I AM smitten by Ashley Alexander's (of I'm Smitten) new foxy wallpaper design for Studio Nommo. It looks great in a studio/office environment, but I think it would be equally lovely in a dining room. I'm envisioning a dining table with lots of birch candles, warm lighting, good friends, rustic wood dishes, and a steaming pot roast. And some popovers. And a bottle of yummy red wine. Mmmm. Now I'm hungry! Is it lunch time yet?

Have  you seen this on the shelf yet? I'd buy this simply for the packaging, but Green Tea Ginger Ale does sound yummy. Next time I'm at the market I am picking up a bottle of this Canada Dry drink.

Every March the nautical stripes come out. I think it's part of the "resort" or "cruise" collections at all the stores. You can count on it, just like every September plaid will make an appearance. I'm comforted by these classics! Stripes really put me in the mood for spring.

details: 1: set sail trousers (anthropologie) ::: 2: Nautical personal stationery and calling cards (delphine) ::: 3: nautical tote (l.l. bean) ::: 4: low heeled espadrille slides (old navy) ::: 5: pin tuck white shirt (loft) ::: 6: anchor charms (cardsandcraft, etsy) ::: 7: rope necklace (brooklynrehab, etsy) ::: 8: nautical striped scarf (h&m) ::: 9: vintage brass anchor locket (thebumblingbird, etsy)

I'll admit that I have more than a couple stripey tees in my closet, including this new one by Jean Paul Gaultier for Target:

Because one entire side of the shirt is open, I also bought a box of safety pins. I plan to wear a white tank underneath, and also "sew" it up with different sized safety pins. It's going to be my beach & pool coverup this summer.

Color palette I'm loving lately: romantic industrial. Peaches, buffs, warm neutrals, warm greys, with a smidge of zinc and shimmer.

left: zinc photo stand, anthropologie ::: middle: mercury glass vase, anthropologie ::: right: chalkboard vinyl decal, a sign of the times etsy shop

Many thanks to Logo Lounge for choosing the Here Comes The Bride logo that I designed for their new book, "Logo Lounge Master Library: 3,000 Initial and Crest Logos."

Don't you just love these colors? Alicia and Jeffrey picked a bright, bold color combo—red and robin's egg blue—for their Meeting Street wedding invitations. I think their guests know they are in for a fun party.

We're working on a website update and part of it is a bunch of new photos. One of the most fun parts of my job is styling the invitation photos for our website. I get a lot of questions about how I do this, so I thought I'd share a few of my sources.

I really believe in looking within the studio first, before going out to buy something special for a shoot. Open your cabinets and drawers and dig deep -- you'll find interesting goodies, I promise. When I'm out shopping I always check the clearance aisles and dollar bins. I've found the loveliest props for photo shoots there, and I don't think I've ever spent more than $5 on something I bought specifically as a photo shoot prop.

Anyway, here are a few details from a recent shoot, along with the sources for all the props.

1. Monogram personal stationery: Mini binder from Russell+Hazel; rubber bands, Sharpies, markers & pens from deep in the drawers in our studio; John's USMC mug; a packet of Splenda from a coffee shop; Beemans gum -- I picked this up at the local grocery store over the holidays because I thought it would make a cute prop some day.

2. Kent personal stationery: custom rubber stamp from our very first Monday Morning Mimosas event; a pink eraser from the sale bin during Back To School days at Target (my favorite time of the year ... I just stand there in the school supply section and soak it all in); and mini sticky notes from Russell+Hazel.

3. Arizona cactus wedding invitation: green binder clip from Staples; vintage stamps -- I picked most of my collection of vintage stamps up at a flea market in Paris.

4. Chrysanthemums wedding invitation: turquoise necklace my mom made for me; MOR lip glosses from Dreamy; butterfly from Shinoda; fruit stamps from my collection.

5: Robin wedding invitation: thread, thimble and sewing supplies from Mémé Delphine's sewing kit. The pencil is also hers -- it's probably older than me!

6. Ava wedding invitation: drink ticket from last year's Y Conference; stamp from my personal collection.

7. Ava save the date: stamps from my personal collection; match box from the Delphine for For Your Party collection; cute 2 franc plate from the sale room at Anthropologie.

8. Meeting Street wedding invitation: bakers twine from Etsy (sorry! I don't remember which shop); a red binder clip; markers; Stella Artois mint tin from a Riveria party goodie bag many years ago; peanuts from the grocery store; the red pastic "key" came as part of the packaging with a key cover I got for Christmas.

I'm happy announce the second North County [San Diego] Graphic Design meet up. 

Here's the scoop:

Join us Tuesday, March 23, 2010
at the E Street Café in Encinitas, CA
8 am - 9 am

Kick off the day on a positive note with other North County graphic designers! No agenda, just say hello and get to know each other and share some great coffee. If you're really not a morning person or are just plain cranky until the caffeine kicks in [ahem... me], then just "nod" and take time to adjust to the morning sunshine! We look forward to seeing you!

This month David LeCours of Lecours Design will be giving a 10 minute presentation on "How to Become a Creative Superhero." (Thanks, David!).

There is no need to R.S.V.P., you can just show up, but if you'd like please leave your name in the comments section so we can have an idea of how many people will attend. If you plan to come and would like a banner for your blog or website please let me know.

If you'd like to be on the email list to be notified of future events please email erika [at] delphinepress [dot] com. Thanks! Also, we have set up a LinkedIn group: North County (San Diego) Graphic Designers.

Many thanks to Kathy McGraw, who pitched in and did the super cute artwork, for pushing me to get this going.

Normally I'm a fairly organized and tidy person. But lately it looks like a herd full of wild animals have been living in the studio. On the to do list today: clean up around here.

Red rim metal wire waste basket from Wisteria. I've got my eye on it as a wrapping paper holder, but I'm not quite sure if it's tall enough.

Yes, this logo is prety simple. But that's why I love it so. I've already professed my admiration (see here) for the New York Ace Hotel, but forgot to post this photo I took of the door. So voila, another logo crush.