Miroslav Sasek's This is Paris

As soon as I stumbled upon this book, "This is Paris," last week via Athropologie, I had to add it to my book collection board. I fell in love with the quirky whimsical illustration on the cover. Yes, I said love. I know it sounds weird. It's just a book cover, but it's like another piece of art... that I don't have to frame, which is fabulous because I'm running out of wall space! My little room in my apartment has quickly turned into a mini gallery over the past year.
Anyway, I made a trip to the library this week to pick up a few books for a design topic I'm researching and had to check this one out. The librarian looked at me like I was a little strange when I asked where I might find it... the children's section. The illustrations inside are just as lovely as the cover and since I visited last year and had the chance to experience the city, the book brings back memories... like the bookstalls full of prints and old books with lots of wear and tear character. They're everywhere!
After reading more about the author Miroslav Sasek, I found out there's an entire series of "This is..." books. I want them all!

Wedding Suite: McCarty/Dodds Wedding Part 2

So last week you had a chance to see part 1 of the Dodds/McCarty wedding suite. Well, here's part 2! (and there will most likely be a part 3). I believe it's my favorite piece. I loved creating this illustration of Galveston and Jennifer and TR's wedding event venues! Hope you enjoy it too.

Weekend Pt 2: New Orleans Patron Party Illustration Presentation

Well, it wasn't exactly the weekend, unless you start your weekends on Thursday (How great would that be!?) The New Orleans Opera Ball Patron Party was last Thursday, which I designed the invitation for here. In addition to the invitation, I illustrated an original work for Mr. and Mrs. Tom Benson who hosted the event. I was so happy to hear from Alice, one of the committee members who was so sweet to ask me to be a part by designing both pieces, that the illustration was a hit. Thank again Alice!

Weekend Pt 1: Meeting Peggy Post

Like I mentioned Friday, this weekend I attended the Love Story Bridal Showcase and Luncheon. I had the chance to listen to Peggy Post talk about modern day etiquette and hear her answers to brides who had questions about all sorts of sticky situations that arise from gathering so many friends and family members. She was so incredibly sweet and soft spoken. I do have to mention that I was mistaken about Emily Post. Peggy is actually the great granddaughter-in-law of Emily Post. So many generations carrying on the traditions!
One interesting note: I was surprised to learn that response cards are a fairly recent change in wedding paper and etiquette. Peggy shared with us that Emily Post was horrified by the idea of response cards. It used to be the case that anyone who received an invitation just knew to pull out their fabulous stationery and write a personalized letter thanking the bride and groom for the invitation and notifying them about whether they would be able to attend the wedding. No "RSVP" at that time. Whether or not they're all that traditional, I do love taking the design look we've come up with for the invitation and expanding the look for the response card and each piece of the suite.
Hope you're having a great Monday!

Custom Design: Bridal Stationery

The excitement of taking on a new last name and the need to say thank you to so many people makes custom bridal stationery a perfect gift! This set was ordered for a bride by one of her bridesmaids. On a similar note, it never occurred to me until I received the order, but the same goes for gifts to your bridal party! Such a sweet idea. This design will soon be up in the Etsy shop. Until then, message me for details (or email to the address linked in the column to the right.)

And while we're talking weddings... this weekend I'm attending the Love Story Bridal Showcase to scope out all that setting up at a show entails, but more importantly, I'm having lunch with Peggy Post!!!

Well, me and everyone else attending the luncheon, but I'm so excited. For my birthday a few years ago, my friends gave me the book written by Peggy and her mother "Emily Posts's Etiquette." (Thanks guys!) It has come in so handy helping brides write their invitation text as well as answer their questions about the proper way to approach everything from the norm to all the awkward situations that arise. Anyway, I can't wait to meet her and have her sign my book!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Updating Photos!

I'm in the process of updating photos on the site and Facebook annnnd writing descriptions for new Etsy pieces!

Wedding Suite: McCarty/Dodds Wedding Part 1

Just wrapped up most of the design for a wedding suite for a very sweet and fun couple from Galveston. They expressed a mostly traditional style when it came to their wedding style, but were open to a touch of modern highlighted with their wedding color, canary. Jennifer really liked a piece I created for a previous wedding, so we tailored it to her and TR's style and expanded it across a few pieces. This is just part 1, so stay tuned!... coming up is one of, by far, my favorite wedding pieces I've created.

P.S. These were taken with a point and shoot... somewhat better quality, but so excited to retake these with the new camera. Like I said, stay tuned!

New Camera!

I'm so excited, because I just got my new camera in! Well, new to me. It's a refurbished Nikon D70, which I thought would be best since it's my first SLR and I'm learning everything. I can't wait to get started photographing pieces and figuring out what all this fabulous thing can do. I had some luck with a point and shoot this weekend, so you should see new work... photographed work... coming soon! I took these with the point and shoot in my light box I built a few weeks ago and they actually look half way decent... a little blown out and the color isn't perfect, but better! Finally!!
Anyway, hope you've had a good start to the week!

Drawing A Day 70: Clemence Poesy

Happy Weekend!

I'm calling it an early weekend... no work for tonight. Instead, I'm going to enjoy some spicy crawfish in this fabulous weather!  Hope you have a Happy Weekend!

Image Credit: Allan Peters

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I had never heard of people actually celebrating St. Patrick's Day, other that wearing green to keep from being pinched all day, until I moved to Baton Rouge. Whether Irish roots are actually more prominent in southeast Louisiana or it's just fun to throw cabbage, we sure love any excuse to celebrate. Hope you had a good one!

Image Credit: Vogue 1958, Conde Nast

Inspiration to Creation: La Nouvelle-Orléans

Working on a new invitation concept inspired by New Orleans.

Image Credits: C.WhimsyDesigns, ***,***,***

Color Inspiration + Dreamy Photos

Can you guess the color... Orange! I love the shades of the color in each of the photos, especially with it's complement in the first two. I stumbled across the first photo today and am in love.. I need this couch! Need it! It's perfect. Of course, I'd be in heaven with that mango orange couch, but the beautiful London store front and the photo of one of my favorite flowers, ranunculus, take me to a dreamy place. I love when images evoke so much feeling and inspiration!

Images via C.WhimsyDesigns Pinterest

Drawing A Day 69: Whit

Just a quick sketch today while I get some illustration work done. Hope you're having a good start to the week!

Photo via Whit NY

Kate Spade Gives Us More Play Time

Kate Spade is giving us more!! More design goodness, inspiration, and interviews! They've expanded "Behind the Curtain" to "Play" and there's so much to look at and read about! Go here to play, here to look, and here to read. They really do such a good job with maintaining their brand and combining vintage and modern with colorful but classic.

Drawing A Day 68: Crewcuts Crinkle Dress and Tutu Skirts

For the second issue in a row, I've asked myself "Why are the crewcuts clothes cuter than the Women's Collection? annnnnd "Why do they get free shipping?" New questions with the new issue..."I wonder if I could squeeze into a kids size 14?" I want to wear these cute dresses and fun skirts!!

Custom Design: 2011 New Orleans Opera Ball Illustration and Invitation

Hope you all had a fun and happy Mardi Gras! Last week, you got a peak (here) at brainstorming for a recently completed project. Today, you get to see the piece.
For this year's New Orleans Opera Ball, I was asked to create a whimsical illustration of the home where the Patron Party will be held. The illustration was featured on the cover of invitation and will be given to the hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Benson, as a gift for hosting the party.
This was a really exciting piece to create and a fun event to even be a little bit of a part of. Thank you Alice for thinking of me!

Sneak Peak • Happy Mardi Gras!

I mentioned last week on Facebook and Twitter that I've been working on illustration and design for an event in New Orleans. Well, we just wrapped up the project! I'll share the piece after the holiday. Til then, here's a peak at some brainstorming/quick sketching for the project. Hope you have a Happy Mardi Gras!

Preston & Olivia • Launch of the new collection!

Remember the fun love birds, logo, and look I designed for Preston & Olivia (here and here)? Well, Dara, the designer behind the brand, has launched the new collection and it's full of playful, beautiful, lovely, vintage inspired pieces. Can you tell from the adjectives that I'm in love with these pieces?! and of course the photography by Mr. Trent Cobb is fabulous as always. I was so excited last week talking to Dara when I mentioned that I've been on the look out for a cute pill box hat and what do you know... there's one in the collection! How cute is that? You can read more from Preston & Olivia here or if you just can't wait, you can shop here.

Custom Fleur De Lis Stationery