The beginning of possible greatness...

I make fun of Ethan for being a nerd...a lot.  But the truth is, I like it.  I even like some of the things I make fun of him for liking.  I don't really hate the giant Pac 10 football standing board we made.  I don't really mind the Harry Potter ornaments on my Christmas tree.  And I kind of think his giant collection of "action figures" (not to be confused with "toys") is cute.  Weddings usually get a bad rap for being all about the bride and I don't want that to be case.  So, I have created a wedding craft that will pay tribute to his true love (other than me of course)...Star Wars. I have not worked out all the engineering yet, but below is my first attempt at a lightsaber boutonniere (sorry for the poor image quality).

I could be making wedding history here. I just need to figure out how to keep it quirky but not too over-the-top.  This will definitely not be the last post on this project...

Very Frustrating Road Block

I have spent countless hours creating custom save-the-date cards and invitations only to find that no one will print them!  I should amend the previous statement; many people will print them, but no one will print them the way I want them to be printed.  I first tried they convenient Kinko's/ Staples route.  In spite of their special "matte finish," everything they print comes out of a laser printer and is too glossy.  I have tried a local stationary shop that claims to offer custom printing.  What they fail to mention is that their "custom printing" is a women with Microsoft Publisher and a non-commercial ink-jet printer.  Her sample book included one page flyers for baby showers with cliche, baby rattle borders (the border that is included in Microsoft Office) and invitations that are the kind you print on a single sheet of printer paper and then fold in half twice.  I hate to sound like a snob but I would not call her work "professional" and she charged more than Kinkos!  Lately, I have been exploring online printing services.  Since I am a tactile person, I need to be able see and touch what I am ordering.  I requested samples from a few different places but none of them have arrived yet and they were supposed to be here weeks ago.  I feel like I have to settle for low-quality printing or order cookie-cutter invitations from a wedding stationary company.  They need to be sent out this month and having them printed is just the first part of their overall construction. 

I really am trying to stay positive.  I just don't like being behind schedule...

Spring Break Productivity: Part 2

One of the big tasks on my spring break to-do list was to make cupcake toppers for the wedding.  I saw some wooden people toppers in an issue of Martha Stewart Weddings and wanted to recreate them to be more specific to my wedding. I tried my hand at these a while back and the results were mixed.  I was pretty pleased with how the bride turned out, but her bouquet of flowers is not centered, one of her eyes is slightly lager than the other and it looks a little smudged (I used a Sharpie for the eyes and wood absorbed it more than I thought it would and the ink bled).  Groom #1 is a disaster. I completely messed up his eyes and the gray I used to detail his suit is WAY too light (I didn't test it to see how it would look when it dried).  He quickly became my technique tester (hence the 6 eyes).

Bride and Groom #1

Thankfully the wooden people came in packs of two.

First, I sketched the eyes, hair and clothes on the figures.  The pencil marks will show through the first layer of the bride's dress (the marks will disappear with two or three layers of paint).  However, because the black paint of the groom's suit will cover all pencil marks, I waited to sketch the suit details until after the first layer of paint was dry. 

Then, it was time for paint.  This was completely nerve-racking because one mistake can ruin the entire figure.  It is impossible to remove unwanted paint from the natural, unfinished wood.  Paint can be covered with more paint, but there is not erase!  Also, I was working on the figures simultaneously.  Once tiny smudge of black paint could have ruined the bride figure.  I was so paranoid, I washed my hands every time I switched figures. Trying to avoid mistakes from bride and groom #1, I was very careful to paint in layers based on depth and lightest elements to darkest.

After hours of laboring over 2, 2 1/2 inch figures...I am done!  In some ways, I like the original bride better but I can't get past the off-center bouquet and the asymmetrical eyes.  If I can find a way to fix the eyes, I might use the first bride (my new spot sanding method is currently in beta testing...on groom #1).  Either way, I love my cupcake toppers!  They are understated but quirky and cute.  And here is the final product...

I might have gotten a little carried away taking pictures and set up a miniature photo shoot for the new couple... I like playing with my new camera...

Spring Break Productivity: Part 1

One of the nice parts about working in education is having school holidays.  So far, I am loving spring break; I have been getting so many things done!

Paint Magazine Racks with Chalkboard Paint- Done

 Do Something with Side Table- Done (kind of)
I am in the process of redecorating and I am not sure what color I want the table.  So, I sanded it and painted it white for now.  It will be easy to change later.  The two-tone red and aqua was starting to give me a headache.

Paint Lamp on Side Table- Done 
No pictures. Like the table, I have transformed it from eyesore to blank canvas.  All I need is some inspiration...


Book Rentals for Wedding- Half Done
I got to put together a sample table with one of my table runners and dishes and flowers...so exciting.  I still need to add the caterer's supplies and sign the contract but I am mostly done with rentals.

I love crossing things off my list!

FABRIC!

My table runner fabric is finally in and I have one runner completed (kind of)!

This is definitely a victory.  I have been looking for fabric for months and was starting to feel a little defeated.  I had been primarily looking at online fabric sites but wasn't finding any good deals.  I was convinced that I could do better in the garment district in L.A.  I dragooned my mom, step-dad, fiance and friend into accompanying my on my quest.  After an hour or two I started to realize that they all had a pretty similar selection-- mostly jerseys, silks, wools but no cotton prints.  Finally, I found this great Michael Miller print at the Michael Levine store, but it was $10 a yard!  I didn't want to pay that much but really liked the fabric.  Being the disciplined, budget shopper that I am, I went home empty handed.  However, a week later I found the same fabric on sale for $6 a yard at Fabric.com AND when you buy more than $35 worth of fabric they give you FREE SHIPPING.  To say that I was excited is an understatement.  I love getting things on sale.

I have already cut the fabric and sewn one of the runners. Unfortunately, I got the wrong color thread and have to rip the stitches out and re-do it (I blame it on the terrible fluorescent lighting at the fabric store).  It's not a huge inconvenience, but they are each 90" x 15" so that is a substantial perimeter to re-hem.

This might be a good way to get my mom involved in wedding projects, but only because I don't want her to feel left out.  I know, I am such a considerate daughter.

A few more things crossed off the list

Design save the dates- CHECK
I am pretty happy with how the design turned out. When printed they will be about the size of a small postcard. My plan is to make stickers out of round labels and place them in the middle of the card. People can then put the stickers on their calendars. Hopefully I will be able to get these printed with a matte finish...

(In case you are wondering what is up with the seagulls, I chose to use them because we are getting married in a beach town and I love wedding graphics with love birds or sparrows, so I combined the two ideas.)

Hire a caterer- CHECK
Bonus points on this because he lives across the street from me.

I've been a slacker

It has been about 6 months since my last entry. That is sadly representative of my overall productivity. I have actually made more work for myself by changing my overall plan several times. I have changed my colors three times now, doubled my guest list (and then some), redesigned the save-the-dates several times, changed my mind on catering, switched from round to rectangular tables, to mention a few. However, with the energy that comes with a new year (an the wedding slowly creeping up on me), I am now in full planning and crafting mode. Below are a few of my recent successes:

Decide on Wedding Colors- CHECK
One of the obstacles that I kept tripping over was figuring out how my bridesmaids were going to get dresses in a matching color. I am not picky about the style and want everyone to feel comfortable and happy with their dress, so my plan was to pick a color at David's Bridal and have them get any dress in that color. Since all of my bridesmaids live hundreds of miles away from me, I wanted to choose a national, prevalent chain store like David's Bridal that would be convenient for them. I had it all worked out, I picked the colors I wanted for the overall theme and then found a corresponding dress color on the David's Bridal website. However, when I went to DB to double check the color, I discovered that it had already been discontinued. Apparently, they rotate through dress colors rather quickly. I didn't want to choose another dress color that might be discontinued when the bridesmaids start shopping in a few months. So I have simplified my life, and hopefully theirs; they are all going to get black dresses and the overall color scheme will be black, charcoal gray and mustard yellow. Crossing my fingers that we all don't end up looking like bumblebees.

Buy my dress- CHECK
When I went to look at bridesmaid dresses at DB I had no intention of looking at wedding dresses. However, I had already driven half and hour and thought I should at least look around. I had looked at some of their dresses online and there were a few that I really liked. It just so happened that they had my favorite one in the store, in my size, in ivory (not white) and it was ON SALE. I tried it on and loved it and gave them a deposit to hold the dress and the sale price. My mom and I went down the next weekend to finalize the deal. I figured I couldn't buy a dress without at least showing my mom. I am so happy that my experience was nothing like those terrible shows where a women gets bullied into buying a dress her mom/ sisters/ friends like after an hour of crying in the dressing room.

Production Schedule

My fiance's family was on vacation in San Diego from Arizona so we went to hang out with them this past weekend. I missed my self-set Friday deadline for creating a production schedule. However, it is now completed. My main schedule is quite detailed, but the general idea is as follows (These are, for the most part, the deadlines):

Aug. '09 - Oct. '09:

• Finish all printing/ stationary research
• Decide on colors/ logos
• Finalize guest list
• Get addresses and e-mail addresses for all guests
  

Nov. '09 - Dec. '09:

• Create drafts of save the dates, invitations, response cards, scavenger hunt cards (for kids), table number displays and escort cards
  

Dec. '09 - Jan. '10:

• Revise stationary drafts
• Make cupcake toppers
• Begin meeting with caterers
  

Feb. '10:

• Shop for fabric for table runners and chair sashes (for ceremony)
• Print scavenger hunt cards

March '10:

• Begin making table runners
• Begin guestbook
• Finalize all catering, equipment and event rentals
  

April '10:

• Purchase cupcake tower and design decorations for the tower
• Purchase kids prize (for scavenger hunt)
• Send out save the dates

May '10:

• Begin making chair sashes
• Finish table runners

June '10:

• Make facility signs
• Finish chair sashes
• Print menus

July '10:

• Make all final payments to vendors, etc.
• Mail invitations

August '10"

• Make reception playlist on iTunes

September '10:

• Make seating chart
• Print escort cards

My Wedding Sweat Shop- Opening Soon (I hope)

Up until now, crafting has been a hobby for me- leisurely activities to pass the time. However, to get all of my wedding projects done in time, I am launching into full production mode. The first order of business was setting up an area in my TINY house where I can work. Last night, I bought a cute desk from a woman on craigslist. It needs a little TLC, but that will have to wait. It fits in the allotted space, has built-in storage and seems sturdy enough to sew on...and it was only $40. Now I need to plan. I hope to have a production schedule prepared by the end of the week.

The Action Plan

Paper- All stationary will be designed in Adobe Photoshop using various digital scrapbooking tools and my own designs. They will then be printed on tagboard and embellished in some way.

Flowers- All flowers will be purchased the day before the wedding at the Los Angeles Flower Market in downtown LA (I currently live about an hour and half from LA, so driving to their downtown markets is not terribly inconvenient). My mother, sister, future mother-in-law and I will then prepare them as bouquets, boutonnieres, table arrangements, etc.

Fabric- I currently plan on purchasing fabric from an online store or the garment district in downtown LA. I will go where I can get the better deal. I will then sew sashes for aisle chairs (for ceremony decor) and the table runners on my sewing machine at home.

Decor- The cake toppers will be painted wooden figures; I will probably purchase all supplies from Michaels'. All candles, votives, vases, etc. will probably also purchased from Michaels and perhaps painted or embellished with ribbon, etc.

Other- Since their will be kids at the wedding, I wanted to have something fun for them to do. So, I am going to create a scavenger hunt card (more paper to design..yay!) and give them each a disposable camera. The scavenger hunt card will have things like "people hugging" or "someone laughing loudly" on it. The first child to take a picture of each of the things on the list will get a prize. My current thought is a $15 iTunes gift card or something. (By the way, this idea came from the Summer 09 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings).

So Far...
Yesterday, my fiance and I spent the day at various stores doing a little price research. As you might have guessed, I am trying to be as organized and methodical as possible. Contrary to popular belief, doing/ making things yourself is not always cheaper. It is very easy to underestimate how much of a particular supply you will need, or not include necessary tools you may need to buy in your project budget. I had planned on building a letterpress, designing the polymer plates and ordering them from Boxcarpress.com and then making the stationary that way. However, after visiting home depot, it would easily cost me $40 for just the wood for the actual press, plus another $15 for thread-rod and hex nuts, another $15 for the book press tool, $60 for all the polymer plates I would need, not to mention ink, an ink bryer, and all of the paper. For a wedding of a little over 100 guests, letterpressing my own stationary would easily cost 3 times more than buying it. Since that does not fit in my budget, I have decided to go with standard print instead. Less exciting, but I will actually be able to incorporate more color since DIY letterpress does not easily lend itself to multicolored projects. Other than that, I was pretty much on target with my initial price estimates for items like floral tape, candle votives, mason jars, etc.

My next big decision will be on the color scheme. Originally, I wanted bright olive and slate blue hues, but since I am going to be using seasonal flowers form the LA Flower Market, I can't rely on being able to purchase any flowers in those colors and I don't want to use only white. I am currently contemplating red, tigerlily orange and a bright cerulean since flowers in those colors are common and available all seasons. I need to decide in the next month...so we will see what happens.

The Setup

My wedding is exactly 14 months and 13 days away. The fact that most of the event is already planned probably seems a little crazy. However, take into consideration the following:

• I plan on doing most of it myself. By that I mean, I am making: the save-the-dates, invitations, reply cards, programs and all other stationary, bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages and all other floral elements, table runners, cake topper, guestbook, creating a wedding playlist on iTunes and all other general decor for both the ceremony and reception. These are in addition to general planning tasks like booking venues, creating a menu with caterers, securing an officiant, etc.

• I currently work full time and will only have nights and weekends to complete all of my projects.

• Although my wedding is not for another 14 months, I only have 11 months to complete all projects (except for flowers and the seating arrangement which unfortunately cannot be done until the last minute). I hope to be starting graduate school in 11 months and once that begins, I will be in class 14 hours a day (not including time for assigned reading, papers, and the general school whatnot), leaving no time for wedding projects (not even nights and weekends).

I imagine that while my seemingly-premature planning no longer seems so premature, I might still seem a little crazy. I should note that I enjoy learning new skills and doing things myself. It is because of this that I am attempting to pull off a mostly DIY wedding. (Although, those who speculate that it is because I am very particular and can't find pre-made things to my liking might not be completely wrong.)