Board #305: All Hallows Eve

Happy Halloween all! Last year I did a more formal, Victorian-Gothic style Halloween board, but this year I thought I do something a little more playful and sweet. I was largely inspired by vintage Halloween cards and toys, and thought crepe paper streamers would be a perfect decorative element for this inspiration board (whether for a wedding or just a Halloween party).

Mood: Halloween whimsy
Palette: black, orange, white

{click image to enlarge}

Top row from left: black crepe bunting and streamers via The City Sage, bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings, hat via Perfect Bound, vintage Halloween toys
Row 2: Halloween card by Paper Relics via Daisy Pink Cupcake, October table, painted pumpkins, ceremony photo from llore87's flickr
Row 3: getaway bike from crosspollination via Once Wed, boutonniere from Martha Stewart Weddings, cake by The Cake Girls, dress by Stephanie James Couture, pumpkin steps from Martha Stewart
Row 4: shoes via coco+kelley, stationery by Linda & Harriett, candied apples via Ritzy Bee, bouquet by Artfool

And the winner is...

Congratulations to Angelique who said, #313 is super cute. Perfect for my something blue!

Angelique, email me with your information to claim your prize! And thank you to Julianne Smith for sponsoring this fun giveaway! Julianne is also offering 25% off for all Snippet & Ink readers who entered in the contest. Just email her at info@juliannesmith.com to place your order, and mention that you entered this contest.

Save the Date Contest on Minted

The people over at Minted (purveyor of some of the best custom stationery around) are running a really fun contest, and they've invited Snippet & Ink readers to join in! Here are the details:

Minted is looking for three engaged couples who are also Snippet & Ink readers to serve as the design inspiration for a Save the Date card. The three couples' stories will be featured on the Minted site and provided to designers who enter the contest, and each designer will choose one of the three couples as her inspiration.

All three lucky couples will receive 150 free Save the Date cards, along with a $250 credit on Minted.com toward the wedding invitations and stationery of their choice. To enter, please send the following information by November 5 to contest@minted.com

- bride's and groom's names

- location of wedding - venue, city and state

- date of upcoming wedding

- email address where you can be reached

- wedding theme (if you have one)

- at least one photograph of the two of you that can help provide a little personality for the designers

- something special about your relationship - for example, how you met, what makes your relationship special, what you have in common, what you like doing together, etc.

- why you should be one of the three couples chosen - be creative, anything goes!

Submit your entries no later than November 5 - that's next Wednesday! Minted.com will email the winner directly, and once they let me know who the winner is I will post it, too. Good luck readers!

{keep an eye out for my Halloween board later today!}

Board #303: Espresso and Marigold

This wedding board was inspired by those incredible yellow-gold shoes from J.Crew with the guinea feathers. I can't get over the color, the style - I love them! These colors would work equally well for a late fall or winter wedding, and though I went with a more vintage look here, I imagine you could go modern with this palette if you wanted to.

Mood: warm, vintage luxury
Palette: marigold, espresso

{click image to enlarge}

Top row from left: Twigs & Honey boutonniere photo by Tim Will via Once Wed, typewriter "guest book" from 13 Creative, bouquet and cake both from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 2: Babette shoes from J.Crew via Oh So RB, reception space by Jo Gartin, ruffles via Oh Happy Day, invitation by Hello! Lucky
Row 3: cosmos bouquet photo by Anna Kuperberg, bud vase photo by Anna Williams, invitation by Ceci New York, cocktails from Martha Stewart Weddings

Row 4: vintage car photo by DuHon Photography from Wish Special Events, yellow dress by Vera Wang, Erin Cole veil photo by Leigh Miller

Custom Garter Giveaway

If you're a Daily Candy subscriber, then you may have heard of Julianne Smith's garters already. She has a whole line of beautifully sassy garters, and will even custom create one for you. And she's giving away one of her pieces to one Snippet & Ink reader!





Just head over to her website and take a look at the different options (if you can't see the images, you can download the PDF catalog at the bottom of the "Shop" page). Then come back here and leave a comment with your favorite garter. You have until Thursday at midnight to enter, and I will announce the randomly selected winner on Friday morning.

A Wedding Favor Idea

Hello all! I recently received an email from fellow blogger, Merrilee from It's Lovely and Merrilee Designs, that I thought I would pass along to you, especially if you are considering a charity donation as your wedding favor. From Merrilee:

I am on the event committee for the leading Lyme Disease non-profit the
Turn the Corner Foundation, working on their yearly fundraising gala, Unmask A Cure, at the stunning venue Gotham Hall on November 13th in New York City.

There's a misconception about Lyme Disease that it is easy to diagnose and treat. In fact, this is not the case as the CDC Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment are not definitive and under great dispute. Most doctors and the general public are simply unaware of this and therefore thousands of people go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed wreaking havoc on their lives not to mentioned their livelihoods. Late diagnosed/Chronic Lyme Disease can get into every tissue and every organ of your body. My husband went for 5 years and almost died before being diagnosed. He may now need a kidney...

TTC supports and funds new research into the progression, treatment and prevention of Lyme Disease. It is the Foundation's goal to reach as many people as possible to promote public awareness regarding how prevalent Lyme Disease actually is and to work with the medical industry to provide them with the resources that they need to properly diagnose and treat this debilitating disease. It is near and dear to my heart.

While my husband and I would love to see you at the event if your are in the tri-state area, even in these tough times, donations from afar are welcome. Ladies, if you're planning a favor donation for your wedding, please consider the Turn the Corner Foundation. In addition, contact me at mhesterfer@comcast.net if you do plan your favor donation to TTC for your wedding. I will donate my design services and create the art for your card in your color/theme for you to print and display at your wedding.

The money raised by TTC goes to fund initiatives such as their Physicians Training program
where in about two weeks, trainees become "Lyme-literate" through watching mentoring doctors in action with patients, reviewing different cases, and learning their individual approaches to diagnosis and treatment. These professionals bring this skill set back to their community in order to better care for their patients.

TTC is also involved with the national distribution of the first feature documentary about Lyme Disease Under Our Skin. The film, which premiered at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival in NYC this year, details the untold story of Lyme Disease by following the stories of patients and physicians as they battle for their lives and livelihoods. The film brings into focus a truly haunting picture of our health care system and its ability (or lack thereof) to cope with Lyme Disease. Check out some of the riveting footage from the film here.

In addition TTC provides grants to doctors and scientists who are working on groundbreaking research such as Dr. Alan MacDonald. Dr. MacDonald is exploring if a Borrelia Burgdoferi (Lyme related) infection is one of the causes of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers!

Due to tough times out there, donations are way down this year. I immediately thought to reach out to brides, asking you all to consider nixing those beautifully packaged favors and to consider a favor donation to the Turn the Corner Foundation. Don't forget to contact me to design the art for your cards!

In addition to cash, items are desperately needed for the Gala's auction. Items such as:
sports memorabilia; jewelry; designer handbags, shoes, clothing; original art; travel donations such as a weekend at a B&B, beach house stays, ski weekends; celebrity meet and greets; personal training, massage, nutritional sessions, gym memberships; theater, concert sports tickets; gift bags/gift baskets; private cooking lessons from a well known chef; Letterman tickets; family portrait photo sessions; gift certificates to stores and for services. If you're interested in donating an item for the auction, please email me at mhesterfer@comcast.net

For more information about the event and how to donate click here.

All donations, whether cash, service or item are indeed tax deductible.

Tie the Not!

No, that's not a typo - it's a little intro for The Not Wedding! If you're looking for a change from most of the bridal shows you've been to, and you happen to be in the Atlanta area, then this is a great opportunity for you.



The NotWedding will have a NotBride and a NotGroom. There will be a NotCeremony followed by a NotReception. Instead of being overwhelmed by tons of vendors in every area, you can get to know one hand-picked vendor per service, including Joy Thigpen as the wedding planner and our friend Chelsea Petaja as the invitation designer.

Tickets are $10, and include admission, food, dessert, and a raffle ticket. The ladies behind The NotWedding have given me 5 VIP tickets to give to five Snippet & Ink readers - a normal ticket package plus the best seats in the house! If you are in the Atlanta area, and would like to attend the NotWedding on November 16 at 4:00 PM, head over to The Not Wedding website, and check out their list of vendors. Then leave a comment on this post naming which vendor you're most excited to learn about.

And if you have any other questions, or would like to know more, check out The Not Wedding website and blog. It really sounds like a fun party, and a great opportunity to know more about some of the best vendors in the Atlanta area!

I'm a Creature of Comfort!

Ez from Creature Comforts invited me to do a little mini-interview over there last Friday, as part of her new series, Creatures of Comfort. But I was away from the computer (gasp) and forgot to let you know about it! Head over to Ez's blog to check it out - I talk a little about my current inspirations, my creature comforts, that sort of thing. And thank you to Ez for having me!

A Chat with Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls, Part 2

Maybelle's work has appeared in numerous wedding publications, and certainly on this blog. Here are some more examples of her distinct style (as well as some download-able goodies and a discount...)


Bridal Shower Games and The Perfect Note, available from Chronicle Books.


An map and return address stamp from Maybelle's portfolio.


A Quaker-style wedding certificate.


A whimsical wedding invitation.


Backdrop calligraphy and illustrations for Martha Stewart Weddings.






For the most recent issue of Martha Stewart Weddings, Maybelle created table numbers that you can find and print out here - what a great way to have her beautiful work at your wedding, no matter what the budget.

Another huge thank you to Maybelle for stopping by today - it has been wonderful having you here at Snippet & Ink! Not only was Maybelle kind enough to take the time to stop by, but she is also offering 20% off her return address rubber stamps for all Snippet & Ink readers! Just email her at maybelle{at}may-belle.com with an inquiry and mention that you saw her interview on Snippet & Ink to receive the discount.

A Chat with Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls

I have been drooling over the beautiful calligraphy of Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls even before I knew who was behind the calligraphy, so you can imagine how excited I am to have her here today for a little chat, and to learn a little more about her and her work.



Snippet & Ink: Your website says that the first invitation you designed was for your own wedding. What kind of designing, illustrating or calligraphy had you done before that? Or, put another way, were you always illustrating and making pretty things?

Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls: I was a Fine Arts major with an emphasis in Ceramic Sculpture and Graphic Design. After graduation I got a job as a flight attendant and traveled extensively. I also moved around frequently and lived in Hong Kong, Boston and San Francisco. I really feel that these experiences helped fuel my creativity. During this time, I started illustrating my own maps of my favorite places in the cities I visited frequently. When I was planning my own wedding, I wasn't a calligrapher at the time. The thought did cross my mind that I should take lessons just so that I would be able that I would be able to hand address our own invites. In the end, though it would have been so nice, calligraphy wasn't a part of the overall design concept [of my own invitations].

S&I: Calligraphy is for so much more than addressing envelopes. What other types of projects have you done?

MIS: I have done some non-wedding related projects such as hand lettering for a few advertising agencies and fashion houses, packaging for C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries. Recently I was commissioned to create illustrations for Chronicle Books: Bridal Shower Games and The Perfect Note, which is a stationery kit inspired by the letters and doodles that I used to send from faraway places. It includes note cards, envelopes, labels, rubber stamps and a book on how to write the perfect letter for any occasion. I was involved in every step of the design process and I am so pleased with the way it turned out. In the age of email and text messages, a personal note in the mailbox feels like a gift. The Perfect Note is a very affordable bridesmaid gift and the packaging is so beautiful it doesn't have to be wrapped.

S&I: You have worked with some big names, like Martha Stewart and J.Crew, as well as with smaller businesses and couples planning weddings. Do you have a favorite project, something that really stands out to you?

MSI: Too many! One of my favorites was a story for Martha Stewart Weddings, titled Tailored Cakes. I worked on set in New York for a couple of days. The story featured the beautiful cake designs of Wendy Kromer, Ron Ben Israel and Gail Watson. It was an eight-page spread and I created the background illustrations which were calligraphic swirls and loops done in chalk. The informal background against the elegant cakes created a beautiful contrast. That was so much fun! Another project that I loved working on was for a couple who commissioned me to write out a collection of their favorite prayers and poems. Each guest at the wedding was given a limited edition copy of these books. I felt that everything about this project captured the love between these two people. Most recently I was asked to create a wedding certificate modeled after the Quaker marriage certificate. It is typically signed by each guest at the wedding. The couple wanted to have a keepsake of their union, so they hired me to create this for their special day.

S&I: What is the best part of your job?

MSI: First of all, I feel so lucky to have found something that I absolutely LOVE to do. I don't really consider myself a calligrapher but more of an artist. Not only is the actual work very meditative, it's never the same and I love being involved in the overall design and feel of an event - I get excited about these details. I have had the extreme pleasure of working with some of the most talented people in this business, as well as brides and grooms who have considered me to be part of their family. I feel grateful to have been able to build great relationships in the process of doing something that I am so passionate about.

S&I: What advice could you give to a couple on a budget who loves calligraphy but feels that it is out of their price range?

MSI: A nice way to incorporate calligraphy into the wedding invitation design would be to have the couples' names written in calligraphy and then scanned and used as part of the artwork. You could also have a rubber stamp with the return address made, something that will come in handy later as well. If time permits, take a calligraphy class - you will be amazed how relaxing it is to practice.

S&I: Is there anything else that Snippet & Ink readers should know about you?

MSI: I never imagined in a million years that I would be doing this. My husband Greg Stukuls, a woodworker, has always been so supportive of my creative endeavors since the day we met. He inspires me in so many ways and I would not would not be the same person I am today without him. We also own a home furnishings store in San Francisco, called Stumasa. The name of the shop is a combination of our last names and it is a place where our talents and ideas intersect.

S&I: Snippet & Ink is all about inspiration. What inspires you?

MSI: I am inspired by my experiences, life. Whenever I am in a new city, I don't head for the usual places, instead I go to local markets, shops, grocery and hardware stores. I can spend hours looking at gadgets and packaging. I find beauty in everyday objects. I take note about the way a shopkeeper arranges the merchandise or wraps a simple package. I do this because I know in some way this will all come back into my work in some form, and from these experiences I am always learning something new about myself.

Thank you so much to Maybelle for stopping by today - your beautiful lettering and illustrations are such an inspiration, and it is wonderful to get to know a little more about you! Check in later today to see some of Maybelle's incredible work...

Sunday Edition #8

by Alan Maudie

Real Wedding Saturday: Mary Beth & Otis

A photo from Mary Beth and Otis' wedding that I saw on Lucky Me! inspired me to make an inspiration board early in August - and now I'm lucky enough to share the entire wedding with you! Deciding that wedding planning is far too stressful, Mary Beth and Otis cut their engagement short, and planned the entire wedding in five months. Mary Beth used to work on the show Trading Spaces, so you know this wedding was full of do-it-yourself details, from the invitations to the burlap table runners. The wedding took place at the beautiful Bartram's Garden in Philadelphia, with plenty of space for their 180 guests, and Lara and Kate from The Studio Nouveau photographed all of the details. As Mary Beth said of the day, It was, to say the least, a very fun day. . . and very, very "us."


Inspired by these invitations from Bird and Banner, Mary Beth made her own, sewing small fabric pockets for each invite (you can read more details about the invitations on Mary Beth's blog, Junk Drawer).




Mary Beth wore a dress by Judd Waddell and yellow flats from J.Crew.




Mary Beth made the ring pillow with vintage seam binding and fabric left over from the invitations.


Here's what Mary Beth had to say about Otis' and his wedding day clothes: My hubby dances to the beat of his own drummer and there certainly wasn't anything traditional about his duds. He wore a J.Crew plaid blazer and some sweet butter yellow pants and Chuck Taylors. He also wore a funky tie that we had made by Me and Matilda (who also made a tie for the ring bearer).


Christine from A Modern Touch did all of the flowers for the wedding.


A cartoonist friend, Flip, illustrated the ceremony programs.


Mary Beth and Otis worked closely with their officiant to write the ceremony. Their sisters each read some of the couples favorite passages, "Forever Young" by Bob Dylan and "I Like You" by Sandol Stoddard Warburg.


Here is what Mary Beth had to say about their ceremony site: We got rained out of our main venue (the garden) so we got hitched in our back up location (the barn). I can't tell you how important it is to LOVE your backup location. It was no big deal to get married in the barn because we loved the building and Christine [from A Modern Touch] helped out in a huge way, decorating the space with minutes to spare. I just adored the big billowing bundles of baby breath and the gorgeous wreaths she made for us. We also threw some big old lanterns in the barn to add some ambiance.






A six-acre field on the property overlooks the Philadelphia skyline.






Instead of a traditional guest book, Mary Beth and her friend Kristin (from The Fairmount Bride) tied yellow strings to tags, which guests then tied to a container filled with bare branches.




Mary Beth made the table runners from burlap she purchased cheaply online.






The tent was rented from Ocean Tents, who worked closely with Mary Beth to maintain her vision for the reception.




Otis joined in with the band to sing "All Night Long" by Junior Kimbrough to Mary Beth.


Long-time friends of Otis also happen to be in a band - Shark Hat kept everyone dancing all night long.



Congratulations Mary Beth and Otis, and thank you for sharing your fun and personal day with us. And thank you to the ladies at The Studio Nouveau for sharing these photos with us. Beautiful!

Sneak Peek: Mary Beth & Otis

You may have seen a few photos from this beautiful wedding already - stop by tomorrow to see them all in one place!

And the winner is...

Congratulations to Annady who said, Miss Loretta! It's just so gorgeous. I love the drama of it all.



Annady, email me at kathryn@snippetandink.com with your mailing info to claim your prize!

For everyone else, don't fret! All of the other beautiful Oh, My Deer pieces by Chelsea are still up for grabs. Head over to The Bride's Cafe to enter for the chance to win one of the remaining pieces! Also, Melissa's Smitten is hosting a DK Designs giveaway, so stop by her blog to find out all the details.

Real Wedding: Diana & Osman

I love the juxtaposition of urban and garden that seem to exist in Diana and Osman's beautiful wedding, sent to me by the talented Karen Wise. The Foundry in Long Island City was the perfect venue for this intimate wedding with only 80 guests - Diana works in the construction industry, so the industrial feeling of The Foundry seemed appropriate.






Diana wore a dress by Jim Hjelm.


The flowers were designed by Jorge at Celebrate Flowers in Chelsea, 212-736-2102.


Cherry blossoms were in season for this May wedding, and they made quite an appearance at the ceremony site.














A votive-lined wall gives the space a warm glow.




Osman chose each wine and champagne himself, and supplied them from his wine bar, Turks & Frogs.


Ottoman replica lanterns - that Osman sells in his antique shop turned wine bar - were installed around the mezzanine over the dance floor. They were fitted with flickering electric lights to resemble a candle flame. As a nod to Osman's background, a band played traditional Turkish music during the cocktail hour.






A fire pit was set up outdoors after the sun went down.


Diana's good friend comes from a long line of Neapolitan bakers, and he owns Francesco's Bakery in Hicksville (516-931-6821), and supplied delicious cakes and Italian pastries. The vanilla wedding cake was filled with chocolate mousse and strawberries.



Congratulations Diana and Osman! And thank you so much to Karen Wise for sharing these beautiful photos - be sure to check out her beautiful new website (just launched this week).