10 July 2013
Though it’s been more than a month since I got home from Engage, I’m not going to let the time lapsed stop me from writing about it. Because the Gala on the last night? It was truly a once-in-a-lifetme experience.
Start with a particular point in history when, between Downton Abbey and the Great Gatsby movie, 20’s style has never been more in vogue.
Add in the majestic Biltmore Estate, the largest privately owned house in America. Make sure it has a stupendous view.
Choose a picture-perfect summer day.
Invite a crowd that reinvents the idea of a costume party. Fringe and sequins and feathers, oh my!
Serve the most delicious food, arrange for stunning decor, bring in pitch-perfect period jazz music.
And a fire breather, just for good measure. Yes, seriously.
Now add in one gal who adores Downton Abbey, whose second favorite book of all time is The Great Gatsby, and who leaps at any excuse to dress up.
There. That is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Quite literally, almost: I had the chance to chat with one of the gals who works in the Biltmore catering office, and she said that they usually only do two events per year on the South Lawn — and that she had never seen anything like this one. Until time travel is possible, I think this is the closest I will ever come to experiencing another era, and I am just tickled that I got to do so.
Hope you enjoyed the peek!
All photos by Allan Zepeda, Jeremie Barlow, and Carla Ten Eyck & Andrew Henderson except second and group photo near bottom
11 March 2013
Growing up, my favorite part of Easter was Pysanka eggs. From my birth until a few years ago, my grandmother painstakingly made all of her grandchildren a new design each year, and I loved (and still love) to look at the eggs each year when we take them out of their crates. They’re so delicate that it’s impossible to ship them and challenging to travel with them, so my whole collection is at home in Connecticut right now and unable to be shared with you all. Some day! Until then, I’m inspired by these five marvelous and modern techniques…
From top to bottom: watercolor Easter eggs by Spoon Fork Bacon; gilded Easter eggs via HGTV; neon dip-dyed Easter eggs by Merriment Events via Oh Joy (photo by Katie Stoops); golden marbled Easter eggs by SheKnows; speckled Easter eggs by Sandy Toes and Popsicles
Which one is your favorite?
23 December 2012
Martha Stewart
My family (mom, dad, sisters, and brother in law) arrived last night, and we’ve already gotten together for a huge dinner with fifteen of our local cousins. This morning we’ll go to church, and then spend the afternoon wrapping (maybe using some of these ideas), playing games, and taking a walk. Later in the week we’ll travel around New England celebrating with my mom’s side of the family, my dad’s side of the family, and John’s family. (Whew – and yippee!)
I wish you all the most joyful holiday with those you love and lots of time for relaxation and regrouping. I will see you back here before you know it!
18 December 2012
Thank you again for all of your help choosing our Christmas cards! As usual, y’all were divided on which design was best, but option no. 1 came out on top in the voting.
As much as I loved the sentiment of option one, I thought the type treatment competed with the image we had chosen. (The detail of the bouquet made the text a bit hard to read.) Same problem with number three. We decided to table those for another year, and instead went with a design with no danger of that problem!
Of course, I think any Minted design would have looked beautiful with Tanja’s gorgeous images! We feel so lucky to have worked with her.
And here’s our inaugural newsletter! I laid it out in Illustrator, had it printed at Fedex Kinko’s, and owe much inspiration to Amanda Jane Jones.
Finally, I addressed each envelope to our nearest and dearest…
…including one for y’all!
Have you sent out cards yet?