Embroidered handkerchief

Since we've been talking about the little details, we thought this would fit well in that series. Embroidered handkerchiefs become an unexpected treasure - an updated heirloom - for parents, grandparents, and the bridal party.

These white hemstitched linen handkerchiefs were embroidered with each persons initials and the wedding date in their colors. We can also embroider a custom design, motif, or crest. Email us for pricing and info.

In the details: cups, napkins and candy bags

Sometimes we get a fun palette of colors to work with, sometimes a really beautiful, intricate piece of art, and sometimes we get both.

This bride had two different medallions - one with their initial and one without - both gorgeous. We had our favorite shatterproof cups (great for boat parties) printed with the medallion in turquoise. Then we printed a medley of cocktail napkins in deep purple, hydrangea, and ivory with their custom initial medallion.

We also had lined candy bags printed with "Sweet dreams" and their names, a perfect little detail to take with them.

Etched magnum and fire-branded box

I have yet to find something that doesn't look amazing either etched and painted onto a glass bottle - or fire-branded onto a wooden box. This intricate pattern looked promising when we were sent the artwork, but when I opened up the box to see the Magnum bottle and hand-made box, I had to admit it was breath-taking.

I love the idea that this magnum can double as a sign-in, a centerpiece, a bridal party gift... and then it goes on to be a keepsake; to crack open on a milestone. Cheers!

-Susan

In the details: wooden stirrers

We've been known to swoon over the little things and these charming wooden stirrers are no exception. Hot-stamped in gold, the monogram with a decorative border was a subtle detail that couldn't be overlooked. They come in round and rectangular and can be printed in a variety of colors. Email us for pricing and details.

Pair with printed coasters, cups and napkins for a well-branded cocktail hour!

Printed matchboxes

Sometimes it's the little things. Getting a card from a friend, "just because", extra froth on my latte, sleeping with the windows open...

Or a beautiful little box of custom matches. This bride wanted matches printed with a drawing of the lighthouse where her fiance proposed. And you know we're suckers for the idea of incorporating personal elements into event accessories.

We took the illustration that Stephannie Barba had drawn, and added their initials and striking color palette. We picked a tropical blue to match and printed the lighthouse in coral. We hope these favors were a fun little spark at the engagement party!

Sukkot Invitations

Lately, we've been loving pared down raw materials; canvas, wood and cardboard. Naked. Cardboard, being a humble "tabula rasa", was the perfect fit for our family's Sukkot invitation. Sukkot is a Jewish harvest festival, celebrated outside under a temporary canopy called a "Sukkah". We love this holiday because it celebrates family, harvest, and creativity- kind of like thanksgiving- but outside, and with a lot of decorating.

We think of Sukkot as a kid's play date / grown-up dinner under the stars. For our celebration this year, we asked everyone to help us decorate papier maché fruits and gourds and bring them to decorate our Sukkah. We included these along with the invitations. Seeing as this is our fifth party this week (seriously) we also asked our foodie friends to bring harvest-inspired dishes, wine or beer.

We'll update you soon with images of the celebration! We can't wait!
-Heather

Flag Invitations, Treats and Favors

I thought we should show the invite (first mentioned here) and flag inspired treats and favors before the mk party "reveal". So here they are, being printed by Tom Patterson, wrapped and ready to mail (in cardboard tubes) and being flown!

Inspired by state fairs and circus posters, we created the "crest" for Mika's flag including his favorite things; sushi, dumplings, drums, pumpkins, owls, diggers, tractors, lollipops, kitchen utensils and electricity grids! The basic party information was printed on the flag, but rsvp, dress and directions were printed on paper and wrapped around the flags. Flags are an all-time favorite, so we used versions of this one on the cupcakes,
rice crispy treats, and pinata goody bags.



We also printed pumpkin flags for each family to create their own.

Mika's Birthday Party: Sneak Peek

We are still recovering from a weekend of birthday partying! Here is a sneak peek from Mika's (mk) birthday celebration. You can see his flag here in miniature (with the words "Let us eat cake") lovingly gazed upon by little Kasey Turnock, Mika's cousin. Pinatas, pumpkin treat tables and more flags to come!
-H

Cigar box centerpieces

I tweeted ad nauseam about our search for a collection of 120 specific cigar boxes. That's because we were working on tower centerpieces for a fundraiser for the Rocky Mountain MS Center in Denver, CO. Their theme was "Havana Nights", so we designed a centerpiece of three stacked cigar boxes, decked out in bright colors and authentic designs, all held together with a custom designed and printed paper band with the table number in English and Spanish. The top box held chocolate cigars with a logo band, for guests to take.

Now for a girl who has not partaken in a cigar, this was a challenge and then an adventure. First I fell deeply in love with the packaging. Then the artisanal options, with the help of a very knowledgeable aficionado. The smell never quite captivated me, but the chocolate versions that we customized and the towers we created did. We hope they transported guests right to the tropics!

-Heather

We're blushing...

We've had three fun things happen today and had to share...

• We're really excited about our "Fresh Face" feature in Bizbash Washington and love being called a "gift guru"!


• Spotlight on our firebranded boxes on Southern Weddings site.


• Recorded another fun interview with Kimberly Wilson for her Tranquility du jour blog and podcast. Will post when it's up!

Rehearsal dinner: sign-in and favors

As you know, we’re in love with etched wine and champagne bottles in a big, big way. We've been working on so many of them as sign-ins that it's hard to keep track, but we wanted to share a few...

We think each one is more fabulous than the other - and they look equally amazing etched with something delicate like a hand-drawn tree, or with a striking simple design like the "L+M".

We like the unexpected proportions; the oversized magnum (15" high, 4.5" in diameter) paired with the petite split (7.5" high, 2" diameter). And we love envisioning the magnums with each guests signature and message scribbled all over the bottle.

The splits (first photo) were etched with the couples' custom design (created by j papers) in ivory and were at each place-setting. The matching magnum was used as the sign-in (gold pen included!) We also fire-branded the design onto the sliding lid of the hand-made wooden box; a great way to protect something they will keep forever.

We're in the middle of working on one with a very cool patterned background... we'll be sure to share as soon as it's done!

Another Maine Event

We love creating items for weddings in Maine (click here to see what we've done in the past) Red lobsters - as lollipops, in gummy form, and otherwise - seem to always make the list. But here are some other fun items we put together for the lovely ladies at David Reinhard Events.

• Gray beach pebbles made out of chocolate, housed in a small, clear box and topped with a custom sticker by Felix Doolittle
  
• Magnetic table numbers (with a drawn rope border) on galvanized tubs as the centerpiece for the rehearsal lobster dinner, to be filled with beer and wine.
• Custom printed lobster bibs with the lobster design and their names.
• Blue rain ponchos in a pouch - we love this idea for a "just in case" amenity.
• And yes, red gummy lobsters!