Swiss Cottage Designs

New Swiss Cottage Website!

2011-01-31T06:01:00.000-08:00

It's finalllllly here! This alleged website I have been thinking // planning for the last several months was finally born the past week and I couldn't be happier! Go on, have a look!

With our new site we also have a NEW blog! It's going to be hard to break it off with my blogger site, we've have some pretty solid times but it seems we're moving on up. I'm sorry blogger, I promise I'll call.

You can now find us at our new site and our new blog. Make sure to visit our blog regularly as we will be posting more behind the scenes stuff, inspiration and funny bits and pieces.

Thanks for following us on blogger, hope to see you all on the new site! xo

Chicago Wedding Suite: Lacey & Flynn

2011-01-14T07:22:00.000-08:00

I am pretty in love with this wedding suite. Not only is Chicago one of the best cities around, it's well known for it's civic pride and Lacey and Flynn have this in spades. They love Chicago- it's where they met, where they will get married and where they bought their first home. They really wanted the city of Chicago to be the star in their invitations.

All the graphic elements in the suite are hand drawn and we used their wedding colors to create the palate. What I love most about this suite are all the details. They are HUGE Cubs fans, so we made their reply card a little nod to their cubbies. My personal favorite is the weekend guide for their guests. Lacey and Flynn wanted to share "their" Chicago with everyone, so they came up with a top 5 list of things to do while in the city. They also complimented the list with a few classic Chicago songs–a custom playlist? Fantastic!

Photos of Chicago wedding suite by Susan Pittard

Swiss Cottage on Martha Stewart's "The Bride's Guide"

2011-01-13T09:52:00.000-08:00

Swiss Cottage made a cameo on Martha Stewart Weddings blog, The Bride's Guide today. I am thrilled to be a part of such a great blog! The Bride's Guide updates their blog several times with great bits and pieces about weddings, society, tips, ideas- it's a fantastic reference for any bride! Not to mention- it's Martha! Very exciting stuff. Go check it out, and stop back in here tomorrow when I share a new wedding invitation suite!

Custom Map: London, England

2011-01-06T05:32:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite clients ordered this map as a gift for her husband for Christmas. It's their neighborhood in South London. She went through and picked out all their favorite haunts and meaningful places. I love how it turned out, it's a perfect surprise gift!

Welcome 2011!

2011-01-03T06:40:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! I have a good feeling about 2011, I think we're all in for a very good year! Granted I say this every year, but you know – trying to keep it positive!

I wanted to open the first post of this year with a lovely watercolor save the date. This was another great collaboration with Love, Jenna. Her calligraphy glides effortlessly along the card while the soft watercolor compliments it. The client wanted to use one of her Grandmother's watercolor paintings as the envelope liner. Such a sweet homage to her family, I love this detail! {you can even see her Grandmother's original signature in the bottom right hand corner of the liner}

Fa la la la la

2010-12-23T05:28:00.000-08:00

I am wrapping up for the holidays and heading home to spend a few days with family. I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Holiday! Thank you for all the support this year! Looking forward to a fantastic 2011 with more blog posts, a new website, more creative work, the list goes on!

See you all in 2011!

Tis the Season

2010-12-16T05:52:00.000-08:00

We're less than a week out from Christmas and still so much going on! Fortunately I was able to get some time last week to send out my holiday cards. Each year I choose a different theme to illustrate. This year I decided to embrace my neighborhood and draw out some of our top spots. I love illustrating scenes, they become sort of like a "Where's Waldo" with hidden details in every corner. Have a look!

On a side note, there is one client who I have been working with forever. She has supported me since day one. She is one of my favorite people to work with and also a great friend. This Fall she found out her youngest daughter has Leukemia. They have handled the situation with more strength than I could imagine having, maintaining a sense of normalcy for the other little ones. Including ordering her standard holiday card. Little Reagan is fighting everyday and doing great! With the season of giving here please feel free to visit Reagan's site and learn more about her fight and how you can help.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Custom Map: Charleston, SC

2010-12-09T07:21:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays everyone! With the holidays creeping in on us I have been finding myself getting busier and busier! Time to take a little break from it all to show this great Charleston custom map. This map was done for a lovely couple that was married two years ago in the Charleston area. The former bride and groom are moving into a new home and wanted to have this map created to commemorate the best weekend of their lives. She is treating this as her personal house warming gift. Good idea!

Pet Love

2010-12-03T09:19:00.000-08:00

Betsey and Rich have a huge heart! This couple has 3 rescue pets that have become the most important members of their family. The "kids" (as they call them) are Carly, George and Little Bill. The bride wanted to feature them prominently on their save the dates. The flowers around their collars are drawn based off the bride's bouquet. Simple and sweet, I really love how personal these save the dates are. Wait till you see what we do for the invites!

The holidays are HERE

2010-11-24T07:13:00.000-08:00

How is it Thanksgiving already? I feel like we were just sweating it out in August and now we're already booking up for the holidays- it's crazy! Time is just flying by these days. So many exciting things happening over here, I suspect December will be a bit of a crazy month! Lots of fun projects to share with you all as well as a brand spanking new website that is in the works. Certainly keeping busy! In the meantime, enjoy yourself a lovely Thanksgiving with your loved ones!

Custom Maps

2010-11-10T07:05:00.000-08:00

I am in love with maps. I find them to be incredibly unique and intricate. There are always hidden little details the more you look. A great way to help your guests get the lay of the land is by providing them with a custom map either with your invitations or as a favor in their "out of towner" bag. They also make great gifts. This map below is a gift for a bride from her Maid of Honor. The couple fell in love in South Boston. The map acts as their "love story" with different locations of importance called out. It's such a memorable and personal gift / keepsake.

Email for quote and more details.

Holidays on the mind

2010-11-09T13:26:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's because the day after Halloween they were playing Christmas music at CVS but the holidays are top of mind right now. Time to start thinking about your gifts and holiday cards. Stand out from the norm and go for something fun and custom {yes!} email for more details and pricing!

LOVE in the Big Apple

2010-11-02T06:52:00.000-07:00

These rehearsal dinner invites are super classic, simple and very New York. I love how simplistic they are with just the black and white. Perfect for their NYC wedding this Fall.

:: SpOOky ::

2010-10-29T04:35:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone has a great Halloween weekend! Have fun!

Mustaches Preferred: Thanking you!

2010-10-27T05:30:00.000-07:00

Ashley and Chris are less than a month away from their big day. They are busy tying up all the little details before the wedding, one of which is taking care of their thank you notes. We created some fun cards that play off their great invites. We revisited the mustache and tie combo and added a bowler hat to keep it fancy. I love the date detail on the back, makes it personal. Good luck guys!

Baby Poster

2010-10-26T12:22:00.000-07:00

As you might have guessed, I love myself a good poster. I think this baby version is such a fun spin on my normal Home posters. The baby's first home is such an important place and somewhere that will always play a part in their life. I know I was born in Michigan and even though I grew up in Massachusetts, I'll always have a soft spot for the mitten state. This poster helps commemorate where those first memories will take place. It's a perfect gift for all those baby showers! {congrats Hannah and Jeremy!}

FRESH design

2010-10-21T05:04:00.000-07:00

The most important thing when starting a business is having your identity on lock down. Your look and aesthetic all add to who you are as a brand. This particular client is a design consultant that specializes in designing commercial kitchens, bars, and cafeterias. He has a very modern and clean approach to the industry and wanted his identity to convey that. Based on some of his ideas we came up with a few different looks for his company. Below are two of those looks, enjoy!

Calligraphy meets Watercolor

2010-10-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

This project was great for a lot of reasons. One of which being I was able to collaborate with the amazingly talented calligrapher, Love, Jenna. I had been wanting to try hand painted type for sometime and once Jenna and I talked about doing a project together, I knew she'd be the perfect partner for this idea. We matched her beautiful calligraphy with my hand painted type and low and behold we came up with a pretty fantastic save the date. I love how Jenna's calligraphy flows from blue, to navy to sea foam without missing a beat. The hand painted type was actually done with the same ink Jenna used, just a different treatment. I think the sailboat Jenna drew on a whim pulls together the coastal theme we were going for {and makes a great envelope liner!} All in all, I think this save the date is amazing. Thanks Jenna!

Capital Engagement

2010-10-06T07:31:00.000-07:00

These save the dates make me crave candy corn, but besides that fact, they are also a lot of fun. This couple met in Vegas and are getting married this spring in D.C. I love the playful elements in this save the date. The black envelopes stole my heart from the get-go. With the wrap address band and striped liner, these save the dates certainly set the tone for what the wedding will be like.

Fall is in the air

2010-09-23T12:51:00.000-07:00

Fall is my favorite time of year and I am thrilled it's here again with it's near perfect weather and long afternoons. Lots of fun things going on right now at Swiss Cottage that I can't wait to share in the next few weeks. We have some fun collaborations, unique maps and custom work in the cooker. Hope everyone enjoys their Fall {wish it lasted just one month longer} and stay tuned for new projects!

Jersey Love

2010-09-14T13:51:00.001-07:00

"Bruuuuuuuuuccceeee!" While this can't be confirmed, there is a good chance this might have been the groom's first word. This great couple is getting married next summer in Cooperstown, New York but live right around here in the lovely Garden State. The two met at work but didn't didn't feel the spark until the holiday Christmas party. The groom probably thinks it's due to his charm but I think the bride would agree the open bar helped! They have a great, funny story that matches their personalities so we decided to share that on their save the dates. I love the dark navy with the knock out text, very fresh. Congrats you two!

Mustaches Preferred: Ashley & Chris

2010-09-09T07:56:00.000-07:00

Ashley and Chris are kind of weird and I love it! They have a great sense of humor and a really laid back approach to their wedding. When we discussed their invites they were open to any ideas but the only thing that needed to make the cut was "Bow Tie Optional, Mustache Preferred." That pretty much sets the tone for these two. We kept it very text heavy with different shades of purple and charcoal. Chris wanted to make sure there was some plaid involved so a custom pattern was created for the belly band to tie it all together. Their venue is very cool and modern and they wanted their invites to reflect that. We did a postcard for the reply card instead of the classic envelope. The return address image was created from the photo they used for their save the dates. These are a great reflection of Ashley and Chris as a couple, which is what it's all about. A & C, keep us posted on how many people show up with fresh 'staches!

Baby Joy

2010-08-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

Two firsts with this order- it's our first baby announcement and our first international order! Very appropriate that it's from England as that is Swiss Cottage's namesake. This announcement is very sweet and simple with a hand crafted button affixed at the top to compliment "Cute as Button." The envelope plays up the girly theme and has a fun type treatment for the the "To & From" section. A classic birth announcement- welcome to the world little Fancesca!

Ticket to ride

2010-08-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

Being a big music fan myself, these place cards brought a huge smile to my face. This couple travels the country following their favorite band so it was only appropriate that the concert theme entered their wedding somehow. Each table was named after one of their favorite albums {I know it was very hard for them to narrow down} The place cards were designed to look like concert tickets. The info at the bottom is the location and time of the actual wedding. The best part if the final line "Have a good show" this is the couple's mantra so we had to incorporate it into the ticket. These were perfect for them and really unique.

Different Strokes...Different Folks

2010-08-22T16:51:00.000-07:00

Part of what makes my job so fun is that every person I design for is so different. This client wanted to order some stationery for her employees. I happen to know these special ladies on a personal level so designing for them was easy and really fun. In this group of gals we have a stylish, J.Crew loving college co-ed, a world traveling free spirit and a lovely, spunky Mom of two. Each woman got stationery catered to their personality and I think it shows. Personalized stationery makes a great gift for your friends, family or bridesmaids {hint!}

All about the hair

2010-08-11T18:04:00.000-07:00

You have to smile when you see this engagement invitation. This couple, in particular the bride, has some seriously curly hair going on. It's one of their most well known traits as a couple. For this engagement invitation the bride wanted to let loose and have a bit of fun. I thought it would be great to step away from the traditional silhouette and embrace the hair. I love how although it's just the hair you can really see the personality coming through. Now we just need to think of a solution for humid days... one step at a time.

Our House...

2010-08-11T17:58:00.000-07:00

...Is a very, very, very fine house. CSNY- always good! Another lovely home poster for you. It's great how versatile these posters are. It is always fun when a client places an order and we determine how to make it theirs. I love what everyone is coming up with, enjoy!

Ciao Ciao

2010-08-02T17:32:00.000-07:00

I am completely jealous of this couple whose save the dates I just completed. They are getting married in the Tuscany region of Italy. Having studied abroad there (and having gained 10+ pounds while there) I have a special place in my heart for the beautiful and romantic area. For this save the date I hand drew a custom, sketched out map of Italy and marked the region with a cluster of grapes since you know wine will certainly play a big role in any Tuscan wedding. We complimented the simplicity of the map with an olive green envelope. Molto bellissimo!

Lovely Wedding Gift

2010-08-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

This was ordered for a couple who I actually worked with on their wedding invitations. The client thought the stationery would be a great compliment to all of their wedding paper goods. I have to say I completely agree. {but I'm not biased or anything}

Poster Madness

2010-07-29T04:18:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a few custom posters I have done recently. These posters are perfect because you can use them for any occasion. In this lot alone I have two wedding gifts, a hostess gift and a housewarming gift. It's great how easily these can turn in to whatever the event may call for. Each poster comes in an 11" x 14" frame and can be printed to size or 8" x 10" with a matte. Not too big but just enough!

This one was created as a wedding gift for a couple. Their first song was "Something" by the Beatles. Cute, right?

Brooklyn Bound

2010-07-24T12:03:00.000-07:00

These moving announcements were done for a client moving to {my neighborhood!} Fort Greene in Brooklyn. Fort Greene has many amazing streets full of some of the oldest brownstones in New York. I thought it would be great to illustrate some of them for the top of her moving announcement. I took pictures of my favorite homes then drew them out digitally. The client's favorite color is purple so it was only natural we did the entire thing in different shades of purple. I love how unique these are to our 'hood- one of a kind work!

Going to Kansas City...

2010-07-24T11:52:00.000-07:00

I love these moving announcements! The client was moving from Boston to Kansas City and wanted to play up her new town's best assets. We did a comparison of the two and used a lovely Kansas City blue to drive home the Mid-West vibe. I think it's perfectly reflective of her new home.

Garden Love

2010-07-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

This custom stationery was done for a client's mother-in-law as a birthday gift. She is an avid gardener so the client had me do a custom watering can image. I think it's really sweet and age appropriate. It's a perfect gift!

Tea Time

2010-07-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

How fun are these Bridesmaid's Tea invites? These were done for a bride getting married this summer in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She is hosting a little tea to thank her lovely bridesmaids for all their help over the course of her engagement. The bride's colors are navy and pink so we carried the pink over and added a few "summer brights" to keep it playful. The tea cups are hand illustrated. My love for envelopes certainly shows here, as I love the custom envelope liner; it adds an unexpected "pop" to the invite. The pink envelopes pull the whole look together. Overall, a very sweet invite.

Surprise!

2010-07-10T15:50:00.001-07:00

These great invites were done for a 70th surprise birthday party. The goal was to evoke a classic summer Americana vibe: think Radio Flyer meets Coke in a glass bottle meets Lake George, New York. Complimented with great typography and a natural kraft envelope, these invites make me want to have a good old fashion cookout!

Watercolor cool off

2010-07-09T11:08:00.000-07:00

Hot enough for you all? This week was something else in Brooklyn. With temps well into the 100's staying cool was top of mind this week. I have been working on some fun, cool {ha} watercolors that I thought I'd share. They are very beach and summer oriented which is perfect since clearly we are in the thick of it!

{custom watercolor images available- email for details!}

London Calling

2010-07-02T08:31:00.000-07:00

Nothing celebrates America's freedom like England! Right? No? I will admit, strange time to discuss Jolly Old London Town but let's just roll with it. Travel is really big right now, everyone wants to be where they are not. {including me!} I wanted to embrace that sentiment with some international prints. The project is currently in the works but I am showing a sneak peek today... Happy 4th everyone!

{side note: Swiss Cottage Designs is actually named after the neighborhood in London, Swiss Cottage. I lived there after college and it, and that crazy apartment I lived in, hold a special place in my heart.}

What is your type?

2010-06-24T12:53:00.000-07:00

I was going through my business receipts the other day and realized that I have an extremely unhealthy obsession with fonts and type faces. I could flip through font websites all day {which is a pretty lame way to spend a day but i can't help it} I love the way different fonts can evoke a completely different vibe from the same piece.

When designing a custom invitation, choosing the font is always the most challenging part. You really want to capture the vibe, the couple and the overall wedding in the type face. I kid you not, I think about things like this.

Below is a quote I have really been enjoying lately done up with some fun type faces to make it pop. Enjoy!

An apple a day: Part II

2010-06-24T12:40:00.000-07:00

Katie and Bill's BIG DAY is just around the corner. I just finished up some of their day of items and I wanted to share because they are so flipping fun! Katie and Bill are getting married at her family's apple orchard in Maine so apples have been an ongoing theme with this wedding. For the favors we did book marks {great idea!} with a quote that the bride chose written on the front and the couples logo on the back. The table cards have the apples from the invite on them with a vintage type treatment. Both were printed on a heavy kraft stock. I love how these turned out! Now on to the wedding...

Looking Good

2010-06-24T11:21:00.000-07:00

I have been all over the place lately traveling for work + play. Once I got back to Brooklyn I pulled up the old blog and realized it needed a makeover. It was feeling a little "eh" and with summer in full force I felt it needed a little freshness. I thought it would be fun to share the process with you. I wanted to hand write the title but of course you never get it on the first try. What you see below is a mix and match of several attempts. Kinda sneaky, right?

{a little side note: handwritten elements look great on invites!}

Try not to waste! The napkin from my lunch became a practice sheet

Garden Shower

2010-06-07T17:05:00.000-07:00

These lovely invites were done for an upcoming bridal shower being held in a backyard garden. The brides colors are yellow and gray {one of my favorite color combinations!} The flower bunch is hand illustrated in the brides colors. My favorite part is the little detail on the back of the thank you "c {heart} b" and the matching flowers on the envelope. It's all in the details folks.

More Wine? Yes Please!

2010-05-27T06:27:00.000-07:00

Here are some new bridal shower invitations I did for a client. The couple is having a destination wedding in Northern California and the Maid of Honor wanted to play up the wine country location. The grape cluster is hand drawn then painted in watercolor. The wine spill at the top has the couples soon-to-be monogram in the middle. All in all, I love the fresh, clean feeling of these invites. My favorite part is the grape cluster on the return address. I am such a sucker for line drawings. Enjoy and cheers!

Down on the corner...

2010-05-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

Jen and Adam are a great couple who live right down the street from me in Williamsburg. They are getting married this August and needed some custom stationery to use as thank you notes. They met over their mutual love for the band Wide Spread Panic so needless to say they are very laid back and fun. We wanted to do something clever that played up their neighborhood {since they just bought their first home together} I decided to draw their street corner, Wythe and North 8th, and make a icon out of it. It was the perfect fit for them.

Virginia is for Lovers: Part II

2010-05-20T17:32:00.000-07:00

With their wedding quickly approaching, Chris and Evaleen are keeping me busy with all the little details that go into the big day! Below is their rehearsal dinner invitation. It's similar in style to their invites but more playful using the fun floral pattern to create the word LOVE. Done in our small size it's perfect for this causal rehearsal dinner. More "day of" items to come from C+E but for now enjoy these great images...

Cheers Mate!

2010-05-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

There is something so fun about getting a real letter in the mail. When you see a colored envelope peeking out of your bills and junk, it's always exciting. I like to treat the envelopes as an extension of the stationery. I don't like to just slap the return address on it and call it a day. I think it's a great "teaser" for what you will find inside. I love these English inspired envelopes. Fun and quirky- I would certainly welcome this over the ConEd bill any day!

Always Recycle

2010-05-13T15:25:00.000-07:00

I love when I can use something twice, it feels like you get more bang for your buck. A client wanted some hand lined envelopes with a butterfly theme. I was able to go back and use a pattern I had created for something else and recycled it for this job. The black and white pattern plays nicely off the kraft envelope and creates a fresh look. I have to admit, my favorite part of this is the return address. The more creative the better. I think I have unhealthy obsession with envelope liners, but they just look so good!

You are...where?

2010-05-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

A great project I have been working on for a few different clients are custom "Where are you from?" posters. What I love about them is that they are completely customizable and different than any other gift. You can give them to commemorate a favorite vacation spot, an anniversary, the starting of a new family or just to celebrate your home.

The one above was done for a client's parents. They vacation every summer at Cape Elizabeth but chose to call out the Summer of 2009 because that is when the couple got engaged. If you're looking for a great gift, email for a custom price quote!

The perfect gift

2010-05-06T10:33:00.000-07:00

I always struggle with wedding/shower gifts. I understand the point of a registry but I find them so boring. I try to give something personal and unique that the couple has never seen before. My oldest friend got engaged this past summer and while trying to think of what to get them I came up with this great idea. The couple had an engagement shoot and she sent me some of the pictures. I took one and turned it into a stylish silhouette and put their initials and wedding date in the corner. I bought a classic black frame for it to compliment the simplicity of the design. This has now become my go to gift. It's simple and chic and can be customized for any couple in their colors, style and silhouette. If you're interested in receiving a custom quote for this gift please email me for more details!

Classic and simple black & white

I love this one for the bright colors and fonts

This one is great because it's cut off at both ends and really focuses on the couple holding hands. Plus those colors are fantastic!

Getting down to business

2010-05-06T06:12:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been working with a client who is a freelancer looking to expand her network in the city. She hired me to create some business cards and stationery to use during this process. The client has a very modern and clean design sensibility. She wanted to use these items for networking but also for personal use. I kept the design very simple and fresh so it translates well in any situation. The main focus is the typography and the pencil thin city scape comes as an afterthought here. I think these are perfect for getting your name out there or sending a thank you note.

Tag! You're it

2010-04-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

Man, hearing that "Tag!" Still gives me anxiety! I was always "it" (ask my sisters) While creating some hang tags for a couple the other day I got to thinking that I could use some of these things. Hang tags are great for throwing on a bottle of wine or on a gift. It adds a bit of fun and personality to whatever you put it on. They are perfect to put on "Out of Towner" bags for weddings. It's a great way to continue the branding you started during the invites. Here are some cute ones I made for myself. The phrase on the tag is a little nod to my favorite band. (clearly I enjoy making birds talk...)
Anyone else prefer their wine in juice cups?

Lovely Liners

2010-04-29T09:17:00.001-07:00

When it comes to stationery and wedding invitations there is nothing more top of the line than envelope liners. They add the "wow" element and really make your envelope stand out. Plus, I love that is comes as a surprise. No one expects it but then you open it and there it is. Last month I created some new patterns for a project I am working on. I wanted to try them out as envelope liners. This one makes me want to be out in the sun PRONTO!

Here is a little behind the scenes look at how this pattern was created. The flowers were hand drawn on tracing paper, scanned and then digitally colored.

And while we're on the topic of behind the scenes, here is another sneak peek for you. It's the second pattern I was working on for the project I mentioned above. Check it out.

From the sketchbook...

2010-04-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

One of the most exciting projects I have going on right now is a children's book I am illustrating. I am collaborating with a ridiculously talented author who I was put in touch with through a friend. I love bringing his words to life. It's so fun to create a fictional environment out of your imagination. Once the illustrations are complete the book will be turned into a mobile application that you can buy for your iphones and ipads- very cool. Here are a few early glances...

and my messy paint tray... some of that paint is from Senior year in college. May be time for a clean up.

Illustrations & Patterns

2010-04-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do is draw. I can not remember a time where I wasn't drawing or creating something (sorry for cutting up all those family pictures Mom) So needless to say doing this for a living is pretty good. I was fortunate enough to be asked by a very cool clothing company to help illustrate for their Fall 2010 line. We did some boyish images as well as some really cute girly ones. We also developed new patterns based on elements found in nature (wood grain and pebbles) Check them out!

Virginia is for Lovers: Evaleen & Chris

2010-04-12T18:04:00.000-07:00

Let me start by saying I love Chris and Evaleen! They are one of the most laid back couples I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Evaleen's wedding theme is "Southern Boho Chic" which is fueled by bright colors, a butterfly bouquet (amazing) and a lovely Southern venue. Chris and Evaleen met in NYC but before that they had a whole lot of miles in between them. Chris grew up in Southern California and Evaleen in Paris. Her family then moved to Virginia and post college they both respectively moved to NYC. When we had our initial design consultation I thought how great it was that with such different backgrounds love found them in New York City. Folks- the concept was born! (I sound like David Letterman) I took the "Love Found Them" theme and carried it through all their pieces. I created an icon for each city and used those icons to make a logo for the couple. My favorite detail is the license plate with "Virginia is for Lovers" along the bottom. What a perfect theme for the state in which Chris and Evaleen will tie the knot!

'Cause my baby just a-wrote me a letter

2010-04-11T15:27:00.000-07:00

I love that song. Even though the Box Tops sang it first I always think of a sweaty Joe Cocker dancing around singing like his life depends on it. Speaking of sweaty Joe Cocker (nice segue, huh?) I wanted to share some recent custom stationery jobs I have done. The first client is a really fun, outgoing girl with a great sense of humor. I wanted to play that up in her cards with the bird saying "hi". The second set was done for a little boy who is 100% in love with trains. They were thank you cards for his 5th birthday. Once I realized I could spell the clients name using actual subway letters, the design dictated itself!

An apple a day: Katie & Bill

2010-04-09T15:30:00.000-07:00

Katie and Bill have been together since she was in the 8th grade and he was in the 9th. They met in the most romantic setting possible- Geometry Class. It was love at first isosceles triangle... or something like that. Katie and Bill will be getting married this summer at her family's orchard in Turner, Maine (so beautiful!)I love everything about Katie's wedding theme and was thrilled to work with her on her wedding invitations. The theme is "Vintage, Rustic Romance." With this in mind I incorporated pale pinks, vintage fonts and an overall romantic feeling to the invites. I used the lace accent as a nod to old world romance while the script font and apple illustrations are more modern. It's a lovely marriage of vintage and romance. Have a look!

From the sketchbook...

2010-03-05T12:32:00.000-08:00

I have always loved seeing the 'behind the scenes' sketches of different artists. As many designers know the concept is the most difficult and most important part to any good piece of art. I wanted to share a few sneak peaks of my sketchbook to give you an idea of how I work. Hope you enjoy!

Welcome

2010-02-28T11:51:00.000-08:00

Thank you for checking out Swiss Cottage Designs! This blog is a place for me to showcase my work and inspiration. I started this company to create beautiful custom pieces that will really stand out in a crowd. Not only do I love what I do but I'd like to think I'm pretty good at it too! I will be posting different jobs I'm working on and showing the design process from start to finish. Please feel free to contact me with any inquiries or feedback. Looking forward to sharing with you all!