Sam Allen Creates: October thru December 2018
I really love the end of the year! October and November are such crazy busy months but I just love my job so much! And then by the second week of December, everything just slows down and I can enjoy that special time of the year with my family! This year was just the best yet, hope you enjoy this glimpse into all the fun projects that crossed my desk this fall and holiday season! View Part 1 of my 2018 Review here.Part 2, April–June 2018 Reviewand Part 3, July–September 2018 Review October The month started with an order of handpainted wedding placecards and table numbers. I adore these photos supplied by Kaitlyn's wedding photographer, Lyndsie Smith. Dusty blue envelopes for the win! This shade of blue has just been so popular. I was pretty excited when the inquiry came in! Plus, I LOVE addressing envelopes! When Kayla Denae told me she was going to do a giveaway for a styled engagement session, I jumped on board to create a special calligraphy piece for the couple. But then when she shared her ideas for the shoot, I couldn't decide which quote to go with so I just made them both! Please go take a look
Peaches & Cream Styled Shoot with Christine Pegany—As Featured on Wedding Chicks!
I was absolutely blessed to be able to be a part of this gorgeous photo shoot, planned and photographed by Christine Pegany! She has so much talent and such an eye for details. Plus you know, horses!! Regarding my stationery: I loved the theme of Peaches & Cream too
Year in Review: January thru June 2017
2017 was quite a busy year! I was a horrible blogger all year too so please pardon me as I post a giant update on what I was working on the first half of last year! As you'll soon find out, this was the year I broke into the watercolor floral game and had a lot of fun doing it too! January To start the year off, I worked on some sweet little first birthday invites for some close friends. February The month started with first birthday prep for my bestie's little girl. Even though this was well over a year ago, I still plan to share a more in depth blog on it because it was so darling!! I was also working on another batch of designs to be presented to retail stores like Hobby Lobby! They were really my favorites and was so happy to see them in stores later in the year. February is also the month Disney released some of the most epic of their original animated films and I love to create some fan art in honor of their anniversaries! The month also included a few more custom pieces including this adorable woodcut sign! And lastly!! Handpainted Where the Wild Things Are
One Little Word 2018: Focus
This year, I have chosen the word "focus" to be my "one little word" for the new year! And here's 3 reasons why: O N E .Improve the process. Over the past few months, I have constantly had to remind myself of this to the point it has become my mantra! I'm always whispering it to myself as the many distractions in this world split my focus. While I am really good at focusing on working and not getting distracted by social media, it's the many projects that I am working on that I keep getting distracted by. So rather than plowing through a project to completion, I work a little here and a little there and then inspiration strikes on a completely other project and I start to dabble there. By the end of the day, I look back and see that not one thing can be checked off the list but the list has actually grown. Ugh. To fix this, I will be reworking my day to day processes. Implement a schedule with daily routines, like taking care of the business side on Tuesdays, painting on Wednesdays, photographing those paintings on Thursdays, new listings on Fridays, etc. This will help to
Isaiah’s Under the Sea First Birthday Party
After Lauren's beautiful baby shower in May, I was in a party planning slump which meant I ended up putting off planning Isaiah's birthday party until the absolute last minute! The whole party pulled together only the week of the event, except for the invite of course. I took some photos in my office of my favorite decorations before the party just in case something happened to them on the day of. I got a little caught up in them and they probably don't really go for a first birthday but I love them nonetheless. But first, I want to share the invite with you! It was so fun to work with such bright paint colors! And make the simple ocean illustrations all fit together like a big puzzle! And of course I had to paint up some Thank You cards to match! However, that did make me end up sending them months late! Just like this blog post, I'm always late nowadays! :P While searching for Under the Sea birthday party ideas, I came across this saying about the ocean and loved it so much, I knew it needed to be on display at the party! I also came across these amazing glass bottles
Lindsey and Anthony’s Tropical Wedding at Bali Hai Restaurant, San Diego—Watercolor Wedding Stationery
You guys, I wrote this post TWO years ago, just after the wedding and then I found out I was pregnant and my blog pretty much burnt out for a bit while I struggled with a full 9 months of morning sickness and then newborn craziness and then just working mom life with a baby. So I hope you'll indulge me with this "throwback post" as I'm excited to be posting this now even though it's two years later!! This was such an amazing wedding to work on!! First of all, I got to be bridesmaid AND the stationery designer so that's always fun!! Second of all, Lindsey let me paint all over everything! And that is extra fun!! Lindsey and I have been friends since 4th grade. She was in our wedding several TEN years ago and I was honored that she asked me to be in her wedding as well!! I wanted to share a few of my favorite images from the wedding, of my work and the day itself! First off though, let's start with the wedding invitation suite
Lauren & Kellen — Menifee Maternity Photos
This little sweet baby girl is about to make her debut in the next couple weeks so I thought I'd share a few of her parent's maternity photos with you all first! I can not wait to cuddle and love on this babe. Timehop has been reminding me daily of my little Isaiah as a newborn from last year everyday and it's giving me baby fever!! Olivia June, I can not wait to meet you! And neither can your mama!!
Taylor and David’s Wedding at The Crossings, Carlsbad — Elegant Lace Wedding Stationery
Not every day does a designer get the privilege to have their hand, in my case that can be taken literally, in so many aspects of a single wedding. My wonderful family friend Taylor, had me create so many amazing pieces for her wedding last year two years ago
Four Month Old Isaiah
Considering you will be 5 months old next week, I'm a little late in posting this. Thankfully I took good notes and wrote this out a few weeks ago because you have changed SO much since you turned 4 months. Every day brings us a new joy and discovery