I will be closed (and mostly away from the Internet) for the third week of February; I will respond to all e-mails and inquiries as soon as possible upon my return.
Washington Marriage Equality!
I am so thrilled that my state is trying to join the ranks of states where same-sex couples will be able to marry. There will definitely be a celebration, and some kind of special, to mark the occasion once marriages can actually take place (hopefully June.)
The Sanity Pledge
One of the main reasons I advertise (and participate!) on A Practical Wedding is that the values of the site ally so closely with my own.
To be in the directory, vendors need to sign the Sanity Pledge:
… A wedding is an awesome party, but it’s the marriage that really matters.
… It takes two people to get married. It’s not all about the bride (and sometimes there isn’t a bride to begin with).
… We support LGBTQ couples right to marry, and we are delighted to work with them.
… We don’t charge a premium just because we heard the word “wedding.”
… We will be upfront and fair about our pricing. We won’t surprise you with a secret fee because you want frosting on the cake, not just the cake.
… You don’t have to have cake at your wedding.
… However you decided to tie the knot, we’re on your team.
… Weddings come in all different shapes/sizes/colors/budgets/etc., but as long as you two end up married to each other, it will have been a successful wedding.
Most of you are coming to me after your wedding, but the same values still hold. My pricing is published in full detail. I am happy to work with families of all varieties and budgets. I want you to have a memorial of your wedding that can be both an heirloom for friends and family to enjoy in years to come, and a touchstone for you of the commitment you made that day.
Happy New Year!
I will be closed for the holiday season until January 3rd. I will reply to all e-mail as soon as I can after that, and if you wish to get a head start on scheduling a phone consultation, my appointment maker never sleeps.
2011 Holiday Deadlines
Superfast books/albums: order by Dec. 10th.
In-stock bordered albums: order by Dec. 12th.
Rush Options
Option 2: In-Stock Bordered Albums
SEATTLE ONLY: I keep a limited supply of Bordered Albums on hand. Turnaround on these is regular or rush design, plus a week to assemble (and then shipping). For 2011 Christmas orders, order must be placed by December 19th for pickup in King/Snohomish counties ONLY.
In stock in the artfire shop:
- 5×5 10 page album in Oxide (metallic vegan leather), up to 18 images design. $99
- 5×5 10 page album in Black Pearl (silk brocade), up to 18 images design. $99
- 5×7 (vertical) 10 page album in Green Eyed Girl (textured sueded pleather), up to 18 images design, $125.
- 8×10 (vertical) 10 page album in Liplock (red silk), with cover photo inset. up to 24 images design, $250
- 9×6 (panoramic) 20 page album in Cristal (silver metallic silk), up to 50 images design, $335
- 8×8 20 page album in Komodo Dragon (brown textured leather), with cover photo inset. Up to 50 image design, $450.
Option 3: Request a free custom certificate, ready for gifting, with your design deposit!
I will mail you a lovely certificate on fine art paper attesting to the book-to-be, any custom text you request, and even one of your images included upon it, complete with festive envelope, ready to go under the tree, at no extra charge!
Then, the process goes on as normal, including no required payment for the physical books until you have approved your design — which can be after you’ve had a moment to recover, budget-wise, from your holiday plans.
Option 4: And of course, there are always gift certificates.
GeekGirlCon
Hello to the folks coming here from GeekGirlCon! I will be at the con for much of Sunday, almost entirely in the Lopez room. Come on up and say hi!
New Portfolio Addition: Tracey and Angela
I was ridiculously happy to get to create the wedding album for Tracey of A Bicycle Built for Two, which is a “Real Wedding Inspiration Blog for Lesbians, Queers and Everyone Else” (it’s a delightful blog, and yes, I’ve been bookmarking outfits featured in it as I plan my own upcoming anniversary festivities)
And through the good graces of the talented friend(s) who did their wedding photography, I can show you the whole album, not just the cover (a rare occurrence right now — though some fairly yummy covers will be posted next week.)
Here are my very favorite highlights:
Keeping it traditional: black leather cover, with black date imprint.
Changes to materials available for Flush and Bordered albums
In preparation for introduction of some new cover materials, 8 non-leather materials are being discontinued, and will only be available as long as stock remains; let me know ASAP if you are hoping to use one of these materials, so we can rush the order:
The discontinued options are all from the “Brocade” and “Middle Earth” collections:
Using a green photo lab
I try to keep everything at à la carte as eco-friendly as possible, from minimizing printed communication, to reusing packaging, to finding an album binder that uses only pvc-free pleathers. Another part of that committment is using the greenest photo lab I could find for the photographs that make up the pages of your flush, bordered and matted albums: my lab, Bay Photo Lab has just been featured on Greener Photography.
New cover options for Bordered Albums!
The premium cover options for Bordered Albums have just tripled, including a boatload more leather options and some really unique fabrics! PLUS Photowrap covers are now available (with no upgrade necessary)
Check out the new gallery of premium options