The Mane Event

Sometimes you can't find a pattern that is the perfect fit.

So you just have to create a pattern from scratch.

These save-the-dates for EquiCenter's "Barn Raising" event to benefit their therapeutic equestrian program needed an extra special touch.

This custom-pattern mixed with browns, oranges and yellows, has set the tone for a fabulous fall event, and brought Bella Carta Studio's custom-designed invitations to a new level. The sky's the limit...and we like it.


EquiCenter, Inc. offers a number of therapeutic riding, hippo therapy, vaulting and horsemanship (equine facilitated mental health) sessions. Horseback riding is a progressive form of therapy for individuals with mental and/or physical challenges. The physical activities involved in horseback riding prove to be an effective tool for improving muscle stimulation, strength, coordination, flexibility, posture and balance.

-KR

Invitations DO set the tone!

Oh come on, Lisa...

Hello everyone, it's Carrie. I know I haven't checked in for a while. Lisa will tell you I am a Luddite (look it up!) and thus afraid of the computer.

But today, here I am at home, surfing the web for party supplies. "Why?" you ask — because the Save the Dates that are featured below are for my parents, Barbara and Bob. Yes, it's been 50 years and we are having a big picnic/barbeque at a local park.

Lisa will also tell you that I GET IT. Invitations set the tone. I started thinking about these soon after starting at Bella Carta Studio, because I saw the potential of the paper (and the ribbon and the color envelopes and the fonts...!)

Part of being a Luddite is that I am terribly old fashioned about such things as BIG family events. I knew we were having a picnic, BUT it is a 50th anniversary, so how do you convey casual yet formal? This is a big event, but there will be barbeque sauce EVERYWHERE!

I think the Save the Date starts the general VIBE, if you will. The formality of gorgeous red textured card stock of the Envelopfold® contrasted with the fun red picnic cloth background pattern. The formal script contrasted with a great sans serif in the panel.

I GET IT! Wait until you see the invitations — like the Save the Dates, people are gonna PLOTZ!

Lisa was taking pictures of the invitations as I was out the door yesterday. Perhaps they are up NOW on the new bellacartastudio.com. CHECK IT OUT!

I'll tell you how it goes.
-carrie

50th Anniversary...picnic style!

Just a quick post tonight to show you some fun Save the Dates for an upcoming 50th Anniversary party. We're producing the invitations this week so these are a couple months old, but I just posted them to the website and am newly enamored with them!

They're a treat compared to most formal 50th Anniversary parties. Inspired by the red and white checkered tablecloths that will be used at the big event, we created a fun and funky Envelopfold(r) Save the Date with an iconic 50th graphic that will also be used on the stamps for the invitation!

Enjoy!!

As a nod to tradition, we just added a TOUCH of gold (for the golden anniversary!) with an intermediate metallic gold layer...fun!

Trends for spring 2009

Hey Everybody!

Anyone that knows me well knows that I am an ardent follower of fashion. I've always tried to maintain an aura of "stylishness" and after living in NYC for a number of years, I can talk the talk. I get all the magazines, try to keep up with the shows, and though no longer living in a hotbed of fashion, I do my best to look COOL while walking to work and making the lovely things I do here at Bella Carta Studio.

I am prompted to blog about fashion and more specifically trends by Lisa's suggestion that I discuss what we see going out of our workroom as we start on spring 2009 SAVE THE DATES.

One trend that I have noticed being brought up again and again is one of geometric simplicity. I actually saw it first in a Save the Date we did early LAST spring for a VERY modern bride. She specified cool and elegant, loving the look of light aqua and steel rules running sleekly along one long edge of the announcement.

This idea of simple design in the form of stripes was suggested by another one of our brides who came in wanting Save the Dates that reflected something "preppy." She loved those great colors: rich navy blue, chartruse green and brilliant magenta - they all contrast but somehow play together so nicely. Lisa was inspired to show her those colors in a fun nautical stripe pattern that wraps around the panel and is tied on with double faced satin magenta ribbon. And a few of those color rules horizontally frame the announcement.

Color trends are constantly changing and evolving. From the jewel tones that we used so frequently this fall, we are seeing a shift to brights and primaries, particularly that navy. Another Save the Date for a June wedding had both a vibrant green backing card and was mailed in a navy side flap envelope, white labeling band ready for green addressing and featuring a brilliant blue flower from the card

All these bright colors and a simple approach to design are sure to affect what we do as we ramp up for our holiday season of announcements, invitations and of course, greetings - both family and corporate. Lisa was walking around with something TOTALLY CYAN the other day...

More on holiday soon,
Carrie