Bow Tie & Bustle

It’s official! Bow Tie & Bustle is here! Yep! After months and months, and weeks and weeks of working on this new business, my website is officially launched! Check it out at: www.bowtieandbustle.com. Bow Tie & Bustle is an event design and coordination business in Seattle, WA with a focus on the unique details that make us who we are. My time in Europe reminded me of how much I love the little details in life and this business is a clear reflection of that love. My hope is to continue incorporating my love for paper as well, so if you know anyone who is in need of a unique design or decor styling for a wedding, photo shoot, party or paper product, keep me in mind : )

There is still much more to be done: a new blog (coming soon!), a networking and inspiration blog for brides/grooms and vendors alike with a focus on the Pacific Northwest, an upcoming Parisian inspired (who could forget about Paris!) photo shoot with my dear friend and photographer Monica Hines and much, much more! I can’t wait to share all the details of the new biz, and am so excited and thrilled to be following my heart AND my gut! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Bow Tie & Bustle!

Thanks to all who have supported me in getting here. I couldn’t have done this without the love, hugs, listening ears, and word of mouth that so many of you have kindly offered! Thank you! Thank you!

For now, a sneak peak at the “Bun in the Oven” photo shoot I was involved in a couple weeks ago…thanks to MoHinesPhotography for the amazing photographs!

Me setting up the shoot at one of the most adorable couple’s home. Thanks to Jenn and Ryan Strom for allowing me to be involved in their baby bump shoot!

The entire design for the shoot came from an idea that literally made me jump out of bed one morning…bun in the oven…a vintage timer…baby bump…oooooh! Look for an upcoming blog post on this adorable photo shoot!

Candy Cane Greetings

All I want for Christmas is…a NEW printer! Wow. If there isn’t one thing to put me in a “Grinch-like” mood this holiday season, it’s a printer that doesn’t want to cooperate! Bah humbug!

Christmas cards this year have been anything less than, well…easy. After coming home from a long trip in Europe and being incredibly crunched for time, my hope was to create a “card” that was simple in design, but cute and quirky.  I wanted to include one of the photographs from our anniversary shoot taken this August with the amazing photography duo: Monica and Seth (love you guys!) of MoHines Photography, and also wanted to incorporate candy canes somehow…I think they are the most adorable thing this side of the North Pole!

After a bit of hair pulling, and some not so kind words shouted from the top of my lungs towards my printer including a lot of angry button pushing, I was able to convince my printer to half-crookedly (hmph!) print Christmas cards. I’d had the goal to make the cards very much greeting like (you know the open and close kind), but had to settle (one thing I am definitely NOT good at) for flat cards instead. I added candy cane liners to bright spruce colored envelopes and…voila! Our Christmas cards are officially in the mail! Happy Holidays everyone!

Front of card includes snippets from some of mine and Adam’s favorite holiday jingles…

Under the photograph on the back I added a holiday greeting, as well as the answers to the Holiday Tune quiz : )

P.S. Bailie Bug wants to wish you a VERY Merry Christmas!

Birthday Balloons

I have a friend. Her name is Vanessa. “V” for short. She is a doctor. And very cool. And very smart. And someone I admire. And my BFF. She lives far away. In Peoria, Illinois to be exact. And I miss her. A lot. I mean, A LOT.

I’ve known Vanessa for more than 8 years now, and I am so lucky to have her in my life. She is, to this day, the closest friend I have from my college years, and any time I spend with her is such a blessing. I was fortunate enough to get to spend some time with her in Chicago a few months back, and I had the time of my life. Vanessa is one of those friends that is just so easy to be around. You never have to question where you stand with her, and she is always able to shed some amazing light on anything for which you are seeking advice.

I love her to pieces, and wanted to send her a birthday card along with her gift that would hopefully bring a smile to her face. V works REALLY LONG hours, and is so dedicated to her career, so I wanted to remind her how important it is to take time for self-care, and pampering time. I filled a basket with all things “spa” like, and included a card with fabric birthday balloons as a finishing touch.

Happy birthday V! I love you!

Bunches of Thank You

Over the past several months, I’ve hemmed and hawed over whether I should create a stationary “line”. I am so in love with creating custom designs, meant to suite the needs of the individual customer, and I have no doubt in my mind that I will continue to create as many custom designs as I can get my hands on.

BUT, I have been intrigued by the idea of creating something for the masses. I contemplated where to start, and immediately thought of a thank you note design as my first line of greeting cards. I don’t know about you, but I am always looking for the perfect thank you note to pass along to a loved one.

I set out to create a line that was bright, cheery, and got the point across : thank you bunches!

This post goes out to all of my friends, and family, (especially my BPP family) who have given me their unwavering support over these past few years. I am who I am today, because of you loving me, and I thank you so much for that. Here’s to you…my “Bunches of Thank You” line…

Wanna Get Away?

Travel is something I live for. Really, I don’t know who I am without at least 1-3 trips on my “to do” list. It’s to the point that I can’t see one of my Seattle buddies without them saying “Adam just sent me a text for poker night. Where you headed to now?” I get a ton of grief about my constant traveling, but I know it’s something that feeds my soul, and luckily I have a spouse who understands my travel obsession, and supports me in any new endeavor or adventure I set my sights on.

I vividly remember my final train ride on my European honeymoon, and bawling my eyes out because for the first time in 4 years I didn’t have a single trip on the horizon. I quickly got home and planned a trip to Cabo San Lucas with some of my closest girlfriends, because I honestly didn’t feel like myself without my travel bug at bay.

I’ve never quite understood where my infatuation with travel comes from, but can always remember being extremely jealous of friends who would travel to far off lands. Every time I come within yards of an airport I feel a rush of excitement and yearning to hop on the next available plane to…well…anywhere!

Over the past several years I have been afforded AMAZING opportunities to visit family, vacation with close friends, and now to take a personal trip to Europe. A lot of this comes from setting traveling as my ultimate priority, but also from a career in nursing which allows for extended time off and a continued aching desire to increase my cultural competencies.

As I prep for my upcoming solo trip to Europe (a trip I’ve been waiting my WHOLE life for) I contemplate the endless amounts of places to visit and ponder the reality of traveling alone….eeeks! My honeymoon a year ago fueled my desire to see more of the world, and with an imminent layoff from a job I love at the end of September, what better time to pack it all up and jet set for 6 weeks or so, right?

With plans to spend about 4 weeks of my trip alone in Paris (blogging, cafe-ing, walking, sleeping, eating, antiquing, pondering, biking, discovering, and anything else with an “ing”), I also know that I want to spend about 2 weeks or so, hitting up the trains, and visiting various countries around France.

Now, despite what my friends and family might say, being alone is not something I necessarily fear, but actually something I quite enjoy from time to time. I am totally stoked for a few weeks to myself to figure out the “next step” in my life, whether that be continuing on my nursing career path, or braving some new adventures. With that said, I wouldn’t mind spending a couple weeks or so with good friends traveling from place to place expanding my view of the world.

As a means of inquiring about who might be available to take a leave from work, or school, or motherhood, or residency (hi V!) to travel with me, I created a little greeting card for a few of my closest girlfriends. I thought it would be fun to send a card rather than an email, text or phone call, to ask if anyone was interested in spending a couple of weeks or so away from home.

I found this AMAZING map of Paris and cut it to pieces to create both an envelope liner, and various parts of the card itself. I used vibrant turquoise colors to accent the look of the card, an amazingly funky font, and finished the design off with a tiny Eiffel Tower charm tucked in the envelope.

With hopes to get a “heck yes!” response from at least one of my gal pals, I sealed the envelopes and sent them on their way. Now just one step closer to the trip of lifetime…

A Seattle Visit

A little over a month ago, my parents and sister Coli came and visited me and Adam in Seattle. I was so excited for their visit, especially since it was my Dad’s first time to Seattle; and I LOVE seeing my city through the eyes of a newcomer. Every time I explore Seattle with a friend or family member who is visiting for the first time, I learn something new and exciting about this amazing city.

I am BEYOND in love with Seattle, and moving here with Adam almost three years ago (wow!) was the best decision I have EVER made. Well, of course, second to marrying him!

It was so fun to have my family out to visit, and I had been wanting to send them a little note thanking them for coming to see us. I found this adorable paper, that reminded me of raindrops, full of pops of green and pink colors which I used for the card and envelope liner. I added some lime green twine, and a teenie tiny Space Needle charm to complete the design.

I miss my family everyday, and wanted them to know how much it meant to have their presence in our home. Love you guys!

A New Abode

We all know at some point that we will have to “grow up” and move away from home to find our own niche in the world. Some of us resist this more than others, and some of us even beg to come home. Okay, so yes, I have done this once….maybe twice! ; )

Well one of the things that grown up’s do is buy houses. Yes, buying a house is a MAJOR “big kid” step in my opinion, and one I greatly admire of my friends who have already made this step. This past week, one of my best girl friends, Rachel, just bought her first home, and I am SO PROUD of her! I felt honored to go over to her new place and help her pick out her paint colors last week. It was such a thrill to see the excitement on her face, and hear about all of the amazing plans she has for her new home.

I can’t wait to see Rachel’s house when she really makes it her own, and I wanted to make a card to congratulate her on her new adventure. I wanted the card to not only scream “congratulations you’re a homeowner!”, but also reflect Rachel’s personality as well. I used bright eclectic colors and included a type key font on the card that I felt gave it that vintage “anthropologie” look that Rachel and I love so much.

I can’t wait to deliver this greeting card to my friend Rachel, the homeowner. Congrats my friend!!

The 4th

Holidays are the best! No work. Good food. Family and friends. AND on this particular holiday – FIREWORKS too!! Adam and I are lucky enough to be invited over to our good friends, the Andersons, this afternoon for a 4th of July celebration. We consider the Andersons our family away from home, and are super excited to spend the 4th with them.

I decided to make a 4th of July greeting card for the Andersons using (of course) red, white and blue detailing. I stitched floral fabric (fabric that was my grandmother’s that I found when I was back home early this spring) onto the card and then completed the design with polka dots and the number 4. I carried the design onto the inside of the card as well as the envelope. I made the envelope from scratch and included an envelope liner as a final touch.

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Birthday Puzzle

My supervisor (really my AMAZING friend), Barb, is one of the most fantastic, thoughtful, and kind women I have ever met. When I first made the transition to Becoming Parents Program from my previous hospital position, I was a bit nervous; but Barb’s bright and smiling face immediately put me at ease. For the past two years, Barb has been one of my biggest cheerleaders when it comes to my career (and life) decisions including my decision to pursue my paper passion…thanks Barb!!

I love Barb so much and was so honored to be able to spend Wednesday evening with her and some of my favorite colleagues to celebrate her birthday. We went to this YUMMY italian restaurant on Capitol Hill called Machiavelli’s and ate pasta and tiramisu. To celebrate the day, I created a “puzzle” birthday card to wish her a happy birthday. I used bright colors and balloon character font to really make the card sing “happy birthday.” I had a blast making this one and was so excited to see the smile on Barb’s face as she turned the various paper colors to reveal her “WISHING YOU A HAPPY BIRTHDAY” message.

I cannot imagine my life in Seattle without knowing Barb, and I hope that our friendship continues FAR beyond my time at BPP. Happy Birthday Barb!

Colors of the Market Part Deux

My interpretation of the market…

Closing a Chapter

Wow. My youngest sister is graduating from high school tomorrow and I cannot believe it…the years just flew by! I remember when I was younger counting the years ahead and saying things like “when Coli graduates from high school, I’ll be really old” or “when Coli turns 21 I’ll be…gasp! 30!” The years just keep ticking on, and I can’t believe how fast they go.

I remember when Coli was born. I was so proud to have another baby sister and loved carrying her around like she was my own personal little bundle of joy. I still tell Coli to this day how much I loved the little dimples in her chubby baby hands and the hot, summer days when she was 2 and would stand on the sidewalk out in front of our house in her hot pink Minnie Mouse bikini and wave at the boys as they passed by on their bikes…memories I cherish so much!

I have spent the last 3 years away from home and have felt like I’ve missed quite a bit of Coli’s high school years. I was lucky enough this year to help her pick out her prom jewelry and shoes, and even got to see her in her gorgeous dress during her visit to Seattle in March. I am beyond proud of all of her accomplishments and cannot wait to see all that her college years (oh my gosh!) have in store for her. Congratulations Coli! I’m so proud of you!

Class of ’10

Tis’ the season for graduations and this year is extra special because I actually know quite a few graduates. My sister Coli is graduating from high school this year and many of her friends whom I’ve known since they were tiny, are graduating as well. My Mom called me last week and asked me to create a graduation card for Coli’s BFF Mary. Mary and Coli have known each other since they were 9 months old and I’ve known Mary so long she feels like family. I wanted to create a card for Mary that was fun, bright, and represented her graduating class.

Congratulations Miss Mary!

Mom’s Day

Celebrating Moms just seems like a no brainer. Moms are fantastic. They may drive us bonkers many times throughout our lives, but when I reflect back on all of my fondest moments spent with my Mom all I can do is smile.

My Mom  has been one of my biggest supporters and someone I strive to make proud. My Mom has been there through all of the ups and downs in my life and had such a tremendous part in creating who I am today. She is probably the most creative person I know and I am aware that any ounce of “craftiness” that I possess,  is a direct reflection of her. I miss my Mom all the time (she lives in Albuquerque – hopefully soon back in CO) and the distance seems to get even farther apart the longer I spend away from “home.”  I always know, though, that my Ma is just a phone call away…phew!

In the past year I have also gained a new Mom as well. My mother-in-law, Linda, is an amazing woman and I am so blessed to have her in my life. She did a BEYOND FANTASTIC job of raising the man I married, and I am so lucky to have such a kind, thoughtful, and supportive mom-in-law.

I wanted to make some Mother’s Day cards for the two moms in my life, and I wanted to personalize them in a way that included pictures from mine and Adam’s childhoods. The card I made for my mom includes a photograph taken by my Uncle Mike when I was only a toddler. It is one of my all time favorites and is one that makes me giggle every time I see it. The card I made for Linda includes a photo of Adam wearing Mickey Mouse ears during a family vacation to Disney Land. The look on his face is so mischievous and a look I’m sure he gave Linda many times before and after the picture was taken.

Happy Mother’s Day Mom and Linda. I am so grateful for the both of you and I love you so much! Thanks for all that you do!

Funky Fonts

I spent hours yesterday searching for new funky fonts to add some spunkiness to my newest designs. I fell upon this AMAZING typewriter font, which is my new *favorite*, and is sure to make it onto many of my upcoming creations.

I had never really contemplated much in the past about how important fonts might be to my paper projects. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago when I got my first tattoo with my sisters (weird right?!) that I really started thinking about the significance of a “good” font.  I had spent a few weeks searching through hundreds of font styles for our tattoos, and realized that there are some fantastic fonts out there that I hadn’t even thought to use in my designs. The only other time that I can remember having “serious” thoughts about fonts was when I was creating mine and Adam’s wedding invitations last year.

When I 1st started designing our wedding invitations, I found a “cute” font style on Word and decided I wanted the lettering to stream across the invitation from edge to edge. It was not something I had seen offered by the stationary shops in our area, so I thought “why not make our own?” After hours and hours of Adam sizing the wording to the invitations to fit “just right” we decided in the end that the look was a bit too informal for the style of wedding we were hoping to create.

Working with new fonts over the past couple of days spurred my memory of that first draft of our wedding invites. I decided this morning (at 2am when all my ideas usually start brewing) to use my new favorite font to create a birthday card. I used all lowercase lettering and typed the words “happy birthday” over and over again until they covered the entire span of the card – edge to edge, just like I had wanted last year on our first draft of invites. I think it’s my new favorite design…

Merci Beaucoup

I remember when I was a little girl I would make every attempt to avoid my mother for days after Christmas, or a birthday, or any other holiday or event in which I had received a gift. I dreaded the words “it’s time to write your thank you notes” coming from her mouth. It was as if it was a nightmare….the words slowly creeping from her lips…the phrase tormented me. I would whine “No! Can I do them tomorrow?! Mom please!” I was given about two opportunities to “wait until tomorrow” until my mom realized that I was only trying to push-off writing them forever.

Now, it wasn’t that I wasn’t grateful for the gift I had received, but sitting down to write a thank you note as a child was, well, what do you call it? Boring! Eventually I stopped resisting and began writing my thank you notes practically at the same time I opened my gift. I realized if I just “got it over with” I wouldn’t have to worry about my mom seeking me out to do them. AND I could brag to my younger sisters that I was “already done” with my thank you notes, while my mom followed them around the house begging them to do theirs. What’s an older sister without a little bragging?

I now realize as an adult that thank you notes are one of my most favorite greeting cards to send. Sending a thank you note signifies that someone in your life loved you enough to give you a gift or do something special for you. I now pride myself on getting my thank you notes done in a “timely” manner (whatever that means) which is a far cry from my days as a child. I love sending thank you notes that are colorful and include art images. I used to buy my thank you notes from museums, or fun, eclectic stationery stores in the cities I visited, but realized when I started this blog that it would be fun to instead create my own thank you notes. I still love purchasing beautiful and “artsy” blank greeting cards, and have found that they are actually perfect to place inside photo frames around our home. Art is so fun!

Here are some of my newest thank you card creations, which I am sending out to thank my family and friends who were kind enough to give me a birthday gift. These particular creations are a bit different from a traditional card, because they don’t open and close, but are more like postcards – one flat piece. Instead of saying “Thank You” as the greeting, I used “Merci Beaucoup” because I LOVE LOVE LOVE french detailing! I wrote my thank you messages right on the front of the cards, tucked the postcard thank you notes into their respective envelopes, and placed them in the mail. Voila!