save the date postcard
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Here’s a glimpse of Joanna + Michael’s save the date postcard for their upcoming summer wedding amid the apple orchards + vineyards at Napa’s Carneros Inn. Included on the hand-drawn map are a few of their favorite spots and also their hometowns. The map is a fun way to introduce guests (traveling from near & far) to the beauty & bounty of the SF Bay Area.
Back side of oversize postcard with lodging details. Michele Papineau calligraphed each guest’s address for the fabulous finishing touch.
A peek at my desk…and the illustrative process in full swing. Sometimes I draw the map all in one go – both map lines & places of interest. In this case, because the area was more encompassing, I drew the map lines separately. Then, once the map lines are in place, I sketch the location icons separately and place them into the map digitally. So, it’s a marriage of old (hand-drawn pen + ink sketches) and new (computer layout & prepress).
letters mingle souls
Friday, April 5, 2013
Sundry samples of note cards & stationery for sending off a note snail mail style. It’s so important, now more than ever, to take time to collect thoughts and put those thoughts into writing. It requires slowing down. In this era of tweets, texts & emails, the hand-written note is a rare thing.
And what about the lost art of hand-writing…good for kids & grown-ups alike. And did you know…writing in cursive leads to more fluid thinking. :)
spring!
Friday, March 22, 2013
Love the sunbursts of spring color found in random unlikely places. On my way home from the hardware store I was struck by this blooming succulent scene…basking in the afternoon sunshine.
fish taco • watercolor sketch
Friday, February 15, 2013
Fish tacos for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner = yum. The strawberry papayas here on Kauai are sublime…so many ways to enjoy them. On the half shell with lime, in salsa, with yogurt & granola…the possibilities are endless for this versatile fruit.
happy valentine’s day
Thursday, February 14, 2013
kauai • watercolor sketch
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
This is one of several sketches I did for a client getting married in beautiful Hanalei. The map is a work in progress and the final sketch will be giclee printed (for max. color + texture capture) and used for a save the date postcard. I ♥ mapmaking…especially here on the gorgeous garden island of Kauai :)
dreamy landscape • kauai
Saturday, February 9, 2013
I snapped this photo from the passenger seat of a speeding car and love the ethereal-ness of it. The lush beauty of this island is mesmerizing. Can’t wait to break out my watercolors and experiment + explore.
fruitful new year!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Here’s to a sweet & fruitful new year! These prints graced the cover of the winter issue of Edible East Bay magazine. Pen + ink illustrated and hand-printed letterpress in an edition of 50 on 100% cotton rag, tree-free paper. Finished with a watercolor wash for a pop of color. Available for purchase here.
warm winter wishes
Friday, December 21, 2012
& Season’s Bleatings : ) Winter solstice is upon us…longest night of the year…time to light candles and cozy up by the fire with some warm spiced wine.
happy thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
I dug this card out of the archives of Thanksgivings past…another EH Studio + Papineau Calligraphy collaboration. I am grateful to my dear friends & family and to all of my clients both near and far. Your loyalty and support make my world blossom.
happy halloween!
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Fresh off the press…falling leaf card folder with ee cummings poem.
martha stewart weddings feature
Friday, August 10, 2012
Jessica + Andrew’s sophisticated Meadowood wedding celebration is featured on Martha Stewart Weddings! Gorgeously photographed by Lisa Lefkowitz and orchestrated by MAP Events.
For their wedding invitation stationery, Jessica + Andrew opted for elegant rusticity. Hand-calligraphed invitations were letterpress printed on 100% cotton rag paper from Italy. Bundled with fine gold thread and gold wax seal for the finishing touch. Calligraphy by Nancy Howell.
farewell france
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Sad to leave the paradise that is Provence…but I managed to bring home a few choice items which make me happy. And the bottle of rosé survived the long journey intact…swaddled like a baby in my luggage : )
mer méditerranée • watercolor sketch
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
The beach in Bandol was full of bathers & sun worshippers. After a dip in the Mediterranean we had dinner of Daurade + Frites (fish & chips). The whole fish served on a plate. Tasty.
provence road trip
Thursday, July 26, 2012
It’s sweltering hot here…time for a road trip to the coast and a dip in the Mediterranean. Bandol is a favorite seaside town…sleepy & less crowded than the Côte d’Azur. A few noteworthy stops and sights along the way: the atelier of sculptor Edmond Gintoli (who also happens to be the mayor of Castellet); the surrounding lavender farms & fields…entire hillsides of purple (the air is heavy with the scent of lavender); and a mandatory stop at Domaine Tempier to replenish the rosé supply : )
