Stop Action Invite

There are so many cute ways to inform your family and friends to save the date.  A stop action video is one cool way exampled here: 

Lady Gatsby Greeting Cards

First timer Lady Gatsby Cards at The National Stationary Show 

Lady Gatsby Designs

It was the beautiful renderings of shoes, flowers, and more by Martha Muthoni of Lady Gatsby Designs that caught my eye.  Miss Muthoni was a first timer at the Stationary Show with her hand crafted simple, beautiful, fashion inspired watercolor art prints, and paper goods.  Judging by the big smile we will be seeing more of her delightful cards.  

Martha Muthoni artist

The National Stationary Show 2013

I never see it all but I try.  This show is filled with some of the best in creativity and ideas, you can OD on ideas.  

Here are some of my photo highlights.

NYC Photo Booth
Weddings with a vintage theme, can now also complete it with Viafora Studio.  The camera is set up like the old fashioned style portraiture in an open studio setting.  The photos come out in sepia and you can even have costumes for the guest to play with.  It premiered at the show so you may not find it on the website. 
For more info 
800.531.3727  NYCPHOTOBOOTH.COM.

nycphotobooth.com

Papel Couture.com
I can't wait to use them......for anything!!!!  There was so much that they can do in their custom department it will make your head spin Papel Couture.com/custom.

http://www.papelcouture.com/

Pru Cheek.com 
Turn up the funny....in Living Color style.  Pru Cheek's greeting cards are straight up, to the point, funny.  Friends and family will get a kick out of these cards or kick your.....anyway it's that kind of humor. Pru Cheek.com

www.prucheek.com

Crain Card Company.com
It was happening live, Milwaukee artist Curt Crain, painted in his booth.  It was relaxing.  He said he travels with some sort of pad, pencil, paint, etc.  As he said any artist does.  
Crain Card Company.com
 

www.craincardcompany.com

Artistic Creative Products.com          

I was drawn in to the colorful little sewing machines.  They are for the simple jobs.  If you had to have a sewing machine this is one to have.  Now for the big stuff, Artistic has a creative system for quilters, artist, crafters, etc that will take your work to another level.  Go to the website and see what it can do and fasten your seat belt.....ok it's not that deep, but I want one.

www.artisticcreativeproducts.com

I missed taking photos of these businesses, but they were so memorable and I must mention:

Xtal Art Studios 

http://xtalart.com/

Puffed Sleeves.net                      

Puffed Sleeves: The Road to the National Stationery Show! from Tamisha Anthony on Vimeo.


 Kush Note.com 

www.kushnotes.com

Cancer Girl LLC.com
You have a friend, family, co-worker going through it and what do you say.  Cancer Girl Cards grew out of her own experience with cancer (Cancer Girl video).

Cancer Girl Cards

I Heart Calligraphy

Photo by Clement Pascal

 Meet Sade Williams, who is creating a calligraphic art that's modern without being corny.  Miss Williams was featured in Brooklyn Magazine Summer Issue (article: The Brooklyn 20).  I was impressed that this young woman of 26 had began her love for the written word in the 6th grade.  This is an age where the mind moves a mile a minute and so does the body.

Although much of her requests and inquiries will be wedding invitations, she also has done chalk boards, picture frames, quilts and more.  Want to do it yourself, she even gives classes.  As Sade says about the computer, "...it doesn't replace real ink on a page". 

I Heart Calligraphy

I Love Calligraphy Blog

I Heart Calligraphy Etsy Shop

Photography by Sade Williams

The Suitor (oh yeah she also sings)

The Bubble Veil: Sweet Potato Paper

Bubble Veil

Love these invitations from Sweet Potato Paper, for bridal showers.  Not only are they lovely but you can choose the skin color for the invites.  

Choose your skin and hair color

Bubble Veil

 

Sweet Potato Paper

 

Stamped In Style

The minute your guest receive their invitation they are informed as to what type of event they are invited to.  This is the opportunity to show off your style, make a statement, formal or informal, what ever you want to say, the invitation is where they begin to get that information.

Having said that, your guests can gather that information before they even open the envelope.  A few years back Martha Stewart Weddings showed wedding invitations using vintage stamps....

.... so I thought I would suggest using Black Heritage Stamps, to make a statement.  African Americans have been placed on stamps since 1940, Booker T. Washington (10-cent).  Black Heritage stamps are available via sites like Ebay, Etsy, and the company Champion Stamp Company.

Ernest E Just

 Champion Stamps, sells vintage stamps, however you pay a higher price than the face value.

Black Cinema

Ebay, sellers (like moi) sell stamps at face value or a little more, but you can find some good deals.  Although you can get into a bidding war with another buyer, some sellers post "buy it now", which means you get the item.  Search on Ebay, by using Black Heritage Stamps, Sheets, and/or by the subject (Mohamed Ali, Jackie Robinson, etc, I found searching this was a bit hard, but did find some stamps this way) . 

Scott Joplin

Etsy, has less choices, but some non the less, Vintage Stamps.

American Clock 10-cent

To make up the postage difference, can be found at the US Postal Shop.

Show Some Love

Cabcomp/Etsy

Above are some Vintage Love stamps from my Etsy Shop.  It has become very popular to use vintage stamps  on invitations and    This may also create a valuable keepsake.  

Finding un-used vintage stamps (stamps over 20 years old) may not be as hard as it sounds.  It's big business and the resource for this purchase is right at your finger tips.  

• Ebay: Plenty of stamp sellers, including moi.  This will require you to research and read the descriptions carefully and ask questions. 
• Etsy: Same as eBay, there are individual sellers, but Etsy is not an auction site.  Many sell vintage stamps and this one stands out,  Verde Studio creates beautiful combinations for your mailings.  
• Champion Stamp Company: They sell stamps in varied denominations.  This may be the best resource of them all.  

The above mentioned companies sell the stamps higher than the face value.  That's the price of creativity.  Also read USPS Wedding Stamps and Rates.  This will give you an accurate accounting of what it will cost to mail your invites.

i Do

The title is not an error, it's a clever and modern unique gift from  10 Camelia Way.

Personalized Wedding Print

This 8x10 Personalized Wedding Print: i DO is a unique gift for a couple's wedding or anniversary. The name of the couple can be printed at the bottom of the "i". It would be a great touch to add to your wedding at a place setting (I can print it at a smaller size) or even as a wedding favor.  See more at 10 Camelia Way

A Perfect Blend

Mixed Color Cards

Inside greeting: Perfect Blend, Congratulations on your engagement!

I found this company at the NY Stationary Show.  Mixed Color Cards, is a more than a cards, it is a mixture of colors, cultures, and causes on paper, see more.

Mixed Color Cards

Fun Idea For An Invitation

This is a super creative invite.

Always Be Creative: Jeff and Erin's EPIC Wedding Trailer

Jeff and Erin

You Are Cordially Invited...

Invitation Photo from Cool Hot

Stationery Soiree
Tuesday, December 8, 6-8pm
At
The Wedding Library
43 East 78th Street
New York City 10075


See the latest, most extraordinary custom designs from our favorite graphic designers and stationers. Our stationery guru Linda Hays will walk you through the ordering steps so you're ready to start the process.

Space is limited so you must RSVP
linda@theweddinglibrary.com

Documents and Designs

Vintage Sankofa Heart Menu Card

Adinkra symbols, which are ubiquitous in Ghana. These Asante tribe symbols can be found everywhere in West African. They have made their way here and offer up a unique way for couples to express themselves. Documents and Designs have a selection of the Adinkra and African inspired invitations and more. The African symbols are beautifully incorporated into place cards, menu cards, and more. Which will fit your elegant style.

Documents and Designs

African Inspired Seating Chart

A Chance Meeting

I'm just back from an event titled "Women In Today's Economy", sponsored by LATHAM & WATKINS LLP, for Women's Venture Fund, Inc. I met many dynamic women, including Tonya. After talking a bit, she says "Wait I know that name, do you do bridal? I just saw a blog about your dresses!". Thinking she saw my blog, "No, it was a blog with a play on the word Afro, kind of...." then she wrote it out A-P-H-R-O-C-H-I-C, which online is Aphro Chic.

After talking to Tonya a little more I was excited to find out she has her own company called Whimsicard: Party Stuff For Us. Every note card, invitation, cocktail napkins, and other products are designed in a chic modern style that reflect the unique faces of you and your guest. She puts a wonderful spin on stationary with the her stylish and funky cards. Visit the site and have a chance meeting with Whimsicard

Note Cards

Cocktail Napkins

Bridal Invitations

Stamped! The Bridal Event

The US Post Office Cordially Invites You To

The Wedding Invitation Show

Friday, February 27th, 2009

Between the hours of

11am and 2pm

James A. Farley Post Office

421 8th Ave (33rd Street)

New York, NY 10001-9998

Come learn about:

• Customized Postage
• Passport Applications
• Creating your own Wedding Invitations
• Mail Piece Design
• Free Giveaways

Bring a sample of your invitation for our Business Mail Analysts to review

for additional information call 212.330.3104

Wedded Bliss

Of course we all have seen swans used as symbols of wedded bliss. They are among many animals that mate for life. Swans make for a more beautiful imagery you can use in your invitations but there are quite a few more animals that fit this category.
These animals below may surprise you:
Gibbon apes, wolves, termites, beavers, bald eagles, brolga cranes, golden eagles, condors, pigeons, prions (a sea bird), angeler fish, black vultures,

coyotes ,
barn owls ,

French angel fish ,

sandhill cranes ,
pigeons, prions (a seabird),
red-tailed hawks ,

ospreys ,

prairie voles (a rodent)

A great artist can create a beautiful rendering of any of these animals so they can be used creatively in your wedding material. Even rodents and termites can be pretty.

Shower Invites With Style

Need Shower invites with the right image? Below are links to some great companies that have the perfect imagery for your shower.

Sweet Berry Lane Invitations.



For those for you who love this technology, send out an eCard Cowrie Cards





For a beautiful multicultural selection
The Paper Knot

Your Wedding Stationary

I just came back from the Stationary Show here in New York. This is just the first day and I have completed, oooh not even half. I was there for 5 hours! My feet are killing me. But before I retire I wanted to pass on the great on these great stationary companies I met.

Click on company names for link

• The Paper Knot: Multicultural, ethnic cards and invitations along with letterpress cards


• Trace: Paper Art and Design


• Musiqotes Studio: Music Meets Stationary.


• Lemonade Greeting & Note Cards by Ce Ce Company Phone/Fax 860-859-3062 website not available

These companies were great and here is one more company not at the show but please take a peek at her line.

• My Girl Weddings: A unique collection of wedding tees, books, caps and more.