things are better with a parrott

A Little Trip to LA-LA Land

I took my first journey to the other side of the country the other week.  I had never been to CA or the West coast & my toes got to feel the cold Pacific Ocean.  Rich's sister, Deb, & her fiance, Dom, moved to Hollywood about two years ago & are both pursuing their masters in painting.  We stayed with them & enjoyed the sites of LA...through the rain!  It had not rained since February, so I guess it was time.  We did have some glimpses of sun while visiting the Hollywood sign.



The sunset was so pretty over the Hollywood hills facing downtown LA.

  
A few highlights included M Cafe's delicious vegetarian faire in Culver City.  "Pulled Pork" with wasabi potatoes {I wish I could eat those potatoes right now!} & "Bacon" club with kale & peanuts.  So good.

Cue the music to one of the best tv shows ever.  Also, say good-bye to the sun as it does not reappear for the durration of our trip.


We drove up the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu one morning, picked out which "house" we will buy {I kid!}, & then drove to Venice Beach.


Here you may catch a little glimpse of the Santa Monica Pier.

Notice how we are basically the only people on the beach.  I do agree it was a bit chilly, but it was downright cold for most of the natives.  Those who were out on the boardwalk were decked in hats, scarves, & boots!

While we were at Venice Beach we went to Urbanic Paper Boutique, which was just as lovely as expected, & I bought a few pretty cards & notebooks.  Other food highlights included breakfast at Green Peas, in Culver City, & a very fancy, shmancy dinner at AOC Wine Bar in Los Angeles.   We also went to The Beauty Bar & another bar...I think it was called The Piano Bar, but I am not entirely sure.  I do know this band was playing & at the end of the night the drummer let Rich jump on his drums & play for a few songs.  Awesome!

Overall, we had a great time, though I found LA very overwhelming at times.  Apparently I am a New England girl at heart.  However, we will certainly be back to visit soon!  Hopefully the sun joins us!

A Little Bouquet

I, like Shanon, do not cut flowers from my garden very often, especially the frontyard.  Rich cuts sunflowers, rudbeckia, & the like from our backyard at least once a week, but we tend to leave the zinnias as they grow in the front.  It seems as if it took eternity for them to grow this summer, but they are finally here & quite abundant.  I decided it would be okay to cut a few as a gift to myself because I only turn 27 once.  Indeed, it is my birthday!  It has been a leisurely {& hot!} one complete with waffles for breakfast, a brownie for lunch, playing in the dirt with Simone, & of course a bit of work {lining the back of 100+ invitations & direction cards, phew!}.  Rich says he has a surprise for me & all I know is I should not be "too dressy."  Hmm...we shall see!  Until tomorrow...

Apple Orchard Wedding

Two weeks ago I was saying hello to summer & now it feels downright chilly here!  Is that you, fall?  Already?  No matter though because I love fall.  These save the dates & invitations are just right for the season - apples blossoming, blooming, & becoming a shiny, juicy red, the leaves turning to warm & golden hues...ah yes.  The save the dates were a double-sided postcard featuring a clean border & lush apple blossom.  Terra, the bride, came to me with a very clear idea of the design {including a sketch!} which always helps the design process. 

The invitations continued the apple theme & featured the same border with one, simple apple.  These invitations were unique in that they were a smaller size {A2} & folded.  The text for the invitation was lovely & we wanted to feature it on the front of the invitation so it was the first thing guest read.  The 100% recycled kraft envelopes were made for these invitations - like picking the apples from the tree & dropping them into the little bag to take home! 

I must mention their venue as well, Red Barn Studios, a converted 1937 gothic barn. It is truly unique & wonderful.  Rich & I were looking at their site last night & reading the story of how the barn came to be.  We had some serious venue envy.  You see, Rich & I have this dream - to own our farm {6 -10 acres} with a barn which we hope to convert to an event venue.  We are in still in the dreaming/saving-our-pennies stage, but the plan is set.  Stay tuned {for the next 5 years or so...!}.  

We've Been Gardening

By "we" I mean "he."  I just reap all the benefits such as fresh basil, almost-ripe heirloom tomatoes, giant sunflowers, & brightly colored flowers.  The sun just needs to stay out longer than 10 minutes so we can actually enjoy the garden... 

Back...

 
...to reality.   Jess & Jay's wedding was amazing.  Just amazing.  I am usually not at a loss for words, but I am at the moment.  My head is still spining...& it was not even my wedding!  I am still gathering up the details & waiting for everyone's photos to come rolling in.  You may sneak a peek of their wedding on their professional photographer's site.  This week I will be sharing all of the little details we worked on the week leading up to the wedding - favors, programs, escort cards, & the like.  Just wait until you see the candy table my sister dreamed-up.  It is something out of a magazine! 

In the meantime & completely off the subject, I added some gift tags to my shop.

Hello

 

I have been in Portland, Maine since last Friday & will be here until Monday.  My sister is getting married this Saturday!  My brain feels a bit like that last photograph - a bit blury with pops of bright, sparkling inspiration. 

I hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend!  I may be back to share some recent work...or not.  If not, I will be back next week with lots of wedding goodness!

Letterpress & a Ramble

Hello!  Some new letterpress cards in the shop today!  The theme being love, naturally.  I will have one more in the shop by Friday. 

I have been fairly quiet lately, showing mostly work & not much talk of life.  I've been off doing various things - trying to find my maid of honor dress for my sister's wedding, planning her bridal shower {shh...}, taking a calligraphy class every Saturday {yay!}, perfecting my CS3 Illustrator skills in another twice-a-week class, planning the annual fundraiser for the non-profit I work for, & designing tons of really fabulous spring & summer wedding invitation suites in between.  Goodness!  Not to mention there is puppy-petting & walking to be done & movie & cuddle time to be had.  With all this talk of below zero weather this weekend, I look forward to the puppy-cuddle-movie time!   

2008 was good to me

 
SO good to me!  Last year I said 2007 was the best, but I am quite positive 2008 was better.  Much better.  I began the year in a blizzard & I am ending in the same way.  I traveled to corners of the earth I thought I would never reach.  I got engaged to my best friend!  Together we rode a bike through the streets of Amsterdam, climbed the steps of the Eiffel Tower, & strolled the streets of Montmartre. We spent weekends playing in the mountains of Vermont, camping in the deep woods of Maine, & rocked out to one of our favorite bands in Brooklyn. 

Rich & I expanded our vegetable garden & grew even more flowers.  We adopted a puppy who has already become the center of our world.  We started to plan our wedding!  I began an exciting collaboration with one of my favorite artists {& greatest friends}.  We made new friends.  My sister got engaged too!

My design & print studio continued to grow & expand.  Rich built me a studio in our home.  I bought a letterpress!  I started designing & printing custom wedding invitations.  I participated in my first Providence Open Market & Bazaar Bizarre in Boston.  I learned how to silkscreen {with real screens, not my beloved gocco}.  2007 was all about experimenting, figuring out what worked, & finding my way in this creative world.  2008 was all of the same, but then a lot of establishing what it is I want to do, & doing it.  Everything has been falling into place naturally, & 2009 is going to be wonderfully busy with creativity.

I hope 2008 was as kind to you.  I thank you for visiting my little space & sharing with me the ups & downs of the past year.  I wish you a 2009 that is merry, bright, & full of everything you love.  Peace.

It's That Simple

According to a 4 year old friend of mine, this is how one can figure out who to vote for tomorrow:

4 {to his mom}: So, if McCain wins, we will go to war?

Mom: Well, we are already in a war. The war will just continue.

4:  Oh, okay.  And if Barack Obama wins we will get…ice cream & donuts!?

War?  Or ice cream & donuts, my friends? 

 

 
{photo from the back of Saveur magazine.}

Printing, Cutting, Baking, Lounging

In just that order.

I hope to do more of the same this weekend. 

Happy Halloween!  Rich & I are going a Celtics game tonight.  He won tickets for center court suite seats.  A treat indeed.  Enjoy your weekend.  I will be back next week with my calendar & some other goodies.