bradley & lily

the long awaited launch of bradley & lily, the boutique letterpresserie known for its contemporary couture wedding stationery, has finally arrived! having been on letterpress watch for quite some time, i was delighted to finally take a peek at designer stacey nomura's gorgeous invites which have been stunning local brides with its artful take on traditional wedding announcements since the very first cards rolled out of its antique printing press.

one look and you can spot how mother nature, architectural motifs, and other design details, often captured by stacey's camera for future inspiration, have been translated from rolling waves, swaying palm trees or koi fish into finely crafted paper goods.

more peeks below:

old hawaii

digital printing is another option for budget crunched brides & grooms who refuse to skimp on the design possibilities offered by their big day. and, letterpress fans take note, bradley & lily's minimalist aloha & mahalo note cards are hot off the presses and can now be found both à la carte and in boxed sets at soha living who will also offer b&l's demi-couture invites in-store later this summer.

to celebrate bradley & lily's online debut, stacey is offering 15% off all demi-couture and couture stationery to readers who mention h|h before june 30th.

p.s. for brides short on time, b&l also offers a gift concierge service featuring elegant favors and other delightful offerings for your guest list with delivery available around the islands and to northern california.

{photo credit: kelly + fergus, visionari}

new peeks: kinohi designs

tropical tryst

the iffy economy is putting a squeeze on many budgets including pricey wedding celebrations for both island and destination brides & grooms. as someone who planned every single detail of my big day without a hired gun by my side, i know firsthand that it is possible to throw a lovely bash complete with fancy gown, hard to book photographers, and gourmet eats for a fraction of the cost, and, most important, without going into debt so long as you know how to allocate your funds wisely.

if invites are the area where you choose to scrimp, you will want to take note of the latest offerings from kinohi designs. since partnering with wedding paper divas and its sister company tiny prints, honolulu designer jennifer tanabe's contemporary paper goods line continues to mark life's happy moments sans the boutique price tag.

many designs hint of kinohi's island home to the delight of modern tropical style connoissiers, however my current favorite is certain to be frowned upon by the etiquette set - the cheeky blank you design with its playful twist on the traditional thank you note which is sure to be the saving grace for anyone who forgets to acknowledge gifts in a timely manner.

blank you

summer style

hello baby

and, while the stylish stationery has been perfected for weddings, birthdays, and other big announcements, savvy shoppers can put their own spin on many designs with a few quick clicks.

take a peek at kinohi designs' entire lovely lineup over at tiny prints and wedding paper divas.

whale season

it's almost time for the whales to swim back north so with a little cut and paste and, voilà!, a show and tell of all the finds inspired by the planet's largest inhabitant collected over the past year. enjoy!

1 - teach your keiki all her abc's with strawberry luna's w is for whale print.

2 - the cheerful graphics of sirena con jersey's whale tote perk up a standard issue book bag.

3 - two trick pony's handscreened print takes your wall on a fanciful whale ride.

4 - elegantly designed magnetic whale tongs are a dinner party conversation starter.

5 - sterling silver is coaxed into a charming whale pendant.

6 - add a little whimsy to your entry with this playful whale tail door knocker.

7 - jot down notes on this cute whale chalkboard complete with blowhole chalk holder (also stocked at three potato four).

8 - show your gratitude with fugu fugu's 100% recycled big thanks note card.

9 - craft your own whale goodness with nikoart's handcrafted rubber stamp.

10 - announce your house number to the neighborhood with this fun-loving ode to moby.

11 - delight tiny sea explorers with eco-friendly little whales wallpaper by pottok prints.

sweet nothings roundup

with valentine's on the calendar for next weekend, enjoy a show and tell of lovely goods to add a little sweetness to your day!

1 - maui jewelry designer kira ferrer hand stamps a secret message in the you are loved sterling bangle.

2 - delight your keiki with the crochet cuteness of berrysprite's red velvet cupcake.

3 - simply embellish's valentine note set asks to be sealed with a kiss.

4 - champagne toasts get some extra sparkle via space moderne's handcrafted wine tote.

5 - decorate your love nest with lisa brodinski's sweetly titled photographic blossom.

6 - honolulu jewelry designer stacey lee's pink tourmaline drops dazzle with glittering gold leaves.

7 - sweet love tags by simply embellish perk up valentine treat bags.

8 - indulge in gourmet cheesecake bites without waiting to be buzzed to your table.

9 - lilikoi fruit tints honolulu cookie company's yummy chocolate dipped shortbread hearts.

10 - design lovely turns the traditional valentine into a hawaiian love note (print your own here).

11 - craft your own st. valentine's surprise with a swath of denyse schmidt's county fair fabric (the pear tulip medallion is a pretty hawaiian quilt dopplegänger).

12 - style your sweetheart in a long sleeved aloha shirt from sig zane.

13 - candy grams go gourmet compliments of sweet paradise chocolatier's handmade confections.

14 - for the family man - anje design's engraved washers keeps your 'ohana close to his heart.

15 - warm island wood inlays offset sturdy metal in hawaiian titanium rings handcrafted tribal collection.

and the winners are . . .

2009 menagerie calendar

jackie of connecticut & lisa of kihei who will get to spend the new year enjoying twelve months of joie studio's lovely letterpress!

mahalo to everyone who entered. click over to joie studio's online shop to order up a 2009 menagerie calendar to call your own.

{mahalo tina!}

p.s. my holidays are kicking off a few days early so h|h will be on hiatus to enjoy all the festive winter cheer. hope your holiday is merry and bright wherever you may be.