Best Project Ever

Hello, my dears!  How are you doing today?  Is the sun shining where you are?  I've opened all the windows in our house and am enjoying the softly warmed breezes floating through the rooms.  After a long rainy season it's like learning the joy of just breathing all over again.

My loves, I have to apologize for leaving you for so long.  It's been a bit of a struggle for me to get everything done of late because I've been busy working on the best type of project.  Care to have a peek?

Yes, there's another little one on its way to our home!  Which means I've been spending alot of time the last few weeks doing absolutely nothing but growing this little bean.  It's worth every bit but definitely sucked me dry of all my energy.  Luckily, we've turned the corner into the second trimester and I'm feeling much more like myself again.  I'll keep you updated with little peeks as we go along.  The new baby is due to make its debut on December 3rd.

Are any of you out there December babies?  How did you feel about having a birthday in the midst of all the holiday merry-making? 

Damask Wedding Invitations

Hello, my dears.  How are you doing today?  I hope the sun is shining where you are.  Rays of light are peeking through the clouds here so I'm taking advantage of it while it lasts, shooting photos of some of the projects I've been working on lately.  Today's project is one I'm particularly excited about because it's my first of it's kind: wedding invitations!

My cousin, Dani, asked if I would be able to design something for her and her fiance, John's wedding.  I was thrilled with the chance and got right to work.  She wanted something that was elegant and traditional with clean lines.  She was also drawn to damask patterns.  She told me that her wedding flowers are calla lilies so I decided to design a damask pattern around a single lily.  The pattern was then printed across the bottom of the invitation.

They were so much fun to design but the best thing is that Dani was really happy with the way they turned out.  Nothing could make me happier than that.  

I'm currently looking to build my portfolio with more wedding invitations and would be happy to offer a deal to the next two or three people I design invitations for.  If you know someone who is getting married and think they might like my style, be sure to point them this way by sending my an email at lilyjanestationery at gmail dot com.

What I'm Working On

WORK:  This week I had the pleasure of designing a baby shower invitation for a good friend whose sister (who I am also friends with) is having a little boy!  Have I told you yet how much fun I have doing custom designs?  It's for a casual, informal get together so I wanted the invitation to reflect that: fun and laid-back.  If you like this design, I have good news: I'm working on more varieties of it right now and they'll be in the shop very soon.

THE HOMEFRONT:  Craig took a little business trip out east this week (so we feel for you, everyone who is buried in snow!) and came back with presents.  He bought me this seed organizer from my favorite shop, The Daytrip Society.  Which means this weekend is the start of planning my summer garden!  Has anyone else started buying seeds yet?  What are you planning on planting?

SOON TO BE:  As I mentioned earlier today, I have some Valentine's tricks up my sleeve.  Specifically something for the little ones.  Keep an eye out...it's coming next week!

DIY: Glassine Birth Announcements

Just a little while ago I came across a challenge to create a DIY birth announcement.  A new packet of glassine bags was sitting in my cupboard, just itching to be used so I put them to work in these very easy, but very sweet birth announcements.  

Just type up the announcement text using your favorite fonts and print it out straight onto the bag.  Then slide your favorite picture of your little one inside and seal it with a little piece of patterned tape.  I would mail these out in colored envelopes, too, of course, so everyone will know just what a special piece of mail it is as soon as they lay eyes on it.

What I'm Working On

WORK: This summer I'd like to participate in some of the local craft fairs and applications are due early.  The first one (Midway Swiss Days) is due this Monday so I've been busy putting products, photos, and paperwork together to send it all off in time.  I've also been finishing up a few products I'll shortly be introducing to the shop, including some wall prints.  I'm having way too much fun working these days.

THE HOMEFRONT: Thanks to one of my fabulous (and generous) friends, I'm finally learning how to knit!  And I've found that there are quite a few ladies in my neighborhood who also love making things like I do.  I'm having too much fun pulling and tucking the threads this way and that and having them consistently come out all beautifully woven together under my needles (well, most of the time...).  It's so thrilling to learn a new skill.

SOON TO BE: I have another project to share with you this next week.  An easy DIY birth announcement.  They're so easy and very sweet.  I can't wait to share it with you next week!

Have a lovely weekend, my dears!  I hope it's a cozy one.

DIY: Groundhog Day Cupcakes

"What holiday is next?" is a question I get asked quite a lot.  Brady's at the age where he's starting to understand holidays and the anticipation surrounding them.  And, of course, he's ready to party all the time.  So when he posed this question after New Year's I had to pause and think for a second...yep, Groundhog Day is next.  

Now, Groundhog Day doesn't carry very many traditions with it, beyond looking for good ole' Phil on the news.  But I thought that this year maybe we could do something a little more.  We've been reading The Big Snow at our house and on the last page the groundhog pokes his head out of the ground and sees his shadow.  Which gave me the idea to make Groundhog Day Cupcakes.

I designed the cupcake toppers and made them into a PDF for you to download and assemble.  Just print the groundhogs, cut them out and sandwich them together with a little glue and a toothpick in the middle.  And remember to save one of your groundhog paper trimmings.  You're going to need it if he sees his shadow this February 2nd...

If it happens to be cloudy on February 2nd and Phil doesn't see his shadow, you can always just slide the groundhog into a plain frosted cupcake.  They'll be just as adorable.  And such a great excuse to eat cupcakes.

What do you do to celebrate Groundhog Day?  Any predictions as to whether or not spring will come early this year?

What I'm Working On

WORK: The last few weeks the holiday rush has slowed down a bit and I've been able to get to work designing again.  My latest projects are these two cards, featuring illustrations of things that just belong together.  They were designed with Valentine's Day in mind but I think they'd also be great for a best friend or anyone you hold dear.

SPOTLIGHT: Have you seen the latest issue of Greetings, etc.?  Take a look at page 20 and you'll see my Ribbon Invitations!  It's Lily Jane Stationery's first magazine feature.  I'm flattered and pretty excited.

THE HOMEFRONT: It's been dinosaur week at preschool.  I've never seen my three year old so chatty about what he's done there...he is loving it.  So we're taking a trip to the dinosaur museum today to cap it all off.  

I'm also going to be finishing up the last of the New Year's purging; I've been going through every nook and cranny of my house cleaning out and tidying up.  There will be victory dancing when it's all done.

SOON TO BE: There's a sweet DIY project underway.  It involves chocolate and toothpicks and I can't wait to share it with you.  It's coming next week!

What have you been working on lately?  Any plans for the weekend?