Invitation Inspiration

{all designs by michelle may for checkerboard, detailed photographs by adoniram sides}

The National Stationery Show is our once a year opportunity to meet up with our clients and touch base with them on what is new and happening. As a designer, it's also pretty much our only opportunity to get feedback on our work from outside the company, where it really counts! Being in NY for the show fills us up with inspiration and really connects us to our customers and what they need. Love it! I love chatting about their clients and what makes them excited about our designs and our company. Fun stuff. These are some of my new designs for wedding "unveiled" at the show.

Beyond designing for Checkerboard, which fuels my creativity, I am so happy to be on board with Cynthia Woehrle and Scott Zoback for Pecha Kucha Worcester and to collaborate with my good friend Andreea Waters for Cirque du Noir also held in Worcester, coming back in October for year two! I am pretty pumped about both happenings, that offer up doses of intimate creative inspiration. What makes us creative? What drives us to be creative every day? What unblocks creative people? What can make someone creative that never knew they had it in them?

Pecha Kucha Night and the live art presentations of Cirque du Noir can help you learn more about yourself, your design medium and your creative spirit.

Take a peek inside the minds of the creative people who live and work in the Worcester area. There are so many unbelievably talented people in this city! Now is their chance to shine, so be there to soak in the rays of electric energy. If you are in the area and are looking for people like you who also consume creativity and spirit, stop by and say hi!

If you're feeling like a voyeur, then come on baby, bring it on: Pass the word!
for daily PKN: Pecha Kucha Daily

Strong, Wild, Powerful...

(Image of Alexander Wang backstage at fashion week via models.com}

Words to live by and design by. Alexander Wang's sign for model inspiration says it all, read the fine print about tequila shots. How adorable is he? Black is a staple in his line, as you can see on the racks. Black adds drama, sophistication and edgy attraction to ordinary products. I love the effects in these product shots via the dieline.

{product images via the dieline}

Newcastle Signage

A good rule of thumb...especially for teenagers!
{Image by David Byrne on Flickr via ffffound.}

Jim Franco

{ Image via Jim Franco }

yes, petals not cake

Cinco de Mayo

{ image via all posters }

Happy Cinco de Mayo. I hope the flu does not put a cloud in your margaritas. We will be celebrating in style here in Worcester. El Diablo de Karen Davis will be on my mind all day!

Natural Beauty, A Code

{image or rainforest bloom by andreea waters}

{image via cannelle et vanille}

{image of vodka packaging via lovely package and ffffound}

{image of angelina jolie via ffffound}

Beauty comes in all packages. From natural to manufactured, from wild to human, from crafted to consumed...it's all beauty. The colors, textures and allure are such large economic factors. Aesthetic and beauty are such motivating factors of discoveries in science and math. The Fibonacci code, the Golden Mean, the ratios of natural occurrence, whatever you want to call it...all are so significant when we look at everything. I am no expert, but I am drawn to all the findings and I am addicted to the practice. It is logical to apply the theory to artwork and packaging.

Subliminal messages of natural perfection creep into our minds, and we choose to be attracted to natural beauty. As a designer, applying the ratio to artwork can yield dramatically more attractive work. I have tried it and was successful. Most beautiful artwork already applies to the ratio, giving it credibility. There is a useful program called Phi Matrix that is a great design tool. It has a few bugs, and sometimes you need a little work around, but for 15 dollars, I recommend it. If anyone tries it, I would love to hear what you think.

Still Green Premiering in Worcester

{image via Still Green}

Press Release from Still Green via I'm From Worcester, a cool source for all things happening in Worcester:

Massachusetts Producers to Premiere Award Winning Film at Showcase Cinema
On May, 15th local producers Doug Lloyd, Georgia Menides, and Andrea Ajemian will premiere their edgy, coming of age, independent drama Still Green at Showcase Cinema North in Worcester, MA, where it will run from May 15th to May 21st. Developed in Worcester, Still Green won Best Narrative Feature at the New England Film/Video Festival, Spirit of Independence- Best Ensemble Cast at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, and was rated Best Film Not Yet Released by popular Boston film critic TC Kirkham (Popcorn and Roses).

Still Green recently sold to Osiris Entertainment and will be released on DVD and blue ray later this year. Osiris just made headlines in Variety after acquiring Westlake Entertainment's library of more than 400 films, and Nelson Madison Films for an additional 40 titles. Often described as “The Big Chill for teenagers,” Still Green follows the lives of a group of high school graduates who rent a beach house, along the gulf coast of Florida, the summer before college. An accident in the ocean tests their friendship, and the teens respond in a way some people find disturbing and others see as a beautiful act of loyalty. Starring Sarah Jones (Big Love, The Riches), Ryan Kelley (Mean Creek, Prayers for Bobby), Noah Segan (Brick, What We Do is Secret), and Douglas Spain (Band of Brothers, But I’m a Cheerleader), the film has been called “Powerful and Poignant” –Larry Richman (pronetworks.org), “haunting and Hypnotic” – Adam Moore – (former consultant with Miramax Pictures), and “A film with the dramatic strength of a theatrical play with the cinematography and music of a blockbuster film” – Markdoty.com.

Director Jon Artigo’s former award winning film, Freedom Park was shot entirely in Massachusetts ran successfully in local theaters in 2004. Last summer, Artigo and Ajemian produced the feature length comedy We Got the Beat, (also set and filmed in Worcester), currently in post-production.

Writer Georgia Menides is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and was a student at Doherty Memorial High School. The film was inspired by experiences with her high school friends. Georgia’s screenplays have won awards at the Hamptons International Film Festival and the Austin Film Festival.

Producer Doug Lloyd is a graduate of Clark University. A wide range of promotional events will accompany the film’s release such as a premiere after party and a concert from artists on the film’s soundtrack (including platinum recording artist Kaz Gamble).

Following the Worcester screenings, Still Green will screen at Coolidge Corner Theatre in Boston on Wednesday May 27th and Thursday May 28th at 7:00 pm. For future screening locations and dates and for more information visit www.StillGreenMovie.com.

Tickets to the premiere of Still Green and the after party held at The Worcester Youth Center are open to the general public. All proceeds from the after party (20/head) will go to The Worcester Youth Center, 326 Chandler. Sweet.

Ah, chalk this up to more Worcester coolness. Congrats to all of you Worcester kids! Oh, and let us not forget, didn't The Maiden Heist , filmed at the Worcester Art Museum just premiered in Worcester at Hanover Theatre on March 7?

{These guys look familiar. Image via telegram.com}

The Power of Cathy Walsh and Worcester bits...

Cathy never fails to make me smile, laugh out loud or make me feel like maybe I am not thoughtful enough, not even close. Besides being unbelievably creative and original with her floral designs, Cathy Walsh is probably one of the most generous and thoughtful businesswomen in the city. Free wreaths at Christmas, so every business has one............what?

Cathy Walsh is a doer, not a sayer, not a dreamer. She does amazing and incredible things for other people, for the whole city! Now she and a group of rebelrousers she has enlisted are planting flowers around town for the International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day, May 1, originating in Brussels, Belgium. They were building the "bombs" tonight in her shop! ( I wish I peeked in the window to see this go down). I can hear the mission impossible music now! Sunflower mud bombs that will be hurled into deserving spots around Worcester. All the Romanians will be so happy. It will feel like home with all the sunflowers blooming. I think I shall plant some myself!

{image via Sprout}

Sprout has earned the Best of Worcester Florist award for the 6th out of 8 years she has been in business. Congratulations to you Cathy and Francoise for all you do to beautify and make people smile. Your work makes people happy at important and special times in their lives. You take full advantage and make every order extra Sprouty!!!

For more info
on the movement and how you can help spread the sunflower love around Worcester,
see Cathy's blog for details.

Congrats also to the other winners of Worcester Magazine's Best of Worcester including Armsby Abbey for 13 awards and Punkystyle for her creative and inspiring fashion adventure blog. Don't miss her next clothing swap here in Worcester. She was Chronicle'd for her swaps in Boston!

Canal District Clothing Swap
Saturday, May 30th, 11am - 4:00pm
Where: 138 Green Street/ Crompton Place

......................

and I saw on
I'm From Worcester.....
Still Green is premiering at Worcester Showcase North.

I like your TUSH and your HICKS

{Tush 138 Green Street Worcester, Massachusetts, photo via Erb Photo's Blog}

{Tush Denim Boutique Worcester, image via Erb Photo}

If you haven't been in to Tush and you are fashionista and jean connoisseur, I highly recommend stopping by located at 138 Green Street Worcester, Massachusetts. Deb Covino and Shannon Gray have put together a collection and taste is top notch and the store is funky and fun, and you have the benefit of personal attention.

Ooh, they also carry the jewelry of Jessica Hicks, who I just love. She is all over Hollywood glam and is based in Nantucket, Massachusetts, but was raised in good ol' Worcester. Now she is hobnobbing with celebs and getting press wherever her designs go. Nice.

{Sarah Jessica Parker with Jessica Hicks image via Jessica Hicks}

{Image of Ali Larter and Brooke Sheilds wearing
Jessica Hicks via Bella Diva Designs}

Pretty sweet, huh? So, what is that? Two amazingly cool designers from Worcester in the last week. Christina Sullivan of Tocar, NYC and Jessica Hicks. I wonder if they played Little League here in town. I don't think the Paula Zawalich Dance Academy would have supported athletic activity, so I believe I shall find out about Jessica. That would just make me smile.

Side note: I was having dinner with friends at Block 5 in Worcester, Covino connection, and our waitress had the most amazing necklace on. She had a nice summer tan and the delicate silvery yumminess just glistened on her neck. I asked her about it and she said, "Oh, my sister's design"...Hicks connection. She returned in a moment with a business card. Good sister, fine jewelry...and the food and drinks rocked, as usual. A good night out in Worcester.

For those of you from afar, Block 5 is across the street from Tush, so a good shop and a tastey treat across the street makes for a great adventure. Mike Covino, Deb's hubby is also part of Niche Hospitality Group, aka Mezcal, Bocado, as well as Block 5 and I hear some new Worcester locations are on the way!!! If you live in Worcester, you know the lowdown. If not, you should visit and stop in any of the 3 locations...you won't be disappointed.

In true Worcester fashion, there are family and friend connections everywhere!

West Side Babe Ruth

West Side Babe Ruth co-State Champs 2008

Our West Side 13 yr. All Stars were left out of last post. Jesse Burkett is the feeder league for most of these boys, who went to States and then New England Regional Tournament last year in Westfield, Massachusetts, battling it out with Westfield. Good times last summer, looking forward to another great season at Logan Field. Matthew is in the front left.

It's the season

{ MA DIST 4 2008 SENIOR CHAMPS
Players: Megan Kasala-Hallinan, Kara Finlay, Kristin Poti, Toni Scola, Caitlin Brosnihan, Catherine Lucy-Meagher, Lauren Kiritsy, Liz Griffin, Kelley Fluet, Colleen Olen, Kristina Latino, Ellie Higgins (first row-left), Laura Madaio, Deanne Jacobson }

Every spring and summer we gear up for outdoor softball and baseball. That means several practices and games per child (2) per week. When your daughter plays on 3 teams, and your son another, that makes for alot of action. We live in the Tatnuck area of Worcester, Massachusetts, which means they have grown up with Jesse Burkett Little League. This league has brought so much to our family and the community here in Worcester.

On any given day of the week, you can head down to Rockwood Field or the A field and find families and friends having fun, playing ball, munching on Burkett fries and watching their kids learn to play ball, never giving up, coming back from major defecits to win big games. As pitchers, my kids were also lucky enough to have learned to work hard under pressure, in front of alot of people, especially at States, when Elle threw the winning game bringing in the winning run on a bunt with two outs! As this public pressure thing puts the fear of God in me, I am full of gratitude for this bonus!

They enrich the kids with a love of the games, the teammates and give them an amazing spirit of the game itself. My children have been coached by some of the most creative and dedicated coaches out there, so I just wanted to post a little cheers to JBLL and thank them for over 10 years of incredible memories. From Ellie's first day of T-Ball to regionals at the senior level, your dedication and commitment have given all of our families the best springs a softball/baseball community has to offer!

JBLL also created a strong base for so many to play highly competitve ASA and AAU, and giving them the skills and foresight to prepare for college ball, while maintaining a commitment to learning and fun. From sending the boys to Willamsport, Pennsylvania for the Little League World Series, and the girls to Albany and Maryland for Junior and Senior Regionals and now hosting Senior Regionals in what will soon be a great new complex here in Worcester, Burkett and the coaches and friends always show them the way. It's not a league, it's a family.

New York City

{image via ffffound}

The National Stationery Show is fast approaching and with the summer-like weather and raging sunshine this weekend, my jealousy is peaking that I can't be in the city this weekend. It seems to always rain for the show and getting a cab in Manhattan in the rain is not fun. My friend, Andreea (aka PR partner) is in the city until Tuesday for the International Beauty Show...........hairdresser haven. She is there making sure the big huge screen doesn't fall down and break the blow dryers for Expert Satellite. Have some Soho fun for me, Dre. I am there with you in spirit.

Tocar Interior Design

{image via DECORATI Access Interior Designs Magazine}

{images via Tocar}

From her hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts, Christina Sullivan ventured to New York City and now has become one of the youngest and most talented designers to watch! In partnership with Susan Bednar Long, whom she met working at Polo Ralph Lauren. She struck out on her own after Polo, attaining impressive clients including one of my favs, Donna Karan. Imagine designing for DK? Before connecting with Susan and founding Tocar, a Spanish word meaning to influence or to touch, she was already well on her way.

Keeping her on my radar, I knew Christina was in New York designing. With my love for design she kept me inspired...I heard that she was at Polo, then Hilfiger. It had been her dream since we were girls in dance school here in Worcester. We worked in retail together as well, at G.W. Walrus in the old Worcester Center Galleria. There was a lot of talk of fashion, design and music...her love for U2 ran deep. I recall her resourcefulness even then, trying to meet Bono with a connection of her grandmother's neighbor. We had a great time there, I think she owes me one, because I worked the day of the concert for her, after standing in line to buy the tix. I recall her having a swatchbook even then. We were no more than seventeen.

One day, perusing Elle Decor, I flipped open a page and there she was! So I immediately tried to find her. Her design firm reflects the aesthetic she has always had, even as a young girl, elegant, polished with every detail attended to.

Check out the link, they have been mentioned in every design mag possible. Congratulations Christina and Susan. I hope to see you when we head out to NYC for the National Stationery Show in a few weeks!

Tocar Interior Design
165 Madison Ave, Suite 500 New York, New York, 10016 USA 212-779-0037 info@tocardesign.com
www.tocardesign.com

1stdibs has a great slideshow showcasing Tocar's work.

Featuring the artwork of Jella Verelst

{image via Zentangle via Jella Verelst}

Zentangle inspired artwork by Jella Verelst, of Kalmthout, Belgium. Jella recently came to the US for the Zentangle certification seminar, where I saw many of her amazingly intricate designs. She is inspirational and an enthusiastic creative I was very fortunate to meet.

Now is a the perfect time to learn how to Zentangle. It provides relaxation and a complete satisfaction. Not too many things in this world give you that. I can promise you, Zentangle does. Once introduced, you will find yourself looking for 15 minutes to complete one.

Invitation Inspiration

Here are a few of my new designs. By Michelle May for Checkerboard, photographed by Adoniram Sides for our Paper Bouquet Wedding Collection.

Depending on your personal style, you can find the most unique and exciting invitations.

{Modern Alchemy’s scented candles via Lovely Package}

Good candles can be pretty pricey, this package would make me consider any price. Honestly, it has perfect shelf appeal, in fact, it does not belong on a shelf. It deserves to be saved, both the box and the candle. How could you take a flame to that pretty thing?

It's circa 1970 and and we have Aunt Rosie's couch with the plastic still on it, in the room where children can only go when photographing the Easter picture in the Sunday finery...it's that good. I want to touch the box, and maybe smell it (the box and the candle) too.

Sidebar, visit Modern Alchemy, be patient and you will not be disappointed. Lush, details have been attended to.

{student work FIT via Lovely Package}

{vodka via lovely package and ffffound}

Don't forget to check out the next post, visit THE RED ROOM
and comment back for a chance to win cool handmade earrings.

Prelude to the Red Room

“Red is the color of passion and desire- that is the crux of this project – my passion and desire to create beautiful images.” - Scott Erb

This is a taste of The Red Room Project, Scott Erb's follow up project to the 20 Artists of Worcester. Recently posted were new images, that are just completely stunning...so I could not resist the share, a prelude to an in depth post on the photographer Scott Erb and the subjects, as they push the boundaries and creative limits of the red room. Enjoy.

Visit
THE RED ROOM
...
and come back here and post a comment,
and be entered to win a pair of handmade earrings!

Bali Heaven continued

{all images via living etc.}

I am so in love with this place. I almost can't stand it. It is the sweetest creative environment that I think I've ever seen. The colors and subtle drama really evoke the organic and eclectic style that I crave in everything from food to fashion. Annelie Audureau and her husband, Jean-Jacques, the creators of this eco-friendly heaven have gotten inside my creative brain and run wild. I love their free spirited approach to everything.

In my town and in my world I find that, I step into people's homes and they are interchangeable. Apples or chickens and roosters in the kitchen, standard items. Put it this way, I just never fit in. My children's friends and their parents who would come into my home, not knowing much about me, would step into the kitchen and kind of do the "i am not looking around at what is on the walls" routine.

Upon my walls are photographs taken by my friends on world adventures, paintings by my admired artists friends, art created by my children and myself along with various collected artifacts. They have all received the single eyebrow raise from those who put apples in their kitchen. Don't get me wrong I love apples and paint alot of them in fact...for our Jewish New Year cards. Those apples pretty much rock. Done right, apples on your kitchen walls could rock. A chartreuse apple on a nice sepia wall with a little gold silk screen action would do justice to the apple. Bottom line, the cock and the apple need a new vibe.

Kick some color and originality into your life...today. Sorry apple and ah, chicken lovers. You won't find them in my kitchen, but your children will have their eyes opened to some really great art and photography. All the while saying that they can't believe my friends "can make that". When they ask lots of questions about the artists and where they live, what they do and how they do it, I will think of myself as a little cultural contributor to the free spirit world. I am not your average mama so please don't look for my apples.