Friday, October 24, 2008

For the love of {Plaid}- Part 5

For now, here's one more look at Hatch's work (previously mentioned here and here.)

Perhaps it's because I've found myself a little infatuated with plaid (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4,) but I love Hatch's branding and design for their client, MacLean Winery.

Craig MacLean, the founder of the winery, wanted to reflect his Scottish heritage in his brand, and Hatch incorporated elements of his family crest and tartan into their concept for MacLean Winery.


Their wine, with its festive red plaid design, looks like something I would love to break open for the holidays!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Hatch Design

Here is another example of product design and branding by Hatch, and, once again, I am smitten with their work.


On their website, they had this to say about their branding concept for this client-

"The Michael Austin Winery was started by two long-time friends, whose middle names are "Michael" and "Austin." Rather than pretend Michael Austin actually exists, we invented stories about a character (loosely inspired by the two founders' lives) for each label. "Bad Habit" refers to how the two men met in a catholic high school, "High Flyer" because one of them flies small airplanes, etc."





While I love each label, I think my most favorite is "High Flyer." It probably has something to do with my first "to-do" listed here.

You can read the accompanying stories for each label on Hatch's website, and you should because they are quite entertaining.

Charmed, I'm sure


Have I mentioned yet that I am a complete sucker for packaging and product design? Well, I am. So much so, my wine selections are often swayed by a pretty label- and, man, there some amazing wine bottle designs out there!

When I spotted this bottle at The Dieline, I immediately decided I'd love to serve this wine at a Halloween party. It seems perfect, not in a spooky, ghoulish way, but in a magical, Bewitched sort of style. And I would happily serve it along side these.

The entire product line of JAQK Cellars, branded and owned by Joel Templin and Katie Jain of San Fransisco based Hatch, is equally as lovely. Check it out; you might be completely Charmed. I certainly am.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Shoe Love

These shoes would look wonderful with the inspiration board I posted earlier, but I don't need a wedding to want these! I am absolutely in love.


I am going to be out-of-town for the next few days, but I am hoping that I will be able to post while I am gone. If I should not, I'll see you soon!

A Room Reveals A Wedding {A Mod Mix}

It has been a while since I've posted "A Room Reveals A Wedding." Today's inspiration room is a little mod and a little Hollywood Regency (I know, I know- she declared it dead!) courtesy of David Jimenez (via Desire to Inspire.)

I really like the composition of this room with the mix of patterns and colors, and I think it would translate well into a chic and modern wedding.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Leg Bone Connected to the Knee Bone

My mom sent me the link to these a-mazing cookies made by Heidi Kenney at My Paper Crane. I am absolutely in love with them and think they are the most perfect Halloween cookie ever.

The detailed bone-work is simply perfection. I'm not sure I could bring myself to eat them; I think I'd just want to stare at them and enjoy their utter cuteness! Love. Love. Love.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Brides Across America

It is not Wednesday, but when Laura Novak posted about this event/organization I hadn't yet heard about, I simply couldn't wait until Wednesday to share.

Brides Across America is an organization founded by Heidi Janson. It is a non-profit organization that unites military brides and bridal salons through an extraordinary event to support troops and their families.


In conjuncture with Veterans Day, participating salons will be giving away a designated number of wedding gowns to women who are engaged and are on active duty in the military or who have fiances serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.


The gowns, available in sizes 4-22, will be given away on a first come basis; most dresses are samples and overstock ranging in price from $500-$3000 from designers such as Watters and Watters, Allure Bridals, Impression Bridal, and Marisa Bridal.

I am in awe of the generosity of this organization and the participating shops and designers. What an extraordinary acknowledgment of the service and sacrifice that men and women in the military and their loved ones make, most especially during an oversees deployment.


This is a topic near and dear to my heart. For those of you who have been reading for a while, you might have gathered that my husband is in the military. While I haven't elaborated greatly on this before, he was Active Duty until this past June, and he is now in the Reserves.

We married two years ago in a civil ceremony before he deployed to Afghanistan, and we had a wedding and reception for family and friends this past March, after he returned home from his deployment.


The shop Laura posted about is in Delaware, but there are participating shops in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.


I don't know how many readers out there are military brides, but if you are or if you know any, this looks like an event worth checking out. To participate, all military brides must show proper ID, copy of deployment papers, orders or other qualifying proof.

Now, if only they'd had this event last fall when I was planning my wedding ;)

Our March 2008 Wedding. Image by Alison Portis Photography

**All gowns shown above are simply examples of the mentioned designers' work, not necessarily dresses that will be available at the events.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Welcome Fall

It has finally started to feel like fall here. We've had cooler temperatures the last few days, and I've been able to wear sweaters at night. Woo-hoo!

Michelle Holden

Hope you're having a great weekend!