Posts by Jessica:
Cushion Source Review + Pillow Giveaway
May 16th, 2013Something you may not know about me….I’m a certified Interior Designer! Prior to entering the wonderful world of Mommyhood and The Paper Plume, I was a Commercial Interior Designer for over 10 years. I worked mostly on healthcare projects but also some aquatic centers, retail, corporate, religious, and university work along the way. This is part of the reason that from time to time you’ll find a dose of design/architecture here.
Today I’m excited to introduce you to Cushion Source. I discovered Cushion Source through Lindsay at A Design Story. She had a giveaway about a year ago and I won 2 beautiful custom pillows. I was so impressed with the quality that I called to order an additional pillow to match one of the ones that I had won. Cushion Source was happy to hear how much I liked them and asked if I would do a review of my own.
What they do (in a nutshell):
What makes Cushion Source different from home decor? Many things. First, customer service. It is so refreshing to call and speak to a live human being that cares what you have to say. When I called about my pillow initially my 2 year old was roaring like a dinosaur in the background. It was no big deal. Everyone was so pleasant!!
Regarding the product, what sticks out most to me is the ease of their custom ordering system. Below is an example of a throw pillow I was playing around with. You are able to customize so many things with your order – size, front and back fabric, filling, trim (or not) and more. They show exactly what your item will look like, even in a real life setting. There are hundreds of fabrics to choose from in their Fabric Gallery–take a look!. If you don’t see one you like, they also work with COMs (Custom Own Material) for a minimal charge, perfect when you are trying to match other fabrics in the room.
The quality of the pillows I have received was outstanding. The fabric has withstood the abuse of our family in our living room. This includes sticky fingers, baby spit up, and more. The filling has yet to show any let down and the seams are all holding well. For me, these are the tell tale signs of a quality product
Cushion Source also provides bench, window, seat, ottoman and chaise lounge cushions (among many other!), gorgeous indoor and outdoor draperies, outdoor umbrellas, tablecloths, placemats, and table runners. Coordinating linens, draperies, and upholstery has never been easier!
Cushion Source has been so kind and is offering Paper Plume readers a chance to win the set of the pillows shown below! Giveaway open to use residents only. Ends Wednesday, May 29th at 11:59am EST.
I was given the product to facilitate a review. All opinions are my own.
Our Bright Starts Playdate + Free Playdate Printables
May 15th, 2013We had such a fun weekend! Saturday was our Brights Starts playdate. We received a playpack in the mail last week with SO many goodies from the Bright Starts Having a Ball Collection. Grady was so excited to tear into the toys and at the same time upset because I had to take pictures of everything before. Sorry buddy! Time for the playdate details:
Bright Starts very graciously included a $25 gift card to Target for us to buy snacks. Grady loves to bake with me so Friday we made cupcakes for everyone to take home. We made cream cheese icing for the first time and used a Wilton pastry bag to ice them. This is fancy for me. I usually just buy them at our local cupcake shop. However, I found a super easy icing recipe from Georgetown Cupcakes that was amazing and tasted just as good!!!
I cut down fruit for the moms and kiddos and had a layered fruit salad in a souffle bowl (strawberries, grapes, blueberries and cantalope), served pita triangles with hummus, and baked Archer Farms mini quiches. I also put Happy Baby Organic Yogurt Melts and Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies in left over cupcake liners for the kids. It was on the early side so we also had coffee, tea, and water for the moms. Why am I telling you all of this? Well, I wasn’t sure what to have at 10am for 6 kiddos under the age of 3 and their Moms; maybe this will help another Mom someday!
I couldn’t have a playdate party with lots of food, kids, and fun without creating some type of fun printable decor. I made a fun banner that says “Let’s Play!”, Bright Starts cupcake toppers, and favor tags that say “Thank You for Playing!”. Get your free playdate printables here.
Now on to the fun part; watching the kiddos go crazy with the all the toys and balls! These toys were perfect for 6-36 month range. The only toys rated a little older when the Get Rollin Jet Popper (12-36 months)and not rated but probably should be Pop & Roll Roadster. The kids loved getting their hands on all the colorful balls. The unlikely favorite was the Having a Ball Count n’ Roll Buggie. The kids (and adults) were fascinated with how the wings opened up. Click here for a video of two little ones playing with it.
My 29 month old loved the Pop & Roll Roadster. All week he was calling it his “new car”. The Get Rollin’ Activity Table (below) was a big hit for the 13-18 month range.
In a few months our 4 month old is also going to love all these toys! I predict the Get Rollin’ Jet Popper (below) will be great when she is first walking. It reminds me of the walking popper we had when I was little. Probably now considered ‘vintage’. The Cluck and Learn Barn (below) will be perfect even earlier! I love all the funny barnyard sounds and the design is just adorable.
We gave each of our guests a Giggable or Press and Zoom Pal to take home and one larger toy. Brights Starts was so generous we wanted to share!
On behalf of everyone at our playdate, we would like to say a BIG thank you to Brights Starts for providing us with the opportunity to ‘Have a Ball’ with your latest collection. We can’t wait to see what you come up with next. Needless to say, you have some new Bright Start fans!! I would personally like to thank all of the women who took time out of their Saturday to come play with us. We had a blast and need to do it again soon!!
Become a fan of Brights Starts!
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Pattern Card: Gingham Style
April 27th, 2013
Shoes / Necklace / Umbrella / Bowtie / Cupcake Liner / Shirt
Pencils / iPhone case / Banner available soon
I love the classic simplicity of gingham. It reminds me of Spring and Summer and picnics on cozy blankets in the park. The pattern itself adjusts to work with just about anything. It is often used as a test fabric while designing fashion, or used for making an inexpensive fitting shell prior to making the clothing in fashion fabric. Pretty cool, right?
This post was inspired by 2 things: (1) The pattern we’ve incorporated into our latest Tractor / Farm Birthday collection. I love the adorable country farm appeal for boys or girls. (2) Keds for Kate Spade sneakers I’m dying to have that are sold out EVERYWHERE! Enjoy some gingham style!
Disclaimer: Couldn’t help myself. Pardon the wordplay. Gingham is just too close to Gangnam. And you know you want to watch this little girl dance again.
Huggin’ it out. Puj makes bathtime even easier!
April 13th, 2013Remember that moment when you give your newborn baby their very first bath? The feeling of being terrified that you were going to drop that slippery little wiggling ball of preciousness? Like 800 meter track race nervous, pre-calculus test nervous, swim team nervous. Okay, I know, that was just me. Fortunately, with some great products and preparation before the bath begins I’ve learned to make the experience quite enjoyable.
THEN:: My first born only cried once during his very first bath. He was cautious. Still is. We bathed him in the Puj tub and once my husband gave him his finger to hold he never cried again. Ever. He loved it! It wasn’t until we took him out of the bath, back into the cold, cold world that he began to wail again. I can’t help but think that all that wailing could have been avoided if we had had the product I’m about to introduce to you.
NOW:: As if I didn’t already love Puj enough for their awesome folding sink tub, I discovered another ingenious product I just had to get my hands on, the Puj Hug. It is the perfect companion product for a memorable, hands free bathing experience. To show you just how wonderful it is, below is a little photo montage of me using it with my newest model, our daughter Natalie. She’s now 11 weeks.
She loves the Puj Tub too and has never cried. One little bathing tip: keep them covered with warm washclothes so they don’t cold!
On the right, I’m wearing the Puj Hug. I washed the towel prior to using it and it still feels great. It was so nice not to scramble for a towel or have to take my hands off the sweet babe to get a towel ready! The box had wonderful instructions on how to ‘Hug’ the baby. When I was ready to take Natalie out of the tub I scooped her up with both hands and washed her back side while she was face down. With my hand on her belly I turned off the water, and pulled her close to me with both hands. Before the Puj, I would have either one-handed it or had a towel in my MOUTH! I rested her head on the corner of the towel at the hood. I realize that this is slightly different than what the directions say (facing out instead of in) but it worked for us. Next, I unhooked the BPA-free & PVC-free silicone tabs from around my next and wrapped her in the towel. In order to understand the quality of the cushy and luxurious ultra-soft cotton you have to feel it.
I brought Natalie over to the changing table and watched her squirm and kick. She was so happy to be in her new warm and cuddly towel!!
As you can tell, we’re loving the Puj Hug. It would be a fantastic shower gift or a treat for a better bathing experience for you and your little one. I’d love to hear about your experience if you use it!
Ever So Grateful + Free Thanksgiving Printables
November 16th, 2012I don’t share personal tidbits too often. However, this week I have been bursting at the seams just thinking about how grateful I am for SO many things in my life. Most importantly, I’m grateful for my family and friends. With Turkey Day coming up it just seemed like the right time to ‘Give Thanks’. It started at the zoo on Wednesday. G and I were sitting at the duck pond eating Dippin Dots (Daddy’s fav). I really became overwhelmed thinking about how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to stay at home with him. We share so many special moments I might otherwise miss.
I mean seriously, look how cute he is brushing that goat’s butt (above). And shopping with me for some of his birthday decorations (below). The only colors he really knows right now are green and blue. These glasses turned his whole world blue and he was ecstatic! I’m certain that with only 9 weeks to go in pregnancy #2 that my hormones are kickin into overdrive. I’m beginning to realize that G and I’s special time is going to be dominated by a wee one quite soon. So, for the next couple of months, extra snuggles and special trips will definitely be in order!
This year to Give Thanks to so many special Paper Plume customers, we’ve partnered with The Hollie Rogue and designed a Free Thanksgiving Printable collection. Yes people, FREE! They are super easy to personalize and include a “Give Thanks” banner, menu cards, place cards, napkin rings, wine tag, food tents and a frame-able ”Happy Thanksgiving” sign. You can type your personalization information right in Adobe. Easy peesy!
Here is a little peek of what you’ll find in the collection:
I sincerely hope that you and your families have a wonderful, safe, and FUN holiday. Bring on the taters!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Real Plume Wedding: 17 Virtues as Table Number Cards
October 22nd, 2012
I’m so excited to share a BEAUTIFUL wedding that took place at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. We were lucky enough to work with Aaron and Stacia on menus and some very unique table ‘numbers’. In keeping with the sophistication and simplicity of the venue, the couple wanted to do something a little different for their tables. Stacia asked if we would consider creating table cards based on virtues. We were all for it! Coupled with beautiful floral arrangements from Svenja of Chestnut & Vine and the very talented Andi of Andi Hatch Photography to capture it all, the result is just a little of what you see here. Wondering what the virtures were? Thoughtfully they were: Prosperity, Loyalty, Discovery, Passion, Courage, Wisdom, Happiness, Strength, Devotion, Romance, Adventure, Serenity, Success, Bliss, Compassion, Affection, True Love (at the Bride and Groom’s table). For more details on this beautiful wedding check out Andi Hatch’s blog post here.
Sweetheart Table
Find the printable table cards in our shop.
Big Thanks + Fall Wreath Giveaway
September 17th, 2012The Paper Plume’s 1st anniversary came and went back in May so I thought we could celebrate our 500th sale on Etsy now! We’d like to thank all of our wonderful customers, family, and friends for such amazing support along the way. I feel so blessed to be able to keep my creative juices flowing at night and stay home with my little guy during the day.
I have SO many other invites, party collections, and stationery pieces already created that I just haven’t had time to post to the shop. So, be on the lookout soon for lots of new goodies!
Now the fun part: To celebrate this milestone we’re giving away (5) Paper Source Fall Mum Wreath Kits to 5(!) lucky winners. And yes, this giveaway is open to family. You guys rock!! Contest ends Monday, September 30th at midnight and is open to US residents only.
Follow this link to the giveaway!!
Real Plume Wedding: Aly & Chase’s Durango Dream Wedding
September 16th, 2012
Doesn’t this photo just look like it’s out of a dream?! So beautiful. We were so honored to work with Aly her mom coming up with programs, place cards, and menus for Aly and Chase’s wedding. It’s easy to tell from the beautiful photography of Photo Divine that the bride and groom thought of every detail. Best wishes for a life time of love, health, and happiness to you both!!
Wedding Details:
Venue ~ Blue Lake Ranch/Ridgewood Event Center
Reception Stationery ~ The Paper Plume
Flowers ~ Blossom
Wedding Planner ~ Celebrations
Catering ~ The Yellow Carrot
Cake ~ Sweet Treats by Morgan
Beer ~ Ska Brewing
Aspen Brewing Company
Band ~ Durango Orquestra de Salsa
For more beautiful images of Aly and Chase’s wedding check out Photo Divine’s blog post as well: http://blog.photodivine.com/2012/06/aly-and-chase.html
Real Plume Party: A Fire Station Birthday
April 12th, 2012
So excited to share with you an original Paper Plume party. We often ask for party photos from our clients and just had to share this one! Beth did such an amazing job and employed some very creative thinking! We love the Flamin Hot Cheetos, Fireballs, Pretzel Firestarters, and Big Red gum treats. She also used our favor tags as stickers and applied them to cookies for favors.
Great job Beth. Thanks so much for sharing! Interested in putting together a Fire Truck party of your own? You can find the entire collection here. All items are also available a la carte. Feel free to contact us.
Color & Flower Card: Dandelion
April 3rd, 2012
A vibrant color for spring and whimsical flower that is far from a weed . Delightful and dainty dandelion…
Above Left (counterclockwise) Dandelion Letterpress Note Card set by Sweet Harvey, Nathan Furniture Monty Chair, Silver Dandelion necklace by Lulu Bug Jewelry, Dandelion Wine Centerpiece, Benefit Brightening Face Powder, Kate Spade Dandy Lane Salad Plate, Dandelion Art Perennial Moment by PaperMoth (Beautiful!), West Elm Blake Sofa-Dandelion Below: West Elm Interior
