Here comes the Sun

Imagine you are engaged, about to marry the boy of your dreams - and you have visions of sunflowers just dancing in your head. That was Marisa, a few months ago. Marisa is Mike's cousin, babysitter of our children and the gorgeous bride in this photo.

Marisa and her fiance, Corey came to Heirloom about 8 months before their wedding to be held at the Brandywine Manor House, with a simple idea, Sunflowers. They loved the vibrant color, the beauty and symbol of the flower. But how does one translate that into a wedding concept?

Beauty - Inner or Outer? Outer in the case of the flower, inner in the case of the couple. Correct? Well in this case, luckily that is correct. Marisa and Corey are two of the most honest and loving people I know, both caring about others more than themselves, and so genuinely in love it seeps out of their pores when they are around. So, that is what I used as the basis of my concept: Intertwined.

While developing the concept, I needed a layout. I chose a mini book so that I could paint a grand love story.  For inspiration I began reading The Iron Fairies, a little book from my dear friend Amy, when the concept came to me. The key to their love story is underneath everything. So I began writing a poem all about two ravishingly beautiful sunflowers who admire each other from afar, but really don't pay much attention. One day, however, they look down, beneath the garden's ground to find that their roots are somehow intertwined, and that is when they realize their destiny. It all comes together, it all makes sense on the last page of the invitation book: "It's not the beauty we can see, or bright rich colors calling thee, it's underneath and deep inside, undying love that's true and tried."

Jane Ramsey, illustrator extraordinaire, was sought after to create these four stunning watercolors, which are now framed and hanging in the couple's home.

Jeff Reeder, Shot the fabulous product and event photography you see. Custom-designed placecards adorned a table just inside the lavish white tent.

So when considering a wedding invitation, anniversary card, family reunion, baby announcement, or any memorable life event, remember, stories are powerful, and conceptual designers allow guests a peek inside the real you.  ~Heirloom

Oh, and don't forget to have a good time!

Charmed

Art is all around, you just need to know where to look. As you may recall, a few months ago, I began working with Lauren and Cheryl of Time for Design, an interior design group based in Doylestown, to freshen up my front sitting room. We collaborated on a fresh look for both my room and their new logo and marketing pieces. Our creativity flowed brilliantly into my dining room where we created this dramatic picture window. As you will see, we pulled our creative natures to build something fun, and a little bit unique.

I chose a striking blue and gray print from one of my favorites,  Calico Corners, to frame and add depth to my window while Lauren crafted the panels and provided inspiration for the sheer Linen Romans inside the windows.

Time for Design picked up on my love of vintage, and suggested I use antique buttons and necklaces to accent my new window treatments. I did just that. I made an immediate run to Vintage in Doylestown, where owner, Debi, helped me rummage through every gorgeous button, earring and pin available! We found fantastic glass, metal and plastic gems, which soon became mine, or I should say, my curtain's possessions.

IMG_8298

I then went right upstairs to my own stash of vintage jewelry and pulled out 4 silver charm bracelets which belonged to my dear mother and my great aunt, Grace. They were perfect, nostalgic and lovely. Strung together, they made the tie backs I've always dreamed of! I attached a little cup hook to my wall, and pulled the curtains back easily.

Next, I took these lovely buttons, earrings, and pins from time gone by, and hand-sewed them to the tops of the Linen Romans. We velcroed the romans to the window frame to avoid nail holes and permanent damage, and to provide what I call, "style flexibility".  The pretty buttons, pins and earrings appear to be holding the Romans in place, but this is just an illusion.

button windows

close buttons

The blue panels are attached above by 6 decorative iron hooks I found at Pier One for $2 each! I just love how they show off the iron work around the room. They are also very versatile, as Lauren simply placed 3 loops behind the panels, to attach to the hooks. This trick allows me to easily change fabric/panels as seasons or styles change, which is important in my world.

hooks for panels

Ultimately, I am very pleased with the collaboration and results. Not only do I have pretty windows, but I can remember my mom and aunt every time I look outside. And that alone makes me smile. Remember to reuse and rescue fabulous items when decorating, designing, and dressing yourself, your business and your home.  ~ Heirloom

window from afar

The Love of Logos

I began Heirloom designing ART for EVENTS, and that is still primarily what I enjoy. But recently I have been commissioned to create new logos for several small businesses. It's been a highlight for me. I enjoy stepping back, and pealing away the layers, trying to get to the core of the company. From there, I rebuild, using graphic elements that are visually pleasing and, more importantly, make sense conceptually.

Dr. Tina Paone, owner of The Counseling Center at Heritage, hired me to create a logo for her brand new Center this fall. It was such a fun experience, and it only took a week! We went from concept to completion in about 8 days, preparing for her opening day. Tina received the logo in several formats, suitable for web, print and signage use, as well as an "icon" version below. Subscribe to this blog via email for fun future Heirloom Creations!

Great Little Book

A few years ago, my mother-in-law, Susanne Bensing, approached my daughter, Kate, and her cousin, Anya, to help write and publish a book. It was a large undertaking as Kate lives in PA and Anya in NV. The two cousins rarely see each other but are one year apart in age and have lots in common. Each, very spirited and artistic.

So, the 3 arranged a summer workshop week together at Grandma's and began designing their own book. "That Would Be Great". The girls were young, so the audience is too. It's filled with rhymes and silly stories. The most exciting part of the book, are the bold illustrations done by both Anya and Kate, and the audio CD they created to tuck into the back. The CD is a series of interviews of the girls, giggling and describing the "creative process". How they came up with such visuals and ideas, and so on.

When the book was finished they brought the loose pages to me and I put everything together and prepared it for the printer. We used Bucks Digital in Newtown to print and bind. Later, Kate and her grandmother presented the book to a small group at the Doylestown Library as well as to a few schools in the area, and were also featured in the Bucks County Herald. Kate also presented a copy to her school library at Pine Run Elementary. The entire process was a lovely little paperback of fun and it inspired both girls to dream big, be creative, and always be great!

Try creating a book with someone you love. To see more about this book or order a copy, see the link to the left or click here.

Sugar Thrones

Here's my perfect day: My husband wakes up and says, "Hey why don't we go find some scrumptious scones and hot coffee and then spend our entire day Antiquing!" - Okay, anyone who knows me, or Mike, is laughing hysterically right now, but a girl can dream. And dream I do. Just before the holidays, I began creating what I call "Sugar Pedestals". Simple, little, vintage inspired thrones for sugar. Here's how I make them. I hunt for the prettiest antique plates I can find, and then match them with vintage candlesticks or other items that will elevate this eye candy inches off the table. I think it's nice and environmentally sound to showoff that little cast-away plate that may have belonged to your grandma - but sits in a box because it has no friends. Or to salvage something from a re-sale shop, instead of always buying new.

I placed several "Sugar Pedestals" around my home for Christmas, and invited friends to bring their homemade cookies and feast. I also gave a couple away to my sister-in-laws when they came for Christmas Eve brunch. So maybe your husband will surprise you with your perfect day, but in case he does not....try making something unusual with something you already treasure.

Dripping Snowflakes

Fluffy white snow was blanketing my backyard a few days ago, and I watched it fall onto the picket fence and pines out the back window of Heirloom's Studio. It made me want to share a recent holiday event I had the honor of designing. This is a "Renewal of Vows" Invitation for Heidi and John of Doylestown. They've been married 25 years and decided to combine a holiday party for close friends and family with their vow renewal. The snowy, winter invitation was presented in an elegant slate and sliver envelopment that opened on all four sides of the oversized square piece, dripping with bright cyan snowflakes. Consider combining events and making two celebrations where there once was only one! Green entertaining.

New Inspiration in a New Year.

Welcome to 2011.

I'm sure you are enjoying a new start as much as I am. Thanks for visiting Heirloom's blog, I hope the ideas I share help you pour your heart into more art projects, design new ideas and go more places.  This year, I'll be sharing inspiration I see all around, so if you see anything spectacular, let me know.

To start off, take a look at a book I bought years ago. THE BUSINESS OF BLISS. It's one of the many that helped me grow Heirloom and pursue my design dreams. With elegantly styled photography, each spread features an entrepreneur's story. It was written by the editors of Victoria Magazine. It's very comfortably placed on a table in Heirloom's cottage studio. Stop by and take a look, or find your own copy here.

Merry Christmas to all!

To all,

Have a wonderful Holiday Season. Remember to enjoy the little things and capture every moment on film, with words or in your memory.

The Story of Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving holiday is over and this year was exceptionally memorable. We carved out a few more traditions that are always a good way to preserve time. Since the kids had a week off from school, we headed south to visit Charleston, S.C.. If you’ve never seen it, I highly recommend it. The architecture alone was enough to keep me there for two days. Almost every home came equipped with it’s own 2, 3 or 4 story open-air balcony. Since our home in Bucks County has one of these, we admired for hours. The charm of the Old South is something you can’t deny. We rode through town on a horse-drawn carriage, and toured a southern plantation by train. I was inspired by the design of the gardens, and antique quilts, which adorned every bedroom. There is nothing like touring something new to inspire your designs -or get you to read Gone with the Wind (which I am also enjoying). Then, after arriving back in PA, we tried something new on Black Friday. Instead of waking at 4AM to stand in line at some superstore, we woke around eight, had a nice breakfast and set out to decorate our entire farm with lights, candles, snowflakes, santas and antique ornaments. Christmas gifts were not even a topic in our home, and aside from one quick trip to buy a few necessary lights, we got through the entire day without entering a single shop.

Which leads me to how excited I am to record all that we do this year with photos, journaling and video, so that we can pass these traditions down and around. It makes the season much more magical, in my opinion.

Take some time over the next month to make a year-end book, handwrite a card to an elderly relative, invite your brother’s family over for a sleepover and roast chestnuts outside while making cut out cookies inside. These are all on my to-do list.

Wishing you Happier Holidays from Heirloom

Your Story Designed

Inner Beauty

A Story of Inner Beauty Meet Marisa and Corey, a lovely modern couple. Just like many of you, they met in college, fell in love and after a few years of dating, decided to marry. They came to Heirloom with open, adventurous hearts and a passion for sunflowers. Corey and Marisa couldn't be nicer or more in love, the perfect combination for a Custom Heirloom Design.

So one night while I was reading a small book called "The Iron Fairies", I was inspired to create a story, not so much about the sunflower, but about what happens under the dirt.

Two sunflowers rise up out of the earth, oblivious of the world around them. They grow independently toward the sun. One day, they notice their roots are surprisingly intertwined. And with that they realize the true meaning of love is not outer beauty, but what's underneath and deep inside.

The gorgeous illustrations were created by illustrator, Jane Ramsey, www.janeramsey.com. And these fabulous photos were the artistic vision of Jeff Reeder Photography, www.jeffreeder.com/index.php.

Enjoy "Intertwined", a custom wedding invitation book by Heirloom. Become a fan of Heirloom on facebook.

The Story of a Studio

The Story of a Studio The day has come. Heirloom's Cottage Studio is finally open. She received her first visit this Tuesday morning. A hand-blown chartreuse vase from Martha's Vineyard, filled with fresh lilac, adorned her interior, and a custom clay Heirloom sign decorated her little white portico.

Her restoration was both fun and interesting. She sits in the middle of the little Bucks County Farm, we call home. At first, no one noticed her, the dingy pale ivory that she was. She looked like she hadn't showered in years. Her insides were not much better. What she needed was a little pampering, and I heard her cries.

So about a year ago, my husband and I set out to rescue her, give her the make-over she deserved. We tore out her floor, gave her all new wiring, and plumbing. Then we bought her a new wardrobe, some fresh paint and a few accessories.

She is now our bright center of inspiration and creative ideas. Stop by and visit the Heirloom Cottage Studio soon. Heirloom. Couture Art Direction and Design. www.heirloom-occasions.com

Time for a Story

Time for a Story Heirloom was recently asked to re-invent a logo for Interior Designers, Lauren Tracy and Cheryl Roque of Time for Design, Interiors. In my opinion, working with fellow artists is wonderful. We met for a few hours, contemplating their existing look, discussing fresh ideas and developing an approach to, not only a new logo, but an overall vision for their design company. I find this works best when you want something as simple as an event monogram, or even a new business card. Tell the artist everything you can about your problem. Spend the time to find out what you really need and want and know the difference between the two. Doing this will save you money and ultimately get better results.

Time for Design knew they wanted a more modern and sleek look. They felt it better represented the "art" they were creating inside homes. They knew they wanted to stick with their clock icon, but it needed an update.

While working on several design options, I pulled a branch from nature and added a bird to create the hands of the clock - which was a departure from the more Victorian hands they used before. Both Lauren and Cheryl liked the idea and, after a few minor tweaks of the leaves, branch direction, and little bird, they owned it.

After the new round logo was established, we agreed to create a round business card. It just made more sense and provided them with a refreshing card that will certainly be saved and remembered.

Next time you find you want to create a lasting icon, monogram or logo for your business, anniversary party, graduation gift, new baby, whatever - consider first what you want to say, and what image you want to project, and then grab an iced tea and sit down with your artist to chat for a while. It's fun and worth it.

www.timefordesign.net

Hexing

Hexing Lauren and Ryan came to Heirloom with a wedding vision that immediately touched my heart. "We're getting married on a family farm, and want to include our families as much as possible". I could hardly believe it, they were the perfect couple for Heirloom. Little did any of us know at the time, that I had previously created "Our Story" event art for Ryan's sister, a few years earlier. So that just made the match even more ideal.

Lauren loved quilts, hex signs and anything capturing a meaningful step back in time. And anyone who knows me, realizes...I do too! So we set out to create an elegant artistic vision set against rustic Bucks County beauty. We began by realizing the guests will needed forewarning. A Farmers Almanac predicts and forewarns, so we created an almanac for this wedding. An illustrator was hired to create icons of all of the couple's favorite things, horses, flowers, snowflakes, oak leaves. I then designed the card. The almanac card promises the guests, vows, kisses, smiles, laughs and memories. Lots of reasons to attend.

Next came the actual elegant wedding invitation. White was crisp and clean and served as an appropriate backdrop for a colorful custom Hex Sign. Another group of illustrations incorporated the couple's favorite family memories, a center monogram, and lovely embellishments around the edge. I then paired the card with another which read "A Symbol of Luck" and a description with the meaning of the Hex Sign. Which was followed by "The Symbol of Love" and a description of the wedding in the form of the invitation.

As you can see by the photos below, Ryan's parents took the time to can fresh peach jam jars which were then topped with a variety of other hexes, as favors for their guests. Every detail was carefully planned and made the day feel like a page out of Country Living. See all the event photos from Cooks Creek Farm:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heirloom/49844798761?v=photos&ref=mf#!/album.php?aid=159405&id=49844798761

Something Sweet

I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely young lady about to celebrate a milestone. Ashley is a beautiful 15-year-old planning her Sweet Sixteen with her mom. I met both of them over appetizers in Doylestown recently to help plan the ART for their event. Ashley and her mother, Diane, are transforming a country club into a virtual nightclub for teens. Glowing ice cubes, white plush furniture and black lights will adorn her party room. It sounds so fun I wish I could attend - but alas I am just the lowly designer. While we met, I listened to all the spectacular details being orchestrated by "Always Fabulous Events" with Randi Martin, and envisioned a NAME, then a LOGO...."CLUB 16" flashed in front of my eyes, reminiscent of STUDIO 54. So off I went to design Ashley's very own party logo.

When finished the logo will print on event signage and on "hoodies" for the young guests – arriving in nightclub attire. I then placed the neon club logo onto the front of Ashley's silver invitation card, being sent out in long black envelopes with ornate calligraphy done by Linda Carol Arts. Don't you wish you were 15 again?

The Baby's Story

A Baby's StoryI just returned from a small baby shower for my daughter's first grade teacher. It was a lovely little affair with mini-cupcakes, pink ice cream punch and candy. Because she is a first grade teacher, we thought she'd appreciate a storybook written and illustrated by her kids to read to her child.

To create this, I started with  a large package of envelopes (one for each child). Each envelope contained two blank sheets of paper. The book was started by my daughter, Tess, who wrote and illustrated her portion of a made-up story about a baby. The package was passed until all the students added their words and illustrations. When all the pages came back, I scanned them and created a hardbound book called "The Magical Baby". If you would like help creating one for someone special, contact Kim at Heirloom. www.heirloom-occasions.com

A Childhood Story

A Childhood  Story A few years ago, Heirloom was commissioned to create a unique invitation for a 50th birthday celebration. The theme of the party was "paper dolls". With customized illustration, I designed the invitation as a page right out of a paper doll book, complete with the doll, two dresses, appropriate cut lines, and instructions. Guests were asked to cut out the pink dress, return it as the rsvp, which was then recycled as their nametag - a "green" invite before it's time! Instead of gifts, memorable childhood toys were donated by guests to a local ministry. Another fantastic way to give back.  Try something unexpected the next time you host a small party or event. There is always a good idea out there waiting to make it's way into your life. www.heirloom-occasions.com

The Story of Heirloom

The Story of Heirloom."We'll Always have Paris". You see, my husband proposed on our first trip to Paris and of course, that became the artistic backdrop for our wedding. A very Victorian 4- part  invitation was born. As lovely as it was, it helped me launch Heirloom. With the expertise of a few colleagues, I designed my first web site and orders started flowing in. I chose the name Heirloom, because I love all things vintage and sentimental, and adopted this Victorian image of my great-grandmother for my branding. Business cards sprung up alongside my new web site, and voila...concepts for events started flourishing. Interesting art creations just began emerging from the fascinating stories I heard. Little precious birthdays they thought they'd never see, intimate weddings in serene locations, happy retirement parties filled with lifelong friends – all sorts of stories turned into events! And that is the beginning. The beginning of Heirloom.