Pretty Postage 2021

One of the most asked questions this year was about where to find pretty postage, so I rounded up some of my favorite vintage postage for you!!

USPS is raising postage rates on August 29th so factor that into sourcing postage for your invitations!!

Vintage Floral Love Postage | Pink Rose Love Postage | Collection of Vintage Green Postage | Collection of Vintage Blue Postage | Pretty Flowering Trees Postage | Vintage Garden Botanical Postage | Vintage Garden Bouquet Postage | Hot Pink Rose Postage

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The 2020 Holiday Boutique

This year I had the privilege to design the new logo for the The Women’s Board of Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital’s Holiday Boutique! I worked closely with the team of wonderful women to create a holiday design tied into the iconic purple of Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital's branding into a wreath that represented the festive holiday season. With a big purple bow and purple and gold ornaments this design does just that.

This year, the boutique has been extended to take place over eight days — from Friday, November 13, through Friday, November 20 — giving you even more time to shop for a great cause!

Here's how it works: Shop with any of our fabulous vendors from November 13 through November 20.
Include the code WB2020 for online purchases, or mention it on the phone.
You get one-of-a-kind holiday gifts and help support Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital!

All proceeds support the Women’s Board's investment in the new, state-of-the-art Simulation and Education Center at Lake Forest Hospital. If you are unable to attend the Holiday Boutique but would like to support the event, please use the button below.

I am excited to also be one of the vendors and you can shop on my website though November 20th using the code WB2020 and 15% of the sale will be donated to this worthy cause!

Since I love the new logo so much, I just had to create some products in honor of the Holiday Boutique…

My Favorite Frames

Since I started selling art prints on my website, I have had lots of questions about framing. So, here are my favorite frames are understated and simple. I love a white on white matte/frame combo or a neutral metallic. I also threw in a bamboo and burl wood options, because I am obsessed all things grandmillennial!

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SHOP FRAMES (from left to right):
8x10” Burl wood frame with my personalized straw bag art print 8x10” | 4x6” bamboo frame with my champagne art print in 5x5” | 5x7” antique brass frame with a custom silhouette watercolor | 8x8”bamboo frame with my orchid art print 8x10” | 8x10” gallery white frame with my custom door art print 8x10” | 4x6” Burl wood frame with my ginger jar art print 5x5” | 5x7” gallery white frame with a custom silhouette watercolor | 8x10” bamboo frame with a custom watercolor monogram | 8x10” gold metal frame with my personalized motif art print

The Holiday Card Style Guide

It’s never too early to start thinking about your holiday card! I just launched my 2020 holiday card collection that is inspired by classic children’s holiday clothing, gingham, corduroy, buffalo check and of course holiday plaid. In honor of the collection’s genesis I put together a style guide featuring some of my favorite brands with the cutest ensembles to pair with my card designs. I had so much fun sourcing brother and sister outfits and some things for grownups too, because we could all use some peace, love, and joy right about now! I can’t wait hear what you all think about this year’s collection. xo Catherine

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Shop the gingham card and the style guide
gingham flat card in navy with red border • corduroy envelope liner in red • matching gingham gift tags in navy with red design • classic red grosgrain bowgingham Evelyn dressRed Bow Mary Jane’sPark Avenue ShirtRed Corduroy Bellfield Skirtgingham George Bubbledrumb knee highsNavy Loafers

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Shop the holiday plaid card and the style guide
Scotty dog motif flat card with a navy corduroy border and red line border • plaid envelope liner in navy and red • motif return address • matching plaid gift tag in navy and red with a scotty dog motif • classic red grosgrain bowscottie dog smocked dressRed Bow Mary Jane’sscottie dog smocked romperNavy Loafers

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Shop the cosy cabin card and the style guide
motif border flat card in green, forest & red plaid with a green border a the wreath motif • motif & corduroy envelope liner in green with wreath motif • holiday motif return address • matching plaid gift tags with wreath motif • pom pom hatcedar trail rufflethe new england house tartan blanketclassic cable knit kids sweaterthe mccallister hatwoodstock trail flannelthe great moose cords

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Shop the corduroy card and the style guide
Corduroy flat card in navy with red border • motif & corduroy envelope liner in navy with holiday car motif • matching corduroy gift tag in navy with red design • classic red grosgrain bowaspen jumperholiday car shirt rowan red pique coverallRed Bow Mary Jane’sclassic cable knit sweaterharrison holiday card corduroy pants ryan red pique longallNavy Loafers

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Shop the buffalo check card and the style guide
buffalo check flat card in green with red border • matching buffalo gift tags in green with reindeer motif • holiday motif return addressclassic red grosgrain bowsmocked reindeer bishopRed Bow Mary Jane’ssmocked reindeer longall • classic button down shirt • Navy Loafers

Shop the colorful corduroy card and the style guide

corduroy border flat card in watermelon with red border • matching corduroy gift tag in watermelon with red border • corduroy envelope liner in red • Rainbow Fair Isle Cardigan • Yellow cordsHeart Pocket Woven DressPompom Hat & Gloves SetCosy Fair Isle Knitted DressCosy Fair Isle Crew SweaterWoven Twirly Skirt

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Shop the seersucker card and the style guide

seersucker folded card in blue • seersucker envelope liner in blue • seersucker stationery • seersucker gift tags • white grosgrain bowlight blue striped pjsinfant striped footed pjsinfant hand mittslight blue striped bib

How to Throw a Small Dinner Party with Nicole Regan

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I am thrilled share my collaboration with Nicole Regan the creator behind the lifestyle and entertaining blog Cedar and Rush. 

Nicole asked me to design the menus, place cards, and invites for her outdoor summer dinner party. “Adding stylish menus is a fab way to take your dinner party up a notch,” said Nicole, “especially this crazy summer with limited restaurant seating and reservations.” Little touches like personalized place cards and menus add interest and charm to intimate events.

She had already selected Blue and Weil’s Elliott tablecloth with a light blue, shades of pink, and white color palette. I got to work with my watercolors and painted a border design for the paper goods with the tablecloth pattern in mind. I was especially drawn to the striped corner detail and use that design element as inspiration in creating the borders for the menus, place cards, and invitations.

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For event designers like myself, 2020 is the year of adapting to the unprecedented times and adjusting to be able to thrive again as a small business. I usually design for events with hundreds of guests and had to adjust my usual product offering to be well suited for a hostess of a small dinner party, so I came up with the idea of fill in party packs for ten guests, which includes ten menus, ten invites (and envelopes) and ten place cards with pre- printed watercolor borders and space for the hostesses like Nicole to write in the invitation details, menu and guest names on the place cards by hand.

 
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“Adding stylish menus is a fab way
to take your dinner party up a notch!”
- Nicole

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Meet Nicole Regan

Creator behind the lifestyle + entertaining blog Cedar and Rush. Nicole builds captivating narratives through styling and storytelling. She is the founder of her own marketing company. Her expertise and refined style provide a multidimensional viewpoint that sparks a bold and fresh way of thinking.

Check out more from Nicole…
@nicolearegan | www.cedarandrush.com

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SHOP THIS LOOK

Photos by Mary McCoy of Wonder and Awe Photography & Tablescape and Styling by Nicole Regan of Cedar and Rush