FONT FRIDAY: ISSUE 19

Happy Friday! Do you know what time it is? It's FONT FRIDAY TIME...yay! This week I have a similar one to last week's MAIDEN ORANGE.   It's retro and cartoony, and I've played that up a bit with the colors, but it looks really cool in white as an overlay, too. It's called HAURACHERELL NC (don't ask me how to say it...I can hardly spell it) and it's a freebie over on DAFONT.  How FUN, right? I've been working on some Back to School Printables for Cyd over on THE SWEETEST OCCASION and keep bouncing back between the two fonts. Decisions, decisions.

Don't forget to swing by my FAVORITE FONTARIFIC PALS in the world:

ALEXANDRA  {THE AERIALIST PRESS}

 ALISON {ALISON OWEN DESIGN}

JEN {BLUSH PRINTABLES}

STEPH {BUBBLEROCK}

SOFIA {BRANCOPRATA}

VICKI {VICKI.DESIGNER}

CATHERINE {DESIGN EDITOR}

CHELSEA {FOURTH AND FOLDED}

ALLIE {HONEY BEE INVITES}

LAUREN {LAUREN ELISE CRAFTED}

JENNA + ELIZABETH {LITTLE BIT HEART}

LAUREN {PALM PAPERS}

KERRY {SUPER SWOON}

WENDY{WESWEN DESIGN}

FOLLOW #FONTFRIDAY on Twitter!

GUEST POST ON POSTCARDS AND PRETTIES

{LILLY BIMBLE}

Happy Thursday! I was so floored when Christina asked me to do a guest post. I have a great hint for you over on POSTCARDS AND PRETTIES today about digital patterns.  These might say they are scrapbook paper but did you know you can use them for party printables, too?  I rounded up some of the best shops on Etsy and I really thing you should check them out.  Heck, I make my own patterns, but I NEED some of these! Why recreate the wheel? Go see the post  HERE.

3 THINGS TUESDAY: TWIPS - NEW SITE

As you might have noticed from the sidebar, I am a member of TWIPS {Twitter Wedding Inspirational Pals} which was founded by an incredible gal, Naomi of ENCHANTED DREAM WEDDINGS & AFFAIRS.  What she and Alicia, of THE CHARITY WEDDING, have created is a community of support and encouragement for all those in the wedding industry.

The theme is simple: give love. Take that little extra step and make a comment on a pal's blog or tweet their amazing inspiration board. All their hard work has resulted in an online platform for TWIPS.  It is like a perfect little clubhouse, but anyone can (and should) go enjoy the goodies and inspiration it provides.

What I like best about this site? I have to be honest that I am more than a little excited for the DIY section, which I just might have a goodie for this week, but my favorite part is that I can see all the members by area of expertise, which has been hard for me to keep track of as TWIPS has grown by leaps and bounds.  I can't wait to find new TWIPS using this great members catalog.

I can tell you the friendships and help that I have gotten from TWIPS has made an incredible difference in my business and my blog.  I am constantly surprised at the talent and kindness that comes from TWIPS.  So, go NOW...enjoy and watch it grow as new submissions keep coming in.  Fellow TWIPS members...don't forget to submit your information to be listed! Are you in the Wedding Industry? You should join!

A BIG WOOHOO YOU DID IT AND IT'S AWESOME for NAOMI and ALICIA!!!

Don't forget to follow #TWIPS on Twitter for fabulous wedding treats!

DIY Week Continues...on THE SWEETEST OCCASION

 Hello, lovelies! There is so much goodness going on this week,  I simply can't keep up...Don't forget to read all the tutorials...Ms. Chelsea,of LOVELY INDEED and my DIY cohost, has some AMAZING videos...Pinwheels, anyone? 

 {SOURCE: LOVELY INDEED}

Aren't they adorable? And she just did a stop motion video tutorial...EEK! I love this girl even more! Is it weird that I am this excited about DIY WEEK? Um...NO.  'Cause it's AWESOME! Oh, what fun us girls can get into!

Here are the links to the latest of my DIYs for DIY Week over on THE SWEETEST OCCASION.

NO SEW BUNTING (okay, I know not everyone loves sewing as much as me, this is faster, anyhoo)

EDIBLE TOPPER AND BUNTING (out of Fruit Roll-ups, yep, I went there. yum,)

For the love of OMBRE...Inspiration Boards

We did it again, thanks to the wonderful collaboration of Wendy of JUST WENDERFUL, Aleah of VALLEY & CO. , and Sofia of BRANCO PRATA...and a huge THANK YOU to Wendy for the fabulous idea of OMBRE color boards and putting it all together so beautifully.  I think I want to live inside each one, so go see them NOW! {HERE} **FIXED LINK** A little sneak peak of my color board...

{SOURCE}

Real Party: Chelsea

Hi! I have a pretty party for you this morning from Chelsea of The Alexanders. She used my RUFFLED GARLAND DIY from The Sweetest Occasion and I just love this gorgeous little BOW TIES + PEARLS DINNER PARTY she created for her hubby's birthday.

 A BOW BAR??  I'm floored.  It's super cute and what a great idea. 

 

Go see more of the goodness HERE! Thank you Chelsea for sharing XOXO!

Pretty as a Picnic

I'm in love with gingham and these gorgeous little napkins that you tear off a roll...now in a pretty simple plain red check.  The best part is they are made of fabric so you can wash them and use them over and over. How perfect for a picnic would a little savory pie be served with some sweet tea?

I found them at one of my favorite sites to browse from the UK, Cox and Cox, which is full of lovely things. I've had picnics on the brain all week because of Chris over on Postcards and Pretties.  She has been having an entire week devoted to picnic inspiration and I am just dying! You have to go see it NOW.

PS if anyone knows where to find these napkins stateside, let me know! I am collecting goodies for a picnic basket.

Paper Straw Garland

 I am obsessed with garland and today I bring you a wonderful talent from across the Bugger-Dixon line...the other Jenny.  I think she might be my creative twin and she shares my *love* for people quoting Forrest Gump or asking if my phone number is 865-5309. {did that song just pop into your head?  good.} But more than that she runs a great little blog called CROSSING THE BUGGER-DIXON LINE which is chopped full of great party inspiration.  But wait...she made this gorgeous and SUPER SIMPLE garland from those fabulous striped paper straws! 

 

I love it. LOVE IT! 

So stay tuned, Jenny made this garland for her son's party which I'm chomping at the bit to see later this week.

NEW Party Line by Heather Bailey

I am a HUGE fan of Heather Bailey.  Her bold use of color and modern vintage styling just makes me giddy.  I adore her blog and hoard her fabrics.   I can't begin to tell you how wonderful (and easy) her sewing patterns are. So, I was pretty crazy-happy when I saw these babies! 

I am in love.  Paper plates and coordinates that MATCH those fabulous fabrics I drool over?  Just in time for Spring? ::sigh::

Totally. Perfectly. Amazing.  Heather has a new line of PARTY and PICNIC wares that includes plates, napkins, coasters (above right, eek!) All with coordinating stationary, invites and more. You have to go see her STORE right NOW.  Perfect for a modern spin on Easter, Mother's Day, or showers galore. We only have one birthday in the next six months, but this warm sunshine has me wishing for picnics at the park with the boys. If we mix and match, it would be "so stinkin' cute" to quote my oldest. 

I have a crazy hankerin' for color lately and these have just the right punch.  Spot on Heather! Kuddos and congratulations! Oh, and  am so making those swirly cupcakes ASAP. Love her!

  

{ALL IMAGE SOURCES HEATHER BAILEY LLC}

I SWOON for Super Swoon

When I started stalking...err...following my favorite font fiends on font friday, I found the blog SUPER SWOON.  I was instantly smitten with Kerry, of swoon worthy PAPER DAHLIA,  and anything everything that girl does.  One fine Monday, she posted a memorable little quote that is simply perfect.  You might have seen it any and everywhere from Creature Comforts to all over Pinterest.  I love it. No, I adore it. Kerry has opened a new shop and has made a print of this divine little piece of AWESOMENESS.  I wonder what else this girl as up her sleeves.

Go buy it HERE. I can't wait to get mine!!! WOO HOO! XOXO Kerry! Hang it on your wall, by the front door, so it can make you smile before you go. Mine's going right above my desk, I can't wait to see the awesomeness it shall inspire.

FONT FRIDAY: ISSUE 4

Hello, hello! We're delightfully unwinding here from a fabulous family vacation in Seattle.  I have some fabulous news...I get real internet next week. Everytime I think of it, I smile ear to ear.  There's lots of goodies coming soon to a little blog near you...Let's get back to business, shall we?

Welcome to the fourth edition of FONT FRIDAY.  Today, I will show you a little lovely I found while catching up on my blog reader.  I love the blog style/SWOON, as it is always full of beautiful images.  Case and point...an amazing 40th birthday party for her friend.

 via style/SWOON 

I fell in love {AGAIN} with a font.  I just thought it was gorgeous. It reminded me of the pretty little letters you can find handrawn on Lauren's blog A FABULOUS FETE.

I swore I had seen this new font somewhere...or it was yet another pretty handrawn font ::sigh::, but I couldn't find it. I decided to just ask nicely. It's amazing how wonderful the blog community is. Samantha (of style/SWOON) was sweet, lovely and made me love her blog more because she kindly sent me a link to the font.  Thank you Samantha for being so super amazing! I am proud to introduce ANTROKAS over on dafont.com. It's free, and a medium quality, but for labels and such, it works beautifully. Especially, because my calligraphy skills need a smidge more work...

Don't forget to grab some more fontilicious goodness over on LITTLE BIT HEART, LAUREN ELISE CRAFTED, SUPER SWOON (mid week goodness on Tuesdays), AERIALIST PRESS, BLUSH PRINTABLES, FOURTH AND FOLDED and THE KNOTTY BRIDE. On TWITTER?? Search #FONTFRIDAY.

**AND DON'T FORGET TO ENTER TO WIN YOUR CHOICE OF PARTY PLANS FROM ONE CHARMING PARTY...ENDS TODAY!!! ENTER HERE.**

SWOON WORTHY Inspiration: FLEUR WOOD

 I have been dreaming about these images  I snapped from Fleur Wood's book, FOOD FASHION FRIENDS.  

I. AM. WITH. OUT. WORDS.

FOOD FASHION FRIENDS: RECIPES AND STYLING FOR UNFORGETTABLE PARTIES BY FLEUR WOOD

see behind the scenes HERE

This book is full of gorgeous recipes and inspiration.  It just moved to #1 on my NEED list. **It's a big book so it wouldn't have fit in the suitcase...otherwise it would be mine.

Pop of Color

I am obsessed with color lately.  Especially, bright color ways. I love RICE DK. I want to order their entire line of mismatched vibrant unbreakable loveliness. I keep seeing little pieces pop up all over (look at that green!!! eek!)  I finally got the big break in my hunt...Thank you, again, Pinterest and fab pinner Alyssa Best from whom I spied those cute little cake forks below.

 

RICE DK is wholesale only...for entire lines of home wares.  Go oogle their catalogs, I did. 

 You can find some of these pretties at Huset.

**only a few days left to enter to win YOUR CHOICE of One Charming Party Plans HERE**

Mad about Mondays

Hello Lovelies! Happy Monday to all! We woke up here with a little sugar hangover...we had Henry's party on Saturday - YEE HAW, and Baby Harry's First Birthday yesterday. But it was worth every bite!!  It's all misty and moist here in Seattle and I am loving it.  Only because it is such a change from my usual all sunny all the time not a cloud in the sky kind of weather.  I thought I would share just some things I might be obsessed with these past few days...

{kate spade}makes me want to give in and try the sock and heels thing...I will for sure get some green socks...

{young blood by the naked and famous}makes me really wish for spring...on repeat this morning as I write this. Kuddos to Sharon for finding, as I am pretty sure it's in my "mix tape" she sent me a few months ago. I haven't loved synthesizers this much since I was in elementary school...funny...that's the last time I pegged my pants...ahem...roll. for the record, I roll my skinny jeans- not peg.

{B. Makosky 'Isabel'} is actually the perfect kelly green in real life...makes me need this. I'm rather obsessed with GREEN if you couldn't tell.  I am currently on a mission to find the perfect shade for the logo...which translates into my wardrobe because I love it so much.  I even found shoes to match...

{miz mooz 'salima'} makes me want them in case the green socks and heels don't work out...

Just a few musings over what I'm mad for...on this...Monday. I'm on vacation...and I never get to shop at real stores, so I apologize for the fete-free post.  Enjoy and have a happy week!

Happy Friday!

"BIRTHDAY PARTY COWGIRL" BY DOLAN GEIMAN

Let me first say...I just love this.
I'm off to plan Henry's 5th birthday party that is in two weeks.  To answer some questions I know just popped in your head...YES, I am using this gorgeous art by Dolan Geiman as inspiration.  ...and NO,  I will not be dressed like that...much to the dispair of my hubby. I am not making a SAUCY bday party for my soon to be five year old.  I am inspired by the modern feel and vintagy worn look.  So, for the past month or so I have been toying with the idea of a modern cowboy party...Monday, I will share my inspiration board. 
Which may not even come to life...we just confirmed last night we are going up to visit the inlaws for a huge birthday weekend! Cousin H turns 1 that weekend too! Which is fabulous!  We are super excited and I haven't told the boys yet in hopes of having that little moment like they show on those Disney commercials, where the kids get all excited, shake and freak out. But, cute. Not how I just made it sound. Anyways, I won't be able to drag an arsenal of party wares.  It will be simple.  and easy.  and still cute (cause I can only rock awesome)

REMEMBER to enter the RAINBOW OF INSPIRATION giveaway on Monday's Post.  Contest ends tonight at 5pm.  I will choose a winner via Random.org and make the announcement before I sign off for the weekend!

Vintage Inspiration - ALL WRAPPED UP

I found this book ages ago...really. Like, when I was still in school and killing time between classes and cruising the aisles of Barnes and Noble.  I found it on a fluke again ('cause I could never remember the name) a few years back and snatched it up.  All Wrapped Up by Kevin Akers is fabulous. I love just flipping through the pages.  I've been personally obsessed and trying to make the retro bows in Illustrator.

I highly recommend this book if you have a vintage streak or a love of retro colorways.  It's a compilation of 60's vintage wrapping paper.  I use it all the time for colorways and pattern inspiration, I can't be the only one. For example...this watercolor plaid pattern...

 

...could be used as a starting point to spice up your fete...add dinnerware from Anthro or napkins from this fabric from Jay McCarroll for FreeSpirit.

I'll share some more goodies from this great little number as I perfect my little bows and plan some colorways for some goodies coming up.  Have a wonderful Wednesday!



Monday Pretties

Happy Monday Lovelies!
I just wanted to share some pretty little art by Sandra Suy I found while flitting around.  Wouldn't this be lovely as inspiration for a party? 

“eve”

This, I Celebrate

One my my all-time favorite ladies is Emily from Potter and Butler.  I find her truly inspirational and sweet to boot.  And her fledgling shop o'eyecandy, by the same name, has been all over since it's lovely little debut in October.  I am mildly obsessed with Emily, is it wierd I did a happy dance for her when I heard her Gracious Garlands are in the March issue of Brides?  So, when she asked if I wanted to sponsor a THIS, I CELEBRATE podcast, I said "Heck, yeah!" These podcasts are the words of wisdom, inspiration, and goodness straight from the lovely lips of party extroidinaires. Brilliant and entertaining. So, pop on over (here) and get an awesome discount code for any goodies in the shop and check out the goodie (above) I'm sending to this week's "Celebrator" (is that a word? maybe not, but they have a ton to celebrate) Cineca from Dreamin' N Details.

Ha Ha Holidays...

Some of my favorite things make you laugh.  A real laugh.  From the gut, milk out your nose, can't keep it back kind of laugh. In school, I remember one of my teachers said that "truly funny things are things that are true." It was worded much better than that, but I have a terrible memory and I'm happy that I can remember the gist of it. 

The year has flown by and I haven't touched half of my to do list, not to mention my resolutions. Nope, not even half of my holiday to do list. I'll let you in on a secret...I haven't started my Christmas cards yet. On the list...towards the top, I think. Instead, I found something better. A funny book. The holidays can get a bit crazy. Now, I don't feel so bad about it.

...and it is hillarious.  It's dedicated "to all the unbalanced mothers". Look at the chapter names...

"Life's Too Short To Fold Fitted Sheets: Your Ultimate Guide To Domestic Liberation" (Chronicle Books) is
written by Lisa Quinn, and I think I love her. She's a self professed "Martha junkie", a domestic diva and insanely funny.

There are hillarious parts and sections with useful hints.  Like really useful...kid appropriate fabrics and flooring so you can clean less...um, yes, please!  With a smidge of snarky. "Because honestly, who out there really wants to spend an entire Saturday constructing crepe paper peonies for the brunch centerpiece"
I am as addicted to parties as any of you.  Love them, I wouldn't want to be in any other industry. She really hits it home about the stresses about it, though.  Sometimes you just want to walk away...far, far away...

It might be mom-wifey-lit.  But hey, I'm a mom.  It is beyond hillariously funny and just one of those books that reminds you how good you really do have it, with all the imperfections that come, too.  Perfect for the Holidays as a gift to your own domestic diva...be sure to wrap is really pretty...or in a paper bag just for kicks.

On the same note... I will be posting until next Wednesday, December 15th.  Then I will be taking a break until January 15th.  I really do have a ton on my list, and this year I wanted most of my gifts to be handmade.
Lots of updates coming to the shop and links to add to the blog.  I'll still be reading and twittering, just at a slower pace...to enjoy the season and plan a trip to the inlaws...