Unveiled: another sneak peek

{ Unveiled images courtesy of Checkerboard}

Just released and currently available nationwide, Unveiled is an exciting line of new wedding invitations from Checkerboard. We are based in West Boylston, Massachusetts where all of our invitations are handcrafted, actually all of our manufacturing is done locally. Images above also feature a vintage map and hot air balloon envelope liners, called Mediterranean and Montisi. These envelope liners are imported from one of the finest paper mills in the world, Magnani on the Pescia River in Italy. Our paper merchant had just returned from a European trip and brought in these amazing papers.

If you would like more information about Unveiled, contact your local stationer or you can call Checkerboard customer service {1.800.735.2475 or e-mail at info@checkernet.com} to find a vendor in your community that carries Unveiled.

If you happened upon the previous post, I was designing this book as Laura Niemi Young was preparing for her show in Salem. This last invitation suite is called "Cirque", which is inspired by many things in my life. I was "uplifted" and surprised to walk into the Gulu-Gulu Cafe and see Laura's painting. You see, Laura is a former colleague and worked off site. She was not familiar with the work I was doing day to day...this just took me up, up and away!

Traveling: Laura Niemi Young

{image via lauraniemiyoung.com}

Recently, I was lucky enough to see Laura Niemi Young's work showing in Salem, Massachusetts. This was my fave. I just love the dreamy splendor of the loose clouds and the tight detail in the basket. The straight lines of the balloon and the netting also contrast with the incredible sky. My eyes could not stop roaming and discovering all of the nuances, colors and delicate detail. Each piece was more amazing than the next.

One of her paintings was also chosen for the cover of Quick Fiction. Check her out!

Brasov, Romania

{brasov, romania 2004}

Travel makes me so inspired. I can't wait for this year's trip to Brasov, so my little Sosi can see her Tiku! We have not been since 2008. That trip was so much fun, meeting our friends at the Black Sea. I just can't wait to hop on the plane.

Gladiator FitFlop Envy

{fitflop gladiator sandals that i must have and can't find}

I am so in love with these and can't find them anywhere. I must have been under a rock not to have been on top of this one. I desperately need them. sigh. Of course they are an old model, and are not currently sold ANYWHERE. her feet look so cute in them, don't they?

Calligraphy Animation: Dr. Martens

I found this amazing bit of incredible-ness of Dr. Martens: Lilac Wine on Legionthirteen's twitter today. Please click if you love art, calligraphy, music, awesomeness and creativity.

Friends, Old Friends

{image by the sartorialist via ffffound}

Facebook has brought a lot of old friends together. Sometimes real friends don't need facebook to do the trick, but it sure is an easy way to find and rally up the ones you miss. I got a message yesterday from an old friend from elementary school. We have been friends since I moved to the school in second grade. We were lucky. Our group from elementary school really remained friends all through life. I don't know how many people can say that. So, this friend that contacted me lives out of state now, but our families have kept in touch and live in the same town in the summer and the same state in the winter. You know, the lucky parents that retire and summer on the Cape and winter in the sun down in Florida, where the children and grandchildren can visit them and Mickey at the same time. A sweet life.

This weekend is her grandparent's 90th birthday party! Her whole family is together on the Cape for that celebration and she has invited me to join them, while they are still there. We used to call her grandfather "the candy man" because he sold candy and his home was filled with Willy Wonka style goodies. His house that I used to visit, was a camp on the Stiles Reservoir in Spencer. My mind is filled with the craziness of childhood and this friend, Laura, who really made it fun, i mean pee your pants "fun". So today's post is dedicated to old friends that you can see in the mind's eye as if it were yesterday.

This image above could be anyone of the girls from Wawecus Road School on any hot summer day, riding their bikes to Kendrick Pool or from Burncoat Street to Penny Parker's out in West Boylston. My childhood days were pretty awesome because of the friends I had and the school I went to. I hope my children feel that same way when they are in their 40's and that friend invites them to hang out. So, Laura Ann, it's also your birthday, I did not forget! So happy birthday to you and thank you for the wild and incredible memories of our childhood. I don't know how our parent's did it.

xo to you little lady and I hope to see you on Sunday!

Be Daring...

“Be daring,
be different,
be impractical,
be anything that will assert integrity
of purpose and imaginative vision
against the play-it-safers,
the creatures of the commonplace,
the slaves of the ordinary.”
- Cecil Beaton

Thank you Helen Beaumont for this bit today. I love it! These are words I live by, not because I really choose to. No, just because I can't help it. I try to surround myself with like-minds. My life is pretty fun that way.