I know. I haven't posted in absolutely forever! I've been just a bit busy in final prep and then enjoying our daughter's woodsy wedding in Sunriver, Oregon. The bride and groom wanted to have the ceremony in a wooded, magical location. It turned out to be just what they dreamed. More photos later!
Why I'm obsessed with book-lover weddings I don't know. Maybe because it seems like such a simple theme with so many possible directions to go. Some city libraries would be stunning receptions sites, and old Dewey Decimal system drawers and cards could be used in a variety of ways. And that odd and never-finished paperback book that you bought for 50 cents? Turn it into a bouquet of flowers! My daughter and I saw a similar book arrangement to the one above on a wedding blog and she said, "let's do that!". So I did. These books will sit on a side table with the wedding programs coming out of the drawer. And one of those books is... Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus! I crack myself up!
What's RED and WHITE? (The wines that ladies will be tasting at 2pm!) And GREEN all over?(The margaritas that start to pour at 6pm!)Once again I have created an invitation to a really fabulous party! If only I had the stamina to start with wine tasting followed by a fun fiesta and margaritas. Sounds like the perfect way to launch someone into their 40's!
Are you having friends over or are you like us and have an invitation to a fun barbecue followed by a top notch view of some fireworks? Either way a centerpiece floral display or floral hostess gift is on the list of things to do, create, make, or buy! I gathered some roses from my cutting garden and purchased some blue thistle (that is bursting with fun) and created an arrangement. I printed up a patriotic tag and it's good to go! The sweet husband is in charge of the gourmet baked beans. Yay! Happy Independence Day!
There's something about these invitations that communicate "super fun party ahead!" My most recent order for these is for an upcoming bridal shower. With some fun emailing of ideas back and forth with my client we decided to "girly" them up with the bright pink paper background and that certainly gave them a different look. What has surprised me the most is how far and wide across the globe people enjoy a Mexican Fiesta theme for a party. Recently I had an inquiry from someone in Ireland that is planning a Fiesta themed wedding. Ireland? Really? Love it!
Do you remember the wedding reception dream scene of "Father of the Bride" George Banks, played by Steve Martin? Such a classic guy idea! My husband would love the same thing. He would be having a wonderful time at his daughter's wedding gnawing on ribs with barbecue sauce all over his face. I, on the other hand, have something all together different in mind. So a compromise is a Father of the Bride BBQ the night before the wedding. Originally I wanted it in the classic red and white checked tablecloth theme but when my daughter saw a photo of a yellow and white checked cloth she said "I want that!" The more I thought about it the more I liked it so this is part inspiration board, part reality for the barbecue. So it's yellow and white and black with lawn games, lemonade and buttons too. I want that yellow wooden box real bad!
Our mailbox is rarely filled with excitement. When Christmas is approaching there might be a fabulous catalog or two to tempt me but that's about it. That's why I like to use a colored envelope or an envelope that has something fun or even quirky printed on the outside to get the recipient excited from the moment they pick up their mail. I recently got an order for these fun fiesta invitations for an engagement party and I decided it was time to really jazz up the envelope. I hope you get a fun envelope in the mail real soon!
As promised, here are the bookmark favors that will also be used as escort cards at an upcoming wedding. Yes, that purple wedding! The bride and groom both love to read and so they thought a way to share that with their dearest friends would be with a bookmark. The table number is on a separate little paper that can easily be removed after the party is over. And we thought a variety would be a fun way to go too!
For book lovers that want to bring their favorite diversion into their wedding I've got a few ideas. I have printed this couple's damask theme onto vellum with a shimmery lavender background. A couple eyelets and ribbon and museum putty to adhere it to the books and their table numbers are ready to go! Another table number option is to use pages from old books to cover a piece of cover weight paper (folded sandwich board style) and add the table number in ribbon of the color theme. I wish I had some lightweight wooden numbers in my workroom because I think they could be painted black and glued to the book page background.And let's not forget the desert bar or the cocktail bar or any other table that might need a little explanation or instruction. In the lower photo I glued some book pages onto an easel back and printed on a piece of vellum "Let them eat cake" and used silk ribbon to hold the vellum onto the pages.I've got some lovely bookmark escort cards to share next that will go so nicely with any of these ideas. Oh, there are so many book lover options out there!
It is Spring so I started some Spring cleaning and organizing too. I ran across a few of the San Francisco shopping trip goodies that I've done in the past. Ahhh, great memories. The first trips that I coordinated were actually fundraiser auction trips and then I started organizing them for getaways with girlfriends. I always put together the itinerary so everyone knows what we're doing and where we're going, and most importantly what restaurants we'll be eating at! I also put together little breakfast snack bags for the shoppers to eat on the plane. And of course some luggage tags. I have quite a fun collection of them.
Last week I had my hands all over these purple and lavender invitations. I think the color purple must have invaded my brain too. I say this because last week I was with a group of friends that commented on my purple sweater that matched the purple pen and purple notebook in my hands. And then when my cell phone rang they noted that my cell phone cover is purple as well! I'm so glad that I left my purple handbag at home!Nevertheless, this wedding will no doubt have some of the prettiest flowers in shades of purple and lavender. And speaking of shades of purple flowers, I can't wait for our wisteria to bloom! I can see the buds already!
Quick and easy is what I needed for a centerpiece last night. Since the menu was Mexican food the flowers needed to be bright and cheery. A quick trip to my favorite flower market for some happy Gerbera daisies and some filler fun and I was ready to create something. With three rectangular glass vases (that I paid $2 a piece for!) I had decided that I needed three flower colors as well as three matching ribbon colors. The ribbon haphazardly wrapped around the vases was a quick way to camouflage the not-so-pretty stems and made the vases look a bit flirty. Of course all my Talavera pottery pieces came out for the night too and really completed the fiesta fell.
