Paper and Thread

Blog Move

2010-07-05T21:56:00.001-07:00

Thanks so much for checking out my blog. For all future posts and photographs of Paper and Thread's latest creations, please visit http://paperandthreadblog.com/

Custom Personalized Stationery Notecards

2010-06-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

These custom note cards were inspired by Anthopologie curtains and were created for that gift recipient who "has everything". They feature an abstract flower design with an eyelet embellishment in the center. Of course, the set wouldn't be complete without a coordinating envelope liner using the same deep navy flower motif.

Custom Photo Book: Father's Day Present

2010-06-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

Working on this custom photo book was such a joy for two reasons: the adorable little girl it features and the beautiful photography by Amy Squires that captures her joy. Paper and Thread will now be offering custom photo books to our list of services.

Custom Train Birthday Invitations

2010-06-15T12:36:00.000-07:00

My sweet son is all about the trains. He loves making every train sound, loves riding on trains, pushing them around, and just talking about trains makes my little guy happy. So, it was a no brainer birthday party theme for his 2nd birthday..."Choo Choo, I'm Two"

For his invitations, we printed the text and tracks on grey linen cardstock, which is mounted on chipboard that's been wrapped with vintage-inspired train fabric. To brighten them up a bit and make the grandmas happy, I created a ticket from his picture to adhere to the back of the invitation.

Rustic Yet Pretty Camping Theme Wedding Photo Shoot: Orange County Invitations

2010-06-07T20:40:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of Jesi Haack Weddings. I love everything she creates, and I mean really creates as in crafts with her own hands, which I can sincerely appreciate. For this design challenge photo shoot, she created the concept of a couple that loves camping, but still wants a pretty wedding. After processing her idea I got to my own creating with the paper goods. It all started with the hiking trail invitation, a theme that's carried throughout the stationery. The menus were paper sleeping bags complete with flannel lining. Jesi created a 'smore station for each guest, so the place card is a skewer with plaid flannel and the guest's name.

I had so much fun creating these pieces and it was such an honor to work with such a talented group of creatives. Thank you so much to Gabriel and Carly Ryan for the beautiful pictures.

The team:

Design/Concept: Jesi Haack

Photography: Gabriel Ryan Photography

Floral Design: JL Designs

Cake: My Sweet and Saucy

Stationery: Yours Truly...Paper and Thread Studio

Unique Chipboard Business Cards

2010-06-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some business cards we printed for the photographer Lane Dittoe. His image and branding were so pretty that it was fun to rough it up a bit using extra thick chipboard, which as an added bonus is 100% recycled. If you haven't already, be sure to check out Lane's work. It's soft and romantic, while still being crisp and timeless.

Thanks Lane for letting me play around with your business cards.

Bridal Shower Thank You Cards: Orange County Stationery

2010-06-06T13:00:00.000-07:00

These sweet folded note cards were created as part of a gift for my best friend's bridal shower. The concept for the wedding is a garden full of cheerful yellow flowers.

Hawaiian Wedding Reception Stationery

2010-05-31T22:26:00.000-07:00

While working on these day-of stationery pieces to coordinate with the invitation suite we created, I couldn't help but imagine what a beautiful wedding this will be. I can't wait to see the professional pictures. Kauai is already so beautiful, and I'm sure the Princeville Resort is equally as exquisite, and it just happens to be taking place on my birthday. We were lucky enough to contribute a few little pieces to that beauty: menus, hanging programs, escort cards, favor donation tags, and table numbers. Perhaps the most important are the escort cards, which not only show guests where they're seated, but each guest's meal choice is identified with a different symbol. The palm leaf signified a vegetarian dish, a flower for chicken, and a fish for fish of course. This is a budget friendly idea when doing a seated plate because it eliminates the need for place cards, while still serving a purpose to the wait staff.

Thanks again Jessica, and congratulations to you and your growing family.

Tree Horoscope Accordion Programs

2010-05-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

This sweet bride was the guest at one of my previous client's weddings and fell in love with the programs. So much in love, that we started working on them a good nine months before the wedding. I love brides who plan early.

The traditional accordion folded programs are enhanced with a stitched paper pocket that hold a foldout tree horoscope. Your guests look up their birthday and corresponding tree and it gives them their supposed personality traits. The original bride who used these found it on Martha Stewart weddings, but we were able to modify the design to fit with all the other program wording.

In case you were wondering, I'm a hornbeam tree, which has the qualities "good taste, not egotistical, looks for kindness and acknowledgement, makes life as comfortable as possible, and mistrusts most people."

A Growing Family's Baby Shower: San Diego Invitations

2010-05-23T14:26:00.001-07:00

What better way to invite guests to a baby shower, than with a growing tree theme.

These sweet baby shower invitations are designed based on the couple's nursery decor, which is one of my favorite ways to gain design inspiration. They're using a light teal and chocolate brown and having a tree mural painted on one of the walls.

Nautical "Wedding" for the Style Lab

2010-05-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that I love everything that the Wedding Chicks do. Add in some Chenin Boutwell and Amanda Auer with In the Now Weddings, and it gets even more amazing. Chenin and Amy and Jocey (the wedding chicks themselves) put on a photography workshop a couple of times a year. The photographers in attendance were then able to put their skills to work with a mock wedding that was styled by In the Now Weddings. The concept was Nantucket Nautical and Amanda and all the talented vendors hit it on the head with the design. Rope topiaries, could you ask for more?

We designed the fabric folio invitation, which uses rope to hold the enclosure cards and a modern navy fabric as the cover and invitation backer. The knot was a motif we wanted to keep consistent, so it was used on the invitation, the favor tags, and the menu. We also created branding for the couple, which Amanda cleverly transferred to the coffee sleeves, which serve as additional guest favors. The signs were based on the "Keep Calm and Carry On" British propaganda posters, which I just happen to have taped to my monitor at all times.

For the full post and list of participating vendors, please click here

I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves, but it was such an honor to be included in this project and to have the one and only Chenin Boutwell photograph my work.

Stitched Love Notes on Style Me Pretty

2010-05-17T13:09:00.000-07:00

When the ever-adorable Katie Neal asked me to be a part of a "day-after" photography session for her dear friend, I was of course honored and excited to get to work. The couple have actually been married for several years, but weren't happy with their wedding portraits, so Katie decided to remedy that.

Since there wasn't a tablescape, we had to be a bit creative with our use of paper. I created these simple and sweet stitched love notes and tags that the couple opened and read during the shoot. As I often say, inspiration often comes when I'm at the fabric store. I saw these vintage-inspired hankies and knew I had to use them somehow, so they are the backs of the tags and fit the color palette of navy, purple and light pink perfectly.

And aren't the flowers amazing. So simple, yet I could never do it. Leigh Anne of The Floral Lab rocked it yet again with her floral design talent.

Click here to see the rest of the post over on Style Me Pretty.

An Amazing Talent

2010-05-03T20:44:00.001-07:00

My son is almost 2 and one thing I've been wanting to do since his birth is family portraits. Being in the wedding industry, I see so many talented photographers, but when I met Lane Dittoe, I knew he was just something different. First off, he shoots in film. I think that's part of the reason I love the way his photographs look; they're just softer than digital with lots of processing. It also doesn't hurt that he is a super nice guy. Lane, we cannot thank you enough for so beautifully documenting our family. Click here to see the full post from Lane's blog.

My hair and makeup is always a stresser, so Erica from 1011 Makeup, graciously came over to my house to make me up. Talk about sweet. I was so comfortable in her hands and she didn't even seem to mind one bit that a toddler was trying to get into her makeup goodies. She traveled to my house in Fallbrook, and travels all over San Diego, Orange, and Riverside counties.

Book Theme Baby Shower Invitations

2010-04-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

For 4 years we lived in a 1930s beach bungalow. It was where we started our family, where we made lifelong friends, and where I discovered my love for vintage details. Looking back, the house and yard were way too small, but one of the main reasons we fell in love with the house and eventually bought it were the original details: hex tiles in the bathroom, glass knobs, and who doesn't love a floor furnace (just kidding about that one) Well, I miss those little hex tiles and so decided to bring them back for their design debut on these baby shower invitations.

New Business Card Design

2010-04-29T15:34:00.000-07:00

Confession: at the last wedding industry event I attended, I conveniently forgot my business cards in the car. Truth be told, I was embarrassed by them. I liked the design, but the paper quality was not quite my style. I even upgraded the paper to "high quality", but I guess this online print company's high quality and my idea of high quality paper differ greatly. I corner rounded them and tried to stitch on them, but they just were never anything I was proud of. So, I finally had my local printer print a trial run on 100% cotton 110lb thick cardstock, and I'm pretty much in love. Of course I had to add a little decorative stitching to the bottom edge.

Vineyard Day of Stationery

2010-04-27T14:44:00.001-07:00

I'm not going to lie, it's a little sad sending these on their way to my sweet bride in Delaware. It's been such a pleasure working with her and I just love the entire suite that we were able to create for her winery wedding.

We used swirling shades of a purple vine throughout the invitations, table numbers, programs, and escort cards to create a romantic vibe without going cliche vineyard theme. The programs have a unique touch; instead of a simple card or booklet, they are housed in a stitched purple pocket.

Cheers to Samira and Jimi!

Custom Save the Dates

2010-04-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

This adorable couple came to our consultation each bearing their own drawings of how they envisioned their save the dates. He was clean lines and modern and she wanted a bit of whimsy and a vintage feel. The end result is a playful mix of fonts aligned to create crisp edges and of course their sweet picture.

A Great Cause and A Great Deal

2010-04-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

Are you considering custom invitations from Paper and Thread Studio? If so, and you'd like to get a great deal and have 100% of that money go towards a local woman in need, head on over to REVOweddings. This organization was started by a few San Diego wedding vendors who got together to help one of their own who is battling cancer. This is a matter dear to my own heart and family, so I jumped at the chance to donate my services. Up for bid is a custom wedding invitation suite, which includes 100 sets of invitations, response cards and envelopes. The value is placed at $600 and the opening bid is only $200. There aren't any bids so far, and I'm really looking forward to working with the winning bidder. (Note: The listing says 50 invitations, but it should read 100.)

Garden Bridal Shower Invitations

2010-04-18T18:11:00.001-07:00

This bridal shower is being held at a stunning estate in Orange County. The hostesses wanted the invitation to reflect that elegance, while still feeling bright and summery, and of course coordinating with the future wedding design details.

Orfila Vineyards Bridal Fair

2010-04-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

I was recently honored with an invitation to display Paper and Thread's pieces at Orfila Vineyard's first Bridal Fair. The initial challenge of the event was the display. We had to get a little creative, call in for reinforcements, and nurse a couple blisters from the hours spent making paper flowers. It all turned out great and we received a ton of compliments on our display. It was a little windy, so you can't see both of my "As seen on" signs. My sweet father had the idea of making little signs that showed how my invitations were featured on Style Me Pretty and The Wedding Chicks. Hanging those signs gave me a little feeling of "wow, I'm kind of making it."

If I were planning my wedding, this would have been an event worth attending for sure. What better way to chat with wedding vendors than with a beautiful vineyard setting and a glass of wine in your hand. It was truly a lovely day and made me love what I do even more. Chatting with engaged couples, brides, and mothers of the brides about their ideas for their day reignited the enthusiasm I have for the wedding industry. A huge special thanks to my assistant for the day; Marissa, you rock and I'm so lucky to have you as a friend.

Enjoying the gifts

2010-04-13T12:43:00.000-07:00

(Image by MKP Images)

I just wanted to reflect for a minute about one of my ever-present goals. It is to focus on the present and whatever act I'm doing at the moment, do it well and with intention. For me this means reading a book with my toddler without also checking my phone, or having one client's designs rule my computer screen without any internet windows open. It also is what led to my decision to leave my career in teaching to focus on this stationery business. Whatever I do, I really like to do well, and when I was designing invitations, teaching high schoolers, and being a mom and wife, I realized I wasn't able to excel in any of them because I was doing too many things. This was all inspired by a post on The Zen of Doing that I found through Sage Wedding Pros that quoted the zen proverb:

"When walking walk; when eating, eat."

If you are a wedding vendor, I highly recommend the Sage Wedding Pros blog. Sometimes I swear she can see my desk or thoughts because the posts are so spot-on.

Custom Sock Monkey Birthday Invitations

2010-04-11T07:30:00.000-07:00

These might be some of my favorite custom children's invitations yet. I "met" Colleen, the mama of this sweet boy, on Twitter because she just happens to be a super talented photographer. She asked for subtle sock monkey. So, we used sock monkey fabric to make a flat button that is stitched along the top along with two adorable pictures of the birthday boy. The invitation is backed with chipboard and the envelope is lined with a sock monkey knit pattern.

Happy Birthday Rowan!

Elegant Hawaiian Affair Invitations

2010-03-28T23:14:00.000-07:00

For this custom wedding suite, the bride wanted an elegant yet casual feel to her invitations for her wedding on the island of Kauai. The end result of our collaboration was a swirling orchid motif in shades of blush pink and chocolate brown. The invitation and enclosure cards are housed in a dark brown linen pocketfold, which stays closed with a stitched belly band and custom monogram. The envelopes are all hand lined with a coordinating design printed on shimmer paper and each guests address is printed in the same font as the script on the invitation, and they are finished off with custom stamps designed to match her wedding suite.

Pinch Me, I'm on Style Me Pretty

2010-03-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up to the news that a photo shoot I worked on with Summer of Grey Likes Weddings was featured on Style Me Pretty. To even say those words is beyond amazing to me. I've admired so many of the stationers whose pieces are on this inspirational website, and to be among them, well, let's just say I teared up a little this morning.

It was such an honor to work with the visionary stylist, Summer Watkins. She sent interior design inspiration images and just trusted me to do something fun with the paper. We then came together on the day of the shoot and it was truly amazing to see her vision come to life. The florals from The Vines Leaf were stunning. Then when I saw the pictures from T&H Photography, I was even more impressed. Please click here to see the rest of the post.

The Process

2010-03-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

I'm picky. I'm a picky eater and drinker. My coffee has to be hot, so I spend the better part of my morning in front of the microwave reheating it. I order tacos without lettuce and cheeseburgers just the meat, cheese, and bun. I'm also picky in the sense that I like to pick things, and I sometimes get carried away in the calmness that comes from these repetitive actions. Next time you're stressed, try picking weeds :)

This translates to my stationery pieces when I have to apply adhesive to 4 sides of 300 pages and perfectly place each one of its mounting, and I still find myself enjoying what I'm doing. I thought it would be fun to share the behind the scenes process of an average-sized order. These save the date luggage tags are for the grand opening celebration of an airport in Florida.

1) Print and cut all pieces.

2) Adhere the fronts and backs of each tag. Each card is then trimmed and the top corners are cut.

3) Measure center, punch holes, insert and set grommet.

4) Cut suede cording to size and thread through each grommet.

5) Final product with all its subtle picky details :)

Baby and Toddler Fair

2010-03-17T13:31:00.001-07:00

Moms, if you live in the area of North County San Diego, you must check out Babies in Bloom. (Funny side note: I originally discovered this store after my sweet dog chewed my breast pump parts and I needed emergency replacements) They carry organic and all-natural products for babies and toddlers and have really great gift items.

This Saturday, the 20th, they are celebrating their business birthday. To celebrate, they're having a vendor fair from 10-1, a raffle to raise money for the Tri-City NICU, and a concert from Hullabaloo at 1pm. Come on by and say hello to the Paper and Thread table; we even have some cute goodies to give away.

DIY Table Numbers

2010-03-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

If you haven't checked out The Wedding Chicks, where have you been? But seriously, these table numbers were actually originally used for my good friend's wedding. I created some new ones with one of the chicks, Amy. You can check out the full DIY here. This is the start of a little "fabric in unexpected ways" DIY series. Keep your eye out for more fun DIY projects and start your own hunt for that perfect fabric. I always find the best fabric in quilting stores, plus it's a way to support your local brick and mortar businesses.

Destination Wedding Accordion Programs

2010-03-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that while I was making these beach-inspired wedding programs, I was wishing for my own vacation. This wedding is taking place on a white sandy beach in the Dominican Republic. How beautiful is that? And how jealous am I? The bride like the papaya color of the Kerry program, but wanted the band to be a little more "beachy" feeling. So, I used a pool backer and printed the couple's names on lemon-lime laid cardstock. The textured lines of the paper along with the free form stitching give it that laid-back beach feel.

Congratulations to Courtney and Jon! May your wedding day be all you envisioned and more.

Modern Elephant Baby Shower Invitations

2010-03-09T06:30:00.000-08:00

San Diego is a pretty perfect place to live, but there's one thing that could make it better...a fabric store that carried Japanese imports, like this sweet elephant canvas that I picked up while visiting the in-laws in Santa Cruz.

These sweet 5x7 baby shower invitations are printed on a light green shimmer paper and mounted on recycled kraft cardstock. The fabric adorns the top and gives the invitation that little something different.

A big congratulations to Shannon and her growing family, and of course a huge thank you to the lovely party hostess for trusting me completely with the design.

Goings On

2010-03-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

Just a little snippet of what's on the production table.

envelope addressing made easy

2010-03-01T23:04:00.000-08:00

There is nothing that can top the effect of hand-drawn, beautiful calligraphy. The way the ink sits atop the envelope lets your guests know that they are in for a truly splendid affair. However, more and more brides cannot afford this service, which usually starts around $2.00 per envelope. Rather than have labels that appear to be meant for an office or sloppy handwriting, Paper and Thread is now offering envelope addressing. We can match the typeface used on your invitation suite or there are several other fonts from which to choose. Contact us today for a custom quote.

The Love Nest

2010-02-28T19:56:00.000-08:00

If you're a bride and want to join a fun community of other brides and grooms planning their wedding, check out the Love Nest on my favorite wedding website, The Wedding Chicks. It's a great place to share and gain inspiration without having to have your own blog out in the la-la land of the web. Plus, the real wedding chicks, Amy and Jocey, are some pretty cool chicks.

Be sure to let me know if you join; they're having a little contest for vendors :)

Photo Shoot Sneak Preview

2010-02-21T19:19:00.000-08:00

Last week, Paper and Thread had the opportunity to create the paper goodies for a Wedding Chicks photo shoot. The adorable and talented pair of Carter and Cook took the design lead and style the entire shoot based on Jessica Claire's vision of buttons and the color yellow. We had one meeting where C&C shared their inspiration board and then we all went away and created our pieces. A couple of weeks later, we met up and it all just fit together perfectly. I can't wait to share the rest of the shoot, but for now, here's one of Jessica's shots from the day.

Vintage Fabric Inspired Design

2010-02-19T14:21:00.000-08:00

I went into town today only to discover another fabric store. Yay for me and for this small town to have 2 fabric stores! It's actually more of a knitting store, but the bolts of fabric they had were calling my name.

The fabric provides the wrap for the invitation and response card and is the inspiration behind the floral design on the cards themselves. I also created a coordinating envelope liner using a scanned image of the fabric.

This invitation suite is a custom design. Please contact us if you'd like something designed just for you.

a few of my favorite things

2010-02-18T16:42:00.000-08:00

It's nice to know such a talented floral designer as Leigh Anne with The Floral Lab. After a day spent in the sun and car, her creation still looks lovely in my home. This was only part of her floral display for a recent photo shoot for The Wedding Chicks, shot by Jessica Claire, an amazing photographer. Her blog has a sneak peak of the day and includes a Paper and Thread piece.

My other favorite thing, my growing milk glass collection.

90th Birthday Invitations

2010-02-16T17:39:00.000-08:00

I may overuse the phrase, but I'm so lucky to be designing event stationery. In one day I was making invitations for a little girl's first birthday and then later creating these 90th birthday invites. We used a vintage photograph of the lady of honor and infused a floral theme throughout the cards, as that is one of her passions. And her grandchildren are throwing her this surprise birthday party; how cute is that?

Inspiration

2010-02-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

To narrow down the inspiration behind Paper and Thread to one blog post was way more difficult than I imagined, but turned out to be a nice break from the evening's corner rounding and invitation assembly. I have Victoria at SF Girl By Day to thank for the brains behind Blog it Forward. Basically each day 9 scheduled bloggers post and link to the next blogger. This time around the topic is "what inspires you".

I feel blessed to be among some very creative minds and encourage you to check out the blogging chain. The previous post was from Papers & Packages and tomorrow's will be Paris Hotel Boutique.

(bathroom image via decorpad)

1...my surroundings. While my bathroom doesn't look anything like that, a girl can dream, right? And why not create some paper goods based on those design elements. Where I live and create also plays into the design process. The bottom image is the view from my studio and where I often find myself looking during design pauses. And of course, my family is the biggest inspiration and most important surrounding.

(images via amazon and Read Simple)
2...magazines. While I do frequently visit wedding and design blogs, there's nothing better than buying a magazine that catches your eye and flipping through real pages. I especially love the way Surfer's Journal uses color on their covers.

(fabrics from Hart's Fabric in Santa Cruz, CA and online)

3...fabric. The colors, the texture, the whimsy...there's really nothing more to say other than when I see fabric it makes me want to use it in creative ways.

Cupcake Birthday Invitations

2010-02-14T13:23:00.001-08:00

What an honor to make these sweet cupcake invitations for a first birthday. They are printed on white linen cardstock and mounted on dark pink shimmer paper, corner rounded, and finished off with a cupcake embellishment. (These invitations are sold through Paper and Thread's Etsy storefront)

Save the Date Boarding Pass

2010-02-08T15:50:00.000-08:00

Katie came to me with the idea of creating a boarding pass for her Hawaii wedding this summer. She wanted a palm tree and greens and blues. The end result is a size 10 plane ticket with a perforated stub containing the pertinent information for guests to keep.

The bride and groom created a free wedding website through theknot.com , but the problem was the URL was not very aesthetically pleasing on a save the date. So, here's a tip. Go to godaddy.com or any other domain registration website and buy a domain (ex. www.heidiandfrank.com). You can then have your purchased domain automatically direct your guests to the free website.

Hawaiian Bridal Shower Invitations

2010-02-05T12:33:00.000-08:00

This is the year for Hawaiian weddings, and I'm loving it. For this bride, she wanted to use the hibiscus flower, but in her pink "berry" color. The invitation is printed on coral shimmer cardstock and backed with cream 110lb cardstock and both layers are corner rounded. A tiny pink rhinestone is peaking through the chocolate brown thread wrap to add a sweet girly touch.

Hibiscus Hawaiian Wedding Suite

2010-02-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

There is a special place in my heart for Hawaiian weddings, especially since it will be 5 years this summer since my husband and I had our own intimate affair on the island of Maui, so I always love being able to design something for an island wedding.

This couple was super fun to work with, and one of the reasons was that they rarely agreed on designs. I love a good challenge, and I'm glad that with the final design, I was able to please the bride and the groom.

Congratulations Stacey and Mark and mahalo nui loa!

Photo Save the Dates

2010-01-31T10:15:00.000-08:00

This sweet bride used the words simple and elegant to describe her wedding. While those words are helpful, it's difficult to describe what simple and elegant look like. Luckily, we met in the client's home and I was able to see her personal style through her home decor. The end result is a deep eggplant for the text combined with lighter shades of purple. The typesetting and the 110lb thick cream cardstock combine for an elegant look, while the swirls offer a touch of whimsy. The envelopes are lined with beet colored paper and finished off with a custom return address stamp.

The couple needed a great deal of information on their save the dates, so we decided on a double-sided 5x7 design which could also feature one of their fabulous engagement photographs (taken by John Schnack of Schnack Studios).

Quinceanera Show

2010-01-19T10:45:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday, Paper and Thread participated in our first vendor fair, Tiaras and Taffeta for sweet sixteens and quinceaneras. It was a fun change to deal with teenage girls and their moms, although not really that much different than the wedding world. A huge thank you to Leigh Anne at the Floral Lab who designed some beautiful arrangements and made the table look super cute. I can't wait to try our hand at a wedding show soon.

Fabric Quinceanera Invitations

2010-01-12T15:08:00.000-08:00

These invitations would be perfect for the teenage girl looking to celebrate her sweet 16 or quinceanera in style. The invitation features an abstract fabric flower in different hues of grey, pink, and a touch of green. The reception card could be used as the "ticket" to the party and is embellished with a silver eyelet and silver satin ribbon.

Literati Save the Date Bookmark

2010-01-10T19:54:00.000-08:00

This little save the date number doubles as a bookmark for the couple that loves to read. The bride and groom used the phrase "a new chapter" to tie the book theme together. These are flat printed on Crane's paper and hand embellished with satin and organza ribbon and sit perfectly in a size 10 chocolate brown envelope.

Flash Back

2010-01-03T23:13:00.000-08:00

As we enter into the new year, I can't help but reflect on where this business started and of course plan for its future. I thought I'd post these classic and elegant wedding stationery pieces that were my first paying non-family or friend client. There were 250 guests and it was a bit of a rush order, so I called in all reinforcements and quickly learned the kindness of my friends and family. My husband was even trained to thread the ribbon for these escort cards. I'm a lucky girl. Thanks to Katie and Frank for trusting a rookie with your paperie.

Stitched Abstract Rose Wedding Invitations

2009-12-30T22:29:00.000-08:00

First, thanks Em for letting me use your name and create a faux wedding for you and your lovely husband. These invites were just an idea in my head, so I decided to create them using a rich deep purple textured paper and shimmery slate grey pocket style envelope. The bottom of the invite has a very muted polka dot pattern to balance the stitched rose on the top of the invite.

Maid of Honor Reporting for Duty: Maids' Dresses

2009-12-29T21:30:00.001-08:00

As I've previously mentioned, and if you know me beyond the web, you've heard me a thousand times, I'm super excited to be the Maid of Honor for my best friend in the whole wide world. I know it sounds silly, but since we were 5, little Miss L and I have been the best of friends, and helping to plan her wedding, and of course design her wedding stationery, is beyond thrilling. One recent "duty", although it was hardly work, was finding a bridesmaid dress. With 8 bridesmaids and 3 junior bridesmaids, this was no small feat. Luckily, the bride heard about Thread. All I can say is thank goodness! Miss L just chose the color and we went and picked out whatever style looked best and got measured (or you could do it online yourself). It was the easiest dress shopping ever. I also have to recommend Bella Bridesmaid, which is actually the only store in the San Diego/Orange County/Los Angeles region to carry the dresses. The consultant was so professional and sweet, and I cannot wait to get the dress.

Side note: Yes, I am married and technically should be "matron of honor", but who wants to be a matron?

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T09:27:00.000-08:00

Maybe next year...

Felt Flower Keepsake Birth Announcements

2009-12-23T09:27:00.000-08:00

Lyla, even through her cry face, is one beautiful little girl, and I was lucky enough to get to create these handmade birth announcements for her parents to frame and give to the grandparents on Christmas. The flower is hand cut out of alternating layers of wool felt and linen and topped with a stitched "L". I just loved making these and staring at that adorable face. Lucky for me, her mama is one of my dearest friends and I get to love on her and play with her lots.

Color Matching: Custom Wedding Stationery

2009-12-14T10:05:00.001-08:00

One of the joys in creating custom wedding invitations and stationery is perfecting the color. Usually, the wedding invitation or save the date will be the first clue your guests will get about what to expect on your wedding day. Lately, I've spent a lot of time color matching different items in order to get the invites just right: bridesmaid dresses, floral arrangements, fabric. Probably my favorite so far has been the inside of an avocado (mat paper & monogram), the peel of a banana (rhinestone), and a bit of pink (text) thrown in for a cheery summer wedding in Newport Beach. This is just one of the sample mock-ups. Thanks L; you're wedding is going to be beautiful.

Creepy Bug Birthday Invitations

2009-11-30T09:41:00.000-08:00

A very small part of the joy in having nephews is helping with their birthday invitations each year. The guests of the party will include real creepy crawlies, like tarantulas, snakes and centipedes, so the invitations needed to set the tone for all that bug fun. These bugs are perfect for mailing because they're relatively flat and fit nicely in a regular envelope. Happy Birthday Colin!

Save the Date: Luggage Tags Hawaiian Style

2009-11-24T09:27:00.000-08:00

This bride loves blue, and is using two different blue tones for her bridesmaid dresses, which will be beautiful in the Hawaii setting. The text and palm tree sunset design were all color matched to those dresses, and then a green suede cord was added for an accent. Each side of the tags is printed on cream linen paper and the middle of that paper sandwich is chipboard to give them some weight, like an actual luggage tag. The edges of the whole tag are inked in a deep blue.

Keep your eye out for the rest of this custom wedding stationery. Congrats Stacey and Mark!

Stitched Rose Note cards

2009-11-23T09:27:00.000-08:00

After a close friend from my former teaching career suffered the loss of her husband, I decided to create these note cards as a small gesture. She has always been someone I looked up to for her strength, but this loss is something a person should never have to suffer. Her family is accepting donations to build a trust fund for their two young boys, http://www.rememberingmatt.com/

Eco-Friendly Will You Be My Bridesmaid Cards

2009-11-20T16:15:00.000-08:00

These sweet dresses just got a little sweeter. This Etsy bride requested eco-friendly paper, so we used chipboard for the main cover and recycled cream linen for the inside text. The kraft envelopes complemented the green design and the extras are now ready to be used for some stationery designs I've got in my head.

Happy Fall Cards

2009-11-09T09:27:00.000-08:00

There was a little time in my day for a personal project that I've been wanting to do. The leaves are hand cut out of fabric and then stitched. I also made some little stitched photo corners and mailed these off to the grandparents. I can't wait til the little guy is big enough to help with craft projects, but for now, I get to have all the fun with scissors.

Cry Face Inspiration

2009-10-31T16:36:00.000-07:00

This is baby Lyla. I had the pleasure of photographing and creating keepsake birth announcements that her mama, and my dear friend, is going to have framed and sent to close family. I seriously look at this face at least a couple times a day. Don't worry, we rescued her seconds after this shot.

Thread Garland Tree

2009-10-30T20:18:00.000-07:00

Here's just a little peak at a Christmas card design I'm working on. I'm playing around with different fabrics, backings, and thread colors and trying to incorporate a picture somehow.

Fabric Bellies

2009-10-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

This is an idea that I've wanted to create for some time. I used muslin fabric which has a very organic feel and looks great with raw edges to create the belly band for an invitation. These are going to go up in my Etsy store and hopefully I can use them for a wedding suite soon. They can be made with almost any fabric. I suggest looking at Hart's Fabric for a great selection of unique fabric.

At the Shore Programs

2009-10-01T14:20:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to use chipboard for some time now, and this wedding proved the perfect place. The bride used the words "beachy" and "organic" to describe her wedding and originally chose a chocolate cover, but I thought they would be a little too dark for a beach setting. They trusted my vision, and this was the result. The branch image was supplied by the bride, and inside is one of the most heartfelt notes from the couple that I've read. From one coast to another, congrats to Erin & Pete.

adopted home

2009-09-30T09:37:00.000-07:00

Often times when I ship my programs or wedding day creations, it's a troubling experience. I spend hours making each one by hand and then in an instant they're gone, and to be honest, I kind of miss them. I'm thankful to those brides and photographers that send me pictures of their day. Not only do I get to see my online clients and see if my mental pictures actually match the real them, but I get to see my work in its intended home, which is always better than my little studio.

Here is a picture courtesy of Taek Photography from one of those real weddings. You might remember it as the Marmivon wedding post. For more pictures of this beautiful wedding, visit the planner's website here.

Paper Dress Cards

2009-09-22T22:38:00.000-07:00

I say it all the time, but I'm so lucky to be in the world of weddings. I remember my own wedding with such detail, and it was over 4 years ago. This was the start of our little family, and it brings me such joy to create beautiful paper items for other couples' starts to their families. These little bridesmaid cards are one of those items that I just love making. Don't get me wrong, making a set of 200 accordion folded wedding programs has its perks, but these little lovelies are a nice break in between those types of orders.

Shabby Chic meets Florida

2009-09-08T17:42:00.000-07:00

This fun project was for a destination wedding in Florida. The bride specified tiffany blue and pink with a shabby chic vibe, and a hint of coral. Every time the hubs came in my studio, he held up this sample and commented how much he liked this one and how it made him think of Florida. (Maybe there are some secret font memories there, hmmm.)

late summer flowers

2009-09-08T10:02:00.000-07:00

Shana's wedding inspiration came from the idea of late summer flowers. Living in Southern California and being slightly devoid of seasons, I had to do a little research. We ended up doing half the programs in poppy and the other half in strawberry (Paper Source colors). All of the programs feature a bronze band with a golden yellow diamond stitch. These programs had a deadline that coincided with a little family getaway up to the in-laws in Santa Cruz County, so these were my first travelling programs. They made the journey perfectly, and I even got to visit a different post office. There's just something about friendly post office workers that makes the shipment part of my job quite lovely.

Chandelier Inspiration

2009-09-04T10:01:00.000-07:00

The planner behind My Bride Story came across my Etsy site and it turned out to be a perfect match to create the wedding programs for her latest wedding taking place at the Marmivon in Los Angeles. She emailed this picture, and I took the design from there. I love the way the chartreuse, curry, and orange & yellow thread colors work together. (Not to mention it was fun working with a fellow mom.)

farm fans

2009-08-25T15:21:00.000-07:00

Maggie and Steven are lucky enough to get married on her family's farm, so they chose a rustic, but still chic pallette of kraft brown, chocolate, green, and ivory. The covers are stitched with chocolate thread in a freehand curve to accent the circle cutout.

August in Missouri...hopefully these fans help to cool the guests down so they can enjoy what I'm sure will be a beautiful wedding. Congrats and best of wishes to my "farm" couple. (I secretly nickname every bride by the way...always something nice though)

the floral lab

2009-08-19T21:04:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't these flowers just brighten your day? Leigh Anne of the Floral Lab hand crafts each floral arrangement out of her beautiful home. I love the whimsical feel to each piece.

little houses

2009-08-17T21:15:00.000-07:00

It was so much fun constructing these little houses for a New York family's moving announcements. These are heavy kraft cardstock printed on both sides to be used as postcards to announce your move. This client loved polka dots and orange, so we fused those into one adorable house. Maybe the world would be a slightly better place if you walked the neighborhood and saw houses like this.

Stitched Thank You Cards

2009-08-06T20:21:00.000-07:00

Metallic thread, take two. You might remember my previous encounter with metallic thread. Well, Jhoana, a lovely bride and client, gave me the opportunity to create thank you cards for her to complement the wedding programs I created for her ceremony. It was a job working with such a beautiful photograph, and easy going bride.

bridesmaid set

2009-08-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a set of 5 "Will you be my bridesmaid?" cards" These are each hand cut, sewn and embellished and color customized. This set is black, white, and ice blue.

Family Photographer

2009-08-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

If you're in the San Diego area and looking for a lovely family photographer, we were really happy with Mary Klemm Plousha . If you take a look at her blog, that's me and my son in the banner. What I really liked is that she tries to avoid the beach and matching outfits. Our picture, along with another one of just him, is on display in another great local spot, Babies in Bloom. It's a baby store that focuses on breastfeeding and all things natural. It's one of those stores that just makes you happy to be in.

Elmo Invites

2009-08-02T13:45:00.000-07:00

When my nephew's birthday plans started coming together, I got inspired and purchased this Sesame Street fabric. Each Elmo is hand cut out with a pinked edge. These are now available here.

Hand Model

2009-07-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

I've always told my sweet husband that he would be the perfect hand model, and look who finally got the chance.

Will You Be My Bridesmaid?

2009-07-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

So, my best friend since kindergarten is getting married and she asked me to be her bridesmaid and make the cards for the other girls. These aren't her actual ones, but her request inspired some new card designs. Thanks LeLe!

A Little Blog Love

2009-07-27T09:49:00.000-07:00

My Lotus flower invitations were featured on the Inventing Weddings blog as part of their Georgia Peach post. This is a beautiful blog for wedding color combination ideas and inspiration, all found on Etsy.

Paper Shower

2009-07-27T08:50:00.000-07:00

This bridal shower was very low key, but it was just what the bride wanted. Each guest received an acrylic cocktail glass which they used to visit the martini bar, and then took home as their favor. The bride didn't want any games where she was the center of attention, so this idea from Made Sweet of a "he said...she said" game was perfect. The "bride to be" sign was a cute backdrop which the lovely bride opened her presents in front of. It was adorned with hand cut lace and coordinating ribbon.

As a rebellion against Party City and it's cliche party decorations, I've decided to test these paper decorating items as a listing on Etsy. It's a set of 12 favor tags and the bride banner for only $20.

J Crew Wedding

2009-07-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

http://laviephotography.blogspot.com/2009/07/kerry-michael.html

Hey look. Those are my programs. : ) This wedding was straight out of a J Crew ad, and I feel lucky to have been a little part of it.

Whom to Invite?

2009-07-08T06:12:00.000-07:00

a clever way to decide who's coming to your big day

Papaya and Navy

2009-06-15T06:25:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of color choices for this wedding, but the bride left the design in my hands, and this was the final creation.

Papaya, navy and light blue work well for this latest Etsy client.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26495255

moving on up

2009-06-08T22:32:00.000-07:00

Just completed some fun moving postcards, which make a great affordable housewarming present.

sandcastle party

2009-06-06T10:44:00.000-07:00

These were so fun to make, but at the same time a bit surreal. It's hard to believe this little one came into this world a full year ago.

what's black, white and red?

2009-05-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

...Melissa's wedding programs. Not really "red" all over, but just a little bit of red stitching to compliment the black linen cardstock and white shimmer band. After a nice long weekend away, it was back to work, and here's the result.

uncial

2009-05-16T12:41:00.000-07:00

I've cleverly turned my calligraphy homework assignment into gifts. With the school year ending and wedding season upon us, I am becoming an expert multitasker. This is uncial font, and these are both incomplete designs. The top design is for my dear nephew, and it is all Pokemon characters. His name is going to be on there in blue vertically and this piece is designed for his treasured Pokemon card binder. The other image is also incomplete and is a quote about courage; "A coward turns away, but a brave man's choice is danger." (Euripides) This one is going to be framed for our brave man.

little muse

2009-05-09T21:19:00.000-07:00

Poor guy didn't know that he was being born to a mom that would start planning his wedding before his first birthday. Not exactly, but as I was trying to think of a couple's name to use for sample wedding programs, who better than b & r. See their names in lights here.

Transportation Announcement

2008-09-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

These baby boy announcements feature a magnetic picture that removes from the entire announcement.

White Palm Wedding

2008-07-08T15:20:00.000-07:00

Photo Directions

2008-05-20T15:25:00.000-07:00

This is the custom made piece to an invitation order through The Happy Envelope. The bride wanted a photograph on one side and directions on the other, so these were created to match the invitation suite.

Graduation Announcements

2008-05-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Holiday Dinner

2008-01-05T06:29:00.000-08:00

These invitations were created for a corporate Holiday dinner. They feature a wreath icon and a cream, dark green, and shimmering brown color scheme.

From the two of us Christmas Cards

2007-12-09T18:25:00.000-08:00

Baby Boy Announcement

2007-10-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

Letter and dots design in a soft blue and brown color scheme. The reverse side of these annoucements is brown cardstock, while the blue has a slight shimmer. Photography also by Lori.

Rebecca's Shower

2007-09-08T21:27:00.000-07:00

The baby carriage theme was carried out through the die-cut and stitched invitations. Guests were then treated to blue sprinkled sugar cookies packaged with tulle and a handmade tag.