2011:: Bring it.

2010 has brought so.much to my life that I can't even begin to go into it all...from extreme lows to extreme highs and everything in between.  Not 1 moment of regret through any of it.  It's 31 December 2010 and all I can say is "2011? Bring it." Bring the highs. Bring the lows. Bring the in-between's and the out-of-balances. I'm on it. All of it.

2011 will bring many changes to me personally and professionally.  I'm working on a new website and a complete business restructure, which has lead me to design a completely new collection and even design lots of extra's...all of which you'll see when I have my big relaunch.  I know I've been promising things would be finished by the New Year, but, I'm a perfectionist and I'd rather wait 4 or 5 months and know that it's perfect, than launch it too soon and it's "meh". So, you'll have to wait a bit longer.  As we're, literally, living in the middle of the great and vast, Australian Outback, I will no longer be offering fully custom design services.  I won't be able to meet clients seeing as how I live 2 1/2 hours from the nearest "city".  But, hopefully what I've designed will more than make up for it.  But, more on that later.

In the meantime, have a wonderfully joyous and SAFE New Year's Eve.  Have a prosperous New Year and 2011 and my sincerest wish for you all is love, happiness, joy and all the success you could imagine.

Thank you for your continued support, love, encouragement, motivation & inspiration.  I'll see you on the flip side.

xx
Autumn

750

So, I've been sittin on 560'ish likers on Facebook, for the past 63 years. Or, so it seems.  I'm trying to get to 1000, just to see what it feels like. Will you help me get there?

I've learned during my years as a business owner that the most rewarding accomplishments come with the smallest of baby steps.  Which is why I'm not shooting for 1000.  I'm shooting for750.

Will you help me get there?

Once I get to 750, I'll randomly pick a "liker" and give you a personalised notecard set with matching envelopes.

Once I get to 1000? Well, I just can't say right now because it's too awesome.

So, without further ado, can you please hit the "recommend to friends" button?

You'll be my best friend and I'll love you forever. :)

xx
Autumn

The Handwritten Brigade:: Part Deux

I have had so darn much overwhelming support for this little 3 person club that I started the other day.  It's amazing how quickly the word has spread and now our little 3 person club has turned into a mighty handwriting army that spans 4 continents & countless states/regions in each of those continents.  Oh wait. Let me just repeat that because I can't comprehend it just once::

FOUR.GOSH.DARN.CONTINENTS!!

I've only just completed the 1st sample design that I decided to create especially for this handwritten revolution we've started, and everytime I turn around, someone else is contacting me wanting to join. How awesome is that?! How awesome are YOU?!  So I ask you to please continue spreading the word to your friends; family; pets; neighbours and neighbours great Aunt twice removed.  And for each one of you that is going to write a letter and then pay it forward, I ask you to PLEASE email me your name, a little about yourself, and how many people you've told to write a letter & pay it forward.  For the people that you've asked to participate, please pass my email address on to them & ask them to email me with the same information.  I promise you, as sure as I'm typing this, your information will not be given to anyone else, advertised or displayed in any way.  I just want to keep a running list of how many people are participating so I can occasionally post numbers, and also give each of you a badge for your blog and/or website.

Based on the response and the feedback that I've received so far, it's so easy to see that people crave real social contact and meaningful communication.  I am so thankful with how far this project has come and I would be so happy with the results, even if it had to end today.  But knowing it doesn't end today, I'm so excited to see just how far it can go.  With your help, it's limitless and knows no boundaries.

Don't forget to check back to the blog from time to time because I'll occasionally do a short progress post, and again, thank you so much everyone for your support and unending encouragement with this project.

Autumn
xx

Like so many others, my heart is broken.

My heart, soul, prayers, thoughts, and love are with the family and friends of each of the miners in NZ.

Revolution: Handwriting Style

So tonight I was on Twitter, like I am every other moment of every other day, and I started "talking" to a lovely girl, Kismet, from The Unreal Bride.  We were chit chatting about packages and how great it is when we receive one.  Then, she opened up a can of worms when she said something to the effect of "I'd be happy with a letter."  And so it began....

We discussed this whole letter writing thing and I decided that I'd send her a letter. Why not?  I don't really know her.  Only started tweeting with her tonight, but what the heck?  Everyone appreciates a beautiful letter.  We decided, along with my dear friend Steph {@stephbubble}, that we're going to start a handwriting revolution.  I've aptly named the 3 of us, The Handwritten Brigade.  In an age of social media, emails, and texts, a handwritten letter is beautiful, special, and can be treasured well after the letter's arrived.

So, tomorrow I will design some special, beautiful stationery and I'm going to write a heartfelt letter to 2 girls in 2 different countries, and hope that it makes them smile. But along with that letter, I'm going to send them each a blank card.  And I'm going to ask each of them to pay it forward by handwriting a note, in that blank card, and sending it off to someone else with another blank card for that person to write their own note.  And on and on I hope it goes.

My challenge to you is that you do the same.  It only takes 5 minutes to write a note to someone you care about, even just to let them know you're thinking about them.  And when you do this, I encourage you to pay it forward.  Can we do this?

Let me know if you want to be a part of the Handwritten Brigade.

Let's do this.

Stumbling

What is this?  This is my stumbling block. In terms of it's overwhelming size, the camera does it no justice. It might as well be the size of Alaska.

This is how I've been feeling the last couple of days. Like 1 big ginormous stumbling block is in my way... personally, professionally, as a wife and as a mother.  I hate the feeling of being out of control. Yet that's all that I feel and it is scaring the hell out of me.  I need to change the behaviours and actions of others, but I can't.  I can only change mine. And it scares me. It scares me more than I can say.

But I received a gorgeous email today from one of my Twitter friends who is living in the Bay Area, she shall remain nameless but she knows who she is, and her email made me realize so many things.  Namely, that when I make an honest blog entry, like I did last night, it's going to resonate with at least 1 person.  And I have the email in my inbox to prove it. But what's even more spectacular than that, is that while she's telling me how much she related to my journey, I was relating to hers. It's strange how that works.

And I realized something after I closed the email down.

And that something is this: No matter what I'm feeling, no matter what stumbling blocks are in my way, no matter what obstacles the universe is throwing in my path, there is always at least 1 person who understands and can relate.  I'm not alone. I. Am. Not. Alone.

I still have concerns right now about things that are bigger than design, bigger than my business, bigger than anything.  And they are HUGE concerns.  But knowing that at least 1 other person out there is feeling what I feel, in some way or another, lets me know that, I can AND will, climb that stumbling block.  And when I get over it, when the problems that I'm facing have been dealt with, and put into their proper place, I know that I'll be able to look at the ginormous stumbling block that might as well be the size of Alaska and say, "Geez! Look at that little pebble I just walked over!"

I'm sorry. Again.

Well, here I am again. My name is Autumn and I'm a serial blog-neglecter.  {Is that even a word? "Neglecter"? It looks weird.}  Anyhoo.

Many of you know what I've been up to the past few months, but for those of you who don't, let me give you the scoop....

1) My Husband got a job transfer.
2)We moved from Melbourne.
3)We moved to the Northern Territory.
4)Specifically, the great Australian Outback.
5)More specifically, Kakadu National Park
6) I decided I didn't have enough going on in my life so I thought a business re-structure was a good idea.

That pretty much sums it up and lets you know where I am now:: Still in the midst of aforementioned business restructure.

To be honest with you, I wasn't happy with the way it was "working" before.  Why, you ask? Well, because it just wasn't working.  So because I'm not a glutton for punishment I decided I needed to grab it by the reigns and pull tight to make the whole shindig come to a grinding halt. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.  I took stock of where I was at, where my business was at, and where I wanted it to go.  Boy, was it hard.  Boy, isn't it STILL hard.  But, it's a difficult path that I'm willing to take because, as the saying goes, the journey is better than the destination? No. That's not it..The destination isn't as special as the journey? No. That's not it either. You know what I'm getting at.  I love this journey. I'm struggling. It's hard work. I'm stressed, to the max, and at times, supremely frustrated. But I love every.single.minute. Why? Because it's my baby.  Because it's my passion. Because I know as sure as I'm writing this, that design is what I'm meant to do.  It's my purpose on this Earth. It's my love, and I love it so.

So, I've been designing new paperie, designing a new website, and scouring the ends of the Earth for the perfect web designer whose ideas; creativity; aesthetic and style will mesh with mine.  I want a beautiful product and I want my visitors to enjoy my site...to return time and time again.  I know I do that with websites that I love, whether I'm buying or not. {Sorry all you eCommerce peoples. Sometimes I just wanna browse.}

Oh yeah, and I bought a new letterpress.  At this moment, she's on her long journey from France to Australia. She's my 2nd baby. {My first baby is a teenage girl human baby named Hunter.}...More on the press later.

So, essentially, that's why I've been a blog-neglecter. And from the bottom of my non-writing-non-blogging heart, I'm sorry. Really. Honest.  But I promise, that when the business is settled, when the site has been designed and when the paperie is on the "shelf" of the world wide web, I will get back to posting and blogging and letting you in on more fun goodies from the Paper C headquarters. Which is now, in my home studio, in the middle of the outback, amongst the breathtaking beauty of World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park.

Be NiCE

Well, it's been quite a while since I've entered the blogosphere, and my apologies for being so absent.  I'm the type of person who believes that I should only blog something that I feel is necessary.  There's no point in "talking"{blogging}, just for the sake of it.


Today I have, I feel, a very worthwhile blog post to share with you.

**********************************************************************************
I've been falling head first into the lovely little world of being "NiCE".  I just love it.  It makes me happy.  It makes life sweeter. Richer. More fulfilling. And just plain, "nicer".  


If you have "liked" my Facebook page, you'll know by now that I've designed a range of prints that I sell, that are focused around design, typography, graphics, etc.  But I've designed a new range of prints that I will be selling, that focus on what is really important: and that is Being.Nice.  I capitalize those words because they are so very important to the human spirit and so good for the soul.  Truly.  If we can't be "Nice", what do we really have in life?  Thanks to Operation NiCE, I've been able to witness, first hand, the benefits of being Nice.  And there are so many of them....both when you are being nice, and the recipient of the Nice act. 

From now until the end of August, I will be selling my Nice prints for $12.  

100% of the profits from each print will be donated to a charity of YOUR choosing.  

Each print will be printed on A4 heavy weight, white, textured card stock, ready for framing.  You can also specify the colour that you want your wording to be in. 

So, if you want to be Nice with me, I ask you to make a small purchase of a lovely ~and meaningful~ print, designed by lil ol' me...trust me, you'll feel so Nice after! 


For purchasing details or other queries, please feel free to shoot me an email: thepapercouturiere@gmail.com


Have a NICE day!


xx
Autumn

June Vendor of the Month

Giggleberry Creations

"Fabric bunting banners, handmade with a giggle."

Amy Costin is the brains, and talent, behind Giggleberry Creations.  She handcrafts banners for all occasions, from a child's birthday, to an elegant wedding...and all events in between.  Using the best fabrics, each banner is intricately sewn creating a beautiful piece of décor that is full of style and craftsmanship.

Are you after a custom banner for a specific event, or "just because"?  Not to worry.  Amy can easily custom design a banner for your specific needs, taking into account the best fabrics that perfectly suit your colour pallette and theme.  Each banner can also be personalized with a name or word of your choice, making them perfect for an anniversary or birthday party.

Next time you are having an event, and you want to decorate with something more, something unique, and something better than the typical boring balloons, check out Giggleberry Creations.  You'll have something perfect and unique, that you can use for years to come...long after you've swept away the deflated balloons.


You can visit the Giggleberry gallery here.

W: www.giggleberrycreations.com
E: giggleberrycreations@gmail.com

Would you choose Wood?

....I hope you said yes!

If you're an Australian bride, and want a wood invitation, it used to be a lengthy search, usually ending up with a studio somewhere in America.  Seriously folks, who wants to pay that shipping charge?  Trust me. It's not pretty.  But, yours truly has solved that problem for you!  *please hold your applause*

Very proudly, I announce that The Paper Couturière is one of only a couple Australia wide design studios that offer wood invitations!

Introducing a new range of invitations made from your choice of wood!  With more than 15 types of wood available from Birch to Cherry, Aspen to Sycamore, and Oak to Mahogany, there is no doubt you'll be spoiled for choice.  Perfect for an outdoor garden, vineyard, or park wedding, wooden invitations are unique, beautiful, and cost effective.

Now, who will be the first client to order a little wooden pretty?

Pictures 1 & 2 are Maple.
Pictures 3 & 4 are Cherry.
Picture 5 is Birch.

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engage!10 Bookplates

Many of you know I'm doing bookplates for this years engage!10 Grand Caymen event being held in June.  I decided on 8 each + 200 gift bags = 1600.  Hand cut.  1600.  Hand cut.  Have I mentioned that each book plate is individually hand cut, and I'm doing 1600?

Photos thus far... 125 down, 75 to go.

Engage 10, Grand Caymen Island

It is with much excitement *insert hyperventilation here* and anticipation, that I announce my commitment to contributing to next months Engage 10 Wedding Symposium, held at the Hyatt Regency in Grand Caymen Islands.  Harmony Walton, from Bridal Bar LA, emailed me and asked if I would like to contribute to the gift bags.  As I was reading the email, I promptly fell from chair, clutched at my chest, and began seeing my future flash before my eyes.  Oh yes. All those are GOOD things.

Not sure what Engage 10 is?  It's a "high impact luxury wedding business summit...designed for the wedding industry professional who is looking to take their successful business to the next level."Past speakers have included Colin Cowie, Preston Bailey, Sylvia Wienstock, Mindy Weiss, Amy Atlas, Abby Larson, and many many more.  The best of the best in the wedding industry, both speakers and attendees.  Now can you see why I've been hyperventilating?  Imagine, these people, looking at my products. *Gulp.*

Brought to us by the brilliant minds and collaborative efforts of Engaging Concepts Inc. and Caymen Island Department of Tourism, this event is sure to be a luxurious success, and I'm so proud to be a part of it.

Now..to continue my designs...

May Vendor of the Month: Lisa Foster, Civil Marriage Celebrant

Located in Melbourne, Lisa's joy as a marriage celebrant comes in the ability to marry people.   Lisa recognizes that weddings and the ceremony itself, means different things to different people.  Regardless of the type of ceremony you have planned, Lisa will work with you to ensure everything is perfect, right down to the smallest detail. 

Lisa's services aren't solely wedding related.  Whether your event is Baby/Child Naming Days; Commitment ceremonies, or even if your renewing your vows, Lisa can also work with you to make those events as unique and memorable as possible. 

Truly a bespoke service, all of Lisa's services are custom priced, "whether it be a simply arranged informal style of service or the full fantasy of a fairy tale garden wedding. I would be very happy to discuss the various options available...without compromising on quality."

Lisa is available year round to perform ceremonies, and is available for locations across the Eastern and South Eastern Melbourne suburbs.  Namely, St. Kilda to Sorrento, Hastings to Pakenham, Emerald to Ringwood, Doncaster to the city, and more.  

If you're engaged, and in one of these areas, please contact Lisa to further discuss your ceremony options. 

Contact Details:

Phone:     (03) 9017 0823
Mobile:     0400 159 639

Email: lisa.foster@live.com.au

You can also find Lisa on Facebook here.

4-0-0

Many of you might remember that a few weeks ago I said that when I got to 400 followers/likers, I would offer a discount. I've just noticed that in the last few minutes, not only have I reached 400, I've hit 402. 

~~~~~~~~ THANK YOU ~~~~~~~~

As a way to show you my gratitude and appreciation for your support, I'm going to offer a few discounts to you.  I can't offer them via Facebook, because I don't want to take the chance that they shut my page down...which has been happening a lot lately for businesses who offer promotions/discounts and/or run competitions on their FB pages.

• Custom designed monogram: 25% off
• 4 pack of blank notecards with matching envelopes {cream only}. You tell me the colour scheme and design ideas. I'll do the rest. : 25% off
• If you're a bride & haven't decided on wedding stationery, I'll offer you 15% off when you choose The Paper Couturière to design your stationery, and your order is $800+.

Please email me for specific information or for any questions you might have.

info@thepapercouturiere.com.au

*Please mention #400 when placing any of your orders regarding this post, so I know to give you the appropriate discount.  

*Offer expires 31 May 2010

Again, thank you so much for your support over the last year or so. :)  If there is anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to ask. 

Autumn

xox

Where would you love to live? - Katrina

Well, I love where I live right now. I love Australia..so much so that I get my citizenship in December. YAY. My hubby is an Aussie,& he's never lived in the US, so eventually we want to move back there. {Like in 10-15 years.} When we do, we'll go to San Francisco. I grew up there, & most of my close family lives there. San Francisco, to me, is the most beautiful city on Earth. Not just physcially, but the spirit and the energy of the city is unmatched. So, I would love to move back there. When the time is right.

Ask me anything

I'm alive...and designing

I'm alive you all!  I really am!  I've just been so busy lately...lots of ups and downs, ins and outs, but, I'm here and I'm pushing on. {See post below.}

Have been superbly busy, and on the days I've not been superbly busy, I've been catching up with life things that creep up when I'm busy, that I put to the back burner. But I'm here. Still.

One of my latest projects has been designing a Simplicity Range of wedding stationery, to be sold exclusively through my Etsy store. The range is meant to be classic, clean, simple, and timeless...and also meant to be cost effective, so as to not blow your wedding budget.

The range is listed along with the RSVP cards, but as each piece is designed around the monogram, each piece of wedding stationery from the invite to the menu and all pieces in between, can easily be coordinated, giving you a flawless and seamless stationery line from start to finish.

My new mantra

An amendment to my previous post..
My new mantra...it's big, it's bold, it's simple...it's the truth. Thanks Tracy!
xoxo A

A little gut-wrenching honesty

Om

Coming off of a nice, long, relaxed Easter holiday with my beautiful daughter and gorgeous husband, I knew starting back to work today would be busy, but rewarding. I was positive, upbeat, and rarin to go! 


Boy, was I. Wrong. 


Stress from the word go. Everything that could go wrong did. To be honest with you, I've had some struggles in the direction the business is heading in and I've been more than a little frustrated with the snails pace that things have been moving at.  And the worst part? I've been taking it personal! I shouldn't be, but I do. I'm not gonna lie.  When I get rejection, it's like a slap in the face..like somehow I've failed.  In.Sane.


The logical, focused, and realistic side of me says that everything that happens, is happening for a reason..that every step that I take, good or bad, is taking me in the direction that I meant to go in.  The irrational, emotional, and insane part of me is letting the negativity take over and is consuming me with feelings of self-doubt, hesitation, fear, and a sense of just wanting to let it all go so I don't have to worry about the let down's and rejections.  Cop out? Yep. Sincere, genuine, gut-wrenching honesty? You know it. 


I struggled through my reader today..sifting through all the posts on meaningless this, and I could care less about that..I had bigger things to think about..like, whether or not I'm going to keep this business. Who gives a rat's about a peony and rose bouquet when I'm considering giving up on my dream!?  Then, I got to Little Bit Funky. This is one of my favourite blogs and it has nothing to do with weddings.  It was an Easter post and this is what Crystal said: 

"The following quote has been on instant replay in my head this week...reminding me that I AM good enough as I am...not with improvements...or lighter...or smarter...or having memorized more of the Bible.  He loves me just like I am...in all my failing and faults.  He loves me as I strive to do better and fail and fail again.  

"He wants you. In his arms. 

By his side. Surrendered and free in His presence.

Not because you deserve it or have earned it or are perfect.

Because of Easter.

That’s it."

What the?  Did she write that for me? How? She doesn't even know me! But it so...fits!  So, after reading that a million times, after a great pep talk {or 12} from my fantabulous husband, and after tons of positive wishes and thoughts from friends, I decided to take matters into my own hands.

What next?

Well, I'm still going to wonder when things will turn around. But, tomorrow morning, I'm going to wake up, I'm going to fix a ginormous pot of coffee, and start making lists. I'm going to make lists of lists, and these lists are going to have goals...short-medium-long term goals.  They're going to cover what I want. What I don't want. What I will, and what I won't, do. If I can write it, it'll be written.  I'm going to quit doubting myself and my talents.  I'm damn good at what I do. I know it as sure as I'm typing this. I'm going to live it.  Through the good and the bad, I will never lose sight of it. I provide kick ass customer service. I love my clients..and my clients love me.  Did I mention I'm damn good at what I do? Well, I am.  I have faults. I'm human, I always will have faults. I will continue to learn that my faults do not define the type of human being that I am, or that I will become.  

Consistent positivity is something that I am always trying to find in my life. All I can do is keep on keepin on. I'm on this path for a reason.  I'm going to always remind myself that this is where I'm meant to be, right this second. And get through this very second so I can get through the next.

PS. I love the OM symbol.  It's the most paramount symbol in Hinduism and represents unconditional love and harmony, an ancient symbol of peace and tranquility. 

April Vendor of the Month: Creative Custom Card Boxes

ardbox Diva

Marni Gold didn't always know she wanted to design and hand create custom card boxes.  In fact, based on her background, she should've been more destined to sing at The Met or on Broadway, than designing for weddings. She studied Opera and music theatre in college, receiving a Bachelors  Degree in Musical Theatre and a Masters Degree in Education.  Marni is not only a trained singer, but an experienced voice coach, giving private voice lessons at a school in New Jersey.

You may be wondering how Marni discovered her hidden talent of creating card boxes.  Like so many brides before Marni, when she was planning her own wedding in 2008, she was searching for her own secure way to store gifts and cards at her reception. Not being able to find anything that wasn't too tacky, or too expensive, Marni decided to take matters into her own hands. So with the help of her mother, who had years of décor and entertaining experience, Marni created an eco-friendly custom card box "that was simple, elegant, and understated, while still corresponding with the wedding colours and theme". One thing led to another, and now here she is, not only a trained singer, but the Owner and Designer of Creative Custom Card Boxes.

Whether your wedding is refined and traditional or as "glam as it gets", you can be assured that your custom card box will be designed and handcrafted with as much love; care, and attention to detail that Marni had when she designed and handcrafted her own. She will work closely with you to ensure your exact vision is brought to life.  You will be left with a beautifully handcrafted card box to safely secure gifts and cards at your wedding, that you will be able to use long after your wedding day. 

Not getting married but still want one of Marni's Creative Custom Card Boxes?  Not to worry.  Whether your event is a Bar/Bat Mitzvah; shower; Sweet 16; birthday, or Quinceñiearas, Marni can work with you to come up with the perfect design.

www.CreativeCustomCardBoxes.com
p: 1.888.315.9296

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Lovely Literature

This is my latest favourite little piece of literature. Okay. So it's not Homer or Shakespeare, but, it's in my kinda English and the pictures are kick a**.  The magazine highlights the seasons that we, in the Southern Hemisphere, have just left, but it doesn't take away from the fact that it's, in my opinion, one of the best bridal magazines around.  Let's just be honest.  It's Martha. It's Weddings. It's the best of both worlds.

There's another extra special piece of lovliness in this latest installment: The wedding of Eunice + Daniel.  aka. Mr. & Mrs. Hello!Lucky.  A must read for die-hard H!L fans...like me!

Enjoy!

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Aquamarine, Red, & Grey

My latest inspiration board is dedicated to 1 of my favourite colour combinations: red, aquamarine, and light grey.  Although fall is here in Australia and rich Autumn colours abound, I still love this colour combination no matter what time of year it is.  The rich reds, and bright colourful aquamarine, are anchored with soft muted grey...makes me so happy!

Bridal Style- Style Collective

I'm so excited and proud to announce that I will be a regular Contributing Writer to Bridal Style, a style "arm" of Style Collective.  In my regular posts, I'll feature tips and ideas on anything and everything from DiY weddings, to choosing your colour palette, all the way to flowers and wedding themes.  I can't wait to get started! So, keep your eyes and ears open kiddo's..my posts will run every 2nd Friday of the month.

Turquoise

DiY wedding rings

We all know that we can go to most any local jeweller and design our own wedding rings.  We design, they make.  Well, did you know that you can also design and make?  That's right. Larson Jewellry in Sydney offers classes to couples who want to choose a ring that is as individual as they are.  Until 30 March, 2010, they are the only jeweller in Australia that offers this unique and individual service.  As of the 30th, they are opening a Melbourne location {Yay us!} on the corner of Elizabeth and Bourke Streets.

From classic wedding bands, to more intricate designs made with diamonds or mixing of metals, they guarantee a perfect result.  You will be working with your own personal jeweller from beginning to end, ensuring that you are 100% happy with the result.  The process lasts a few hours, and you can come in with your design already at hand, or you can design on the day with the help of some pieces they have on hand to give you a little inspiration.  The ring making process incorporates traditional handcrafting techniques such as milling; bending; soldering; filing; buffing, and polishing.  Because you will have an expert jeweller by your side from beginning to end, creativity is not mandatory; and you don't have to have metal-working experience.

During the class, you will break for a light lunch and champagne. {Sign me up.} Also included in the service cost are photos on a CD of you creating, and a lifetime of polishes to keep your rings as shiny as possible.

Metal options include:
9ct Yellow, White or Rose Gold
18 ct Yellow, White, or Rose Gold
Platinum
18ct Gold and Platinum

Contact Larson Jewellry for all pricing.

So when picking out rings for your big day, why not consider going the DiY route?  It's individual; unique, and 100% you.  Plus, the experience gives you a few hours of quality time creating and designing with the one you love.

Hmmm, I think I might talk to my hubby about this for an anniversary ring...

March Vendor of the Month: Two Cheeky Monkeys

What do you get when you take an ex-scientist and add in a love for vintage beads and cabochon's? Well, a jewelry and accessory designer and owner of Two Cheeky Monkeys, of course!

With the encouragement of family and friends, Two Cheeky Monkeys began in July 2009 after being unable to find work in Melbourne as a Scientist.  With 2 little girls who are the inspiration behind the business name, she can no longer be found in the research lab, but is now a work from home mom with a thriving jewelry and accessory design business.

With a love for vintage beads, jewels, pearls, and Swarovski, Deb creates vintage inspired pieces, as well as pieces with a more modern flair.  All of the designs that you purchase at Two Cheeky Monkeys are either Limited Edition or one of a kind pieces, giving you the guarantee that no 2 pieces will be the same.  Deb does not stop at jewelry.  She designs and handcrafts hair accessories; brooches, and shoe clips.  You are one of a kind.  Shouldn't your jewelry and accessories be as well?  What's even better than that, Deb donates 10% to all profits to Tear Australia a Christian Aid and Advocacy Organization that helps people in developing countries.

Deb is available for jewelry parties and home viewings as well!  Contact her to discuss this further.

You can find Deb here:
Twitter  {@dspdavey}
www.twocheekymonkeysdesigns.blogspot.com
At her Etsy shop here.

The Paper Couturière

This is the first opportunity that I've given myself to sit at the computer and write a blog post.  As many of you know, I've spent the better part of the last 5 weeks or so completely overhauling the website.  Why did it only take you 5 weeks, you ask? Well, because I was working on it 7 days a week, for up to 15 hours a day. Over the top?  Yes. Necessary? Absolutely.

With the launch of the new website just last Thursday, on 11 March, I've not wanted to even turn my computer on, let alone do any typing or editing. I've had enough of it.  But, it's Monday.  A new week, and time to get stuck back into it.  I don't want to lose any of the creative juices that I rediscovered while on my website overhaul journey.  Which brings me to right now.

So many of you assisted me in this process from beginning to end.  You know who you are.  I sought help at 3am, and I begged for assistance at 1pm.  I was stressed beyond belief, and you listened to me, you offered advice, you gave me constructive criticism, and you never, not once, told me I was crazy {even though I'm sure you thought it}.  {By the way, I am.  Totally. Crazy.} 

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.  You helped me keep my sanity, and that means the world to me.  For those of you who offered the most beautiful compliments and feedback after the launch, I say thank you.  I am so proud of the finished result.  I see how all of my hard work, all of the insomnia, and all of the stress headaches, have eventuated into a website that I believe is perfectly Autumn, perfectly The Paper Couturière.  I am so blessed that you see the beauty in it, like I do.  It's made everything so worthwhile.

Rebecca: You are a God send. You are priceless. Thank you for always double checking on what I'm doing. Thank you for always being my "admin" person; telling me what I can do better.  You always have my best interests at heart and you are simply precious.

Tracy: You are genius! Thank you for your positivity and encouragement.  Thank you for reminding me why it's okay to not be the Comma Queen. :)

Steph: Vous remercier autant de pour vos réactions, et prendre le temps de votre jour pour m'aider dans le dernier peu de temps avant le lancement. Merci beaucoup!

Your wedding dress: white? white? or white?

Okay, so, we all know that white is not a colour right?  We all know that it's a shade.  Well, did you also know that there are about 392 different shades of the shade white?  And did you also know that you can get a wedding dress in all of those different shades?  Yes, my mind is also boggling with the revelation that there is a shade of white for every day of the calendar year.  But what are those shades?  How are they described?  And if you see a wedding dress that is blue white, exactly how is the mother-of-the-bride going to be able to picture it?

This a just a small sampling of the endless list of shades of white, but these are the most common and if you're doing hardcore dress shopping, you're sure to run into at least some of them.

Champagne or Oyster

Off-White, w/ pink undertones and suits the bride who has olive complexion, or other darker skin tones.

Diamond White/Natural White

Found only in more expensive fabrics, such as silk, this colour will suit brides with a light complexion.

Latte

This colour of dress is slightly darker than the Champagne/Oyster dress, but will still suit the bride with darker skin complexion.

Ivory/Eggshell

This shade of white has golden or yellow undertones and will suit the bride with fair complexion.

Stark White/Blue White

DO NOT wear this shade of white if you are have a fair complexion.  Step. Away. From. This. Dress. And. No one. Will. Get. Hurt. This shade is only suited for brides w/ a darker complexion.

Add some colour

It's 2010 and brides are increasingly getting more and more daring with their choice of bridal attire.  From White, to pink, or both {thanks Gwen Stefani}, to Scarlet red, and even black, brides are making the choice based on their personalities and what they would feel most comfortable in. C'mon now, you don't see a rocker-chic-glam-bride dressed in an Ivory ruffled number do you?  No.

Even if you want to go the white {or various shades of it} route, but you still want to add a splash of colour to better define your personality..add a sash in a coordinating wedding colour...choose shoes that give your attire a pop of colour, or, instead of a veil, choose a colourful hair accessory.  Go on.  Take the best of both worlds!  Wear white to make your mom happy, but make yourself happy by adding some colour.

For my wedding, I chose a champagne coloured dress and mantilla, and apple green sandals with rhinestone butterflies.  Those, were my pop of colour!  What will yours be?

Thank you to i-do.com.au for providing the definitions of these shades of white.

What style are you?

Are you bold? Outspoken? Fearless? Are you sophisticated and daring?  

If so, then black and white is for you.

Timeless, elegant, sultry, and daring, choosing a black and white wedding means you go against the grain..that you are sophisticated and elegant, but on your own terms.  Best for a night, formal wedding, the bride who chooses a black and white colour pallette will not be wearing ruffles on her dress.  Instead, she'll a dress that's sleek and form fitting, accentuated by a feather fascinator in her hair than a lacy veil.

The black and white bride pulls no punches.  What you see, is what you get.