Invite Me Do

Greeting Cards | Bow & Arrow

2008-09-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

I have just received in the mail a beautiful set of greeting cards from Bow & Arrow and I would like to share them with you. The cards are beautiful, letterpress printed on Crane's Lettra paper which is 100% cotton, very high quality plus it has a very soft finish. I love it! Thanks Julie, for sharing your cards with us :)

PS: love the packaging!

Inspiration | Recycle is Beautiful!

2008-09-29T16:23:00.001-07:00

While flipping through some books today I have found SO many inspirations. These are from Rachel Ashwell, one of my favorite artists. The photographs were taken back in 2002 and I have never seen this book, The Gift of Giving, at bookstores before. I hope you enjoy it~

L.A. Mart | Fall Gift & Home Furnishings

2008-09-17T15:54:00.000-07:00

Hi there!

It has been a loooong week so far. I have been pretty busy with many different things: 1. home: I've decided to start the holiday spirit at home (I know its a little bit early, but I just LOVE the holidays, so what, right?!), so for the past 2 days, I have been actively working on the house decor :) 2. kids: of course, there is always something happening, they move too fast! 3. calligraphy class: Finally! I am currently enrolled and taking classes with the prestigious teacher De Ann Singh, who has been teaching calligraphy for over 25 years. (Im so lucky!) It is very exciting to start something I have always dreamed of for a long time! 4. L.A. Mart: Yes, yesterday I was at the L.A. Fall Gift & Home Furnishings Market. It was a blast! Lots of great stuff. I had an amazing day walking through each room and getting inspired by so many creative new products and designs. Wow, it took me all day!

I've tried to take a couple of photographs from the stationary/home displays but, unfortunately, it is prohibited in most of the showrooms, so I did the best I could of! Enjoy!

Handmade Greeting Cards

2008-09-11T06:23:00.000-07:00

I am a TOTAL paper addict and no matter how many greeting cards I already have in my 'collection', I am always searching for more to add it. When I was a child, about 7–10 years-old, I used to collect stationary and exchange it at school with my girlfriends, kind of a hobby. I had this huge plastic binder I could barely carry under my arms, filled with all kinds of cards and paper goods, and whatever I was, the binder was there -isn't that cute?! I used to love to show it off to my friends and whoever asked me to see it. So precious~

Anyway, below are some of my favorite handmade cards for the day and I would like to share it with you. Enjoy~

By Sunshine and Ravioli

By Paper Menagerie

By Octavine Illustration

By Nest Pretty Things

By Flaunt

By Cracked Designs

By Cake + Milk Paperie

By Blanck Slate

Inspiration | Home-studio

2008-09-09T06:29:00.001-07:00

Home-studios are just so exciting! I love to see how people like to decorate their home/workspace and get inspired working on their projects. I have picked 3 spaces that I really LOVED. So inspirational, don't you think?

Yvestown

Made By Girl

Something Old, Something New

Inspiration | Masha D'Yans

2008-09-05T14:21:00.000-07:00

I know, I thought I was done for the weekend but I HAD to share this find with you. Masha has a new line of blank notes and invitations on her website + a ton of beautiful cards and other products. Now, you tell me, what do you think about those? I love it!! Candy for my eyes~

I have also found out that her line of paper goods and t-shirts are being sold at Urban Outfitters and the home+office collection at Cafe Press. Enjoy~

Inspiration | Cake + Milk Paperie

2008-09-05T06:14:00.000-07:00

Good morning and Happy Friday~

I was browsing through Flickr last night, looking for more inspiration, and was very happy to see so many great talents out there! God bless Flickr!

I have decided to post these super cute photograph from the talented Cake + Milk Paperie. I have been following their work for a while and they just keep getting more interesting cards each time. I love the felt card! Adorable! To see more of their photostream click here.

Have a GREAT weekend!

Paper description: 100% recycled | Personalized stationary: thick, white acid-free stock produced with wind power | Imprintables: 100% recycled kraft archival stock w/at least 30% post-consumer waste content | Gocco: 100% recycled 150lb cardboard w/100% post-consumer waste content | Envelopes: 100% recycled w/at least 30% pcw content or made from sustainable forests | Cellophane sleeves: 100% biodegradable

Window Shopping | Nantaka Joy

2008-09-04T11:29:00.000-07:00

I was taking a walk by my house yesterday afternoon and decided to go inside and take a look at Anthropology. While I was there, I have found many (many!) interesting items! I was very impressed with the amount of great accessories they are carrying at the store, specially at the home & garden section, very cool!

Anyway, I also found Nantaka Joy's notebook collection for sale, and how cute is that notebook!? I still can't wait to see her new design (shown below in blue) at the store. I bet she will sell TONS of those!

Congrats to Joy!

Online Shopping | Albertine Press --UPDATED

2008-09-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

UPDATED [I have actually just received an email from Bow & Arrow with great news!! Anhtropology selected their Lace Cards to be sold at the store! That's SO good news, Julie! I am so happy for you! Each card is printed on a Vandercook press on Crane's Lettra paper which is 100% cotton. Thanks for sharing the news~]

See Lace Card below:

As I was going through the list of greeting card/stationary designers (and checking out their web sites) these cards caught my eye at Albertine Press, a letterpress print shop from Boston. You can see the entire greeting collection from The Art of the Card here. I think they are quite beautiful and inspiring, the pattern influence gets me every time - bold colors, exquisite texture and repeating patterns - love it!.

Paper Pattern | Inspiration

2008-08-31T15:01:00.000-07:00

Hanna Nyman. I wish I could tell you more about the artist but, unfortunately, I can not understand the language :( All I can say is that I loved her paper cut-outs and patterns. Very inspiring~

Exhibition | Biennale di Venezia

2008-08-26T11:59:00.001-07:00

I am a huge fan of interior design + architecture. If you are familiar with Moroso, the Italian upholstery furniture guru, take a moment to admire the photographs taken from the Biennale di Venezia - International Architecture Exhibition, Venice, 10 September-19 November, which Moroso is the official sponsor.

Moroso's furniture and wall art can be seen throughout the common areas at the Biennale, where each individual space interprets and hides within the products of the Moroso outdoor collection, whose pieces were designed by Tord Boontje, Patricia Urquiola, Tokujin Yoshioka, Luca Nichetto and Massimo Gardone.

Enjoy~

Couture Paper Clothing

2008-08-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

Hello there!

After a long weekend of de-bugging html codes, entertaining the kids and enjoying my dear husband, I am finally back to my computer desk and having my own 'precious time'. Oh, how life is precious!

I run up to this Papier Couture website the other day and found stunning couture clothing made out of paper! It's basically a fusion of fashion and art, utilizing designed and cut prints forming beautifully constructed paper dresses. This collection inspired me to start another project besides working on my invitations. I have always been a paper lover, creations like these one proves me one more time that we have to keep pushing the edges of art. There are so many opportunities and art to be created.

I hope you enjoy it~

AIGA's Everyday Design Show

2008-08-23T14:50:00.001-07:00

Another break, another post...

As an AIGA member, I always try and keep myself informed of what is new in the design community. One of their latest shows, “Everyday Design: Great Finds From Around the World”, curated by the AIGA Center for Cross-Cultural Design, offers examples and images of ordinary, functional objects from diverse cultures in more than 30 countries.

To see all the photographs from the show, which ended on August 14th, visit www.everydaydesign.org. Great source of inspiration. Hope you enjoy~

Alexander Girard at the Folk Art Museum

2008-08-23T14:15:00.000-07:00

Hello! If you like the art of Alexander Girard as I do, you should take a look at these interesting shots from Erik Marinovich's travelogue while en route to LA from NY. He features a few prototype characters from Alexander Girard's permanent exhibition, Multiple Visions, at the Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe New Mexico. Enjoy~

Recycled Frame from Hurricane Katrina

2008-08-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

Ran across this mosaic-style frame yesterday - constructed from salvaged wood after Hurricane Katrina. Available on Etsy in many different textures and hues.

I have added a picture of my son in it just for fun. Have a great weekend~

Clever Wedding Invite

2008-08-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday! Yesterday I got some free time in my agenda and I had the opportunity to go to Little Tokyo in downtown LA. While I was there, I went to visit one of my preferred bookstores I used to spend my lonely days in San Francisco (before I was married and of course, before I had kids), Kinokuniya!

Just so you know, I have lived for almost 10 years in San Francisco, from 1998 to 2007. I, we, the family, moved to Pasadena last year because my husband accepted a job offer working for our lovely Mickey Mouse! How exciting, right? Back to SF, don't call me crazy but, besides the amazing restaurants, great views and breath taken scenery, I miss the fog from San Francisco, yes the FOG!, knocking at my windows every afternoon (I had an apartment on the very top of Pacific Heights), the winds were strong and extremely cold! I remember taking a walk up to Fillmore Street, all bundle up in my winter clothes, heading to my local coffee shop and having a great time reading my magazines. Awwww, old golden days!!!

Now back to you! During the hours I was at Kinokuniya, I found this amazing book called Zoom In Zoom Out by Viction:ary. In this book, there is a page illustrating a very clever pop-up style wedding invitation card made by Fundición Grafica, in Spain. I thought it would be nice to share it with you and see what you think.

Enjoy~

Arte Comasagua

2008-08-14T21:08:00.000-07:00

Hello! It has been a l o n g day...
My day actually started at 5:40am this morning! I can't believe it! Before kids, I used to be the type of person that could sleep until lunch time! Seriously! I am sure someone have said this phrase once to you: enjoy life before you decide to have kids. It's TRUE!

I love my kids! They are the cutest little people able to wake me up 'scrEAMING' on my ears at 5:40am! It's okay, I still love them!

Back to my post... Have you ever seen a natural pressed flower before? Well, I have been working with some dried flowers lately and I have to say I am impressed with the overall look. They look pretty good on paper, specially on invitations.

The work below is from Comasagua, a small village located in San Salvador.
At the beginning of 2002, a group of people/artisans from the village of Comasagua started an arts & crafts business to produce quality handicrafts to export. (Other artisans from this same village also produce pottery work for Jonathan Adler's shop, to be sold in the United States and other countries) The crafts are made with flowers and natural material, collected and dried in the area of Comasagua.

Comasagua Art is a project focused on the design, production and marketing of crafts with quality to export, made with materials from nature, harvested and dried in the area of Comasagua. Enjoy~

Flowers Sculpted Out of Paper

2008-08-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday! I love Mondays! I am finally back home after dropping off my oldest son Louis at preschool. Weekends are pretty hectic here, I have to plan what to do with the kids every single minute of the day, plus feed, change their diapers, give them a bath, ... exciting right? It's incredible how kids need to be entertained. They want to play, play, play and PLAY!

I am the type of person that LOVES my quiet time. The time that I can dive deeply into my books, magazines, designs, computer, and so on. My morning coffee is a religious ritual that NEEDS! to happen every morning otherwise, the house won't be happy that day. That's why I love Mondays. I am finally able to sit back, relax, have my holy coffee and read my emails peacefully.

Anyway, back to my Blog of the day. I was doing some research over the weekend (after the kids were in bed) for flowers of all kinds, and I found this amazing artist, Jude Miller, that makes perfectly sculpted flowers out of paper. It's an incredible work and I would like to share her fashioned flowers with you.

There are many different collections and exhibitions on display, from flowers inspired by different places around the globe. Visit Jude Miller's website to see this very fascinating work of art. Enjoy~

Hermes Paper Bag

2008-08-10T13:40:00.000-07:00

Hi there! It's Sunday and it's pretty nice and hot here in Pasadena. 90's! I love the summer!

The kids are in bed (finally!) after a long morning playing at the Kidspace Museum. Louis (my oldest son) loves to go there, so I try and make it specially nice for him on the weekends, just because I am a good mama :)

Anyway, I have been browsing online and just found out that Hermes, yes Hermes, is offering for free download, a beautiful illustrated paper bag, and most importantly, recyclable and biodegradable! You can download, print on a thick paper*, cut and show off your evening bag! Isn't creative? I just love when I find new ideas like that.

*I am not sure if I would be able to wear it though, my bag seems to be getting smaller and smaller as the kids grown. Paper would definitely NOT be a good idea!

If you would like to download your bag, or just to take a look at their styles, you can go to the Hermés site, click on " the world of Hermes," then click on the bag thumbnail.

It's Me!

2008-08-07T14:55:00.000-07:00

Hi there! This is my first post! I finally got my Blog up and running! It is so exciting to start blogging and sharing with you all my special findings and inspirations.

My schedule is pretty hectic. I am the owner and designer of InviteMeDo - prepackaged stationary for weddings and events. I have to make sure all of the business aspects, from buying the materials to assembling the invitations to marketing and selling it are taken care of. Not an easy task but that's what I love to do.

I currently live in Pasadena, CA with my husband Eric and my to lil boys, Louis 2 1/2 years-old and Dylan 8 months. Because I have such a wonderful family, I also need to make sure the house is running smoothly, what I mean by that is (to simplify): enough food in the fridge, diapers and wipes a la volonté and of course, my wine waiting for me at the end of each day. Then we are all happy!

I know it seems crazy to start blogging with such a busy schedule but, trust me, I 'DO' find time for myself and to enjoy life after all that! Anyway, here I am, making sure my new playground is up and running and anxiously waiting to start making new friends.

Thanks for coming and see you soon!