Hello!Lucky
Letterpress greeting cards, thank you notes, DIY projects, free printables and craft inspiration.
These lovely illustrations by London based artist Charlotte Trounce have us giddy with design envy. The whimsical, hand-painted illustrations are definitely up our alley, and we're crazy about her compositions and bold color palettes. Plus, they embody some of our favorite things about Hello!Lucky's second home.
Charlotte created this alphabet in honor of the 2012 London Olympics. Hilarious! To see more of her work, head over to charlottetrounce.tumblr.com
We try to use our stock pile of crafting supplies as often as we can around here. And we love it when our employees stay after work to get some crafting done.
This week designers Shayna and Kelly made some amazing paper crafts to decorate our white walls. We're especially loving these paper pinwheels. Our team hot glued buttons to the centers for an extra pop of color. Cute! Want to try your own? Smock has a handy tutorial for making paper pinwheels with patterned paper. They make great table decor or aisle markers at a wedding, too. Match the patterned papers to your invites and you'll have a dream decor.
Agesandages - No Nostalgia from Philippe Tytgat on Vimeo. Is there a new genre brewing in the design world? It seems the art of chalk lettering has become quite the trend, so we're unofficially crowning this video the king of the unofficial genre "Chalkography." The music video for Agesandages called No Nostalgia has to be one of the most inspiring typography videos we've seen lately. French artist Philippe Tytgat hand lettered the lyrics to No Nostalgia making for a totally original and compelling visual story.
But don't take our word for it, watch and see for yourself!
Found via Molly Jacques Illustration
Halloween is just over the horizon, so it's time, once again, for another possibly overly ambitious halloween costume! This year's costume is inspired by the boys' various sea creature obsessions - Jude happens to be a big fan of turtles at the moment, and this concept was inspired by a turtle embroidery kit that our mom did back in the 70's.
The idea is to have the shell be made from a piece of patchwork which will then be stuffed with batting for a cool soft sculpture look - I have a feeling Jude's really going to enjoy throwing himself around once he realizes being ensconced in this costume will make him semi-impervious to doing himself bodily harm. The overall costume will have a front and back shell attached to each other with wide bands of fabric and elastic, paired with a green long sleeved tee and leggings. Some cute rosy cheeks, a red sassy bandana, and voilà! Turtle-y goodness!
Of course, Sabrina's twins James and Alex must have coordinating costumes! James loves starfish and suction cups right now, so our plan is to make him a plush starfish costume with suction cups glued all over the front like starfish feet. Possibly a bit of a patchwork look on the back to match Jude's 70's vibe. Still have to sort out the logistics of the neckline - fingers crossed!
Alex is going to be a jelly fish - essentially an organza or other sheer fabric fashioned into a bubble skirt with some tulle for structure, worn decorated with shimmery paillettes and ribbon tentacles. It will be blue so we don't compromise his masculinity TOO much! Love the idea of a little starfish perched on his head as an homage to James.
We're thinking that the dads will be dressed as fisherman, complete with pipes, yellow hats, and stripey shirts. Sabrina and I are tbd - possibly mermaids (really just an excuse to own a pair of metallic American Apparel leggings) although we are toying with turning Sabrina, who is very pregnant at the moment, into a pufferfish, her belly being perfectly proportioned!
Stay tuned, the crafting begins in full force this week! We'll be sure to post photos of the finished costumes here!
Never thought you'd have a sweet tooth for art, would you? Modern pastry chefs are breaking ground with painterly wedding cakes. We can't think of a better way to express yourself on your big day than with a work of art on your dessert table. It's amazing what food coloring can accomplish these days, and with stunners like this rosy wonder (shown above, by Amelie's House), it's clear these chefs can do anything.
This dramatic ombre style by Charm City Cakes (found via Design Sponge) tops the charts. Duff and Co. certainly know how to have fun with their tasty treats, but this four-tiered beauty is - in all seriousness - beautiful.
It's true we may favorite the soft florals and vintage style, but this graphic silhouette cake by My Sweet and Saucy would be perfect for a bold and whimsical wedding.
Of course the team at Martha Stewart Weddings has a spot on our list, impressing us again with this french silk ribbon cake. It is retro and modern, with a subtle ikat texture, and would dazzle the dessert table at any occasion. All of these cakes are found in our Wedding Cake board on Pinterest. Check it out here for more cake love!
Remember our creativebug Video Shoot? Well after the release of our first two tutorial videos we've felt an enormous out pour of love from our fans and fans of creativebug. That's why we're thrilled to announce the Crafts, Cocktails, and Caketoppers event with creativebug at Chronicle Books! Sabrina and Eunice will be there giving hands on instructions for how to make your own cake topper, perfect for any event. The workshop (Thursday September 27th from 6-8) is totally free but space is limited so click the image above or RSVP here! Bring your friends or family members for a night full of fun with local craft connoisseurs. We'll see you there!
It's officially Fashion Week and we're gearing up for some major trend watching. Although we may not be hitting the runways any time soon, we're constantly gathering inspiration from all the exotic textiles and handmade garments. With Fashion Week comes a wave of fashion focused blog posts and images. We're really digging the tasteful and whimsical illustrations by artist Samantha Hahn. As a New York native, Samantha sees new fashion trends everywhere she goes. Her couture illustrations give a nod to the groundbreaking designers but keep within her own aesthetic and we're loving her painterly style.
To view more of Samantha's work, head over to her website and be sure to read her blog Maquette for insider designs and inspiration.
We're having an enormous end of summer sale! It's time to clean house and make room for all of our wonderful new greeting cards and gifts. Lots of our favorite items are marked down up to 50% off! Now is the time to get those chalkboard word bubbles you've always wanted, or fill your home with handmade letterpress prints at half price. Click here to browse all sale items. Sale ends August 31st so shop now!
How exciting is it that Etsy now has a wedding registry?! It's such a dependable place for unique gifts and wedding accessories. Among all the treasures found on Etsy are these laser cut wood tree guest books. We're always intrigued by the many creative ways people display their guest books or notes these days. It is such an important keepsake and to preserve it will offer years of fabulous memories. This wooden 3D tree guest book by Totally Salinda doubles as a wedding memento and a piece of art. It is laser cut with 200 leaves for your guests to sign and leave notes and it comes with its own wood frame! Such a lovely idea for an outdoor woodsy wedding. The Totally Salinda Etsy site is full of other laser cut wedding gifts, too! You can sign up and register for this and many other unique gifts. See more info here!
Don't miss the big opening party for the Bold Italic's pop-up shop at Voyager! Tonight from 6-9pm you can be the first to get your hands on the local merchandise by your favorite SF retailers including Rickshaw Bagworks, Salty Fox Jewelry, Yellow Owl Workshop, and yours truly, Hello!Lucky! Along with handmade gifts and great people, free beer is being served to trusty San Francisco visitors. Voyager is located at 365 Valencia Street. See you there!
Still feeling the excitement of the summer season? So are we! The farmers markets are bustling, coats and jackets stored away, and beaches are calling our names. While enjoying the sweet taste of some fresh summer strawberries (and constantly imagining new DIY ideas), we realized the organic shape of the berry's insides would make a fantastic stamp! After testing a few of our own, we knew this was something everyone can do, especially kids! In absolutely no time you and your family can have one-of-a-kind artwork hanging on the wall, all made with supplies you already have at home.
Materials:
3 to 4 strawberries (halved), watercolor paint, brush, watercolor paper, frame (optional)
How To:
Step 1. Dip your brush in a little water, then dab in some red or pink watercolor paint.
Step 2. Brush a little paint over the flat surface of your halved strawberry. Try not to add too much water in order to get a more vibrant stamp.
Step 3. Carefully press your berry onto your paper. Let sit for a few seconds before picking up.
Step 4. Repeat! Be sure to leave a 1/2" space on all sides of your paper, in case you want to frame your artwork.
Step 5. After the stamps are all dry, add some leaves to your berries with a small brush. You can even make some little seeds around the edges.
Step 6. Place in a matted frame and display!
For more fun craft ideas for kids and adults, visit the DIY section of our website here!
Flowers are a decorative element that not only add to the decor of your event but also add to the importance, and that is why it is such an integral part of a wedding or party. Whether you DIY or have a florist do your flowers, it is that finishing touch that you don’t want to skip.
Today, I have a fresh modern look to a wedding bouquet using Hello!Lucky’s wedding stationery as my inspiration. Many times, the invitation is the first thing your guest will see to introduce them to your special day so it’s only fitting to have that the guide for the design of your event as you move forward. I selected the Big Day suite as my inspiration as I like the bold colors and modern look it has with it’s big bold text. Red being the main color was perfect guide for selecting summer seasonal flowers.
The red flowers that I chose were Dahlia’s, Lipstick Pods and Godetia. I chose these not only for their color but for the diversity in their shapes and textures. Yellow peonies were then added to the mix due to their red/orange centers and that added splash of yellow, plus, you can’t go wrong with peonies. Hasta leaves were used as a the final trimming to the bouquet creating a backdrop of green and pale yellow to set the other flowers off.
Looking to create your own? Here are some quick tips to consider for a bright, modern and bold bouquet:
Use bright colors.
Choose a mixture of textures such as the soft petals of a rose with the hard structure of a poppy pod.
Choose flowers that contrast in color and or shape and texture.
Finish the look with a bold stroke such as an interesting ribbon or leaves.
Photos by Aurora Meneghello Productions
It doesn't take much to get the average Brit. thinking about holidays, especially considering the hit-and-miss wash-out Summer that we've been having recently. What could be more enticing than these charming retro-inspired posters by the French tourist board that have appeared all over the capital in the last few weeks to gently tempt us wet and weary commuters into packing our suitcases and heading South.
We love the use of the different fonts and the wonderful graphic cartoons that put us in mind of those classic Pink Panther opening sequences.
Beautifully fresh and oh so very French - who but a Frenchwoman would co-ordinate her deckchair with her son's t-shirt!
Allez...en vacances! Bon Voyage
It's hard to imagine a place like this exists, especially because for most of us playgrounds were made up of wooden swings and plastic slides. Japanese artist Toshiko Horiuchi-MacAdam has created a larger-than-life crocheted playground at the Hakone Open Air Museum in Hakone, Japan, and just blew any other playground out of this world. The fiber artist describes her most treasured moments hearing the "undisguised delight of children exploring a new play space." It is truly remarkable that an artist would devote his/her time to create a space where people can interact and feel pure joy. Outstanding work!
Found via My Modern Met.
We're really enjoying the new trend of stylish cake toppers, especially when they're made by local artists. The multi-talented Madeline Trait not only carries these one-of-a-kind laser cut cake toppers on her Etsy site, she also runs a successful business in event and floral design in San Francisco. The toppers are all designed by Madeline in a gorgeous wood veneer and come in all shapes and sizes. We love that you can paint them to match your wedding or event details, but Madeline also has custom painted cake toppers for your convenience!
To view the entire Etsy collection, click here!
Hey all you San Franciscans! If you're free tonight you should head over to Super 7 for a show by our friends the Lab Partners! They will be exhibiting a bunch of new prints like the ones shown here. We love supporting local artists so you bet we'll be there! The event, titled Next Stop: San Francisco starts at 6pm. Super 7 is located at 1427 Haight ST. See you there!
How awesome is the new blog by Office of Nature?? Our friend Katherine Webb (who you might remember from our holiday guest artist collection!) has built an incredible blog about art and illustration for kids and since it's launch in April we've been hooked. She has an extremely well curated collection of designs by artists like Methane Studios (above) and Sol Linero (below) along with many others. We definitely suggest taking some time to scroll the pages. It will make you feel like a kid again!
Visit the Office of Nature blog here and don't forget to browse her shop here!
This year we didn't have a booth at the National Stationery Show but our New York satellite office (aka Design Director Shauna Leytus) was there visiting some of our favorite artists and making new friends. She'll be doing a series of posts recapping what she saw and loved. Here's her first post!
Where do I begin?! There was so much amazing work at the National Stationery Show this year from new comers and old favorites. Making her NSS debut, Left Field cards (above) showcased nine letterpressed "baseball cards" complete with mustaches, edibles and bizarre injuries. Collect them all!
One of my favorite cards of the entire show belonged to Red Camper (above and below). Need I say more?
A fellow card maker sharing a love of food-themed imagery was Fox Tail Press (above and below). When I asked when "national spaghetti day" actually was, Danielle rightly answered "everyday". Duh.
Design*Sponge declared Linda & Harriet's over-sized Quilt Calender the best thing she saw at the show and I couldn't agree more. My photos do not do it justice - this is a work of art and it is amazing.
More coverage of the show to come!
Pack up the presses and hit the road! That is exactly what Kyle Durrie of Moveable Type did back in 2010 when she felt torn between her two passions - road trips and printmaking. She wasn't about to choose one or the other, so Kyle transformed a 1982 Chevy Step Van into her personal print shop. She set off onto a country-wide journey introducing moveable type to cities east and west, and it's making a big impression on all the communities she visits. When she visited The Curiosity Shoppe San Francisco last July we were amazed at the turnout, especially for such a small space!
The Moveable Type truck updates their tour dates daily, so be sure to find out if it's coming to a town near you. You can go home with hand-cranked posters, cards, and learn a little more about the print process. Visit the website here!
We're thrilled that one of our favorite artists and authors will be visiting the bay area this week for a stop on her book tour. Kayte Terry will be at the Contemporary Jewish Museum this Thursday, May 24th to lead one of the museum's Rit Lab events. At this Rit Lab Kayte will be leading people through some paper crafts from her new book Paper Made!
Just look at these adorable projects.
These fans would be perfect for summer weddings and programs.
Did we mention Kayte also works for Anthropologie and is responsible for some of those beautiful window displays you've no doubt stared at in wonder.
Meet Kayte, check out her new book, eat some cheese, and craft. Sounds like a perfect Thursday evening to us. Details and tickets can be found here.
Don't live in the Bay Area? Check out Kayte's schedule here to see if she'll be in your city soon.
At Hello!Lucky we specialize in Letterpress greeting cards, as well offer DIY step by steps & free printables. Led by sisters Eunice and Sabrina Moyle, our small team of expert designers and artisan letterpress printers specialize in creating neon & foil, holiday cards, birthday cards, & thank you cards, that are full of creativity and whimsy. We've been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Design Sponge, Style Me Pretty, Real Simple, and many other leading publications. Please feel feel to contact us via chat, phone or e-mail - we'd be happy to assist you!
Hello!Lucky | P.O. Box 17605, San Francisco, California