I Heart Hello Handmade

I normally don't do individual vendor reviews like this, but since I'm taking a bit of a breather from my regular posts, and since I absolutely love Hello Handmade, I figured why not share this with you. Hello Handmade is the result of collaboration between two incredibly talented people - calligrapher Betsy Dunlap and illustrator Shanna Murray. Together they create such wonderful, whimsical pieces, and they're just in time for the holidays!




Christmas prints inspired by old specimen charts - six types of pine and fur trees printed in white ink on kraft paper.




I love this shot with the black-and-white photo of Shanna's grandparents...


This is probably one of my favorite gift ideas - totally unexpected and special. It's a 2010 calendar, but it's also a tea towel, so even after the year is over, it can be used in the kitchen. Maybe a nice little accent to a kitchen-themed wedding gift? Betsy and Shanna will be adding some download-able items to their Etsy shop at the end of the month too - can't wait to see them!

Sponsored Post: Whirlingturban Vintage Dresses

Finding the perfect wedding dress can be quite an ordeal, and trying to find the perfect vintage wedding dress is even more of a challenge. Unless, of course, you've gone straight to Whirlingturban. Well-known among vintage collectors as makers of some of the best vintage reproduction dresses out there, Whirlingturban has recently launched a Wedding Boutique, simplifying the search for the perfect vintage wedding dress. Here are a few of my favorite designs, including examples from real brides...



Whirlingturban's Wing Bust dress combines the romance and tradition of a white dress with the whimsy of color - just a touch at the bustline (you can supply your own fabric for the contrast color to make sure it's exactly what you want).





While Whirlingturban continues to create completely customized and custom-fit dresses, the prices in the newly launched ready-to-wear wedding boutique are incredibly reasonable, ranging from only $400 to $900! Even if you've never thought of yourself as a vintage bride, you might just change your mind when you see the wide range of styles that Whirlingturban has to offer.

Sunday Edition #59

by Allyson Magda Photography

Sponsored Post: Minted.com Design Contest

If you don't know about the amazing resource that is Minted.com, then you don't know what you're missing. Not only do they have an incredible variety of some of the best wedding stationery around, from some of my very favorite designers, but they also run some really fun contests from time to time - and this time they asked me to be a guest judge! Out of more than 300 submissions, I've chosen 7 of my favorites to share with you here.


Augusta by Beth Perry Design


Lovenest by Kelly Robinson Harris


The Farmer's Daughter by Oscar + Emma


Say Something by Hoodoos & Pancakes


Sunkissed by Sarah Lenger


Leaves and Flowers by Alison K.


Eternity by Milkmaid Press

So which ones are your favorites? Let the designers and Minted.com know which ones you love best by voting. Your favorite might even be available for purchase, because the top designs will be sold on Minted.com! Go vote here. Oh, and if you vote for 50 or more designs, you'll receive 10% off a wedding related item on Minted.com. Just vote and then email designers[at]minted.com with the email address they used.

Happy Weekend!

In addition to stepping back a bit from my own blogging, I've actually held off reading other blogs for a little while, so I don't have as many wonderful links to share with you this week as I usually do. But some of these are such charming things I've had bookmarked for awhile, so even if you've already seen them, they're good for a smile....


{by Mandy Lynne}

Mmmmm... pastries.... Paris....

Musical birds on a wire.

If only treadmills were actually this much fun.

Touching strangers.

Guerrilla wedding in the Met. This might just be the way to go.

I heart Richard Avedon - if you can get to this exhibit before it closes, you won't regret it.

Well lovelies, that's all the links for this week. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have! And a big thank you once again for all of your support and kind words - my heart is filled to overflowing to know that there is a community here that, though I might not be able to see it, is certainly palpable and real. Have a happy happy weekend!

Thank You All!

Dear sweet readers,

I am absolutely blown away by all of your words of encouragement and understanding. I'm not sure what I expected to happen when I decided to write that post, but finding this amazing well of support was such a happy surprise and blessing. Thank you so so much to all of you, from the bottom of my heart.

Much love,
Kathryn

Hello Again!

Hi lovelies! I'm back from my retreat, and I can't even begin to tell you how amazing it was to have an entire week without any internet or cell phones. I highly recommend it to everyone.

In addition to just saying, "Hi, I'm back!" I also wanted to check in with all of you. The personal voice of this blog seems to have gone missing in the past several months, and now that I've had some time away, I feel like I'm in a good place to do some sharing about what has been going on over on this side of Snippet & Ink. Though I've debated whether or not to "go there" on this blog, I've found that keeping things open and honest is always a better option than closing things off, so here we go.


{by Kari Herer}

For some time now, I have been struggling with depression, and only in the last couple of months have I started to actively address it. My honey and I have decided to put wedding plans on hold for the time being, while I make this a priority. Things with us are good, and I'm still wearing my engagement ring - it's just going to be a longer engagement than we had originally planned.

Another part of my life that has been affected is this blog. Growing pains are a natural part of the readership growth and changing blog world that Snippet & Ink has seen in the last two years, and whenever a creative hobby becomes a business, the dynamics of it change. But more than that, so much of the joy I took in blogging went away, my creativity has felt sapped, and I've lost focus on what I love about this blog.

All of this is to say that, while things here on Snippet & Ink may be a bit bumpy for awhile, there are some great things and exciting changes in store in the next year. I am working on re-focusing and bringing back the joy and creativity that make this blog such a fun place for me - and I hope for you. I can't even begin to express my gratitude for the incredible readers that I have, the wonderful comments that you leave, and the kind words that you send in emails. My hope is that, through it all, Snippet & Ink continues to be a source of daily inspiration for you.

Sunday Edition #58

by Jules