DIY-inspired


6
Jul 10

It’s All in the Details and an Awesome Team!

Before wedding season took over all our lives, I got to take part in a fabulous collaborative photo shoot spearheaded by the talented Chelse at EIEIO and Glow Photography.

I was in charge of adding in some details based on the color scheme (pink, red, green and brown) and the theme (antique/vintage, spring picnic).  Of course the unpredictable April Rochester weather got in the way of the outdoor picnic vision, but it did not prevent an absolutely stunning photoshoot.   The incredible team was made-up of:

PhotographerGlow Photography
Floral Designer - In Bloom Weddings
CakeSimply Sweets
Makeup – Tammi Nocon

What struck me the most about the final results (below) is how in sync everyone’s contributions were.   I am so impressed by all of the professionals’ hard work and many talents.  It was my honor to be a part of the team!
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30
Nov 09

A Little DIY Quirkiness to Start your Week Off Right!

One of the things I love most about my job is the relationships.  Typically, I’m hired pretty early on in the wedding planning process, so my clients get to know me on both a personal and professional level and vice versa.  Planning a wedding is inherantly personal, and these great relationships keep growing even after the wedding is over.  Like I said, it’s one of the main reasons why I love what I do.

Case in point: One of my clients sent me this link this morning to a super sassy DIY wedding idea.  I absolutely loved it and couldn’t stop laughing at the concept, which the bride of course predicted.

It’s from the delightful Fig and Plum blog: DIY Bride and Groom face Coasters.  A little strange, yes, but I appreciate the originality and out-of-the-box-ness of the approach.

I think it’s just enough hippy kitsch cute – how’s that for a description?; plus, it’s beyond crafty and personal.   What do you think?

p.s. In case you were wondering, the blog editor is NOT from Seattle, but her amazing wedding photographer is, so the Seatle-creativity theory continues.  Seriously, what do they put in the water up there??



24
Nov 09

Delicious, Delightful DIY Smore Kits – Seriously, Need I Say More?

This is one of those amazingly versatile ideas that will make recipients happy as a Holiday gift, a wedding favor, a welcome bag addition, and even a “just because” gift.  You just use clear acetate boxes for each of the ingredients; then, tie the whole things together with baker’s twine.  While I would love to take credit for this idea, I found it on Twig & Thistle, yet another fabulous Seattle-based DIY inspiration blog (I swear there is some sort of creativity supplement in the water there.).


27
Oct 09

Etsy Gift Ideas!

I love this different and nostalgic take on the white-board for a home office by Chester and Donkey for Etsy.

And these personalized welcome signs make the perfect wedding/shower gift by Define Your Space for Etsy:



14
Oct 09

How to Have a Chic Green Wedding


Try these easy tips to make your wedding more earth friendly!

Caterer: Ask him/her to use more organic and seasonal ingredients and make sure they remember to recycle after the reception.


Favors: Make a favorable donation to an environmental chairty, like Greenpeace, or give the gift of a small tree seedling.


Flowers: Ask your florist to use certified organic flowers and avoid spraying with chemical pesticides.  You can point your florist to a great company called Organic Bouquet.


Invitations:  Use 100% recycled paper and soy-based ink from a company like Green Paper Studio.


Place Cards: Get inspired by the outdoors and print guest names on leaves tied with ribbon or on small stones that guests can either return to a river or add to their home gardens. 


28
Sep 09

Etsy for Your Home!

This past week/weekend my husband and I finally worked on home decor!  Thanks to Etsy, I purchased some great items to tie things together.  I have black furniture and yellow curtains in our bedroom so I got the table runner below for the dressser and these square table overlays for the bedside tables.  Exactly the look I was going for! Interestingly enough, this Etsy shop (Darling Damask) focuses on wedding items… proof that the items you purchase for your wedding can be used for your home later on!

I also purchased these linen napkins to overlay on the dressers and bedside table in our guest room.  It has sort of a subtle seaside style, so these are absolutely perfect for the look I was going for.



10
Sep 09

Etsy Find of the Day: Gracey Bags

As if we needed more reasons to love Etsy! Check out these adorable little bags made by Etsy talent GraceyBags. I love her tagline, “Your Style. Handmade.”

Perfect for yourself or as a bridesmaid gift… I love that they can be monogrammed!


28
Aug 09

Support Independent Artists: PoppyTalk Handmade!

PoppyTalk Handmade is an Etsy-like marketplace for independent artists. What sets PoppyTalk apart is their attention to the romantic, so it’s the perfect spot to find unique gifts for your sweetheart, bridesmaid, mom, or yourself for that matter!

After some happy hunting, some of my favorite finds include Sycamore Street Press, makers of a slew of sassy and ecofriendly letterpress stationary:

Example

Example

Example

Example

Example

And Yardia, a collection of drawings by a Seattle-based artist inspired by all things Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte:

Example

14
Aug 09

Etsy Pick of the Day: Angee W.’s Clutches

Angee W.’s inspired clutches would make the perfect bridesmaids gift. I’m partial to the lilac, but they are all pretty special.
    Example

    17
    Jul 09

    Chewing the Cud: Stationary by a Crafty and Creative Lady

    I was perusing my Real Simple Weddings magazine this morning when I came across a fabulous DIY idea from the creative force behind Chewing the Cud Weddings.

    It’s a DIY ring bearer’s book sling!

    After a bit more searching, I stumbled across the owner’s (Viola) instructions on how to create this unique twist on the ring bearer’s pillow on Style My Pretty’s blog. Here they are below, courtesy of Style Me Pretty:

    Materials:
    3 Hardbound books of varying sizes
    (Mine were: 4.5? x 6.5? ,4? x 5.5? ,3? x 5?)
    The books can be of any size, but don’t make them too big. Remember: little hands, little books.
    Decorative Papers and/or Book Cloth
    2 kinds of Ribbons (1.5? wide; 0.25? wide)
    PVA glue (also known as bookbinding glue)
    1. Lay books wide open and measure lengthwise from one end of the cover to the other, including spine thickness.
    2. Cut decorative papers so there is an excess of 1/8? all around (except top and bottom of spine).Apply a light coat of PVA on the back of papers.
    3. Position book covers on papers and smooth.
    4. Fold over the excess 1/8? on all sides. Smooth.
    5. Place a phonebook/heavy objects over the closed books and let dry.
    6. Stack covered books so the smallest book is on top. To secure the position of the stack, you can add glue/double-stick tape the books to each other.
    7. Tie stack using the wide ribbon first, then layering with the narrow ribbon.
    8. Slip rings on the narrow ribbon and make a loose loop. (Or if you have a young ringbearer like we did, use fake rings and give the real ones to your best man)

    We used plain book cloth for the base book and a plain wide ribbon so the textures wouldn’t be overwhelming. But don’t be afraid to experiment! Think patterned book cloth, rubber stamps, fabric pens, leather books, personalized ribbons with your names, initials… have fun! Make it yours!

    After seeing this idea, I of course had to check out Chewing the Cud’s stationary, and it did not disappoint! The company definitively shares my philosophy about adding personality and individuality to the details of a wedding. They offer a signature line of invitations that can be customized or they will work one-on-one on custom invitations.

    How gorgeous is this custom suite inspired by family recipes? From Chewing the Cud’s website: “This invitation suite is based on the concept of recipes. Beloved family recipes, passed on from generation to generation is a metaphor for sharing and enjoying. Recipes conjure images of sharing good food, good company, good conversation, good times.” I love it!
    And the Vermonter in me, went gaga over these custom Save the Date kitchen towels, inspired by the Bride and Groom’s love of butter, their first meeting place (a bar named “Butter”), and the concept that butter is “the gourmand’s faithful ally, the secret ingredient to good food, a symbol of good living…” (from website).
    Check out the signature invitation suites as well; they are all phenomenal. I know of one current couple that might definitely be a fan of the “classic silhouettes” line:

        

    And no surprise here, my favorite is the “Gatsby” line. What can I say? I would have fit in real well in the 1920s-1950s.