A couple of great things...

I have missed you all! So busy with invitations and life that I took a little break -- but now I am back. And today it is just about love... in fact, I have recently learned that someone who makes a career out of married couples has become a big fan - thanks so much for the attention Ms. N!

Anyway, so as we come into the last quarter of 2012, we are looking at a lot of couples stationery... don't miss out! Here's one we did for a new cool couple who just tied the knot! The other photo above is just an homage to my guy...

xoxox
jackie

Oh No... the Holidays Already??!

It's a wonderful summer, fast and furious! As we head thru August, here come the Holidays. Oh NO!!!!! But for those who are prepared and have no fear...we have some great promotions coming your way... here is one from Luscious Verde.

Casual June Wedding Invitation

Cream paper with red paper layer image. A coordinating liner completes the look.

This June bride came to me just a few weeks ago - could we get something down fast enough for her June 23rd wedding? Absolutely, I would never let done a bride - love brides!

Hers is a casual backyard wedding and she wanted to incorporate nature, keep it elegant and not too feminine. I think we accomplished all that!

I love texture!

Loving New York in the 1930s in Paris in 2012

 On a recent trip to Paris, we happened upon a wonderful exhibit at the Jeu de Paume Museum. It was a real treat, a retrospective on the American photographer, Berenice Abbott, who spent many years in Paris, in the 1920s, socializing and working with many of the great intellectuals and artists of the time. To quote from the program description:

 The exhibition also features a substantial selection of images form her Changing New York project (1935-1939), for which she is best known. This undertaking was Abbott’s own initiative but was financed by the Works Progress Administration, part of Roosevelt’s New Deal efforts to combat the Great Depression. Conceived as both a record of the city and a work of art in its own right, this ambitious government commission focuses on the contrast between the old and the new in the rapidly changing city.


 I love the subject and her images are an incredible record of the City during the early 1930s.

And, of course this invitation was eye catching - an 1926 exhibit of her portrait work.

Jean Cocteau , poet and more, was one of her subjects

The exhibit is currently in Toronto thru September 19th.

Viva Las Vegas! Billboard Music Awards Back in Town.

The fabulous invitation is housed in an onyx metallic portfolio

Rehearsal

See, just like us ordinary folk!

A favorite stop of mine in the MGM GRAND

A seating chart you can really visualize

Carrie Underwood in dress rehearsal - gorgeous even though the photo doesn't do her justice

Yes, I am a wedding stalker

Cinnamon Monkey Bread, signature dessert at craftsteak - so yummy that I forced it  on everyone at our table before our private Kelly Clarkson concert

Decor at Kelly Clarkson Concert - MGM Ballroom

The seating here was white leather but the lights reflect green

Like watermelon

               Kelly Clarkson, singing "Dark Side"... she was even better than expected!

Day of run thru

My husband and I are ready to go

Tickets and the after-party invite on silver metallic paper

The Whitney Houston Tribute was wonderful - Jordan Sparks amazing! The crowd was given little finger lights to use during this moment

Cee Lo Green never disappoints - love the white with crystal bling Adidas warm ups

With Carson Kressley at The Mirage, my new BFF who happens to have a fabulous calling card, see below!

Ecru card with black and gold ink, engraved - classic!

Is Fashion Art or Just Commerce?

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Anna Wintour
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive

Anna Wintour speaks to Steve Colbert - watch and get ready to laugh out loud around the 4:10 minute mark. What do you think?

A Dynamic Duo - London Pictures

an intro to Gilbert & George

THE SINGING SCULPTURE IMPRESSES ALL DAY circa 1970

Yesterday I was lucky enough to view Gilbert & George's new series, London Pictures, in NY at the Sonnabend Gallery.  I say lucky not just because I got to experience the work, but also to meet and chat with the "artist". I refer to the 2 men as one artist as they are a collaborative team and are amongst Britain's most important artists. 292 originals in this series, a "townscape" of London and commentary of our urban society - all taken (literally) from sandwich boards/newspapers headlines displayed on the streets of London over a 6 year period.

Click on the gallery above for more on this exhibit and the meaning (and better shots). Click here for more on Gilbert and George. Carol, Phlaxy and Anne, thanks for great company!

                        WARNING - THIS VIDEO BELOW HAS EXPLICIT IMAGERY

The Artistic Type

 I love fonts. I am inspired by the different emotions a certain typeface can evoke. I love the drama, the whimsy, the playfulness of some and the sophistication of others. Steve Jobs was enamored with calligraphy and typeface as well and his study of this art played well into his style and product design at Apple. While I certainly have not yet achieved his type of success, I can relate to his interest in the subject.
In his own words, the quote below is Steve Jobs discussing a calligraphy class he took at Reed College after he dropped out:

"I learned about serif and sans serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes a great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating."
(From Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs biography, page 41.)

I think it is pretty cool to design a new typeface and I admire the talent of graphic artists who can create a brand new view of the alphabet. (For fun and to view some new fonts, click here.) 

Additionally, I get intrigued by various art forms using letters and fonts. So, when I came across some recent work of Jérôme Corgier, a Parisian graphic artist (who recently won the Communication Arts award for his design of the New York Times Style Magazine Cover - see above), I was drawn to the work. 

 Jérôme creates a 3 dimensional type in the form of a paper sculpture.  Mixing letters from Latin and Arabic alphabets, making paper cut outs of the same - with color - he blurs the line between art and function. The letters still have meaning but the meaning is different now, the form flows into a type of art. I can't decide if I really like it but I am interested in it. Want to see more?

What Inspires Your Stationery Wardrobe?

Inspiration for your new stationery can come from anywhere and often what you love in your closet and home is a perfect muse!

Christian Lacroix notecards set the writing stage with haute couture

My new birthday notes with a happy chevron design from Boatman Geller,
just like this Missoni dress

Leopard patterns are standard in my fashion and stationery wardrobe 

Fine "leather croc" patterned liner from Papermojo used in my Arzberger stationery set

My more formal stationery from Arzberger - engraved with a custom 4 letter monogram,
 inspired by my nude YSL clutch and a deep blue Tiffany bowl

Fun ikat foldover notes inspired by the ikat pattern I used on some chairs

Men in Black at the Oscars

While watching the Red Carpet pre-Oscar Show last night in an intimate setting at the St. Regis (winning in best hotel category)  and loving the looks of Michelle, Gwyneth, Stacey K. and Penelope (not Anne Miller) among others, and so NOT understanding the look of Louise Roe (WHO???), my husband sent me into a giddy fit when he remarked " wonder who those guys are wearing" - pointing to those 2 guys from Price Waterhouse who carry the sealed envelopes of all the winners. My research says they were wearing black and if they are the same as a few years ago they were wearing Longchamp.

photo credit Matt Brown.

I see a very hot Spring - how about you?

Well, I had my tickets in hand for NY Fashion Week shows but never made it over due to other more pressing and unexpected matters. So instead, I only watch from afar. I have seen photos of huge hats, romantic and goth makeup, graphic patterns and color combos with fall fashions trending toward a more subtle palette than Spring. What some people wore - click here to see - my favs, in beautiful blues, are Zoe Saldana and Hanneli Mustaparta; the rest - not so much.

Well, that is what is to come.

What is happening now...with the Pantone color of the year being a feisty tangerine, we can all get in the mood for lots of sunset colors and intense fashions. (Of course you can find desert/dune back drops of color  playing nicely off of the hot hues.) The Pantone spring color report on fashion colors is here.  Happy energy with a kick.

And, today, with the mild winter at hand on the east coast, jacket-less children (they are never cold anyway!) and spring fashions on display, I thought I would share my favorite current spring trends: intense color, color blocking, animal print pants (leopard is and has been my go to print) and ladylike and romantic florals. A sampling...

Carven dress
photo  Zoe Online

Nothing to say but Jimmy Choo
photo Saks.com

Not so much a fan of one shoulder but love these silk pants from
Alice and Olivia
photo Saks.com

Love this look from Malene Birger, so wearable!
photo Saks.com

Bought similar jeans for my daughter - Citizens of Humanity
 photo Saks.com

Dreamy lemon palette from Oscar de La Renta
 photo Saks.com

Can't find these in my size anywhere - help! J Brand jeans
photo Saks.com

Going for a similar pattern in blue - Current/Elliott jeans,
photo Saks.com

For the nails, while I always like the fashion forward looks from Butter London (and their good for you ingredients),  I am really loving  Chanel's Spring/Summer colors, aptly named April May and June.

My personal wish list for Spring: A lace hot pink dress, an orange top to go with... anything... and a pair of turquoise animal print jeans to wear with some towering black shoes. Expect to see my nails in Chanel's May or maybe June. I am also thinking of adding a pop of color to my husband's closet.

Robert Rodriguez dress
photo Saks.com

Robert Graham
photo neimanmarcus.com

Prada
photo neimanmarcus.com

And, of course, for spring stationery  - how about some tangerine ink and or paper? Floral and animal print liners? Yes, to all of it! Just some ideas and recent projects:

Custom stationery on tangerine paper with printed orange liner
Checkerboard collection

Custom letterpress stationery with rounded corners, tangerine ink
Smock 

An oldie but goodie from Luscious Verde

I have this liner - with my Arzberger Stationery

The liner papers we get from papermojo.com  - great selection.
Also, gotta give photo credit to Chloe T for the orange mirror above and thanking Carol again for giving it to me.

There is so much to look forward to!