the UNIQLOVE blog

2011-03-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

Hey all! This is the old blog, and is no longer active.

PLEASE GO TO THE NEW BLOG BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW!

www.UNIQLOVEblog.com

Ringing in XXMI

2010-12-31T15:05:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! As we bid a fond farewell to 2010, we ring in 2011 with ideas, dreams and goals for what life holds for us this next year. For UNIQLOVE, that means BIG changes ahead! I won't give it away quite yet, but I will tell you that it's something I've wanted to do for years and it's about consolidating, focusing, flipping upside down and presenting myself to the online world with a whole new light. This will take some time, but I promise you that it will be (in my best Oprah impersonation) "faaaaabuuulllouuus!" :)

My most sincere wishes for you for this upcoming year. I hope you take this fresh year to jump at opportunity, leap at possibilities and reach for the dreams you may be too scared to achieve. Get out there and live your happy life everyone! Happy MMXI!

- Amy :)

Vintage Christmas Advertising Fun

2010-12-23T20:37:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone! Just for giggles, I thought I'd share some images with you that I really get a kick out of. They tie right into my love of both design and Christmas. Check out these vintage holiday advertisements!

Because every man knows that a woman would like nothing else than laying on the ground Christmas morning, gently caressing her vacuum.

Coca-Cola and Christmas go hand in hand. How crazy cool is this vintage packaging?

Just what every pre-teen boy wants for Christmas, pajamas to match his entire family. Someone's been drinking too much of that eggnog.

So wrong . . . in so many ways.

Happy heart-clogging holidays!

Because nothings says Merry Christmas more than a family riffle collection.

Love that this looks like a Norman Rockwell painting!


Ewww . . . Karo Syrup frosting . . .

Merriest Christmas and Happiest Holidays everyone! See you in 2011! :) Amy

How's THIS for a perfect gift for him?

2010-11-15T07:37:00.000-08:00

Not sure what to give him for the holidays? Jen Wheeler of Serendipity Photography just announced this wonderful Boudoir special event. Heck, a day of pampering and pics of you looking at your hotness, I'd say that's a pretty awesome gift to yourself! Jen is amazing, you MUST check it out!

http://www.jenniferwheelerphotography.com/blog/boudoir-a-thon-2011/

What a fantastic proposal

2010-10-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

Love this proposal story, kudos for originality! :)

Details of Ali and Arron's Gorgeous Wedding!

2010-10-05T14:04:00.000-07:00

Check out some detail shots from a recent UNIQLOVE couple, Ali and Arron! These two were simply amazing to work with. Not only did I create their custom invitations, but I also did their fan programs, bathroom basket signs, in memorial signs, donation signs, thank you cards and buffet table signs. Take a peek at a few pics of these custom details of their wedding, photographed by I Do Photography. :)


Fan Programs


Table Setting With Donation Sign

Fan Program With Some Bling

Close Up Of Bathroom Basket Sign

Photography courtesy of I Do Photography. idophotographymn.com

No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.

2010-09-24T18:02:00.000-07:00

As like you, I have many pet peeves. One on the top of my list is when someone ignores the simple gesture to thank someone for an act of kindness. Whether it's a simple "thanks" for holding a door open for someone, or a formal "thank you" for giving a gift, it's just our duty to respond with gratitude.

In regards to gift giving, proper etiquette states that thank you cards should be sent off within 1-2 weeks after receiving a gift (in general or prior to a wedding), and 2-4 weeks after a wedding (or from returning from a honeymoon if it immediately follows the wedding). And although writing personal thanks to many people can be such a task, "no duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks". So remember, don't ever let your gratitude go unnoticed, send those thank you's!


I can't for the life of me find who designed this awesome thank you card. But whoever did rocks. ;)

In honor of the MN State Fair

2010-09-02T09:58:00.000-07:00

Former UNIQLOVE client of mine, the fabulous Katie D., posted an album on facebook today that I just had to share (with her permission of course). She took a pic of everything her group ate during their day at the great MN get-together, and I must say that I'm impressed! Kinda puts my "footlong hotdog and cheese curd yearly routine" to shame. Check out the pics below of all the yummy goodness, and try not to drool on your keyboard while doing so. :)

Puff Daddy on a Stick

Homemade Tater Tots

Water


Deep Fried Cheeseburger

Pina Colada (sans alcohol)

Vegie Fries

Jerky

Iced Americano

Deep Fried Pickles

Hot Dog & Pepsi


Deep Fried Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

Beer

Mini Donuts

More Water

Nutella & Banana Crepe

Big Fat Bacon

Red Bull Popsicle

Peaches & Cream

Ice Cream Sandwich - FREE!

Chocolate Milkshake

Pronto Pup

Papa Pronto Pup

Birch Beer

Chocolate Chip Cookies

More Water

Inspiration - Walt Disney

2010-08-26T14:12:00.000-07:00

What inspires me? One answer would be Walt Disney. My entire life I've been in awe of him. Not just the Disney brand, the theme parks, the movies or the merchandise, but the man himself who took a modest little mouse and created a world of innovative creativity. I can't even remember how many research papers I wrote about him in high school, or how many times I secretly dreamed of being an Imagineer (and not the employees nowadays, the old-time Disney employees that were pivotal in creating the new and state-of-the-art elements in the Disney Parks). It's almost like a part of me has a kindred spirit for the guy and his message. Maybe that's why I teared up the first time I went to Disneyland as an adult and read the sign "Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy". (Fun fact, my husband proposed to me that day. He pointed the sign out to me because he knew our lives were about to change forever.) The magic Walt Disney created has played such a joyful role in our lives, and I'd we willing to bet your life as well. :)

What inspires you?

Au Naturel

2010-08-20T09:08:00.000-07:00

Fun fact about UNIQLOVE and just how picky I am about quality. When I have a production day, meaning a day when I am actually printing and producing the final products, I go au naturel! No makeup, no nail polish allowed! Nothing ruins a final piece more than a foundation smudge or nail polish scratch. So no "pretty" for me when I'm working, I'll gladly no fugly for the day in the name of my wonderful UNIQLOVE clients. :)

New Testimonials!

2010-07-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

Hi y'all! Just wanted to pop in and share that I've posted a couple of new testimonials on the UNIQLOVE Facebook page. Also look for several invite pics to be added on there soon. Be sure to fan, friend or follow!

Words of Wisdom - Printers

2010-07-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

Want some valuable advice that I tell all my clients? DO NOT use a laser printer to print anything which will go through the postal service! Laser printer ink does not absorb into the paper, and instead lays flat on the surface of the stock. In more cases than not, the ink will smear and rub off of anything it is contact with. So instead, use an ink jet printer. You'll be happy you did. ;)

Hot new color trend - Teal

2010-06-24T20:42:00.000-07:00

Check out these beautiful inspiration boards created around the hottest color trend I've seen for a long time, teal! I'm telling you, this color is lighting up and is being seen everywhere. Accented with silver for a more formall/cool look, or a tangerine color for a trendier/more energetic feel. This color is really the "it" color of the season. Enjoy!

As seen on www.banquetevent.com.

As seen on www.theswishlist.com. Images and Inspiration from Amy Atlas Events, Project Wedding, Etsy,

Nikki B’s Paper Boutique, Nordstrom, Me and Matilda, OneWed and MumMadness.

UNIQLOVE Celebrates 7th Year!

2010-06-18T07:58:00.000-07:00

Seven years ago today, I took a risk. I was a new mother of a two month old baby girl, a freelance art director, and a overachieving dreamer who knew there was more to my career than stuffy business systems and marketing design. After what seemed like almost a full year of preparation, including countless adrenaline-filled nights of planning and tons of loving support from my wonderful hubby, I finally could set this idea called UNIQLOVE free and see if it would fly. Seven years later, my daughter has just finished first grade, our son is three and a half, and UNIQLOVE is flourishing.

A Love Letter to my clients, past, present and future,
To every lovely bride, friend and family member who chose me to be a part of a wedding, shower or event, I thank you. For every smile, chill and tear you shed, I thank you. For your warmth, your appreciation and your friendship, I thank you. I cannot express enough how much your confidence in what I do means to me. I am truly honored to have been a part of a such a momentous time in your life. I deeply, sincerely, thank each and every one of you for being a part of this very fun, passion-filled ride. And for those who I haven't met yet, I eagerly anticipate the opportunities and relationships that will come. I promise to continue to pour my passion into every design I create so that in the end, as one of my dear clients (Dawn ♡) once so poetically said, I capture your hearts on paper.
Most sincerely,
Amy

Here's to a lucky 7th year and beyond! :)

One of the best proposals I've ever seen.

2010-06-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

Check out this fantastic proposal!

Hey kid . . . tell us what how you REALLY feel.

2010-06-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

Kids always say and do what they want, don't they? They are the most sincere measure of honesty, and usually in the most inappropriate, embarrassing or funniest way. Enjoy these funny pics I found of kids at weddings (my personal fav is the last one). Leave it to them to really tell everyone how they feel. ;)

The loveliness of a vintage wedding shoot.

2010-05-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

Last month, I was asked to participate in a mock wedding shoot with my friend Liz and Elizabeth Anne Weddings. Needless to say, I was more than enthusiastic about it. Liz sent me the inspiration board and let me loose with creating an invitation system that would fit the theme.

Included below are some of the beautiful shots taken that day, including some of the invitation system and accessories I created for it. The entire system, which includes the invites, program, menu, placecards and table numbers, will be added to the UNIQLOVE.com gallery very soon too, along with a few other new designs, so keep checking in for those additions!

Vendors involved in this mock wedding shoot include:

Design/Coordination - Elizabeth Anne Weddings - www.elizabethanneweddings.com

Photography - Suwanee Lennon - www.suwaneephotography.com

Hair/Makeup - Apperances - www.appearancessalonandtan.com

Venue - The Brickhouse Stables, Menomonie, WI

Florist - Lakeview Floral - www.lakeviewfloral.com

Formal Wear - The Bridal Shoppe - www.thebridalshoppe-ec.com

Cupcakes- Cakes by Gretchen - email::Gsieleni@aol.com
Photography of Paper Designs - NapDesign - www.napdesign.com

and of course

Paper Design - UNIQLOVE - www.UNIQLOVE.com

The Proposal

2010-05-11T11:05:00.000-07:00

I have never seen anything like this before, an absolutely beautiful video montage from proposal all the way through the wedding day. Amazing! Check out this gorgeous video, created for one of my many fantastic couples, Sean and Lindsay. It's created by the equally fantastic Matt Pine with cincinnatibride.com. LOVE THIS!

HOT new trend - Boudior Photography

2010-05-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

Cute engagement pictures.
Gorgeous wedding day pictures.
Hot pics of the bride wearing much less than her wedding dress.

Let me guess which one caught your attention. :) The hottest new trend sweeping in popularity is Boudior Photography. Forget the engraved watch or cufflinks, this sexy trend has become the gift of choice for grooms-to-be these days. Whether the bride goes full on commando, or maybe more PG-13, the empowerment and confidence the they get from seeing themselves professionally done up and photographed are also just as much a gift to themselves!

One of my favorite local photographers, Jennifer Wheeler with Serendipity Photography, is doing just this. Check out her website at mnboudoirphotography.com. Jen collaborates with her choice professional hair and makeup artist to create a style and look specific to the shoot. Romantic, sweet, vintage pinup, whatever the concept, they have fun with it! Their goal is for their clients to embrace their beauty and to amaze them with photographic evidence of how hot they truly are.

All photographs copyright MNBoudiorPhotography and Jennifer Wheeler.

www.mnboudoirphotography.com

Awwww, those flowers smell like . . . paper?

2010-05-07T13:47:00.000-07:00

I'm not a huge "flower person". Sure, they are pretty and smell good, but other than that, I've never really been crazy about them. Paper and design, on the other hand, is something I'm naturally drawn to. So put those two things together, and you have an idea that I wish I would have thought about 11+ years ago when I got married . . . paper flowers!

Such a great idea, you can create them weeks/months in advance, they don't wilt, and you can preserve them forever.

Check out this fun site I found, which creates a beautiful array of paper flowers handmadepaperflowers.com. This really inspires me to start learning to do this. Now if only I could find the time . . .

Toodaloo!

Pay It Forward

2010-04-29T08:22:00.000-07:00

Today, April 29th, is Pay It Forward Day 2010!

"One good deed might not seem like much, but if everyone did something good for someone else, then the cycle of generosity and kindness can spark us to become better people."

Do one, two or three good deeds today for others, without any expectations of anything in return. Instead, graciously mention to the recipient to Pay It Forward to someone else in need. The chain reaction can really be a powerful result. And don't forget that this generosity shouldn't just be specified to one day of the year. Hold the door open for someone, help someone in need, volunteer your time and efforts, anything that brings a smile to someone's face can cause a chain of positive energy that we all definitely needs more of.

Image and quoted content from payitforwardday.com/

The Marriage of a Magician and his Assistant

2010-04-28T19:34:00.000-07:00

Check out this amazing wedding! Katie Rosa and Mario Marchese were married on October 11, 2008 in Ridgefield, CT. Their "vintage vaudeville" wedding was perfectly orchestrated as seen in these stunning photos by Daria Bishop Photography. The retro 1920's style was carried through with perfection, with the sepia-toned photography, flapper-inspired fashions and even felt mustaches for all the guests to wear at the reception. Even the photograph of their rings stayed true to character, as they were displayed on vintage playing cards, naturally the queen and king of hearts. Love, love, love this!

That color is so YOU . . . literally.

2010-04-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

Over the years of creating one-of-a-kind wedding invitations for hundreds of brides and grooms across the country, there has always been one interesting observation that I've always been very aware of. And when I mention this little tidbit to my clients, they always end up giggling with surprise.

What is it? Almost every time my brides pick up their completed invitations, their clothing almost always matches their invitations! I don't know what it is, but it has happened more times than I can count. And it's just not just that they are wearing blue which so happens to be their wedding color, I'm talking about total coordination! The mix of colors, the textures, the whole aesthetic matches the invitation system which they are finally receiving. And when I point this out, the brides cannot believe the irony.

Granted, this could be just coincidence, but like I mentioned, it happens almost every time! It's actually quite entertaining to see. And I consider it wonderful validation that I tuned into my amazing clients well enough to create invitations which are true expressions of who they are. :)

Photo from printpromotionguide.com

Well, hello there blog world!

2010-04-25T20:04:00.000-07:00

I finally did it. With a little persuasion UNIQLOVE is finally joining the blogging world! Here, I'll be sharing news about what is going on with UNIQLOVE as well as sharing inspirational ideas and more. Welcome! :)