handmade wedding cake topper {finally}

Inspired by amazing work by Katie Runnels, making a cake topper was high on my list of DIY projects for my wedding. Since I was planning on using {life size} pennants throughout the ceremony and reception, I made a tiny string of pennants to hang over the bride and groom birds. I used wire wrapped in silk to create the arch. I found feather birds from Micheals and covered them in silver glitter and made them tiny outfits. For the base, I covered a round chipboard box with pink silk, a stripe of muslim, and a length of vintage sequin trim. I used the lid from a smaller chipboard box, covered with pink glass glitter as a platform for the birds. In the end, I was really happy with it! I had a really simple cake to save $$$, so the topper was the showpiece.

{glue guns are perhaps the best invention ever}

the wedding extravaganza ends {and it was perfect}

After a year of endless planning, obsessing over wedding blogs and magazines, dedicating my time to all sorts of DIY projects for the wedding, and being simultaneously extremely excited and freaked out, the wedding extravaganza has come to a close. We had an amazing week with friends and family, then a relaxing week at a beautiful resort in Mexico. I have realized that sometimes the things that you cannot control {such as rain during your outdoor ceremony} can make the most beautiful moments of your life. I also learned that you cannot style every detail of your own wedding and that real weddings are not perfect like magazine weddings. It is the people that surround you during the brief time of the ceremony and reception that make the wedding amazing.

Now that we have made it back home, I am ready for my new life of being Mrs. Kara Kopp and all the wonderful things that will come with that...

I thought that I would feel withdrawal from the wedding madness and projects that went along it all, but instead I feel very excited to be able to focus my time on my career, making new jewelry and art, redecorating our apartment, cooking, and relaxing with Zach.

Photos above by http://www.tanveerbadal.com/2010/06/kz-savannah-wedding-photos-georgia/#more-1548

Also, more photos to come from http://www.kateegrace.com/

as she was our amazing photographer that traveled from California to shoot our wedding.

Please expect regular postings to come as I get into the swing of married life.

xoxoxo

Kara

love is lovely {happy valentine's day}

I can't believe that it is mid-february already!!! {I knew that the beginning of the year would fly by in anticipation of my June wedding} We have an upcoming trip to Savannah, Ga for some serious wedding planning and I am so excited! I haven't been back to Savannah since I graduated {almost 3 years!} and I can't wait to do all of my favorite Savannah things...

I set up an area in my studio as a wedding "mood" table! Here are some shots of some of the items that keep me excited about everything... {and I can go look at my pretty wedding things whenever I get overwhelmed or stressed about the wedding}

I leave for India and China next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to go to markets in India {gemstones and silks} and shopping in Shanghai {pearls pearls pearls}

xoxoxo, kara

beautiful bridesmaid colors

I sent these color swatches along with inspiration boards to my bridesmaids last week! Happy shopping ladies, and I hope that each of you find a dress that you love...

{and I hope that you find it on sale...}

happy and excited...

It has been a great couple days! Not only did I find an amazing and perfect wedding dress last weekend, as well as had a ball shopping with my mom....but I found out this morning that I was chosen to be the winner of this contest by Katee Grace Photography! She is going to travel to Savannah and take delightful photos of us and all of the excitement on our special day!!! Check out her post on us here! 

I thought this little drawing in my sketchbook would be a nice way to thank Katee Grace and get her ready for a good time at our wedding!!!

watercolor wedding birdies+ gone so long

I haven't posted in forever, I know!!! But I have been busy....I painted these birds as an element of the cards that I made for my bridesmaids. The "cards" turned into small books really, and taught me to keep my invitations simple! I didn't photograph a finished one...but I hope that all of my girls were happy to receive them in the mail!

That's not all that I have been working on...

*I created a shirt design for the girls on team, "high heels for hope" . Each of the teammates are raising $2300 for breast cancer research at the three days for the cure walk. I will post the design soon :) I hope the best for the team and their fundraising!!!

*I donated a necklace/earring set to my mother-in-law-to-be's charity silent auction for the Children's Miracle Network

*I attended a really beautiful wedding and made my friend Christina, the beautiful bride, a super sparkly jewelry set {alright, they didn't register for it...I probably won't get a single thing that I registered for in return! top photo} 

* I am working on some equally sparkly commissioned earrings for my friend Lauren to wear in her wedding- lots of pressure to create something that someone will wear on her most special day! I will share them when they are finished and have the bride's approval!

*jeez....I went to work too.

xoxoxo

Wedding dreams {table decor}

I saw this great DIY idea on a few blogs recently and thought that it would be fantastic as center pieces for my wedding reception! I love milk glass {which is conveniently EVERYwhere at garage sales} as well as pretty feminine plates~ my plan is to search garage sales/flea markets/goodwills for both items, then assemble them into cake stands in Savannah before the big day! {epoxy glue apparently does the trick}  I am planning on sticking to my color palette as well as delicately patterned plates to create cohesive arrangements...  

I think that 3 to 5 per table, topped with candles and smaller vases of flowers will be a beautiful centerpiece arrangement! So far, all plates, vases, and candlesticks have been under 3$ and most have been a dollar or less! This also gives me a glorious excuse to go to antique shopping-yay! 

Friends and family~ now you know what to look for!

Engagement photos...

My extremely talented friend and co-worker, Amber took Zach and my engagement photos last weekend and has posted a little sneak peek on her site! I am so happy that we did the photo shoot! It was a beautiful day and Zach was such a good sport...I can't wait to see the rest!!!!

Amber posted a few more shots on her website- check them out here.

Eeeeeeeeeeeek! so exciting!

If you live in the Minneapolis area, please consider having photos taken by Amber- seriously she is AMAZING! 

 

engagement photo prep!

Zach and I are getting engagement photos taken on Monday {if the rainstorms hold out}  My friend and talented photographer, Amber Engfer is working our little photoshoot at a secluded outdoor location {the QUAKING BOG at Theodore Wirth Park- sounds pretty, huh! If the bog doesn't thrill us, the Wildflower garden is on the other side of the park...} So of course, outfits must be planned. 

I found the beaded blue dress {for 1$} in LA, and hacked off the bottom of the dress so it would fit in my carry-on bag. I thought that I only wanted the beaded trim...but, I really liked it as a dress once I tried in on. Sadly, it is inappropriately short- so my plan is to stitch the lace + pleated trim from a vintage slip to the bottom of the dress. Keep your fingers crossed! I haven't sewn in awhile....

I made the flower for my hair with layers of white silks and linen + pleated velvet ribbon and a vintage brooch {inspired by my friend Sara} And I have extra long curls at the moment, thanks to my talented fiance, who gave me extensions last night! {Fun}

vintage lampshades....

I snapped these {tiny} vintage lampshades at an antique store the other day and these beautiful begonias at the farmers market today

{just a little more color inspiration}

wedding colors! {first draft}

The boy hasn't seen these yet...he may run for the hills, but really- he should know me well enough to know that I love pink! I don't want anything to matchy-matchy {especially bridesmade dresses}  Also dreaming about kraft paper+ white {lace/doily}+hit of color for the invitations...vintage colored glass and white milk glass vases for reception decoration... 

{now back to the hard part- location for the ceremony and reception}