Snowflakes

One year ago today, the town of Newtown, The state of Connecticut and parents from all around the world watched with disbelief, shock and disgust as we lost 26 of our own in a senseless tragedy.

When I woke up this morning with an overwhelming list of things to do and rather aggravated at my snow covered car, it only took reading a Facebook post from my dear friend, Miss Amy Graver of Elements Design, to simply put things in perspective.

"Today's snow keeping us home bound and allowing us spend unhurried, precious time with our children makes me think it is a gift from 26 angels. It could be their soft frozen beautiful tears falling from the sky reminding us to take the time, slow down, create memories and be together on this sad anniversary proving to me that love and hope exist and that they are not gone. Their magic is all around us if we just remember and focus on the light and love and never the hate and darkness. I'm rejoicing in their message and promising to work hard on turning my sorrow to joy and taking advantage of this day with my family. Heading off Facebook now. Cookie making, board games, hot cocoa and snowman building await. Peace, light and love all.

x o x o"

Today in the State of Connecticut we were granted a special gift..

Enjoy, Hold your babies tight and

dance amongst the snowflakes..

a little glitter to start your week....

Image by Anna Sawin Photography

Shoes: Charlotte Russe

This post is a LONG time coming...

But really...

there is no expiration date when it comes to ALL things glitter!

So let's get on with the SHOW...

so to speak...

This lovely lady that I know..

ALWAYS thinks BIG!

Never small, never medicore..

ALWAYS over the top..

In fact..

I like to think of her as P.T. Barnum..

She is the Ringmaster..

and you never know what amazing thing she has in store for you...

She has the ability to gather the most creative individuals and then

produce the "Greatest Show" on Earth!

She is..

Miss Amy Graver of Elements Design!

I have been lucky enough to work side by side with her on many many projects...

BUT

I think by far her favorite project is...

The Graver Family New Years Card... 

I absolutely love that she puts just as much heart and soul into her personal projects as she does for her Elements clients..

So this Ringmaster wrangled up quite the list of performers for her show..

Jennie Fresa for some glittery beauty...

Anna Sawin for some camera magic..

and

myself for literally creating the "Big Top"...

When it comes to glitter my friends...

how can a girl say no...

It all began with a "secret" Pinterest board...

Balloon Image: Martha Stewart  Tank Top: Target  Backdrop:BashShop on Etsy

Shower Curtain: Anthropologie  Headphones: Amazon  Champagne Tower: Martha Stewart

Glitter Eye:Chrisspy Makeup   Glitter Boots: Charlotte Russe  

Balloon Image: Green Wedding Shoes

Board: Chocolate Creative Design

Then..

the "tent" was raised..

in the Chocolate Creative Design studio...

 Image by Chocolate Creative Design

Miss Jennie Fresa worked her glittery magic...

Image by Anna Sawin Photography

 Dress: Miss Me     Gold Necklace: Express

Crystal necklace: Target  Belt: H & M   Earrings: Target

The champagne began to flow..

 

Image by Anna Sawin Photography

Glasses: Arrow Party Rental   Balloons, Tinsel: iparty

Step Stool: Home Depot   Sequin Fabric: Joann

Bracelet: Express   Ring: Target

Tinsel and glitter filled the air!

 Image by Anna Sawin Photography

Sequin Top: Target   Skirt: Childrens Place 

Vest and Shoes; Miss A's own

The music began to play...

 Image by Anna Sawin Photography

and

Voila!!

Image by Anna Sawin Photography

Miss Anna Sawin captured the magic...

While the Ringmaster herself...

designed THE most fabulous AND of course BIGGEST (8.5 x 11) New Years Card to date...

Let's not forget that it came complete with it's own confetti!

So thanks yet again to that AMAZING Ringmaster, Miss Amy Graver...

for allowing us all to be a part of your MOST creative, MOST fun and MOST glittery traveling circus!

Huge thanks to Allison Keck of Arrow Party Rental for the FABULOUS champagne coupes!

Dueling Designers Part Treize

Wilhelmina Cooper for Vogue 1962


LOVE must be in the air this month..
The lovely and talented Miss Amy Graver poked me last week and reminded me that it's been a very very long time since the Dueling Designers had made an appearance...
You know what...she was absolutely right!
The last one was way back in June of 2011!! 

So in honor of THE day of LOVE, Valentine's Day..

We picked

The Fabulous Miss Amy Graver picked a gorgeous palette of warm and cool fuschias mixed with a sophisticated black!

Can that cake look ANY more delicious?!!

For me, being able to work with pink was a dream....

since I just so happen to be surrounded by men...

I simply chose a palette which started at red, moved to fuschia, softened to the lightest of pinks and finally grounded by grey.

So put on those shades...

because these Dueling Designers are gonna brighten your day and warm your heart

on this perfectly perfect

Day of Hearts!!

Elements Design

Row one: Balloons; Black and Fuschia bow dress; Poster

Row two: Fuschia gelato; Fuschia costume, Sisters
Row three: My Favorite; Pink Peonies; Pink Champagne; Chocolate Rose Flavored Cupcakes

Chocolate Creative Design

Row One: Stone Angel, Dior Ladies, Postage Stamp Rug

Row Two: Heart Lollipops, Heart Eye, Fuschia Entry

Row Three: Flowers, Heart Knocker, Issa/Spring 2013

5 creatives, 2 magazines and 1 book........

Image via Sannah Kvist

Over the years...

I have been very very open and honest about one of my addictions..

magazines...

There is even a post dedicated just to that subject.

So when it really comes down to
MY idea of the perfect vacation
these are just a few of my favorite things..

1. a caffeinated beverage
2. a comfy seat
3. some cheese & bread
and
4. being able to read an entire magazine cover to cover.

Sooo.
When we headed to the Green Mountains this summer..
The first thing I did was...
make a snack consisting of bread & Vermont cheddar.
Barista my own scrumptious glass of iced coffee,
carefully line up the stack of magazines in order of preference
 and then...

Image by chocolate creative design

carefully plop myself down in this wonderfully well-loved sunny orange chair
so that the reading may finally commence!!!

I began with the September issue of

House Beautiful

What I found was actually sitting right in front of me on that gorgeous cover.

 It was none other than my friend Karen Connell's artwork!!

I have known Karen for a very long time as her husband Tuey grew up with the Tall One and his amazing band played at our wedding. 

I have been in utter awe of her work and it has been in many many magazines over the years and I only hope that one day I may win the lottery and own one of her gorgeous pieces!!

Needless to say, I jumped for joy when I was able to spy a Karen Connell piece in my beloved magazine! 

on a side note...

This is what this creative couple have been up to...

Besides creating amazing works of art, Karen started the website

A Child Grows in Brooklyn which as become THE go-to site for NYC parents!!

Tuey, who still is my favorite crooner, now owns Carmel, which is an entertainment agency based in Chicago..so any brides or coordinators out there...

hop skip and jump over to his site if you are looking for THE perfect band!!

With a smile on my face and now having read through a magazine from cover to cover, I broke for some sandwich making and then quickly picked up my September issue of 

Country Living

 

Well..

they they were...my absolute favorite coolest creative couple EVER..

Shauna Alterio and Stephen Loidolt

I know I know..I am a complete stalker when it comes to them...but they are soo worth it!!

They teamed up with Country Living and Barbara Kurgan to create the Home Office for the 

Country Living House of the Year 2012

 

On a side note...

Besides being the most creative dynamic duo out there..

Shauna & Stephen own Something's Hiding in Here, Forage and the newly fabulous Seed House Stationers.

Their gorgeous work can also be seen on BHLDN

Well...

after I went through my truck load of magazines..

it was time to finally pick up a book...

I was lucky enough to finish Girl Gone by Gillian Flynn..

(which was fabulously disturbing BUT I highly don't recommend reading this on a deserted Island when you have no one else to chat about it!)

So the switch was made from magazine to books and when I got back from the trip it just so happened that on my birthday MY dearest of friends, the insanely talented Amy Graver was having a signing at R.J. Julia for her and Ben Jura's new book, Grids & Layouts!

Hip Hip Hooray Amy Graver!!!

I tell you...the above word "insanely talented" for Amy Graver is clearly an understatement...
I mean the woman runs one of the leading Graphic Design firms in Connecticut, raises 2 small children and a husband, runs in marathons, writes a book, bakes cookies and now has a new Etsy Shop called The Goods Shop...

I have always wondered if she EVEN sleeps...

maybe like a beautiful pink flamingo standing on one leg with one eye open..

but the best part of Amy Graver...

 is that she is one of the most amazing, loyal and supportive friends a girl could ask for..

So go buy her book....

So there you have it ladies and gentleman..

a vacation spent with 5 creatives, 2 magazines and a book..

Best vacation EVER!!

Happy Weekend!!!

 Image by Kina Wicks, found via Ruffled

Happy Weekend Everyone!!

I certainly am one lucky lady! This morning, I got to head down to The White Dress By The Shore for my lovely farm bride, Miss Eleanor, as it was her 2nd to last dress fitting....

Me Oh My.. did she ever look simply gorgeous!!

Very reminiscent of a young Grace Kelly...

But I couldn't head down before I had to zip over to the post office to mail off some VERY important invitations from my MOST important client!

Now..all my clients are equally as important.. but this one...

this one has been with me since the beginning...

It's not every day that you're having your last single digit birthday!

So the Monster will be turning 9 next week and I am glad that I am not the only insane artist up till 2 in the morning getting these beauties done...

The equally insane Miss Amy Graver of Elements Design was doing the exact same thing for her son's birthday...

His will be a "Spy" party and I know there will be no detail left untouched!

This year we are going with....

(drum roll please..)

Sneakerpalooza

So what exactly is Sneakerpalooza?

I have NO idea...but it sounded really cool and I am hoping that the Tall-One will take the reins on this one.

My vision?

Sneakers + Running = VERY tired little Monsters!

But..I will give you a little sneaky peek....

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

Stay Safe, Get Your Toe Nails Painted California Coral and 
Have a Great Weekend!!!

Dueling Designers...Part Douze..

 

Image by Caroline Tran

I know it's been awhile, but the Dueling Designers are finally back!!

Over the past few weeks, I have been watching a parade of boats drive by my house ready to be put into the water for the summer season. I know the Tall One has been itching as I just so happened to have married a sailor.

So this time, I couldn't resist choosing Nautical as a theme and good ole Pantone #534C as our primary color. To mix things up a bit, I changed the rules so that we each could choose our own secondary colors.

The Lovely Miss Amy Graver choose a delicious collection of stripes (how could anyone resist James Dean?)and added a pop of cherry red which just so happens to be her signature color.

For me..it was simple...I choose the two colors that I have been completely obsessing over lately...orange and turquoise. 

So close your eyes, hear the gentle lapping of the waves against the hull, smell and taste the salt air on your lips feel a touch of sun on your back..

Elements Design

Row one: Navy and yellow fashion: Anchor brew: Striped sail ::

Row two: Anchor stationery: Poster

 White canvas chair with nautical striped throw ::

Row three: Anchor mug: Anchor tee:

 Row Four: Navy or red canvas wedge : Sailor dress : James Dean ::

Chocolate Creative Design

Top: Poster by Little Types, Rope Earrings by Michelle Lane, 

Boat Image by Kyraart

Middle: Jacket by Debenhams, Poster by Little Minch Art, 

Shoes by Tabitha Simmons

Bottom: Wallpaper by Mini Moderns, Dress by Topshop, 

Pillows by West Elm

Thursdays are for Mood Boards...Bond...Anna Bond..

Image by Duck Duck Collective

If you haven't figured it out by now, then you must know that I am deeply enamored (or possibly in love) with Anna Bond of Rifle Design. Now I don't know this lovely lady....yet...But I can tell you that since missing her at the National Stationery Show last year, as Miss Amy Graver and I thought it clever to go sans map, this year I will certainly not let that happen again!!

Always in decorating mode, I stumbled upon these beautiful fabrics and wallpapers by Nina Campbell for Osborne & Little.  I couldn't quite figure out why I was soooo enthralled by them. 

Then it hit me...hard....

They were completely Anna Bondish! I can't even begin to tell you how much it makes me swoon when she paints with black...

So in honor of Miss Bond....

A delightful and whimsical Spring Mood Board..

Dress & Shrug: Bhldn, Lampshade: Anthropologie, Cuff: Bhldn

Shoes: Anthropologie, Dress:Bhldn, Plate: Anthropologie

Flowers by Flowerwild, Photo by Stephanie Williams
Flower Pins: Nomsa, Paper: Rifle Design