first post...first show

i first got the big idea for an invitation design company a year ago, when the knot magazine decided to publish a photo of the ceremony programs i designed for my wedding, which had been submitted by my photographer, god love him. i had been mulling around the idea of making a go as a designer when bam, the phone rang. the knot. quite serendipitously, they wanted to publish my program photo in their 2008 best of weddings issue and they needed the designer's name. "paper olive!" i exclaimed, in astonishment.

so, here i am a year later with a website, a slew of wedding invitations and designs, paper cuts and ink-stained fingers, a mad obsession with dupioni silk and embroidered vinyl, and a thousand other crazy ideas that won't let me sleep at night. i'm a designer now, committed and determined, and loving every opportunity to do something drastically new.

a blog seemed like a good idea, especially since my invitation designs are pulled anywhere from runway fashion to the food i eat, as well as everthing in between. i come across some seriously cool stuff in my endless adventures to push the envelope (no pun intended), so i might as well share, yes?

for my first blog post, it seems fitting to highlight my first bridal show, held at the famous queen mary hotel in long beach, california. it was a whirlwind and utterly exhausting, but it was also a blast.

i've included some of the glorious pictures supplied by art p suwansang, whose booth was right next to mine. art is a friendly, really talented photographer. you might want to give him a look if you're in the market. thanks again, art.


by far, the most popular invitation at the show was my peacock invitation, which i put together after a late-night project runway marathon. i can't even remember what season it was, but there were feathers, heidi looked sensational, and someone was crying. isn't someone always crying?

anyway, inspired by color and lack of sleep, i pulled this one together in just a day, specifically for the expo. i can't wait for someone to order it so i can make more. i think it might be my favorite.

it's been a lot of fun watching the additional flurry of traffic on my site since the show, which is still amazing to me. i am thrilled to see so many brides out there who think outside the box. each new client surprises me. i love it.

i have another show coming up on november 16, at the pasadena hilton, and i'm looking forward to seeing the response from that set of brides. i think i'm going to have to whip something up to beat my peacock invite, which shouldn't be tough with the incredible red silk i just found.

more next time, folks. signing off for a cool martini. straight up, three olives, of course.