december is for celebrating

Celebrating is exactly what December is for! not just for the holidays, but for birthdays too. This is a cute invite I did for a lucky girl in Wyoming. her mom goes over the top to make sure her birthday doesn't get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season.

and we are back on, in 3...2...1...

so the website was a little glitchy- now all is fixed- thanks to a really nice client who let me know. All is fixed now- and we are running a special!

Free pack of wine gift tags (of our choice) with any bleu dahlia.com order! No need to enter any special code, we'll simply include them in all orders until December 23rd. Don't forget free delivery in the Billings area!

There's still time to place your order- now get shopping!
p.s. have you seen our personalized notepads? so cute!

if i were in seattle this weekend...

Daily Candy tells me this show is going to be a the ultimate craft show. More than 100 indie designers will be there to peddle their artful knacks along with a DIY wrapping station to help make your gifts imaginative and green. For more info checkout the website. A DIY wrapping station? That's a great idea I hope a lot of craft shows implement. I'd love to see this one.

cutest brightest deliveries!

Cute styles ready for delivery- love the matching notepads! All the dogs were custom ordered aren't they adorable? Still time for Holiday delivery! Call or order online now!

more mini art pieces

It's a hit! These little sparkly "canvas of wisdom pieces" are super likeable. Here is my next round. Some repeats of sellouts, some new, some just updated. All really sparkly and happy. I really want to do one with a photo, maybe this weekend.

get 'em while they glitter!

First of all, thanks to my friends at Pritz Sisters for the "over the top" shout-out. I must say that working with someone who knew her product and her company culture so well was definitely the winning formula for her fabulous ID. She is a dream client! Thanks Chick for featuring my "ready to go" gift tags I created for my holiday show. {which was so much fun- can't wait to do it again} I have those tags available on my site now- so get 'em while they glitter!!!
Want something personalized? Contact me and let's get going...quick!

almost ready

glittery gifting!

I have been busy making these great holiday tags! Love the wine bottle hanger- make that bottle of wine the perfect hostess gift with a lovely bleu dahlia glitter tag! Back to work-

straight outta brooklyn, nyc! coach sara is here!

out and about for holiday!

super chic is super finished!

Finally finished the super chic collection, purchasing buttons are being added as I type! Also excited to be on location at the Holiday Bazaar at St.Patricks church this weekend, don't miss your chance to order personalized notecards, notepads, calling card and gift tags! Saturday November 22, 9-4 and Sunday the 23, 9-1:30.

the perfect gift

Always taking custom orders on all personalized paper goods.
Want to re-order a design that is no longer featured on our website?
Send us a quick e-mail. As always, free delivery in the Billings area.
New styles added at whim so check back often!

inside a black apple

Have you seen these? Crafter Emily Martin, the top seller on the website etsy.com, a Brooklyn, New York-based online marketplace for all things handmade, puts out incredible dolls, kits and original art featuring these lovely slightly gothic girls and boys. She was on Queen Martha's show, and left a pattern for her dolls, downloadable here. She kind of makes you think you could do more...

BYpARTISAN pottery

Happy Election Day! Couldn't resist these happy guys over at Jonathan Adler aren't they just j'adorable? Get out and vote!

tiffany & co is timeless

what a great find-
my father-in-law has a knack for finding all things great when going to estate sales and garage sales. He found this fabulous vintage Tiffany clock in the shape of a diamond last weekend. Oh I would love to have this on my bedside table or my desk, but alas he has asked me to put it on the bay for him. Hope it brings in the dough!

gary vaynerchuck is a huge dose of happy

What makes you happier than witnessing a person who has pure passion and love for his job? I think at that point it becomes a vocation. I'm way behind on this obviously, as this video blogger has a mega fan club, but I accidently "met" this gary  vaynerchuck video via my subscription to k vintners email list. Just take a view and you'll know why I can't quit watching him.

relaxing...beautifully...

wish i may, wish i might... have a kate spade store in sight!

find a store near you!!!
The chair fashion show continues soon... couldn't resist posting this announcement.

blue velvet lovelies!

brown velvet-oh my!

OOOH la la...la la la la la la!

Ooooh- these make me weak in the knees, green velvet... carved Italian Rococo side chairs and more
at 1st dibs. These little lovelies mark the beginning of my mid week chair fashion show...enjoy!

pop the cork!

Sparkly, pop the cork thank yous for my 20th wedding anniversary party thank you's!

won't quit snowing....

fast forward past fall...

Can you believe this? Yes I have a fallen tree across my driveway and backyard- this is the craziest, heaviest snow I have ever witnessed! And right in the middle of the most beautiful, warm fall. Flowers were still in full bloom, and the leaves had just started to change.

Supposed to be 60 by the middle of the week....welcome to Montana!

new day, new baby!

Don't you love Little Golden Books? Then you'll love this Little Golden Invitation- kind of an upgrade to the book, I mean with the glitter and all... Enjoy your weekend! Here in Big Sky Country we have snow....

your leisure time

Make someone happy today. Use your leisure time {that's what I'm calling my "minute breaks in the day"- try it, it's so luxurious}to send a note to your girlfriend- I designed this retro printed envelope for a client who doesn't mind sharing...me! I pulled my I.D. off and now you can use the design for your own personal correspondance. Print, cut it out, score and fold, stamp and address!
not for professional use. copyright bleu dahlia creative 2008

oh baby...

What a delight it is to design baby shower invitations. The swarovski crystal is just the "icing on the cake" with this cute little baby swinging in a tree. This week I get to design another one, with a similiar color palette- seems little girls like my favorite color {for today} pms 390. I'll post it when it's finished, this one will be glitter-y!

do the dishes

In the constant search for color and happy, these stopped me in my tracks. Tikoli™ was founded with the goal of abolishing dowdiness in the kitchen. Tired of dull or cutesy kitchen linens and longing for something fresh and modern for everyday living, they decided to make their own.

Tikoli is located in California's San Francisco Bay Area, widely known as a crossroads of cultures and epicurean epicenter. Tikoli's eclectic, modern designs reflect both the relaxed California lifestyle and the freshness and innovation of California cuisine.

Check out the owner's blog, refreshing, interesting and just plain pretty to look at.

random Italian thoughts...

 My friends are having an Italian dinner party (sob, sob- wish I could go), my sister owns an Italian restaurant currently undergoing a menu redesign (courtesy of bleu dahlia creative), which randomly leads to Dale Chihuly...why you might ask?

Because in 1968, Chihuly was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to work at the Venini factory in Venice, Italy. While in Venice, Chihuly observed the team approach to blowing glass, which is critical to the way he works today. In 1971, Chihuly cofounded Pilchuck Glass School in Washington. With this international glass center, Chihuly has led the avant-garde in the development of glass as a fine art.

If you haven't seen a Chihuly exhibit, get your calendar out now and do some planning. It can be found in a plethora of places, lots of them open public spaces, such as the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, Bellagio in Vegas,Union Station in Tacoma, and the not to be missed 500 foot span of brilliance, The Chihuly Bridge of Glass. The lucky residents of the Puget Sound area have more than 20 public spaces to appreciate the breadth and scope of the artist’s creative vision. On with my random fall day...

your favorite color by number

In 1963, Lawrence Herbert, Pantone's founder, created an innovative system of identifying, matching and communicating colors to solve the problems associated with producing accurate color matches in the graphic arts community. His insight that the spectrum is seen and interpreted differently by each individual led to the innovation of the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM®, a book of standardized color in fan format.

Over the last 45 years, Pantone has expanded its color matching system concept to other color-critical industries, including digital technology, textiles, plastics, architecture and contract interiors, and paint. It continues to develop color communication tools for a variety of industries and aggressively adopts new digital technology to address the color needs of design and production professionals.

Doing a little research I discovered that Pantone
originally manufactured color cards for cosmetics companies.
Consider me last on the list of people who have posted this, Pantone's spring color forecast...

a little fall

I sincerely mean a "little fall". Fall is usually short but sweet here in big sky country. This is one of the most beautiful autumns that I can remember. I am inspired by the sheer randomness of it. One leaf completely changed, the leaf next to it looks fresh as an early June day. I have a hard time with randomness when designing. Usually a background or a floral notecard beckons for a little random layout of pattern- but now I've just said pattern, then it has to make sense- then, well I don't want it to be a mess... is random really ever random?

a little slogan fun

Just for fun, visit the sloganizer. Most of my friends are familiar with this amusing little web tool- if you haven't played with it yet, put your blog name, business or your own name in the text field and submit, you will be entertained!

a little art show

Where have I been? Creating these attractive mixed media mini art pieces. I was invited to show in Toucan Galleries "little art show". A whole bunch of art by a whole bunch of artists- The show runs all of October and November...don't miss it! Do the roses look familiar? That bouquet was definitely the gift that keeps giving! Do the roses look familiar?

opposites attract

historical hotel del in all its grandness and glamour contradicts this mid century treasure sitting directly across the street. Had to come back at night to get a picture of this fantastic neon.

more contrasts to come...

cali dreamin'

Do people really live here? Lucky!
Loved the cali lifestyle, history and views. Will post more this week.

it's beautiful in SanDiego

Taking a trip... see ya next week!

rainy days and mondays....

yeah, yeah, I Know! The bleu dahlia update is supposed to happen this week.Unfortunately, the weather hasn't been cooperating- What? you say the weather is the problem?
I take all my stationery and portfolio photos outdoors, as I am sans sophisticated lighting in my studio, natural daylight lets you know you are ordering a white note card instead of blue, cream or pink. Well, overcast and rainy... we are in a delay. I am posting some small samples of my new collection, called"naturally"... enjoy!

bat your lashes...

It was a very
special bride
who let me use
this fantastic pink
eyelash yarn to
wrap her invitation.
The layers of yarn
Sit just above
the bride and
grooms name in
pms 219 c
{A lovely shade of
bright pink}
and actually wrapped
through a single
perfect hole punched
through the fold
(each one of 250) to
hold the reply set
in place. Now, back
to that web update....

roses are red, dahlias are bleu...

Back to school doesn't usually equate to red roses- but this lovely surprise eagerly begged for a glamour shot. I quickly sketched out a dozen to be sent through the mail on the front of a bleu dahlia note card. Enjoy your weekend!

thanks for the memories

It's been awhile since I've been to Seattle to visit my very best friend, but the memories remain. While updating my website {soon to be published} I ran across this thank you, it's what I call a limited edition, where I hand draw little icons of the best of our visit, obviously here it was the conversation, cocktails, fabulous gourmet home cooked meals and heading out to explore the city. Hope to have an option like this available to order at my website soon!