Merry Christmas + Happy New Year!

it's hard to believe 2011 is already coming to a close... i know i've been a little absent on the blogging front, but i've had lots of paper design orders occupying my time, which i'll post about in the new year... but i thought i'd leave you with a little reader treat since i'll be technology free, ringing in the new year in Lake Arrowhead this weekend...  

my gift to you - New Year's Eve + Bonne Annee DIY banners!

they come in either {fuchsia + silver} or {black + silver}... all you have to do is visit my scribd page to download your own!  here i paired them with a gold glitter ribbon, 

but get creative and use whatever your heart desires! =)

NYE - banner in fuchsia + silver

NYE -  banner in black + silver

NYE - Bonne Annee banner in fuchsia + silver

NYE - Bonne Annee banner in black + silver

oh, and while i'm posting, i thought i'd share our christmas + nye card i designed {it's really hard to design for yourself especially after designing for clients 3 months straight}... but i absolutely fell in love with the metallic sheen of this card stock and the linen finish sealed the deal and i knew i had to use it!  i hope you like, i was very pleased with how they turned out despite almost being at designer burnout mode =)

:: the britt 2011 holiday card ::

 and the coordinated return addy label of course!

.... everyone, have a wonderful and safe new year's eve, an i'll see you in 2012 with some fun new things to share!

*blair

{holidays} photoshoot inspiration

i thought i'd drop by to show you an inspiration board i whipped up for a holiday family shoot i'm styling next week.  the family is so cute and stylish and have the most adorable baby girl named Ava, i swear i could laugh and play with her all day long, she's the cutest! 

they'll be taking their family photos for christmas along with baby A's 6 month photos, i really can't wait to show you how it all pulls together!  but for now i'll leave you will some of the eye candy that's inspiring the shoot's decor.... it'll involve kraft paper, twine, + burlap... navy blue + sea glass greens... touches of vintage book pages + newsprint... and of course some capiz, shells + star fish details.

nautical elements make my heart so happy, i can't wait...

{happy anniversary} to my parents

wow... today my parents are celebrating 43 years of marriage, something that is not a common thing these days!  here are my folks at my wedding 3 years ago, it was really cool to be married the same year my parents celebrated 40 years and my grandparents celebrated their 70th, yes, you read that right 70 years together!

mom + dad - although we didn't get to celebrate this big occasion together as a family i just wanted to say a few words on your anniversary {uh oh, i'm turning into dad} =).... but seriously, thank you for being the examples you've been to me the past 28 years.  i know that if ever i need counsel, support, or just a hug i can always count on you both.  i know these past 43 years have involved a great deal of work to juggle your marriage, your family and all the other things that life has thrown at you... but thank you for continuing to honor the commitment you made to each other and God the day you said your vows.  your marriage {no matter how perfect or imperfect it is at times} is an inspiration to me in my marriage and i'm sure to many others who know you.  i love you guys and i'm so thankful that you are the parents God blessed me with!

and yes we will happily cat-sit should you decide to go away for the weekend =)

love, b.a.

oh and PS. dad the 43rd wedding anniversary gift is travel!

{crafting} an inspiring studio

if you follow me on pinterest you know that i've been pinning inspiration for my dream studio workspace...  well i thought i'd post about what i'm planning to do to create an inspiring workspace for myself.  i really like the look of grey and white, it's very clean and a great way to mix in pops of color without really committing to a firm color scheme.  and since this room has primarily become my room for working in i want lots of color, something that wouldn't really be approved by my hubby elsewhere in our place. 

so without further ado, here are some of the grey + white spaces i love... 

  Source: homemadeinheaven.blogspot.com via Blair on Pinterest

simply adore the pattern on this wall, but i think i might get really dizzy with this on the walls =)

Source: betterafter.blogspot.com via Blair on Pinterest

if i did do a pattern, this would for sure be the front runner, it's tres chic!

Source: google.com via Blair on Pinterest

love the subtle blue and the stripes, but i think horizontal isn't quite the right approach

Source: None via Blair on Pinterest

i just LOVE these bold colors of bluey-teal and coral, and of course the vertical stripes would make any room feel instantly taller! but this is too much color for the walls...

Source: hayleyhurst.com via Blair on Pinterest

now for the major room accessories....

would love to incorporate geometric patterns maybe on the floor in the way of a rug and possibly on the windows too!

Source: pudel-design.blogspot.com via Blair on Pinterest

i certainly love these pillows, and these are the colors i'd love to splash around the room

Source: bdgstyle.blogspot.com via Blair on Pinterest

i also really need a space to display my work since it's all so unique and colorful, yes i create it and want to admire it... it's fun to reminder of what you've created!

Source: re-nest.com via Blair on Pinterest

and here's the actual grey i think i'd like to use on my walls

Source: gillygrey.com via Blair on Pinterest

if you are a hoarder of ribbon and trim like myself, you must add this storage project to your DIY list, i currently have the raw materials all cut and waiting to be assembled, i so can't wait!!!

Source: nicholeheady.typepad.com via Blair on Pinterest

well that's all the sneak peek i'm going to give you, i've gotta save the whole vision for my reveal post that i hope to show you in the next month or so! so excited