beth perry DESIGN Notebook

happy 2012!

2011-12-31T16:17:00.000-05:00

Just a little peek at something I'm working on – will post full pics soon! In the meantime, a big, awesome Happy New Year to all!

beth perry DESIGN for Crane!

2011-11-03T07:32:00.000-04:00

So, this is a HUGE announcement for beth perry DESIGN. I am an official Crane & Co. designer. What the what?!?

Red Holly Jolly Holiday Photo Card - Flat or Folded

Green Holly Jolly Holiday Photo Card - Folded or Flat

Let It Snow Holiday Photo Card

Let It Snow Card - close up

Fa La La Holiday Photo Card in Blue

Fa La La Holiday Photo Card in Green

Crane & Co. contacted me over the summer about submitting some holiday photo card designs and I jumped at the chance. After submitting, I anxiously awaited the results. Seriously, just to be asked is a crazy dream for me as a stationer and designer. When they told me that my designs had been chosen to sell this fall, I think I went nuts. Eeeeeeeeeeeee! So, peeps, it is official, and not a joke – my designs are now for sale at Crane.com. You can check them out above and at the Crane & Co. website with direct links to the designs below each image.

{Photos via Crane.com}

le mariage

2011-10-31T08:32:00.000-04:00

Hey! So, the latest Minted design challenge is one of my most favorites! I've been doing watercolor designs a while for clients, but I thought I would amp it up for a wedding invite design-a-thon. I had so much fun painting and then pairing the art with clean, fresh layouts. My entries all include hand-drawn or hand-painted art and are pictured above, from top: Pollen, Eldorado, Obstreperous, Oceanic and Hemingway.

Please make sure to check out all the fantastic designers and entries in minted's contest, and please rate as many as you can when you have a moment! (Hint: If you'd like, you can sort by designer at the upper left of the page above the design images. Mine are at the top of p. 15.)

{Images by beth perry DESIGN for minted}

holidays are here again!

2011-10-29T17:09:00.000-04:00

Geez, sorry about the lack of posts. It's been a bit of a whirlwind lately. But, I have something super sweet to make it up to ya! Be a minted insider and you can get 25% off your holiday cards from any of the awesome designers at Minted through ~~October 31st~~ November 3rd! Order quick! Get the code HERE.

If you miss the deadline, you can always get 10% off through the end of the year on beth perry DESIGN holiday cards, invites, stationery and more using BPD2011. Pictured above are a few of my latest for Minted's stellar holiday card line-up, from top: Varsity and Dominica.

{Photos from Minted.}

notebooks galore!

2011-08-29T04:12:00.000-04:00

Oh, I am a sucker for notebooks, as evidenced by past history. So, when I saw that the latest challenge on minted.com is all about personalized notebooks, I was so excited! My entries, all featuring hand-drawn or hand-painted art, are pictured above, from top: Jiraf, Fripp, Andalusia and Architect.

As always, there are some seriously incredible designers in the mix – please make sure to check out all the great entries in minted's contest, and please vote for your favorites when you have a moment! Oh, and guess what? minted is offering 25 FREE mommy / business / calling cards just for registering on their site. Nice! Check out the offer HERE!

{Images by beth perry DESIGN for minted}

baby boy

2011-08-24T13:55:00.000-04:00

Aww! These are photos of some baby announcements I did recently for one of my god sons. I kept things masculine with fresh nautical-inspired stripes and paper-bag style envelopes. Such a fun project!

{photos: by me}

summertime

2011-08-21T11:34:00.000-04:00

{all photos by beth perry DESIGN}

. . . and a happy new year!

2011-07-18T08:20:00.001-04:00

Yep, it's time for another holiday card extravaganza at minted.com. This time it is all about New Year's cards and holiday minibooks. My entries are pictured above, from top: Jubilee, Dominica, Faulkner and Orleans. There are some seriously incredible designs in the mix this time. Make sure to check out all the great designers and designs in minted's contest, and please vote for your favorites when you have a moment!

{Images by beth perry DESIGN for minted}

release the kraken!

2011-07-14T07:16:00.000-04:00

Summertime is the best time to discover new cocktails and enjoy sipping on old faves. Pictured above top is the wonderfully named drink, The Kraken, from local Charlotte restaurant Halcyon. It is an ice-cold dirty martini with a dash of squid ink. I have to admit that I wasn't brave enough to order it myself, but I had a sip of my friend's and it was quite tasty. The other drink pictured is a classic pink greyhound – grapefruit juice and vodka – with a juicy orange slice. Those were whipped up and enjoyed by me and my mom on a recent seaside visit to Fripp Island, SC. So yummy!

{Photos by beth perry DESIGN}

bridesmaid luncheon

2011-07-11T07:32:00.001-04:00

My awesome cousin got married about a month ago, and I designed some Bridesmaid Luncheon invitations that were in keeping with her purple-hued wedding theme. Oh, I love how they turned out – fresh and modern, but still elegant, just like the lovely bride! I used super-thick cotton paper, which really made it special. It was such fun to do this for her – she's about the sweetest gal I know.

{Photos by beth perry DESIGN}

new stationery at minted

2011-07-07T08:04:00.001-04:00

Yay! There's some new beth perry DESIGN stationery at minted! Just for kids, this new version of Prep School features space for a photo of your little one. Wouldn't this be so cute to tuck into a camp care package? It comes in several summery-fun, kid-friendly colors, including amethyst, rose, navy and grass. You can also get a non-photo version of Prep School here. Lots more beth perry DESIGN stationery cards, labels, invitations + more to see at minted.com.

{Photos from minted}

asheville wedding

2011-07-04T19:51:00.001-04:00

What prettier place to have a wedding than The Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina? A sweet friend of mine got married there a while ago and I've been meaning to post my photos ever since. Laura and her darling Lee had beautiful, sunshiney weather, gorgeous flowers and a fun Victorian theme, complete with period furniture and little charming vignettes set up on a terrace outside the reception at The Grand Bohemian. So pretty!

{Photos by me at The Biltmore and The Grand Bohemian.}

ryan bingham in south end

2011-07-02T17:41:00.001-04:00

Saw Ryan Bingham in concert a few weeks ago. (This is a little photo I took with my phone, so not the best quality.) It was at a place near my apartment, a nice dive-y place with plenty of cold beer on tap. Perfect for concert watching. Check out his music here – Southside of Heaven is a really good standard. I also love Bluebird and Depression.

happy holidays!?!

2011-06-02T13:00:00.001-04:00

Crazy, I know, but it is time for a holiday card extravaganza at minted.com. Feels like we just finished the holiday season yesterday, right? Well, this is pretty exciting because minted is offering a prize to not just the designers, but also to YOU, dear peeps! Everyone who rates at least 50 entries by 8:00 pm EST on June 6 will be entered into a drawing for a $500 credit on minted! That should cover your own holiday cards, baby announcements, business and calling cards, and stationery gifts for friends and family with more to spare! Yes.

So, my own entries are pictured above, from top: Varsity and Peppermint Stick. There are so many fantastic designs up for the win. Make sure to check out all the great designers and designs in minted's contest and please vote for your favorites by June 6th!

{Images by beth perry DESIGN for minted}

minted for chronicle books

2011-05-26T13:26:00.001-04:00

Just entered a new minted.com challenge. This one is for a non-personalized stationery design for Chronicle Books. Seriously. How cool would that be!? My entries are pictured above, from top: Hatfield, Python, Jakarta and Marguerite. There are some fantastic designs up for the win. Make sure to check out all the great designers and designs in minted's contest and please vote for your favorites!

{Images by beth perry DESIGN for minted}

helplessness blues

2011-05-03T07:27:00.003-04:00

Excited today for the release of the Fleet Foxes' second album, Helplessness Blues. Loved album no. one, so hoping for a follow-up that tops it. You can listen to the full album on the band's site, and also on NPR's site here.

{Images: Fleet Foxes via NPR}

more small cool 2011

2011-04-29T07:42:00.003-04:00

Had to post a few more from apartment therapy's small cool contest. Make sure to vote for your favorites here by May 1st!

{Photos via apartment therapy, from top – Katie in Los Angeles, Nadia in Brooklyn, Lacey in New York, Kim + Scott in Chicago, Audrey in Hawaii, Daniel in New York, Lasse in Denmark, Louisa in Astoria, Molly in San Francisco, Cate in Los Angeles, Nicole in Brooklyn, Michael in New York, Shelby in Chicago, Steve in Sydney, Zach + Sean in Boston, and 2 by Sarah in Sydney.}

small cool 2011

2011-04-26T08:04:00.003-04:00

It's time for apartment therapy's small cool contest again! I love looking through the entries and picking my favorites – such great inspiration for my own small, kinda-cool place. Here are some that I really liked:

Make sure to vote for your favorites here!

{Photos via apartment therapy, from top – Elisa in Rome, Haley in Summerland, Carolyn in San Diego, Cate in Los Angeles, Audra in Boston, two by Ellie in Aspen, Erin + Danny in San Francisco, Emily in Covington, Evan in Los Angeles, Franklin in New York, Jordan in Brooklyn, and Julie in Green Bay.}

wine country, pt. 2

2011-04-21T07:42:00.002-04:00

More photos of my love affair with Napa Valley. (I believe that is a fig tree in my photo above.) It was just the best trip, and I wish I could have gone for a whole week – definitely next time. I'll just have to gaze longingly at these photos for now. Hope you enjoy!

View from the house at Frog's Leap, my most favorite stop on the trip

Pretty, stripey runner on the stairs at Frog's Leap

Frog's Leap, with its deep wrap-around porch and pretty views, was

really fantastic and so peaceful. This is sweet Abbie, resident pooch.

Wildflower at Cakebread

Sparkling in wait at Schramsberg

Schramsberg tasting, Brut Rosé and Reserve

Gardens at Schramsberg

Lattice flowers at the Palisades Deli in Calistoga,
which serves up a seriously tasty BLT

More pretty flowers, Palisades Deli

Bouchon Bakery cart in Yountville

Pancake-sized roses in Yountville

More Yountville scenery

Comfy bench and pillows at our hotel, the perfectly
delightful Villagio in Yountville

Absolutely perfect day on the terrace at Joseph Phelps –

another favorite spot with these views and, of course,

some fantastic wine in hand and dear friends nearby.

wine country, pt. 1

2011-04-19T08:04:00.004-04:00

Oh my. Just got back from a whirlwind trip to Napa, and I am nuts about that place – just look at those wildflowers in the photo above. Can't wait to go back again someday! For now, here are some more photos and recommendations – this will have to be a two-parter, so more photos to come soon!

Rouge at Frank Family Vineyards

Gorgeous views at St. Supéry

Barrel tasting, St. Supéry

Garden views, St. Supéry

Beautiful old oak barrels, St. Supéry

Tasting at St. Supéry

Stripey tile terrace and some wall art at the most delicious

lunch spot ever – the wonderful, must-visit Mustards Grill.

sketchy

2011-04-15T07:42:00.004-04:00

Some of the new designs I'm working on are based around hand-drawn sketches of flowers and other spring-summer pretty things. This is one of the preliminary ideas. Can't wait to show you the final products!

hello, springtime

2011-04-11T08:04:00.004-04:00

Spring definitely feels like it is here in full force. In celebration, here are some flowers for you – Ranunculus from Trader Joe's – my favorites!

henri, je t'aime!

2011-04-07T07:42:00.002-04:00

Henri Rousseau is on my mind. Love his cheerful colors, climbing greenery and fantastical landscapes. One of the many things I admire about Rousseau is that although he painted a lot of jungle scenes, he never left France. He would get inspiration from visiting various exhibitions and the greenhouses at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. Such a great imagination! Unfortunately, like a lot of now-famous artists, he was not recognized for his work until after his death. Being self-taught, he was ridiculed and many critics considered his work flat and juvenile. In reality, he was at the forefront of the vanguard movement among post-impressionists, influencing many other artists, including Picasso, Matisse and others. So, that's a pretty big "face!" to those snooty critics. I was lucky to see a huge exhibition of something like 50 of his paintings in 2006 in D.C. at the National Gallery. It was amazing. Some of my favorite of his paintings are, from above, Myself, Portrait-Landscape, 1890, National Gallery, Prague, and Woman Walking in an Exotic Forest, 1905, The Barnes Foundation, Merion, Pennsylvania, and more below:

The Dream, 1910, Museum of Modern Art, New York

The Wedding, 1904-05, Musée de l'Orangerie, Paris

The Artillerymen, 1893-5
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York

The Banks of the Bièvre near Bicêtre, 1908
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Bouquet of Flowers, 1910, Tate Gallery, London

{All images by Henri Rousseau from Henri Rousseau: Jungles in Paris, ed. Frances Morris and Christopher Green, Abrams, New York, 2006}

slate interiors

2011-04-04T08:02:00.003-04:00

I want to marry this store! Recently visited Slate Interiors, a wonderful shop in Plaza Midwood in Charlotte. Slate features more than 50 artists, merchants and designers offering a carefully curated and edited selection of beautiful art and home furnishings. I fell in love with all the great throw pillows, vintage maps + prints, mid-century glassware and the insane assortment of fantastic lamps + shades. More photos below:

Definitely visit Slate Interiors next time you're in the neighborhood – certainly a must-do in Charlotte. And, also check out their blog, which features updates on the latest happenings and new stock.

{Photos by me at Slate Interiors, 1401 Central Avenue, Charlotte, NC}

tote it!

2011-03-31T07:18:00.003-04:00

Recently discovered this new book, The Tote Bag by Jitesh Patel. A designer himself, Jitesh runs Jai Studio out of London and is also the author of the Tote Prints blog. The book is a photo survey of various tote bag designs by illustrators and designers from around the world. Even the book itself is wrapped in an actual tote bag. So cool! I ordered a copy, but in the meantime and in the spirit of toteness, here are some bags I found on etsy. Any one of these would be great for groceries, flea market finds, workout gear or hauling around art supplies. Check them out!

Navy Kelp Tote by Zanna

Cable Knit Tote by Justine Ellis

Passing Whales Tote by Bright Beige

Art/Punk Tote by Punk Masters

Keep it Chill Tote by Anna Tillett Designs

Dutch Tulip Tote by dutch door press

Nerd Glasses Tote by Naomi Cayne

Red Check Tote by Rose de Borman

Gingerbread Fox Storybook Tote by Crowsmack

{Photos from top: The Tote Bag by Jitesh Patel, and Etsy shops: Zanna Printed Textiles, Justine Ellis, Bright Beige, Punk Masters, Anna Tillett Designs, dutch door press, Naomi Cayne, Rose de Borman, and Crowsmack.}

it's funfetti, ok?

2011-03-27T19:09:00.000-04:00

A while ago, I made some confetti, otherwise known as funfetti, for a friend's birthday surprise. Funfetti is a great project and really easy to make. First, I printed both sides of regular printer paper with colorful stripes.

Next, I cut off any white edges of the paper and then went to town with the creativity. I cut out hearts, initials and curly spirals. I also folded the paper fan style and cut out zig-zaggy strips.

Another pal and I had cooked this surprise up, and we decorated the birthday girl's desk at work with the funfetti, balloons and a happy birthday sign.

So much fun to get crafty – I haven't done that in a while. Best of all, it was a great way to spice up her office and make the day a special one.

some pretty things

2011-03-23T21:44:00.000-04:00

So sad to hear that Turq Jewelry is closing its shop! They designed some of the most beautiful + special pieces I own – the kind that strangers will stop you to ask where they came from. I posted a few of my favorites from their latest collection above. Check them all out here before everything is gone – all items are marked down up to 70% off! And, make sure to visit their great blog, Turq Girls – all about home design, inspiration and great ideas.

{Photos from Turq Jewelry}

oh jane!

2011-03-09T13:12:00.000-05:00

Can't wait for the latest film version of Jane Eyre, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and starring Mia Wasikowska as Jane and Michael Fassbender as the troubled and mysterious Mr. Rochester. You can read more about it here in a write-up by Charles McGrath in the NY Times. Opens Friday in a few places – hope it comes to my town soon! The lovely photos above are stills by Laurie Sparham, who has done a lot of gorgeous film photos, including The King's Speech, Brightstar, and Elizabeth: The Golden Age, among many others. Check out his fantastic website here.

{Photos: Laurie Sparham for Focus Features}

red hook summer cottage

2011-02-23T13:15:00.003-05:00

Trying to find some good inspiration for some new designs I'm working on and saw this great photo story at the NY Times. The fact that "Summer Cottage" was in the title was a big draw. Such a beautiful, clean space! I love the old lamp and those purply Danish chairs and that blue wall color, too. Makes me happy! The home is owned by architect Thomas Warnke, who found the property on, of all places, Craigslist. You can read the story here and view the full slideshow here.

{Photos by the fantastic Trevor Tondro for The New York Times}

see america

2011-02-18T14:47:00.002-05:00

Tiny Showcase just posted a link to purchase the latest version of Head Light Hotel's awesome See America! screen print. I missed out on the one they did last year and felt kinda sick about it ever since. Can't wait to get mine and loving those bright + clean spring colors. Definitely frame-worthy. You can get yours here, but do it quick – only a limited number available.

{Photos from Tiny Showcase.}

this is where I want to go right now

2010-12-06T07:42:00.000-05:00

This place looks so awesome. It's the Pousada Maravilha in Brazil.

{Photos from the Pousada Maravilha website.}

fresh + modern holiday cards

2010-11-21T23:39:00.001-05:00

Here are some of my latest designs available through minted.com! Super clean and simple, so your favorite family photos are the main focus. Well, have you ordered your holiday cards yet? Done all your holiday shopping, too? Puh-lease! Me neither! Hoping to place my order on minted sometime over the next few days. (You can get 10% off my designs here if you use this code: BPD2010.)

Hope you all have a fun and happy Thanksgiving! And, stay tuned to the blog in the next few weeks – 2010 gift guides and the 2011 beth perry design calendar are coming soon!

{Photos from minted}

red hot

2010-11-17T07:32:00.007-05:00

So, you may have already seen this, but it is a collaboration between Target and DailyCandy called red hot shop. And, let me tell you, there are some pretty cool things here. In just this month's picks, they've included these awesome letterpress composition books by Letters Lubell, and scratch and sniff holiday cards by Melangerie (above), among all sorts of additional cool stuff. Previous monthly picks have included:

book cover set from Brooklyn's Book City Jackets

handmade For Me, For You necklace

this cute dress by Lauren Moffatt

Fred Flare anchor duffel bag

MoMA pop-up pencil cup

this DwellStudio board book set

Kuma's Makeup Pouch in this nice watermelony pink

Yellow Owl Workshop's cityscape stamp set

Nice, huh?

{Images from the Target/DailyCandy red hot shop.}

color awesomeness: andreas samuelsson

2010-11-10T07:10:00.001-05:00

Featured recently on Tiny Showcase, Andreas Samuelsson is a freelance illustrator + designer based in Stockholm, Sweden. He designs advertisements, posters, screenprints, letterpress designs and t-shirts, among other things. I love that all his creations have these rich, bright and cheerful colors and there are many that feature illustrated collections of similar items such as school or art supplies – kind of fits into my art supplies theme of late. I have an addiction, okay?

Andreas' website is here and you can also view his works for sale at Tiny Showcase. While you're at Tiny Showcase, make sure to sign up for their mailing list. You'll get first dibs on the featured weekly screenprints, letterpress designs and even calendars – all fun and unique, and a great way to check out new artists.

{Images from Andreas Samuelsson and Tiny Showcase, from top: Never Ending Street, Kit 02, and Kit 03 - Create.}

museum of forgotten art supplies

2010-10-27T07:02:00.010-04:00

So sad and forgotten! Check out the Museum of Forgotten Art Supplies, curated by Lou Brooks over at Drawger.com. Although, I still use design markers kinda like the ones above. Hey, wait a minute, I still use a few things in their list! Anyway, see the full photo gallery here.

{All photos above are from the Museum of Forgotten Art Supplies.}

latest kitchen favorites

2010-10-19T08:16:00.002-04:00

Some things I'm loving right now – really just because they either look or taste pretty, and kitchen gifts always make good hostess gifts. You never know when you'll need to have one on hand! Ok, so here's a little wishlist:

Cute picklin' jars from Terrain by Burgon and Ball. They also have jars for herbs and jam.

And, speaking of jam. I really like this one's name: Bonnie's Black and Blue. It's made with sun-ripened blackberries and blueberries. Yum.

Another find on my wishlist at Terrain is this Opinel knife set in cheerful, mid-century inspired colors.

Cute cherry-themed melamine tray by Rice dk from Huset.

What's that? You want some more jam? Well, here ya go: Slow Jams, Jams for the People. Love the packaging, the name. All of it.

Ok, see, I have a little thing for kitchen towels, and Leah Duncan's designs are awesome. May have to scoop up a few at her etsy shop. Ok, confession: I already got this one! I think I have a problem. A kitchen towel addiction! Either way, this design is really sweet.

Here are some beautiful blue glass tumblers (made from recycled Franciscan wine bottles) from the Brook Farm General Store.

They also have this fun folding knife. I'm liking that little anchor inlay.

Some nice horn servers from Jayson Home and Garden.

So, this is Mo's Bacon Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix. What the what? Bacon AND Chocolate? Don't mind if I do! (I think this and the Slow Jams were in a recent DailyCandy together. I almost lost it over the breakfast-food awesomeness of it all.)

This delicious pizza is from The Pioneer Woman. Have made it several times recently for my guy and others, and have gotten some seriously rave reviews. Yay! It's yummy and super easy to make. You must try it. That's an order!

{All photos above are from the shops/designers/chefs listed with each item.}

happy birthday, lonny!

2010-10-10T14:32:00.002-04:00

Have you seen it yet? The first-anniversary issue of Lonny is nothing less than awesome. John Robshaw's country house, a gorgeous Thanksgiving table by Eddie Ross, and Celerie Kemble's Manhattan apartment? I'm kind of in design heaven right now.

The images above are from the latest issue. And, in a nod to their birthday celebration, I've posted some older Lonny mag photos below – dug out from deep in my inspiration folders – a lot of which they now have available in the Decorate section of their site. These are some serious favorites from Lonny's first year in action:

Ooooh! Just now realized that Lonny staffers have started a great new blog – certain to keep me company in between issues! Yes!

{All photography above is by Patrick Cline and art direction is by Lonny Editor-in-Chief Michelle Adams – both co-founders of the magazine. Photos used above from the Oct/Nov issue feature, from top: John Robshaw's porch; LuLu de Kwiatkowski bookshelves; Celerie Kemble powder room; LuLu de Kwiatkowski breakfast room (Btw, how cute are those kids? They look almost exactly like my twin cousins when they were little. Adorable!); and Eddie Ross' beautiful Thanksgiving table setting. For the photos above from older issues, from the top: Michelle Adams herself arranged this cheerful bookcase; bedroom by Lisa Fine; Ashley Wick living room; two by Ashley Putman – kitchen and bedroom; Ben Brougham bedroom; former Domino magazine Editor-in-Chief Deborah Needleman's home office; Rita Konig's outdoor pool and lawn; Cath Kidston dining room; and Elizabeth Bauer living room.}

some things i've worked on lately

2010-10-08T07:03:00.009-04:00

Hi! It's me! Sorry I've been a little bit absent lately – or should I say a lot instead of a little? I really have not been a very good blogger these days. I'll try to be better! So, here are a few things I've been working on since I've been gone:

Some new minted.com stationery contest entries!

Have been working on lots and lots of other new projects, including finishing my office/studio space in my new apartment, weddings, weddings, weddings, baby announcements, some stationery, websites, logos, and more weddings! Here's a little sneak peek of a few things:

More to come real soon!

summer stationery

2010-06-23T13:25:00.002-04:00

More new beth perry DESIGN stationery at minted! Named Florette, this set comes in several summery sorbet colors. Shown here are Florette cards in Summer Peach, Frost Blue, and Florette mailing labels in Pale Peach. Lots more beth perry DESIGN stationery cards, labels, invitations + more to see at minted.com.

{Photos from minted}

it's about time!

2010-06-20T14:11:00.001-04:00

Finally. Madewell.com has opened up some online shopping awesomeness! I. am. in. love. with. Madewell. Although the store in Charlotte is lovely, I'm so glad I don't have to trek to the mall (a place I am not in love with) in order to check out the latest Madewell goods. Photos from the new shopping site are above, as well as some of my favorite picks, including the wanderlust multicolor fringed scarf, the moto sweatshirt jacket, a pair of ropey soles simple espadrilles, the leeward tank in hot papaya, and the desert sun necklace in acid green.

{photos from Madewell}

spring!

2010-04-05T07:32:00.000-04:00

In honor of spring finally being here at last, I thought I'd get you these pretty flowers. (I heart Ranunculus + Hydrangeas together – two of my most favorite kinds.) Hope you are having a happy spring so far! All kinds of new designs are in the works, and I'm still sprucing up the new office space. Can't wait to share with you!

hot off the minted press

2010-03-29T07:14:00.005-04:00

It's brand new beth perry DESIGN stationery at minted! I am always shocked when I enter the minted contests and end up having a design chosen, and then later, it's sold on their site? Seriously, it blows my mind. And, it is truly awesome to be part of such an amazing community of designers who take part in the challenges.

From top: Lumiere cards in river blue, Lumiere mailing labels in rose dust, Prep School cards in orange dream, and Prep School mailing labels in bluebell – more color options are available. You can check out all the beth perry DESIGN stationery cards, mailing labels, wedding invitations, save the date cards + all sorts of other awesomeness at minted.com.

{Photos from minted}

unpacking blues

2010-03-27T14:54:00.002-04:00

Well, I've moved and I love my new place + neighborhood! But, unpacking is taking a while. Although fun to figure out where everything should go, it's kind of overwhelming, too. Above are a few shots of the chaos, which is soon-to-be transformed into my new studio + office space. Stay tuned for the "after" photos sometime soon!

new at minted

2010-03-02T20:01:00.001-05:00

The very latest beth perry DESIGN wedding invitations, now available at minted.com. From top: Tortola, Tuileries, and an updated Bibliotheque – all featuring the full suites, with new backers, envelope liners, response cards, mailing labels and other goodies. Lots more to see at minted!

{Photos from minted}

this is where I want to go right now

2010-02-28T14:03:00.000-05:00

Brazil's Uxua Casa Hotel

{Photos by Fernando Lombardi via the New York Times}

camera phone photography

2010-02-24T00:17:00.009-05:00

I'm always amazed at the capabilities of cell phone cameras these days. It's frustrating to not have an actual camera around when a good photo op comes along, but mine seems to take some decent shots every so often. Pictured above are a few that I've taken recently. From the top: at the car wash during the Jackson Pollock-style, scented foam-bath cycle (scented?); great pattern on a fabric panel at IKEA; Auguste, a lovely Bordeaux from a fun girls' dinner; and French botanist Patrick Blanc's vegetal wall at Capitol in Charlotte – one of the most gorgeously designed shops I've seen. Side note: make sure to check out Capitol's fantastic new blog!

And, happy birthday to the most fantastic sister ever. Laura, hope you have an awesome day today!

february inspiration

2010-02-10T23:30:00.003-05:00

Where are you, Springtime? Seems like everyone's got either rain or snow right about now. Bring on some sun, please! Since we've got at least a month until daylight savings, I've been web-collecting a few things here and there to brighten up your day. Here are just a few - voila!

First up and pictured above is the Colour Mania book series. You can get yours at the delightful Rare Device online store. They have all kinds of other awesomeness, too.

Above and below, photos from the Kate Spade site of their store on 5th in New York. I'm a sucker for anything stripey, and cannot get enough of these cheerful colors. I want to live in this room.

And, I'm so excited about the brand new issue of Lonny magazine - hot off the virtual press today! My dream sofa is pictured below, photographed by Patrick Cline and art directed by Editor-in-Chief Michelle Adams (co-founders of the magazine).

Photos below (also by Cline and Adams) are from another Lonny spread about the fantastic design work of Betsy Burnham. Those casement windows are just beautiful.

Speaking of Michelle Adams, her lovely line of organic cotton fabrics, Rubie Green, is making me want to reupholster everything I own. Photo below, from the Rubie Green site, features the East Village and Megan patterns.

{All photos in this post are from the shops/designers listed with each item.}

stationery for minted

2010-02-01T22:41:00.004-05:00

Just entered another contest at minted! For this challenge, designers were asked to create personal stationery + matching mailing labels. You can see the full beth perry DESIGN entries (including the fun mailing labels!) by following these links – pictured from top: Lumiere, Prep School, Florette, Wintergarden, and Greenhouse.

If you have time, please take a moment to rank as many designs as you can – not just for me – all the new and talented designers there need your input! If you don't already have a free account at minted's site, it's super fast to set up – just click here. Thanks so much for your support!

the twenty-ten calendar

2010-01-23T12:42:00.002-05:00

Finally! The beth perry design calendar has been finished for a while, but I hadn't had a chance to take photos. So, here it is in all its monthly glory! The best part is that you can hang the calendar on a ribbon from a wall hook, stand it up on your desk or even pin all the months up on a bulletin board. I used a few hand-drawn elements this year, but hope to use more for 2011! I know, that's so far away – but I'm already thinking of ideas!

a perfect surprise

2010-01-18T18:24:00.003-05:00

Back in November, a friend's husband called me to help arrange a surprise party for his wife. I was so excited to help make it a great night – at least in a small way – with some placecards and invitations! The wintery, blue-grey background and the bark-colored text turned out beautifully. The best part was that the guest of honor was most definitely surprised, and she had a fantastic birthday!

happy twenty-ten!

2010-01-10T09:05:00.003-05:00

Hope you're having a Happy New Year so far! These are a few new designs that I've been working on lately. Lots more in the works, including a seriously belated 2010 calendar – on the blog next week!

holiday gift guide 2009 – part deux

2009-12-01T13:55:00.003-05:00

Hello again and happy holidays! Now that the feeding frenzy of Thanksgiving and the mass bedlam of Black Friday are behind us, the gift-giving season is in full effect. Without further ado, here are some more unique and creative suggestions for your loved ones.

Pictured above is a lovely pillow from designer Lena Corwin. The whole site has some really nice ideas for your home.

For more home goods, you must check out the fantastic bedding and pillows at John Robshaw. Absolutely gorgeous, albeit a big splurge.

For the book or design lovers on your list, the new hardcover Pictorial Webster's is a must-have for any desktop. Available at Chronicle Books and other online booksellers.

More fun desk/office/school supplies include this fantastic fluorescent pencil set from Spoon Sisters.

And, this set of fun, cheerful happy tape is a great gift. I'm dying to wrap a package in kraft paper and use this tape to make a plaid pattern all around the box.

For the calendar-lovers on your list, this desk calendar from Moleskine is a perfect stocking stuffer, available at the great guy shop, Gent Supply Co.

I am loving pretty much everything from Present and Correct, especially this fun grid blackboard. I may have to get this one for myself!

This is the grown-up version of glow-in-the-dark constellations on your ceiling – the Personal Planetarium from Restoration Hardware.

Oh! So pretty. This necklace will be a most welcome gift, perfect for any New Year's Eve frock. Available at Anthropologie.

These stylish Flight Bags from Wm. J. Mills and Co. are perfect for guys or girls and available in tons of colors. The vintage styling is really nice and the heavy canvas makes them durable and ready to last for years. (Found via the delightful blog Design Crush.)

I love this vintage xylophone player from the Hindsvik shop on etsy. So bright and colorful and a cute, one-of-a-kind kid's gift!

A nice gift for a co-worker pal or anyone's stocking is this beautifully packaged candle from Saipua. Available at Bird.

And, finally, for the naughty peeps on your list, they will love this coal chewing gum! Available at Paper Source.

{All photos in the gift guides are from the shops/designers listed with each item.}

holiday gift guide 2009 - part one

2009-11-25T00:50:00.003-05:00

I've been collecting ideas for a gift guide series for a few months now. From books and stocking stuffers to some really beautiful vintage finds, here's the first part of the series – much more to come in the next few weeks. In the meantime, hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

First up, and pictured above, is a vintage classroom map from the trampoline shop on etsy. trampoline has lots and lots of specially curated vintage treasures, including the vintage dice collection pictured below.

Penguin Classics finally released their Coralie Bickford-Smith-designed cloth-bound collection here in the U.S. They are not just beautiful to display on your bookshelf, these are meant to be read – the absolute best classics, including Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights, among others.

These mercury pendant lights from Mothology are just so pretty. They would look as beautiful over a dining table as they would in your home office.

With the demise of Polaroid, Fuji Instax is a nice replacement. Available through lots of retailers, I found this one and refill film over at Urban Outfitters.

Another Urban Outfitters find is this antique-inspired industrial accordion table. The price is a steal, and it would look great in almost any space.

If anyone on your gift list is as wild about office supplies as I am, this bright orange Swingline stapler from CB2 would be a great stocking stuffer.

More office/school supplies! This full set of yummy colored pencils from MUJI at the MoMA Store are almost too pretty to use.

For the little ones on your list, I love this fun, stripey duck by Esthex, available at Twig.

And, Pink Chicken has adorable kid's clothing - this Tess Dress is so sweet.

Another one for the kids, or yourself, is this delightful, limited-edition alphabet poster from Anna Bond's Rifle Paper Co. She just opened her shop this week and it is incredible!

For the men in your life, this cool vintage-looking Stanley flask from Restoration Hardware would be a great gift.

Another nice one for the guys, or maybe more for you? Whichever it is, this garter and stockings set from Academy for Wayward Girls is just awesome.

{All photos in the gift guide are from the shops/designers listed with each item.}

weddings on minted

2009-11-06T09:40:00.003-05:00

Yep, it's time for another contest at minted! You can see the beth perry DESIGN entries by following these links – pictured from top: Tortola, Quadrille, Beaufort, Tuileries, Madeline, and Augusta. For this challenge, designers were asked to make Wedding Invitations and Reply Cards.

If you have time, please take a moment to vote for mine. If you don't already have a free account at minted's site – it takes only a few seconds, just click here. You can also see which of my other designs are for sale on minted's site by clicking here. Thanks for your support! I appreciate it so much!

library

2009-11-02T21:11:00.001-05:00

Library, Archives of Fashion has just launched a gorgeous new site. Based in Charleston, S.C., and owned by Lauren Lail, Library is a dream come true for lovers of beautiful – and one-of-a-kind – vintage fashion and accessories. Lail, inspired by the rich history behind her collections, sums up her love of vintage in the nicest way: "Vintage pieces have a story to tell – they are the books that make my library." {Found via Simple + Pretty; Photos: Library, Archives of Fashion}

wallpaper invites

2009-10-29T07:32:00.003-04:00

My mom asked me to design these invites for a birthday dinner she hosted for me back in the summer. I've been obsessed with vintage wallpaper for a while and decided to try my hand at getting a wallpaper look with some hand-drawn flowers. Reminded me how satisfying it is to turn off the computer and put pencil to paper, old school style. I'm using a few wallpaper themed ideas and a new hand-drawn design for the next minted contest too - stay tuned for images and voting information sometime next week!

lonny

2009-10-26T14:02:00.002-04:00

New and fabulous online magazine Lonny is live! If you've been looking for a replacement for Domino or the late-great Blueprint, you must check it out. Beautiful photography spreads and great lists of must-have items for you and your home. I love the gorgeous dining room in the first photo. Check it out here. {Photos: Lonny Magazine}

book love

2009-10-23T07:16:00.009-04:00

I am a bigtime re-reader - always coming back to some old faithfuls like my all-time favorite re-read treat, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I'll get completely immersed in Pride and Prejudice every few months too, ignoring laundry and dishes and life as if I've never read it before. And I've been known to take a little trip to Hogwarts once in a while as well. Author Meg Cabot recently wrote in the Wall Street Journal about her love for reading and re-reading the wonderful Betsy-Tacy series of books by Maud Hart Lovelace. (I re-read these a lot when I was younger and remember first reading Betsy-Tacy at summer camp after it arrived in a care package from my mom right when I was feeling a little homesick. She wrote me the sweetest, funniest note on the inside of the paperback cover, and between the note and the book, I forgot all about any lingering homesickness.)

In the WSJ article, Cabot sums up the best part of the Betsy-Tacy books perfectly: "What's always made Betsy seem so real is that when she makes a mistake and falls down, she gets right back up." Although the books are set in the early 20th century, it's still a really timeless message. Definitely re-read worthy, even for semi-grown-ups. Photo: WSJ

light as air

2009-10-20T21:57:00.001-04:00

Loving these pretty dresses - designed by sarahseven out of Portland, Oregon - especially the beautiful, ethereal styles and floaty, sorbet-colored fabrics. Found via Amy Odell on the great blog, The Cut, over at New York Magazine's site. Photos: sarahseven @ etsy.

au revoir to summer

2009-10-01T23:28:00.005-04:00

Just a few photos from my fall trips to the beach at Fripp Island, and one of my mom's best pal, Jake, the wonder-dog with spotted feet. He's the best.

hats on!

2009-09-15T07:30:00.003-04:00

Fall is almost officially here and I'm a bit obsessed with hats these days - trilby, cloche, bucket, fedora. There are so many beautiful styles. The best parts are the gorgeous details like grosgrain ribbons, little buckles, spotted feathers, patterned linings, and rich countryside-inspired colors. Photos from top: Velour Sidesweep Hat with feather trim and Trilby with fur felt trim, both by Philip Treacy for Purdey; Della Cloche Hat with bow detail by Eugenia Kim at Net-A-Porter; Wool Bucket Hat in herringbone at J.Crew; Aubergine Cloche Hat by Patricia Underwood at Bluefly; Navy Tweed Fedora by Baroque And Roll at Etsy; and Brixton wool with feather detail at Revolve Clothing.

well made

2009-09-13T08:00:00.005-04:00

My new favorite store, Madewell, recently opened in Charlotte. So excited! They are supposedly offering online shopping sometime soon too. Right now, I'm loving their beautifully styled website photos, pictured above.

latest save the dates

2009-07-07T07:08:00.003-04:00

It's already time for another contest at minted! You can see the beth perry DESIGN entries by following these links – pictured from top: Haberdashery, Equinox, Sunshade, Grosgrain, and Mademoiselle. For this challenge, designers were asked to make seasonal Save the Dates. I absolutely loved creating my entries for this – one each for Fall, Winter and Spring, and two for Summer.

If you have a moment, please vote for mine – if you don't already have a free account at minted's site – it takes only a few seconds, just click here. You can also see which of my other designs are for sale on minted's site by clicking here. Thanks so much for your support! As always, it is very much appreciated!

three potato four

2009-07-05T11:08:00.007-04:00

Three Potato Four is one of my most favorite online spots. And, the best section is found under the new tab – a constantly updated and specially curated museum of the most wonderful pieces – striped camp stools, brightly painted wooden crates, mid-century industrial office supplies, vintage children's toys and colorful screenprinted posters. I recently got this perfect wooden crate to hold supplies in my new home office. And, speaking of that, the office makeover is almost complete. Stay tuned! {Photos above via Three Potato Four.}

happy 4th of july!

2009-07-02T22:55:00.004-04:00

Old pictures always make me smile. I love how the corners on the older ones are always rounded. Wish they still came like that! Anyway, that's me in front with my sister and Dad at the helm. I remember just loving that bright yellow thermos. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

it's the most wonderful time of the year!

2009-06-25T10:55:00.005-04:00

Ha! It always feels funny to start designing holiday themes in the summer. So, I've entered another contest at minted and the challenge is to design holiday photo cards. I've got six entries, but there are actually more than 650 total in the entire contest! That is some tough competition.

My entries are a little different this time. Hand-drawn work and lettering is something I've always done and loved. And, since even antique and vintage images can look a little too "computerized" sometimes, I've been wanting to get back into incorporating more of my own artwork into my designs. Thinking about the holidays really lends itself to the handmade look. Hope you like these!

If you have a moment, please vote for mine - winners and runners-up get to have their designs sold on minted's site! Voting on a design requires that you first sign up for a free account – it takes only a few seconds, just click here to register. (Plus, once you have an account, you get notified about their fantastic sales and discounts.) You can see the beth perry DESIGN entries by following these links – pictured from top: Frost, Farmhouse, Georgia, Winter Carnival, Tinsel and Winter Solstice. Thanks so much for your support! It is hugely appreciated!

eddie ross shop on etsy

2009-06-03T06:50:00.007-04:00

I've written a little about my love for Eddie Ross before. Just realized that he has an awesome etsy shop open for business! Eddie, a previous editor for Martha Stewart Living and House Beautiful, pairs his experience with a background in catering and design. He has such an amazing talent for turning vintage and antique flea market finds into the most creative and beautiful finished pieces. I'm headed to an antique show this weekend in Charlotte when my sweet mom comes for a visit. Hoping to make some excellent discoveries and finds of my own! For now, please check out Eddie Ross' fantastic blog and also his shop on etsy! {Photos: from currently-for-sale items in Eddie's shop.}

fresh flowers

2009-05-30T10:53:00.001-04:00

Oh, I've been the world's worst blogger these days! Here are some flowers for you - got these pretty blooms of ranunculus and hyacinths at my local Trader Joe's - promise I'll be back soon with lots of new posts!

small cool

2009-04-28T06:39:00.004-04:00

Apologies for the scarcity of posts these days - I'm hard at work on lots of new and exciting projects. Stay tuned - I'll definitely share some photos when things are ready. In the meantime, voting has begun for apartment therapy's annual Small Cool contest! Readers can vote and decide on the year's smallest, coolest homes. The photos above are from various entries in the contest. Based on the ones I picked, I realized I'm starting to be a little obsessed with different ways to layout framed photos and pictures on walls. And, as usual, since I'm knee-deep in my own office makeover, I can't get enough of the home offices. Head over to apartment therapy and vote for your favorites! {Thanks to the lovely Meg and her tumblr blog for the inspiration!}

april elle decoration

2009-04-21T06:50:00.009-04:00

The UK-edition of Elle Decoration is always a great read, filled with good inspiration and beautiful spreads and photography. The April edition has become one of my favorites. From top: loving the cover image, especially the wild and branch-y flowers on the table, gorgeously shot by photographer Tom Mannion and styled by Faye Toogood; cheerful plastic and melamine home goods, shot by Diane Hendrikz; wonderful prints: 'Upside Downside' bird print by Charlie Harper, 'We Not Me' by Christopher Cox, 'Hexagon I' print by James Brown, 'New England' print by Sharon Elphick, and 'My Home...' print by Rob Ryan; beautiful tabletop from the "Living Masterpiece" spread of English designer Mark Chalmers' Amsterdam home, produced by Frank Visser and photographed by Paul Barbera; last image is of a simple but stunning NYC loft, owned by architects Solveig Fernlund and Neil Logan, photographed by Verne/Owi. Love this loft and especially the clean, open spaces that still feel comfortable and truly lived in.

fresh stack of good reads

2009-04-14T07:33:00.003-04:00

So, I went a little wild at amazon the other day and rescued some items from the forgotten masses in my saved-items-to-buy-later list. (As one who is obsessed with books, I've put lots of things in there, some of which have been on the list for years. And, I keep finding new and tempting books to add, pushing the rest of my finds to the way bottom of the list, where they tend to sit for months before I rediscover them.) Well, the three latest treasures are Over and Over: A Catalog of Hand-Drawn Patterns and Hand Job: A Catalog of Type, both by the fantastic Mike Perry, and domino: The Book of Decorating, by former domino magazine editors Deborah Needleman, Sara Ruffin Costello and Dara Caponigro. It made me sad to think this is the last piece of the magazine still available, but the contents were so fantastic that I got distracted. Images from top: the fresh stack of books; Maja Sten's gorgeous patterns in a spread from Over and Over; Adam Garcia's "Calligraphic title sketches" and a page spread of colorful work by Human Empire from Hand Job; and the front of my most favorite section in the domino book - all about home office design. One of these days, I swear, I will finally finish my own office makeover. This might be just the ammunition I need.

brontibay paris

2009-04-10T08:19:00.003-04:00

You have to get creative when trying to save pennies these days. If you want something fresh for spring - without blowing the budget on a whole wardrobe - recycle old favorites into a new outfit with costume jewelry or pretty heels. And, a bag is another nice, simple option for updating your staples. Even better, you can carry it every day! The brontibay paris site is stocked full with bright and colorful bags, wallets and clutches. Their new line is all about cheerful silk prints and soft leather totes. I love these. Photos: brontibay paris.

hi there, spring!

2009-04-08T07:43:00.004-04:00

It's really here! Although, a little chilly and breezy today. Regardless, I'm so glad for springtime. In honor of pollen dusting the sidewalk and tiny plants peeking through the potting soil, here are some new beth perry DESIGN foldover notes. From top - Hothouse, Barton and Roadside Stand - the last two were commissioned by a client as birthday gifts for her friends. She wanted them to reflect the different personalities of each recipient. I love the grey and pink color combination in the Barton design and the pop of aqua blue with the black flower in Roadside Stand. Flat printed on soft Italian papers, they really turned out beautifully.

the far east

2009-04-06T07:46:00.004-04:00

My friend Caroline just got back from a trip to Thailand and Vietnam. I loved the photos, such beautiful places and inspiring images. The first was taken on the Mekong River, second and third were taken at Ha Long Bay.

taking note

2009-04-03T07:24:00.005-04:00

A brand new notebook can always help get the creativity flowing. Continuing my theme of school and office supplies from earlier in the week, I bring you my favorite notebooks, lots and lots of them to be exact. Some are new discoveries and others are old, stand-by classics. Pictured above is a new find from etsy: a clean gridline tablet from the Matterial line by Matter.

The Field Notes notebooks, designed by Portland-based Draplin Design, are perfectly nice and simple, with brown covers and clean type.

Like the Field Notes notebooks, Postalco Notebooks are another new find from the lovely and well-edited shop, Canoe (via {frolic!}). The covers are made from starched, pressed water-resistant cotton in several colors.

Rhodia notebooks are always a classic choice and the smooth pages are perfect for any kind of note taking, grocery-list writing or sketching.

My most favorite are the crisp, french-made Clairefontaine notebooks. The bright covers and vellum papers inside are always my go-to place for list and idea keeping.

Last, but certainly not least, are the luxurious Vergé de France writing tablets from G. Lalo. These seem almost too nice for regular note writing, but the beautiful covers and softly colored papers inside might assist in producing some good, solid creative plans.

new obsession: (malin+goetz)

2009-04-01T08:09:00.002-04:00

I recently ordered some great travel-size (MALIN+GOETZ) products. Oh my goodness, I am in love with this stuff, particularly the vitamin e face moisturizer and the peppermint shampoo. I'm also a little crazy about the non-fussy packaging, too - clean, crisp, colorful design in simple white containers. According to their website, each (MALIN+GOETZ) product “blends trusted natural ingredients with gentle performance technologies to address skin sensitivities, irritations and allergies resulting from unnecessary products, over-marketed harsh ingredients, and false claims.” These guys put their money where their mouth is, and actually deliver on their promise to customers. I really like the idea behind the products and am liking my travel-sized products (and the free samples that came with them!) even more. I will definitely order some full sizes when I run out. Images from (MALIN+GOETZ).

school supplies

2009-03-30T08:00:00.003-04:00

Do you remember getting ready to go back to school as a kid? I loved going with Mom and my sister to pick out school supplies. Fresh packets of graph paper, boxes of felt tip markers, pink pearl erasers, sharpened crayons and spiral notebooks were my favorite things. I think my love of school supplies has translated into a love of office supplies as I’ve gotten older. As a result, one of my online addictions is See Jane Work. This is the grown-up "school supply" mecca. They always have great deals and their selection is incredible. Everything is well-designed and colorful too - just a few of their items can help make even the dreariest of cubes or desks more cheerful. Photo Credits: See Jane Work.

let the wild rumpus begin!

2009-03-29T07:06:00.004-04:00

Finally saw the new trailer for Where the Wild Things Are, directed and co-written by Spike Jonze. Based on Maurice Sendak's wonderful book, the movie adaptation looks beautiful. I am loving the handwriting titles and the song in the trailer, too - "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire. The film hits theaters in October. (Images: Warner Bros.)

modern baby shower

2009-03-26T08:32:00.004-04:00

Well, finally got a chance to enter another design contest at minted – a site that features fun and creative invitation and stationery lines from independent designers. This month, the challenge is to design modern baby shower invitations and beth perry DESIGN has nine (!) entries. Yikes. Kind of couldn’t stop once I got started.

If you have a moment, please vote for mine - winners and runners-up get to have their designs sold on the site! Voting on a design requires that you first sign up for a free account – it takes only a few seconds, just click here to register. (Plus, once you have an account, you get notified about their fantastic sales and discounts.) See the beth perry DESIGN entries by following these links – pictured from top: Belair, Rothko, Victoria and Albert, Amalfi, Marrakesh, Bond Street, Ornithology, Schoolyard, and Wallpaper. Thanks so much for your support! It is so appreciated!

latest lyell

2009-03-24T23:38:00.001-04:00

Designer Emma Fletcher always has the most gorgeous campaigns for her line, Lyell. The latest collection, Spring '09, does not disappoint. The photography by Tamara Schlesinger is just beautiful.

eudora!

2009-03-20T20:08:00.001-04:00

Look at what just arrived in the mail! Eudora Welty as Photographer, edited by Welty scholar Pearl Amelia McHaney, is hot off the University Press of Mississippi. For me, having grown up in the South, it would be difficult to recall high school and college courses without Welty on the syllabus. In particular, my very first college class at Washington and Lee had Prof. Heather Ross Miller at the helm. We had class in a room normally used for music and learned all about Flannery O’Connor, William Faulkner, Welty and a host of other southern authors while surrounded by pianos, guitars and clarinets resting on stands. Thinking about that class always reminds me that stories can be told in so many ways – whether via prose, musical notes, an artist's canvas or in this case, photography. The photos collected in this new book are fantastic – full of light and patterns – and can almost be seen as tangible extensions of Welty’s novels and short stories. The people and places she captured seem to have a literary quality all their own. It's wonderful.

paris, je t'aime

2009-03-18T07:42:00.006-04:00

Just some random photos from my trip to Paris a while ago. Went to an art exhibit opening last week that featured a wonderful collection of American and European artists - everyone from Kandinsky to Degas to Gauguin to Redon. In particular, the Impressionist works definitely reminded me of my last visit to the Musée d'Orsay. Since I may not get back there for a while, this was an excellent chance right here in North Carolina to have a little artsy staycation and view masterworks from many well-known artists. If you are in or around Charlotte between now and June, you must stop in and take a look at the exhibit at the Mint Museum of Art. Even better, the collection is traveling from the New Orleans Museum of Art and the fees that the museum generates from this exhibition benefit its Katrina Recovery Fund.

And, speaking of Paris, proposals for a new master plan for the city were unveiled last week - you can read about them in the NY Times.

little treats

2009-03-16T07:33:00.001-04:00

Can I just tell you how much I love sea salt caramels? Alas, I gave up sweets for Lent, so I have resorted to just writing about them. But, these particular sweets are most delicious - packed with the perfect sweet and salty flavor combination. And, some of the best I've tried are from Little Flower Candy Co. If you are a lucky Californian, you can stop in their Pasadena shop, or you can order online and have them delivered anywhere! They also have square-shaped, homemade marshmallows in lots of different flavors. Really a nice extra something to enjoy with hot chocolate or your morning coffee. Photo credits: Little Flower Candy Co.

the bachelorette

2009-03-12T07:32:00.001-04:00

I designed these bachelorette party invites recently. The layout includes phrases and words sent in by the bridesmaids about the bride-to-be: "gracious, funny, warm . . . daring, mischievious . . ." It turned out beautifully - fun and personalized without being too "cute." I love how the fresh green and deep, rich navy text just melted right into the cottony paper.

map genius

2009-03-09T07:22:00.000-04:00

What a great idea! Ork Posters has these colorful neighborhood maps for most major North American cities. Wish they had one for where I live, but until then, I am perfectly content to admire these. I love the clean, crisp design and the fresh colors. Thanks to Decker for the inspiration!

Image Credits: Ork Posters

i heart austin

2009-03-05T23:49:00.006-05:00

Went to Austin, Tex. last weekend to hang out with some friends. We had so much fun and I was able to snap some great photos. Austin is always perfectly warm and bright - definitely a good break from the depths of winter in the east. The escape didn't last long though - we flew home to a whirling snow storm! Pictures from top: enjoyed afternoon cocktails at Doc's; I liked the windowpanes in this Florist Shop; margaritas and sunset high above Lake Travis at the Oasis; Hotel San Jose courtyard entrance at night; the Allens Boots sign; and cheerful chairs and delicious homemade brunch at my friend Caroline's house.

in print

2009-03-03T07:42:00.000-05:00

Oh, I am crazy-nuts about antique prints! They are perfect for hanging in small spaces that need some color, or group lots and lots of them together in different frames to cover the empty place above the sofa. (My friend, L.C., just did exactly that, and it makes her apartment look like a page from domino magazine. Btw, domino, you will be missed!)

Anyway, I came across Panteek on a recent online search. With more than 30 years in the antique business, they know their stuff. Best of all, the prices are fair and the selection is incredible. The images above are from Panteek.com and most of these are still available for purchase. Check it - top to bottom: Orvis Lake Flies -1892, Munting - Aloe Vera, Bodmer - Native American, Curtis - Asiatic Globe-flower, and Jefferys - Queen Elizabeth.

i'm minted!

2009-02-24T08:32:00.005-05:00

Exciting news! minted has added a few of my designs to their stellar for-sale collection of save-the-dates, thank-you cards and menu designs. Any of these can be turned into any kind of announcement or invitation, even wedding invites. Check these out: cards from top to bottom: Barbados Menu, Bibliotheque Save-the-Date and Bright Autumn Berry Thank-You Card. (Photo Credits: minted.com)

P.S. BIG happy birthday shout-out to my sister, Laura!

pretty winter

2009-02-21T08:36:00.004-05:00

The other day, I was telling a friend that I am really sick of winter. But then, I rediscovered these photos I took at the beach about a month ago. The first one is with a flash and the second is without - same scene. The other two are from one of my daytime beach walks. I was surprised to find this colorful orangey-red plant on the dunes. It was like a little leafy sunset. See, even winter can be pretty! But, I'll admit to still longing for warmer weather. Spring, get here soon!

fiesta forever!

2009-02-16T21:29:00.006-05:00

Here's a little peek at one of my latest projects. I designed these fun red and black cactus flower invites for an upcoming engagement party in Texas. The theme was Mexican Fiesta and the hostesses wanted to do something special and custom-made just for the bride and groom. I love the finished product, wrapped up with some classic red and white striped baker's twine.

january recs

2009-01-10T10:00:00.004-05:00

Listen to this: Empire of the Sun's "Walking on a Dream" - new favorite song. Read more about the band over at Rolling Stone. Not on itunes yet, but it should be. I heart this song, seriously.

Read this: Apologies in advance to the people that just don't get it, but the Twilight book series is great reading with a really sweet love story. Stephenie Meyer is awesome. You MUST read them, pronto.

Watch this: 24 starts tomorrow. Welcome back, Jack Bauer.

I am working like crazy on some new designs and will post again soon. Hurray for 2009 - it is going to be fantastic!

the latest!

2008-11-25T14:04:00.002-05:00

I've been developing a new custom stationery line for Fall-Winter, and am planning on giving some of these as Christmas presents to friends and family. It will most definitely be a handmade holiday this year! I'm also working on some other surprises, which will hopefully be posted soon. In the meantime, please have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!