On Friday we were tagged by Christy at Junebug to post eight random facts or habits about us, and then pass the fun along to eight other bloggers. Here goes!

Whitney

• I’ve been making stationery for family and friends since age 6.
• My favorite way to spend a sunny Seattle afternoon is on Pink Door’s deck, with a glass of wine and an antipasto plate. If only Stella could come with us!
• I can’t drive a stick shift – it’s a secret shame.
• I pull out our wedding photos and admire them at least once a week.
• My favorite part of each project is the excitement on a bride’s face when they see the invitation design that is “the one.”
• When I’m stressed I head straight to Target and wander for a couple of hours. It’s the most calming way to spend an afternoon.
• I read cookbooks for fun.
• I can’t throw away a magazine. I have Vogues stuffed in the closet back to 1994. They’re so beautiful – I just can’t let them go! I suppose that’s the print designer in me…

Jonathan

• My mom helped me pick the name Brown Sugar Design – it was a childhood nickname.
• Whitney and I met at a wedding of two very close friends – we walked down the aisle together and that’s where it all began…
• My grandfather was born in Portugal – grandmother born in China (there’s not a Chinese bone in her body, she’s English). My dad was born in Philadelphia but spent most of his childhood in Columbia. Mom grew up in Germany, England, and Spain. My sister was born in Australia, and I was born in…Florida. How disappointing!
• I am addicted to all things that take a creative mind: art, design, architecture, photography, writing, dance, film, etc…
• I was known as “Kevin” in elementary and middle school because of my likeness to Fred Savage during the Wonder Years era.
• I LOVE Tom Waits and have seen him twice in concert.
• I can’t stop biting my nails, no matter how many times Whitney smacks me for doing it.
• I love being able to take clients’ ideas and then give them exactly what they were looking for without them even knowing they were looking for that.

Tag, you’re it!

Melissa at Melissahead Designs

Erin at Adventures in Letterpress

Megan at Megan Creates

Emily at Orange Beautiful

Nic at NicEvents

Rajshel at The Stationery Hustle

Patricia at A Little Hut

Kelly at Sweet Pea Events

There really is no word that can adequately describe these photos. Exquisite!

photos by j garner photography | website | blog

I never tire of J Garner Photography’s work – it’s spectacular.

Seattle is blessed with some truly talented photographers…makes me wish we could get married again! I loved our own photography of course, (it was spectacular, if I do say so myself) but I can’t stop myself from admiring some of the incredible wedding photographers around here so much that I’m ready to walk down the aisle once more!

One of this year’s couples, Jamie and Chaz, will be married today at Spokane’s beautiful Davenport Hotel. Their invitation suite is in a chocolate and champagne color scheme and features details such as double-faced satin ribbon and whimsical polka dots. Congratulations are in order! We are sure they will have a wonderful wedding day!

If I can’t have more live puppies, I want rug puppies. Buy them (for me, wink wink) here. Found via Hostess Blog.

(beachgrass illustration courtesy of Love Letters)

I was able to deliver this letterpress project last night – we’re so happy with it! This couple will be married on Lopez Island in September. Their elegant event is beautifully complemented by these invitations, which feature a beachgrass motif in sage green on Crane’s EcruWhite Letra paper.

They also took advantage of our Custom Map service, choosing to have a map created for their wedding website. Custom maps are also available for invitation suites. Email us for more information about custom illustration services for print or web.

My newest Pottery Barn catalog arrived today and I immediately was drawn to a couple of their newest items! These beautiful rustic bowls would be perfect as wish jars at a reception or filled with flowers for a centerpiece. The candles would complement any rustic or natural scheme.

In perusing their website, I came across these fabulous monogrammed soaps, which would make great favors or out-of-tower gifts.

Thus sayeth Seattle’s beautiful new wedding planning magazine: Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom. The coffee-table appropriate publication debuted this month with a great article about “green” weddings and planning an environmentally sound event.

“Even small decisions – say, minimizing paper waste by using postcard-style response cards instead of cards with envelopes, or going for unbleached, biodegradable paper plates – can count in a big way. For earth-friendly invitations, work with custom designers like Kirkland’s Brown Sugar Design, which partners with an EnviroStars-certified commercial printer to craft elegant invitations, programs, and more using recycled paper and soy ink.”

When you pick up your copy, be sure to also check out their informative article on wedding websites and some of the stunning featured real weddings. Their website, too, is a great planning resource for any Northwest bride (& groom)!

This post comes a bit late as I spent the past week in California for a friend’s wedding on Saturday. It was a beautiful event and lovely to see friends and family!

We have two sets of congratulations due to two very different couples who each wed this past weekend on 07.07.07. The first – Matt and Audrey – were married at the beautiful Newcastle Golf Club. Aren’t they adorable? (image courtesy of their wedding planning blog)

Another congratulations is due to Kevin and Jessica, who celebrated this weekend in wine country surrounded by closest family and friends.