WOW!

This is really all I can say about this amazing new line of custom invitations and stationery that is on its way to Kansas City. I can't say the name for fear that I am not supposed to announce this quite yet. The New York Times writes this about this amazing L.A. based company:

"In our email-ridden world, a little bit of thick, creamy card stock goes a long way. Who doesn’t appreciate a proper handwritten thank-you note on luscious letterpress-printed paper, or a crisply engraved custom invitation or announcement? [Name removed] and [Name removed] opened their first [Name removed] store in 2003, and have since added a second location in Brentwood. Over the past few years, the pair’s sweetly nostalgic but seriously high-quality stationery has garnered a following of polite young Hollywood types, including Katie Holmes, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Garner."

Ever since I have been in stationery business I have wanted this line. We will get more details tomorrow and hopefully be able to tell you all who it is and provide you with some more photos of some of their amazing work. In the meantime, I am going to be dreaming of some amazing new personal stationery and my daughter's wedding invitations (I know they are only four, but you haven't seen these invitations!)

It's the little things

We find that it is usually the little details that can really make your event special! Simple cocktail napkins - if you find yourself asking, "why didn't I think of that?" make your way down to see us and let us help you with some fun napkins! They are not expensive and can be really fun. You don't even need a special event - have some fun napkins made for yourself this summer and everytime you have friends over pull them out! Can easily make a casual evening with friends into a summer event.

Fun Ideas:

1) Pick a few different quotes you love and put the quotes on the cocktail napkins.
2) Put fortunes on napkins - then mix them up and stack them at the bar - what a fun surprise and great way to generate conversation between guests.

Photos courtesy of Snippet & Ink

Fancy Evites?

The New York Times recently published an article about a company that swears it is okay to send a fancied up evite for your wedding. They are trying to sell people on the idea that if the e-mail looks nice, it is as nice as an invitation that is professionally printed, mailed and opened! What do you think?

Obviously, we are not fans. Do you really get as excited about an evite as you do an invitation you get in the mail? I hope not. This article has a great quote from Pamela Fiori who is the editor of Town & Country magazine - "In a world increasingly uncivilized," she said, "it’s important that we have some ties to tradition. And I honestly think that what we’re losing with e-mail are our memories."

We could not agree more!

Summer Party Idea #1

Obviously our favorite idea is for you to come in here and ask us for more ideas! Did you know we can also plan your event for you? Yep - from idea to invite to getting the show on the road! Ask us. But, thought I would pass this along - we have all heard of candy bars, pastry bars, etc. - how about this a retro soda bar? Love the rainbow hues. You could do this with beers for the older crowd! Enjoy.

Photo credit - Project Wedding

Summer Party Idea #2

The dreaded RSVP. So you invited 25 couples over for disco night and noone has replied? Want a sure fire way to increase your replys? Send along a reply card - self-addressed and stamped - and ask them to select their favorite disco song! Then create a music mix with all the songs. Not having a music themed party? Let us help you think of creative ways to get them to respond! We can make it easy for you, super fun for them - then everyone will be so much more excited about the event!

P.S. Postcards work great! Especially vintage ones!

Summer Party Idea #3

No summer party would be complete without firing up the grill. There are so many great grilling books out there to choose from - my new favorite is Bobby Flay's Burger, Fries & Shakes. Plan a summer party around this - my favorite so far - Garlic Butter Burger, Sweet Potato Fries and the Toasted Almond Milkshake complete with Amaretto (which you can leave out for a kid friendly version). Is your mouth watering? For the recipes pick up the book - I got mine at Williams-Sonoma. So...what's left to do? Just send out these invites, head to the store and fire up the grill.

Summer Party Idea #4

We saw this idea in Martha Stewart Weddings and thought it would apply equally well to a summer party. Let your guests have some photo booth fun without the photo booth expense. Hang a sheet of fabric between two trees, set up a table with a camera on it and let them snap away. Not only will they have fun, but you will have some fun and fashionable party pics. Whent he party is over get the photos developed then send all your guests a summer thank you with a few photos inside!

For a fourth of July themed party encourage everyone to dress in red, white and blue and hang a large flag - Uncle Sam would love it.

Summer Party Ideas #5

Put away all the boring plates you use everyday and switch to some fun personalized plates just for the outdoors. To view all the patterns and colors stop in today - all plate sets (set of 4 for $80 or set of 8 for $160) ordered this week are 15% off!

Summer Pinwheels

My daughters and I were looking for a fun summer activity to do and I came across this - super easy and very cute. They make great party decorations - place them in buckets for a fun, summer centerpiece. Or just something fun to do with the kids this summer - use red, white and blue paper and decorate for the fourth.

For everything you need to know to make these yourself check here

Sycamore Street Press

New cards and these really cool letterpress prints. These would make a great baby shower gift and wall hanging for a child's play room. They are 11 x 14 - which makes them easy to find frames for! And at only $30 a print - you can't go wrong.

They come in three color combinations- apple green/chocolate, robin's egg blue/red and red/pink.

National Stationery Show - More New Cards

We are always looking for cards for kids that are well-designed. Look no more - we found them. Paper Loop's illustrated cards are amazing. We now have a very cute group of cards in our shop just for the kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews in your life. My favorite - the root beer float card.

Cute New Pens

These just in! Make a great gift when packaged with a box of notes or cards!