the haystack needle

juniper's birth announcements

It took the better part of four months (after she was born) to figure out what I wanted to do for Juniper's birth announcements. I finally settled on using this custom wreath stamp, then decided on playing with watercolors, and wrapped everything into a book theme to use two of my favorite things  — vintage library cards and my typewriter. Since so many months had already passed, I decided to make these cards more of an announcement/update on Juniper's first four months. I used MOO custom business cards with the rounded corners to create mini photo cards, one photo from each of Juniper's first four months. On the back of each photo card is a little information about where the photo was taken and highlights from that month in her life. The photo cards are the perfect wallet-size photos. I'm so happy with how they turned out — the matte finish and quality of printing looks awesome. (Another thumbs up for MOO!). I tucked the four photo cards into each vintage library pocket which I stuck on the inside of each blank card. I also added a vintage library card in each pocket. On each library card, I typed out a bunch of Juniper's favorite things. And I typed out Juniper's full name on the library card (as if she were a book!) and included her birthdate as the date she was issued to us.

On the outside of each blank card I painted a watercolor frame in purple and yellow. I used the custom Juniper stamp to stamp her name on the front of each card in purple. I decided to line the envelopes using a favorite gift wrap from Linda & Harriett. For the outside of the envelopes, I used red frame labels that I found at a local paper store, and I wrote out the addresses using a neon pink pen. 

Here's a little secret. By the time I watercolored, stamped, and lined the announcements, I realized that Christmas was fast approaching (and I'd have no time to do a separate holiday card for everyone!). So I took mini gift enclosure envelopes that I had in my supplies, stamped them with a Christmas tree, and stamped "peace and love" on a bunch of random gift enclosures and mini paper tags I had in my stationery box. It didn't matter that all the gift enclosures were different, and it was kind of fun matching the card style to the person. I'm a bit of a stationery hoarder ;) So the announcements doubled as our holiday greetings as well.

I really love how they turned out. While it took me the better part of 6 weeks to find the time to create 80 of these announcements by hand, each step was fun to do. I can't remember the last time I used watercolors. I love that there are little pockets and envelopes for people to open and discover. A lot of people have remarked how they like that the photo cards are wallet-size. Mostly, I'm happy that these announcements share a peek inside what Juniper is like — beyond her basic birth stats. Little details like how she loves to suck her fingers and her very first roadtrip was to Maine. And she amazes me each and every day. 

Photographs by Jen for the The Haystack Needle.

custom calligraphy ribbon

Wow, can you think of a more beautiful way to wrap holiday gifts than with your own custom calligraphy ribbon (on organic cotton ribbon, no less)? Yeah, me neither. If I had a roll of Paperfinger's calligraphy ribbon, I'd keep the gift wrap super simple — just kraft brown paper or maybe French newspaper pages. That way the gorgeous ribbon would be the star. Bryn has also stocked her shop with holiday stamps (I love the calligraphy Valentine stamps I bought from her line.) 

ps. What would your ribbon say if you bought a roll? I think I'd simply do "love Jen, Dan & Juniper" to mark our first Christmas together as a family.

Images: Paperfinger

custom wreath stamp

I'm finally gearing up to make Juniper's birth announcements. I can't believe my baby girl is already 11 weeks old, but I figure everyone realizes it takes a while to get settled with a newborn to send something out (at least I hope so!). The card is going to have a few elements to it, and I decided early on that I wanted to create a whimsical wreath around her name. (I wish Shanna Murray made wreath stamps like her decals.) Thankfully, I found a sweet custom wreath stamp designed by Emilie Friday. I can't wait for it to arrive. And I love that I'll have a special Juniper stamp to use on all of her correspondence from now on. 

Image: Emilie Friday, discovered via Oh So Beautiful Paper

chewing the cud limitee box

Chewing the Cud (makers of the ever-amazing furoshiki gift wraps) is coming out with these limited-edition boxes of paper decorating goodness packaged in vintage cigar boxes. You'll find embellishments of every happy variety including spools of thread, stamps, carnival tickets, buttons, old library cards, and postcards. I'm pretty close to being labeled a stationery hoarder, so this is right up my alley. The boxes will cost $58. 

Image: Chewing the Cud via Ruby Press

flags and tags

I can't believe there's less than a month left of summer! Where did the time go? As much as I'm looking forward to getting around with Juniper when it's not 95 degrees outside, I always long for beach days and ice cream cones and tend to get a little sad to think of summer slipping away. The UK print shop Flags and Tags is full of hand-printed paper goods that I'm crushing on. I'd love that nautical set of seaside cards and I think that happy birthday banner spelled out in international code flags is so cool. 

ps. I'm obsessed with an ice cream sandwich that's (ironically) from a place called the Meatball Shop (my new favorite place to eat in Williamsburg.) Homemade chocolate chip cookies with vanilla bean ice cream. So good! 

Images: Flags and Tags and my iPhone

5 year diary

A few days before Juniper decided to arrive (six days late), I went to our local bookshop and walked away with this 5 year diary. I was impatient, anxious, filled with emotion, and liked the idea of a diary to write down my swirling thoughts.  Journaling was something I used to do regularly when I was in school but I haven't done for years. And, knowing life was about to get super crazy, I loved the idea of this diary. There's just space to write a couple sentences, no more. So you don't feel like you have a page, or endless amounts of writing space, that you have to fill up with thoughts. And you can start it at any time since you fill in the year date and go from there. Even with a newborn, it's been easy to keep up with this diary. I think it's going to be so sweet to look back and read through what happened day to day in the first five years with Juniper. Yesterday, she discovered her cloud mobile, which was the most incredible thing to watch. Her personality is coming out more and more and she's becoming one strong, independent little person very quickly. I can't believe how quickly things change, so having a space like this to jot down my thoughts as a new mama and record her milestones makes me feel in some small way like I'm keeping up with all the amazing moments.

Images: Fred Flare

linda & harriett outlet

I've been a huge fan of Linda & Harriett ever since I first met Liz at her debut Stationery Show (and bonded over how she and her husband went to Bates, which is located in the Maine town where Dan grew up.) I even commissioned LIz for the invitations we used for our rehearsal dinner lobster bake. So I was super excited to scoop up some of her letterpress notecards and wrapping paper designs during Linda & Harriett's special outlet sale (everything is such a steal!). The strawberry notecards are my fave.