Where I Live ...

Okay, I don't really live in this room, but sometimes it feels like I spend the majority of my at-home-time in this office. This little ol' room is where I run the majority of the pinwhirls/crossroads cottage business including responding to messages, web updates, printing papers, etc. (And yes, it's decorated for Xmas in these photos - since I spend so much time in here I thought it needed some Christmas spirit too!)
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This room used to look quite different (to see a couple of photos click here) until I decided mid-summer that the old set-up just wasn't working. So, I invested in ...

some more furniture with lots of storage. The piece pictured in the above and below photos is actually intended for use as a media center - i.e. there is supposed to be a fancy flat screen television in the center. But, it houses my two printers perfectly.

In addition to lots of cubbies that house baskets to store bags, shipping supplies, inks, etc. it also has the perfect amount of closed door space to hide away my stores of papers, pinwheel handles, etc. etc. You know all of that stuff that one just needs to run a business, but is just horribly ugly to have out and in the open.

The room is now quite cramped and not as elegantly cozy as it used to be, but it is so much better organized and a much better work set-up for me and the business.

I also purchased the above table to house our scanner, cutting machine (that it about to be replaced with a much better alternative), and scale for weighing all of my shipments.

And here is the desk. Still kind of messy - sadly it's the cleanest it's been in months. This is where I spend the majority of my time - right in front of this computer. Even though I invested in a laptop last year (and Roger purchased this new PC), the machines have actually reversed. I spend 99% of my time on his computer and he spends 99% of his time on my laptop. Funny how that works.

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I just realized that I forgot to take photos of the office closet although you probably aren't missing out on much. It contains two filing cabinets to file all of my orders and business paperwork and way too many plastic tubs to house all of the pre-assembled pinwheels we have in stock. It's a tight space. Almost like a puzzle trying to get everything back in it's correct spot after an order is placed.

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This room is still a bit tiny for assembling the pinwheels so most of the assembly work is done in our sun room. Maybe one day, I'll have my own large studio, but for now the above works just fine and dandy. :)

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Hope you enjoyed the tour...

Kelly & Liam: Beautiful Blue Beach Wedding

Just as this past summer was nearing an end, I was contacted by Eclatante Design to provide pinwheels for Kelly & Liam's (pictured above) September beach wedding. Their colors - blue (very close to tiffany), tan, and white - just perfect for a beach wedding.

Seating cards were attached to the pinwheels which were appropriately propped into beach sand - love those clear class containers! To view a close-up of the pinwheels, please click here.

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To view more beautiful photos from this beach wedding please visit Eclatante's blog entries here and here.

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Above photos courtesy of Amy Deputy Photography.

Indira & Nevin: Contagiously Cheery Wedding

I began working with Indie in early 2009 for her May wedding. Based on our correspondence I just new that this was going to be one unforgettably fun wedding. And sure enough, when she forwarded me a link to her photos, the amount of fun she and her guests had radiated from all of the still photos. AND - just look at the colors - so bright and cheery.

I created wedding pinwheels for her young guests. (By the way, isn't this one a doll? I'm envious of her curly locks! And the headband - CUTE!) The pinwheels were made with a line of paper called Jacks - of course you can't tell from the black and white photo but the paper features little toy Jacks in all sorts of bright colors.

We also created coordinating table number signs. And isn't this centerpiece - unique? Unique in only the best of ways! In a million years I would have never thought of incorporating a garden troll into a wedding centerpiece, but just like all of the other details of her wedding, someone it just works - in a big way!

Ohhh, and the cupcakes. Yum-mmmmmmyyyyy. I'm drooling even though I just finished dessert with my dinner.

Another view of the table number signs.

To view more photos from their big day just click here.

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Thanks Indie and Nevin for allowing us to feature your wedding on our site.

I'm sure the photos will bring much cheer to viewers.

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Thanks as well to Karin Von Voigtlander photography for not only capturing such wonderful images but allowing for us to share them.
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Jessica & Jason: Wedding Pinwheels Featured on 100 Layer Cake

Earlier this summer I had the pleasure of working with Jessica, a Canadian bride, on pinwheels for her August wedding which took place at a chateau just outside of Montreal. I just learned that their wedding was featured on 100 Layer Cake. Which isn't surprising considering that every single detail was perfect for this sophisticated event with a family style flair.

Our pinwheel place cards are featured in the above photo. I love the simpleness of this place setting - just our pinwheel placed on a white place setting but it somehow looks so elegant. And, aren't those paper placemats to die for?

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To view more photos from their wedding please click here. And yes, you'll actually get to see the gorgeous Jessica, and of course her hubby too, who is hiding behind the fan above.

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Photos courtesy of Davina + Daniel.

Come One Come All

In early June, I helped my sister plan a birthday party for two of her kids (Emma who was turning 6 and Anthony who was turning 8). Since their birthdays fall only two weeks apart she decided to host the parties together and throw one large gender-neutral bash. The theme - if you haven't guessed it already - the Circus! Since around 30 kids were to be in attendance it had to be an outdoor party. Thank goodness the weather was nice as we didn't have a Big Top. :)
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I designed and printed the above pinwheel carnival invitations. The color scheme for the party - red, blue, yellow, and green primary colors, of course.


The above party banner welcomed guests.

And so did spinning yard pinwheels ...

They twirled perfectly in the wind the entire day ...

A large clothespin pinwheel (and balloons) were attached to the mailbox ...

The dessert, cupcakes with carnival themed pinwheel cupcake toppers.

Assorted sizes of handheld pinwheels were also stuck into tin buckets filled with sand and placed around the party zone.

Additional banners - featuring the Birthday Boy and Birthday girl's names.

And some coordinating party pennants.

Carnival themed games were played outside including bean bag toss and pin the nose on the clown. And what party would be complete without a magician (who happened to be named Roger!)?

Treats were served including assorted popcorn, mini corn dogs, animal crackers, peanuts ...

Each child also received a party hat (with the birthday boy and girl receiving a pinwheel party hat) .... AND

Goody bags (filled with all sorts of loot) were kept closed with pinwheel clothespin attachers.

If you would like to throw your own Carnival or Circus themed party, we've designed the below papers that coordinate perfectly with the theme. And all of the above products are available for purchase in our shop.

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Just let us know which papers your prefer, or we can always just use an assortment of all of the below papers. :)

Circus Yellow Stripes

Circus Mini Dots

Circus Small Yellow Dots

Circus Small Green Dots

Circus Small Blue Dots

Circus Red Stripes

Circus Large Red Dots

Circus Large Dots

Circus Green Stripes

Circus Small Dots

Circus Diamonds

Circus Blue Stripes

Sally & Dominic - The Perfect English Wedding

Earlier this summer I had the pleasure of working with Sally & Dominic (actually, mostly Sally) on creating pinwheels for her perfect English wedding. When the original color palette was forwarded I must admit that I was a little concerned, but the more I began working to create these papers, the more I fell in love. How could one not? The color palette is just so fresh and fun! And I must admit that these are probably one of my favorite custom pinwheel creations ever! I did do some major sweating over the shipment of these fragile items all the way to England - I tend to worry about shipments arriving safely, and thankfully these did!

I was super ecstatic when I received a message from Sally (pictured above with her new hubby Dominic) earlier this October with links to her wedding and specific links to the pinwheels. Not only do I love seeing how my pinwheels are used, call me nosey, but after working for brides for such great lengths of time, I also love to see how all of their other wedding details. And of course, finally getting to put a face to a name is also nice. :)

Sally chose to use the pinwheels as place cards as well. I love her silver tins and it appears that the sand filler worked perfectly.

Pinwheels spin, spin, spinning away. Love it!

And also loving the building in the background. So reminiscent of the English countryside.

Thanks so much Sally for sharing your pinwheels and wedding day with me.

It was a wonderful pleasure working with you.

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Photos courtesy of Helen Maybanks Photography.

Sarah & Kevin - Wedding Pinwheels Featured on Snippet & Ink

Earlier this spring, I had the pleasure of working with Sarah & Kevin to create custom pinwheel place cards for their end of May wedding. They are pictured above - aren't they the cutest? I'm referring to the couple, not my pinwheels, of course.

I worked with them to create custom papers in their color palette and personalized the upper right hand corner of their pinwheels with their names and wedding date. They had our place card flags hand lettered with their guests' names and table numbers and stuck them into containers of sand. I love this photo as it captures some of the pinwheels spinning in the wind.

And this shot, what can I say? Also very clever. It turns out that their wedding was really spectacular - enough so that it was featured on Snippet & Ink (one of my favorite blogs). Click here to see all of their fabulous details.

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Photos courtesy of Josef Isayo.
A special thanks to Sarah and Kevin for forwarding photos.

I hope you are enjoying being newlyweds. :)