mm ink will soon have a new look!

I know it has been a.g.e.s. since my last post - it's for a good reason though (promise).....I am hard at work on a new look for MM Ink!!!!! I am SO excited about this rebrand and the new things in the works!!! Just a bit more website editing, a photo session, approving, approving, approving.... and I will be ready for the big day!

If you subscribe to my newsletter, then you already got a sneak peek of the new look (feel free to subscribe here). If you missed it, take a look below:

YAY!!! Stay tuned...... :)

mm ink featured in occasions magazine!

I am so thrilled to be featured in Occasions Magazine's Summer 2012 issue! I had the pleasure of working  with two super talented event planners on two of the Party Style inspiration shoots. Stay tuned for pics and details. In the meantime, grab a copy on newsstands now - its loaded with party inspiration!

mm ink photo shoot prep: prop shopping

Although I am just about done with purchasing the props for my photo shoot, I wanted to share my top 3 places to go to online for items to style my stationery pieces with:

1. ETSY!!!! Love, Love, Love! I love adding handmade elements and Etsy is the perfect place to find them.

2. Paper Source - I love their fine paper collection for lining envelopes or cutting out cute shapes, etc.

3. Champion Stamp Company - it's stamp heaven! Every stamp you can think of is here. Stamps are a great way to add color or for interest when placed off to the side of your stationery pieces.

These are all great places for purchasing wedding items as well - wedding favors and gifts, lovely paper to line your envelopes after they have been hand lettered :), and beautiful stamps (including vintage ones) for your envelopes!

mm ink photo shoot prep: more color inspiration

It's May (already!!) and that means the photo shoot for MM Ink is fast approaching! I am almost done with prop shopping (more on that in the next prep post); but in the meantime, here's a look at another color combo I am putting together for the shoot - seafoam, golden yellow, brown, and splashes of color - YES! 

If you missed the first color palette, you can see it here.  I would love to know which one you like most so leave a comment and let me know which color inspiration is your favorite. 

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mm ink photo shoot prep: color inspiration

Woooooo-weeeeeee! Wedding season is in full swing here at MM Ink, and I love the variety of ink colors I am working with (brides are loving copper, gold, navy, charcoal, and all shades of green) and the calligraphy styles I am doing! I have also been busy with logo designs for some wonderful business owners getting ready to launch/relaunch their brand. I love them all and I cannot wait to update the website with new invitations, monograms, branding work and features!  A massage is definitely high on the priority list too ;)

I am also working on the next MM Ink photo shoot for the website and my marketing materials. This is an exciting process for me but a bit challenging putting together the right color palette, props and stationery to showcase my work. So I have prepared the to-do list and I am working on the color palettes for the shots. Here is a look at the inspiration for one of the color schemes. I love these colors!

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1st day of spring and a special announcement

Spring is here! YAY!!!! And with that comes a super special MM Ink announcement..............

MM Ink is now a FULL TIME calligraphy and design studio!!!! 

I am thrilled to be able to devote 100% of my working time to something that makes me so so happy! 

I LOVE calligraphy!

Many people thought I only did calligraphy; but before this year, I wore this lovely MM Ink hat primarily at night after a full time job as a Senior Auditor for a cable company, and putting our 3 kiddos to bed. Yep, I studied Accounting in college, graduated and got my CPA license soon after. But I always wanted to be a full time professional calligrapher....I just did not know when.

Around the beginning of 2009, I had a talk with my hubby and we decided that I would make the transition in October 2009. Well that did not happen - we got our sweet baby #3 instead :). So we changed plans and at the end of 2010, we decided that the new date will be March 2012.

I prayed so hard for God to show me His plan for me and to reassure me that this was the right time. Well, He answered in a BIG way! Last August, the company that I was working for announced that they were going to outsource the accounting function to a company overseas and hence, eliminate my position (and many others). My termination date was set for September 30; but due to a project they needed me to help with and my severance package, guest what....that put me right at March 16, 2012! God is so good and I know this is His plan.

I've spent the last 3 months gearing up for this day and I get excited every morning starting my day doing what I LOVE!!! I feel extremely blessed to have this opportunity and I am so thankful for everyone who supported me since the very beginning and throughout this journey (especially my wonderful husband Lars, my 3 darling little ones, Mommy, Mom, Patyence, Jan, Aisha, MTH, and my calligraphy teachers and mentors - Sheila Waters and Pat Blair). And the wonderful people and clients I get to work with make it all the more special (and fun!!!). It has been an incredible ride and the best is yet to come! Stay tuned!!! :)

xoxo

paper goodness and a giveaway

The super talented Gia of Betsywhite Stationery and I have teamed up a few months ago to offer an exclusive discount to her customers on several of my calligraphy styles for envelope addressing and place card calligraphy. Gia and I have worked on many projects over the years and I am so honored to be her calligrapher for her photo shoots. I have always admired her beautiful stationery designs and I love everything about the Betsywhite brand!

To find out more about this exciting collaboration, go here and also, be sure to head over to the Southern Weddings blog for a chance to win a custom calligraphy thank you card and gift tag set from me and Gia. Good luck!

Calligraphy by MM Ink
Stationery and Printing by Betsywhite

munaluchi bride magazine's debut digital edition

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!

I am very excited to share the BEAUTIFUL cover of Munaluchi Bride's first digital magazine that will be available on February 21st! The cover features one of the images from a GORGEOUS editorial shoot that I am so proud to be a part of, and includes the amazing talents of Janie Medley (that's Janie's stunning bouquet on the cover!!!), Dana FitzGerald, Amelia Johnson and Lisa Hladish.

I cannot wait to share more with you next week Tuesday!!

From the Editor-in-Chief, Jacqueline Nwobu: We are truly excited about this next stage and delighted to release the cover of our debut digital issue, the Winter 2012 edition, featuring THE most gorgeous bouquet by the one and only Janie Medley of The Brides Cafe and photographed by Amelia Johnson.   In this issue, which is all about planning, you'll find expert planning tips, the prettiest real weddings, latest in bridal fashion, and the sweetest editorial shoot put together by Janie Medley along with Dana Fitzgerald, Moya Minns, and photographed beautifully by Amelia Johnson.   Our debut Winter 2012 digital edition will be available on February 21st.  In the meantime, we would love for you to subscribe to our digital newsstand to get an instant update once it goes live.  http://issuu.com/munaluchibride