you is…

We've are working on some new art prints for the Tenn Hens shop and want to share one of our favorites in the works. After watching The Help, we just couldn't resist using this precious quote.

kentucky bride

I was in the checkout line at the grocery yesterday when I spied the new Southern Living Weddings. Tenn Hens was featured in the magazine last year so I was dying to check it out. It was crazy to see some of our work in print! Since the feature came out we've had lots of lovely folks contact us about designing invitations. In fact, we are currently working with a Kentucky bride on all her wedding materials. Here's a sneak peek of the save the date and the rest we'll share soon. Now, I'm off to flip through my copy of the new issue.

new year news

Yes we're already a month in, but better late than never… hello 2012! We have been busy bees over here and have so much to cover so here goes. One of the biggest things happening at Tenn Hens is that Bonnie has moved to Dallas. Yee-haw! Her husband started a job there so they have recently relocated. It sounds like a big change, and it is, but it's pretty much business as usual here at the shop. We are still working full time on some great new projects and just hoping to expand our business in the big D. Thanks to Face-time and the 'ole internet we're able to continue doing what we love  together just in two different cites. So, if you know anyone in the Dallas area looking for a designer, or a new friend, tell them to give us a ring.

In other news, we've been doing a ton of invitation work. Designing special party invitations is such a joy and allows us to create something truly memorable & personable for folks. Here's a quick view…



… more to come y'all so stay tuned in!

cooper grey

A friend of the hens, Cooper Grey, called us a while back in need of our design services. What started with a logo + cards eventually led to a new website, photoshoot, and blog launch. Hooray! It was great to work with someone who truly has a great eye. Ceri uses designer fabrics to create gorgeous pillows and all sorts of items. She had loads of ideas and inspiration, but we whittled it down to her key goals and came up with a modern, clean look with loads of personality… just like the designer.

She has since launched a handbag line and has all sorts of other ideas cookin' away. Be sure to check out the blog because there are recipes, decorating ideas, and even a little fashion thrown in - this girl does it all so look out everybody!

nashville library

Nashville is lucky to have an incredible Public Library downtown. Not only is the building beautiful, and a resource to the community, I've heard they have some especially great childrens programs.

Anyway, each year they thank their charitable supporters with a patrons party. We were thrilled when this years event planner approached us to design the invitation. Our minds immediately drifted off to library cards, shelves, bookmarks, words, card catalogs…oh my! Our design inspiration was imagery from the featured author, John McPhee's novels. What we came up with was a gatefold with a letterpressed card inside that perforated into a bookmark keepsake. And let's not forget the envelopes. Always a nice touch to make them feel special. Currier drew all the illustrations and continued the design on the front of the envelope, then Kitty Hobbs worked her magic touch with the calligraphy.

music city wedding

An old friend of mine is getting married this Fall…hooray…and came to Tenn Hens for some of her wedding materials. We sought to capture the feeling of downtown Nashville where most of the events are taking place. A lot of guests are coming from out of town so this was a chance to showcase the local vibe of the city. We wish the couple a very merry wedding.
The rehearsal dinner at Merchants is in a building which was once a pharmacy and later a hotel. Many notable Nashville legends stayed at the old Merchant’s Hotel, including Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton. The new owners have spiffed up the place, but kept the original marble counters and old tile. The chevron border we used on the invite mimics the motif used through the restaurant.
We also created these adorable bags + mason jars. Love all the Nashville imagery and hopefully out of towners got a real taste of the South.

only in nashville

Where else can you see the Avett Brothers rise from the crowd, Robert Plant swing his mic stand as he grooves, Lucinda Williams rock out, and Gregg Allman sing "Sweet Melissa"? Only in Nashville. This is our 5th year working with the Americana Music Association and we felt so proud to sit in the sold-out Awards Show last night. They've had quite a year… even Merriam-Webster announced the inclusion of the musical definition of the word Americana to its Dictionary. Good stuff.

We've been to the awards the last few years and again, they did not disappoint. It was an evening of celebration and appreciation for those in the field. We leaned in, feet tapping, heads nodding, and were lost in the music inside the "mother church".

chic eats & live beats

Turning 16 is a pretty big deal. All that freedom on the open road ahead. Well, last year we designed a very cool invitation for a birthday boy celebrating the big day. And this year his sister turned sweet sixteen so we had to come up with another design that was just as chic. We went with a silver + blue palette, with a punch of red. Our idea was for guests to open the envelope, revealing a baby envelope inside, and then pull out the tiny fold out invitation inside. Each piece revealing a detail of the party with the last being a "ticket" guests had to tear off for entrance into the club. And the calligraphy? Ridiculously good. We were happy with the whole shebang and hope all the partygoers live it up that evening!

don't mind us… just stuffing, gluing, and stamping away here at our work station thank ya!

hudson river valley

A sweet New York couple contacted us to design their rehearsal dinner invitations. The venue, the Stilling House, is a 300 year old home which gave us lots of good, rustic imagery to work with. We mapped out the Hudson River Valley and layered with wood texture to give it a vintage vibe. Chin-chin to the bride & groom!

cool blue : letterpress

Here's a look at a job we've been working on. 1 color letterpress metallic + black on this very subtle baby blue paper that feels like velvet.

baby girls

These are a couple beauties we recently whipped up for parties. One was for my little chickadee Miriam who turned one. My, how time flies! The other invitation was for a girly baby shower happening in town.

stitched fabric wedding invitaton - franklin, tn

It seems like spring jumped right into summer around here. Flowers popping up, the sun beating down, and wedding season in full bloom. Recently, we were lucky enough to work with Big Events on a beautiful farm wedding. The bride requested that fabric play a big role in the invitation suite. We found this wonderful fabric and it fit perfectly with her color palette. Then we sewed the invitation to the fabric backer. All the elements came together nicely to create a suite that felt boho and modern, just like the lovely couple.

{wood grain paper bellyband to tie everything together }

{the suite included invitation, rsvp, and rehearsal dinner invitation}

Pics from the wedding ©Goode Green Photography