Design in August | Branding & Stationery Studio » Rubber Stamps

Stationery | Damask Invitation Suite

Daiva — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 19:53:29 +0000

“Is damask out of style?” she asked me at our first meeting.

Sometimes, yes.

“I just don’t want it to look ‘oldish’ you know?” she said. “I’m already what I’d call a ‘mature bride’…”

Then you’ve come to the right place.

Careful not to go down the road often traveled (who hasn’t done damask?), I set out to bring a fresh perspective to stationery designed with a damask motif. I played with scale and using different sections of the damask. I paired it with other patterns. I reversed out the inks for an all-black out-of-town reception card. I proposed non-traditional accents, such as a black rsvp envelope. (Black for a wedding?! Absolutely. Why not?)

The result was this bold, graphic and fresh take on a traditional (and dare I say, potentially boring) damask invitation suite that even the youngest of young brides (and the maturest of mature brides) would be delighted to call their own.

My favorite card just might be the all-black Memphis reception card. Perfect for a formal house party!

The main invitation card alone is oh.so.romantic.

And more than 600 envelopes later… They were all lined! Including the outer, the rsvp and the thank you note envelopes. Whew!

Stationery | Personalized Note Set

Daiva — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:56:59 +0000

It’s graduation time. And that means job interviews and thank you notes. What a lovely way to say “Well done, Graduate.” than to gift them a personalized note card set and coordinating rubber stamp. Here’s to you, Reese T. Davis. Cheers!

Stationery | LaBruce + Harrison’s Save the Date

Daiva — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:05:00 +0000

LaBruce and Harrison wanted to set the stage for a very elegant, coastal South Carolina wedding. LaBruce contacted me when she saw my own calligraphic invitation suite. She wanted a Save the Date inspired by this look, but done in a black + ivory palette. This particular design was entirely typeset though, with a little finagling of flourishes to give it that hand-drawn look. Specialty paper with a slight texture, plus a custom return address rubber stamp, completed the mailer. Best wishes to you, Mr. + Mrs. Trammell!

Branding | Jams by Mags

Daiva — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:33:26 +0000

Handcrafted. Artisan. From Napa Valley to Arlington deliciousness. That’s Jams by Mags. All of these jams are hand cut, small batch preserves, created with the highest quality local ingredients, made in the peak of their season. And Mags needed a brand and package design that conveyed all of that.

Margaret began making jams in her mom’s Napa Valley kitchen. Now she makes jams in her own kitchen in Arlington, Virginia. (And she ships orders! Thanks be to God!) She came to me with initial ideas for her look – one that would fit the hand cut, homemade, original and unique flavors she fills up in her jars. And one that wouldn’t break the bank of a young, start up company. The creative process was great fun! Mags and I share similar creative bents and continue to pass inspirational tips back and forth in the middle of our work weeks to this day. How DO we get any work accomplished?! Well, we do.

The result of our collaboration (and scrumptious product sampling) was a set of custom rubber stamps that she would use to stamp her paper goods as needed – jar labels, business cards, note cards, and shipping labels on boxes. The stamps were not only a huge budget saver, but a perfect fit for that “handcrafted” look & feel. And by pairing a classic serif typeface with Maggie’s own handwritten “by Mags” for the logo, the result is a unique brand mark that further conveys that hand made touch.

Note: Jams by Mags is currently stocked with wintertime marmalades and savory jellies!!
Be sure to browse (and drool) and place your orders here.

All photos courtesy of Jams by Mags. Photographer: Kim Maxwell Vu.

Stationery | Rick + Tonia

Daiva — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:24:58 +0000

Just a few short months ago, my friend Rick found his dream girl – and two days ago they tied the knot! It may have been a fast track to “I do” but when you know you know… you know? Although I was not able to travel to their wedding in Greenville this weekend, I did have the distinct pleasure of working with the lovely bride on designing her invitation suite. Tonia shared her ideas of blue mason jars, wildflowers, and charcoal grays for this July event. Wedding ceremony in an old church. Reception on the lawn of a plantation house. She also really wanted their initials carved on a tree. The result? Rustic elegance with southern charm. And pops of mason jar blue. Congratulations, you two. Happy Honeymooning!!

The main card was printed front + back. Guests were first greeted by this oak tree carved with the couple’s initials.

Invitation on the flipside. All wrapped up in twine.

A separate card for rehearsal dinner guests.

Sweet details. And a custom rubber stamp!

Stationery | Embossers

Daiva — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:30:18 +0000

I am happy to announce a new product offering from Design in August! What finer way is there to polish off an envelope than with a timeless Embosser? Or put your mark on your precious books with a “From the Library of” Embosser? Design in August now offers desktop models (pictured here) or hand-held models (not-pictured) in a custom design made exclusively for you by yours truly!

And don’t forget our Custom Rubber Stamps! With a variety of sizes and wood-mounted (pictured below) or self-inking, a Custom Rubber Stamp is another lovely way to address an envelope, mark your personal library, or flourish a gift tag with a monogram. Message me using the “Say Hello” form above for more information. Cheers!

Stationery | Vance Suite

Daiva — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:50:22 +0000

I realize there still is snow on the ground, but in the world of design we stay ahead by a season – if not two! Today’s post features an invitation suite for a spring wedding. A night-before dessert reception, a traditional ceremony in a church, followed by a garden party. Three pieces of varying heights stack inside a neat little pocket folder, their tops all coordinated and contrasting. These then slip into an exterior envelope – all in tints of peapod green. Perfect for May, wouldn’t you say? The month of “Yes, you May.” Be sure to catch the Inspiration Board behind this invite for a whimsical garden fête.

Interested in customizing this suite for your upcoming event? Message me using the above “Say Hello” form. To learn more about stationery design by Design in August check out the About page. Cheers!

Events | Nashville Bridal Brunch

Daiva — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:29:27 +0000

{WINNERS} I am happy to announce the winners of the Design in August Studio Giveaway!! The lucky brides-to-be are Miss Megan Deising (winner of the custom return address rubber stamp) and Miss Leah Caudle (winner of the custom thank you note set). Congrats, ladies!! I am excited to design these items for you and look forward to posting them here on the blog.

I was delighted to show my stationery work at HER Nashville’s Bridal Brunch this past Sunday. We had an excellent turnout at Vanderbilt’s Commodore Ballroom and I am pleased as punch – or, should I say, mimosas! It was such fun meeting with lovely brides-to-be (and their attentive grooms-to-be) as we chatted stationery needs and paper goods in a lively, brunch atmosphere. I also had fun seeing which pieces caught the most attention – hello, lined envelopes & save the date postcards! A highlight for attendees was the fashion show, featuring gown trends for Spring 2011 (ruffles! ruffles! ruffles!). And a highlight for Design in August was not one, but TWO Studio Giveaways! Brides entered to win either a set of custom thank you notes OR a custom return address rubber stamp. I will be announcing the two lovely winners tomorrow. Thanks, HER Nashville for hosting a can’t-miss brunch. Cheers!

Stay tuned on Wednesday when I will announce the two winners of my Studio Giveaway! Could it be you?!

Stationery | Christmas Card + Matching Gift Tag

Daiva — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:07:59 +0000

“Bright wishes…” indeed! I was delighted to design this Christmas card and matching gift tag for Lindsay. We talked about using traditional colors of red or green or gold, but when she mentioned possibly going for bolder, non-traditional gem colors, we went for it! A royal purple bellyband with their family initial dresses up this 5″x 7″ greeting. Lindsay then slipped a 4″x 6″ family photo loosely inside the band and on top of the card. That way friends and family could pull out the photo and frame it as they wished. A custom return address rubber stamp (not pictured) in the same font families completed the look of the chartreuse envelopes, while this coordinating 3″x 3″ gift tag completed her holiday gift wrapping in style. The best part is these gift tags will last her year round – birthdays, weddings, baby showers, you name it! With chartreuse & royal purple dressing up this Christmas card and gift tag set, how could they be anything but “bright” wishes?!

Nashville | The Bridal Brunch

Daiva — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:57:18 +0000

{Update!} Purchase your tickets at 50% off using the promo code “bbhalfoff” at the Bridal Brunch site.

I am proud to announce that Design in August will be showing at Nashville’s Bridal Brunch: A Toast to Wedding Style this January 9th! Bridal Brunch is a champagne social featuring heavy hors d’oeuvres, a bridal fashion show and the chance to mix & mingle with some of Nashville’s most elite wedding vendors. It’s a one-stop shop to help you plan your perfect wedding. And Design in August will be there to showcase custom stationery design. I’m so excited! Yet another opportunity to meet more of Nashville’s beautiful brides and chat wedding stationery & ephemera all in the setting of a boutique bridal show. So gather your moms, your gals, & even your man, and join us for a lovely Sunday Brunch on January 9th. See you there!

Photography from last year’s Bridal Brunch event.