Handmade Hummingbird Guestbook (Carte de oaspeti Colibri - handmade)

If anything, after watercolor I love making books: guestbooks, sketchbooks, photo albums and I love using them as well. I love that I can make them any size I want, any color, any number of pages, any type of paper, decorate the covers or leave them plain.

{RO} Unul din lucrurile mele preferate, dupa acuarela, e legatoria de carte. Imi place sa fac carti de oaspeti, caiete de schite, albume foto si imi place sa le si folosesc. Le pot face orice dimensiune, orice culoare, cu cate pagini si cu ce hartie vreau, cu copertile simple sau decorate.

Here is one of those books I poured my heart into. It was a custom guestbook for Isabelle Marie's hummingbird baptism or christening party, matching her hummingbird invitations.

{RO} Aceasta este una dintre cartile de oaspeti la care am lucrat cu multa pasine. A fost realizata pentru botezul lui Isabelle Marie si se assorteaza cu invitatiile ei de botez.

Her theme was hummingbird and florals and her colours were pink and gold. Being given creative freedom I could dive into this project and make it truly unique: vintage gold metallic pages and the hummingbird and floral theme carried through to the inside of the covers with some gold stamping and heat embossing, using the same stamps I used for the envelope liners. Here is a close up of the lovely raised image embossed on the inside covers.

{RO} Tematica botezului a fost pasarea colibri impreuna cu elemente florate, iar culorile predominante rozul si auriul. Faptul ca mi-am putut exprima liber creativitatea a ajutat enorm la reaizare aunui proiect cu adevarat unic. Pentru pagini am folosit hartie metalica aurie, apoi am introdus motivul colibri si pe copertile interioare, imitand interiorul plicurilor invitatiilor.

In the next post I will share some photos from the actual party that my client was kind enough to let me publish. You will be truly inspired.

{RO} In articolul viitor va voi prezenta si petrecerea botezului, organizata cu foarte mult talent si bun gust de Alice, mama lui Isabelle.

Sunflower Rustic Album

Hello everyone. That is if anyone is still there. Life has changed a lot here since Eduard was born and blogging time has been cut to zero although I am trying to get back to it and keep in touch with all of you.

You can follow me on my Instagram though. It's easier to upload from my phone and I post almost daily.

On to today's post. I have been receiving lots of orders for guest books and albums lately.

This one is a sunflower wedding album, 25x30cm.

The greatest challenge was to make it "rustic" as my client requested since I am inclined to make everything on the elegant side. The burlap ribbon helped achieve this look as well as the craft paper pages.

The cover was hand painted with acrylic paint. Luckily Iona, my 4-year-old has a set as my black color had caught mold.

I was told the bride to be and everyone present at the bridal shower loved it, so I guess my 3 days of work were worth it.

You can find more work-in progres pictures on my Instagram Account: INVITATIICOUTURE.

Off to play memo with Iona now. See you next time, hopefully sooner than later.

Winter Wonderland Guest Books (Carti de oaspeti Regatul Inghetat)

Happy new year!

With the Disney "Frozen" movie being so en vogue right now, the winter season caught me making winter wonderland invitations and matching guestbooks which I really enjoyed. Although they were all going in different places and they were ordered about the same time, I couldn't make them identical and I still have a few ideas left.

This first guestbook was made for a wedding in Paris. My heart is with you Ailin, and with everyone in France living under terror after the recent attacks. May God protect you from any harm.
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This one was made for a little boy's christening. You can also see the matching invitations and place card/money envelope.

Last but not least, Eva's christening guest book. God bless you little princess.

On a more personal note, the beginning of the year found me setting goals and making plans.
One of them regards this blog which has been much neglected from lack of time and will.
I was wondering, should I continue posting, is anyone still following? Anyway I am going to try and post at least 3 times per month if not for anything else, for practicing discipline.

What would you like to read about?

I can't do videos. I lack the technology and the will to learn how to do it.... for now.
I have also decided to step back on card making.
I still make wedding invitations, but that isn't coming easy in lack of a messy creative space. Renting a studio had become too expensive so I decided to work from home in order to give more time and attention to my family.

In exchange I have got back to fine art. Whether it's a large mixed media canvas or an online watercolor course, I find myself often with a brush and pain in my hands. My older son, Iona, seems to be following in my footsteps which makes my heart sing with joy.

...wow, that was a long post. I really missed you. Have a lovely 2015.

In sfarsit... un album... aproape asa cum cred eu ca trebuie sa fie un album de poze de nunta

Astazi scriu in limba romana. Nu stiu daca voi avea rabdarea sa scriu si cateva randuri in engleza. Imi pare rau ca nu ma pot adresa simultan prietenilor din Romania si celor din lumea larga, vorbitori de limba engleza. Dar efortul e prea mare si ma regasesc gandindu-ma la ce as mai scrie pe blog, pentru ca apoi sa renunt din lipsa de timp si chef. :) Mi-ar prinde bine o secretara care sa faca traducerile.  Dar, pana cand imi voi permite una, luati-va un ceai sau o cafea sa va povestesc pe indelete despre albumele foto handmade.

Mi se cere adesea cate un album personalizat, dar de cele mai multe ori nu pot accepta sau trebuie sa aman comanda pentru la toamna cand am suficient timp sa lucrez la el.

Pentru mine, un album foto trebuie sa fie mare incat sa incapa toate pozele de la nunta si sa ramana si ceva spatiu intre ele. Apoi, daca e mare inseamna ca trebuie sa fie si solid, mai ales ca pozele de la nunta vor fi vazute de multe persoane. Si pentru ca trebuie sa dureze in timp, mi se pare aproape obligatorie o cutie de protectie care sa fie la fel de frumoasa ca si albumul.

Album foto damasc maro+fildes, 30x40cm, 30 pagini + 30 file separatoare.

Cutia 35x40x10cm, rama metalica cu numele mirilor si data nuntii.

Timp de lucru: 1 saptamana

Fiecare foaie este taiata la dimensiune dintr-o coala mai mare, indoita, perforata si cusuta. Am cronometrat. Pentru acest album mi-a luat 25 minute sa cos o pagina si ceva mai mult pentru coperti.

Pentru ca o bucata buna de timp a durat conceptia si realizarea copertilor si cutiilor, ca sa nu amintesc de cautarea materialelor, am facut cate 4 din fiecare. Asadar, mai am 3 seturi. Pot schimba culoarea paginilor si accesoriile si abia astept sa gasesc timpul si motivatia sa lucrez la ele.

Albumul din imagini l-am facut pentru Andreea si Ionut, in ton cu invitatiile de la nunta lor, si probabil nu l-ar fi avut daca Andreea nu insista.

La sfarsitul lui 2012 cand l-a cerut aveam deja o burta mare si inca cateva cererei de albume, asa incat, la viteza cu care lucram, al ei a trebuit sa astepte inca un an pana la finalizare. Inaintea lui a fost unul putin mai mic, in culori ceva mai vesele si intr-un alt tip de cutie. Acum ca am prins curaj s-ar putea sa-l vedeti curand si pe acela.

Coltare si rama metalica.

Detaliu cotor.

Pagini separatoare.

Poate nu atat de necesare in cazul pozelor tiparite la tipografie, dar pentru pozele clasice pe hartie foto sunt importante. Am facut candva o proba si am observat ca pozele se deterioreaza daca intra in contact una cu cealalta. (Se vede ca nu ma pricep la poze, nu? Daca vorbesc prostii, va rog sa ma corectati. Eu nu am mai scos poze pe hartie de acum 10 ani, de la nunta mea.)

Singurul lucru de care nu sunt multumita: modul de lipire al paginilor separatoare. Data viitoare incerc altceva. Daca nu, ramane varianta acoperirii adezivului inestetic.

Colturi decorative stampilate cu cerneala alba pe fiecare pagina. Mi se parea ca fara ele albumul nu era complet si ca sa ajung la concluzia aceasta si alte concluzii din punct de vedere estetic mi-a luat toata perioada dintre Craciun si Boboteaza. E clar, nu imi plac lucrurile facute in graba.

O idee care mi-a venit tarziu, in timp ce ambalam albumul pentru transport.



Si aici inchei, concluzionand ca nu mi-ar strica sa mai citesc ceva literatura pentru a-mi imbunatati vocabularul si modul de exprimare. Mi-e dor de o carte buna citita pe nerasuflate si chiar am una care imi face cu ochiul de pe raft.

Am ramas restanta cu un articol despre ceva ce imi place sa fac in timpul liber de care mama mea nu e prea mandra. O sa va povestesc cand muza ma indeamna din nou sa scriu (are legatura cu poza de mai jos).

3-Days Wedding: the Invitation, the Guest Book and the Party (Nunta de 3 zile si 3 nopti: invitatia, cartea de oaspeti si petrecerea)

Sorry, I had to choose from publishing just the pictures or no post at all. The story is too long to tell and I am tired, sore throat and really not feeling like writing a long post.

Din pacate azi nu am dispozitia necesara publicarii unui articol lung. Asadar va las doar cu imaginile.

A Mother's Journal (Jurnalul unei mamici)

Hello world. Sorry for not posting lately. I have been busy raising kids. Now that the cold weather keeps us inside more I am ready to show you some of the creative things I did this summer.

Salutare. Dupa o lunga vara petrecuta afara cu baietii, si acum ca sezonul rece ne tine mai mult in casa, sper sa va pot impartasi cat mai multe din proiectele la care am lucrat anul acesta.

This is an album I made for Ramona and her new baby girl to record her experience as a mother. I also sent her a pack of embellishments to decorate it as she moves along.
My favorite part: the butterfly buttons from India added to the spine.

Acest album-jurnal a fost realizat la cererea Ramonei pentru a-si inregistra experienta ei ca proaspata mamica. Ea a cerut ca impreuna cu albumul  sa-i trimit si un pachetel cu materiale pentru a-l decora singura.
Partea mea preferata: nastureii in forma de fluturasi inclusi in cusatura.

Damask, Lace and Cameo Guestbook with a Modern Touch of Stripes (Guestbook cu damask, dantela si camee, si un accent modern in dungi)

Are you tired of my guestbooks yet? Let me know and I will share something else. Otherwise I still have a few of these I made back in October. Of course now I can't stop making them because everyone wants a custom design.

Anyway, if you want to see them all in one place you can go to my Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.410060152392552.91823.308789602519608&type=3

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Oare v-am cu cartile mele de oaspeti? Daca da, spuneti. Altfrl mai am de postat cateva terminate in octombrie. Evident, de atunci nu ma mai pot opri din facut albume la comanda, dar asta e o alta poveste.
Intre timp puteti vedea toate albumele disponibile pe pagina noastra de Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.410060152392552.91823.308789602519608&type=3

Handmade Album with Roses, Grape Vine and Metallic Frame (Caiet amintiri/album cu trandafiri, frunze de vita si rama metalica.)

Can you tell I took 3 days off from the studio? My mom who is usually staying with Iona while I work was out of time so I enjoyed this time of being with my son and blogging during nap time. This is a scheduled post. By the time you are reading it I will already be away for work.

This is probably my favorite from the batch of guestbooks I made last month for the wedding fare. The more I look at it I realize it can also be used as photo album for a baby girl.
The metal frame is perfect for adding a name.

There are 20 sheets of black 300gsm paper bound in the old coptic way.
Sale price: $50

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Am avut 3 zile libere, ceea ce explica posarile zilnice. De azi ma intorc la atelier, dar am vrut sa va las cu acest caiet de amintiri sau, uitandu-ma mai bine, cred ca l-as folosi ca album de poze pentru o fetita. Rama metalica e perfecta pentru a pune in e aun nume.

Are 20 foi negre de 300 g/mp legate printr-o metoda antica.
Pret $50.

Here is a picture of the first batch of guestbooks. I made a few more later, after this photo shoot.

Iata-l printre celelalte caiete realizate la inceputul lunii trecute in colaborare cu Ermiona Weddings.

Angel Scrapbook (Caiet de amintiri cu inger)

If nobody buys this at the fair I might as well keep it for myself and fill it with pictures and memories of Iona. I somehow resonates perfectly with my heart and I love the pages of alternate colors: a yummy cream and the lovely heather which calls for some white ink. The pages are made of high quality cardstock by Canson which is another thing I love a bout this book.

Vintage Inspired Guestbook with a Modern Look

I love this time of the year. October to December are my most creative months. Now that the wedding season buzz is slowing down I can dedicate some time to creation just because.

Luckily the organizers have decided to hold the first edition of a local wedding fare (Salonul Mireselor - Expo Transilvania 25-28 oct. 2012) so for the first time I am not too busy to participate.

I have paired with my friend Bianca from Ermiona Weddings to make a few guestbooks and wedding glasses for the event. This is one of them and we have decided to randomly share a few more until then.

You can find more details on Invitatii Couture Facebook page and Bianca's Facebook Page.

Guestbooks, Albums, Journals, Sketchbooks.... a Love for Bookbinding.

 I have always loved books. I loved to read them touch their pages, smell their old or new characteristic scent, arrange them in alphabetical order, keep an inventory list and recently making books.

Making a book requires a lot of time and inspiration if you want it to mean something, if you want to catch a part of your soul in it.
I don't really have time for that anymore and I definitely don't like making books as custom orders.
However, from time to time, especially when I know who the book is for, I manage to find that pleasure of creating freely with no time or design boundaries.

Here are a few of my past books:

Wedding Guestbook for Adrian & Mihaela
Starting with a design I used to love but later caused me a little sorrow.
In addition to her wedding colors the bride wanted something "vintage with little buttons".  I presented her with more options amongst witch she chose these cabochon doves. Doesn't look vintage at all too me and it turned our that at least the groom wanted something with a more luxury feel.

One week after delivering the book I decided I would never take any custom book order again from total strangers. I had put all my soul into it as it had been a long time since I didn't have time to make books. I stamped vintage corners on every single page and I remember how delighted I was with the final result. I never make things I am not totally happy with, yet I know tastes differ from one person to another and I am not taking the risk to be disappointed again. Sorry!

Floral Guestbook for Baby Ilinca
This guestbook was inspired by the floral paintings from Ilinca's nursery room. Her mother is one of the brides I worked with whose number didn't get erased from my phone. She made her own wedding invitations to save on the budget but I helped with the materials.

I loved the idea of having a book each person visiting the new baby could write in so in the hope that Ilinca would have lots of good will messages I made as many pages as I could without making the book too scarily big. My colleague, Raluca, hand stamped matching corners on each page. Everything about this guestbook is floral, even the paper I made the pages from. The paper is called "Flora" and has real floral inserts.

Trees Sketchbook for Anca
Some of my blog reader might remember the traveling sketchbooks project I initiated two years ago. For more posts about it you can click on this link.
Anca was the last person to join our traveling sketchbooks circle. Since the person inviting a new member has the honor of making that person's first sketchbook I got to make this one. Anca's theme is TREES and I added the word "love" because I can tell she really loves trees.

My little one is up now so I have to go. I hope you liked this post and will try to get back with more one day when time permits.

Nature Love - Mini Album

One of the things I greatly miss are my long childhood walks in the forest near our home. Since then so many things have changed that it is no longer safe to wonder by yourself in such areas so I am only left with the nostalgia of past years. I am really hoping my son will bring back a part of that: climbing trees and pretending they are space ships, running through tall grass fields, admiring wild flowers in their natural habitat. I am thinking of all these while waiting for him to be born.... any day, any minute now.

Some of that love of nature is back with me in the studio while creating. Like this mini album: I made it because I had some black cardstock left from a previous project and also to repurpose a lovely card I had received years ago. I decided to say goodbye to most of the cards I have been collecting, but I am saying goodbye in my own way: by transforming them in something else, by giving them a new life.


Notice the oak leaf? Someone sent it to me in a card swap years ago and I have been hoarding it ever since. What's with me and oak leaves? Anyway, it was time to say goodbye and so I did.


The album stayed with Bianca for a while but she has just announced me it has found a new home. She is helping me clear out the huge scrap piles I have gathered over the past 5 years and through it gaining a new interest for bookbinding. You will be certainly seeing more of our shared projects.

I am looking forward to the new bookbinding