Updated sample book (at long last)

I'm so SO happy that my updated sample book is done and on the shelf at The Wedding Cafe! It's way overdue and checking this off my to-do list feels great!

The hardest part about assembling this book was selecting only a precious few stationery samples to showcase. With the help of my assistant, I think I covered some of Emi Ink's most popular designs and in addition to invitations, there's a wide array of ceremony and reception pieces, too!

The next best thing to scheduling an in-person consultation or visiting me at a wedding expo is stopping by The Wedding Cafe and flipping through these samples. I think you'll get a good feel for my design style!

When paper meets cute

I love seeing my custom stationery out in the "real world"...it makes me feel a bit like a proud mama. This photo, for example, just made my heart sing. I designed a custom pennant banner in Journey's favorite colors of yellow and purple and finished it with touches of bling.

When you have a cool name like "Journey," chances are you won't find too many off-the-shelf knick knacks with your name emblazoned on them. No plastic license plates to screw on the back of your bicycle seat, no souvenir magnets to stick on the fridge, no snowflake ornaments to hang on the Christmas tree.

See, I had that problem as a kid. I would spin display racks round and round to find the correct spelling of my name. I always found S-T-A-C-Y and S-T-A-C-I-E, but rarely S-T-A-C-E-Y. To this day, I will casually, but pointedly, search for S-T-A-C-E-Y whenever I see a rack of anything with pre-printed names. I may or may not do a little fist pump when I spot my name. Small victories count, people.

So, this pennant banner was made with L-O-V-E for J-O-U-R-N-E-Y from her Aunty S-T-A-C-E-Y.

A tasty collaboration

When I'm asked about great sources of inspiration, I sound a bit like a broken record. I want to shout this from the rooftops because I truly believe it - "You can find inspiration ANYWHERE!"

A few weeks ago I was meandering the aisles of Target and stopped dead in my tracks when I spotted this über cool collection of kitchen appliances. My stainless-steel-loving husband did not share my enthusiasm, but I was over the moon at seeing these French Bull designs up close and personal! 

I think this is what's been missing in my life...and how much fun would it be to have an explosion of color like this on wedding stationery???

 

Sweet scallops

There's almost nothing sweeter than scalloped edges. And recently, for some reason unbeknownst to me, I've had lots of requests for stationery with this charming detail. This is a recent stationery order designed for a wedding coordinated by Seasons of Life Events.

Behold, the scalloped edge:

The menu cards were inspired by the bride + groom's invitation design with soft pink roses in each corner, names typeset in a slight arch, and the lovely scalloped edge...all the more impressive when stacked together.

The sweet, romantic style was carried over to their "I Spy" cards. Don't know what an "I Spy" card is? Well, it's only a fantastically fun way to get the ball rolling with those disposable cameras that you leave out on your guest tables! I may have cracked a smile or two (hundred) while designing these cards.

And a final piece designed for this sweet wedding (sans scallops)...a pretty little drink ticket.

Orange You Glad I Like Corny Titles?

This is a stationery set that I designed for a fun couple last year. Cymbidium orchids and a vibrant color scheme of Tiffany blue and tangerine meshed seamlessly to create an island feel for this destination wedding! The 2012 Pantone Color of the Year was, in fact, Tangerine Tango...so this stationery suite was not only fitting of the locale but most definitely in vogue.

The thing is, although we are well into 2013 (and Emerald Green should be reigning supreme this year), bright, vivid oranges and soft coral tones are still holding strong. Perhaps it's because the islands are full of natural beauty and vibrant colors, perhaps it's because orange, when used alone or paired with another color, screams FUN.

These are reception programs that I just produced for a wedding last weekend:

Truth be told, the inspiration behind the orange in this wedding was not the island's tropical flowers, but by the Chicago Bears team colors. With rich navy blue linen on their guest tables, the reception programs in their sweet little pockets provided a nice pop of color at each place setting.

And a bonus pic from one of their enclosure cards that was mailed with their invitations - we created a somewhat chic looking pattern from the Chicago Bears' logo:

Stump-endous

You've heard people say that a stump is a stump is a stump, right? No? Well, it doesn't matter because it's not true, especially if it's a super cute Heart Stump Wood Container by Shop Toast.

This is a (very) short story about how the adorable printed stump shown above came to be.

I designed wedding invitations for my recently married bride, Wendy (actually, she adopted the "newlywed" moniker only a couple of days ago!)

She loved the finished invitations! She was also equally in love with Shop Toast's wood containers and wanted to use them as her favors.

Light bulb moment ensued.

I communicated with the ever-accommodating Jeremy of Shop Toast about file format, artwork specs, what his favorite sushi places were, and we were good to go.

<< cue triumphant fanfare >>

Wendy was kind enough to gift me with a sample stump and I absolutely L-O-V-E it!

Easiest client/vendor/vendor collaboration I've ever had the pleasure of working on.

Congratulations Wendy and David!

Rockin' with Pat

Interesting self-discovery moment occurred in the car this morning.

I realized that I know every lyric to Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot."

I may or may not have been listening to an "oldies" station on the radio.

In no way does this date me...at least that's what I keep telling myself.

That is all.