As I mentioned a few posts ago, Cory and I were fortunate to plan a short trip following the One of a Kind Show.  It was last minute (as are all trips when your husband's in the military) and exactly what we needed (ok, wanted).  Having both been absorbed with work the last few months it was great to finally spend quality time together...and it was oh so easy to leave behind the dreary, cold Ontario weather to bask in California's 30 degree dry desert heat. 

Our first few nights were spent at The Orbit In (and it's sister property The Hideaway), which were incredibly authentic in their mid-century architecture and decor, an era of design we both love which is abundant in PS and was a big part of our decision to travel there.  Our first room was outfitted with fantastic retro furniture including a record player and even had an outdoor shower with mountain views.  I repeat outdoor shower with mountain views.  Biking through the quiet desert modern neighbourhoods was definitely a highlight - bungalows, each one our dream home, with clean, modern simplicity, walls made of glass and perfectly manicured lawns.  I could go on all day. I've already started working on a stationery collection inspired by the trip and these bungalows in particular, which I'm pretty darn excited about.  

Other highlights include exploring Joshua Tree National Park in our rental jeep, drinking mexican hot chocolate (my new obsession), people watching at the Ace, buying cheap booze at Rite Aid (ok, this is my husband's favourite thing, "Look at how cheap this is! I mean we have to buy it."), sipping said cheap booze by the poolside fire in the evening while channeling Don Draper (...ok, like a female Don Draper), swimming in salt water pools and drying off in the hot sun. Sigh...we are already dreaming of going back.

At the end of March I packed up my paper goodies and once again set up the Flakes Paperie booth at the One of a Kind Show.  The Spring show always seems so short compared to the Christmas Show (I'm not complaining!) and it was great to see many of the regular FP shoppers and OOAK exhibitors.  I was happy to introduce some new card designs as well as the Tiny Card Collection and the Recipe Card Set, which will both be available on Etsy shortly.  I was also fortunate to meet some lovely retailers who have added FP cards to their inventory - including Demo Soaps, Tank and Oh Hello Friend.  

Tiff and Matt were to be married in a rural barn and wanted an invite to reflect that as the main theme.  At our consultation however, we got to chatting about the fact that they had lived in different parts of the world and loved to travel, which we decided would be a wonderful personal detail to incorporate.  The final design was inspired by a note Matt once wrote Tiffany, which included a sketch of an arrow around the world and read "How far I'd go to come home to you" (aww, right?).  Seeking a design that her fiancé would still think was cool (this was crucial), we selected kraft paper with red, cream and robins egg blue ink and fun wording.  An illustrated map tied the suite together.  The sweet personal detail of this invite still makes it one of my favourites of the season.

Rachael and Matt's invitation is a great example of just how unique and personalized a custom invite can be. As outdoor enthusiasts getting married at a rustic ski resort, where they were giving saplings as guest favours, Rachael and Matt hoped to have an invitation that incorporated these natural elements.  As you can see below, I illustrated a twisty old tree carved with their initials and printed a wood grain pattern on the invitation page.  I couldn't have been happier with the result and with Rachael's enthusiasm, which made the project even that much more fun to create!  

For those of you looking for someone new to follow on Instagram who posts frequent pictures of print projects, food and cats (and more, I swear), then you should probably follow me.  My username is the entirely predictable, flakespaperie. 

This past summer I had the pleasure of creating a birth announcement for sweet little Madeleine  (ohhh that name!).  Madeleine's Mom, my good friend Johannah's only request was that it compliment her son Eddie's announcement. We chose a pretty coral as the main colour with pops of brown and blue and a scalloped border to match.   Following the screen-printing, the adorable photo was affixed and the announcements were paired with kraft envelopes.  

Visit Flakes Paperie booth i-13 at the Spring One of a Kind Show!  The FP booth will be stocked with lots of bitchin' new products.  Hope to see you there...

Yay to the day of love and chocolate!  Here's a love song to help you get in the romantic spirit...because nothing says lovin' quite like a girl and a creepy swamp creature.