new site, new line... NEW NIC!

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!!

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

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!

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!

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

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

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

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!

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!

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

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

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!

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!