a celebration of what's to come

It's not conceivable that it's this time of year again...2010 has flown by faster than any other year. The December Holiday Season, New Year in particular, represents a time of renewal and reflection, and this new year will mark the anniversary of having started this blog.

I leave you just a few days shy of Christmas day as I take the next two weeks to reflect on this year's successes and next year's plans. Thank you to all who have followed this visual journey through my blog and I'll see you back in the coming year. May you have a fabulous Holiday Season with your loved ones and end in celebration as you welcome what's to come with open arms.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, Lizelly.

{ Image Via :: LizzyB Loves }

winter wedding visual + sparkle

{ Click on image to view in full }

To bid you a great Wintery weekend this Friday evening, here's a Winter Wedding Visual + Sparkle I just created as inspiration for an upcoming wedding invitation. Happy Weekend.

{ Images Via :: Style Me Pretty :: Wedding 52 :: head vs. heart }

popping in to say...Fail Harder

Hello there. Hope all is well with you and that your Thanksgiving Holiday weekend was the best. Just wanted to pop in and say hi, I'm still here...it's been a while.

Here's a great video I came across a while ago created by the students of Wieden + Kennedy 12, an experimental advertising school run by Portland ad agency W+K. More than 100g clear thumbtacks were used to create this mural that spells out 'Fail Harder', a message that states how important failure can be during the creative process to come up with even greater ideas.

{ Video Via :: DesignMate }

an addition to my {art} collection

I'd promised I would peek my head in if I found something that truly merited sharing. Well, I've fallen in love with these gorgeous paintings from Peggy Wolf Design.

I was immediately captivated by those large, brown eyes and immersed by the vibrant, rosy colors; I'm loving the contrast of turquoise and oranges. This just might be my next acquisition!

This reminds me of Amy Winehouse (love her singing). It seems very refreshing and summery with the green summer dress. I really like the textured background in this one, as compared to the other two with pink backgrounds I showcase here.

And this one is so elegant; a very proper woman with her beaded necklace and coiffed hair-do. Love the color palettes in all three paintings. Check out Peggy Wolf's Etsy shop to get your own piece of Peggy Wolf Design.

{ Images Via :: Peggy Wolf Design on Etsy }

happy weekend + minted wedding invitations

I'm on to the first round of voting for the Minted Happily Ever After Wedding Challenge. Go on there and vote...please!

Although my City Lights was the only design which made it through this time around, I have a few favorites from other fabulous designers...check them out:

This was my absolute favorite invitation. The ladies of Alethea and Ruth truly have the most sophisticated design sense with a touch of folk thrown in. I totally fell in love with this design, I couldn't keep my eyes off it, every single word is set appropriately in its place be it in a banner or in the logo. Perfect!!! I loved these ladies' designs so much I couldn't decide which to showcase, check out my other favorites here and here.

This design caught my eye due to the unique take on Japanese Washi tape. The perfect design motif in the varying patterns.

I'm always looking for uniqueness in invitation design, which this time around was sprinkeled sparingly in the Wedding Challange, but this design by lehan paper design fit the bill perfectly with the report card concept. Interesting!

Have a great weekend, see you next week!

{ Images Via :: Minted }

happily ever after {minted} wedding invitations

I'm back at it again. Minted, in collaboration with WeddingChannel.com, recently had their biggest challenge ever...a Wedding Invitation Challenge. I entered a few of my creations for a chance at launching my own line of wedding invitations with Minted.

I kept away from the typical floral backgrounds this time around and focused on a more modern take on the Wedding Invitation. Perfect for the contemporary urban couple looking for something different for their big day.

Background textures, gradients, and geometric shapes make these designs uniquely graphic.

This is the perfect Wedding Invitation for the city couple.

Check all of these designs out on Minted and vote!!

{ Images Via :: LizzyB Loves }

the perfect pair

It's been a while since I've bought myself a decent pair of shoes. I've lived in my black Cons for the better part of ten years (hey, I work from home, no need for more shoes) so when I set my big brown eyes on the gorgeous Chie Mihara Collection I fell in love. One of each PLEASE!!

These could very well replace my every day Converse.

Check out her complete fall collection and gaze for yourself. From her site, "Chie's goal in designing footwear is to create styles that are feminine, fun, and truly comfortable", the latter being the most important point for me.

{ Images Via :: Chie Mihara }

unbelievable carpets

Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay...I'm just in awe as to what I have to share with you today. It involves many of the things I enjoy: pattern, 'textiles', design, food, toys...and you won't believe the imagination these artist have to create them.

I came across these fabulous creations of 'carpet' installations by We Make Carpets via Anthology, and when I started reading the descriptions and the materials they used I was blown away. I couldn't conceive of how anyone could have the mind to create such elaborate art pieces out of such common, and small objects.

Look at the details! Of course, there are some very talented and genius people out there. Sometimes I think: "why didn't I think of that?" (maybe I'm not that genius :P). Aren't these fabulous?!

Can you imagine sitting there and setting all of these up with such minute objects?

I have such a large collection of disposable eating utensils that I can totally create a carpet like this one.

This is my favorite, made out of cotton cleaning products I imagine it to be so soft and cuddly. Unfortunately they're all temporary and one can't roll around in them.

These are only a few examples of my favorites. You have to visit the We Make Carpets blog to be as blown away as I was with all of their designs. Check out the Wounded Carpet (can you imagine what it's made up of?) as well as the Army Carpet. Wow!!

{ Images Via :: We Make Carpets }

mad men withdrawl

Although Gabe and I usually wait for the complete season of Mad Men to come out on DVD before we watch it, just knowing that this season is over makes me crave it more. But well, this means that we'll soon be sitting on our bed for a few hours straight watching episode after episode.

To keep me appeased while the months pass until I have the new season in my hands, I stare at these fantastic illustrations of some of my favorite characters from the series, which I came across via Stanley Chow Illustration & Design. What girl wouldn't want to stare at Don Draper all day long!!?

Miss Holloway...I envy those sexy curves!

And Peggy, well...she's got the smarts.

{ Images Via :: Stanley Chow Illustration & Design }

the beauty of ink

As a paper ephemera designer ink is always on my mind. I came across this very cool video of how ink is made, via Paper Dahlia, and it's a great insight as to the process. Accompanied by some great music, the visuals are are art in themselves.

{ Video Via :: The Printing Ink Company }

views of a city :: parisian graffiti

Only in France can you find such artistic and fashionable Graffiti. I've been visiting a great Parisian photo blog for a while now (which I love because it instantly transports me to my favorite city) and every now and again Eric Tenin, the photographer, posts some very interesting takes on the city: graffiti-ed walls.

Now, I do imagine most other cities have great graffiti art as well, but theses examples seem so Parisian in there content.

This one is my favorite...so colorful and graphic.

Enjoy these Parisian views and have a great weekend.

{ Images Via :: Paris Daily Photo }

black swan

I'm still working on the final pictures for the Quinceañera invitation I just completed, but in the meantime, I came across these dark, graphic, gorgeous posters via Design Crush for Black Swan, the upcoming Darren Aronofsky film. Enjoy.

Can't wait to see the film.

{ Images Via :: Empire Online }

happy weekend + a french melody

I've been listening to this song for a while now, not knowing who the singer was or what era it was from, but I just love it as it instantly transports me to Paris. Well, yesterday, while perusing one of my favorite blogs, Oh Joy!, I came across two music clips, but I didn't take a listen until today.

As I pressed play on the video to listen to Joy's chosen music I went on with my internet chores and let it go on in the background. As the music started I instantly recognized the melody as one of my favorites songs, and I found it interesting that without asking for it or searching for it, I was transported to one of my favorite cities as if the universe knew I needed a few minutes to escape. I've found a new favorite singer!

I do agree with Joy, 'a little french music DOES make everything better'! Happy Weekend.

{ Video Via :: Oh Joy! }

japanese woodblocks

I gave you a sneak peek last Friday of these great Japanese woodblock prints my Printmaking instructor got her hands on on one of her many thrift store adventures. I just had to take some pictures and share.

I believe most of these range from the late 60's and 70's, but they're as contemporary as can be.

I so visualize these on a notecard.

This is my favorite...I love the texture differentiating each of the elements of the print.

And this is the cutest...like a little baby holding a birdie. Hope you enjoyed!

{ Images Via :: LizzyB Loves }

happy weekend

I leave you for the week with a sneak peek of a great find via my Printmaking class. My instructor, being the thrift store shopper she is, came across some incredible Japanese Woodblock prints on one of her many shopping adventures. You won't believe the beautiful and modern-looking prints she got her hands on...I'll show you more next week.

Have a great weekend.

{ Image Via :: LizzyB Loves }

owl baby shower invitations

As promised, I have for you the Owl Baby Shower invites I designed for my cousin Silvanna.

I took inspiration for the owl illustration from the cute owl stuffed toy she created for the center pieces, which you can see here.

I added a cross-hatch pattern as a background to the body of the owl to add sense of texture to the design.

Each of the Owl Baby Shower invites were cut individually by hand to create the owl shape around the top of the elongated invitation.

These were then glued on to a hot pink backer to act as a frame to the white Eames Paper from Neenah Paper.

The back of the invite showcases the pertinent information, and as a design element, shows the backside of the owl as you would see from behind.

I also created complimenting address labels with the branch motif used on the invitation itself and the diagonal line block as well.

The branch also has a wooden texture to give the design more dimension.

I've always loved the way crisp, cut paper looks and feels...and to imagine all this was cut by hand, I'm surprised it's so straight!

The paper stock and envelope (also from the Neenah Paper Eames Collection) have a great textured pattern which only added to the overall feel and dimension of the textured motifs throughout the invite set.

The complete Owl Baby Shower invitation set consisted of an elongated, double-sided invitation slipped into a #10 policy envelope sealed with a long address label. Bright and colorful!

{ Images Via :: LizzyB Loves }