Baby Girl Nursery Print, Water Color Calligraphy

I have a handful of work that does not fit my typical wedding and live event work. It’s always piece I love and am proud of, but differ just enough from my typical offerings. This beautiful, water color and brush lettering print is just one of those pieces that could not stay hidden in my files any longer!

Photo by Wonder & Awe; Mary McCoy

It is always an honor when someone asks me to do a print for them. It seems even more sweet when it is a print to hang in a nursery, since so many hours are usually sent by new parents in that space.

When Chelsea ask me for this beautiful brush, calligraphy verse I had to say ‘yes’.How beautiful is this room and how it fits above the bookcase? Just a gorgeous sentiment and in an already beautiful room.

Wise Wedding: Escort Card vs. Place Card vs. Seating Chart

There are a lot of terms when it comes down to planning your wedding and the day-of items involved. With traditional rules being “broken” more casually these days for formal weddings, the terms you are hearing can easily be combined or misinterpreted. A casualty of these “broken rules” are place cards and escort cards. These two terms are often interchangeably used, but did you know they are actually two different things?

What’s the difference then?

PLACE CARDS

Place cards are used to assign seating and are placed at the place setting for the guest to find at the table. They contain a single guest’s name, no table number but can include a meal choice indicator. They can help the serving staff at a formal sit-down dinner to know which meal you have chosen for the evening. They are often used at more formal or black-tie weddings.

ESCORT CARDS

Escort cards are used to direct your guest or guests to the table they will be sitting at. These cards traditionally will have the couple’s name together or the single guest’s name along with the table number. This is essentially a seating chart in individual cards as they will be set-up in the reception hall, typically towards the entrance. If you do not have specific place cards at the table, these help guests “reserve” their spot at the table to ensure they can sit by whom they like or the direction they would like to face. Though they can be used alongside a place card at an event, they are viewed as the casual alternative to a place card if used alone. If need be, they too can hold the meal choice to helpt the serving staff indicate food allergies or special meal requests for the guest.

SEATING CHART

An alternate choice for both a place card and escort card can be a seating chart. Seating charts are a large board, mirror, or another beautiful art piece that displays all your guest’s names and which table they will be sitting at. These make beautiful decor pieces for your reception and can cut down on the use of paper for your event and/or free up space if you do not have room for another table to place your escort cards on. A seating chart is typically used at a wedding when the guest count is too large for escort cards and/or when the wedding guests didn’t have an option to select their entree in advance. This style of seating is perceived as more casual, but can also be used in tandem with a place card.

What should I use then for my wedding?

I am often asked if both escort cards and place cards are necessary, or if they should scrap both and go with a seating chart. Guests want to know where they are sitting and often will look for their seats first thing at a reception to place down purses or to get a “good” spot to view the important events.
Here are my tips for you to help decide what fits best for you:

• If you are having a smaller wedding, 30-50 people or under, I would advise a seating chart. Then based on how you have your tables, I would also recommend place cards for a small wedding to help get the more important guests (such as parents, grandparents, etc.) to the spots that they can see all the special events without obstruction. Nobody should be blocking mom or making grandma crane her neck to see the cake cutting.

Example of place card

• If your venue is asking you to use a card for meal purposes, traditionally a place card would be used alongside an escort card or seating chart. For a less formal feel, you may use an escort card and place an icon (as seen above) or letter such as “F” for fish to help the serving staff quickly decipher the meal for each guest.

• If you choose to use both an escort card and a place card, ensure that the two look different. For your place cards, instead of a traditional paper card, choose a unique item that can add to your tables decore such as a seashell, tile, leaf, or a sentimental favor with their name attached on a tag (See example below). Guests will be delighted by these unique items and they take them home as personalized favors!

Example of unique place card for guests.

Regardless of the direction, you take your guest seating, I always advise you have a seating plan. From formal place cards that direct guests to the correct seat, to the less formal escort card to direct guests to the right table, make a clear plan with whoever is setting up your reception. This will ensure your reception gets off on the right foot.

Styled Shoot: K and K Celebrates, Frosty Blues

This past winter I had the pleasure of working with K and K Celebrates, a talented sister team based out of Chicago for two styled shoots. These two dreamy concepts were so fun to work with and create concepts for! The first one was this elegant, frosty blue color-scheme with hints of silver, white, and a pop of red florals.

The incredible team includes:

Planning: K and K Celebrates
Photography: 606 Photo
Grazing Boxes: Sage and Jam |
Floral: FleurInc
Venue: DL Loft, Chicago

These beautiful grazing boxes by Sage and Jam serve as both a great cocktail hour solution, but a fun way to make sure all guests receive and locate their seats with their escort cards.

To add a special touch to the bar, I illustrated this mulled wine drink. How delicious does the real thing look? Yum!

Wise Wedding: All About the Timeline

You have your date picked out, you have your venue booked, your photographer scheduled, and all your favorite people are ready to celebrate you! Now we need to get everyone else on the same page and to your event on the right date and at the right time. I joke the invite is the most important item on the wedding checklist, I mean how else are you going to get everyone you love in the same room? I know there are so many more important things, like the ceremony and the marriage itself, but the invite is still a pretty important piece of paper. All jokes aside, couples ask often what is important to include in the invite and when they should actually send it out. The average time a couple spends planning their wedding is around 15 months these days. That’s a decently long time to be planning a party. Then when do you let everyone know about the who, what, where and when?

Over the upcoming weeks, I will be going into detail about all things paper, stationery, and calligraphy that you could use for your wedding, reception, and other events celebrating your big day! Here is a brief overview of each item. (Psst…Bookmark this post as a shortcut to the posts to come! I will be updating each section below with the link to the more in-depth post)

Sending out Save the Dates

Your Save the Date should be sent out around the 6-month mark, or sooner if travel is involved for a destination wedding.

Your Save the Date should be sent out around 6-9 months before the wedding, and at around the 1-year mark if it is an international destination wedding. The more travel involved the sooner the card should be sent out.

Save the Dates can include pictures, just typography, a fun illustartion of you as the couple or the destination you are getting married. These are the first introduction to your significant other to many family members, and will clue your guests into your vibe and potentially the feel of your wedding.

Sending out Invitations:

You should start thinking about invitation design around the 4-6 month mark before the wedding. The invitation should be sent out around the 2-month mark before the wedding.

Since the invitation is the “main event” and involves a few more pieces and more information than the Save the Date, we advise you to start the design process early on. If you choose from the collection with minimal changes, it can be anywhere from 4- 6 week period. If you choose to go custom, depending on the print style, at a minimum with a digitally-printed invitation, you are looking at around 6-8 weeks for design and production. If you are looking for anything additional (letterpress, foil, ribbon, wax seals, custom maps, liners, calligraphy, etc) it can potentially add more time to that process by a few weeks depending on guests count.

That’s at minimum 2 months of back and forth to help me create your invite, which in the grand scheme of things is so important to get all the right information on the right cards and out to the right people, am I right? It is also important to give your designer enough time to creatively work through your requests and give you the best options. Start inquiring about invitations at the 6-month mark. Especially for custom work, as a designer, I do not create items perfectly the first time around. By putting the work upfront in filling out your questionnaire, giving me complete information, color swatches, and a mood board is how you will help me create that custom, unique design that is just right for you and your fiancé(e) and be the perfect complement to your Big Day!

As noted above, the more info you have for your day the better. By having your date set, the venue booked, and having a rough idea or initial design meeting with your wedding planner on how the look and feel of your day will be a huge help when we start talking about your invitations. As soon as you have an idea of what you like, we can get started talking about design for your paper goods too!

I try to deliver the full suite at least a week prior to the “deadline” to ensure you can double-check your guest list and everything is in order. Check out my Wise Wedding: Invitation Details post for more information ( link will be posted here when ready).

RSVP information

Reply cards or RSVP cards are sent out with the invite 2 months before the wedding date.

Your RSVP is included in your invitation suite and will be sent out to all your guests when your invite is. Typically an RSVP date is 1 month before the wedding. This gives you ample time to make sure each guest has replied back to confirm with the caterer, start seating arrangements, or for you to track down replies in case an invite was lost in the mail or from an inconsiderate guest. Each venue is different and may require a guest count sooner or later than the traditional 1-month mark. Make sure to double-check this info with your planner and/or venue.

Calligraphy for Envelopes

Inquire at the time of your invitations if you are using the same person for design and calligraphy. If you are hiring a separate calligrapher than the invitation designer, inquire 1 month byt the latest before the invitations are to be sent out.

There are two options when addressing your envelopes, printed envelopes or hand-done calligraphy. Both can be beautiful options, but I am in full support of calligraphy for your mailing envelopes. When will you have another time in your life to really make a statement with your piece of mail? I may be biased, but I truly do believe that your invite feels complete with calligraphy addressing. I personally ask for at least two weeks for 50-100 names or three weeks for 150-250 names from when I receive the envelopes.

Yes, calligraphy can be done “last minute” but doesn’t need to be. Once I (or your designer) have decided on an envelope/paper color and it is ordered, the calligraphy can begin when the envelopes are received. Since you collected all your addresses with your Save the Dates way back around the 9-month mark before the wedding, you have all the information you need to send to your calligrapher. A quick tip is to keep your addresses in a spreadsheet with each guest’s title and full name included ( example. Dr. and Mrs. Jason and Sandra Smith, instead of Jay and Sandy Smith). Most designers and calligraphers, including myself, will ask you for a document like this. Bonus, this spreadsheet can help you track who has RSVPed, help with seating arrangements and keep track of wedding gift thank yous— win!

Designing Day of Items

You should start thinking about day-of items at least 3 months before your wedding date, and start finalizing everything in the 2-month and 1-month mark.

First, let me explain what a “day of item” is. It is anything that you will be needing just for the day of your wedding that adds to your decor and provides information to your guests. This can include programs, venues, place cards, escort cards, seating charts, welcome signs, etc. You should begin thinking about these around the same time you research your invitation look and feel. These items then can be booked around the 2-month mark. When you start your invitations, note to your designer the pieces you would like and which items you would like to coordinate with your invites look and feel and your receptions look at feel. This will allow them enough time to supply you with a design to approve, as well as order the right amount of product for you to receive finished, on time.

The last months of planning a wedding are of course full of finalizing details and making sure everything gets to the venue and set up the way you envisioned. This is no different for your day-of items. Learn more about the specifics of all the day-of items on the Wise Wedding: All the extra details post ( link will be posted here when ready).

Thank You Cards

Send a thank you from any bridal events 2-3 weeks from the event or from receiving the gift. From your wedding, thank you’s should be sent out no later than 3 months.

There is a myth going around that you have 1 year to send your thank you notes out from your wedding. This may be a newer myth due to couples opting to send a thank you card with a photo from their wedding on it, as wedding photos take longer to be edited and delivered to the couple. I recommend ordering a small amount of thank you cards that match your Save the Dates. This way you have themed cards on hand for thank yous for your shower and other bridal events or to write a special note to your bridal party. The nice thing about purchasing custom cards is that they don’t have to have the words “Thank you” printed on them. These cards can be have a pattern that is used in your weddding papergoods or have a monogram of your future, marrried name. By not including the actual words “thank you”, you can order a larger amount of custom cards that can be used for any event, including your wedding thank you notes.

If you have any other questions about the timeline for your paper goods or would like to talk about what I can help you with to check something off your current timeline, contact me here. In the meantime, to keep yourself organized, download my free wedding timeline checklist here.

Easy Fall DIY Place Cards

No matter where you live, add these leaf place cards to your Fall gathering as the perfect finishing touch to your table! Follow these easy steps to add these beauties to your next gathering:

STEP 01: Prepare and Gather Your Leaves

First, decide if you will collect leaves from your yard or purchase the leaves from your local craft store. When choosing leaves, consider not only the color that will go best with your decor but also the size that will fit your guest with the longest name.

If you are using real leaves:
- I suggest collecting your leaves 2-3 days* ahead of your event. Collect a few more than you think you will need in case of additional guests, items, or a mistake is made.
- Grab a paper towel and a few heavy books. Slip the leaves in-between the paper towels. Place them flat, either in between the pages or between two books then add additional weight on top.
- Allow them to flatten out under the weight for 1-2 days.
* You can collect and write on the leaves day-of, but to ensure a flat, dry writing surface follow instructions above.

If you are using fake/purchased leaves:
- Lightly clean your leaves to make sure no extra bumps or dust are on the surface.
-If your purchased leaves are not truly flat, using a clothing iron, slip the leaf between a pillowcase or fabric. On a low heat flatten out leaf until desired. Be careful not to melt your leaf.

STEP 02: Prepare Your Spacing

If you are not familiar with writing in calligraphy or hand lettering grab an extra leaf, and use it as your practice piece. Using a pencil first to lightly write your names out will also help you space everything out. 

If you are needing more practice with your letters, download a lettering guide here from Sip and Script or take a class with me to learn more about calligraphy!

If you feel more confident, using a pencil gently mark a small vertical line for the start of your name and one for the end of your name, leaving a finger-tip amount of space on each end. This will give you a more uniform look for your place cards.

STEP 03: Write Your Names

Now that you are confident with your letter spacing and pen, grab your favorite sharpie - traditional or oil-based - and start writing those names! Remember to go slow, and when in doubt sketch it out! Again, always collect a few more leaves than the number of guests attending in case of a misspelling or ink smudge.

STEP 04: Decorate Your Table

Hooray! Now add your name cards to your table. Add unused leaves for additional decor on the table or as labels during your gatherings for items such as punch, dessert, or sauces!

Simple Additions to your Micro Wedding

The hardest part of planning a wedding in a pandemic is knowing when it is “safe” to celebrate again. With many loved ones now living states apart, gathering at a large wedding is not as simple as it once was.

I have loved seeing the innovation and solution of many couples turning to what is now deemed as a micro-wedding. These small gatherings include their families and inner circle of friends, typically on their intended wedding date, while planning on a gathering and celebrating with other social circles on a future date.

Though it might not be the large gathering you were originally planning, this event can still be beautiful with elegant and special touches that would not have been possible on a larger scale.

Personalized Favors:

Having a smaller gathering allows you to have a more intentional seating placement, as well as allows you to add a special flair with personalized favors! These favors can include engraved mini champaign bottles, holiday ornaments, bottle openers or something you feel like best represents your love story.

Photo from Top Wedding Questions

Adding the Extras

Fill in some of the gaps with extra beautiful signs at both your ceremony and reception. From a Welcome sign to personalized drink signs, splurge to include these beautiful (and often keep sake) items that can be used at your larger party in the future!

Photo by EV Photography Sign by Lina Lulu Paperie

Keep Decor Simple, but Sentimental

With a smaller group attending will mean you have more time to mingle, dance, and add those special touches that will be meaningful to look back at when you look at your photos. Add those special touches through such things as the same flowers that your partner sent you the first month of dating, adding personalized menus at each place setting, swiping out table numbers for important milestones or places in your relationship, or have a cocktail named after your favorite song or your beloved pet you share (mine would be The Italics after my cat). These details, of course, can be added at any wedding of any size, but are great conversation starters as well as focal points for your guests in the smaller setting.

Styled Shoot: Dreamy, Bohemian Style in Chicago

When I was asked to be apart of a shoot at Artifact Event Space I couldn’t say “yes” quicker! I have been to this space a few times, as well as helping with events, and it is just so dreamy! The exposed brick, gorgeous antiques, and light pouring in is the perfect setting for any Chicago party. All the touches from each vendor created the most magical blend of an elegant, city wedding with a touch of whimsy bohemian you could ask for!

Paper goods set the stage for your guests to understand what the “feel” of your wedding will be. With this Save the Date and invitation suite I choose hand-made paper with rough, deckled edges to contrast the timeless feel of the typography and hand-drawn botanicals.

By using two colors for the invitations, black and cornflower blue, the traditional elegance of a black-tie wedding is conveyed without sacrificing the laid-back vibes of the bohemian decor that the bride and groom have throughout their day.

Hand-done details, such as the vow books and the accent mirror, lend the bohemian elegance to this unconventional space in just the right touches without feeling out of place.

One of my favorite extra items for this wedding was this mirror! The unconventional shape next to the cake adds dimension and unexpected whimsy to the sweets table. I used the lyrics from Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness to add that extra touch of romance and sentimental flair (not that this beautiful couple needed it in the slightest - they’re so sweet together!).

Photography: Teresa Williams | Flowers: Ashland Addison Floral Decor | Dress: BHLND | Hair: Emily Rae Bridal Hair, Chicago | Cake: Luscious Layers

Styled Shoot: Romantic, Gold and Green Brunch

I loved getting to be apart of this wedding brunch styled shoot with so many beautiful additions dreamt up by the Elisabeth Dari and her team! The gold, cream, and green accents are the perfect engagement or bridal brunch accents to warm up the colder, dreary months of winter. Check out the magic below.

For the invitations, I went with a modern shop square accented with arch typographic details. The colors in the watercolor strokes and the touch of spot calligraphy added that bohemian feel.

Adding to the theme of mixed metals and greenery, I choose a gold envelope liner with gold calligraphy on the mailing envelope to off set the bronze and dark gun-metal gray on the invite.

Adding these watercolor sayings to individual place settings, each with a different poem, lyric or phrase added that touch of intimacy to the table that a smaller gathering allows. Topping them off with eucalyptus and a gold wax seal added texture to this already beautiful tablescape.

Photos by Bozenavoytko Photography | Planner: Elisabeth Dari | Flowers: Stemming From Love

Trending Wedding Colors : Winter 2019

Winter months don’t mean you have to resort to traditional black, maroon or blues. With dusty colors and organic elements being hot through out the last few years, use a palette of jewel tones starting with emerald green to create a beautiful, full color palette that will create a elegant and minimalist vibe against a grey and white backdrop.

With less outdoor elements available, go with a chic industrial vibe using warm tones through out your decor by bringing organic elements such as brick, wood, and mixed metals through out your decor. Allow your guests to know your minimal but elegant affair design from the start with our Olive branch suite, showcasing our modern calligraphy and simple greenery design. With minimal neutrals and lush green being your focus, add small accents colors such as a lush Bordeaux red, a dusty rose pink or even a amethyst yellow among your tables and flowers to create that warm, inviting feel to draw your guests out of the cold and onto the dance floor!

Trending Wedding Colors: Fall 2019

Clockwise from top: Table Top | Tent, Katie Stoops Photography | Bridesmaids | Arch Way | Lina Lulu Paperie Poppy Suite| Florals

Back in 2012 as I was planning for my own Fall wedding later that year and I made the choice that my main wedding color would be burnt orange. This color was near to impossible to find for my bridesmaids at the time and we came to a close second with a deep tangerine dress from Anthropolgie. Friends thought it was silly and a little crazy that we would choose orange as our “main” wedding color, as it wasn’t the norm, but I loved it—and am over the moon that it is coming to it’s own popularity in the wedding scene this Fall.

The trend of Fall weddings with subdue and organic color palettes are not only beautiful but (in my opinion) also timeless. The above mood board was created from the trends of burnt orange and dusty pinks that you see in my very own Poppy invitation suite. How can you go wrong with soft pinks, gorgeous greenery and pops of natural colors ? The wild, organic mood that florals, table decor and flowing dresses can create with these colors in mind is a elegant but casual event just too dreamy for words.

If I were to get married today, I think little would change in our planning and venue, but options for our color palette would be abundant. I often find myself saying “where was that when I got married?” ( especially those burnt orange bridesmaid dresses). That is what I love about this industry though—trends come and go, but the timeless elements seem to be a beautiful base for couples to paint their dream day on—whatever color they choose.

Styled Shoot: Company 251

When I was invited to a styled shoot by the talented Elisabeth Dari at Company 251 I couldn’t say “yes!” quick enough! This venue has been on my list since it opened. The natural elements of the building combined with gorgeous mixed metals, tiles and modern, minimalistic design aesthetic is the perfect canvas for all styles of weddings. Elisabeth drew inspiration from the history of the location, combined with an organic and romantic vibe—and wow—it is just too dreamy beyond words!

I created a custom invitation suite featuring lush, watercolor greenery flowing through out all the pieces and soft hints of the cobalt blue color that would be present in the cake, flowers and table decor. I love how my Rose calligraphy through out the suite create the romantic feel even before stepping into the gorgeous venue! I reflected the mixed metals elements of the space in the invites through an antique gold RSVP envelope and by using metallic ink on the mailing address.

My favorite piece of the entire look had to be the custom watercolor Save the Date of the building itself! I loved creating this gorgeous and unique vintage postcard that could be used as a keepsake for the couple.

Vendors, Artists, Producers

Venue | @company251

Design and Styling| @elisabethdari

Photography |@ev_photography

Cinematography | @kevinwagan

Floral |@stemmingfromlove @stevesflowermarket

Paper goods | @linalulupaperie

Catering | @flourishjuiceco

Bakery | @eyecandybakeshop

Bridal Boutique | @brizancouture

Artistry | @bsansostiartistry

All in the Details

Table Runner | @fabricwholesaledirect

Table Napkins, Flatware, Ring Box | #vintage Crystal Goblets, Mocktail Coupe | #vintage

Water Goblets | @lenoxusa #vintage Dinnerware | @westelm @westelmchicago

Trending Wedding Colors: Spring Blues

Clockwise from left corner: Bridal party | florals | groomsman | Lina Lulu Paperie watercolor wedding suite | Outdoor arbor | Cake

When you think of blue, you often will think of the winter months full of frost, snow and cool tones. With dusty and subdue pallets becoming a trend in the past year, soft blue is having a gorgeous moment not only in the winter months, but shining in the lineup this Spring alongside wedding veterans such as navy blue, dark green, and blushing pinks.

From a casual beach wedding to a an elegant southern formal— this cool tone is an easy color to pair and blend to any decor. With our watercolor wedding suite acting as the backdrop for this breezy affair, I imagine this romantic early spring wedding full of this soft, blue hue emphasized in the flowers, table linens and even the cake. Accompanied by lush greens, moody golds and dark blues this soft blue will help move your event out of the cool of the winter and breath a breath of fresh air into your spring affair.

Modern Thanksgiving Table Inspiration

When thinking about Thanksgiving, it had me dreaming about the whole holiday season. I thought it would be fun to imagine a table that could transition from Thanksgiving day  to a more universal table for the winter season. 

To add dimension and a special touch, each napkin was wrapped in gold bakers twine with lavender and a watercolor leaf with the word "thankful".

I love the idea of mixing patterns and using the nontraditional fall color of blue to create a fun modern Thanksgiving table. This table and many of the elements could transition to a winter/Christmas table with some simple color and floral changes through out the season. (I'm thinking maybe wine colored tapers and adding glittery baubles among the pine cones).

To keep the warmth of Fall present and the table relevant to Thanksgiving, I included warm metallics like the gold chargers, flatware and the brass candle holders.

To include the theme throughout the room, I added a simple chalk-board sign to the sideboard pulling in the florals and pinecone. These signs are perfect to quickly change simple greetings, add a favorite holiday drink menu, or keep score for a family game after dinner!

Decoration:

Calligraphy: Lina Lulu Paperie | Dinner Plates  | Bowls | Salad Plates | Silverware | Table Runner from T.J. Maxs | Place Mats (Similar) | Brass Candle Holders (Family Heirloom ) Simular Item | Blue Glass Candle Holders (Family Heirloom ) Similar Item | Pine Cones | Napkins,Target Dollar Section | Chalk Sign, Target Dollar Section | Wooden Server

Traditional Thanksgiving Table Inspiration

When I think of a traditional Thanksgiving, I think of warm Fall colors (like brown, red and orange), leaves and happy turkeys. Those thoughts became the inspiration for this traditional Thanksgiving table, including almost all my favorite fall items.

To add a special touch to each guests seat, I included a custom coaster doubling as a name card. Underneath the name card, I placed a peice of paper that each guest could jot down what they were thankful for as a keepsake and reminder for the year to come. 

Filling the table with pumpkins gives a fun nod to the bounty of the first Thanksgiving pictures of the event often depicts. I chose silver plates and silverware to offset the warm tones reflected in the placemats, pumpkins, acorns and pinecones.

Calligraphy : Lina Lulu Paperie | Table Runner, TJ Maxs | Silver Ware | China Setting | Napkins, TJ Maxs | Wooden Coasters | Pine Cones | Acorns | Glass Candle Holders | Fairy Lights

Styled Shoot: Being Joy Photography at Venue 5126

I met Joy this summer at a local wedding gathering and instantly loved her spirit and vibe. I then proceeded to fall in love with her style and gorgeous photos! She invited me to be a part of an amazing team assembled to create a gorgeous boho inspired shoot  at Venue 5126 in Oswego, Illinois. 

Finding the right mix of modern, boho, and romantic was my aim as I created a simple but sophisticated wedding suite for this shoot. A combination of hand drawn botanicals, calligraphy and gold embossing become the perfect mix to produce a wild and tame feeling all in one.

The Incredible Vendor team included: Photography, Being Joy Photography  | Venue and Props, Venue 5126. | Flowers, Ashland and Addison, RJPdesigns | Gowns, Victoria Sdoukos Couture. | Hair, Hair By Dorthi. | Make-Up, Alana G | Models, Gabija Guzauskaite and Whitman Johnson

Dream Patio

Summer is so close! With our move to a new apartment last Fall we gained a patio space. I must say this was one thing I felt was lacking in our old apartment. With the days getting warmer, I can't stop dreaming about what our patio will look like and spending time there! Here are a few dream patios of mine...

String of Pink Light | Chair | Pillow | Rug | Table | Gold Plant Stands | Black Plant Stand

I have been loving the fun black and white trend with a pop of color. I'll be honest, I don't love the color pink. Look at that lounge chair though! I love the scallops and the way it would pops with so many black and white accents. Just imagine the space filled with leafy palms and how the soft light would look at twilight bouncing off the gold plant stands. Dreamy!

Lounge Sofa | Teal Pillow | Bird Pillow | Outdoor Rug | Side Table | Hanging Planters | Ferry Lights | Geometric Lantern

My second dream patio mixes fun patterns and the ease of the boho trend. Pulling in more bright colors, beautiful wicker lounge chairs, and teases of copper and gold—this space would be great for relaxing on any day of the week. I love the idea of hanging plants to give a "surrounded" feel to the patio, but creating more foot space. Wouldn't it also be fun to fill that pretty geometric lantern with fairy lights?

I'm still figuring out what would fit in our smaller patio space (as well as in our budget), but I'll keep looking around and combining my dream patios till I find my "can't part with "pieces. 

Portfolio: Nursery Calligraphy Art

I loved getting to work on this set of verses for Mama-to-be, Kara, for her nursery. They were both  18" x 18" squares with a matte gold ink. I loved how they turned out and hope they will bless this new family for years to come. 

Holiday Craft Shows: Part One

The winter selling season kicked off for me with the start of holiday craft shows starting a few weekends ago. Who else is excited for this Christmas season?

I first went up to Milwaukee, WI to be apart of the Re:Craft and Relic craft fair. With about 80+ vendors—there was was everything from book art, to jewelry, to great woodworking and home goods. I found myself on the outskirts of the typical item being sold (as the show had an emphasis on recycled art and antiques), but had a great turnout to my booth. Saturday morning for a few dollars more, you could buy a "buyers pass" that got you into the fair an hour earlier than the public and you received a cute tote bag and $10 credit to spend. What a fantastic idea! I couldn't help myself in looking around and snagged some beautiful Christmas stockings made from old sweaters. I can't wait to hang them up in hour home. 

My second weekend of shows took me and my husband up to Three Oaks, Michigan to the Journeyman Distillery Fall Artisan Market. The fair itself was held on the second floor of a massive old factory that has been repurposed to hold the Journeyman Distillery and Staymaker Restaurant. It was a beautiful space and I kept dreaming of what event I could possibly have there. With strung lights and beautiful wooden floors—the holiday mood was definitely set as the snow fell and shoppers came to browse. It was also a plus they had a fabulous cocktail bar open all day featuring the distilleries finest.

My last show of the season will in good ol' Chicago at the Renegade Holiday Market at the Bridgeport Arts Center. To find out more check out my events page ad I hope to see you there!

Color Companion : Spring Florals, Anthropologie

Flowers are great any time of the year and Springtime is their time to shine! I love the variety and stylization that floral prints take on. I couldn't narrow it down to  one type (because I love SO many!), I decide to narrow it down to one company. Anthropologie is dreamy unto itself, but then you add all the floral's and BOOM - a slice of paradise. I especially am excited for the Paper Crown & Rifle Paper Company collaboration line ( lower bottom left).

I love the variety of florals they always have in store. From their clothes to their home goods, everything looks good with a little floral splash - am I right?  How do you use florals?  Are they everywhere or do you limit them to just clothes?

Clockwise: Chair | Wallpaper | Bedspread | Dress

Giveaway Time!

It feels like I have piles of work to share you all! With the rush of the holiday season, it seems this little space has been put on the back burner. With 2015 coming swiftly, I know one of my resolutions will be to put more time into updating my work.

On that same note, my dear friend from high school, Meredith Bazzoli, has written up a lovely piece on the coming of the new year and resolutions for 2015 over on her blog , Very Revealing. To accompany her fantastic post, I have worked with her on the print you see above as a fun giveaway to spark you on the road to keeping your resolutions for the new year!

Meredith writes in a matter of fact, down to earth style infused with humor that will make you feel like you have been friends for years. To enter the giveaway, jump over to Very Revealing and subscribe to her new series, Revealing Resolutions.

The new year is already being to look up!