Inspiration #18: Mad Hatter Style with Topsy Turvy Designs

Peacock Feather - Butterfly - Hair Clip - Fascinator - Black

A fellow I Hella Love Oaklander, costumer and milliner Kim Brown-Dye, owns Topsy Turvy Designs, featuring vintage and whimsical handmade hair accessories to adorn your pretty little head or your bridesmaids'. While many of the pieces are $40-$130, there are some for under $30 - featured below. If you're a crafty gal and have tried to make some hair candy on your own, please add a comment with a link to your handiwork.

Ecru Peacock Feather - $23.00



Sassy Sequin Flower/Floral Hair Clips - $30.00

Inspiration #17: Spread the Love Label & Weck Glass Jar

Since we're planning on a rustic wedding, I've been obsessed with mason jars and jam. Gingham didn't exactly fit into my design scheme, but Miss Pickle Press's "Spread the Love" customizable jam labels certainly do. Add in Weck glass jars (from Germany and distributed by Heath Ceramics of Sausalito), and you've got some great food porn.

Labels are $15 for 12 custom labels. Buy on Etsy>>

The Weck glass jar mini is $2, the small is $4.50, and the large is $6. Buy on Heath Ceramics>> or you can also buy the mini jar, non Euro style for $1.55 each ($18.70 for a dozen) from WeckHomeCanning.com

The best deal on jars are 8oz Square Mason Jars from Lone Star Candle Supply -- only $28.80 for 100 jars!!

Inspiration #16: Non-Floral Centerpieces

If you're looking to break tradition and not break your piggy bank, consider using non-floral arrangements. Using fruit creatively or items of great sentiment to you and your fiance, such as books (see SpeakQuietly above), can be really fun!

Check these out:
Citrus Centerpiece
Lemons and grapefruits tied in yellow taffeta ribbons and piled into a glass compote make a bright, casual arrangement. The bows are secured by pins, and sheer yellow organdy drapes from the bowl. A coordinating menu card is trimmed with taffeta ribbon.


Cloche Jars with Birds' Nests | Bridal Inquirer Blog
I am a fan of dainty birds' nests in bell jars, but you don't have to limit yourself! I bought a couple cloche bell jars from A Tail of the Yak in Berkeley and have used them to display seashell ornaments to my View Master.


The Pissed Off Bride


Theresa Glen Photography as seen on eHow.com
To accomplish this look, I suggest first going to TJ Maxx or Ross and finding birdcages in their home accessories section. I've seen birdcages as low as $14.99. Save on Crafts.com also has 2 for $19.99>>

Inspiration #15: DIY Louboutin Petal Sandals

Want to imitate Sex and City's Carrie with a pair of flirty Louboutin sandals without throwing down your paycheck? Blog "love Maegan" provides a how-to on recreating Christian Louboutin's petal sandals using your own strappy sandals, satin ribbon and velcro. Click here to learn how>>

Inspiration #14: Floral Ring for Bridesmaids

Happy Memorial Day! Just returned from a walk with my maid of honor in the garden/creek nearby and dished about the wedding plans. With flowers on my mind, the following idea came at the right time.

Since we're having our wedding in a garden, a "blooming ring" is a potential gift for my bridesmaids. Thank you Martha Stewart Weddings.com:

Blooming Rings

These fabric-flower bands will be a hit with bridesmaids. Give them out at the shower or rehearsal dinner. Start by snipping fabric flowers, such as the vintage ones shown here, from their stems. Wrap ribbon around your finger to determine the approximate length you'll need; cut ribbon to size, adding about 1/4 inch for overlap. Use a hot-glue gun to join ends together, forming a loop, and to add flowers to ribbon bands.

Inspiration #13: An Art Noveau Wedding

My favorite style of art - Art Nouveau - is a style of design, architecture and applied art—especially decorative—that peaked in popularity at the turn of the 20th century (1890–1905). You may be familiar with Gustav Klimt (see his "Tree of Life" frieze above) , Tiffany, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Lalique, and Antoni Gaudi -- each of whom interpreted art nouveau in their individual style. "Dynamic, undulating, and flowing lines in a syncopated rhythm" are common motifs of art nouveau.

Here are some art nouveau design inspiration:

Typography from Fonts.com


Peacock Feather Headband on Etsy.com



A Vintage Glam Wedding Blog


Julie & Jon's DIY Art Nouveau (for $10K!)


Melinda Le Photography - Art Nouveau Cake


Sugarbloom Cupcake's



Kleinfeld Bridal


The Art Nouveau Bride as seen on Chic and Charming.com


Lovebird Filigree Pin from Etsy.com - perhaps good as a cake topper?


About the Cake's Klimt Cake

Woo hoo! I won Wallpaper Projects Giveaway!

Woo hoo! Just received an email from Victoria at SFGirlByBay.com that I was one of the winners selected by authors Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith of The Curiosity Shoppe and creative DIY crafting fame. To win, contestants had to submit their ideas on how they'd reuse wallpaper for DIY crafts. When I receive the book in the mail, I'll document how this project goes! I'm going to definitely hit the East Bay Center for Re-use for scraps/test paper.

To get your own copy, click here to go to The Curiosity Shoppe online>>

Vera D. said...

I would use the wallpaper to make my DIY wedding invitations, including:

- Double-pasting to the back of the invitation
- Belly bands
- Envelope liners

If I find enough of it, I'd also consider using "vintage" style wallpaper as inexpensive table runners (stitched together).

Inspiration #12: The Wish Tree

The first time I saw a wish tree was actually at the SF MOMA during Yoko Ono's exhibition. Towards the end of the exhibit was her wish tree, where patrons could fill out their wish for the world and attach it to the tree. This practice has become very popular in weddings, symbolizing a collective wish for the couple from their closest friends and families. The most common tree branch I've seen used is the manzanita, with its rich and smooth mahogany finish. You can adorn the branch with baubles, hanging lanterns, floral pomanders, paper birds, you name it! The Wedding Chicks show how to do it here with supplies from Blooms and Branches.

Jules Bianchi Blog


A Day in the Life of a Rockstar Bride



Wedding Paper Divas


Pink Loves Chocolate


A Plexiglass Wish Tree

Inspiration #11: Escort Cards with Flair

(Photo above taken by me at the SF Opera's President's Dinner, designed by Karman Pave.)
Ahh, escort cards. They are the means by which your guests will know which table they are to be seated at. It's best to organize alphabetically so that guests can find their names easily and quickly without causing a bottleneck at the front door to your reception. If you choose to do it by table, remember to print an alpha list (i.e., Brown, Robert - Table 1; Zuleta, Ana - Table 2; etc) so that guests or ushers can locate the table assignment without a hitch.

Below are some cool ideas to jazzing up the escort card display, versus the standard "lay them out on a table" approach. If you want to learn how The Urban Bride embossed her own escort cards for $35, click here>>

A Stunning Affair:


Wedding by Color

Fun Downloads: 16 Sparrows

At 16 Sparrows, brides-to-be with a sense of humor can find "where sarcasm is folded in half." The custom design/print company offers free downloads of stationery for the budget challenged. I'm tempted to use the silhouette cards for our escort cards!

The Nookey Ration Card: A spoof of the original used in WWII.

Striped Label for decorating your favors, such as jam jars, envelopes or boxes.

Inspiration #10: Aqua and Orange

100 Layer Cake posted this color board last Wednesday -- the same colors I have in my vintage style kitchen! The colors are bright and cheery. Definitely appropriate for a summer beach wedding or a rustic garden theme. I adore it. 100 Layer Cake shows Chinese paper lanterns, and I would also suggest using orange dahlias, ranunculus or peonies as long as they are in season. Click here to find out what flowers are in season for your wedding>>



Also spotted on the Pretty Obsessed blog:

Tip: Don't Overlook Lighting!

One mistake brides can make is to overlook lighting design for their wedding. Lighting can make an event appear cozy and intimate (using soft candlelight) or bright and cheery, to elegant and luxurious (dramatic purple uplighting).

I met a DJ (Chris Miguel of Spintronix) over the weekend who provides spotlight with a multitude of colors for $20 each spotlight. It's about the same price if you were to DIY. If you can't find a DJ in your area who would provide this cost savings (in terms of time and money), then you can use string lights and lanterns. Target has a multitude of festive string lights for $9.99 a package. Or if you are super crafty and have the patience to make your own lit lanterns, check out this how-to at Project Wedding.com>>

I am also addicted to candle holders, mostly vintage style or retro pieces. Here's some that I spotted at Crate & Barrel Outlet over the weekend:
Pixie $9.95


Trix $4.95

Trinidad $4.95 (orig. $12.95)

Inspiration #9: Untraditional Boutonnieres

Another cool thing I spotted at the Ruby Press Bridal Soiree were Rosenow Floral's untraditional boutonnieres using found objects. They were fun and reflected the groom's personality/hobby. I'm posting some inspiration, and I hope to figure out how to do it myself in a bit. Will keep you posted! This is perfect booty to search for at the next Alameda Flea Market on June 7!