MP obsessions: Birthday parties

My little baby just celebrated her 3rd Birthday and I've come to realize my new obsession...birthday party planning. Anyone that knows me, knows how crazy I go with my kids' birthday bashes. I think about it non-stop for weeks prior and always come up with something that entails many late nights leading up to the big event. It's not only for the girls but so much for me. What joy it brings me!

So little Isa is princess crazed. I actually don't know many that are not at this age. As much as I thought to fight it, especially pre-parenthood...I now get it. And besides, it too brings them such joy, why deny them that? So princess it is. We went with a whole dress up theme and I insanely made the costumes for all. Princess skirts/accessories for the girls and knight costumes for the boys. It seemed harmless enough when I made that first mock up and thought, "ok, that was pretty easy..." 37 later is not so easy anymore. The funny thing about the head count was that the party fell on Columbus Day Weekend and many that I first mentioned it to were not even in town. My own personal fear of party failure started kicking in and I widened the net, assuming many would still not make it. Bad idea...thus the 37 kids.

It was a blast though and complete with cardboard castle, we had a wonderful little royal kingdom!

It's unfortunate that hosting a party often leaves me unable to take as many shots as I would like but there is only so much one can do!

Here are as many details as i could capture!

Some worthwhile finds...

Girls skirts were made from Gossomer which is often used for inexpensive backdrops or curtains. It comes in rolls and is very cost effective!

I always buy my ribbon from Artistic Ribbon in NYC. Lots and lots of great colors, well priced and the best part is i can pick it up at my convenience. Though when only the best will do, I go to Mokuba.

Most of the fun princess accessories are from non other than the infamous Oriental Trading. Could not live without this resource when planning kids parties.

Though in my travels, I have found some other great resources that are worthy of a mention...

S&S Worldwide is an unbelievable craft and educational supply resource with EVERYTHING! What I've found here that I have not found elsewhere is an awesome selection of group craft supplies or kits, perfect for diy items in goodie bags and party activities.

Through a wonderful stationer friend of mine, Niki of Papery and Cakery, I was introduced to her lovely, talented sister/pastry chef, Ali, who created the beautiful cupcakes for Isanna. We wanted something different for her actual birthday celebration with just family and also had Ali create a little mini 6" fondant cake with a big fat bow. Very very sweet...to look at and to eat!

Now if I had found this next artist at the Lollipop Workshop on Etsy,I would have been hard pressed to buy one of these absolutely ADORABLE cake toppers! It is just ooozing mini sweetness. Love it!

Inspiration . My Pom Love

Well I am a little embarassed to admit that I did try Martha's PomPom and my first try was actually quite bad!  I am proud of my craftiness and was shocked that it was ugly enough to crumple up and begin again!  I guess I did not pull gently enough to maintain some of the folds so it turned into a wrinkled mess!!

All the more reason to admire how gorgeous Pom Love's work is...as well as the stylists over at Martha Stewart!

My second round of poms turned out great but completion was cut short when my girls insisted on them as their new bouquets. They were thrilled!

I am having thoughts of how this can be transformed into something bigger.  I am seeing masses of backlit poms hanging from my office ceiling.   Or a sea of them forming a beautiful undulating texture on the bare wall behind my press.  hmmm....

i'm off to try some things.  

i'll be back... 

MP finds : Pom Love

I stumbled across these sunny, cheerful paper pom-poms and I think I actually drooled!  Puffy, paper things just make me melt (and of course drool too)!  Find these and many many more by PomLove.  They even have sweet little mobiles for baby too.

or...you can also try it yourself...I think this is the next project with my girls...pom-poms by Martha

Recent work . Patty+Wendell

(photos via best of NJ, Anna Mae Dinio)

Beautiful, historic Prallsville Mill in Stockton, NJ is the remarkable setting for my cousin Wendell and his lovely fiance Patty's October wedding.  Struck by it's history and inspired by feed and flour sack graphics, I couldn't help but do a bit of research.

(photos via flicker)

Some trivia...

I had no idea that during WWII, the simple cotton fabrics used to package flour was often used by housewives to make clothing for their family.  The manufacturers began seeing the marketing opportunity and started creating patterned sacks to lure the crafty housewives.  

Although I am definitely intrigued by the patterns, I chose to focus on texutre and tones for this simple straightforward invitation.

A minimalist at heart, I found myself drawn to these images for inspiration.

(photos via Jayson Home, Three Potato Four, etsy via Marley&Lockyer)

I found actual flour sack towels and instead of rubber stamping, I tried letterpress printing the wedding icon ... and yes, it prints amazingly well!  (hmmm, the possibilities!)  Anyway, these fabric panels will then be sewn on by the bride herself.  Postcard reply and direction insert will neatly tuck behind and be bound with cotton twill ribbon.

Below are some production shots.  Final details to come...

This is completely different for me, so thank you Patty and Wendell for the unique inspiration and meaningful honor to create this for you.  xoxo

photos via modern press

Buzz: Green Wedding Shoes

Awesome!!! There I am again!  I was so thrilled to discover my "Just Married" Sign (photographed by the amazing Elizabeth Messina) included as part of Green Wedding Shoes' Inspiration Board #18 - Organic Vintage.  It's a gorgeous board.  Love the grey/purple/green combination.  I love this blog!  Thanks, Jen!

Buzz: Death by Kerning

Check out some recent buzz about Modern Press by one of my favorite bloggers/designers...Shikha over at Death by Kerning.  Great designer and truly inspiring blog.  Thanks a million, Shikha!

Inspiration . All-year Rings

Paper sculpture is so fascinating to me.   I can't even remember how I found this artist but love what she does with a simple sheet of paper.  These are All-year Rings by Tithi Kutchamuch.  All rings are cut-out from a single sheet and represent each month's flower.  Check out her other work too...very clever. 

Recent work . Lillian + Chris

I think we all have that friend...no matter when, how, where, she always looks perfect.  Impeccably dressed, hair always in place.  Maybe she works really hard at it, maybe she just wakes up that way, maybe it's just breeding (Sharon, you know i am talking about you!).  Regardless, she has the gift.  We all have that friend!

I can say this because one of my recent invitations was for a dear family friend, Lillian.  Classic, clean and perfect! 

Buzz: Kiss the Groom

How exciting!  One of my favorite products is featured on one of my favorite photographer's blogs...Elizabeth Messina's Kiss the Groom.  I love seeing my work in print and in context!  This post made my day!  And if you don't know Elizabeth's work, you should...amazing, inspiring, romantic, touching...I could go on and on...and to top it off, she is a reeeeally nice person!

Also check out her section called "Kiss and Tell" where people share their kissing stories.  Keep a lookout for mine!

Thanks, Elizabeth, for giving me goosebumps every time I look at your work!

xoxo

MP finds : Cool Vintage

I stumbled across Three Potato Four at my local Brooklyn Flea in Dumbo last spring and then again just tonight online.  I guess I never made it to their site until now and definitely did not realize the wonderfully inspiring array of salvaged items that they have.  Sooo much mouth watering vintage stuff! Fun just to browse through and look for an excuse to buy.  In most cases, one-of-a-kind or limited availability items.  I particularly love all the different types of containers and letters/numbers.  

Where were these guys 9 years ago?  

For our wedding, my husband and I decided to forego the standard floral centerpiece and instead did a candlescape, if you will, of a dozen or more column candles, each enclosed in a variety of flea market find glassware. We scoured every flea market and garage sale searching for this enormous collection...from mason jars to crystal, every shape and size. There was only a simple scattering of petals and again flea market find vintage house numbers as our table numbers. Half the joy was searching high and low for it all and really feeling that every detail was thought out and unlike any wedding we'd been to to date.  I can't believe I still have the numbers.

photos: threepotatoefour, scott clark photography, modern press

Buzz: 100 Layer Cake

Last week, I had a wonderfully inspiring studio visit with Jillian Clark of 100 Layer Cake.  

Naturally,  I showed her all of my many invitations, programs, accessories, etc...fun of course... but I think the best part came when we really started talking about the joy of making things out of nothing and the inspiration we can find in a single piece of paper, much less what a stack of gorgeous scrap can do for us both!!  I suddenly noticed us both talking fast and furiously!  So funny...kindred spirits..I knew right then that I found a new friend!

Today, my studio was profiled on 100 Layer Cake...check it out!

Thank you, Jillian, for showing the world that being a pack-rat can be a good thing and showcasing all the little pieces of my world that make me me.

xo

ps... photo courtesy of 100 Layer Cake and Jillian's amazing hubby photographer Scott Clark 

Recent Work . Water-filled Invitation

Ellen Futterman, one of my favorite retail clients over at Proper Notice, recently called me and said "I've got a first birthday, nautical theme... what have you got?"  For years now I've owned this amazing bag sealing contraption that I purchased for these very cool real sand and shell save the dates I used to do.  I always knew I wanted to try a water filled one but have patiently been waiting for an excuse to actually create it!  This was my chance.  These fun invitations were designed, produced and mailed in 5 business days.  I'm still amazed that i did it!

Recent Work . Blue Hill Bride

One of my favorite restaurants of all time is Blue Hill at Stone Barn.  My first time there was on a way-too-infrequent date night with my husband.  Wow!  Every bite was so delicious and so so thoughtful...from preparation to presentation.  And it's spectacular property and architecture was simply breathtaking.  I'm a sucker for rolling hills and farmland so this place really hit home for me.  Heavenly...

So when I met my client and found out she was getting married there, needless to say, I was very excited!  Here are some images of the completed project. 

**SUMMER SALE**

I've decided to have my first Summer Sale!  I posted a bunch of things tonight and will continue to add more.  All accessory orders are 15% off and all custom invitation orders are 10% off!  The sale will run until July 4th.  

**OVERSTOCK SALE**

My studio lease is finally up after 5 years and I will sadly be leaving my wonderful, big studio.  I'll miss my Manhattan Bridge views and the beautiful sunshine that pours in in the afternoon. However, I will not miss the high new rent and am thankful for the forced housecleaning.  I am a packrat by nature and just like a purse, can fill to whatever size I am given.  It will feel good to let some things go.  

My very cool $30 display design using fishing wire and weights, hung from conduit and secured with paper clips.  

 

Thus my overstock sale has begun.  

I have a bunch of wooden boxes. Most have a sliding lid but I have a few that are open.  They are unstained and can easily be laser etched.  Anyone interested in custom etching, just let me know.

Ah, my excelsior.  I searched high and low for this when I was working on the Save the Date for Sheila Johnson's wedding.  I didn't realize how much I was getting when i placed the order and now I have ALOT!  I was surprised (and now almost embarrassed) to remember how ridiculously picky I suddenly became over shredded wood.

I guess some background would be helpful...Sheila Johnson is the Co-founder of BET television.  When she remarried, she hired Preston Bailey's office to design her wedding and Preston's office hired me.  She was getting married on her spectacular horse farm in Virginia.  I designed every aspect of their stationery needs.  It was an amazing opportunity for me and honestly my proudest moment.  It was my first truly big-time project and everything went off without a hitch.  I guess that's what obsessing over every little thing will do.  Anyway, photos of the event to follow.  I must go to sleep.  My little girls will be up in just a few hours.