Events at Urbanic

Hi everyone! In yesterday’s ‘Day in the Life at Urbanic’ post, I mentioned that some of our back-end creative work that we do is for the events that we host at Urbanic. When Joshua and I first opened the shop, we knew going into it that we wanted events to be a foundational offering of what we were about as a brand. We both love hosting, but even more so, we love watching people come together to get creative and social, forming new relationships in a fun environment. There are so many of us that sit behind a computer all day long, and we wanted to make sure we were creating special opportunities for people to connect and celebrate. Over the past 8 years, we’ve hosted Summer Socials, Winter Socials, blogger meet-ups, book release parties, and have recently added workshops to the mix! Click below for a peek into some of our calligraphy classes!

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When we first got these events going they were a TON of work. It was work that we wanted to put in, but extremely hard on our schedules to juggle everything and do it at the creative level that we envisioned. Over the years we discovered that bringing in like-minded sponsors and partners made the whole process so much better on every level! Our collaborations have allowed us to work with the most amazing planners, photographers, florists, caterers, videographers and media sponsors. I’m not going to lie, the events are still a huge undertaking, but the work of all of these talents together makes for the best events! You can click here to see photos from some of our past Urbanic events and if you’d like, and click here to see videos. I’ve attached one of my faves into this post below from a Summer Social.

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More coming up tomorrow with 10 tips on opening up a retail shop!

– Audrey

 

 

 

 

Modern Takes on Classic Kid’s Party Themes

Whether you like it or not, there’s a good chance a kiddo of yours might want to have a birthday themed around one of those classic, party-store themes. Sports, circus, ballerina, you know the drill. Luckily, I’ve rounded up a few ideas today to help you pull off a modern twist on those party concepts so you aren’t just stuck with what’s available in Aisle 4. —Kelly

Modern Takes on Classic Kid's Party Themes via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo via 6th Street Design School

A Lullaby Party: Chances are if you’re throwing a party for a very little one, most of the guests will be adults. Up the ante on a lullaby or nursery rhyme party with more sophisticated color palettes mixed with a few details the kids will love (balloons, wands or crowns!).

Modern Takes on Classic Kid's Party Themes via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Tutorial and Photo via You Are My Fave for Julep

A Circus Party: Think outside of the animal cracker box by printing off giant photos of animals and making a big ol’ circus parade on the wall! Party hats and crowns optional, but they sure do look like some wild party animals with ’em!

Modern Takes on Classic Kid's Party Themes via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by Kristen Curette Photography via 100 Layer Cake

A Dinosaur Party: Hop on the spray painted animal bandwagon and turn plastic dinosaurs into modern ones with a little spray paint. Use them as planters for decor that can last long after the party ends!

Modern Takes on Classic Kid's Party Themes via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo via Kjerstis Lykke

A Soccer Party: Try playing up the black and white palette for a soccer party, instead of the soccer motif itself. A soccer cake and plates look much more modern when paired with black and white straws and balloons!

Modern Takes on Classic Kid's Party Themes via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by We Call This Love via 100 Layer Cakelet

A Ballerina Party: If your little lady love tutus, change up the ballerina theme with a Swan Lake party! Make feather tiaras and end the bash with a very special performance.

Modern Takes on Classic Kid's Party Themes via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo + Tutorial via Studio DIY

An Outer Space Party: Top off an outer space party with a giant moon piñata! Hang it amongst gold star cut outs and disco balls stepping in as “planets.”

A Day in the Life of Urbanic

Hi Everyone! Our new baby has arrived – so I’ve asked some of my favorite creative mamas to help out while I’m away on maternity leave. This week, one of my favorite ladies and the owner of one of the most amazing stationery stores – Audrey from Urbanic – will be sharing a few posts, from birthday parties to thoughts on running a successful business. Thanks Audrey! –Nole

Hello Hello!  It’s good to be back here guest blogging again, and even more wonderful for such a special occasion! It’s a true honor to fill in for Nole while she takes her maternity leave. For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Audrey Woollen and I have a shop in Los Angeles called Urbanic Paper Boutique. I’ve known Nole for many years and really value our friendship. It’s a rare and amazing thing to find a person in this world that shares the same passion and enthusiasm for paper! I contribute a post here monthly, called Urbanic Faves which is a round up of inspiration that we’re feeling in the shop, but for this weeks posts Nole suggested that I take you on a journey with me of what life at Urbanic looks like. This week, I’ll be giving you a glimpse into the front and back end of our retail shop as well as a peek into our family life.  I will also be sharing some tips of things I’ve learned along the way!  First up, a typical day in the shop… A Day in the Life at Urbanic via Oh So Beautiful Paper A typical day starts at 9am. We officially open at 10 am, but have found that an hour of prep time before our doors open is hugely beneficial for progress. There are usually 2 and sometimes 3 of us working at a time. With so many different facets to the running the shop (many of which often happen simultaneously) it really takes a team to keep this going.  I am extremely grateful for the 5 amazing staff members that we have. Each person plays a big role at Urbanic and it’s our talents combined that make us who we are as a brand. Each day we kick off with front end presentation. Every detail matters here, from cueing up our curated tunes, lighting our featured candle, product entering, tagging, merchandising, and most importantly, working with our customers! There is a slew of email correspondence which takes place daily, as well as our client gift wrapping service, both of which we handle collectively.

A Day in the Life at Urbanic Paper Boutique via Oh So Beautiful Paper

In the back of the shop we host the ‘Urbanic Wedding Lounge‘. This is our by-appointment suite where we work with couples creatively to choose and customize wedding invitations and personal stationery. We have a design library with of a wide selection of options that we’ve hand-picked from the best designers across the country. Our team assists with design concept, layout, proofing and project management of the orders. We often work with couples for a few months throughout the process and build relationships with them along the way. It’s the BEST feeling when a bride comes in to pick up her invitations and we get to see her eyes well up with tears of joy upon receiving them. There are usually hugs all around and we feel privileged to have had a part in such a monumental event in their lives.

A Day in the Life at Urbanic Paper Boutique via Oh So Beautiful Paper

The creative process behind the business is enormous, but also my favorite part about the environment! There is always a work in progress happening with new things forming. These projects show themselves in many different ways! Our store windows entail brainstorming, sourcing, crafting and then finalizing the plan with the install. You can see some of our favorites windows here. When merchandising around the shop we like to constantly re-invent ourselves with new concepts and fresh displays. We work creating blog posts, newsletters, promotions, store events, collaborations, and of course there is the buying and curation of the merchandise we carry. In addition to all of this, we’ve recently started making little video promos of happenings around the shop. Here’s one below of one of some of the amazing mail we’ve been receiving.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0&autoplay=1&v=AbvF5rRiJlU&w=640&h=360]

A Day in the Life at Urbanic Paper Boutique via Oh So Beautiful Paper

My husband Joshua and I built Urbanic together in 2006. Since then, we’ve had 2 little boys, and together this is our family business! Joshua and I handle the not so glamorous parts of the company (finances, lease, building maintenance, operations… oh I could go on.) Although he is working more on making videos these days he is still a huge part of all that happens here.

As you can see, a lot goes down each day around here at Urbanic! We keep a digital store log where we document everything. This communication is key to keeping us all on the same page and helps us keep track of customer orders, daily interactions, basic store functioning and the progress of projects. Towards the end of the day the log is finalized, the sales are counted, the orders are faxed in, and the doors are closed… all in preparation for the next day.

photos by Joanne Pio & Jessie Webster

 

The Robert Frost

Fall is barreling towards us, so here’s a quick look at an unusual and clever fall cocktail: the Robert Frost. – Andrew

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Illustration by Shauna Lynn for Oh So Beautiful Paper

The Robert Frost

3/4 oz Bourbon
3/4 oz Dry Sherry
3/4 oz White Port
1 Dash Orange Bitters

Combine everything with ice and give it a good stir. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon and an orange slice. Enjoy!

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Sherry, a Spanish fortified wine, is an uncommon and underrated cocktail ingredient that adds a rich complexity to a drink. For my Robert Frost, I like a dry, nutty Amontillado sherry, which is plenty sweet enough on its own. But if you’re using a particularly dry sherry, like a salty Palo Cortado, you should consider adding 1/4 oz simple syrup too (which we did the very first time we made this cocktail – one of our first recipes!).

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The Robert Frost is brown and deep but surprisingly still light, since it’s mostly made of low-proof and slightly sweet fortified wines. The sherry adds a bit of a savory bite. And that garnish of citrus slices is perfect – so aromatic. I don’t know why I don’t use this on more drinks…

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The Robert Frost is the invention of DC bartender Derek Brown for a White House party a few years back, and we first had it at Brown’s amazing speakeasy-style bar, the Columbia Room. If you’re in town and love to drink, you must give it a try. To do otherwise is a big mistake.

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Guest Post: A Day in the Life of Erin Austen Abbott of Amelia

I’ve asked some of my favorite creative mamas to help out while I’m away with our new baby. Today we get a look behind the scenes at a day in the life of one of my favorite retailers – and mama of a sweet little boy – Erin Austen Abbott of Amelia! –Nole

4:30 AM

My day starts really early…. I wake up and sort of take it in. It’s the only “me” time in my whole day. I might just sip on my coffee and watch a little TV, go for a jog or answer emails that came in over night. Sometimes, I just get on Pinterest and get lost for an hour. Lately I’ve been working on a writing project each morning, which has been productive. Whatever the case may be, I try to make it relaxing.

5:30 AM

My son, Tom Otis, begins to stir. I let him talk to himself for a bit and really be ready to get up. We all have our different ways of waking up and his is a slow start. I can hear him talking to his favorite stuffed animals, saying good morning and random words sound out through the babble; school, park, venture.I make his breakfast before going in to get him because he is READY to eat first thing out of bed. We sit together while he eats and talk about what he dreamt about or what the day might entail. We watch for birds out of the kitchen window and enjoy the stillness of the morning together.

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6:00 AM – 7:30 AM

Tom goes to Montessori school, so we usually play a bit before getting dressed. We read books, stack blocks, color…. all the sorts of things a toddler loves to do. Lately, we are on a big hide-and-go-seek kick. We play it several times a day. We are packed up and ready to hit the road by 7:30.

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7:30- 8:25 AM

The drive to school takes awhile, as we live a town over from the school. Tom usually gets a little snack in the car and we listen to the radio, signing along to whatever SIRUS XMU plays. We look for animals, like deer or wild turkeys and big trucks on our drive. Tom usually spots the trucks from pretty far away (he’s all boy). Waiting to go into school, Tom gets in the front seat with me and we cuddle a bit while watching the PBS app on my phone. What is it about Curious George?? Saying goodbyes. Not the easiest part for me, but I know he’s getting such a great education and I do have to get to work after all. I wish I could be with him more, but I do love what I do. I feel torn about this all the time…

8:35 – 10:00 AM

Starting work before the shop opens. I treat this like office hours. I grab a coffee from Oxford Canteen, the restaurant attached to the building Amelia is in, then start in on my writing deadlines, I get my next rounds of designs ready for Otis & Co or the Amelia brand leather bag collection. I contact Amelia Pop Up Party representatives about their parties and upcoming news, I respond to emails, I work on orders, I frame photos if I have a show coming up, etc…. A lot gets packed into that hour and a half.

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10:00 AM

Open for business!! Amelia opened five years ago and I’ve been working behind the counter ever since. When Tom was born, I started getting a little help, but I’m still here, 10-2PM each day. When there aren’t customers in the shop, I continue working on my various projects and do all the store ordering and package up the daily online orders.

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2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

My employee, Shelby gets to work and I run to mail the online orders. I like to get them out as fast as they come in. I can’t handle that weighing me down, so I stop by the post office each day. Then I head to pick up Tom and his friend Josie, that I care for each afternoon, after school. We might head to the park or to the local children’s book store, Square Books jr. just depends day to day.

4:00 – 5:45PM

The drive home. Tom is usually spent from the day, so he just plays with a small toy in his seat and we take the scenic route home. Once home, Tom and my husband hang out and Tom usually gets his second wind since his fun daddy is there to play. They might build a fort or play more hide-and-go-seek or watch Curious George. Sometime they go for a walk, while I make dinner for Tom.

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5:45PM – 6:45PM

Toilet, bath time, more hide-and-go-seek, reading, prayers, night night. This is my favorite time of my whole day. It’s a solid hour where we can be focused solely on family time and laughing with Tom, reading to him while he bathes, telling jokes (he’s at the stage where he gets it), and just having genuine togetherness. After bath, we sing the same song, that I wrote, that I’ve always sung to all the kids I’ve nannied for (I started my first nanny job when I was ten, 28 years ago and didn’t stop until I was 7 months pregnant with Tom).

“This is the way we brush our teeth.

Brush our teeth. Brush our teeth.

This is the way we brush our teeth.

Every single day.

We brush them to the left.

We brush them to the right.

We brush them up.

We brush them down.

We brush them all around.

Hey!

This is the way we brush our teeth.

Brush our teeth. Brush our teeth.

This is the way we brush our teeth.

Every. Single. Day. Hey!”

Afterwards, Sean and Tom hide. I find them. I hide. They find me, followed by getting Tom into his pj’s. He picks out a book to read, we cuddle up together, read then say prayers. I get him as “snug as a bug in a rug”, turn out the lights, close the door. We get “I love you mommy, I love you daddy”, through the closed door for about a minute before he’s already close to being fully sleep.

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6:45- 9:00 PM

The full day is winding down and I now start making dinner for Sean and myself. I’m so tired by this time, so we usually just eat around 7:30, while watching a movie or TV show. By 9:00, I can’t stay awake much later, so I head to bed. I try really hard to get all my work done early in the day so that from 5:30 until 9:00, I can be fully tuned into family life. Of course, that’s not always feasible, but something I’m certainly aware of and make an effort to do.

Thanks for following along in my day to day. It is busy but I wouldn’t change a thing. I love my job and creative freedom. And most of all, I love savoring time with my son. He gets to see both of his parents doing what they love and I think that’s really important. We should all love what we do for a living, right?