Bring on 2010

I am so excited for the start of a New Year! New Year = new ventures, new possibilities, new goals, new successes, and everything in between. 2009 was a great year! It saw me officially launch The Paper Couturière, to raving success, it saw me leave one life milestone and dive head first into another, and it saw me work; work; work, and work more, on what I love the most: Paper.

2010 is sure to be all that, and so much more! I will make every effort to update this blog on a more regular basis, and ensure that the content is such that it inspires, motivates, gives ideas, teaches, and, of course, gives more of the inside scoop of what is The Paper Couturière.

I have so many ideas and so many goals that I want to achieve and I can't wait for 1 January!! As many of you know, I launched a range of luxurious note cards in every attempt to scale down the use of email correspondance and bring personal, handwritten thank you's to the forefront. I have every intention on expanding that range, and bringing it into the spotlight as notecards are a beautiful gift and a wonderful way to let someone know that you are thinking about them. Keep your eyes peeled for new additions and new updates to my already fabu range.

What I am looking forward to most in 2010, is YOUR feedback. I want to give you what you want to see, what you want to read. I toil at this computer for hours a day, everyday. I want to ensure that what I am looking at and what I am adding to this blog, is what YOU are interested in. So please, feel free to let me know what it is you are after and I will do my best to give it to you.

Until then, have a safe and Happy New Year and I hope that it is everything YOU want it to be!

xoxoxox Autumn

IZZY Magazine {San Francisco}

I am so excited! I got a wonderful message from Melissa Bagley, the creative force extraordinaire, behind IZZY Magazine. IZZY Magazine is a wedding e-zine, based out of San Francisco. It's not your everyday wedding magazine..it's new, fresh, funky, and specializes in oh so different planning. I love it! And I can't wait until the first issue goes live!

Oh yeah, the message from Melissa...did I say that she is the creative force behind this wonderful magazine? Well, we have plans on meeting the next time I'm in San Francisco visiting the family, but until then, she has asked to feature me {The Paper Couturière} in the upcoming issue! YAY! Since I won't be in SF for a while yet, I'll complete the interview via email..and, away I go for some newest designs..I'm going to create a few and let the fine fellows of Australia Post fly them away to the Good Ol US of A, straight to the hands of this girl genius so she can see first hand the fine work of art that is The Paper Couturière. {I am allowed to toot my own horn right?}

Watch this space...details of the interview will make there way here eventually. :)

The newest venture

A couple of months ago, I was asked by the owner of a PR company in Sydney to create items for the gift bags for the Tonia Todman/Blumin roses launch. Never passing up on opportunities to get the word out about The Paper Couturière, I graciously {and quickly} accepted. So, away to work I went. This post actually isn't about the launch..it's about a wonderful business endeavour that was started on Launch day.

It was at the launch when I met Kristina, the owner of Urban Fresh Floral and Paper Boutique. She gave me some background history of her boutique and I gave her some history of The Paper Couturière. She invited me to come into the shop to have a meeting about carrying my range of invitations and stationery in her boutique. {What's that about opportunity that I can't pass up?} Long story short, I have spent the last several weeks glued to the computer {quite literally}, suffering from mind blanks and paper cuts, all to come up with 21 spectacular designs which are now featured in the boutique. And I couldn't be happier.

Her shop is absolutely adorable! Located in Eltham, you walk in and it's like you are walking into a quaint paper boutique, that happens to sell some of Australia's finest floral creations...many flowers I've never seen in other Melbourne florists. I am quite happy to have designed a special line of invitations just for the boutique, as the "vibe" of the shop is just the "vibe" I like to put out with my invitations..cozy, unique, stunning, comforting, and simply, the best.

Beachy Turquoise

Of course, featuring one of my newest designs, this inspiration board focuses on the beach..the salty summer air, the bright turquoise waters, the white sand, and the freshness of new love!

Acorn & Cranberry Inspiration Board

Style Me Pretty

Have you seen the inspiration boards on Style Me Pretty that I've created? They are a sampling of the themes that inspire me, the colours that motivate me, and the weddings that make me swoon..
http://circle.stylemepretty.com/papercouturiere/

I've been busy busy busy lately..since my last post, I've been designing away! I have been asked to provide a range of invitations and stationery for Urban Fresh Floral and Paper Boutique {Eltham Victoria}, and as such, I've been glued to the studio...quite literally, glued! I'm so happy with the creations that have flowed from my frazzled mind and my ink stained and paper cut fingers. It's all such a labour of love and I can't think of anything on this earth that I would rather do more!

Tools of the trade

The husband...a very important tool of the trade. The husband is always very effective in completing the tasks that are mundane and/or too difficult, or just not fun. i.e. measuring paper to cut. Not fun. So, I use the all important husband tool to use his proficient skills in Math, to measure the paper so I can turn it into something pretty...hence, fun.
Blank pieces of white cardstock...for a project that is yet to be completed, and images yet to be posted. {Photo's will come soon.}

The pencil, eraser, bone folder, ruler, exacto knife and self-healing cutting mat. Essentials.

Artsy fartsy "paints", stamp, ink pad, & glitter glue that will be used in my current project.

These tools of my trade will make more sense and be more understandable when I complete my current project and post the photos. It's tons of hard work...constant, back breaking, tedious, hard work..but it's so worth it. I ♥ my trade.

Melbourne Exhibition Building

Is it a coincidence that we were at the Melbourne Craft Expo and Rodney is wearing a T-shirt that says, "I see dumb people". Thanks sweetie.

Loving the interior of the Exhibition building...second only to the awesome array of crafty craft craftsmen.

Just a few interior shots of the Melbourne Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Craft Expo that was taking place inside. What a great day!

An Ode to Tiffany & Co.

Anyone who really knows me, knows the undying affinity I have for Tiffany & Co. It's simple; classic; elegant, and timeless. From the movie, Breakfast at Tiffany, to the little blue boxes perfectly tied with snow white ribbon, to the classic scene of Audrey Hepburn in her LBD famously wearing the dark black sunglasses...I love it all. So, this is my ode to one of my favourite things and places...Tiffany & Co.

Credits: West Park Photography, Carla Ten Eyck (2), Our Labor of Love, Mark Brooke, Elizabeth Messina, Amanda Kraft Photography

More vintage inspired heart palpitations

Here are few more reasons for why I love Vintage so much..I love this art! I just want to print them out onto labels or stickers and put them everywhere. Again..thank you so much to www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com. Magnificent!

A whole lotta Vintage ♥

Okay, I'm just going to be honest here for a minute. I am absolutely, utterly, and positively in love with anything and everything vintage. I have been dying to find some nice vintage art that I can use for my invitations and stationery.

I was sitting at my computer today, begging the heavens for a little bit of inspiration...clicking away at the keyboard trying to find something, anything, that was going to get my creative juices flowing. Then, the clouds parted, the angel Gabriel started playing his harp, and there it was, a fancy little blog that specializes in, you guessed it, * VINTAGE GRAPHICS *. JOY! I couldn't be happier and these little gems are the reason why I love vintage.

Thank you so so so much to www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com and www.thevintagemoth.blogspot.com for allowing use of these beautiful images. There are many many more where these came from, and I'm in ♥ with them all.

Ebony & Ivory

Credits: Karen Wise Photography, Docuvitae, Lisa Franchot, Heather Kincaid, Zoeica Images.com, A Bryan Photography, Jose Villa

I love "Hue"

Credits: Studio Foto, West Park Photography, Suthi Picotte, La Vie Photography, Millie Holloman, Cheri Pearl

Rustic Romance- Inspiration board 2

Credits: Millie Holloman (2), Penny Silvia (2), Sara Remington (4), Love Life Images, Meg Baisden Photography, Karen Wise Photography, Suthi Picotte

My 1st Inspiration Board- Shabby Chic Wedding

Credits: Sara Remington (2), Suthi Picotte, Corbin Gurkin (3), Dollface Studio, Sara Remington, Zoeica Images.com

My 1st Inspiration Board- Shabby Chic Wedding

Credits: Sara Remington (2), Suthi Picotte, Corbin Gurkin (3), Dollface Studio, Sara Remington, Zoeica Images.com

Interior Design = Wedding Inspiration

Interior Design = Wedding Inspiration

I absolutely love the look of simplistic elegance. This blog post from ABCDDesigns beautifully expresses what my definition of simplistic elegance is...from weddings to interior design, it's just simply très magnifique!

Posted by ABCDragoo ABCD Design

DIYweddings Twitter Group

DIYweddings Twitter Group

Drum Roll Please......

The new home of my pretty patterned chair..underneath the DIY project of a few weeks ago.

The new home of my pretty new striped chair.

Nice silvery chair leg bottoms...after a bit of sanding with Glass Sandpaper

Ahhh...what a cute couple they make!

So I know you are dying to know what the verdict is:

• Chairs- originally $30 for the both of them..the guy at the market told me in his gruff Eastern European accent, after he saw Rodney spying them.." I give you both $5!" Uh, excuse me? Are you serious? "Yes, $5 for both". SOLD! From $30 to $5..not bad.
• Fabric-thank you Ikea. $15 for enough fabric for both chairs
• Paint-Nippon + Bunnings = approx $8 worth used
• Trimming-$8 at Spotlight

GRAND TOTAL FOR BOTH CHAIRS: $36!!

What's that you say? I'm awesome? Oh yes, thank you! Not bad for a couple unique chairs that you won't be able to find in any shop...plus, it allowed my wonderful husband and I some quality time!

So now it's up to you to try and beat that...2 DIY chairs for under $50. Consider Operation Tush Re-Cush a success!

Operation Tush Re-Cush *UPDATE*

Rodney hard at work pulling apart 35 year old glue..God bless him!

Is the bottom of the chair legs "gold-esque"? Or are they just old; stained "silver-esque"?

Oh what a state these brownish/greenish vinyl covers are in..I'm sure at one point or another members from the Brady and/or Partridge families sat in these chairs.

So you all will remember that approximately 2 weeks ago, I started "Operation Tush Re-Cush". The ultimate goal was to pluck these chairs from their death row sentence and to bring them back to life...all on a meager budget of $50 or less. {That's AUD$50, NOT US$50..which means I have alot less to work with...} "Imposible!" {spoken w/ a French accent} you say...to which I respond "Non, n'est pas imposible!" I have managed to win the battle of Operation Tush Re-cush for a mere....

Lisa Williams

Last night, a friend of mine and I, went to see Lisa Williams at the Arts Centre. It was the Melbourne stop of her world tour: Messages From the Other Side. 1 word: PHENOMENAL! It was excellent.

I've always had a belief in mediumship; clairavoyance; and communication with "the other side". My mom tells me that when I was younger I would see things; smell things; and hear things, that other people couldn't. She often tells me about how I would sit by myself and talk to "someone" sitting next to me...someone that she couldn't see. That has carried over to my adult life and oftentimes I can sense that those that I've loved and lost, are only just right there next to me.

So, seeing Lisa Williams last night, was 1) right up my alley, but also 2) was a reminder to me that the life that we live right now, today; tomorrow; and the day after tomorrow, is not the only "life" that exists. I want to go out and explore it; learn more about it; and really focus on fine tuning the skills that might already exist in me. I have my crystals and pendulums for a reason. So I'm determined to read the books, that have been collecting dust on my shelf; practice; and, see what happens. If it all goes well, then I'll be able to communicate. Watch this space...

Downtown Chic

When I grow up, I want the living and dining areas of my house to look just like this! Oh, and I want it to be in either the SOMA or Nob Hill areas of San Francisco..{or Cole Valley, or Presidio, or Marin, or Upper Haight, or Lower Haight..etc, you get the picture} okay?

Photo by Luc Roymans Book Review — Downtown Chic: Designing Your Dream Home: From Wreck to Ravishing by Leslie Judson in Design Inspiration HGTV.com

A Summer Wedding

Yes, I know, it's going into fall in America, but here in Australia, we are pushing into what promises to be another sweltering summer! So shouldn't our hot Australian sun reflect in the brilliance that is these hot; vibrant; summer colours?

{Just make sure if you're in Australia and you're planning a summer wedding..to maybe put the dining table *indoors*.}

Thanks again to Abbey Larson & Style Me Pretty for these photos. You can view the full post here, www.stylemepretty.com

A Vintage Inspired Wedding

I love how this couple used old antique items to convey their personality..from the old family photos displayed on the antique trunk..to the turquoise car and genuine typewriter! Each antique item played a bit part in the overall story of this couple's beautiful day.

Splendid! I love this wedding. Thank you to Abby Larson "Style Me Pretty" for these photos. Please visit their website for the full post and the rest of the pictures. www.stylemepretty.com