The Violet Hours

Time for Paris vs. New York

As a lover of Paris and a resident of New York, I have great appreciation for this well designed comparison. Via Charlotte's Fancy. Check out the blog Paris Vs. New York for more.

 

Time for Pantone Colors

Who doesn't love a Pantone book? Now you can live a broader life of Pantone...

A Pantone Rubik's Cube! Why didn't I think of that? Found on Not Beige. 

Perfect chairs for a graphic design firm. Found on Design Dust. 

Pantone stairs? Get out! Found via Apartment Therapy.

How did I miss this? Gap making Pantone tshirts? Found on Human Resources.

Time for a Portfolio: David Brownings

I've always been obsessed with the Real Simple paper constructionist, Matthew Sporzynski. David Brownings, an illustrator living in Bristol, has a similar talent with a little twist. Here's a sample of his work...

    

 

These are described on his site as boxes, but I'm not sure if they are usable or just amazingly cool.

Paper shoes...amazing. 

Pop-up books are totally under-appreciated. I love the sense of grandiosity in this illustration.

Time for DIY Ruffles

Ruffles are so in...were they ever really out? And lucky for us, they are easy to DIY. Here are three ways to use ruffles in your life.

 

How About Orange gathered together this great collection of ruffle how-to's. Check out her robust list of DIY ideas. 

I always touch ruffle pillows in stores...they are just so, well, touchable. Here's how to make your own from Kelly + Olive via Say Yes to Hoboken. 

 

A cork board gets girly with a ruffle embellishment! Found on Design Mom, made by Fresh Nest.

Time for Boutonnieres

It's one of my favorite words, ever since I learned it heard it from my sister before her 11th grade prom. And I happen to love a teeny creative lapel bouquets (floral or not). If you want to think beyond the carnation and baby's breath for your wedding (or prom!), take a look...

How much do you love these Coney Island inspired bouts by Drinking Stars? Found via Ruffled.

 

 

Congrats to Design Mom who had her sweet baby June on Mother's Day! These adorable fabric boutonnieres were made for her baby shower.

I also love the word bespoke, and I heart Fritts Rosenow Bespoke Boutonnieres found via Ruby Press.  

 

I adore this totally simple stick, leaf, and lace one made by Maya Made. 

My handsome husband putting on his bundle of nature boutonniere by Saipua. Photo by Heather Weston.

 

100 Layer Cake featured these two amazing designers: Dried flowers by Twigs and Honey, and felt poof flowers by Emerson Made. (Handsome dude not included.)

Time for Measuring Tapes

I have a thing for them; don't know why, but I do. Maybe it's the even spacing, or the dashed lines, or the simple and familiar font. Clearly, I'm not alone...

Pretty Linen Measuring Tape ribbon from Cotton Blue, found via The Long Thread.

I've loved this birth announcement idea for a long time. Of course, it's from Martha. 

Clever: a lamp made from measuring tapes. Cute for your craft room? Found on A Dress a Day.

A gift bow made from a measuring tape? Why not? Found in Canny Belle's Etsy store. 

Cute bangle from Cupcakes Polka Dots on Etsy.

And lastly, for a practical use of this ubiquitous tool, mount a measuring tape on the edge of your work space. You'll never fumble for a ruler again. Oh Martha!

Time for Circus Inspiration

I've felt very inspired lately by circus iconography...the striped canvas tents, the food-on-a-stick cuisine, the here today, gone tomorrow transience of it all. Here are some lovely finds that have contributed to these recent daydreams...

Super-fun circus tent ring found on Handmade Charlotte. (From Old Gold Boutique via Eat Drink Chic—a new blog for me that I cannot wait to explore!)

Sometimes getting the Anthropologie catalog is better than getting a real magazine. I'm duly impressed by this art direction and this woman's balancing act. 

    

    

  

And lastly, I simply can't get enough of stationer Eunice Moyle's whimsical wedding featured in Martha Stewart. She is from Hello, Lucky! and spared no creative moment on her wedding. Simply outstanding! Found via You are my fave and Inchmark.

Time for Slippers

 

 

Okay, really, it's seriously time for warm slippers. It was the rainiest, most abusively awful New York weather this weekend, causing me to arrive home after every outing (and unfortunately, I had many required ones this weekend) with sopping wet shoes and a broken spirit. Yes, it was that bad.

So it really, really made me want a fresh pair of slippers to, er, slip in to. I found these Collégien knitted ones a few weeks ago on LMNOP, and then saw them again today. No joke, there are over 100 patterns and you can get them in both kid and adult sizes. They are machine washable and have a non-slip, aerated sole. If you know where to buy them in the States, please let me know!

P.S...Here is a classic scene that all New Yorkers will recognize: the umbrella graveyard on the street corner. How many did you lose this weekend?

Time for Wedding Bliss 002

Last week, I posted Wedding Bliss 001 which set the scene for our Hudson Valley nuptials. Next up, in issue 002 of this series, is our wedding fashion. We wanted to feel comfortable and natural, not fairytale or stiff. So we went with what we loved.

We tweaked the order of a traditional wedding a bit by starting with the cocktail hour. Everyone arrived at Cat Rock around half past six in the evening, and Michael and I joined them. He was in his wedding suit, but I was in a short 'n sweet white dress by Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent. 

  

Michael's bespoke suit deserves a section of its own. It was designed by my dear friend Scott Sternberg of Band of Outsiders as a wedding gift for us. Michael has a thing for the Mad Men fashion era.

   

My dress was by Kenneth Pool. (That's my super-glam mom next to me in the green gown.)

     

       

And lastly, our most special guests, our nieces and nephews. The three flower girls, Hannah, Grey, and Sidney, wore a sweet dress by Pipsqueak Chapeau that we bought at Seed Factory in Atlanta. Jordan, my junior bridesmaid wore an awesome dress, but sadly I don't remember who made it. And the boys, Quinn and Zach, were looking dapper in their little suits.

Next up in volume 003, the printed matter...

(Again, lovely photos by the lovely Heather Weston.)