This year has brought an abundance of new little ones to our life. To celebrate one special one (and the only girl arriving among three boys), I designed a special suite of paper goods in pretty, pretty pink. Momma-t0-be is a bird-lover and excited to share her affections for feminine things with her little lady. So of course a pink-themed shower was only apropos.

Yes, I tied every ribbon and every diaper pin. It was worth every one! I had a blast creating a sophisticated, yet feminine collection including invitation and envelope liner, wishing tree cards and dainty little cards for the sweet treats. If only there was some of that strawberry cake left . . .  yum.

Living in a historic neighborhood means a stroll down the cobblestone takes you past beautiful homes, delicious dining and a sleiu of locally-owned shops full of southern charm. When interior designer Ashley Gilbreath decided to expand her design business into a retail location, I was flattered to help create the identity from the ground up. A classic feeling of home with a seasonal twist was just in line with her traditional and transitional aesthetic.

A classic serif coupled with fun patterns were the starting point for a collection of Moo cards we selected for the shop’s Open House celebration. This fast, inexpensive alternative to five thousand business cards on white stock gave us a little room to play. Using Moo’s alternate back option, we included multiple card backs with different textile-inspired patterns. Price tags were designed to be hand-written as needed for flexibility with ever-changing inventory. The grey divine twine is delightful touch!

The Open House was just the beginning of a great run for our neighborhood’s most beautiful shop.

This is a cause dear to my heart. At a very young age I read Ryan White’s biography. In college I elected to take a semester-long course on AIDS in the community and political view. We read this book and I have scrunched my brow in frustration ever since concerning the politics surrounding this life-taking disease.

Our group of friends jumped at the chance to host a fundraising dinner for our local Aids Outreach program as part of their biggest annual fundraiser, Dining with Friends.” And we were going to do it right! Chili, beer, cornbread and a backyard filled with party lights, burlap-covered tables and wildflower arrangements was our gift to guests for their donation. The fabulous Magnolia Brewery in Mississippi donated some of their fine Southern Pecan beer to help us have even more fun. We had a blast gathering chilli recipes (taste-tested prior of course!) and borrowing cast-iron skillets from friends to treat our guests with a delicious southern meal under the stars.

Designing and mailing out the invitation got me excited! In a matter of an hour I whipped out these accompanying pieces (southern sayings and all) to mark the dinner and beverage options. I’ll admit, the church references are my favorite.

Sometimes we still daydream about setting back up the poles of party lights just to sit and talk beneath their glow.