Let me begin by stating that the record should show this was all Haley’s idea.

I (Marya) have a three-year-old son and, with my past stationery business, OutLoud Designs, had created bold, graphic note cards that featured diaper pins, bows, strollers, rattles – you know, the usual. As Haley refers to it – the “clip art-esque” note cards that you find just about anywhere these days. So, as a mom, I insisted that we needed a children’s line for The Paperie Pear – much to Haley’s dismay. Haley has not yet been blessed with the opportunity to experience sleep deprivation, formula-stained shirts and a once immaculate home now overflowing with toys, baby safety gear and the scent of a failing Diaper Genie. In other words, she and her husband have no children at this time.

And then inspiration struck Haley just in time. Her relative, Birmingham artist Elizabeth Holmes, had just published her illustrated Christian Children’s book, “The White Trees,” featuring beautiful watercolor images of a family of panda bears. Instead of the typical bright and bold “clip art” images that have been the standard of children’s stationery, Haley wanted to go back to images that captured the innocence of childhood. Inspired by “Peter Rabbit” author/illustrator Beatrix Potter and “Winne the Pooh” illustrator E. H. Shepard, Haley collaborated with Elizabeth to create simple, yet elegant, watercolor illustrations of young animals and their surroundings.

The result is our first installment of a beautiful line of vintage-inspired children’s stationery. Now that Haley has “the itch” (for desigining for childen, not for ACTUALLY HAVING them at this time), her ideas for future designs have expanded beyond the Animal Kingdom, but will not be revealed at this time…CLIFFHANGER! But, in the short term, check back for these illustrations featured on invitations as well.

Below is a small sampling, but be sure to click here to check out the entire line.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this new approach to note cards for children and babies. Please leave a comment below or shoot us an email at info@paperiepear.com for any idea you may have for future cards and invitations.

Have a friend expecting a new baby, or are you possibly a “non-Haley” and are expecting a child of your own? These cards make great gifts for an upcoming baby shower or baby’s first birthday!

Have a great weekend!

Haley and Marya

I tend to get on tangents when I talk. Sometimes, I get so carried away on them that I have no clue how to get back to my original subject, nor do I leave any breadcrumbs to help. And, apparently, I design much in the same way.

So, here’s the story: Haley and I are designing the other night (and into the morning). It’s funny how the process works – we started with a very ornate border-style, traditional note card and we began choosing the color scheme. Haley, still continuing her high of beach house hunting in Panama City <insert envious, mumbling thought containing curse word here>, develops this great coral color – which did not fit at all with the ornate, traditional theme.

We hit the Internet in search of coral inspiration and found two different complementary colors for coral – turquoise and navy. Both combinations translate into two completely different feelings – coral and turquoise feels casual, fun and beachy; coral and navy feels high-fashion and sophisticated. I created the graphic below to show you our main inspiration images.

Now here is where Haley and I are noticeably different. As Haley has put it, you can draw two large overlapping circles to demonstrate our design taste. I’m on the left side – with a more fun, bright, graphic, “More is More” style. Haley is absolutely on the right side with a refined, elegant, “Let’s bring that down a bit, Marya” style. And, in the middle where we overlap is what you see on The Paperie Pear site.

After inspiration struck, Haley immediately began to design a note card using the coral and navy palette. After some tweaking, she announces how much she loves it. I agree, and we call it a night.

Less than two minutes after Haley leaves, I’m back on the laptop.

I just want to “play ” with the coral and turquoise (read: bright, bold, ME!! WEE!!!). I email the result to Haley to which she responds the following morning with, basically, a “you get on my nerves” email. I get these on a regular basis, as well as narrow-eyed facial expressions which communicate the same thought. I’m pretty much immune to them by now…

The point of this rambling is to show how two color schemes from different perspectives on pretty much the same design results in two very unique note cards.

And though the coral color on both notecards is EXACTLY the same, it appears a bit different with its complementary color.

Here are the invitations we designed as well, using the same idea as the note cards:

We’d love to hear your thoughts on your preferred color scheme! Please leave us a comment below. But first – click on these links to view the note cards and invitations up close (click on each product’s thumbnail image to view the gallery):

• Elizabeth Haines Coral and Navy Note Card
• Elizabeth Haines Coral and Turquoise Note Card
• Coral and Navy Invitation
• Coral and Turquoise Invitation

Have a great week!

Marya and Haley

This week’s Before and After Inspiration design came out of well…jealousy. And I’m jealous of two things. The first is that our dear Haley is in the market for a beach bungalow in Panama City Beach! Congrats, Haley – just hope you don’t mind my random, unannounced visits.

The second is a very close friend of mine from New Orleans is planning her upcoming October wedding in the heart of the French Quarter, which immediately planted <in my always-buzzing brain> images of grand homes with gorgeous ironwork.

So, I combined these two items in my head (while steaming with jealousy) and developed an ironwork-inspired note card design with a color palette reminiscent of the pale colors of the Emerald Coast.

Order a set of these damask note cards today and send a quick note to a friend of yours at the beach, or send a few out from your own beach or lake house to all of your jealous friends. I’m sure they’ll appreciate the thought! Ha!