I gave in

I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't even look at a new phone until my current phone went belly up. My Palm Treo had everything that I needed: QWERTY keyboard, internet access, camera, video capabilities...oh, and it made phone calls, too. My Treo was hearty, reliable, and forgiving (I dropped it so many times that I lost count).

But then everyone around me got new phones. My hubby's phone is this super powerful "being" that I'm embarrassed to say is far too complicated for me to operate...as in, it takes me a few minutes to even figure out how to dial a number. Lots of my vendor friends seem to favor the Blackberry and when I see them zipping through emails, little wisps of smoke dance in the air. My clients are overwhelmingly in the iPhone camp and they're happy to whip out their phones when showing me inspirational pics during our consultations.

Needless to say, what's a girl to do when she's hit with a bad case of phone envy?

Goodbye old faithful Treo. Hello sexy iPhone.

I didn't think I could LOVE a phone, but I do. I really do. Love my nice big display, love the apps (oh, the apps!), love the sound quality when I'm streaming my music from Pandora. Total phone infatuation. So, of course I want to protect my new investment and am thinking of designing this custom case:

Thank you, Apple, from the bottom of my heart.

Fashionista paperie

Earlier this month, I made a quick visit to Ward Center and literally almost ran into some exquisitely dressed mannequins. Students from the UH Manoa Apparel Design and Merchandising program were competing in a Go Green Fashion Competition and the outfits and accessories were created with recyclable materials. My favorites showcased the creative use of paper like the two entries pictured above.

The paper fringe dress on the left was stunning and I only wish that I had a better picture of the top half of the dress which featured a strapless, sweetheart neckline. The black and white cocktail dress on the right was decked out in gorgeous roses...and I love the black piping just above the bustline.

Hmm, anyone interested in a paper gown for their wedding?

Show's over...

...and it was a good one! A BIG thank you to everyone who stopped by my booth and checked out my designs. Loved chatting with brides and grooms and hearing about their wedding plans. Definitely saw opposite ends of the spectrum at this expo...some couples are tying the knot in just a few months, and some couples are looking at 2012 dates. I had totally different advice for the late planners vs. the early planners, but hope that I'm able to accommodate everyone who's interested in booking orders.

Met lots of parents, too, graciously collecting brochures and business cards for their children living out-of-state. Oh, and I was delighted to meet a a self-proclaimed "blogstalker" (you know who you are! LOL) who reaffirmed why I write, even when I think that no one is reading. Thank you Stalker Girl, and everyone like you who thinks that this blog is worth visiting, and who will back me up 100% on the purchase of my Kate Spade diaper bag.

Also got to catch up with my vendor friends that I don't get to see nearly often enough. I will always believe in my heart that face-to-face contact beats Facebook-to-Facebook contact any day. BUT...I've stayed away from Facebook long enough and can't deny that it's a great way to stay connected to people, so I'm giving in. I actually joined Facebook over a year ago, but deactivated my account after several months of non-use. Joined again with every intention of "getting with the program," but quickly lost enthusiasm and once again deactivated my account. Third time's the charm, though, so I'm back online and even created my little Facebook "please like me" button in the sidebar. I guess you can't be a "fan" anymore, you just have to like me...which, I know, is a big commitment for some. So, "like me" if you like me, or don't "like me" if you're not ready to commit...but I hear that wonderful, magical things can happen when people like you...we'll see.

Pics to come from the Wedding Expo - stay tuned!

The lost design

It's like coming up with a new recipe but not having anyone to taste it. Or finding the perfect painting but not having a wall to hang it on.

From time to time, I design invitations for clients that end up on the "cutting room floor," so to speak. For one reason or another, these design concepts remain just that and never make it to fruition.

This is the story of one such design...


This invitation is definitely labor-intensive, but I love the look of the handcrafted pocket. I used a Japanese weaved cane paper and paired it with deep pink and bronze cardstocks. Light amethyst Swarovski crystals embellish the pink pineapple for a nice balance of tropical inspiration and elegance.

I hope to adding this design, or a similar version, to my web site shortly!

Loving the earth

There are a lot of people out there working hard to preserve this earth. You might not think that a stationery designer could be one of those people, but I try to do my part. I save every salvageable scrap from every project I have in order to reuse, recycle, upcycle, or donate. My scraps of paper have found their way into schools and crafting clubs, onto greeting cards and gift packaging....and occasionally even hitch a ride to who-knows-where via the bottom of my husband's feet.

The largest paper supplier I work with strives to be environmentally conscious by offering green products and using biodegradable or recyclable packing materials. Most of the papers that I purchase and use for my clients have components of recycled products and are processed chlorine free.

Just something to think about the next time you need business cards, envelopes, letterhead...the earth will thank you. Happy Earth Day.

Birthdays, butterflies, and bling

I'll always love designing for weddings, but it's always nice to mix it up once in awhile! Last year, my client found me at a bridal expo but ended up ordering custom sign-in sheets for his mom's surprise 80th birthday. This year, the same client requested sign-in sheets for his niece's 1st birthday party. With a mix of bright colors, butterflies and bling (of course!), these sign-in sheets seemed to shout, "Look at me, look at me!" amidst the elegant, and more muted wedding stationery sitting on my work table.

I'm baaaack...

Hello world! ...or, in this case, hello small but loyal group of blog followers who have been checking in from time to time. My blogging break was much longer than I anticipated and I've missed putting pen to paper (figuratively speaking, of course).

This week is crazier than usual with the Wedding Expo coming up on Friday/Saturday, but if I waited for the absolute perfect time to return to the blogosphere, I'd never come back. So, a few deep breaths and a quick stretch of the fingers and I'm back in business!

Spent part of the day making cosmetic changes to my booth display for the expo. Excited to chat with a whole new crop of brides/grooms as they start their wedding planning process. Be sure to stop by and check it out - lots of great vendors at the show:

Where:
Hawaii Convention Center

When:
Friday, April 23: 6pm to 10pm
Saturday, April 24: 11am to 5pm

Admission:
$7.00 (download a $1.00 off coupon here)