Nothing can beat this Nevis save the date design in a rich black letterpress ink, paired with cool patternings at play. It’s modern and elegant and just really, really cool. The Nevis has been one of our hot letterpress invitation designs for the season so far. Sent to us by our friends at Peabody Papers in Columbus, Ohio.

This jacket. For so many reasons. First, it heralds in the holidays (which, at our house, begins with november birthdays). Second, it reminds me of childhood parties filled with a mob of parents and cheek kisses and tom collins and clinking glasses. Oh, and the special privilege of staying up way (way) past my bedtime. And lastly (and perhaps most importantly) is the fact that my husband looks quite dashing in plaid.

GREEK REVIVAL FARMHOUSES. Like this beauty. We almost were swayed. But practicality won out. And the fact that moving is tiring. Of course, remodeling is as well. But its ghost-free (and allows for an extra bathroom).

We have a feeling gold is going to be the big color in the world of 2009 letterpress wedding invitations. Not a gaudy old-fashioned over the top gold of course, but an elegant, pretty, sophisticated, modern gold. We love our Lashar design letterpressed in gold + black (with the invitations, reply cards, and place cards backed in a cool flood of raspberry). Both the invitation envelopes and the reply card envelopes are lined with our Marev pattern in gold. Wow.

Hats. Tall ones, short ones, beribboned and warm. I adore them all and over the years have amassed quite a collection. Here’s a very edited glimpse. Unfortunately, I have more hats than I do opportunity to wear them. So, if you know of any hat-worthy events coming up in the near future please send an invitation my way ….

Smock note: we’re excited that our designer Amy Graham Stigler will be sharing her inspiration every Friday here on this blog. Amy has been an inspiration to us every day for many years now, so we’re glad you’ll get a chance to know her better too. xo, Smock

I’m not sure if its good precedent to start my first entry with a cheat. But I will nonetheless. This week it’s the three things i love: my beautiful, inquisitive & (at this very moment) screeching children. Each one a source of endless inspiration and constant diversion. So gone are the days of uninterrupted contemplation and perfectionist tweaking. Good bye. (Good riddance). Now my days are filled with pancake breakfasts, bedtime stories and kissed knees.