Aloha by mail

I'm so excited about the recent release of these Aloha shirt stamps by USPS! They're 32-cent stamps and perfect for your postcard-style save the date cards or response cards. No doubt your guests will appreciate this little detail as they excitedly anticipate your island wedding!

inspiration anywhere: gummy bears!

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!

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

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!

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

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!

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!

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!

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