Invitation Suites ~ Portwood

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 ~

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

March Madness of Different Kind

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

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

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~

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 ~

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