Just One Cup at a Time

Let's Tango!

Do you know how happy I am that Pantone picked Tangerine Tango as this year's color of the year?  Well I am...ever since I bought my first ever orange shirt at Antrhopologie last spring I've been drawn to orange.  Now I'll get to see it all year everywhere.

The process full circle

When first thing in the morning you get a text with a picture that says:

"Our new wall art :) I love it!  I love it sooooooooo much!  Thanks for your great photography"

I smile that I'm seeing the process go full circle.  From a request via text "do you have some time to take some photos and help out with a Christmas card?" to a beautiful family hanging on a wall in someone's home.

I have some crazy friends out there who actually ask me and trust me to take their photos for their Christmas card.  I am not a photographer by any means, I like to tinker with it though, but for some friends who are like family and dare to ask I .....well....I oblige.  It's the nice thing to do.

And they're sure a cute family with one of the cutest kids evvv-uhhh!

 
They even let me design their Christmas card too :)

I like them alot!  Especially after the sushi gift certificate they gave me as a thank you....now  I really like them a whole whole lot!

 

 

Everything's better with glitter!

Even my dining room rug looks better with glitter :).  Oh so I realized this morning as I was loading the latest 7 orders into my car for the post office.  I love these though - they're one of my favorites and for an awesome vendor too!

I'm up to my eyeballs in Christmas cards.  These are my 2 busiest weeks of the year...so for anyone who wants to tease me for decorating my house exactly 22 days ago - well bring it!  This is exactly why because right now I barely remember to pee much less have time to make a latte, put on Christmas music and dance around for 8 hours decorating mi casa.  Cause you know that's what I do when I decorate.....I dance around for 8 hours :).  You can love me more now it's okay!!!

I like to think I just make the holidays last that....much.....longer this way!!

xoxo AA

Broke the record for sure!

So my posts have faded a little in the past week and I have good reason.

I have been up to my eyeballs in invites.  I mean seriously.  My BFF laughed at me because I took so many pictures of my set-up the other day but I said I had to capture this - it's certainly a record I may never break again anytime soon. 

Two large orders at the same time - one for 250 invites and the other for 300!

This is just one of them mind you - the other is still a brewin'

The kicker though for this here one - this 300 baby.......

I got the order just 2 weeks ago!

Did you hear me....2 weeks ago!!!  Typically the design, print and production time is usually 2-4 months.  I think I lost my mind when I said yes yet at the same time I was so darn excited.   I'm working with another Wedding Coordinator out of OC Mele Amore Events (her website isn't done yet or I would link ya up).

She's a doll and so is the bride but it's been a whirlwind!!

But not only was this order huge - it had 3 versions to it as there are 2 different ceremonies taking place on their special day!

3 versions, 2 different maps, 4 different response cards.....thank the good Lord for making me detail oriented!!

The stack that is closest.....that is just HALF of the invite pockets.

There is another stack next to it that is equally daunting. :)

Typically my guest check list is only 3 pages - maybe 4.

This one is 11 pages!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I brewed more coffee and buried myself.

Mind you - food and drinks is typically never permitted within a 20 ft radius of where I'm working but I knew I needed it and even though it was behind me I was still nervous so eventually it went bye bye.

Then my BFF thought she'd bring her work in and keep me company while I whistled and worked away and tried not to have any nightmares.

I turned my head every so slightly, took one look at this picture right here - darted my eyes....

And all I said as a glared was....DON'T!!!!

I mean she put her cup on the same table as all the invites??  

She's lucky all she got was a one word stare!  HA!!

And just in case you wondered who that baby was behind my water.......because I know you were thinking that and asking yourself that very question :)

That's me :)

The End.

Heartbreaking

My heart has been sad for one of my clients.

In my stationery business, one thing my clients depend on me for is help with all the proper etiquette, what to say, what to do, when to say it, when to do it, when to throw the etiquette out the window, when not to throw it out even though you want to...you get my point.

Within that etiquette hidden deep, very deep so you never really think about it and never ever want to use it is.....the proper way to cancel a wedding once invitations have been mailed out.

This I hoped I would never have to do but today I am. Today I'm going to the post office for a very sweet bride.

We've never met - she's lives far away - and we didn't need to.  We clicked from the very beginning.  She's been a joy to work with.

I love her family  - I've worked with a few of them.  I'm blessed.

Last week I was emailing her fun typewriter fonts and sayings as we were working on tags for her wedding favors and about to begin on the placecards and programs......but her reply was this:

"Andrea thank you for all your hard work.  Unfortunately, there will not be a wedding......."

I cried - I sat in my office and tears began to roll.  I sat there wondering oh my heavens what she must be going through, what must she be feeling - I couldn't help but hurt for her and pray for her :(.

So I did what etiquette says you should and designed a card to mail out.  I asked to handle it all for her and take it off her plate.  Today I'm mailing them for her.

Pray for her and her sweet family.

Lisa & Joe's CUP

I met Lisa and Joe (actually I've never met them they live on the East Coast) through my friend Shannon's sister, who is also named Lisa - Lisa and Lisa are best friends.  I have made Christmas cards and birthday invites for Lisa #1 for a few years now and then when her best friend, Lisa #2 , got engaged a year and a half ago, she contacted me to work with her...I am blessed!

They have been a joy to work with every step of the way.   I have had the priviledge of doing so many of their wedding elements: engagement announcements, save the dates, special invites for her bridesmaids, invites for her bridal showers and the wedding invitations. 

Their Save the Dates are still one of my most favorite designs I've done to-date - I just love them!

Then came the wedding invite - Lisa wanted as much wow factor as possible.  I think we achieved it for her! 

     

These invites have been my biggest order yet.  Not just the number of invites but the amount of pieces to this invite - 21 pieces, 3 different versions and 3 different guest lists!!!  Normally the production on these would be about 3 weeks but for her, I was able to pull this off in a record 6 days!  But not without the help of my dear friends, Ashley, Melissa, Mama O, Grandma Pat, my BFF and the "dot girls" (Kailey and Angela)!  You guys rock!!!