The Violet Hours

Time for Typewriters

Do kids today even know what a typewriter is? Will the nostalgia of typewriter fonts keep them alive? There does seem to be a fascination with them in the design world, as proven by these ideas...

British artist Keira Rathbone uses typewriters to create amazing images. Take that, MacBook pro! Found via One Cool Thing a Day.

Even though it's become rather common, I love the idea of a typewriter guest book at a wedding. Found via Project Wedding.

I'm in love with these dinner plates that are embossed with typewriter strikers. For sale on Inaeent's Etsy store.

Time for Moustaches

I love that a facial hair style has made a comeback everywhere but the actual face. 

I love the colors and design of Smitten Sticks, perfect for photo booths, party favors, or general sleuthing.

A lolly pop in cognito! From Dandee Designs.

I love this stack ring by Kristy Lin. Dress him up with a necktie, or disguise him with a moustache. Found via Poppytalk.

Moustache chalkboard napkin rings...naturally! Found via Modern Dose.

Test out the moustache of your choice with these mugs. Found on Tickle Kitten. 

Love the Western/bandit feel of these moustache handkerchiefs. Found via Poppytalk.

Time for Things to Do With Wooden Crates

The wooden crate is a flea market staple. Next time you see a tower of them, you may be more inspired.

At my wedding, we used a vintage wooden crate as a "flip book" of old photos of me and Michael. It had a playful flea market feel.

Put some casters on the bottom and turn them into rolling toy storage. Found via Minor Details.

Crates work so well as shelves. If only they were all styled this beautifully. Found via Emmas Design Blogg.

Isn't a wooden crate full of colorful old wallpaper charming? Found via Decor8.

Dog bowl holder—so clever. Found via Apartment Therapy.

With imperfect slats on the bottom, wooden crates make great planters, as seen here on Diggin Food.

Time for DIY Rock Placecard Tutorial

Since I started The Violet Hours, my most linked-to post has been the air-dry-clay rock placecards that I made for my wedding. After many requests for a tutorial, here it is!

What you’ll need: white air dry clay, a sponge, cooking oil, small letter stamps, paper towel, q-tip, glossy varnish, sponge brush, parchment paper, rapidograph pen

1. Form clay into an organic rock shape, about 3" long x 2" wide x 1" tall. Smooth with wet sponge and let dry for ten minutes.
2. Dip your finger in olive oil and smear across the surface of the clay. Stamp letters into the clay to spell names (the oil allows for a clean release). Blot oil off with a paper towel, and smooth any dings or divots with a wet q-tip.
3. Let rocks dry completely on parchment paper, which may take a few days due to density of the clay.
4. Using a sponge brush, coat dry rocks with varnish just over the name. This will dry in less than an hour.
5. Using a rapidograph ink pen (the tip is very fine and almost functions like a syringe dispensing ink), fill in the letters with dark ink.
6. Let ink dry and coat entire rock surface with a final coat of varnish.

Time for Handkerchiefs

Hankies are plentiful at all flea markets, and when I actually have the patience, I'll go through the stacks to find dainty ones, unusual ones, colorful ones. Here are some good ones and some good ideas of what to do with them...

Not only is the packaging adorable, but the hankies by Harrington & Squires are letterpress-printed with the words BOOHOO, SNEEZE AND ATSHOO. Found via Tea for Joy.

 

Just when I think I've seen all the table numbers ideas, I stumble upon a new one, like these number-printed hankies wrapped around a bottle. Via Design Sponge; made by sian keegan.

 

Framed in simple square frames, handkerchiefs make great wall art. Found via Poppytalk.

I'm lovin' these lovely hankie hanging vases, complete with a how-to. Found via Once Wed. 

Bird & Banner made these awesome handkerchief cards. They are each hand-printed with sayings, and come with a stitched to/from tag. I'd be thrilled to get this in the mail. You?

Time for Brimfield

   

 

Sunday is our one year wedding anniversary, and my husband and I are spending the weekend in the best way we know how...we are going to the Brimfield Antique Show in Massachusetts! Seriously, nothing can make me happier...new home, spring weather, baby on the way—I plan to score big time! My friend Katie Brown calls it the Field of Dreams; you have to go to understand why!

Photos via Apartment Therapy.

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 Knitted Nature

This is possibly the most random post subject ever, but once I saw the images from Jan Messent's Knitted Gardens (found on Vintage for Kids) I went on a search for more knitted flora and fauna.

It's like a little garden for a dollhouse. So beyond amazing!

I may need to get my mom (she's a knitter) started on this project stat! From Wary Meyers, from the 1978 book, the Needleworker's Constant Companion.

 

These knitted flower sculptures by Tatyana Yanishevsky remind me of the Venus Fly Trap from Little Shop of Horrors. 

My mom needlepointed (not knitted) this flower for the ring pillow at my wedding. She had a pillow made from fake moss and the rings tied on with the ribbon.

Time for Talking Napkins

I love the idea of making your own napkins for a special occasion. Yes, you have to be a dedicated crafter/entertainer, but all you need really is iron-on transfer paper, freezer paper, or stencils. (Or, if you are very serious, you can embroider. But that is not for the faint of craft.)

I love everything about these! By Emersonmade, found via Party Perfect.

Yes, a little more time consuming, but I couldn't resist. If you don't want to embroider, find an embroidery font and do an iron-on transfer. Via Apartment Therapy.

Perfect for a holiday or small wedding, turn napkins into place cards. (They used fabric markers.) Via Country Living.

A love note for your sweetie, found via Design Mom. 

Kill two birds with one stone with menu napkins. Found via Country Living.

Time for Book Invitations

Our dear friends Aaron and Lindsay are getting married in May. They came to us months ago (and by us, I mean my husband and me) with the idea that they wanted to send books as their invitations. We all tossed around a bunch of ideas for a bunch of weeks, and here is the end result...

  

The bride and groom spent weeks collecting books, and refused to pay more than a dollar for any of them (a good thing since they had to send out over 90 of them). My very talented husband designed the printed matter, and I consulted on things like the pocket, the rounded corners, the ribbon, the wax seal, etc. We love the way it turned out, as did they!

Here are a few other book invites that caught my eye...

Jordan of Oh Happy Day designed this lovely invite for the now (sadly) defunct Cookie Nesting Blog. It was for a bookworm party for kids. So cute! (Read her post for her defense of cutting up a book.)

 

 

This is positively the most ambitious book invitation I've ever seen...they actually made the books. They began with the story of the bride and groom, and towards the end of the book, the reader would find the wedding invite and the perforated reply card. So much time and love went into these. I tip my hat to Nikki and Nick. Found on Merriment Design.