A sneak (letterpressed) peek.

Because I'm not so good at keeping secrets, I thought I'd share a peek of what's coming soon to Maida Vale: letterpress for less! Hooray!

I am now offering the entire collection in two printing styles—letterpress and offset (flat) printing—at affordable prices. Even though the website is currently being updated to include full pricing and new designs, it is possible to order letterpress printing now. If you're interested, feel free to contact me for a quote.

Thanks for looking, and have a wonderful weekend!

Fun new color inspiration.

I'm really loving the "color cards" that Maddy (aka The Inspired Bride) devised recently. Think of these as simplified inspiration boards. She takes one image and successfully pulls an entire, beautiful palette from it. To check out the entire collection of color cards, visit the link above and click on the "color palettes" category. You won't regret it!



Also, a big congrats goes out to Maddy. She gets to be a bride herself this weekend! =)

Great honeymoon views.

Whenever I travel, I start dreaming about my next trip before the current one is even over. I'm most often trying to figure out how I can get back to Europe. My husband and I spent our honeymoon in Italy, returned for our first anniversary, and went back again last year. Each time, I've planned the trip from start to finish and have successfully booked us into affordable hotels with priceless views. It's easy to do if you're willing to do a bit of the leg work yourself. On that note, I wanted to share a few of my favorite budget hotels in Italy that have undeniably romantic views:

Albergo California Positano (Amalfi Coast)
from €150/night


Hotel American (Venice)
from €100/night


Il Giglio (Montalcino, Tuscany)
from €135/night


If you are thinking about planning a trip abroad and have a question, feel free to leave it in the comments and I'll get back to you asap. =)

J.Crew's fall collection.

I'm back from NYC! It was an inspiring and interesting trip. In addition to attending the stationery show in Manhattan, I spent a fair amount of time in Brooklyn. The shops, bars and restaurants in Williamsburg were right up my alley. It's an all around swell place.

Anyhow, I've got a lot to catch up on. Thought I'd share a quick look at the J.Crew fall collection. The pleats on the top dress are so interesting. Can they do no wrong? =)

Love in the Big Apple.

I'm taking off to NYC to visit the National Stationery Show. In addition to the trade show, I'm looking forward to visiting an old friend, seeing some sights, and eating my way through town. ;)

As promised at the beginning of the week, here are more stunning images from Seattle's dynamic photography team, Jen & Jody. This time, though, they're all photos taken in the big apple. I'll see you in a week!

Take the Cake.

I spied this cake from Chicago's Take the Cake online at InStyle Weddings and fell in love. I adore really graphic cakes and these make for quite a unique portfolio. What great colors, too!

Fab boutonnieres.

If your groom chooses to don one, a boutonnieres doesn't need to be bland. Toss the standard single rose and go for something more colorful or unique. As you will see below, it doesn't necessarily need to consist of flowers...

All photos from The Knot.

Etsy picks: baby + kiddos.

Every now and then, I like to post a little something for baby (and the bigger kiddos). Etsy features work from so many wonderful artists who make everything from fun toys and artwork to more practical clothing and bibs. There are also quite a few eco-conscious crafters making things such as reusable baggies. Gotta love that!


boopalina + bebe


Maggie's World


MamaMade

In and around Seattle.

I spent the past few days with my girlfriend (and fellow artist), Annie, who was visiting from the Midwest. It was so nice to have her around! We were able to take in some of Seattle's best sights (and restaurants and bars!) since the weather tried to behave itself. Yesterday, we hiked around Snoqualmie Falls. The falls are slightly taller than Niagara and are simply amazing. As soon as you get close enough to see them, you feel a cool mist spritzing your face. It's quite the scenic place.

Anyhow, check out these awe-inspiring "trash the dress" shots from two of my favorite places out here. The first one was taken at Snoqualmie Falls, the second at Alki Beach. Aren't they great?

Both images by Seattle's fantastic Jen & Jody.

Leah + Morgan.

I recently had the pleasure of developing a more traditional version of the Brocade invitation for a lovely couple, Leah & Morgan. In addition to that, I also put together a set of coordinating table numbers for them. Don't you think they'll add an elegant, but colorful pop to their tabletops? =)





Have a great weekend!!!

Rich greens + browns.

Having your wedding in a loft setting can be turned into quite a green space with a bit of clever planning. Check out the arrangements NYC event planners Artfool developed to enrich this particular setting. Tres chic! For the full effect, be sure to click each image to enlarge.

Eye candy: romantic gowns.

It feels like it's been awhile since I've posted some lovely gowns. So, why not today? =) These Christos creations are simply romantic. I especially love the delicate sleeves on the bottom two. Click each to enlarge.

Shoe love.

I think I'm crushing on wedding shoe pics right now. In addition to the great shot of yesterday's green Chuck Taylor's, I ran across a few pics in the newest issue of Seattle Bride that are just too cute not to share. Throwing in a couple from flickr for good measure, too. Enjoy!


Checkered Vans?! This idea rocks.
A Beautiful Day Photography via Seattle Bride


Love her darling vintage-inspired mary janes.
Azzura Photography via Seattle Bride


A little more traditional, but oh-so-pretty.
i am amanda via flickr


Girls can wear Cons, too.
Beth Armsheimer via flickr

Save-the-Date samples now available!

Punctual save-the-date samples are now available in the Maida Vale Etsy shop! Follow this link to take a peek...

A Napa wedding.

We had a lovely, lazy weekend here in Seattle. The sun peeked out and, as a result, everything was just a little prettier than usual. I'm hoping it will stay as such for a girlfriend who arrives in town this week. I'm looking forward to that! :)

So, if it isn't obvious, I love the outdoors. Even moreso, I love looking at photos of outdoor weddings. Peeking around Brides.com, I ran across Amy & Aaron's wedding in Napa Valley. How lovely is the photo of the back of her dress and bouquet? It is such a calm, peaceful image. I can only imagine what the bride was thinking as this was taken. I also adore the groom's Converse and wish trends like this had been around when I was married. I'm sure my hubby does, too! Finally, note the simple aisle decoration this couple used: granny smith apples. It adds a pop of color and was surely budget friendly. Be sure to click the above link to see even more gorgeous photos by Tanja Lippert Photography.

Invitation wording help.

Choosing wording for a wedding invitation can be difficult. In just a handful of words, a bride and groom have to express the importance of the event while also setting a formal or casual tone for the big day. Fortunately, there are a lot of great resources online to help with this matter. For ideas, visit any of the following links:

• The Knot
• VerseIt
• Offbeat Bride

Have a great weekend!