Whoosh! I just finished up a huge design job (think up till 2am each night, while running up & down stairs while intermittently calming baby down who only sleeps well with her face plastered to mine). All I can think of is this bed. With me in it. With some sort of salty/sweet treat on the bedside table. A few holiday-inspired magazines. And Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on the tube. Too much to ask? Make that at the very top of my Holiday Wish List!
I've been busy designing invites, posters, cards, gift tags...all kinds of paper whimsy for my new line, Hunt & Gather Papergoods. Pop over to my new Etsy shop! New {super cool} items added to the shop daily and lots of fun holiday goodies to coming soon, xo
image via glitter guide + sarah's fab day
I've just finished up a crisp new batch of Barn Invitations, they're neatly stacked, tied with twine and ready for ship-out. My client wanted to use an image of the wedding site, a beautifully weathered family-owned tobacco barn in Maryland, as well as tobacco leaves scattered throughout the invite. These barn invitations are, of course, my favorite to make, they're just oozing with character and personality - especially since they're finished off with a burlap wrap and tucked into a thick kraft envelope. Feel like kickin' up your heels to the banjo beat? Yep. Thought so!
So in between baby time, pre-tween time and buying a new house, I've gone and designed a line of kids posters and I can't wait to share them with you. They're modern, whimsical and each are custom made - just pick a color palette, send me a name and I'll write like the wind! They are so much fun and they look great framed in both modern & vintage frames. I'll have them up on my Etsy site soon, so stay tuned!
This is just the type of hanging chair that I'd like to sprinkle all over my new garden, in hidden vine-covered corners and under a shady pergola. However, at $500 a piece, that will have to remain a lovely dream for now....but let's just imagine (pretend), mkay?
To say I miss this blog and all of the creativity it spurs would be a huge understatement. The truth is we are moving and it's been a crazy couple of months but there is finally a light at the end of this moving-box lined tunnel. We've sold our home and bought another one, all at the same time - wild times, let me tell ya. I've signed so many forms recently that I think I may want to update my signature, add a few more swooshes, curves, maybe even a heart...
The new home boasts a bedroom for both kids (yeahhhhhhh) and a garden that goes on and on and on (goosebumps!). My design business is brimming with wonderful clients and I'm in the midst of another barn invitation design that I will soon share with you. Miss you all and the creative spark that you bring to my everyday...xo Amber
And a very happy friday to you all!! I'm hoping to wear some fancy shoes this weekend instead of rubber boots...woo hoo! XO
I was so close to buying a package of iCarly cards when my daughter told me I could make something cooler....so instead, we whipped up these Valentine cuties for Ruby's second grade class - each card came attached to a big 'ol heart shaped lollipop because leaving out the candy would be downright sinful at that age. Happy Hearts day to you!
Valentine's Day makes me a little giddy - not because of the romance, candy or flowers, but for all the fun crafts that come with it! We'll be making cards this weekend, a few cookies to boot, and if time is on our side, this bunting for the dining room. On the romance end, I have to think up something to top last years' love notes! Do you have any heart inspired crafts up your sleeve? XO
The hubby & I are trying to focus on a few things this year: the start of my business and saving some money (one of the two will be really fun!). Problem is, when Spring peeks around the corner I just can't help but crave a few new goodies...
Well hello there, beautiful blog friends! It's me, Amber, your old friend who loves yellow, the smell of candles on a rainy day, and most of all, the ever inspiring people like you. I took a wee hiatus, mostly oohing+ahhing over my baby who is now not quite a baby anymore at one, but a little person with all kinds of delicious words and thoughts of her own. It's heaven I tell you, I am truly addicted to all things Layla.
However...I have been finding some time to design, as in fun/graphic/nature-inspired paper goodies that I will share with you soon.
Today I'm off to pick up some maidenhair ferns to add some springtime greenery pep to the dark corners of my home. How have you been? I missed you! xo
photo by Anna Kern via Sarah's Fab Day
I've been busy with some great invitation jobs! We threw a pretty garden-inspired baby shower for our good friend last weekend - the invitations I made were a mix of grassy greens and pale peach, then wrapped in garden twine; they seemed to fit the day just right. images: front + back
Wait - did somebody say fried pies?? Yes...but I have yet to try one. You'd think this gem-of a-place jumped right off the pages of Sunset magazine, it's really that cute. I've come to love our early Sunday mornings at the Freemont Diner. It's the ultimate in small town organic-farm style breakfasts - think flakey bisquits, the tastiest ricotta pancakes, and homemade fennel sausage. It's also just about the best backdrop for adorable family photos. And they don't skimp on personal touches - the owner filled the bud vases with fresh wildflowers from the garden and delivered freshly picked slices of summer melons to each table. If you find yourself in Sonoma - it's a must!
These gorgeously designed cookies made by better bit of butter may just be too pretty to eat...wait, who am I kidding, I'd polish one of these right off without regret (but I'd probably take a picture first!).
Like a scene straight out of Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil, these images capture the ultimate in garden fantasy. I'd love to get lost in those weeping willows with a good book!
It's become painfully clear lately that I am a saver - sure, a picky saver, but nonetheless, a saver of all cool things big & small. If only I had a way to consistently display these fun findings, they wouldn't end up in tiny piles clustered in desk drawer corners, nightstand drawers and of course, the "to be filed" file. These pocket pages could make organizing both vacation shells & concert stubs a snap!
Lately we've been in purge mode around here, and I love every minute of it. Really. There's something to be said for everything having it's place and for the things that don't...well, buh-bye! I like these tag-storage ideas, it could be clutter city inside but you'd never know from the outside. image via living etc.
Pretty much any shoe with a chunky wood wedge is enough to make me giddy, but add a pop of orange and you may need to physically remove them from my feet before bedtime. They're also a total steal...
The Emmy's put on a good show last night, that Jimmy Fallon is a funny host for sure. And...I was so happy Modern Family won so many awards - SO deserving, that is the only show I laugh out loud to. But I went to sleep dreaming of this dress/necklace combo worn by Padma, the jaw-dropping Top Chef beauty. Those chocolate & silver bead with the navy dress - love, love, love!!
It was a tough decision between the jeggings and just plain 'ol leggings, but this year Ruby went with simple and chic for her first-day of second grade. It's been a whirlwind around here - happy to be back in the swing of things, xo
The boards are on top, Jack Johnson streams from the speakers and we pinch eachother when we see an out-of-state license plate. It could only mean one thing...road trip! We've been making our way down the southern California coast, stopping in tiny beach towns and indulging in plenty of family time...and requisite daily trips to Starbucks. So far we've explored Ojai, Newport Beach, Balboa Island, and Del Mar and we're not done yet!
Can we all just stop, take a moment, and discuss how utterly cute this surfer's patio is?? It seems I'm always drawn to anything modern mixed with vintage - oh, and anything pink!
Lately I've been getting in the habit of popping a casserole in the oven just as I leave for evening Zumba (yes, I love me some latin-hip/hop-funky-sweat inducing dance). By the time I'm home, it's all bubbly good and the family is all kinds of happy, plus the house smells divine. Here are a few to try....tortilla casserole, baked pasta casserole & vegetable gratin. y u m
Just when I thought I couldn't be any more excited for our annual road trip down the southern CA coast - this awesome instant-postcard app appears like a little ray of vacation sunshine. For all of $1.50 they print, stamp & mail the postcard, so easy, and a great little token for the family & friends.
We have about 2 champagne glasses left that we got from our wedding registry (back in the day...). They were standard Crate & Barrel one's that completed our beer and red/white wine glass collection - and, no fooling, really made us feel like grown ups. So now, since 2 just won't do in any sort of entertaining situation, these tiny beauties will go on my wish list as the next set of champagne glasses to grace our soirees. Bottoms up!
This cow-parsley wallpaper is so fresh & full of energy, it would be a gorgeous focal point in any room. I'd love to have this as an accent wall in my office - so inspiring!
I've been searching for just-the-right-color ikat pillows for months now and with all these beautiful options I think we have a winner - top right, the pretty blue/green/brown combo - beachy but modern - love!
Printing on fabrics is totally new to me, sure, I've got the paper thing wired, but I'm so curious about the different techniques I see on various fabrics. Wedding totes, kids' favor bags, invites - so many options. Have you ever printed on fabrics - will you share your secrets with me? image:style me pretty
Ok, so the name doesn't exactly conjure up refreshing waterfalls of thirst quenching enjoyment, but let me tell you, this soda is goooood. They were sampling it at the grocery store - I tried the lightly sweet Juniper Berry, Lemongrass Kumquat and Rhubarb and I was sold, bought a pack on the spot. Oh - and the clean, modern packaging looks really good in my fridge...just saying.
Happy weekend - hope you have time to lay under a shady tree and do a little daydreaming, xo
Do you have any idea how much I want this beautiful font?! Oh the paper pretties I would create....
At least that's what I thought while I was laying at the pool and a girl walked by in a super cute metallic bikini. Not sure why I equated being European with wearing a metallic bikini, but know this - I want one. Nothing too flashy, and a matte sheen would do just fine. Something a bit like this or maybe even this.
I sure did, so I went ahead and read the last 40 post on Catalog Living and laughed right out loud at the stylist-bashing humor of Elaine & Gary. A few favorites: Don't Test Me / A Twist of Something / Alive with Flavor. So, so good - you've got to read them all.
via mr.benstead
