A Bit Late But...

Dear Family & Friends,
I just wanted to take the time to say Happy Holidays to all of you. I know I'm just about a few days too late, but the holiday spirit is still alive in most of us, so what the heck! I had a wonderful time with my family this year. We didn't make our Atlanta trip, however, we had an amazing time at home, eating, drinking and being merry together. It has been a long time since we've all been home together, so it was pretty great getting to spend that quality time together.
This past year has been quite the experience for me. I've lost a few people who were close to me, dealt with the loss of a life I love dearly. I've had many adversities this year but somehow, I've managed to survive it. As it comes to a close, I've come to realise that I need to start investing more time in me and as a friend of mine constantly reminds me, I need to start doing more for myself. 2009 is my year for me.
Though I plan on spending a lot of time focusing on myself, I don't plan on forgetting those who gave me the support I needed to get to this point. A special few of you have stood by my side and gave me the encouragement I needed to keep on track and I'd like to say thank you for that. Above all, a extra, stupendous special thank you goes out to Mae & Myron Tupa. The two of you are the most wonderful, kindhearted people I have ever come across, and I owe you guys immensely for everything you've done for me this year. Honestly, if it weren't for these two, I probably would have given up on my LilyNotes project. I must say, a stranger's kindness has got to be the most sincerest of all.
As for everyone else, my mum & my brothers, though I don't express this much, I do actually love you guys. My dad, though you piss me off and drive me up a freakin' wall, I somehow manage to still love you. My friends, Terrance, Kimberly, Exodus and Patrick, I like you guys! To my best friend and love sponge, Elphin, you are my homie for life - death do us part mofo! And for Mr. Daniel, you aiight! You've been through a lot this year but you always find a way to land on your feet and I admire that diligence in you. And yes, I do love that you are a monster!
All in all, I love you all and I wish for you nothing but the best for the new year and many yet to come.

Most Sincerely,
From Kiki,
With Lots O' Love!

Gown of a Feather...

Using feathers as embellishments has been a relentless trend that dates back centuries. Unlike leather and fur, feathers are used as either overwhelmingly flamboyant or stylishly subtle touches of opulence, without the nude campaigns. I can honestly say that I have never been a fan of feather - much too tacky in my opinion. Though I love the gorgeous shape and colour palette of the ever famous peacock feather, I have always considered feathers as a sure way to make anything look cheap. However, lately my opinion has been constantly challenged by designers like Carolina Herrera and Etsy shop designer, Erin of Coco Boudoir. But the ultimate arm twister is Monique Lhuillier with this positively divine twist on a wedding gown. This ivory coloured, feathered frock is simply stunning in every way possible. Might I add, it is in no way tacky. It takes nothing short of a genious crazy to sculpt this gown. The simple A-line structure exudes subtle oppulence in the best way. I was completely blown away when I first saw the picture of the dress. I love how the feathers fan at the bust to create a soft neckline. The added detail of the embellished belly band and simple veil was just enough to polish off this unexpectedly, elegant look. I'm officially won over.

Time to Get to Work

I got paper samples in a few days ago and I'm finally going to have some time, to scan stuff in and play around with the papers. I have to come up with five designs to actually create and post on my e-commerce page on Etsy.com by the year's end. Not much time left to meet this deadline, but I'm sure as hell going to try to.
The papers I got are all handmade and quite different from the mass produced stuff. I really took a liking to handmade papers a couple of months ago, when I began my research for my project. The low-impact method used in creating these papers, give each sheet its own unique characteristics, which I hope can lend itself to my invitation designs. For now, most of my designs are going to be based on layering/mixing these papers rather than graphic work, which I won't get into until maybe late Spring or early Summer.
Most of my colour palettes and use of patterns are derived from fashion trends of 2009 runway shows. Inspiration driven by wild prints, vibrant colours and play on shapes, fashion designers have opened up a pandora's box filled with infinite possibilities. I think my biggest task would be editing my samples and keeping them clean and classy, while on the edge of trendy creativity. I'll be harassing a bunch of my friends to help with this.
I'm no expert. I'm no graphic designer either. I just want to try to create something a little different. I want to be able to give these papers a modern flair. There is so much more to handmade papers than just the floral, deckle edged looks, and I think I can portray that. I know I can.

Updated - My Christmas List!!!

Holiday Wishlist continued...

• Envelopements Mini Deck @ Envelopements.com
• Past and Present Desk @ PastandPresentDesk.etsy.com
• Gift Certificate to Card-Blanc @ CardBlanc.etsy.com
• Gift Certificate to The Ribbon Jar @ Ribbonjar.com
  

That's all I could think of for now. Will add more as soon as something else catches my eye!
PS: The desk is a bit of wishful thinking, but feel free to splurge on me if you want to ;)

I'm So Excited!!!

More and more everyday, the whole idea of me starting my own business, gets more real. I've been collecting paper samples, creating design samples, meeting many interesting, helpful people, etc... and I'm getting a bit more nervous, a bit more proud of myself. After 'purchasing' my press, I believe starting this blog was the next best thing I could have done to benefit my endeavors. Though it's a slow build - I don't have as much time as I'd like to dedicate to it - it allows me the opportunity to reach out to others and express my ideas out loud. I've gotten a lot of wonderful emails and comments thus far, and when I get the time, I will dedicate a blog toward thanking those individuals. Also, in the next couple of days, I will start posting some of the invites I created to get your opinions. I hope that you will be as brutal and critical as I would be ;)

My Christmas List!!!

Holiday Wishlist:

• Swingline SmartCut 12" Dial-A-Blade® Plus Rotary Trimmer @ MyBinding.com
• Akiles Diamond 1 corner rounder @ MyBinding.com
• Gift Certificate @ Handmade-Papers.us
• PANTONE® FORMULA GUIDE coated, uncoated, matte @ Pantone.com

Will keep adding to it as it gets closer to Christmas ;)

My Baby, Lily!

In one of my earlier blogs, I briefly spoke about the Chandler and Price, New Style letterpress, I purchased from a wonderful couple in Brookline, MA. I'm really excited about getting this press - in spite of the many torturous attempts to have it moved, which I've yet to be able to get done. I have been told that I'm crazy for getting this press. My friends thinks it's archaic, my mother says that it's a monster and others say it's a risky first press. I don't care. I haven't even seen the press in person and I adore it. I saw one up and running at a printer in the Bronx, NY and I was mesmerized by the way the thing works. It's like a dance between you and the machine. A continuous rhythm of movement to create beautiful work. What's not to love?! I've never been so invested into something like this before. The whole prospect of learning about something that was once considered a dead practice, and being able to start my own business, is all very overwhelming. However, quite fulfilling as well. I'm hoping to be able to have a studio setup by next summer, where I'll put a lot of elbow grease into making my Lily blossom.

Jon Burgerman - the Coolest Gift Wrapping Ever!!!

At my job, AreaKids - a boutique children's store, we started carrying a small collection of Jon Burgerman gift wrapping paper. I was so psyched when I saw them for the first time. Unlike your traditional, flowery or plain wrapping, the British artist and illustrator penned these fun, colourful, graffiti-like images filled with incredibly quirky, goofy, cute characters.

Though childlike, they can certainly appeal to adults as well.
As an adult myself - I only claim this on rare occassions - I absolutely adore his work. He also creates these designs for clothing and accessories, as well as on canvas to use as creative wall art, and many other cool merchandise. He also just created a superb line of figurines for KidRobot - another favourite of mine - entitled, 'Heroes of Burgetown'.For more insight on his work, check out his website, www.jonburgerman.com, or his book, Pens Are My Friends, www.jonburgerman.com/book. I am certain you'd love his work as much as I do!

Ruffles & Bows

Classic in White!

There is something about the simplicity and elegance in the colour white that I love. Classy, pure, sophisticated, minimalistic are just a few words that come to mind when I choose to describe it. In the months I've spent researching and finding inspiring items for my business venture, I've come across several accessories, stationery, etc..., that beautifully exemplify this. Etsy.com, an e-commerce dedicated to marketing handmade items, is one of my favourite places to to find such things. Here are a handful of those items from my scrapbook that are artistic, stylish and classically, white.

Top clockwise: Eden, beaded felt brooch by Accessoire.etsy.com; Inkless Letterpress Mini Journals by girlmetro.etsy.com; Custom Dove Tiny Text Bowl by Palomasnest.etsy.com
Bottom counterclockwise: Orchid Necklace by nervoussytem.etsy.com; Radiolaria Silicone Necklace and Bracelet Set by nervoussystem.etsy.com; Porcelain Fortune Cookies Set by YogaGoat.etsy.com

My Press, Lily!

I just wanted to introduce you to my baby, Lily!

A 12"x18" Chandler & Price, New-Style letterpress that I've adopted to begin doing my work. Though she needs a bit of tender, loving care, she is a beauty in my eyes. I cannot wait to get her to Brooklyn and set up my studio and see her in action.


Like I've mentioned before, I have never in my life operated a letterpress machine. I only became interested in letterpress-ing about six months ago when I came across an article about it. I don't know what it was about the article, but it sparked an interest in me that made me want to seek out everything I could know about this antiquated machine. Described to be "like a kiss", the chunky metal arms move in graceful unison, pressing ink covered type to paper, making beautiful, unique indentations on paper. I love how each print can possess its own individuality. Unlike the precision of today's laser printers, prints on a letterpress can vary in ink coverage, placement, depth of the indentation, etc. I have been amazed by so many of the lovely designs many artists have created on these machines. With a few classes and a ton of practicing, I'm excited to see what I too can create with my baby, Lily.

Invitation by Dolce Press

Cake Lovely

I've been browsing a lot of wedding magazines, websites, blogs, etc... to find inspiration for creating pretty invitations for my business venture. So far, I have found a lot of extremely beautiful inspiring things, that I have decided to start sharing on my blog. Since I'm still pretty excited about my cooking/baking adventures - I made oatmeal raisin cookies last night, from scratch by myself - here are a few cakes that look chic and just as yummy as the cookies I made!

Images courtesy of www.ModernBride.com

Timely Ambitions

In about two months, I'll be twenty five years old, which means that in no time at all, I will be thirty! I'm not scared, I'm just panicking. I feel like I'm in a mad dash to accomplish something by then. When I migrated from Trinidad, I was a year away from completing what is the equivalent of junior college and only two years away from finishing a university education. Which means I would have been out in the working world at the age of seventeen!!! Coming to New York set me back eight years, seriously. Most of my friends back home in Trinidad, are well into their careers and settled down into familial life, all under the age of thirty. Me, I haven't accomplished a damn thing! No college degree - though I was ambitious and wanted to earn one - the more I attended school, the less enthused I was about the fields I was studying and the path I was on. Soon enough I 'gave up', deciding not to continue wasting thousands of dollars on something I no longer had an interest in.
I'm now investing my money into a new goal, another sprint toward accomplishment. I'm hoping to open my own business - I am a dreamer by the way. I had this brilliant idea - one among millions - that I could start my own invitation/stationery/printing/publishing business, on my own! I have some experience in invitation and stationery printing, but none in publishing, at all, but how hard can it be?! I'm not naive in thinking it's an easy task, but I believe I can do it. I'm determine and stubborn enough to make it work.
It's crazy almost because the first piece of this ambitious quest is a 2200lb ancient letterpress machine that I need to move from Boston to Brooklyn. It's a beauty but it's a bitch trying to make schedules and hire people to move it. It has been a headache I've been dealing with for months but I'm not giving up. I can't wait to get it here and setup my studio and start working. Oh by the way, I have no freaking idea how to use a letterpress machine - remember, I said I was a dreamer ;)