b dunlap

Litterae + Valentines

2012-02-01T07:04:00.000-08:00

I'm so ecstatic to share some big news with you! Today I have launched my own little online shop called Litterae, which means "letterforms" in Latin. As my husband teaches Latin, this seemed like the perfect name! I will be selling custom valentines until February 7th, and then will be adding an edited line of stationery products later in the spring. I'm beyond excited about this new venture, and was so thrilled to be able to finally share it here on the blog.

More about the valentines! My darling friend brought me back a stack of old french letters when she came back from visiting Paris this winter, and that is what inspired the theme for the valentine project. The custom valentines include a note scribed in jet-black calligraphy on the back of vintage 1920s postcards from Paris. They are mailed in cream-colored envelopes, lined in handcut, handmade, marbled yellow paper from Bangladesh. The envelopes are sealed with a swath of gold washi tape, and then the whole thing is mailed to the recipient with vintage postage stamps. If your handwriting leaves much to be desired, or you just want to forgo the traditional card route, this is a wonderful solution for you!
The valentines will only be on sale until February 7th, so don't hesitate to snap one up because quantities are limited.
A big thank you to Grace Bonney for her post on Design Sponge this morning!

Ciao.

2012-01-17T07:29:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to you, a bit late!  I am so excited for the unfurling of this year; I have high hopes for the many good things that will come out of it.  We are so blessed in so many ways- too many ways to count, really!  My heart is feeling so full of gratitude for the many blessings in my life as I enter 2012.
Something I'm looking forward to most most most of all is the trip to Italy that Nick and I are taking later this year.  We are out of our minds with anticipation, and been listening to Italian tapes to try to learn a bit of the language before we leave.  Do you have any recommendations of anything we shouldn't miss?  I'd love to hear!

Photos from Brian Ferry's amazing series notes on italy,  posted last year.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome, all wonders in one sight!
Eternity shut in a span; 

Summer in winter; day in night;
Heaven in earth, and God in man. 

Great little one, whose all-embracing birth 

Lifts earth to heaven, stoops heav’n to earth.

Taken from "In the Nativity of our Lord" by Richard Crashaw

Photo of a snow-covered Mt. Lemmon, taken this Monday by Miss Melissa Kruis.

Clementine and Hello!

2011-12-13T15:17:00.000-08:00

It has been forever since I've hopped on this blog; life has been too busy for me to keep up! I will try to post more often this coming year. I have so much I want to share, and need to carve the time out to accomplish it.

I hope you are having a merry season so far. Today has been a beautiful, wintery, rainy day in Tucson. Puts me in the Christmas spirit!

I just wanted to share this photo of some totebags from the darling Vermont shop called Clementine. I did the lettering for their logo, and love how it turned out. It looks so charming on the bags! Check out Emily's blog here. Wish I lived in Vermont so I could stop in!

Photo from the Clementine blog.

Suites for the Sweet.

2011-09-26T11:04:00.000-07:00

My little sister is getting married, and I wanted to share these details from her invitation suite.  I think they turned out so gorgeous.  We had the invites letterpressed with a charcoal gray ink on thick cotton stock. And we decided to use vintage postcards for the RSVP cards, and so she and her fiance started collecting them- mostly images of old churches and cathedrals, but some of gardens and landscapes.  We lined all the envelopes with handmade Indian woodblock paper, used vintage stamps for all the envelopes, then sealed them all with an antique gold wax.   The best part of the project was spending hours assembling them together- sister memories are the sweetest!

Love you, Katie and James!

Little Details

2011-09-22T17:13:00.000-07:00

Loving these details from a recent suite I worked on with Sarah Parrott, especially the custom seal and the shade of blue used for the swath of fabric holding the pieces together!

Nephew Sweetness

2011-09-10T07:34:00.000-07:00

I'm the proudest aunt of the sweetest little bundle of joy, Levi Benjamin! Doesn't he look like a little angel?! Congratulations, Katie and Hoss- I'm totally in love.

Spread on Once Wed

2011-08-18T15:01:00.000-07:00

Wanted to thank Once Wed for including me in this spread today....love the invitation with the crane!
Photo from Once Wed.

Tribute to Jimmy

2011-07-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

I was honored to be able to help Laura commemorate her brother Jimmy's life in tattoo form. He passed away in a car accident earlier this year, and she wanted to have this done as a tribute to him. I think it is beautiful, and I pray it will bring her some measure of comfort every time she looks at it. xo.

Personalized invites

2011-07-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

Simple, homemade, personalized invitations for a shower I'm helping throw for my beautiful sister-in-law Katie and impending baby Levi! I can't wait to meet my nephew in a few short weeks!

Carrie and Ryan's Suite

2011-07-05T12:44:00.000-07:00

I was super honored to do the calligraphy for the wedding of the brother of one of my best friends, Heather.  It was such a joy to collaborate on the suite with Heather, and see them come to life.  Each one was different and unique, according to the specific envelope liners, vintage stamps, and colors of wax and twine used.  Congrats, Carrie and Ryan, and blessings on your new life together!
Photography by Heather Baker.

Harmony....

2011-05-25T08:33:00.000-07:00

I've been loving Fleet Foxes' new album so much lately, and it has reminded me of my extreme keenness for Simon and Garfunkel, developed increasingly over the course of my childhood. I have such fond memories of lying in the living room with my mother in the summer, listening to S & G albums. The harmonies on the title track of Helplessness Blues, in particular, are just so reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel, I can't believe it. And I love it.

Congrats, David and Shanin!

2011-05-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to David and Shanin, a lovely couple I had the pleasure of working with a few months ago, who were married at The Gene Autry House at The Parker, Palm Springs. All of the event design, florals, and day-of coordination was done by the amazingly talented ladies over at Bash, Please. I was blown away by all the gorgeous details! Max Wanger did the amazing photography. See more lovely photos and info over at 100 Layer Cake.

Photos from 100 Layer Cake
and Max Wanger's lovely photo blog.

Written by Hand

2011-05-17T17:06:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post this forever, but am just finally getting around to it! Was super honored to have been included in the article "Written by Hand" in the Spring edition of Martha Stewart Weddings. So many talented calligraphers were featured, and I felt so honored to be included. Thank you, everyone over at MSW!

Hello, Summer!

2011-05-10T09:45:00.000-07:00

Hi there! Can't believe it has almost been three months(!) since I've popped in here. This has been an absolutely insane wedding season. I can't wait to share some of what I've been working on with you! I love my job.
And can you believe it is full-fledged summer already? At least here in Tucson it is. I'm determined to make the most of summer in the desert this year. Although I think that will entail getting myself up to higher elevations as often as possible and waking way before the sun rises to take advantage of "the cool" before the day begins. What are your favorite things to do to beat the heat? Ideas, please!
Top: Vintage postcard I found in NYC a couple years ago.
Bottom: Photo taken in San Diego last month.

xo

2011-02-14T11:43:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day, all!
Give those you love an extra helping of smootches! xoxoxo

Red Folk Heart Card from Dutch Door Press.

whew.

2011-02-10T08:54:00.001-08:00

Whew! It has been an insane couple of weeks, with valentines, logos, wedding suites, tattoos, and some other custom projects devouring all my waking hours- not to mention my ever-present nemesis: my inbox. Looking forward to things slowing down a bit in the next week or so. Being able to eat a proper dinner, hopefully? Exercise? I need to regain some sort of balance here. But it is sure lucky that I love what I do, since I've been doing so much of it lately!
Here are some shots taken during the HH valentine process earlier this week.

Valentines and some news.

2011-01-24T07:56:00.000-08:00

Hello there! I am so thrilled to post about Hello Handmade's third annual custom valentines! This year, our 5 x 7 Laurel Valentines feature an off-set printed, ribboned laurel illustration by Shanna on the front, with room for a custom monogram or initials, and then a custom message inside, a personalized inner envelope sealed with black wax, and then an eggplant-colored outer envelope, addressed in white, hand-mixed gouache, and finished off with three vintage stamps. The valentines will be available in three different styles of lettering, so be sure to check them all out.

This project is especially meaningful this year, as it is the last project for Shanna and I for our little Hello Handmade. We've each decided to each focus on our growing, individual businesses, as they demand our full attention these days. We've both got some exciting projects in the works to share with you soon! It has been such a pleasure sharing our collaborative projects with you over the past three years, and though it is sad to shutter our shop, it is the right decision. It is time.
The journey of creating and bringing Hello Handmade to life has been a wonderful experience, and the bonds of friendship Shanna and I have forged will always remain, something I am so grateful for. Here's to you, Shanna, and the magical beauty we've created together over the past three years! xox

(Photographs by Shanna)

greener grass...

2011-01-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

I've been realizing more and more lately that I have an issue with contentment, and it tends to lead to feelings of restlessness; not appreciating the wonderful circumstances and situations I am surrounded by everyday. One of my goals for the new year is to appreciate being "in the moment," as cheeseball as that sounds, and one of the things I want to specifically work on is loving- really relishing- where I live. Living (and growing up) in Tucson, sometimes I get really antsy to live somewhere, well, greener, with seasons, and tree-lined streets, and fields of grass everywhere. But I forget how much beauty is right here, in my own city, in my own state- in our own little corner of the West.
The grass is always greener. This has a new meaning for me, as I try to train my thoughts to deliberately appreciate where I am right now, in the physical sense and in every other sense of the word. Nick and I plan to take some "local adventures" this year, exploring the beauty of the West as much as we are able. I'll be sure to report back!

sadness.

2011-01-09T20:39:00.000-08:00

I normally try to keep the content of this blog fairly light and frivolous, but tonight my heart is heavy. Please pray for all of the people injured and for all of the families of the people who died in Saturday's terrible shooting here in Tucson. It is so difficult to fathom why something like this happened. The scene above (photo taken from the New York Times) is in front of Gabrielle Gifford's office, literally a two minute drive from our home. Please keep the city of Tucson in your thoughts and prayers as we continue to reel from this horrific event.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T06:58:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes
Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,
This bird of dawning singeth all night long.
And then they say no spirit dare stir abroad,
The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike,
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,
So Hallowed, and so gracious, is that time.
Hamlet* I.ii.158-164

Ski trail signs....

2010-12-14T09:27:00.000-08:00

As I walked out of the room the other night after working on these table tents, I thought they looked really awesome upside-down....just thought I'd post them here, as I fail to blog about 90% of the projects I am working on. Got to get better at that- it is so fun to simply share what's going on!
These table tents all had names of ski trails from Stowe Mountain in Vermont. I actually really adore doing table cards, as it is refreshing to work in a slightly larger scale than normal. Very slow process, very relaxing.

New 100 Layer Cake Site

2010-12-13T07:05:00.000-08:00

100 Layer Cake has been an amazing presence in the wedding blog world for quite a while, but they just revamped their website, and it is beyond incredible. Some new features include a marketplace, where you can buy/sell pieces for your wedding and post/bid on vendor requests; a list of awesome DIY projects; and a comprehensive list of vendor portfolios.

I am so honored to be included in the Vendor A-List category, where the ladies at 100 Layer Cake have hand-picked just a few of their favorite vendors to feature. Thanks, ladies!

And speaking of the ladies behind 100 Layer Cake, I'm a huge fan of Kristina, who is behind the blog Lovely Morning, one of my favorites. She is so down-to-earth, and posts about what she's cooking, her adorable baby, Dashiell, DIY projects, and just everyday life. Check it out!

Hello Handmade Sale!

2010-12-11T15:48:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to let you know that we are having a little sale in the Hello Handmade Shop! Just enter HAPPYHOLIDAY10 when you purchase, for 15% off your entire order, now through December 17th. Cheers! Thanks for all your support!

Rue Magazine

2010-11-22T17:31:00.000-08:00

There is a little article about Hello Handmade Paperie in the latest issue of the online magazine Rue, complete with a holiday download on page 60....just wanted to share it with you here! Thanks, Anne, for letting us be a part of the publication! What an honor.

Luscious Photography

2010-11-17T10:51:00.000-08:00

My father, Tom Reich, is an amazing architect, who for the last several years has been dabbling in photography as a serious hobby. I think his work really captures the beauty of small details extremely well- especially his shots of cacti and succulents- and I just wanted to share it with you. Check out his website here!

Nature's Splendor

2010-11-01T05:48:00.000-07:00

This calendar is the fruit of a week-long retreat, spent on one of the most beautiful estates I've ever seen. The process of creating it with Shanna was so perfect, with long strolls interspersing our hours of writing and drawing. I feel especially excited that each of the four seasonal panels feature a snippet of words from Mary Oliver, whose poems perfectly capture the spirit of each season depicted.
As this year we decided to pay special tribute to each season, we gave each one its own page. At 7x7, the calendar is designed to be trimmed down, once a season has past, into an original 5x7 little piece of art - something to last long after 2011. What makes it really special is that each page is an original hand lettered by me- no two are exactly the same. Really sets it apart, we think.
To see more photos and description, check it out in the Hello Handmade shop here!

Magic.

2010-10-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

Hello, friends!  I just returned from an amazing trip to Rochester, where my close friend Shanna Murray and I stayed in the guest cottage of an incredibly beautiful estate, just dreaming, reading, laughing, talking, and oh yes how could I almost forget: producing our 2011 calendar for Hello Handmade, to be launched this coming Monday!  It was magic.  Just pure magic. I cannot wait to share it with you.

I am coming away from this retreat totally re-inspired in my work, and just blown away by the beauty of living life.  I feel like I have so much to share.  For now I'll just leave you with these shots taken from far above the earth....it is one of my favorite places to be.  I always request window seats.  There is something about it that gives me an incomparable peace, and I wish I had my own private plane so I could experience it more often.  It is the perfect time to pray, to dream of things to come, to philosophize.  I especially liked the scene out the window of my flight to Denver (pictured above), because it looked almost like something out of an aquarium, with the whale of steel perpetually floating over the clouds.

I can't wait to tell you more.

Sunday Suppers- Ladies Lunch + The Little Flower School

2010-10-19T14:30:00.000-07:00

Summer is almost over (it is still sort of lingering here in Tucson) but I still have summery subjects I had wanted to post! So here are some shots taken by the lovely Karen Mordechai of Sunday Suppers. She had asked me to do some menus and signage for a Ladies Lunch that happened back in July. The meal was served alfresco on the rooftop, and everything looked so amazing!

The recipes are available on the Sunday Suppers site, including this one for Chilled Corn Soup. Yum!
The Sunday Suppers class was a two part session: a floral arrangement class by The Little Flower School preceded the cooking class. What an wonderful afternoon this must have been. Lucky participants!

If you're in New York, I would highly recommend checking out the schedule and signing up for your own magical class/dining experience. And even if you're not in NY, be sure to check out the Sunday Suppers site- it is lovely.
All photos by Karen Mordechai.

Table-scape in Southern Weddings

2010-10-14T16:49:00.000-07:00

I was so honored to pair up with Emily from Once Wed and Joy Thigpen to do the calligraphy for this table-scape in the latest issue of Southern Weddings. Joy designed the table using old engine parts that resembled flowers, and the napkins are wrapped using washers & nuts from a hardware store. Love it! Thanks for asking me to participate, ladies!
Photography by Jen Curtis.
Photos found on Once Wed.

Topography.

2010-09-29T06:35:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share another topographic map that I worked on with Kathryn from Blackbird Letterpress.

Stacks upon stacks upon stacks...

2010-09-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy few months around these parts. So much going on. Sometimes a feel a bit like Sisyphus, can you relate? Never-ending stacks of envelopes, stacks of emails, stacks of laundry, stacks of dishes, stacks (in my mind) of things I'd love to do if only I had more time. What do you do to keep sane during busy seasons of life?

Schön.

2010-09-11T10:16:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Stefanie and Jan, the sweet couple who got married in Germany this past July....I sure had to check and double-check my spelling on all those German signs I did for them for the reception!

I did a couple of sets of invitations in English for their friends living in England, pictured above.

Recommendations?

2010-08-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

Nick and I are taking a trip to New York City next month to celebrate his thirtieth birthday- can't wait. Though we've been several times and have some favorite haunts, I wanted to ask if any New York readers had any recommendations of places we shouldn't miss? Things that wouldn't necessarily be in the guidebooks, perhaps? We're not really into the touristy stuff...Leave a comment if you have something brilliant to share!

Oceans

2010-07-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

Have you seen this documentary yet? It is amazing. Favorite movie I've seen in years. I just wanted to highly recommend it, in case you hadn't heard of it. It is still playing in Tucson at the Oracle View theater, probably for one more week. Great option on a hot summer day- watching underwater footage in an ice-cold theater can't be beat.

I Am My Brother's Keeper

2010-07-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share this photo of another tattoo I recently did lettering for, this one reading, "I Am My Brother's Keeper." I did the invitations for this charming couple, who were getting married in Costa Rica, and at the last minute the groom decided he wanted me to do the script for a tattoo, honoring his brother who would be absent from their celebration. I will post more photos from their wedding soon, as it looked like an amazing event.

Photo by Mel Barlow Photodocumentary.

Anna and Jonathan

2010-06-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to post a few pictures from my friend Anna's wedding- she is a sweet girl from my church and I had the great pleasure of working with them on their invitations. The wedding took place in Texas, and unfortunately I wasn't able to go, but it looked like it was unbelievably gorgeous day! Enjoy the photographs!
Beautiful photos by Jess Graham Photography.

New Orleans Suite

2010-06-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share this "New Orleans" invitation suite that I worked on with Kathryn from Blackbird Letterpress. The bride, Riley, was super enthusiastic about a creative approach and was so easy to work with, and the whole process was just a dream! The curve of the lettering on the invite follows a blind impression map of the Mississippi River. I think they turned out splendidly, and I still need to feature the save-the-dates, which also turned out beautifully.
Photos by AK Photography

Exploring Tucson....

2010-05-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

I was thrilled to see this extensive Tucson Guide on Design Sponge today....lots of my favorite haunts were listed, along with some ideas for new things to try, perhaps this summer. Check it out!

Illustration by Julia Rothman.

katie lynn....

2010-04-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my darling sister, Katie... I love you so very much, adorable girl!
(Photo from about twenty years ago...she's the cute one on the right with the bowl haircut.)

unbelieveable...

2010-04-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

Shanna finally launched her new line of decals yesterday, and I must say, it was totally worth the wait! They are absolutely, positively beyond gorgeous. I can't wait to scoop several of them up. Keep up with her blog, as she will be doing a series of free tutorials that explore how to use them in unexpected ways. I have to admit that I've never been a big fan of decals until now; I've been totally converted. Beautiful work, dear Shanna!

4

2010-04-08T21:49:00.000-07:00

Here's to four wonderful years of marriage....I'm so blessed to have you by my side, Nicholas. Happy Anniversary, sweetheart.
"Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away..." Song of Solomon 8:7

Image from 100 Layer Cake

Hello, Spring!

2010-04-07T02:16:00.000-07:00

Hello there, friends! It has been a while since I posted, and it is simply because I'm buried under a bunch of projects, just trying to stay afloat. I can't wait to share photos of some of the things I've been working on with you. For now, below is a photo of the tart I made for Easter morning this year, complete with mint from our garden. I hope you had a wonderful Easter, too! Here's to a refreshing spring, full of newness and growth.

Top photo from Gardening in Heels.

can't wait.

2010-03-09T12:05:00.000-08:00

Shanna Murray, my darling friend and partner of Hello Handmade, is launching an amazing line of vinyl wall and window decals in her shop at the end of the month....here is a sneak peek from her blog. I can hardly wait to see the whole collection- this one is so completely gorgeous. She is having a little pre-launch sale in her shop tomorrow through the 23rd, with the actual launch happening on March 29th. Just thought I would spread the word...I'm sure they'll absolutely fly out of her shop!

Rae and Noah

2010-03-01T10:36:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share a few images from the wedding of Rae and Noah, a lovely couple I worked with last year. Their wedding is now part of the Real Wedding Gallery on Martha Stewart Weddings. It was just a gorgeous event!Their wedding took place at the Metropolitan Building in Queens, New York.

The lovely Sarah Parrott of Parrott Design Studio letterpressed the invites with my calligraphy for the names, backing them with printed paper meant to look like old wallpaper. The same paper was used as a band wrapped around the programs.
The bouquet was done by the amazing Brooklyn florist Saipua, and included three different types of dahlias- cafe au lait, snowbound, and pom pom.
The menus were typed up by Rae and Noah themselves on their vintage typewriter and affixed to bare wine bottles.
Congratulations, Rae and Noah, on your new life together!
Lovely photos by Dave Robbins Photography.

be mine.

2010-01-25T18:37:00.000-08:00

Nick and I don't really do presents for Valentine's Day....but I really just adore this ornament from Paloma's Nest (hint!). The simplicity is beyond perfect.

obsession...

2010-01-21T16:53:00.000-08:00

I find that I tend to go through obsessive little phases with the things I cook or bake, making the same thing over and over again when I find a great recipe, until we just can't take it anymore. This fall and winter I've been a little (a lot!) fixated on this Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup, a recipe which I stumbled across by accident one day. I tend more towards the savory camp when it comes to butternut soups, so this recipe is just heaven in my book.
Do you have any favorite recipes from these winter months?

Romantics Unite!

2010-01-19T07:13:00.000-08:00

Every time I watch a Jane Austen movie, I am always fixated on the scenes where someone receives a letter- sealed with wax, elaborately folded, the recipient quickly unfurls the folds to read the gorgeous lettering within.

So this year for our Hello Handmade valentines, Shanna and I decided to take a cue from Austen's era and create these lovely Regency Valentines! Hand-painted and hand-lettered, folded in the regency style, and sealed with striped washi paper tape and wax, these personalized, customizable valentines are truly something spectacular, if I do say so myself. And 10% of each valentine sale is going to the American Red Cross relief for Haiti, which makes them even more special.
Just wanted to share some love with you today.... xo

simple song's mailing...

2010-01-11T13:52:00.000-08:00

I know the holiday season is more than over at this point, but I wanted to share these photos of the lettering I did for Suann's holiday mailing this year. She did the letterpressing, and the boxes were filled with goodies from Whimsy and Spice. Here is the link to her post about them! I was totally honored when Suann asked me to work with her on this project, as her blog, Simple Song, is one of my very favorites.

Image from Simple Song

Lucy & Orla

2010-01-07T16:21:00.000-08:00

Last month a sweet ~~woman~~ man named Francis (Mortifying: Francis sent me a note this morning correcting my mistake- tattoo was for daddy's arm all along. I had it all wrong.) emailed me to see if I would be interested in scrawling out ~~her~~ his daughters' names for a tattoo, and of course I eagerly said yes. Here is the result (and a cute photo of the young family, to boot). One of the sweetest projects I've worked on in a while!

ducks in a row...

2010-01-06T21:41:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! It has been a while since I've posted, my excuse being the whir of the holiday season as it flew past! But I'm back, and ready to jump into a whole new year (decade, while we're at it!). How about you?
My parents generously helped us buy and install a dishwasher this Christmas, which has been the most wonderful gift ever. It has given us the gift of hours more time during the week to spend on other things besides dishes, and since it displaced the only drawers in our kitchen, it has kicked off a whole-house organizational spree. People always talk about "spring cleaning," but I think the dawn of a new year is the most perfect and fitting season to really make huge, cleansing changes in lots of areas- house and home, priorities, attitudes, etc. It feels good, doesn't it? Here's to the freshness and hope of a brand new January!

Image from Toast by Post.

shop talk

2009-12-08T08:20:00.000-08:00

Hello there! Are you feeling festive?! Hello Handmade certainly is, and we've marked our 2010 Laureled Tea Towel down to $20 to prove it! We've also listed some bulk orders in quantities of 2,5, and 10 for those of you looking to stock up- these are at an even further discount with free shipping. Yay!

We are also having a giveaway over at Poppytalk. Just leave a little comment (on the Poppytalk post) with your favorite holiday tradition by 10 PM Pacific, and a winner will be selected and announced tomorrow.

Hope this makes you feel merry and bright!

interview

2009-12-02T10:01:00.000-08:00

There is a little interview with me today on the Martha Stewart Wedding blog, called The Bride's Guide. Thanks, Shira, for asking me to be a part of your column! I feel so honored.

Tell Your Story...

2009-12-01T08:12:00.000-08:00

My friend Laura Adams just launched Storyteller Public Relations, and I just wanted to share her new website, as I think she is amazing at what she does, (and I also did the lettering for her logo!). Check it out!

wishing we had seasons...

2009-11-18T12:33:00.000-08:00

Nick and I just got back from taking a little trip to Sedona and Prescott, Arizona. We met up with our friends Rob and Meghann in Sedona, and then traveled solo to Prescott, where I had spent a lot of time growing up, as my grandparents used to live there. It actually felt like autumn in Prescott, with leaves on the ground- it felt wintry too, at a chilly 27 degrees during the night. Now we're back in Tucson and it is a balmy 80 degrees today. Oh well, at least we were able to pretend we lived in a climate with actual seasonal distinctions for a few days on our trip!

Grace and Aaron

2009-10-29T11:01:00.000-07:00

I was excited to see Grace Bonney's Savannah wedding featured in the Fall issue of Martha Stewart Weddings, and there was a tiny little photo of a sign I did for the reception included, too. Fun! She posted extensively about her wedding a couple of weeks ago on her blog. I especially loved all of the sweet attention to little details- I wanted to post of few of those photos here. Congrats, Grace and Aaron!

Grace had her invitations printed by Bird and Banner on 75 different vintage handkerchiefs, printing numbers on the leftover ones for table numbers. I loved this idea so much! What a sweet memento for guests to keep!
I loved the way the flowers were done at this wedding, down to the simple gardenia in Grace's hair. And look at those chair swags! Beyond beautiful. Flowers by Garden on the Square. Gorgeous paper flowers by Erin Heath.
Adorable flags for the straws made by Grace herself.

Favors were bags of grits from a local farm, with fabric buttons by Busy Beaver Button Co.

The signs describing the food and drinks were done by me.
Sweet ring pillow made by Llubav Choy-Duerr.

May your new life together be blessed, Grace and Aaron!

Photography by Bethalee.

green.

2009-10-27T22:30:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling extra motivated to live as "greenly" as possible lately. All it takes sometimes is making a little extra effort to conquer laziness and be good stewards of our resources, you know? Hanging your laundry instead of drying it, bringing your own bags to the store, unplugging items you aren't using.....there are dozens of great little ways to change your lifestyle. But I've come to think that the key is really learning to change your mindset.

In our consumer driven society, we are trained to believe that our value is based upon our level of consumption. So we are continuously trying to upgrade our wardrobe, our houses, our cars, etc., and we are never, ever satisfied. Its a hard cycle to break out of, I'm the first one to admit. But it is crucial to start examining the excessive way we live, and start focusing on the things that really matter- our family and our friends, our spiritual life, blessing others through service, savoring the small moments, etc. Here is a link to a video called "The Story of Stuff" that really convicted me to start making some changes. What do you think?

Greetings from Hello Handmade!

2009-10-26T06:51:00.000-07:00

Good morning! Shanna and I have been waiting for this season to roll around again for a whole year, and now it is finally time to reopen our Hello Handmade shop selling this winter's goodies! Listed starting today are the Tannenbaum Specimen Chart and the 2010 Laureled Tea Towel. At the end of November we will be listing some downloadable items, such as an advent calendar, ornament, and bunting.
It was such a wonderful experience getting to work together on these items this summer in Rochester. Creating beautiful designs with such an amazing, wonderful friend is such a giddy feeling. We are so proud of them and hope you will love them, too!

Boo!

2009-10-23T15:05:00.000-07:00

To be honest, I'm not really into the whole Halloween thing very much, I just think it is rather creepy with evil underpinnings. But I was super happy with the way these envelopes for a costume ball turned out, complete with kooky, turned-sideways-house-of-mirrors-effect "head" stamps. I loved drawing all those creepy, twisty ribbons, too.

Happy 25th!

2009-10-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

The Monterey Bay Aquarium turns 25 this week. Here's a cool little audio slide show about it. On our trip up the coast last December, this was one of our favorite stops. We read Cannery Row in the car on the way there, to help us get in the mood. I loved the jellyfish exhibit especially much. I would highly recommend stopping there, if you are passing through!

Heather and Evie

2009-10-22T06:52:00.000-07:00

My friend Heather is an amazingly talented writer, and I just wanted to take this opportunity to link to her lovely blog. Isn't her little baby Evangeline the cutest?

Map Quilts

2009-10-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love the idea of "map quilts," and here are two very different examples of the concept. The top image of a soft map quilt is by Emily Fischer, a Brooklyn based architect and artist, and the photo below is one I had bookmarked a long time ago- a paper quilt created by Susan Stockwell. I love them both!

(Reference to Emily Fischer via Snippet and Ink)

Rachel and Michael

2009-10-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share these gorgeous photos from the June marriage of Rachel Cardina and Michael Adkins. I had worked with Rachel, who is a fabulous designer, on this spread for Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles a while ago, and then she contacted me to provide some of the lettering for the invitations she was designing for her wedding. Please click here on their wedding blog to see some more invitation details. The wedding took place at the JCT Kitchen in Atlanta, and I just love the photos, taken by Jose Villa. Many blessings on your new life together, guys!

And just as a bonus, I think it is super fun that Rachel posted these pictures from their honeymoon on her wedding blog. Looks relaxing!

So sad.

2009-10-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

I was so disappointed to learn yesterday that Gourmet magazine will be closing its doors after nearly 70 years in print. This is my favorite magazine by far, and I will sorely miss it. Nick was asking what the big deal was since all of the recipes can still be found online at Epicurious, and he has a point, but I told him there is just something so satisfying about flipping through an issue, getting inspired, trotting to the kitchen with the recipe, and getting the pages all splattered with the evidence of a meal prepared with love. I'll take actual, tangible cookbooks and glossy issues of Gourmet any day over a recipe I have to print out on computer paper in the office.

Lauren and David

2009-09-29T08:56:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Lauren and David, who were married this past August at the Encantado Resort in Sante Fe, New Mexico. I loved all of the "southwestern" detailing, such as corn husks on the chairs, succulents on the cake, and a turquoise bracelet on the bride's wrist. And take a look at those monsoon-y looking clouds- what a breathtaking backdrop. May your new life together be blessed, Lauren and David!

Photography by Twin Lens, LLC.

a sneaky peek...

2009-09-24T10:35:00.000-07:00

Well, ladies and gents, here is a tiny little sneak peek of some of the items that Shanna and I will be selling through our Hello Handmade shop this upcoming season! We can't wait to unveil everything more fully.....just pulling together some loose ends at this point. Cheers!

States United

2009-09-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

I checked out the HBO series John Adams from the library to watch while I was working last week, and it was excellent. I would highly recommend it. It made me feel very patriotic, thus the link to this awesome letterpressed poster from the Etsy shop Beauchamping. Did anyone else watch and enjoy this series?

We will miss you, Bellie.

2009-09-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Belle as a kitten.

It has been pretty sad around our house lately, as last week we had to have our little Belle put to sleep. She was only three years old. It is amazing how much you can grow to love the pets that live with you....I feel like there is a giant "Belle-shaped" hole in my heart now. But we are so very thankful for the short time we had with her. She was the sweetest little cat on earth.

opposite of the desert:

2009-09-05T17:15:00.000-07:00

One thing I was pretty obsessed with while staying in Rochester was the lush greenery everywhere you looked; having lived in Tucson for most of my life, this was somewhat of a novelty, and I'm pretty sure I drove Shanna a bit nuts with all my many, repetitive declarations of, "Oh goodness its so green here! I forgot what green looked like! Wait, I have to take a photograph!"

One of my very favorite parts of the trip was the last day I was there, when Shanna took me to visit the "moon gate" that her sweetheart C had built last year. It was so breathtaking, and you can see some more photos of it here on her blog. It reminded me of something right out of The Lord of the Rings, don't you think- for those of you that love that trilogy? So whimsical and otherworldly. Anyway, I just wanted to share these refreshingly lush photos with you- like a gulp of a cool, minty drink, right?

quota reached.

2009-09-01T15:18:00.000-07:00

Here is just a peek at the hundreds upon hundreds of towels that Shanna and I washed and ironed and cut and ironed again and hemmed while I was in Rochester. This is just a fraction of them. It was an overwhelming endeavor, but I can't wait to show you the end result! However, I just might boycott ironing from here on out, as I believe my personal lifetime ironing quota was reached and then more than surpassed during this project. I think Shanna would agree.
Photo of Shanna's attic taken by Shanna

No place like home...

2009-08-31T08:25:00.000-07:00

I just returned from Rochester, New York, where I met Shanna Murray in person for the first time. We had an amazingly beautiful time together, as we worked like maniacally driven crazy people designing, printing and packaging some gorgeous items for the winter line of Hello Handmade. It was a jam packed couple weeks, but the end result was more than worth all the effort. I can't wait to show you everything a little later in the year! Shanna is a wonderfully kind friend and a beautiful person, and I'm so thankful for the time I was able to spend with her. It felt a little bit like a really long slumber party, as there were many times when it was late at night and we were up working hard and delirium got the better of us and we would melt into fits of giggles over really silly things. Those were sweet times.

All that being said, there is no place like home, and I'm so very, very glad to be back.

Julene Harrison

2009-08-30T14:31:00.000-07:00

Nick's birthday was a couple of weeks ago, and I commissioned Julene Harrison to create this amazing papercut piece for one of his gifts. Pretty amazing, don't you think? The lyric is really special to the two of us, and I can't stop looking at the framed end result. Check out more of Julene's amazing work here on her blog.

Oh my.

2009-08-11T21:34:00.000-07:00

I was having a chat the other day with some girlfriends about what we would do differently with our weddings if we could go back in time and do it over again. I tried to describe an amazingly unfussy, homemade, low-key sort of event, but couldn't quite get my words to match the images in my head. Then I saw pictures of this wedding and my jaw dropped. This is the sort of party I would go back in time and create if I could (with the same husband, of course)!

Via Frolic.

cupcake party...

2009-07-30T11:55:00.000-07:00

I'm wild about this new vermillion sumi ink I found at my favorite art store the other day....it is the cheeriest color, especially for cupcake party invitations, don't you think?

Book Club

2009-07-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

My friends Marianne, Kara, Erin and I have embarked upon the journey of wading through the entire book list outlined in The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had. I typed up the book list here, if you would like to take a peek. I'm pretty enthused, but am imagining it will take about twenty years to get through the entire list, reading carefully and critically. First up- Don Quixote, which I somehow wriggled out of reading in both high school and college.

Tiepography. Awesome.

2009-07-25T23:40:00.000-07:00

I loved this "tiepography" project featured in the inaugural issue of Uppercase magazine. Check out Ed Nacional's work.

Jen and Manny

2009-07-23T12:55:00.000-07:00

I wanted to start a new little feature here where I spotlight some photos from clients' weddings.

First up, Jen and Manny, a charming couple who were married in May at the Union Church of Pocantico Hills and then celebrated at Blue Hill at Stone Farms. The entire day seemed so intimate and playful and just all around lovely. Congrats, Jen and Manny! Wishing you blessings in your new life together!

Jen incorporated vintage children's book illustrations into the invitation suite (last photo) and then used them as table "numbers" as well- what a playful addition!

Photography (except for last photo) by Erik Ekroth.

Wishing you a Cheery Day!

2009-07-21T12:23:00.000-07:00

I have a really sweet husband who sends me goofy postcards in the mail when I need cheering up. I absolutely love this "waving mermaids" card. It made me laugh out loud. How could you possibly feel grumpy staring at this image?!

screenprint on wood

2009-07-08T22:49:00.000-07:00

Whoa my goodness...this invite is really breathtaking. Found here.

Swirlies...

2009-07-03T09:36:00.000-07:00

I did these folder covers for my mother-in-law as a favor, but I can't help but think they would be so pretty as personal stationery. Those swirly circles are so fun to do!

Toddlers and Lawns...

2009-07-02T09:26:00.000-07:00

I had a very full week last week- Nick was out of town and I took care of our friends' little girl Allie- an almost two year old- for four days. Trying to get all my work done while entertaining a little one was certainly a challenge! And I can't believe how much gear is "necessary" for such a tiny little person. Oh and also, since some of you were wanting to see pictures, our lawn caved in about two feet. Randomly. (Please ignore the dead sweet peas in the corner.) It was very dramatic.

Finally!

2009-07-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

The first hints of the monsoon season are finally rolling in this week. My favorite type of weather!

MS Weddings

2009-06-30T08:49:00.000-07:00

I was excited to see some work I had done for Martha Stewart Weddings in the summer issue, page 56. It is actually a downloadable template for a fan- the verse is on the back. It is always such a pleasure working with the ladies on the MS Weddings staff....they are always so sweet and gracious! I think this is by far the most gorgeous wedding publication out there...I used to subscribe to it in high school just for all the amazing ideas and inspiration. I'll be posting some other fun tidbits from this issue soon!

letterboxing

2009-06-12T23:42:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard about letterboxing? I hadn't until I read this post on the blog wide open spaces. It sounds like such a fun diversion on a roadtrip, etc. Here's a little description of it, taken from letterboxing.org:

"Letterboxing is an intriguing mix of treasure hunting, art, navigation, and exploring interesting, scenic, and sometimes remote places. It takes the ancient custom of placing a rock on a cairn upon reaching the summit of a mountain to an artform. It started when a gentleman simply left his calling card in a bottle by a remote pool on the moors of Dartmoor, in England.

Here's the basic idea: Someone hides a waterproof box somewhere (in a beautiful, interesting, or remote location) containing at least a logbook and a carved rubber stamp, and perhaps other goodies. The hider then usually writes directions to the box (called "clues" or "the map"), which can be straightforward, cryptic, or any degree in between. Often the clues involve map coordinates or compass bearings from landmarks, but they don't have to. Selecting a location and writing the clues is one aspect of the art.

Once the clues are written, hunters in possession of the clues attempt to find the box. In addition to the clue and any maps or tools needed to solve it, the hunter should carry at least a pencil, his personal rubber stamp, an inkpad, and his personal logbook. When the hunter successfully deciphers the clue and finds the box, he stamps the logbook in the box with his personal stamp, and stamps his personal logbook with the box's stamp. The box's logbook keeps a record of all its visitors, and the hunters keep a record of all the boxes they have found, in their personal logbooks."

Photo uploaded from here.

Congrats Bree and Dave!

2009-06-10T19:23:00.000-07:00

I recently did these "seating cards" on the back of hundreds of vintage postcards for the lovely wedding of Bree and Dave. It was so fun to look through all of the gorgeous postcards while I penned each name. This looked like it was an amazing event, judging from these lovely photos. Take a peek!

This cake bar is glorious! I love the idea of doing this instead of a traditional wedding cake.
All photography by Next Exit Photography.

Escape

2009-06-09T15:50:00.000-07:00

Nick and I had the pleasure of going down to San Carlos a couple of weekends ago with our six good friends. We left on the last day of Nick's job; the small private school that he helped start over five years ago is sadly having to close its doors. We are both really devastated by this development. A weekend in San Carlos was a welcome distraction from this new reality. We snorkeled, kayaked, swam, lazed about on the beach, played cards, drank fruity drinks, and had an all around amazing time with our friends. We truly came home refreshed and ready to face the world. (And I had to face an unbearably sunburned back! Yikes!)

Anyway, while on the beach, I read Molly Wizenberg's A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table, which just was published this March. Her prose is brilliant, as anyone who has perused her blog knows, and each and every one of her recipes sounds absolutely delicious and inspired. It was the perfect escape- both the book and the weekend itself.

Paper Cranes

2009-06-06T00:37:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post these pictures of some place cards I did recently- thay had a cut out of a paper crane that popped up....I thought they were really interesting. Different from most other place cards I've seen. I worked with the lovely girls at Louella Press on these wedding materials. Photos taken by Marie Labbancz , from the Louella Court blog.

M and P

2009-06-02T14:31:00.000-07:00

I recently scribed the envelopes for invitations being sent out by Madeline and Pedro, and wanted to post a few pictures here. I think their suite turned out lovely; the invitation calligraphy was done by Bernard Maisner, which didn't hurt in the glamour department. I think that not having exactly matching scripts ended up looking really fresh. I loved it.

Every detail was crisp and exquisite, down to the white, beveled edges of the pieces.

And last but not least, here is Sebastian, trying his hardest to sabotage my little photo shoot. At least he looks great with the colors of the suite.

Babies and Cake.

2009-05-27T23:38:00.000-07:00

My good friend Marianne came over for lunch today with her baby Nathaniel, and we had this raspberry buttermilk cake for dessert. Yum. It was a wonderfully sweet time, and I highly recommend the recipe. I pretty much highly recommend every recipe on the Smitten Kitchen site- by far my favorite cooking blog (after Molly, of course.) Thanks for a wonderful time, Marianne and Nate!
(Photo by Deb of Smitten Kitchen)

impending summer.

2009-05-22T08:04:00.000-07:00

I made this blackberry tart a couple of weekends ago based off of Jamie Oliver's recipe, lifted from this great cookbook. Makes me feel almost ready for summer. Almost. You just sort of brace yourself for a summer in Tucson.

"living" gifts...

2009-05-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

I love and really prefer giving "living" gifts so very much, do you? There is something so beautiful about giving someone (and receiving) something that is alive and can't be wrapped up or stuffed in a gift bag. Here are some Mother's Day herbs we gave to my lovely mother-in-law a couple Sundays ago.

Speaking of living gifts, I'll just take this opportunity to post this sickeningly adorable picture of Belle and Sebastian- the living gifts I received from Nick as a wedding present three years ago. It makes me laugh every time I see it.

fabulous feathers...

2009-05-18T09:18:00.000-07:00

I just love these screen printed feather cards that my wonderful pal Shanna Murray listed in her shop today, don't you? They're so fabulous!

xo

2009-05-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful mother!

King and Queen of Hearts

2009-05-08T12:06:00.000-07:00

These amazing stamps are being released today...Steve, who works at my favorite post office ever, gave me a heads up a couple of weeks ago, saying "There are some new stamps coming out that I think will be just your cup of tea." He was so very right! Can't wait to scoop them up.

Alethia Academy Adventure

2009-05-03T22:12:00.000-07:00

Nick and I just took 7 twelve and thirteen year olds on a trip to California; the one picture of the nine of us all together was on the wrong setting and turned out like this. I actually kind of like it, don't you ? It was a long five days, but very sweet.

Little Dorrit

2009-04-21T12:15:00.000-07:00

We have really enjoyed watching Masterpiece Theatre's Little Dorrit the last four weeks (on PBS Sunday nights). You can view the past four installments here, and the final one airs this Sunday night, April 26th. Has anyone else been caught up in this great production? I think it is so very well done.

Sunday Finds.

2009-04-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

Nick and I have a book problem. I know I've written about that before. Sadly, we're not taking many steps for the treatment of this disease, and yesterday we popped into the Friends of the Library Sale, just to see if there were any treasures lurking about on the shelves. I found this amazingly charming book about a boa constrictor that lives in a French village with Madame Louise Bodot, as well as a volume of German verse. Such great finds, both of them! As it was half-off day, I paid 75 cents for the two of them. At least our addiction isn't breaking the bank, right? Speaking of which, does everybody know about Paperback Swap? We discovered this a couple months ago and have already used it countless times to hunt down books we were interested in owning.

Sweet Peas and Roses...

2009-04-15T05:05:00.000-07:00

Just some more loveliness from our garden, for your viewing pleasure!

Letterpressed Materials- Gray and Cream

2009-04-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

Andria Ledon of Lilikoi Press asked me to do the lettering for her wedding invitations and materials, and I think they turned out beautifully, don't you?

All photos from the lovely blog 100 Layer Cake.

Spring has Sprung!

2009-04-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

Look what has popped up in our backyard!