Wear What When

Just Landed: Making Paper Flowers

The do-it-yourself book kit from an SMBG-featured artisan. (And a don’t-miss offer to get a free copy directly from the author.)

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Apr 06, 2011 at 07:00AM 0 Comments

SLIDESHOW: Making Paper Flowers by Tacoma crafter and SMBG-featured wedding vendor Laurie Cinotto. I love the old-school, vintage vibe of the book design.

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SLIDESHOW: Making Paper Flowers by Tacoma crafter and SMBG-featured wedding vendor Laurie Cinotto. I love the old-school, vintage vibe of the book design.

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Step-by-step instructions for creating on-trend crepe paper blooms.

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The book is actually a kit; it comes with nine templates and all the materials you need to learn to make an anemone bouquet, a dahlia boutonniere, a peony and poppy centerpiece …

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Here’s the page we did for our summer/fall 2010 issue; if you’re looking for guidance on name cards and sea worthy table decor; email us to arrange payment for a back copy of the magazine.

Big congratulations to Tacoma crafter Laurie Cinotto, whose Making Paper Flowers was released a few days ago. And congrats to you, too; you now have all the step-by-step guidance, full-color inspiration, and vividly hued crepe paper you need to make good on your DIY vision.

The book kit—not just a book you understand, but materials and templates—is available at Barnes and Noble; you can also click through from LaLaLaurie, Cinotto’s website, to get a signed copy. (see upper right hand corner).

There’s a fun stop-motion video of the book on Vimeo, and a few of Cinotto’s images of it in the slideshow if that suits you better. If the name or the impeccable approach to craft look familiar, it might be that you saw the page in the Summer/Fall 2010 issue of Seattle Met Bride & Groom wherein Cinotto put together some DIY name cards and table ideas for our “Project Wedding” page. A copy of that is also included in the slideshow here.

If you like what you see, be sure to check in at LaLaLaurie; Cinotto tells us she’ll be giving a copy away via her site sometime soon.

One last thing—I’d be remiss to leave out Cinotto’s other passion and talent: caring for and photographing kittens. Her wildly popular and well-humored blog, The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee chronicles her adventures in fostering insanely sweet kittens for her local Humane Society. Yes, the kittens on her blog are being readied for adoption, so don’t click the link above unless you’re a) sure you can resist an assault of adorableness without adding to your pet stable or daily blog roll or b) seriously considering a tiny feline.

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Tags: Seattle Floral Vendors, Seattle Wedding Details, Wedding Favors, Just Landed, Laurie Cinotto

Classic Gifts IV: Paper HeartsUPDATED

Brand new shop, Paper Hammer, does double duty for holiday shoppers and those involved in pulling off a literary, design-savvy wedding.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Dec 15, 2010 at 12:30PM 0 Comments

SLIDESHOW New shop: Paper Hammer, the paper goods store on Second Avenue from Marquand Books. (New image added 12/20/10)

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SLIDESHOW New shop: Paper Hammer, the paper goods store on Second Avenue from Marquand Books. (New image added 12/20/10)

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Gorgeously austere hand-bound photobooks, because a Flickr link really doesn’t do what sitting on the couch together flipping through pages does. Consider putting together a scrapbook-style inspiration and implementation book for your mom or sister, or grab a couple of the smaller books to fill later for groomsmen and/or family members.

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Garland letters for holiday gift tags, OR reception table assignments, name cards, fun signage for before or after the ceremony, favor tie-ons, you name it … Paper Hammer specializes in letterpress; the paper goods are made in a little town Marquand essentially rescued called Tieton. You might call it Eastern Washington’s Brooklyn.

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Paper Hammer’’s mini-journals: stocking stuffers for your favorite world traveler, reception favors for a weekend-long destination wedding (or one that features wines worthy of note-taking), or both. You decide.

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Inspiration for literary, and, for the time being, wintery decor themes at Paper Hammer.

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UPDATE: Ed Marquand emailed me this image so I could share with you a beautiful album they produced for a a friend on the occasion of her 10th anniversary. The hand-bound book was covered with fabric the woman saved from her wedding dress. Contact Paper Hammer if you are interested in similar projects.

Attn: Engaged couples (and really anyone — bridesmaids, holler? event designers, hi! — knee-deep in the process of plotting a wedding). Assuming you’re juggling your holiday shopping errands with planning and readying, please get yourself to Paper Hammer, the new retail space near Benaroya Hall.

The new books and paper goods boutique is essentially the front room of Seattle’s most notable art book enterprise, Marquand Books. And while there is nothing expressly wedding-ish about the beautiful hand-bound journals, vintage found objects, or distinctive letterpress notes, those aimed at pulling off an especially literary or design-centric affair will find it pretty rich territory to mine. And you’ll likely get some holiday shopping done to boot.

Check the slideshow hereUPDATED for wedding favor ideas that could double as stocking stuffers, signage details that also work as holiday gift wrap bling, inspiration for what to give bridal partiers, and decor and design style just waiting to be lifted. You might also browse the company’s Etsy site for door hangers, paper coasters, picture books and more.

And before you go, consider those traditional gifts for anniversaries that Hallmark used to print in the back of their little pocket calendars. (Maybe Hallmark still prints them?) Sure, it’s an archaic and untethered ‘system,’ but in these days of heritage brands and slow food, wouldn’t it be appropriate – or at least fun — to herald its return? After all, the old ‘rules’ call for celebrating year one with paper goods. Keep that in mind when you’re at Paper Hammer thinking about how much your graphic designer soon-to-be husband would appreciate the regionally made letterpress calendar in your hand.

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Tags: Locally Made, Locally Designed, Seattle Wedding Details, Wedding Favors, Books, Classic Gifts 2010

Save the Date: Get Hitched, Give Hope

Be a giver: Get your tickets now for the Oct 28 event, and get ready to give a lot and get a lot.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Sep 08, 2010 at 08:00AM 1 Comments

Photo: Azzura Photography

One of this year’s Get Hitched Give Hope vendors is Timeless Weddings, who embroider classic, lovely veils, linens, handkerchiefs, and more.

Where: Downtown’s Four Seasons

What: Get Hitched, Give Hope is, at its heart, a wedding show — though really, considering the crew that throws it, a wedding party — in which great vendors gather in a gorgeous room and give couples the opportunity for face-to-face interaction and a real-world, real-time experience of their experience, their talents, their craft, and their specialties. For a list of the premier beauty, photography, floral, decor, planning, paperie, and more wedding professionals at your disposal at this year’s GHGH, slide over here to their vendors page.

But GHGH is not just about you, and it’s not just about the vendors. It’s about giving stage four breast cancer patients a chance to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience before their life on earth is over. Area vendors have agreed to donate their goods and services; you bid on them, via a series of silent and live auctions, and the money goes to the women who need it most. GHGH organizers are hoping to raise $50,000 this year; all of which will go to the Making Memories Foundation. It takes about $4k to make one dream come true — a first-ever family vacation to Hawaii, a wedding she wasn’t sure she’d get to have — and this year, the Seattle dreammakers who have pooled their resources to make this happen are hoping to make those things happen for twelve women.

By way of illustration: I just got a gorgeous Real Wedding submission from a photographer who donated her services at last year’s event. A lucky bride “bought” the photography package that night with a donation to the worthwhile charity (money she would spent anyway, hiring a shooter). The images are fantastic, due in no small part I’m sure to the underlying bond shared between the bride and her photographer; they knew that they were in it together all day long not just in pursuit of gorgeous photographic memories, but for a greater cause, as well. It’s really pretty amazing stuff.

Bottom line: Your dream happens in the most beautiful and meaningful way — and someone else’s dream comes to life in a truly special and singular way, also. And, you got to go to a really fun party.

So you’re saving the date, right? Be sure to check in on the GHGH blog, too; there are some pretty great run-up happenings before the big event — for example: an online jewelry trunk show from Stella & Dot; 25% of all purchases will be donated to GHGH.

When: October 28; tickets start at $35

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Tags: Weddings, Seattle Real Weddings, Seattle Real Weddings, Seattle Wedding Details, Wedding Favors, Get Hitched Give Hope

Write Stuff

Wedding favors for modern, literary affairs in the booky-chic Northwest

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jun 30, 2010 at 09:45AM 2 Comments

What would your book of love look like? A custom design from Scout Books.

Are your friends obsessive journal-keepers? Do your kinfolk record every Riesling they try? Will your wedding guests want to take notes about song birds overheard and wildflowers encountered at your country wedding weekend or the boutiques, restaurants, and landmarks they found the day after your urban bash? Do your nuptials have an especially literary overtone?

Consider these handsome, customizable, and mindful favors by Portland’s Scout Books. Made with recycled papers, soy inks, and renewable energy sources, Scout notebooks would look awfully sweet wrapped with a matte grosgrain ribbon, coordinated to your decor colors, and paired with a No. 2 pencil in a complementary shade.

Speaking of coordinating and complementing, and yes, customizing: therein (for some couples at least) lies the biggest draw. Yes draw. Get your invitation designer to draft an artful illustration that’ll tie in to your stationery, or have a graphic artist friend come up with a logo or monogram. Heck, what are the two of you doing this weekend? Get out the Magic Markers, charcoals, and black Bics and come up with something on your own.

The Scout folks offer a pretty decent deal for 50, 250, or even 1000 volumes but then again, their original collection includes some fun modern patterns and vibrant hues that oughtta underscore your dahlias just beautifully.

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Tags: Weddings, Seattle Wedding Details, Wedding Favors

Family Traditions

Rosanna Bowles’ new book celebrates the way we come together at the table

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jun 23, 2010 at 07:00AM 0 Comments

Here’s an idea: Take a break from wedding planning in favor of planning, oh, you know, the rest of your life.

Rosanna Bowles, the Seattle dishware designer better known as simply Rosanna, will be dispensing decor wisdom, entertaining ideas, and dishware common sense while signing copies of her new Coming Home: A Seasonal Guide to Creating Family Traditions at Common Folk in Bellevue on Saturday June 26 from noon to 2.

Though Bowles didn’t necessarily write the book for newlyweds or engaged couples, the book’s just right for people like you. Weddings are all about you and Mr. or Mrs. Wonderful carving out your place on the family tree; they’re the perfect time and place to do something — serve a certain vintage, dance a certain dance, set a certain table — that you can then sort of be known for doing forever more.

As the Rosanna camp puts it: ‘Acknowledging the strong custom of bonding over meals, the book presents over 50 recipes geared with modern sensibility towards healthy, fresh, organic ingredients, coupled with entertaining and decorating ideas to complement the meals.’

Worth noting if you’re still deciding on favors, thank you gifts, reception ideas, and the like: Common Folk is packed to the gills with all manner of finds from glitzy to kitschy and back again.

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Tags: Weddings, Home Decor, Seattle Wedding Details, Wedding Favors, Rosanna Inc

Block Party

Downtown Bellevue wedding merchants host a week-long spin on bar hopping

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jun 09, 2010 at 12:00PM 10 Comments

Look for the pink poster at participating specialty shops and wedding vendors in downtown Bellevue next week, and find specials, deals, and expert advice inside

You’ve noticed that it’s not just bars and restaurants that throw happy hours these days, but here’s a new one for brides- and grooms-to-be: A wedding pub crawl.

Well, sort of. Okay not really. But close enough.

During the week of June 14 – June 20, between Christina Lynn Table Top and Home and Julep on Bellevue Way and City Flowers and Yuen Lui on NE 8th Street, seekers of gorgeous bridal gowns, stylish registry items, delicious cupcakes, wow-factor flowers, fine stationery, and more will be traversing the landscape looking not for pints of beer, but the pink sign shown here as well as top-rate wedding advice and great deals.

Bellevue’s Bridal Walk Week links the above mentioned vendors with Mr. J’s Culinary Kitchen, Obadiah Salon, Silberman Brown, Trophy Cupcakes, and Voletta Couture – and, this part is important, you.

Participating stores will be offering specials, incentives, and other good stuff – including, on Wednesday June 16, cake and champagne.

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Tags: Weddings, Desserts, Seattle Floral Vendors, Seattle Wedding Gown, Seattle Wedding Details, Wedding Favors

Details, Details

Do them a favor: Townsend Bay Soaps

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on May 12, 2010 at 06:45AM 1 Comments

Slideshow: Townsend Bay Soap makes great guest favors

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Slideshow: Townsend Bay Soap makes great guest favors

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You could finish these guys for almost nothing; some inexpensive, earthy string or twine, and a few sprigs plucked from backyard trees.

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Something to keep in mind: Present soaps and other scented favors somewhere other than the dinner table. Or, if you want to give favors out along with whatever meal you’re having, make sure they are wrapped or bagged. Try Packaging Specialties for cellophane bags or a similar solution.

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If the twine or string feels a tad too earthy, experiment with dressing up the soaps with ribbons and other accoutrement.

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As with anything you choose as a guest gift, it’s all in the presentation

With wedding season about to march down the aisle, many of you are in the T minus X days zone, meaning the Big Event is drawing near and every waking moment is about crossing off final chores and duties and making last minute acquisitions. To help, we’re going to throw lots of deals, details, and specifics your way this spring and summer. Today: a pitch perfect, cleanly designed favor for Northwest-y celebrations.

The folks at Townsend Bay Soap Company are carrying on a generations-old tradition home-making small-batch house goods. The great thing about their handcrafted, all-natural, totally-elegant-but-perfectly-simple, wonderful smelling Woods of Washington soap is that hip, mindful, DIY twenty-somethings will appreciate it as much as wise older folks will. And as much as visitors to our peaceable kingdom will be psyched to carry a piece of our evergreens home with them, lifers like us appreciate the home-grown sentiment as well.

I first encountered the soaps at Field House; they are also carried at Blackbird. Check out this write-up of the company on that shop’s blog.

While I happen to think that the Woods of Washington would make a perfect guest gift, I’d be remiss not to mention that Townsend Bay also offers a Townsend Bay Rum soap. Serving mojitos at your reception? So perfect. There are actually about twenty different soaps in Townsend Bay’s arsenal; maybe Sea Mist or or Blue Sage works better for your big day.

Keep in mind that these little guys are made by hand and it may be difficult to source 200 or so of any one variety. Sometimes, even in the final hours, you’ll have to plan ahead.

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Tags: Locally Made, Party Favors, Gift Guide, Locally Designed, Seattle Wedding Details, Wedding Favors

I Flipped For It

For guest favors and a good time, call Flipped Out Productions

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Nov 04, 2009 at 09:00AM 2 Comments

Page 1: A great wedding favor idea

The totals have been tallied from last week’s Get Hitched Give Hope; a whopping 35k was raised, and many Seattle-area couples made great matches with just the right vendors. Among the vendors supporting the cause and going beyond the beyond to capture clients and share their talents was Flipped Out Productions. I totally flipped for them — as did everyone else.

Here’s the deal: You and your best friend or your Uncle Dave or the guy you’ve only been dating for two weeks but oh what the heck, bring him to your sister’s officemate’s roommate’s wedding anyway dig into a box full of props — feather boas, silly signs, blow-up saxophones, giant sunglasses — (or not) and then step in front of a video camera and prepare for action. For five seconds – yep, just five seconds – you generally act a fool and forget how cool you are.

Next, you go get another peach-colored cocktail from the bar, run into some more friends, then return to the Flipped Out Booth where owner Josh Hershfield and his crew have made still images from the five-second video, printed them out, and bound them in a little flip-book.

Then, you totally flip out again. Because you’re just that cute in stop-motion, no matter how cool you are.

Here’s a little little short video of a flip book starring me and Dixie Duncan, SMB&G’s star sales and marketing wiz. Since we approach the magazine from different sides, Dixie and I don’t really work together, which means we have more fun having fun together. As our flip book clearly shows.

I brought a recently engaged girlfriend (she asked him so there you go) to GHGH with me and we made a flip book, too. (I think everyone there starred in at least two. They. are. addictive.) After flipping through it I immediately got all up in her business insisting that this is what she and her to-be need for guest favors at their wedding next summer. I’ve tried not to push too much “professional advice” in her face but everyone at GHGH was having so much fun in the booth — and with the finished product, that you just can’t help but want to share the experience with 200 of your nearest and dearest.

You give the Flipped Out folks a design to use for the front and back cover and they’ll wrap it around each of the flip books at your event.

I’m sorta considering getting married again just so I can hire these guys. Well, okay maybe not but look — if you opt for this fun and memorable guest favor at your next big shindig — whether it’s a wedding, a birthday, or a holiday party, let me know, k? I’d love to come crash it. And make another flip book.

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Last week’s Wedding Wednesday was all about a cool catering trend. Wanna see?

Planning a wedding? Visit Seattle Met Bride & Groom.

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Tags: Party Favors, Seattle Wedding Details, Wedding Favors, Get Hitched Give Hope