You’ve probably discovered We Heart Paper already, but I thought I would share my favorites from their wedding collection. The artist behind We Heart Paper is Janie. They offer a collection of ready-made wedding invitations, as well as custom design services. Be sure to check out Janie’s blog, Janie Hearts… lots of paper & pretty inspiration on there!
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I have been a huge fan of Brooke Forry for a while… from way back when she was Miss Cupcake on Weddingbee. I started stalking her Claremont Road blog when she started it too. So when she announced her brand new project (aka career move) in Curious & Company, with her “baby” being Claremont Collection, I couldn’t help but be excited for her. {I kind of form a relationship with the bloggers whom I follow, regardless of whether they know it or not… sounds kinda creepy, I know, but I swear there’s no need to get frightened.} Anyway, as I’ve come to know Brooke more through her posts & her work, I have become a bigger & bigger fan. Her style & overall aesthetic is very balanced — colorful {but not all over the place}, a little vintage {with modern twists}, simple & clean {without being plain}, very detailed {without being cluttered}. I’m a fan. A very big fan. She was kind enough to take a timeout & answer some of my questions, which makes me love her even more. Miss “Cupcake” suits her perfectly.
Describe your style.
Old-soul with a modern sensibility and a love of color & patterns
What are 3 words that best describe you?
driven….optimistic….colorful
What is your background? How did you get started in your business? What were you greatest challenges? What motivated you to start your business?
I grew up in an artistic family — my mom is a retired art teacher and my brother is in the men’s fashion industry — so it was no surprise to anyone when I decided to pursue the arts, as well. I went to the University of Delaware and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communications. I have worked as a designer consistently over the last nine years, working for both in-house design departments and design studios, and I always wanted to start my own company someday. In late 2009 I started feeling like it was now or never: my husband and I were still newlyweds and we didn’t have kids or a mortgage tying us down yet, and some of my designer friends were also thinking of going out on their own. We joined forces and in 2010, opened up shop at Curious & Company Creative; my “baby,” Claremont Collection, is our line of letterpress wedding stationery that we introduced a few months later.
What’s the story behind your business name?
I grew up on a street called Claremont Road. In 2008 I started a personal blog where I chronicle my adventures in adulthood and marriage, as well as share interesting finds in the design world. I decided to name my blog Claremont Road, because our old home was such an important part of my formative years. When my business partners and I joined forces as Curious & Company (it was one name all of us could agree on!) and I said I wanted to head up a letterpress stationery line, I knew that I wanted to incorporate the name Claremont; thus, Claremont Collection was born. We currently offer ten designs, each available in save-the-dates, invitations, etc. and customizable with any of the 25 ink colors we offer.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A ballerina! I was very into dance and theatre, though I never studied dance like I *should* have if I really wanted to be a dancer someday!
What inspires you?
Color, pattern, great music, live theatre, dance, impressionism, mid-century design and fashion, and architecture.
What do you love most about what you do?
Hands down, the pride I feel when a client loves the work I have done. It is a nice reminder that hard work pays off.
What is your work pet peeve?
When I can’t find the perfect paper color that I have in mind for a project. There are certain colors or shades that are very difficult to find, and it’s frustrating when I can’t find what I have pictured in my mind.
What is one thing you & your business couldn’t live without?
Pantone swatches — color is so important to a piece and the wrong shade can totally ruin a design. My Pantone swatches rarely leave my side.
Name 1 wish you want to come true.
I wish for Claremont Collection to become a favorite among brides nationwide so we can continue to introduce new designs and features to keep our work fresh and exciting.
What advice would you give future brides & grooms when it comes to hiring their perfect stationer?
It sounds cliché, but remember that you get what you pay for. If a designer is charging very little for an invitation suite that other reputable companies are charging much more for, chances are they are inexperienced and that will be reflected in the design and final product. Design experience, paper quality, print quality, and — especially with the art of letterpress — the skill of the person running the press are all very important to a final product. If your budget is tight but you want to ensure a quality final invitation suite, work with someone who has the experience but consider a letterpress design with one ink color instead of two, or an RSVP post card instead of a card and printed envelope to save a little money. Ultimately, it will be a better experience for you and a more beautiful final product if you work with the experienced designer.
What is your favorite wedding trend of all time?
Photo booths! I know everyone and their sister has a photo booth at their wedding anymore, but I don’t care — guests always have SO much fun when there is a photo booth and I think it’s a wonderful way to get lots of fun pictures of the people you love. My husband and I had an old-fashioned black & white photo booth at our wedding two and a half years ago, and people are still talking about it.
What is your least favorite wedding trend?
Smashing the cake in each other’s face. I prefer sweetly feeding each other cake and sealing it with a kiss 
What trend(s) do you foresee for 2011 brides?
Anything goes… I love that weddings no longer “have” to fit in a certain mold. I think the internet and wedding blogs have totally changed the face of the wedding industry in the last ten years, and I see 2011 being even more unique and innovative than years past.
If you could have your wedding all over again, what would you do differently? What would you most definitely keep the same?
I would have considered a less traditional reception venue. We loved the hotel ballroom where we had our reception, but we booked it very soon after getting engaged and before I really knew of some other unique spaces that could have worked. It could have been fun to work with a space that was more of a blank canvas, but then again that probably would have just stressed me out more! What would I keep the same? The husband, definitely
Describe your perfect day.
A beautiful, sunny spring day with no obligations, my husband by my side, and a world of possibilities awaiting us.
Pick:
- chocolate / vanilla
- PC / Mac
- coffee / tea
- Blackberry / iPhone
- black / white
- vintage / modern
Favorites:
- color palette – greens and blues always get me
- typography – I love a good serif — Archer remains a favorite font
- flower – ranunculus
- cocktail – Cosmopolitan
- TV show – tie between “Mad Men” & “30 Rock”
- movie – “Amelie”
- song / soundtrack – “Dan in Real Life” soundtrack
- book – “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett
- ice cream flavor – chocolate chip cookie dough
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There’s something about Bella Figura that makes me smile. Maybe because I think their designs are so clean… or maybe it’s because their designs seem so relevant. Regardless, I can’t help but be content with their invitation suites. Oh, and the fact that they’re letterpress makes me go ba-na-nas. Their 2011 collection is stunning and includes a little bit of everything–vintage, modern, whimsical. Yes, I adore them, and I know there’s one that you will feel connected to. Here are my faves:
Look! Just in time for Valentine’s Day! I found these to be quite inspiring for February!
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I have a slight talent crush on Amy Moss of Eat Drink Chic. She’s so good at what she does. Her “doodling” one day evolved into this cute design, which she is now giving away for you to download. Go to her site to get the file, but don’t forget to check out the terms of use & send her your thanks!
Free Downloadable “Love & Thanks” card by Eat Drink Chic
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I heart pretty paper. I’m sure you’ve heard of Betsy White and its beautiful blog, Flights of Fancy. The blog is filled with inspiration, from color boards to trendspotting… it’s a must-read. Here are a handful of my favorite wedding stationery made by Betsy White.
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