Today I took a field trip — Yes, a field trip!  I went to visit a printer that I meet last year at the Stationery Show to learn about the printing possibilities they offer. As a stationer it’s important to always look for the best products and services for my designs. I called up earlier this week to see if I could come in for a tour of the place. Not only did a get a thorough tour, but Brian, whose grandfather started the printery, educated me on the printing process and the myriad options they offer. Today was what I like to call a “Creative Experience”, which is an experience that ignites my creativity and fuels new ideas. As I walked through the print shop, numerous ideas popped in my mind for invitation designs. I look forward to creating, sending those creations to the printer and seeing those creations manifest into beautiful stationery.

xoxo,

{Invitation design in honor of Pantone’s color of 2012: Tangerine Tango}

2011 brought many changes to my business. A week before January 2011 I took a huge leap and  finally rented my own office space. One of my goals at that time was to set boundaries between my personal life and my business. I had been working out of my second bedroom home office for four years. It was time to move out and move on. I have now been in my office (which I lovingly refer to as my design studio) for a year and it has made a huge impact on my business and my sanity. It’s helped me learn how to “turn off” when I get home, instead of constantly checking and sending email and working late nights on orders. Conversely, when I’m in my studio I’m in my zone and get so much done. I also love the inspiration it brings and the great conversations I have with clients while discussing invitation designs.

Last year I attended Making Things Happen. It was such an awesome experience and came right on time. It was such a  unique and pleasantly surprising  experience, that it’s hard to explain it to someone who hasn’t attended. If you’re trying to make big things happen in your life I highly recommend attending. Interestingly enough, I went to MTH expecting to learn how to take my business to the next level, but instead I realized that everything I encountered that day was to help me make things happen in my personal life and to spend time working on myself. God always has his own plan in mind! In the summer, I encountered some health problems that had me out of commission for a couple of months, but praise God, I’m health now — and getting even healthier. The biggest lesson I learned was to ALWAYS listen to your body! If something does not feel right, it’s because it isn’t.

In September I went back home to Germany (where I grew up) to visit my family for two weeks. I had such a great time and was so happy to spend time with my mother, step-father, brothers, grandparents and cousins. We spent an eventful week in Berlin and had a blast:

{Me & my mom :: The Brandenburger Tor – Brandenburg Gate, Berlin}

{The Jewish Memorial :: Berlin}

{Fun at Madame Tussauds with my brother, Isaiah :: Berlin}

I’m thankful for 2011 and excited for what’s to come in 2012!

xoxo,

{The Peacock ~ Designs by Missy Collection ©2010}

{The Peacock ~ Designs by Missy Collection ©2010}

{The Peacock ~ Designs by Missy Collection ©2010}

XOXO,

The showcase was well attended by brides, engaged couples, wedding planners and other wedding industry affiliates who parussed a number of vendors to help them plan thier perfect day, including: Remember Our Day {Wedding Favors}, Elle Belle by Yaelle Designs {Couture Hair Acessories}, Eleni’s New York {Decorative cookies and cupcakes}, Threshold Visions {Photography}, Selavi Productions {Event Production}, A Floating Affair {Balloon Decorating}, and Miriam Lei {Custom Jewelry Design} to name a few. Be sure to check out thier websites to learn more about thier products. Here are some pictures from the event:

{House of Papier’s Designs by Missy Collection}

{House of Papier’s new Designs by Missy Collection}

{House of Papier’s Silk Box Collection}

{Remember Our Day – Has the BEST wedding favors and gifts!}

{Cupcakes from Eleni’s New York – they were sooooo good!}

{Custom Jewelry Designs from Miriam Lei}

{Couture Hair Acessesories by Elle Belle by Yaelle Designs – I love the birdcage veils!}

Happy Wedding Planning!

xoxo,

Once again the past six months have flown by and New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week  is upon us. Designers, models, make-up artists, celebrities, buyers and those totally addicted to fashion will attend MBFW in Bryant Park for the last time. This Fall 2010 season will mark the last hoopla of the grand white tents in Bryant Park that the world of fashion has come to love before the bi-annual event moves to its new location at Lincoln Center. Once again, House of Papier will be there to bring you all the latest from the catwalk. I personally love to attend fashion week because its where the most creative and artistic minds meet on the hottest and most fashionable runways in the world. Stars are made under these tents and its where I draw inspiration for my invitation designs. Mercedes- Benz Fashion Week starts on Thursday, February 11th and runs through February 18th. See you there!

The holidays are over, and many of you have wonderful news to share. Christmas, and especially New Years are the most popular time for popping the big question! So now what? Well, once you and your beau have set a wedding date it’s time to get your Save the Date announcements out.  Save the Date’s are a great way to inform your friends and family of your wedding plans before sending the formal invitations. House of Papier is offering a New Years special of 10% off all Save the Date announcements and Wedding Invitations through the month of January. Contact us today at info@houseofpapier.com to place your order. Do you have a beautiful engagement story? Share it with us and receive an additional 10% off your stationery order.

Happy Planning!

I would also like to announce a new member of the House of Papier team – Louise Grdovic (pictured below) in her wedding picture. How fitting, since she will be assisting with Wedding invitations and much more.

{Louise Grdovic – Assistant Invitation Designer}

Thank you to all of you who subscribe to the House of Papier blog, follow us on Facebook, and of course I can’t forget my Tweetie Pies on Twitter. Stay tuned for more wonderful things to come in 2010!

House of Papier, LLC
Designer Invitations for Your Fashionable Life!

XOXO,

Inspiration Board #1:

  Inspiration Board #2

XOXO,

Christian Siriano, the winner of the fourth season of Project Runway showcased his latest collection on the catwalk at New York fashion week. His RTW line was laced with accessories to die for: big floppy hats, chic clutches and curve-heeled shoes like these:

The line can be described as mediterranean inspired with neutral and watercolor palettes. The elements that made this collection standout were the ruffle details and the asymmetrical almost sculpture like patterns. The show was packed and the doors were shut in the face of a crowd of people still waiting to get in, so I’m elated to have seen the show first hand. The front row was laced with celebrities such as: Tim Gunn, Nina Garcia, Kelly Roland, Veronica Webb, Tory Spelling, Mena Suvari, Estelle, and Amerie to name a few.

Here are my favorite designs from the show:

Missy waiting for the show to start

What more is there to say but, FIERCE!

The ARISE: African Promise Collectivewas the first show at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week dedicated to showing a collective of African fashion designers and I was proud to be a part of it. The designers who showcased their work on the runway included: Eric Rasina (Cambodia), Jewel by Lisa (Nigeria), David Tlale (South Africa) and Tiffany Amber (Nigeria).

This show was star studded with celebrities such as Damian Dash, Amerie and Crissette Michelle. Alek Wek, the beautiful Sudanese super model was in the show and the that sexy piece of eye-candy Tyson Beckford closed the show out to a great applause and standing ovation from the crowd. All in all, the designs were all fabulous and it was by far the longest fashion show I’ve ever attended. It lasted for approximately 25 minutes, which in the fashion world is very long – most shows last anywhere from 9 to 15 minutes. I loved every minute of it!

I have video of the show to share with you but because the show was so long wasn’t able to add it to the blog post. Look out for it on House of Papier TV. In the meantime, here are some pictures from the show:

Alek Wek:

Tyson Beckford:

After the show:

Missy & Ibrehem ~ I ran into a friend from college (Tuskegee University) at the show who I hadn’t seen in years – It’s such a small world! You may remember him from the 10th season of the reality show Survivor:

ARISE Magazine is the first magazine dedicated to covering the achievements of African fashion, music, culture and politics. Learn more, visit ARISE.