Summer is almost over, but I am still loving this fun and preppy Newport Stripes note card and calling card set from our personal stationery collection. Stripes and anchors never go out of season … just bring on the foul weather gear!
We love the classic navy blue and kelly green color combination that the editors chose for the spread. It really shows off how nice dark colors look as backgrounds for invitations.
Our Wonderland wedding invitation design is available flat printed (better for flooding the background with color) or letterpress.
Earlier this summer my dear friend Cyd came to visit. Technically, her visit was supposed to be purely vacation, but we managed to sneak in a quick photo shoot/picnic. You can see the Backyard Picnic photos on her blog.
A lot of styled photo shoots you see on blogs are just for show, but we wanted to actually have a little picnic party to introduce Cyd to my SoCal friends. The second Jennifer Dery was done snapping photos we all dug into the yummy food. When it got dark we moved the party over to the fire pit and made s’mores. The evening was truly one of the biggest highlights of my summer.
Orange salad with mint and onions
One of my favorite things to serve for summer picnics is Orange Salad. We’re super lucky to have orange trees in our backyard, so we make it a lot. It’s refreshing and delicious for summer get togethers.
DIRECTIONS: Slice oranges into small wedges (use a paring knife to remove all rind and membrane). Slice onion into very thin ribbons. Put in bowl and add salt. Toss gently. Sprinkle fresh mint leaves on top. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Some behind the scenes shots from the Backyard Picnic photo shoot, which was inspired by one of our newest wedding invitation designs, Chevron, the color blue, Bixby & Ball, and summertime:
Delphine intern, Marissa Cool, and her sweetie enjoy blueberry coconut cocktails between shots and lounge on cute pillows from Bixby & Ball.
Stylist Cyd Converse of The Sweetest Occasion, the brains and inspiring force behind the scenes.
Friday already. Again. It was a rough week — full of impossible deadlines, last minute changes, sleepless nights, and illness. Many thanks to my dear friend Dr. Fhwy for getting me through these last few days.
I’m taking the afternoon off to go to a Goonie’s themed birthday party (one of our son’s classmates). Then tomorrow it’s back to work (yes, on a Saturday). I’m on antibiotics, so sitting poolside with an adult beverage is out of the question. Instead I’m hoping the fog in my head and the pain in my side/back/body/head will go away so I can focus on catching up on everything I let slide this week: proposals, proofs, and photoshoots.
//ABOVE our new FLUTTER wedding coaster and straw pennant flags shown in marine blue. Available in stores now. //Photo: Delphine
When Pantone announced Honeysuckle as its pick for Color of the Year 2011 I will admit I was shocked. I was expecting either a pretty distressed metallic or a soft, romantic pink. Not 1980s rose. I am the first to say I am NOT a pink person, so I’m hoping 2011 goes by quickly if this is the dominant hue to come.
From the Pantone press release: “In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®.
I say, bring back blue!
Eiseman goes on to say that Honeysuckle “may bring a wave of nostalgia” for spring and summer.
Personally, I think it brings a wave of mustiness — reminiscent of the dusty rose couch and tapestry pillows from the 80s in Mom & Dad’s basement, where you may be forced to live because you can’t find a job. Rather than being a nice escape from stress, like 2010’s pretty Turquoise (daydreams of beach vacays and escape from everyday woes), Honeysuckle brings you right back down to earth — or the basement apartment.
I don’t want to poo-poo the color entirely. It can look nice if paired with crisp palm or apple green — kind of a retro preppy vibe made modern by lots of white accents. I also see it paired with warm, romantic apricot, or a lovely soft metallic like champagne. For a cheerier look, pair it with beach glass turquoise. It would look pretty with navy blue, like one of my favorite flowers, the Anemone. But please, for me, PLEASE don’t pair it with forest green, mauve, cream, lace, rose patterns, or anything that reminds you of 1985. I don’t think I can take it.
We’ve just added eight new ink colors to the Delphine ink palette on our website! Peacock is one of my faves. It looks oh so lovely paired with “classic” Delphine inks:marine, bleu, shitake, and another new ink color: Beach Glass. It’s rich, romantic, elegant and yummy.
Images: zipper case by Chance Co.; peacock bridesmaid dress by J.Crew; bathing suite by Issa from Net-A-Porter; espadrille sneakers from Talbots.
While I have never been to a lobster bake (I’m more of an oyster roast girl myself … think flip flops, jean shorts and cold beers), my alter-ego would simply love a fancy beach party involving shellfish, white wine spritzers, and a kitchy outfit like this.
Last weekend I picked up a copy of boho magazine and fell in love. I bought a copy and brought it home so I could read every page. As I worked my way through the magazine I spotted our delphine Jellies (jellyfish card from our Marine Life Collection)! How exciting! I remember the editors asking for the photo, but I never heard back from them so I thought the story got cut. What a lovely surprise. I hope your week has some nice surprises in store for you.
We’re honored to have been selected by Akiko Taki to grace the pages of Relaxing Graphics, a gorgeous hardcover book by Pie Books (Japan) featuring the best natural style graphics from around the world. One of our custom wedding invitation designs (it’s similar to our Meeting Street design) was selected, as was our naturalistic (if you can call a green octopus or turquoise jelly fish natural) marine life series of note cards. The book is full of inspiring designs from top notch graphic designers, and is available to pre-order here (the book will be released in September 2009).
Just shipped … a custom “swirly” Bar Mitzvah invitation for sweet Sacha! We letterpressed this postcard on double thick 100 percent cotton paper in grey and marine blue inks. Can’t wait to start on the invitation!
sullivan design, new from delphine‘s charleston collection
“Sullivan,” one of the new designs from our upcoming Charleston Collection, is named after Sullivan’s Island, the “next door island” to where I grew up (Isle of Palms, South Carolina). I chose the deep marine blue ink because it reminds me of summer nights on the island, and the bright crocus ink is a nod to my mom’s favorite color circa 1983!
The delphine studio has a cabinet full of props for photo shoots … one of my favorite things to use are these beautiful foreign stamps. I bought a selection of floral and sealife stamps at a flea market many years ago, when I was living in Tours, France, not knowing what I would ever do with them. I remember thinking they were tiny works of art.
This cute little puffer did not make the final cut for the new letterpress journals we are printing in time for the National Stationery Show. It broke my heart but puffy is on hold.
Summer is almost over, but I am still loving this fun and preppy Newport Stripes note card and calling card set from our personal stationery collection. Stripes and anchors never go out of season … just bring on the foul weather gear!
;)
