I’m getting prepared for the season… Yes, for the Christmas season, but business-wise for the upcoming Wedding season.  It kicks into gear just about as soon as Christmas passes us by.  I can’t believe how quickly this year has flown by!  I have so much that is new, I thought I would do some feature boards to tie in with my new Pinterest account where I’m showing complete theme ideas to coordinate with my invitation designs.  If you’re “creatively challenged” and have a hard time envisioning how things would work together, I hope they’ll be of help!

If any of you are looking for a specific design motif or color I don’t have, I’d love to hear from you.  I’m always looking for upcoming trends.  If there’s one you’ve been noticing, I’d love to have you comment and fill me in on the details!

These Peacock Feathers Wedding Invitation Ensemble or Suites are available in a wide variety of color combinations including: Black, Royal Blue, Teal, Medium Aqua, Light Aqua, Purple, and Green.

If you don’t see the color you would like to use for your wedding, I can create an entire collection to your specifications.  Just go to my Zazzle store and you’ll find a “contact” email button.  I’m happy to help out.

Any invitation set can also be converted for parties or other occasions such as Mardis Gras.  You can do that when you add your personalization or I can help.

Here’s the link to my Pinterest Board on Blue Peacock Wedding Inspiration: http://pinterest.com/audreyjeanner/peacock-inspired-wedding-blues/ Come take a peek!

wedding+invitations+cards diamonds and lace blue cream silver

One of the most delightful parts of my job is looking at weddings – lots, and lots of weddings!   I study color, design,and especially the “feel” of where the style is going.  One of the fun directions is towards elegance with a touch of bling.

This new “Diamonds & Lace” Collection is available in a wide range of color selections, including Black & White, pinks, purples, and several colorways of blues.  Blue is the big color story looking ahead to 2012.  Everything from a rich navy to soft baby blues and especially mixed together in unexpected ways.

There is also an option to custom color the front and reverse in two different colors – simply email me and I’ll walk you through the process.  Is your wedding hot pink & black – blue & green – golden yellow & grey?  We can do it for you!

All invitations can also be customized for any other occasion such as Quinceanera, Sweet 16, Graduation, Anniversary parties or any occasion you require.

Vintage Peacock Wedding Favor Gift Tags, Free download

Just for fun today, I created this Vintage Peacock punchable gift tag.  He’s a free download.  All you have to do to claim him is go to my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/audrey.jeannes.expressions (or click on the image and it will take you there).  You may have to scroll through posts to find him or you can go to my albums and look for “Freebie” as the title.

Inexpensive yet Elegant Table Card Numbers, any Color Background

While you’re there would you please consider “liking” my page?  We’re working toward reaching 500 “likes” and then there will be a link to a $4.95 digital clip art Easter kit for FREE!  If you have a friend that would enjoy the freebie too, would you consider letting them know about it for me as well.  It’s all about connecting!

Elegant "Vintage Peacock" Save the Dates available at Zazzle

To use these as Favor tags for a wedding reception or bridal shower, you can either hand write on them after printing, or typeset your names on them before printing.  This requires some graphic program or Microsoft Word knowledge.  Make sure you use as heavy a card stock as your printer can manage, it makes a difference in the finished product.  To create the tags, simply either cut them out on a paper trimmer, or use a square or round punch.  I left lots of background to give you more options.   Punch a hole in the top and use a lovely ribbon to affix them to your favors and you have a beautifully elegant touch for your wedding reception tables, bridal shower decor or other party event.

Antique Vintage Peacock Wedding Invitation, Monogrammed Custom Color

There are invitations, RSVPs and other stationery goods in a wide variety of background colors, that have been designed to match this collection.  I’ve linked just a couple here in this post, but you can find a wide selection of peacock designs – from vintage to contemporary and in many different colorways in my store.

NOTE:  JUST CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO GO TO SEE IT LARGER IN MY ZAZZLE STORE.

CHA, the Craft & Hobby Association Show was held in Los Angeles this year at the end of January.  It is always one of my favorite shows to attend.  It is filled with such incredible creativiy – both in the art being used to create the craft, scrapbooking and other kits that are offered and in the creativity of the designers who are creating projects from that artwork.

Designers use existing products to create new and fun crafts with.  Their interpretation of the artwork is incredibly fun and diverse.  There were “make and takes” every where you turned.  Displays of projects and extravagant backdrops or centerpieces such as paper dressed mannequins were all around.  Unfortunately my camera malfunctioned and I don’t have my pictures to share with you.  I will ask my daughter if I can take a peek at her pictures and see if I can add later.

I didn’t get to do as much wandering around as I usually do.  My time was mostly filled with meetings – some of which were very productive meetings (so I’m not whining, LOL!)  The other place the bulk of my time was spent was getting to spend time with some very special artist friends – you know who you are!  My artist friends inspire me so much.  I love seeing what they’re doing, discussing the industry and our goals going forward.  I’m friends with some VERY motivating people!

If you’re snowed in, how about beating the boredom by crafting something with all of those supplies you have stashed away?  How about pulling out your scrapbook papers and creating 5 or 5 greeting cards to have ready to use when the need arises?  I love to make a mess just once and end up with lots of goodies to use later throughout the year.  Try making some matching gift tags to add to your birthday or Christmas gifts during the next year.  It’s a wonderful way to pass a cold and miserable day with the warm sense of joy creating brings.

Kids driving you nuts?  Bring out your craft goodies and set them to work creating.  You might be amazed how much they enjoy the time and remember it fondly decades later (as I do my Mom’s rainy day projects!)

I thought I would also share some of my newest invitations in my two Zazzle stores.  If you know a young bride that is getting married this year, or a new mother welcoming a baby, I would love if you would pass my website along to her!

NEW!  Personalized art prints suitable for framing.  Available for wedding or anniversary gifts.  Personalize with your names and dates.  Sizes available both 11″ square (fits nicely on a 12″ scrap book paper in a 12″ scrapbook) and 12″ square (fits stock frames designed for scrapbook pages).

I began my business many years ago as a calligrapher.  At the time I didn’t know how to paint or draw.  In designing calligraphy pieces for people I discovered that I needed to find ways to add color and interest to them and thus began my journey into the world of art.

For many years we had a framed print line that we sold at craft fairs all throughout the state of California.  Our favorite being the Harvest Festivals.  Not a fall passes by that we don’t reminisce fondly about those days (amazing how memories of the pain and exhaustion passes after time, LOL!)

We also wholesaled our product to about 4,000 stores during the 90′s and up until 2006.  At that time it simply became too much to manage with the growth of my licensing business and the time commitments that were involved.  We have continued to sell to individuals over the years and have made dear, dear friends with many of our repeat customers – you know who you are

With my venturing into Zazzle this past year and especially with my growing wedding invitation business, it’s been much on my heart to bring back the calligraphy line but in a new way, with new art for a new generation.  Today is the very first piece that I am releasing.  These are being sold as prints that can be framed or displayed in a scrapbook.  You can order them and take them to your local Michael’s or frame shop.  They can be framed without mats or matted and framed as suits your decor.

Look for many more in the days and months to come.  What I love about this option is that I can do 30 or more versions of 1st Corinthians 13 and not have to have a catalog that shows them all!  The next designs to come will be my best sellers “Lord, Help me to Build a Healthy Child” and “To Build a Lasting Love.”

Also shown in this post are the Wedding Invitations that match.  This collection is called “Trellis Rose Vintage” and has a wide range of wedding related products created to match.  Perfect for spring and summer weddings, the collection will be fully finished by the New Year.  Click on any picture to go to that item in the store.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE peacocks!  When I was a little girl we went to the San Diego Zoo several times a year.  Anyone who’s ever been there has been regally greeted by the resident show offs that hang around the entrance.  I could have watched them for hours if my mother would have let me.

Peacocks are showing a resurgence in art and especially for weddings.  I have happily gone along with this trend and have some new things to show today.  A new line of wedding invitations at Zazzle.  And new craft oriented designs for sale at my Etsy store.

I am still in the process of adding designs in both stores.  The wedding ensemble will have cupcake wrapers and toppers, table seating charts, table numbers, escort cards, wedding menus & programs and much more.

The Etsy kits will include both square and round designs in 3″, 2.5″, 2.25″, 2″, 1.5″, 1″ and 7.8″ sizes as well as ATC cards, shaped tags and more.

If you’re looking to add some elegance to your Thanksgiving or Christmas table, try this quick idea:  Use peacock feathers, a custom name on a circle design like these collages and a beautiful wired ribbon – cut the feathers to about 5-6″, tie them on to your napkins, tuck them inside the ribbon and place across your table setting.  Easy Peasy Elegance!!!!

Peacock Feathers Reception Invitation Card

Original watercolor art by Audrey Jeanne Roberts

This is a coordinating Reception Invitation card for the contemporary, sophisticated “Peacock Feathers” wedding ensemble. Featuring stylized, hand watercolored Peacock feathers with your choice of background color, shown here in aqua blue.  I have created this collection in 6 colors at the moment, but it can be custom colored to your specific wedding colors should you like.  To see the reverse side of these invitation, just click on the picture and it will take you to them.

I love Peacocks and always have.  They remind me of my days spent at the San Diego Zoo as a young child.  The entrance of the zoo is populated by quite a few Peacocks and they loved to show off their plumage to the adoring crowds.  When I moved to the country the first time I seriously thought of raising some… until I heard how LOUD and irritating their screech is, LOL!  Then I decided to paint them instead.

Lots more coming in the days ahead, that is if I can keep on painting and not have to stop   In my business you never really know what you’re doing in the next hour let alone tomorrow!

This Reception Invitation Card is designed to coordinate with all of the Vintage Rose ‘n Birds Wedding Ensemble. It is a hybrid of original watercolor artwork by Audrey Jeanne Roberts and vintage elements. A cluster of antique roses in pink, yellow and red is mixed with other classic blooms and two love birds. The elegant scroll work is contemporary artwork inspired by antiques. A soft damask pattern in a light mossy green finishes off the art.  There are several choices of invitations to select from.  You can find them by clicking on any of the pictures and going to my store.  Once there go to Everything Wedding/Green or VIA THIS LINK

This Reception Table Seating Chart for assigned seating is designed to coordinate with all of the Vintage Rose ‘n Birds Wedding Ensemble. Easy to customize, you simply type your guest’s names in the field provided. You can delete tables, add names and move things around easily. I will design a table seating chart to match any wedding invitation ensemble in my store, all you have to do is ask!

Perfect to use as seals for your envelopes, these stickers are easy to customize with your names and dates.  Not getting married?  These can become Address stickers by simply changing the text.  It’s very easy to do on Zazzle.

There is a huge selection of additional products that coordinate to fill all of your wedding day needs.  Every invitation can be changed to any occasion.  25th or 50th Wedding Anniversary?  Change the text to reflect your celebration.

The Blog Contest for August is closing tomorrow.  All you have to do to earn entries in the drawing is post a comment on any and or all posts in the month of August.  Each comment is an entry.  The prize is your choice of any of my $4.95 kits at my Etsy store!

For those that aren’t familiar with the Zazzle marketplace, there are literally billions of products available from millions of artists, photographers and designers.  Each day, Zazzle selects 30-40 of those products to reflect what they felt were the best and/or most interesting new items created that day.

I have been blessed to be selected many times in the four months I’ve been active at Zazzle, but this last week I was really pleased to have my products selected 3 days in a row.  It’s quite an honor and a reward for your hard work.  Thank you, Zazzle!

The contemporary flower design was a lot of fun to create.  So many of these contemporary designs are just drawn and colored in on Photoshop.  I love to bring  watercolor art into contemporary design and give it a flair that flat graphics will never achieve.

This collection was created out of the art work I designed for my “Paradise” fabric collection with Studio E Fabrics.  There are three different collections within this collection which makes it perfect for the bride that hates “matchy-matchy!”

And finally, a contemporary baby girl baby shower or birth announcement.  One of the things I love to do with my Zazzle store, is play with creating more contemporary work than might be my usual.  This “Circles ‘n Booties” ensemble is a great example of mixing classic Audrey Jeanne art with a contemporary twist.

I am just 1400 visits away from 700,000 hits!  Thanks one and all for taking time out of your day to let me share my art and my heart