Nature's Splendor

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.

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

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

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.

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

Stacks upon stacks upon stacks...

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.

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?

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

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

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

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

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....

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....

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...

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

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!

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.

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

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.