new logo and branding

As some of you may have noticed already, the blog underwent a minor makeover last night.  It's something I've been working on for quite some time and is an extension of the rebranding I've been doing on my stationery line.  I wanted something that was more versatile and clean and I'm very pleased with how it's turned out.  Here's a peek at how the shop looks now.

Be sure to pop over to see everything in its entirety.  Now that the logo and general branding are all in order I'm setting out to finish a few projects I've had in my mind for awhile now.  The shop will be filling up with more goodies in no time!  I'm excited...this is the very best part.

have a lovely weekend (and a first birthday)

This week has been such a busy one!  I've been confused about what day it is all week long.  Isn't it funny how some weeks are just like that?  But lots of good things happened.  The bathroom sink, toilet and laundry sink are all in and working and the tub has been painted and put in to place.  My garden is miraculously still alive, even with my novice experience. 

And this weekend is a very special one.  Sunday would have been Lily's first birthday.  So bittersweet, but I'm determined to focus on the memories of her life because this is the day she lived.  Memories like holding her for the very first time.

We're still deciding how to memorialize Lily's birthday.  We'd like to mark it as a tiny movement for good.  I think that's what we'll do.  She brought so much good.  It seems right to do good again on her birthday.  Will you help us by doing something kind for someone around you this
weekend?

{image by my sister}

Bloom 101: Grape Hyacinth

I've been thinking to myself for some time now about how much I love flowers but how little I know about them.  I wish them permanent residence in every room of my home - but what kinds?  When should I look for them?  And how should I arrange them?  I know I'm not the only one with such questions, so I'm setting out to answer them.  Each week I'll feature a different flower that's blooming at the time.  I'm starting out with grape hyacinth, which I found growing wild in my backyard just a few days ago.  Isn't it beautiful? 

The musky-grass fragrance is really divine; I love it.  It doesn't permeate the house, but you can really smell it when you get close to the bunch.

To make this adventure even more fun, I've made it so you can download this little gathering of floral information and print it on a 3x5 card (it'll print out on a full sheet of paper...trim it down to the marks for 3x5).  Paste each one in a pretty little journal and soon you'll have a guide any florist would envy.

I'm so excited to be starting this project; it's really such fun.  Lilacs and peonies are next in queue.  Which flowers would you like to see?  Please share!

{images by me}

 

A Brief Introduction

Meet Lily.  On June 13th, 2009 she came into the world and changed our lives forever.

Lily was born with a condition called alobar holoprosencephaly, a
severely under-developed brain.  She had little control over her body
and spent the first few weeks of her life in the NICU.  Though her body
was weak, her spirit was strong.  She had the sweetest disposition, a
talent for bringing peace to those around her, and the cutest hiccups I
have ever heard.

She was with us for six wonderful weeks.  In that brief time she
impacted the lives of many around her.  Now that she’s gone, I hope to
continue the ripple of good she started.  Lily Jane Stationery, and
this blog, is my beginning.

To learn more about my Lily Jane, follow the link above titled “Lily’s Story.”

And now that
you’ve met Lily, let me introduce myself.  I am that beautiful baby’s
mama: Meredith.  I’m also the mother of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed
little boy.  The two of them combined are my greatest creations.

I love food, books and pretty things.  I especially love making food
and pretty things…alright, I’ll admit: eating the food trumps making
it.  And getting to show off those pretty things isn’t half bad, either.

My favorite food medium: butter.  My favorite pretty medium: paper. 
Paper’s a little easier to slide in an envelope and share with your
friends so I opted to design a stationery line.  It’s my hope that my
paper creations will slow the mailbox’s depressing demise and keep
distant friends feeling close.

For the days the mailman only brings me bills, there’s always something sinful in my kitchen.