Sneak Peek and a Special Fall Promotion

More gorgeous photos of this glamorous wedding coming soon. Here is a peek of the wedding reception stationery pieces.

The place cards I penned were nestled among roses and jewels. We used Biltmore Estate historic facts for the table names, which was fun, as well as interesting and informative.

The bride asked me to have a menu designed in a square format using various type sizes, going from small to large. We wanted to use the same script and Parisian borders I used to design her wedding invitations and have them flow into the reception pieces. I asked Heather, owner of Real Card Studio (one the exquisite lines we offer at A Fine Line), to see what she could do with these special requests. Heather never disappoints, so I knew she would come up with something fabulous …and she did! This is one of my most favorite menu and program designs ever. They were letterpress printed in chocolate and champagne on handmade Italian paper. The bride wanted something very modern, while her mother requested the design be classic and traditional. We were able to please both and the final product was stunning! The bride’s mother told me the menu was the most photographed element of the wedding among the photos taken by their friends and family.

This brings me to the special we are offering at A Fine Line running until December 31. Receive 10-15% off wedding programs and menus when purchased with wedding invitation suites from the same company. This promotion applies to specially selected lines we carry.

photography by Parker J. Pfister

Sketching at The Bloom Room

It appears I have way too many photos and designs on my computer and it has finally crashed! I cannot get to the wedding photos I was going to post, so here are a few sketches I did at my friend Stacey’s shop, The Bloom Room, last week. Since I can't scan or adjust them, please excuse the quality of the photos – yes that is my excuse for them. :) and no, the Wizard of Oz is not behind the curtain! ... I just didn't get around to finishing the details while I was there.

Stacey and I used to share the same shop until she needed a larger work room and more storage space. Not only do I miss her company, but I miss the beautiful flowers! Stacey is a fabulous event and floral designer, with a great vintage style, and does shabby chic like no one I know. I decided to go over and see what they were working on for the week and practice sketching interiors...in which I need a lot more practice, but I am enjoying it. It was a fun day!

Perfectly Inscribed

My fabulous hand bound journal arrived today. It is perfectly inscribed and ready to fill with calligraphy, sketches, watercolor, quotes and things that bring me inspiration. I ordered a smaller version a few months ago from Melissa Meaders McArdle (Simply Mel) over at Reverie (a must follow blog!) The book is filled with gorgeous handmade paper that takes ink and watercolor beautifully. The books are hand bound by a bookbinding artist in Scotland. When I saw that she had a larger version, which could be personalized, I had to have one. The cover’s inscription reflects the name of my little dog Ginger and other things that bring joy into my life.

The arrival of the book is bittersweet as little Gigi was hospitalized again today for diabetes. Last week, when we took her to the oncologist in South Carolina, we had hoped to get a great report that the chemotherapy was shrinking her brain tumor. What we found out was that she had developed diabetes and was in serious condition and a CT scan could not be performed. They referred her back here to our animal hospital, where she was hospitalized and started on insulin. The oncologist believes the diabetes is a result of prednisone being used for the tumor, therefore it cannot be discontinued. We have not been able to stabilize her glucose levels with the injections at home, as the dosage has to be increased gradually, so she is back in the hospital today. We have taken her off the chemo until we get the diabetes under control. Our veterinarian still has high hopes that she will rally, so we are still hanging on.

I look forward to brighter days when I can relax and enjoy creating something artful in my spectacular new journal.

Workshop with Joe Miller

A painting by Joe Miller from our workshop that he gave to me as a gift!. I was so excited!!

It is going to be perfect in my sunroom.

At the first of September, my mother and I had the privilege of taking a workshop with Joe Miller, fabulous artist, teacher and founder/owner of one of the country's largest mail-order art supply companies, Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff. We were the first students to ever take private classes in his studio in Boone, NC. I felt so lucky just to be there. Joe is one of the kindest, most generous teachers I have ever had. He is so encouraging and positive and has the most wonderful personality and sense of humor. It was such a pleasure to spend three lovely days in his gorgeous studio overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. I will tell you more about Joe, or "Cheap Joe" as he is known, in a Featured Artist Friday post coming soon.

I told Joe I wanted to loosen up, get bolder and braver with watercolor. I tend to paint very light and I'm afraid to really put down color. With Joe’s help, he pushed me to go darker, spatter, spray,

get messy

Yicks! have never been this messy - but it was fun and I loved the results!

Joe's Palette

and just have fun mixing the color on the paper, as well as the palette, learning all sorts of new and exciting techniques.

He told us we really needed to work on value and do these little studies before we start painting. Obviously, I need some help in that area!

Joe's notes to me

We really had fun taking the gestural approach to quick little figures. I think Joe thought we might have been a bit carried away with them as we were adding them to everything we did.

Joe's Little People

It was the most spectacular three days. I was sad to see it end. I hope to go back really soon.

Now that my wedding season is slowing down for the year, I hope to start working on all that we learned!

Speaking of weddings ... I have several amazing weddings to share with you over the next few weeks.

Featured Artist Friday: Parker J. Pfister ... and Real Wedding Weekend: Brooke & Sterling

With fall in the air and a tinge of color already tipping the leaves, I thought this would be a great time to show you a beautiful autumn wedding from last year.

Brooke and Sterling were married at The Vista on Biltmore Estate. To set the tone for their glorious autumn wedding, we designed a full stationery ensemble, a beautiful French Roast letterpress suite from one of the fabulous stationery lines we offer at A Fine Line. I then scripted their place cards, to coordinate, on the same rich paper. The cards were pinned to pears and nestled amongst lush floral arrangements, in deep fall hues, created by The Bloom Room. It could not have been a more splendid, fall day for such a beautiful couple. One of the most highly regarded photographers in the nation and one of my favorite artists, Parker J. Pfister, captured the event. Parker J’s passion, personality and unique style speak volumes in his work which is described by many as “fine art, photojournalistic fashion and avant-garde.” He says he is a photographer because "he has to be." He photographs for his soul. His images are not only seen through the eyes, but felt with the heart. It is true; a picture is worth a thousand words …

Invitations - A Fine Line

Photography - Parker J. Pfister

Flowers - The Bloom Room

Snippets of August and Things to Come

I could not have started my blog at a more hectic time of the year. It has been one of the busiest wedding seasons to date. I feel like I have been buried under envelopes for a month now.

Since I cannot show you most of my work until after the “big days” happen, I wanted to show you some of the things I have been working on this past month. I am working on several other pieces that I will share with you when I can.

In addition, I am so excited about a class I am taking next week. I will tell you all about it when I return, this time, I promise! I have been keeping my goal of a sketch/painting a day. I am learning so much and having a blast.

With fall in the air and my work very seasonal, I am beginning to switch gears and slow down with a change of scenery on the horizon. I am looking forward to starting some holiday projects and activities I have pushed to the back burner.

More to come soon ...

Sketchy Thursday

I haven't forgotten I promised to share details from my workshop a few weeks ago - but the truth is, I didn't produce anything I want to show! ;0

The class was held at Cheap Joe's in Boone, NC. I do not know why I have not taken more classes there, but have already signed up for 3 more! I will tell you all about those when the time comes. In the meantime, I have been keeping my goal of a sketch a day.

I had signed up for this workshop, entitled "Sketching with Watercolor" with Brenda Swenson, to try and loosen my style. I have painted detailed botanicals and house portraits many times, but nothing loose and free ... like I want to produce ... but I am changing my ways! Brenda commented that I drew a lot of detail and very tiny things and reminded me "not to paint the fleas before the dog"! I am so used to producing "small pieces of art" in my stationery and do love tiny little drawings, so I guess that is why I am having problem with large still life objects.

The class was a lot of fun. I did not get to attend all of it due to my dog starting her chemo and working out work schedules with my husband, but what I was able attend was very insightful.

Brenda is taking a small group to France in the spring of 2010 and I had just talked my husband into taking me, had all the plans worked out with the tour group, when she informed me it was full already. I have to say, I was very disappointed but have something else in the works.

I promise to show you some things soon, but in the meantime, I will show you my overworked urn. I am so drawn to urns and have so many as an antique lover and gardener, I am sketching and painting them all...on paper that is. I DO love this Twinrocker paper I am using. I have sold their stationery for years and only in the last couple of months started using their watercolor paper and really enjoy it. I think this piece, and its color, has the same patina as the urn.