‘Alchemy’: al·che·my /ˈalkəmē/

The process of taking something ordinary and turning it into something extraordinary, sometimes in a way that cannot be explained.

When clients or planners say - “just do what you do” - I don’t know if they realize that opens the door for getting the very best of what I have to offer. There’s no one that will push harder to perform in design, typography, process, and creativity more than I will. And with that freedom and open mind, we’ll create the perfect product for the situation and idea, tweaking and finessing all the way until it enters the envelope, or sits in front of your guests at the table. 

I treat every project as if it were my own. I feed on understanding the party, the goals, the personality of the people it’s honoring, the decor and what we are setting up to reveal on the event day.

“I aim to push the limits of tradition, while being mindful not to throw them out the window entirely, and elevate the uniqueness, luxury and personality — because, at its very core — this is art”

True art is meant to evoke a feeling from its viewer/receiver. With an invitation we do this by working with textures in printing and in the paper or materials. We work with colors and how they balance, or a level of formality/softness they may convey. Fonts and typography can create a feeling all on their own in their placement, size, and the personality of the letter shapes. Monograms or even illustrations in line art or watercolor can set the tone for the style, or the lay of the land, in a map or image that gets prominently displayed as part of the invitation itself. Enhancements like painted edges, wax seals, ribbon, threads, and pressed florals can layer more texture or romance, or tailored elegance. Each of these things are thought through as its own element and as a whole the design is brought together.

Gaining the trust and faith in my talents and abilities from my clients is one of the best gifts we could give each other in the process of working together because, in order to achieve all of this, we have to push boundaries and expand our minds to be open to using different elements and materials that push a thought, idea or feeling. Sometimes we must work outside of comfort zones and test new ideas. If we didn’t, then we’d just be re-inventing the wheel over and over, and it would be a total snore. 

On the flip side, as a designer, there needs to be a confidence in showing restraint in situations. To know when to hold back on certain ideas - when ‘less is more’ - careful to not create chaos, confusion, or overwhelm the receiver. Thinking about how the various necessary elements of the invitation will stack or nestle when put together as their ‘package.’ Incorporating subtleties. When to be quieter and when to be loud. Remembering that the event itself will be at a larger scale than just a mere envelope can carry and being careful not to throw the kitchen sink at it, or just adding fluff for fluff’s sake. 

 This is my long-winded way of saying Thank You to all my clients and event planners out there who have taken the leap of faith with me and let me steer the ship toward their event. I love hearing the excited feedback and unbridled enthusiasm when we are complete. It unlocks a power in creativity that breaks the chains of the everyday + expected.