Last month right before Thanksgiving break we stepped out of the usual studio to be a part of an even hosted by MINI. They created a 2-day event at the Millwick in Downtown LA celebrating craftsmen as a part of the premiere for the all-new MINI Clubman.

Showcasing the craft of letterpress printing without bringing our 1400 pound press, we brought as much of our studio to the event. We packed up our ink, aprons, samples of letterpress printing, wood and metal type and even managed to lift our 100 year old and over 100 pound tabletop press.

We printed a few printed pieces including a postcard showing the different generations of MINI Clubmans and a tiny card for a luggage tag. Guests of the event we sending postcards directly from the event just to say a little hello via snail mail. By the end of event, we had a tall stack of postcards ready to be stamped and mailed out.

Big thanks to MINI and Campos Creative for having be a part of this!! We're so honored!
Check out more photos on the MINI website.

Congratulations to Robin and Johanna!!

Upon arrival to our hotel, we were given a tote full of goodies at check-in by the bride and groom. So clever and sneaky!

I love weddings but this one was extra special in so many ways. Not only were they friends of ours, but they bestowed the honor of creating their wedding invitations and day-of goods and plus the wedding was in HAWAII!

During the time preparing for their wedding date, I got to know them more as a couple. Their excitement excited us too so much that the anticipation was really starting to build up for a long weekend getaway trip to Oahu.

Robin and Johanna are such a fun and loving couple, and the easiest to work with for pulling off an amazing destination wedding! She wanted a bright and colorful wedding with a modern twist, and he wanted one thing- spam musubis! We captured both in their wedding suite and saw it all come together at their beachside wedding at a private villa in Laie, a city about an hour away from Waikiki Beach.

They wed on the sand just feet from the clear waters with their best friend officiating their nuptials and one of their groomsmen serenading the guests with a rendition of the Hawaiian Wedding song on his ukelele.

They served local Hawaiian food for dinner and even had a dessert table by Ted's Bakery with chocolate haupia pie, white chocolate macadamia cream pie, pumpkin haupia pie, and more. 

After dinner and dancing, we headed out the beach and set paper lanterns aglow and watched them sail away in the sky. It was a beautiful highlight to the evening and one of the most memorable moments of the entire wedding.

Handmade party favors by the bride

spam musubi snacks for cocktail hour

First "selfie" as a married man! 

Presshaus LA signs at the dessert table.

one of my favorite photos of me + my mister.

The other weekend, I escaped LA and picked up my mom on the way to a family-friend wedding in Palm Springs. Not sure why it took so long to get me there. I've been missing out! I've heard all about it and it's vacation-y qualities and it's amazing architecture. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "you have to go!" and "omg, you've haven't been?!"

Yes, this was my first time in Palm Springs and it was a memorable first time.

It was for a very good reason- a beautiful and memorable desert wedding set in Le Haut Desert Aerie in Pioneertown. It's about 35 minutes away from the heart of Palm Springs and away from it all. There wasn't even cell reception here. All that stands there is a Moroccan styled retreat in the vast desert.

We drove about a mile of dirt road off the pave street and my mom kept beckoning, "Is this the right way? Are you sure?" This place is really off the grid.

Our heels had a little bit of desert of dirt but who cares. No one was complaining. Everyone was a little sweaty but smiling in awe of the occasion and the scenery.

The ceremony was sweet and picturesque. Just look at that wedding canopy and the backdrop. The words were so sweet. No one tells you this, but at each wedding after getting married, it reminds you of your own vows and takes you to that exact moment somehow paralleling your wedding day with this one. It's new to me. I cried a little. 

The bride wore her aunt's wedding dress. A very personal touch to the family. The aunt is so close and nearly another mom. I would've never guessed it was from another decade! 

The bride and family had been planning this day for a year and pre-planned the floral arrangements, anticipating desert heat of course, and planted succulents in silver ware they had been thrifting at flea markets. So clever and so beautiful!

My sister writing a sweet message. Yes, she has one Mondrian nail. 

Isn't the Father of the Bride so stylish?
Check out this schnazzy couple who so politely let me snap their photo. Naturals! 

And at last, the desert nighttime view that when you look beyond it reminds you of how small you are in this world, but when you turn around and see friends and loved ones  celebrating it's easy to feel comfortable and to ease back into the moment.
 
Congratulations K + B!

xo // ~k

4 - 3 - 2 - and then there was 1

The other weekend, I made it out to Painstakingly Made to show some support for Victoria of Paper and Type at her showcase there. She and other artists had their goods laid out for us to see and purchase. There was food, furniture, paper goods, textiles...you name it! It was a night of mingling, silly photobooth shots, making new friends, baby hugging (thanks Justina!) and seeing all the balloon frill and magic created by Geronimo Balloons. Jihan says it'll be a regular event with rotating artists. Looking forward to the next one already.

Hanna, Dabito + Victoria photo'd by The Stylish Fox