Brooklyn Betrothed Anniverary Party: Lemons and Lace

Hello and Happy Winter Solstice!
Here is a summery post to warm up the chill in the air. This past July the Brooklyn Betrothed ladies and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary at The Green Building in Carol Gardens. Delicious catering by Dish Food and Events, signature cocktails served by Smith and Vine and By Brooklyn. Lu Lu’s Confections and Haute So Sweet created sugary treats, and Whisk kept the dance party hydrated all night with fashionable, flavored water drinks. The rustic space was transformed by Rebecca Shepherd into a summer garden, Patina Rentals furnished the space with vintage nooks (and a croquette set) and Blackbird Theatrical Services added to the atmosphere with up-lighting and I created the paper details, invitations and hand painted sign work to complete the look. To add to the glamor, Anni Bruno did an amazing job assembling, styling and staffing a beauty bar in the speak easy lounge. Cheers and enjoy!

 

Thank you to everyone that came out, and cheers to my Brooklyn Betrothed co-founders, a group of amazingly talented ladies. This first year was amazing, I look forward to the next one!
xox
-Ruth

Brooklyn Betrothed Feature in Brooklyn Magazine

Recently, Brooklyn Betrothed was asked to create a wedding feature for Brooklyn Magazine based on what our ideal wedding would be, a total thrill! We choose the Brooklyn Grange for the setting, a beautiful roof top farm in the Nary Yard. The Skyline view was staggering. I will be posting more details about our shoot and the different groups we worked with including, Patina Rentals, and Parker Red, as well as sprinkle in some of Kristina Hill‘s images of behind the scenes. Enjoy!

Cheers,
-Ruth

Brooklyn Betrothed Save the Date

Hello! Happy Friday.
 Earlier this week I designed a Save the Date for Brooklyn Betrothed. We are having our 1 year Anniversary this summer, and the theme is Lemons and lace. Divine.
The Save the Date started as a sketch, was re-drawn as a finished illustration on my light box in pencil, and washed for color swatch ideas. The card is then finalized with watercolors on the drafting board. This one makes me want to get a pitcher of lemonade, a 1950s bathing suit and lie on the roof.

 

 

The finished design with a light mint border.
Cheers!
XOX -R

Paper Doll Invitation Suite

Happy Monday!
So much has been going in the Papertopias studio as of late. I have been busy working in the studio preparing for my official debut in the wedding world at the Brooklyn Based event, Wedding Crashers on March 4th. I would love to see you there! My fellow wedding professionals from Brooklyn Betrothed are going to be there as well. We are having a give a way which will include around $1,400 worth of wedding goodies from Anni Bruno, Rebecca Shepherd, Carissa Templeton, Tammy Golson, Sam Zuniss, Kristina Hill and me, Papertopias. I will be adding to the Wedding in a Bag a secret paper art surprise...You can also check out a post Style Me Pretty wrote on the Wedding Crashers expo here.
A new camera in the studio has also certainly added to the excitement and more importantly, the sharing of paper art! So, to start the photo shoot processions, here is Papertopias custom watercolor Paper Doll Invitation Suite. This suite is complete with Sandhill Cranes, a Dia De Los Muertos sugar skull, glamorous vintage garments, prickly pears, magnolias and so many more illuminous details!
Papertopias creates custom order paper doll sets to celebrate your event in a elegant, personal and playful way. Send your guests a Save the Date doll set that is a miniture version of you and your Fiance! Surprise them later with your glamorous dresses, suits and imagery in the form of wedding invitations, bachelor and bachelorette party invitations, dinner reservations, and thank you notes!


















I hope you enjoy, have a wonderful week,
XOX
-R

Brooklyn Bridge Wedding Invitations

Hello and Happy Wednesday!
On this rainy winter day in Brooklyn looking out on the Williamsburg Bridge its a great day to post up a watercolor invitation suite I did for a lovely couple who where getting married by the Brooklyn Bridge, on a sunny, beautiful day in June. The ceremony was held in Brooklyn Bridge Park, with the reception nearby in the Dumbo Loft building. The wedding theme was a Mexican meets Brooklyn celebration, with stunning flowers by Rebecca Shepherd, a Brooklyn Betrothed Co-Founder.


When the couple and I first met up to talk about their invitations, I brought several ink washes that where based on previous conversations we had over email about what they had in mind for their wedding invitations. They wanted to incorporate their love of outdoor adventures, perhaps the band they play in together, and most importantly their shared love of Brooklyn.

After spending a pleasant afternoon perusing sketches and images over tea and biscotti, they selected an illustration of the Brooklyn Bridge as seen from the central lawn of the park where they were to be married. In the following weeks, the final composition and size were designed.

The flowers illustrated in the invitation and the R.S.V.P. are flowers the bride chose with Rebecca to match the colors of her wedding palette. All the lettering was inked and painted by hand in a custom font made for the couple.

Laurie and Todd received the original watercolor illustration suite to frame and keep as a reminder of their beautiful love and special ceremony on their wedding day.

For more information about Papertopias wedding paper goods, or for a free consultation, email me at ruth(at)papertopias(dot)com, or check out my online shop here.

Enjoy!

xoxo

-R

2012 New Year Bliss!

To start off the new year, I wish you a rejuvenating one filled with silver sparkles, calm moments, and candle lights.

To finish the old one, I am posting some Holiday cards designed for the season, one for Tammy Golson of Tammy Golson Events with hand scripted addresses, one for Brooklyn Betrothed, a custom paper doll card, and one my partner and I collaborated on for the holidays.



The gift box set version of the tree card I am selling on Esty.




My favorite tree top moment, the heart.


For Tammy's custom card order, she mentioned to me her excitement in recommencing her annual Christmas tree decorating party this December, making it a great theme for her cards this year. The recipients on her Christmas card list received one tree card, a scarlet envelope, and hand scripted addresses in white ink. Addressing the envelopes was a thrill since it was the first time I mixed and used white ink.


Mixing and practicing, and then the end result.



The next card was designed for the Brooklyn Betrothed ladies. We got together in November to brainstorm about our very first holiday card, I was delighted to be asked to design it. First, I inked a few quick conceptual sketches and then the BB girls selected their favorite design from among them, the winner was unanimous.






The piece chosen highlighted the intertwined hearts from the logo I designed for BB. I continued with the theme of vines and hearts, expanding it to the framework and main illustration piece of the card. The card was then water colored, and gold and bronze accents where added to the light fixtures. I used sumi ink for the lettering.

Then we signed the card on our group Spa Castle day...so nice.



The next card was a custom order for two sisters, Adrien and Leah who have the most spectacular Christmas cards in all history! It was so much fun to bedazzle them and their furry friends in Christmas cheer.



Compositional ink sketch.


The finished card.


The grand finale! A Christmas treat my partner and I collaborated on for our friends and family.



Cheers and a very happy new one.
xoxo
Ruth

New York Wedding Listing!

Brooklyn Betrothed, the wedding group I am co-founder and visual artist for, has a bio published in the 2012 Winder issue of New York Wedding! The story is on page 175, in dramatic blood red. Congratulations to the fantastic BB group and to all our friends published in the magazine as well!




Cheers!
xxx
Ruth

Steampunk Themed Wedding

Here are some preliminary schemes for the Steampunk meets Art Deco wedding I am doing with Rebecca Shepherd, an exquisite florist and co-founder of a wedding group I am a member of, Brooklyn Betrothed.
I am creating a custom hand for the escort cards, each adorned with hand-painted Chinese lanterns (the bride’s favorite blossom), as well as hand-painted individual table numbers. The illustrations will include a combination of different copper and bronze metallics. The fall color scheme will be delightful for this steamy October wedding.




I have also been working out a mixture of metallic pigments and inks to get a textured ink medium.Here are some swatch samples.


Take care and feel free to email me with any questions.
XXX
-Ruth

Darma’s New Garment: Spring

Hello and happy Wednesday! Sorry the doll of the week’s dress has been delayed, Papertopias was bustling around getting ready for a very exciting launch party for Brooklyn Betrothed!!! Details of this amazing group I am delighted to be apart of, pics, and a formal introduction will soon follow!

Darma’s new festive garment, Spring, was illustrated on a light water color paper with SUMI ink. Enjoy printing, painting and cutting it out!



Darma
Seraphire

ShallopsCircle

Cheers!
XXX
R