Project Invite - Episode 2

Another Wednesday, another Project Runway! Sweet baby Jesus, do I seriously have to design a wedding invitation that's a sequined pink sailor-ette outfit?!!? Oh my word. Help. I might have to conveniently "miss" episode 6....yikes.

In my effort to catch up to the current episode, I am pleased to showcase the second "episode" of Project Invite. I do love me a good cocktail dress, and I adored Kenley's high-collared, tailored dress with that chic black belt. Suede's dress was another cute number, but I was honestly really worried for him when I saw him in the mid-stages of his garment- it was a hot mess!

I liked the contrasting red against the vanilla cream silk but I did wish it were a bit more tailored. I actually had some organic silk in cream from a previous project and I found a GORGEOUS satin ribbon that had a open-weave lattice pattern that mimicked the look of the woven strips. The invitation is very traditional and classically elegant. The tulle from the dress inspired me to do a tulle underlayer which the invitation card floats on top of. The look is feminine, graceful, and elegant. (Well, at least I think so)

Suede's winning look

The inspired invite. It's hard to see, but there are tulle layers sticking out from the top and bottom of the invite card. (click for larger image)

Project Invite - an homage to the genius that is Project Runway

Well, unless you live under a rock (like I have been known to do) you're probably well aware that Project Runway is well into its fifth season. Yeah! As a little challenge for myself, I decided this year that I would take the winning designs and translate them into invitation designs. Where do I have the time in my schedule to do this? Well, frankly, I don't, but that didn't stop me from trying. Now a month into this season, I am pleased to present Project Invite, Episode 1.

Again, for those of you living under rocks (or in caves or even holes as it were) the first episode of Project Runway had the designers go to Gristides, a grocery store, to make garments out of unconventional items. For myself, my traditional medium is fabric, so for this challenge, I *gasp* DIDN'T use any. Seriously, I almost wanted to cry. That is, until I created the most wicked paper ever. Ever. I LOVED the pattern that Kelli created on the vacuum cleaner bags and was determined to recreate it. I had a lovely crinkled mullberry paper lying around that had the same greenish base as the vacuum cleaner bags and I mixed up some gouache (fancy-smancy talk for what basically amounts to a thick watercolor) and did my own little dye job- er, paint job in this case.

I found a fibrous stock to use for the invite that had a similar unfinished texture like coffee filters Kelli used for the bodice, and last off, I finished it with some basic ol' brads from an office supply store. (Side note: apparently, no one in Office Max knows what a brad is. Apparently, after much description on my part, I finally found what I was looking for, and the package says "brass plated fasteners". Seriously? Why not call them brads? Anyway, I digress)

Each of the invites will be dedicated to not only the winning design, but the designer who created it. In this case, the invite is to the launch of Kelli's own store, Black Market. The info on the invite is the real deal, and for those of you in Columbus, OH, you can visit her store at 2579 North High St. I might just have to buy a ticket to OH just for that store.

Anyway, I'll be posting each week with a new design inspired by the winning looks. Feel free to comment on how successful you think the recreation/interpretation is. Who knows, if you're lucky, maybe I'll find time to do a set of invites inspired by YOU.

Kelli's winning look

Invite inspiration

Closeup of custom paper, brads, and textured stock

I think I'm being watched...

I've been meaning to post this for sometime now, but things have been so busy, I've been putting it off.
I've been focusing lately on really showing brides how the entire vision can come together, and really making the invitations an integral part of introducing your guests to a theme and feel. It is important to have impact and really drive home the decor because it will really all come together. The invite is like a teaser of the grand event to come— a sneak preview of sorts.

While thumbing through the latest issue of Grace Ormonde Wedding Style magazine, I happened across a feature editorial on tablescapes (of the most GORGEOUS variety) but one in particular caught my eye. I thought to myself, "Wow, this looks familiar!" and maybe you can see why. ;)

My invitation was for a December 2007 bride, and the feature tablescape was shown in the Spring/Summer 2008 issue. Looks like I'm being watched... (how exciting!)

Listed!

Hey Everyone!

Sorry for my brief (or not so brief) hiatus from blogging. I'm sure you were all deeply saddened by my leave. ;)

Things with the studio have been incredibly busy and just amazing. I was recently invited to join the Bay Area Wedding Network, BAWN, which is a group of the most elite and prestigious vendors in the SF Bay Area. The extra plus is all the friends I've made, like Jennifer Skog of Jennifer Skog Photography, Maria Chang of Professional Makeup Artistry, as well as keeping in touch with old friends from my own wedding like Justin and Georgina, the fab husband and wife duo behind Weddings on Film.

I am also pleased to announce that thanks to my fabulous brides, I have been listed on the infamous Project Wedding website, as well as the new up-and-coming Wedding Wire! I am beyond excited and really truly appreciative that I could make such a difference in my brides' weddings. For brides in planning, you can visit these amazing planning resource sites by clicking the images below.

Lastly, I'm so excited (and by exited I mean I'm shaking right now!) to announce that I have been listed on Martha Stewart's wedding website! Since I put all of my money back into my studio as opposed to spending it on advertising, it is really a great thing to be listed on somewhere so prominent. If I could put my listing on my fride, I would!. ;)
If you don't already have a subscription to MS weddings magazine, then get one! Honestly they have some of the greatest ideas and DIY ever. Ever.

Trash the Dress!

A few weeks ago, I had the most amazing opportunity to have a trash-the-dress photo shoot with the wonderful James of Lisa and James Photography. Even more exciting was that I had my hair and makeup done my none other than the fabulous Maria Chang of Professional Make-up Artistry.

Both of these vendors are simply top notch, and I would recommend them in a heartbeat to any bride. Here's a little slideshow that showcases the magic these two can work. Enjoy!

The Magic of Mini

Many of you have already seen the work I did for a recent client, Tracy, and her soon-to-be-husband, Steve. They have been a dream to work with, and I'm actually going to be quite sad to see them go. Their rehearsal dinner invites just went out, and I just had to share them with everyone.

Watercolor-textured papaya cardstock is screenprinted with white type and finished with custom made mini Spanish tiles that tie into the event location and style. Here's where all the little details come together- not only are the Spanish tiles appropriate for their rehearsal dinner location, but they are the exact tile patterns found on the staircase Tracy will be walking down during her wedding ceremony, thus tying in her wedding location as well.

Will anyone notice this touch? Highly doubtful, but the bride knows, and that's what really counts in the end. =) Enjoy!

DIY - A lovely floral bouquet

Flowers are an expensive part of any wedding budget, but let's face it, those little guys do really dress up a room! Adventurous and craftsy brides are beginning to take on the enormous task of doing their own flowers for their wedding. If you've got time, patience, a great group of helpful friends, and some serious free refrigerator space, then I say, go for it!

I am doing a trash-the-dress session with my lovely friends Lisa and James of Lisa and James Photography. I'm thrilled to be working with such talented photographers, and you definitely need to check out their work!

A few of my bride-to-be friends have already done their shoots, and one recommended that I take a bouquet along. I loved the idea, but was not too keen on spending another $245 for a bouquet as I did on my first, so I decided to do a little DIY. The first stop was my local grocery store. Why not a florist, or a wholesale place? Because for this project, I'm going cheap and lazy. That's why. =P

I found a lovely little bunch of bright yellow flowers (a color used in my actual wedding) and bought them on the spot. $7.99. Score! I went home and about 20 minutes later, I had a lovely little bouquet, I'll be proud to carry for the shoot. Is it as great as the one I paid $245 for? Not a chance. But it's darling, and will do very well indeed, and for the price, can't be beat.

To make your own bouquet, you can follow the steps I took:
1. Buy a bunch of assorted flowers in coordinating colors.

You'd be surprised at the variety your local grocery store has, and they've really started to come up with some really stylish mixes. A far cry from the "wildflower medley" complete with copious amounts of babies breath and fernicus nasticus (that's my latin for "ferns of nastiness") of the 80s. My local grocer actually had a section where blooms were separated by type into small bunches and you could choose any 3 for $12. A nice way to get the variety you want, if you can't find it in a pre-mixed bunch.

2. Take the flowers out of their package and remove the rubber band.
3. Put the flowers in a sink full of cold water to keep them fresh while you work.

4. Take each stem individually and clean off any excess foliage towards the middle and bottom sections so you have a clean stem to work with. Lay your cleaned stems aside and arrange by type of flower.

5. Start with a single stem and work your way around, adding various stems and turning your bouquet as you go. Having my stems arranged by flower type really helped me to evenly disperse the blooms, and rotating the bouquet as you form it makes sure it's nice and even by the time you're done.

6. When you've finished building your bouquet, secure with floral wire or tape. I had neither, so I used the rubberband that the bunch came with. Trim the stems to the desired length.

7. All you need now is to cut a length of any ribbon you like and wrap around the bouquet stem to cover any of your bindings. Tie an exaggerated fluffy bow, or tuck neatly under, and secure with a pearl-head pin.

8. Marvel again at your handiwork and enjoy your new bouquet!