

Thanks for the support!

I heart my clients