eInvite's Insights

Congratulations New York!

2011-06-28T15:35:00.002-04:00

{image via einvite: BRIDES fine wedding papers by checkerboard}

Congratulations to the fine State of New York, the Marriage Equality Act was passed on June 24, 2011! What a wonderful day for all.

We wanted to share our support and celebrate this momentous occasion! It's been a long road for every state who has recognized and legalized same-sex marriage, including our State of Massachusetts who passed the law in 2004. Go New England, where most of the supportive states are! I am lucky to work for a company that has been involved and supportive of gay marriage. Our sister company Outvite.com is now featuring a new Get Hitched invitation for New York!

OutVite.com, launched in November 2003, is an online purveyor of fine stationery, invitations, announcements and holiday cards catering to the GLBT community. The site was created by a group of gay and lesbian employees from eInvite.com, a leading online stationery retailer, with the goal of offering quality stationery products to computer-savvy customers in a comfortable shopping environment for GLBT consumers.

Both OutVite.com, as well as its parent company, eInvite.com, offer same-sex partner benefits and has long had written policies barring any form of employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. For more information click here.

This wonderful collage was inspired by the earthy and natural colors in Suite 7 of Checkerboard's new collaborative effort with BRIDES magazine, Brides Fine Wedding Papers. Throughout the album, introductory collages open each suite, setting the tone with amazing wedding imagery. The stunning photographs from Tinywater Photography, Corbin Gurkin, Suzy Clement, Michèle M. Waite, Mel Barlow & Co. and Terry Gruber Photographers create a ground breaking experience for the invitation shopper, as well as embody the spirit of innovation in design and support of our community as a whole.

A special thank you to Tinywater Photography, who provided the beautiful image of this happy couple!

Checkerboard featured on The Aisle New York

2011-04-28T13:18:00.002-04:00

{image: The Aisle New York}

In good company with designers Isaac Mizrahi, Yvette Fry, Stephanie Browne and even The Royal Couple, Kate Middleton and Prince William, Checkerboard is featured on The Aisle New York! A great selection of social stationery and thank you notes and an incredible coupon for Checkerboard product on eInvite.com/theaisle worth $100 retail for only $60!

Are we Facebook friends?

2011-03-18T12:41:00.001-04:00

Save the Date Magnets

2011-03-17T11:59:00.007-04:00

{magnets by pioneer via einvite.com}

Vintage, elegant, offbeat, colorful and most of all, kept, these save the date magnets are a great way to have fun and show a little personality before your wedding invitation arrives. I love the idea of the magnet being on the fridge of each guest. With their morning coffee, they can reflect of the upcoming celebration. There are so many to choose from, so there is something for the sophisticate to the quirky!

Congratulations to the Newly Engaged!

2011-02-14T13:53:00.003-05:00

Sultry Emberglow at BHLDN

2011-02-10T13:08:00.009-05:00

{images: dress, earrings: BHLDN via aisledash, osj: me, invitation: unveiled by checkerboard at eInvite,

couple: michèle m. waite photography}

{image: pantone}

Yummy "emberglow" and "coffee liqueur", two of Pantone's pick's for Fall 2011 Fashion Color Trends report are alive and full of life. They just landed in my inbox today, as I was about to post this sultry color combination! Another of my favs from BHLDN is this coral bridesmaid dress and earrings, which pair so well with the Flora Fauna invitation from Unveiled by Checkerboard, just just made available on eInvite.com. Michèle M. Waite had some foresight when she caught this couple in front of this colorful foodstand. All the warm and lively colors make me wish for spring. The 14th better hurry up and get here so we can see what else BHLDN has in store!

Romantic and dreamy BHLDN

2011-02-09T18:09:00.004-05:00

{images: romantic dresses and jewelry: BHLDN via aisledash; Unveiled invitation by Checkerboard at eInvite;
bicycle: mel barlow}

This caspian blue and golden brown dress stopped me in my tracks. I love all of the texture and patterns. A fun vibrant girl would wear this dress, as a bride or to a gala. It's quite versatile because of the length. The whole BHLDN collection is full of romance and old world charm, with simplicity and elegance of the gown above to more retro, rustic and edgy styles. I am looking forward to the short videos that accompany the line!

Heirloom dresses and invitations to inspire future generations. When ordering, remember to order a few extra to save for your kiddos as keepsakes.

BHLDN looks good with Unveiled by Checkerboard!

2011-02-09T17:35:00.010-05:00

{images: headpiece, dress: BHLDN via aisledash; wedding: michèle m.waite; flowers: sprout;

invitation: unveiled by checkerboard at eInvite}

Sneak peaks of the new wedding collection by Anthropologie are all over the internet, officially launching on February 14th, the day of love. How excited I was to see how well they pair up with the Unveiled wedding invitation collection by Checkerboard. Just presently launching on eInvite, this exciting line has a global heart with a city spirit. The soft colors of natural ballet pink in this selection are accented with luxe satin creating a vintage allure with bohemian flair. The trifold invitation has a pocket behind to hold accessories.

Stay tuned for some more "Beholden" inspiration.

Hearts!

2011-01-27T17:41:00.000-05:00

(Images Top to Bottom: ffffound.com, Janoid, peredohni, hello naomi, cornflowerbluestudio)

Hello and happy Thursday! Just wanted to share a little Valentine's Day inspiration with you today. Hope these pics keep your heart warm and toasty until February 14th!

Typographic Posters

2011-01-07T16:13:00.004-05:00

{Woodblock Posters from www.anthonyburrill.com}

Anthony Burrill is a designer & illustrator living in Isle of Oxney, Kent, in the UK.

I was delighted to rediscover his Woodblock Posters series; there's something sincere about the graphic simplicity of his work. The bold, resolute declarations in this series are tempered by the nostalgic earnestness of hand-set wood type.

I highly recommend taking a look at his work @ http://www.anthonyburrill.com

Valentine's Photo Cards

2011-01-05T10:24:00.003-05:00

If the holiday season passed you by too quickly to send out your annual greeting card, fear not! These adorable Valentine's Day photo cards will have your friends and family forgetting all about your little faux pas.

{L to R from the top: You're in my Heart, eInvite.com; Kisses and Hugs, eInvite.com; Be Mine, eInvite.com; Little Love Bird, eInvite.com}

Holstee Manifesto: Words to Live By

2010-12-29T13:10:00.001-05:00

{manifesto: from holstee.com, a very cool, sustainable

and conscious company you should check out}

Seeing Red

2010-12-21T14:40:00.019-05:00

As you head out for a bit of last minute shopping this week, don't forget the most important part... your holiday attire! Red is always in trend during this festive season. Here is a bit of eye candy to inspire the wardrobe for your whole family {even your dog)! Happy holidays!

{L to R from the top: Girls' ribbon flower headband; Burberry Studded Leather Wrap Bracelet; Slithering Rosette Heels; Alice and Olivia Carla jersey twist dress; Opaque Tights; Secret Wash point- collar shirt in large gingham; Collier Madame Necklace; Pups Classic Sweater; Lotta Stensson Nairobi printed silk top}

Gastrotypographicalassemblage

2010-12-17T17:33:00.002-05:00

{images from The Center for Design Studies}

In the spirit of the holidays--and all the eating that typically goes along with it--I thought I'd share one of my favorite instances of environmental typography.

Lou Dorfsman was the longtime designer for CBS, and in 1966 his piece Gastrotypographicalassemblage (yes, all one word) was completed and installed in the cafeteria of the broadcaster's headquarters.

His sculpture was a giant mural composed of a myriad of three dimensional wooden typography, spelling out the names of all the various foods featured in the cafeteria. It was exhaustive, typographically playful, and formally brilliant all at the same time.

Above you can see Dorfsman's initial sketches, the entirety of the 35-foot wall, as well as a detail shot of the designer with his work.

A Royal Wedding Gown

2010-12-16T10:45:00.003-05:00

{Images from Top to Bottom: Vera Wang, Elizabeth Emanuel, J.Crew, Jason Wu, Prabal Gurung, Rachel Roy, Tommy Hilfiger, Valentino, Badgley Mischka, Tory Burch and Christian Lacroix via AOL StyleList.}

Hello and happy Thursday, hope this finds you all well. I’m sort of giddy to share this post with you today because it combines a few of my favorite things; wedding dresses, fashion sketches and royalty! Oh my! These awesome sketches are from some of the world’s top fashion designers and feature designs for Kate Middleton’s royal wedding gown. Which one is your favorite? Mine is by far, the Tory Burch design, second to that, would be either the Vera Wang, or the J.Crew gown. Leave us a comment and let us know! I’m sure Kate would appreciate the input ;}

Veer Fonts

2010-12-13T11:08:00.004-05:00

Still looking for a last minute holiday gift for the designer in your life? These two featured fonts from veer caught my eye, and would be more than welcome under my tree!

{L to R: Piel Script by Umbrella Type; Manicotti by Umbrella Type}

Contemporary Rituals

2010-12-10T14:17:00.004-05:00

{image courtesy of danwitz.com}

Recently I discovered the incredible paintings of New York artist Dan Witz. Witz, a 30 year member of the street art scene, has been capturing the energy of contemporary gatherings in his series "Mosh Pits (Human & Otherwise)". Besides the obvious technical prowess of Witz's paintings, he captures the primal energy and aesthetic beauty of people locked in celebratory chaos that make you forget that the finely rendered participants are not actually moving on the surface. The Mosh Pit works explore the timeless human urge to create a shared experience where all pulses beat together.

Cool Holiday DIY

2010-12-07T14:18:00.004-05:00

{potato stamp: factorydirectcraft.com; paperchain: priscillabeau; magnetic advent calendar: twig and thistle; glass ornament: twig and thistle; paper garland: twig and thistle}

{ok, i fell a little in love with twig and thistle, a great gathering of unique inspiration}

The holidays are an especially fun time to make, bake and spend time with family and friends. I am always on the hunt for simple, fun and cool ideas. The paper chain is a wonderful holiday craft and is fun for small children and adults. I especially love this one shown, as each link is personalized with something to be thankful for. You can easily make a Christmas version of wishes, thoughts, lyrics, poems and of course, the words to The Night Before Christmas. May your month be merry and filled with wonderful moments, of new memories.

Made of Paper

2010-12-05T17:39:00.001-05:00

Check out this wonderful little short film featuring paper as the key emotional element. Cute!

Snowflake Season!

2010-12-03T16:47:00.003-05:00

{image from NOAA Photo Library}

It's getting to be snowflake season! In the spirit of winter fun I thought I'd share a photographer who fuses art, science, and--indeed--snowflakes.

Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley (1865 - 1931) was a pioneering photographer of snowflakes. Perfecting his own experimental technique, Bentley was able to capture and rapidly photograph individual fleeting flakes.

His photographic legacy leaves a thorough visual archive; his snowflake images act not only as scientific artifacts, but also as wonderful examples of the splendid innate patterns found in nature.

Posters and Passports!

2010-12-02T10:43:00.002-05:00

Images via Alexander & Co.

Hello and Happy Thursday folks, I am so excited to share these wonderful posters with you from Alexander & co. Aren’t they just awesome?! I had no idea such a thing existed…but thanks to Amanda, over at Ruffled, these beauties found their way into my blogosphere and into my heart. Alexander & Co. offers a large selection of customizable vintage-inspired designs to choose from, all of which feature beautiful 1930s style illustrations.

Aside from being a great visual to have at your wedding, any of these posters would make for a great keepsake, or even an amazing anniversary gift, don’t you think? They would also make for the perfect complement to any destination themed wedding…and what other way to announce such a wedding, than with a passport save the date, or invitation? I’ve included here some examples that are available on eInvite…so fun!

{Images from L to R: Saika & Lars Passport Thank You from Marsupial, Saika & Lars Passport Invitation from Marsupial, Passport Save The Date from Checkerboard, and Par Avion Save The Date from Checkerboard. All Images via eInvite}

Holiday Photo Cards

2010-11-29T15:19:00.011-05:00

I hope your Cyber Monday shopping is going well! Last month I shared a few of my favorite holiday cards and today I wanted to share eInvite.com's fabulous holiday photo cards. These fun cards below, from Checkerboard, are available at 10% off through 11/30. Happy shopping!

{L to R from the top: Delicate Frame; Hot Pink Holiday; Calligraphic Greetings; Moments; Regalia; Ornamental Greetings}

Deck the Halls

2010-11-27T12:03:00.005-05:00

{holiday decor via hgtv}

Advent calendars are so much fun. The anticipation of opening one hidden treat every day, made morning so much fun, especially if you could break the law and enjoy a piece of candy! I also found this really fun paper chain. I know what we will be doing next weekend!

Holiday Craft Fun!

2010-11-26T16:49:00.005-05:00

Hello everybody!

Now that the holiday season seems to be in full swing, I thought it would be fun to pass along a DIY ornament! Just a few simple steps for assembly. After printing out the image above, cut around the perimeter of the triangular shapes and (including the tabs). Then, with a craft knife, gently (and carefully) score the lines between each triangle, and where each tab abuts a triangle.

For the string to hang the ornament, first poke holes in the two white dots with a needle or thumbtack. Use a ballpoint pen to widen the holes, and then place each end of your string through one of the holes, tying a knot on the back side of the printout.

Apply glue or tape to each tab, and then fold up to reveal a wondrous winter octahedron ornament!

Party Perfect!

2010-11-25T09:00:00.006-05:00

Looking to throw a great party in the near future? Well, whether it be a holiday party, a new Year’s eve party, or maybe just an excuse to have a party, eInvite has some really fun designs available for any such occasion. We just recently released a new line of party invitations that feature, playful die-cuts, whimsical graphics and beautifully applied ribbons and crystals. Above, I’ve shown just a few of my favorites, but be sure to check out the full selection here…happy browsing!!

Objectified

2010-11-23T11:15:00.006-05:00

{poster for objectified by swiss dots}

Shown first at SXSW earlier this year, Objectified directed by Gary Hustwit and created by his gang at Swiss Dots of London. The piece is a documentary about industrial design that may have you sitting in your chair a little differently. You may recall, Swiss Dots of Helvetica. Looking at objects, there is the chance you may perhaps get on all fours to get a good perspective, or stand on the other side of the room and compare two of your favorites. As a consumer, you will start thinking about the inside world of the manufacturing of objects, about their simplicity v. complexity, their ease of use v. their uselessness, their value v. their waste of space. As a designer, you will be taken on a journey into the minds of brilliant aesthetic thinkers. You may never brush your teeth or use a MacBook the same again! See the trailer here.

We have been lucky enough to have Adoniram, our in-house photographer set up a monthly film series here at the office. Objectified was our last inspiration. {I am waiting for Urbanized...hint, hint!}

Faux or Real?

2010-11-19T17:01:00.003-05:00

{images L to R: my Hipstamatic experiments, tricycle from Eggleston Artistic Trust, farm house from The J. Paul Getty Trust , sprocket photography from Mark Edwards , TTV Lincoln from Flickr , my candle/hands photograph}

I hope you don't mind if I wax poetic or--perhaps--photographic for today.

I have a confession, I love my Hipstamatic. For those of you unfamiliar, Hipstamatic is a camera phone application which lets users digitally simulate a variety vintage lenses and films--replete with many traditional imperfections of analog photography--over and underexposure, light leaks, vignetting, flares, and dust and scratches.

As somebody who cringes (hopefully not too snobbishly) seeing photographs processed with an excess of digital effects, I feel a but hypocritical that I'm so enthused with the completely faux vintage flavor of the Hipstamatic's images. To get a feel for the application, I started taking images of overhead power lines. For a reason I'm still unsure of, seeing those ordinary power lines altered through the Hipstamatic's digital alchemy gave the photos an attractive quality totally absent from a traditional, run-of-the-mill, point-and-shoot cell phone camera's images.

Imagine that--in a world in which we have practically every conceivable image altering ability at our fingertips--we gravitate towards those which can satiate our longing for the imperfections of (in the realm of technological time) ancient analog processes.

I don't know why I was so accepting of the Hipstamatic's product; perhaps it's the fact that the effects were pre-produced, instead of slathered on in post-processing, which seemed more in line with what one would expect with actual analog imperfections. So instead of being willfully doctored after the fact, the application's images were shot and developed "as is" without any further manipulation.

But still, why was I enamored with the images?

I immediately thought of William Eggleston, one of the most celebrated modern photographers. The charm of his images are two fold; first they expertly capture the curiosity that banal everyday objects or scenes can retain, but they are also reinforced (or symbiotically operate) with a richness born from the limitations of the--at then--still relatively nascent field of color photography. I find his work to be a perfect fusion of form and composition paired with the comfort (for lack of a better term) that his saturated colors convey. They simply produce a feeling.

For instance, his image of a tricycle is equal parts perfect low-angle framing, as well as the saturated colors his media affords. Similarly, his image of a farm perfectly marries form and the ochre tinge of the analog photographic process. What I find striking is that the feelings of nostalgia are produced equally from the clearly dated objects in the photographs, but also the fact that they also look like what we imagine an "old photograph" to look like.

Now, is this comfort simply derived from a sense of nostalgia decades removed from when the image was shot? I'm really not sure, but it brings up another point; I'm often dogged by doubts about my own artistic authenticity. Today, if I shot an image which perfectly mimicked the visual analog DNA of, say, an Eggleston print, would that vintage feeling be lasting? In essence, can possessing the style, but not necessarily the substance of an image be satisfying? Is that satisfaction sustainable? Or at some point do we--crestfallen--have a revelation that the machine should take more credit than the operator?

This begs another question: is then form, and the exacting eye of the artist (instead facets constructed solely through technological artifacts), inherently as well as indelibly entangled with any true sense of an image evoking a feeling? I'm not completely certain of the answer, but it also got me thinking about schools of contemporary practice that also attempt, to some extent, to marry the proliferation of digital equipment with analog image making techniques.

For instance, Holga cameras are experiencing a resurgence in popularity; they are inexpensive, plastic-lensed film cameras which are earnestly known for their less than sturdy construction. Thus, light leaks and soft-focused images are expected from their use. However, some photographers have taken this fact one step further. By hacking the camera to accept common 35mm film instead of its larger native format, a Holga is capable of exposing 35mm film all the way to its sprocket holes, thus making the technology become more readily evident in the image itself. In this case the look and feel of the image is altered to deliberately display its creative process.

Another practice is TTV--or through-the-viewfinder--photography, which employs the simultaneous use of two cameras. Using vintage twin-lens reflex cameras to frame a shot, one then takes (either digitally or with film) an image of the first camera's viewfinder; the result is a slightly distorted and vignetted image, complete with whatever grime and dust is present on the TLR camera.

Trying out processes meld analog and digital techniques are surprisingly easy to experiment with. For example, I wanted to find a way to create an analog version of blur and vignetting. Using a spare UV filter on the lens of my digital camera, I coated the filter with a ring of petroleum jelly. The effect was a surprisingly effective analog vignetting.

I suppose the moral of this story is if you're feeling a drought of creativity with the artistic processes you are familiar with, try experimenting and augmenting what you do know in order to unlock future ways to work!

Art of the Americas

2010-11-19T15:13:00.006-05:00

(image courtesy of http://www.mfa.org/)

It's finally here! After many years of construction The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston opens the Art of the Americas addition. Fifty three galleries showcasing works from the pre-Columbian era up through most of the 20th century.

I have watched the progress over the past few years and am excited to finally see the new galleries, to see my favorite works that have been archived during construction, and to see their new acquisitions.

(image courtesy of www.mfa.org)

Butterfly Bat Mitzvah!

2010-11-19T10:48:00.002-05:00

{Images L to R: eInvite, Linzi Events, Hostess with the Mostess, Pink Cake Box and The Knot.}

Hello and Happy Friday folks! I’m excited to share with you one of my favorite Bat Mitzvah invitations that is new on eInvite. The design, Spirited Flight, features colorful hand-layered papers and raised printed thermography. I just love the charming pair of butterflies and the vibrant combination of hot pink and chocolate wood grain. In general, I think butterflies make for such a fun Bat Mitzvah theme. Not only are they beautiful, but they’re whimsical and suggestive of nature, which makes them perfect for any size celebration - whether it be a casual affair, or an extravagant blow-out. Are you or your daughter considering a butterfly theme for her Bat Mitzvah, or perhaps know someone who is? Well here are just a few ideas to get you started…Enjoy! Not interested in a butterfly theme? Then be sure to check out our full collection of Bar and Bat invitations here…happy shopping!

"Kickoff" by Checkerboard, Ltd.

2010-11-18T08:21:00.000-05:00

Decked Out in Sequins

2010-11-15T14:03:00.007-05:00

I normally put sequins firmly into the category of "New Year's Eve", but the new Michael Kors catalog I received in the mail this weekend is prompting me to break out the sparkle a bit earlier this year. How fun would a holiday party be decked out in sequins?

{L to R from the top: West Elm, Starry-Night Pillow Cover; West Elm, Chunky Sequin Stocking; JCrew, Sequin Mesh Bell Skirt; Meri Meri, Party Silhouette on eInvite.com; Michael Kors, Sequin Tee; Potterybarn, German Glitter Bird Vase Filler; Potterybarn, Noel Sign; Shopbop.com, Zilla Reversed Sequin Pumps; Michael Kors, Sequin Belt, Coin Purse & Wrislet}

Sweet New Holiday Photo Cards by eInvite!

2010-11-15T10:56:00.009-05:00

{ Images via eInvite's new holiday collection, Crate and Barrel and Martha Stewart }

Past & Present Photography

2010-11-12T14:55:00.004-05:00

(images from Springfield Rewind)

Rephotography is a fascinating art form—it is the practice of recapturing the content of historical photographs in present day. The seemingly simple nature of the activity belies the fact that a certain bit of research and exploration is needed to recreate images of decades past.

One of the best examples I’ve found of this endeavor is Springfield Rewind, a database created by the Look Back Springfield project, which documents the history of Springfield, Illinois. The precision in which the photographs match one another is impressive, especially considering that the gap between historical photo and contemporary recreation spans, in many instances, upwards of 80 years.

However, even in examples which are only 30 years removed from one another, it is very easy to see the manner in which the environment (both physically & culturally) paradoxically changes greatly while also steadfastly remaining the same. While stone hewn buildings remain seemingly static, in contrast trees canopy once barren thoroughfares, and monolithic automobiles give way to their more agile contemporary counterparts.

From both an aesthetic and cultural standpoint, I’m always enamored by the large typographic signage of yesteryear. It often seems that large environmental—and slightly quirky—typography is missing from our contemporary landscape.

The encouraging facet of this art form is that one need only possess a camera and the will to scour their environments, so go and explore!

A Steampunk Future

2010-11-11T09:34:00.012-05:00

{image from offbeatbride.com}

"Steampunk" is an aesthetic, growing in popularity, that presents the future from the imagined view of the Victorian age. Steampunk gets its inspiration from a combination of Jules Verne and H.G.Wells to contemporary retro futuristic sci-fi films such as "The City of Lost Children" and "Hellboy". It is a mix of 19th century industrialism with exposed steam pipes, greasy etched gears and Victorian style varnished dark woods, ornamental brass fittings, velvet, tin, with the added utilitarian beauty of worn leather and glowing electrical vacuum tubes.

{image from offbeatbride.com}

This antique vision of the fantastic has shown its influence in areas ranging from fashion, modifications to laptops, televisions and phones to collectible re imaginings of historical figures and even "Star Wars" in the form of action figures. Now it has even made it way into weddings; grooms decked out in long coats and vintage vests and top hats accented with antique goggles, riveted brass and other factory style garments. Brides gowns move away from traditional white to darker tones with Victorian flourishes, lace, fingerless gloves and industrial style jewelry. Even wedding cakes are getting the fondant sculpted treatment.

{image from technabob.com}

Vera Wang and Unveiled by Checkerboard

2010-11-09T11:21:00.011-05:00

{image: vera wang gown, via verawang.com}

{sneak peek image of checkerboard's unveiled invitation, presidio: suite no. 1}

The accent of black is so elegant. I love Vera Wang's line of wedding gowns that feature long silky sashes of jet and these gloves in the image above paired with the industrial elegance of the neckpiece screams personal style and edgy elegance. These stunning gowns perfectly coordinate with this invitation suite.

Checkerboard has come out with an innovative line of wedding invitations coming soon to eInvite.com. This elegant item featured is Suite No. 1 called Presidio. It features a custom Geneva diecut envelope and printed liner, a Jet invitation with a diecut pocket on the back that echos the same shape of the envelope and reveals your response set and direction card. Checkerboard has also added a number of imported Italian liners to the collection. This suite features the fashion forward, Donatella liner. If you are looking for something that brings out your personalities, text that embodies your spirit as a couple in celebration with your family, these invitation suites are sure to excite. Do you want to share your story to your guests instead of just telling them the time and place? Create the most exciting prelude with Unveiled by Checkerboard. Stay tuned...we can't wait to share more!

The Embellished Bride

2010-11-08T13:58:00.005-05:00

{Images via Project Wedding, Style Me Pretty, Flights of Fancy and Martha Stewart Weddings }

If you’ve been to eInvite.com recently, you’ve probably noticed that we have a new and exciting line of invitations called the Embellished Collection; featuring Swarovski crystals, hand-tied ribbons and layered papers. One of my favorite designs from the collection is this Serene Scrolled Border invitation, showcasing an elegant pattern of flourishes and scrolls in soft pewter gray, and adorned with a hand-tied, contemporary, black ribbon. The clean look and classic colors complement any style, and the soft green accents add a punch of color, that is both refreshing and fun. Be sure to check out the full collection here and peruse the many beautiful designs available...Enjoy and happy shopping!

Cards!

2010-11-01T16:17:00.006-04:00

Talking about cards is one of our favorite pastimes here at eInvite's Insights. However, I recently came across a fantastic archive which offers another genre of cards: playing cards.The Yale University Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library is home to the Cary Playing Card Database, an archive freely available through this link.

While one may never have thought to look to something as simple and ubiquitous as playing cards for visual inspiration, the contents of the database are rich with examples of bold patterns and detailed ornamentation. What I find interesting is the contrast of said bold and detailed patterns with others in the collection; there are plenty of examples of equally visually striking patterns, though wrought from nothing more than lines of various weights.

Have a look!

Holiday Cards

2010-11-01T08:25:00.010-04:00

Happy Nov 1! Whether you are already in the holiday mood, or not, there is no stopping the fact that it is slowly creeping up. This is one of my favorite times of year, and I am kicking off this season by choosing holiday cards. Working at a stationery company (and especially in the art department), sets a expectation for my cards, so I always have such a hard time deciding. This year seems tougher than ever! Below are a few of my favorites, but you can find all our photo, non-photo and business holiday cards (plus fun accessories) here.

{L to R from top: Tree of Expressions w/ Crystal, eInvite.com; Selfless Santa, Carlson Craft; Blitzen, Paper Orchid; Reaching Up, Carlson Craft; Triangle Trees with Ribbon & Button, Meri Meri; Under the Mistletoe Flat Card, Stacy Claire Boyd; Western Joy Foldover, eInvite.com; Penguins, Crane & Co.}

Cirque Du Noir and the folks of eInvite

2010-10-27T16:35:00.014-04:00

{images l to r: guests lisa crislip, j.fatima martins, chad sirois; musician valerie thompson of goli; eInvite photographer amy demar; eInvite artists: emily quillen and scott boilard; vip passes courtesy of checkerboard; louie despres and his wife tina zlody; angela cannistraro and myself,
and the art fusion audience, all images here by louie despres}

Our recent frolicking at Cirque Du Noir was such an enjoyable night. Every year we get dressed up in our finest noir and celebrate for a good cause. The premise is a simple one, with a huge artist community right here in town, the Worcester area is thriving with talent. We gather them up, watch them create incredible collaborative pieces before our eyes, while auctioning off donated pieces of art from many other generous and talented artists. All this happens while listening to incredible music. This year Esthema and Goli of Boston joined us for the haute evening of incredible creativity and fantastic costumes.

The event was actually inspired by all the creativity surrounding us at work. From this pool of amazing friends and creative spirit, the event became a reality. In its third year Cirque Du Noir has grown so much and we are so happy, as proceeds from the event support the Worcester County Food Bank. Our sponsors like eInvite and Checkerboard help to make the night a success adding the details that make it special. The VIP passes, programs and printing donations were customized for the event. Thank you to all that came out to enjoy art, music in the spirit of Halloween and giving back to our community.

Cirque Du Noir was Sunday evening, followed by a Halloween themed celebration at our annual company picnic the day before. We are just a bunch of party people here. We are now looking to Friday, which will bring yet another costumed day of fun!

Harvest Party

2010-10-25T15:12:00.003-04:00

Here in New England, autumn is one of the most inspiring seasons, with the changing colors and dropping temperatures which call for cozy food and decorations. In a few weeks, my friend is throwing a "Harvest Party", and I am imagining natural colors and textures, hearty foods and an overall feeling of warmth. Here are a few ideas, so you can throw your own party and celebrate this fabulous season!

{L to R from the top: Pumpkin Pudding; Leaf Motif Textiles; Salt-Roasted Pears with Caramel Sauce; Mini Indian Corn Vase Filler; Fall Pumpkin Invitation; Gourd Candles; Fall Pumpkin Roses Centerpiece; Cranberry Compote; Fall Decorating}

Typographic Pumpkins!

2010-10-22T15:10:00.004-04:00

Following the spirit of the previous two posts, I was delighted to come across these typographic pumpkin carvings. There is something endearing about precise and austere glyphs of Helvetica being carved out of a giant vegetable/fruit. So in addition to the typical staple of Jack-O-Lantern faces, don't be afraid to celebrate the season by showing off your inner design nerd! Just watch your kerning.

Images from: Veer , Swiss Miss ,http://www.myttonwilliams.co.uk/blog/?p=101 , http://chancentrate.blogspot.com/2008/10/pumpkin-party-pumping-arty.html

Halloween favorites

2010-10-21T07:02:00.007-04:00

Michelle's fun post made me want to share a few of my favorite halloween cards and accessories on eInvite!

We Summon You for Hallow's Eve Inspiration!

2010-10-20T13:05:00.007-04:00

{images l to r via: einvite.com, cheeseclothe welcome beautifully used, ghosts: martha stewart, cookies: good house keeping, fabric flora: dragonflys and stars and mask: sarah thomas designs}

Halloween is such a fun holiday for children and adults. The folks here at eInvite tend to get a little hokey around Halloween and have a lot of fun. This invitation shown above is from our digital invitation line, perfectly priced for a fun event like All Hallow's Eve, and sets the tone perfectly for a night of childish fun. You get to dress up and eat absurd amounts of candy. When I see elegant Halloween ideas, I am really drawn to them, like this mask by Sarah Thomas Designs. You can even make something out of recycled pieces from around the house. Autumn is vibrant in New England and it is also a time we can all reflect on the passing summer, rustle through the leaves and think about the approaching holidays with family, hopefully while stopping at a neighbors for some warm cider and apple bobbing!

Old Becomes New Again

2010-10-04T09:27:00.014-04:00

As we've discussed on eInvite's Insights before, Pantone releases a color forecast seasonally, twice a year. The fall 2010 colors are a wonderfully muted, yet rich, palette of natural hues. They are:

As I began to play around with combinations and screens, I thought I would look at some of Pantone's own libraries regarding these colors, and discovered something interesting: Lipstick Red 19-1764 was the one of the textile colors of the year... in 1997. Needless to say, that got me curious. How was Lipstick Red being used in fashion more than a decade ago? Was it a pop color? Was it a hue applied universally as a base for furniture colorways? Where was it and how did it play?

It's worth noting that Lipstick Red is a perennial favor of the Pantone staff, and shows up every few years in one industry or another, so it's no shock for a currently forecasted color to show up years before. What struck me is that some of the color forecast information in 1997 was still floating around the internet. So, off we go to investigate!

It didn't take long to dredge up reporting on design back in 1997; the New York Magazine was particularly helpful in identifying textile and interior use of 19-1764. I noticed that Lipstick Red was favored as an accent color for doorways and large interior objects:

image from The Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas

Old becomes new again through some slight styling changes and an emphasis on woods and natural tones, rather than the more stark and hard materials of the 1990s, featured by the architect Barbara Bestor in a variety of design journalists earlier this year:

image from Barbara Bestor's BESTOR ARCHITECTURE

It's interesting that while the materials, and particularly the light design, have changed, some of the basic design aspects have not. We still see a lot of metal mixed with wood: a juxtaposition of human-made materials with human-shaped materials. Though the two images above are distinctly different in taste, you can no doubt see similarities in the treatment of space (light makes a big difference here!).

Interior design was not the only design quarter to see Lipstick Red in decades-long rotation. The AIDs awareness campaigns that dominated popular culture in the 1980s continued on through the 1990s and, as AIDs awareness was often important to the design community, the red AIDs ribbon showed up both as a literal object and as a cultural color. The Red Ribbon Project was created in 1991 and continues to be a recognizable object in today's culture.

Ralph Lauren showcased a few powerful reds that were very close, if not exactly, Lipstick Red in his 1995 fall collection:

Ralph Lauren 1995 Fall Collection

Then, more than a decade later, Nicole Kidman shattered the Oscars with this red Balenciaga, analogous to similar trends in the 1990s:

Nicole Kidman, style by Phillip Bloch in 2007, in red Balenciaga

Of course, a reasonable argument is that anyone can pick and choose through history to create a design narrative, but I think it's clear that both the color and the application have a real history in our design culture. One of the great challenges that creatives and designers have is recognizing the difference between popular and timeless design. This difference is often was separates good designers and great designers.

The same goes for print design. When looking to purchase something that's meant to memorialize a moment in life, both designers and customers have to figure out whether their style is something that is nuanced but unchanging through time, or if it bends and sways with the trends of the day. Both are perfectly acceptable! Predicting time is the hardest thing anyone can try to do.

Our advice is never to try and guess what the future may hold. When buying something you intend to cherish for generations, make sure it's an honest reflection of who you are and what you love: about this moment, about the event, about life. Stay true to this and when you look back in twenty years, you won't have to say, "What was I thinking?!"

A Master Calligrapher and Zentangle

2010-09-29T10:04:00.005-04:00

{video via newsletter of Zentangle.com}

The folks over at Zentangle, Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts are good friends of ours, and when I received this newsletter I had to share. LISTEN to the pen. SEE the penstrokes develop. LEARN the art of Zentangle...it's so easy to create amazing pieces of art in little time, even if you have never drawn a thing in your LIFE. I love watching them teach and inspire.

If you get on their email list, you will be rewarded and inspired EVERY time you see it in your inbox. Their blog and content is so very wonderful and creative. You will see your surroundings in a whole new way as they take you on pattern seeking explorations of their own. Look on their site for cool workshops all over the world. Zentangle is spreading like wildfire, no wonder why. Thank you Rick and Maria for this inspiration. More please!

Visit their website for more information and materials for learning the art: http://www.zentangle.com/

Lush Ribbons from Unveiled

2010-09-16T16:22:00.002-04:00

{Image of Unveiled Suite # 15, called Lex courtesy of Checkerboard}

Just released from Checkerboard, coming soon to eInvite!

Post Cups from Bailey Doesn't Bark

2010-09-16T09:28:00.006-04:00

{image via baileydoesn'tbark.com}

Today, I came across these really great mugs from bailey doesn't bark. You can personalize the little post card area and send them out. Here is a personal touch that lasts and lasts. Everytime girlfriend (or boyfriend) has a tea or coffee, thoughts of sender (you) enter in. Fun. The cutest gift!

Hit up their blog for some other cool images and a view inside the company. {*Love her aesthetic.}

Fun Seating Cards by Checkerboard

2010-08-19T15:17:00.004-04:00

{images from Checkerboard's Unveiled collection}

Fun table cards always add a bit excitement for your guests. They see their names printed together, sometimes for the very first time. You can add a splash of design and whimsy to greet your guest as they enter the reception. Have fun with your table cards! This selection of really unique wedding suites is coming soon to eInvite.

The Grand and Distant Future

2010-08-15T16:58:00.013-04:00

Much of what we discuss here at eInvite revolves around the world of print, both its aesthetics and history. Most people are aware that, in many areas of the print world, there are serious and wrenching changes occurring as the world changes and business models adapt. We tend to relish history and art here on eInvite's Insights, but often look to the future to see "what's next."

However, it's often just as interesting to go into the past and discover the visions of the future that our ancestors had. Futurism has been an area of discussion for as long as there has been language, and in particular the past two centuries have provided a wealth of predictions for modern humanity, from the sublime to the absurd.

An engineer by the name of John Elfreth Watkins published an article in an issue of Ladies' Home Journal in 1900. Watkins was apparently instrumental in preserving the John Bull locomotive, and though I couldn't find much information in a cursory investigation, it's reasonable to assume that he understood the relationship between past and future development.

This article was a testament to that in particular. Watkins made a litany of predictions for the "next hundred years", many of which were startlingly accurate. Here is the list:

1. America will have a population between 350 and 500 million.
2. Americans will be taller by 1-2 inches.
3. There will be no "c", "x", or "q" in common use.
4. Hot and cold air will be turned on from "spigots" to regulate the temperature of a house.
5. There will be no more mosquitos or flies.
6. Ready cooked meals will be bought from the grocery.
7. No foods will be "exposed" (the open air market).
8. Coal will not be used for heating or cooking.
9. There will be no streetcars in large cities (rather, they will become subways).
10. Photographs will be telegraphed from any distance (and they will be in color).
11. Trains will travel at 150 mph (from New York to San Francisco) and will have similar cooling to the futuristic house).
12. Automobiles will be cheaper than horses.
13. Everybody will be able to walk ten miles in a single stretch.
14. Fast ships will make travel to England occur in less than two days (by using "apertures expelling jets of air").
15. There will be air-ships (it's reasonable to assume he meant dirigibles and not planes).
16. Giant guns will shoot twenty-five miles or more, there will be armored moving forts.
17. There will be no more wild animals.
18. Man will see around the world by means of cameras connected electrically by circuits.
19. Wireless telephones will allow you to communicate from anywhere on earth, and the "hello girl" (operator) will be obsolete.
20. Grand opera will be telephoned to private homes via robotic instruments.
21. A university education will be free to every man and women. Etiquette and housekeeping will be important studies in public schools.
22. Store purchases will be made by tube.
23. Vegetables will be grown year-round with electrical assistance.
24. Oranges will grow in Philadelphia and portable refrigeration will make fruit available anywhere in the union, year-round.
25. Strawberries will be grown as large as apples.
26. Peas will be grown as large as beets.
27. Black, blue, and green roses will exist.
28. Few drugs will be swallowed and a physician will "actually see a living, throbbing heart inside the chest [and] he will be able to magnify and photograph any part of it. This work will be done with rays of invisible light."

Well, consider me astounded. Not only are a vast majority of these predictions close to modern technology, but some of them are startlingly accurate. Most of them are common practice today.

1. Population - Close. The United States has a population of approximately 307 million as of July 2010

2. Height - Close. Though I had to use "industrialized world" averages, a report by Joerg Baten suggests that the average in 1900 was 168 cm, and is 176 cm today. That's about 3" of change.

3. Alphabet - wrong.

4. Central Air Conditioning / Central Heat - Correct. Though not as mechanistic as Watkins imagines, it's common in many households and phenomenally accurate as a prediction.

5. Insects - wrong.

6. Culinary - the "TV dinner" is a staple of modern American life and exactly on-point.

7. Grocery - Close. The street-side, open air market is rare in the United States, particularly outside of major cities. When I lived in NYC, I adored the Greenmarket, but in more rural areas, the mega-super-market is king now, and the open air market is long dead.

8. Home Energy - Partially Correct. Coal's use in the home has been all but abandoned in the United States. However, its industrial use for producing electricity is still all too common.

9. Transportation - Essentially Correct. Most above-ground trains are part of a subway system and not actually streetcars, with a few exceptions (namely San Francisco).

10. Communication - Correct. Watkins imagined full-color electronic and digital communication half a century before it was common-place.

11. Transportation - Correct. Sadly, mostly incorrect for the United States, but correct around the world. The U.S. did not invest in public infrastructure as other countries did, and while we have a few high-speed trains, they do not meet Watkins' vision. Nonetheless, he was spot-on for many industrialized nations.

12. Transportation - Correct. Automobiles are indeed cheaper than horses, as any horse-owner can tell you. Moreover, Watkins predicts a future where "Automobiles will have been substituted for every horse vehicle now known." This couldn't be more accurate.

13. Transportation - Close. Watkins inaccurately imagines water-bound transportation, but still imagines the jet-propelled vehicle, the staple for transcontinental travel today.

14. Transportation - Wrong. After the Hindenburg Disaster, dirigibles have been abandoned for all but specific scientific and entertainment uses.

15 / 16. Warfare - Unclear. Watkins' vision of how war will be waged is highly accurate, but his nouns (particularly his reliance on dirigibles) make the narrative inaccurate. Still, modern warfare indeed resembles his description, and he has many specifics correct.

17. Biology - Partially Wrong. Though we haven't exterminated all wildlife yet, we're well on our way. Since 1900, forty-five known species have gone extinct, mostly due to human behavior.

18. Communication - Correct. Watkins' anticipates the peer-to-peer digital communication revolution by a century.

19. Communication - Correct. Watkins' anticipates present-day global communication by about a century.

20. Communication - Wrong. Sadly, we do not have any robot operas (outside of the university lab, arts, or Matt Groening cartoons).

21. Education - Wrong. Watkins' grossly over-estimated our collective generosity, unfortunately.

22. Commerce - Wrong.

23. Agriculture - Partially Correct. Though shipping is now preferable to special agricultural methods, we have the capacity to grow vegetables year-round, and in some cases, do.

24. Agriculture - Correct. "Fast-flying refrigerators" do indeed exist, though most of the United States relies on refrigerated trucking, and fruits are available around the year.

25. Agriculture - Partially Correct. Strawberries are often grown to enormous size, as large as apples in 1900.

26. Agriculture - Partially Correct. Though some of his specifics are off, sugar cane has indeed replaced the sugar beet as a source of sugar.

27. Agriculture - Partially Correct. Black and green roses exist (without dyes) though blue roses do not.

28. Medicine - Close. Watkins anticipates the common use of radiographic and nuclear medicine by decades.

All said and done, what an extraordinary set of predictions! It makes me wonder who today's most accurate futurist may be. Scientist-philosophers like Ray Kurzweil? Writers like William Gibson? Will we take into account our humanitarian and ecological failures against our technological successes? As Watkins demonstrates, accurate Futurism requires an understanding and respect for the past. It will be interesting to see if our own future is fulfilled through hope or desiccated through failure.

MoMA's What Is a Print?

2010-08-13T16:23:00.003-04:00

I recently rediscovered a very informative digital exhibit created by The Museum of Modern Art that’s both interactive and informative.

The miniature digital exhibit, entitled What is a Print?, provides animated, step-by-step instructions of major printing processes pertinent to historical and contemporary art history. The screenshot above illustrates a step in the stone lithographic process.

For any print enthusiast, it’s a fun and insightful look into the processes which inform the manner and aesthetic in which we work today; the complex operations are presented in a very understandable and illustrative manner. The exhibit also provides examples of work from major art figures who have utilized the demonstrated processes in their own practice.

Check it out!

MoMA’s What is a Print?

Checkerboard Jewish New Year Cards!

2010-07-30T15:47:00.000-04:00

Hello and happy Friday folks, today I wanted to remind you that eInvite is offering free printed return addresses on all Checkerboard Jewish New Year Cards. This promotion is currently running until the second of August but will be extended through to the 16th! Woohoo.

Of all of the beautiful Jewish New Year designs that Checkerboard has to offer, these are just a few of my favorites. If you would like to see the full selection, be sure to check them out here! There are plenty of wonderful designs to choose from…so, enjoy and happy shopping!

Nautical Inspiration

2010-07-26T00:26:00.009-04:00

I love Erin's post on anchors and nautical inspiration! Elle Decor's recent feature on nautical interiors and accessories tempted me to post more on this fresh and relaxed style.

~ images from Elle Decor

~ invitation by Checkerboard on eInvite.com

Renaissance Paper Mills

2010-07-19T09:41:00.016-04:00

There are a handful of paper manufacturers in the western world that have a history dating to the Renaissance. A manufacturer that has lasted for centuries has a rich history and culture that is intrinsic to their paper-making. It's incredible to think that some of these mills predate the western development of the moveable type press, in 1436.

Two in particular are Cartiere Magnani and Richard de Bas. Cartiere Magnani began production in 1404. Moulin Richard de Bas began in the 15th century as well. Cartiere Magnani still offers mould-made paper amongst its wide portfolio, while Richard de Bas makes paper, in mould, by hand, at a rate of only 200 sheets per day.

Both houses enjoy a fantastic history of use. Moulin Richard de Bas was used for the Constitution of the 5th French Republic in 1958. They have also made the papers for the issuance of the degrees of the Nobel Prize. Cartiere Magnani provided paper to Picasso and was the paper of choice for Napleon's wedding invitations.

So, what makes these papers so valuable that they would be used for the most extraordinary events of western culture? Their history, of course, contributes to their desirability. However, I think that what makes them truly luxurious is that they are often made from cotton, and mould-made, meaning that the paper slurry is dried by hand in a sheet mold, rather than in a long conveyor in web (a long roll of paper stretching from slurry to the dried product). Some of the de Bas papers have floral inclusions (floral material mixed into the cotton). Both mills produce sheets that have four deckled edges (a "deckled edge" is the unfinished edge that is a result and proof of a hand-laid paper, either in a mould or loose on a screen).

In the end, however, I believe that their desirability is tied to their unique manufacture. These paper stocks look and feel like nothing else. Their stability is exceptional. They are anything but ordinary.

So, what motivated me to mention this? Recent use of one of my own favorite manufacturers, a bit more current at a mere 400 years old, rather than 600 years, Hahnemühle. After looking at the extraordinary texture and quality, I felt compelled to look at some of the more ancient stocks, and all of this has inspired me not just to pass it along to you, but to undertake making my own hand-laid stock. So look forward, hopefully, to a post in the near future where we'll make paper ourselves!

The Laws and Liberties of Massachusetts - 1648

2010-07-11T20:00:00.024-04:00

Ryan's post about the printing of the Declaration piqued my memory about printing and ancient (by American commonwealth government’ standards) texts. As a result, I’ve written an article about a book I recently picked up, an effort that required quite a bit of research. We hope you enjoy it.

Two weeks ago, in one of my favorite rare and used book stores, I happened across a reprint of The Laws and Liberties of Massachusetts from 1648. The reprint was set in the best possible reproduction of the original typeface and retained the grammar, spelling, and ligatures. More importantly, this book codified the first set of rights in New England and served as a foundation for all future U.S. law. Some of the content taken verbatim from the Liberties exists to this day, like the oath taken before giving evidence at trial, “I solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.”

The content is fascinating; colonial Massachusetts was a strict and harsh place. The "Capital Laws" were numerous and you could be executed for just about any offense you can imagine, no matter how frivolous (by today's standards). I knew very little of publishing in that period, nor did I know anything of the book’s own history.

Cover of the Laws and Liberties, Stinehour Edition

The edition of my book was printed by Stinehour Press, in Vermont, on Finch Vanilla Opaque Text, using a redrawn version of Caslon to come close to the original Leyden Roman style. Sadly, Stinehour Press, a well-known artisan printer has since gone out of business. The book is a beautiful reproduction. The history of the original text is far more complex.

The Massachusetts colony, according to some reports, only had about four printers in the 17th century and even this is not clear. The last remaining intact copy of the Liberties was purchased in 1911 by Henry E. Huntington whose library was responsible for providing the original to the Harvard University Press for its facsimile publication in 1929.

The original edition was published during a fascinating time for print and the early European immigration to the Americas. Before we go on, we must take note of the technology and migratory timelines involved in our story. Our book, The Lauus and Libertyes of Massachusetts, was printed in 1648. The Mayflower had arrived only twenty eight years earlier, in 1620. Shakespeare had died a mere four years before that, in 1616. The printing press had been mechanized by Joannes Gutenberg two hundred years earlier. The American Revolution would not occur for another one hundred twenty seven years.

Much has been been written about the difficulties of life in the early Massachusetts Bay Colony, a history of hardship that is responsible for the American holiday of Thanksgiving. Goods brought to the colonies used precious cargo space on the small ships that endured a treacherous journey across the violent and fickle Atlantic ocean. In the first year of settlement, nearly half the colonists died. This new wilderness spurned many myths and popularized the adventures of the pilgrims in England, particularly through the publication of a pamphlet called Mourt’s Relation.

Frontispiece of Mourt's Relation, via Wikipedia.org

It was in this environment that a minister, the Rev. Joseph Glover, from Surrey, decided to leave his post in England and embark with his family on a journey to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Unfortunately for the Reverend, the journey had grown no less dangerous in the two decades since the original settlement, and in attempting to cross the ocean in 1638, he fell ill and died. In the histories written by his family, he brought along with him, besides his family, a printing press intended for Harvard College in Cambridge, Stephen Daye whom was a “printer” and three servants who were bound to work the press. This press was destined to be the first printing press in America.

The Cambridge Press was established in 1639, using the “Daye Press,” the press operated by Stephen Daye thanks to the shipping of the (then deceased) Rev. Glover. Our story becomes more curious as Stephen Daye was not a particularly good press superintendent, though he was said to be a descendant of the typographer John Day. His spelling, punctuation, and typography were generally poor. His first work, the Freeman’s Oath, was purportedly less than impressive as a work of art, but served as the foundation for the entire history of American printing. Unfortunately, that original broadsheet, printed in 1639, has long been lost to recorded history (though the oath remains).

This brings us to three questions: who published The Lauus and Libertyes of Massachusetts, who printed it, and what press was it printed on?

Records indicate that given the timeline, production in 1647 for the Cambridge press was done by Samuel Green, under the authority of Henry Dunster, the first president of Harvard University (then Harvard College). The Daye press, the one established by Daye in honor of Rev. Glover, was apparently still the only press in use. So, we can answer the three questions definitively but one curiousity remains: what did the Daye press actually look like? The Laws and Liberties are set with a complex number of glyphs, strange ligatures, and tildes that dot the text, as do beautiful scrollwork and rules. The collection of type was clearly sophisticated.

The "Capital Laws" Section of the Liberties

According to a citation of the Cambridge Historical Society, this is an image of the press itself:

Image of the Daye Press, attributed to the Cambridge Historical Society

It’s hard to imagine the experience that these individuals undertook in the name of print. The colonies were difficult frontier to trespass, a place where no luxury was permitted. It is in this place, with no more than 2000 colonists, that the foundations of the modern press and the world of publication were poured. Rev. Glover died in his attempt to ferry a press to the new world, his debtor Stephen Daye carried forth the press and tradition without him, and under the authority of the General Court of Massachusetts, the first set of rights were published in New England.

Through time these ideals and documents were carried and in 2010, three hundred sixty two years after its publication, I bought a beautifully printed edition of The Laws and Liberties of Massachusetts for ten dollars in a used bookstore. If this doesn’t underscore the legacy of print and the fundamentals of communication in America, nothing does. As book publishing and print wane in our new digital age, it will be easy to forget the centuries of history, blood, and ink that make up our very social fabric. At the least, the next time I use my iPhone, I’ll think of Stephen Daye and Rev. Glover, without whom our modern communication conveniences might never have existed.

The Printed Declaration

2010-07-03T21:20:00.004-04:00

With July 4 just a day away, I thought I’d also present some Independence Day musings. While the fourth has long been about gathering friends and family for barbecues and festive parades, as you know the holiday commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Visually speaking, I think most folks are familiar with the original, hand-penned version of the document, as represented in the engraved facsimile in the lowest layer of the image above.

A wonderful read is available from the National Archives website, entitled “The Declaration of Independence: A History.”

Through this essay I was intrigued to learn that the document’s successful dissemination was not only due to its revolutionary ideas, but thanks to the craft of two American printers whose efforts assured its propagation.

The first of these printers was John Dunlap of Philadelphia. From the National Archives essay:

“Although Congress had adopted the Declaration submitted by the Committee of Five, the committee's task was not yet completed. Congress had also directed that the committee supervise the printing of the adopted document. The first printed copies of the Declaration of Independence were turned out from the shop of John Dunlap, official printer to the Congress. After the Declaration had been adopted, the committee took to Dunlap the manuscript document, possibly Jefferson's 'fair copy' of his rough draft. On the morning of July 5, copies were dispatched by members of Congress to various assemblies, conventions, and committees of safety as well as to the commanders of Continental troops. Also on July 5, a copy of the printed version of the approved Declaration was inserted into the 'rough journal' of the Continental Congress for July 4. The text was followed by the words 'Signed by Order and in Behalf of the Congress, John Hancock, President. Attest. Charles Thomson, Secretary.' It is not known how many copies John Dunlap printed on his busy night of July 4. There are 26 copies known to exist of what is commonly referred to as "the Dunlap broadside.”

The second printer of the Declaration was Mary Katherine Goddard from Baltimore. Again, from the National Archives Essay:

“On January 18, 1777, while the Declaration was still in Baltimore, Congress, bolstered by military successes at Trenton and Princeton, ordered the second official printing of the document. The July 4 printing had included only the names of John Hancock and Charles Thomson, and even though the first printing had been promptly circulated to the states, the names of subsequent signers were kept secret for a time because of fear of British reprisals. By its order of January 18, however, Congress required that 'an authentic copy of the Declaration of Independency, with the names of the members of Congress subscribing to the same, be sent to each of the United States, and that they be desired to have the same put upon record.' The "authentic copy" was duly printed, complete with signers' names, by Mary Katherine Goddard in Baltimore.”

I highly recommend you take a look at the various versions of the Declaration, both for their historical value, but also for their value as urgently produced typographic artifacts; they each have their own aesthetic character.

Image of the original copy of the Declaration sourced from:
The Charters of Freedom (digital exhibit) at the National Archives

The Dunlap Image sourced from:
The Digital collection of the Yale University Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library:

Goddard Broadside image from:
Wikimedia Commons

Unveiled by Checkerboard: Solstice

2010-07-01T11:08:00.005-04:00

{images: boutonnieres, cute couple, bouquet, flower girl by michele m. waite photography, cake: something sweet by michelle, carpathian mountains by michelle may}

This invitation suite sneak peak, called Solstice by Checkerboard features an embossed folder and rich ribbon presented in a luxury Swiss Flap Envelope. The liner, called Aeronautica is imported from Italy, and features antique sketches of old world hot air balloons. It was made in a mill that was built in the 1400's outside of Florence. There is actually a town in Italy named Montisi, known for hot air ballooning.

All items from Unveiled by Checkerboard are coming soon...stay tuned!

4th of July Inspiration

2010-06-30T11:22:00.006-04:00

{images: gazebo and the 4th banner marthastewart.com, porch: bhg, patriotic room: colorfulkidsrooms.com, desserts: celebrations.com, cocktail: coastalliving.com, fireworks: proteinpower.com}

Erin's post on nautical inspiration got my wheels spinning with red, white and blue sparks...about this weekend at the beach.

Things are getting festive all over town. As we approach the 4th of July holiday weekend here in Massachusetts, you begin to see homes decorated in patriotic colors. I love this time of year. Thoughts of Cape Cod, children with flags, sack races, boats adorned in red white and blue, festive cocktails and desserts, and rock-us celebrations of fireworks. Oh, and the Boston Pops and the Esplanade for those Boston "Patriots" make this weekend one of my top weekends of the year.

Have a fun, safe and sparkly 4th of July!

Anchors Away!

2010-06-28T14:38:00.003-04:00

Nautical inspiration is everywhere this season. I am particularly smitten with stripes, but love the idea of throwing an anchor-inspired event. The charm bracelet would be an adorable bridesmaid gift!

{L to R from the top: Anchors Aweigh Invitation from Paper Orchid; Betsey Johnson 'Under the Sea' Multi Charm Toggle Bracelet; Anchor w/Chain from Meri Meri; Rampage Women's Rayanne Sandal; Dockside from Checkerboard, Ltd.; ASOS Collection Anchor Necklace; Anchor with ropes from Checkerboard, Ltd.; Sea Bags; Green Anchor from eInvite.com}

Letterpress Calendars

2010-06-27T21:15:00.005-04:00

I must admit, there is a very soft spot in my heart for letterpress, particularly the style of printing that is popular now; soft papers and deep impressions. The popularity of using letterpress in this way is a fascinating development of the technology. Where historically a letterpress might be used to simply print, the presence of a myriad of cheap print technologies have pushed pressmen to use old technology in new ways, or at least redefine the boundaries of good technique.

This past year I saw a huge increase in letterpress calendars and one of those that caught my eye was a collaborative piece by Studio on Fire. The idea of collaborative design is really exciting, particularly in a digital age where designs can easily be shared and ideas worked out long before makeready is started. There's no doubt that work like this isn't cheap; I know only a few people whom still keep a physical calendar and buy them from office supply stores for a few bucks. However, it's always struck me odd that people spend a great deal of money outfitting their homes with expensive furniture and decorations but then ignore the commodity items that truly fill the space.

So, while this calendar sold for $30, it seems like a reasonable price to me. Think not of it as something you buy and throw away, but rather, a work of art that refreshes itself monthly for a year. Many people wouldn't blanch at spending $30 on a single meal, an experience that lasts only a few hours. $30 on an experience that lasts 365 days seems like a deal.

Take a look and take note of the wonderful color. Near neutrals and orange are just about impossible to hold in a four color offset process, using solids on a letterpress provides a specificity of color that is so hard to match. The next time I buy a calendar, I'll certainly be looking for individually produced, short-run works of art. It's a lot more fun than a generic photo or office calendar.

The First Six Books of The Elements of Euclid

2010-06-25T16:17:00.003-04:00

Another favorite resource of mine for browsing historical artifacts is the Google Books archive, located at:

http://books.google.com/

While this archive spans books published from the mid nineteenth century up to present day works, I am particularly interested in the older selections offered, as they are often in the public domain, and thus available—in their entirety—as free PDF downloads.

As I was browsing these public domain books, I was thrilled to come upon a text that I had briefly read of before; it was written in 1847 by English gentleman Oliver Byrne, with the peculiar extended title of The First Six Books of The Elements of Euclid In Which Coloured Diagrams and Symbols are Used Instead of Letters for the Greater Ease of Learners.

Take a look here:

http://books.google.com/books?id=HdRbAAAAQAAJ&dq=euclid

Now, at first thought such a text might seem both incredibly dull and visually uninspiring; however, what makes this text quite spectacular are the “coloured diagrams and symbols” which turn the facets of geometry into an aesthetically captivating endeavor. What I find even more stunning is the fact that this dynamically designed and printed volume was published in 1847, which seems a true feat of print production.

The Google archived version of the text, however, has but a smattering of pages available in color, which is a real shame. A quick search revealed that the text is also available though an archive from Mathematics Department at the University of British Columbia; the image above is from the archive, which can be seen at:

http://www.math.ubc.ca/~cass/Euclid/byrne.html

Don't Get Many Letters These Days?

2010-06-20T20:35:00.005-04:00

Handwritten thank-yous are a nice thing and so rare these days. Frankly, I don't often get much written correspondence, with some notable exceptions (mostly co-contributors on this blog)! Another blog I follow, though not related to our coverage here at eInvitesInsights, once made a point that I found very insightful. The point was, while many complain about the lack of written correspondence, consider the last time YOU wrote a letter. Can you even recall the date?

I have to admit, I've personally been guilty of lamenting the decline of personal correspondence (outside the world of email) whilst being more than a little hypocritical in not writing my own relations. So, a few months ago I purchased another round of writing tools (mostly notecards) from various individual artists that I happen to like on Etsy.com.

One of them happens to be called Blackbird Letterpress, whom apparently won an award at the National Stationery Show:

(image via Design*Sponge)

So, the next time you're lamenting a lack of written correspondence, pick up a pen and write a letter! After all, the only letters that you receive are the letters that someone else has taken the time to write.

Library of Congress Color Photographs Archive

2010-06-18T17:04:00.008-04:00

I have to admit, I’m sort of a history geek. One of my favorite source of historical images is the Library of Congress; aside from their vast array of printed ephemera and documents (the archive spans over 400 years), a favorite collection of mine in the library are the color photographs from the FSA & OWI. They can be found at: Color Photographs from the FSA and OWI.

With over 1,500 high-resolution photographs (often in the glorious 150 MB+ file size range), the archive provides a robust visual history between 1939 and 1945. Aside from their nostalgic appeal and their glimpse into decades past, from an aesthetic level I’m struck by the vibrancy and clarity of the images, which still resonate nearly 70 years after their creation. The archive touches on many subjects including agriculture, construction, heavy industry and manufacturing. However, the images also reflect common everyday scenes—main street storefronts, schools, and holiday parades.

Geotag Art

2010-06-16T11:19:00.006-04:00

{Eric Fischer makes this city map art using Flickr geotags, article found on fastcompany}

These info graphic images of photo maps look tactile, like fine Washi papers from Japan. That is what caught my eye when I was checking out fastcompany.com for the latest in design. The geotags tell where people took photos in major cities of interest. Fischer showcases 50. He can even compare tourists habits with locals and the results are amazing. I just love how textured they look. Check out the article on fastcompany! To see them on Fischer's flickr click here.

To decode the web of points and lines:

black is walking

red: bicycling or equivalent speed

blue: local photos, motor vehicle or normal road use

red: tourists or people who took pictures here for a short time span

yellow: local or tourist status can't be determined

green: is freeway or rapid transit

If you zoom in on flickr, you can actually see so much more detail. The true algorithm is not divulged, but the visual is so intriguing. What do you think?

Modern House Numbers

2010-06-07T11:35:00.002-04:00

I have been looking for new modern numbers for the front of my house and thought I would share a few of my favorites. Who knew there were so many great choices?

{L to R from the top: Neutra House Number from DWR, SoCal from modern house numbers, Letters and Numbers Window Film from brume, Backbay from modern house numbers, Sausalito house numbers from Chiasso, 4” Clarendon Medium from WestOn, Stainless House Signs from Adobe House Signs, 3” Ribbon from WestOn}

Letter Heady

2010-06-06T21:19:00.011-04:00

I was cleaning out my email inbox, as I often must do (I have a bad habit of letting a few thousand emails piling up - emails that I have read - without sorting them to their appropriate folders) and I happened to come across an email that I sent to myself. For those of you whom are smart-phone users, I'm sure you're familiar with this technique.

The email didn't say anything other than a web address and that was www.letterheady.com. I could have guessed but didn't expect that the website is devoted to famous, infamous, and interesting letterhead. I really recommend giving it a look. Most of the letterhead of late is very minimal and puts an emphasis on typeface and printing technique. I happen to like that style, personally, but seeing some of the full color and huge letterhead is really exciting. Here are a few examples, click through to check out the site!

This first letterhead that I've picked from Letterheady.com's site is an interesting one, for a railroad called "Carolwood Pacific." What's so interesting about a railroad? Well, for starters, this particular railroad was in Walt Disney's backyard and had track, cars, and locomotives about 1/8 the size of a "real" railroad. I had no idea such a whimsical thing existed. It amazes me that Walt not only had his own personal miniature railroad, but that he had stationery for it to boot!

This second piece is that of Frank L. Baum's, the creator of such stories as The Wizard of Oz. I had no idea that Baum was the futurist that he apparently was, as he predicted the development of laptop computers. I also didn't know that he was an apologist of the United States' policy of Manifest Destiny! I wouldn't have guessed that he held such an interesting place in a history much broader than the writing that we have come to know so well through Dorothy, Toto, and the Wizard. This letterhead is fascinating: like a few other examples, it's clear that letterhead developed into a strong C.V. statement for many individuals, and the usable writing area was reduced to a small fraction of the page.

This is the letterhead of the great mentalist, Joseph Dunninger, who was a contemporary of Houdini's and apparently well respected and liked in his field. He apparently supported efforts to debunk "magic" in favor of illusion and mentalism, reportedly working with Scientific American to "offer [$100,000] to any medium who could produce by psychic or supernatural means any physical phenomena that he cannot reproduce by natural means or explain in convincing materialistic terms."

He has a wonderful quote that is attributed to him, "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary; for those who do not believe, no explanation will suffice."

This last one, of course, needs no introduction! Can you imagine receiving a note on this stationery? Apparently, Dr. Seuss used this huge graphic to communicate with fans of his books. It would be interesting to see if anyone could produce an actual note from him!

Fun Wedding Touches by Checkerboard

2010-05-25T17:24:00.003-04:00

{images of new Unveiled elements from Checkerboard...coming soon}

Some of the most kicking parts of a wedding are the little touches that accompany the invitation and all things paper. These items from the new Checkerboard , an inspired wedding collection called Unveiled, help you make all the little details sweet.

Alicia Bock

2010-05-25T10:53:00.005-04:00

I really enjoy the photography of Alicia Bock. Her new Collecting Clouds work is just lovely.

Although, I can’t help falling in love with Paris in the Springtime either…

{all images, Alicia Bock Photography}

Stripes

2010-05-18T16:51:00.003-04:00

I was just pouring over a few new summer catalogs and magazines and am suddenly seeing stripes…

{L to R from the top: Sunbrella® Awning Stripe Outdoor Pillow, Cape-stripe underwire top, Veranda Stripe Skirt, Come One, Come All Booties, Baggu X3 Stripes, Kids' Classic cotton double-stripe belt, Sunbrella® Round Umbrella - Stripes, Kelsey Pant}

Pink Chandelier

2010-05-13T18:06:00.003-04:00

Images via Flights of Fancy, Martha Stewart Weddings and Style Me Pretty.

Hello and happy Thursday friends! Today I wanted to remind you that eInvite is having a sale on all eInvite digital lithography cards until May 17th. There are hundreds of beautiful designs available at a great price, that are suitable for any occasion. I’ve featured here the lovely Pink Khandilir design which is perfect for either a rehearsal dinner, or even a bridal shower.
I absolutely adore the color pairing of a peachy pink with a subtle grey. The combination is feminine, yet cool and sophisticated and will help to turn any event into a classy affair. The chandelier motif is especially charming, since it lends a fun but elegant vibe to the announcement, making it perfect for a casual chic dinner party, or even a night out with the ladies. So, be sure to visit eInvite and check out the whole selection, perhaps you’ll find the perfect invite for your special event. Happy Shopping!

New York : National Stationery Show

2010-05-13T12:19:00.006-04:00

{images nss at javits 09}

Some of our team left for the The National Stationery Show today. It 's so exciting to be getting things together for the biggest paper event of the year. With over 1000 vendors, this show attracts over 11,000 attendees. The NSS has started using twitter and facebook as well, so if you are heading off to the show, don't forget to tweet to #stationeryshow!

It is The Core 77 Design Week in NYC. So there will be designers, vendors and buyers galore all over the island. Simultaneous with the stationery event upstairs at Javits is the ICFF downstairs.

David Stark: (purely paper) Flower Shoppe @ West Elm Broadway

2010-05-12T16:21:00.003-04:00

{image: event designer david stark for west elm pop up shop}

The folks over at William Sonoma-West Elm sent us an invite that we thought was super cool and wanted to share. If you are in NYC for the National Stationery Show this week... The (purely paper) Flower Shoppe will be taking place inside the West Elm Broadway store. Created by renowned event producer David Stark, The (purely paper) Flower Shoppe will feature floral creations made entirely from the pages of recycled books!

The pop-up shop will be open to the public on Thursday and Friday (May 13 and 14) ONLY.

West Elm: 1870 Broadway at 62nd

Hours: 11 a to 8p

Another Checkerboard Sneak Peek

2010-05-11T16:46:00.009-04:00

{images: rings, xo, seating, boy & couple: michèle m.waite photography; cake: Something Sweet by Michelle; silver brunia: sprout}

Checkerboard is about to "unveil" their new concept for wedding invitation presentation at the National Stationery Show in New York, opening Sunday. Here is a sneak peek at one of the new items that will be featured. Inspired by runway shows of fashion week, trend watching, and the surge of personal expression as couples invite, Unveiled brings creative invitation suites to life with incredible visual inspiration. Beautiful imagery makes us all excited, especially those looking for special touches to enhance their event.

This collection is different. The ensembles tell stories of the bride and groom. From mentions of their inspiration for the wedding back to intimate stories about how they met, bringing guest right into the wonderful experience they are invited to be a part of. The suites include bachelorette parties, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, save the dates, engagement parties, personal stationery, bridal calling cards...all eclectically fashion forward, complete with envelope linings imported from Italian paper mills that have been in existence since the 1400's.

The collection, called Unveiled was inspired by couples looking for something different, who admire fine papers, interesting typography and unexpected details. For those who love custom boutique styling, the price points in Unveiled are unmatched!

This is just invitation suite numero uno. Stay tuned for mas y mas....

The National Stationery Show 2010

2010-05-10T10:14:00.003-04:00

We're only a week away from this year's National Stationery Show! We'll be looking for emergence of trends, that we've been following in other industries, into the stationery and announcement market. We can't wait to see what all of the manufacturers will be bringing to the show this year, not to mention the Louie Awards!

If you're not familiar with the Louie Awards, they are an annual award ceremony in honor of Louis Prang, a Prussian-born immigrant whom became the "father of the American Christmas card" and introduced color lithography to the greeting card industry in the United States [from: The Greeting Card Association]. He helped create a well known card company in Boston that lasted about thirty years after his death in 1909.

More than eight hundred fifty vendors will be there! It's a stationery buyer's paradise!

Hope to see you there!

A little Zentangle for you

2010-04-27T12:17:00.005-04:00

{image via the zentangle blog}

If you have not been introduced to Zentangle yet, I would love for you to meet! Without further ado, Zentangle is the creative expression developed by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. The image above caught me eye and made me take a deep breath. This is Maria's blotter from her workspace, where she is a master calligrapher. I am sure there is a story behind this blotter. There is always a wonderful story. One day while working with them, I had the pleasure of sitting with Maria and Rick in their home studio for a photoshoot. If you know Zentangle you may know about their home. A story in and of itself, or many stories of a lifetime of unbelievable art, work, life and creativity. Their home studio is their workplace and their home, filled with incredible visual inspiration and quirky interesting artifacts. So, we were there in Whitinsville, Massachusetts and Maria was doing some freestyle writing for us to capture on video. While writing and chatting, Maria tipped her ink and it spilled on to the blotter. I immediately looked for something to clean with, while Maria sat me down and told me to watch it. "No, no, watch what it does", she said. So I did. In my amazement she continued to work with the ink spot and create the most amazing drawing from it. She created a Zentangle mixed with her free and whimsical flourishes. I was in heaven just watching her hands and seeing what came from her imagination to the blotter in mere seconds.

When they are not spreading wonder around the world in the form of Zentangle, Maria and her company Pendragon create beautiful invitations. They have been a colleague of our's for years. We have been lucky to watch little Zentangle grow into a worldwide phenomenon in a very short time. Please take a minute to visit their site and take in some of the amazing creativity. Their new blog is growing so quickly, no doubt every person nipped by the Zentangle bug around the world is waiting everyday for a new post. {Take a peek.}

Graduation Time

2010-04-19T15:01:00.004-04:00

Congrats to all who are completing a chapter in their lives. No matter if it is kindergarten, high school or college, a party is the best way to celebrate!

{L to R from the top: Photo Stripe Graduation Announcement; Hats Off Invites; Graduation Tassel; Graduation Cap Dyecut; Modern Vertical Graduation Announcement; Female Graduation; Play - Learn - Grow graduation invitation magnet}

New Type on the Rise

2010-04-19T11:23:00.006-04:00

It's hardly a surprise when a Hoefler & Frere-Jones typeface gains popularity amongst designers, but the popularity of nine year old Archer has grown faster than many of the faces created by the most famous contemporary foundry in the world. The popularity of Archer is quite interesting, given the slab's quirky terminals and modern but hardly passive shapes. When perusing Archer variants recently on Typography.com, I noticed that H&FJ recommended a combination of Archer and Verlag.

I have to say, this is a beautiful combination of faces. Check out this pairing courtesy of the wonderful interactive test drive tool on Typography.com:

Hoefler & Frere-Jones' Archer, Light Italic Specimen

Hoefler & Frere-Jones' Verlag, Medium Specimen

Birds of Fancy

2010-04-15T15:09:00.003-04:00

Images via Flights of Fancy, Weddingstar, Green Wedding Shoes and 100 Layer Cake.

Hello fellow readers, I’ve got some good news for you on this beautiful sunny Thursday. You’ve still got four more days to snatch up a lovely wedding invitation for 25% off on eInvite.com, before the Spring Sale ends on April 19th! During the sale, we have about 44 select wedding designs to choose from, but I have to say, this Juliet invitation is probably my most favorite. I just love the tiny birds and the cheerful color combination of turquoise and emerald. In general, I think birds make for such a fun wedding theme. Not only are they romantic, but they’re whimsical and suggestive of nature, which makes them perfect for a back yard wedding, or a casual affair. Are you considering a bird theme for your wedding, or perhaps know someone who is? Well I’ve shown here, just a few ideas to inspire you…Enjoy!

A Blush Pink Wedding

2010-04-13T13:42:00.018-04:00

{images: couple, tent, candy and seating: michèle m. waite,

amnesia roses: sprout, meringues: cookie creatives }

We are so happy to share some inspiration from Checkerboard today. With so much emphasis on color in weddings for the coming year, this blush inspiration board sets the tone for a stunning use of this earthy pink hue. You will be seeing it everywhere this coming year.

Checkerboard has been collaborating with some outstanding wedding professionals to bring a little innovation to the world of invitations. With images from Washington photographer Michèle M. Waite a premiere wedding photographer here in the U.S., whose amazing work really fired up the collection. The exciting project is about to lift off at the National Stationery Show in May. Michèle's images are celebrated all over the wedding blog-o-sphere. She is incredibly talented at capturing the true essence of each wedding with a playful and fresh perspective. Her eye for color, light and location really give her clients something to cherish for generations. Also featured are images from Dom Miguel Photography of Boston whose talents recently captured moments from a wedding close to our hearts here at eInvite. {Click here to peek.}

All this wedding imagery in this collage board is complimented by incredible mocha kissed amnesia roses from florist Cathy Walsh of Sprout, a local designer we work with all the time. Trendy meringues from Jennifer Burkhart of Cookie Creatives, round out this champagne taste of wedding celebration. Wedding cakes from Worcester designer Michelle Bohigian from Something Sweet by Michelle are also featured throughout the project. Michelle's cakes have recognition of their own, as top choice in Bride's Magazine, her life-like sugar florals are second to none!

Each of these wedding pros contributed their work to the making of each of 18 collage boards for the Unveiled project, something new and different in the search for the perfect wedding invitation. Creative imagery can really get your wheels turning, and these girls are the best of the best at their craft!

This portion of the mood board is a little sneak peek that gives you a sounding board of inspiration. This board was created to compliment a new invitation suite from Checkerboard, which will be Unveiled in a few weeks at the National Stationery Show in New York City. There is more, a lot more. We can't wait to share!

Bridal Shoes

2010-04-12T16:44:00.006-04:00

{stunning wedding shoe choices by zanotti, valentino, and jimmy choo via net-a-porter}

With Bridal Fashion Week in full swing, I just wanted to accessorize a little. Since I am a "practical" shoe girl (meaning I can justify almost any shoe purchase), I thought it would be quite logical to purchase wedding shoes that you may wear again. Since weddings are a time to splurge a little, I found some great choices on net-a-porter that compliment alot of the trends we are seeing this week in dresses. Blush is a big one, that ballet pink, or barely there hue is a favorite of mine. I love the earthy pink, it's fashion forward and compliments any skin tone so well. I also like all the textures, feathers and touches of glitz. Think of how great these honeymoon shoes would be! From aisle to isle, choosing a great pair of shoes that peak out from under your dress can really make a statement. If you want to go with the short dress trend, they are a must! I can't wait to see what the week unfolds!

Font Love

2010-04-12T10:53:00.003-04:00

I have easily over 500 fonts on my mac at home, added through the years, but like a true addict I am always plotting ways to add more. Here are a few of my recent cravings.

{L to R from top: Memoriam; Aphrodite Pro; Mousse Script; Buffet Script; La Carte; Liza Pro}

Cherry Blossom Elegance

2010-04-09T16:01:00.002-04:00

Images via Martha Stewart Weddings and Weddingdresses-4u.

Hello and Happy Friday everyone! Today I’ve got a fresh breath of spring fever for you! Here on the east coast we were blessed with a beautiful week; full of sunshine, blue skies and warm breezes. Today however, it is rather grey and rainy, but my head is still filled with springtime lovliness. So, to keep the spirit alive, I thought I would share with you one of my favorite springtime sights…cherry blossoms!

There is just something so magical about walking along a cherry blossom lined sidewalk; with a canopy of beautiful pink flowers above ones head and below ones feet, it’s hard not to stop and appreciate nature’s beauty when doing so. Did you know that cherry blossoms are an omen of good fortune and are considered an emblem of love and affection? For this reason, I think they would make a wonderful theme and/or a beautiful backdrop for any wedding. Thinking about a cherry blossom themed wedding for you and your beu? Be sure to check out the lovely “Spring Cherry” invitation shown above. It is currently available on eInvite.com at 25% off until April 19th and would be the perfect introduction to such a wedding! Enjoy!

Land Art

2010-04-05T10:15:00.013-04:00

As creatives, much of our inspiration comes from our environment, whether that be urban, rural, college, the workplace, or the limitless expanse of our own minds. Interestingly, while our inspiration tends to come from our environments, our creative materials rarely do - we work on computers in the virtual realm, or with supplies we've had to order, import, or acquire through a myriad of means.

Less common is actually relying only on a single location's environment to provide the creative materials. In the case of land artist, Andy Goldsworthy, the landscape provides all of the required materials and often nothing is imported at all. As a result, though the landscape is often transformed (and then photographed) there's an oddly primitive sense to his work, like the ordering of edible plants into agricultural rows for farming.

This intervention is a distinctly human behavior but because it is so rare for us to see "man-made" things that don't specifically rely on artificial materials, Andy's work seems like it simply belongs in its location. Many pieces take on an air of the supernatural.

Andy's work varies from the subtle to the spectacular, and from relatively permanent to fragile and ethereal. His most stable forms are stone cairns, often his most recognizable work. My impression has always been that his "sculpture" translates beautifully to his photography (as he is practiced in both) but that something is probably lost in the translation. It needs to be seen to be "believed." Nonetheless, I've collected some images from around the web to try capture some of his aesthetic. Enjoy.

Abstract Expressionist Stamps

2010-03-29T11:29:00.002-04:00

My grandfather was an avid collector of both stamps and coins, and as a kid, I remember spending hours browsing through his enormous collection. I have now inherited the stamp collection and although I rarely pull out the albums, each time the post office announces a new collection, I take it as a gentle reminder. I love the details in each tiny piece.

Abstract Expressionists stamps available through the US Post Office here.

The Occasional Blog Shout-Out

2010-03-29T09:16:00.003-04:00

Every once in a while, we call out great blogs that provide us with information or inspiration. Here in the Northeast, it is raining as if it were the end of the world, so in honor of that I invite you to check out the beautiful photography of Andy Bell, whose abstract forms take me away from the dreariness of the day.

Keeping Current with Wedding Trends

2010-03-24T11:50:00.007-04:00

{j.crew: gown, bridesmaid dress, flower girl dress, bracelet and tuxedo}
{photograph of wedding rings: michèle m. waite}
{flowers by sprout, worcester}
{sneak peak of unveiled invitation suite by checkerboard}

The current trends are so great for wedding. I am really into the understated hues and soft earthy tones. With a little accent of black or chocolate, these hues make a big statement. These colors are also elegant and timeless, so I have a feeling they will be with us for a while. Weddings are also trending toward the creative, organic, personal expression and an explosion of fun. Photo booths with great silly accessories are everywhere. Flowers are full of texture, like the ones shown here. These are such an amazing example of pulling color right from nature and running with it.

The invitation suite {a sneak peak to you readers of eInvite's insights}, features an oversized satin ribbon that just begs to be touched. The respond offers room for the recipient to write a personal note back to the bride. With a surge in guests not responding these days, the selections in Unveiled offer a creative prompt that in turn creates a very personal prelude to the wedding. How wonderful to open a response that includes a note from your favorite aunt, rather than seeing that she has chosen chicken over steak! The typography and the "stories" on the items in this book are so fresh. We look forward to offering them soon.

Today's brides are so lucky to have all this stunning eye candy, and oh the ruffles and baubles!

Blooming Favors

2010-03-22T17:14:00.004-04:00

On Saturday, I saw the first sign of spring outside my kitchen door—gorgeous purple tulips, just beginning to bloom. I was reminded of these favor ideas from Martha Stewart. What a wonderful way to put a smile on the faces of your guests!

{images via Martha Stewart}

Developments in the World of Art and Invitation

2010-03-21T22:10:00.004-04:00

Some interesting things happened in the past week in the world of invitations of art. Two of particular note were: an article in the New York Times regarding the much maligned R.S.V.P., and the Pantone Spring/Summer 2011 forecast.

Latter first, the Pantone Spring/Summer 2011 forecast was called "Symmetry" and was supposedly going to demonstrate symmetries through color. The palettes were strong but the superset of color selections was very broad. I think that Pantone intended to communicate the philosophical symmetries of creating a highly balanced colorway but that fell a bit short.

Instead, we got a collection of palettes that suggested romantic and cinematic themes that centered around slightly soft primaries and lots of tinted analogs. The presentation didn't create the concept of symmetries so well, but some of the slides did. Take a look below at two of the slides from their presentation regarding the "Vibrant Friends" and "Shocking Buddies" palettes.

I think part of the breadth in Pantone's forecast is due to the economic uncertainty and a certain uncertainty on their part regarding whether the trends will stay conservative (muted, darker palettes) or exuberant (primaries). As a result, we get a selection that combines both. I'd personally suggest that you look for a lot of variation in 2011 and guess that it will be difficult for many companies to accurately find the right colors for their products. I imagine that 2011 will continue the trend of niche companies and products rising to the top, particularly those that are handmade or made by small businesses.

The second, but former, development was an interesting article in the New York Times regarding the R.S.V.P. by Op-Ed contributor Rand Richards Cooper. He wrote about the difficulty of using and ensuring the use of the R.S.V.P. when planning parties or other events. After his editorial, a great number of times readers responded to his writing with a variety of views, many espousing their support for tradition, manners, and social graces. I highly recommend reading both the original editorial, and have included two links to various letters to the editor regarding the editorial.

The original Op-Ed by Rand Richards Cooper can be found here.

Letters to the editor regarding the article can be found here and here.

Something Sweet by Michelle & Cookie Creatives

2010-03-18T15:53:00.005-04:00

{images of michelle's cakes and incredible orchids by jenn burkhart}

There is nothing like the flowers that Michelle Bohigian can craft. Her company is called Something Sweet by Michelle. The exquisite ruffly edges and the lifelike compositions are so stunningly beautiful. Many think they are real. Located right here in Worcester, Massachusetts, Michelle has been featured in so many top Bridal mags, including being the top of the top for Bride's Magazine. Michelle and I have recently collaborated on a project and she has been so amazing to work with. Brides, get to her early. Everyone wants a piece! She invited me to a tasting and I could hardly resist wanting to try them all. At her tasting she was bubbling over to introduce me to Jennifer Burkhart. Let me introduce you...

{images by jenn burkhart}

Look at how cute the cake cookie is!

Jennifer Burkhart is the Pastry Design Artist and owner of Cookie Creatives. I have been meaning to post these sweet treats for you for two weeks now! How cute these are. Jennifer was recently added to Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book. No doubt, her delectable treats are making her a huge success! Congratulations on all the new adventures Jennifer.

Pretty Paper Cutting!

2010-03-16T17:51:00.005-04:00

Artwork by Aoyama Hina. Invitations by Paper Orchid.

Just recently here at eInvite the Art department had its seasonal in-house trends review for Spring and Summer 2010. Among the many slides presented, there was one showcasing the artistic trend of paper cutting; widely known as Scherenschnitte. After the presentation, our Art Director commented that the slide reminded her of our Paper Orchid line on eInvite. So, to give you a sense for this amazing craft, I’ve shown here, a sampling of some of Paper Orchid's Invitations alongside the beautiful work of Aoyama Hina; a renowned Japanese artist living in France. And although the Paper Orchid designs are laser cut, not hand cut, as are Hina’s designs, their appearance certainly references this fine craft. So, if you’re looking for a touch of artistry in your invitations, Paper Orchid is a great option, be sure to check out more of the designs here on eInvite. Enjoy!

Modern Clocks

2010-03-15T15:43:00.003-04:00

I am beginning to redecorate my house this spring, and as I was pushing forward my clocks yesterday morning, I realized I had one more thing to add to my long list. New clocks! Love these modern ones from Generate Design.

Gilt Weekend!

2010-03-14T21:21:00.000-04:00

Did you catch our sale on Gilt.com this weekend? There were some crazy deals offered on a selection of invitations we sell on eInvite.com. If you saw them (even if you didn't buy), let us know what you thought!

Don't miss eInvite on GILT for Wedding Weekend!

2010-03-12T10:13:00.011-05:00

{homepage of Gilt Groupe}

{image via Gilt Groupe. visit Gilt to join the party!}

You are invited to the Gilt Groupe Wedding Weekend! We have partnered with Gilt featuring Checkerboard and eInvite designs. Eight beautiful ensembles with luxury envelopes and premium liners will be featured alongside, Sylvia Weinstock cakes, Vera Wang and Alexander McQueen gowns and everything from hair and makeup at Privé to a glam honeymoon in Bali.

Sale ends 3/15 MIDNIGHT EDT

Decadent Champagne and Black

2010-03-11T12:06:00.002-05:00

Images courtesy of 100 Layer Cake, Twigs & Honey and Weddingistas.

Hello and happy Thursday! Today I've got another fabulous color combination for you. Remember last week's Shimmering Pink and Gold pairing? Well this week, it's decadent champagne and black! I just love this classic combination; it maintains that timeless feel of black and white, but with a glint of glamour. The warm shimmer of the champagne, offsets the bold black just beautifully, and makes a truly elegant ensemble that is perfect for any wedding! What’s even more beautiful is that eInvite is currently offering 40% off this Champagne Decadence invitation for a limited time. So, be sure to head over to eInvite.com and check it out! It’s a decadent deal…

Ruffles

2010-03-08T15:43:00.003-05:00

We saw this trend emerge last spring/summer, but its back this season. Big time.

{L to R from the top: Gabriella Dress; Waves of Ruffles Shower Curtain; Ruffle Bikini; Petal Sandal; Flutter-By Necklace; Flannel Ruffle Cascade Jacket; Cirrus Bedding; Tutu Tank}

Who Shot Rock?

2010-03-07T18:24:00.000-05:00

We here at eInvite.com happen to be located in the heart of Massachusetts, just beyond the northern edge of Worcester. We're fortunate to have a number of fine museums in Worcester, the flagship being the Worcester Art Museum. This weekend marked the opening of an excellent show from the Brooklyn Art Museum, "Who Shot Rock & Roll, a Photographic History 1955 to the Present."

The Brooklyn Art Museum writes of the show:

"Who Shot Rock & Roll is the first major museum exhibition on rock and roll to put photographers in the foreground, acknowledging their creative and collaborative role in the history of rock music. From its earliest days, rock and roll was captured in photographs that personalized, and frequently eroticized, the musicians, creating a visual identity for the genre. The photographers were handmaidens to the rock-and-roll revolution, and their images communicate the social and cultural transformations that rock has fostered since the 1950s."

Rock and art have had a long history of interaction and cross-inspiration. I think it's a good thing to draw inspiration from many, many places - it's easy to get comfortable with what you know you like, rather than always trying new things that you might not enjoy. Inspiration is similar to trying out new cuisines, if you always eat the same dish, you'll be comfortable but you won't grow. If you try lots of new things, you might find a lot of things you don't like, but you'll find far more new, exciting things than you would without trying at all.

In the end, that's what "Who Shot Rock" is all about, underneath the veneer of those rock archetypes - self expression and identity. The great rockers and music photographers in history have been those to try new things. Sometimes, even often, they failed; when they succeeded, they reinvented the way the public (and youth in particular) saw the world.

"Who Shot Rock" is not a story of famous musicians, it's a story about humanity. So even if it isn't your cup of tea, I highly recommend reading the book or seeing the show. It's no less a history of culture than any other sort of journalistic endeavor, and sometimes even more so as many of the images were an attempt to create an context rather than remove it.

Barry Feinstein (American, born 1931). Bob Dylan with Kids, Liverpool, England, 1966 (printed 2009). Gelatin silver print. Courtesy Barry Feinstein

Shimmering Pink & Gold

2010-03-05T18:22:00.004-05:00

Images courtesy of Flights of Fancy and Martha Stewart Weddings

Hello and Happy Friday! Today, I've got some perfectly pink eye candy for you to start your weekend with! How beautiful is this color combination of pink and gold? The pairing of a feminine pink with a burnished gold sets a sophisticated tone that is both lovely and lush. And fortunately, for the budget conscious bride, eInvite is currently offering 40% off this Shimmering Meadow invitation for a limited time. Be sure to head over to eInvite.com and check it out! It's a beautiful bargain...

Creative Chaos

2010-03-05T16:46:00.004-05:00

{image courtesy of environmentalgraffiti.com}

Incredible projection sculpture by Tim Noble and Sue Webster made of found objects and trash.

Patio Inspiration

2010-03-01T11:06:00.003-05:00

I have tried not to fight with winter this year. To just let it take its course. But these patios ideas from Sunset are quite enticing. Especially now as the calendar flips to Mar 1, and spring is just weeks away...

{images via Sunset}

Zentangle Workshop Today!

2010-02-24T11:50:00.004-05:00

{Zentangle by Maria Thomas}

So excited for the Zentangle workshop at our offices this afternoon.

ANYONE can do this...

If you want to lose yourself in the artform that is spreading all around the world, check out their website and galleries! We are lucky to have Maria and Rick close to home to share first hand with us. They will be joining a long list of amazingly talented people at the GEL Conference in New York City.

Gel 2010

Thursday-Friday

April 29-30, 2010

The Times Center

New York City

If you would like to pursued your boss to go to GEL, they have a cool info section on their site. It reminds me of a giant Pecha Kucha.

Budget Friendly Invitations

2010-02-24T11:23:00.005-05:00

Birthday Scroll WSP-QIV-I

Skateboard Tricks WSP-KLQ-A

Olive WSP-SEH-S

These three items were selected from eInvite's signature line. You really can't beat custom printed invites with envelopes at 10 for $24.99. I love the olive one for St. Patrick's Day or an intimate gathering with friends. There are so many styles and colors to choose from...like Bar Mitzvah to wedding and every birthday, anniversary and dinner party in between!

I especially love the cool skateboarder guy. Perfect for the little guy (or chica) who is over animals, trucks... and pink. What a cool invite to send to friends!