pumpkins!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Love this time of year. Indian summer is in full splendor with warm sunshiney days. This pumpkin totem was a happy sight on the road to beautiful Pt. Reyes. A group of friends and I kayaked across Tomales Bay and camped on the sandy shores underneath the starry canopy. The night sky was especially captivating (amazing…no fog and no light pollution!). The perfect weekend getaway.
C magazine
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Happy news…April & Mitch’s Napa Valley wedding invitation was featured in the September issue of C Magazine. Designed & letterpress printed by moi, and calligraphed by the über-talented Nancy Howell.
Rustic elegance was the theme of this midsummer Napa Valley wedding. Black ink printed on 100% cotton paper from Italy…the paper feels like fabric it’s so soft. Embellished with fine gold thread and a gold wax seal.
napa valley wedding
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Mary Ann & Garret’s intimate Napa Valley wedding was a three day celebration in the height of summer, with close friends and family gathered from faraway to share in the festivities. Kicking it off with brunch among the vines at Signorello Vineyards and a welcome dinner at Auberge Du Soleil and the grand finale…the July 14 • Bastille Day wedding at Brix. Among the paper goods shown here, petite accordion festivities booklets, book marks with a favorite Gandhi quote and square tags for the welcome baskets. These sumptuous photos are brought to you by photographer fantastique, Julie Mikos.
Menus printed in fuchsia ink for a cohesive & gorgeous hot pink table.
unpacking
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Unpacking from vacation is bittersweet…sad that it went by so speedily (it seems like yesterday that I packed my bag) and happy to re-discover the various treasures brought back (especially the ceramics that survived the long journey intact!). Pictured here is an assemblage of things I found on my travels in the south of France. From top left: ceramic bowls from the market in my favorite town of Eygalieres; handmade straw hat from a hat vendor in St. Remy; bulb of garlic from the amazing Marché Agricole in Velleron; dark chocolate bar with whole hazelnuts…yummm; fleur de sel (can’t live without that : ); handmade charcoal suede pouch, also from Eygalieres; yellow ceramic milk pitcher & turquoise blue dish…love those colors! and lastly, vintage silverware from the Arles flea market.
♥ paris
Friday, July 22, 2011
J’aime Paris. It was cold & rainy when we were there but that didn’t stop us from walking until we could walk no more. Paris is beautiful in the rain.
photos & watercolor sketch by elizabeth hubbell
france • snapshots
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Sundry snapshots of things that for one reason or another captured my attention. Fields of sunflowers & wheat on the road to the Gorges de l’Ardèche (amazing region…stunning rock formations and super dramatic landscape); orchards of apple espaliers; yours truly standing on the Pont St. Esprit; Roman bath near the town of Graveson; the Odilon Redon show at the Musée Fabre in Montpellier…fantastique!; the sheeps & goats cheese truck in the town where we stayed; buildings in Arles; more buildings in the town of La Bastide de Virac; and lastly, a bon bon stand at the summit of Mont Ventoux…sweetness!
patisserie part 3 • sugar high
Friday, July 15, 2011
Ahh, the fabulous fruits of summer. Apricots, strawberries, peaches, plums, figs, cherries and on and on…all are celebrated at the Patisserie Nouguier in Molleges. And the striped donuts Americain are a new treat…gotta love those!
Le petit cochon (little piggies) made of marzipan and lined up all pretty-in-pink. Dreamy Italian meringue lemon tarts being prepped for the display case…macarons in the most vivid colors. The selection of sweet treats is dizzying! Tough work deciding which photos to post. : )
Meet Myriam & Bernard Nouguier, bakers and pastry-makers exceptionelle and generous souls who love sharing their passion for pastry. Un grand merci M & B. ♥
south of france • photos & sketches
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Life is grand here in S. France. The daily routine goes something like this: eat, drink, walk, bicycle, paint, explore new places and siesta/sleep. Bicycling is ideal for expeditions in the country and walking is the best way to see a city. And there’s always a nearby café or park to rest weary feet.
A few snapshots of L’Isle sur la Sorgue and the antique shops there. The lower left photo is a café-restaurant where we lunched, in the sweet town of Bedouin on the route up to Mont Ventoux.
Various & sundry watercolor sketches.
The lavender fields on the route to the Gorges de l’Ardeche are amazing right now…entire hills are awash in rich purple.
all photos & sketches by elizabeth hubbell
patisserie part 2 • beignets!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
More succulent treats from Bernard & Myriam’s patisserie in Molleges. Vanilla custard-filled beignets in the shape of peaches with a dusting of super fine vanilla sugar to mimic peach fuzz. They are as delicious as they appear! And the cherry-topped Provençal custards (similar to crème caramel) are swoon-worthy.
…and another watercolor interpretation.
at the patisserie • ice cream cakes!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Recently, I had the pleasure of spending the day working in Bernard & Myriam Nouguier’s amazing patisserie & boulangerie in Molleges, S. France. What a treat! A husband and wife team extraordinaire, Bernard is the baker upstairs and Myriam greets customers and tends the cash register downstairs. Everything is made from scratch right there in their tiny patisserie-bakery. Pictured here is a tray of freshly made strawberry & lemon ice cream cakes. The day was devoted almost entirely to ice cream cake & bombe glacée making. Heaven. I hope to share more patisserie photos soon!
And I couldn’t resist the temptation to paint a few super rough watercolors. The bold colors & textures of those cakes are just too tantalizing.
summertime sketchbook
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
It’s that time of year again….gearing up for my annual trek to S. France. Above are some snapshots of sketchbook pages from years past. I’m looking forward to escaping fog-enshrouded Berkeley for the sunshine of southern France. Stay tuned, I’ll be sending watercolor dispatches from abroad.
A bien tot!
garden of love
Friday, June 3, 2011
It’s been a busy few months here in the studio and wedding season is in full spring splendor. I’ve been eager to share this latest project–Arezou & Evan’s wedding invitation suite. The timing of their mailing is perfect, what with the release of the new garden of love postage stamp which adorns their pool-blue envelopes.
Inspired by the scenic rolling hills and vineyards of the Napa Valley, I wanted to capture the essence of that in a simple pen and ink illustration which decorates the top of their wedding invitation. The gorgeous calligraphy and monogram is the work of Nancy Hopkins. The ensemble is bundled with turquoise blue twine & a matte silver wax seal for the finishing touch.
Shown above, the invitation, insert card & RSVP. Their “in lieu of gifts” request (insert card) is a thoughtful alternative–asking guests to consider instead a donation to the ASPCA. The ink palette is rich turquoise blue, pool blue and olive green.
I’m looking forward to designing their reception stationery…especially the yummy menu which will feature the bounty of locally and sustainably grown vegetables, fruits, meats & charcuterie and baked goods. All of this beautifully and mouth-wateringly prepared by Elaine Bell Fine Catering. I’ll be sharing the finished menu and other delectable paper goods with you here in August, so do check back!
My dear friend & colleague, Dee Merz, is the wedding planner extraordinaire who gathers the creative team together in happy harmony. I especially enjoy working with her because she intuitively knows when to give guidance and when to let go and see what blossoms. Coordinating a stunning event is a delicate dance and Dee knows the steps.
A close up of the main header illustration and some tools of the trade: my favorite Pelikan drawing ink in rich, velvety black and my trusty dip pen from Austria that I’ve had for ages and love so.
Stamps! So fun decorating an envelope with vivid stamps. They tell a story.
dreamy calistoga wedding
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Thanks to Kathryn at Snippet & Ink for posting Lyn & Scott’s dreamy Black Swan Lake wedding. It was a real pleasure working with this delightful couple on their wedding stationery–from save the dates all the way through to the reception stationery and tantalizing menu. Heirloom tomatoes decorate the menu which features the local Bay Area late summer bounty. Yum. I ♥ Paula Le Duc Fine Catering. And these gorgeous photos are the work of Suzy Clement, photographer extraordinaire. Nancy Howell adds the lovely finish calligraphy. Kristi Amoroso Special Events makes the magic happen seamlessly and gorgeously. Enjoy & salut!
spring bunnies!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Coming up with ideas for little Olive’s birthday party invitation is always a fun-filled endeavor. Inspiration for this year’s invitation: Peeps hot pink marshmallow Easter bunnies meets vintage children’s flash cards. We considered filling the bunnies with hot pink glitter (vintage, naturally!) but the less is more approach prevailed. Letterpress printed front + back on ultra thick, bright white, tree-free paper.
And here’s what we did for Olive’s birthday last year. Icons from 1930′s illustrated children’s books fill the front of a folded card–page 1 of the story of Olive Jane. The card unfolds to reveal the party particulars. Letterpress printed on soft pink, 100% cotton rag paper from Italy.
And back to the beginning with a baby blue Beatrix Potter-inspired birth announcement. Bunny love!
a soolip wedding
Friday, March 11, 2011
I am delighted and honored to participate in San Francisco’s first, A Soolip Wedding–a fabulous bridal event featuring some of the Bay Area’s finest. The dreamy show will be held at the Bently Reserve on Sunday, March 20. I will be exhibiting a suite of freshly-printed letterpress wedding stationery. Wedding pros in all fields from photography & floral design to artisanal catering & event coordination will be there to inspire and enchant. So come enjoy the visual + delectable feast! Cake & champagne tastings, fashion shows, raffles and much much more await!
Here’s a sneak peek of the poetry card I’m making for the event. Spring-time is lovetime!
