Artist Inspiration: Emily Green

Sometimes other artists inspire us and on this glorious Monday, we're excited to spotlight Melbourne artist, Emily Green. We've fallen for her bright, funky paintings, watercolor scarves & especially her statement jewelry...

{Clockwise from top left: Stud Spot Earrings/ Jane Necklace/ Lagoon Necklace/ Peach Polka Necklace}

With each bead being handmade, no two pieces are identical... which adds to the charm of her work, don't you think? Check out her website for more goodies and let us know what you think! Love it? Hate it? Does it inspire you??

Fancy Napkins

How was your weekend, lovelies? Being that springtime and sunshiny weather is the perfect time for housewarming parties, get-togethers and showers, we've been searching high and low for some fun ideas to spice up a table and here is one of our favorites that we stumbled upon...

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I kid you NOT when I say that these napkins are actually a DIY. Can you believe it? I'm just dying to try my crafty little hands at these... which would equally make a perfect gift and a perfect addition any soiree. Hmmm...

 

Kitchen Crush

We've been spending a lot of time in the kitchen lately... and I mean a LOT of time. Aside from inspiring us to further develop the culinary skills we wish we had, this quality kitchen time has caused us to realize how much we want to brighten up our experience. Recently perusing some registry lists for friends may have led to us peeking and planning for the brightest kitchen possible... and aside from the Kitchenaid, everything else could be easily interchanged if you get tired of the color palette! What do you think? Too much color??

{1} Martha Stewart Utensils

{2} Oxo Tea Kettle

{3} Kitchenaid Mixer

{4} Martha Stewart Mixing Bowls

{5} Crate & Barrel Cutting Board

{6} Kitchenaid Measuring Cups & Spoons

Wandersketch

We're always on the lookout for fun and unique gift ideas- especially for engagement parties, showers and weddings. Naturally, when we skipped over to Wandersketch, we were just over-joyed to find their custom monogramed mugs!!

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Can you imagine sipping coffee or cocoa from these sitting alongside your new spouse?! AGH! It kills me... it would be adorable! You better believe that when I {Anna} get married, I'm getting these Mr. & Mrs. cups- they're just too cute to pass up!

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Thanks to Wandersketch for creating such darling mugs! Happy Wedding Wednesday, everyone!

Lucia K. giveaway!

Hi! Kirsty from Lucia K. Jewelry here, and so excited to be guest posting on Pearls for Paper. We've been asked for quite a while now if Lucia K. does monogrammed jewelry. The answer has always been no, because I just couldn't get it how I wanted it to be, until now!

So why are we so excited about this collection? For a few reasons. Each piece is made of hand hammered sterling silver, so each piece is unique and original, just like each person's life and story. I chose a version of american typewriter font since I'm a sucker for this classic- it's slightly formal but not fussy. Also the font is small, which to me is more personal and so is the charm. This allows each piece to be worn alone or in layers with other statement pieces. I also added a semi-precious stone - either a birth stone or choose your favorite, for color and to finish the piece.

My goal was to create a timeless yet chic piece of jewelry that could commemorate or celebrate a life.... symbolize a moment in time, or a wish you wear... to remind you of the story you tell as a mother, daughter, sister, best friend, soul mate, survivor...

To celebrate the launch of this collection, we are so excited to partner with the ladies at Paper Moss, to offer a giveaway. One reader will win a personalized monogrammed bracelet or necklace of their choice.

Here is how you enter, each of the following is considered 1 entry, please leave a comment below for each entry. Contest ends and winner will be announced on May 5th.

1.  Visit www.luciakjewelry.com and pin your favorite item to pinterest.

2.  Like Lucia K. Jewelry on facebook.

3.  Like Paper Moss on facebook.

4.  Share this post on facebook.

5.  Leave a comment below on what your story would be for your monogrammed jewelry.

Bonus...use code pearls25 at checkout, to receive 25% off any order on our site until 5/5, just in time for Mothers Day!

Happy Friday.

Best,

Kirsty

DIY: Map Coasters

Oh hello and HAPPY Monday to you! In case you're fishing for some inspiration this week, we have quite the DIY to share! When we came across these adorable map coasters, we couldn't help but to think of several couples that we're working with right now who are quite travel savvy. These guys and gals have indeed shared some incredible adventures, all of which we think would be so fun captured in coaster form. :)

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Mine & Yours

It's Friday... and better yet, a Friday of a long weekend! Don't get us wrong, we love what we do so these long weekends are bitter sweet. We all need some time to catch up on life though, and after a day of errands and cleaning what is better than to relax with a friend {or special someone} bundled up in blankets, watching movies and eating ice cream? Maybe it's just me {Anna} and this unhealthy obsession I have with the dessert, but I believe there is never a bad time for ice cream... and these spoons from Beach House Living are a must.

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What an adorable gift too! Pair with some ice cream bowls like these ones from Anthropologie and if you're really goin' for it,  an ice cream maker like this one that is on sale at Williams Sonoma. LOVE!

Happy weekending, lovelies!

Weekend Inspiration: V-Day

Hey loves, happy Friday! What sort of fun plans do you have up your sleeves for the weekend? Any adventures in store? We're sticking around the city and have many errands, meetings and catch ups planned... and by "catch ups" I mean sleeping and watching movies that were missed in the theater. SO. EXCITED. With Valentine's Day coming up on Tuesday, some crafting will inevitably be taking place too. Growing up, making valentines was my {Anna's} favorite part about the holiday. I love these fun ideas for cards and other treats to make V-Day a bit more special...

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At first glance this card looks way too complicated or fancy to be a DIY, but thanks to Kind Over Matter, we have the step-by-step directions to ensure perfection. Maybe not the best option if you have a long list of valentines to make, but aren't they just amazing?

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Leave it up to Martha to think of the coolest way to deliver pink and red candy yet still make sure the packaging is personalized. I LOVE these bags and they aren't too labor intensive once you get the photo scanned and printed!

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Valentine's Day straws?! I'm a sucker for striped straws {pun intended} and these straw ornaments are so cute! Whether you're making them for a small soiree or your kiddos class, these are definitely one V-day gift that will make an impression. Get the how to here!

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A fancy little fact about these cute cards: this DIY was intended for kids, but they're cute enough for grown ups!!! The mini-vellum envelopes add the perfect touch too, with those bright squares shining through!

So tell me, are you making Valentine's Day cards this year? Yes, it may be a tradition for kiddos, but I don't believe that's a good reason to hold back. :) Call me crazy... but I'm about to get crafting!

Have a fabulous weekend!

The 1st Anniversary

Tradition points to a paper related gift for a 1-year wedding anniversary... well, needless to say for us paper lovers, this is great news! Paper is said to symbolize strength as well as delicate nature of a one-year old marriage. Whether you're in to the symbolism or following that particular tradition, we've fallen for this sentimental anniversary gift ( or Valentines Day present... hint, hint!) from Suzy Shoppe.

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They will incorporate a love letter, wedding vows or sentimental song lyrics to make this piece of art an expression of the couple. And if you're in wedding planning mode, fear not because Suzy Shoppe also offers an adorable option for a guest "book"!

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DIY: Perfect Pillows

Oh Monday, what shall we do with you? Oy, that was a rough game for those of us rooting for the Pats- did you catch it? This next week {at the least} will be a somber one in New England. What's better to cheer up the blues but a little crafting time? After recently coming to terms with the fact that I have major throw pillow obsession of mine in full force, I cast aside all cares and continue to crush on this spunky, customizable cushion that was originally spotted on Whit and Whistle.

OBSESSED. Can you imagine the possibilities? Quotes, a favorite Bible verse, a wedding vow...? Such a sentimental addition to any home and what a sweet gift this would be!!

A Christmas Purseday

Tis the season for holiday parties!! The only thing better than a low key tacky Christmas sweater party is getting fancified {yes, that's a word} for an elegant affair. If you're slipping into the classic little black dress, you need an accessory to make it POP, right? Something nice and festive, yea? Well ladies, feast your eyes on these ruffly little silk clutches by Minnesota based, Ila Handbags.

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Now to decide what color would best compliment the mistletoe...

Winter warmers

I don't know where you stand on the issue but I firmly believe that there are few things worse then being cold. Being born and raised in the pacific northwest did nothing to prepare these hands and feet for the chilly winters here in New England. While last winter was all about acquiring some coats that are warm enough to prevent frostbite, this winter is about bringing a little fashion back into the frigid snow packed days. Gratefully, everywhere I turn there are bright chunky scarves, sequins laden knits, vintage inspired leather and faux fur aplenty! Here's a round up of our favorite cold weather warmers, each are oh-so-feminine in their own way...

1: Michael Kors

2: Juicy Couture

3: Anthropologie

4: Marc Jacobs

Which ones are your favorite?? Cold weather goodies also make fun holiday gifts & stocking stuffers... just something to keep in mind for those who are in holiday shopping mode!

Giving thanks

The weekend passed by in what seemed like a blink of the eye and thankfully, we have a super short week ahead of us!! Who's excited?!?!?! Around this time of year, one thing that we're always on the lookout for is fun hostess gift ideas. Fitting perfectly with the rustic, cozy feeling of Thanksgiving, isn't this burlap bottle bag from Sweet C's Designs is such a fun way to pass along a delicious bottle of vino to your host or hostess?

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Truly, it's perfect for any time of year... and if you're thinking these might make fun party favors, Sweet C's Designs has you covered!! You could even fill them with other goodies like cookies or caramel corn!! OH I'm in love!

Ruffles + Roses

Happy Monday! With Fall on the way, we're desperately thinking of ways to be warm and cuddly through the chilly weather. Over the weekend, when we stumbled across these super cute rose- sweater pillows from Angella Eisman Design, it was love at first sight! How fun would these be to accompany your couch or adorn your bed.... and what a lovely gift idea too?!

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Dare we try to D.I.Y these? I suppose some things are better left to professionals... :)

A Rendez-vous to Remember

This last weekend we joined in the fun & hoopla of a "Blogger Meet Up" organized by our friends Alison of Long Distance Loving and Jillian of Cornflake Dreams. It was such a wonderful weekend being surrounded by such creative and inspiring people whom we've blog crushed on from afar.

Well, part of this weekend extravaganza included things such as a CHOCOLATE TOUR {if you're a New Englander, this is a Boston activity that should be on the "must-do" list}, some yummy cocktails and even some super fun giveaways! Truth be told, we didn't win any of the giveaways {BOOOO!} however as a product of someone else's win, we have a new-found love, better known as The Bauble Bar. A woman can never have too many bracelets, right? Here's just a tiny sample of the gorgeousness that awaits...

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Apparently we're on the slow boat because they've graced the pages of InStyle Magazine AND even Justin Bieber has been spotted sporting one of their Baubles! If the Biebs is doing it, my question to you is: What are we waiting for?! Guess it's high time we join in the fun!

Meet Lucia K.

Happy Friday, darlings! Today you are in for a treat! Our friends from Lucia K. Jewelry stopped by to share some of their most beautiful creations with us. We adore perusing their site for fun hostess gift ideas or bridesmaids accessories.

Similar to us at Paper Moss, they do {AH-mazing} custom work for brides too! Check out this GORGEOUS necklace that was designed for one bride!

After seeing so many beautiful designs, we couldn't resist asking Kirsty Papdopulos, the woman behind Lucia K. a few questions about her company.

1. When did you start making jewelry?

I've been making jewelry for myself and friends and family for as long as I can remember. Those close to me have always encouraged me to take it a step further and start a business. It wasn't until about a year and a half ago -I was 8 months pregnant with my second child and had stopped working my "day job" and a jewelry buyer just happened to ask me about a necklace I was wearing that I had made, that is when it all came together and Lucia K was born.

2. What inspires your designs?

Inspiration comes from lots of places for me.  I definitely love to take cues from vintage pieces, and not necessarily jewelry. For instance, in the house I grew up, my parents had this crazy macramé side table, that hung from the ceiling, the beaded macramé influenced my crystal and silk necklaces in the Vivian lines and Nora lines.

I also have this amazing fabric and trim store near my house that I often just wander through, some of the stuff I happen upon there is incredible, the detail that used to go into textiles, definitely gets my creativity flowing. I keep my ultimate goal in mind- to help a woman elevate her style and make her feel more confident. She needs to feel great when she puts a piece of Lucia K. jewelry on!

3. Where do you find the materials that you use?

I definitely need to touch and feel and hold my materials, so I am very hands-on with what I decide to use. Something about an items weight or sheen, really play into how it works in a piece. With prices of metal going up, its difficult to keep costs down and still present a quality product. Some vendors that I return to time and again are Midori Ribbon, love their dupioni silk and grosgrain ribbons, their quality can't be matched, also Thai silver from the Hill tribe, Czech and Swarovski Crystals.

4. What are currently your favorite pieces?

The piece I am wearing most often - Ginger Copper Bib Necklace, the length works so well with so many necklines, the color is great for those who aren't quite ready for gold but want to branch out from silver, and it gets attention! Currently my favorite earrings are the Juliette Aquamarine Earrings or the Patricia Earrings- a little rocker mixed with freshwater pearls is a great combo. I'm loving big earrings right now, my fall line will be full of them!

And here are a few more of their beautiful pieces... check out the website for the full scoop!

Thank you so much to the lovely ladies at Lucia K. Jewelry for sharing some inspiration with us!

*All photos are courtesy of Lucia K. Jewelry

Swooning over Laduree

T.G.I.F. darlings! It's been a long {but glorious!!} week for Paper Moss but we are so ready for the weekend. On Wednesday night, we had the chance to attend the Boston Weddings Magazine launch party at the Lenox Hotel. It was such a fun time of meeting & greeting other wedding industry professionals... and of course, celebrating a fabulous new issue of Boston Weddings! Check it out if you haven't yet! :) I must say however, that in the midst of all of the fabulousness, one thing that was unexpectedly captivating was a light, fluffy & oh-so-flavorful raspberry french macaron. OMG! Prior to this, I hadn't realized how amazing macarons are! If you adore these sweet little cookies, we have some great news {below} but first, how cute is this flavor chart?!

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In the process of embracing this "fixation", we came across Laduree, the cutest french bakery. Not only do they have adorable packaging that would be a gift in itself, but they are opening their first U.S. location in New York on AUGUST 26th! Yes!!!

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Shall we all plan a trip to go macaron tasting??

DIY: {to die for} Envelope liners!

You are in for an adventure today, my pretties! The sweet & incredibly talented Michelle Peterson is our guest today to share this adorable and easy D.I.Y!! I don't know about you, but envelope liners make my heart skip a beat!! We couldn't be more excited, so here it is from the woman herself: Michelle: As an avid follower of Pearls for Paper, I love all things paper, ribbon, and hand-written. Living in Wisconsin, we were too far away to attend and celebrate our dear friend's son's very special first birthday in Washington. So, when she asked me if I would help with the party planning and make his invitations, I jumped at the chance! We decided on a Mustache Bash.  How silly and adorable for a one year old, right? After several failed attempts at getting just the right pattern to print for the background, I bagged it and grabbed what I had around - an old fairy tale book.

I used these delightful book pages as the background for the invite, and then went one step further to line the envelopes to match. Want to try it?

Here's what you'll need:

- Book pages

- Double sided tape and/or glue

- Paper trimmer

- Envelopes

- A pen

Here are the steps:

1. Tear some book pages.

I used an old damaged copy of Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales. You can find some great old books at thrift stores.

2. Measure the book page to your envelope.

I look to make sure the page will be tucked behind the sides of the envelope, but not as wide as the envelope itself.

3. Trim your book page.

Think about cutting off the outside margin, as well as trimming down to the right width. Don't worry about trimming the torn edge, since you'll be tucking that into the envelope. It makes for a cute hand-made surprise if someone looks into the envelope.

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4. Insert the page into the envelope.

Make sure the top ends up just below the glue line and eyeball it to be centered between the two sides.

5. Fold the page with the crease of the envelope.

6. Open the envelope to see the top side of your book page. Apply double stick tape and/or glue.

7. Press and done!

These are soooo cute, right? Thank you, Michelle for being a guest on Pearls for Paper and inspiring our weekend project!

*Photos courtesy of Michelle Peterson

Prelude to a wonderful weekend

Today is one of the first days in {what seems like} a long time that it actually looks like spring in New England. THANK HEAVENS! We are basically weeping with joy to see blue sky and have the sun on our shoulders. It's a great reminder that picnic season is approaching! This is sitting on our "Want It, Need It" list for the season...

{ French Bull }

Hopefully wherever you are, you're seeing some sun on this fabulous Friday... and maybe your picnic season has already arrived!