My latest wedding creation: stitched programs

I've been having a ton of fun designing and bringing to life many a custom wedding suite lately. In fact, I plan to announce the name of my new wedding invitation + stationery business soon, complete with an unveiling of my beautiful new logo (which I can say since I commissioned it rather than try to do my own logo).

At any rate, I was really pleased with how these programs came out and wanted to share with y'all.

These were printed on shimmer cover stock for the covers and a natural white text weight stock on the inside pages, then stitched up on the side. I think it's a fun way to create a little 'book', and the dangling threads add a whimsical feel. Congrats to the happy couple - and have a great time in Cabo this weekend!

I have lots more I want to post, but my photography skills are somewhat limited. I should have professional shots soon so stay tuned. Thanks for looking!

Open House at Vista West Ranch next weekend

{photo by the oh-so-talented Sherry Hammonds}

I'm super excited to be a part of next weekend's open house at Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs. I'll be showing off my latest wedding and stationery designs and mingling with some of the best wedding professionals in the Austin area. Vista West Ranch is beautiful, if you can make it out that way, you won't regret it!

The details:

Sunday, July 11

1:00pm - 4:00pm

Vista West Ranch

4505 McGregor Lane

Dripping Springs, TX

Hope to see you there!

Oh, hello letterpress!

Hello there letterpress! You need a little TLC, some cleaning up, some new parts, but then you'll be good to go. We have big plans for you.

Stay tuned for updates on the refurbishing and setting up of the new letterpress we have just gotten. It's a Chandler & Price 12"x18" and we can't wait to get her up and running! Mike is hard at work getting it cleaned up and we will definitely keep you posted on how things are coming. I am truly giddy!

Renegade Craft Fair this weekend in Austin

I'm so so so excited about this weekend's Renegade Craft Fair! It features all kinds of talented folks, including the lovely Stitch Lab peeps. I can hardly wait - hope to see some familiar faces and meet some new DIY-minded friends. And it's free!

Inspired by: My So-Called Freelance Life by Michelle Goodman

I shockingly found myself with some time to read this weekend, so I quickly grabbed the latest arrival from Amazon: My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire by Michelle Goodman, author of The Anti 9-5 Guide. It's a great read for any freelance professional, but is targeted specifically for creatives (well duh - the title says as much). It has been a great inspiration for me this week and is jam-packed with great tips and info, even for freelancers who have been in the trenches for a while now. Goodman's irreverent, witty style is refreshing, direct, and made the read a breeze. I highly recommend this one! Check it out on Amazon or visit Goodman's website for more info.

Letterpress Week at oh, hello friend

As I am completely obsessed with all things letterpress in preparation for getting one soon, I was very excited to see that it is Letterpress Week at oh, hello friend. There are so many gorgeous images I can hardly stand it! They are offering giveaways from some great letterpress shops and more. Be sure to check it out!

It's been a while...

Hello there! So I am painfully aware of how neglected this blog has been. This past year has been a whirlwind of work, family, etc. I'm thankful that I have been fortunate to have as much business and success as I have had in these difficult economic times. My biggest challenge is finding time for my own promotion - this blog being just one example. My intention is to make time for updates like these, and we will see how it goes. :)

Over the past year I have had the pleasure to work with many lovely clients, both new and existing, and stayed busy creating some really fun designs. One of the latest projects I'd like to share with you is the design for Mélange Bridal's website update. Mélange has just relocated to a fabulous new location here in Austin. If you are a bride and looking for a first-class experience, helpful staff, and a wide selection of designer gowns, they are your bridal shop. Be sure to check them out!

In addition to work, it has been very exciting to be a part of the fantastic group of ladies that launched WING (Women's Independence Networking Group), an organization in the Austin area that focuses on valued networking, connection, motivation and education for young, independent and creativity oriented business women. Part of my contribution to the launch was designing the logo:

The group meets once a month in a relaxed setting, and we feature a different guest speaker focusing on different areas of interest to entrepreneurial women. If you are interested in joining WING, check out our blog, become a fan on our FaceBook page, or email WINGofAustin [at] gmail [dot] com with your contact info and we will add you to our Evite list for upcoming events. We'd love to have you be a part of the group!

Okay, that's it for now. More soon!