Boy, was this an eventful weekend! My friend K's wedding was a ton of fun -- I danced my shoes off, laughed so hard, and covered eight states in two days. Last night, I played catch-up and slept nearly fifteen hours!
I didn't end up giving K and J the personalized love letter book; I became overwhelmed on Thursday night, with the long drive ahead of me and some wayward anxieties, so I put down my scissors, glassine envelopes, and rubber stamps ... and went to bed. Also, I decided the gift would better suit an engagement or anniversary, so I'll finish the book and save it for some future occasion.
You've been so patient with me, though -- so, time for some photos:
Invitation:
a library pocket containing two blank invitations and
handwritten instructions for a couples' nights-in
Flirtation:
a tiny note with a prompt for flirtation
detail of heart hole-punched page
Intoxication:
front detail of patterned tag
handwritten instructions for mixing
a romantic drink called The Snuggler
Adoration:
three mint-colored library pocket cards for
listing favorite things about the beloved
Separation:
addition of window pocket page
a window pocket containing a small bundle of
agenda sheets, fastened together with instructions
for counting the days until the beloved's return
{from a business trip, weekend with friends, etc.}
There are several more sections for me to embellish, but ten o'clock the evening before a long trip was not the best time to rouse my creativity. All-in-all, I'm moderately pleased with the concept -- perhaps this one's just my prototype or mock-up, though. We'll see ...
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These heart rings {for eggs, pancakes, and even cookies}
The original packaging, however, left something to be desired.
I pulled down my box labeled Ephemera, and set to work,
A little handwriting and stamping gave the hearts
I also snapped up this cast aluminum {it's pretty heavy!} baking pan
Nordic Ware is a great brand, and the packaging really wasn't
Somebody out there needs to get her hands on this baby: a 1920s metal clip-board, perfect for a wall in need of organization. {If my cupboard had more walls, I'd surely swipe this before you could say, "Hello, perfection!"} I spotted it in Blue Bell Bazaar's shop {a bona fide treasure trove of vintage items} last night, shortly after it was listed ...
these girlie decals from Yaelfran
this hand-crank wooden boat {on the rough seas!}
this cloud factory from Pearson Maron
this old school wall clock from Moxie Thrift
WHO: World Market
Check out this fabulous scalloped edge tissue paper I picked up yesterday. I didn't even know I needed it until I saw it. How sweet would it look, peeking out the top of a kraft paper bag? Why haven't I seen anything like it before, and why aren't we always using scalloped edge tissue paper? I snapped it up from Home Goods, but it's made by a company called Blueink Studios. Follow the link to check out their other color combinations.
Invitation:
Flirtation:
detail of heart hole-punched page
Intoxication:
handwritten instructions for mixing
Adoration:
Separation:
a window pocket containing a small bundle of
The library pockets and window pockets are perfect
The first section of the book is historical letters having something to do with invitation.
I've added a pair of mini invites for the couple to use on each other. For example, K might write on the small card, "in the kitchen," and leave it on J's bedside table. Downstairs, in the kitchen, K will have a hot pot of J's favorite coffee, waiting to be drunk.
A book of love letters from over the centuries, personalized by me. I'll include glassine envelopes with notes to my friend and her husband-to-be, pressed flowers, and suggestions for special date nights. These bits will be tucked randomly throughout the book. For example, Lewis Carroll writes to May Mileham, "Thank you very much indeed for the peaches. They were delicious. Eating one was almost as nice as kissing you: of course not quite: I think, if I had to give the exact measurement, I should say 'three-quarters as nice.'" Tucked into this page, I might suggest: Buy a peach. A ripe one. Bite into it, chew, and swallow -- then offer the peach to your lover, and suggest he do the same. Kiss. Repeat bite-kiss procedure. Debate which is best ... ;)
or the lovely Leanne
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