Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Bachelorette Recovery


I am finally posting the other "surprises" from the bachelorette party.  Take note it is Wednesday - I needed a couple days to play catch-up (and recover).  In keeping with the "Glamour Shot" theme of the invitations, I made stickers!  Obviously pretty large stickers.  We adhered the Glamour Shot stickers to Champagne bottles. 

This is a close-up of one of the bottles of Champagne.  The photo was larger than a wallet sized photo.  You can guess how "excited" she was to see her face on Champagne. 

I also had cocktail napkins made for the Champagne toast, as well as to take to the restaurant to use.  I think that personalized cocktail napkins are a fun and inexpensive party detail.  They were pink and very girly - as was appropriate for a Glamour Shot themed bachelorette party. 

Being the responsible girls that we are - we bought a case of water so that no one was parched (disregard the Corona in the background of this photo).  We went ahead and put a Glamour Shot sticker on each of the water bottles (also, sorry about the reflection in this photo).  It was like having a little piece of Anna all night! 

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Bachelorette Invitation Options



Tomorrow I am driving to Houston for my best friend's bridal shower and bachelorette party.  I get to just be a guest at the bridal shower.  But, a couple of girl friends and I have been doing the planning for the bachelorette party.  I did the invitations for the bachelorette party (obviously) - which was a lot of fun.  It isn't often that I get to do whatever I want.  You may be wondering how the owner of a stationery store actually selected the perfect invitation for one of her dearest friends.  A lot of pressure - right?  I could have done this great Snow & Graham "Bachelorette" invitation. 

 Or something a little more modern, like this Prentiss Douthit "Party" invitation. 


Or something pretty, vivid and fun like this Anna Griffin invition.  But - I love invitations that are really personal and fitting for the honoree.  So I didn't actually select anything that was in the store.  I created the "perfect" invitation (in my mind's eye) for my best friend and the occasion. 

This was the cover of her bachelorette invitation.  I must first give a disclaimer:
1.  Yes - these are her Glamour Shots
(They are really of her and they are really Glamour Shots)
2.  No - she was not serious when she took them
(We laughed and laughed looking at them)
3.  They were for her senior art show in high school
(She took them with 2 other girls from school)

So, back to my project - I used a white folded card stock and then scanned the photos to make a collage on the cover.  The inside of the folded card had all the party specifics.  Then I printed an envelope liner that had her name all over it.  So no - I didn't select some cute invitation or some fabulous modern letterpressed invitation (I wonder if she's wishing I would have selected one of these others).   But, I think that my selection/creation set the tone for the party and will be memorable.  Isn't that really what we all want out of invitations? 

I have a few other surprised for her up my sleeve - but I'll show pictures of those after this weekend! 

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

That's Texas!

I feel a little like my mom when I report on the weather - but this time of year in Texas it is incredible.  Less than a month ago it was snowing, February 23rd to be exact (click HERE to see those pictures).  Today there was a thunderstorm mid-day, but now it is warm and things are starting to bloom.  I even walked to work this morning (which I need to do more often). 

This blooming tree is right outside Hayden Avery's front door (in front of my bank).  I just love it, although I don't know what it is. 

Monday, March 8, 2010

A Few of My Favorite Things...

My house is in a constant state of unfinish.  I have lived with an empty formal living room for 3 1/2 years.  I am always searching for the "perfect" furnishings for my house.  I'm also always looking for the "perfect" fabrics for the furnishings that I don't yet own.  I'm sure it all sounds bizarre - but I can't settle because I know I'll be stuck with my furnishings for a lifetime.  Some of my favorite fabrics are by F. Schumacher (It seems everyone has considered using Imperial Trellis on something).  Well finally my work life and my fabric hunting life have crossed paths.  Well established stationers, Dempsey & Carroll and fabric and wall covering company, F. Schumacher have come together to collaborate on stationery. 

You can now have F. Schumacher's Imperial Trellis or the great Chiang Mai Dragon line your Dempsey & Carroll notecards.  Every time I see the Chiang Mai Dragon fabric on anything it makes me stop in my tracks - it is very striking.  It also makes a fun and attractive envelope liner.   Perhaps in the future if I can't committ to furnishings or fabrics for my own home, I could at least committ to some striking stationery that is lined with some of my favorite fabric patterns. 

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Lily Of The Valley

 
Last Spring Dr. Mark and I went to Martha's Vineyard.  It was such a fabulous trip.  Great weather, the beach and lobster - what more could you want out of a vacation?  One of the days that we were riding bikes I saw Lily of the Valley growing in a person's yard.  Lily of the Valley is one of my favorite flowers.  But being from Texas, I'd never actually seen it grow.  So I stopped and took a picture.  I love this picture.  The picture reminds me of spring and being on vacation...

  
Lily of the Valley is such a sweet flower.  I love the way that Ann Marie Murray painted it in this pierced dish that we have in the store right now.  This is one many things in the store that I am tempted to bring home with me.  It is so delicate and I'd love to have it on my bedside table.  I'll save it for a "real" customer though.  

 
This wedding invitation is a Julie Holcomb letterpressed invitation.  I've always really liked this invitation with the Lily of the Valley in the background.  It is the perfect color of green and the texture of the card stock and the letterpress is so rich.  It is no coincidence that that the card stock and letterpress is just perfect - Julie Holcomb goes to the mill where they make her cardstock to make sure that it is milled to her specifications.  She has really perfected the art of Letterpress.  Julie Holcomb has all the coordinating pieces to go with this invitation as well - place cards, stationery, gift enclosures.