77 | Looking forward to 2015

January 11, 2015 Ashling Loh-Doyle

It’s been 10 years since I printed and cut my first set of stationery, 7 years since I launched the first version of lotusandash.com (a blog), and 2 since I launched this version of the site. It’s also been a week since I made one of the biggest decisions in my life so far — one that is sure to see a lot more paper and design from LOTUS&ASH come into the world. I’m excited. Very excited.

2015 is going to be a good one - there's a lot of work to be done - and I’ll keep you posted here as the adventure unfolds.

For now, here’s a look back at 2014 – a journey that included the pleasure of working with a record of eight (8!) couples on their wedding paper suites, a paper journey to Japan, and continuing to work with the most passionate small business owners.

- some highlights -

map-wrapped letterpress invitations for a sonoma wedding

incorporating watercolor into this “desert meets san francisco” chic wedding

planning a “beachelorette” and designing the wedding paper suite for one of my closest and dearest friends

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completing the projects for 8 weddings at the end of summer

… and celebrating with a trip to ojai

visiting morita washi paper in kyoto

exploring naoshima and solo time with yayoi kusama’s pumpkin and monet’s lillies

the first print with my evolution press … and the promise of using a real press in 2015

These are just a few of the things that have made 2014 memorable — and, safe to say, the best yet. 2015, here we come.

68 | Perfect Complements

November 21, 2011 Ashling Loh-Doyle

design spotlight: newlywed stationery - caitlin and patrick

There are few better ways to celebrate a marriage than a new stationery set for the couple. (Indeed, I'm a little biased). But, when the opportunity arises, L&A sees it as the chance to create a design that showcases the personality of a couple, as individuals and together.

commissioned by the maids of honors (MoHos) for caitlin and patrick, the newlywed stationery is a set of 5 designs printed in all black on thick, off-white paper that show just how much caitlin and patrick are meant to be (even celebrating their college rivalry)!

her bubbly to his beer

her stanford to his cal

her salty to his sweet

the jackie to his jfk

her pumps to his loafers

. . .

congratulations & happy writing to the newlyweds!

65 | Day Two - Tess & Kieran

November 15, 2011 Ashling Loh-Doyle

design spotlight: the wedding invitation suite of tess & kieran

LOTUS&ASH designed and hand-crafted the invitation suite for a beautiful wedding in August. Nothing short of one-of-a-kind would fit this unique couple – Stanford alums with a passion for good food, good beer, and good fun. (And the primary reason why we all became fast friends)

The event was a four-day weekend in Lake Elkhart, WI, centered around a ceremony and reception at the Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan. The couple exchanged vows on the site of the childhood library of the father-of-the-bride, where he had earned top-notch bookworm bragging rights years before walking his daughter down the aisle.

The places and wedding activities were deep with family history. Capturing this and the excitement and fun of the weekend as well, the invitation suite featured:

A whimsical Save the Date postcard, inspired by a New Yorker cover loved by the couple.

An 8 page Wedding Invitation Booklet

with envelopes lined with pages from an Antique Mother Goose Book...

The inside cover featured a dedication to family and friends

…page two highlighted the weekend events

and a hand-drawn map of the area followed.

An old school Library card marking the milestones in the couple’s relationships so far served as the perfect reply card:

The cover (complete with gold foil stamp) was printed by Oscar Printing in San Francisco, and each page and envelope was printed by L&A. 250 Booklets were hand-sewn over an entire weekend.