tamara catz spring/summer 2010

coral loveliness

i have finally shaken off my wretched monday night malaise and am relieved to return to the land of the living. in between pages of breaking dawn, the past few days were spent peeking into the online storefronts of island designers when i realized that it has been far too long since the glamorous upcountry looks designed by maui's tamara catz appeared on h|h.

some of the most fetching styles are tamara's silky coral frocks which are simply too gorgeois not to share with you. the pattern pops up throughout the collection and is offered in whispers of color and a mix of silhouettes making the design wearable for anyone with a soft spot for the intricately woven seaside pattern. the coral is quite a becoming backdrop and i am finding myself hard pressed to pick a favorite.

other new patterns to woo you include a rainbow repeat and a fun abstract animal print. whimsical embellishments continue to add delightful boho charm especially in the playfully hand embroidered bird and tree shift, delicate crocheted necklines, and dazzling beaded accents. the wedding collection has also expanded its offerings of romantic gowns with layers of chiffon, draped bodices, and grecian details perfected for the beach goddess bride.

rainbow print * tree & bird

seahorse tote

almost all of the featured designs are stocked in the online shop, but if you find yourself in paia definitely stop by tamara's lovely boutique to browse the racks and say hello!

• where: 83 hana hwy, paia
• shop hours: sun to thu, 10a to 6p & fri/sat, 10a to 7:30p

your letterpress by joie studio

gorgeous multi-panel invite

my crush on letterpress is well established and one of my splurges for h|h's makeover was to have my lovely new logo dispatched to miemiko to be letterpressed. the design, which was already gorgeous in the digital previews sent by my designer (aloha john!), became even more charming once pressed into paper . . . the girly tagline typeface became a bit more ooh la la while all the little design details popped even more after its inky impression.

you can imagine my delight when tina from la-based joie studio recently wrote in with news of her latest project catering to diy brides and grooms as well as letterpress devotees armed with a design but lacking a printing press. the just launched your letterpress happily aims to make letterpress more accessible and puts tina's expertise and machinery at your disposal to produce already crafted designs made by you or your designer.

simply send along your print-ready specs over for review and, once approved, tina will handle all the details from ordering plates to custom mixing inks and pressing your invites. she'll even send along a video of your project in the midst of its creation and your letterpress plates as a keepsake upon completion.

invites designed by shop toast

monogram coasters

the menu includes flat and folded invites, save-the-dates, rsvp's, custom stationery and business cards. pricing is competitive with semi-custom digitally printed invitations, and tina also offers design services for an additional charge if you happen to be lacking a layout.

in other news, joie studio's etsy shop has reopened with a handful of new offerings including monogrammed coasters for your summer soirées and alphabet prints for your little ones.

were you lucky enough to send out letterpress invites for your wedding?

shop toast diy favor kits

thank you to everyone who has filled out the survey so far! today i wanted to share more craft happiness from our friends at shop toast who are expanding their diy favor offerings just in time for your summertime socials.

one of the sweetest ideas is the new stamp champ station now hosted at the kaimuki shop where you can personalize mini muslin favor bags ($1/each) with the shop's rubber stamp selection of a-b-c's and 1-2-3's. keep it minimal with a monogram or greet guests with a cheery banner created just for your celebration. then simply fill the bag with your favorite treats, homemade baked goods, or whatever else you please.

starting next week, you will also have the option of ordering a custom rubber stamp when the press/repeat kit is officially released. there are four designs in all and, since favor bags are included, the kit should be a welcome alternative for faraway friends hosting an off-island party.

press/repeat

next up are toast's lovely tying the knot fabric wraps in a rainbow of 28 colors to coordinate with your celebration. the diy sets include favor boxes, wooden message picks (which can be customized for an additional charge), and your choice of wrap. minimum order starts at 24 sets and additional sets of 12 are also available to accommodate larger guest lists.

diy kits can be ordered online (please note: there is a two week turnaround time for custom orders) and at toast's kaimuki storefront:

• where: 3434 waialae avenue, suite 3, kaimuki
• shop hours: m / w / f / sat - 12p to 6p

etsy scout: peppermint cloud

bachio

is it possible that anyone one else is a bit wistful that etsy's indie emporium filled with pretty yet affordable details arrived after her wedding day? with so many handmade delights to be found online, i find myself swooning repeatedly and, on occasion, share them with my mister who, to his credit, nods sympathetically and sweetly consoles me that our wedding cakes were fabulous even without the world's cutest topper.

so it should come as no surprise that the romantic loveliness offered by honolulu's peppermint cloud found a fan after my first peek of the charming creamsicle boutonniere. upon discovering that all this dreaminess was made in hawaii only added to my happiness . . . what luck for modern day island brides who now have a sweet dose of sartorial wonder in their backyard. hooray!

creator litton ludwig began crafting the designs that would eventually populate peppermint cloud's collection during her days as a diy bride-to-be. her bridal hair fascinators are simply stunning and harken back to 1940's movie stars gliding across the silver screen with a gardenia blossom pinned in her hair. each one is carefully constructed of layers of soft feathers or silk petals and occasionally accented with restrained sparkle, delicate lace or topped off with a cap of tulle.

and, if you really want to embrace your glamorous side, take a peek at the two piece pesca made with silk organdy coaxed into gorgeous ruffles. even if your wedding 'do is not meant for one of peppermint cloud's fascinators, just know that it can also be attached to straps and sashes to add extra ooh la la to your gown.

grooms typically have few options to inject a little whimsy into their outfit but happily peppermint cloud is to the rescue. wouldn't you love to be invited to a wedding where the groomsmen have nixed the standard issue floral boutonniere and replaced them with cheery handcut fabric petals mixed with ribbon, buttons, twigs and other flair to brighten up their lapels?

everybody loves creamsicle boutonniere

pesca * neti

amarena * turtle dove

the gorgeous photos only add to the romance and are quite possibly the loveliest etsy product shots ever shared on h|h. credit goes to mr. peppermint cloud who just happens to spend his days snapping photographs side by side with his missus.

litton is also happy to create a fascinator just for you while boutonnieres (which are offered in grownup and keiki sizes) can also be made to complement your wedding palette. since each piece is made to order, turnaround time ranges from one to three weeks and up to six weeks for large custom orders. 

currently, the etsy shop is the exclusive source for peppermint cloud goods so click over and take a peek at the entire collection!

{photo credit: stephen ludwig}

new peeks: kealopiko ku collection

ke aloha aina

the lovely ladies behind kealopiko are definitely to be admired for their dedication in sharing the hawaiian culture with the modern world and their commitment to good design. i like to think of the descriptions that accompany all of their designs as continuing education . . . little histories which help folks (re)connect with their ancestry while clueing in kama'aina and others who may not have been immersed in all things hawaiian learn more about hawaii's native culture. more knowledge is always a good thing!

happily, kealopiko recently introduced their ku collection for spring 2010 and are showing more love for our 'aina by expanding the number of designs printed on organic cotton and eco-friendly fibers. one of the most striking designs is the ke aloha aina tee which mixes a variety of typefaces and serves as a printed reminder of the wearer's "deep love of the land":

"aloha aina is a very old concept . . . although it may change and adapt, it is a part of us that will never go away. we remain kupa‘a in our love for our place, which is challenged all the time by things that are not in the interest of the land or the people. more than a century of occupation may have produced a lot of confusion, but it can never break our aloha aina. so no matter what our different political persuasions might be, wherever we are on our journeys of learning, or wherever we find ourselves in the struggle, we must never forget our common bond of aloha aina."

in addition to tees and tops, pretty strapless dresses are now being offered which i suspect will be very popular this summertime. and, the kealopiko 'ohana also kindly shared a few of the custom looks created for one of the lucky wedding parties who have walked down the aisle wearing some of the most gorgeous designs for an island wedding.

aeo

lehua makanoe * lau amau & palai a kamapuaa

are you sharing my swoon over these lovely wedding looks from lauren and mason's wedding? the muted colorways are so pretty and this is certainly one of the most stylish ways to share the aloha spirit on such a happy day.

if you would love to order a custom design, be advised that kealopiko suggests a minimum of 8 weeks notice to conjure up something made just for you.

the ku collection is currently stocked in the online shop and you can find select styles at boutiques around the islands. oahu readers can also say hello to the kealopiko 'ohana during this weekend's e malama i ke kai festival:

• when: sat, may 15th - 10a to 3p
• where: kapiolani park bandstand, waikiki

{photo credit | lauren & mason's wedding: joanna tano photography}