a thank you

A very special thanks to everyone that placed orders during my Black Friday sale!  The percentage came out to just under $100, so I'll be donating $100 to the Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy victims.  I'm constantly praying for all the families affected.  I'm hoping that they can find a way to enjoy the holiday season this year...

I still have sale items available in the shop and I'm currently planning a year-end clearance.  Stay tuned!

For now, here's a free downloadable template that is just adorable:

Free Printables from Wee Gallery

Loving the owl tags!

gratitude

Thanksgiving for me has always been about family, gratitude and thanking God for everything that I have and for everything that I am. 

My thoughts are with those involved in the recent violence in Israel.  My thoughts are with those that have been affected by Hurricane Sandy.  Most of all, my prayers are with those that are HUNGRY.  I am so very fortunate to be able to cook for my family on Thanksgiving and I can't imagine not being able to.  I hope and pray that one Thanksgiving, everyone will have something to eat.

I think about the wise words of Emerson:

Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson 

I strive to dwell in gratitude, to remember to be thankful every day.  With that, I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! 

oh so beautiful paper holiday card roundup

I was so very honored to find out this morning that one of my holiday cards was included in Oh So Beautiful Paper's holiday roundup.

Feast your eyes on this:

OSBP Holiday Card Roundup

I'm proud to be included alongside so many other super talented designers that I admire.

Thank you, Nole!

black friday comes early this year!

I normally don't take part in the madness that is Black Friday, but my shop certainly will be jumping on the bandwagon.  There's just something about getting up at 5:00 a.m. to get pushed around by a bunch of crazed strangers...  Remember the face punching and pepper spray incidents last year?  BAH!  Support your local small businesses and your favorite Etsy shops, that's what I say!

Starting today, my shop has a special Black Friday sale section.  Click through to have a look:

Black Friday Sale!

Best of all, 10% of all sales will be donated to the Hurricane Sandy victims.  The sale will be extended into December so please help me contribute to those in need.

It's the season of giving and of being thankful.  Although I did not know anyone personally that was seriously affected by the storm, my heart goes out to everyone in the region.

I'm not set on any certain charity quite yet but I'm considering the Red Cross and Save the Children.  What's your favorite charity?

i miss you, mamaw

With my sister at her nursing graduation in 2006

On the far right.  Loving that pinafore and the hair!

One of my favorite photos of her

Looking fabulous in the '50's

Rockin' that tube top and sunglasses.  Proud of her flower, I'm sure.

Four years ago on November 14th, I lost my Mamaw - my grandmother, my best friend and the greatest teacher I've ever had during my 33 years on this earth.

She taught me how to can, sew, knit, crochet and raise a garden.  She taught me how to quilt.  She taught me how to be a lady and she taught me all about respect.  She taught me how to walk with a heavy book on my head, for perfect posture, of course.  She taught me the importance of dressing well and that my shoes should always match my purse.  She taught me about God's love and she stepped in to take care of me when others couldn't.  She taught me to "stick with it" no matter what and to never, ever give up.

I know she's in a much better place now.  She suffered from a rare form of kidney cancer that spread to her bones.  She was in so much pain at the end and being a Christian woman, she was ready to go.  She spoke about dying like she was going on vacation or a big cruise.  The last time I saw her, she was planning her funeral with my sister.  She was smiling and laughing and had her pink suit picked out for the burial.  It was surreal...  She was talking about her funeral, the songs she wanted sung and the outfit she wanted to wear.  I was so broken knowing that I was loosing her, but comforted knowing that she was at peace with moving on.

It was the first snow in the mountains back home when they laid her to rest.  I remember it like it was yesterday and I still miss her every day.  Mamaw, it pains me to know that you never held my son in the physical world, but I'm sure you held him before he was born.  I know you're smiling down at us and I hope I've made you proud with what I've done with my life.   

a simple fall mantel

The banner was handmade by me.  I used an old Martha Stewart tutorial that I can no longer locate.  I should definitely post a tutorial on how to make them.  So much fun, so simple and not complicated at all! 

Happy Fall!

christmas crack

Looking at all the new ornaments that are coming out at the department stores around get me in the holiday spirit.  Last week, the family and I were out shopping and I made a comment about looking at all the Christmas crack around, referring to the ornaments.  A clerk overhead and got a good giggle.

Christmas and the holiday season is absolutely my favorite time of year.  All the shopping and creating involved really gives me a great amount of joy.  I have so many good memories of Christmas growing up and I strive to create the same for my kids.

I typically don't buy new ornaments (I collect antique ones), but shopping for them does feed my "addiction" for all things holiday-related, hence the Christmas crack joke that I have with my husband.  I actually have a large collection of antique ornaments that I add a few pieces to each year.  I'll certainly have to share some photos of my favorites, including the very first ornament that my grandmother purchased when my grandfather returned from WWII.

Now that I'm a mom, I have a annual tradition of buying ornament frames for each child.  I date each one and choose a favorite picture for the year to include inside.  We now have enough to disperse across the tree and remember all the good times we've had as a family.  I love it and it adds so much to our tree!  It's my favorite annual tradition so far, aside from all the family recipes I create each year for all our holiday gatherings.

This year, I chose a glitter ornament frame from Pottery Barn and I was so pleased to receive them this week!  Take a look:

Image via Pottery Barn Kids

These ornaments can be purchased here.  They are made of high-quality chipboard (I believe) covered in glitter and layered in a snowflake design.  The velvet ribbon included was also a beautiful addition.

What holiday traditions do you look forward to each year?  Do you love the holiday season?

featured on kara's party ideas

I'm so very honored to have been featured on Kara's Party Ideas.  If you're not familiar with the site, it's a wonderful resource for party inspiration, supplies and ideas.  Check it out:

Kara's Party Ideas Feature

I really have to thank everyone that helped me make his day a special one.  Laura Izumakawa Photography, Little Seouls Party, The Cake House, Knitting Dreams...  It couldn't have been more perfect!

custom business card stamps

One of my favorite things to create are my business card stamps in my shop here:

Business Card Stamp Listing

Kellie Winnell over at Give a Girl a Blog recently created one with me and I love the way it turned out!  She gave me a little mention on here blog here and is offering a discount to my shop to her readers:


http://www.kelliewinnell.com.au/?p=10415

She's a beautiful Aussie lady with THE cutest, most inspirational blog.  Love her hair!  Be sure to stop by and say hello...

some recent work

On top of feeling under the weather lately, I'm having a steady stream of custom work come my way. 

The bride that I worked with to complete this Save the Date was an absolute joy to work with!

A Save the Date!

 I loved the blue ink and the way these turned out...

A baby shower invite

I hope you enjoy!

featured on the vanilla tulip & makewells

I'm always honored to be featured or asked to be a part of a blog.  I recently got a mention over at the Makewells blog.  Check it out:

http://makewells.typepad.com/makewells/2012/10/fab-5-etsy-shops.html

The Vanilla Tulip is also featuring me in the holiday gift bazaar that runs annually.  There are lots of great shops featured.  Stop by The Vanilla Tulip and have a look.  Guaranteed that you'll find some gift ideas for the holidays:

http://thevanillatulipreview.blogspot.com/p/holiday-gift-bazaar-2012_4.html

Thanks again Ashley and Megan!  I'm truly honored and appreciate the recognition.

are you feeling it?

The change in seasons, the upcoming holidays...  It's my favorite time of year!  Also the busiest for me.

I attended a wedding weekend here in Southern California last weekend that was THE most beautiful wedding I've been to.  It was a melding of cultures - German and Native American.  I love the way the couple represented both.

Here's one of the photos that I captured:

Dreamcatcher

It's a large handmade dream catcher filled with photos of friends and family.  It was a hit and was one of the bride's DIY projects.  Such a beautiful and wonderful idea!

I have native blood and got to join in on the traditional songs that were sang.  It truly was a beautiful wedding.  I can't wait to see how the professional photos turned out.

Speaking of being busy...  I'm feverishly working to get my holiday items together for my shop.  Custom work is pouring in and I can't believe I'm all booked up for the next month or so!

Happy holidays to everyone that loves this time of year as much as I do!

featured on grey likes baby

Check it out!  My son's birthday had a little mention on Grey Likes Baby:

My son's birthday

Thank you ladies!  I'm SO flattered to be a part of such a lovely blog.

pantone spring 2013 color predictions

I'm loving the Monaco Blue, Grayed Jade and Poppy Red.  Tender Shoots, not so much. 

I'm getting SO many ideas!  Love 'em or hate 'em?

(Image found here)

You can view all Pantone's Spring 2013 predictions here.

emma birth announcement

I'm a nut.  I absolutely love the holidays and I start planning early every year for our annual holiday parties and the shopping. Oh, how much I love Christmas shopping!

I'm also working feverishly on some holiday stationery designs for my shop.  More to come on that later....

I'm also happy to show everyone a new birth announcement style that's now available in the shop.  I'm calling it Emma after a very special two-year old that I know.  This design is perfect for new parents that want a touch of calligraphy on their birth announcements.

I enjoyed every second of designing these and I hope you enjoy too!

grey likes weddings collective

I'm so happy to announce that I'm now part of Grey Likes Weddings' preferred vendors list!  It's invite only to be a part of the blog and I was so flattered to be chosen.

If you are not yet familiar with this lovely blog, you should be.  It's beautiful, inspiring and a feast for the eyes, all the time!

Stop by, say hello and leave a review:

Grey Likes Weddings - Calligraphy

friendsgiving free printable

It's rare that I see free printables that I want to share, but this via The Sweetest Occasion is just stunning!  A black and white banner, it could be used for Halloween or just about any other event.

Check it out:

Friendsgiving Printables

a mention at berin made

Erin Hung of BerinMade has a series on her blog called For the Love of Lettering.  You can suggest a phrase or words and she will hand letter it and post to her blog.  I thought it would be fun to submit one of my favorites quotes and Erin picked me!

Erin is a super talented illustrator whose work I admire.  She has a very feminine style to her hand lettering that's just eye candy, all the time.  Check out her site - BerinMade and today's post on my suggestion.  It will look familiar - http://www.berinmade.com/blog/13536114

Thank you, Erin, for choosing my quote and for giving me a mention! 

the elusive paper source pantone + cymk color chart

For designer folk and paper lovers in general, it's super helpful to be familiar with Paper Source's line.  Their paper contains PCW recycled content, the quality is excellent and their colors are so very versatile.  I'm lucky enough to live close to a retail store and it always takes some serious self-control when I shop there.

I've been on a quest for some time, looking for the matching CYMK and/or Pantone color codes for  Paper Source's line.  It turns out that their actual color codes are proprietary and it is very difficult to find a simple guide for color matching.  I've heard that if you contact them by phone, they'll tell you that they can't provide this information.

After some trial and error with color matching, the information literally landed in my inbox.  For your downloading pleasure (and in the hopes that I'm not violating some Terms of Use somewhere), a complete color guide to Paper Source's line, straight from the source itself:

Paper Source Color Chart

Keep in mind that these are not 100% accurate, but it's as close as you can get.

I really hope this helps a DIY'er or fellow stationery designer.  I would love to hear how this may have helped someone!

dear creatures + seychelles fall 2012

I'm not, nor have I ever been very fashion conscious.  In fact, my husband has the lion's share of our closet.  I've lost weight, gained weight from my pregnancy and then lost it again.  I don't really have a consistent wardrobe and I'm trying to change that as of late.

I've never been excited about any clothing line, but I'm completely smitten with the fall 2012 collection from Dear Creatures.  I've been awaiting its release since I found out about it in May and actually contacted them to find out when the pieces are being launched on their online store.  Yes, I'm that nuts about it and I just may have to beg, borrow and steal to get them.

Some photos of my favorite pieces:

If I get one piece, it will be this red Camille dress

I don't have a red jacket, so I can get this one, right?

I love both of these

Sage for me, please!

Loving the navy version

The release schedule they gave me:

Camille Dress  - 8/10-8/31

Mia Dress - 8/10-8/31

Penny Dress - 9/1-9/30

Chelsea Coat - 10/1-10/31

I also love the shoes shown in the Dear Creatures fall lookbook.  Come to find out, they're made by my favorite shoe line, Seychelles.  I purchased a pair of Seychelles Trip the Light Fantastic heels earlier this year and I am now completely in love with the brand.  I love cute shoes, but they have to be comfortable and made well.  Seychelles are both and that's very hard to find.

I have my eye on Seychelles' fall collection, which is being released now through October.  I contacted them about the Dear Creatures lookbook and they will be sending some information over to me on how I can get my hands on those beauties.

Which of these are your favorites?

**UPDATE!**

Emerging Thoughts is having a pre-sale on select styles from the fall Dear Creatures line.  Just ordered my Camille dress!

Dear Creatures released some of the new items in their online shop.  Use DCEXTRA10 at checkout for 10% off!

Seychelles got back to me.  Here's what they said about the shoes:

     The Dear Creatures Fall '12 catalog was shot earlier this year with these then-current styles.

      Seychelles:
      Clue
      Explorer
      Spacebar
      Case Closed
      Apostrophe
      Safari

      BC Footwear:
      Alamo

diy handkerchief invitations

This weekend I was hard at work finishing up some wedding invites.  I did the calligraphy, collected the handkerchiefs, provided the vintage stamps and assembled them to post.  I am SO happy with the way they turned out.  There's nothing more satisfying than seeing one of my ideas come to life. 

The original wedding invite handkerchief idea came from Bird and Banner.  I remember falling in love with them when I was planning my own wedding and was so happy to hear that one of my clients was interested in them.

Wedding hanky tutorials are all over the Internet.  Literally.  There's a freezer paper method, rubber stamp method, silk screening and the method one I chose - t-shirt transfers.

I read several tutorials and was ready to give it a try.  I had everything printed, organized and had an assembly line set up - ready to rock!  Then Murphy's Law kicked in.  

Many of the tutorials I read listed the Avery dark t-shirt transfers as the ONLY ones to try.  I did a test run and got the hanky on the left:

Does that look right to you?  Um, no.  I couldn't believe it.   Isn't everything you read on the Internet true?!  This doesn't even look like the photos in the tutorials that suggested this type of transfer.

I thought I had done something wrong and then I remembered seeing the transfers for light-colored fabric.  Back to the craft store I went.  I came home and did another test run and it finally worked! 
 
Here are some other tips for doing your own wedding invitation handkerchiefs, from me, someone who did it wrong the first time:

* Press the transfer.  Do not iron it.  In other words, place the iron on the transfer and firmly press.  Do not move the iron around like we all do when ironing clothing.   Make sure the iron covers the transfer evenly. 

* Cover a book with a pillowcase and use this to iron versus using an ironing board.  It really does help the transfer to set evenly on the fabric.

* Get enough supplies to do a few test runs.  Print and complete one set before getting into full-on assembly mode so that any adjustments can be made.  This is my golden rule for any project.

* Let the transfer fully cool after ironing.  The paper backing will separate easily and cleanly if it is cool.

* Lastly, DO NOT use the Avery transfers for dark fabric unless you are going for that huge white block effect.  Buy the transfers for light-colored fabric and don't look back.

I hope this has been helpful for someone!  I certainly did enjoy doing this project and I look forward to many, many more...

One last photo of the finished piece:

sequoia national forest

For our family vacation this summer, we decided to go to Sequoia National Forest.  It has to be the best vacation as a family that we've ever had! 

There was no one else in the campground.  It was so very peaceful and relaxing.  Only the sounds of wind and birds interrupted us.  I had some time to sketch out some new designs and I can't wait to get them completely finished.  Ah, there's never enough hours in the day for me...

Visiting this area has been on my bucket list for a while.  I've wanted to see the Methuselah tree for quite some time.  That tree is 4,000+ years old and is the oldest in the world.  Even though we didn't make it out to see that tree this trip, we certainly will be back to the area.

Our campground

Enjoying a sequoia

Looking up

This gives you an idea on the age of this tree!  My hubby is six feet tall.

Beautiful bark.  Inspiration all around!

I do hope everyone is taking time to relax and spend quality time with loved ones this summer.  We definitely needed this vacation!

weather vane stamps

Oh yes, I'm a complete stamp dork.  I've been collecting for years, but it's rare that I really like the new designs.  I saw these weather vane stamps on a blog recently and HAD to have them:

The colors, design and texture of the stamp itself is just amazing.  I ended up having to buy them from the USPS site directly.  None of my local post offices had them.

I just finished a Save the Date project and was fortunate enough to do all the styling - envelopes, paper, liners, stamps, calligraphy.  I love completing projects like that and I thought the weather vane stamps were perfect.

I'm happy with how they turned out:

What do you think?

featured at oh so beautiful paper

Many thanks to Nole at Oh So Beautiful Paper for featuring a Save the Date that I recently completed.

Check it out! http://ohsobeautifulpaper.com/2012/07/naomis-kraft-paper-and-calligraphy-save-the-dates/

rifle paper

I'm a long-time follower and admirer of Rifle Paper Co.  From now until July 24, use NOTE15 at checkout on anything in their Featured section and receive 15% off! 

I got my eyes on these babies:

Ah!  It's a sickness, I tell ya...

new business cards

I want to extend some gratitude to the folks over at Print and Grain.  They worked with me to create my new letterpress business cards.

A splurge?  Yes, but I just couldn't be happier with the way they turned out.

Thank you Mike and Violet!

time for a break

This week, our family is traveling up to the mountains nearby to camp for our vacation.  There's absolutely no cell coverage so it's going to be a very relaxing trip. I am SO looking forward to it...

There are Joshua trees all around in the area that we're camping.  If you're ever in SoCal, Joshua Tree National Park is definitely worth a visit.  It has this silent and other-worldly beauty.  Much more than photos can describe...  A few years back, I went during the winter months when the weather wasn't too unbearable:

Cholla Cactus

Beautiful Joshua Tree

This one seemed to have been burned

One of the many amazing rock formations in the park

This one looked like a bear's face

Evidence of 5,000 years of human habitation in the park

My favorite photo

So I'm obsessed with these trees and have always been drawn to them.  They only grow 1/2 inch a year and some of them are in excess of 15 feet, which is just amazing. 

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer vacations as much as we are!  I'll be back to the blogging world after next week.

another work in progress

Oh my, I have been incredibly busy over the past few weeks. 

Here's a little sneak peak at some custom calligraphy that I'm working on.  Kraft paper is incredibly difficult to calligraph, but I think I may have found a way:

A Save the Date

This has been a great project so far and I'm now moving on to the actual invitations.  So fun and exciting!

my daughter's hand lettering

I think that most parents can relate to this...  My daughter and son constantly mimic me.  They both pretend to walk around the house with a laptop, talking on the phone.  It's always both amusing and a little strange to watch.  Ha!

Lately, my daughter has been practicing her hand lettering with me:

Love it!  Maybe one day I'll write as well as she does...

Happy Friday everyone! 

a stunning wedding site

Oh my!  I saw this site today and had to share...  It's the very talented Jessica Hische's wedding invitation site.  Check it out - http://jessandruss.us/

my son's first birthday

I blinked my eyes and my son turned a year old this May.  When people say that time goes by quickly with babies, it's SO true.

My husband is Korean, so it was important to me to honor my son's Korean heritage by giving him a Korean first birthday, called a dol. 

For those of you that aren't too familiar with the tradition, first birthdays in Korea are a big event.  In the past, disease and malnutrition caused high infant mortality rates.  When a baby made it to his/her first birthday, it was cause for celebration.  I personally love the tradition.

Family and friends gather together, pray for the child and share food.  The main event of the dol, called the dol janchi, is a game telling the child's future as an adult.  Several items are placed in front of the baby and he/she chooses one.  Whatever item is choosen symbolically foretells his/her future.  For my son, we let him chose between a computer mouse, a pen, money, rice and the Bible.  If he chose the pen, the tradition is that he will be a scholar as an adult.   The mouse is for a computer genius, rice means an abundant life and the Bible means a minister.

It took many months of planning, but it was truly a labor of love.  I enjoyed every second:

(All photos by Laura Izumikawa Photography)

Welcome Sign

The main table, called a dolsang

The Cake

Paper Straws

Paper Pinwheels!  I used a wonderful tutorial from A Subtle Revelry here.

Dessert Table. 

Ruffled Streamer (Tutorial from MADE here)

Favors

The Wishing Tree (Found here)

During the doljabi, he kept going back and forth between the pen and Bible, but he finally chose the mouse!

 All of the vendors I used were fantastic.  If you live in Southern California, I highly recommend all of them:

• Photography:  Laura Iz Photography


• Cake:  The Cake House in Buena Park


• Cake Topper:  Knitting Dreams - A wonderful Etsy shop


• Bouncer:  Jump Action


• Invitations/Welcome Sign/Favor Tags/Thank You cards:  Little Seouls Party


• Food:  Waba Grill


• Tables and Linens:  Create a Party in Brea

Isn't Laura's work beautiful?  She was absolutely perfect and I'm so happy that we decided to have her do the photography.

I swear, this kid is my clone!