a New York State of Mind...

Image by Tomek R.

Some may have left their heart in San Francisco

but I...

I am in a perpetual New York State of Mind...

Having lived there, worked there and loved there..

New York City will forever be in my veins..

It has made me who I am today..

and

as Miss Bradshaw so eloquently put it..

 "If you can only have one great love,

then the City just may be mine"

So when Red Envelope came knock knock knocking on my door to collaborate on a UTTERLY FABULOUS contest that just so happened to take place at The Empire State Building..

This NYC girl couldn't possibly say no...

Having lived a couple years a block away from the Empire State Building and having walked past it at least 4 times a day to get to work..

I am definitely quite familiar with this Art Deco beauty...

Forget Paris..

NYC is THE most romantic city I have ever known... 

So...

The thought of being able to get married atop the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day 2014..

Makes me weak in the knees..

So all you brides and grooms out there...

you have ONLY until December 5th

to submit a creative proposal detailing your personal love story for the chance to have your dream wedding atop

the Empire State Building.

Thanks to the folks over at Red Envelope and 

The Empire State Building..

Someone's dream could actually come true!!

So if you won..

what would your dream wedding be?

Personally...
I would be inspired by this grand deco dame..

Images from The Empire State Pinterest

Mix those gorgeous GOLDEN architectural details

with

a bit of BLUSHING bride

and you have magic...

Table Setting:Tinywater Photography at Style me Pretty

Dress: Maxine Gown at BHLDN Champagne image: Kristyn Hogan at 100 Layer Cake

Boutonniere image: Aaron Delesie at Martha Stewart

Bouquet: Clare Day Flowers & Ameris at 100 Layer Cake

Cake: Jan Kish at Brides.com Ceremony image by Crista Elyce

Love Poems by Pablo Neruda at BHLDN

But that's not all folks!!!
Red Envelope has an amazing WEDDING GIFTS page to die for...
It makes me want to get married ALL over again...

 Start a Kitchen with Animal Wood Cutting Boards
Keep a Ring with Initial Valets
Host a Party with the Glass Dome Serving Tray
Grow a Tree with the Tree Growing Kit
Have a Picnic with the Bicycle Wine Rack
Save a Memory in the Personalized Leather Album

So before you fill up on turkey and settle in for a LONG winter's nap..
Enter the  
Red Envelope & Empire State Building
LOVE ABOVE ALL contest..
Who knows...
you too could forever have a New York State of Mind..
 

A Cupcake a Day Keeps the Blues Away....

A cupcake a day for EVERY day of the Month???

Are you kidding me?

This is definitely not going to help swimsuit season...

BUT

I do have a HUGE soft spot for them...

The Monster dances when he sees them

 and

it they just so happened to be the Tall One and I's wedding cake...

Wouldn't it be AMAZING to offer 31 flavors at a birthday party or a wedding?

But..

If you had to choose just one...

What would it be?

Cupcake a Day for Every Day of the Month

created by

 Ming Makes Cupcakes

Amber Waves of Grain....

 Images via Natasha, weheartit, wolvesandwind

Wheat.....

I have it on the brain..

Maybe it's because it reminds me of the sparkliest couple I know, Erin and Dan, who just so happen to be celebrating their 2 year anniversary this weekend...

Wheat was a HUGE inspiration in the design of their Save the Date, Invitation, and Decor at their wedding..

 All images by Anna Sawin Photography

Paper by Chocolate Creative Design

and since then...

 I have seen it popping up everywhere!!

 Images: Anna Kuperberg,  Project Wedding,

 Martha Stewart Weddings  In Style Weddings, Ruffled

Images: Martha Stewart, Two Chicks Photography,Curious Country Creative

The Sweetest Occasion, 320 Sycamore

So this year...

I think I will  need to add it to my Fall decor...

Images: Martha Stewart, She Knows

 Country Living,  House and Home

and I am VERY determined this weekend to make a wreath for our door..

Images: Better Homes, Thrive, Dried Decor

Obviously Coco was inspired as she had THE most fabulous wheat table in her Paris apartment...

Which in turn inspired the Chanel team to create this Wheat Brooch for their 2010 jewelry line...

Let's not forget Candace Bushnell's superdelicious wheat sconces in her Manhattan apartment and in the March 2010 issue of 

Lonny Magazine!!!!

 

Images: Lonny and Elle Decor

 So maybe..
just maybe.. 
a few items might inspire you too...

 

1. Wheat Ball at Jamali

2. Wheat Table at Ebay

3. Wheat Sconces at Savvy Flair

4. Vintage Wheat Dress at Lola and Black

5. Wheat Napkin Ring at Pier 1

6. Wheat Bundle at Jamali

7. Wheat Bundle at Jamali

8. Wheat Sconces at Finding Me Vintage

Huge Hugs to Amy & Tim whose wedding invitation artwork I used above and who have just celebrated their 1 year Anniversary!!

A little Spring in my step....


French's Point, Maine Wedding of Spring and Silas - "Summer Nights" from meg simone on Vimeo.

Early this week, I received an amazing little gift in my email box.

Meg Simone, filmmaker extraordinaire, sent me a link to the film she shot for Spring and Sila's wedding for whom I had the great pleasure of creating their wedding paper. 

As a paper designer, many of us get lost in the mix. So the fact that the Lovely Miss Simone was generous to not only let me preview the film but ask my permission to use the artwork that I had created... 
purely warmed my heart and soul. 

Being able to watch Spring and Sila's wedding weekend was absolutely magical for me. Working and collaborating on their pieces for a year to finally being able to see their big day was BEYOND inspiring. To hear their story, meet their parents and see the love in their faces was a true gift.

In fact...it was so inspiring that I dug out and dusted off our wedding tapes to watch. Yes..you read that right...wedding tapes..
Thankfully the Tall One had found a VCR for us to watch them.

I'm not going to lie...
I cried..
I cried so much that there was no more tissue in the house..
Why all this sobbing you ask?
Well..so much has changed in the 11 years that we have been married..
Friendships that have come and gone..
People that have come and gone..
My waist that has come and gone...
It was All too overwhelmingly beautiful.

Back when we had gotten married...
videographers were just that...videographers...
clunky cameras with lights
I wanted none of that..
I was hoping my brother would dust off the old super 8 and film it
but guess what...
He, my sister-in-law and 2 year old niece were all in our wedding party..
so that wasn't exactly going to work...

So instead our AMAZING Aunt Wendy filmed the ENTIRE weekend...
When I say ENTIRE...I mean she absolutely and positively didn't put that camera down...
and being the social butterfly that she is..I was undeniably touched by her committment and it was truly THE best wedding gift EVER!!

So when The Monster came home that day..
I had a little surprise for him..

He has spent 9 years of his life watching other Island Brides and Grooms get married...
He has seen countless kisses and gowns...
But to actually see his parents stroll through the hay fields..
Boy was that ever magical...
So many wonderful questions.. 
So much pride and joy in his eyes..
A realization of how special that day was and without it..
He wouldn't be here..
To look at his parents and feel lucky that we both were still together and sitting by his side..

Priceless...

So all you Brides and Grooms out there..
listen to an old married lady...
GET YOUR WEDDING FILMED!!
There are so many amazing filmmakers out there..
What are you waiting for? 
It is worth EVERY penny...

So thank you Miss Simone for inspiring me to dust off those tapes..
Thank you for your gracious professionalism and kindness..

Thank you Spring and Silas for including me in your AMAZING and thoughtful wedding..
What a wonderful family you have and I hope that you too will be sitting down with your little Monsters and sharing with them the best of all days...

Happy Weekend!!!!

Image by Adeline & Grace

flowers by Hana Floral Design

Deirdre & Jay, Island Farm on Elihu Island 9/13/08

Happy Weekend Everyone!!

Nothing makes me happier in the late summer/early fall than a bridal bouquet filled with dahlias...

Dahlias are the last tell tale sign of summer in the garden..

For me, they are like fireworks..

the last hurrah of sorts.. 

a beautiful colorful explosion in your hands..

At the Island, the ladies have carefully and meticulously cared for the growing and the cultivation of dahlias in the garden.

Growing dahlias is certainly a commitment...

They are tubers so they have to be planted early in the Spring,

constantly clipped to bring new growth during the summer and finally dug up and housed away in the basement in the Fall. 

I love watching the gorgeous Sperry Tent go up next to the garden and it's almost as if they know that it's wedding season..

They seem to straighten themselves up and brush themselves off just in time for the bride & groom to come their way.

Just today, the orange ones seem to smile as Diane & Jason walked by them for their wedding rehearsal..

Happy Happy Anniversary to Deirdre & Jason who also share my love for dahlias, the Island and most importantly family! 

Be Safe, Smell the Flowers and Have a Great Weekend!!

 

Tuesday Typeface....Lace it Up...

I LOVE this delicate lace applique letters...

Wouldn't they be wonderfully sweet in a wedding banner 

or even as table letters??

Available at Lace Beauty on Etsy