Customized!

December 2, 2015 Carol Sullivan

New Years Day 2015, I was contacted by a wonderful woman named Tracy about creating a custom wedding invitations for her wedding. Her and her fiance were getting married in September at the Liberty House in Jersey City, NJ, overlooking Manhattan. We had the normal exchanges of e-mails, but after she realized I created more than invitations and maps, she decided to customize her whole wedding! I designed invitations, wedding maps, luggage tags, stickers, even their "Just Married" sign, if it was on paper I designed it! She even had me design custom lunch boxes for the children attending the wedding! I’ve had some really amazing clients over the years, but Tracy and Van are definitely at the top. She was so fun to work with and always open to ideas. We woulds text each other anytime we thought of something cool, and through our correspondence I saw how sweet and considerate Tracy really is. She is always thinking of her friends and family and it was truly apparent on their wedding day. Her husband, Van, is really a lucky man, and I could tell the way she spoke of him that he really loved her. They are sooooo cute! I am really proud of the small part I played in helping them celebrate their special day! It was an honor.

Since then we have worked on a couple of other projects including a map of her and Van’s travel on their yacht, Sunday Morning, and more recently a Christmas card. I had so much fun working on all of it, but sometimes I’d catch myself daydreaming of past travels and had to snap out of it! I truly love my career and the people I have met along the way. During this time of reflection and thanksgiving, I am so happy and thankful for people like Tracy and Van. She was my first client of 2015 and the catalyst for my most successful year ever! I look forward to working with her in the future, but more importantly I feel like I made a friend. I can't wait for the day when our families meet and I can give her a hug.

Thank you to Brandon Remler for the wonderful photographs!

Farm to Table Dinner

October 28, 2015 Jeremy Sullivan

A few weeks back I got to work with some of my talented event industry friends for a night of great food and entertainment. Judy Cordell of Judy Cordell Events pulled together some amazing talent for the Lone Star Dinner, a farm to table dinner, held at Avalon Legacy Ranch and catered by the talented, George Brown Jr of Experimental Table. Avalon Legacy Ranch is a beautiful space outside McKinney, owned and operated by my good friend Debbie Ladd and was the perfect venue to showcase chef Brown's talent. Her space was made even more stunning by the floral provided by Diane France of Fleurs De France Florals.

As one of North Texas' best event planners, Judy, knows how to throw a party! Judy, understands the importance of great design and how to make that important first impression, so naturally the invitation was key. We worked closely to capture the aesthetic and menu for the evening in the design. Color conveys meaning, so remember that brides! Once we settled on an invitation I went to work on all the little touches that make an event special. From place cards and menu's to totes and labels I utilized our color palette to bring cohesiveness to this beautiful event. We even created a map outlining all of the local farms that provided the ingredients for the dinner. The totes filled with goodies from local businesses and farmers and printed by the lovely Kristen Gilbert at Collin County Canvas, featured the detailed map. The night was a success and really showcased the best of McKinney. I was grateful we were able to participate. Please check out the photo's below taken by my good friend and extremely talented photographer, Julie, of Phase3 Photography.

Prime Time

September 30, 2015 Carol Sullivan

This past July I worked with the folks from HBO to create a custom menu for a private dinner!

It's the gene's

September 24, 2015 Jeremy Sullivan

Recently Carol and I collaborated on an invitation suite and save the date that was inspired by one of my favorite artists, Mark Rothko. Today is birth date of Mark Rothko, so we thought it fitting to release an invitation based on his work. We plan on creating other works based on artists we love throughout the year, so keep your eye out. With Carol's help and encouragement, I have been teaching myself the Adobe Creative Suite and studying different artists and design concepts. One day, I caught the creative bug and went with it, this happens occasionally, just ask Carol about the time I went to Home Depot and made a lamp out of pipe, fittings, and scrap wood; I spent all weekend on it. It's in the genes...

Carol’s artistic talent is obvious and was born out of her mothers influence and challenges she faced as a child. The influence of art has manifested into a successful career as a graphic designer and painter. As a child, art was a lifeboat in a tumultuous sea that helped form her as an artist and a person. She has honed her talents over the years, and through her love and support she has inspired me to tap into my artistic side as well.

As it turns out, I too come from a family influenced by art. My moms side of the family is full of musicians, dancers, painters, sculptors, and craftsmen. Lacking formal training, much of their artistic talent was born out of necessity and self preservation, but it brought joy to what was often a loving but difficult childhood. Music was played, scraps of sheet metal were fashionedinto sculpture, canvases could be made of anything, and if you could make it with your hands, you did. In comparison I lead a sybaritic lifestyle growing up, perhaps the reason why my founding years were shaped to mere appreciation for art and literature and nothing more. My artistic talent peaked when I painted a rock red and blue as a paper weight for my dad on Fathers Day... Carol made me think differently.

Now later in life, and after watching my talented wife create and design beautiful works, I’ve decided to not only appreciate the work, but try my hand at design, something I never thought worthy or capable of doing. While I will never have the talent or proficiency of Carol, I know that it gives me a sense of pride when she says “that’s awesome” and that’s enough for me.

Please check out the new invitation suite and save the date below.

Tuesday Wedding Inspiration!

September 15, 2015 Carol Sullivan

A little while back I was able to design some stationery for a fun wedding shoot just outside of McKinney. I wanted to share some images of my items, but I think there is so many great looks in these pics that I wanted to share some of my favorite photo’s to inspire you for your wedding or next big event. This boho chic styled wedding shoot really pulled together some beautiful colors and textures. I just love how the center piece pops against the farm table and the linens are just the cutest. Remember, your imagination and use pieces that you can identify with. Do you like reading, think about inspiring elements of your favorite book. Like to travel, perhaps a seating chart map based on your travels. Love music, consider your favorite artist/songs for table numbers. And if you can incorporate fireworks, do it! The photo's are amazing. Let your imagination guide you and if you want some help, you know where to find me.

Check out these amazing vendors:

Wedding Planner: Forever Events and Weddings
Photographer: Justin Yoder Studios
Florals: Fleurs de France
Rentals: Rent My Dust
Stationery: CW Designs
Catering and Cake: Uncle Willie's Pies and Catering
Makeup: Simply Beautiful by Meg
Hair Stylist: Brooke Himes Hair Design
Bride's dress: Providence Place Bridal
Photobus: The Photobus DFW
Fireworks: Pyrotex
Videographer: Harmland Visions

Picture Perfect

September 9, 2015 Carol Sullivan

Over the years, I have created thousands of custom items for weddings all over the world and occasionally I will receive pictures my work. When I opened up these images, I was stunned by their beauty. The gorgeous photo's were taken by Sarah Petersen of Sarah Schultz Photography. She captured some amazing images of the couple and some really great shots of the day of material I created. I really cherish photo's like this because I can put a face to a name and see how my work appeared. I was so impressed by how the colors popped that I contacted my equally talented friend and photographer, Ryan O'Dowd of Ryan O'Dowd Photography, to take a few shots of the materials I created for the big day. I created a custom invitation suite, wedding map, seating chart, table numbers, place cards, and even a custom postage stamp! I love it when I can take a style and apply it to other things outside of just an invitation or map! Check out these amazing photos.

“Thank you so much (again) for the wonderful work and all of the back and forth changes you made on the artwork for Molly’s wedding. It made the event much more special and the reception coordinator commented frequently on the attention to detail and extra touches. We really appreciate everything you did for us!”

— Mindy (Mother of Bride)

Hello. I’m Carol.
Nice to meet you.

I approach my design work with a deep sense of empathy, always taking the time to truly understand my clients’ visions, needs, and emotions. I believe that great design is not just about aesthetics; it's about creating something that resonates with the people it’s made for. By listening carefully and connecting with my clients on a personal level, I’m able to craft designs that feel both meaningful and authentic, ensuring every project reflects their unique story and style.