Colorful Crocheted Playground

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.

DIY Lemon Poppy Seed Ice Cream

In keeping with our summer DIY theme, we wanted to bring you a tasty DIY treat. If it's a hot day, the last thing we want to do is stay inside while a hot oven raises the indoor temperature, so we figured a recipe that involves a freezer would settle better. There are lots of easy at home ice cream recipes floating around the web, but when we stumbled upon this two ingredient ice cream recipe, a few questions were raised. Could it be true? What would it taste like? It tastes like heaven. Who would have thought these two simple ingredients could produce such a divine flavor. Well we couldn't help but try out our own version so if you're into trying something new, try our lemon poppy seed ice cream with fresh blackberries. Instructions below!

 Materials: 1/2 cup honey, 2 cups whipping cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1 teaspoon poppy seeds, fresh blackberries to serve

How To: (adapted from this recipe)

Step 1. Whip 1.5 cups of whipping cream until it forms stiff peaks. Stir in vanilla and lemon juice. Refrigerate. Step 2. Pour honey into a saucepan. Heat on low until it is very runny and add the remaining 1/2 cup of cream. Stir together until well blended. Step 3. Add honey/cream mixture to the whipped cream. Whisk until well blended. Add the poppy seeds. Step 4. Freeze for about 6 hours until the mixture is the consistency of ice cream.

Enjoy!

found via Curbly via Mommy Knows

Plurabelle Calligraphy

Is this possibly the most beautiful envelope you've ever seen? The bold cobalt paper, the warm persimmon ink, these complementary colors work magic. It comes from one exceptional Los Angeles artist, Plurabelle Calligraphy. Molly (the owner and creative mastermind) has a collection of work that is simply to die for, so we are delighted to feature her on our blog. Molly has made quite an impact on today's calligraphy customs by giving a modern spin on the traditional art form, or dare we say, a calligraphy facelift!

You'll find on her website that there are various lettering styles to choose from, but we're really liking the combination of vintage and modern in one.

This graphic East London wedding back in 2010 caught our attention when we saw that Plurabelle Calligraphy hand wrote each guest name on the Visit London invitations, along with the adorable "Socks for bowling" signs.

To view more photos of this fabulous East London wedding head over to OMG I'm Getting Married (love that title!)

And don't forget to visit Plurabelle Calligraphy!

 Wedding photography by Caro Hutchings Photography

Sabrina's Weekend Snapshots

This weekend we enjoyed the sunshine by spending lots of time outside. The Yerba Buena Gardens are a delightful place to hang out on a sunny day. There's tons of fun things to do with kids or adults, but one of our favorites is to ride the Charles Looff Carousel.

 We went to the Farmers Market at the Ferry Building on Saturday and picked up some of our favorite snacks - peas!

 The market was bustling with visitors and bursting with fresh produce and fruit. I loved how the colors of these carrots blended together so I had to snap a picture.

After the market we rode the ferry to Sausalito. It was the perfect way to wind down after such a busy morning and the boys loved being on board the big boat.

Hope you all had a nice weekend!

 

Real Wedding: Kendel and Brian

These wedding photos have been long awaited! Last October we created a stunning wedding suite, for just as stunning of an event. Kendel and Brian said their "I do's" under the most spectacular greenery in Cavallo Point in Sausalito. With just a peek of the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, it couldn't be any more beautiful. Their theme of modern camp ground and summer recreation carried on throughout the day with rustic accents and navy and papaya striped paper goods. Just check out that view!

To go along with their camp theme, we custom designed and letterpress printed their invitations on smooth wood veneer. The matching pieces incorporated bold patterns and color combinations, along with a custom map of their wedding events. We felt so attached to this wedding suite we decided to offer it as a standard design on our website!

The suite, called Hearts and Arrows, is available now!

With fabulous event design by our friends Alison Events, this wedding was surely a dazzling sight.

Congratulations Kendel and Brian! If you're looking for a great deal on wedding stationery, head to our website now! We're offering 20% off all wedding paper products. Use the code SummerSpecial at checkout!

Photos by Jesse Leake Photography

Vote for Hello!Lucky in The Perfect Wedding!

We're over the moon about our recent nomination for the UK's Perfect Wedding Awards! You can vote for Hello!Lucky as the best Wedding Stationery in the UK. We are honored to be considered in such a talented group of stationers, and are tickled with excitement. The polls are open until August 6h so get your vote in today!

Perfect Wedding Awards 2012 Poll

Lucky Friday # 72, Très Chic

Hello all you lucky folks out there! This is the 72nd edition of our Lucky Friday Giveaway.  Each Friday we feature one of our letterpress greeting cards. We’ll choose THREE LUCKY WINNERS to get a free card.  Post a comment by 12 p.m. PST the following Thursday, and we’ll announce the winners on the following Friday!

The winners from last week are (drum roll, please): Jackie G, Land and Sarah M! We’ll contact you next week to arrange sending your 1st Birthday card.

Design: Très Chic Artist: Julia Rothman Inspiration: We'd been clutching onto some old ideas, but we just had to buckle down, strap in, compartmentalize and get a handle on it. Who to send it to: Someone suave as suede, luxurious as spanish leather, and very well put together. Or, maybe just someone who has a lot of baggage. Ideas we scrapped in favor of this one: The "Old Pairs of Jeans" card wasn't too flattering, and the bomber jackets and cargo pants cards didn't have the same je ne sais quoi. Favorite detail: Ooh, definitely the subtle spring green patterns. Why letterpress? Did I hear someone say "leatherpress?"

Don’t forget to post your comment and tune in next week, same time, different stationery, to see if you’ve won!

Cake Toppers by Madeline Trait

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!

Eunice's Weekend Snapshots

We took off for Big Sur this weekend, staying at a house we rent every year for the 4th of July weekend.  We hang out with some of our favorite friends for a weekend full of dinners under the backyard tree, beach trips, and general loafing about.

The house is one of several on a family ranch - Jude was really into the cows - he and his buddy, Hugo, learned how to say "caca de vache" - they both found it very amusing to poke cow patties with sticks while shrieking and shouting "eeeeeewwww!!"

Twirling sticks in the backyard.

A crab we found at the beach.

Running from waves.

Bodi, the family dog, giving us a goodbye grin at the end of the weekend.   Hope you have a fantastic fourth!

Real Wedding: Sarah and Christian

In celebration of the upcoming holiday, this wedding couldn't fit anymore perfectly. Last year over the fourth of July weekend Sarah and Christian tied the knot at the Healdsburg Country Gardens on what seemed to be the most lovely California day. The rustic ceremony tied in pieces of red, white, and blue, giving a nod to the summer holiday while still keeping it simple and unique. There's something about their big day that's got us dreaming of some summer lovin'.

The couple customized parts of our Heartland and Mi Amor designs to create menus and wedding programs that matched their decor.

We're loving the lively red/white striped ribbon to hold the place cards. You really can't go wrong with wooden clothespins for a rustic wedding!

Even the groom got down with the theme and rocked these blue/white striped socks. Nice touch!

To view more photos, check out their wedding over on Wedding Chicks!

Photography by Christina Diane 

Free Printable! Picnic Party Invite!

If you're summer hungry like us you're already planning your next outdoor occasion. We are dreaming of warm afternoons, gingham blankets and our favorite snacks. Well the time has finally arrived and so we've created these festive printable picnic invitations just for you! They're perfect for any summer event and can be printed right at home. The address label stamp is also printable, or take it to your local stamp shop and create a lifelong keepsake. You can download the templates here!

Picnic Invitation

Address Stamp

Enjoy!

Lucky Friday # 71, 1st Birthday

Hello all you lucky folks out there! This is the 71st edition of our Lucky Friday Giveaway.  Each Friday we feature one of our letterpress greeting cards. We’ll choose THREE LUCKY WINNERS to get a free card.  Post a comment by 12 p.m. PST the following Thursday, and we’ll announce the winners on the following Friday!

The winners from last week are (drum roll, please): Derek Rigby, Nicky, and Sierra Catherine! We’ll contact you next week to arrange sending your Hipster Party card.

Design: 1st Birthday Artist: Esther Aarts Inspiration: We had a little block about this one— our train of thought didn't have rails, but then we got on the ball and it ended up being a real bunny of a design. Who to send it to: We can think of some one, one for whom it's perfect, the one and only, the sweetest one of all! Ideas we scrapped in favor of this one: The text "One Is the Loneliest Number" didn't suit the occasion— not one bit. Favorite detail: Ooh, that's a tough one... Why letterpress: We can give you one good reason... it's one-derful.

Don’t forget to post your comment and tune in next week, same time, different stationery, to see if you’ve won!

 

Lab Partners Show at Super 7

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!

DIY Embroidered Flower Baskets

 

Are you looking for an inexpensive way to spruce up your patio or front stoop? Look no further! This DIY embroidered flower basket is insanely easy, and totally customizable. Coco liners are great for iron window hayracks and basic standup plant stands, but the natural fibers of the liner itself make for a fabulous embroidery project. We grabbed a few at our local craft supply store and went for a nautical themed basket. The anchor was free-handed but you can easily create a monogram, a flower, or any icon you like! Loop some rope through the basket or even leather or chain to create the right look for your home. See the steps below!

Materials:

Coco liner, embroidery thread and needle, rope (or other hanging material), potted flowers and soil

How To:

Step 1. Draw your icon or design on paper before you get started, and make sure it will fit nicely on your liner. Place your paper over your liner and make some loose stitches to mark your lines. Tear the paper out to reveal a basic outline.

Step 2. Dive right in! Create a large knot in one end of your thread. Begin by creating a clean outline of your design as a guide, then go back through carrying the thread to fill the space. Here are some tips for satin stitching.

Step 3. When you're all finished, be sure to knot the end of your thread so it doesn't unravel.

Step 4. Cut three equal sized pieces of rope (or whatever your hanging material is) at 3' each.

Step 5. Make three dime-sized holes about 1.5" below the top of your coco liner at equal distances apart. Keep your design in the center of two.

Step 6. Loop your rope through the holes and double knot to keep in place. If you're using chain, an "S" hook will do the trick.

Step 6. Tie the three pieces of rope together at the top.

Step 7. Plant your flowers and hang with a ceiling hook!

Voilà! The easiest and most inexpensive hanging basket around. We want to see yours! Post pictures to our facebook or twitter to share!

For more fun DIY ideas, visit our website, here!

Summer Special! 20% Off Wedding Stationery!

Because we love you all and appreciate your business we're rolling out a little summer special for our US customers! From now until July 15th  July 31st! we're offering 20% off all wedding stationery. This includes wedding invites, save the dates, programs, personalized notecards, and any other wedding paper products available on our site. Just enter SummerSpecial at checkout!

Enjoy!

(This promotion is for our US website only, sorry UK friends! We'll have some special promos for you later on this Summer!)

Employee Spotlight: Kelly

Kelly is next in our employee spotlight series and we are so excited to share a little bit about her. Kelly has been with Hello!Lucky since the very beginning. She has done just about every job here from working with brides to shipping and folding greeting cards. These days she helps keep our website running like a well-oiled machine, while graciously allowing us to use her son's photo in almost all of our sample birth announcements. We love Kelly for her sense of humor, effortless style, and the stories she can tell about the early days at Hello!Lucky!

My role at Hello!Lucky is...

To help keep things chugging along.  I am focused on operations and our website right now.

I can't get through the day without...

Drinking copious amounts of water and eating snacks on a regular basis.  I'm a tad cranky when hungry.

My ideal weekend activities include...

Having no plans whatsoever, movies, good food, good company, and daytime cocktails.  Now that I have a 1-year-old?  Precious and elusive sleep... and daytime cocktails.

My favorite Hello!Lucky memory is...

Calling the studio with ideas for the Barbecue Parade card while on the bus. I got more than a few glances when I suggested that the card needed an ear of corn shucking itself.

Secret insider info you might not know about Hello!Lucky.....

The head honchos are former fashion models. I've seen pictorial proof.

New Rehearsal Dinner Invitations!

It's officially summer and that means our studios are bustling with new projects for weddings. Since this is our busiest time of year, we try our best to keep things easy and accessible - from organizing our office to organizing our website. If you're planning a wedding or rehearsal, you might be feeling the same way! One way we can make your planning a little easier is with our new customizable rehearsal dinner invitations! Now in just a few quick clicks your rehearsal dinner invitations can be personalized, printed, and on their way to your home. Our designs match all of our wedding invitation suites, so your wedding details will come together just right.

Planning a bachelorette party or baby shower? These invitations work perfectly for any occasion. Dress it up or down by customizing colors and fonts and your guests will be impressed.

Be sure to check back on our website for even more designs to come! View the entire collection here.

Style Me Pretty's Bridal Fashion & Beauty Mag

Yesterday was an exciting day for one of our favorite bridal sites Style Me Pretty! They just released their brand-spankin-new bridal fashion and beauty e-magazine and it's gorgeous. The talented and bridal savvy ladies over at SMP curated a lovely 171 pages of pure bridal bliss. From DIY projects to real weddings, the online publication is the ultimate online destination for wedding inspiration. It includes a beautiful feature on Jennifer Behr's stunning headpieces and style guides by our favorite bloggers. Congratulations to SMP! We can't wait to see more!

Check out the e-mag here!