This week we're prepping for Crystel's sister's (and Joan's youngest granddaughter's) wedding festivities, so if you're wondering why everything seems very romantic, that's why! For these projects, we used custom fabrics that the bride loved, as well as burlap and some vintage fabric, lace and ribbon. The results are just what we envisioned, and we hope the happy couple will love them just as much as we do. [gallery type="square" ids="924,925,928,923,926,929,927"]
Collections: Children's Literature
What do you collect? If you're like us, you probably have several collections. Our biggest collections include books, pottery, linens, records, but the list goes on and on. Some might say our mid-century cottage is bursting at the seams with these collections, but our home tells our story and it feels like us and the people who matter most to us. More than anything, we really enjoy being surrounded by meaningful objects and family heirlooms. Some of our collections were actually started because of our family heirlooms, and have grown because we enjoy hunting and finding good treasures to add to our loot! Today we have our children's book collection to share with you. I had several of my grandmother's and mother's (children's) books as a child, and I think that's where my fascination with vintage books began. Everything about these books is special -- from the detailed illustrations to the imperfect pages to the brightly colored covers. Even though I haven't read Heidi, The One Hundred and One Dalmatians or The Wind in the Willows in years and years, I want to read them again after turning a few of their pages. I always loved the stories that made you feel as though you were a part of them, and these ones certainly do that!
Take a look for yourself. Aren't they stunning?
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Family Heirlooms
I am fortunate to come from a family who passes down heirlooms by the dozen. Perhaps it is a testament to our nostalgic, pack rat tendencies, but we love having these treasures in our homes to use and enjoy. While heirlooms can never replace the people who passed them along to us, these objects make us feel closer to them and help us to honor their memories. In fall 2011, I inherited my grandma's kitchen sideboard. It currently holds all of my crafting supplies, but every time I open a drawer, I'm transported back to her sunny, Southern California kitchen. While the sideboard mostly held pots and pans during its almost 40 years in her home, she kept notepads and pens in one of the drawers and my coloring books and crayons in another. As a child I loved coloring in her kitchen while she cooked, and I remember those happy times when I open one of the drawers to get out paper, glue and paint. It provides wonderful inspiration as I begin a new project, and it makes me feel like she's still with me. If you don't come from a family of "keepers" but love the look of a home with history, try visiting flea markets, antique malls and thrift stores. These places are filled with beautiful treasures that carry a multitude of memories, and while you won't necessarily know the stories behind your new treasures, you'll know that each item you bring home has a story. You'll also add a new chapter to a piece's life, and you'll score something with exceptional craftsmanship and a lovely patina. You can't beat that.
What is your favorite family heirloom? A few of ours are below...
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All of these items were in my great-grandmother's and grandma's homes before they were passed down to me and my mother. Most of them are from the early 1960s, with the exception of the sideboard which dates to the late '40s. I loved having it in my home.
If you want to create a home with history but don't know where to start (or don't have time to treasure hunt!), we'd would love to help you search for the perfect heirlooms for your home. Contact us to learn more.
Branding: Gerald & Joan
If you've read this post, then you already know the story behind the Gerald & Joan logo. When considering options for Gerald & Joan's branding, we knew we wanted to do something nostalgic and fun, but we also wanted to keep our costs down. Using vintage index cards and postcards as our inspiration, we designed our business cards and correspondence postcards and had them printed locally for a nominal fee. The business card design will likely stay the same, but the postcard is the first in a series that we'll distribute as a way to thank our clients and vendors. It features one of our favorite places in the world -- Palos Verdes, California. You might also recognize Jonathan on the card. This first postcard is a little tribute to him because there wouldn't be a Gerald & Joan without his love and support!
To complete our look, we brought in some of our favorite things. The brown "grocery sack" tags and bags add to the nostalgia, and they are customized with a Gerald & Joan bird stamp. Custom stamps are an affordable way to personalize standard paper and fabric, and they are so fun to collect! We are now taking custom stamp orders, so if you need a stamp for a wedding or event, please feel free to contact us for sizes and pricing!
Yellow bakers twine, vintage yellow ribbon, yellow washi tape, traditional twine and vintage linens in our yellow/cream/brown color palette complete our vintage-inspired look. We think the branding marries the Gerald & Joan concept of "timeless with a hint of nostalgia" perfectly, and we are so pleased with the way each piece turned out!
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