Ok, well I am a few days early, but what a year 2007 has been and if 2008 is even half as cool I'll be happy. I have enjoyed meeting and working with all of our clients this year. I am so excited for what next year will bring. I love what I do everyday and love sharing in the joy and happiness of others. So, to all a healthy and wonderful 2008! God bless.
~Sarah
Recent Posts
Callie & James
Many of you have met or will meet Callie at the studio or the shows. Callie is getting married on March 1st! We just got her gorgeous letterpress printed invitation set back. It is a wonderful fresh green color printed on Crane's Lettra pearl white with letterpress-printed envelopes in ivory. Callie designed these wonderful Spring garden invitations - something I hope she always remembers and can tell her grandchildren.
A partridge in a pear tree...
We did a really fun job with event planner Wil Kiser recently. He was doing a 12 days of Christmas themed party. Each table was a "day of Christmas" and the centerpieces were decorated accordingly. We designed, printed and TEA STAINED some very neat little banners for each centerpiece and made a larger scroll for each table with the complete 12 days on it. I finally grabbed my photos! Enjoy!
busy busy busy
We have been so busy here at the press that it has been hard to post! So many neat things going on, including an incredible stardream silver & charcoal gray set - photos to come soon.
Callie also got her invitations back and they just scream Spring time wedding. I have GOT to get the photos up on the site.
Our website will be changing in the coming months as we have many new invitation photographs to share and of course stories behind them all.
Callie also got her invitations back and they just scream Spring time wedding. I have GOT to get the photos up on the site.
Our website will be changing in the coming months as we have many new invitation photographs to share and of course stories behind them all.
Fall is in the air!
Finally, our 80 degree weather temps have subsided here in North Carolina. Fall is finally here! This cooler weather makes me start to think about holiday weddings, winter weddings and all of the wonderful things that lift our spirits that time of year.
Each weekend I think of our brides who are getting married wishing I could be a fly on the wall for just a bit. I enjoy what I do and the joy it brings people. With that said, Congratulations Amanda & Joseph. May you have many happy years ahead. Your invitation has received many compliments with its rich oranges & plums, the metallic pocketfold in rich plum and that hint of serpentine green.
Reply Trends
A new trend in response cards is to have the reply by date: "Kindly reply by the 1st of July" and then a perfectly blank card. I think this is GREAT! If I cannot attend a wedding I like to write a little something to give the bride and groom my best wishes. This new trend gives you the real estate on the small response card to say whatever you like!
This can be seen in the new Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine on pg 269 & pg 297.
This can be seen in the new Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine on pg 269 & pg 297.
Order your Holiday Party Invitations now!
Are you looking for something a little bit different this holiday season? A custom letterpress-printed holiday card will truly make an impression on your friends and family.
We are just finishing up a beautiful holiday suite for a Family Holiday Celebration - in red and antique gold. I cannot wait to see this one come off of the press.
W I N T E R B E R R Y
Branches laden with deep red berries...this is an invitation set I have been wanting to do as soon as I saw this photograph in beautiful Charleston Weddings Magazine, photographed by Peter Frank Edwards and the cake is by Jean Brueser. Enjoy!
Wine & Design September 21st
We are gearing up for our Wine & Design Event at The Falls House from 7-9pm on September 21st. It is going to be great fun.
Let us know if you would like to attend - just call 208-8460 or email info@paperwhitespress.com.
We will sip wine & have other treats while exploring custom invitations and all of the options out there. Do you have a unique idea you want to discuss? Maybe your friends think your ideas are nuts, however we will think it is awesome!!! Are you struggling to find your style? This event is for you too! Come and be inspired!
Let us know if you would like to attend - just call 208-8460 or email info@paperwhitespress.com.
We will sip wine & have other treats while exploring custom invitations and all of the options out there. Do you have a unique idea you want to discuss? Maybe your friends think your ideas are nuts, however we will think it is awesome!!! Are you struggling to find your style? This event is for you too! Come and be inspired!
The Fearrington House
Dan & I had a wonderful night at the Fearrington House Inn to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary. It was just pure pleasure and I cannot wait to do it again! We enjoyed amazing food at The Fearrington House restaurant - getting the chef's tasting menu 9 courses! I could barely eat a bite after course 4 or 5...it was all very rich and amazing french-inspired cuisine. Now I am back to reality.
We are getting ready to go to press with some invitations that Callie designed with an Oak tree on a natural white paper for a November/Thanksgiving time wedding. They came out so nice. Will post a photo after the press run. Hey, maybe I should take my camera to the press runs this week! We have three of them about to go. I think it is neat to share what we do with you...
Night!
Sarah
We are getting ready to go to press with some invitations that Callie designed with an Oak tree on a natural white paper for a November/Thanksgiving time wedding. They came out so nice. Will post a photo after the press run. Hey, maybe I should take my camera to the press runs this week! We have three of them about to go. I think it is neat to share what we do with you...
Night!
Sarah
I heart this font...Ellida
Kern baby kern...I am so excited. I collect fonts a little bit like they are beanie babies. Type is highly overlooked in invitation design and I put a lot of thought and creativity into type choices for my designs. With that said, my latest little treasure is a font called Ellida. It is an elegant script font for that sophisticated wedding where you want a touch of understated opulence.
Here is a design I am working on! :)
Click the image to the left to see it better...
And the big surprise is the flip side...a gray wallpaper or it can be any color, really. I just like gray at the moment. If you LOVE this invite in any color, call me this week as I need to print samples and I can give you a killer deal on your invites!!!
Wine & Design with us on September 21st!
Join us at The Falls House on September 21st from 7-9pm for our Wine & Design. We will have some wine, dessert and explore invitation possibilities. Please respond for this event via telephone 208-8460 or email us at info@paperwhitespress.com and let us know you'll be there!
We look forward to seeing you!
~Sarah
We look forward to seeing you!
~Sarah
Highgrove was great fun!
Last night we had the pleasure of coming to the Highgrove Food Tasting. I designed the "tasting notes" used by the guests and I think they were a hit! It was really fun to make them extra special.
The folks at Highgrove Estate down in Fuquay are some of the nicest folks you will ever meet. The food is always fantastic - and presentation is gorgeous. The whole place is just delightful.
We had great fun typesetting everyone's names and wedding dates on 100% cotton Arturo Italian paper - I hope you are enjoying them or tucking it away as a keepsake of this special time in your lives!
~Sarah
The folks at Highgrove Estate down in Fuquay are some of the nicest folks you will ever meet. The food is always fantastic - and presentation is gorgeous. The whole place is just delightful.
We had great fun typesetting everyone's names and wedding dates on 100% cotton Arturo Italian paper - I hope you are enjoying them or tucking it away as a keepsake of this special time in your lives!
~Sarah
The Wedding Show was Great Fun!
Caroline and I enjoyed meeting all of you - the brides, mothers of brides, friends of brides, brides little helpers, and you few grooms that braved the show!
I loved hearing all of your invitation ideas - from Sabina's love of green to Erin's 1940's big band wedding and so many others. You are my inspiration. I can't wait to hear more about you and your weddings.
~Sarah
I loved hearing all of your invitation ideas - from Sabina's love of green to Erin's 1940's big band wedding and so many others. You are my inspiration. I can't wait to hear more about you and your weddings.
~Sarah
Designing a "Green" Invitation
At Tuesday night's NACE meeting, we were challenged with designing a green wedding and it got me thinking about green weddings.
It's not easy being green...but, letterpress-printed invitations are a great choice for the environmentally conscious green wedding.
We always use thick 100% cotton papers - a renewable resource (no trees cut down for these) and we can use 100% cotton envelopes (thanks Crane & Co.)
For an additional $30 per order you can chose to have soy inks!
Missy McLamb, who was on our team, had the great idea of delivery by passenger pigeon - however they are extinct. Darn it - wouldn't that be cool!
Ta Ta!
It's not easy being green...but, letterpress-printed invitations are a great choice for the environmentally conscious green wedding.
We always use thick 100% cotton papers - a renewable resource (no trees cut down for these) and we can use 100% cotton envelopes (thanks Crane & Co.)
For an additional $30 per order you can chose to have soy inks!
Missy McLamb, who was on our team, had the great idea of delivery by passenger pigeon - however they are extinct. Darn it - wouldn't that be cool!
Ta Ta!
Top of the Table Gala September 11th
We just printed 500 invitations for the Top of the Table Gala & Silent Auction to benefit the Interfaith Food Shuttle. We chose an ecru stock with a dusty plum ink and an ecru-diamond metallic envelope - it is a very subtle elegant metallic. They came out great. I will add a photo soon! :)
We are busy preparing for the show. Caroline was all over town today. She picked up the backdrop which came out AMAZING! We had a professional tailor do it and he does great work.
She also got the sign, and it looks great.
Now onto designing the "tasting notes" for Highgrove Estate.
See you on Sunday at the show!
We are busy preparing for the show. Caroline was all over town today. She picked up the backdrop which came out AMAZING! We had a professional tailor do it and he does great work.
She also got the sign, and it looks great.
Now onto designing the "tasting notes" for Highgrove Estate.
See you on Sunday at the show!
Andrew Bryant Photography
Here is a photo of the letterpress business cards we printed for Andrew Bryant.
Andrew is one of the nicest people I have had the pleasure of meeting lately. He does incredible photography and we highly recommend you check out his website and beautiful work: andrewbryantphotography.com
Andrew's cards are printed on Somerset Radiant white 330gsm velvet and warm gray #10.
my greatest joys
Invitations Circa 1855
I have had an image of a totally cool invitation from 1855 for some time. I am looking for an opportunity to use it as inspiration in a real piece. I thought I would post it here as such a gem is worth sharing. This was likely printed on an old letterpress printer. It surely was a big deal to have such a piece printed for a festival in 1855 (pre-civil war). I love the typography, the way the type is written, the language, all of the flourishes, it is all just very very neat. Enjoy a piece of history! Be inspired.
Custom Postage, Please
I am on the custom postage bandwagon now more than ever. Caroline called me from the post office yesterday while trying to buy usps postage stamps for an invitation. Oye! Since they have increased rates, let's just say...the pickin's are slim, folks.
We love to design custom postage with zazzle.com. We can take a motif from your invitation, your wedding date, monogram, photo - or custom make something just for you. It just really makes the presentation extra special. The postage is a little bit more, but it is great for that WOW factor.
We love to design custom postage with zazzle.com. We can take a motif from your invitation, your wedding date, monogram, photo - or custom make something just for you. It just really makes the presentation extra special. The postage is a little bit more, but it is great for that WOW factor.
Icy Elegant Winter White
I was very psyched to see the new Martha Stewart Weddings Winter 2007. It contains a most elegant all winter white wedding invitation suite with - shades of gray! I predicted months ago that charcoal gray was going to be HOT HOT HOT and I am seeing it used more and more. I just LOVE it.
There is another charcoal gray idea I am dying to try out this winter - (I think it would do well with a black tie evening wedding) . Neenah paper makes a fabulous charcoal gray laid paper that I am dying to use with pressed silver ink. It would be so elegant.
There is another charcoal gray idea I am dying to try out this winter - (I think it would do well with a black tie evening wedding) . Neenah paper makes a fabulous charcoal gray laid paper that I am dying to use with pressed silver ink. It would be so elegant.