it's free shipping time, friends!

I know I've said this before, but I quite dislike venturing out for holiday shopping. Too many people in a hurry.  Too much time wasted, thinking the perfect items are going to jump out at me as obvious gifts for people I love.  Sometimes it happens so easily like that. It does. But more often I come home after having carried something around the store for far too long, only to put it back on the shelf and leave.  I have to admit, for the last few years I've been taking a more comfortable route; sitting at my computer in my sweatpants with a mug of coffee, clicking on the shopping cart icon, and waiting for my presents to show up on the doorstep.  As an added bonus- it's so much easier to enjoy the snow when I don't have to scrape off my car and drive through it. Liam agrees with me. So here's my gift to you, friends: free shipping on anything from my etsy shop until the new year- weee! Ornaments, cards, prints, gift sets, pure joy. Go on and find something for someone (or for yourself)!

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a menagerie nursery

I am always beyond enthusiastic about doing work for past clients- the loyalty just warms my heart! This piece was for one of my first brides, who is now expecting a little girl! Her nursery is a menagerie theme, which is completely charming. Her sister suggested this poem, which was one that Lindsey had to memorize when she was in preschool.  Seriously, so cute.

little kid parties (get it?)

Alright, I need to say this:  I have the coolest clients.  When I received a request for a custom sound of music/alpine/heidi party invitation, I couldn't say 'heck yes' fast enough. I think we reached a nice balance of having  an obvious theme, but not being completely over the top.  I am totally in love with that goat & I think I got some nice colors going on in the background watercolor, too.

a shower & a showcase

This last weekend I attended two majorly fun events:  One, a shower, to welcome the sweetest little girl Emmie to this world, and congratulate her super proud & beaming parents.  The other, a birthday party, showcasing the work of one lovely Amy Rau of greengirlpress. She somehow found a way to make our collaborative calendars from last year even more gorgeous. Bravo! I am very much looking forward to the official relaunch of her webpage, coming in November. This wonderful teaming up of Amy and I....well, we are about to bring lots of beautiful things your way. Be excited.

Spoiler alert!  Hmm, whose date could that be...

welcome, october

I am officially welcoming fall today.  I enjoyed seeing the bright orange of the month staring at me as I moved September to the back of the letterpress calendar stack, and the rest of the day progressed through apple cider, carrot ginger soup, and jean & sweatshirt goodness. Our little lovebug is 9 months old today, and I can't help wondering where the days are going! This week is no exception, and I am sooo looking forward to the greengirlpress open studio on Friday. Doesn't that new logo look phenomenal (tooting my own horn)? I also got my first wedding suite back from the printer last week, and I'm really happy with the quality & reproduction of my original watercolor. Things are moving forward!

inspired by: oliver jeffers

I'm going to make an effort to supplement this blog with things other than personal work and our day to day life happenings.  It may be something I've read, or seen, or heard.  It might be on trend one day, and ridiculously untimely the next; but it will have had some place in that inspiration center in my being, so it deserves a spot here! To start, I thought I'd share a few videos from my favorite illustrator currently, Oliver Jeffers. His beautifully textural children's books initially caught my eye, but he does so many wonderful illustrations for other clients & for himself.  Work like this leaves me completely enforced.  I want to paint, like, now!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2nOvBPJTwo?rel=0]

How amazing is this picture book for ipad? Is it silly to consider purchasing one for this reason alone? And to top it off, it is narrated by Helena Bonham Carter.  I mean....come on!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc3fghSJvBM?rel=0]

And I especially love his maps.

gem toned

My latest work, done for a lovely woman I know from my RIT days.  She wanted some gem toned artwork done for her new home, and requested something similar in technique to what I used on Liam's baptism piece. The photo below shows a small glimpse of the process, which is a combination of watercolor, acrylic, and fabric.  I'm really pleased with the richness and texture that I can get this way, and I'm hoping to do smaller pieces for some upcoming shows.

wild, wild vacationers

We had a lovely weekend. Friday night we set off to Saratoga Springs, NY for my very good friend's bridal shower, and then onward to Old Forge, to enjoy wonderfully nostalgic porch sitting time.  I made the piece below of the couple's wedding song. It was all very fitting for their place, which used to be an old carriage house.  Adorable perfection.

I just don't know if this boy had any fun!

simple summer sweetness

We had a perfect weekend 'enjoying' the 90 degree heat. We ate dinner outside, worked on some new furniture refinishing projects & watercolors, and helped Liam break in his new pool.

 

Is there anything nicer than fresh garden flowers? I am loving the mix of these textured pinks and fuchsias on our table right now.

A new piece for a couple who shot their engagement photos at an apple orchard- how fun!

 

a blessing for my son

I did this piece for Liam for his baptism a few weekends ago.  There are so many things that I hope for him for his life, and I love that this blessing sounds so infinite and tangible at the same time.  I used a combination of watercolors, acrylic, ink, and fabric on illustration board. I'm thinking this is an illustration that he can grow into just fine!

a very blessed weekend

Some photos from Liam's baptism and brunch last weekend. We had a beautiful day filled with loving family and thoughtful friends. All the details came together just as I'd hoped, and we ended the evening at a hot air balloon launch at Letchworth State Park. Even though they didn't fly across the gorge, it was pretty awesome to get a shot with them in the background since I had one on the invitations.  How cool was that?! We are so very lucky.

celebrating love

One of my newest wedding calligraphy jobs: navy ink on square envelopes. Love how classic these turned out! I am so unbelievably excited to see this invitation suite- the bride is featuring my calligraphy on the invite & enclosure cards alongside her bridesmaid's hydrangea pattern designed pocketfold.  I'll be sharing more photos of the ensemble after their big day.

Made this little gold doily for my parents' 30th wedding anniversary. Kudos to those two love birds for finding the secret to staying happily together for so long- they just create fun times!

Calligraphy for my talented friend Meredith's wedding, and a special envelope for the lovely bride herself.

A tea party bridal shower invite. Trying to mix things up a bit with some asymmetrically punched corners!

I'm really really pumped about etsy starting a wedding registry! I've been hoping to make some more printable invitations for my shop, and anticipate a large number of brides visiting etsy with this new feature. Getting married?  Go check it out and register for some awesome handmade items for your home!

more christening creations

My cousin's daughter was baptized last weekend & this was a small piece that I made for her.  She had a completely beautiful day.  Lately I am feeling very blessed to be surrounded by all these adorable little babies!  The doily/dresser scarf underneath was an adaption of a technique that I saw on the purlbee website.  I need to refine my process a bit, I think.  The "star of mommy's blog", himself  (found the bib at Target and couldn't resist).

Busy week getting ready for our trip to Cincinnati on thursday. More projects to post later.

baptism buntings

We've been preparing for Liam's baptism, and thinking of nice things to make for our small brunch afterwards.  I've seen so many sweet little buntings around, and thought I'd take a stab at one. The fabric is a mix of some that I've had since I was young & some that I bought for the hexagon pillow I made this summer.  For the back I used a light blue color linen, because I'm totally enjoying linen right now, but also because I had some lying around.  I plan to hang it in the nursery afterwards.  Buntings are a complete labor of love.

 

 

new season, new life

My grandmother passed away last weekend. We've been reminiscing about cherished memories lots, but mostly thinking about the new life that she is enjoying now. She will be missed dearly. Below is a program cover I did in her honor for the service.

I finished a really neat wedding calligraphy job last week. The inner envelopes were kraft paper pocketfolds with a chocolate ink, and the inner envelopes were brown with a 'bell bronze' metallic ink.  Is it silly of my to be geeked out about this?

This wedding ensemble is for the sister of a dear friend, who wanted a rustic themed invitation.

Made a second version of the adorable aviator hat from a few posts ago for Liam for next winter.

Here's to new life this spring!

mostly march musings

Spring is here, yay!  Time for bright colors and new projects. These carnations are some of the prettiest I've seen, from my birthday.  The fuchsias, magentas, & corals are seriously gorgeous. The best part?  They are STILL thriving! Lots more time to enjoy these blooms.

I'm so excited about every detail that has gone into this wedding suite.  I recently completed some extras for this awesome bride, including a program cover, table number graphic, monogram, and several additional motifs for around and about on her wedding day. The dog and cat illustration features Bryanne's  own Daisy and Nash.

An upcoming calligraphy job.  Brown ink on kraft pocketfolds, and light bronze ink on chocolate envelopes- so pumped to get started!

An etsy request for a new Avett Brother's print.

Even though warmer weather is here, I couldn't resist one last cowl for the season.  This one was from The Velvet Acorn on etsy.  Most of her patterns are available in both adult and child sizes, so of course next year I'll be making a miniature for Liam.

whimsical weddings & winter wearables

Modeling a cowl that I made recently for a wonderful friend's birthday.  This pattern was from one of my favorite knitting/sewing/embroidery sites, the purl bee. This is the second one I made, and I love how it turns out.  Seriously, go make one.  You won't be disappointed. And how awesome are the colors of Amazing yarn? I mean.... come on.

Another recent favorite wedding invitation suite for a bride that I met at the RIT alumni craft sale.  This was my first time including a map, which I had a lot of fun with. I like the contemporary vintage (if that's possible) theme that she has going on.

 

Getting pretty excited to share some new knit projects soon. And perhaps a new Avett Brothers print too.

a floral february

I wanted to share some beginnings of a very pretty invitation suite that I'm working on.  The ensemble is so fun to work on, featuring enclosure cards with different patterns and complementing designs that make one very unique invitation.  The RSVP card even features the bride and groom's adorable dog, Daisy.  I am so excited to get working on the program and table numbers!