We're Fans: Ormolu

Do any of you ever fall into a blog black hole? Where you find a link on one blog, then it leads you to another blog, where maybe you putz around for a while and then find another link and yet another blog...and then you're so far removed from where you started that you can barely remember what you were originally looking for. Well that's how I found Ormolu one day not too long ago. But once I was browsing around the online shop and saw all the fun paper and fabric items they have for sale, I parked it right there for a bit before moving on.

I've included just a few of my favorite Ormolu offerings right here for your viewing pleasure.

The chevron prints and quick little sayings included in the Line & Letter Mix Tags would be nifty card or gift additions for so many different occasions.

Could you see the 'he,' 'she,' and 'we' Line & Letter Negative Scallop Tags making a great backdrop for wedding bands when it's time for the ring shot?

I can see why these Merrymaker Dots n' Spots are on back-order, especially with the holidays so close. How many craft projects could you add these lovelies to this season?

Wouldn't the GO Fabric Swatches be so easy to incorporate into a travel themed wedding guest book?

This is really just a small sample of all the papery perfection that Ormolu has for sale, so be sure to check out the store to see everything for yourself. The shop is also very eco-conscious, with a focus on recycled paper and soy ink, which is always a nice bonus.

Two Web Belles: Buy Me A Coke

1. What can you make with a few hundred soda bottles, some paint, and a whole lot of time? This awesome photo booth background/ceremony backdrop, that's what. The bottom of each bottle was cut into the shape of a simple flower, and when overlapping others in different colors...the result is just really remarkable.







2. This Belle isn't a fan of the ol' root beer float, but if you substitute in another kind of soda then I'm all about some floaty action. Things to love about what this couple did for their guests: 1. they posted a cool old-timey sign and 2. they gave out personalized mugs as favors. You can see why the mug pictured is empty...the drinks were clearly a crowd favorite.





3. This bridal shower idea takes with the phrase "he popped the question" and runs away to the retro-inspired hills with it. There's soda pop, if that's what you happen to call it (no judgement here...but we call it just plain old soda), oozing out of every corner of this party set-up. The bottle cap signs and the always fun red and light aqua color combo are the details that stood out for us.









4. Slender soda bottles can make for simple bud vases. The faded Pepsi logo on these works well with the outdoor setting and the farmhouse table, don't you think?







5. Before you drop those soda cans into the recycling bin (don't even say they were trash-bound...), think about turning them into this cute tea light holder. The instructions are surprisingly simple and we're loving all the different color combos you could score just from cruising the grocery aisle.

We're Fans: Elemental Threads

If you’ve been paying attention, you know that we like customizable choices when it comes to our handbags. So of course we were mesmerized by Elemental Thread’s online store, where you not only have a large selection of bag shapes and sizes to choose from, but you’re also presented with the oh-so-difficult decision of picking out just the right fabric to adorn your new piece of arm candy. Cotton? Canvas? Tweed? You decide.

Would your bridesmaids be overjoyed to get an Elemental Threads piece that you designed with them in mind? We’re betting yes.

But wait! Elemental Threads doesn’t stop there. Through their eThreads rePurpose program, you can actually send in a tshirt of your very own (you know, the one that you should’ve trashed years ago but hold onto for sentimental reasons) and they will turn that into a bag.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if you took a shirt of each of your ‘maid's alma maters and had Elemental Threads whip them into gifts? Or you can go with favorite sports teams, cities, or musical groups. If you have a tshirt now…you can have a bag in just a few weeks. That's some very fashionable recycling, now isn't it?

Spotted: Sanyukta Shrestha at British Bridal Exhibition

We here at TWB had such an amazingly positive response when we first featured the designs of Sanyukta Shrestha a few weeks ago that we jumped at the chance to feature them again. This time, we have photos straight from the designer herself, as she showcased her work at the British Bridal Exhibition last month. Take a look and get a real feel for the designs that Sanyukta so amazingly shared with us. We hope to bring you even more from her in the future!

We're Fans: Sanyukta Shrestha

We were blown away when we saw what London-based designer Sanyukta Shrestha has been doing with her collections. At first glance, her dresses, head pieces, and accessories just look like well-constructed, flattering pieces. Really pretty...but what sets them apart?










Well you wouldn't be able to tell from any of these photos, but the designer is committed to using sustainable fabrics and eco-friendly construction practices, and has made this "green" campaign the cornerstone of her company. Organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp are all staples throughout the collections.







Who knew a bride in "green" could look this chic?

Two Web Belles: A Trip to the Hardware Store

1. Have some old paint cans lying around, just dying for re-use? ReadyMade has a DIY project that turns those cans into a hanging display. Granted, this project isn't for a craft newbie. But the finished product is a striking piece, one that looks equally as stunning with the cans holding something like flowers or just left empty.






2. How does the old saying go? "One man's trashed window is another man's wedding treasure" - is that it? Here are just a few examples of ways to use an old window in your wedding: seating chart with glass; photo display; seating chart with clothespins; menu.













3. If you were to look quickly at the bouquets below, you might think there were just regular ol' florals in them. But no, they are actually entirely made from door knobs. We know, our doors don't have knobs quite that pretty, either. 100 Layer Cake has some more shots of these beauties, along with DIY instructions.







4. Nicole of The Plunge Project offers up a slightly unconventional ritual that lets you use a hammer during your ceremony. It involves wine and love letters, too. So no objections from us. You take a bottle of wine, two glasses, and letters that you and your soon-to-be hubby write to each other the day before your wedding, and place them all in a wooden box. During the ceremony you each take turns hammering the box shut. Then, you pick a future anniversary to open the box, read the letters, and drink the wine. Cheers to that.









5. How many wedding planners does it take to turn a light bulb into a bud vase? That is a great question. At least Re-Nest has some inspiration to get us started.

Two Web Belles: Inflate Before Reading

1. Whether you're a seasoned gardening pro or still have trouble keeping indoor plants alive, be sure to check out Botantical Paperwork's assortment of plantable paper goods, which include invitations, place cards, favors, and so much more. What really had us wanting for some green thumb action were the confetti pieces that also sprout wildflowers. The seeded bits come in soft pastel petal shapes that are totally worthy of an eco-chic send-off for you and your groom.

2. We sorta squealed with delight when we spotted this balloon save the date on Green Wedding Shoes. It's a just plain cool idea, by FPO. (The graphic design company doesn't have a huge amount of wedding materials posted on their site, but what the do have is funky, original, and smile-inducing) The stark white text on the deep red balloon makes it interesting visually, and the balloon it self was a nod to the short film, "The Red Balloon," which reminded the couple of their engagement in Paris. This fun concept will definitely have their wedding guests talking.

3. DC Brides, are you still cake-less? Creative Cakes in Silver Spring is hosting a cake tasting open house Sunday, July 18th at 12-3pm. We've said it before but large scale events like these are by far the best way to gauge a vendor's skill at preparing something spectacular for a crowd. Plus, free cake! Are there any two sweeter words we could say to you early on a Friday? If you can't make it next weekend, Creative Cakes hosts these events monthly - so save room for dessert.

4. So we're slowly but surely joining the Japanese masking tape obsession. You can find tons of ideas on how to use these around the web, where crafters have come up with about a million ways to use the tapes for sprucing up your walls, furniture, papers, envelopes...and honestly anything else you can get your hands on long enough. They come in so many colors and patterns, so they can be used in conjunction with stamps and craft punches to fit into any theme you want. If we take the plunge and buy some, will we still have time for all of our reality TV viewing?

5. We were just feeling like this should be a fuschia accessory kind of Friday. While the brightness might seem too overwhelming for some to wear right off the bat, these smaller items help to distinguish an outfit without overpowering your look. From left to right: Marc by Marc Jacobs acetate and rubber watch via PoshPosh; bib necklace from Etsy seller Cloverbelle; and, Tapeet leather sandals via NET-A-PORTER.

Two Web Belles: Not Just Stars and Stripes

1. Everyone loves a good snow cone to cool off during the summer. The sugary shaved ices have long been a staple at carnivals and boardwalks - but not so much a big time player on the wedding scene. By following Food & Wine's tips for turning these into an adults-only treat (adding Kahlua? Bailey's?), we think a snow cone cocktail hour is somewhere we'd definitely want to be.

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2. Nothing is quite as synonymous with the 4th as fireworks are. But if an explosive nighttime display isn't in your budget, why not think smaller and more interactive? Sparklers are fun, wallet-friendly, and create the opportunity for some lighthearted photos. This nighttime shot, captured by photog Stacie Tatum, was taken with each bridesmaid spelling out a different letter in the word love. Adorable, no?

3. Bunting flags are a huge wedding trend this year, but we like this crafty spin on a banner from Country Living. Their version is perfect if you're going for an Americana vibe - the obvious red, white, and blue color scheme and a funky midwestern typeset. Luckily, the directions are elementary school simple, so if a July 4th wedding isn't in the works for you just swap the colors and font to suit your taste and decor. If we were going to put our own TWB spin on this, though, we would use a wide ribbon to hang the rosettes in lieu of the pipe-cleaner chain, tied at either end with a floppy bow.

4. Looking for a dessert table item or edible take-away that evokes the feeling of the 4th? How about mini apple pies? Every guest will feel extra special as they dig into their own personal serving of pie goodness. And with this recipe from House and Home, taking the extra step of making these goodies yourself seems, well...easy as pie. Don't forget that the presentation here could really boost the Americana theme - think about gingham and madras when choosing display table linens or ribbons to adorn individual packaging.

5. If you're planning an outdoor wedding at home, you've probably pondered what your guests will eat with. A caterer could provide silver, but that seems a little formal for a backyard affair. On the other hand, plastic flatware isn't quite right for a wedding either. Our bet is on bamboo. It's eco-friendly and looks laid-back chic, especially when wrapped in a vivid paper napkin with a contrasting origami band, a la Martha Stewart. She suggests bonding the ring with double sided tape, but a swipe with a glue stick would bond just enough to hold the assembly together, but not so much to rip the ring when guests are ready to dig in!

Two Web Belles: Eco-Friendly Beauty and Barcelona Bridal Week

1. This past week, TheKnot.com massively overhauled their vendor reviews through one of its offshoot brands, WeddingChannel. So what does this mean for you? Over 100,000 reviews from brides all in one place, easily searchable by location and vendor type. The site is really promoting the idea of getting responses from vendors after a review is posted, which creates a dynamic relationship that you don't normally see on message boards. This review section is still in its beta form, but we think it's going to be a big hit with the planning set.

2. Barcelona Bridal Week is happening in the land of Gaudi. So we wanted to take a peek at what they're seeing on the runways across the Atlantic, other than poor ol' Mischa Barton climbing out from under whatever rock she was hiding to slip into a gown. Below is just a sampling of what we've seen so far, from designers Rosa Clara, Francis Montesinos, and Pepe Botella.

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3. We've been known to peruse bluefly for gorgeous potential wedding gowns and shoes at a killer discount. At posting time, there is 1 - yes ONE- pair of Stuart Weitzman white satin 'Pomposo' d'orsay pumps available for $185 (almost half off the retail price). These shoes are the perfect choice for a bride looking for traditional and feminine footwear. If you have to have 'em and you don't happen to be a size 8.5 (or someone snatched that last lucky discounted pair up before you could double click) they're available at Zappos, at full retail.

4. Who says the best things in life aren't free? Aveda Georgetown and Adele Wechsler Eco Couture are teaming up to host an event for the bride who wants gorgeous luxury products that are also environmentally conscious. Luckily, these days the two aren't mutually exclusive. This Sunday, Aveda beauty experts will be on hand to flaunt the newest green beauty products with live demonstrations and makeup trials, and the salon will also showcase a slew of Adele Wechsler wedding gowns . Did we mention the cake samples courtesy of Sticky Fingers Bakery, specializing in vegan confections?

An afternoon of pampering and snacking while checking out wedding gowns? You don't want to miss this one. RSVP via facebook - here's the invite.

5. Billy buttons are so cute! Check out the bridesmaid bouquets and cake recently featured on Southern Weddings? (Northern brides, if you're not reading, start!!)

As photographed by Dallas/Fort Worth based Kari Crowe, these flowers are bright, fun, and have a modern, architectural look. Bonus, Billy Buttons (or Billy Balls, botanical name Craspedia) are available May-October (hello wedding season!) and dry extremely well for use in permanent arrangements.