Kate Reed Designs

One crazy month!

2011-05-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

We have been hunkered down and focused on the National Stationery Show which begins on May 15. Needless to say our blogging, tweeting, facebook"ing" has definitely taken a backseat the past couple of weeks. So, hang in there--- will be back in full force soon!

Here is a project that was printed this morning. This spring we can't seem to get enough blue, we LOVE it!

Have a great day,
Cheers!
Kara and crew

Loving this color!

Mixing the paint

Inking the press

Here we go....

Spring is in the Air...

2011-04-06T10:15:00.000-07:00

...And we love it!

Here are some of our favorite things about spring:

• Bright spring colors such as yellows, oranges, pinks, blues
• Floral prints. Who doesn't love a great flower bag or dress?
• Sundresses! It's time to get out of those black tights, pull out that razor, and prepare to show those legs!
• Hitting the gym even harder. Hey, it's about to be bathing suit season. Also, we especially LOVE those endorphins!
• Being outside. Lately, it's been gorgeous out there and we can't seem to stay indoors.
• Our spring line. We're so proud that our hard work has paid off.

Spring is one of the best times of the year and we are definitely celebrating/welcoming it!

Social Media---is it a fad?

2011-04-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

A friend shared this video with us the other day on social media. From a small business perspective with small marketing budget, we love social media.

Check it out and let us know what you think. Happy weekend!

Cheers!
Kara and crew

P.S.- We've been really busy getting ready for the NSS 2011 and can't wait to show you some new things that will debut.....stay tuned!

Girl's Night Out

2011-03-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

The CRAVE Fort Worth book is out! And to celebrate, all the ladies got together for the launch party. It was held at 809 Vickery in a refined event venue. With the exposed walls, balconies, and contemporary urban feel, it was the best place to celebrate the unique, local women featured in the book!

For those of you who don't know, CRAVE was created for urban women to bring them together and show off how inspiring and business savvy they are. The book acts as a guidebook for everything you could ever "crave" in Fort Worth, from bakeries, stationery (we're in it!), and boutiques -- all ran by women. It is "the ultimate guide to women-owned businesses in Fort Worth, feature more than 100 entrepreneurs you need to know." It's all about stepping outside of your routine and take an adventure in your own city!

Speaking of the book, we have it! And you can have it, too. We're selling it for $20 each with free shipping. Want one? It's as simple as an email to kara@katereeddesigns.com and we'll do the rest.

St. Patty's Day!

2011-03-17T06:51:00.000-07:00

We are spending our St. Patty's Day on Spring Break. Check out this article from National Geographic about the facts and myths of Ireland.

We will be back next week with more paper greatness!

Cheers!
Kara and crew

A man dressed as a leprechaun grins for the camera in New Orleans.

Photograph by Taylor S. Kennedy, National Geographic

John Roach

for National Geographic News

Updated March 16, 2011

On St. Patrick's Day—Thursday, March 17—millions of people will don green and celebrate the Irish with parades, good cheer, and perhaps a pint of beer.

But few St. Patrick's Day revelers have a clue about St. Patrick, the historical figure, according to the author of St. Patrick of Ireland: A Biography.

"The modern celebration of St. Patrick's Day really has almost nothing to do with the real man," said classics professor Philip Freeman of Luther College in Iowa. (Take an Ireland quiz.)

Who Was the Man Behind St. Patrick's Day?

For starters, the real St. Patrick wasn't even Irish. He was born in Britain around A.D. 390 to an aristocratic Christian family with a townhouse, a country villa, and plenty of slaves.

What's more, Patrick professed no interest in Christianity as a young boy, Freeman noted.

At 16, Patrick's world turned: He was kidnapped and sent overseas to tend sheep as a slave in the chilly, mountainous countryside of Ireland for seven years. (See Ireland pictures.)

"It was just horrible for him," Freeman said. "But he got a religious conversion while he was there and became a very deeply believing Christian."

St. Patrick's Disembodied Voices

According to folklore, a voice came to Patrick in his dreams, telling him to escape. He found passage on a pirate ship back to Britain, where he was reunited with his family.

The voice then told him to go back to Ireland.

"He gets ordained as a priest from a bishop, and goes back and spends the rest of his life trying to convert the Irish to Christianity," Freeman said.

Patrick's work in Ireland was tough—he was constantly beaten by thugs, harassed by the Irish royalty, and admonished by his British superiors. After he died on March 17, 461, Patrick was largely forgotten.

But slowly, mythology grew around Patrick, and centuries later he was honored as the patron saint of Ireland, Freeman noted.

St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Shortage

According to St. Patrick's Day lore, Patrick used the three leaves of a shamrock to explain the Christian holy trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Today, St. Patrick's Day revelers wear a shamrock out of tradition. But people in Ireland hoping to wear an authentic shamrock are running low on luck.

Trifolium dubium, the wild-growing, three-leaf clover that some botanists consider the official shamrock, is an annual plant that germinates in the spring. Recently, Ireland has had two harsh winters, affecting the plant's growth.

"The growing season this year is at least as delayed as it was last year, and therefore there is the potential for shortage of home-grown material," John Parnell, a botanist at Trinity College Dublin, said in an email.

"We have had frost and snow showers in parts of Ireland within the past week," he added.

Other experts pin the shortage of the traditional plant as much on modern farming methods and loss of traditional hay meadows.

"The cold winters we are having here lately are just another nail in the coffin,"Carsten Krieger, a landscape and nature photographer whose books includeThe Wildflowers of Ireland, said via email.

To make up for the shortfall, many sellers are resorting to other three-leaf clovers, such as the perennials Trifolium repens and Medicago lupulina. According to the Irish Times, these plants are "bogus shamrocks."

Trinity College's Parnell agreed that Trifolium dubium is the most commonly used shamrock today, which lends credence to the claims of authenticity.

However, he added, the custom of wearing a shamrock dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries, and "I know of no evidence to say what people then used. I think the argument on authenticity is purely academic—basically I'd guess they used anything cloverlike then."

What's more, botanists say there's nothing uniquely Irish about shamrocks. Most clover species can be found throughout Europe.

No Snakes in Ireland

Another St. Patrick myth is the claim that he banished snakes from Ireland. It's true no snakes exist on the island today, Freeman said—but they never did.

Ireland, after all, is surrounded by icy ocean waters—much too cold to allow snakes to migrate from Britain or anywhere else.

Since snakes often represent evil in literature, "when Patrick drives the snakes out of Ireland, it is symbolically saying he drove the old, evil, pagan ways out of Ireland [and] brought in a new age," Freeman said.

The snake myth, the shamrock story, and other tales were likely spread by well-meaning monks centuries after St. Patrick's death, Freeman said.

St. Patrick's Day: Made in America?

Until the 1970s, St. Patrick's Day in Ireland was a minor religious holiday. A priest would acknowledge the feast day, and families would celebrate with a big meal, but that was about it.

"St. Patrick's Day was basically invented in America by Irish-Americans," Freeman said.

Irish-American history expert Timothy Meagher said Irish charitable organizations originally celebrated St. Patrick's Day with banquets in places such as Boston, Massachusetts; Savannah, Georgia; and Charleston, South Carolina.

Eighteenth-century Irish soldiers fighting with the British in the U.S. Revolutionary War held the first St. Patrick's Day parades. Some soldiers, for example, marched through New York City in 1762 to reconnect with their Irish roots.

Other parades followed in the years and decades after, including well-known celebrations in Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago, primarily in flourishing Irish immigrant communities.

"It becomes a way to honor the saint but also to confirm ethnic identity and to create bonds of solidarity," said Meagher, of Catholic University in Washington, D.C..

Dyeing the River Green for St. Patrick's Day

Sometime in the 19th century, as St. Patrick's Day parades were flourishing, wearing the color green became a show of commitment to Ireland, Meagher said.

In 1962 the show of solidarity took a spectacular turn in Chicago when the city decided to dye a portion of the Chicago River green.

The tradition started when parade organizer Steve Bailey, head of a plumbers' union, noticed how a dye used to trace possible sources of river pollution had stained a colleague's overalls a brilliant green, according togreenchicagoriver.com.

Why not use the dye to turn the whole river green on St. Patrick's Day, Bailey thought. So began the tradition.

The environmental impact of the dye is minimal compared with pollution such as bacteria from sewage-treatment plants, said Margaret Frisbie, the executive director of the advocacy group Friends of the Chicago River.

Rather than advising against the dye, her group focuses on turning the Chicago River into a welcoming habitat full of fish, herons, turtles, and beavers. If the river becomes a wildlife haven, the thinking goes, Chicagoans won't want to dye their river green.

"Our hope is that, as the river continues to improve, ultimately people can get excited about celebrating St. Patrick's Day different ways," she said.

Pint of Guinness on St. Patrick's Day

On any given day 5.5 million pints of Guinness, the famous Irish stout brand, are consumed around the world.

But on St. Patrick's Day, that number more than doubles to 13 million pints, said Beth Davies Ryan, global corporate-relations director of Guinness.

"Historically speaking, a lot of Irish immigrants came to the United States and brought with them lots of customs and traditions, one of them being Guinness," she said.

Today, the U.S. tradition of St. Patrick's Day parades, packed pubs, and green silliness has invaded Ireland with full force, said Freeman, the classics professor.

The country, he noted, figured out that the popularity of St. Patrick's Day was a good way to boost spring tourism

Mark Your Calendars

2011-03-02T08:22:00.000-08:00

Save the Date DFWers - The Dallas Flea is back and we'll be right there along with it!

Yup, it's the same place, time, and entrance fee as the one in December, so there's absolutely no confusion! We have a few things going on (YAY!) but we are definitely putting the Dallas Flea high up on the list because we loved it so much. We're working on getting our things ready and together (we have some new designs that we can't wait to show!) and will have our booth looking spectacular for you!

Mark March 26 on your calendar to come out and prepare to come home with vintage and homemade finds. Bring your girlfriends, your mom, and your kids - all those under 12 get in for free! We'll see you there!

How to: Capture your Personality

2011-02-28T09:11:00.000-08:00

On this surprisingly chilly day in Texas, we're keeping warm by staying in the studio and immersing ourselves in fonts, fonts, and more fonts!

We believe that fonts are the BEST way to capture your personality, not only on your own personal stationery, but everywhere in life. A good flourish says you're sophisticated, classy, and romantic. A modern sans-serif is fun, trendy, and spontaneous. Need a good masculine feel? We say a classic, bold, straightforward font.

See how easy? Now, we know there are a ton of fonts out there - just open your font book or word font collection and you'll see a large assortment - but it really doesn't have to be overwhelming. We've been picking out our favorite fonts for all occasions, genders, personality types, etc. to make it easier for everyone!

The right font can really set the mood and personality, so have fun with it! Think about who you are and what you're wanting to portray. Fonts definitely don't have to be boring. In fact, we say away with boring, generic fonts! Personalize, personalize, personalize! And don't worry, when you're feeling a little defeated by your font collection, we're always here to help!

Lights, Camera, Shoot!

2011-02-23T08:01:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, Amanda here!

As a new member of the team, I'm fascinated by the diversity of activities we do each day. Some days we're in the studio designing, some days we're pressing, some days we're presenting, and some days, like today, we have the music on, the dogs around and we're photographing!

We're revamping our website AND doing some awesome publicity stuff so we want our paper to look as amazing as we see them every day. Here is small sneak peak of some final products:

It's just like us: simple, classic and fun - our paper definitely speaks for itself. We love being creative and hands on, so adding photography to our list of skills is no surprise. Make sure you keep an eye out for some more pictures of our stuff everywhere you look.

It may be a little gloomy outside in the DFW area today, but it's the complete opposite inside from where I am right now!

We're in a New York State of Mind

2011-02-21T08:10:00.000-08:00

Billy Joel did it best when he crooned about the great city of New York and this year, from May 15 - 18, we'll be singing right along.

That's right, we're headed to New York City to set up our very own Kate Reed Designs booth at the National Stationery Show! We've been hard at work designing a brand new line and creating a new, fun way for EVERYONE to be involved (but I won't say too much...yet).

We'll keep you posted as the date draws nearer and for the time being:

Let the countdown begin!

2 months, 3 weeks, 3 days

LOVE ROCKS!

2011-02-14T08:43:00.000-08:00

We think LOVE ROCKS here at KRD. Whether you're spending today with your hunny, your best friend or your furry friend, love is in the air!

Happy Valentines Day from the ladies of KRD! Drop us a line and tell us what or who you love today!

In honor of today, here are a few of the things we loooooove...

Love is in the Air

2011-02-11T08:55:00.000-08:00

Bag: Hermes Rouge Red VIF 35CM or 40CM Birkin Bag

Shoe: Christian Louboutin ‘Madame Claude’ D’orsay Pumps

Dress: Vintage Red Halter Dress

Bonjour Mes Amis

2011-01-31T08:45:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, Amanda here.

As the newest member to the Kate Reed Designs family, I decided to write a little something about myself, so here it goes:

I'm a TCU graduate who majored in English and Advertising/Public Relations. I'm from Texarkana, but I loved Fort Worth so much (and since I will forever bleed purple) I decided to stay in the area. I love designing and being creative, but I'm also super organized, so my planner is always up to date and color coordinated.

I have a 6 month old puppy named Paris (as in France, not Hilton) who happily takes up most of my free time. She's a miniature American Eskimo (though she shakes in the cold weather. Pansy.) and is so full of energy, she wears me out just watching her, let alone chasing after her! I'm such a mom, though, and take pictures of her more than I do myself. She's extremely social and more popular at my apartment complex than I am!

I have an older sister who is in Montana getting her PhD (smarty pants) and a younger brother who goes to UT in Austin, both of whom are my best friends. My parents are my role models and as scary as it is, everyday I notice something new about myself that I get from each of them (mostly in a good way). I love to bake, but my favorite thing is traveling - I plan on being a world traveler, so watch out!

My inspiration comes from the simple things in life. I love looking at small things and items often overlooked and realizing how happy their simplicity makes me. I love the vintage 1920s feel and sometimes (or rather, most of the time) think I'm living in the wrong decade. I love bright colors that pop and clean, straight lines.

I am learning so much here and know I have more to go! Kara and Kat are my greatest mentors and are teaching me more than they know - I cannot wait to make my mark!

Au Revoir, mes amis :)

Saturday morning humor

2011-01-22T08:48:00.000-08:00

I love this. So funny and yet so true. Thanks to my friend, Shannon, for sending some Saturday morning humor this way.

As for #11, I had great plans of printing Valentine cards today......not going to happen. (There's always tomorrow)

Cheers!

Kara

The Adult Truths - Too Funny and Too True

1. I think part of a best friend’s job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die!

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I’m pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don’t want to have to restart my collection…again.

13. I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Bud Lite than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an “Avoid Ghetto” routing option.

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

19. How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear or understand a word they said?

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

22. Sometimes I’ll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I’d bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.

24. The first testicular guard, the “Cup,” was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

What's for dinner tonight, Crock Pot Chicken Gumbo

2011-01-20T13:18:00.000-08:00

After sending a tweet this morning about the greatest invention ever, The Crock Pot, I received many inquiries about the recipe for tonight's dinner. I found it on Southern Food while doing a Google search on easy slow cooker recipes. KRD has been in the studio working more than usual this week, so the Crock Pot was a perfect solution for a weeknight dinner. I sure hope it tastes as great as my kitchen smells. Our family isn't crazy about sausage, so I doubled the chicken. Rice and a salad will be added and voila, dinner is served!

Chicken Crock Pot Gumbo

Ingredients:

1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup cooking oil
3 cups chicken broth
12 to 16 ounces smoked sausage, sliced about 1/2" thick
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
2 cups diced cooked chicken
1 to 2 cups sliced okra
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
4 cloves garlic, minced
salt, to taste
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
boiled white rice

Preparation:

For roux, in a heavy 2-quart saucepan stir together flour and oil until smooth. Cook over medium-high heat for 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, for about 15 minutes more or until roux is dark reddish brown. Let roux cool.

Add chicken broth to a 3 1/2 to 6-quart slow cooker. Stir in roux. Add sausage, chicken, okra, onion, green pepper, celery, garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours, or HIGH for 4 to 5 hours.
Skim off fat. Serve with hot cooked rice.
Makes 6 servings.

My well-loved Crock Pot, 11 years and still kicking!

mmmm.....

Happy Thursday everyone, off to Dallas for market tomorrow. More next week.....

Cheers!

Kara

Blogs Blogs Blogs

2011-01-17T08:25:00.001-08:00

We love everything about blogs - from writing them to following them, to writing about those we follow! We just got on Bloglovin which helps us see when our favorite blogs are updated. It's pretty awesome.

And now that we're on, you can follow our blog with bloglovin anytime by clicking the icon at the top of our sidebar!

Never heard of Bloglovin? Check out this video:

A Jump on the New Year!

2011-01-12T08:30:00.000-08:00

SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE!

January can sometimes feel like a dead month after celebrating on New Year's Eve and the first, but not at Indie Genius. For the entire month of January, the whole place will be the site of one huge sale. And that means everything!

I'll be out working our booth tomorrow from 11-3, so come check it out, say hello, and take advantage of the sale. Who says nothing is ever going on sale the first month of the year?

SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE!

KRD in My Girl Thursday

2011-01-04T09:26:00.000-08:00

We were so excited to be in My Girl Thursday last week on Thursday of course! Chantilly McKinnon of Ontario, considers herself a "lifelong thrifter" who is inspired by things old and sometimes forgotten.

Check out last Thursday's blog. Thanks Chantilly. We look forward to reading more!
Latest Obsession: Letterpress

Cheers and Happy 2011!
Kara

2010-12-17T19:29:00.000-08:00

We LOVE the Dallas Flea! Here are a few pics from the most recent market. Kate Reed will definitely be back next time. Cheers to the season!

Kara and crew

Thank you Brian Bell, biggest Kate Reed fan, EVER!

The Goods....although few were left after such a busy day!

Christmas Time is Here!

2010-12-15T08:25:00.000-08:00

Here at the studio, we're counting down the shopping days left until Christmas (only a few more left)! We've been super busy with the Dallas Flea, IndieGenius, and trunk shows - all promoting our spring line - and we can't wait for a little break to celebrate the holidays with our families.

This is one of our favorite times of the year because we absolutely love the joy of giving presents to those we love. There's nothing quite like seeing the excitement on someone's face. The hot chocolate and food isn't too bad, either :)

Though we'll be closed December 22 - January 1, we already can't wait to get back to the studio to our designs and letterpress (though it can be temperamental some days, we love that thing!) so we can get some more stuff out for you all to see!

We wish you a very merry Christmas and the happiest new year!

Grand Opening at IndieGenius this weekend!

2010-12-10T20:00:00.000-08:00

Swing by tomorrow, our spring line is packaged and a perfect stocking stuffer. We hope to see you there!

Cheers!

Kate Reed Designs on Good Morning Texas!

2010-12-08T09:20:00.000-08:00

Last Friday morning Kate Reed Designs was featured in the display for the Dallas Flea on Good Morning Texas! Check out the video below and look for some of our Christmas designs (Red Chloe and Merry Merry) right in the middle of the table!

The Dallas Flea was a huge success and we had an amazing response to our new Spring line. If you couldn't make it out to the Flea this time, keep your ears open for announcements about the Spring!

Shout out to Brittany Edwards for choosing our cards to display!

Trunk Show!

2010-12-06T08:27:00.000-08:00

After a great Saturday at the Dallas Flea, we're packing up again for a trunk show at April Lane! We'll be there this Wednesday (Dec 8) from 10-5 with our new spring line and our favorite holiday cards.

We already have them all bowed up and ready to be opened as Christmas gifts! Or grab a couple that you love for yourself (who says you have to forget about yourself this time of year? We say you work hard for everyone else - you should treat yourself too!).

We'll be there and can't wait to see everyone there!

Save the Date

2010-12-01T08:20:00.000-08:00

You're invited!

This Saturday we'll be hanging out at our booth in Dallas for the 1st Anniversary of the Dallas Flea. Not only will we be showing (and selling!) some Christmas cards, we're also debuting our spring collection! We're so excited!

The cool thing about the Dallas Flea is that four times a year, 70-plus Texas vendors come together under one roof. There's going to be live music, gift giveaways, and free swag bags for the first 100 people who walk through the door! It's only five bucks to get in (kids under 12 get in free) and parking is free! So make it a girls day with your girlfriends, take your boyfriend along, or bring your mom - the more the merrier!

Mention this blog post and you'll get 10% off your order! We can't wait to see you there!

Spring Line Sneak Peek!

2010-11-19T09:13:00.000-08:00

Our Spring line is complete and we are beyond thrilled! Here is a sneak peek at a new card...

The eclectic pairing of bright blue and orange in this moroccan inspired design creates the perfect card for a fun handwritten note to a friend. And the pattern continues on the back :)

Whistle While You Work

2010-11-15T09:29:00.000-08:00

As you can see from past posts, we're so excited about our booth at Indie Genius and working the Dallas Flea Market! We've been in the studio working hard designing, letterpressing, and packaging our spring line.

We're starting to get the hang of our vintage letterpress - though some days it has a mind of its own. We'll start posting sneak peaks of our spring line later this week. Stay tuned!

Save the date, this will be good!

2010-11-13T14:28:00.000-08:00

Spread the word, you won't want to miss this one! Kate Reed will be there with some great letterpress items!

Merry Merry!

2010-11-07T13:31:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not, it's almost that time of year. Check out these cute notecards we printed last week in the shop. They are letterpress printed on both sides of the paper in a Holiday red. Sold in sets of five and paired with a brown kraft envelope, you can't go wrong!

Get excited everyone, Holiday season is fast approaching!

Cheers!
Kara

Indie Genius- We are in!

2010-11-02T06:32:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to have secured a space at Indie Genius! We will be moving in this weekend plan to open next week on the 11th! Hooray!

Off to style some paper for a photo shoot, more to come. Happy Tuesday!

Cheers!

Kara

On a roll!

2010-10-26T15:59:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to spend the day in the studio printing! Check out these new cards hot off the Kate Reed press. Available on my Etsy Shop beginning tonight. Super fun and funny too!

Printed on 100% cotton paper and accompanied by a green 4Bar envelope

And another.....

This one makes me laugh!

Paired with a light pink envelope.

Happy Tuesday and Go Rangers!
Cheers!
Kara

Bright and Cheery

2010-10-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

Simple. Cute. Elegant and darling.

We absolutely love these bright cards printed for a baby gift. They are fun, and the perfect size
{4.75 x 3.5} for a busy new-mommy to write thank you notes for dinners, gifts and much more. The raspberry envelopes compliment the color nicely.

Happy Monday everyone!

Cheers!

Kara

IndieGenius

2010-10-20T09:33:00.000-07:00

While thinking about new and different marketing ideas, we came upon the IndieGenius micro boutique marketplace that will be opening in Dallas, more specifically Bishop Arts District in North Oak Cliff, next month. We were intrigued, interested and impressed with what we saw.

Basically, a micro boutique is an open space where multiple independent business owners who have dreamed about opening their own boutique, but always have something standing in their way, have the chance (at a lower cost) to open a small boutique. With IndieGenius, businesses rent out a space alongside other businesses with room to decorate, display and sell merchandise. This gives the opportunity to have the traffic, space, and advertising that a full size boutique does but for a fraction of the cost!

The space will look a little something like this (give and take a little to concentrate on displaying our stationery)

5X10 Sample Boutique Space

What do you think? Getting involved would have benefits such as: an independent selling platform, creative independence on how to decorate/set up our space, open six days a week, impulse buyers from other sellers, independent business workshops to help us grow, and a place where we could send our Dallas-based customers.

Would this be a good idea? Should we be a part of it? Let us know!

Vintage Western Inspired Invitation

2010-10-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

My best friend from childhood is pregnant with her first baby. I am overwhelmed with excitement to be an {adopted} aunt for their new baby. Sara and her husband Luke are decorating the room in a vintage western theme.

Kate Reed Designs created this precious shower invitation for them. We can't wait to meet Case in late January. Hooray!

Here are some pics of the invite.

Cheers!
kara and crew

Natalie's sip and see

2010-10-08T07:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we hosted a sip and see for a dear friend of mine Natalie and her son William. Natalie is one of the amazing forces behind Three Bishops jewelry, so this party needed to knock it out of the ballpark. Kate Reed Designs {happily!} created the invitation. It was a two-color letterpressed invitation printed on lettra stock, gorgeous!

The creative juices began to flow! The hostesses took flight with the birds {no pun intended..ha ha} and began to soar.

Beautiful flowers

The long branches were picked from a friends yard!

Light blue Hydrangeas and chocolate ribbon

Natural and easy

A small addition by the sign-in book

pictures of William

Fruit always makes a colorful display

There was a coffee bar complete with flavorings and sugars.

Guests "tweeted" something sweet for Natalie to take home as a keepsake.

At the end of this celebration of Sweet William and Natalie, party favors of coffee were given to guests. Brilliant!

Wreath made by Shelley {more from her soon to come!}

Hazelnut flavored coffee for guests to take home

It all starts with a simple invitation, but can evolve into so much more.

Happy Friday everyone!

Cheers!

Kara

The Hottest Color for Years to Come

2010-10-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

Pantone may have officially named turquoise the "it" color for 2010, but we're loving it for years to come!
According to Suite101.com, Pantone specializes in tracking the most popular colors from home decor to fashion. It was a no-brainer that turquoise be the color to provide the perfect soothing tones to make people feel relaxed and calm - like you're on vacation!

Turquoise is a special color because it incorporates both blue and green color characteristics. Blue is known for being calming, relaxing and inviting. Green is known for being very fresh, luminous and rejuvenating. It only makes sense that their baby - turquoise - would inherit the best traits of both and provide us with a color that pops not only on paper, but in all aspects of fashion and in the home as well!

On paper, turquoise can be used to liven up a space that feels boring or too formal. It adds a great pop of color to provide excitement to the space. It works great with a wide rand of colors such as black, white, grays, and browns. This is great because it means turquoise can be easily incorporated in almost any color scheme.

For a winter fashion look, pair turquoise with more solid, darker colors such as navy and shades of charcoals and grays. The darker tones will weigh down the outfit while the turquoise adds the bright pop.

It's easy to see why Pantone named turquoise as the "it" color for 2010. But we say that turquoise will remain one of the hottest colors well beyond this year.

True Love!

2010-09-27T06:55:00.000-07:00

Look at this beauty!

Lauren, from Blue Eye Brown Eye, came to the studio to get us started!

We have fallen in love. Our new Kelsey Excelsior press arrived last week, and we have had butterflies in our stomachs ever since!

Here's Brian, our designated handyman, who tinkered with the rollers for quite sometime

Cheers to Monday and a full week of pressing!

More to come,

~Kara and crew

What to do in Fort Worth: September

2010-09-21T16:00:00.000-07:00

The end of September is a weird time. It's not October when most of the major fall events start; and it's not summer anymore when you can spend the afternoons/evenings by the pool. But just because the summer is over and fall hasn't quite kicked in yet- doesn't mean there aren't things do around Fort Worth this month!

Go see the Maya and Mythic Sea exhibition at the Kimbell Art Museum. It's the special event running from August 29, 2010 to January 2, 2011, featuring stone monuments and hieroglyphs, exquisite painted pottery vessels, and a lavish assortment of precious goods crafted from jade, gold, and turquoise. Also at the Kimbell Art Museum, starting tomorrow, Michelangelo's First Painting: The Torment of Saint Anthony will become a permanent resident.

Right next door at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth presents "Vernon Fisher: K-Mart Conceptualism." This is a survey of the artist's entire career to date, incorporating paintings, sculptures, and installations from the late 1970s to the present, from both public and private collections in the United States and Europe. This runs from September 25, 2010 to January 2, 2010

Looking for something to do downtown? Every Wednesday through December 29th head to Scat Lounge to hear Adonis Rose perform.

For one special night, the Concert on the Square presented by KXT 91.7 will be at the 8.0 Restaurant and Bar on Sundance Square September 23rd. It will feature an exciting slate of national acts as well as up-and-coming local and regional artists. Tickets are $8 for KERA/KXT 91.7 members, $10 for non-members and can be purchased online at www.kxt.org.

Be sure to make time for one of Fort Worth's longest running shows: Four Day Weekend Improve Comedy until December 11th.

Running from September 17th until October 30th is the annual Hangman's House of Horrors. It is featured annually on the Travel Channel’s “America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions.” In its 22nd season, Hangman’s proudly donates all net proceeds to local charities.

During the weekend of September 30th to October 2nd, Christmas in Cowtown Holiday Gift Market, put on by the Junior League of Fort Worth. Christmas in Cowtown Holiday Gift Market is a juried show of over 130 exhibitors where merchants from across the country represent a wide range of product categories from home décor to jewelry. Admission is $10. A three day shopping pass can be purchased for $15 and there is no charge for children under 5.

For more September information and events, see City of Fort Worth calendar of events. Plan some time out with the family before it gets too cold!

2010 Fall Trends

2010-09-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

September generally marks the change from the hot summer months of lounging by the pool to the cooler transition to fall. Along with the (slight) change of weather and schedule (back to school) come the 2010 fall fashion trends. According to Fashion's Night Out in Fort Worth and Refinery29, the fall trends and colors are as followed:

Fur: Whether it's faux or real, fur will be the hottest trend this fall. Vests, shawls, boots, purses, and coats are among the top furriest must haves.

Chunky Sweaters: These sweaters paired with a belt around the waist will make any outfit complete.

Leggings: A repeating trend this year from the previous year. Wear them with boots, heels or flats for either a casual look or an evening out.


Structured handbags: Purses with bold shapes and bold colors will match just about anything.


Feathers: Another repeating trend from the spring/summer. Wear them on a purse, headband, or necklace for added texture.


Layers: Layer a blouse with a vest and add a scarf with a pair of leggings. This is especially great when dealing with the Texas weather - layers are easily removed and added according to time of day and temperature.


Pearls: They have always been a big part of fashion, but this year they are at the top of the list.

Fall Colors

Green/Mixed Olives: Wearing several shades of the same color will bring a kick to your outfit. All shades of olive greens, browns, and fatigues will add a surprise military impact for the fall season.

Camel/Beige: Neutral is the new black. Spice up a neutral outfit with bold colored accessories.

Gold/Metallic: It's never too early nor too late for something gold, silver, or metallic - it can make any outfit exciting.

     Leopard: Summer's top safari trend is making its way into fall. Leopard print scarves, shoes, purses, and coats will make a big statement and show off your fun side.


Rich Purple: Gem tones reigned supreme for fall 2010, but it's the deep purples and plum colors that lit up the fall runways.

Add these trends, textures and colors to your wardrobe and you are sure to accent any outfit from day to night. If you're a little less on the trendy side, stick with smaller accessories like a piece of jewelery, a purse, or a pair of shoes. For more trends and how to wear them, check out our sources at www.refinery29.com and www.pegasusnews.com

Happiness by way of snail mail

2010-09-09T06:42:00.000-07:00

It is so fun to see a completed product arrive in the mail. We designed this birth announcement back in June, but just received it yesterday! Two-color letterpress printed on bamboo, classic and sweet. Thanks Martin family for trusting us to announce your precious son!

What a little nugget!

Sweet and classy

Labor Day Fun!

2010-09-06T10:52:00.000-07:00

The first Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882 in New York City, by the Central Labor Union of New York, the nation's first integrated major trade union. Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. The holiday is often regarded as a day of rest and parties. It also marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons!

We have to admit that we are doing some work today . . . but only because we love what we do so much that it can't really be called "labor!" :) Hope everyone is having an amazing day with family and friends. No laboring allowed!

To market, to market!

2010-08-26T13:43:00.000-07:00

August in Texas is not always the most pleasant experience. It seems harder to move at a normal pace when the heat index is above 105 degrees outside and the news warns us of yet ANOTHER ozone action day. Yesterday, however was a different story, cool, crisp and lovely. It was a slight teaser of a great fall morning that is yet to come.

The Cowtown Famers Market was thriving and bustling with eager customers. Below is a picture of the seasonal goods here in Texas. All are organic and grown locally. Hmmm what to have for dinner tonight, veggies anyone?

Cheers!

We heart: Inscriptions

2010-08-23T18:43:00.000-07:00

We had a chance to stop by Inscriptions on the Boulevard today to see our latest colors in

the Cleo and Ooh lah lah letterpress notecards......they apparently can't keep the purple in stock!

THE table

Turquoise and Hot Pink

Hot Pink Cleo

Write On!

2010-05-03T13:32:00.001-07:00

A fun video from the National Stationery Show! Can't believe we're leaving for New York next week!