whew.

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.

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...

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.

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!

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....

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

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!

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

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

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

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.