Commissioned Calligraphy Work: Song Lyrics for Home Decor

Commissioned Calligraphy Artwork

This was a really cool project that I worked on around my "calligraphy vacation", which is defined as the period of the year September-December, where couples are all busy getting engaged. (My busy season for calligraphy starts in January - when all the planning begins!)

This woman reached out to me a few months back looking to complete a project for her home - her husband is a song writer, so she commissioned me to create 18 complete pieces featuring lyrics and song artists in calligraphy on scroll paper that she provided.

From the Beatles to Kanye West, this project was a blast! She placed each of the completed pieces - around 7"x10" in size - in frames and used them as really personal home decor accents. Makes a great gift idea if you are looking for something personal for the songwriter or musician in your life - also a great wedding gift idea for the couples first dance! Shoot me a convo to get started today.

A Calligrapher's Engagement

After working with brides for more than 5 years now on their wedding invitation calligraphy and place cards, I'm going to get a little personal on my business blog with my own engagement, which happened a day before my birthday - September 21, 2013.

The Proposal

It was a brilliantly gorgeous, blue-sky, almost-fall day. Because I went for the first time last year and loved it, my boyfriend took me apple picking again at Russell's Orchard in Ipswich, MA as an early-birthday date. After the hayride to the orchard and walking through the aisles picking apples, they came to an area of several large, swooping apple trees with branches that created private "rooms". After going inside one of them to make sure he could fit, (my fiance is about 6'5") he sent me back out to pick more apples while he placed the ring in between two apples growing together on a high branch.

My Ring!

He called me back inside to come and look at these 2 apples that were growing together, and I looked up and saw the ring. While I was in a state of shock, he took it out, got down on one knee and said, "I love you more than anything and I want to spend the rest of my life with you - I hope you want to spend the rest of your life with me. Will you marry me?" And I said yes!

The Ring

Everyone always asks if it was a surprise, and did I pick out the ring - yes, it was a surprise, and I love our story. I left the ring design up to him - mostly because I get so overwhelmed looking at all the possibilities, and he really got into it. He wanted a 3 stone, and I just wanted the center to be more prominent so it looked like an engagement ring. I also wanted more sparkle and less metal :) so the side-view of the ring has the diamonds "floating" in the setting, which is the coolest thing I've ever seen. So he did good!

I'm so excited to start this new journey this year, and can't wait to get started on all my own wedding-projects - I've got some great stuff lined up and designs in the works that can't wait to show you guys :)

Navy and Yellow Nautical Baby Shower

Yellow and Navy Nautical Baby Shower Invite, $12 for template

So much has happened since my last few posts! I'll definitely make some updates over the next few weeks, but thought I'd start here. In September, I put together a baby shower for one of my best friends expecting a baby boy. I worked with her mother and one of her friends, and I had a blast int he process!

One of the only themes I had to work with was "baby-preppy" when trying to figure out the decor. Once we secured a Yacht Club for the shower location (both the mommy-to-be and my families have memberships there) I figured you don't get more preppy than nautical - and for a baby boy, let's get away from the powder blue and make the theme "preppy" with navy blue and yellow.

Handmade Baby Boy Shower Banner - Navy, Yellow, and White

The Banner

A lot of this shower involved me just making / designing things because I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. The first of which was the banner saying, "Welcome baby Carter!" I bought cardstock in alternating yellow and navy patterns, cut into triangle pendants, and printed out the letters on Avery Circle Label templates to stick on. All of them were glued on a satin white ribbon and strung up right when you walked in - and it looked awesome! (I looked pretty hilarious on the floor of my apartment putting these together ;)

Navy Blue and Yellow Diaper Cake

The Diaper Cake

These are actually easier than I thought to make. I bought a cake platter for a base (TJ Maxx had a really cute white one with Gold ribbon accent) then a container of baby powder for the center. I also got rubber bands - both small and x-large - to roll up the diapers, and a preppy navy blue ribbon to wrap around the cake (I was going to hang toys off of it and shit, but the thing would have looked tacky. We were going for a more chic-awesomeness, here :) and some yellow flowers for accents - both from Michael's. 

I used Newborn size diapers, rolled each of them with a small rubber band. Then you layer them in a circle around the baby powder, and secured all of them with the large rubber band (it's helpful if you have another person to help you out - they can hold the diapers in place when you put the band on them). I did a few "layers" around, and built the cake up from there. Then I put the ribbon over the bands, added a few yellow flowers for pop, and topped it off with a little teddy bear. It was adorable :)

The Diaper Station

These were just funny, and I found the idea admittedly on Pinterest. It was basically another excuse to load up my friend with as many diapers as possible, because I know they are definitely something you blow through!

This was also super easy to put together. Found a cute basket - TJ Maxx again - and loaded it up with diapers - think I used size 2 because the Newborn sizes are really tiny to write on.

Late Night Diaper Station: Basket, Instructions, Diapers & Sharpies!

Some late-night diaper ideas :)

The Favors

The favors I made matched the invitation - also something I designed after the scouring the internet and coming up with nothing that worked for me. I designed these cute "Ready to Pop!" baby shower favor tags that I cut up, hole-punched, and tied with navy ribbon to bags of caramel popcorn. It was completely adorable and easy to do!

Ready to Pop baby shower template, $8

"Ready to Pop!" Nautical Baby Favors

The shower was a blast, and I loved putting it together! I decided to make some of the things I've designed available for download at my Etsy shop, in the event you are also in need for something fabulous. All of the files are customizable - I've done a few different variations, both in color and text. Shoot me a convo if you're interested or if you have any questions!