Woods&Company Blog

A Personalized Thank You...

2011-10-31T10:58:00.000-07:00

Recently, Kelly Dolata and the gals from A Savvy Event in Sonoma came to me to help them thank some very people. They recently spent a weekend up at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe for a Wedding FAM weekend.

They had such a wonderful time and wanted to thank the team up at the Ritz in a special way.

Kelly had a great idea of making the gift personalized for the team. She wanted to highlight where each woman was from, but also have a group gift and keep the whole thing cohesive.

We decided an small individual gift for each gal along with a small gift from Sonoma county that they could enjoy together would work well. To pull it all together, I created an icon that would represent both the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe and A Savvy Event in Sonoma. And, since we are smack dab in the middle of the fall season, the color palette, font and basket all evoke a lovely autumnal coziness.

Here are some images of the final product and some more details of the gift!

Cranberry, Orange, and Gold ribbons around a wooden bushel basket give this gift just the right touch of that fall and harvest feeling. It features a Thank You note for the whole team secured to the front of the basket. A script font with a wine glass and pine cone icon melds the feeling of Lake Tahoe outdoors and Sonoma Wine Country with sophistication.

The basket contains a small gift personalized for each gal. This one is for Placerville, CA native Andrea, and is a small bottle of wine regional to her home town. Each individual gift has a personalized note featuring the wine glass and pinecone icon mounted on wine colored paper and secured with the cranberry, orange, and gold ribbons.

Clodagh, from Ireland got some traditional Irish soda bread handmade from John Campbell's Irish bakery in San Francisco.

Some 100% Kona coffee (Peet's) should keep Blanche's Hawaiian roots very happy!

Two bottles of Sonoma Syrup Company drink mixes along with a nice bottle of spirits was a little something representative of A Savvy Event's locale that the whole team can enjoy!

The inside of the Thank You note from A Savvy Event that adorns the front of the basket.

The basket has a personalized Thank You note to each of the gals. The Ghiradelli solid milk chocolates in the shape of the Golden Gate Bridge are a special little extra provided by Woods&Company.

Another view of the whole basket before departing to its recipients!

Appel & Frank Holiday Shopping Event!

2011-09-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

Holiday Cards? Already?

I know you are probably thinking, "but summer just officially ended last week!"

If you are the kind of person who thinks about these kinds of things in advance, then you'll want to save this date. If you are the kind of person who waits until the last minute, you'll ALSO want to save this date!

So, if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area please put Wednesday, December 7, 2011 on your calendar!

Woods&Company will be participating in Appel & Frank's Holiday Shopping Event this year. Items available at the event will include handmade holiday cards, gift tags, gift cards, and more. You'll also be able to order custom made cards, invitations, and of course, gift baskets.

It's never to early to think about how you are going to tackle all the things on your holiday "To Do" list!

For more information about Appel & Frank, take a look at their website:

www.appelandfrank.com

Hope to see you all there!

Caring For Baby and Making Baby Shower Invitations!

2011-09-22T23:04:00.000-07:00

The past year, I have had the most amazing addition to my life: my daughter Katherine. Life has certainly changed since Katy arrived, but the change has been most definitely for the better.

I have been busy all year not only taking care of Katy, but continuing to work on creating fun and unique gifts and paper goods for my clients. Every project has a great story and I absolutely LOVE designing for people's special events.

The fact that the project I'm featuring today is a for a friend of mine makes it even more special. My good friend Jessica and her husband Dave were expecting twins this past summer, so I, along with a few other good friends, threw Jessica a baby shower. The theme was "Twice As Nice With Two". We knew they were having a boy and a girl, so we kept the theme gender neutral and went with zoo animals in bright, fresh colors.

I designed the invitations, as well as the party favor bags, tags and the champagne glass tags. The paper is from Paper Source and the fonts used are Island of Misfit Toys and Caviar Dreams.

Inside of Invitation

Invitation Text Detail

Envelope with Coordinating Label

Open Invitation and Envelope

The petal enclosure card was banded with the animal theme paper and secured with a coordinating sticker .

Detail of the coordinating sticker

Detail of Animal Paper Band

I also designed the favors and champagne glass tags for the baby shower.

Fabric Drawstring Candy Bags with Handmade Labels.

Detail of the Tag

Printed Glassine Bags Filled with Cookies

Animal Crackers filled the bags, fitting the theme of the party as well as the mother-to-be's favorite snack!

Personalized Champagne Glasses

Ready For Toasts!

I am happy to report that Abby and Ryan were born on June 22nd 2011! They came a little early but are both doing great!

Welcome to the world, little ones!

...I Always Knew I Had SOME Style!

2011-03-31T09:27:00.000-07:00

... Thank you Creative Designs By Toni for giving me a Stylish Blogger Award! I too, am just really getting started with blogging, so it's nice to be recognized for my work! I am truly appreciative!

To accept this award the recipients are asked to do a few things:

1.Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award

2. Share 7 things about yourself

3. Award 10-15 blogs you feel deserve the award

4. Contact these bloggers and let them know about the award.

Seven Interesting Things About Myself:
1. I have a baby daughter who is truly the light of my life.
2. I am a certified interior designer on top of the work I do for Woods&Company.
3. I have run 4 marathons and am hopeful to run another one soon!
4. My husband and I are addicted to playing Words With Friends with each other on our iPhones.
5. I'm originally from Massachusetts, but when I moved to San Francisco 8 years ago, I met my husband and I've been here ever since!
6. I love summer, particularly on the East Coast. I miss warm summer nights.
7. I have a few guilty pleasures: Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Pepperidge Farm Soft Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, and cheesy 70's music.
8. (I added an extra!) I make a MEAN whoopie pie!

I am presenting the Stylish Blogger Award to these bloggers as well:

Lulu Lang
Sweet Craft Cakes
Love and Smiles
Cake, Cupcakes, and Cookies, Oh My!
Stockberry Studio
Simply Heaven Baby

Relive Your Childhood With These Save The Dates...

2011-03-24T22:18:00.000-07:00

... The thing I love about Save the Dates is that they are really a chance to do something really cool. It can fit right in with your wedding theme or it can be something completely different. It can show your guests your personality, your sense of humor. It's a chance to "let your hair down" and get creative!

... My best friend is getting married in September and when she asked me to do her Save the Dates I was more than honored. She sent me an idea she had in mind and together we developed it! I have to say, when she sent me the images for me to use, I nearly fell off my chair laughing!

... Jamie and her fiance Russ* decided use the Save the Dates to laugh at themselves a bit. They wanted to incorporate pictures of themselves from junior high. We used these photos on the outside, with a nice photo of the two of them from their engagement session on the inside. A fun theme of "then and now" made these Save the Dates such a great project to do.

... Since Jamie's wedding colors are navy blue and green, I used a pocket enclosure in color Night from Paper Source as the base for this project. I layered their paisley decorative paper on top of that and then added on the images and text. Jamie wanted to include hotel information for her guests, so I created a card insert for the pocket enclosure. The fonts used in this project are Honey Script paired with American Typewriter.

... What a fun project to complete! Here are some images of the final product!

* And no, Jamie is NOT marrying Fred Savage circa Wonder Years, but he could've been a stunt double!

...Welcome Katy Joan!

2011-03-13T21:05:00.000-07:00

... This past October, my husband and I welcomed a beautiful little girl (who is sleeping in my arms as I type this), Katherine Joan, named after my maternal grandmother and my husband's maternal grandmother. We call her Katy, and she is the love of our lives!

... Of course, we sent out baby announcements, and of course, I had to make them myself. My husband called me crazy and told me that with all the distractions that a baby creates, going to an online service to do our announcements would be perfectly acceptable. I, however, just didn't want to do that! I wanted something all our own, totally personal and unique. I actually began working on the announcements in the few weeks before she was born! I figured out the design and assembled all parts that I could before our little one arrived. Once she was born, it was just a matter of selecting the perfect picture and inserting all the important information!

... All of the materials for this project are from Paper Source. Since we did not know if our baby was going to be a boy or a girl, I went with a gender neutral theme. Her nursery has a under-the-sea theme, so I used Paper Source's octopus theme decorative paper for the envelope liners and I chose the rest of the colors based on that. I paired that with their orange polka dot paper set on chartreuse enclosures. The enclosures are tied with a curry colored ribbon. The envelope is also Paper Source color curry. The fonts used are Ecolier for the script paired with Chaparral Pro. The font color is shades of the curry color found on the envelopes.

... This project was a lot of fun to complete, and really fun to send out to all our friends and family. My husband wasn't wrong, it WAS a challenge to get them finished up and sent out while adjusting to a new schedule of 3am feedings, diaper changes and trying to get some sleep, but it was definitely worth it to have such a special, hand-made announcement as a keepsake for Katy's baby book.

... Although having a baby is a lot of work and making your own announcements might seem like too much to do, these were super simple in design and easy to assemble!

Bay Bella Debut!...

2011-03-01T21:33:00.000-08:00

...Today the Best of the Bay issues of Bride 9 and Mocha Bride hit the stands today! Pick up a copy and check out Woods&Company's photo shoot!

...Bay Bella...

2010-11-26T21:14:00.000-08:00

... Woods&Company recently had the honor of being a part of Bay Bella publishing's Bridal Best of the Bay competition.

... Bay Bella is a local Bay Area publishing company that puts out the bridal publications Bride 9 and Mocha Bride. This year, they put on a competition called the "Bridal Best of the Bay", featuring invitation, hair, make-up, event, cake, and favor vendors from the 9 counties in the Bay Area.

... The first part of the competition was on the county level. Nine vendors from each category competed to earn a spot in the final "all county" competition, where the vendor represented their county amongst the eight other counties in the Bay Area.

... Woods&Company was asked to be a part of the competition representing the favor vendors. Woods&Company competed with eight other favor vendors in San Francisco county to be represented at the final "all county" competition.

... Excitingly, Woods&Company won the county level! We were chosen as the favor vendor from San Francisco county to go to the "all county" competition.

... So, on November 18th, Woods&Company represented San Francisco county at Bay Bella's Gala Awards Event that took place at the Regency here in San Francisco. It was a great time with some very talented Bay Area wedding vendors, as well as some celebrities of the wedding industry presenting the awards. While Woods&Company was not awarded the Best of the Bay, it was an honor to be selected and to win the Best of San Francisco County award.

... As a county winner, Woods&Company will have a feature in the winter issues of both Bride 9 and Mocha Bride.

... For more information about the event, go to http://www.baybellapublishing.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=186&Itemid=247

... And here are some photos of our table at the competition. I am hoping to have some more professional photos to display in the future.

...The Knot Northern California...

2010-11-06T16:27:00.000-07:00

... Woods&Company is delighted to have been mentioned in the Fall/Winter issue of The Knot Northern California.

... See page 30 for our mention and lots of other great wedding planning suggestions thanks to contributions by local wedding planners Alison Hotchkiss, Angela Nelson (Lulu Events), and Amy Nichols.

... Thanks for the "shout out" Amy! Much appreciated!

...and she WAS a happy camper!

2010-11-06T16:10:00.000-07:00

... over the summer, I posted a project that I completed for a former camper of mine who was getting married. I posted a few pictures of the samples that I did for her, and that I had on hand. However, what I was really hoping for was that she would send me some of the pictures from her actual wedding.

... and so she did! She just got her proofs back from her photographer, and forwarded them along to me! As you remember, I did her escort cards, table names, menus, favors, and tags for her welcome bags. So check them out!

Display of Escort Cards

Table Names, All Places the Bride and Groom have been together

I made tags for their Welcome Bags (bag tags, tags for the snacks and water, list of weekend events, and a list of the things to do in the area)

... A Sweet Addition to Woods&Company...

2010-10-22T22:13:00.000-07:00

... Well, life has been quite busy these days, my husband Jeff and I just last week welcomed with great love and excitement our first child into the world! Baby Katherine was born last Friday and we are totally in love with her! So, you'll forgive me if I have been a little pre-occupied lately! The past few weeks have been taken over first by my "nesting" instinct and the urge to REST, and then the arrival of Katy and now life amongst feedings, changings, and lots and lots of holding and staring at our little girl with awe!

... However, I don't want to leave you without any good Woods&Company "stuff", so I am including some pictures of a project I did right before the baby arrived. I created some welcome bags for a wedding here in San Francisco at the end of September.

... Roy and Danielle got married at the St. Francis hotel in San Francisco on September 25, 2010. They contacted me about creating some welcome bags for their guests who were staying at the St. Francis and a few other hotels in the Union Square area. They had seen my travel case welcome gift box in the Spring/Summer issue of Brides Northern California, and wanted to do something similar.

... We wound up using the same graphics for their gifts as I used in the travel case, but designed the gifts in simple white bags and used the fonts from their wedding invitations. The red color was also one of their wedding colors.

... We included in these bags two water bottles with custom made labels, a packet of tissues, some Ghiradelli chocolates, a packet of pretzels, a packet of gum, some ibuprofin (essential in post-party recovery!), maps of San Francisco, and custom designed welcome letters to the guests, a weekend itinerary for the guests, and Roy and Danielle's favorite things to do in San Francisco.

... The pictures shown below were actually the mock up photos that I did while designing the gifts, I am getting all set to photograph the actual bags with all the contents to post online.

... I love the simplicity of these gifts, and I hope the guests felt most welcomed!

... Congratulations to you, Roy and Danielle! I hope you are enjoying your new life as husband and wife!

...Follow Up on Some Wedding Programs...

2010-09-23T13:00:00.000-07:00

... a LONG time ago, I posted an entry called "Teaser" and it was an image of some wedding programs I was doing for a wedding back in May. I told you all that I would post more pictures after the event. Well, I never followed up, and that makes me sad.

... One of the reasons why I have not yet followed up is because I really wanted to get some images of the programs AT the wedding, but I have not been able to get my hands on any!

... I was just going through some photos and I did find some images of the programs that I took myself during assembly, as well as a shot of them all completed. This will give you an idea of how the programs looked overall.

... The project was pretty simple. The bride sent me an image of this style of program, and I adapted it for her wedding. She really liked the simplicity of having the programs connected at the corner, and we decided on a moss green ribbon that complimented her wedding. We decided against a bow and instead went with a simple knot at the corner.

... The flower graphic was from her wedding invitations, and we just repeated it throughout the programs in full color on the front and watermarked on the subsequent pages.

... All the paper is from Paper Source, and the ribbon was from Fantastico here in San Francisco (a GREAT place to get large quantities of ribbon at very very low prices!)

... The front page of the program

...Ribbons cut and ready to be put to work!

... The "assembly line', all pages laid out and ready to be put together!

... Finished Product...

... Voila! All done and ready to head to the bride for her big day!

...Never Before Posted...

2010-08-18T21:35:00.000-07:00

... I was just going through some images from my photo album and I came across this gift box I made around Valentine's Day. I made this specifically for a fellow vendor, but it can be easily adaptable as a gift box for a wedding, bridal shower, or just a yummy thank you!

... This gift box is filled with sweets wrapped up in interesting small packages. I incorporated a number of coordinating patterned papers, ribbons and tags. The tag on the top of the box is a simple card stock cut in the shape of a large tag, and then layered with papers to give it depth and texture. The tag is secured around the entire box with a light pink grosgrain ribbon that I just love. The box came from Paper Source, and comes in a variety of sizes to fit your needs.

... Take a look at some of these details...

...What a Weekend For Weddings...

2010-08-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

... It seems as though this past weekend was a very popular weekend for weddings. I had 3 different clients who were getting married over this past weekend! I have been very busy lately!

... Congratulations to Kevin and Marissa who had a beautiful vineyard wedding on Long Island!

... Congratulations to Ami and Paul, who's amazing Hindu wedding was celebrated at a winery in Geyserville, CA!

... Congratulations to Bobby and Steffany, celebrated their wedding at a laid back, homegrown farm wedding in Petaluma, CA

... Congratulations to you all, and I wish you many, many years of happiness and laughter!

Hopefully a Happy Camper...

2010-08-05T21:47:00.000-07:00

... So one of the best jobs I have ever had was to be a camp counselor at the summer camp where I went as a girl. Every summer I would look forward to 2 months on the lake in New Hampshire with some of the greatest friends I have ever made.

... While being a camp counselor is a challenging job (my friend and I did the math one year, and essentially we worked 144 hours a week!), it is also a lot of fun and the girls I was a counselor for were really great kids.

... The last summer I was a counselor, I had the oldest campers and they were absolutely awesome. Many of them stayed more than 1 session and so I was really able to get to know them and make some great memories.

... While those days are sadly long gone, through the magic of Facebook, I have been able to reconnect with so many of my camp friends, including some former campers who are no longer girls, but fabulous women out in the world! It's great to catch up with them, but also a little trippy to realize that they are all grown up!

... And, kind of crazy when I find out these gals are doing things like getting married! One of my campers from that last summer I was a counselor is saying her vows tomorrow on Long Island. I couldn't be happier for her! So, when she asked me if I would help her out with some details for her wedding, I was so excited to do it!

... I made her tags for her out of town guest bags and then brought the theme of those tags into some of the details for her wedding. We did table names, place cards, menus, and favors. I used the Pharmacy font and paired it with the Honey Script font to create a really fun yet still sophisticated look. Using a fun and preppy color theme of pink and moss green, I mixed that with two types of decorative paper in the pink and green scheme. All the items we created using a series of the paper layered together to give interest and depth.

... Here's a sneak preview, I strung the samples up from a ribbon on the wall in my office. I cannot wait to see the creations all set up at the wedding.

... So, to Marissa, I say CONGRATULATIONS! I hope your day is as special as you are!

... p.s. don't eat cheeseballs in your wedding dress, you might turn it orange!

... Love, your Cabin 1 Counselor!

...Toss It All In There!

2010-07-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

... So today I was walking down Chestnut Street, enjoying the quiet holiday Monday morning. I had just gotten a really great pedicure (Jeff and I are headed to a wedding later this week and the toesies were in need of some serious attention), and had to run an errand at Paper Source (of course!) before heading home.

... Along my way from the nail salon to Paper Source, I approached a store called "Toss" (http://www.tossdesigns.com/ ) that I had noticed from afar but hadn't yet explored. Mostly because every time I think about it Jeff is with me, and it is really not his kind of store. However, today, I was alone, and it was such a relaxed day, I thought I'd pop in to see what was what with this store.

... OH MY GOODNESS I FOUND A NEW FAVORITE STORE! The preppy New Englander in me just about jumped out of her skin and could barely contain her excitement. Toss is a great store if you are looking for a treat for yourself or a stylish little something for a friend. Tote bags, cosmetics bags, travel accessories, cute bar supplies, even sweet little sandals, shoes,and jewlrey, Toss is a great place to find gifts for your particular event. I was shopping for a little something for myself, but I couldn't help get inspired for a Bridesmaid Thank You Gift.

... I have a friend who is planning to use navy blue and green as her wedding colors and I thought I would play on that for inspiration. I discovered that Toss carries a line of trendy, sturdy, and very reasonably priced eco-friendly bags by Bella (http://www.youarebella.com/). At $8.00 a bag, they are the perfect starting point for a beautiful gift for your bridesmaids. It is the kind of bag your gal can use later on to tote her lunch to work, or slip into her purse for use on the run. This bag folds up with a cute snap! Refuse that plastic bag from the store and slip your purchase into your fab Bella bag!

... Hmmm, but how to dress this fabulous bag up a little more and make it unique for your 'maids? Grab one of Toss' fantastic stick on monograms! These monograms are stitched fabric with a sticky back, so they can be applied to a multitude of items to make it your own! I chose the navy blue and white "T", and I love it with the green! The monogram is also "re-stickable" so your 'maid can take it off of this tote and throw it on another one if she likes! And, they are a steal!

... So, I just went from there. I could build a whole gift out of these two items that I picked up, and I WILL. However, I was just so excited to show these finds to you, I have only so far done the "exterior". I whipped up a little "bag tag" for this gift using navy blue card stock, green polka-dotted paper, and a little label printed in navy ink. I adhered it to the bag with some white ribbon and was ready to photograph!

... So, this creation is definitely "to be continued". I already have ideas for not only what items would be fabulous IN this bag, but how those items can be personalized.

... so check out Toss Designs and Bella totes and get inspired for your own event! Be sure to check back in with me to see where this design is gonig to go!

...Happy summer, everyone!

... 3 blissful years...

2010-06-23T13:18:00.000-07:00

...Three years ago today, I said "I Do" to my amazing husband Jeff...

... I planned and planned and planned and loved my wedding, and in the end, it was the reason why Woods&Company was started!

...The day was a gorgeous San Francisco day, sunny but not hot and not an ounce of fog to be seen! Clear blue skies, we could see the ocean from the steps of St. Cecelia's where we said our vows... the day was perfect for wedding photos taken with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, photos taken at the very spot where Jeff proposed a year before...

... The beautiful day continued at the Marines Memorial Club near Union Square (an AMAZING venue if any of you are looking for an elegant place to have your reception. The place is gorgeous, and the service and food there is out of this world. I did not have to worry about a THING.). We ate, drank, laughed, and danced well into the night.

... It was my favorite day of my life so far ;)

...I love you Jeff, here's to many more years and many more favorite days (October 19, 2010 maybe??)

... I Do...Again!

2010-06-15T21:07:00.000-07:00

...'Tis the season for weddings, but 'tis also the season for remembering why you got married in the first place!

... Thus, I thought it was sweet when I was contacted to make some welcome boxes for a woman who is renewing her wedding vows this week. Now, if you think planning a wedding is hectic, imaging essentially planning a wedding while shuttling the kids around to and from school, sports practices, music lessons, etc. Add to THAT your eldest child's high school graduation a week before your big event! That's pretty much what my client was dealing with... the life resulting from the wonderful marriage she is celebrating, while trying to plan her vow renewals. Whew! I was more than happy to help. Especially since Jeff and I are celebrating our third anniversary next week... it got me thinking and appreciating what a wonderful marriage, life and husband I myself have!

... My client and her husband are really turning their vow renewal into a celebration of (and with!) family and friends. They had a whole week of fun activities planned for their guests (the itinerary for the week was included in the gifts) culminating in the wonderful "main event" on Friday night at Terra in San Francisco. I also helped coordinate the favors for her guests... French macarons in small white boxes tied with a ribbon...yum!

... As for the gift boxes, many of the guests were travelling from afar, so we put in some water, tissues, chocolate, and some "on the road necessities" such as Tylenol to make the guests as comfortable as possible. We included in each one a beautiful postcard of a San Francisco scene, so the guests could take away a little something of SF when they left.

... It was a project on a fast timeline, but I think that made it even better. It was simple, clean, and elegant, and I was really happy with the way everything turned out!

Congratulations (again!) Shiela and Curt!

...hello, Cow Hollow!

2010-06-15T21:04:00.000-07:00

... well, it has been 3 weeks and Jeff and I are getting settled into our new place. So far, so good! We really like it!!

... we recently moved from the South of Market area of San Francisco (SOMA) to the Cow Hollow area of San Francisco. Our new neighborhood is pretty residential, our place is a block away from the Presidio, and we are close to a bunch of great restaurants and shops. I am most especially excited that there is a Paper Source within walking distance!! Yippee!

... Our new place is a two bedroom old-school San Francisco apartment. I LOVE it! It is bright and airy and has tons of built in storage. I finally have a special place to display my china, and our everyday dishes look great in our glass front cabinets. We have beautiful hardwood floors and a great walk in closet. Our baby will have it's own room, and I can't wait to decorate it! We are still getting everything set up, but I have some pictures from our first weeks in the new place. Enjoy!

First of all, this is a Shreve Gurgling Fish Pitcher. It is a very traditional gift in New England. I happened to receive 2 for our wedding, and I have them proudly displayed on our built in hutch. Gotta have little touches of home here in SF!

A view of our bedroom... we are still settling in, so excuse the sparseness!

I have managed to get some of our framed pictures displayed. These are some of my favorites that are in our bedroom.

A view into our bedroom from our living/dining room. I LOVE the colors, the lightness, and the french doors.

Our built in hutch in the breakfast nook. I love it! It has a SURPRISING amount of storage, and I was able to get ALL my china, crystal, small appliances, serving plates, and various and sundry other kitchen items in this space. Plus I just love how clean and bright it is. (Note the gurgling fish pitchers on the right!)

Our everyday dishes, bowls and mugs found a home in the glass front cabinets. I love the way the green looks against the white. The picture does not do it justice.

And then there are the great details. You probably noticed the moulding on the walls and maybe even the dark wood border on the light wood floors. This moulding detail is one of two that is found on the archway into our kitchen. Beautiful!

And finally, I have to day welcome to our 12 new large everyday plates. They have found a home on our hutch. They replace our old 12 large everyday plates that were dropped by the movers (it was clearly an issue of poor packing. They were packed last and hastily. A box of china was dropped at the same time, and all items were in perfect condition when unpacked!). All 12 were broken. That was the only casualty of the move, and thank goodness! Aside from this mishap, the movers were fantastic. We would highly recommend them.

We are still settling in the other areas of the house, so I'll update when everything is picture ready!

Enjoy your weekend, I hope it is nice wherever you are. Here in SF it actually feels like a New England summer, sunny and warm, and even a little sweaty! :)

...goodbye, Loft...

2010-05-22T09:05:00.000-07:00

... goodbye funky neighborhood, goodbye 15 minute walking commute, goodbye badly ventilated kitchen, goodbye freeway grime on my windowsills, goodbye train...

... my husband and I currently live in a loft in South of Market (SOMA). For those of you who know me, you know that I have a love/hate relationship with the loft. I love it because of the large kitchen (albeit badly ventilated!) it has and wonderful counter space. I love it because it is a cool space with lots of light. I love it because we have a spacious bedroom. I love it because we have a parking space. I love it because SOMA tends to be sunnier and warmer more often than other areas of San Francisco. I love it because we are 4 blocks from Giant's Stadium. I love it because of my fabulous 15 minute walking commute. Most of all I love it because this is where Jeff lived while we were dating, where I moved to while we were engaged. It is where I spent hours planning our wedding, and where we spent our first Christmas together. It is where we've hosted New Year's Eve parties with all of our friends, toasted other friend's engagements, celebrated special birthdays and hosted baby showers for others. From dinner parties to lazy Sundays eating eggs and toast at our kitchen counter, we've made a lot of memories here, and for these reasons, I will miss it.

... on the other hand, there are reasons why the loft is no longer a good fit for us. There are the everyday characteristics I "hate" (such a strong word!): the train that likes to blow it's whistle at 5:00am every morning waking me up, the same train that at 11:00 at night sits outside our window with the generators on while they do maintenance in the train yard. I severely dislike the grime that comes from the nearby freeway and covers my windowsills with a gritty gray dust that is IMPOSSIBLE to clean! It even gets on my beautiful white laptop, which now has a dingy aura to it. Not having a door to close to a private room while talking on the phone can get tiresome. I don't like having to huddle in the bathroom with the fan on to have a private conversation with my sister-in-law about her boyfriend (my husband would rather not know! Typical older brother!). It never gets TOTALLY dark at night while trying to sleep. Then, there are the 4 flights of stairs I have to walk up everyday at the end of a long day just to get to our place (although this has helped to keep me in shape, so I will now become a massive blob of flesh...). But aside from these everyday annoyances (which I've actually grown accustomed to and will probably miss in some weird way), the loft just isn't practical anymore. We are in need of another bedroom, and a place with doors to create a quite place for a little one to sleep. I can't continue to walk up those four flights of stairs over the next 4 months as I get bigger. It's just not the best place in which to welcome Baby T. So, we are off to begin a new chapter in our lives...

...therefore, today we are moving out of the loft. We are moving on to bigger and better things! Well, actually not that much bigger, but better and we have a whole extra bedroom to get furnished and ready to go. We are moving to a magical place in San Francisco called Cow Hollow, where there are trees on the street, and I have a backyard called the Presidio, and a front yard called Marina Green. There are shops and restaurants and people walking and general pleasantness! Although it is foggier over there and my commute is now 3 times as long, it is a great place in a beautiful part of the city, with no train and few stairs! We are putting the loft on the market, keep your fingers crossed for some generous offers! We will be in this place for a couple of years before we look at buying again... let the fun begin!

... so, Loft, I bid you farewell! Thank you for all the memories you have staged here for us, and for the great kitchen. Although I gripe about you, I WILL miss you...

... and to our new place: I'm so excited to arrive, and I can't wait to get to know you!

Happy Saturday, everyone!

Sarah

...teaser...

2010-05-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

... A sneak peek of the latest wedding programs I have completed... a shot of the production...

... more to follow!

...Is there something in the water???

2010-05-02T21:05:00.000-07:00

... I know about a zillion people who are pregnant! Maybe it's just my group of friends and my age, but I think maybe the recession is coming to an end and everyone is getting on with their lives, including making new ones?

... Anyway, I find this so wonderful, I love seeing friends happy and ready to start a family. In fact, one of my best friends has officially started her maternity leave! She is due at the end of May, and starting tomorrow, she is home until September.

... A few weeks back, a group of friends and I threw this friend, Roxanne, and her husband a co-ed baby shower. It was a lot of fun. It was in the evening, and we had such delicious food and cocktails (and "mock-tails" for the mom to be!) and of course, great company. It was a great evening and a fun event. Even the guys were into it! I think they were just relieved that there were no poop-y diaper games or measure-the-belly with toilet paper activities.

... As my contribution to the party, I agreed to make the invitations. I really, really, really had a lot of fun making them. Roxanne really liked the idea of a "Sweet Pea" theme. I had been dying to use some of my round cards, so I took the opportunity and ran with it! Two different shades of green, along with a whimsical yellow polka dotted paper lining the enveloped sure enough created the desired effect. It was lucky that I got a die-cutter for Christmas, as it allowed me to create the small peas for the pod, as well as the round white piece for the party information. This as another work created by layering pieces together to get the final result. Take a look!

Congratulations to Roxanne and Douglas, I can't wait to meet Baby Franco!

...Programs and Favors and Cards, OH MY! Part 2!

2010-04-28T22:06:00.000-07:00

... some photos of the First Communion work that I did. I layered a pretty Japanese flower blossom paper over a card, then layered another pink card on top. The cross is hand cut using the Japanese paper and shimmer white cardstock.

... The favor tags incorporate the Japanese flower blossom paper and are attached to a white toile bag of candies.

Congratulations, Emily!

Programs and Favors and Cards, OH MY!

2010-04-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Hope you are enjoying this beautiful time of year that is the early spring! It is one of my favorite times of the year, I love to get outside and enjoy it!

Just checking in to say hello and let you all know that I have not fallen off the face of the Earth!

I have been keeping my self busy these days with a number of projects. As I mentioned in my last email, aside from the wedding stationary that I featured, I have been working on some programs for the San Francisco Chi Omega Eleusinia luncheon. I just finished those up at the end of last week and sent them off to the event. I was unable to attend the event, so I hope it was a success, and I hope everyone followed along easily with the aid of their handmade programs! I hope to have pictures soon.

I'd like to give a HUGE shout out to my sister-in-law and friend Courtney, who not only provided beautiful assistance on this project, but unfortunately suffered a badly sprained ankle in the process. I mean, what says dedication more than twisting your ankle while running to the car to get to your sister-in-law's house to help punch holes in paper? Nothing, in my book. I just hope the Chinese food we got for dinner was an acceptable token of gratitude! :)

I am also currently working on some favors for a college friend. Her daughter is about to make her First Communion on May 7th! I designed the invitations to the First Communion and was then asked to help out with the favors that will be given out at the party following the ceremony. Again, I will have pictures soon, and I want to say, "Congratulations Emily!"

Wedding season is in full swing, and I can't be more excited! I loved planning my wedding, and threaten my husband with huge anniversary bashes just so I have another great event to plan! I think for now, that will have to wait for a significant anniversary, but until then, I am happily helping others make their days special. I am very excited about a project I am working on right now. I am creating programs for a wedding that will take place in Fresno in May. The bride had some GREAT ideas, and we came up with something so simple but so beautiful, that I cannot WAIT to produce all of them! Amanda, your wedding is going to be fabulous!

Whew! It's projects galore around the Tarantino household, and life continues to swirl all around that! We have been traveling, working, and apartment hunting in the past few weeks and life has been hectic! But, we are very excited to move to a beautiful new apartment, one that has lots of storage to keep all my papers and bags and fun stuff!

I will post pictures of my latest projects in the next few days, and as always, if you need any help with a special event, just let me know! I do stationary (cards, invitations, programs, etc) and custom gifts (bridal shower favors, baby shower favors, out of town wedding guest gifts, etc.)

Happy Spring, everyone!

a-LO-haaaaaa!

2010-03-31T21:58:00.000-07:00

...well, you might be wondering where I've been for so long! Well, before you get the wrong idea, I haven't been on vacation for this whole time, but I HAVE been busy, and I DID just get back from a fabulous little trip to Hawaii for a friend's wedding.

... I also have been extremely busy with a plethora of projects lately. I just finished some invitations for a friend's daughter's First Communion, some favors for a bridal shower, and programs for the San Francisco Eleusinia. But, the thing that has been keeping me really busy for the past few months is working on the stationary for this fabulous wedding we just went to in Hawaii! I've had so much fun working on this project, and I was very pleased with the way everything turned out.

... Kina and Zach live on Oahu. Kina grew up in Oregon, but is half Hawaiian and moved back to Hawaii after business school. Zach was born and raised on Maui. Since they live on Oahu and most of their families are still on Oahu or Maui, Kina and Zach decided to have a very Hawaiian style wedding on the island of Oahu, in an area called Waimanaolo. The wedding overlooked the ocean, and the breezes were just right. The tables were adorned with plumeria and lauae leaves. It was beautiful.

... The Lauae leaf was the theme that ran through the stationary for the wedding. I used it in the invitations, along with lines of a Hawaiian song about Waimanolo. We then brought it into the programs, table names, seating cards, and tags for the favors. Below are some pictures of the event.

... the invitations...

... response cards...

... programs...

... seating cards...

... table names...

... the room all set up...

... Kina and Zach saying their vows...

... in BEAUTIFUL Waimanolo...

Mahalo to Kina and Zach for introducing me to the beauty of a Hawaiian wedding, and until next time...

... ALOHA!!

Fun in the Sun... Run...

2010-02-14T15:14:00.000-08:00

...What makes every product launch awesome? Custom-made Whoopie Pies!

... Back in December, I was approached by SunRun to help them with some goodies for their upcoming product launch. Because I LOVE making goodies, especially Whoopie Pies, I naturally agreed to help them out.

... So, I know that you are wondering what exactly SunRun is and why exactly they would want Whoopie Pies featured at their product launch? Well I will inform you!

... In a new world where we all have to think about the not-so-lovely things we have done and are doing to our enviornment, SunRun is taking big strides make a difference when it comes to energy and how we use it. For, SunRun believes, "electricity costs too much and it's dirty to create". So, that said, they set out to "offer homeowners the opportunity to switch to clean electricity at no cost and lock in their rate for the future." Ah ha! Got it! They are a residential solar company! Cool!

... But what about this gathering? What were they celebrating? Well, back in December, SunRun introduced a new tool to assist their customers in their pursuit of solar power. SunRun launched their new solar calculator and map. The map, according to SunRun, "allows you to learn about sustainability efforts going on in different states, energy use, and find 'Solar Stars'". It seems pretty cool, and if you want more information about it, you can learn more at www.sunrunhome.com.

... So, then, WHY whoopie pies?? Well, it all has to do with SunRun's current demographics. You see, SunRun operates and has thousands of customers in four states: California, Arizona, Colorado, and Massachusetts. They decided to theme this launch as a nod to their locations and incorporate the solar theme at the same time. Since whoopie pies are a good old fashioned New England sweet treat (and I'm from Massachusetts and have a recipe for these little goodies), it was decided that they would be the dessert of choice to honor the customers from Massachusetts. I was happy to supply some New England pride to the party!

... Therefore, for this celebration, I made about 4 dozen Whoopie Pies, and then colored the filling in a range of yellows and oranges to evoke a feeling of the sun's colors and rays. I packaged the pies in batches mixed with all the colors. I had a ton of fun making them, and they went over really well, according to my friends over at SunRun. SunRun then set them up at their shin-dig and provided their own little tags to put by the treats to tell everyone what they were.

... Thanks to Allana Helland and SunRun for letting me share my goodies with your fabulous people!

... If you want to know more about SunRun, check out their website, www.sunrunhome.com and see them "in the news" at these links:

http://www.sunrunhome.com/downloads/pdf/sunrun_offers_a_new_deal_for_solar.pdf

http://www.sunrunhome.com/downloads/pdf/weak_economy_makes_solar_panels_more_affordable_to_homeowners.pdf

http://www.sunrunhome.com/downloads/pdf/accel_partners_offers_solar_start_up_more_than_just_cash.pdf

"Welcome Advice"...

2010-02-10T09:16:00.000-08:00

... that is what I was asked about when Brides Northern California contacted me to be in their Spring/Summer 2010 issue.

... Brides Northern California invited Woods&Company to talk about what is important when welcoming your guests who have traveled to your wedding from out of town. I cover the basics and there is an example of one of my projects featured in the column.

... If you are in NorCal and are interested, pick up a copy and take a look at "Welcome Advice". Also, there is a great interview with Kathryn Kalabokes of Dream A Little Dream Events about Creative Ceremony Ideas. Check it out!

... Enjoy!

5 Important Ways to Make Your Guests Feel Welcome...

2010-01-31T12:24:00.000-08:00

... so you are throwing a party. Your wedding. It's gonna be BIG. Perhaps the most important celebration you'll ever plan. You have lots of friends and family attending. Some from afar. You love your guests.

... OMG your guests.

... You've been so focused on the ceremony, the dress, your bridesmaids, the food, the cake, the first dance, the invitations, that you almost forgot about how your guests will feel coming into town for your big day.

... Now that you are thinking about it, the thought of how you are going to be able to talk to all of your guests during the reception is making you break out in a cold sweat. How will you ever have the time to spend with all of them?

... Well, you can sit back, and take a deep breath, because it is not as overwhelming as you might think, your guests do not expect you to be able to devote hours of time to them at your wedding. BUT, it IS important to make your guests feel welcome. You want them to know you are happy that they are there to celebrate this most important part of your life. But how to do that? Well, one popular way is to provide a little gift or goodie bag they will find in their room upon arrival. Great, check, you've got that down. You have bags, bottles of water and tissues all ready to go.

... Whoa! Wait, it's a little more involved that that. If you really want your guests to feel special, take a look at these 5 tips:

PERSONALIZE! Sure, it's going to take a little bit of extra time, but providing your guest with a gift bag that actually has their name on it lets them know that you are acknowledging their presence and the lengths they have traveled to be with you. You can make fun tags to tie to the bag or basket. You can incorporate your wedding colors or theme.

A GOOD, OLD FASHIONED NOTE. In this day and age of technology, the art of the note has been somewhat lost. Remember when you'd come home from school or soccer practice and there was a note from your mom, telling you she loved you, she'd be home at 6, and by the way could you put the cassarole in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes? Well, I'm not saying you have to go so far as to HAND write a note to your guests, but type up a note welcoming them into town. Tell them how thrilled you are that they are in town. Tell them to relax and enjoy the goodies you've provided. Tell them how much fun the celebration is going to be!

GIVE THEM A PLAN, STAN! Nothing is worse than feeling uninformed. Especially in a place you may have never been. Although we have access to the web pretty much everywhere we go and can get information quite readily these days, it is nice to give your guests an itinerary of the weekend's events. Note where the rehearsal dinner is going to be, what time the ceremony starts, oh and what about that brunch on Sunday morning? You can also include information such as shuttle pick up times and places and notes, and any info on transportation you might want to include. I always like to format this in a size that can easily be slipped into a suit jacket inside pocket, or maybe fit into a cocktail purse. That way, your guests can take it with them when they head out for the weekend's events.

WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO DO? You, as the bride (or groom!) know the area of your wedding better than anyone. Gather brochures or make a list of your favorite restaurants, spas, golf courses, and shopping areas to give your guests a real flavor for the area. You can do this via a list, or you can bundle the brochures with a fun ribbon or string. Include a fun tag telling them these places are your faves. When guests travel for weddings, they sometimes like to make a mini vacation out of it and want to explore the city or town when not involved in wedding activities. Show them how fun and cool your area is!

NO JUNK IN THE TRUNK! Be thoughtful when gathering items fill your welcome gifts. Your guests might not want a bedazzled foam coaster in the shape of the Space Needle just because you are getting married in Seattle. Let your guests know that these are things that you think they'd like, and also show a little bit of you. Water and tissues are a staple your guests will appreciate. How about a piece of gourmet chocolate from that little chocolatier you love? I had a client who had her wedding in the wine country. Knowing her guests might go out wine tasting upon arrival, she included fresh baked bread from a local bakery, local gourmet cheese, almonds, and fruit in her welcome bags. Her guests loved that they had something yummy to nosh on after all that wine, and didn't have to rely on the vending machine down the hall for a snack. Be thoughtful, incorporate the weekend's theme, or fill it with usable, practical things that are a reflection of you as a couple.

... Whew! That sounds like a lot! Well, it's really not, if you just plan it out. Make a mock up, and see how you like it. Make a plan for writing the note, making the gift personal, and how you will purchase the ingredients of the bag. Then, it's assembly time!

... Happy Planning!

Random Things...

2010-01-17T22:49:00.000-08:00

... ok, so Martha has her "Good Things". In my life, I have a series of "Random Things". I know what you are thinking, "Um, yeah, so does everyone!"Well, that is true. However, as my good college friend Liz said, I often have these really odd coincidences and small world experiences. Particularly when it comes to college people (which, you have to understand, is significant because I went to school with only about 2000 people and it was in the middle of nowhere in New York state).

... That being said, it is not often that you see people with St. Lawrence sweatshirts or see a sporting event on television. It is even more rare, PARTICULARLY in San Francisco, that you SEE anyone that you might have known at school walking down the street.

... Anyway, as you know, I was back east for a good long visit with family over the holidays. I went to the grocery store in my sister's town to get some food for New Years Eve. Now, since I probably have adult ADD, I got distracted when walking by the magazine section. I wanted to see if the latest issue of Brides magazine was on the shelves (that is a whole other story I will tell in the coming months). Alas, it was not there. However, being in Massachusetts, and not in San Francisco, there were some magazines on the shelf that are not available in California. My eye landed on Southern New England Weddings. I thought I'd take a look to see what is "in" in New England weddings these days, and to maybe get some inspiration for gifts and favors to try out.

... As I was flipping through, I noticed that they did a series of "Real Wedding" features in the magazine, highlighting weddings from Rhode Island, Cape Cod, Boston, etc. I was looking at it and thinking, "wouldn't it be funny if I knew one of these couples" (I am from New England, after all, and have lots of friends still in the area). Well, I turned the page, and sure enough, staring back at me from the page was a girl with whom I graduated! It was such a small world!

... Why am I writing about this? Well, I just thought it was a funny story, and I also thought that her wedding was really beautiful. It had some beautiful details and the bride looked really happy. I thought any of you out there who are planning a wedding or in the wedding business might find it interesting to look at.

... Although I don't think that she will ever see this blog entry, I just wanted to tell Tiffany congratulations on her beautiful wedding, and how exciting to be featured in this publication. Best wishes for a happy and healthy life to Mike and Tiffany!

... to check out her big day, see the link below:

http://www.southernneweddings.com/images/p234.pdf

... Happy 2010! All about the family...

2010-01-06T21:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! It hardly seems possible that we are already at 2010!

...well, this new year has started with a real celebration! On January 1st, we welcomed my baby nephew into this world. I was thrilled to be able to be there and meet him in person. It was an exciting day and everyone is really happy. I was also very happy to be able to take care of my nieces while mommy and daddy were at the hospital with "Baby Brother" as he was affectionately named while in the womb. We had a great time, playing, doing art projects, and having a special lunch at Friendly's (believe me, it was special for them, but the food isn't the greatest, I was more interested in the ice cream!)

...speaking of my nieces, while I was at my sister's, I finally was able to get a picture of the invitations I made for Amelia's birthday party in December. Amelia just turned six and has a great interest in both science and history. She is particularly interested, at the moment, in history of colonial America. It's good for my sister that they live in Massachusetts -- lots of historical stuff all around! Therefore, this year, she decided that she wanted a pilgrim/colonial themed birthday party. Of course, I volunteered to make the party invitations!

...to create the invitations, I found an image of a pilgrim girl and used it to model a "paper doll", layering the different papers and pieces of clothing. I chose the font because it reminded me of old fashioned calligraphy done with a quill. Finally, I lined the envelopes with a matching paper that made me think of old block printed wall paper.

...here is the invite for her "Colonial" birthday party. (I blurred out the RSVP before posting this image) Enjoy!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

2009-12-30T14:37:00.000-08:00

...I hope everyone is enjoying their holidays, and relaxing with friends and family!

... I am currently in Massachusetts, spending time with my family and awaiting the arrival of my baby nephew! I hope he comes before I have to head back to California!

... Looking forward to updating my blog with some new entries of projects I've been working on...

... See you all in the New Year!

Bake-O-Rama 2009...

2009-12-14T13:02:00.000-08:00

...every year, I get together with my friends Roxanne and Courtney for a day of serious holiday baking. The tradition began 5 years ago when Roxanne and I were roommates. We lived in a tiny but nice 2 bedroom apartment in San Francisco right next to Harris' steakhouse. We loved our little apartment (well, except that it was little!) and had some great adventures living together (one thing we learned: a health insurance card DOES NOT pass as acceptable proof that one is over the age of 21, but that is another story for another day!)

... in 2005, Roxanne and I thought it would be fun to do some holiday baking on a Saturday, and then hit our favorite neighborhood bar in the evening to relax and enjoy the season. We called our new venture "Bake-O-Rama", and the title has stuck. And Bake -O-Rama WAS a good idea, to be sure! However, our kitchen was approximately 4 square feet, we had an oven that a friend of ours affectionately describes as "Holly Hobby's Oven", a plastic mixing bowl, and a hand mixer. Looking back, it was quite a crazy idea! But, we managed to each make about 3 or 4 recipes that day, and every surface of our tiny apartment was taken up with cooling cookies... the counter, the table, the coffee table, the storage unit...we were up to our ears in cookies!

... we lovingly packaged up our creations and gave them as gifts to people we knew that season: friends, co-workers, even the valet guys at Harris' next door who always helped us find cabs when we went out on the town.

... much has changed since that first year, I got engaged and moved in with my now husband, and suddenly had a much larger kitchen for Bake-O-Rama. My husband's sister Courtney moved in with Roxanne and we invited her to join our baking frenzy. I got a Kitchen Aid mixer for my wedding, as did Roxanne an year later. Courtney's mom lends her Kitchen Aid, so long gone are the plastic bowl and hand mixer days. I still have my good sized kitchen, but now Roxanne also has a good sized kitchen with double ovens for our days of baking. Gone are the small kitchens,Holly Hobby ovens, hand mixers, plastic bowls, ancient cookie sheets and Safeway brand spatulas... now we have Kitchen Aids, better kitchens, double ovens, Calfalon cookie sheets, silpat mats, stainless steel and glass smixing bowls, and silicone spatulas of multiple sizes.

... but you know what? No matter what sized kitchen we are in, or what quality tools we have to create our goodies, it's the time spent with my good friends, baking, talking, gossiping, and laughing that is the best ingredient of the day.

... Cheers and love to Roxanne and Courtney for another successful Bake-O-Rama!!

...a shot of *some* of the ingredients (thanks court! I stole these pics from you!):

... a shot of *some* of the finished products:

... at home yesterday, I was eager to try some packaging ideas that I had seen in Martha Stewart. I made a goodie package for my friend Kim with whom I run (I just took some quick shots yesterday before I had to run out the door to deliver them, so they aren't the worlds best pics):

Oh Christmas Tree...

2009-12-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

...well, between work, Thanksgiving travel, the flu, baking, creating gift bags, running, and work travel, my dear husband and I managed to not only GET a Christmas tree, but actually decorate it!

Considering that I had the flu and felt quite cruddy when we went to get the tree, I think we picked a really good one!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!!

Oh Martha, as Crafy as Ever...

2009-12-09T15:25:00.000-08:00

... With the holiday season upon us, we are all busy wrapping up beautiful packages. And, what's even better, there are tons of really creative packaging ideas everywhere I look!

... As I was looking for ideas for this year's Bake-O-Rama (that's a whole other story for a whole other day!), I found that Martha Stewart has some great ideas for packaging up baked goodies for the holidays. I think I will remember these for gift baskets, but you should use them for your holiday presentations!

... This is a really cute way to package up large cookies to give out:

... check out even more ideas at Martha Stewart http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/packaging-ideas-for-christmas-cookies#slide_7

I am so in love with these mini suitcases...

2009-12-01T20:43:00.000-08:00

... that I was dying to design a gift package around one of them! I spent part of my Thanksgiving break working on this design for an upcoming article. I really have to say, this was a really fun package to design, and it really illustrates how easily your guests can be personally welcomed with some simple ingredients.

...The contents of this package are quite simple, a few bottles of water, some local chocolates, a package of tissues, and some local visitors maps of San Francisco. What makes this package special are some really simple things that you can do to make your guest feel special.

... a personalized tag on the outside of the case, a warm note of welcome from the bride and groom, and a weekend itinerary are an easy way to let your guests know how much it means that they have travelled to share in your special day. Also included in this package was a list of area favorites from the bride and groom, including restaurants, bars, golf courses, and spas.

... so, take the ingredients, pair it up with some personalized notes, and put it all together with your wedding colors or cute graphic, and you've got a beautifully coordinated, fun, and special welcome gift for your guests!

... Here are some more shots of the details of the gift...

...happy designing!

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

2009-11-29T19:29:00.000-08:00

Happy belated Thanksgiving, everyone!

I have been back here on the East Coast celebrating with my family and catching up with some friends (although I didn't get to see ALL my friends, which made me sad, but I will be back in a month, so hopefully we can reconnect soon!).

We flew in on Tuesday evening and headed right to my parents house in Western Mass, which according to my city slicker husband, is "the boonies". I assure you it is not "the boonies", but it is quieter and more spread out than San Francisco, and it is just the perfect place to be to slow down, relax and spend time with the family for the holidays. My life in SF is so busy, so on the go, that I really look forward to quiet nights at home, drinking wine with my mom and catching up on gossip from the hometown. Anyway, when we arrived, sure enough, the wood stove was all fired up, and the chardonnay was chilled! It was the gateway to the perfect Thanksgiving break.

On Wednesday, we braved the supermarket to pick up some last minute ingredients for some desserts we were making, and made our way back home for an afternoon of baking with my mom. Well, I guess I should clarify... I spent the afternoon baking with my mom, while my husband spent the afternoon reading and watching some television.

Homemade apple pie, homemade pecan pie, and whoopie pies were all successfully created after just a few mishaps... one being that the pecan pie stayed in the oven a tad too long, so a new one was made. The other involved unknowingly making whoopie pie dough with self-rising flour... "whoops" for sure! I'm telling you, life is difficult when you are not in your own kitchen! Anyway, in the end, all turned out yummy and the feasting began!

Thanksgiving Day was spent at my sister's house with her children, her husband, his cousin, a student of my brother in law, my parents, my aunt, and my brother. Now, that might not sound like a lot to many people out there, but I come from an AMAZINGLY small family (interesting, considering that BOTH of my parents families are Irish Catholic...go figure), so anything over 8 people is quite an accomplishment! The food was great, the company was even better!

Since then, I have been relaxing, working on some projects, and catching up with some friends.

We fly out on Tuesday evening from Boston, so today, my husband and I drove back to my sister's, which is closer to Boston, and we'll stay here until we head out. We always like to spend the last few days of our trips out here because it gives us a chance to spend time with my sister and her husband and most importantly, spend some QT with our nieces. Today we went to the local Y where they showed off their swimming prowess. I was quite proud of both of them and had an amazing time.

So, this entry has nothing to do with anything I normally write about, but sometimes it's good to just relax a bit and enjoy life.

I have been working on a few things, however, and should have some photos up in the next few days.

Again, Happy Thanksgiving, and let's all remember the real beauty of the holiday season that is now upon us in full force: spending time with friends and family and appreciating all the wonderful things in life.

Oh The Places We've Been...

2009-11-23T13:55:00.000-08:00

...well, I know I'VE been M.I.A., but the title of this blog entry refers to my latest project.

... My client contacted me and wanted to do some favors for the festivities that were being held the night before her friend's wedding. She is a bridesmaid in the wedding and thought it would be fun to do something for all the girls and the bride to help everyone relax and have fun as they spent the night before the big day in the bride's suite.

... The theme came from talking to the bridesmaid about all the girls and where they are from, where they have been, and what adventures they have had together. Not all the bridesmaids know each other well, so this was also an opportunity for the girls to get to know one another better.

... And so, the idea of "Oh The Places We've Been" came to be! we settled on a travel theme for the favors, creating well traveled "suitcases" from simple gable boxes. I created stickers that highlighted where all the girls were from, where they had studied, where they had traveled, and where they have lived. Let me tell you, these girls are globetrotters! The wedding is taking place in LA, so I created retro-looking "luggage tags" for each girl with the destination as "Cara's Wedding, LAX"

... The travel theme was carried through all the tags and labels, and the colors of the wedding were used here and there...brown, silver, green, and rust...neat color combo, I think! Perfect for a Thanksgiving weekend wedding!

... Since the girls don't all know each other, my client and I thought it would be fun to devise a little "game" or activity for them while they spend the evening together. So, each girl got a card in her pack that asks her to tell a story, a funny moment, a special memory of times they've had with the bride. It's a way for all the girls to get to know how they all connect, AND hear some fun stories about the bride!

... Included in this favor pack are: water, advil, a personalized champagne glass (automatic wine charm!), and a soothing gift pack of soap, lotion, and body wash to help the girls relax as they get ready for the big day.

... I had a ton of fun doing this project, it was a great idea on the part of my client! I just wish I could be there to hear all the wonderful tales of this fun, well traveled bride! I hope to post some better pictures soon!

Sorry I've Been M.I.A...

2009-11-01T20:45:00.000-08:00

... I have just had a really hectic week, last weekend I was in Lake Tahoe with one of my best friends, Roxanne. We were visiting our friend and my sister-in-law, Courtney, who was up at Squaw for the week being Ms. Head Honcho for her company's sales meeting. She works for The North Face and is the one who coordinates their sales meetings and basically is the brains behind the operation.

... We went to go see her at the end of the sales meeting, and to relax in Tahoe. It was quite a great time

... From there I just had a crazy hectic week with work and school and things to do for Woods&Co! The week got away from me and so did this weekend. Here it is Sunday evening, and my "To Do" list isn't any shorter...

...alas, I am planning on doing a blog entry highlighting some great new stores that I have found lately that have given me some real inspiration...hopefully I will be able to get to that this week!

... stay tuned for some great new places to get all sorts of great stuff!

... oh, and Happy November!

A Country Bride's Gotta Thank All Her Cowgirls!

2009-10-18T21:55:00.000-07:00

...so my trip to Nashville was tons of fun and got me thinking of new ideas for gift bags...

...while walking around Nashville, I came across a few country gifts and got an idea about creating a gift that a bride could use to thank her bridesmaids. I thought that if anyone out there was having a country wedding or even just liked country and western things, this might be a cute idea to thank your friends for being there for you.

...this is just a little mock up I threw together (literally... I made the tags really fast, just to see what they would look like... hence the pencil lines, lol!) with some things I picked up while down south...

... I bought a really cute brown canvas bag with blue cowboy boots stamped on it. It's got this great striped ribbons for handles, and the brown and blue combination is really pleasing. I thought that it would be a great little bag that your country lovin' friends could use after the wedding, as it is made of ncie quality canvas and has a velcro fastener inside the bag. I also think that you could recreate this bag by buying plain canvas bags yourself , and stamping an image on the bag at home. That way you could choose your very own theme!

... anyway, I also found some country themed cookie cutters in the shapes of cowboy hats, stars, musical notes, and guitars. Not only would they make great edible additions to the gift bag (I have yet to try them out with a cookie recipe, but will definitely post pics when I do!), but I also used them as stencils to shape the tags for the contents of the bag. I made a great "name tag" for the bag by cutting out light brown and dark brown cowboy hats and layering them on top of one another to provide some depth!

... here are some more photos...

... these photos show some details of the contents...I also found in Nashville some lotion and lipbalm by Tennessee Cowgirl, and I thought that they would be a great addition to a girly thank you bag for your bridesmaids... I also found a mini bottle of champagne and a champagne glass and figured all these elements together might make for a great girls night in with your fave gals, celebratin' with some bubbly and lookin' pretty!

...all the tags and the note to the bridesmaid have a little bit of a country twist, just to keep up the fun of the theme!

... hope you like it! I thought it was fun to play around with this theme and find some fun fonts to make the bag complete. It's just a rough draft, not all the details completely worked out, but I was so excited to share this idea!

... hope you all had a great weekend, have a fun and creative week!

Tweet Tweet...

2009-10-16T22:03:00.000-07:00

... Woods&Company is now on Twitter! Follow me at http://www.twitter.com/woodsandco

An Exciting Day For Woods&Co...

2009-10-13T13:18:00.000-07:00

... I was featured in the Fall 2009 Wedding Guide on Daily Candy San Francisco! I have to thank Diona Polito for putting the ball in motion for me to be on DC. It really was unexpected, thrilling, and an honor.

... I am happy to say that I have received very positive feedback and I am looking forward to exploring some new opportunities that seem to be coming my way.

...here is the link to the *short* blurb, which has a link to my website...check it out, tell your friends, I am happy to work with you for whatever event you are planning! Wedding, shower, birthday party, anniversary... you name it!

http://www.dailycandy.com/san-francisco/article/75842/Fall-2009-Wedding-Guide

...p.s. I am putting together another "Work In Progress" post with a project inspired by Nashville...look out all you Cowgirls out there!

Whew! What a time in Nashville...

2009-10-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

... so I spent Wednesday through Friday in Nashville for a work trip, and I had a great time! We stayed in downtown Nashville and had some time to hang out in Music City and get to know the South!

... here are some photos from my trip... food... some ribs and a very southern lunch...

... but aside from the food, I was really interested in some of the scenes of Nashville, the architecture and the culture...

... and no trip to Nashville would be complete without a little cowboy...

... it was a great trip, I'd definitely go back!

Greetings from Music City, y'all!

2009-10-08T15:44:00.000-07:00

I'm on a business trip to Nashville, TN, and I'm having a great time! I hope to have many more photos and maybe some inspiration tomorrow after I tour around a little!

ahh...Napa in the fall...

2009-10-04T22:12:00.000-07:00

... today my husband Jeff and I had the honor of attending my friend Abby's wedding in the gorgeous Napa Valley. It was a beautiful day

... I should point out that this is the first weekend in October. Now, I know that is obvious. But, what you probably don't realize is that the first weekend in October seems to be the most popular wedding weekend of the year! Today marked the FOURTH YEAR in a row that we had a wedding to attend on this particular weekend. And I understand why! ALL FOUR weddings have been so beautiful and so filled with happiness and love. Two were in Napa, one in the lovely wine country of the East Bay, and one in Lake Tahoe... I had had the honor and the privilege of being at and involved in each one of the weddings.

...so this year, we traveled to the BEAUTIFUL Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford, CA, in the Napa Valley. Now, Jeff and I were very excited for this wedding for a few reasons, not the least of which being seeing our friends get married! However, one of the four weddings we have attended on this weekend was ALSO at Auberge, 3 years ago. So, Jeff and I were so excited to return to a wedding venue that we KNEW was gorgeous, had wonderful staff, and delicious food! We were not let down today. Abby's wedding was such a wonderful time, a beautiful ceremony, a great band, delicious wine, and yummy food. The weather was incredible and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves... the only thing we would change is the fact that we both have to work tomorrow!

...anyway, please enjoy the pictures from this most beautiful of days!

Work In Progress, Part II...

2009-09-30T21:46:00.000-07:00

... here are some more shots of the bags of gourmet yumminess that I am working on for my friend Abby... I'm hoping that I'll be able to get some shots of all the contents of the bags before they are distributed...

... the tags here were made by just importing a .jpg of Abby's wedding monogram and scroll into my mac document, and then overlaying text... I used the same font that was used on their wedding invitations, in order to give all of Abby's wedding pieces cohesive detail.

...once I had the documents formated to my satisfaction, I printed them onto cream colored cards. The font is a sage green color that matches her wedding colors.

... as you can see, I simply took two pieces of tissue paper, one sage green, one chocolate brown, layered them together and stuffed them into the bags...they are Abby's wedding colors and I think with the ligher brown of the bags they look quite nice.

... a simple hole was punched into the bag tags and then the tags were secured to the bags with a simple chocolate ribbon.

...I've also created an itinerary and a card describing the gourmet cheese that she is including in the bags, so I will have photos of those soon, when the assembly is all done! I think adding a simple itinerary card into a goodie bag is a simple way to make your guests feel really comfortable and reassured. Abby's has wedding weekend events listed as well as shuttle times so her guests are all set to celebrate all weekend!

... these are shots of the bags with the tags ready to be stuffed with the rest of the goodies!

...enjoy!

I've Been Reviewed!

2009-09-28T20:49:00.000-07:00

Woods&Company has been reviewed!

I was approached by Courtney (not my sister in law!) who writes a blog called The Art of Being Mom. She reviews products and does giveaways.

So, I sent her some Whoopie Pies, Peanut Butter Cup Cookies and Fluffernutter Fudge. She received them, ate them, and wrote about them!

Check out the review of my homemade Whoopie Pies and the other goodies at http://blog.theartofbeingmom.com/?p=1822

You can also enter to win the giveaway (a dozen homemade Whoopie Pies for FREE!) while you're there!

Enjoy!

Thank you, thank you, thank you...

2009-09-27T18:14:00.000-07:00

... Courtney, THANK YOU for always being willing to help me out, especially at a moment's notice or bringing me things when I am stuck in the house because my husband took the car to go watch football at Casa de Olinger! (pro: no football playing incessantly on a Sunday; con: no car to go out and run errands!)

... So as you might have guessed from that first comment, my sister-in-law Courtney (whom I have mentioned previously on this blog) is wonderful and she does so many things for me all the time, always helps me out, and never complains. She's always gracious about it, and I really appreciate it. Today she went to Container Store for me to get some tissue paper and then dropped it off at my house...taking time out of her Sunday to drive across the city, buy these things and bring them to me, AND she had to drive through the thick of the Folsom Street Fair! What a sister-in-law!!

...ANYWAY, I thought it would be neat to make her a little thank you gift. Since I know that she loves the yellow and grey color combination that I used for the bachelorette party favors a few weeks ago (see earlier posts), I decided to use some of the leftover supplies I had from that project to make her some personalized note cards.

...I've also been OBSESSED with downloading new fonts lately, and so I tried out some new ones for this project. I think it's a cute twist on a monogram!

...Thanks again, Court! I really appreciate it! Happy corresponding!

A Work In Progress...

2009-09-27T18:02:00.000-07:00

... So I am helping my friend Abby put together her Out Of Town Guest Gift Bags for her wedding next weekend (I can't believe it's next weekend!). She is getting married in the Napa Valley, and I think it is going to be just beautiful!

... anyway, she and her husband-to-be are big foodies (her husband is a phenomenal cook, and they LOVE to buy fresh food at farmer's markets and try new things), so they decided that they would like to incorporate some things that make the Bay Area so special: the wonderful array of delicious food!

... her bags are going to include the following: small, individual breads from Acme, Point Reyes Triple Cream Brie form Cowgirl Creamery, local chocolates, local fruit, and some almonds. I know, YUM, right? Aren't you just salivating right now?

... I have been helping her out with designing the bags and making the labels and the tags. I was fortunate enough to be able to use the ornament and monogram that was designed for their wedding invitations, and incorporate them into the tags. I wanted to mention that because I cannot take the credit for designing that beautiful graphic and the clever monogram.

...I understand these pictures are really NOT THE BEST, but this is a work in progress, and I hope to have some really great pictures when they are all set to go!

...enjoy the pics!

...p.s. for those of you who were worried (is there anyone out there reading this and are you worried?), the cheese, the bread, and the fruit are going to be plopped into the bags onthe day they are delivered!

Oh, this is my dream...

2009-09-22T09:40:00.000-07:00

...my sister in law Courtney just brought this to my attention, this is my dream (I think it's hers as well!)...

...check out this fabulously organized work room that has everything at your finger tips...

http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/-081393

...bliss...

Come and knock on my door....

2009-09-20T09:56:00.000-07:00

...so I spent this weekend in San Diego (well, Carlsbad) with two of my best college friends, Jen and Trinity. Such a great time, and completely relaxing! We got caught up, played with Jen's 16 month old, Robbie, and went to the beach...what a life...although I always say I want to move back to New England, San Diego would definitely NOT be bad either! But, I really can't complain, I have an incredible life in San Francisco (it just needs to be a tad warmer, lol!).

...ANYWAY, I am writing about this trip for two reasons...the first is that I received a TON of encouragement for my recent projects from my friends. They saw Mary's Bachelorette Party gift bags on Facebook and were very excited about them. I was encouraged to go into business, and I told them that was my intent. It's just so nice to hear encouraging words when you are trying to get something started and you're not sure if what you are doing is going to be taken seriously...I guess it is! Thanks Jen and Trin for your encouragement and support!

...the other reason why this trip was relevant was because the three of us decided to go to the movies on Saturday night (we were laughing comparing what we would have done out on a Saturday night together 10 years ago! We were all so excited to go to dinner and a movie and be back home and in bed by 10!), and luckily, none of us had seem Julie&Julia, a movie that I was really interested in seeing. Apparently we ALL had really wanted to see it, so it was really great that it was still playing! So we went to the movie, which I really enjoyed. But, the point of this whole thing is that I was really impressed by this young woman's determination and commitment to this project of hers. I could relate to her in parts of the movie, with her late nights, messy kitchen, and somewhat neglected husband. Even though I am just starting out, I have already had quite a few weekend days where I stayed in the kitchen ALL DAY making goodies, frosting goodies, packaging goodies. Then there is the labelling, packing, shipping, etc. It's quite an involved process. But, for her it paid off and I am hoping that if I stick with this it will pay off for me as well. She was able to change her life and do something that she really loved, I hope I can do the same.

...I guess the point of this entire entry is that I am very encouraged to continue what I am doing, and I want to thank all my friends and family who are so supportive and encouraging! I mostly want to thank my husband, who has been very patient so far and such a great taste tester, proof reader, and general reviewer of all things Woods!

Thank you all!

Another Bicycle Built For Two...

2009-09-12T18:50:00.003-07:00

...here are some more images of the Bachelorette Favor Bags! Enjoy!

A Bicycle Built For Two...

2009-09-12T18:26:00.000-07:00

... so my sister-in-law (the one with whom I made the dinner party place cards) has about a million friends. This is because she is such an amicable, warm, funny, caring, awesome person! My husband often jokes that he thinks I like his sister better than him, and perhaps that's why I agreed to marry him...

...anyway! One of Courtney's million friends is getting married soon. Courtney organized and threw a bachelorette party for this friend. She wanted to have some party favors, so she asked me to put together some bags for the event.

...what was IN the bags? Well, here's a list:

A bottle of water (important to stay hydrated when out partying!) with a personalized label (see photo)

A champagne glass personalized with every guest's name and yellow ribbons tied around the stem. This is an easy, inexpensive, creative and fun way for guests to keep track of their glass during the party.

A packet of "morning after" necessities: Advil and Rolaids... packaged and tied with a ribbon and homemade tag

A homemade Whoopie Pie, a yummy goodie for after the party! It was packaged and tied with a ribbon and homemade tag.

I also made tags for the bag.

Since the bride and future husband enjoy cycling together, I did a cycling theme for the bags. Her wedding colors are yellow and gray (a GREAT color combination!), so the bags were also themed around her colors, with yellow and gray ribbons, yellow bags, and gray and white tissue paper.

Giving (and getting!) party favors is always a fun thing, but I think it's even more fun and more special when they have meaning. Why do the "same 'ol, same 'ol" when you can make it really about the guest of honor?

All the tags were made just by using different color and patterned paper and layering them to make them interesting.

Here are the photos!

Hmmm...what to do with these...

2009-09-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

...so I walk to work everyday, which is very pleasant. I work about 4 blocks from my house, and could argueably have one of the best commutes in the Bay Area. I get to walk, it's not very far from home, and the weather is never very extreme, so it's usually quite nice... to be home from work 15 minutes after you left? Bliss!

...anyway, I digress. So, part of my walk everyday is by the Flower Market, which is San Francisco's wholesale flower "district". It is about 1 block away from my house. I always enjoy walking by in the mornings, because the nurseries and farms are doing their deliveries, and you can see the florists carting all these great flowers around and into their shops. I walk by all the back doors to the shops, so I really get to see what is being delivered. It is very interesting to see what is in season and you can definitely tell when it's wedding season!

...ANYWAY, as you might imagine, there are always "remnants" of the morning's deliveries that linger on the sidewalk and on some carts as I walk by. Sometime's there'll be entire bunches of flowers thrown away...apparently not making the cut ( no pun intended). I often feel sorry for these poor flowers and want to take them home (they look perfectly fine to me, but then again, I'm no florist!). Most of the time, however, there are just interesting bits and pieces strewn on the sidewalk.

I have found it very interesting to "document" these bits and pieces and have been photographing them as I walk to work... I am thinking about using the photos in a collage of color perhaps for some gift bag tags or something. But I also like the backdrop of the sidewalk...very urban...Maybe I'll just make them into cards somehow.

...but I'm still not sure what I should do with these photos...

I'm still obsessed with whoopie pies...

2009-09-07T20:57:00.001-07:00

...I know, I know, the summer of 2009 should be known as The Summer of Whoopie Pie Love... Ever since I figured out how to make the pies, I have been slightly obsessed with all the events where they can be brought out and shown off.

So, you've seen these for my niece's birthday party, and I decided to do a little mock up of how they would look as party favor for a slightly more sophisticated party...perhaps a wedding? I was also playing with the the colors of Raspberry and Sage-ish green/ I think they are a fabulous combo, especially with the chocolate brown color of the pies...

Here are some examples!

Long Time, No Blog!

2009-09-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

I know it's been a while, but I have been keeping myself really busy with baking and doing out of town wedding gift bags!

However, I am very excited for the long weekend and a chance to catch up and post some great stuff I've been meaning to show everyone.

Stay tuned!

Orange Is The New Black...

2009-08-24T21:21:00.000-07:00

...my friend Roxanne just had a birthday and her husband threw her a BBQ to celebrate. If he was left to his own devices, all that would have been served would have been tri-tip and beer. Not that these things are bad, but my friends and I thought the celebration needed a little woman's touch. We all agreed to bring something to the party. I said I'd cover the desserts.

Since my friend Roxanne's favorite color happens to be orange, I thought I'd make some yummy mini cupcakes. I made the same chocolate cakes that I made for the baby shower (they were SO yummy, and Roxanne loves chocolate cake, so I couldn't resist!) and frosted them with homemade orange buttercream. I found little polka-dotted mini cupcake liners and they were perfect to complete the orange extravaganza!

Here are some photos! Happy Birthday Roxanne!

Funny Anecdote about the Birthday Whoopie Pies...

2009-08-19T09:02:00.000-07:00

... so apparently my niece loved the package of goodies I sent to her. Now, I have to say, I was pretty excited about that because I was in competition with the bouncy house that was rented for the kids to play in. If you read my last post, or if you know my niece, you know that i additio to sweets, she is REALLY REALLY into running, jumping, flipping, twirling, she's basically a thrill seeker. So, you can see that competition with the bouncy house was quite stiff.

Anyway, when I spoke with my sister about the package, and how it was recieved, I found out that although my niece loved the package and everything, she actually only had a bite or two of the gigantic whoopie pie I sent for her. Hmmm...ok, well they ARE pretty sweet, so maybe it was just a little too much. I can deal with that. But here's the kicker. Her older sister, who is completely opposite her in many ways (she is quieter, she plays more gently, she dosen't have that "thrill seeking" trait that her sister has, and most importantly, she isn't really into sweets and takes a really long time to finish them, if she finishes them at all), ate ALL of her whoopie pie right up, and loved it.

Hmmm....so I'm beginning to think the world is turning the wrong way. This must mean that my husband and I need to move back to New England to make sure everything is functioning properly!

Anyway, life is funny, and the stories from my young nieces are even funnier!

My Niece Just Had A Birthday...

2009-08-16T20:34:00.000-07:00

...so I decided to send her some birthday goodies for her party. Now, she can be a pretty rough and tumble little girl (loves climbing on jungle gyms, jumping off couches, etc.) but still, her favorite color is pink and she loves ballerinas.

Did I mention that she LOVES sweets?

Since I am her aunt and I can get away with spoiling her rotten, I had to send her something that would appeal to all her favorites! I made her some whoopie pies (sweets) with pink frosting (favorite color), and put them in cello bags decorated with ballerinas (again, a favorite) and tied with pink ribbons. I made a large one for the birthday girl, and several mini pies for her friends at her birthday party.

"Monkeying" About Part II

2009-08-09T20:34:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of the guest book and other party details

"Monkeying" About At a Baby Shower...

2009-08-09T20:12:00.000-07:00

So my dear friend Jennie is pregnant and will welcome a little boy into the world at the beginning of September. Congrats, Jennie!

My friends and I decided to throw her a baby shower. However, we decided it would be more fun to do a co-ed cocktail style shower (with delicious non alcoholic "mocktails" for the mom to be, of course!) to celebrate the pending delivery from the stork. After all, her husband did have a SMALL part in all of this, right?

Anyway, Jennie is decorating the baby's room with a jungle theme but thinks monkeys are particularly cute. We used the monkey theme a little bit for her shower. Putting aside my personal feelings about monkeys, I happily created the favors (chocolate cupcakes with homemade blue buttercream frosting) for the shower and made a little keepsake book for guests to write their well wishes to the parents to be.

The cupcakes were a delicious new chocolate cake recipe that I got from the Barefoot Contessa (they have sour cream and buttermilk in them!) and I got the guest book idea from Elise Joy Blaha's blog, enJOY it. I also picked up some napkins, plates, and placemats in various shades of blue to create a festive atmosphere! I love combining shades and patterns, I think it creates a neat dynamic.

These favors will be featured on my website, www.woodsandco.com

So last week I was feeling down...

2009-08-09T19:06:00.000-07:00

...and I discovered that getting in the kitchen and baking is my perfect therapy! I started by making some homemade buttercream for some goodies I'm making for some upcoming events. Then, I decided to try my hand at something all you New Englanders out there will recognize: Whoopie Pies! Whoopie Pies, for all of you who might not know, are yummy chocolate cake sandwiches with a creamy vanilla filling in the middle...let me just say: YUM. I figured out how to make these in a mini form, creating a perfect sweet confection for favors! I took some photos and set up a little sample to show how cute these could be for your event.

...luckily, I sent the batch to work with my husband so I wouldn't employ my other cure for sorrows: eating! lol!

...and this is what the dinner party looked like!

2009-08-09T18:48:00.000-07:00

So, I wrote last week that my mother in law was having a dinner party and that my sister in law and I whipped up some quick place cards for her to use. Well, being the stellar photographer that she is, my mother in law took some photos of the place cards in action! Thanks, Concie, for documenting!

My Mother In Law Was Having A Dinner Party...

2009-08-03T19:34:00.001-07:00

...so my sister in law and I helped her out by whipping up these place cards! They took about 10 minutes and we made them from some extra supplies I had around. We used business card sized card stock paper in blue and cream. Courtney cut them into the tag shape and I made the white square layer. We wrote the guests names on the tags, and Voila! Instant place cards.

They we going to be tied to the stems of a fresh pear that my mother in law placed on each plate. Hopefully we'll get some pictures of the set up!

Court and I had a great time making these and got caught up with all the gossip! lol!

A Very Sweet Little Pouch for Favors!

2009-07-29T15:56:00.000-07:00

I just found this shop of Etsy, it's called Chestnut Farmer and they sell all kinds of great little muslin pouches with images stamped on them.

They are roughly 3"x5" and are just as cute as can be!

A great idea for presenting your favors to your guests, or as a little bag for your bridesmaids gifts.

Check out the selection at:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22638375

I have three bags and counting...

2009-07-22T08:19:00.000-07:00

...from 1154 Lill! www.1154lill.com

If you've never heard of them, 1154 Lill is a Custom Handbag Company. 1154 Lill has a wide variety of bag styles from small clutches to large tote bags. You choose the bag style you like, then choose the fabrics from their never ending palette to create your own unique bag!

They have boutiques in Chicago, Kansas City, and Boston. Don't live in those areas? Never fear! They have an on-line boutique and reps all over the country who can help you to host an 1154 Lill handbag party with your friends! Big discounts on products whenyou host a party!

1154 Lill is a fanstastic idea for bridesmaids gifts. Take your bridesmaids to a boutique or host a party and have them make a beautiful handbag to match their dresses!

Bridesmaids, its also a great idea for a bachelorette or shower activity! My friends took me to the boutique in Boston on my bachelorette weekend and we had a blast! What can be better than drinking wine, creating a fab bag, and hanging out with great friends? Nothing in my book!

Be sure to check out their website! www.1154lill.com

Long Time, No Blog!

2009-07-22T08:15:00.001-07:00

Well, I know it has been a long time, but I had been working on updating and improving my website...

Woods&Company continues to offer custom made gifts and favors for your special occasion. We can work with any budget, any theme, anywhere. Remember that we are here to create beautiful details for your occasion and more importantly, since we do all the work, we take all the stress away for you so you can enjoy your day!

If you have a specific idea for favors or Out of Town wedding guest bags, let us know and we'll help you create them!

Dandelion...

2009-02-24T20:55:00.000-08:00

Dandelion is a really neat little gift store here in San Francisco... whether or not you are looking for gifts for your big day or just a place to get something unique... check it out... www.dandelionsf.com

Another Big Thank You...

2009-02-24T20:38:00.000-08:00

...I also need to thank my brother Joe, who lives in D.C. Joe is an incredibly talented writer who(in his spare time) works for the Washington, D.C. based theatre company Solas Nua. Solas Nua is a Washington theatre company, "dedicated to bringing contemporary Irish arts and culture to America". They produce some wonderful work!

Solas Nua graciously and very generously has offered to place and advertisement for Woods&Company in the program of their upcoming production, Pumpgirl. Woods&Company hits the east coast!

If you live in D.C., or are planning to take a trip, you need to check out Solas Nua's website, www.solasnua.org

Thank You!

2009-02-24T20:34:00.000-08:00

I really need to take a minute to thank Nessa Sander from Card Girl Invitations. Nessa designed my wedding invitations (which I LOVED!!!) and has been an overwhelming source of encouragement and support with the launch of Woods&Company.

Nessa does beautiful, creative, original work. If you are planning a wedding or another event, you really need to check out her website www.card-girl.com

Thanks a million, Nessa!

Woods&Company Blog

A Personalized Thank You...

Appel & Frank Holiday Shopping Event!

Caring For Baby and Making Baby Shower Invitations!

...I Always Knew I Had SOME Style!

Relive Your Childhood With These Save The Dates...

...Welcome Katy Joan!

Bay Bella Debut!...

...Bay Bella...

...The Knot Northern California...

...and she WAS a happy camper!

... A Sweet Addition to Woods&Company...

...Follow Up on Some Wedding Programs...

...Never Before Posted...

...What a Weekend For Weddings...

Hopefully a Happy Camper...

...Toss It All In There!

... 3 *blissful* years...

... I Do...Again!

...hello, Cow Hollow!

...goodbye, Loft...

...teaser...

...Is there something in the water???

...Programs and Favors and Cards, OH MY! Part 2!

Programs and Favors and Cards, OH MY!

a-LO-haaaaaa!

Fun in the Sun... Run...

"Welcome Advice"...

5 Important Ways to Make Your Guests Feel Welcome...

Random Things...

... Happy 2010! All about the family...

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Bake-O-Rama 2009...

Oh Christmas Tree...

Oh Martha, as Crafy as Ever...

I am so in love with these mini suitcases...

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Oh The Places We've Been...

Sorry I've Been M.I.A...

A Country Bride's Gotta Thank All Her Cowgirls!

Tweet Tweet...

An Exciting Day For Woods&Co...

Whew! What a time in Nashville...

Greetings from Music City, y'all!

ahh...Napa in the fall...

Work In Progress, Part II...

I've Been Reviewed!

Thank you, thank you, thank you...

A Work In Progress...

Oh, this is my dream...

Come and knock on my door....

Another Bicycle Built For Two...

A Bicycle Built For Two...

Hmmm...what to do with these...

I'm still obsessed with whoopie pies...

Long Time, No Blog!

Orange Is The New Black...

Funny Anecdote about the Birthday Whoopie Pies...

My Niece Just Had A Birthday...

"Monkeying" About Part II

"Monkeying" About At a Baby Shower...

So last week I was feeling down...

...and this is what the dinner party looked like!

My Mother In Law Was Having A Dinner Party...

A Very Sweet Little Pouch for Favors!

I have three bags and counting...

Long Time, No Blog!

Dandelion...

Another Big Thank You...

Thank You!

... 3 blissful years...