branded by delphine: mediterranean cruise

This is one of the more unusual logo projects I’ve ever done. A regular client is headed off for a big birthday celebration private cruise with her husband and their friends, and she wanted a logo to help brand the trip. I had a lot of fun doing the research, and came up with an anchor as the main theme for the logo. I incorporated classic nautical hues: navy blue, foul weather gear yellow, and squid ink black, as well as a fun bright yellow stripe pattern. 

I found some fabulous nautical tote bags, complete with painted rubber bases and real rope handles, at Lands End, and had the logo embroidered onto them. Of course we had to embroider the logo onto a few beach towels and terry cloth shirts for all the guests, too.

Watch out, Marina. I may stow away yet! 

sneak peek: nautical anchor logo project research

Images via Pinterest

I’m working on a new logo project for a client who is planning a private cruise around the Med this summer. Here’s a time I would seriously not mind working for trade! I was doing some cruising around Pinterest and started noticing fun nautical items, so I started an inspiration/mood board for my client. Normally this is something I do in a sketchbook — which makes it difficult to share with a client who lives thousands of miles away. How I ever lived without Pinterest is a mystery to me now! It’s so convenient for sharing images with clients.

Four logos shown above can be seen on my Project Marina inspiration board. Top left: distressed anchor logo by Jon Contino (via Grain Edit); Top right: Mustard yellow anchor logo also by Jon Contino; Bottom Left: Sea Salt Society logo by Trademark Trademark; Bottom Right: Vintage label found via LovelyPackage.

pretty neat

I just adore this darling tiered display stand made from vintage china. Of course it would be great for a tea party or dessert buffet, but I can also see it being used everyday: pile jewelry on it for display (and easy access) on your vanity, or pile darling macaron soaps on it for a sweet look in the guest bath. Just be sure to warn your guests not the eat the soap ...

Display Stand by OrangeandBlossom; Macaron soap by KcSoapsnMore. Both found on Etsy.

wish list: summer showers

One of the things I miss the most about living in the South is hot summer showers. The kind that come on quick in the late afternoon. Oh, how I used to love walking on the beach in the rain. Of course in South Carolina it was way too hot to wear wellies in the summer (I was usually barefoot or in Kino sandals). It rains so rarely here in Southern California that I don’t even own a functional umbrella anymore. While all the goodies shown above are on my wish list, mostly I just wish for a simple walk in the warm summer rain. I don’t think I’m cut out for this dry weather.

Shown above: 1. Carnival umbrella from Fishseddy 2. Sailor knot rope necklace by The Vamoose 3. Chic navy tank from Madewell 4. Reversible yellow tote (the other side is yellow/white stripes … LOVE) from LandsEnd (!really!) 5. Navy wellie boots also from LandsEnd

I’ve been so inspired by this nautical thing lately that I designed a new personal stationery design called Newport Stripes. It’s live now on the site in our personal stationery section. You can switch out the anchor for another motif (like a star or a birdie), and change the stripes, colors, fonts, etc etc etc.

Here’s the same design in a different color palette — printed for my bff’s daughter’s very first trip to overnight camp:

posh engagement party

I saw this dress on sale on Leifsdotter and I immediatly envisioned it as the perfect dress for a posh engagement party. Someplace with a gorgeous view. Perhaps the Market Pavillion rooftop bar in Charleston, SC? I'd pair it with a bottle of Taittinger champagne.

Images: dress from Leifsdotter; Tom Ford sunglasses from Nordstrom; navy blue leather clutch by Sidneyann on Etsy; Badgley Mischka heels from Piperlime; Lace engagement invitation by Delphine.

sneak peek: formaggio & dolce wedding

Here's the final of the three inspiration shoots I did with Adrianne Smith and Jennifer Dery last week. While the sweet pink garden tea party is, well, sweet, and the retro rockabilly tailgate party was super fun (champagne in a can! what can be better?) this Italian-inspired "Formaggio & Dolce" (cheese and sweets) shoot was hands down my favorite. From the chic, muted, tone on tone color palette to the vintage found objects to the stunning (STUNNING) cafe au lait dahlias and arrangements, to the impossibly delicious cheeses from Dolce, this "faux" party turned into a real party as soon as the sun went down. I'm so excited to share the photos, but you'll have to be patient while we wait for publication elsewhere (details to be announced on publication of all three shoots).

real wedding: pacific beach bloom save the dates

I love seeing how clients make our designs their own. Above: two versions of Pacific Beach Bloom save the date design. Coming very soon ... 15 new save the date designs, plus some other fun party goodies.

haute off the press: personal stationery

Do you make New Year's Resolutions? I don't ... but if I did one of mine would be to be better about staying in touch and keeping up with thank you notes. I know, I know, I'm SURROUNDED by cute stationery but still I can't get it together to send out a thank you note in a timely fashion. The card design of ours that I use most is the "Stinky" one since I'm always so late! Here's a dirty little secret: I recently designed an evite for my son's birthday party because I didn't have time to mail out an invitation. For shame!

Having personal stationery, like this sample shown above that some clients ordered of our San Francisco Tile design, makes it easier to tackle the "thank you note" section on your to do list.

new letterpress collection: flora collection

photo by delphine

Haute off the press: our new letterpressed Viola card from the Flora Collection. The Flora collection is one of several new collections that will debut this May at the National Stationery Show.