The Ginger Parasol

Invitation Suites ~ Piazza

2012-01-25T17:15:00.000-05:00

This is an invitation suite I designed a while back, and like many, have not had time to post. The true colors are more like the photo below ~ with my lettering engraved in a beautiful café au lait ink.

I love the way the colors repeat themselves in her luscious wedding sash. Isn't it gorgeous!

I will be showing more from this elegant wedding in a featured wedding coming soon.

~~~

last two photos by LaCour

Y is for Yucca

2011-12-30T12:58:00.002-05:00

...and the end of my Yearlong Alphabet Series I did with my friend, Heather, over at Ink Flourishes. I hate to see it come to an end, but I am looking forward to many new things to come in the New Year!

I think I might actually prefer my pencil draft to the final piece as I like my little "dancing feet" serifs on it, which I have loved adding to this series.

~Wishing you all a Healthy and Happy New Year!~

ps~for those who may not have seen it, I did post Z early. :) ...and there is one letter I never posted as I want to redo it, so look for it to sneak in next year. I can't wait to see them all together.

~X is for Christmas~

2011-12-25T12:15:00.001-05:00

X is for Christmas

I have never been able to bring myself to use "Xmas".

Wishing everyone all things Merry and Bright!

~*~

W is for Wisteria

2011-12-19T12:36:00.001-05:00

Wisteria

It's the final countdown on my Alphabet Project ~ with two weeks and two letters remaining, as I posted Z a while back.

What will happen to the ladies of Wisteria Lane? I must confess, I am one of the few (evidently since the show was cancelled) that will miss them.

U & V

2011-12-13T00:24:00.002-05:00

U is for Umbrella Plant

V is for Violet

~~~

Monogrammed Gift Enclosures

2011-12-07T21:27:00.003-05:00

~Give the gift of personalized gift enclosures.~

Letterpress cards with custom calligraphic monogram and painted edging.

These beautiful cards could be designed to include a name, illustration or whatever you like as your personal logo for gift enclosures, calling cards or business cards. The design could be a mixture of a typeface and calligraphy, a custom illustration or a motif from the fabulous fine lines offered at A Fine Line.

They make the perfect accessory to any stationery wardrobe.

monogram designed by Dana Cochran

also available in other wonderful colors, shapes and sizes

December Promotion ~ Engraved Wedding Invitations

2011-12-03T14:12:00.000-05:00

~Enjoy 15% off Engraved Wedding Invitations~

available with or without calligraphy

you may use a wedding font

Invitation Suites ~ Stice

2011-11-27T11:34:00.000-05:00

Customer review:

Thank you Dana for doing such an amazing job on our custom calligraphy invitations and envelopes. While we knew we wanted something unique, we never dreamt that our stationery would be so beautiful. Upon receiving their invitations, friends and family called just to tell us how gorgeous the entire package, both invitations and envelopes, were! One friend said she felt the invitation was so elegant that she envisioned she would be attending Cinderella's wedding. I'm not exaggerating, our invitations have been a huge conversation piece and it's all thanks to you! My parents and I could not be happier with your service throughout designing, ordering and sending out our invitations.

Thank you! Kate Stice

ps...One friend, a design friend none-the-less, said she waited to RSVP because she even loved the reply card so much that she had it, along with all the other pieces, on her fridge to admire. Her husband confirmed, "I've never seen someone stroke paper the way Anna stroked your invitations." :)

Review left on The Knot Wedding Network:

Dana at A Fine Line Studio was great to work with! She did our wedding invitation, our thank you cards and our envelopes. They turned out stunning! I even came to her with an idea for an envelope format/style she'd not tried before and she did it for us! It looked great! We received tons of compliments and it really set the tone for the wedding.

The bride asked me to address her envelopes in a layout she had seen in Martha Stewart Weddings and I agreed to try. I must give credit to Maria Thomas for the original idea of this design.

I had such fun working with this bride on her wedding invitations. Thank you, Kate!

Photograhy by the amazing Jeremy Russell. Please go to his blog to see more photos! Thank you, Jeremy!

Q & T

2011-11-22T21:04:00.006-05:00

Q is for Quince (flowering Quince)

T is for Tulip (Parrot Tulip)

I am slithering these in on the QT, as time is running out for my yearlong alphabet project. These really were to be my drafts (the tail on the Q totally did not work out....), but they will have to suffice, as I must move along. One month left and 5 letters to go! and yes, I went out of sequence a while back...

Have a lovely Thanksgiving!

~xo~

L & M

2011-11-07T10:54:00.002-05:00

L is for Lily

M is for Magnolia

The petals are so pale, I could not get them to pick up in a scan or a photo. This was my second one, and it would not scan either. There is a petal below the center of the M, but it doesn't show up.

I should be caught up on my alphabet project this week (finally!) ~ so QRT to come - then I am back in sequence.

~~Have a Lovely Monday!~~

Invitation Suites ~ Lowrey

2011-10-24T10:12:00.000-04:00

I love everything about this custom suite I created for a bride that was married this past weekend.

She wanted a vintage, elegant feeling, for her invitation suite with a unique custom motif she could use throughout her wedding.

The calligraphy was engraved with a dark chocolate ink and combined with a chocolate tissue envelope liner ~ and of course, I addressed the envelopes with the same ink color and lettering style.

Since it was a Fall wedding, she asked me to design a unique, autumnal leaf which we could use starting with her save the date to her wedding programs and beyond. She told me she was having it carved into an ice sculpture. I can't wait to get some professional photos to share ~ as well as to see myself.

I painted the leaf on the program, to coordinate with the hand-dyed ribbon I found for her, in the same shade of plum she was using at the wedding and reception. (It really was not as pink as it looks in the photo - but more of a watercolor wash of the ribbon color.)

I loved seeing the ribbons lined up, as I packaged them, and look forward to seeing how she displayed them.

Here are her sweet comments about the process.

~I hope it was a perfect day for her and the groom. ~

I can’t say enough about Dana’s work except that I am blessed with the fact that I found her work online as I was searching vendors in Asheville one day. Chad and I both love visiting the mountains and Asheville in general, and decided early on that we wanted Asheville as our wedding destination.

Dana- as soon as I saw your work online I knew I wanted to have you as my wedding calligrapher. I knew I wanted to have an elegant and traditional wedding, but with a creative, vintage twist. I have had a hard time putting into words what I have visualized, but I can say I could not be happier with what you have done! It is actually my favorite part of the wedding so far and I think it has inspired a lot of my plans. And all the while, you have been so absolutely wonderful to work with and professional that I feel like I am your only client which I know is not the case because you are so freaking talented! Thank you for all you have done!

Invitation Suites ~ Searles

2011-10-12T11:47:00.002-04:00

This adorable bride asked me to design a contemporary invitation, with a vintage twist, based on another invitation design she had seen and liked ~ however the other style, she felt, was a bit too 'angular' and sharp for her, so here is what I came up with. I softened the capital letters and combined them with my Allegro style. We both loved the final piece! Here is what the bride had to say~

We LOVE them! It was like handling little perfect pieces of art. It is going to be painful to part with them! They honestly could not have turned out any better, they surpassed my expectations. They are just wonderful and I thank you one thousand times over for all the work you put into them. I wish I had sent myself 10 invitations so I could get these little beauties in the mail.

THANK YOU THANK YOU! I love the invitations, thank you for making this process so joyous for us!

Engraved in Gray Suede on Soft Ecru.

...and a close up view.

The bride later sent me this comment. The invitation really does set the tone for the entire event!

We have been getting GLOWING feedback about the invites. Everyone is just ranting about how gorgeous they are, and you can tell the invites have just upped the excitement level about the whole party 100%!

I love to see my lettering backwards on engraving plates!

I repeated the style on seating cards, which were arranged on a mirror, and place cards that were placed on top of a gift at each place setting.

There were three long feasting tables at the reception. Each table was divided into three sections which were named after favorite, meaningful places the couple had visited, helping each guests find their 'section' at the table.

I also designed three original menus per table. I love the scrumptious vintage paper, which was a pale blush, combined with the soft gray calligraphy. No two pieces were alike.

Since each piece was created by hand, they are not perfectly centered ~ but that is the charm and uniqueness of handwritten pieces versus a computerized font, isn't it?

I hope to get some photos from the professional photographer to share with you in a Feature Wedding ~ but in the meantime, I hope you enjoy these I took. It was a beautiful wedding.

~~~

PS ...

2011-10-07T14:49:00.015-04:00

P is for Peony

...and in Pursuit of Painting the Perfect Pink Peony

...with their Preposterous amount of Petals, it is Practically imPossible!

I am, however, Partial to this Personal favorite "Petticoat like" Puffy Perennial and these Pretties have their own Private garden in my yard.

S is for Sunflower

...another Spectacular favorite that always has a Special Spot in my cutting garden.

Have a Positively Superb Weekend!

The weather here is Supposed to be Pleasantly Sunny and Splendorous!

~~~

First peony painted from photo found online.

Book Love: Seasons

2011-10-05T15:08:00.008-04:00

I buy and read cookbooks like others do novels and I am especially a sucker for ones filled with beautiful, artistic photography ~ so when I came across Seasons by Donna Hay, it was a must have for my collection.

I love to bake and cook with the Seasons and always try to eat foods that are plentiful within a particular season, buying locally when I can. This book is divided by the season, my favorite being Autumn.

The photos are works of art, but so are the recipes ~ simple and delicious. The recipe for Plum and Chocolate Clafoutis is the best I have ever had and very easy to make.

It is one cookbook, in my collection, that I will most definitely be returning to again and again ~ not only to admire, but to actually use.

...and even if you don't like to bake or cook, it looks great on display!

book cover photo ~ amazon
all other photos ~ Dana Cochran

Birth Announcement

2011-09-29T13:02:00.003-04:00

One of my former brides asked me to create a sweet birth announcement for her baby girl.

Engraved in Blossom with a darling dragonfly motif at the top and envelopes lined with a pink tissue ~ they are precious.

...and I think she loved them too.

DANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh my goodness, i am FREAKING OUT over the announcements! they are so beautiful! i could not love them more. thank you so very much for creating the most elegant, perfect announcement for my baby girl. i am so excited!!!

my sincerest appreciation,
blair

N & O

2011-09-23T13:33:00.011-04:00

N.O, I haven't forgotten my alphabet series nor the order of letters in the alphabet. :) My scanner will not pick up some of the paler colors of some botancials, so until my camera is repaired (N.O, that is not another excuse, I really did drop and break it!) ...I will jump on over to N & O.

N is for Nasturtium

O is for Orchid

...and Obsessed with trying to get One I really liked. O is such a hard letter to draw...so here are four attempts at O and the Overfastidious Orchid.

It also gave me a chance to finally use the botancial lessons from several books I have collected over the years.

N.O more excuses ~ I will get back on track with this series very soon!

~Have a beautiful weekend!~

Z is for Zinnia

2011-08-19T21:12:00.006-04:00

Zinnias are Zany little flowers. No flower is easier to grow ... and harder to paint, for me anyway! I love surrounding myself with cut flowers and each year I am Zealous about painting these bright, cheerful flowers. I have difficulty painting flowers with numerous petals, without doing more of a sketch or 'outlining' with pencil or ink, which makes flowers like these so much easier, but with the style I chose to go with in this series, many petals can feel like Zillions when painting each petal. Maybe if I got into a more Zen frame of mind, and loosened up, they would turn out more to my liking, but I am sticking it out. Next time....I will do a more 'sketchy' style of drawing and painting with my letters.

Oh, and yes, I am so behind on this alphabet project, I decided to go straight to the end! I like painting flowers in season ~ so here is Z.

~ More letters coming soon. ~

Invitation Suites ~ Felts

2011-08-10T13:08:00.002-04:00

This invitation suite was designed using my flourished Spencerian script. I created it a few years ago for a bride who wanted a very elaborate and intricate invitation. It was later submitted to a magazine and my engraver was kind enough to engrave in in several colors. I am posting only a few. They were all so gorgeous, but the French Blue, Copper and Sweet Pea were my favorites. Other yummy choices were Pink Petal, Wisteria and Chocolate.

Asheville Watercolor Map

2011-07-27T11:14:00.001-04:00

I had such a great time creating this map for one of my favorite couples!

Well not at first! ...I have to say, when I started this piece, I offered the bride her money back as I just did not feel my sketches were up to my standards. I had never drawn a map and couldn't create the look I was going for. Here was her response, which cheered me on.~

"Oh Dana, I just love it! I am trying hard to see the flaws and be critical and constructive - but I honestly got little goosebumps and teary eyed I love it so much! I really think it’s wonderful. I showed it to my mom and she was asking when we get it because she wants to show it off to everyone! Hopefully this gives you a bit of a boost! I am honestly just so excited to have this hand-crafted piece of artwork representing the town I love and by an artist I admire – even better it represents a time in my life that is so special! I LOVE it! I just can’t wait to share it with everyone! So I thank you again for your honesty and your integrity, I just respect you so much for the hard work you put into what I know is a job that can be thankless and difficult at times! I can’t wait to frame the map and put it in on the wall in our first home as newlyweds (which we started to move into today, how fitting!). So thanks again, I am VERY happy and so excited. You don’t even know, all this special attention has just made it even more special and beautiful – so thank you for making that happen. YAY!"

So that did give me the boost I needed and I felt if she liked my sketches, she would like the final piece - and she did!

"We are just in love with the map, we’ve been showing them off and everyone loves loves loves it! We loved working with you, too, it was such a special process. And thank you for making all of this happen, and for making it feel like such a wonderful collaborative process! It is rare you get to work with a true artist, and I feel so lucky to get to do it for one of the most special events of my life! So thank you!"

I am so happy I continued to work on it, as it turned out to be one of the most fun projects I have done. I loved adding in little, fun details that were meaningful to this adorable couple. Now I feel ready, and eager, to create more! The maps (or just a collage of favorite places) would make great house warming, wedding or holiday gifts or really a gift or keepsake for any occasion or time of life as you can make each as unique as you like. They also make great Save the Date cards. My husband now wants me to create one for us!

I cannot wait to share their wedding photos with you. I loved the invitation I designed for the couple, as well as their reception pieces. It truly was one of the most fun weddings I have been a part of! As soon as I get the professional photographs, I will share ~ or I may share a few I took as a sneak peek soon. :)

K is for Kathryn Morley

2011-06-14T11:52:00.001-04:00

There are very few flowers that begin with the letter K ~ and of those, I am not that familiar with nor do I really like, so I went with one of the roses in my garden ~ Kathryn Morley.

Kathryn Morley is a David Austin English Rose. Mr. and Mrs. Eric Morley of Great Britian purchased the right to this rose at a charity auction in 1990 and named it after their daughter who died at the young age of eighteen.

It has a strong fragrance of an old rose and myrrh. The flowers are cupped in shape with intertwining petals at the center.

Fête with Fabric ~ Martha Stewart Weddings Summer Issue

2011-06-07T13:41:00.000-04:00

I was so excited when Martha Stewart Weddings asked me to calligraph seating cards for their Summer 2011 issue.

This is a page from the magazine, showing a portion of the cards.

I love doing this fun script!

Or you can go here to see more...

...and if you look really, really closely, you can see the dessert signs I made.

~Bonne Fête~
*(I think that can translate to Happy Celebration, Happy Birthday or Happy 4th of July, so whichever ~ have a Fun, Festive week)*

J is for Johnny Jump Up

2011-06-04T11:25:00.010-04:00

... or Viola.

... and Johnny Jump Ups.

These were painted from some cuties in my yard that my grandmother gave me, years ago before she passed away ~ so they are very special to me.

Now ~ I have to jump off of here and finish a rush order. More to come on from belated alphabet project in the near future. I should have known better than to commit to a specific timeline given the wedding season is in full swing. However ~ I will have them all completed this year - sometime. :)

Also, more to come soon on website I designed and a feature in Martha Stewart Weddings!

So many things to share ~ so little time right now.

Your Presence is Key ~ no. 2

2011-05-24T15:17:00.002-04:00

For brides not wanting to add an actual key to this save the date style ~ a hand-painted, illustrated key is the key.

The formal invitation and reception pieces from this wedding coming soon...

Also, I will be posting my J and K - from my alphabet project - together in a few weeks. For now ~ little time for painting and posting as I am penciling, penning, planting, pruning and pulling. 'Tis the season for spring weddings, time spent working in my gardens and not enough hours in the day!

I is for Iris

2011-05-09T13:19:00.003-04:00

...one without leaves

... and the other with. I think I like the one without best.

I prefer the looser style of painting, as these painted by Connie Furgason in a workshop I took a few years ago. Next year, if I do the alphabet project again, I will choose a looser style of lettering than Romans so I will not feel as restricted to do detailed or stiff paintings.

I painted my iris from these growing in my garden.

It looks as if I need to get out and do some deadheading....so off to the garden I go.

~Have a beautiful week.~

H is for Hydrangea

2011-04-22T09:49:00.001-04:00

...and my sweet mom, Helen,

my sister and her family's last name ~ Hardy,

my dear friend, Heather,

...and Happy Easter ~ a time for new beginnings, renewal and Hope.

~Have a beautiful weekend.~

G is for Gerbera

2011-04-12T13:58:00.005-04:00

...and my least favorite I have done in the alphabet project thus far. I love the G, but not my painting. I did crop it a little more than usual (for my sneak peek) as I will definitely redo this one for the collection. It is very much overworked. The gerbera daisy is one of my favorite flowers but all those petals are so hard to define! I did not do it the justice it deserves!

Featured Wedding ~ Emily & John

2011-04-09T09:47:00.002-04:00

What an adorable, sweet couple Emily and John are! I had the great pleasure of working with Emily and her mother last year. As I said in the "Sneak Peek", the couple were both students at Wake Forest but did not meet until they studied abroad, some years later, in Sicily.

After leaving Sicily, John wrote to Emily in his journal every day for a month and later sent this journal to her. He also sent her a journal on their wedding day, as well as a watercolor of the breathtaking Mediterranean view they had as students in Erice, Sicily. How romantic is that?

I love Emily's dress, which was designed by Monique Lhullier. The tulle skirt is detachable, making it appear that she wore an entirely different dress at the reception. So gorgeous!

Rings by Tiffany & Co.

Breathtaking bouquets by The Bloom Room

John and Emily were married at the Basilica of St. Lawrence.The Catholic church has the largest freestanding elliptical dome in North America. The stunning stained glass windows were made in Munich, Germany.
Wedding programs by me ~ A Fine Line Studio

Asheville Historic Trolley transported the wedding party from the Basilica to the Biltmore Forest Country Club for the reception.

With Sicily being so dear to the couple, each table was named after different regions they visited in Sicily, which I calligraphed onto each hand-painted table number I created. I also calligraphed guests names on tiny cards, which were tied to little vases or pinned to pears. I also designed the couple's married monogram and used it at the top of each menu.

Tara Jordan, the amazing event designer with Wedding with Tara, sprinkled more touches of Sicily throughout the wedding reception with an assortment of gelato, served along with the wedding cake...

...and Limoncellos given as favors.

Emily dancing with her dad as her sweet mother watches on. I have to say, Emily's mother is truly one of the sweetest mothers I have ever, ever worked with! She was so appreciate and complimentary of everything I did for them. I have the kindest notes from her, which I saved and will always treasure.
I love what Emily's mother told me - she said they were "thrilled Emily and John found one another and this is coming from her parents who married later in life and told Emily she could not even date until she was 30!"

The couple honeymooned in the Turks and Caicos and now live in an old candy factory, converted to loft apartments where she is working on her Ph.D. in psychology (she is also a ballet dancer) and he is in law school.
I have no doubt, they will live happily ever after!

I hope you have enjoyed this spectacular photography by Abigail Seymour. Click on each image to better see her work. I really had a difficult time narrowing my choices to only these!

~Have a beautiful weekend.~

Invitation Suites ~ Pendergrast

2011-04-08T09:48:00.000-04:00

This is an invitation suite I created for the most precious bride last year. Even though the couple attended the same university, they did not meet until much later, when they studied abroad in Sicily. It was not until after we already decided to do an illustration of sweet peas on the invitation that we found sweet peas are native to Sicily ~ serendipity!

The suite is also engraved on Italian paper - making it more meaningful to the couple.

The bride asked me to have the invitations engraved in an ink that coordinated with the swatch of her bridesmaid's dresses and to paint the sweet peas the color of this small piece of ribbon she sent to me. I don't think I could have gotten any closer!

She also wanted the watercolor to shimmer, reflecting the envelope liner, so I hand-painted the sweet peas on each invitation and reply card.

More on this beautiful wedding in my featured wedding this weekend.

~~~

Sneak Peek: Emily & John

2011-04-07T14:43:00.001-04:00

Emily is truly one of the sweetest brides I have ever meet. Working with her and her mother was the most wonderful experience. Clients like this make me love what I do even more!

Here is a "sneak peek" at this adorable couple in their engagement photo shoot.

Check back this weekend for the wedding of this cute pair...

...and more of their invitation suite.

photography ~ Abigail Seymour

F is for Foxglove

2011-03-30T16:02:00.003-04:00

...and Fun Fairy Folklore

Foxglove is a must-have for Fairy gardens. Fairies supposedly play within the flowers, and each spot inside marks the spot where a Fairy has touched the surface.

Fairies gave foxes Foxglove flowers to wear on their paws to enable them to approach chickens silently and take them.

Not only did foxes wear them but the flowers were also sometimes known as Folks' Gloves because the fairies wore them as hats and gloves. They also wore petticoats of Foxglove flowers and used them as thimbles when making their clothes. Foxglove juice was believed to ward off the fairies who tried to kidnap children, and you must never harm the plant or the fairy folk will have revenge on you. Another belief was that bad luck would follow if Foxgloves were bought indoors.

It was said, if the stems leaned over, supernatural beings were present.

On a more practical note, extract from the digitalis plant is used in pharmaceuticals to treat numerous heart conditions. Also, their sturdy stalks were made into parasol handles in Kent.

E is for Eryngium

2011-03-13T12:30:00.004-04:00

...also known as Sea Holly.

Trivia about Eryngium~
Description: The plant has deeply-cut leaves shaped like holly, and sometimes just as spiky. The leaves surround the stem like frilly collars, culminating in a raspberry-like flowerhead at the top of the stem.
Color: All shades of blue-green from navy with bottle green, through steel blues and gunmetal, to a brilliant sky-blue.
Medicinal: In the 17th and 18th centuries, herbalists candied the roots and touted them as an aphrodisiac. It is still used today as a diuretic, expectorant, stimulant, and tonic in an array of natural remedies

There will be another flower for E, in the note card collection, although I love this flower in wedding bouquets.

D is for Daisy

2011-03-06T12:58:00.004-05:00

"I love daisies.

They're so friendly. Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower?"

Meg Ryan ~You've Got Mail

not thinking about white flowers not scanning well - i had to photograph this letter instead,
thus the blue cast...

Martha Stewart Weddings Spring 2011 ~ Written By Hand

2011-02-27T19:39:00.006-05:00

I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of this featured story,

Written by Hand, in the Spring 2011 issue of

Martha Stewart Weddings.

My work was featured, along with some of my favorite calligraphers - both friends and teachers, in an article on the many ways to incorporate hand-lettering into everything from your stationery and vows to the favors and food at your reception.

I was also asked to pen the title of the opening page (above) to the main stories in the magazine.

The 8-page article is a must see/read for anyone planning a wedding or an event.

It is a really beautiful article and I am so honored to be among such spectacular company!

photos Martha Stewart Weddings

For now ~ D is for Daffodil

2011-02-24T14:51:00.005-05:00

Because sometimes real life gets in the way ~

the D in my Alphabet Project will be Delinquent until

later next week.

I had several rush orders to get out,

thus the D in Delay.

For now, I leave you with D is for Daffodil ~

which are two illustrations I did, as a gift, for a wonderful client

when their little dog Daffodil died, unexpectedly, last year.

(yes, I did my typical 'two takes' on it,

using two different papers)

...and actually my daffodils are starting to bloom.

It is beginning to look a lot like Spring!

~~~

C is for Cosmos

2011-02-11T20:21:00.003-05:00

I found this definition of the meaning of the Cosmos flower. How perfect for this weekend. ~

The word Cosmos in Greek is translated as orderly, beautiful and ornamental. The typical Cosmos flower meaning is 'love flower'.

Cosmos flower is seen as the best way to illustrate ones deepest feelings of love. The Cosmos flower meaning, when sent to one's love on Valentine's day is simply translated as 'walk with me hand in hand' and 'see life is indeed beautiful'.

I love cosmos and grow them every year in my cutting garden. They are such happy, cheerful flowers ... and now I know - the love flower! Oh, how I long for spring ...

~~Have a lovely weekend~~

B is for Black Eyed Susan

2011-01-29T13:43:00.006-05:00

... and butterfly.

I am not extremely pleased with this letter, nor the flowers, as I do not like working with yellow. I find it to be so difficult. I have started another - but it is a yellow flower, as well. I think this is the only letter on my list that has a yellow flower representing it ... so hoping C is much better.

I wanted to stay on track with my one letter, every other week, alphabet project - so for now, here it is. I will be posting the "new B" when my collection is complete ... or sooner if I have it finished before C.

At least I can strike B off my list for now ... and move on! ;D

A is for Anemone

2011-01-14T14:24:00.011-05:00

At the end of last year, my friend Heather and I decided if we would create an illuminated or decorated letter every other week (although I may have to miss a bi-weekly or do two some weeks during wedding season, I still hope to post two each month), we could complete the entire alphabet by the year's end. We thought it would be a fun New Year's resolution to aspire to and we would hold each other accountable for this year long project.

Having very little study in illumination, I decided to do decorative letters, by painting a botanical for each letter of the alphabet.

Since I am going to do this as a collection, to be reproduced into note cards, I am only going to give a sneak peek until they are all completed. I will add the word "Anemone" below, but will leave it open for customization, should someone want me to write their name, such as Anne, Amy, etc. for personalize/monogram note cards.

I have had so much fun with this letter ~ I am already sketching out ideas for another, more whimsical, series ... but for now, stay tuned for "B".

...and go over to see what Heather is working on!

~Merry Christmas~

2010-12-24T13:54:00.003-05:00

Wishing you all things Merry and Bright

... with a little sparkle too!

***

photo The Ginger Parasol

Invitation Suite ~ A-Z

2010-12-09T20:40:00.001-05:00

This is an older invitation suite that is still a favorite and a style that will never be dated. It incorporates all the rich things I love ~ handmade paper, double-sided velvet ribbon, my favorite colors (green and white), engraving, embossing and some hand-lettering ... although I would have preferred it be all calligraphed. There are so many fonts that now look very similar to calligraphy and handwriting, but as this client discovered, there are some things a font and computer cannot do - for example, create an intricate monogram. So I took the first letters of the bride and groom's name to created a monogram and included a custom illustration. We used this on everything from the save the dates to the programs. ...and of course, I calligraphed the envelopes to match the font since it is a no-no to address your formal invitations with a computer/font ~ so as I see it, handwriting is never out-of-fashion, but always in style.

~~Have a beautiful week!~~

Something New

2010-11-15T15:49:00.005-05:00

This is a sneak peek of something new I may be offering to my clients in the future. It is my very first "portrait" ~ I say that loosely, as I am still refining. It is also a sneak peek of her wedding, which I will be posting in the months to come. This will be a gift to the bride. She was so precious to work with ~ truly a dream client! and I am most grateful she is allowing me to "practice" on her as I develop my technique (I have another of her in the works). It originally started out that I was going to do a loose sketch of her gown...then I attended a watercolor class on portraits...

When I took my first watercolor portrait class from Janet Rogers a few months ago, I never dreamed how much I would enjoy it. I painted this bridal portrait, when I returned home, with Janet's encouragement, after showing her some of the sketches I had done of the bride and the gown. Janet is one of the most amazing and inspiring teachers I have ever had!! I highly recommend her. I originally signed up for the class because it was florals and portraits, and I was really only interested in the floral portion ...until we got started ~ now I love faces. I was most afraid to paint the eyes, as there is so much of the personality there, so I started with the eyes looking down on this one, but now I love painting eyes! My goal is for my next portrait to be a lot looser and livelier.

So, more to come on this later, as well as some exciting classes I have signed up for next year.

Spooky Couture

2010-10-29T16:02:00.006-04:00

The dark, whimsical charisma of Tim Burton is captured by photograher, Tim Walker in this quirky photo shoot for last year's October issue of Harper's Bazaar ~ Magical Fashion. "In anticipation of his retrospective at New York's Museum of Modern Art, filmmaker Tim Burton reimagines the season's dark delight." Harper's Bazaar

Tim Walker is my all time favorite fashion photographer. He creates magic, combining the conventional with the adsurd. His photography is among the most imaginative that I have ever seen. He has inspired many of my shop's store front windows ~ only dreaming I could create his lavish sense of style.

I thought it would be fun to show the collaboration of the these two brilliant and creative minds again this weekend ~ as every day is probably like Halloween for these artists.

~~Have a magical, fashionable Halloween~~

Silhouette Seating Chart

2010-10-15T18:33:00.001-04:00

Last year I was asked to create a seating chart for a bride that would incorporate the couples' silhouette and the feathery theme she was using throughout her wedding. The bride did wear feathers in her headpiece, but I saw no parrots flitting around the groom.

It was one of the most unique weddings I have ever been asked to work on.

I started with the draft above, using the photo the bride sent to me below.

The bride is an artist and was a student at Parson's School of Design at the time we were working on this and had a very strong idea of what she wanted, so I was ecstatic when my sketch was approved! It is so hard working for another artist; trying to imagine what they visualize ~ but this bride was fantastic!

...and voilà ~ here is the final piece.

It was such a fun and lively wedding! As soon as I receive some of her wedding photos, I will do a featured wedding and tell you all about it, post her invitation suite ~ which was one of my all time favorites and show you the large, oversized menu I designed.

Invitation Suites ~ Brier and McDonald

2010-09-22T14:21:00.005-04:00

On this first day of Fall, I thought it would be the perfect time to share two invitation suites I created for autumn weddings. Normally, I do not like to do the same, identical design twice but one bride wanted the same flourish and motif I had designed before ~ so I did. She asked that her leaves include more reds ~ so there is a slight variation ...and of course, the words are always different! So, I guess it really is not exactly the same design!

They are both printed in chocolate, on Italian paper, and individually hand-painted.

~~Have a lovely, fall day!~~

Meet Lucy Lambchop

2010-08-30T12:40:00.001-04:00

Introducing our newest little family member ~ Miss Lucy Lambchop

It is an amazing story of serendipity and how Lucy found her way to us.

We had been considering purchasing two Miniature Pinschers from a breeder who shows her dogs at Westminster Dog Show. She had two that were not quite show quality, and we didn't care, we just wanted to love them. We were about to call to let her we would take them, when Gigi's oncologist called to say that she had rescued a Miniature Pinscher and wanted to see if we would like to adopt her - knowing how much we loved Gigi and missed her. We went to see Lucy (who they were calling Pixie and we had even considered that name for one of the new puppies - another coincidence!) and knew she was ours from the minute we saw her. It seems that we are meant to rescue these little Min Pins (a two hundred year old breed - a cross between a Dachshund and an Italian greyhound - not a Doberman as some people call them), that often find themselves in shelters. We had rescued Gigi, as well. They are very hyper little dogs, with a very unusual and unique personality that does not suit all. They are very protective and territorial and are usually a one to two person dog - very curious, playful and comical.

Lucy has made herself very much at home, in the same spot Gigi liked best - on the fluffy sofa, that desperately needs replacing, in our sunroom. She loves to sunbathe with her blanket. It took her a few days to trust us, but she is now totally Queen Bee of the house.

We feel so fortunate to have her and feel that Gigi had a hand in Lucy becoming ours. She has helped fill the huge hole that Gigi's passing left in our hearts. They are so much alike it is really eerie.

We are head over hills in love with her.

Looks like another little angel has found us!

Invitation Suites ~ Snipes

2010-08-02T11:38:00.007-04:00

I had so much fun creating this invitation suite.

The bride was using eggplant and mossy greens throughout her wedding and asked me to incorporate these colors into her wedding invitation suite.

It was printed in eggplant on gorgeous Italian paper.

It is difficult to see the true colors of this suite, as I am having some camera issues, but the eggplant ink is truly beautiful. I mixed an ink to address in the same color.

The bride also asked me to illustrate an antique hydrangea for the formal invitation.

After it was printed, I hand-painted each flower. No two were alike ~ ranging from various shades of purple to dark eggplant.

~Have a lovely week ~

Real Wedding Weekend: Dianne & Peter

2010-06-26T12:29:00.008-04:00

This is my last post about this fabulous wedding I had the privilege to be a part of. Dianne and Pete's photographer, Mike Steelman, so generously shared these gorgeous photos with me, how can I NOT share them all with you ... well there were actually more, but I chose some of my favorites ~ love the one above of the happy bride! Mike really is one of the kindest photographers I have ever worked with. He even took the invitation suite I designed and shot it in various locations for me. I loved them all, as you can see, since I included them in my last three posts! I especially like these with the misson in the background.

Thank you, Mike!!!

Dianne and Pete chose to have a destination wedding in beautiful Monterey, California. They wanted a small intimate wedding of only 65 of their closest friends and family members and thought this would be the perfect location. Their ceremony was held at this historic Carmel Mission in Carmel. Dianne's cousin was married in the Basilica the year before and Dianne has visited the mission during family trips since she was a little girl.

Dianne’s wedding gown was designed by Lazaro. She met him the day she picked up her gown. After taking pictures with the designer, Lazaro drew a sketch of her gown as a special wedding keepsake.

~so sweet!

The Knudsens wedding reception was held at Monterey Peninsula Country Club on Pebble Beach. Dianne and Pete knew the picturesque surroundings would create a fairytale setting for their friends and family to enjoy and remember.

The couple took eight family members and friends with them on a portion of their honeymoon in Napa Valley. After a few days touring through wine country they took off by themselves to San Fransisco, Big Sur, and back to Carmel.

I have no doubt these two love birds walked off into the sunset...

...and will live happily ever after.

~xoxo~

invitations and programs ~ a fine line

photography ~ mike steelman

Invitation Suites ~ Derby

2010-06-22T11:06:00.004-04:00

Dianne, the bride I created this suite for, is one of the most appreciative clients I have ever had the pleasure of working with ~ a beautiful person inside and out. Working with clients like her makes me realize why I love, love, love what I do and do what I love!!!

I want to share with you accolades from Dianne :)

“From the moment I first saw Dana Cochran’s work I knew I had to have her design my wedding invitation. Dana answered endless e-mails into the late evening hours and constantly consulted me through her design process. Her attentiveness, professionalism, and impeccable taste helped to create the invitation suite of my dreams. When I finally saw my invitation and the lettering on my envelopes I was in tears. It was exquisite. It made such an elegant statement to my family and friends before their arrival in Carmel, California for my wedding. I still receive compliments about it and no one can believe it is actually her handwriting. My matron of honor had my invitation custom framed for me since she knows how much I love it. Now everyone who visits my home will get to see Dana’s fine work.

Dana is the perfect pick for a bride with elegant taste and an appreciation for beautiful writing. I am so pleased she was part of my special day.”

Dianne Derby Knudsen

I will share photos from this wedding this weekend~~

invitations ~ a fine line

photography ~ mike steelman

Sneak Peek: Dianne and Pete

2010-06-20T15:16:00.009-04:00

Stop by next weekend to see more of this gorgeous couple in a Real Wedding Weekend I have to show you. Can't you just see the passion between these two?!!
Love their engagement photos.

One of my all time favorites!!

It was such a surprise when this bride contacted me to create her wedding stationery. Just a month or so prior, I had seen her on a news broadcast, from another state (as we pick up this particular television station) and had commented to my husband how cute I thought her haircut was. Later that week I told my hair stylist I wanted her to see this news anchor's haircut and see what she thought about it. Imagine the surprise I felt when a few months later this bride contacts me!!!! What a small world we live in.

invitations ~ a fine line

photography ~ mike steelman

~Basking in the Spotlight~

2010-06-07T14:59:00.010-04:00

I am basking in the spotlight today ~ and blushing a little, too. Dearest Sweet Janet, over at French Blue wrote an entire post all about me!!! Janet really does make everything so much more exquisite, as does her amazing daughter Noel.

If you don't already know them, you really must drop by to meet this dynamic mother/daughter duo!!

Janet and Noel are two sweet drops in my puddle of inspiration.

Please skip on over French Blue to see this dear post! :)

Thank you, Janet!!!

~xoxo~

image 1 ~ Tim Walker

image 2 ~ French Blue

Invitation Suites ~ Stewart

2010-06-03T11:49:00.002-04:00

This is an invitation suite and monogram I created for the sweetest bride. It is my version of "Spencerplate" ~ combining Spencerian script with Copperplate.

I have photos of this wedding that I will post soon in a Featured Wedding.

Invitation Suites ~ Portwood

2010-05-24T11:30:00.009-04:00

I have had several requests from clients to post some of the invitation suites I have designed ... since my website is in major need of updating, I suppose. :) I am currently working on two suites that I can't wait to show you. They are hand-lettered and each have hand-painted watercolor flowers. Since the brides have not even seen them, I will have to wait until they are finished and sent to their guests. I am going to start by posting some of my favorites from past weddings in a series called Invitation Suites, which I will post a few times each month. A bride can then refer to the suite by name.

This is a suite I really loved from last summer ~ and one of my favorite scripts to do. My calligraphy is engraved, in charcoal, on a beautiful Belgian paper and the envelopes lined in a soft, celery green. The suite set the tone for a lovely summer wedding.

We also carry lots of others fabulous designs, through stationery lines we offer, at A Fine Line ~ both letterpress and engraved, calligraphed and not ~ all very unique and customized.

Invitations and Calligraphy ~ A Fine Line

~ April in Paris ~

2010-04-24T13:43:00.026-04:00

I wish I could say I was spending the month of April in Paris, but instead I have been busy creating a logo design and illustrations for April in Paris ~ a French Patisserie in Texas.

I met April about five years ago at two separate, week long, calligraphy workshops. April was there to create a logo for her European bakery and espresso bar. We had so much fun sharing and getting to know each other. I lost touch with April soon after and was delighted to hear from her again. During this time she had decided she wanted more and left for NYC and then to Paris for more culinary studies.

While studying in Paris at the Ritz Escoffier and Le Cordon Bleu, her experience inspired her to start a new venture and open April in Paris.

When she contacted me she told me she loved the work I did at the workshop and wanted me to create a logo and some whimsical illustrations for her new bakery and website (not up yet). She asked me to use the beautiful storefronts and patisserie of Paris, the colors of French macaroons, artisan breads, French silver and fresh ingredients for inspiration. With those things in mind, and uncertain of exactly what she wanted, I started sketching away.

Here are a few of the illustrations I created for April's website and printed pieces.

artisian breads and pastries

I felt the first pedestal was too dark ~ so I did another ~ but liked the bread in the first one best. Basically...pretty similar...

...and because I tend to redo things, that most people do not notice (those I have worked for will know this! :), I also drew another storefront, using my first outline. I felt the painting could be better...but in the end, I couldn't tell it was much different either. So, I now have one for my portfolio!

Pâtisserie Stohrer is a favorite of April's and was my inspiration for her storefront illustration.

fresh ingredients

a macaroon pedestal

mini cupcakes on silver cherub stand

silver serving pieces

a few petits fours ... that didn't scan well

When I showed April several ideas I had for her logo design, her response was so funny, like that only of a baker - "I cannot possibly choose one. It is like looking into a freshly filled pasty case - you have to have a bit of everything!" So I decided to go with a wheat wreath, encircling the logo, to represent the French artisan breads and pastries she loves to bake. We then had her business cards engraved in gold on chocolate European paper. She loved that it was like a classic bittersweet chocolate macaroon with a touch of edible gold leaf or classic French gold gilt. Eventually, she wants her business cards to run the full spectrum of macaroon colors "just as the competition for the most exotic colors and flavors continue to unfurl in Paris...with gold gilt engraving, of course." The first card she chose to use represents her love for the simple chocolate macaroon with a bittersweet chocolate ganache filling.

Creating a "look" for April in Paris was so much fun. A happy client is the sweetest reward of all!

From April~

Dana,
I knew you were the one I wanted to do this for me!!
Your illustrations are absolutely poetry in watercolor. I came to you wanting something specific and left with so much more since I entrusted you with so much artistic freedom. Little details I was not sure really came through with my description - you totally brought through.
I couldn't be more happy, unless I were sitting in a bakery on Rue St. Honore having a macaroon!
I cannot quit staring at it all. I am so excited. It is so much beyond what I was thinking. I just absolutely love everything!!!
Merci-
April

~Easter Egg Radishes~

2010-04-03T12:03:00.002-04:00

I did a few quick sketches of some radishes I bought for my Easter dinner. As my friend Ronell says, "when all else fails, paint food." I have not had a lot of time to paint in the last few months, being in the middle of the wedding season frenzy, so I picked up my pen, grabbed my watercolors, and sketched these colorful radishes. I love browsing at the Farmer's Market, just looking at the beautifully colored fruits and vegetables. Just like flowers, they are a feast for the senses.

Wishing you and your family a lovely Easter weekend.

~~*~~

March Madness of Different Kind

2010-03-31T13:33:00.018-04:00

I seem to have created a March Madness of my own, not the one referring to the NCAA men's basketball championship that seems to take over my house the month of March each year! It seems as if spring brings out the shopaholic in me, this year being the lure of French antiques. I stumbled upon an online French Brocante which for someone working out of her home a great deal of time, and being nearby a computer all day, can be very dangerous. :)

Corey Amaro, of Tongue and Cheek Antiques offers unique pieces each week "with a little bit of everything for those who like it French."
Here are some of the fabulous finds I have purchased from her this month:

antique French skeleton keys

silver tarnished calling card trays

vintage laundry tags (i love things with letters and numbers)

antique bone handled flatware (9 sets)

French linen dish towels

nineteenth century transferware serving bowl

antique monogrammed linens (doesn't matter that they are not my initials ~ I love monograms!)

This item, I thought about too long and was gone in the blink of an eye...

...an antique French award. I have a fascination of farm animals, even though my husband says I would not last a day on a farm, it is fun to think about living the simple life...or not so simple, as it may be. I have recently been visiting farms and sketching animals, who do not seem to want to pose for me! .... but that is another story of its own.

cuties from Asheville Farm

Now that the month is almost over, coming in like a lion and going out like one, it looks as if April is bringing on a new obsession, of another French kind, this being that of Astier de Villate. Their beautiful ceramic pieces, handmade in Paris, are hand-crafted from black terra cotta with a milky white glaze. I love the imperfection of each piece. I just placed my order for a few new pieces to start my collection.

I can't wait to add tulips and peonies to this lovely.

And I am sure everything will taste better on these luscious plates.

I still can't decide which style of dinner plate.

and I think this will be my next purchase. What is better than fresh, spring flowers in a beautiful pitcher?

I will let you know when I have set my table using all my new finds.

French antique photos by Corey Amaro

Astier de Villate photos by Sue Fisher King
(the wonderful candy box at the top was lost in transit, but Corey graciously refunded my money. Fingers crossed it will show up somewhere, someday!)

Your Presence is Key

2010-03-08T00:22:00.007-05:00

I had so much fun designing and constructing this save the date. The bride and groom were engaged in Europe and wanted the announcement to reflect their style and set the tone for their upcoming wedding. The bride said her motto was "the harder to read, the better!"

... although I do hope it is somewhat legible since I addressed all the envelopes in the same script!

The save the date is printed on fine Italian paper, with a skelton key from France tied on with a hand-dyed silk ribbon in French Roast.

I love this ribbon and the little hand-dyed cards attached to each roll, showing the color. These are a few colors I currently have in the shop and seem to be the trend at the moment. Chocolate, eggplant, plum, mossy green and steel blue/grey have been the most requested colors I have had this year.

I am thrilled the bride loved her announcements! She said, "I couldn't have asked for anything better!" Does that mean I met the requirement of the more unreadable the better? :)

I look forward to working with her to create her formal invitations!

Real Wedding: Blair & Joseph

2010-02-28T13:05:00.017-05:00

As I was cleaning out some files, I found these gorgeous photographs from a client's wedding I designed invitations for a few years back. Since winter is almost over and I cannot post current invitations I am working on for the spring, as they have not all been sent out to their guests yet, I thought I would post this beautiful winter wedding today.

I am not sure who designed her wedding gown and veil, but it has to be one of my most favorite ever! I just love the exquisite detail and style.

The bride's mother wanted a very traditional, classic calligraphic script, engraved in black ink with the family crest embossed at the top of the invitation.

Blair's sister got married six months later and wanted the same style and design.

It was a pleasure to work with such lovely sisters, and their mother, again.

I have been working with some really fun scripts and designs that I will soon be able to post. Spring is just around the corner now ... I hope!

invitations ~ a fine line

photography ~ missy mclamb photographers

Most gratefully yours~

2010-02-19T17:57:00.004-05:00

calligraphy by Bernard Maisner

I have been so touched by the emails, comments on this blog, phone calls, cards, flowers and gifts I have received from family, friends, clients both past and present. I hope I have thanked you each personally, but if not, I want you to know how much your kindness has meant to me during this time of loss. I think everyone close to me knew what Gigi meant to me and what a huge hole this has left in my heart. It warms my heart, though, to think of all the wonderful people who have reached out to let me know you care. I am so blessed to have such amazing people who are, and have been, a part of my life. I am most grateful for you all.

I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving
for my friends, the old and the new.

~Ralph Waldon Emerson

~ A Beautiful Day ~

2010-02-19T17:48:00.015-05:00

You never know what each day will bring.

This morning started off with some unexpected, and delightful, mail!

Dearest Noel Solomon, over at Fanciful Designs, sent me the most amazing dark chocolate orange peel sticks from Laduree! Her card enclosed said "We don't need an occasion". How sweet and thoughtful is that? We had just talked about how they were our favorite last week. I had these gorgeous lavender sweet peas, that also came this morning ... and I will tell you about below, that I had to throw into the photo since they looked so gorgeous with the Laduree box and bag.

I have eaten almost half of the wonderful chocolates already! Thank you, Noel!!! You are beautiful person, inside and out.

Then FedEx arrived with a huge box of flowers that I had ordered for a photo shoot this weekend. My shop was to be featured in a magazine and I had the interview scheduled this week. To make a long story short, I had an unexpected medical emergency and was at the hospital when the interview was to take place. I will be fine, after a week or so, I hope! ... but the magazine could not do the interview a day later. I decided not to cancel the flowers, as I always have flowers on my desk, in my studio and in my shop. I love being surrounded by the beauty of flowers. They inspire as I work.

You will be seeing more of these flowers as I decided to take the opportunity to update my website and hopefully be better at keeping up with my blog.

The lighting was not very good for these photo, but is a sneak peek at some of what I ordered. I am going to arrange them in vintage containers, ink wells, and other unique containers this weekend. I think they all have that charming, romantic, vintage feel that complements the scripts and art I do for my clients.

ranunculus

garden roses

sweet peas

antique hydrangeas and tulips

... and last, but certainly not least, an amazing painted flourished piece my dear friend Heather Held sent to me earlier this week. Heather also sent beautiful flowers to us when Ginger died. She is an amazing person and truly one of the most thoughtful and generous people I have ever met. Thank you, Heather!

oh...and on top of all that I completed three commisions that I will share with you later and we finally have sunshine after 2 months of clouds, snow and rain.

What a beautiful day it has been and a great way to start the weekend!

I hope your weekend will be as lovely.

How beautiful a day can be

When kindness touches it!

~ George Elliston

Ginger ~ our Gigi

2010-01-25T13:52:00.010-05:00

April 22, 1996 ~ January 23, 2010

her last photo

Christmas Eve 2009

If it should be...

If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
and pain should keep me from my sleep,
then you must do what must be done,
for we know this last battle can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand,
but don't let grief then stay your hand,
for this day, more than the rest,
your love and friendship must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years,
what is to come can hold no fears.
Would you want me to suffer? So,
when the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend,
only stay with me until the end,
and hold me firm and speak to me,
until my eyes no longer see.

It is a kindness that you do to me,
although my tail it's last has waved,
from pain and suffering I have been saved.

Do not grieve, it should be you,
who must decide this thing to do.
We've been so close, we two these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

~Author unknown

We miss her so much.

Happy New Year and a Wish come true!

2010-01-10T19:00:00.015-05:00

Happy New Year! ... better late than never. I seem to be getting off to a slow start but have made lots of resolutions which I will share bit by bit. The first day of the year brought with it a totally unexpected surprise! I have entered quite a few blog giveaways and most I could either take or leave and enter just for fun, but this one, I really wanted to win!!! I have never won anything in my life, that I can think of. Yes, I have been blessed with many things, but never the luck of the draw.

The amazing Noel Solomon, at Fanciful Designs, had a giveaway with the winner being annouced New Year's Day. I thought I would look, just for fun, to see who won. Never in a million years did I think it would be me!!

Being a calligrapher and having more tea in my house than food, this was a prize I truly wanted!

Last week, my little treasures arrived, beautifully packaged as I would expect coming from Noel, who makes everything so much more exquisite.

The giveaway gift came from Tail of the Yak in San Francisco.

The owner, Lauren McIntosh, has been a favorite of mine for a long time. She is an amazing artist and has a line of designs in a stationery line I carry at my stationery shop ~ A Fine Line.

I love the flourishing on the calendar!

While the tea block of art is much too special and unique to drink, it looks fabulous in my kitchen sitting among my tea cups and pots.

Noel wrote to me:

May the tea always be there to fill your cup

and may the calendar remind you every day how beautiful life is!

Thank you, Noel, for bringing so much beauty into my life this past year!

Photos by Noel Solomon ~ Fanciful Designs

... and a cardinal in a bird cage

2009-12-21T17:32:00.016-05:00

Yes, the weather outside is frightful. After a snow storm came through on Friday, leaving the top of my magnolia tree bent over so far the top was touching the ground, I went outside to gather some of the broken branches to refresh my mantle. I saw, sitting among the limbs, a cardinal ~ cold and startled. Once I made sure it was alive, I ran inside to grab my new camera Santa brought to me early.

After snapping a few shots, I started worrying about the little guy, so took some moss and put it inside a birdcage that has a nest in it and had my husband bring it in to evaluate his condition. I was a wee bit afraid of it as it was chirping at me rather loudly. Gigi's curiosity (and maybe a little jealousy) started to ruffle the bird's feathers, literally, so I put the cage up on a table in my sunroom.

We shut the doors to just let the bird be ~ to rest and regain its composure. Later we looked through the doors and saw he had flown the coup (or rather jumped as we think he was still a little rattled).

My husband rescued him from under a chair, migrated him to the basement where he was fed and transferred to a smaller cage, to roost for the night ... and hopefully recover.

This morning I sprang from my bed and ran to the basement. I threw off the blanket and our feathery visitor seemed ready to go ~ breakfast devoured. I took the cage to the back door ... and away he flew like the down of a thistle.

Goodbye Rudy. I am glad we could help you and hope you fare well!

photos by Dana Cochran ~ The Ginger Parasol

Favorite Artist Friday ~ Trisha Romance

2009-12-18T12:44:00.033-05:00

Star of Wonder

I fell in love with the work of Trisha Romance in 1990, when a friend purchased a print from this artist, while visiting Niagra-on-the-Lake in Canada, entitled "Christmas Morning."

My husband knew how much I loved her work and gave me "Silent Night", in 1993, as a Christmas gift. We later purchased "Candlelight Stoll" and "The Home Bakery." Her paintings are printed in limited edition prints and then the plates are destroyed.

"Star of Wonder" is another favorite that I sent out as our Christmas card several years ago.

I love the way the artist tells a story about each of her enchanting paintings and have include them below each one.

Silent Night

On Christmas Eve, the white blanket of new fallen snow surrounding our home, seemed so "calm and bright" that only an angel would dare to tread on it.

As we gathered around the table, to give thanks and sing glory to the Newborn King, heavenly peace blessed our family.

Peace on earth seemed a certain thing. As certain as the joy that filled our hearts, and as certain as the Star that led the three wisemen to the place of our Savior's birth, on that first "Silent Night". ~ Trisha

Candlelight Stroll

There is a night, a most romantic night in our town, truly unlike any other. It is an evening that warms the hearts of many and gives new life to even the most serious Scrooge. Early in the evening, many folks dressed in traditional apparel, mix Christmas shopping and socializing as the town prepares for "The Victorian Candlelight Stroll". Christmas music fills the air and just the sound of sleighbells is enough to transport one into a past century. Candles are sold by the hundreds so that not a soul is missed. Faces glow, not from just the candles they hold to celebrate the seasonal event but, with the Spirit of Christmas.

By the time the clock tower strikes seven, the townsfolk and all their visitors join the choir from the courthouse stairs. One by one the candles are lit from stranger to stranger, from loved one to loved one. And the chorus of "Alleluia" sends a tingle up your spine and brings a tear to the eye.

I dedicate this painting to all who have created this magic in many towns across our country, from the candle man to the smallest caroler. ~ Trisha

The Home Bakery

The Candlelight Stroll wouldn't be the same without a trip to the bakery to fill up on gingerbread men, fruit cake and shortbread. Everything is bundled up in the familiar white box and wrapped up with string, but when we leave I realize that I've acquired much more than I paid for....a childlike joy that warms the insides and a feeling that in all the hustle and bustle it's the simple pleasures that satisfy and fill the soul. ~Trisha

After almost losing her eyesight at the age of four, Trisha gained a new appreciation of sight and thus an artist was born. After the bandages were removed from her eyes, she began drawing everything she saw. She said she felt an indescribable sense of light, freedom and happiness and believes it was a miracle. She has not stopped drawing nor painting since. In 1989 she suffered from a venous angioma in her brain which has limited her ability to work as she once did. Her bio is long, but a must read if you like her work. She has a way of putting so much light, life and love into her art. I can get lost looking into these magical prints, imagining the stories that are going on within them.

Have a Holly Jolly Weekend ~

2009-12-11T14:16:00.001-05:00

gouache practice on Fabriano

Winter Wonderland

2009-12-04T14:04:00.009-05:00

I love creating inspiration and story boards, both on the computer and on paper or boards ~ of real weddings I have worked on and from magazines. I keep a box of clippings next to my magazine basket that gets filled while browsing my favorite periodicals. These boards were created by Snippet and Ink and Ritzy Bee. I have almost all these clippings in my own collection, having every issue of Martha Stewart Weddings since its first publication in 1987. I love how these were so beautifully arranged, so I thought I would repost them as they bring me much inspiration as I work on wintery wedding orders today. Winter weddings are actually my favorite ~ so intimate, elegant, magical and enchanting.

Real Wedding Weekend: Amy & Marshall

2009-11-29T11:29:00.032-05:00

As long as Amy had dreamed of getting married, she envisioned an outdoor, autumn wedding at her family’s second home on Lake Toxaway, NC. Since she was fifteen years old, her family spent summers, holidays and random weekends making memories at the lake with family and friends. She thought it would be the perfect place to show her guests why Lake Toxaway held such a special place in her heart.

The ceremony was held on the tee box at the Country Club with a reception following at her parents’ home. In both settings the event was designed to enhance the natural beauty of the surroundings as opposed to trying to create something different.

The family’s eight year old dog, Ally, was a greeter at the ceremony. She also loves being at the family lake home and was decked out in festive attire to greet their guests. After the wedding, Ally was taken to the reception where she was able to join the party for a little bit of fun. She was a huge hit and the wedding would not have been the same without her presence!

I worked closely with the bride to design a script for her invitations that would reflect her simple, yet elegant style. We then engraved the calligraphy, in chocolate, on handmade Belgian stationery. The paper is so gorgeous and one of my favorites. It has a rich, yet rustic flair with its texture and deckled edges and complemented the engraving beautifully. The suite set the stage for the beautiful event to come.

Amy’s couture wedding gown was designed by Justina McCaffrey. Two veils were created using the same lace used in the dress, one as a train for the ceremony and a shorter version for the reception. McCaffrey also designed a short jacket made of the same lace that the bride wore during the reception, as it turned out to be a chilly, fall evening.

The wedding party was transported from the ceremony to the reception via the Miss Lucy, a boat belonging to the Lake Toxaway Greystone Inn. It was a great, fun time for a champagne toast with the wedding party and a wonderful way to really incorporate the “lake” into the wedding. Definitely a highlight!

The cake was five layers with alternating round and petal shaped tiers. It was covered with white vanilla buttercream icing with a choice of three cake flavors - vanilla butter cake with vanilla buttercream and chocolate ganache filling, brown sugar pound cake with hazelnut praline filling and spice cake with cream cheese filling. One of my most favorite parts of the cake was the stand – it was made from the trunk of a tree that was once stood the family’s yard at the lake. The table was covered with moss and the caked placed on the tree trunk. Yet another simple touch that was very natural and blended in with the surroundings.

This was one of my favorite weddings of those I have worked on as I love juxtaposing rustic with elegance. This event was the perfect union of both from beginning to end. ...and the bride and her mother were an absolute joy to work with!

Invitations - A Fine Line

Photography - Charles Bordner

and various photos from the bride's friends

Flowers and design - Karen Purvis

Home Sweet Homes

2009-11-16T14:42:00.013-05:00

Earlier this year I was commissioned to render 8 house portraits for a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary as a gift from their children. Working as an executive for GM, the couple moved quite a bit over the last 50 years.

From the townhome where they began their lives together and the first home for their three children,

to the home where they retired,

...and all the beautiful homes in between,

they have shared an amazing life together.

I hope each time they look at this painting it will bring back wonderful memories of the times they have shared together, and those with family and friends, over last 50 years ... and many more to come.

This was my first attempt at ever painting a house and coordinating eight on one page was quite challenging, but I was happy with the overall results.

Sneak Peek and a Special Fall Promotion

2009-10-30T13:08:00.014-04:00

More gorgeous photos of this glamorous wedding coming soon. Here is a peek of the wedding reception stationery pieces.

The place cards I penned were nestled among roses and jewels. We used Biltmore Estate historic facts for the table names, which was fun, as well as interesting and informative.

The bride asked me to have a menu designed in a square format using various type sizes, going from small to large. We wanted to use the same script and Parisian borders I used to design her wedding invitations and have them flow into the reception pieces. I asked Heather, owner of Real Card Studio (one the exquisite lines we offer at A Fine Line), to see what she could do with these special requests. Heather never disappoints, so I knew she would come up with something fabulous …and she did! This is one of my most favorite menu and program designs ever. They were letterpress printed in chocolate and champagne on handmade Italian paper. The bride wanted something very modern, while her mother requested the design be classic and traditional. We were able to please both and the final product was stunning! The bride’s mother told me the menu was the most photographed element of the wedding among the photos taken by their friends and family.

This brings me to the special we are offering at A Fine Line running until December 31. Receive 10-15% off wedding programs and menus when purchased with wedding invitation suites from the same company. This promotion applies to specially selected lines we carry.

photography by Parker J. Pfister

Sketching at The Bloom Room

2009-10-26T16:39:00.015-04:00

It appears I have way too many photos and designs on my computer and it has finally crashed! I cannot get to the wedding photos I was going to post, so here are a few sketches I did at my friend Stacey’s shop, The Bloom Room, last week. Since I can't scan or adjust them, please excuse the quality of the photos – yes that is my excuse for them. :) and no, the Wizard of Oz is not behind the curtain! ... I just didn't get around to finishing the details while I was there.

Stacey and I used to share the same shop until she needed a larger work room and more storage space. Not only do I miss her company, but I miss the beautiful flowers! Stacey is a fabulous event and floral designer, with a great vintage style, and does shabby chic like no one I know. I decided to go over and see what they were working on for the week and practice sketching interiors...in which I need a lot more practice, but I am enjoying it. It was a fun day!

Perfectly Inscribed

2009-10-07T17:32:00.004-04:00

My fabulous hand bound journal arrived today. It is perfectly inscribed and ready to fill with calligraphy, sketches, watercolor, quotes and things that bring me inspiration. I ordered a smaller version a few months ago from Melissa Meaders McArdle (Simply Mel) over at Reverie (a must follow blog!) The book is filled with gorgeous handmade paper that takes ink and watercolor beautifully. The books are hand bound by a bookbinding artist in Scotland. When I saw that she had a larger version, which could be personalized, I had to have one. The cover’s inscription reflects the name of my little dog Ginger and other things that bring joy into my life.

The arrival of the book is bittersweet as little Gigi was hospitalized again today for diabetes. Last week, when we took her to the oncologist in South Carolina, we had hoped to get a great report that the chemotherapy was shrinking her brain tumor. What we found out was that she had developed diabetes and was in serious condition and a CT scan could not be performed. They referred her back here to our animal hospital, where she was hospitalized and started on insulin. The oncologist believes the diabetes is a result of prednisone being used for the tumor, therefore it cannot be discontinued. We have not been able to stabilize her glucose levels with the injections at home, as the dosage has to be increased gradually, so she is back in the hospital today. We have taken her off the chemo until we get the diabetes under control. Our veterinarian still has high hopes that she will rally, so we are still hanging on.

I look forward to brighter days when I can relax and enjoy creating something artful in my spectacular new journal.

Workshop with Joe Miller

2009-09-26T15:30:00.024-04:00

A painting by Joe Miller from our workshop that he gave to me as a gift!. I was so excited!!

It is going to be perfect in my sunroom.

At the first of September, my mother and I had the privilege of taking a workshop with Joe Miller, fabulous artist, teacher and founder/owner of one of the country's largest mail-order art supply companies, Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff. We were the first students to ever take private classes in his studio in Boone, NC. I felt so lucky just to be there. Joe is one of the kindest, most generous teachers I have ever had. He is so encouraging and positive and has the most wonderful personality and sense of humor. It was such a pleasure to spend three lovely days in his gorgeous studio overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. I will tell you more about Joe, or "Cheap Joe" as he is known, in a Featured Artist Friday post coming soon.

I told Joe I wanted to loosen up, get bolder and braver with watercolor. I tend to paint very light and I'm afraid to really put down color. With Joe’s help, he pushed me to go darker, spatter, spray,

get messy

Yicks! have never been this messy - but it was fun and I loved the results!

Joe's Paletteand just have fun mixing the color on the paper, as well as the palette, learning all sorts of new and exciting techniques.

He told us we really needed to work on value and do these little studies before we start painting. Obviously, I need some help in that area!

Joe's notes to me We really had fun taking the gestural approach to quick little figures. I think Joe thought we might have been a bit carried away with them as we were adding them to everything we did.

Joe's Little People

It was the most spectacular three days. I was sad to see it end. I hope to go back really soon.

Now that my wedding season is slowing down for the year, I hope to start working on all that we learned!

Speaking of weddings ... I have several amazing weddings to share with you over the next few weeks.

Featured Artist Friday: Parker J. Pfister ... and Real Wedding Weekend: Brooke & Sterling

2009-09-04T22:13:00.016-04:00

With fall in the air and a tinge of color already tipping the leaves, I thought this would be a great time to show you a beautiful autumn wedding from last year.

Brooke and Sterling were married at The Vista on Biltmore Estate. To set the tone for their glorious autumn wedding, we designed a full stationery ensemble, a beautiful French Roast letterpress suite from one of the fabulous stationery lines we offer at A Fine Line. I then scripted their place cards, to coordinate, on the same rich paper. The cards were pinned to pears and nestled amongst lush floral arrangements, in deep fall hues, created by The Bloom Room. It could not have been a more splendid, fall day for such a beautiful couple. One of the most highly regarded photographers in the nation and one of my favorite artists, Parker J. Pfister, captured the event. Parker J’s passion, personality and unique style speak volumes in his work which is described by many as “fine art, photojournalistic fashion and avant-garde.” He says he is a photographer because "he has to be." He photographs for his soul. His images are not only seen through the eyes, but felt with the heart. It is true; a picture is worth a thousand words …

Invitations - A Fine Line Photography - Parker J. Pfister
Flowers - The Bloom Room

Snippets of August and Things to Come

2009-08-31T16:09:00.009-04:00

I could not have started my blog at a more hectic time of the year. It has been one of the busiest wedding seasons to date. I feel like I have been buried under envelopes for a month now.

Since I cannot show you most of my work until after the “big days” happen, I wanted to show you some of the things I have been working on this past month. I am working on several other pieces that I will share with you when I can.

In addition, I am so excited about a class I am taking next week. I will tell you all about it when I return, this time, I promise! I have been keeping my goal of a sketch/painting a day. I am learning so much and having a blast.

With fall in the air and my work very seasonal, I am beginning to switch gears and slow down with a change of scenery on the horizon. I am looking forward to starting some holiday projects and activities I have pushed to the back burner.

More to come soon ...

Sketchy Thursday

2009-08-20T17:39:00.011-04:00

I haven't forgotten I promised to share details from my workshop a few weeks ago - but the truth is, I didn't produce anything I want to show! ;0

The class was held at Cheap Joe's in Boone, NC. I do not know why I have not taken more classes there, but have already signed up for 3 more! I will tell you all about those when the time comes. In the meantime, I have been keeping my goal of a sketch a day.

I had signed up for this workshop, entitled "Sketching with Watercolor" with Brenda Swenson, to try and loosen my style. I have painted detailed botanicals and house portraits many times, but nothing loose and free ... like I want to produce ... but I am changing my ways! Brenda commented that I drew a lot of detail and very tiny things and reminded me "not to paint the fleas before the dog"! I am so used to producing "small pieces of art" in my stationery and do love tiny little drawings, so I guess that is why I am having problem with large still life objects.

The class was a lot of fun. I did not get to attend all of it due to my dog starting her chemo and working out work schedules with my husband, but what I was able attend was very insightful.

Brenda is taking a small group to France in the spring of 2010 and I had just talked my husband into taking me, had all the plans worked out with the tour group, when she informed me it was full already. I have to say, I was very disappointed but have something else in the works.

I promise to show you some things soon, but in the meantime, I will show you my overworked urn. I am so drawn to urns and have so many as an antique lover and gardener, I am sketching and painting them all...on paper that is. I DO love this Twinrocker paper I am using. I have sold their stationery for years and only in the last couple of months started using their watercolor paper and really enjoy it. I think this piece, and its color, has the same patina as the urn.

Gigi Update

2009-08-12T12:33:00.008-04:00

So many of you have expressed concern and asked that I keep you posted on how our little dog Gigi is doing, so I wanted to bring you up to date.

She has been taking chemotherapy for almost a month now and is doing remarkably well. Her doctors are very pleased with her progress thus far. As of now, we have seen no side effects except for a little fatigue. For a Miniature Pinscher, that is not saying much as they are very hyper little dogs…even at 13 years old! She is still so full of energy and life. She always is ready to go for her evening walk as soon as she finishes her dinner and is relentless until we take her. She also does not let us forget that she expects her morning ride on the weekends! Another thing that amazes us is that her hearing has improved dramatically! We thought she was going deaf due to “old age”…, which part of it is, but as it turns out, was a symptom of the brain tumor.

Having thought her last day was over a month ago, with the veterinarian giving us little hope, we feel so blessed and grateful to have had another month to spoil her even more…and she is loving every minute of it!

Gigi seems to be the million-dollar dog! She had a stroke 5 years ago that left her back legs so weak she had to put all her weight on her front legs for months...she recovered from that, has had two eye surgeries, part of her colon removed and been hospitalized three times for pancreatitis…so hopefully she will bounce back from this too.

My mother is very superstitious and has always warned us "not to brag too soon", that it might jinx things, so I hate to become too optimistic. On the other hand, my husband, who is so positive about everything, says we should remain encouraged and not let ourselves think negatively. I think I am somewhere in between and will remain cautiously optimistic. We will not know if the brain tumor is shrinking for another month, when we take her back to the oncologist for a CT scan.

Thank you so much for your kind notes and thoughts. They have really meant a lot to me this past month.

Real Wedding Weekend: Ellen & Alan

2009-08-02T12:22:00.032-04:00

Ellen and Alan planned a destination wedding at Pawley’s Island, South Carolina. Pawley’s Island is one of the oldest summer resorts on the East Coast. It is a very special place to Ellen’s family, as it is a vacation spot her family has been gathering at for over 60 years. Her grandparents spent every summer there even before Ellen’s mother was born.

Litchfield Plantation is an extraordinary resort, in South Carolina, located on 600 acres of a 1750s coastal rice plantation. The plantation has been meticulously transformed into an exquisite country inn.

The lovely ceremony took place under an umbrella of majestic live oak trees draped in Spanish moss.

The stationery suite, I designed, was hand-lettered and engraved in charcoal on Italian paper. The envelopes were lined in a beautiful hydrangea blue, a color that was repeated throughout the ceremony and reception.

The family has a tradition of making a trip to The Pawley’s Island Hammock Shop where children and adults select their favorite fudge. Each guest could select from one of the family’s favorite varieties as a gift.

Instead of a groom's cake, cupcakes were offered in four different varieties identified by different designs on top - SC flag, Davidson College, Gamecocks and New York.

The wedding cake was layered with Key Lime filling and signature Mojitos were served.

Ellen and Alan's charming southern wedding ended perfectly, as the sun set on this special day.

Invitations and Calligraphy - A Fine Line, Asheville

Photography - Sandra and Greg Scott, Atlanta

High hopes and a workshop

2009-07-26T11:16:00.012-04:00

If all goes well, I leave tomorrow for a watercolor workshop - a day late, however. So much for best laid plans. Never mastering the art of packing light, I think I have everything I need except a sink! Whoever said you can't take it all with you, doesn't know me!

Tomorrow we find out how Gigi is tolerating the chemo, blood work wise. She is doing really well. No side effects whatsoever! Her sense of hearing is even returning. The vet believes the medications are taking the pressure off of the tumor for now, thus some very postitive results. She is even more like her old self than she was a month ago! We now see that there were subtle signs all along, that she had a brain tumor - loss of hearing, fearfulness and clinginess. We are so grateful to have had a really good week. She is even taking walks and looking forward to her weekend rides! My husband will be working from home next week, while I am away, to keep a watchful eye on little Gigi. Thanks to all of you who have left comments or sent emails to me. Your thoughts, prayers and support have really touched me.

I will give you a full report, on all, when I return ... and I have a beautiful featured wedding to share with you, as well.

Have a great week all! Ta ta for now.

Paws

2009-07-17T14:47:00.013-04:00

I will be taking a "pause" from posting this week. We found out last weekend that our "only child", Ginger (affectionately known as Gigi), has a brain tumor. It has been a tough week, but she seems to be tolerating her medication well enough that she will be starting chemotherapy on Monday. She is a perfect little angel and has brought so much love and joy into our lives.

Please send her little well wish thoughts.

Featured Artist Friday: Laura Frankstone

2009-07-10T00:01:00.015-04:00

Francophile, painter, passionate drawer and travel sketcher

It is only fitting that my first featured, and one of my favorite, artist is Laura Frankstone. It is, afterall, how I discovered the world of blogging. While doing a search on another favorite artist, I came across Laura’s blog, Laurelines. At the time, I had never heard the term “blog”, but was enamored the minute I found Laurelines. I went back and read every post she had posted prior to that day. I fell in love with her loose, fluid style immediately.

That was almost three years ago. Since then I have been following Laura as she travels the world -- sketching and painting and telling the story as she goes. I love seeing the world through her eyes.

Her travel sketchbooks are a large part of her life. She is a painter and a passionate travel sketcher, but trained, at universities, in oils. She took up watercolors as a way to make exciting travel sketches.

In 2007 Laura's travel sketchbooks were exhibited at the Biennale du Carnet de Voyage at Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Laura said, in an interview on The Artful Parent, “About three years ago, I turned away from painting to devote myself to drawing, to keeping sketchbooks and travel journals. I was stuck in the studio and needed new energy. I also started my blog Laurelines at that point. I work best within rather narrow parameters, so that first year I set myself a plan to immerse myself in the study of color. I devoted six weeks to each color in the spectrum and kept daily sketchbooks dealing with those colors. The second year, my goal was to become completely fluent in drawing. I divided the year up into twelve themes and drew within those themes every day of each month. Part of my plan that year was to spend a whole month in Paris, sketching—and I did! Last year, I gave myself a more free-ranging set of goals, but I was no less assiduous."

Last year her central theme, both metaphorically and literally, was her search for water. She continues her focus on watery painting this year, with a month long trip planned to Brittany.

She is also illustrating a food lovers guide to her area,

has done some wedding sketching for a friend, and has many more exciting things to share with us this year.

As Twyla Tharp said, “You don’t get in the mood to create --- it’s discipline." Laura’s discipline is something I truly admire and respect about her as an artist. “I don’t believe in waiting for moments of inspiration. Inspiration comes as you work.”, says Laura. Insisting on discipline and orderliness in my own work, it is a quality I appreciate intensely.

I am indebted to Laura for the influence she has had on me unknowingly. Not only have I started my own blog, but she has inspired me to start painting and sketching again (after being mostly self-taught) and has me energized with the idea of wedding sketching, as something fun and exciting to offer to my wedding clients. Wanting more professional training, I have signed up for several watercolor classes over the next year and a half. Maybe I will be brave enough to post some of my work someday soon.

I commissioned Laura to paint the front window of my stationery shop. I am planning to meet her, for the first time, when she visits Asheville in August!

There are so many more favorite sketches and paintings than I can possibly begin to share with you here, so you must visit her at Laurelines to see more. I promise it will be worth the visit!! Please check out her 101 faces. Laura does the most soulful eyes I have ever seen.

Laura Frankstone has one of the most fascinating lives of anyone I know. I live vicariously through her and cannot wait to see where she will take us next!

Sneak Peek: Featured Artist Fridayand Real Wedding Weekend: Ellen & Alan

2009-07-03T17:28:00.019-04:00

Check back next weekend for this beautiful Southern wedding...

Lowcountry Charm at its best! ...and the first, in my Featured Artist series that I will bring to you at least one Friday each month.