A sneak peek...

It's a busy (and foggy!) Friday here in Seattle. But, before I sign off for the weekend, I wanted to share a little sneak peek of what's coming on Monday...

And, if you haven't done so already, don't forget to enter the Real Simple Weddings giveaway. All comments/emails need to be in by 8:00 pm Pacific on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Want a free copy of Real Simple Weddings?

The 2009 issue of Real Simple Weddings is in my hands and ready to be passed on to a good home. If you need a good dose of inspiration, simply leave your name in the comments below or send me an email before Monday @ 8:00 pm Pacific (when I will draw a name at random). Until then, good luck!

DIY: Photo thank you cards + sashes.

Looking for a unique thank you card? With a bit of crafty know-how and an online photo service (such as Shutterfly.com), you can create a card that doubles as a keepsake from your wedding. Download the free template for sashes that I've created and follow these steps to make your own.

STEP 1
Upload a high resolution wedding photo to an online photo service and order matte finish notecards. To create the example, I ordered the 5 x 7 size. Shutterfly, in particular, also includes envelopes with all notecard purchases (score!).

STEP 2
Download and print the sash template as many times as need be. A somewhat translucent paper or ink-jet friendly vellum works particularly well since the image will show through below. If you are printing on vellum, try using the "transparency" setting on your printer for better results.

STEP 3
With a personal paper cutter, trim sashes to a finished size of 11 x 1.5 inches. One inch of the sash will be used to create an overlapping piece for adhesive.

STEP 4
When you're ready to add the sash to the cards, center the "thank you" message on the front and wrap the sides around the back. Roll a strip of permanent adhesive along the overlapped piece in back. As previously recommended, the Tombow mono adhesive tape roller is great (and readily available at most craft stores and online retailers such as Scrapbook.com).

Check back tomorrow for a fun giveaway! ;)

Fabulous (and affordable) bridesmaid dresses.

The newest collection from Watters & Watters includes a few designs that I'm loving. The fresh colors and modern pleats look quite classic. The shape of all three of these would be flattering on almost any body type, too. Click to see images at full size.

Etsy find: SpoonerZ.

Featured in an Etsy newsletter last week, SpoonerZ's humorous "fork it over" money clip caught my eye. Perusing their shop, I came across their *gorgeous* monogram and name pendants. The hand-etched style is very unique and adds a feminine flair to these pieces. And, if you don't like brass, they also come in silver or copper. Sign me up!

Butter + Periwinkle.

Since I haven't had a whole lot to say this week (imagine that!), I thought I'd go out with a bang by posting a new color combo: butter + periwinkle. Although these colors are generally spring-like, pairing them with a dark taupe makes them appropriate for any time of year. And, hey, the sun is out in Seattle today, so who can blame a girl for having a little spring fever in January? =) Have a great weekend!

Credits (clockwise from top):
Martha Stewart, Men's Wearhouse, bridesmaid dress from Watters & Watters, cake by Ron Ben-Israel via Wedding Tactics, Bride's

Personalized bridesmaid necklaces.

Because it seems that I can't possibly go a week without blogging about jewelry, I have to share these lovely monogram necklaces at Anthropologie. They come in various styles:

• Nude
• Black
• Pearl

Not sure how long they'll be around, so snatch one up while you can!

Online vendor listings.

When I was wedding planning in 2003, there was only one major online resource. I'm excited to see that so many great sites have popped up since then—giving brides a lot of places to turn to for inspiration and help with organization. Plus, it's now possible to read vendor reviews written by other brides. Thanks to some of our wonderful past clients, I'm happy to say that Maida Vale is now ranked and can be found in the following online directories:

• Wedding Wire
• Project Wedding
• MyWedding.com
• Martha Stewart Weddings

New damask notecards now available!

Just wanted to share a new notecard design that's now available in the Etsy shop! Sold in packs of 5 and inspired by the Brocade wedding invitation, the notecards feature rounded corners and aqua envelopes. Even better, they're affordable, too. =)

Dreamy calligraphy.

While I was busy scouring Etsy for picks last week, the lovely Sarah Darcy (aka Classic Bride) launched her own calligraphy studio! Her style is modern and fun, and would work well for either a formal or less formal affair. Be sure to check out her website for a full menu of her service offerings. Her logo alone inspires me! =)

Featured.

A big thank you goes out to Christine of Modern Romance for featuring our Etsy shop on her blog yesterday. Follow this link to check it out: Etsy Friday: Maida Vale.

Etsy finds: kids + baby.

Etsy is also a great resource for finding goodies for kids, as well. From knitted caps to unique onesies to handmade toys, there's a little bit of everything out there. Two of my favorite finds include custom art canvases and felt food. Who wouldn't be thrilled to have either of these in their room?


My own lovely custom painted canvas! Personlized pieces also available at PennyPicklesArt


Felt pizza by foodPickleThings


Oh, for cute! One of many adorable hats by citefuzz

Thanks for reading this week. Have a great weekend!

Etsy finds: bridesmaid + anniversary gifts.

I have more jewelry to share today. Like I said, I'm a bit of a junkie when it comes to Etsy's jewelry designers. Although these pieces aren't necessarily intended for a bride on her wedding day, they could certainly work for that, as well! The first piece would make a great bridesmaid gift while the second would be pretty sweet to receive on a special anniversary...


Lockets by found11objects


Personalized date necklace by andreaevansdesign

Tomorrow's topic: kids + baby.

Etsy finds: jewelry.

Hunting for the perfect one-off bauble on Etsy is seriously a hobby of mine. I have several pieces in my personal collection and am in awe of the level of talent (and quality) that is out there. Here a few pieces that would add just the right amount of bling to any bride's big day:


A little something blue by LaBodaCollection

A vintage-inspired necklace by PenelliBelle


Lovely earrings by pamelasusan

Tomorrow's topic: bridesmaid + anniversary gifts.

Etsy finds: rings.

There are so many *amazing* independent jewelry designers on Etsy that I could spend hours searching for the perfect pendant or funky ring. Quite a few also offer an alternative to the standard wedding band, as well. Here are two of my favorites:


Personalized rings by moonacre


Stacking rings by Christinapdesigns

Tomorrow's topic: more jewelry!

Etsy finds: bridal style.

I heart Etsy. Long, long before opening my shop, I've been building a list of favorite sellers and products, coveting anything from felt calculator watches to gorgeous pendants. Etsy is also a wonderful (and fun!) resource for brides and new parents. This week, I'm going to share some of my favorite finds for both. This first post showcases two designers of vintage-inspired wraps—a current trend I am loving. Enjoy!


Custom boleros by Bonzie


Wrap by modernromancepdx

Do you have any special Etsy finds to share?

Tomorrow's topic: rings. Stay tuned!

An Audrey Hepburn inspired dress.

Thought I would end the week the way it started—with a bridesmaid dress by Dessy. It seems like the quality has gone up over the past few years and this Aftersix frock is no exception. Displayed by I Do Bridal at the Seattle Wedding Show, this dress immediately reminded me of Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina—one of my all-time faves. Imagine it without the cheesy prom background (!) and this dress would be lovely in a garden or sophisticated evening setting. For a sassier Sabrina-inspired option, check out this gown from Priscilla of Boston. Throw in the damask cake I posted on Tuesday and you've got two things checked off your list. ;)

I'll be back next week with five days of wonderful Etsy picks for wedding + baby. Until then...

Thornewood Castle.

Photo by Robyn Wilson

There are still more discoveries to share from last weekend's wedding show. As a relative newcomer to Seattle (we're on our fourth year here), I am not 100% up on local wedding venues. And, I had no idea there were castles anywhere nearby. ;) So, when I happened upon Thornewood Castle while wandering around the booths on Sunday, I was intrigued. Not only would the castle make for a beautiful wedding site, but the history of the building is rather interesting as well. Must remember to check out their gardens this summer, too...

Special thanks to Robyn for sharing her beautiful photo!

Vintage yum.

Dresses are clearly on my brain this week. Maybe because it's too darn cold to even consider wearing one?! Regardless, there are several I want to share since a lot of the spring lines are starting to show up. These two Melissa Sweet Reverie dresses are timeless and chic. If I could wear the Verona style (shown on the left) as my gown, I would have no trouble agonizing over planning for a year just to do it all over again.

Classic Damask.

While perusing the vendors at the wedding show this weekend, I noticed that damask cakes are now easy to come by and oh-so-lovely to look at. These boldly patterned cakes photograph well and are also available in brighter colors. And, judging by this find on flickr, fondant is not always required to get this look. Yum!

Above cake by Truli Confectionary Arts in Philadelphia. Available in Seattle by Morfey's Cake Shoppe and Mike's Amazing Cakes.

A bridesmaid dress I would happily wear again.

I dropped in to the Seattle Wedding Show this weekend. Although these type of events aren't normally my cup of tea, I happened upon a few vendors that made weaving through the crowds worthwhile. Bellevue's Moms, Maids, and More had this Dessy dress on display and it stopped me in my tracks. The cut out flower, high quality fabric, and modern shape was stunning in person—easily making it a dress that could be worn again.

I'll share a few other favorite finds in the coming days... stay tuned!

Perfect winter cupcakes.

The holidays may be over, but skiing season has just begun! My DH and I couldn't be more excited. We plan to hit the slopes in the next week or so. Will just have to see how long it takes to recover from our trip home + celebrating the new year. ;)

Anyhow, when we ventured into Trophy just before Christmas to snarf down a couple of candy cane cupcakes, I spotted these cuties. Sans skiers, a batch of these would be a fun way to mix things up for dessert. I love the idea of using varying types and colors of icing to not only please guests with different tastes, but to keep the photos interesting!

Image credit: Trophy Cupcakes + Party

Champagne + Gold.

Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a fun beginning to 2009. =) I thought I would kick things off with an elegant and classic color combination: champagne and gold. Although it would work for any time of year, a metallic palette would be particularly festive around the new year. Make it a bit more modern by bringing in a fun tea-length bridesmaid dress and chunky jewelry from Etsy.

Credits (clockwise from top left):
The Do It Yourself Weddings Guide, Luxe Deluxe, Jim Hjelm Occasions, Botanica, A Novelty Idea