Safari

We are out of the office today... on a Safari! We are bundling up with a spectacular team of New England vendors {and a special photographer flown in from DC!} for a Safari-themed photo shoot. We can't wait to showcase the talented team of professionals & gorgeous photos, so we'll hold you over with a glimpse of our inspiration board & favorite part of any photo shoot: SHOES! Get a load of these Dolce & Gabbana pumps that just might make an appearance later on the blog {hint hint}.

Here are a few more goodies that have inspired us, including some fur to keep us (er, the model) warm. Did we mention it's been 5 degrees these days? Literally.

Clockwise from upper left:

Coachella Safari Tent Lodging, Anthropologie, Max Wagner on Style Me Pretty, Max Wager on Style Me Pretty, Etsy Pillow, Lee Angel Necklace.

Ruffled wedding trends

Ruffles and weddings were made to go together - much like cake and frosting. While there are a plethora of wedding dresses adorned with ruffles and chic ruching, we must not forget the details! Here are some ruffle-related trends that turned our heads. So, if you're a bride to be, don't be afraid to add a feminine punch {and some fabulous texture} to your special day...

Photos clockwise from top: Cake via NoBloPoMo, garter via A Alicia Handmade, bridesmaids dresses via Cherry Blossom Girl, Flower bouquet via Emici Bridal, Ruffle ribbon ball chandelier via Martha Stewart Weddings, Wedding Dress via Style Me Pretty, White rosettes via Making it Fun.

The Perfect Carry-On

Headed anywhere this weekend? If you are, we first must say that we are jealous. Putting that aside, we have the perfect weekend bag/carry-on for you. Designer Amy Butler is responsible for this cheerful pattern & affordable bag that makes us want to plan something just so we can use it! Happy {almost} weekend on this delightful Thursday Purseday.

*Photo courtesy of Endless.com

Head-to-Toe Happiness

Happy Wednesday, everyone! While cruising around blog world, we came across this precious west-coast couple on the Jagger Photography blog and fell in love with the light, sweet, relaxed but romantic tones. Jagger Photography did an incredible job capturing the big day {all you Seattle based brides, check them out!} and the pair packed their event full of intricate details that made it sparkle! What a gorgeous couple from head.....

.....to toe! :)

This color combo reminds us of a wedding we did in September. Remember?? Gotta love those icons!

*Photos courtesy of  Jagger Photography

Let's Take a Walk...

It's not very often that I post {Anna is the mastermind behind the blog} so it's an even rarer occasion that I post something extra personal. Maybe today I'm feeling more nostalgic than others, but I wanted to take a walk down memory lane for no reason other than the love of shoes & friends. That's me, in the picture, holding my wedding-day Manolo's freshly covered in permanent marker. She did what??? you ask? You heard right. As thrilled as I was to wear such classic, dreamy shoes, the true excitement was being surrounded by my best friends. It's no doubt I'll keep these shoes forever {and even get to wear them time to time} because they are so much more than a shoe. They encompass the love & support of my friends back on that summer day in June of 2007. Love you girls... ~E

Want the memory but are shoe-sign shy? Have them sign the shoebox instead!

*Wedding & Floral photo courtesy of Barnaby Draper Studios

*Flowers by Stoneblossom

Our Monday obsession.

Cupcakes are pretty close to being perfect on their own, but putting them in adorable containers that allow for fabulous party favors to-go makes us speechless. You see, some of us at Paper Moss (who shall remain nameless) don't have that 'special touch' when it comes to baking. Oh they taste good, but their appearance wouldn't make you think so. In other words, this DIY might be the perfect fit for those of us that need some help in the presentation department. Gotta love projects like that! Now for those of you who don't share our little problem... well, this should be a cake-walk.

{red velvet cake & cream cheese frosting, oh my}

Get the directions on the Cakies blog.

Thank you Cakies, for being so cute and brilliant!!

*Photo courtesy of Cakies

When all else fails...

...music is our inspiration. Come to think of it, even when nothing fails, music is still our inspiration. Whether you find yourself humming a tune while working away or rocking out to your favorite album while cleaning, music is the energy and the motivation behind so many incredible things. For those brides {and grooms} who love music, how about this cute idea to incorporate a shared passion into your special day?

Of all the art mediums that we share on Pearls for Paper, we always seem to leave out music. Why??? Well, there is no good answer. So on this lovely friday, we ask you this: What is your favorite music to work to? What song, band or album awakens your creativity?

Here are just a few of our current faves:

Band of Horses

Elizabeth & the Catapult

Andrew Belle

Joni Mitchell

Radiohead

*Photo courtesy of The Wedding Ideas Blog

Get your bling on!

How could we resist sharing this fabulous Boston-based find ~ JOJO’s Bling?! We truly have been obsessing over these little swarovski crystals for months and figured that today of all days {New England being covered in sparkly snow and all} was just the day to share it. Ladies, please note: there is a color and style for every occasion/outfit/wedding color scheme. If you’re not careful, you might be like one local nurse who is rumored to wear bling to match every pair of scrubs she owns. ;)

As if the above isn't fabulous enough, check out JOJO's Party Bling collection... some occasions just call for more sparkle!

For all the brides out there, JOJO loves working with you to create masterpieces for your maids, mothers or yourself. Perfection!

*Photos courtesy of JOJO's Bling

Tuesday Shoesday Optimism

Can you believe that stores are already busting out their spring collection?! The cruelty is like placing a dozen cupcakes in front of a dieter = just mean. Of course, they reel us in and we've already got our eyes on some "must haves" for the upcoming warmer months{yes, we're being VERY optimistic}. Even if mother nature, won't give us a reason to show off those pedicures, Yves Saint Laurent will.

"The Spring 2011 shoes continue to break barriers with such details as dramatically sloped wedges and heels shaped similar to the bow of a boat." -Barneys New York

Hey, we can dream, right?

*Photo courtesy of Barneys

More Than A Gift Exchange

As many of you know, we have recently joined the land of Twitter and are loving every minute of it. With that came a whirl wind of great connections all over the world with other creative professionals. One thing led to another and we were invited to be part of a group called TWIPS {Twitter Wedding Inspiration Pals}. The sweet Annie from Marry You Me headed up a holiday gift exchange for us TWIPS & we were thrilled to draw Katie from Simply & Forever Event Planning. We packed up our goodies and sent them her way, anxiously awaiting our unknown 'elf' to send us ours. All we can say is our day was made when our gift arrived. To our surprise, we unwrapped a beautiful hand-made ceramic stationery box & gorgeous letterpress Thank You cards from a fellow stationer in NC, Sealed with Appeal! There was something special about Adger's gift & heartfelt note to us. It made us appreciate the vendor-to-vendor relationship and opportunity to encourage one another's businesses. Sometimes this industry can get competitive {well, can't they all} so it was refreshing to experience {and shout it from the rooftops} the joy in getting to know other invitation companies & their products. For lack of better words... us stationers gotta stick together.

With that being said, consider this post a huge "Thank You" to all the TWIPS, and an even bigger 'high five' to our fellow stationers. Happy Monday everyone!

*Photo courtesy of iPhone {which doesn't do it justice!}

Being a good guest

We spend a lot of time giving inspiration, suggestions and etiquette tips for how to throw a great party or wedding, but we must not forget about GUEST etiquette! Sure you keep a busy social calendar so lets make sure that we cover all bases necessary to be good hostesses and gracious guests. Here are six tips from our fave, Emily Post that are applicable in any setting from casual to formal: 1) Tell your host whether you're attending. If you delay your reply, you could hinder the host's planning and also make it seem as if you're waiting for something better to come along.  Even if no RSVP has been requested, it's thoughtful to let your host know if you won't be able to be there.

2) Be on time. Arrive at or shortly after (usually only fifteen minutes) the time stated in the invitation.  Do not, however, arrive early.

3) Be a willing participant. When your host says that it's time for dinner, go straight to the table.  If you happen to be asked to participate in an activity,  accept graciously and enthusiastically no matter how you really feel.

4) Offer to help when you can. Be specific when you offer to help. Even if your offer is refused, your gesture will be appreciated.  When the party's end draws nigh, you could also offer to help with the cleanup.

5)Don't overindulge. Attacking finger foods will not only attract the wrong kind of attention, it will also leave less food for other guests.  Also be sure to keep any consumption of alcoholic beverages on the moderate to low side.

6) Thank the host twice. In some parts of the United States, a second thank-you by phone is customary the day after the party (the first having been delivered on leaving the party) - a gesture that's gracious anywhere.  If the party was formal, written thanks are in order.  In fact, a written note is always appreciated - even after casual parties.

*Photo courtesy of Real Simple

The best of the best

The glorious Style Me Pretty sure outdid themselves in their first ever issue of Style Me Pretty Magazine. For a blog that features over 1,000 weddings each year, we were honored {jumping, shreaking and doing some aerobic style moves for good measure} to hear that 2 weddings of beloved Paper Moss clients made the cut for their Best of 2010 E-Glossy! If this little teaser doesn't pull you to look at the whole entire online mag, just know that you are completely totally missing out. But if you think you can live with yourself, we won't judge.

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We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the folks at SMP for giving us something else to obsess over!

*Photos courtesy of Style Me Pretty, of course.

Tuesday Shoesday Finder

It's that time of year when resolutions are in full force, one of which is high on a lot of our lists: to 'get fit'. In order to do this, you need a good shoe. Nike has a great application called Shoe Finder that helps you find the perfect pair. This new purchase could be just the motivation you need to help carry out your exercise goals. We could always use a good excuse for new shoes, right? Our pick of the day is known as the Nike LunarEclipse+, suggested for specific runners based on a short survey that Nike guides you through. Take it yourself and find the shoe made for you!

*Photos courtesy of Nike.com

Write those Resolutions

Happy New Year, everyone!! We are so excited to finally welcome 2011- some beautiful things are on the agenda for this year. We found this cute book and think it’s a great way to keep track of each year’s happenings. Perhaps this could be a new resolution - to track resolutions? Not a bad idea…

This little gem can be found at Paper Source. Feel free to share your resolutions with us so we can cheer you on!

*Photo courtesy of robayre.com

Favorite posts from 2010: No. 4

In honor of ringing in 2011, here are a couple of our favorite party related posts to inspire... Celebrations call for champagne! Lets be honest, a little bit of bubbly is festive, fun and really gets the party started. With candy bars and dessert bars becoming commonplace at special events, we have a new "bar crush" on CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL BARS! Even the name sounds fluffy and delicious!!

Lifestyle and entertainment expert, Kelley Moore takes the complication out of putting one together when she unveils chic options for stemware, delicious types of champagne {not being a champagne connoisseur, this section is ever - so - helpful} and last, some tasty concoctions that will excite those taste buds! As for how to display the table, treat it like any other buffet, varying heights, sizes and colors. Pop over to Kelley Moore's website to get the full scoop on how to do it like a pro.

If you're looking for a quick way to add flair, consider one of these ideas from Martha:

{By soaking sugar cubes in fruit puree or concentrate, removing and letting them dry over night, you'll have instant bursts of flavor to pop in the glasses}

{Swap out your standard orange juice with blood orange juice for a unique twist}

Whether you're celebrating a shower, birthday soiree or a wedding... it's better with a little bubbly!

... And a party wouldn't be complete without the perfect party dress!

How glorious it would be to wear one of these? We are loving Ouma's shop on Etsy... so many gorgeous gowns that are perfect for parties, bridesmaids or even as a wedding gown! Enjoy!

*Photos courtesy of Ouma

*Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Living

Thursday Purseday Sparkle

Okay, okay... we know that we are disrupting our 'throwback to favorite posts of 2010' by posting a new Thursday Purseday, but we figured you would understand that the day before NYE deserved some sparkle! For those of you that are dressing up and hitting the town, you can't go wrong with any of the clutches below. Have a safe and happy new year!

Clockwise from top left: Jimmy Choo, Carlo Fellini, Yves Saint Laurent & Anya Hindmarch

Favorite posts from 2010: No. 3

Here's a look back at another one of our faves...

The Evolution of an Invitation

Anything custom requires more time and attention than something mass-produced. In fashion-speak, it's the "haute couture" of stationery, while pre-made designs are equivalent to the ready-to-wear. Paper Moss has been custom since its first breath. There is something so satisfying about working with clients to make their vision a reality. The design process goes through many "renovations" to finally achieve the look that our brides and grooms are dreaming of.

When we first sat down with {bride to be} Mary Jo, she mentioned her love of Paris and the time she spent abroad. As the conversation evolved and we learned more about her and her honey, it only seemed natural to aim for a "Vintage Parisian" look for their invitation suite... without being cliche. Since we all needed a little inspiration, she sent these photos to inspire designs:

After identifying their color palette, discussing fonts, deciding on the type and weight of paper and getting a general idea of what they wanted, designs for Mary Jo and Paul began. In the first round, we included several options that the bride and groom evaluate and give feedback on. We pulled characteristics from one and add them to another, flip things around, make one design smaller or another less detailed... the list goes on! Here are some of their initial designs:

Sparing the details of the back and forth, the questions, the answers, the tweaking, the perfecting, the printing and yadda yadda, you get the point... their final product fit the bill! PUN intended! Our bride and groom both adored their invitation suite and we were gladly able to accommodate the budget they were working with.

And here is their final "Vintage Parisian" wedding invitation...

And that friends, is how a custom invitation evolves!

*Invite photos courtesy of Laura Ashbrook Photography