You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘holiday party’ category.
In September, I was honoured to design a special “Bat Mitzvah Invitation Suite” for Miss Audrey Cole, a dear friend of my daughter, Kate.
Audrey’s parents shared a family photoshoot from 11 years ago, and with that I began to build a custom book invitation. On the spread below I featured a very sentimental letter written by her parents, paired with a touching portrait converted to black and white.
Inside the book, I included bible verses and more gorgeous monochromatic childhood images.
To accent, I designed a custom logo for Audrey which anchored the invitation book and was also used throughout the event, on t-shirts and other give-aways.
A portrait session with Robyn Graham, Photographer, provided the current image below which was placed opposite the formal invitation to the event.
Celebrating with good friends is absolutely the best way to celebrate. Audrey with Kate at the Waterwheel, Doylestown, PA.
Auxiliary pieces with the full Invitation Suite.
Contact Heirloom to create something special to memorialize your next life or business event.
Memories matter.
I was recently asked to become a founding member and designer for an elite group of specialists, the Bucks County Event Specialists. We are all award-winning Bucks County Artisans, creating together and inspiring each other, to elevate upcoming special events. So whatever your event, holiday party, birthday, anniversary brunch, wedding, backyard picnic…let us help you elevate. Follow us on facebook.
*Design
*Illustration
*Invitations
*Calligraphy
*Photography
*Printing
*Florals
*Favors
*Make-up
*Music
*Culinary
It feels good to win. Recently Heirloom held a facebook contest and Katie Hopkins Kessell of Bucks County won our GRAND PRIZE DESIGN: her very own LOGO!
Several designs were submitted and this is the one she chose. It’s nice to have your own piece of graphic art to use whenever you want, on whatever you want. Here are some great uses:
Gobo lights for a party or event
Gigantic wall art for a kids room
Box design for homemade holiday sweets
Fabulous family t-shirts for a vacation or reunion
Rubber stamps for classy mail
Trendy designed cake topper for an anniversary or birthday
Cocktail napkins for funky backyard events
Wine or beer bottle labels
Thank you cards for everyone
Custom designed hair ribbons
Fabric or wallpaper design
Designer luggage tags
Personal gift tags
Personal logos $100, Corporate logo design by appointment
It’s Easter, my favorite week of the year. As I watch the birds outside my studio perch on limbs with brand new buds, I anxiously prepare for our Annual Vintage Easter Brunch. Each year I try some new ideas, simple cakes, lavender cookies, and a little luxurious outdoor table art. We live in the Northeast, so we can’t always rely on the weather to cooperate, but we try our best to set a few pretty tables outside, just in case we get lucky!
I am obsessed, by the way, with this artform, so I studied the internet for some great examples for you. You can also see them on my new pinterest board which will be continuously updated, Outdoor Tables.
Here are some simple ideas that do NOT need to be reserved for weddings and big events. Try some of these the next time your best friend is coming over for lemonade, or when your kids invite a few friends for backyard soccer. Lovely ideas when the neighbors stop by with a new bottle of wine. And remember, don’t buy anything, instead use vintage tablecloths from your grandmother, buckets from your shed, pretty vintage glasses from a consignment shop, and any pretty plates you pick up! Place your table in an unexpected spot and enjoy.
Take note of the bucket of flowers off to the side and the mix matched chairs –
all colorful and perfectly positioned in this lovely orange grove above.
I think this table is stunning. Fun bird houses dangling from trees.
You can use a giant curtain and just throw it over any old table.
I just love lime, so this image above spoke to me.
I could not take my eyes off this table and natural lattice. Dangle a little chandelier, and you are all set.
This is colorful and fun. Just hang some paper butterflies or birds above your table of cakes.
Every afternoon should look like this.
My favorite place.
Above I love the big benches and the huge vase of water and greens.
Simple and easy. Enjoy Easter and Passover, a little bit outside if you can!
– Award-winning, CUSTOM DESIGNED STORY INVITATIONS for EVERY EVENT –
Happy New Year. After that cold spell a few days ago, aren’t we all ready for a little snow shower? If it’s going to freeze, I think we should shiver in a blanket of white. There is something very pretty about a simple snowflake. Here is the story of how one transformed a July wedding. Yes, you heard me, July.
Several years ago, my sister and brother-in-law came to me searching for the perfect wedding story to enhance their invitations. After a few conversations we settled on a sweet and simple story they told me about their engagement. The entire suite consisted of several 4″x 4″ stacked square cards tucked into a hand-sewn cream fabric pocket and placed into a decorative square envelope.
Quickly we had the story, then the words developed, but we still needed the ART. We decided to commission a dear friend of the bride. This subtle cream snowflake illustration was painted with watercolors and then used as the central focus throughout the wedding. Taking advantage of the talents of a friend or family member to create your artwork, saves on costs and adds that “something sentimental” to your day.
Small response cards, doubling as escort cards, were die-cut into circles and hung on a tree of brown branches to look like snow. Guests removed them to find their table.
Little square Thank You Cards were included in the stationary suite. They were printed at the same time to save money, but sent after the affair. If you or someone you know is planning a winter event (or even one in July), Take a look a this blog by the Offbeat Bride – Alter your thinking. I hope it alters your plans.
Thank you to my dear loyal readers. Contact Kim at Heirloom to design your next event whether large or just a simple snowflake of an idea.
Each year around this time I find myself becoming impatient with ever frantic TV ads and the crazy “gift-giving scramble”. Each season Mike and I try to buy a few gifts for our own three children in November and then try to rest, enjoy and create homemade treats for everyone else on our list during December. We tried to pass that value along to our children this year. They are creating home-sewn pillows, crocheted bracelets and model cars for one side of cousins and have opted for a day of lunch, music, play and laughter with their other set of cousins. Stress levels are down, but anticipation for a fun time is up.
Here is a gift idea we like to use around the Bensing house often. When another kid birthday or holiday sneaks up on you and you have limited gift shopping time and/or you just don’t know what to buy, try this: Create a “Friendship or Cousin Coupon®”, like we often do. This coupon is good for one arranged activity of the recipient’s choice. It’s a great alternative to more STUFF, commercialism and wasteful shopping. In the case of a birthday gift, your child actually gets to plan the activity, and interact one-on-one with their special friend. Tie a balloon or flower to one of your own “Friendship Coupons®” next time you just don’t feel like another trip to the mall, or call or email Kim at Heirloom. Many designs in stock. Complete customization free of charge. Sent to your computer within 24 hours. $5 each. Give one for the holidays, it will help you remember why we celebrate in the first place.
Heirloom
– Award-winning, CUSTOM DESIGNED STORY INVITATIONS for EVERY EVENT –
Some of you may remember a post last January called Dripping Snowflakes, referring to the design above. This Renewal of Vows / Holiday Party Invitation, shows innovation by my client Heidi to creatively multi-purpose the popular Holiday Gathering. She and her husband combined two parties into one, and were remarried in front of their family and friends, inside their warm Bucks County home.
Heidi tutors German, and she and her husband also raise bees. It’s their fun backyard hobby, and as a result they produce delicious local honey. I tasted this honey upon receiving a sample, after completing the design above. It was fabulous. I am now a regular customer and have successfully turned a client upside down. I purchase these gorgeous vintage bottles as teacher gifts, for myself and for friends upon request. I sometimes recycle for more honey, and other times use them for flowers or rooting herbs. Buy local, eat honey and read Heidi’s blog: Notes from the Meadow.
Contact Heidi Shiver for some Holiday Honey: shiverjh2002@yahoo.com ( $4.00 for 8 oz bottles and $8.00 for 1 lb jars )
Creating Heirlooms 
