Darling Dexter

Introducing: www.darlingdexter.com

2008-11-05T19:09:00.005-05:00

I've made the move--away from the blogger platform and onto my own domain--yay! So take this moment right now to update your feeds, readers, bookmarks, etc, etc...

www.darlingdexter.com

With this move, I'm hoping to introduce sponsors and new features to my site. I've enjoyed the last year of blogging and the community that I've come to love and have been wanting to create a more permanent place here...so enjoy!!

So go on, go ahead, update...update...update :)

Can I get one of these?

2008-11-05T12:32:00.004-05:00

Found this photo via Style me Pretty by Christian Oth...can I please be confident enough to wear something this great to a wedding... :)

Cindy Tomczyk

2008-11-05T09:45:00.006-05:00

Currently loving these prints by Cindy Tomczyk. She uses the gocco, letterpress, and digital media to bring to life her illustrations. Hmm...I might be eying a couple of her prints for Christmas presents...it's never too early!

Quail

2008-11-04T09:51:00.000-05:00

Another great line that is pulling in the gemstone colors, Quail. Aren't these lovely?

Blog Love: Oh So Beautiful Paper

2008-11-04T07:02:00.000-05:00

Currently loving this new blog, oh so beautiful paper... Newly-wed and author, Nole, has created a lovely space to contribute to the paper world...plus her own shop and flickr site.

Vote!

2008-11-03T22:43:00.001-05:00

Although I voted early and generally don't use my blog as a place to voice my political opinions--I couldn't help but share the cute cupcakes I made for the election day party we're having :) You have to give it to Obama's campaign for presenting a strong visual identity...yay graphic designers!

Avetts

2008-11-03T21:54:00.000-05:00

I spent my Halloween evening in Greensboro, NC at the Avetts Brother concert. Those who know me well, are fully aware that I am slightly obsessed with this band -- if you are not in that small percentage, then I highly recommend checking them out :)

Decorating Help: Renters

2008-10-30T10:57:00.004-04:00

I totally related to this article I found on the domino mag website this morning..."Decorating for Renters." When you are not allowed to structurally change your living space the obstacles are a little more frustrating when it comes to decorating. Since I will probably be living in such a space a little while longer--I'm going to keep these ideas handy when we move.

1. Finding petite yet attractive bedroom furniture to maximize square footage
2. Kitchen Storage...we have this problem now. The folks at domino have put their silverware in a caddy and have hidden it behind the cute curtain and found a snazzy container for utensils. I'm also loving the exposed shelves with stacked dishes.3. (Another problem we currently have) Nasty laminate kitchen floors. Here they have covered the floors with flor tiles..perfect!
4. An oversized paper lantern to bring a little pop and dimension to the room (I have about 40 of these left over from the wedding!)

5. As a renter, I'm not sure how I feel about this project - but if you could find a small wall to wallpaper--that could really add a visual element to your space
6. Paint--of course (if you are allowed)!

Wiksten: Lovely Colors

2008-10-30T08:42:00.002-04:00

[Images via Wiksten]

I've broken down and unpacked my winter clothes -- too bad I don't have any colors like the above in my wardrobe. I love how rich the colors are in this Wiksten line.

300th Post!

2008-10-29T10:02:00.001-04:00

[Image by nushuz]

Yay! I've made it to 300--and in honor of my post I am going to have myself a cupcake and go vote early! :-)

Our Rehearsal Dinner Toast

2008-10-29T07:35:00.000-04:00

At our rehearsal dinner we wanted to be sure and thank everyone who was near and dear to our hearts but we didn't want to leave anything/anyone out! So we came up with the brilliant idea of creating a video where we can collect all of our thoughts weeks in advance and cleverly express how we feel. To keep a few parts of our wedding intimate I have chose not to play the whole video on the blog but here are a few still shots to give you an idea--we think it was a big hit :)

Curtain Love: UO

2008-10-28T21:35:00.000-04:00

Inspiring curtains and patterns from Urban Outfitters.

Studio Makeover: Pink Loves Brown

2008-10-28T08:46:00.005-04:00

Nicole from Pink Loves Brown has completely renovated her lovely studio space. Oh how I love pretty organization....and look at that bamboo floor! You can check out more pics on her blog, Making it Lovely.LOOK at the before...major upgrade from the dragon's den![all images by Nicole Balch of Pink Loves Brown]

Sign me up for the not wedding!

2008-10-28T07:48:00.001-04:00

Emily of Once Wed posted earlier about the "Tie the NOT" wedding show coming up in a couple of weeks in Atlanta--how intriguing :)
Doesn't this sound fun.."Come party the night away at Opera, the hottest nightclub in Atlanta, as we turn the tables on one of the oldest and most beautifully celebrated rituals of our time - the Wedding...." -Tie the NOT!
You are basically a guest at 5 aesthetically different weddings from start to finish...sounds yummy right? Too bad I'll actually be at a wedding that same weekend, coinky dink :)

Wedding: Parent's Gift

2008-10-27T08:00:00.001-04:00

[Images: L-Martha Manning, R-Me]

Remember these? For the wedding, I framed my nest photos and hung them as decoration at the ceremony...Then as a surprise we gave one to each of our parents as a keepsake from the wedding.

Savannah

2008-10-26T20:25:00.007-04:00

We spent the weekend in lovely Savannah, Georgia. It was our first trip to the area and although it was fairly short stay for the 5-hour drive (and the weather was not the best) -- we still enjoyed the southern charm and beauty :)I've been accepted into a graduate program for photography at Savannah College of Art & Design..so we went down to check out the school. SCAD has the best set up--I can just see us now living on a tree-lined street, biking to class :) Now we just have to weigh Dustin's job prospects to see if the Savannah or Atlanta campus would be more realistic for our new fam...to be continued..

See ya!

2008-10-23T17:10:00.000-04:00

I hate to end the week early (yeah right!) but the hubby and I are headed out first thing Friday morning for a trip down south -- I'll be back Monday with pics to share :)

[Image by Chelsea of {frolic!}] Isn't her blog just grand, always full of beautiful clips :)

joetta maue

2008-10-22T09:12:00.004-04:00

Currently loving the work of joetta maue. [image by joetta maue]

I like to bake.

2008-10-22T09:00:00.003-04:00

Sometimes I get the sudden urge to be domestic -- and I start to bake :) I'm a fairly picky eater and not much of a cook but for some strange reason I really like to bake. Yesterday I made a two-layer yellow cake with buttercream icing. I'm not sure if I like the final presentation of baking or the fact that I have a nice new kitchenaid mixer ... who knows!

Our own "before & after"

2008-10-19T19:03:00.000-04:00

Inspired by our recently upholstered chair, Dustin and I took on a bland footstool to get our feet wet with upholstery. Above is the footstool in it's original form.
We took off the fabric and with the seam ripper, separated all of the fabric pieces so we could have an exact pattern to go by.
By using the original fabric as a pattern we cut our new fabric accordingly and then started sewing. On the above right image, I'm sewing in the edge piping.
After sewing the three pieces together it was time to recover the padding and then staple it in place.
Ta-da! Much, much better :)

Another new addition..

2008-10-17T14:31:00.004-04:00

Nope, not me and Dustin...but my brother and his wife just welcomed a little boy to their family not even a week after my wedding. I'm so proud, this is my first nephew :)
I couldn't help but blind the little guy with photos...thank goodness he slept through most of it. They have set him up a very sweet nursery pictured below...ahoy, it's a boy!

Have a great fall weekend!!

Newest Addition

2008-10-16T06:57:00.001-04:00

There is an advantage to living close to a major state college - the university surplus: a place where all old university furniture is dumped and resold at a ridiculous discount. So far we've scored a filing cabinet, typewriter table and now our most recent addition...a chair!
We picked up this little (I say little, but no, it would not fit inside our compact car..another story there...) for only $5! With a quick upholstery job while we were gone on our honeymoon, we could not be more satisfied.

I am kicking myself for not taking a before photo. As soon as we got this chair home we had to toss it outside because of it's awful smell. Right when we put it outside the rain came and we had to cover it up. Needless to say the new fabric is a major upgrade.

My New Name :)

2008-10-15T16:40:00.003-04:00

My good friend Lauren letterpress printed my first set of stationery with my new name. She printed my name in orange and paired the cards with mr. french patterned paper envelopes...love it :)

What to do next..

2008-10-15T09:09:00.005-04:00

Now that the wedding planning has come to an end, I'm at a small crossroads as to where I want to take my blog. I love design, weddings, photography, paper, etc..etc.. and generally choose to post about whatever inspires but I am interested in knowing just a little bit more about what my viewers would like to see. So if you don't mind, would you please feel out this short (I promise it's short and easy:) survey...thank you!

Click here to take a Darling Dexter Survey

Dress Inspiration

2008-10-14T06:04:00.009-04:00

[jcrew image in the middle]

Ding, ding, ding! Some of you guessed it, I fell in the love with the Jcrew Daphne wedding gown. But of course, it was discontinued by the time I was ready to buy. Thank goodness though, we ended up creating a significantly less expensive version.
Using the Daphne gown as inspiration, my mom pieced together patterns to create a dress that perfectly fit my body. I opted to use a sheer overlay as the top layer of the dress with a large floral print ... followed by a layer of taffeta for body, and then an attached slip with a cute netted edging. My mom doubled up the patterned fabric on the neck and puffy-sleeves so they were completely sheer yet sturdy. We attached a satin belt to break up the dress ... that snapped in the back with pearl buttons.

I am very happy that we could not get our hands on the Jcrew dress, the process of actually making the dress from scratch allowed me the opportunity to decide on every detail from the buttons to the lining. I highly recommend creating your own dress if you have the resources. For me it was very cost effective and became one of the most special wedding projects that I will never forget.

Bridal Luncheon

2008-10-13T10:45:00.000-04:00

I had my bridesmaids and the immediate women in my family over for a bridal luncheon the Friday before the wedding. I set up everything on my mom's screened-in back porch and thankfully the weather was beautiful. I am a little proud of this luncheon because it is what one might call "entertaining on a dime."
I had one table and was able to borrow the other from my father-in-law, so no cost there. The chairs - I rented from a local company for $1.25/each. My white tablecloths were purchased from HomeGoods at $7.99 a piece. We were very lucky with the glass china - the week of the wedding a local thrift shop had a 72-piece set of plates and dessert glasses...each piece costing a whopping $0.50.I found these great doillie placemats from Urban Outfitters that I just lined up in the center of the table as a runner, I believe these were $1.25 each. Also from Urban Outfitters were the hanging stars which I found on sale at $2.00 each. I purchased the flower vases from "The One Spot" at Target for $1.00...and the flowers were free! They were handpicked from my Grandmother's garden. My mom put her sewing skills to use again and edged cheap white cotton fabric to make napkins and I tied them up with a piece of natural raffia. Last but not least, the candleholders were buy one get one free from Kohl's at $7.99 each.
As far as the food...I had my lovely and talented Aunt cater the event. A few home-cooked dishes, grilled cheese, fruit, etc...and it turned out to be a perfect luncheon :-)

We're Married!

2008-10-12T18:25:00.003-04:00

I'm back...and married :-) We had a wonderful honeymoon and now I am patiently waiting to get the photos from our big day. I could not have asked for better weather, a sweeter ceremony, or a more exciting reception dance party.

Bridal Portraits & My Dress :)

2008-10-09T09:00:00.013-04:00

I can finally show my dress! At the beginning of the wedding dress shopping period I fell in love with the dress that was no longer manufactured :( major bummer. So my mom and I rolled up our sleeves and took on the challenge of recreating the dress of my dreams. From fabric shopping to "rough drafts" she finally got the dress perfect and I couldn't have been happier.
Don't think I didn't venture into a few bridal dress shop, I did...and...it was overwhelming. There were too many to choose from, too many salesperson opinions, and too many strapless dresses that I could not keep my head on straight. I knew from the beginning I wanted a different neckline not only because it was unique but because I NEVER wear strapless things, I'm a more modest gal and coverage makes me comfortable...and on my wedding day I wanted to feel comfortable. Oh and let me not forget to mention that I have fairest skin tone possible...and I hate being cold..so all factors considered, strapless was not for me.
I loved the photos Martha Manning created for me, I thought they captured who I was as an individual and really displayed the love and work that went into creating my dress. I can't wait to see her photos from the wedding!

Wedding Programs

2008-10-08T08:56:00.002-04:00

Here are our lovely programs...hand saddle-stitched and all! I decided to go with a small booklet style to keep it cost effective and petite. Besides the different cover pages, my favorite part of the program is my timeline page...I created a brief timeline of our relationship and thought it would give the guests a little something to read while waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Groomsmen Gifts

2008-10-07T08:48:00.000-04:00

Dustin was big on trying to find different gifts for each of his groomsmen but when he started thinking about finding 8 unique presents he started singing a different tune. He did find these great handmade baseballs on etsy that he had made for each groomsmen. He added in a different type of popcorn and a micro-brewed beer that represented each groomsmen individually...if you can't tell he went for a baseball-themed package.

Bridesmaid Gifts

2008-10-06T08:34:00.001-04:00

My lovely bridesmaid gifts! It took me a long time to figure out the perfect gift to give my bridesmaids. I was certain that it would be something I made, but it took me awhile to figure out what exactly that would be. I decided to create 3 things: personalized martha stewart pocket-size photo albums from kodak (very cute, you have to check them out), letterpressed note cards, and their own unique gold necklace.

Honeymoon Time!

2008-10-05T02:03:00.001-04:00

Have no fear, I am NOT blogging on my honeymoon! I decided to schedule a few posts now that wedding day is over to post while I'm away, laying on the beach :) I could not have asked for a better family, set of friends, or more perfect weather...I hope you enjoy a few wedding posts while I'm away!

Fall? I love it.

2008-09-26T04:13:00.000-04:00

We've hit that time of year again (at least in NC) where the mornings are crisp, afternoons are sunny and warm, and evenings call for a light jacket...fall. I love it :) however, I don't love how anthropologie tempts me with such stylish fall ensembles...

Packing up the details!

2008-09-24T08:40:00.000-04:00

We are packing up the details and sending them over to the reception site for decorating...finally! It seems like I have been working on wedding projects for months, oh wait, I have. It will be see nice to see everything come together :) Above are my send-off flags in a white ceramic tree stump.
My gocco-ed cocktail napkins.Whitney + Dustin hangtags for the guest book wishing tree.Our white cake plates...we are having a table full of yummy desserts.
Of course, cake flavor labels!
Our programs, packed in and ready to go...

Holga Wedding Photos

2008-09-23T20:22:00.006-04:00

I brought out the Holga for my brother's wedding in Vermont...and finally got the film developed. Oh how I love that little toy camera, if only I had brought more film...especially color!

Irene Suchocki

2008-09-23T09:50:00.005-04:00

I'm such a sucker for fine art photography especially TTV. Found these beautiful photos on etsy by Irene Suchocki and had to share...so pretty right?

Where in the world..

2008-09-12T13:24:00.004-04:00

have I been?? In lazy blog-land :-) I've been spending my days hanging with my dog, following the crazy politics, and doing a little house cleaning. All excuses aside..I did have a little fun photographing a bundle of flowers I picked up from the fresh market earlier this week.

Eye of the Storm

2008-09-05T16:35:00.002-04:00

I'm here in Wilmington, NC for a wedding...yes, exactly where tropical storm Hanna is headed. Cross you fingers for a quick pass through! :-)

A Beaufort Wedding Invite

2008-09-04T15:04:00.007-04:00

My good friend and co-worker is getting married in November and she just completed her wedding invitations! I am so excited because they are just a little bag of goodies, literally :-) She is getting married at Fort Macon, NC and has really played out the characteristics of the fort with class. She used a translucent sleeve to hold all of her pieces in an envelope. She even threw in a dried flower and pocket-size folding map...too clever!

VT Wedding: The Big Day

2008-09-03T11:23:00.005-04:00

VT Wedding: Setup & Rehearsal Dinner

2008-09-03T11:10:00.003-04:00

I have safely returned from my brother's wedding weekend in Vermont. As promised, here a few photos from the trip!

Busy, Busy Bee

2008-08-28T00:05:00.000-04:00

I'm headed up to Vermont this weekend for my brother's wedding. I have been slightly m.i.a...busy making wedding programs and tying up loose ends. I get back on Monday with a few breaths until my good friend's wedding the next weekend. Don't get me wrong, I'm joyful at the amount of quality time I get to spend with my loves :-) I'll be back to you soon with shots from a rustic wedding in Stowe, Vermont.

a view to: etsy shop

2008-08-27T23:12:00.003-04:00

Dreamy and lovely finds from this new etsy shop by a view to.

Bridal Shower - Check!

2008-08-25T12:27:00.005-04:00

We were fortunate enough to knock out two bridal showers in one weekend. I had to share a few photos with you from our shower this past Sunday, Dustin is so interested in the gifts (he's a good sport).

Day at the Lake

2008-08-25T08:00:00.000-04:00

I spent little less than a week in my hometown recently finishing up some wedding planning. I had the chance to take a few photos of my parent's 6 month-old lab at the lake one evening. I love watching her jump in, if only my 4 year-old bichon frise would take the plunge... :-)You can see more here.

skinnylaminx: mugs

2008-08-21T09:29:00.004-04:00

Lovely ceramic transfer mugs from skinnylaminx.

Wedding Wednesday: Napkins

2008-08-20T09:26:00.004-04:00

Have I mentioned how much I love the Gocco? Last night I printed about 250 cocktail napkins with orange/aqua ink and am so pleased with the results. Another check-off on the list :)

Engagement Session: Barbara & Nathan

2008-08-17T09:09:00.010-04:00

A dear friend of mine is getting married in January and I offered to take her engagement photos..so this past weekend we headed up to her grandmother's farm and started shooting. They were great sports considering this was my first real shoot with people other than Dustin and my dog :) You can check out a few more of my favorite shots here.

A Bridal Luncheon.

2008-08-16T11:47:00.007-04:00

Despite the fact that I'm the one getting married, by default I usually design/create/send most of the invitations surrounding the wedding events. I definitely don't mind it, it gives me an opportunity to experiment and create a piece that is completely what I want. Above is my bridal luncheon invitation.

Wedding Details

2008-08-15T02:18:00.001-04:00

Completed another project for the wedding yesterday. Thanks to the doilie punch from the Martha Stewart craft line, I have this cute sign to hang above our cake table :)

for the love of light.

2008-08-14T17:17:00.005-04:00

Got my For the Love of Light: A Tribute to the Art of Polaorid book in the mail the other day. I love it. It is so satisfying. I also received a postcard and original polaroid print, and the whole package was all worth it.

Maggie Valley Rustic Wedding

2008-08-12T09:07:00.006-04:00

Here are a few shots taking from my cousin's wedding this past weekend just outside of Asheville, NC in Maggie Valley. The bridal party stayed in the Lodge below which was also where the rehearsal dinner and reception took place. It was the ultimate rustic wedding.

Have a Lovely Weekend.

2008-08-08T02:00:00.001-04:00

[polaroid image from my nest collection]

I'm off for a wedding-filled weekend in Asheville, NC. My cousin is getting married and I am headed up the mountain to support her. I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy the summer air :)

Toots and Magoo

2008-08-07T10:51:00.007-04:00

[all images by Julia Parris]

I have had the opportunity to freelance with a new boutique in downtown Chapel Hill on Franklin Street called Toots and Magoo. I am so happy to be working with a store that shares the love of paper goods and interesting finds the same way that I do. The store is great because they have just a little bit of everything. There is a definite command of beautiful letterpress printed goods and antiques however you can also find bags, jewelry, shoes, and more. I love having meetings at the store because every time I go in it's a little different with something new to discover. Toots and Magoo also has a small weddings department, offering the best in letterpress invitations. And coming soon...they are going to start providing workshops.

If you are familiar with the Chapel Hill area, it is located betweeen Sugarland and the former SchoolKids Records.

Programs: Sneak Peek

2008-08-06T09:43:00.000-04:00

I'm mid-way through production of my wedding programs so I just wanted to post a sneak peek...more to come later with this one :)

. oh my deer . wedding

2008-08-06T01:34:00.001-04:00

When I posted about Tec Petaja, I had no idea his wife of oh my deer would check out my blog -OR- that they had an amazing wedding. Here are a few detail shots of their big day, images by Jose Villa.
So fun :-)

Pop-Ups

2008-08-05T13:28:00.000-04:00

When I think pop-up card, a cheesy hallmark image comes into my mind...but the work of Tracy Chong is not that at all. Aren't these modern pop-ups clever? I love how the cut outs can be rather complex but are contrasted with a simple color palette.

[images from tracychong]

Vintage Spools

2008-08-05T10:17:00.000-04:00

[image from grandmothersattic]

Doesn't this description sound lovely, "Lot of 30 Vintage Wooden Thread Spools." Not exactly sure what you could do with such a prize, but isn't this a great find?!

Tec Petaja

2008-08-04T10:12:00.003-04:00

Found the work of Tec Petaja via The Bride's Cafe...I love the dreamy style.

[images from Tec Petaja]

More Invites..

2008-08-02T19:18:00.005-04:00

Considering all that I have been posting lately has been wedding paper products, I found this invite set on flickr and thought it was a great mixture of paper, pattern, and ink.[images from juicyyumburger]

Mok Duk by Anne Benjamin

2008-07-31T09:13:00.006-04:00

Found this great designer on Brooklyn Bride and just had to share. They even use the same stamps that I did on the last image!

[images from annebenjamin]

Programs

2008-07-23T14:00:00.001-04:00

Remember this? This past weekend I attended the wedding and am delighted to report that it was as nice as the invitations :) Here is a peak at their wedding programs.

Wedding Wednesday: They're orange!

2008-07-23T11:30:00.003-04:00

I promise they are orange! I have received several compliments that are directed towards my red invitations, so I wanted to set the record straight and photograph them again so they look orange. Not sure if I was successful or not, but please know, in real life they are orange :)
Signed, sealed, and (soon to be) delivered! We have licked (yes, I just said licked) about half of the stamps and addressed all of them. I can't wait to get them out the door very soon :)

Elizabeth Anne Designs: The Library

2008-07-21T21:21:00.006-04:00

Congratulations to the ladies of Elizabeth Anne Designs. They have launched a website housing the ultimate directory for all your wedding needs, The Library!

Nests

2008-07-21T21:09:00.005-04:00

With my wedding less than 3 months away, I was inspired to do a little TTV action on a few nest still lifes. Now I am trying to figure out a way to incorporate them into the wedding...

New Goodies

2008-07-17T11:50:00.001-04:00

[image from urbanoutfittes.com]

Above is my latest obsession. I can't afford a digital fisheye lens right now so I opted for the toy-film version, the Lomography Fisheye Camera...how fun :) I'll post images after they get developed!

As I was trying to link to the fisheye camera through the urban outfitters website I stumbled across this baby below..geez! This is a Rolleiflex Mini Digital Camera that is modeled after the original. Can you believe this thing? So little, so digital, and so expensive. At $399, I can't afford one quite yet, but maybe one day :)

[image from urbanoutfittes.com]

Happy Mistakes

2008-07-17T08:44:00.006-04:00

I shot 3 rolls of film with my Holga camera recently and although I am comfortable with my camera, I some how messed it up this time. One of the main advantages of the Holga though is that even the greatest mistakes can produce some really neat results.

Day in the Gardens

2008-07-11T09:47:00.006-04:00

Dustin and I spent yesterday evening exploring Duke Gardens in Durham, NC. Oh what a lovely place :) We hadn't been back since we took our engagement photos there last winter so it was nice to see everything in full bloom.

Wedding Wednesday: Invite Preview

2008-07-09T00:00:00.003-04:00

Voila! Finally! We spent all of last night finishing our invitations and it was well worth it. All 110 of them complete :) I struggled for the longest time trying to decide what I wanted my invitations to look like, there is extra pressure when you are a graphic designer. I opted for the A6 size (for the stationery nerds out there) because I liked the feel of smaller pieces and also enjoyed creating my invite and postcard reply the same size. Because our wedding is in our hometown with everything happening at the same location, we were able to get away with only having two cards. I am very pleased with the results and am especially fond of our vintage stamps :)

Thinking.

2008-07-08T08:48:00.006-04:00

Now that July 4th has come and gone and we're are full swing into summer I need to stop and pause. I have plans every weekend until 2 weeks before my wedding in October. From bridal showers, concerts, weddings, and appointments I want to make sure I am enjoying myself through it all. I am not worried if it will all come together or what will happen when it is all over, I am just working to be overly cautious to not let the details become bigger than the purpose.
That being said, my fiance and I had a lovely evening yesterday printing our invitations which means a big check off the list. Previews to come soon..
And yes, this weekend I sucked up my pride and put on a sash to become "The Bachelorette." I spent a wonderful weekend with my closest friends and could not have asked for a better bachelorette party. Nothing too outrageous, just a memorable weekend with my ladies :)

Wordle

2008-07-02T09:35:00.003-04:00

Found via {frolic!} who found via design for mankind (I love the blog world)...this game will keep you occupied for quite some time. This is a wordle of my blog...I think it sums it up pretty well :)

Wedding Wednesday

2008-07-02T08:10:00.002-04:00

[Image from MarionQuaggatuggu]

I'm headed to Lake Norman, NC this fourth of July weekend for my Bachelorette Party. Although I consider myself more on the modest side, I am absolutely thrilled to be able to spend the whole weekend with my closest friends even though I may have a few embarrassing bachelorette moments!I am so thankful for all of my lovely ladies who are able to make it this weekend. Since everyone is having to travel a ways to meet up in southern NC, I decided to make little travel thank you bags for everyone. Shh...I was hoping they might be surprised :)

A few things.

2008-07-01T11:19:00.005-04:00

Amidst family health emergencies and a bustling schedule, I thought I'd share a few things to celebrate on the heels of this celebratory holiday.
1 - breaking ground on our letterpress wedding invitations
2 - spending the weekend with friends I don't see enough
3 - car rides across the state, listening to npr
4 - evening summer walks through the neighborhood
5 - learning new notes on my violin
6 - anticipating my portrait proofs
7 - cuddling with my dirty yet fluffy doggy
8 - patiently waiting with my loving new family

Vintage

2008-07-01T08:53:00.007-04:00

[Images: elizabeth anne designs]

A part of me wishes I could jump in a time machine and have a wedding date of October 4, 1953 when spending $10,000 on a wedding was glamorous and it was inappropriate to wear a strapless dress. I fell in love with this photo collage and just had to share :)

Wedding Wednesday

2008-06-25T15:39:00.006-04:00

[image from mtparadis]

Yesterday I made a major strike through my to-do list, I had my bridal portrait photo shoot. It was the first time every detail was in place and I had a head to toe picture of what the big day is going to be like, and I loved it :)
I chose Fearrington Village in Pittsboro, NC for my site. It's the perfect mix of lovely gardens, rolling hills, beautiful rooms, and even a cow pasture. There could not have been better weather and my photographer recommended we start at 7pm so that she could capture the golden, early evening sun.
Besides sitting at the beauty salon for 2 1/2 hours, the whole day was worth it and I can't wait to see the results. I'm sorry I can't share more photos with you, the groom is an avid blog reader (he's sweet:) and I can't spoil the surprise for him. No worries, we only have about 3 months to go!

Inspiration Pack

2008-06-23T07:25:00.001-04:00

I'm participating in Decor8's inspiration pack exchange. You can check out the details on Holly's site, but basically you make a small collection of remnants, send them to Holly, she mixes everything up and makes brand new packs from everyone's goodies.

Polaroid Bookshelf

2008-06-18T08:16:00.010-04:00

I decided to pin up my polaroids...a bookshelf just happened to be the perfect place.

Letterpress Follow-Up

2008-06-18T08:16:00.007-04:00

Here are the completed letterpress invitations from my video tutorial. Designed by the bride herself, she will be adding yellow flowers to the green plant. Can't wait to see the end results!

Wedding Wednesday

2008-06-11T23:47:00.001-04:00

[Image from Hornplayer]

Big news! We've finalized our honeymoon..and the winning location is: Aruba! 5 days, 4 nights of clear water and warm temps...can't wait :)

Sweet summer

2008-06-10T23:23:00.005-04:00

My fab finace bought me sunflowers for my birthday on Sunday, aren't they beautiful..

Itsy-bitsy yellow..

2008-06-09T10:35:00.004-04:00

[Images from anthropologie.com]

These may not be polka-dot or bikini's ... but I could definitely make them my yellow suit for the summer :) Considering it's been 100 degrees everyday for the past week..it's time to go to the pool..

Storage

2008-06-09T09:45:00.004-04:00

Although I would love to have a huge type cabinet like the one above, I believe I would find myself using it more like Poppalina than for metal type.[Images: all from poppalina]

Letterpress 101

2008-06-08T21:47:00.003-04:00

I am fairly new to letterpress printing but I have created a short video of the main steps in the process. Hope you enjoy!

Visitor

2008-06-05T08:30:00.004-04:00

We had a little visitor this morning on our doorstep, literally on the doorstep. Not exactly sure the type of bird but we thought it was pretty neat he let us get this close for a photo.

Intro to Video Blogging

2008-06-04T22:33:00.003-04:00

Wedding Wednesday

2008-06-04T08:30:00.001-04:00

Things are slowly coming together...as you can see, 5 bridesmaid dresses down and 3 more to go. I'm trying to decide if I should do any type of unique stitching around the neckline or should I just let it be simple?

Latest Fling: She & Him

2008-06-04T08:00:00.001-04:00

New favorite album..She & Him Volume One

birthday wish.

2008-06-03T13:00:00.001-04:00

[Image from exhibit 5c]

My birthday is coming up soon and I think I owe myself a new orla bag... oh, and a trip to bryant park :)

Necklines...cont..

2008-06-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

A few more lovely dress necklines from anthro

Built by Wendy

2008-06-02T10:07:00.006-04:00

[Image by madelinetosh]

I love the modern patterns by Built by Wendy...maybe once we have all of my bridesmaid dresses complete, I can make a few things for myself :)

in bloom.

2008-06-02T08:23:00.004-04:00

I had a nice weekend relaxing back in my hometown of Wilkesboro, NC where I found plenty of things in bloom.

Mail Surprise!

2008-05-29T18:06:00.007-04:00

I got a nice surprise in the mail today, a wedding invite of course, but not just any...my talented friend Amy who is getting married July 19 has created her wedding stationery using gocco, wood veneer, and stitching! Three things when put all together make the perfect package. Can't wait for her special date.. and all the neat things she does!

New Specs

2008-05-29T09:37:00.002-04:00

My new R E D specs..for only $8! They may be made in china but this site offers super frames for next to nothing.

Letterpress Invite

2008-05-28T21:21:00.006-04:00

Now that we have our C&P Pilot Letterpress whipped into shape, it is time to start using it. Our first project has been my cousin's wedding invites. She designed the motif for her wedding stationery after a floral pattern on her ring and we took care of the printing. Through a few trials and tribulations...I believe we are going to turn out our first piece.

(more) Wedding Centerpieces

2008-05-23T10:37:00.001-04:00

Seeing that our wedding is rather rustic and outdoors we decided to go with a similar theme for our centerpieces: lanterns. To my surprise Martha Stewart Living magazine did a story about lanterns this month and they are exactly the feeling I want to achieve! We found our particular lanterns at Kohl's (pictured below) and are currently pondering ways to decorate around them.

Wedding Wednesday: Inspiration Board

2008-05-21T08:30:00.001-04:00

[Images: elizabeth anne designs]

The lovely ladies over at Elizabeth Anne Designs created an inspiration board for my wedding and they could not have been more dead on! I love their ideas and am so pleased with what they created...I can't wait to pull ideas from this board.

Wedding Wednesday

2008-05-21T08:27:00.000-04:00

[Images: Large envelope w/ double-sided card]

Now that we have bridesmaid dresses in production, I have been getting the question about shoes. You know the one...what shoes are we going to where? If you haven't figured me out yet, I am not into the matchy-matchy so I created a small mailer to send out to my ladies letting them know my thoughts about the situation. Along with a fabric swatch from their dress, I selected a few shoes that I thought might look cute with the ensemble. I am a sucker for snail mail, so I hope my ladies appreciate their personalized package as much as I enjoyed making them :-)

Furniture Help! Part 2

2008-05-20T22:23:00.004-04:00

Remember this guy? We finally bought fabric for a decent price, now we have to find the time to conquer this beast. Anyone upholstered a couch before? This will be our first time, so I will have to let you know how it goes :-)

Are you ready?

2008-05-19T10:21:00.005-04:00

I can't wait to see the wedding details from the "Sex and the City Movie"...even if a wedding doesn't occur!

sweet style.

2008-05-16T10:13:00.004-04:00

[Images are those of wikstenmade]

Jenny over at wikstenmade has sweet style that I envy...she can put it together so well and even make her own pieces...love it.