in the press: Charleston Weddings Magazine

It's hard to explain what this press clipping in Charleston Weddings magazine means to me. Charleston is my "hometown" (in quotes since technically I'm a Yankee: I was born in NYC).

My first great work experience was as an editorial intern at Charleston magazine. Though I was an editorial intern and most of my duties included writing and editing, I found my real passion in the art director's office. Melinda Smith-Monk was so kind to me. She let me watch her work, she let me help out at photo shoots, she let me ask a zillion questions, she let me make mistakes, she let me pick the ink color for a cover, she let me model. And she made me think about a career in design.

All the editors I worked with at Charleston are long gone, and while Mel is still art director, I'm not sure she would even remember who I am (it was many years ago!). I am eternally grateful for the experience of working with such great talent, and it is a supreme thrill to have my work grace the pages of a magazine so near and dear to my heart.

Oh, and the invitations in the clipping were inspired by Charleston, too.

new from charleston collection: sullivan

sullivan design, new from delphine's charleston collection

"Sullivan," one of the new designs from our upcoming Charleston Collection, is named after Sullivan's Island, the "next door island" to where I grew up (Isle of Palms, South Carolina). I chose the deep marine blue ink because it reminds me of summer nights on the island, and the bright crocus ink is a nod to my mom's favorite color circa 1983!

shop we love: lesesne

lesesne

The very best thing about trade shows is all the fun people we meet! A few years ago we met Barbara and Bryte at the National Stationery Show. They were shopping for their fabulous store in Charleston, South Carolina: Lesesne. Every time we go back to Charleston we hang out with Barbara and Bryte and have such a blast. Of course I can never help myself from buying goodies in their Upper King Street store, either. This time I bought that little green vase (lower right photo) and a gorgeous two-tone torchon (kitchen towel).

inspired by charleston

photo and stationery: delphine

I designed this rehearsal invitation a few months ago, when I was feeling quite homesick for Charleston, South Carolina. The warm grey and spring yellow inks are the same color as the beach sand and the marsh sweetgrass where I grew up on the Isle of Palms. The restaurant on the invite, High Cotton, is known for its superb Lowcountry cuisine. Each time I visit I fall in love with this city all over again and wonder why in the world I ever left.

sweet tea vodka

sweet tea vodka: firefly

When I saw a Sweet Tea Mojito on the menu at Cypress the other night I just had to try it. I was skeptical, and had already chosen a "backup" drink ... but it was AMAZING. So amazing that I went to a liquor store today and bought a bottle of Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka to take home to Cali.

my kind of an antique

photo and table: south of market

While strolling around the antique district on Southern King Street in Charleston, South Carolina this morning, I came upon this cool vintage table at South Of Market. If I still lived in Charleston I'm sure I could do some serious damage at this store.

9th anniversary

Photo: Circular Congregational Church

photo: The Mills House Hotel

Nine years ago John & I were married at The Circular Congregational Church in my "hometown" and favorite city of all time: Charleston, South Carolina. We had a wonderful wedding reception at The Mills House before we jetted off to my other favorite city, Paris, for our honeymoon. When we got married John was a First Lieutenant in the U.S.M.C., and I worked as an advertising editor at a small town newspaper. John looked so handsome in his dress blues! I never guessed that we'd end up in California and start our own design business ... but here we are. So lucky! I love working together.

I wish I could say that we are taking a day off to celebrate, but, with the National Stationery Show coming up in less than a month, the best we can do is a day out of the studio running errands together. So, we're off to Ikea to pick out some furniture for the show.