Thursday
Dec062012

Production Line

Shipping labels calligraphed, tags written, boxes everywhere...let the packaging commence!

Monday
Dec032012

Logo Love

Such fun working with bride-to-be Mel again (you'll remember her engagement party invitations...)

Now that she has squared away her super classy venue, picked out a stunning gown, and selected colors—black and white with a touch of gold—we began creating a look and feel for her paper goods to complement all of the above.

Mel loved the idea of having a logo or crest that would carry throughout the wedding, so after drawing up three different designs we landed on this winner. You see it here in the save the date (complete with a sassy striped back!), on her custom return address stamp, and wedding website. It's both modern and formal, sweet and fun...much like this bride and groom.

Wednesday
Nov282012

Christmas Countdown

Photography by Aubrey Trinnaman for Oh Happy Day

The golden sparkle, chalked numbers, and red ribbon are just so merry. 

I helped craft and calligraphy this little tinsel beauty for Oh Happy Day's advent calendar series. Definitely check out the full post here for all the photos, details, and holiday how-tos.

Tuesday
Nov272012

Boxed and Ready

It's beginning to look a little like Santa's Workshop around here—boxes of stamps and cards and custom stationery all shipped and delivered with the help of my trusty, albeit disgruntled, elves at the post office.

Monday
Nov262012

(post)Turkey Trot

After an amazing Thanksgiving feasting on smoked turkey, countless sides, and homemade pies we spent the weekend in Pt. Reyes enjoying the view and walking off said pies. Those hills are pure beauty, right?

Thursday
Nov222012

With Gratitude...and Leftovers

Photography by Paul Ferney for Oh Happy Day

This is our third Thanksgiving on the other side of the country. 3,000 miles from our families—and Dad's stuffing—we're so grateful to have been adopted by friends and counted as family again this year. With others like us in mind, I calligraphed these leftovers stickers for Jordan at Oh Happy Day—head there for a free printable of the stickers and send kids like us home with some extra turkey...just enough for Friday's sandwiches!

With gratitude and love, Happy Thanksgiving.

Wednesday
Nov212012

A Christmas Collaboration

Photography by Aubrey Trinnaman for Oh Happy Day

I loved working with Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day on her seasonal series—she is a maven when it comes to advent calendar cleverness, crafting, and fun. I calligraphed the numbered flags that we then nestled into these mini pines and mounted on small gift boxes to mark the days till the Man in Red's arrival. 

For all the festive photos from the shoot and details about our crafting along with a free download of the F&W calligraphed flags (now you can print 'em and make your own!) head over to Oh Happy Day.

PS Is the little red car not the cutest? Ever?

Tuesday
Nov202012

Return to Sender

F&W stamp style: Sterling

F&W stamp style: Torrie

'Tis the season for gratitude...and custom stamp orders. I've got lots of both!

Thursday
Nov082012

Monogram It

Instant custom stationery courtesy of a monogram stamp. Coupled with some pretty patterned washi tape, these two calligraphed letters spell fancy.

Tuesday
Nov062012

Baker's Dozen

These tags were completed for a serious baker who tired of her comprehensive sticky note labeling system for her countless flours and sugars. Upon sending me the ingredient list, even she admitted that white whole wheat flour is comically superfluous...and decidedly necessary!

Thursday
Nov012012

Merry November

F&W stamp style: Cox

It's the first day of November which according to the decked halls of our local Pottery Barn means one thing...retailers have officially kicked off the holiday season. In keeping with the theme, this stamp was ordered to be gifted for Christmas—tucked in a muslin satchel, it will make one sweet stamped stocking stuffer.

Ho ho ho? Nah, too soon. Happy November!

Monday
Oct292012

Oregon Trail(s)


One week and 1,375 miles later we have a new favorite mountain (look at that picture!), a new favorite city (Portland, where have you been all my life?), and a road trip for the record books. Oregon's fall foliage was electric, the mountain and coast vistas stunning, and Brendon's Long Drive Soundtrack perfect. 

We've unpacked our bags, put away the tent and are back to reality today, only question is...where to next?

Friday
Oct192012

Gone Road Tripping

I recently sent off this open and closed signage for Connecticut's best cupcake shop, Taste & See Gourmet Cupcakes—if you're local, go get a treat (or ten).

Speaking of closed, Flourish & Whim will be quiet for the coming week—we're road tripping to Oregon far from cell phone service and internet, close to mountains and lakes.

Over and out!

Thursday
Oct182012

Ready for Takeoff


Photographed by Paul Ferney for Oh Happy Day // F&W calligraphy

More crafted costume cuteness and chalkboard calligraphy from my most recent collaboration with Jordan at Oh Happy Day. This little pilot and his private (cardboard) jet are ready for lift off.

Check out the full post with all the pics and how-to details here.

Monday
Oct082012

Seasonal Supper

San Francisco and its nuanced seasons have grown on me. I now notice the subtleties in our sweater weather—light cardigan, heavy cardigan, light cardigan + scarf—and count them as my winter, spring, summer and fall. Just because I've grown accustomed to it, doesn't mean I don't miss my New England home and its fall foliage, crisp weather, apple picking...apple eating!

So last night in fall's honor, we threw a festive supper party—what we lack in foliage we make up for in seasonal spirit.

All done up in our pumpkin best we feasted on squash soup, Lucca's fresh pumpkin ravioli and Vermont apples baked into a butterscotch crisp. We prettied up the the place with gourds and flowers, some pumpkins and place cards. Our friend quoted Julia Child saying, "Dining with one's friends and beloved family is certainly one of life's primal and most innocent delights, one that is both soul-satisfying and eternal." Tis true.

Friday
Oct052012

Oh Happy...Halloween

Photographed by Aubrey Trinnaman (L) and Paul Ferney (R) for Oh Happy Day // F&W calligraphy

A few more adorable costumes—mini Frida Kahlo, little Andy Warhol and a classic robot—along side some F&W chalkboard calligraphy shots from my time crafting and collaborating with Jordan Ferney on her Homemade Halloween series. 

I mean c'mon with the cuteness, right? And check out this little number we paper-mached and hot glued into a whimsical cloud...

For the full posts and all the pictures head over to Oh Happy Day

Wednesday
Oct032012

Put A Sombrero On It

For Nikki's upcoming quinceañera inspired 30th birthday weekend, we nixed Portlandia's put a bird on it in favor of a sombrero. Feliz cumpleaños!

Monday
Oct012012

Oh Happy Day

Photographed by Aubrey Trinnaman for Oh Happy Day

Photographed by Paul Ferney for Oh Happy Day // F&W calligraphy

Shortly after moving to San Francisco I began following Jordan Ferney's Oh Happy Day blog and was instantly smitten with her unmatched style, aesthetic and creativity. Just last week I went from long time internet follower to in-person crafter as I joined Jordan's team for a few days of creative collaboration, crafting and photoshoots for her Homemade Halloween series. Such fun! 

The first post went live today and it's pure floral joy. I was all smiles as I sat in Jordan's studio surrounded by flowers and armed with a hot glue gun crafting this darling costume. A package of glue sticks, bunches upon bunches (upon bunches) of fake flowers and a precious 3 year old later, look at this sweet result. ...and check out the F&W chalkboard calligraphy!

No tricks here, I'd say this flower girl deserves plenty of treats.

For the full post and all the details, head over to Oh Happy Day...and stay tuned for more costume cuteness in the coming weeks.

Friday
Sep212012

Happy (Birthday) Weekend

Before skipping town to celebrate a certain special someone's 33rd birthday, I'm busy wrapping up a few projects and sending off some final art... 

Happy Weekend, hoping yours involves cake and party hats too. 

Tuesday
Sep182012

Julie & Julia

I'm currently reading Julia Child's My Life in France, Julia writes of her husband Paul's letter writing:

"Paul took letter writing seriously: he’d set aside time for it, tried to document our day-to-day lives in a journalistic way, and usually wrote three to six pages a week in a beautiful flowing hand with a special fountain pen; often he included little sketches of places we’d visited, or photos..."

I think Paul and I would have gotten on well. I love a handwritten letter...sending, receiving... In the days of email and texting finding something other than a bill or J.Crew catalog in your mailbox is all the more rare and decidedly special. These custom monogram and address stamps were ordered as a gift for a fellow lover of letters, a kindred spirit.

Side note... It's safe to say Julia, her butter and I would have been fast friends too. She comically notes that her letters were "full of spelling mistakes, bad grammar, and exclamation points..." Ha!

F&W stamp style: EK Monogram & Katz Address