Sam Allen Creates: January to April 2022
Well, we’re already a quarter of the way into the new year and here I am with Part 1 of my Year in Review blog posts!
January
Let’s just jump right in with some of my in-studio shots of handpainted watercolor goodness!
Handpainted Cards and Tags
Dusty rose is always a favorite choice by brides… even when celebrating a first Valentine’s Day as husband and wife too (see below)!
I loved how these slider name tags came out, a custom creation by request of the bride for her bridesmaid gift boxes!
Floral Letter Sign
To celebrate their upcoming wedding, Ashley B. had me paint their initials in my Floral Letter style to be on display on their big day!
Wedding Bouquet Keepsake
This was such a fun project! The bride’s bouquet was all white florals but she wanted her keepsake painting to include the addition of some of her bridesmaid’s more colorful stems! What a great idea to bring splashes of your full wedding’s color scheme! Commission your own custom floral painting here!
Envelope Addressing
And lastly, take a look at this fun Instagram Reel that shows in the inner monologue of a calligrapher addressing envelopes! 🎥 Watch here!
February
Moving on to February, which was full of spring wedding prep and some rare February weddings!
New Products
In preparation for a March wedding, I created a new drink menu design that became quite the hit for the entire year! I’ve lost count on how many variations I’ve made of this sign! It’s so versatile and easy to match all wedding styles!
Real Weddings
Ashley & Pablo
The first of my Real Wedding of the 2022 season was held in Guatemala! Their menus were more unique than usual, as not only did we add their watercolor crest, but we also created them as double sided with a Spanish translation on the back side. Plus, do you recognize the Floral Letter painting from above?! Photos by Joseph Nance Photography
Kate & Miller
I’m always a sucker for a classic green and white color scheme for a wedding! The warmth of the rustic wood and gold tones are just gorgeous for their big day! I also love how the Memorial Table turned out as well, such a great way to honor their grandparents and family that have passed. Photos by Eve Yarborough
Peyton’s announcement
And lastly, a custom painted birth announcement for Baby Peyton! I created her sister’s announcement years ago so we matched the look of the photo front and then created a custom floral wreath for the back to frame this sweet baby girl!
March
Custom Wood Sign
To start off the month, here’s a peek at a wooden sign made for a baby shower! For a theme of “Baby in Bloom,” the addition of floral illustrations were the perfect finishing touch! Take a look at how the sign was used at the shower here!
Children’s Room Decor
For this custom brush calligraphy painting, the mother and son duo based the wording on their love of reading The Wonderful Things You Will Be—which definitely pulled at my heartstrings as my own baby boy and I have spent countless hours ready this same book over these past several years! Making pieces like this is truly such an honor!
Wedding BTS
Get ready for lots of in-studio shots! It was quite a busy month prepping for the upcoming spring and summer weddings!
Real Wedding
Mckenzie & Justin
What a gorgeous wedding day! I was thrilled to receive these images from Rya Photos! The styling of the tablescapes is so stunning!
April
This month was quite a doozy as my family and I went out of town for spring break, but I sure managed to get a lot of work done around it… and BONUS points awarded to all these wonderful photographers who sent over their brides’ wedding galleries to me! I sure am a thankful wedding calligrapher! But first….
Watercolor Portrait
One of the winners of my giveaway on Instagram last year used her credit toward an extensive family portrait creation! With her parents at the center of the portrait, we pieced together quite a few images to compile their full grown family! Which was quite a feat as they all haven’t been together for years! This family holds a very special place in my heart so I was definitely up for the challenge!
Kindergarten Graduation
Here’s an unusual custom project for you! A collection of signs and party favor tags for a Kindergarten graduation! This was a fun one!!
Wedding BTS
Before we get to the Real Weddings, here’s a few behind-the-scenes images: tent cards painted with a custom mix of coral watercolor along with a set of cards made for the wedding day (more wording options created but not shown here), AND a custom drink sign that I LOVE as it utilizes a lemon watercolor painting I created just days prior to having my baby girl in 2020!
Real Weddings
A citrus inspired bridal shower with gorgeous centerpieces made of orange slices! So fun! Images by “sliqpics”
A pristine white set up for Joseph and Courtney!
A New York minimony for Erin and her groom! Images by Marquee Studio
Personalized menus created for Carrie & Peter. Images by Stephanie Loren Photography
And that’s it! Whew! So happy to finally get this posted, and now it’s time to work on Part 2!
If you are interested in purchasing any of the above, don’t hesitate to reach out via my Contact page or directly through my Etsy shop: yournewfriendsam.etsy.com
