Neiman picks under $100

I won a giveaway this week! Winning something is always exciting, and I was thrilled to win a $50 gift card to Neiman Marcus from The Stylish Planner. Thanks, Jeannine!

Now onto the hard part: what to buy? I'd like to spend no more than $50 beyond the gift card. The only exception would be if there's something I've been wanting for awhile, such as the Jack Rogers Navajo sandals (however, I don't see any on the site right now I like).

Here are a few of my possibilities:


Self-Inking Stamp from Three Designing Women ($38.90)


Cuisinart Griddler ($99.95)


Cole Haan Air Rianna Sneaker ($62)

Now, if I was interested in spending more than $50, one of these two bags would be at the top of my list:


Cole Haan Saddle Denney Bag ($169)


Tory Burch Caroline Satchel ($475)

What would you buy with my gift card? I'm open to all suggestions!

Max & Margaux

Well, it happened. I knew it would. I'm pretty sure it happens at some point to everyone who reads blogs while they plan a wedding.

Yes, we're 24 days out from K + C's wedding, and I just found another celebration full of projects I'd like to incorporate. It's Max and Margaux's -- did you see their five-post extravaganza on Once Wed earlier this week? If not, check it out here: I, II, III, IV, V.

Back to reality. Amazing braided rope ribbon entrance arch? Um yeah hi not gonna happen:



However, there are a few projects that might feasibly be incorporated at this late juncture.

Adorable stuffed heart cake topper? Perhaps.





Heart-adorned dessert cups? We might be able to work something out.



Now for the toughie. Ohhh amazing braided rope swing, I love you. Dad? I'm thinking this one's all you.







You'll just have to wait a month to find out what we're able to make happen!

P.S. Very important!! If you haven't seen Max and Margaux's stop motion film, please do so now. It's by Shark Pig and it's only 47 seconds long, so no excuses.

Max & Margaux Stop Motion from Shark Pig on Vimeo.

P.P.S. I want. A lot. A lot lot.

All photos c/o Our Labor of Love, all details c/o The Flashdance

New in the shop!

Just added this week! I hope you'll check them out.


Authentic nautical chart envelope liners two ways (you install or I install!)


Custom escort card or place card flags (buddies with the original custom cupcake flags)

Thanks for looking!

Front Door Decoration

Our apartment has a lovely, glossy black door, but last spring I decided it needed a little sprucing up. I've been meaning to share my mini-project ever since! This was my inspiration:


{via Martha Stewart Weddings}

And this is what I came up with:







The letters were about $3 each from JoAnn, and the can of spray paint was about $4. I already had the ribbon. I'd love to add a little boxwood topiary in a terra cotta pot on the right side of the door, but for $10, I'd say I'm doing okay for now!

Board No. 75: Spring Green Garden Party

{Click to enlarge!}

Isn't this the most lovely shade of green? I'm picturing a little wedding garden party, with just a few family and friends under the new leaves in the first few weeks of spring. A small guest list gives you the latitude to whip up some neat details, like cucumber sandwiches that double as art, custom boxes of popcorn, a short, embellished white dress, and a perfectly crosshatched cake (sized for a small soiree, of course).

The Details
First: dress photo by Belathee via Once Wed, ribbon belt placecard holder from Martha Stewart Weddings, green heels photo by Michele M. Waite

Second: clematis centerpieces from MSW, reception photo by Lisa Lefkowitz (styled by Alison Hotchkiss) via Style Me Pretty, cake from Real Simple

Third: cucumber sandwiches from Martha Stewart Weddings, invitation from Minted, popcorn boxes by Amy Atlas

Summer

{c/o Elizabeth Messina}

A garden between low walls, bright,
made of dry grass and a light that slowly bakes
the ground below. The light smells of sea.
You breathe that grass. You touch your hair
and shake out the memory of grass.

I have seen ripe
fruit dropping thickly on remembered grass with a soft
thudding. So too the pulsing of the blood
surprises even you. You move your head
as though a miracle of air had happened around you,
and the miracle is you. Your eyes have a savor
like the heat of memory.

You listen.
You listen to the words, but they barely graze you.
Your face has a radiance of thought that shines
around your shoulders, like light from the sea. The silence
in your face touches the heart with a soft
thud, exuding drop by drop,
like fruit that fell here years ago,
an old pain, still.

--Cesare Pavese

(Thanks, Meghan, for reminding me about Poem Fridays! I hope you like this one.)

Casual Interiors

When we were in the Harbor over the Fourth of July weekend, my Mom, sister, and cousins and I stopped into Casual Interiors, a new-to-me shop (not sure how long it's been in business). Very cute stuff and a nicely curated selection. I'll admit I really wanted to pick up that bushel of Dash & Albert rugs and take off running...













Casual Interiors
20 McKown Street
Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
207-633-4273

Welcome to Maine!

One of the tasks I've recently knocked off the list? Welcome bag hang tags. We'll be assembling between 25-40 of these puppies the week of the wedding, so keeping things simple is of the utmost importance. What will they contain? A water bottle or two, a snack of some sort, a few pieces of salt water taffy, directions to spots around town, a hand-drawn map of the area (thanks, Wanda!), and a reminder card with a rundown of the weekend's events.

The bags are simple brown paper lunch bags, the ribbon is from Paper Mart, and the tags were designed in Publisher then printed, cut, punched, and strung by me.

P.S. Jack the cat approves.

Edible centerpieces

K + C's reception tables will have several different kinds of centerpieces. Two of them will be edible. The first? Candy. We just purchased two three-pound bags of banana salt water taffy and one box of lemon hard candy sticks, both from Candy Warehouse.





This was our inspiration:


{Jessica Johnston via Style Me Pretty}

The other edible centerpieces will be mini bushels of blueberries and blackberries -- perfect for Maine and perfect for our color palette.






{Sweet Monday Photography via SMP}

Our plan is for the centerpieces to look so delicious they'll be bare by the end of the reception.

One Month Out

{Image that fits our color scheme by Millie Holloman. Pretty!}

Dudettes. We are now approximately one month out from K + C's wedding. Here's what a small sampling of my to-do list looks like:

Print direction and information cards for welcome bags
Print welcome bag hang tags
Design and print signage for whoopee pies
Buy linen for specialty reception tables
Finish designing ceremony programs and print and assemble them
Print signs for bride and groom cottages
Find a box for the ceremony programs
Create a wedding weekend timeline
Collect more driftwood and deliver it to our driftwood arch constructor
String mini paper bunting for buffet stations
Design and print buffet menus
Design, print, and construct pinwheels for part of reception decor
Make signage for favors
Cut waxed paper for rehearsal dinner bunting, centerpieces, and bags
Assemble rope boutonnieres for groomsmen
Design and make signage for cookie buffet

I'll stop, because I don't want you to run screaming in the other direction. Am I worried it's all going to get done? A little. Are all of these projects necessary? Nope. If they don't get done, will K + C still get married? Yes, ma'ams. Knowing all this, am I still trying to get as many projects done as possible? You bet I am.

You see, I want Kate's wedding to be the most special day it can be, and I'm determined to do anything I can to make it that way for her with the least possible stress. So, yes: I'll make as many trips to Michael's as it takes, stay up as late as it takes, remove as many things off her plate as it takes, to make sure those two things happen. And come August, I know it will all be worth it. Wish me luck!

Summer camp

Did any of you go to summer camp? I went twice, and it was awesome (once I got over the whole homesickness thing). All of my memories came whooshing back when I saw these stunning images from Tracy Turpen, taken at Keystone Camp in Brevard. Aren't they gorgeous? Her saturated colors and close cropping capture the intimacy and vibrancy of camp life so well. I can't stop looking at them!















You can see a few more images on Tracy's blog.

Lewis & Sheron Fabrics

Y'all know I needed some help finding fabulous fabric sources a few weeks back (though I did end up with something beautiful for my curtains). I've stumbled upon another great online source, Lewis & Sheron Fabrics, and thought I'd share for those still looking! The patterns are stunning, and the pricing is almost equally so. Here are some of my favorites:

$15 and under per yard:


Cross section in green


Coral Bay in periwinkle


Criss cross in pear


Canopy in baby blue

$20 and under per yard:


Elyse in yellow


Rumelia in platinum


Links in indigo


Parterre in porcelain

$50 and under per yard:


Suzani in jewel


Links in 29


Akamai in pink

Which is your favorite?