Hannah Larkin Designs

With the opening of her Etsy shop, Hannah needed a few portraits of herself as well as a handful of pictures of her work. For one full afternoon we sat on the steps of her absolutely adorable downtown apartment and got down to business. The business of pretty paper, pretty pictures, and pretty people…named Hannah. Hannah is one of my oldest and dearest friends and even as early as the second grade her impressive drawing and drool-worthy typography skills stood out. Over the years her hobby developed into more than just a pastime and in college, when she began asking us what type of font we’d like on our birthday cards, we knew this girl had talent. Over the past few years Hannah has been designing wedding stationery and custom cards for quite the collection of amazing people. And being completely honest, it’s about time she made her work available for everyone.

This was my first, real product shoot and I kinda totally loved it. There's something nice about shooting in a controlled environment and being able to twist, turn, and pose the subject - er, product, as you please. Especially when the person you're photographing for is baking you fresh-from-the-oven lavender lemon cookies. I die.

To see more of Hannah's work and to visit her lovely little shop, CLICK HERE!

Hannah created the stationery for Ryan + Lene's wedding last September and Jake + Sierra's wedding this December and she's currently working on the invitations for one of next summer's brides. Making me over-the-moon with joy to work with her on not one, not two, but three weddings!

And without giving it allll away, here's a little peek at the custom stationery Hannah just finished for my business. 2012 Brides, be excited - pretty paper is headed your way!!

Isn't her work amazing?! Pleasepleaseplease stop by Hannah's new (and absolutely ADORABLE!!) store and get your hands on at least one of her lovely little cards. And while you're at it, be sure to read the 'About' section. If you haven't already, it'll definitely make you fall head over heels in love with this girl.

Happy Wednesday, Michelle

Find What You Love

I’m a dreamer. It’s what keeps me awake at night, refuses to let me shut up, and exhausts the bejebus out of Colton.

It is also the reason I cannot, for the life of me, stop watching Ted videos.

It was the first day of spring term and as I walked into class awkwardly late I prayed for an open seat next to someone, anyone, looking remotely familiar. EXSS 371 was the course – Measurement and Data Analysis in Exercise and Sport Science - and the reputation preceding it was notoriously le boring. I averted eye contact as I entered the third floor room and fortunately found a seat close to the front – hoping to redeem my tardy self and appear extra studious. Without an introduction, a hello, or even a warm, teacherly greeting, our professor began class, sans speaking, with a YouTube video projected onto the room’s wall sized white board. It was spring of 2008 and yet it was the first time I had ever heard a word of Steve Jobs’ Stanford commencement speech. It was also the catalyst for my present day love affair with the mind behind the Macintosh (and the iPod and iMac and iPhone and iPad…).

I was three years late and a few schools off, but for fifteen minutes I sat absolutely certain Apple’s CEO was speaking directly to me. For the first time in my academic career I felt as though someone was validating me –unconventional, irresponsible, spontaneous, creative me. And it.was.liberating!

I’ve returned to this speech many, many times over the past few years. When I’m feeling like a complete and utter mess {which as it turns out is more than you'd like to know}. When I’m feeling hopeless and cannot manage to connect even one dot in my life to another. And when I simply feel as though I’m a total failure - at everything, these words seem to make the medicine a little easier to swallow. For even if I spend my whole life pursuing a dream that yields no fruit, I will have spent my days doing something I love.

And this will have made me a very rich woman in spirit.

Cypress Albums

Happy Thursday, Friends! I was about to send off an album order for a past client's sweet mother (remember David + Allison?!) when I decided I just couldn't wait to show you the finished product. This self-mount Cypress album is seriously swoonworthy and the perfect solution for those family members looking for something other than a traditional album. The 60 page book is so clean and timeless and pretty that I can't help but want one for myself.

Or two.

Or ten.

The thick, letterpress quality pages are separated by a thin sheet of rice paper - something that makes this album feel extra classy.

I don't know what it is about Japanese silk book cloth, but I love it. I die. It's so pretty.

xoxo, M.