The Fabulous Mr. Finch

We just stumbled across the work of Mr. Finch, a textile artist from Leeds in Yorkshire, and were immediately enamored by his ethereal and whimsical creations.

Finch says he is inspired by British folklore, shape shifting witches, and moon gazing hares. We love that he believes the animals he creates come to life at night when everyone is sleeping.  It's no surprise that his creatures feel so magical.

He has had no formal training which is completely inspiring.

 

Love this sea horse...

This charming hare reminds us of the Velveteen Rabbit.

Check out more of his work here and here. You can pick up some of his pieces at his Etsy shop.

 

Marimekko Kids

Watch out crewcuts, these images from Marimekko's kids collection are reaching the top of the cute chart. It's not unusual that we are caught wishing kids clothing came in adult sizes, but once we see those little bodies show off those fashionable threads, they're definitely making a spot on our wish list. Marimekko has always inspired us with their colorful patterns and bold decor, but now that we're seeing more of them in our every day lives, we're even more in love.

And with all the little boys in our H!L family, we're obsessing over their toy car illustrations. Who wouldn't want to trek that backpack to the first day of school next year!?

Visit their beautiful US website right here, and be sure to check out the kids collection here!

Welcome 2013!

After the holidays wind down and we return to our regular routine, we welcome 2013 with open arms. There are many events to look forward to this year, many resolutions to keep and many achievements to reach. As we look forward we always like to start off right with an organized, refreshed state of mind. We picked a few of our favorite 2013 wall and desk calendars from around the web to share with all of you. We're noticing a geometric theme in our calendars so expect to see a new trend! Happy New Year!

1. Linda and Harriett Quilt Calendar 2. Kin of Kin Lunar Calendar 3. Darling Clementine Harvest Calendar 4. Frankie Press Calendar 5. Julia Kostreva Prisms Calendar 6. Leah Duncan Shapes Calendar

Inspired by Charlotte Trounce

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

Inspired by: No Nostalgia Typeography Video

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

Wedding Inspiration Pin Boards

Wedding season may be coming to an end soon, but we know how important it is to plan ahead. Seasonal trends will come and go but once you've chosen your wedding invitations it's easy to create a complete look. We're still busy pinning inspiration around some of our most popular wedding invitation designs. Our Pinterest Wedding Inspiration Boards are a great way to develop a look without aimlessly scrolling through image after image. Whether you're having a bright modern wedding or a rustic, natural wedding, our inspiration boards have lots to offer. Above is a mini collage of our favorite images from our Big Day Inspiration Board. This wedding invitation speaks loudly to our fans, and with the whimsical wording and bold typeface it's a shoe-in for a splashy event.

Photo credits clockwise from top left: Drink Straws / Favor Bags / Wedding Shoes / Big Day Wedding Invitation + Save the Date / Heart Programs

Our Lavender Harvest wedding invitation has all the sweet and delicate details that make a rustic wedding look elegant. Designed by Shelley Laband, its colorful illustrations make coordinating wedding details a cinch. Check out the Lavender Harvest Inspiration Board for more matching decor ideas and lovely photos.

Photo credits clockwise from top left: Lavender Harvest wedding suite / Lavender Boutonniers / Wedding Photo / Lavender Cake / Lavender Lemonade 

Wedding Invitation Pin Boards

 By now Pinterest has become the most inspirational search engine and idea web on the internet, and we're still amazed by all the style and design popping up every day. We use Pinterest to not only gather inspiration for our own work, but to also give our followers a place to gather ideas for your own use. We've taken our favorite and most popular wedding invitations and curated a collection of inspiration pieces that match the aesthetic of our designs. The best way to start planning a theme for your wedding is to start with paper products - and we've got you covered. Figs is the perfect design for a casual outdoor event, and for all you brides having a cozy, rustic wedding, the Figs Inspiration Board might be the ideal place to gather tips for table displays or floral arrangements. You'll find everything from neutral color palettes to delicious looking treats.

If bright colors are more your style - or if you're planning a desert wedding - check out our Desert Skyline Inspiration Board. We've taken our classic Desert Skyline design and transformed it into a bright and festive picture palette. Here you will certainly feel at home by all the warm sandy backdrops and gorgeous succulent bouquets. Visit us on Pinterest to view more inspiration boards and to find links to all the images above!

Eunice's Pinterest Picks - Happy Spring!

This week I've been getting into the idea of a fun and fresh spring wedding. It all started with the launch of our new wedding invitation lines with the ever fabulous Jacqui Lee & equally lovely Susy Jack*. From left to right and moseying down: Our brand spankin' new save the date from the  Flora & Fauna invitation suite by Jacqui Lee, love this beautiful, beautiful girl - so happy! Details from this adorable wedding (shot by Sweet Little Photographs), this handsome guy is so casually hip (Jenna Trapasso of Red White and Green Photography), and a snappy striped bow tie from Forage. Fun, graphic shoes from BHLDN, polka dot blusher veil from Sibo Designs, this lovely bouquet by Flowerwild (photo by Jose Villa Photography), simple ruffles (photo by Elizabeth Messina), and Flyaway Confetti from BHLDN.   Susy Jacks*' Daisy save the date from her brand new line with us! Love these plaid bows by the Belle and the Beau, and these cute graphic napkins from Merriment Events. Also love this fabric photobooth backdrop from Lena Corwin's gorgeous wedding...and last but not least, how cute would this little vintage beetle be for a getaway car? (Stephanie Williams Photography).

Today's Bride

These photos from Nancy Liu Chin's Anatomy of Today's Bride for Today's Bride SF are to die for! We were approached by Nancy awhile ago in efforts to come up with a classic and whimsical invitation and day-of paper suite for her ultra-sweet photo shoot. It was a piece of cake once she shared her inspiration with us, and knowing which amazing vendors were also on board, we knew it would be a hit.

You can see our working files below. We were really into mismatched patterns and folded cards. If you look closely, the invitation reads Christian & Dior, tres chic!

Visit Nancy's Brown Bag to view Anatomy of Today's Bride Part I and Part II, and watch the amazing video by Luke Goodman here!

Photography by Kevin Chin

Eunice's Pinterest Picks - Desert Skyline

This week I've been loving succulents, the perfect thing for a romantic desert wedding. Our Desert Skyline invitation would be perfect for the occasion, as would this super cool and minimalist tumbleweed bouquet by JL Designs (photography by Gabriel Ryan Photographers), and fabulous sparkly purse - very 70's disco halter top but in the coolest possible way (photo by Max Wanger from this inspiring Palm Springs weddding). The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs (photo: Lane Dittoe) would make for a hip wedding venue, and I love this bridesmaid's dress (photography by Gabriel Ryan Photographers). Gorgeous and simple cake (from Whole Foods! Photo by Jose Villa), fabulous signs by Lorie Marie from Pretty Little Things, cowboy boots are an obvious shoe choice and a brilliant option for dancing the night away hobble free (Nicole Chatham Photography), these pretty centerpieces by Air Plant Supply Co. (photography by Brandon Kidd), and brilliant dahlia and succulent wedding bouquet recipes from the Wedding Chicks.

Eunice's Pinterest Picks - Art Deco Glamour

Art Deco Glamour

 We've just added our Marquee wedding invitation to our website, an invitation I designed for a fabulous Art Deco inspired wine country wedding, so this week I've been daydreaming about a glamorous 20's era wedding. Darkly romantic florals from Saipua and these gorgeous sparkly shoes (Kallima Photography). I love the drape and details on this Temperley London Jean Dress and this whimsical shooting star headpiece from Rodarte. St. Germain favors with perfect labels from this amazing speakeasy inspired wedding, crystal and chiffon headband by our dear friend Jennifer Behr (who designed my wedding headpiece!). This simple golden cake (via StyleMePretty) is just stunning and Chie Mihara's Stratosphere Mary Janes via BHLDN are both elegant and witty. Art Deco perfection in Coralie Bickford-Smith's foil stamped cover design for the Great Gatsby and of course one must have a bass and banjo player ( The Two Man Gentleman Band ) and a perfect bridesmaid's dress from BHLDN...See my entire Marquee Inspiration Board here!

Gorgeous Paper Wedding Details

This paper wall decor spotted on Green Wedding Shoes stopped us dead in our tracks. We definitely have a sweet spot for paper wedding details, but this bride's DIY wall art just topped the charts! Inspired by the always extraordinary Anthropologie window displays, this bride used tons of rolled paper strips to create an enormous abstract backdrop for her reception. Stunning!

 

Eunice's Pinterest Picks

This week on Pinterest I've been mooning over Kris Knight's paintings - the palette, the ethereal clarity - so mesmerizing! I have been generally loving delicate, organic details like this amazing mushroom cake by Erica O'Brien (gorgeous photo by Elizabeth Messina) and the muted creamy colors blended with neutrals in this Parisian rooftop. Also loving florals by Saipua, so painterly, loose and natural! This ring by Eldel Precious, delicate champagne flutes from Joy de Vivre, gorgeous Emannuelle Junqueira dress and, apropos of nothing, Strictly No Elephants which amuses me.

Are you on Pinterest? Find us there or leave your link in the comments- we'd love to see what you're pinning too.

Inspired by: Wedding Invitation Suites

With wedding season about to kick off, we're gearing up for some amazing additions to our collection. Wedding invitations serve as the first source of inspiration for the big day, and with all the pieces in check, you can really start to see all the details come to life. Frequently we find ourselves browsing through the photo database for inspiration drawn from particular invitations, and we wanted to share a place where you can do the same. Whether your wedding has a rustic farm theme, a sleek and modern theme, or a whimsical and playful theme, these photos will have you planning in no time! Click on the photos for a larger view!

Southern Belle (above) and its darling motifs will make that sweet southern wedding that much more charming. The delicate watercolors by Anne Smith are calling for lots of floral garland and white daisies!

 Rolling Acres is just right for a summer celebration. And the pennant liners (available soon!) will add a festive flare to your party invitation.

Figs has more rustic and natural qualities. Perfect for an outdoor wedding where locally sourced food and flowers are the focus.

We love the crisp and clean details of the Desert Skyline invitation suite. Bouquets of succulents and dried flowers arranged among rough wooded tables would complement this style beautifully.

Heartland is another favorite and best for the down-home country weddings we all dream about. We've seen lots of brides customize the colors and layout of this design, but it always stands out with some amazing farm-chic accessories.

 Big Day is one of our most popular suites, with its playful wording and simplistic hand-drawn icons, it's definitely a party starter. We've replaced the Golden Gate Bridge icon with other simple motifs, and it's still just as sweet!

We can't imagine a Cape Cod wedding without lots of nautical accompaniments. This maritime suite designed by Anne Smith was made just for our brides ready to wed by the ocean air.

A custom design gallery with all of our invitation suites is in the making, along with lots of brand new designs. Do you have a favorite style or wish we would create a wedding suite around a certain theme? Let us know in the comments!

All photos by Edyta Szyszlo

8 Most Colorful Cities on Earth

Manarola-italyManarola, Italy

We're loving this roundup of colorful cities that we spotted on Curbly. There is something magical about a city that embraces color into its architecture, and these cities have us begging for a visit. Who wouldn't want to scope out the spectrum of such vibrant skylines, especially when they are in places like Italy and Argentina.

Colorful-Guanajuato-CityGuanajuato, Mexico

willemstad-antilles-2Willemstad, Curaco

la-boca-buenos-airesLa Boca, Buenos Aires

st-johns-newfoundland1St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada

Of course, we couldn't imagine a list of colorful cities without thinking of San Francisco. It didn't make the cut this time, but with images like these, we're certain it will top the charts next time.

SFColorful Housessan_fransisco

Check out the whole list on enpundit!

In the bag!

bags

We are loving these oh-so-chic messenger bags from Ulster Weavers that we found whilst looking for tea-towels for the London office. Having images of London, New York and Paris, they coordinate rather well with our own invitations and we can think of no better way of keeping all ones' wedding paraphernalia together than in one of these beauties! Of course, for all those readers in a non-wedding frame of mind, they are equally good for popping to the supermarket whilst retaining ones' street cred! We are also rather taken by some of their aprons in wonderful retro designs; perfect for releasing your inner Doris Day for a spot of afternoon cake baking!

aprons

Inspired by Beyonce

Beyoncé-Countdown-Official-Video-YouTubebeyonce100711-celebs-beyonce-countdown-1.jpg

Can she be any more fabulous? When our H!L design team was caught huddled around the computer watching Beyoncé's "Countdown" video, we knew it must have been something good. The video's contemporary ode to the 1970s includes split screen videography, hotter than hot dance moves, and amazing color block snapshots. We're particularly in love with these neon body suits paired with the striking black and white striped hat. Definitely an inspiration! Props to you Beyoncé!

Anthology DIY Cook's Kit

Anthology_Cover

Have you all had a chance to flip through the holiday issue of Anthology Magazine? It's filled with fabulous gift guides and festive features to get you in the mood for sleigh bells and snow! Eunice designed a retro chef's kit as a gift for her sister Sabrina, and there's a detailed tutorial about how you can make one yourself! Complete with guidelines for printmaking and sewing, your handmade gifts are sure to make a lasting impression.

Anthology_Chef

Anthology_Chef2Head over to Anthology to see the whole story!

DIY Paper Quilt!

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We can't believe this beautiful paper quilt was crafted entirely out of misprints and unsellable papers from Linda & Harriett's deliciously patterned calendars.  Gorgeous and green!

LetterpressCal-1

We're always looking for new ways to use scraps of paper and old letterpress samples (too pretty to toss away!) and this just might be in the mix for our next craft night.

Circus Fever

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It's no secret that we love everything circus. We find timeless inspiration from the peppy colorways and the wild patterns, especially when we find one of a kind vintage circus themed items, like this fabric (above via Cherry Tomato).

circus

The images inside Circus Alphabet from Whitman Tell-A-Tale-Books are packed with hilarious illustrations of the circus days of the 1950s. We can only imagine the excitement of such a fantastic event!

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And we can't forget precious Jude's first birthday party invitations and circus party decor!

Jude-is-1yr-21

jude

It doesn't end there! We have our beloved Circus Photo Birth Announcement!

BPCA_CIRCUSP1_STO-SUN-TAN_F_L

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! So many wonderful ideas!