March Just Keeps Getting Better

We've been featured again this month. In the current issue of Wedding Venues & Services Magazine. This time it's favours from the very glitzy Mayfair Collection in a retro Polka dot red (top left). A big thank you to Amanda for the feature & also for letting us know. A while back, Amanda (Deputy Editor) had given me feedback on the quality of my images (they were too dark for print with inadequate lighting). Me, not being from an editorial/photographic background, had absolutely no idea that this was the case. So thank you Amanda for your insight and for taking the time to reply. Constructive criticism is so helpful for a small business. Those extra pair of eye's see things that are blindingly obvious, but yet invisible to me.

My mum always instilled that it was not shameful to ask for help, which as a stubborn little girl was something I struggled to do and still do to some extent. I'm a perfectionist & hate doing things wrong. I always strive to better myself but it's not always possible to improve your technique when you only see the one way of doing things. Don't be afraid to ask. Ask and ye shall receive. And it's what you do with that knowledge that is key.

Mini Cooper Car Wraps

We're working on Father's Day card range and have been searching for Mini Cooper images for one on our designs. I nearly fell off my seat when I saw these wraps designed by Cool Hunter for Mini Cooper. a. because I love the mini & b. because I adore colour. I've not seen one of these styled cards driving about but it would definitely put a smile on my face. Brightening up Britain's roads. Cool or what...?and what about these... The Mini goes neon. One word - WOW!

Easter Cards have arrived

I know it's only just Mother's Day, but Easter is on the 4th April this year, and so only a few weeks away. This is the first year where we have branched out into Easter cards. We're not entirely sure if there is a huge demand for cards at Easter but it seemed like a natural progression for us. Would you send a special card at Easter...?

Plus, how could we resist using these cute fluffy chickens in the 'Tweet Tweet' Collection & teeny weeny hand made nest eggs in our 'Chicken Licken' design.... I mean come on.... how cute!

DIY Woodland Children's Bedroom

I’ve been planning to DIY on my little girl’s bedroom since Christmas but things have been taking far longer than I’d like (boo!) due to a very busy business (yey!) and a happy little girl who gets to see her Mummy every day (weee!) leaving little time for much else.

A little background: I wanted to create something that was virtually all DIY, something which would be visually stimulating for Lilly, encompassing Lilly's love of nature, birds, & the outdoors.

I’ve almost finished her brand new room & will share the images soon in a 3 part blog piece.
To say Lilly is impressed is an understatement. She LOVES her new room!

In the news

It's been a busy week. None stop in fact! But imagine our joy, whoops & hoorays when we found out that our Breakfast At Tiffany wedding invites had been featured in this month's issue of Your Wedding Day Magazine (Kent) in their beautifully styled 'Timelessly Vintage' piece. Thank you very much.

Cute Easter Chicken's

Things just got seriously cute for Easter. Today we had an arrival of these tiny little fluffy chicks for our 2010 Easter Collection. The designs we have planned are SERIOUSLY cute this year. We will post here as soon as the collection goes live (this weekend).

Pantone's Colour of the Year. Drumroll please...

... you heard it here first that turquoise was going to be MASSIVE for 2010. But it's official, turquoise has been named as the colour of the year by Pantone

. (Image above. The Mayfair Collection - shown here in turquoise)

Inspired by water & sky, turquoise is known for it's healing qualities and is a colour of compassion and leans towards ideas of escapism, relaxation & perfect for weddings in tropical shores. It appeals to both men & women making it the perfect hue for weddings this year.

(Image above The Orchid Kiss Collection. Shown here in orange & turquoise)

(Image via Cool Hunter)(Place Card Image above from the Purity Collection)

(Image via Dessy)

(above The Purity Wedding Stationery Collection. Order of service shown here in turquoise)

Try pairing turquoise with neutrals & browns. Liven up other blues & greens & for a striking look pair turquoise with yellow. If you didn't see our post a while back here it is.

(above The True Love Wedding Collection - shown here in turquoise - other colours available)(Image via Dessy)

Cool Packaging - Amy Amos Australia

This packaging by Amy Amos is most definitely a feast for the eyes. What a delightful project to be a part of - isn't she talented. Amy was contacted to design 5* upmarket packaging for a pitch for a McDonald's pop up restaurant during fashion week. Along with the fabulous photographer, Marija Ivkovic, I think the results are outstanding. I'm not a huge fan of McDonald's / fast food but with packaging like this you so would wouldn't you...?

Spring is just around the corner...

OK, well looking out of the window you could be mistaken that we are still in the depths of winter as the snow falls here in Manchester today.... However, Spring isn't far away & the mornings are getting lighter, the birds are starting to sing & we're soo feeling the spring colours in our new Mother's Day Card Collection in the Made With Love Greetings Card Boutique.

All cards in for this Mother's Day are available in many colours available to personalise with your own wording to tell our mummy dearests just how much we love them.

P.S Mother's Day is early this year: Sunday 14th March 2010

Valentines Weekend New Shoes

It's official: I am the proud owner of a pair of Vivienne Westwood Melissa Jelly Shoes! Simon bought me a pair as my Valentine's treat in the blue & red and they are the sweetest thing I have ever owned.

He is so thoughtful & always gets the most thoughtful gifts.

The fit is amazing (definitely go for the smallest size that you are). I'm a 4's / 5's and these shoes are a 4's and fit like a dream. Even better they smell like bubblegum... too cute!

Photo via Lee Jennings

Valentine's Weekend

Hope you love the images. I can take no credit for these beautiful images they were all via Design Crush (which is one of my daily reads - Kelly has great style)

Have a romantic weekend! xox

Lovely Packaging

It's Valentine's Day on Sunday & I have lot's of lovely heart themed images to blog about over the coming days. Check out this cute packaging by H&M. This is no longer in print but I so wish it was. How charming...

(Images from Twig & Thistle)

Lovely Lettering

Isn't this pretty?

Lovely lettering by Alison Carmichael of London.

In The News - Your South Wales Wedding Magazine Jan/Feb 2010

Hooray! We're in this months issue of Your Wedding - South Wales by County Wedding Magazines (the lovely people who bring you magazines with all things wedding related for each County across the UK). If you've never read this magazine before, it's definitely one I would recommend as a higher end read filled to the brim with wedding ideas in your county or via mail order. Our bespoke Breakfast At Tiffany's Collection was featured in their 'Readers Letters' section fab fab fab:And the spectacular Mayfair Luxury Wedding Stationery Collection has been featured in their chic modern monochrome wedding style:This issue is still available in the shops or you can buy yours today here.

MWL's Online Ranking

Image via Design Crush

A few weeks ago, whilst catching up with one of my favourite blogs, Coulson Macleod's Not For Squares, I was made aware of something I had never heard of before - Alexa Page Rankings

You can put any web address into their search function and it runs stats on that particular websites online presence to assess their traffic ranking. This is very cool if you run your own business & want to monitor your progress in terms of your online presence.

Today www.madewithlovedesigns.co.uk ranks 96,012 in the UK. That's pretty amazing - I'm shocked / over joyed / made up. In the world we rank 1,621,550. A pretty good rank (i'm told by my computer nerd friend) for a small business with the billions of websites out there.

Thank you world for all of your amazing support.

In The News - Perfect Wedding Magazine Feb 2010

Did you see us in Decembers issue of ‘Perfect Wedding’ magazine?
Our 'Purity’ collection wedding invitations have been featured. It's so exciting to see our designs in print & is something I don't think we will ever tire of. It's sooo exciting. We'd like to say a big thank you to Katie & everyone at the magazine for featuring us. If you've found us through their mag, we'd like to say a massively huge thank you with a cherry on the top for visiting us.

I Want a Mac Book

If only to have one of these...& not because they are utterly cool, & would make my working life so much easier & would look swish in my gorgeous new studio... & beacuse I deserve one (I have been good all year). What I would give just to have one of these Twelve South Mac Book Protectors that I found via Designers Block