Adios (for a couple of weeks)...

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Tomorrow is Reid's birthday. Saturday is a good friends wedding. And... on Sunday we leave for Spain. I am busy trying to wrap things up, and figure it is best to sign off from blogging for a couple of weeks.

Adios Amigos – I will miss you and blogging while I am gone.

I am so excited for 10 days of relaxation and creative revamping :)

Inspiration Overload: Sketchbuch

At this point next week, I will be in Spain with my hubby. I am counting down the seconds, and am giddy beyond belief.

Today while perusing pinterest, I stumbled upon the amazing sketchbooks of Sketchbuch (this is his flickr profile name - sadly I don't know his real name). His work is breathtaking. Look at all the layers, the handwritten text and the colors. I wish I could make myself create a book like this while we are on our Spanish voyage. Can you imagine how wonderful it must be to relive a trip through your own doodles and journal entries? I do miss sketching randomly and from life so maybe I will attempt it...

In the meantime, hope you enjoy these glorious images from Sketchbuchs trips.

From Italy:

I adore lime green with warm oranges! The food, type and patterned table cloth help the illustration come alive. I can almost smell the food. 

Old sculptures vs. new dapper shoes. Who wins?

Watercolored type is one of my all time favs!

From Europe:

The top spread looks old and worn, and the bottom spread is modern and lively.

New York:

I love the long and lean image mixed with white space. 

The layout of each page is so organic and fresh, but also feel so balanced. 

The line quality of this spread has so much character. 

Cupcakes, stand-mixers and cats are some of my favorite things. 

Dominican Republic:

Hand drawn type love!

Ribbons & Bows

Ribbons and bows are back! Honestly, I don't know if they ever really left. But recently I have seen so many sophisticated and pretty ways to use ribbon in fashion, interior design and event planning. Not to mention, quite a few of my wedding clients are asking to add ribbon accents to their big day, which means...

I have ribbon on the brain! Over the past couple of weeks, I have been collecting a lot of visual research about fun, festive and unique ways to use this "ordinary" material. Below are some of my favs. I can't wait to try some of them out.

I know I couldn't pull off his whole outfit, but I love the loose ribbon. I may have to try this simple, schoolgirl look.

 I am not sure if it is the ceramic horse head or the ribbon that makes me swoon over this Anthropologie necklace. LOVE!

This cake is a bit over the top and feminine for my normal taste, but I am really digging it today. It is so simple and pretty. Perfect for a bridal shower or luncheon.

Martha does it again. I adore this center piece and am determined to find a way to use it in my house someday. The ribbon is the icing on the cake.

Easy to make and pretty to look at. Might have to try this one too.

Hump Day Inspiration...

I love sketching but, let's be honest, sometimes I feel too busy to do it. This quote is a great reminder about the importance of stimulating original creativity. And the hand drawn type is beautiful!

It's Getting Hot in Here...

Oh boy – I am HOT. I completely understand that I have no room to complain considering my poor friends and family in Texas have been dying all summer, but it is HOT in Chicago. I am ready for fall!

This steamy weather has me dreaming of fans, cool, vintage ones. I wish I had one like below blowing in my face right now. We are headed to the Kane County Flea Market this weekend... Maybe I will find one of these bad boys.

Happy Friday and enjoy the LONG weekend!

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Monogram Style: The Details Count

I have been working with Diana and Ian on their wedding stationery since early 2011 (remember their save the dates and website?). I cannot believe that their wedding is now less than a month away!!! We are beginning to wrap up the final details, and once the glamorous affair is over I promise to share all the paper goods we designed.

Above is a tiny sneak peak of what is to come...
Diana and Ian's custom monogram brings the masculine and feminine together in both color and form. It is a melding of two letters and visually represents the union of this perfect couple. I enjoyed every second while drawing their logo, and was quite pleased at the outcome of the two color letterpress.

And then...

Late last night...

I received an email from the couple with the below images from their wedding shower a couple of weekends ago. EEEEKKKK!!! I was giddy beyond belief when I saw their monogram used in playful and fun ways. Can you believe it, one of my custom monograms on cupcakes and m&ms. How cool is that? Looks pretty delicious, huh? I am always so inspired by the creative things my clients (or in this case their families) do with their monograms and logos.

Yummy! Could I get one please?

And personalized m&m's are always a wonderful little treat. Not to mention, I think the monogram looks pretty darn cute at a minuscule size. 

Inspiration Overload: Terrain

Just a few minutes ago, I was checking my email and decided to open my daily email from Terrain. Even though I LOVE that store, I normally delete their emails without ever reading them. I guess the words Design*Sponge and party caught my eye... I mean you mix my first blog love with a party hosted by Terrain and I am INTERSTED!

Sadly, I will not be able to attend the party since it is is Pennsylvania and it is Reid's birthday, but I am very happy I actually opened this email. Look at the BEAUTIFUL typography that welcomed me. I am in inspiration heaven. The simple yet intricate details and the placement over such a luscious image make me swoon.

Of course the designer/advertiser did a great job in getting me to the site. I was so hooked with the type that I crossed my fingers I would find more on Terrain. Alas, there was no more type, but now I am drooling over this lighting fixture. Oh Boy...