Blah,Blah,Blahg

RITZY ME....

As you know I am terrible at Google searches, I never-ever find my attended search, but I always seem to find something completely unrelated and utterly fabulous.  This time I found a great blog by event planner Maria Cooke of Ritzy Bee Events, her blog 'Ritzy Bee' is to die!  She gives a ton of details on her mentions, interviews creatives and the blog just is all around goodness.  So imagine my beautiful surprise after emailing Miss Maria and letting her know how much I enjoyed her lovely blog she wrote back and wanted to feature me, me?  OMG!  She mentioned my Envelope Label Wraps which I have been super busy coming up with some new designs:

This was a recent custom project.  I was asked to make a label to complement this Save the Date:

The actual Save the Date in person was much more muted in color and not so ivory but still pretty darn adorable.  I came up with this for my bride-to-be:

 

Now for some learnin'--It's always a thrill when I get a mention, because I so wish I could do this full-time.  I really love the design aspect as much as assisting people realize their vision.  For me it's so much fun.  Being a publicist for so long you would think this would come easy to me, but it is near impossible to PR myself.  My confidence is not the same as when I was promoting other people, I just get all flustered and bent out of shape. I am mentioning this because like myself a lot of you are starting your business and wanting to promote yourself and can't afford the services of a publicist.  The one thing I have to keep in mind (and you too) is that these people you are targeting need to write about good things and if you really, really believe you have a good thing, than you are actually helping editors,bloggers, etc.  I know that when I was designing the wraps I couldn't find anything like them, now there's a slew. So I was hoping to create a niche, or rather fill one and that becomes 'news' because well, it's new. 

If you have specific questions about PR|MARKETING just leave them in the comments and I will try to answer in a future post.  I know there was a request to see how a press kit is laid out and I promise to get around to a fine example sooner than later BUT I think before the press kit I want to make sure that the very basics are covered and understood.  I know it's frustrating and overwhelming but it doesn't have to be.  Now I can't help you on getting up your nerve, but if you figure it out just mosey on by with your two cents...



The Save the Date is by a great little company called Wedding Paper Diva

 

 

BUSY LITTLE B.

I have been so busy with the site, which unofficially 'launched'.  I still have a  lot to do, somehow it feels a lot like moving for some reason, I mean I like the idea of moving but not the actual packing and unpacking, you know what I mean? I started to feel overwhelmed by all the categories and inputting and this and that.  What did I do?  Did I forge ahead and make it through my humungoid to-do list?  Why no, I procrastinated of course!  For whatever reason I started to feel a bout of creativity coming on, I reasoned that it may pass and then what?  I would be stuck with no new ideas and nothing creative to show for it and thus it is legitimate procrastination to not finish what I was doing and hop on over to a completely new project.  This use to happen to me a lot in geometry for some reason my mind would wander and I would want to start the great American novel instead of figuring out isosceles triangles if you catch my drift...So these are my new procrastination inspired ditties.  They're prints as my Fancy keeps dropping hints like, 'the walls are so bare, why don't you make something to put up ?' Fancy, your every wish is my command, now pick up your wet towel off the bed before we have to call 911...

I could have kept going I started on 3 more (trust me when my procrastination kicks in, it kicks in well and good).  I have a whole cheeky concept for the hipster kids' alphabet, like the letter 'I' and underneath it 'irreverent', I mean you have to teach your hipster spawn well, no?  Although I don't think hipsters will be checking me out, I am sort of in the ho-zone (that's the place where your other sock goes to every time you do the laundry). I am neither here nor there.  My style is too shabby to be modern and too modern to be shabby, does that make any sense? Okay, I have to go, I am visiting my dear, little accountant today she doesn't know yet that I have given up my dynasty to pursue a career in paper, I'm not sure how the meeting will go but I don't anticipate I will be getting out of their without at least a little tongue clucking...

A SNEAK PEEK...

I'm sooo lame, I realized that my pre-set posts all showed up yesterday, so I had 3 posts in one day, how horrifying, you might think I don't have a life (I actually do).  I know it may seem like I had a whole lot of free time on my hands yesterday but it's just not true!  I actually have been working overtime trying to get my www.bellabellaco.com site re-launched so I can start some PR outreach and maybe pay my rent doing this little business, wouldn't that be grand???

I found a tremendous (and patient) Canadian web designer to work with me to produce this site.  I have been designing and she has been coding. I have developed an incredible respect for web designers, they earn every penny (at least the good ones!)  A good, reliable and creative web designer is a true find (believe me my last "designers" took my money and ran...) I was so grateful to find Stephanie that I asked her if she would be willing to collaborate with future web projects, to my complete delight she said yes!  So, if you need a site (or know someone who does), let me know, it's not going to be cheap, this woman codes like a dream and that comes with a price tag, but she will be worth every penny and I will add my Bella Bella design 2 cents....:)

So here's a sneak peek of what the new site will look like (I am REALLY excited!):

Here's another looksey...

I'll keep you all posted of the official launch(if I don't run into oncoming traffic first...)....

LOST AND FOUND....

Do you remember when this beauty was featured in Blueprint mags first issue?

I fell madly in love with this idea so chic and simple and perfect for a paper person like myself.  So, I went on the hunt for an envelope to enlarge.  I even bought some from Etsy sellers but they were too, I don't know, generic maybe?  Here's one of them:

I guess this would have been perfect if I had an attachment to Swissvale PA, or an affinity for the 'Union Switch & Signal company, or the date was some important year like the year my parents met and fell in love, but alas nothing but the air mail sticker arose any sort of 'that's it' moment for me and to tell you the truth, the sticker was pushing it, if I had my eyes squinted and crossed it may have worked.  I searched for over a year, I really wanted to do this.  From my 'Parade of homes' tour yesterday you can tell my walls are barren they are in need of something, but I didn't want to put up just anything for the sake of putting something up.  I continued my fruitless search, I mean how hard could it be to get a postmark anywhere that relates to me or someplace I love?  Not one California, New York, Paris, London, Cancun (Hey I was desperate) postmark, no meaningful dates or familiar names.  Then it hit me-- I have to make my own.... 

Last night, I added the 'custom love letter envelope' print to the shop.  I will be able to customize all aspects of the love letter envelope--custom postmark with city of choice, date of choice, choose your senders name, the recipients name. On the sample I made all the numbers in the address and zipcode relate to important dates to me and the postmark reads 'Aug 21' which is Marie's birthday.  Now it really has sentimental value because there's all these secret special dates and names, it was kinda fun.  I just got some more samples of prints from my giclee printer and they turned out so pretty, I just know this envelope print is going to come out really divine, I am looking forward to my first custom order on this to see what my clients will come up with (I have pretty creative clients).  Here's the letter horizontal so you can read it:

And vertical so you can envision what it will look like framed:

NOW PLAYING....

Okay, do you love?  I DO!!!  Is that wrong to love something I made?  I usually hate everything I make but this I am so pleased as pie with!  I have been wanting to do these and add them to the shop, but how would this fit in? I have mentioned my love of vintage gig posters the kind you'd find from the swell proprietors from Hatch Show Print. I just needed to Bella-ize them, so I am making them so that they can be personalized and make anyone a rockstar. 

'The Layfers" , that'll be my new name (if we don't kill each other before then). The gig posters usually have the date and place the band is playing.  This could offer a ton of possibilities for wedding dates, baby births,  anniversaries, etc.  These could be killer Save The Dates (yes, I actually used the term killer)I have so many ideas, I just may burst.  The reason it took me so long is I needed to find someone to print on good paper, textured like an old poster, nothing shiny and new--and FINALLY....  I can print up to 20" x 30" but I think I will keep it to 12" x 18".  I can't wait to show you the rest of the designs, this one is going in the Fancy's 'office' (it's actually a cubby hole, but he doesn't complain, well, at least not about the cubby hole...)

BELLA OFFICINA

I'm pretty excited to be introducing my new collection to The Bella Bella co it's called 'Officina' which means office in Italian and to me just smacks of pretty office.  Doesn't it sound like a girls name?  "Oh, this is my daughter Officina.."  I will be putting it up on the new site  if I ever finish it.  I knew I was slow, but come on already!  If you haven't signed up, please do as I will be building my mailing list and making sure everyone gets treats, because I love treats!

The Officina collection is starting out with professional printed pre-cut labels (they'll come in tins so they won't get crushed in your drawers!), magnets, custom pencils and notebooks.  It'll eventually have desk blotters, file folders, leather stationery envelopes, paperweights and so much more.  I have been thinking about this project since the 1st grade when I knew my future was in office supplies.  I horded pencils in color coordinated rows, maintained stickers in collections that were never to be used, had stacks of envelopes in every shape and size (even though I didn't have much need for them).  I remember being much older with my first business and straightening everything on my desk to perfection, an assistant walked in and asked me what I was doing "Playing office." was my response.  Even as a full fledged grown-up I still love to 'play' office and I figure other people do too especially if you have a home office, you'll need things out and in the open and as clutter free as possible.  I just wanted options that were beautiful, clean and functional, not too much to ask for right?

Here's some great home office love. I do love Nicole of Making It Lovely's office so uniquely her.

I found this office on her blog as well-- girly modern:

Sigh...

NOVEAU- NOVEAU FOR THE BELL BELLA CO.

I am completely vibing on the yellow, I have been for a little while now, I even considered making it the Bella Bella co. colour.  You know. damn Hermes has the beautiful orange
and Tiffany has the gorgeous blue
and I want a colour for Bella!  I am thinking yellow, but would I get tired?  Is it not classic enough?  It's happy, I'm happy (well most of the time), do people like yellow or is it a momentary hipster favorite?  I haven't decided, I can tell you this though it's hard to find stock yellow anything.  Maybe I'll give up on the yellow, unless there's any ideas out there or feedback?  Maybe people will start coveting yellow boxes like they do the Hermes?  People will light up with joy when they see a yellow box under their nose, diamonds?  Why no paper!  LOL!  Just as good as diamonds right? Being alone with my brain too long is dangerous...

OOH LA LA...

    I usually try not to get too antique-esqe with my designs, but I recently found a a few resources, a virtual treasure trove of French antique ephemera that I fell madly in love with.  The images are stunning and some quite amuse me (I am hoping they'll amuse my clients as well).  I have almost a complete (okay, I am exaggerating) early 19th century French dictionary that will be working it's way into the Bella Bella co. ephemera collection. it's all so very exciting. 
    I am showing a couple sneak peeks here even before I put up anything in the Etsy shoppe . I do want to have a little bit of a theme going not just a hodge podge.  Don't worry I haven't gotten all grandma on you guys, there will be plenty of modern additions as well and once the site is complete it will be easy to find what you are looking for.
    Oh yes, another new development is the FSC certified paper I will be using for the new cards--recycled, chlorine-free, eco- friendly like you can't believe!   I have been going hog wild testing out new papers to find the best fit for Bella Bella AND I am trying out a new fold, these will open like a wallet I don't know if there's a proper name, but I am dubbing it the billfold. I can't wait for everyone to see the new site, I have added a billion new categories- D.I.Y. Invite kits, Letterpress (by a master letterpress artiste), custom pencils, paperweights, journals, labels, bookplates and supplies for all the 'Craftista's' out there.  My fiancee, whom my girlfriends have dubbed 'Larry' since he is soooo like Larry David said "I don't understand what the heck a craft whatever is?"  Well, it's the new generation of creative crafter that's not relegated to gluing macaroni on things, this is for the creative whom likes to craft in style a fashionista + crafter=Craftista!

MERCI!

Ah, I just finished another set of cards.  I tell you learning when you are older has its obstacles, I mean I am nearing half a century and just now learning how to use my compooper.  Being older helps that I have a tad bit more patience and definitely perseverance but some things just take a lot longer to 'click' in my  brain.  I shall not give up though.  After hours of working and re-working I am now happy to show you one of my new designs.  She's so sweet, if you love her as much as I do, you can get your very own  trio  of thank you cards here.