Savor The Date

Nicole W Clark's Custom Cake Gems

2011-02-03T19:57:00.000-08:00

As someone who specializes in illustrating portraits of happy couples and families, I was excited to find an artist who is in the business of creating customized portraiture in a three-dimensional medium. Nicole W Clark specializes in sculpting adorable, one-of-a-kind wedding cake figurines - an otherwise minute detail often overlooked by brides and wedding planners alike. I, for one, was more concerned with what went between the layers of wedding cake than what sat atop, but if I had stumbled upon her art during my bride-to-be days I can't say I could have resisted going that extra step.

Pacific International Quilting Festival

2010-11-07T21:45:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I picked up a book about fabric collage ("Freestyle Quilting" by Susan Carlson) and have since been fascinated with the art of quilting and patchwork. The PIQF came to Santa Clara last month and these are some of the amazing works hanging on the walls. I was really blown away by what these artists have done. I'm including a range of samples to show the variety of ways in which these quilters used fabric pattern, color and texture to design everything from bold graphics to portraits to youthful illustrations.

A few exhibitors brought the giant industrial strength machines that enabled them to stitch these enormous tapestries. Until I go down that road I will be working with my Brother sewing machine which I like just fine! I've been using this fabric collage technique when designing my Ketubot. Samples to come!

Myrna Rosen Exhibit

2010-10-10T21:31:00.000-07:00

I wasn't able to go to Pittsburgh and see the show, but my parents went to this honorary exhibit of Myrna's calligraphy and sent me photos. Myrna - my calligraphy teach at CMU who encourages everyone to feed their brains - displays here her wide range of techniques, media and lettering styles. She loves experimenting with tools (one assignment in college called for carving letters out of potatoes) and the last piece leaves me wondering what type of instrument she used to make those marks. She still teaches at Carnegie Mellon, and while I was there Myrna's classes always had double digit waiting lists and she was able to convert even left brained engineers into calligraphy enthusiasts.

Let's Hear It For The Girls!

2010-04-06T22:17:00.000-07:00

I am long overdue for a recap of the show! It went off successfully and everything looked fantastic. The flowers, cakes, stationery, jewelry and linens all came together to create four fabulous looking display tables. Additionally, each of the 9 booths and BellaPelle itself were set up beautifully. It was such a collaborative effort, and every vendor contributed more than just their time.

Let's Hear It For The Girls

2010-02-21T16:32:00.000-08:00

This bridal show that I am helping to put together is one that has what much bigger faire's lack. The event, named "Let's Hear It For The Girls," targets bridesmaids as well as brides, and acts as an intimate one-stop shop for those ladies planning anything wedding related. Instead of a monstrous show with so many booths a bride starts to see double after trying to hit them all, we will be mingling in a spa, enjoying cocktails, cake tasting and eyebrow waxes!

Our exhibitors will work together to complement each other's services, one example being the replicas of completed place settings displayed along one wall. These mock receptions will incorporate products from several vendors, easily illustrating just how to assemble a table at a summer afternoon luncheon, a green wedding or a bubbly bridal shower.

Welcome Mona!

2010-02-03T11:08:00.000-08:00

Born 12/18/09, here is what I've been working on the past few months! Mona Bell Simon, my proudest accomplishment (awwww).

Talented Aunties-To-Be

2009-11-08T16:52:00.000-08:00

A couple friends threw me the cutest baby shower last month. The invitation asked the guests to bring something hand-made (my friends know me alright!). Most gifts were onesies, and as decoration they were all hung across the room on a clothes-line. I've included images of just a few of the many very impressive gifts my friends and family made - including the one my friend made to match her adorable invitation! I'm definitely going to have to think of something to do with these beautiful creations once my daughter outgrows them. Any ideas? Thank you so much to all her talented aunties!

The Bead Show

2009-10-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend Dave and I went to The Bead Show in San Mateo. I was really drawn to the antique pendants, and the one I bought was from the booth shown above. As for beads themselves, I bought a string of grape colored glass spheres which I ended up combining with some silver separators. The ruby quartz beads, however, (the string on the right) make a beautiful necklace just as they are. There were a few more beads I left with that I'm using to make necklaces and hair pieces to give as gifts, and will post them once they're done and gifted.

Kimberly Reed Photography

2009-09-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

One of my couples, Julie and Hannah, recently celebrated their commitment in Pittsburgh, PA. I'm so glad Julie sent me photos because I was just blown away! They were taken by Kimberly Reed Photography who transformed these already photogenic women into the subjects of compositional works of art. The settings and backdrops that Kim chooses, as well as the facial features she focused in on, just make this collection something I could look at over and over.

Molly's Shower

2009-09-09T18:04:00.000-07:00

Molly's maid of honor took the reigns on her best friend's bridal shower. First she commissioned a custom illustration of Molly for the invitation and thank you notes. Then she thought it would be fun to liven each place setting by featuring Molly's portrait on the party favor tags. An especially nice touch was the matted drawing that the ladies covered with signatures and shout-outs, and then gifted to the bride-to-be as a keepsake of the colorful day.

"Capital Ideas" with Carl Rohrs

2009-08-27T18:12:00.000-07:00

The last demonstration of this season's Kalligraphia exhibit featured renowned lettering artist Carl Rohrs. His lesson, called "Capital Ideas" focused on capital letters that aren't recognizable calligraphic styles today, but have evolved over the years by various artists into these interesting, dynamic letter forms.

One of my favorite aspects of calligraphy is pen control and what you can do to a line just by changing the angle and pressure of the instrument. The last image is a perfect illustration of how you can mold a letter into a unique composition just by tweaking the stroke of your pen.

Congratulations Benny and Tali!

2009-08-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

This eclectic couple - the groom is an animator and the bride is a Rabbi - featured their save the date design throughout their wedding weekend. They used it as centerpieces for a pre-wedding day luncheon, on a CD cover for their party favors, on their "benchers" (small prayer books), and on water bottle labels.

For a more formal touch, we created a 3 letter monogram to decorate the programs and signature book, and a custom illustration of the hydrangeas to spice up the menus. To further set the bride and groom apart from their other guests, we created two special place cards for the sweetheart table. We fabricated them out of the same paper that was used for the invitations (the invitations were hand made by Tali's aunt). It was a sweet little touch!

Modern Medieval Decorated Versals

2009-07-10T16:47:00.000-07:00

One of the calligraphy demonstrations during "Kalligraphia season" was taught by Christie Payne, who introduced the art of creating "modern medieval" decorated versals. These versals are the ornamental capital letters you might see in an 11th or 12th century manuscript. But I think they're still relevant today. In fact I think we might include this craft with our custom illustration service! Stay tuned for samples...

Kalligraphia 2009

2009-07-10T16:09:00.001-07:00

This year's triannual Kalligraphia exhibit did not disappoint! I've attached just a few pieces of the many that made up a very colorful room. There was some incredible experimentation with media and technique. I've included one piece that was etched into glass, one that was carved (I'm not sure out of what material), one that was embossed in paper and one in which the writing was embedded in wax!