NicBlog

the wedding tree, printed for an aussie in green

2012-01-24T15:33:00.000-05:00

i wanted to share the results of this job i did for a lovely fan in australia, which was ordered and shipped at christmas! yes, it was quite a rush, but i think the final piece turned out so well! since the set was unconsciously influenced by a certain book, i love the use of the green and white -- it evokes the book cover! a special thank you to my letterpress, peter kruty editions, for doing stellar work (as always).

my favorite part of the wedding tree set is the RSVP card. something i had a lot of fun with, for sure.

for this or any other ready-to-order wedding invitation suites, please check out the nic studio wedding collection.

happy 3rd birthday to my little miss!

2012-01-13T02:37:00.000-05:00

yes! it's officially anna jae's 3rd birthday! nope, i'm not mourning the fact that she's getting so big so fast... i've always been a person to enjoy whatever new stage i'm at, and it's no different with my daughter. i don't miss my daughter as a baby! no no, i like anna jae now as she is at the moment. she is smart, and funny, and silly, and beautiful. she stands up for herself when needed, and won't back down, but she'll likely just take you out with too big of a hug. she understands people, and she has a grasp on life. she is amazing beyond belief... and i am so proud to be her mom.

i won't beleaguer this post with too much boasting... i'll just leave you with her annual birthday gift from me: a new painting each year that represents who she is at the moment (you can see her first and second birthday paintings on my blog). this will tell you a lot about her personality...

dave and i discussed the painting for this year and wanted to get more detailed without getting cluttered. all we knew that we needed in there were her school uniform (she just loves school), and her ivy doggie. then dave suggested putting her in a car and having the "big dinosaur" in the background -- that's how she refers to the blue ape on the car lot off the BQE that she just loves so much. he's like her friend! she makes up stories about him and everything. perfect. good idea dave!

well, it can't just be the big dinosaur and anna in a car! i decided to flush it out with some of her most favorite things/places: the geico billboard, target, and yes, ikea. what can i tell you -- my daughter knows her branding! and latches onto it! yep, this is anna in a nutshell. oh, she'll tell you if she's wearing something from target, or playing with something from ikea. oh yes, she will. =)

happy birthday to my goofball. mommy loves you.

one more goodbye...

2011-12-31T11:05:00.000-05:00

2011 ends with yet another parting in our family. aunt pearl, my husband's great aunt and one of the most amazing ladies i've ever had the honor and pleasure of knowing, passed away this morning at 96.5 years old. pearl was so strong that she managed to fight off pancreatic cancer for months -- an amazing feat at any age, especially at 96. until the end she was insightful, loving, cunning... a woman with many stories that could still give me directions in a car and never managed to think of herself alone. our daughter lost another close person in her life, my husband lost what was essentially his grandmother, and i lost a lady that i had become incredibly close to in my 13 years of knowing her. i'm so grateful that we had all that time at all.

i leave you with the portrait i did of her as her 95th birthday present. this is just how we'll remember her.

seriously, is it 2012 yet?

wow, it's almost 2012! farewell 2011...

2011-12-30T14:27:00.001-05:00

and i haven't updated this blog in a month. can you tell i've been busy?

i'd like to take this opportunity to say goodbye to 2011. it was a rough, roller-coaster of a year. we had our ups (my business, dave's new job, finding a new apartment), and we had our downs -- all involving, very sadly, the health of loved ones. the biggest downer, of course, being the passing of my dad. and this set the tone for the entire year.

while i fully believe in being optimistic at all times, there are just some things that you can't fully push past. nor should you. some things are life-altering, never corrected moments that take a while to get around. notice i didn't say "get over", because i don't think you ever really get over the loss of someone important to you. but you do get around it, you live a life after it, you do continue to grow and change and love and laugh. or, at least you should. my dad would have wanted it that way.

and we are pushing. i spent the month and a half after my dad's death prepping completely for my first National Stationery Show, which completely changed my business (for the better). my cards are now in 23 stores across the country and i am beyond happy with the connections and friends that i've made this year. my daughter is going to be 3 in january (i KNOW!!), and is flourishing at school. we are moving in 2012 to a new, bigger apartment in our current neighborhood, which makes us happy on so many levels. and i know that life has more good in store, and hopefully less bad.

we tried our absolute best to have a good christmas, not only for our daughter's sake, but also for our mental and emotional well-being. heck, we all need a little happiness at the holidays, right?

as a closing to 2011, and a very fond farewell, i leave you with the portrait i did of my father for my family, as a christmas gift. yes, we'll move forward, but we'll never forget him. here's hoping he's watching out for us in 2012.

** portrait done using 2 photos taken at my wedding rehearsal dinner in 2006 by mo daoud.

happy december!

2011-12-01T10:44:00.002-05:00

hi all!! life is crazier here than usual, so i just wanted to check in while i had a moment. happy december! are you all getting ready for the holidays? i know i am! check out the holiday cards that the nic studio is sending out as we speak!

pay attention to the design... this illustrated print style is something that's coming in the spring to my card collection! it's inspired by the illustrated patterning i did for the bride-to-be book. let me know what you think. =)

that's right, i designed and illustrated a BOOK! and it's a bridal book!

2011-11-02T15:56:00.001-04:00

check it out! amy krause rosenthal's newest book, published by random house's potter style division, is the first full book that i've illustrated and designed. and, lo and behold, it's a bridal book!

it's the bride-to-be book, a scrapbook of sorts for planning and remembering your wedding. i designed the interior pages and did the little illustrations, as well as the illustrated prints on the pockets (which hold things like cards, photos, fabric samples, clippings). i'm excited to say that the book will be available for purchase soon (actual dates vary -- but the site says December of 2011)!

a huge thank you to danielle deschenes, my good friend since our time at syracuse university, for inviting me to do this. it was so great to see both our names together on the inside cover!

illustration in question: chevy chase in funny farm

2011-10-20T15:32:00.000-04:00

does anyone know who did the original illustration for the funny farm poster? i dig it! but i can't find the artist's info.

my letter to apple: the loss of steve jobs

2011-10-05T21:02:00.000-04:00

this is the email i just sent to apple:

i just wanted to extend my sincerest condolences to the apple team, the pixar team, and whomever steve knew and touched in his very short lifetime. we've all been sharing our first mac stories on twitter this evening. mine was a G4 tower, a graduation gift from my mom & dad in 2000. everything i own for my work is mac based. i am in constant awe of the innovation, the design, the attention to detail, the LOVE that goes into apple products. only steve jobs could have done that. i'm incredibly distraught tonight over this loss. cancer has taken my dad from me this year (lung cancer), and is about to take an aunt (also pancreatic). while i hate this disease more than anything right now, i am reminded of something i heard on the radio some weeks back. a story from a nurse, who said that though cancer is horrifying, it's also kind. in most cases, it gives the patient the ability to choose how he/she dies, gives them a chance to get their affairs in order, gives them a chance to say goodbye. my father wasn't afforded this luxury, but we know that steve jobs was. he fought for a long time, as long as he could. then he got his affairs in order, and said goodbye. for this small wonder, i am grateful. i know that apple will continue to make great products in steve's legacy. i will continue to honor him as well. thank you for everything steve.

you can also share your thoughts on steve jobs at rememberingsteve@apple.com.

5+ years -- an anniversary for Nic. AKA "how did i get here?"

2011-09-19T10:43:00.001-04:00

i just realized, admittedly a few weeks late, that i've hit my 5 year anniversary of being a stationery designer, of being on my own. happy anniversary to me!

my story is pretty familiar to many. it's the same story a lot of solopreneurs tell. i used to be a publication designer -- senior designer at the student-centered magazine CollegeBound Teen. the company was small and family-run, we all loved working with each other, it was a good place to get my start. i got to explore my talents, art direct projects, work photo shoots, and really put my own stamp on something under a great art director and with some really great coworkers in the art and editorial departments. i redesigned the magazine and put all my energies into the pub, and was not interested in doing anything else (like web design). well, like so many other publications but unbeknownst to us, it just wasn't doing very well. and in august of 2006, our CEO laid off 1/3 of the company (people that were primarily associated with the mag) and closed the magazine. i was all of a sudden out of a job.

one of my last cover designs at CB Teen, for Spring 2006.

one of the story spread layouts done for CB Teen.

i was sad, i was in shock, but i sort of knew it had to happen. i quite literally bought the domain for nic-events.net the next day and started to put together my freelance stationery design. i had had some clients on the side since i had done the design for my own wedding in april of 2006, and i just went full-steam ahead with that. said goodbye to my former coworkers (some of whom stayed for the new incarnation of the company), took some awesome office supplies with me, and set up shop at home with my very supportive husband. and so began this adventure.

one of my earlier wedding designs for jaime and anthony.

from one of my current 11 sets in my wedding invitation line, graffiti union.

things have grown and changed quite a bit over time -- the biggest change having come after the economic crisis of 2009, when i had to refocus the business or fold altogether. and now i'm really doing what i always wanted to do -- using my illustration skills and essentially drawing for a living! i get to be home with my daughter all day (as much as she may drive me crazy sometimes and as hard as it may be to work normal hours), i get to choose my work and my clients, i get to develop my own line with my own point of view and determine my own future. all of this adds up to quite a wonderful change in these 5 years, as hard as it may have been at times.

just wanted to say thank you to all my former coworkers who are still some of my closest friends, everyone that believes in my new work, the press that has given me a presence over the years, and the biggest thank you to my husband for supporting me both emotionally and financially. not many men would take such a big economic hit willingly and so happily over such a long period of time. it feels great to know that he believes in me that much.

raise a cup of coffee and toast to your own successes, as i toast to mine. now, off to do more work!

inspired by: norman rockwell (and my kid)

2011-09-15T21:11:00.000-04:00

anna jae started school last week. big, HUGE deal. moments like this always lead me to think of norman rockwell paintings. one day i expect anna jae's day to look like this (wouldn't that be lovely?).

the anniversary we've all been dreading

2011-09-10T23:00:00.002-04:00

we are on the cusp of the anniversary we've all been dreading. the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

as a new yorker, i'm too sad and in too much grief to write much. all the talk around here this week, in the media and in the air, has caused a sort of general melancholy. i don't really want to rehash where i was, what i saw, how i felt. i've told the story for the previous 9+ years. i just feel incapable of telling it tonight.

what i will say is that i'm happy to see the lights, the ghosts of the towers that used to be, on the horizon. they went on already, this evening. sad to be reminded of what's coming, but glad to be comforted by them yet again. my husband and i have always loved those lights. we're glad they are still here. sort of like a giant guardian angel for NYC.

milton glaser, 2001.

i'm am, as always, a proud new yorker that loves her city. i love that i live in a highly mixed neighborhood in brooklyn, with a large muslim contingent, that greets me with smiles every day. i love that i was born here, grew up here, and i can only see living here until i'm old and gray. and i love that no one has taken that from me.

i wish you and your loved ones solace and comfort tomorrow. remember in whatever way works best for you, just make sure you remember. and please, all of us, be safe.

real client wedding: piper & carl are hitched!

2011-09-08T01:23:00.000-04:00

just wanted to do a quick shoutout to a great couple, piper & carl, who were just married this past sunday in brooklyn. these two were great clients, lovely friends, and i'm so happy to know that i had a small part in their wedding. thanks you two! congrats!

website and email down

2011-08-17T11:00:00.000-04:00

hey everyone. just wanted to let you know that my website and email are DOWN. down down. nothing to be done. waiting for my host to get their act together. in the meantime, you can catch me on twitter or my facebook page.

thanks!

i'm an expert!! i'm an expert!! how weird...

2011-08-10T19:04:00.000-04:00

yes folks, after years of doing stationery design for a living, i'm officially an expert. how official, you ask? oh, THIS official: i'm an "expert" for 17 videos about wedding invitations on howcast! it's pretty weird, watching myself talk to viewers about this subject -- but i'm happy with the way it came out! and i hope others are happy with them too.

Wedding Invitations: How to Make Save the Date Cards on Howcast

one of the videos is embedded here, but you can watch the rest on howcast. collect all 17!

inspired by... toulouse lautrec

2011-07-31T23:42:00.000-04:00

this evening i am feeling the emotion behind toulouse lautrec's paintings. love this passionate kiss...

image via daily artist.

inspired by... edward hopper

2011-07-21T12:36:00.000-04:00

i'm feeling the hopper today. this one makes me think of summer in NYC. windows open, trying to beat the heat, seeing into someone's life a little bit when peering through.

what i think of when i think of the hamptons...

2011-07-06T23:04:00.000-04:00

yep! finally, a weekend away! dave and i are going to the hamptons this weekend on a much-belated 5th anniversary mini-vaca. damn, do we need it! and i need lots of adult-only relaxation and fun. adios, anna, see ya when we get back!! (oh, and i'll miss you, i promise).

mind you, we're not rich, so it's not like we're doing a summer rental or anything. no no, just a hotel for a couple of days to recharge our batteries. wine, food, ahhhh.. so what do i think of when i think of the hamptons? check it out:

beautiful, relaxed, shingled homes like this one. via the hamptons real estate blog.

wine tasting!! we're staying at the end of long island before the forks, so we're going to be able to visit all our favorite vineyards this time. high on the list is always shinn estate on the north fork and wolffer estate on the south fork. photo courtesy of wolffer estate.

farm stands! we usually stop off at farm stands when going out with our friends for a day... there's nothing like fresh strawberries. mmmm... this year, we'll have to just bring back some goodies for anna jae. photo courtesy of sag harbor days.

not to mention great restaurants, relaxing strolls/drives (once you're past the traffic!), and quiet. ahhh... i'll be sure to take some nic-type photos when i'm there to really explain what i see when i see the hamptons.

change, it is a-happenin'!

2011-06-25T13:31:00.000-04:00

hey all. i know, i know, i keep going pretty long between updates. life just has a way of taking over. ah well... i'm still here! and i wanted to let you know what's going on in my little nic world.

first of all, there have been some website changes. so check it out! i have more to come (updating my custom invitations with new work, updating some pics in my ready-to-order section), but it's on its way. complete with a new splash page, new header, new press page, and new ready-to-order info.

nic•notes cards are finally officially available in stores across the country, as well as in my dear•nic etsy shop. so check 'em out! for a store near you, please visit my site.

the nic studio was recently featured four times in the timeout ny weddings guide, local stationery section. one of my sets for PS Brooklyn was also included. i'm in some great company, and i'm honored to start the slideshow. thanks to timeout ny for including me.

NY FINALLY LEGALIZED GAY MARRIAGE!!! i'm so so so SO happy about this. i celebrated with my husband last night, after being glued to the live senate feed for an hour. in celebration, i'm offering my same-sex wedding cards with free shipping for a limited time. there are two cards -- one for male couples and one for female couples. also, as an LGBT friendly vendor, i'm looking forward to an influx of same-sex marriages! i'm pretty damn excited about this. if you're interested, please contact me.

i've been pretty busy since the stationery show, filling out orders, completing a gift book design/illustration for random house, and doing some press. anna jae is back to being my constant companion, and couldn't be happier about being such a bother. =) we're enjoying summer so far, and have a full schedule for the season, but i'm looking to move onto new work.

hope you're all well! drop me a line and let me know what is going on in your little world, and thanks for visiting mine.

NSS recap - my first show!

2011-05-20T12:55:00.000-04:00

it came. it went. it's over, and i'm here with my feet up. it was my first stationery show, and this is my story...

as you probably already know, the lead-up to the show for me was pretty rough. my dad passed away march 25, after an intense but short illness, and i did all my show prep after his funeral. and i mean ALL. all paper goods, all booth designs, all purchases for booth styling, everything. which pretty much guaranteed a stressful show setup. any time something went wrong, i lost it a little bit... my husband wasn't too thrilled with that! but in the end, it all came together.

the main plan for the booth was to make it comfy and homey. my work relates back to real life, and i wanted the booth to be personal as well, instead of feeling like a store display. we made walls out of masonite with a wood frame, got bookshelves and a table/chairs from ikea, curtains, and i made a custom pendant lamp with fabric i designed and had printed with fabric on demand.

dave putting together the bookshelves.

bookshelf up, and the wire hung for the lampshade.

the masonite walls weren't the best -- the masonite warped a bit, and we had quite a bit of trouble putting them up (a big shout-out to my friend where for helping with the walls on friday). next year we're going to do something different, but with all the window dressing, it worked out.

the final booth, all put together. the logos and booth numbers were vinyl decals. the shelves held my notecards and my invitation binders, and the walls had 3 frames each with my new invitation sets in them.

we lost a little bit of wall space in the end, so we had to eliminate the frames from the walls that held my prints. i put two of them on my desk instead, with all of my promo materials and the recipe card giveaway.

bike for two set.

winter woods set.

graffiti union set.

destination wedding set.

rainy day wedding set.

closeup of my pendant lamp. couldn't have made it without the help of my friends danielle and aileen -- it took a whole afternoon!

moving onto the show itself... it went really well! the notecards were surprisingly popular -- and i only say surprisingly because they are a new venture for me and i didn't know how they would fare. but it seemed as though buyers and visitors alike truly related to the cards, which is exactly what i hoped for.

i got seriously lucky with my aisle -- as a first timer, i didn't know who would be with me, and having a good row is helpful. well, was i a happy girl. in our little section, we had fugu fugu press, banquet atelier and workshop, and just eleanor. not only did we get along really well, but we also truly enjoyed each other's work. what a great feeling to be appreciated and helped by your fellow stationers, rather than to dislike, disapprove, or feel in competition with them.

there were so many great exhibitors nearby as well. mr. boddington's studio, a forever favorite of mine, were just down our aisle...

loved their booth!

get a load of this bike! made out of foamcore i think. insane!

claudia of fig. 2 design studio also premiered at this show, around the corner from me. her booth was yummy.

rachael of pistachio press did a great job with her booth, helped a great deal by her husband jake.

paisley tree press, right across the aisle from pistachio, had the best wine tags. i want one. (i almost stole one, no joke).

amber at flywheel press had a fun chalkboard-themed booth, also manned by her husband rich. amber also organized the recipe card promo with legion paper, which i will blog about this weekend.

lisa of sapling press has awesome notecards, and was the genius behind last year's sensation, the stationery/stationary totes. awe-some!

katie of kelp designs had her always-eco-friendly display, with the most awesome wood signs. loved the twitter/recycle/tradeshow bootcamp icons (katie headed up the tradeshow bootcamp, a HUGE help for us first-timers).

and then it was all over! tear down was amazingly fast, but loading up the car sucked because of all the rain. still, it was a great show, and i'm already planning my changes for next year. thank you to my husband for all the support and for building the booth; my mom for watching our daughter so much while i was working trying to finish everything, and for helping in the booth; my mother-in-law for coming in to hang out with anna while i was being all professional; and to loren and carrie for keeping me company and manning the booth with me on sunday (extra-special thanks to loren for also helping in the design of the booth itself).

and of course, a huge thanks to all my fellow stationers, my lovely booth visitors, my buyers, and the press. you made it a great show for me, and i hope that i can see you all again next year.

stationery show, CHECK!

2011-05-19T13:20:00.000-04:00

my first stationery show is over now! i really think it was a great thing. i'm still in recovery mode -- i'm pretty beat, my feet hurt, i want to just hang out with my daughter -- but i will be posting up a blog post later today, complete with pics and musings.

i hope all of my visitors really enjoyed what i did. i certainly enjoyed meeting all of you. =)

nic•notes update! and an apology...

2011-05-03T00:41:00.000-04:00

so sorry i've been away from the blog for so long. with my father's illness and passing, and then the great rush to get everything done for the national stationery show, i've been too busy to breathe, let alone blog.

but here's a bit of a treat for you! a sneak peek at my new nic•notes card line! i've come up with a collection of notecards and occasion cards that bring out the true nic style -- and sense of humor. =) this is just a small sample of what's to come in a mere 2 weeks! not even! AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!

i truly hope that you enjoy the fruits of my labor, both with the notecards and with the new wedding collection (pics to come). it really has reflected a part of me and changed me as a person.

some good news: the nic studio on the knot tv!

2011-03-31T13:02:00.000-04:00

in the midst of all the bad, there's always some good... this week it is in the form of the knot tv. i was contacted by jaimie dalessio to participate in this week's knot tv live, the theme being splurge vs. save. for my part, we would use a custom invitation for the splurge category, and a ready-to-order invite for the save category.

one of my most recent client couples, carrie and dave, wanted their invitations to include oh-so-many things. carl schurz park on the upper east side, the 59th street bridge, their world travels, their chuppah, and most importantly, their dog toobab. so i created two scenes that don't actually exist in nature. the first as a scene from the promenade at carl schurz park, with the 59th street bridge in the background, and a cliff and tree from a photo taken by the couple in israel. i then used another part of carl schurz park in the rsvp, but turned a lamp post into a wayfinding sign (also from israel) with directionals to all the places that the couple have traveled together. finally, toobab is front and center, and popped out in a different color.

we used this opposite my "scenes from a brooklyn wedding" invitation suite, available through my ready-to-order collection. this was actually the suite that most enchanted my clients and drove them to my studio. but it's also my most popular and most requested ready-to-order set. both obviously are illustrated, but custom illustration/artwork is all for you, and can be as specific as you want it to be -- and clearly, that can be very specific!

to check out what the knot tv had to say about it, follow this link (my portion starts at the 23 minute mark). i'll be posting up pics of the original custom invites very soon.

in memoriam: a tribute to my dad

2011-03-26T13:01:00.000-04:00

after a very sudden onset of illness that landed him in the ICU, which resulted in us finding out that he had lung cancer, my father, henry gagolewski, passed away on the afternoon of march 25, 2011. he was 73 years old.

dad was a character, to say the least. he led the most colorful life but acted as though he was a regular guy from down the street. my father was a cab driver, a bouncer, a retired NYC police officer, an exterminator, and a business owner. he was the father of 4 -- two children from his first marriage, and myself and my brother from his second (and longest, and last). he would tell random stories of stabbings, of drug dealers, of NYC in the 70's, of people he knew and met along the way, as though he were talking about buying a bottle of milk. he was my little girl's best friend, my mother's husband of almost 39 years, my brother's travel partner for weekend boys' trips, and everyone's favorite talker.

i am the first to say that my dad and i did not always have a good relationship. my dad was a flawed man, like so many of us, but as his young daughter it made me angry and resentful. we fought constantly through my young days about anything and everything -- his addiction, religion, the world. when my father got sober i was 20 years old, and we started to heal. the last few years have been good ones for us -- we could chat, we could laugh, we never argued anymore. i was older and understood more, and he was past his real demons. and while dad could still drive anyone crazy -- he never listened the first time you said something, he would interrupt constantly, he was still a very religious person that didn't understand my lack of faith -- he became more of a fixture in my daily life, and i was all the happier for it.

my dad had the best relationship with our daughter, anna jae. from the day she was born, there was just something about the two of them together. he could make her giggle, then laugh out loud. he would talk to her, and read to her, and joke around with her, and play with her as best he could. she would run to him the minute she walked into their home. she would do impressions of him. they just adored each other's company, and i can't imagine him not being with her anymore.

dad had a neuropathy in his legs, something that he had for about 10 years, was diagnosed with about 7 years ago, and something that he started to get treatment for about 4 years ago. for the past few years he had to walk with canes and a walker, and had a motorized wheelchair for certain trips. he was terribly stubborn about doing things for himself though, and insisted on still going food shopping, making himself dinner, and going up and down the many stairs at my parents' house.

this neuropathy may have caused his first illness that sent him to the ICU -- a brain illness that came on so suddenly and that they could not find a cause for. but while looking for that cause, they found the cancer in his lungs. this was not a big shock -- the man smoked for over 60 years, we knew it was bound to happen. but the brain illness hurt his chances at treatment, and he spent the longest 3.5 weeks of his life (and ours) in the hospital. after bucking all odds, his body finally succumbed to the illness on thursday night. he was put on a ventilator friday morning, but we knew that there was no hope. and so we let him go friday afternoon, with his children, his wife, and two of his three grandchildren next to him.

i leave you with some photos of my dad from my wedding, and several of him with our daughter. i will always wish i had taken even more.

design lust: the new alexander wang flagship store

2011-02-17T14:42:00.000-05:00

a good friend of mine was lucky enough to attend the opening of the new alexander wang flagship store here in NYC. designed by robin kramer and her team at kramer design group, the store is clean, luscious, luxurious, and welcoming, all at the same time.

all photos courtesy of alexander wang.

yes, that is a fur hammock you see! and according to an article in the wall street journal, alexander wang wants guests to be able to sit on it! (can i lay on it? just once?) mr. wang's goal was to have a space that welcomed customers to feel at home – a very nice home – from its leather couch to its fully-carpeted dressing rooms.

i once visited a friend's home in carrara, italy, the home of michelangelo's marble. his home was covered in marble, from the driveway to the bathrooms and everywhere in between. but there was also comfortable furniture, art covering the walls from artists of all different levels, and the familiar sounds of family. so the marble no longer felt cold or overly decadent, it just felt part of the space. that's how alexander wang's store feels to me. sure, it's opulent, but you can still touch.

hats off to alexander wang and the staff at kramer design group for their vision. now i'm off to pretend that my armchair is a fur-covered hammock. ahhhhh...

what's inspiring me tonight

2011-02-02T01:20:00.000-05:00

hello all! it's me! in the wee hours of the morning! working! as usual!

i've had a bit of coffee...

i realized just a bit ago that i never post to my blog anymore. because i've run out of time my dears... out of time to research new posts. oh sure, the sporadic, "look what i just did!" post is up, but no more than that.

well, i'm going to try and remedy this situation. yep. since i'm up all night doing research often times anyway, i might as well post up my inspiration!

tonight's post comes from the invitation set i'm doing for my brother-in-law and his fiancée for their SECOND wedding in san francisco. yep, that's right, these lucky ducks get two. the first is in dallas in a few short weeks. but the second and much larger party is in SF, and that one of course needs invites as well.

the theme? central park meets SF meets street food. should be fun. =)

central park trees. by Roopa, via centralpark.com

central park cherry blossoms. by SES, via centralpark.com

the view of the SF skyline from the golden gate bridge. via green car reports.

the couple is getting married at the westin st. francis. this photo via oyster.com.

lobby of the westin. i love "the clock", as it is apparently called! via buyoutsidethebox.com.

this is part of off the grid in SF. via local savory.

sneak peek: rehearsal dinner invites...

2011-01-26T21:32:00.000-05:00

because sometimes you get to draw and design something uber-fun.

happy 2nd birthday to our anna jae!

2011-01-13T10:21:00.000-05:00

so yes, our little girl is already 2 years old. i can't believe it! of course, i'd already given her two time-outs at her new 2-minute level by 9am, but that's the joy of a two year old, right? right??? =)

anyway you look at it, i'm always immensely grateful to have her in our lives. she is funny, smart, loving, willful, creative, and just plain fun. she is my little buddy and i adore her for it.

so happy birthday to my fabulous little girl. i hope that you're as happy to be with us as we are to be with you.

my gift for our little girl. i do a new piece for her every year on her birthday. for more information on this, feel free to go to my nicillustration blog.

new year -- how it looks to me

2011-01-03T09:37:00.000-05:00

it's a new year! 2011! hooray, hoorah!

we've come a long way since the economic crisis first occurred. 2009 was rough. 2010 was a better year, but still unsteady. and now, 2011 looks positively shiny.

there are a lot of exciting things on the horizon for me here at the nic studio. i am starting out the new year working on a project for a major publishing house (to be discussed at a later date!), 2 new custom clients, a painting for my daughter's second birthday (a tradition i started last year), and an invitation set for my brother-in-law and his fiancée and their whirlwind wedding!

the biggest item on my horizon is the national stationery show, which i will be doing this may. i have SO MUCH to do for it, but that's ok. it's really exciting, and a big step for my little stationery company.

most of all, i'm excited to see my little girl grow another year older. her birthday is in january, and is always a great herald for the new year.

what does your new year look like? are you hoping to shake off the years past? just grow more? find love? new endeavors?

i hope your holidays were wonderful, and that your new year is as bright and shiny as you would like.

check me out! the nic studio on brooklyn bride

2010-12-09T00:03:00.000-05:00

i have a new vendor listing on brooklyn bride! thanks to vané for the great posting. i'm proud to be listed alongside such great stationers!

sneak peek: christine & rich's save-the-dates

2010-11-24T13:18:00.000-05:00

here's a sneak peek of the save-the-dates for christine & rich's wedding... can't give too much away, because they haven't even gone out yet! i'll show the full piece when they are happily out the door. =)

The Nic Studio in 1000 More Greetings book!

2010-11-24T13:03:00.000-05:00

if you follow me on twitter, you know i was surprised a couple weeks ago when i found out that my work was featured in the new book, 1000 More Greetings (rockport publishing). i had submitted my work last year for the book, but we were never notified as to whether or not they were using it. so what a happy surprise to find my work in the book, along with so many of my wonderful collegues!

the above photos are of my pieces in the book. first is adrienne and andrew's invitation suite, and the second includes two images from betsy and jeb's suite, their RSVP and their pre-wedding softball game invitation.

also included in the book were several of my stationery buddies, including (but certainly not limited to) those pictured above. from top: wedding invitation from brown sugar design studio; first birthday invite from jane hancock papers; note cards from sycamore street press.

my dearnic etsy store is back up and running... with new stuff!

2010-11-20T12:22:00.000-05:00

so i finally put my etsy store back up... after months and months of neglect, i've added some new (and some old) items back into the space. just in time for the holidays!

first up, my holiday cards. nothing new here, if you've followed my work. but some have been rather popular, and since i'm so busy getting my line ready for the national stationery show in may (eeek!), i opted to reuse the old ones for the time being. plenty of people still don't have the hot santa cards yet, after all!

but the new additions are what i'm most excited about... i've decided to start doing some new poster prints. the ones up on etsy are just the tip of the iceberg, but i think they're pretty great...

the kid prints are all pieces i did for special occasions in my own life. my daughter's first birthday invitation and art piece were the "winter girl" print, and the "little boy blue" and "mary, mary" prints were original pieces done as gifts for friends and their first babies.

the "brooklyn woman" piece is something that's part of my new collection. one of the things i love most about brooklyn are the people here. they all have attitude, they all have tons of personality, they often don't know how funny they are. i walk around my neighborhood from time to time snapping photos of people around me -- old men playing dominoes or mah johng, old ladies sitting alone in chairs outside of their buildings, kids playing hopscotch... it's an amazing environment rich with character, if most of us just take a moment to stop and look around.

if you'd like to order anything, please go to my dearnic etsy shop. thanks!

cross-post: wood inspiration

2010-11-08T00:04:00.000-05:00

i'm currently working on a drawing for a ready-to-order set to add to the nic notes marriage line. it involves winter, and wood, and all those great outdoor things.

so i started thinking, how many illustrations out there really involve wood? how many will inspire me? well, i have my answer. check it out:

my dishonest heart by audrey kawasaki.

aesop's fable cover, illustration by milo winter.

illustration by kristiana parn.

winter woods abstract by joseph rossbach photography.

we in winter woods, morton lloyd garchik.

winter woods, illustration by vivien blackburn.

illustration from lokomotywa, by jan lenica

the old woman in the wood, illustration by arthur rackham.

winter woods, illustration by karin neumann.

i'm a "leading moms in business" winner!

2010-10-12T13:26:00.000-04:00

hooray! i ranked in the leading moms in business competition on startup nation. i'm so proud to be one of the top 200 women that competed. thanks so much for voting for me over and over again.

my little girl thanks you too. =)

our apartment is for sale! spread the word!

2010-10-08T18:58:00.000-04:00

if you have been following me for a while, you will remember when we moved into our new apartment. we love this place -- it was the first place we owned, it is our daughter's first and only home, it is a great space. we love the building and we love this apartment.

but we have recently realized that we may be able to get a small house in brooklyn now. with interest rates as low as they are and prices down, we can move into a home that we can just grow with and stay in for a long time. i can have an office at home. everything that we eventually want.

so we're selling our place. it's bittersweet, but the right move for our little family.

if you or anyone you know is interested in buying a place in brooklyn, spread the word and let me know! it's a great space, and you can't beat the price for the space and layout.

my promos, and the step-by-step process behind them.

2010-09-24T12:30:00.000-04:00

if you follow me on twitter or facebook, you know i've been working on promos for a long time. the concept was to highlight for the recipient that i am an artist as well as a designer, and that my strength is putting ideas down on paper (quite literally). so i decided to make a "sketchbook" of sorts that featured my work, a personalized note and a catalog of work shown. the remaining blank pages are a gift to the recipient to sketch their own ideas.

i found out that i could easily make these sketchbooks myself. yep, glue and all. how cool is that?!

i began by laying out all my pages on the table. every promo contained different pages and a different personalized note. so i needed to assemble them one by one.

after compiling the pages for each book, i put them together with a cut chipboard backing and a few pieces of cardstock on the front. this was because i was clamping the books together for gluing, and i wanted to make sure that there were no imprint marks from the binder clips on the paper. i took a synthetic paintbrush and used it to brush on quick-drying paper glue. finally, i added a third clip in the center and waited for each book to dry. after dry, i would take off the cardstock from the front (often with the help of an exacto to make the process neater) and add another thin layer of glue. then i would let those dry.

finally, i took another piece of paper to make the cover. i measured the width of the dried sketchbooks, and used that to determine how long the cover should be to wrap around the top to the back for gluing. i also added in scoring marks so that i could score the covers to fold easier. before gluing, i stamped each cover with my logo in white.

finally, i added the covers and glued them much the same way as i glued the rest of the book, adding cardstock onto the front and back of each book and clamping them down.

the finished sketchbooks had a note on the front for the recipient, hand written, tied to the books alongside a golf pencil.

this was a very fun promo to put together. i hope my recipients loved it as much as i did.

sneak peek: promos!

2010-09-18T12:10:00.000-04:00

i can't show you the whole piece yet, but here's a sneak peek of the promos i've been working on. they'll be going out this week. =)

my studio-mate

2010-08-28T01:18:00.000-04:00

i haven't posted about my spirited daughter, anna jae, in a long time. but i thought i would let you know what we're up to in the studio... we are in the middle of a decor overhaul, because she has moved in. =)

our girl loves to draw. and, not to sound like a bragging mom, but she's GOOD. see those marks on the picture above? she made all those. with care. she takes her time, she looks at what she does, she enjoys seeing how she can change things up. anna has even started to draw with two or three crayons at a time to see what happens. this kid is an artist.

we are painting at least the smaller wall with chalkboard paint and hanging up her work on the walls. i'm looking forward to it!

have you heard? sale!

2010-08-12T14:03:00.000-04:00

hey guys!

as we all know by now, the california supreme court has overturned proposition 8 and ruled it unconstitutional. which means freedom without bias to all couples, straight or gay, to get married. woohoo!! well, at least in california. but it's a start.

to celebrate the end of prop 8, i'm having a sale on custom wedding invitation suites for same-sex couples. 15% off my design fee (which starts at $700 for custom illustrated invitation sets). printing not included in discount. this sale ends at the end of september, so get on it!

more celebratory sales at soyoureengayged.com.

new sneak peek: park avenue invitations

2010-08-05T00:32:00.000-04:00

i'm not ready to show you all of this set yet, but just wanted to post up a sneak peek of my latest custom invitation suite. the couple is getting married in a landmarked building on park avenue, and is having a "dessert and dancing" reception. i drew a classic view of park avenue, and added in a fun detail...

i'll let you know when the whole set is available for viewing!

think i'm a "leading mom in business"?

2010-07-08T22:02:00.000-04:00

two things are most important to me in life. one is my family. the other is my career. i work hard to keep up with both these days -- as a full-time mommy and a full-time businesswoman, i admit that i don't sleep much, but i love what i do. i hope that i'm setting a great example for my daughter, since one of my main propellants is how she sees me. i want her to be proud. (and isn't she just the cutest thing ever?)

well, startup nation is running a competition for moms who are also businesswomen, and i would love your vote!

the competition is ranking the top 200 mom-owned businesses in the country. i would be proud just to stand with these women. being a mom is the hardest job on earth, i think anyone could agree -- and it's not made any easier when you also have to run a company. but honestly, having my career helps my sanity instead of hindering it, and i wouldn't have it any other way.

so come on everyone! all it takes is a click of the mouse. and you know, you can vote daily! so send yourself an email reminder on startup nation and vote every day if you believe in me. =)

new happenings at the nic studio

2010-06-29T22:50:00.001-04:00

life continues to be busy here at nic studio!

firstly, i got the latest custom set in from my offset printer. how fun are these? it's a custom pocketfold with 2 enclosure cards. the inspiration for the set was seville, spain. the clients wanted to really spotlight seville oranges, so we decided on oranges and orange trees as the imagery. the exterior of the pocketfold is illustrated with orange trees in a grove, while the interior is full-bleed color with an illustration of cut oranges. the RSVP has oranges on branches. finally, the website card is a full-bleed bright blue, the compliment color of the whole orange-and-white set. isn't the blue spectacular?! i want to do an entirely blue set now in this color. it's amazing.

second, the first letterpress samples of my "scenes from a brooklyn wedding" invitation suite came in. they are so beautiful i want to cry. my letterpress printers, peter kruty editions, did an amazing job. i am seriously in love.

the 2010 marriage collection is for sale!

2010-06-23T15:32:00.001-04:00

well kids, it's official. my collection of wedding invitations is available at lion in the sun! i delivered the book on tuesday afternoon. you can check out pics below. i'm getting samples of one invitation set letterpressed late this afternoon, and another should be delivered over the weekend, so i'll be adding those to the book after they are received.

my website will be updated tonight to include new photographs and prices.

sneak peek! new invites fresh off the press...

2010-06-18T13:19:00.001-04:00

can't give you guys all the details yet. but i just got these back from peter kruty editions, and they are FABULOUS. they just look better than i could have imagined.

can you guess the setting?

stationery show part one: yummy illustration!

2010-05-20T15:45:00.001-04:00

i was at the stationery show monday and tuesday this year, walking it with my buddy rajshel of stationery hustle. we came across so many great small companies -- some which we knew, some that were new to us. all that wowed us in some way.

amongst the many trends this year, one of the best (for me, at least) was the amount of self-illustrated pieces. how refreshing! as a designer, i appreciate the need for stock art and have used it often. but as an illustrator, my heart sings when i see original artwork on paper products, the art that was made by the designer.

first up, benjamin paul letterpress. out of seattle, this studio creates everything in house, from the imagery to the actual printing. the cards were colorful and sweet, with just a bit of nostalgia thrown in.

next up is the new collection by izak zenou for byrd and bleecker. izak's illustrations are famous in the fashion world, and are synonymous with henri bendel and laura mercier, to name a few. now his fabulous fashion illustrations are on letterpress cards from byrd and bleecker!

dandy lion press was part of the ladies of letterpress booth. maia surprised me by telling me that none of the very intricate illustrations used on her paper products were stock. all were hand drawn by maia herself! i loved it. i for one draw a lot, but nothing that i do is that detailed. i leave that up to botanical artists. apparently though, maia tackles that all on her own. even the back of her cards has a little emblem that means "no clip art here". awesome.

a favorite of mine since their debut 3 years ago, old school stationers goes about things the old school way. they use pencil and paper to come up with their lovely imagery. i also love the idea of a print to go with a card -- something i have also done. it adds something personal to your purchase.

finally, i had to visit the booth of our friends sara and rob of paper loop cards. sara told me on monday that while so many stationers start out from illustration and move to graphic design, she went in the opposite direction -- design to illustration! clearly this art was existing in her the whole time. paper loop cards were so much fun to see in person. they have a great energy to them, and so much color.

more stationery show posts to come! this was just the first. stay tuned!

paper loop cards

2010-05-15T16:05:00.002-04:00

hey all!

to kick off the icff/stationery show festivities here on the nicblog, i wanted to start off with paper loop cards.

sarah and rob are the masterminds behind paper loop cards. sarah is the creative force, who draws their characters, and rob is the business force who helps those characters find a voice. and what a perfect combination this is! being an obvious fan of illustrated works, paper loop cards has some amazingly fun products that make me smile.

according to the two: "Among the 31 new styles debuting at the Stationery Show are ten holiday cards featuring lovable animals: a tuxedo clad octopus; campfire critters, a snail in a scarf, a ski jumping penguin, and three santa owls."

i'll be stopping by their booth at NSS (1747), and so should you if you're at the show! i will get you guys some pics of their booth in action.

thanks to sarah and rob for their time and information. sorry for the belated post! my world has been crazier than expected. =)

new site, new line... NEW NIC!

2010-05-13T12:06:00.000-04:00

well, it's finally here. i've been working for the last 6 months on my first ready-to-order wedding line. and though it's not for sale *just* yet (you'll have to wait until june for that), you can get a look at what i've been doing!

the line features five wedding suites. two are inspired by my love for brooklyn, and the other three came from art, fabrics, nature, and interior design. each set has five available pieces -- invitation, rsvp card, reception card, thank you notes, and exterior and response envelopes -- and all will be available for order in either offset or letterpress.

the line will be available on my website as well as in lion in the sun in park slope, bk.

you can see the sneak peek on my nic•events site as well as on my newly-launched site for the nic studio.

which brings me to my other piece of news! now you can find my custom stationery, ready-to-order stationery, and illustration work all under the same header. i love being able to show people what i can do and how each discipline influences the other.

let me know what you think of all the new developments!

have a great day everyone. =)

national stationery show is coming up!!

2010-05-01T12:41:00.002-04:00

i'm so excited... the national stationery show is coming up! i'm getting ready to check things out and meet the designers.

as usual, i will cover the event, pick my best in show, and do my best to bring you all the newest and most innovative in stationery design. i can't wait to see some of my old favorites and hang out with some fabulous creatives.

and maybe, just maybe, i'll get to bring little miss anna jae with me (at least on one of the show days).

to check out my coverage of the past years' shows, read my 2009 NSS coverage and my 2008 coverage.

check me out! smilebooth at the b-list party

2010-04-21T21:05:00.004-04:00

there was a smilebooth at the b-list party! gosh i love these things. they're just fun to play in. i especially enjoy fake mustaches on sticks. yay for fake mustaches on sticks!

me and my partner in crime, the fabulous janice from the bridal wishlist.

in the three goofy pics above: amanda from ruffled blog, me, annemarie from perfect bound, and jacqueline from merci nyc.

i still have no idea whose spray tan rubbed off in a line on my arm... ha!

if you enjoyed the pics, check out more of the b-listers at the smilebooth blog!

the b-list, my line, and more... busy nic world!

2010-04-19T10:10:00.002-04:00

hello readers, friends, and fans! how are you? happy mid-april. i hope you all are enjoying the spring. =D

i wanted to update everyone on the latest goings-on here at the nic studio.

i was in DC this weekend for the b-list bloggers' conference. actually... i was only there for the meet & greet on friday night. it was so that vendors (me) could meet other vendors and bridal bloggers. so much fun! the b-list gals did an amazing job putting the event together at the torpedo factory. wine, prosecco, food, desserts, and great company. can't beat it. i finally got to meet some ladies who i hadn't yet met in person but have known for a long time, like my good friend janice at the bridal wishlist (hey janice!), and i got to introduce myself to others. such a great excuse to get out of town.

in other news... i've been working myself to the bone for my first line of wedding stationery. the collection will launch soon, and will feature 5 different sets of invitations in all different themes. each piece features original illustrations. it's a labor of love, and i really hope everyone feels the same way about it as i do. i will keep you all posted to the exact launch date... and there is a special surprise as to who is co-launching it with me. stay tuned.

i will post up sneak peeks of my current client work as soon as i can. all custom illustrations -- so fun!

to keep it up on everyone's mind, the haiti poster project is still going strong. my poster is still available, but as the numbers go down, the price goes up. give to a good cause by buying the poster today.

also, if you want a piece of nic past, you can go to my dearnic etsy store to purchase an original nic illustration, or even a print. check it out!

take care kids. talk to you all soon!

haiti poster project, on sale today!

2010-04-05T09:46:00.002-04:00

hi everyone! i hope you guys all had a great holiday. =)

i just wanted to let my readers know that my poster for the haiti poster project goes on sale TODAY! if you want to grab one, i suggest you do it right away. as the number or remaining posters goes down, the price goes up. (more pricing details here)

thanks so much for supporting such a great cause!

NicEvents in Equally Wed Magazine

2010-03-22T12:16:00.003-04:00

i'm so excited about this!

a few months ago, equally wed -- a new online wedding magazine for same-sex couples -- asked me to design a few invitation suites for their premiere issue. one for a female couple, and a gentlemanly-style one for a male couple. and i'm so very excited to announce that the magazine just launched today at noon.

you can see my two designs above, or on their site at equallywed.com. you can also fan equally wed on facebook. and while you're at it, don't forget to fan NicEvents too. =)

inspired by mucha

2010-03-16T12:11:00.011-04:00

i've been doing a lot of research for my invitation line (which will launch in may 2010). one of my main sources of inspiration for a particular piece is alphonse mucha.

one of my favorite artists of all time, mucha's art is beautiful, lush, dramatic, and romantic. it celebrates the natural beauty of women and their curves. it explores the hidden gems in fabric folds, in floral arrangements, and in the open space between objects. line weight and design both are addressed in his paintings.

i thought it might be wonderful to have a mucha-inspired wedding. especially when it comes to bridal attire and flowers -- both of which are celebrated in mucha's work.

like the painting above, the dresses below are romantic, flowing, with dramatic skirts and lines.

dress above from amy kuschel.

dress above from renella de fina.

dress above from vera wang.

mucha shows the drama of gowns in his time, at the turn of the 20th century, which often included billowy sleeves and lovely details.

the dress above from pronovias has a jacket with billowy sleeves, much like the mucha painting above.

head wreaths are common in mucha paintings.

the head piece above from florica evokes the same romantic feel.

different in approach, this mucha painting has a much more severe but still whimsical head piece.

and like the mucha painting above them, these headpieces by stacey hannan are metallic and dramatic, almost like a bejeweled headdress.

all mucha paintings evoke lush surroundings, like these two huppas above. the top is by matthew robbins (photographed by christian oth), and the second is by designs by rose.

why not try a fruit centerpiece, inspired by the mucha painting above? below centerpiece from martha stewart.

try something dripping with lush flowers and dramatic lighting to finish off your mucha feel. top arrangement by matthew robbins, the second is by designs by rose.

the wonderment of it all

2010-03-16T10:25:00.003-04:00

my little lady, anna jae, has started to really enjoy looking at "pictures". and i mean paintings. she points them out everywhere she goes. she seems to like the colors and the scene. she loves the piece mommy did for her birthday, points at it all the time as it hangs on the wall above her toy chest. and just yesterday, when we got home and i flipped on the computer, she saw the same painting on my screen wallpaper and pointed at it, and then pointed at the one on the wall. THAT was pretty cool. =)

taking her to museums these days is a fun task. we took her to the tim burton exhibit at the MoMA 2 weeks ago, and she lapped it up. she loved the drawings, she loved the sculptures. she pointed at everything with her signature "wa da?!" (what's that?), and smiled when i showed it to her. sure, the images were a bit creepy, and i'm pretty sure that she woke up with nightmares from it that night, but for the time being she just loved it.

so i've started her on crayons and coloring books. anna doesn't know much about the point -- to color in the characters and all that -- but she does love whirling that crayon around! she likes to look at what i'm drawing here every day. and she likes to learn about "pictures" -- who is in them, what they're about, what colors are used.

do we have a little artist on our hands? i have no idea. i think dave hopes that we don't. HA! but i do love to see the wonder in her eyes. =)

i won! thank you!

2010-03-01T08:08:00.002-05:00

my poster won! it will be generously printed by red dog graphics, inc. i'm so very happy about this -- i wasn't sure what quality of printing i could have afforded, and i'm glad for the opportunity to have it printed so well. i know that red dog will do an amazing job.

thank you to all of you that voted for it! i was in extremely good and talented company, and i am so flattered to have won regardless. i'll keep you posted as to when the poster will be available for purchase from the haiti poster project. please buy your own print -- it means that a great cause will get a boost.

vote for my poster to be printed for this worthy cause!

2010-02-26T12:12:00.005-05:00

as you saw from my post yesterday, i have completed my poster illustration for the haiti poster project. red dog graphics has generously offered to donate the printing of one poster to the cause. there have been 4 posters submitted, including mine. well, I NEED YOUR VOTE! please become a fan of red dog graphics on facebook and vote for my poster (option B). it's for a great cause.

while you're at it, become a fan of NicEvents on facebook, and keep up with all our going's-on. =D

the haiti poster project

2010-02-25T13:10:00.002-05:00

i don't know how many of you have heard of the haiti poster project by now. hopefully most.

the project, organized by moxie sozo of the hurricane poster project and josh higgins of the so-cal fire poster project, brings artists and designers from all over the world together to contribute to the aid of victims of the earthquake in haiti. by creating posters in limited editions to be sold online, these creatives can bring both money and awareness to the problem in the greatest medium available to them -- visual communication.

i personally wanted to contribute to this project because i wanted to create something that made a difference. it's rare that we as creatives can give to a good cause through our work. this is one opportunity that could not be passed up.

my poster is complete (shown above) -- you can learn more about my concept on the nicillustration blog. where it is being printed is still up in the air. red dog graphics has offered to donate the printing for one poster design, and since a few of us have been able to meet their deadline (of today!), there will be images posted online for a vote by the public as to which poster is printed. i will keep you updated on when the vote begins. but have no doubt, my poster will be available for purchase through the haiti poster project by their march 15th deadline.

REAL SIMPLE WEDDINGS 2010

2010-02-08T07:47:00.000-05:00

so my copy of Real Simple Weddings 2010 arrived last week. i always look forward to this time of year... RSW has a tendency to make me smile. and this year's issue did not disappoint.

of course it has all the usual: timelines, etiquette guides, dress shapes for every body. ok, you can see those coming from a mile away. they're necessary. so what else does this issue have to offer than the usual wedding mag?

well, to start: lovely photographs with great ideas to pull from for your mood board/wedding scrapbook/idea folder. color schemes to help the tonally challenged. less on the cakes and flowers, more on the concepts. and a handy pullout guide in the back with all of the tips, tricks, and charts you'll need when you're ready to put the magazine down.

there are so many great, quirky weddings in this issue, which i really appreciate. it's so hard to find a showcase for different and wonderful ideas in wedding magazines. my fave was the very colorful event that was lola and adam's wedding (pages 66-67). the bride wore purple and orange! the groom wore a purple suit and top hat! the favors were custom playing cards with butcher images on them! (FYI, the groom is a butcher. don't freak out.) i wanted to party with these people! i think they live in brooklyn too. hmmmm...

handkerchief invitation above by bird and banner.

finally, i was so happy with the invitation ideas showcased this year. from handkerchiefs -- an idea favored by designsponge's grace bonney -- to custom-illustrated invites, there were truly some lovely and fanciful pieces featured. as critical as i can be about always seeing the same-old, same-old, it literally made me smile to see some of my most innovative colleagues published.

so, my lovelies, run out and get yourself a copy of Real Simple Weddings 2010. it gets my seal of approval... for what it's worth. =D

more info at realsimple.com.

and yet, more font goodness!

2010-02-02T13:18:00.004-05:00

wow, it just keeps comin' today! got this "best of custom letters 2009" link from friend von glitschka, whose "sinestra" font is honored (though, oddly enough, wasn't created until 2010. hmmmm....).

typographic eye candy!

2010-02-02T10:39:00.002-05:00

who loves hand-drawn lettering? I DO, I DO!!! check out this gorgeous and fun work from nate williams.

cross-post: drawing for new project

2010-01-17T17:31:00.002-05:00

what do we think? hand-drawn illustration for a current project (hint: it relates to what is below). i think it's pretty damn, well, pretty!

i love a town that knows how to brand itself

2010-01-14T10:23:00.006-05:00

branding is so important. people think of it only in terms of companies and corporations. you know: logos, store design, business collateral, advertisements. but i think branding applies to all different aspects of your life. things like finding your style in your home decor could be considered branding -- branding your living space with your personality. having a consistent wardrobe could be considered branding yourself. finding your own personal voice in your event design/stationery could be considered branding -- branding your wedding, branding your event. it's not necessarily commercial. it's just a way of letting your personality shine through in outward appearances.

in working on a new stationery suite inspired by seville, spain, i've realized that seville is really a town that knows how to brand itself! because of the orange trees that are found throughout, the city for centuries has found its voice in the color orange, and the bright colors that complement it (white, bright royal blue, and a bright green). orange is found on the walls of the buildings, on the signs, on the interior architectural moorish decoration, and even on the wheels of the horse-and-buggies found in the city center. amazing amazing amazing. and i don't just say that because i love orange (though that doesn't hurt!). it's just such a smart, intuitive thing for this city to have done over the years. what a way to find a voice.

can anyone think of any other cities, here or abroad, that brand themselves as well as seville does? either through color, or fonts/signage, or consistent imagery?

study of DUMBO brooklyn

2010-01-12T10:54:00.003-05:00

i'm working on some new stationery, and part of it is doing studies of different areas of brooklyn. this is of the cobblestone and rails from DUMBO.

taking custom orders for illustrated stationery

2009-11-20T10:48:00.002-05:00

if you follow me, you know that i often put custom illustrated details into my pieces. they are usually simple, like a tree or branch, an object, or a scene. because of time and clients' budget restraints, i can't always do a custom illustration, or it may not be very intricate.

however, i LOVE to illustrate my work. as you can see from my daughter's invitation, it's something i truly enjoy.

i've gotten a lot of questions about the invite since i posted it yesterday (below). and i would love to take on custom orders for pieces such as these! the image can be created large enough for reprint as a piece of art after your design is complete. so you can get two things at once -- your stationery and custom artwork for your home.

to see more of my custom artwork created for kids, go to my nicillustration blog.

my baby's first birthday invitation

2009-11-19T09:30:00.003-05:00

i've been working hard on a number of items, all of which i'll get to in time. =) but i wanted to post up the invitation i just illustrated/designed for my daughter's first birthday party. (important info removed).

i can't believe she's about to be one!!

been busy

2009-11-03T13:30:00.002-05:00

hey kids. so sorry to be missing! i've been rather busy -- there were a couple of new babies to celebrate in the past 2 weeks that i made presents for (check out the nicillustration blog for those projects). then, of course, there was anna's first halloween weekend! and of course i've been terribly busy working on my stationery, from winter-themed invitations to holiday cards, and finally my ready-to-order line.

i hope you are all having a good week so far! i'll be on later this week with more updates. in the meantime, be sure to follow me on twitter and fan me on facebook for more nic, more of the time!

winter weddings in the woods

2009-10-20T22:43:00.004-04:00

i'm working on some really great winter wedding invitation suites right now. and one in particular is a lot of fun for me (see the sneak peek below). i'm dreaming of snow, a fireplace in a wooded lodge, a dimly lit wedding with the winter wonderland outside and warmth inside...

in getting suggestions for lodge locations from friends and colleagues, i thought i would post some of the most beautiful ones from different states. wow, what i could do with some of these places!

i need a hot cocoa now...

the striking interior of the naniboujou lodge in MN.

castle of spring green, WI.

skybridge at mohonk mountain house, ny (well known for the location of miranda's honeymoon on SATC!).

the grounds of fairwinds estate in lake tahoe.

glow from the eagle ridge resort & spa, IL.

interior setup at the cedar valley preserve, WI.

sneak peek!!

2009-10-20T22:34:00.003-04:00

hey guys! it's been a busy week around here, between stationery work, illustration work, interviews, and promo pieces. not to mention 2 new babies born to 2 very good friends of ours, and my own little miss anna jae getting bigger (and more demanding!) every day!

just to give you a sneak peek, here is something i'm working on now. enjoy the little bit you can see!

i'm a SUPER MOM!!!

2009-10-15T08:30:00.002-04:00

i didn't know this, but i'm a super mom!

meredith lopez, who writes for the huffington post blog, interviewed me as the first in a series that she's doing on "super moms". it makes me feel good -- one of my main goals is to do things in my career that my girl can look at and be proud of. it's great to be the subject of an article that says that everything i do right now is something my girl can be proud of.

i'm so humbled by this. i just want to say that being a mom is the hardest, happiest, and most rewarding "job" i've ever had. anna brings me joy every day (yes, even on the bad ones). everything i do in my career now is so that i can make her even more proud of me. you know how kim clijsters daughter came out on the court to be with her mom after she won the us open? that made me cry... still does. that's what i want... maybe i won't get something as big as a us open win, but you know what i mean. =)

does the type of printing matter to you?

2009-10-09T13:09:00.003-04:00

one of the biggest subjects for my clients is the printing style for their pieces." letterpress or offset?" "how's digital offset?" "what does all of that cost?"

personally, i think that any type of printing -- in the hands of the RIGHT printer -- can be beautiful. of course, the design itself needs to be strong, and the paper selection needs to be correct for your style of stationery. still, i don't think that people need to be intimidated by the printing styles available or by the prices incurred from certain processes.

adrienne & andrew's invitation suite. offset printed on via felt stock.

megan and roy's wedding accessories. letterpress printed on 100% cotton stock.

the best of both worlds? betsy & jeb's invitation suite. offset printed on crane's lettra letterpress 100% cotton stock.

what do you think? did/do you have a preferred printing style for your stationery? could you afford the one you wanted? and do you regret your choice?

you can post your thoughts below, or on my facebook fan page discussion board!

blog love: the bridal wishlist loves the new redesign!

2009-10-07T09:28:00.003-04:00

janice at the bridal wishlist was kind enough to post about my new site today. check it out!

NicEvents in... wait for it... TIME OUT NY!!

2009-10-06T23:25:00.005-04:00

ok, ok, on timeoutny.com. but hey, i'll take it. =)

in their online wedding section, timeoutny.com posted an article on local wedding stationery. and NicEvents made the cut. i'm #14 on the list. =D

read more about it here.

the newly redesigned NicEvents has launched!

2009-10-06T23:08:00.003-04:00

hello all!

thank you for being patient over the past few weeks. i know i haven't been posting as much as i usually do. but it's all for a good reason. i finally completed my site redesign.

welcome to the new NicEvents!

not only have i revamped the look, but i've also added new content. there are never-seen-before wedding invitations, corporate event stationery, and special event stationery. i've revamped and updated my press section. there's also an informative FAQ section that should answer any and all questions regarding my process and services. finally, there's a new "nic recommends" section, where you can find just a few of my favorite vendors. i will add more over time, but i wanted to start out with the best.

i really hope that you enjoy the new site as much as i enjoyed putting it together. it was truly a labor of love. next up... my ready-to-order line. i'll keep you posted!

say it ain't so... istock jumping on the cheap logo express

2009-09-23T09:23:00.006-04:00

i received my email yesterday, as did most designers i know -- we all have accounts with istock of course.

"We're excited to announce a whole new product coming to the iStock collection in just a few months: logo designs...

As a designer, you've probably created hundreds of different logos over the course of your career and we're offering you an outlet to start selling new logos to the world’s largest community of creative buyers.

If you create one of the first 10,000 approved logo designs for iStockphoto by January 1, 2010, we’ll pay you $5 per approved logo and another $5 if we reach 10,000 approved logos by that date. So fire up Illustrator to create some amazing logos or dust off all those much-loved logos that never made it past the third round with a client."

so now there is another outlet, much like logoworks, where anyone can go and get a cheap logo. this is not only undercutting the price of a custom identity package from a designer (and the desire to get one if you can get your brand for $50), but it also opens up the door to trademark and copyright infringement.

thanks a lot istock.

i urge the non-designers out there reading this to continue to look for your brand from an actual designer, not from a logo factory or an easy logo vector download. it means everything to your company to have something that is truly integrated and speaks to what your company is really about -- not something that you can pick off a search on a website.

for more on this development, you can check out logo design love. if you want more information on the importance of branding and identity from a non-designer point of view, go to the thirdway advertising blog.

EDIT: it was brought to my attention by one of my readers that in my anger, i misrepresented the situation a bit above. according to istock's proposed pricing, the lowest price you would be able to purchase a logo at is around $100 ($96 actually). the designer would get 50% of that, which is where my $50 fee came from. not that i think $100 makes it any better, but i did not want to put up incorrect information.

the highest amount to be paid is currently proposed at 750 credits, which i think would work out to somewhere around $750-800. again, that is way too low...

i'm glad the discussion is continuing. =)

i'm back on the wagon -- new cards available at my etsy store

2009-09-16T12:06:00.003-04:00

yes, yes, after many many promised months, i'm back and selling in my etsy store, dearnic. i have 2 pregnancy related items available, and one notecard set. i do plan on adding more soon, but this should give us a running start!

my notecard set is inspired by morocco, where i went on my honeymoon. i fell in love with the tiles, the fabrics, the colors, and the omnipresent foods and spices. i love doing islamic-inspired patterns in fun and vibrant colors. the set has 4 different prints in it.

for the pregnancy-related items, i wanted to do things with a bit of humor. both are illustrated by me. the pregnancy announcement was actually what we used to inform our friends and extended family of our news. it was such fun!! everyone got something more personal than a mass email, which was important to us, but we also couldn't tell everyone in person because we have such a large network of friends and family, many of which are scattered across the country. we both love beer (good beer, thank you!), and to me, it seemed like a great comparison of our old life and new life. fun and lighthearted. i thought others might like it for the same reason.

finally, the "hands-off" card displays one of many complaints that pregnant women have during the process. strangers just come up and touch your belly! it's crazy! most women i know are not ok with this, and i thought it was easily relatable and really funny. anyone could get this as a fun congratulatory card for a good friend who's expecting, or a pick-me-up for a pregnant woman who is a bit fed up with the whole thing. =) everyone can use a good laugh.

so there you have it folks. i hope you enjoy these pieces as much as i do. make sure to go to dearnic on etsy to check them out.

cool necklaces, fab redesign -- HANGER 3

2009-09-11T08:24:00.003-04:00

hope everyone had a great holiday weekend/week. happy fall to you!!!

wanted to start off the day with a post about a great site redesign -- HANGER 3.com. dustin wood offers buyers vintage-inspired token necklaces. from the site: "Each necklace is hand made right here in the states. As public transportation goes to swipe cards, tokens have become obsolete. Re-live the days of riding on the bus, subway, or train by wearing an antiqued chain or leather necklace from HANGER 3."

honestly, i've been a fan of these pieces for a long time. and now i'm so excited to see dustin's bold new design. the texture and color is really interesting. you can almost feel the rough quality of the site, which i appreciate.

now, you can get 20% off your order in their launch special. so hurry up and go! these would make great bridal party gifts too, even for the men in your wedding -- unique and different. my personal favorites are the wine glass markers (shown above), which would make the perfect gift for anyone.

new blog find!! fabric pattern source.

2009-08-28T17:53:00.002-04:00

i become more and more interested in patterns these days. i enjoy making my own for my clients, but i am not yet accomplished at the task. so i love to see great fabric patterns to draw inspiration from.

how happy am i then to find by the bolt -- a great resource for fabric patterning. well known companies like marimekko are featured alongside cultural patterning from india and africa.

hope you guys like this site as much as i do. =)

lovely and delicate -- a new paper craft book worthy of coveting

2009-08-27T08:25:00.003-04:00

home, paper, scissors is a new book available by master craftswoman (is that the right term? who knows...) patricia zapata. you might know my friend patricia by her fun website and blog, a little hut, or by her appearance on HGTV's that's clever. patricia takes paper and cuts and manipulates it into lovely little pieces of art -- a card, a decorative flower, a mobile, even a bowl!!

i'll be honest, this is the type of art -- the crafts end of "arts & crafts" -- that is simply not part of my genetic makeup. i wind up cutting myself more than the paper, and it comes out as a big mess. so i have always had great admiration for patricia and love for the work that she does. it's just amazing to see a magazine or a paper bag turned into something to treasure.

maybe home, paper, scissors can help me out. who knows? but if you are into crafting, or just the beauty of it, i would suggest adding this book to your library.

new gallery, tiny new opportunities for artists

2009-08-26T12:18:00.006-04:00

you may remember my adoration of charmingwall -- the nyc gallery showcases illustrators' works at reasonable prices, such as prints for $20. their website is equally fun and fabulous, beautifully interactive.

well, now the people who brought us charmingwall are bringing us something new. 6x6 gallery was born from "the tiny art show" featured at charmingwall once a year. except now it's a daily event! the best part? anyone can participate, AND you get to keep 80% of the commission from your artwork.

artists who would like to participate can get a submission package from the 6x6 website. submission packages include your 6x6 canvas and submission guidelines. there is a kit for $40, dressed in a gable box with all that you need, or if you are a local new yorker, you may pick up a scaled down version for $20. the gallery will open with its first exhibit in october 2009.

i think this is such a wonderfully playful opportunity for artists. can't wait to see what others churn out. and maybe i'll do something myself... stay tuned!

a unique wedding remembrance -- and you may even get one for free

2009-08-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

because i am an artist, i think of artwork as a wonderful gift option for a wedding. one of my most treasured wedding presents is an art piece done by a close friend. it will always hold a special place in our hearts and our homes.

another good friend, well-known painter jennie traill shaeffer, offers a different type of wonderful artwork for a wedding gift -- wedding cake portraits. i have mentioned these unique pieces before on my blog -- lovely oil paintings of your wedding cake, to remember for all time. there's something so wonderful about this idea. we as brides spend so much time worrying about the cake, picking out the decoration on it, and making it a centerpiece of our event. but then we eat it! how better to capture that tangible, delicious beauty than in a painting? you can almost touch the frosting!

jennie has a fan page on facebook for her wedding cake portraits. and now she's offering more incentive to become a fan. says jennie, "when facebook users become a fan of wedding cake portraits they (or someone of their choosing, should they not be married) will be entered to win a free painting of the top tier of their wedding cake."

this is such a wonderful opportunity. as someone who has known the artist for over 13 years now, i can tell you that jennie's artwork is truly special. honestly, i wish she were doing this when i got married. don't miss out! the contest ends on august 31st.

all images © jennie traill shaeffer, 2009.

and the winner is...

2009-08-17T09:51:00.002-04:00

tara!

i had an independent judge decide the winner. she especially found tara's comment to be true and deserving of something special. in her words, "everyone deserves a chance to start over, and maybe this bedding will make her feel less alone in her new world."

so, tara, congratulations! i hope you enjoy your new bedding set.

thanks so much to csn mattresses for the wonderful prize.

last day! don't miss your chance to win.

2009-08-14T09:16:00.002-04:00

the bedding giveaway from csn mattresses ends today. and the set is beautiful. i really can't wait to give it away to one of my readers. so enter now, tell your friends, and get it all in before 5pm today.

the winner will be announced on monday morning.

only 2 days left to win!!

2009-08-12T15:30:00.001-04:00

the csn mattresses bedding contest ends on friday at 5pm est!! so hurry up and get your entries in!!

don't miss the bedding giveaway from csn!

2009-08-10T11:04:00.003-04:00

we're giving away this great bedding set from csn mattresses. just a reminder to get in your entries here by friday the 14th at 5pm. don't miss it!

"true"ly an opportunity: what i would do with their invitations!

2009-08-09T21:43:00.005-04:00

if you are a fan of the HBO fun and fabulous hit, true blood, you probably already know that anna paquin and stephen moyer are engaged. yes, sookie and bill are in love in real life -- which explains the tangible heat between the two of them on-screen.

of course, all i can think is that i would have so much fun designing their wedidng invitations! well, ok, if not anna and stephen's, then definitely sookie and bill's! wow, the things a designer could do.

i couldn't help but look to fonts that might work for their event. (all fonts below can be found on veer.)

so... my first thought was to do it in a blackletter font. tells the story of how long bill would have been on this earth, and of course it evokes some sort of classic vampire feel.

then i thought that a script or calligraphic font, most popular in wedding invitations, might be appropriate. but that script would have to have a hand-drawn, aged, and inked feel to it.

and finally, continuing with the distressed idea, i thought that our modern couple (how much more modern can you get than a vamp with a human?) might like a worn-but-cool looking font. either a mismatched serif/italic font, or a sans-serif in all caps.

which do you think would suit this couple best?

giveaway from csn -- who wants some bedding?!!

2009-08-05T10:01:00.010-04:00

ok, so you know i'm obsessed with interior design and home decorating. i love working on my place and seeing what others do with theirs. i continue to look at real estate, decor, and furnishings as a form of entertainment, even if i'm not in the market to purchase anything. i've got issues. =)

so, when i was looking through the csn mattresses website, perusing the bedding, my little anna jae wasn't the only one drooling. can we say yummy? and a few options would look fabulous in our home... i came to the csn mattresses site too late i suppose.

lovely and serene, while still making a statement. american mills' delano bedding set from csn mattresses.

i'm not a pink person, but i still find this girl bedding so whimsical and fun. i would definitely get it for anna jae. PEM america's flowers for hanna bedding collection on csn mattresses.

this makes me want to go to a garden party. blissful living home's kew green bedding collection on csn mattresses.

and man, i wish they had this last year when i was looking for bedding for our master bedroom. black and white AND gold? perfect! blissful living home's anis yellow duvet set from csn mattresses.

since i can't use any of this bedding for myself anymore, i would love for my readers to have something. and csn felt the same way. so the giveaway contest begins...

you can win the delano quilted bedding set (shown below)!!!

RULES:

1. leave a comment below and tell me why your home is the perfect setting for the delano bedding set.

2. make sure you include your name and email address when leaving your comment with blogger.

3. only one entry per person.

the giveaway contest ends next friday, august 14, at 5pm. so get your entries in now!

thanks to csn mattresses for the giveaway!

branding at its best: pentagram's oak bar design

2009-08-04T14:56:00.003-04:00

i love a good integrated brand. and this is a perfect example of how you do it.

michael beruit of pentagram headed up the project to create graphics for the landmark oak room and bar at the plaza hotel. the original logos provided the base for the new lettering, and the design team also instituted a secondary logo -- an "O" flanked by acorns. this O is used on the windows, rug, menus, and even staff clothing! it's an elegant and subtle way to tie everything together. the branding initiative won a spot in the CA 2009 design annual.

check out the full redesign at the pentagram blog.

fabulous invitations by betsy dunlap

2009-08-04T08:40:00.002-04:00

betsy dunlap, one of my favorite calligraphers, showed off her skills in a hand-lettered invitation design on her blog. it's just so gorgeous! nice work, betsy!

wow! dexter's return, and my love affair with the ads

2009-08-03T16:55:00.004-04:00

if you are a reader of this blog, you know that i'm a HUGE dexter fan. huge. don't know what it is about serial killer stories, but i love them. add to that a good looking, loveable, funny serial killer that makes you question your own moral compass, and you've got must see tv. for me, anyway. =)

dexter's coming back for season 4. i just watched the trailer, and i highly recommend that you do too. oh my!! dexter as a daddy. dexter as a hubby. dexter hunting down a fellow serial killer played by... wait for it... JOHN LITHGOW!! whooppeee!!! what a season we're in for! i no longer have showtime, but i may just have to get it back for this.

over the past few years, the advertisements, wares, and posters for dexter keep me very happy. the graphics are a lot of fun, and i think that this one is especially fun, with the great baby shots and onesies (by the way, the onesies are actually available for purchase here). does anyone know who does the design for the dexter print/web ads? if you do, let me know asap!

coney island's fate decided... goodbye, beauty

2009-07-30T12:04:00.005-04:00

artist's rendering of the "new" coney island. via the daily news.

i am a big fan of coney island. been going there since i was a kid. now we live only about 10 minutes from the amusement area. we attend the hot dog eating contest every year -- even took little miss anna jae there for her first of our annual tradition.

there's something magical about the area. yes, there are questionable characters. yes, the boardwalk is in dire need of some repair. yes, maybe some of the rides could be safer. and yes, maybe the surrounding area is in need of an economic pick-me-up.

but still, the magic remains. the colors of the rides. the hand-painted signage on the boardwalk storefronts. the mermaid parade. the freak show! these are parts of history. on a weekday afternoon, when the beach is not nearly as crowded, you can really see how much fun coney island was in its hayday, and how much fun it still is, if you really take it in.

photo via la galeria.

boardwalk beauty.

coney island bath house.

and now, it's all about to change. the city council voted yes on the revamping of coney island yesterday, complete with high-rise hotels and an indoor amusement area, so that it can be open year-round. i understand the desire to bring new jobs and a new life to the neighborhood. but the way they are planning it seems as though they are just going to stamp out the life from what already exists. what made it famous in the first place.

maybe this is a larger commentary -- maybe new isn't always better. maybe we can preserve the old while using it to bring in more people, more business. maybe, sometimes, they just don't make 'em like they used to.

blog love: kirei nest interview!

2009-07-28T11:31:00.003-04:00

nicole at kirei nest approached me for an interview about my little nest. and you know how much i love talking interior design! even when it's my own... =) it was a fun little interview. enjoy it here.

sorry for the absence...

2009-07-28T11:27:00.002-04:00

hellloooooo out there!

so sorry i've been absent. life has been a little tricky as of late. my little babe is teething and has been nothing but a handful. i've had a few physical issues, including back problems and migraines. and i've been attempting to get work done.

that being said, i'm back and up today. hoping to get some more goodness out there to you!

i think i like the old one better

2009-07-14T08:35:00.004-04:00

from the dieline... FTD has redesigned their mailing boxes. because of competition in the floral delivery business, they decided they needed to revamp their look and up their presence. optima soulsight came up with the black and gold boxes, a big change from the old and colorful polkadot options.

ok, so maybe i'm biased towards polkadots. but really, i like the old boxes so much better. they were upbeat and cheery -- if i saw one delivered to me, i would be excited before i even opened it up. the boxes just looked so festive. now, the black and gold boxes are very morbid. unless you're sending something for a black tie event, a golden anniversary, or a funeral, i wouldn't want to use something so serious and *almost* scary.

FTD has also clearly redesigned their website to match their new box scheme, but i don't think the black and gold works there either. the images of the flowers are so happy, and the black/gold is so serious. FTD, go get happy again.

creatives alert: contests for spec work becoming common

2009-07-08T09:29:00.002-04:00

i had the pleasure of attending a new media bootcamp last monday, hosted by david vinjamuri of thirdway brandtrainers. david is a marketer who now trains others in the trade, as well as hosting a blog on market and branding trends. it was such an eye-opening workshop, providing me with even more information regarding blogging, twitter, and website usage for promotional purposes. david is great at marketing -- he really and truly knows what he's doing, hence why he's so popular these days! -- and was a wonderful source of information on how to improve my own marketing skills.

there was something that caught my attention however, and not necessarily in a good way. as we've seen as creatives, spec work is running rampant these days, moreso since the economy tanked. of course, businesses need to find less expensive ways of meeting their advertising and PR needs. but the idea of doing for work for free doesn't exactly appeal to most creatives. the no spec campaign is growing at a rate that rivals consumer-created campaign generation. and i have personally witnessed (and participated in) the anger of creatives when contests are revealed.

with the successful consumer generated advertising campaigns used by companies such as heinz, the use of contests for commercial or viral campaigns has increased. something i didn't know -- there's a website called zooppa that allows a company to create and promote their own contest for their consumer-generated-advertising needs. but what this amounts to is more and more spec work -- lots of talented creatives doing work for free and not seeing anything for it. in fact, most contests have verbage in their fine print that states that all submissions become property of the company -- so the corporation gets tons of free work and ideas and the creative does not get anything at all.

thankfully, in this room of marketers and business people, i was able to stand up as a creative and remind all of them that we are not happy to participate in contests such as these. i did tell them that it was important for them to change the verbage and allow creatives to maintain copyright to their work until paid for the rights to it. it did reach this group of people who responded thoughtfully and kindly, understanding that we won't continue to stand for the kind of treatment that treats us as though we're in it for the fun and the hobby rather than as our career.

what are your thoughts creatives? do you enjoy participating in contests such as these? would you like to see them eradicated, or rather adjusted to be more fair?

fab new rug from flor!

2009-07-08T09:14:00.005-04:00

i'm a big fan of flor carpet tiles. like many other parents before us, we decided that it was the best way to handle the rug in anna's room -- we could get the colors we wanted without the rug being too "kiddie". and it definitely worked.

well, flor has continued to be a go-to company for our household. i love to go on the site and look for new ideas and ways to brighten the space.

today, i received an email from flor touting their new find-a-face rug. using photos from francois robert, this rug features pics of "faces" found in regular objects.

so much fun! it's a great rug for a kid's room, your living space, wherever. nice job, flor. you continue to surprise me. =)

slacking!

2009-07-08T09:13:00.002-04:00

so sorry readers. working and baby have been keeping me away. but there's a couple of new blog posts coming up, so stay tuned!

whitney speir (brown sugar design) interviewed on sage wedding pros

2009-06-29T13:46:00.002-04:00

my friend and fellow stationery designer, whitney speir -- co-owner of brown sugar design -- was interviewed on sage wedding pros. it's a very interesting read. most so because of her business and industry tips. go to it!

blog love! NicEvents on julia newman's blog

2009-06-26T21:50:00.003-04:00

julia newman, a fabulous photographer and a sweet friend, posted a vendor review of NicEvents today on her blog. check it out!

also, don't forget to have a gander at the photos she took of my darling daughter anna jae (and myself) earlier this month.

have a fabulous weekend!

sugar-inspired interior

2009-06-14T11:17:00.004-04:00

in doing research for a current illustration project, i came across this candy-cane inspired room by toby fairley design. i'd love to live here.

my pages in 100 Habits of Successful Freelance Designers

2009-06-10T14:49:00.004-04:00

without further ado, below are my spreads in the book 100 Habits of Successful Freelance Designers. what an amazing opportunity. i'm so proud to be a part of this publication with so many extraordinary creatives.