Some big changes ahead!

This last week has been very exciting as I've got some big changes on the horizon. Don't mean to be a tease but I'll fill you in soon enough! Amongst the changes are new products. Here's a sneak peek at just one of them...

Don't worry, Sydney - you're getting one too!

Art prints have always been my best seller online so I'm looking at expanding the range. Designs will all be focused around bold colours and beautiful typography. It's really exciting to see the collection come together!

I'm also starting production this week on a gorgeous wedding stationery suite. Lots of pics to come!

V xx

The Detox - half way

So today is the half way point of my no alcohol, no caffine, only water experiment. The first week was TOUGH! The headaches from the no coffee were really bad on day 3 and day 4 then gradually subsided. Thank goodness - I'd have been straight back on it if they continued.

On a physical level, I'm feeling really good. I'm sleeping better and getting to sleep much more quickly. No tossing and turning until 2am!

Mentally, I feel decluttered. My attention span is much greater and I'm much more focused.

These were changes that I thought might occur - but perhaps also had a slight hope that they wouldn't so I could go back to my lovely lattes without guilt!

Socially, it's VERY difficult! When you go a walk into the village to go to the park, it just doesn't seem right to not pick up a coffee en route! Also, at the weekends, I miss the social aspect of going out for brekkie and having a coffee.

As a result of this little experiment, I'll definitely be more aware of my coffee intake. Not that it was massive before, but I think you just fall into the routine of it all.

The no alcohol has been easier than expected. We had a lovely dinner with friends on Sunday and it would have been nice to join the ladies in a wine but I didn't feel that I wasn't part of the group by not drinking. The sparkling water in the wine glass helped I think! I dare say it would have been a different story had we been out in the city for a big night!

So overall, I'm feeling good about the water only thing!

I'll give you the final verdict in another 14 days!

V xx

Friday Fives... VOGUE covers

Today's five are some of my fav VOGUE covers - some recent, some not. And they are all hot mammas (or soon to be in the case of Penelope and Natalie!) Who is you favourite cover girl?

Happy Friday!

V xx

Cindy Crawford - French VOGUE - 1988

She is just so beautiful! Loving the full eyebrows.

Victoria Beckham - British VOGUE - 2011

It's so nice to see a softer, Victoria. This cover has the look of a knitting catalogue, don't you think!

Alessandra Ambrosio - Brazilian VOGUE - 2010

She's my favourite Victoria's Secret girl... and my husbands!

Natalie Portman - American VOGUE - 2011

This girl can do NO wrong! Talented, beautiful AND smart!

Penelope Cruz - Spanish VOGUE - 2010

I love the rawness of this image. She just oozes sex appeal.

Jennifer Hudson - an AMAZING transformation!

I was just indulging in my daily guilty pleasure... watching Ellen while we have lunch... and couldn't believe how AMAZING Jennifer Hudson looks!

She's gone from a US size 16 to a US size 6! Usually I'm sceptical about the Hollywood weight-loosers and don't agree with the instant skinny mini-ness (especially after having a baby). But the fact that she's done this over time and looks so healthy with it makes me so happy for her!

She said that after the birth of her baby boy she felt like there was an obligation to be a better role model for him when it comes to health and wellbeing. I agree, Jen! The best personal trainer you can have is a toddler that runs everywhere!

She's one hot mamma!

V xx

Sara and Simon - a wedding

My regular readers will know that I've been working on a big wedding stationery job recently.

Well here it is!!!

I'm so happy with the final outcome. Sara is a fantastic bride to work with! She came to me with an idea of what she wanted - bright rainbow colours with a modern feel - but was open to suggestion. She came across this AMAZING font in a design magazine but the actual font was not commercially available as it was designed specifically for an art gallery so I redrew the font for her.

With the font as the focal point of the design, I then had a play around and created their own personal mark with the two S's mirrored to form a stylised heart. This was then carried through to a bespoke pattern that was used in the envelope liner and RSVP.

The main invitation was letterpressed into beautiful, thick cotton stock

with the supporting items flat printed on heavy, smooth stock.

The RSVP postcard was printed double sided, creased and had double sided tape adhered for the recipient to fill out, fold, stick together to form a postcard and drop in the mail - easy!

The colour scheme and font flowed through each of the items. There were separate inserts for the intimate Friday dinner and Saturday lunch for the out-of-towners.

As personalisation is not possible with letterpress, I had a think and we decided on this personalised belly band to hold the item together. It also hids the SARA & SIMON graphic to give the recipient a pleasant surprise when they take it off.

The custom pattern envelope liner really gives the WOW factor - I LOVE IT!

The SS mark was continued onto the front of the envelope.

All tied and boxed and ready for delivery!

A few extras just in case...

As a little gift for Sara and Simon, I created a custom print in the style of their

stationery with their names and the date of their big day.

Ready for delivery!

V xx

WOW! Someone found one of my cards!!!

Check it out at the Creative Collective blog here!

Random Act of Kindness postcard drop!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I've decided to spread my anonymous love on the most romantic day of the year! My postcards have been designed and printed on some lovely gold shimmer stock that I have left over from a previous wedding job and now Gabe and I are off to hide them in the neighbourhood! I'm sooooo excited! As you can probably tell from the overuse of the apostrophe!

I'll post later about where we hid our little messages of support and love!

V xx

Friday Fives... Beautiful Packaging

I'm always blown away by the creative packaging you see in the shops every day. To take a graphic design from 2D and create 3D packaging that works it's more challenging than many might think!

Here are some that I'm loving at the moment...

V xx

Belmondo Skincare

Special Edition Fashion Band Aid's

Clementines Art Supplies

This is Origami

Peet's Coffee and Tea

Random Act of Kindness - a lovely project

Amanda over at Calico and Co has set up a new blog called Creative Collective with a few other ladies and I love this new project they have for February.

Basically, it's to create 5 handmade postcards with a message of love, support, hope, inspiration and leave them in random places through out your town or city. The idea is to leave them as a surprise for someone else to find.

I love the idea of showing compassion to total strangers. Being a mum of a toddler, I know how lonely a time it can be, especially in the early days. There are times when you can feel pretty isolated and crave some adult conversation. So my focus area for my secret card drop will be my local community.

I remember being in my local coffee shop when Gabriel was only a few weeks old. My other half had gone back to work and my mum and dad were back in Scotland. Add to that sleep deprivation and breastfeeding issues and you can start to get a idea of where I was at! A girl stood next to me simply said, "How's it all going?" Not "Oh, he's just so cute, blah, blah, blah." It was just an honest and genuine concern as she had a 4 year old and could appreciate my situation. It's something that has always stuck with me and so hopefully I can have that same effect on a stranger with a little postcard and a little love.

V xx

Detox - an experiment

My best friend has been here for the last 3 week on holiday and it's been great to catch up. We've been friends since we were 7 and our friendship has endured many miles! It's been so great to spend time with her and for her to have lots of quality time with Gabe as she is his guide-mother (non religious God Mother).

With many nights out (an in!) spent drinking lots of wine I've decided that I'm going cold turkey and doing a detox of sorts for a month starting tomorrow. It's kind of a little experiment so see how different I feel by only drinking water. No alcohol and no caffeine! It's going to be tough at first but I'm really interested to see what changes I experience. Life is pretty busy at the moment with family and lots of exciting work projects and I often find that I can't switch my brain off in the evening or lie awake at 3am with my mind in a whirl. I'm hoping that this will bring me some much needed clarity and focus.

V xx

Friday Fives... Fun at the farm

Ok, so I know it's a little self indulgent, but sometimes you just have to indulge! Today we spent the morning at the petting zoo. It was Gabriel's first visit and he just loved it!

We met one of my beautiful ladies there with her little one who Gabe just loves to hang out with. It's so lovely to watch the way they interact with the animals. It's these seeming insignificant times that you truly cherish and create memories from.

Happy weekend!

V xx