inspiration anywhere #2: socks

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!