To show or not to show? That is the question.

So, I've been tossing around the idea of doing a stationary show for, oh, about 3 years now.  I think I have an extreme lack of confidence when it comes to my own work, as my mother so nicely pointed out.  I've decided though, pending my husbands agreement, that the time has come.  I'll never really be able to pursue this as a business, if I don't take it as seriously as one.  You have to invest money to make money, right? 

So, here goes nothing!  Since the Great Bridal Expo in Baltimore, MD is in September, my goal is to complete at least one (but hopefully 2) invitations every day from here until then.  Now, obviously, if I can make an invite, I can make a response/menu/table number card etc. also, but I'm not sure if I should make some as samples as well, or not.  Oh, what to do.  I also know that I need to have a website up and  running if I am to do this show, otherwise people will have no where to follow up (except here of course).  I plan on continuing this regardless, at the very least just to chronicle my journey into the business world. 

So anyway, here are my newest...

For the above, I was trying to catch the feeling of spring.  I don't know that I'm completely "sold" on it yet.  I think there are a few things that I'd like to tweak before I'll call it complete, but overall I think its a good start and will really appeal to people with a love of pastels.  Seeing it in person, you really feel like spring is in the air!  (Even though, technically summer is in the air!!).

This one I am VERY happy with.  Right now the real rustic style wedding is big... mason jars, clothes pins, a "woodsy" feel.  I think these invites really capture that feel.  I have a few tricks up my sleeve to make this even more perfect, but for that simple look, for a bride that doesn't want too much, this is it.

I hope you like, and I LOOOOOOOVE feedback and ideas.  Even though I'm making all these samples up (strictly so I have stuff to display when the time comes), I  do plan on making this a total custom process.  I love the idea of someone having certain ideas in mind, and me being able to bring them to life.  Its an honor to be able to do that.  It really is.  My only regret is that I've waited so long.  Shame on me!

Another Day, Another Wedding

So, now that I've finished the "Courtney" invitation, I'd like to share some pictures from another GORGEOUS wedding.  My sisters.  Hers evolved into another DIY/vintage wedding.  Her dress was worn by our Aunts & Mother over 30 years ago.  A few minor adjustments and it became the dress of her dreams.  It was simply stunning.

Here is wedding central the weekend before her wedding (we were more prepared this time around then we were for mine)...

As you can see, my parents have a pretty large kitchen, but we had NO problem filling it up.  My sisters wedding was SOOOOOOO different from mine, yet equally as beautiful in different ways.  She used a lot of whites and greens, moss, anything found in nature really.  It didn't originally start that way, but turned into something so beautiful. 

This is the flower girl basket she created taking just a dark wooden bucket, purchased from Goodwill I believe, and covered it in moss, roses, carnations, babies breath and that really pretty yellow filler (i'll have to look up the name). 

These are the table numbers I made for her.  I found a really cool font that I fell in love with immediately, and so we printed on a 60lb cardstock in a sienna color, burnt the edges (yay fire!), took some "woodwire" (I believe she got it at Michaels... its basically a wire wrapped in a brown string).  The bottom half of the table numbers are made from styrofoam and wrapped in moss.  I might be partial, but I think they came out beautifully!

This is her Table Tree.  We used the same 60lb ecru cardstock as we used for the table numbers, labeled each one and then included the guests names so they knew where to sit.  Once they were done, we attached moss at random to each card, and attached the card to sticks at varying height to make a "tree".  The picture really doesn't do it justice.  It was quite stunning!

Here are her menu cards, using that same lovely font, a few scrolls and listing all the wonderful food we'd be enjoying that evening (YUMMMM).  A tan satin ribbon topped with a wax seal bearing a script T finished it off.  Did I mention it was GORGEOUS?

Of course, I have to include these just because these kids were so darn cute!  The littlest boy is my son (not that I'm proud or anything!).  The wagon belons to my parents next door neighbor and was quite literally taken straight from the dirt in their garden the day before.  The kids felt so cool hanging out in that wagon!

Now, of course, I had to feature the bride and groom.  How horrible of a sister would I be if I didn't.  I also need to give my sister credit for helping me finish all 100 of my handpainted invitations for MY wedding.  I doubt I ever would have finished them with out her.. especially since we also did 100 response cards and all the place cards and all the table numbers.  Yes, I experience a few psycho moments before my wedding.  

And now, for the unveiling of my newest invitation... The Courtney!

This was my first attempt at a Dahlia, and I love it!!! Even more importantly, the bride LOVES it!  I can't wait to post a picture of the entire suite once its finished!!!