Let Me Paint You a Picture.

Are there things that you look back upon and think: "I never do that anymore.."?

Lately, that for me, has been painting. It was something that I took throughout my studio years in school, but never really focused on. Finding myself really wanting to reconnect with that aspect of my art. It's a shame that in life you sometimes lose touch with doing certain things that make you happy and feed your creativity. I think that's just life though. There's so much to worry about; to figure out and to keep track of on a daily basis. Jobs, bills, family; even just keeping track and maintaining yourself. Finding the time to focus on the "outlets" to your soul, kind of take a back burner to it all. When in reality, they should be the focus. Even working them in just a little at a time. They are the spots in our life that should never be pushed to the side. Truly important facets!

Take the time to paint! To read a book, plant some flowers, start a journal, redesign a room in your house. Something that you love to do. A part of you that really makes you...you, but that you maybe don't take the time to explore on a daily basis. It's so important to have a passion for something that you love to do. I know that you know that...it's just good to hear! Building your life around that passion is something that we can all ever hope to achieve.

Even if your life isn't built around your true passion - there will always be a little portion of time in your crazy life to enjoy it!

xo

CRR

Old Florida Wedding Feature & Fervor

Featured most recently on my site is a story very dear to my heart - 

highlighting the wedding of my older brother RJ to the love of his life, Olivia.

Their wedding took place last May in Orlando, Florida at the beautiful Paradise Cove.

Photos by the ever so talented Earthmuse Photography and the beauty of the florals by Velvet and Twine of Orlando are showcased throughout. The ora of the wedding is fun & romantic;

truly Old Florida at it's finest!

Read more about their special day and take a look at the beautiful images captured at:

http://www.chelseareneedesigns.com/real-weddings.html

You made it to Wednesday - almost to the Holiday Weekend; homestretch!

xo

CRR

Not a Fairy Tale...it's Detail!

Ohhh, to be Detail Oriented.

I have to give a large amount of respect out to those who are unbelievably organized, immensely productive and yet still...detail oriented!

I, myself, am very detail oriented come...my work. Detail oriented almost to a fault. Where I think I need to loosen my reigns and let go of my style just a bit! I think that's all the part of developing your life and your work though. Finding the ways that you let go; the things that inspire you, feed your soul & spark your creativity. Carrying the art of detailed science into your everyday life and organization takes discipline. Personally, I find as I get older, that my attention span and sporadic lifestyle hinder this aspect just a bit. But having a schedule, a routine...and then focusing on the details around them; is something I believe to be so important. That structure gives you the ability to blossom in your life, especially to feed your soul. First and foremost, it's finding and building that foundation of structure. For me, I build that around my happiness. I love to be settled, but I love to be happy. I find my structure in my contentment. It is in that moment, wherever it may be that I am...that I find and focus on the details around me.

Details - whether artistically, personally, or structurally...are so important.

I'm getting on a flight in a few hours and heading to my next destination. Building my lifestyle and my work around place to place is where I'm beginning to find my structure. Finding my inspiration in the places that I've had the opportunity to go; the places that I've been fortunate enough to settle in, to find a temporary home in & to build countless memories.

Pay attention to the details. The little things.

Don't let them pass you by!

When added all up, the details are so beautiful. They connect so much; they make sense of everything. Next time you plan - be detailed. Don't just get by...make it count! When you're planning an event, tie it all together; incorporate a little something to help it all make sense. This might be a pop of color, a custom image, or even just a fancy font.

Next stop: Phoenix, Arizona.

Have a fabulous Tuesday!

xo

CRR

A Sacramento kind of Summer

Lately I've talked a lot about work. Today...I update on me!

I send my love from Sacramento, California.

My heart always keeps me traveling, where I find my home next to the one I love.

With my heart for home always remaining in Orlando with my family and my roots, these homes we create are always a bit of a temporary residence.

I'm a little late on the update here, but it's been about a month of a Sacramento Summer of living thus far. A long ways a way from Orlando...but a truly beautiful place.

California alone holds a beauty like no other; Sacramento gives it a humbled feel. Where there is still farmland and flowing rivers, but a climate that is so wholly and perfectly...California. Well, at least for now! I hear it gets a bit hot come these summer months. Being from Orlando, I know a thing or twenty about heat. But...someone mentioned into the hundreds and I'm coming to realize: that number is just something I'm never going to escape when it involves climate. However, I'll happily take the blessing of the "no humidity" that comes along with this region!

I have to say...one of my favorite parts of Sacramento so far would have to be the beautiful bridge. The Golden Gate has a presence like no other with it's bright red coloration; but this beaming yellow beauty is quite amazing. Such a nice yellow brick road leading up to the capitol!

Come sunset, the light shining off of the bridge with the backdrop of the city is just breathtaking..

I have to tell you..."I get it from my Momma".

I do just love flowers so very much; but my mother is the one that holds the true gift for them. Imitating her ability to just take a bouquet and organize them so perfectly and artistically in something as simple as a mason jar, is something I've shadowed from her my entire life. 

Especially now into my older years! I think I'm gaining more of a respect for fresh flowers. Or maybe the ability to actually buy them or maintain them? Who knows!

Here I send you a few Sacramento Sunflowers!

A little beauty to brighten up your Friday.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Friday and a wonderful weekend ahead of you.

Do something exciting.

Go get yourself some flowers!

xo

CRR

Calligraphy Crawl

Today is Thursday.

Therefore...we are going to "Calligraphy Crawl" right on into Friday!

As far as I know, a little overdose of calligraphy never hurt anyone.

This won't be so much of an overdose - rather, a light sharing of the artistic written word.

We'll flow with the letters...right through to the weekend...

So now that we've crawled...it's up to you to make the most of your Friday!

At least make some plans for your weekend.. 

Something productive.

All in all, hope it's wonderful!

xo

CRR

Choose a Seat...Not a Side!

It has now become quite a popular and catchy little saying at wedding ceremonies:

"please, choose a seat...not a side". A short and sweet message to make guests feel welcome, to join two families as one right off the bat...to get people in their seats, and ready for the ceremony to begin. 

While this is all well and good at the ceremony - it wreaks havoc in the scenario of a reception. Order is something I would say is quite necessary at a reception. Although it may seem like a simple feat, relying solely on placing numerous tables in a confined area and allowing people to figure out order on their own...is asking for trouble! Seating arrangements are one of those details that you just...don't think about. It's those smalls details with a wedding that will really catch up with you! The scary thought: it's usually down to the wire before you're realizing that you haven't even touched on them yet.

Along with many other details that accompany a wedding, seating arrangements have veered much more to the informal side. Formally, seating arrangements were designated by the bride and family. Each guest was given an actual seat and highlighted by a place card at their place setting. While the idea of this is very glamorous...it's a lot of stress on you! Designating people to their table alone, is order enough. This can be accomplished by two key elements: a large seating chart with each table listed and the guests names under each, or even just an escort card labeled with the guest name and assigned table number. That way the guest can locate their name or card, check the table number...and be on their way! Once at the table...let the madness begin. At least all of the guests fighting over a chair at that table...will also belong there. So, it has to be somewhat of a mutual feeling!

Seating arrangements can be such an artistic element of the design with your wedding. Tying in the seating chart or escort cards with the table numbers and theme of your wedding...can have such an impact. Carry the colors, typography, and artistic elements through each piece. Keeping everything unified; beautiful.

Make it different.

Incorporate something that reflects you. You can keep a seating chart simple with just a framed piece of calligraphy, or you can look outside of the box and tie in an old window to reflect your eclectic personality and shabby chic wedding; use an old shutter to hold the escort cards for your guests to pull in the absolutely elegant outdoor lakeside oasis. You can make anything work. Don't be afraid to get creative with seating arrangements. It can make such an impact at a celebration. It gives guests something to look at, talk about; a decorative focal point that makes the flow from ceremony, to cocktails, to the reception...so enjoyable!

Hope it's been a lovely WEDnesday!

You're halfway to the weekend..hang in there.

Just wanted to share a little love to honor this past weekend, Mother's Day.

The two most incredible women in my life.

Not sure I could even find the words to describe what life would be without their love, presence, influence, and inspiration along the way.

They are my everything...

my strength, my peace, my laughter, my smile, my heart and soul.

xo

CRR

I now pronounce you...

Brooke and Travis Bourgeois - April 11, 2015

Cypress Grove Estate

The latest bit of work that I am highlighting here and on my site is from the wedding of Brooke and Travis Bourgeois. Held last month on April 11th at the Cypress Grove Estate House in Orlando, Florida. Brooke is a dear family friend of mine and doing some of the detail work for her wedding was such a treat. She has a timeless grace for style and beautiful details. Watching her plan this wedding and put together the special day was so beautiful because it was all such a depiction of her a as a person.

The venue Brooke and Travis chose is absolutely exquisite. Set among cascading and towering old oak trees, the Cypress Grove Estate is a plantation house that has stood as a landmark in Orlando for generations and generations. On the beautiful April day of the ceremony, the trees were beaming of lush green - a simple foreshadowing to the April showers that would accompany the reception following the ceremony!

Florals for the celebration were done by Velvet and Twine; a talented duo that has graced so many Orlando weddings with their true gift for floral design. The immaculate flowers had a pop of bright pink that is hard to even describe! With the contrast of the boys in their navy suits, and set amongst the gold dresses of the girls and gorgeous gown of the bride...they were a true statement of art in themselves. The details were put together perfectly.

The celebration went off without a hitch. Even the pouring down rain was turned into a reason to dance with your shoes off and your feet buried under three inches of water with the band playing! It was a genuinely joyous occasion, they share a beautiful union, and it was a stunning event!

Check in soon for more excitement and another event!

Have a great week, enjoy it.

xo

CRR

Ohhh the excitement of Monday!

Happy Monday Everyone!

I have some exciting news to share with you on this lovely Monday: chelseareneedesigns.com is officially up and running!! I am still working on getting all of the details ironed out, but I am beyond thrilled to have it settled and going. When I began out of college, as I mentioned before, I had no direction. I was doing everything under the sun, and kicked things off with naming my business Simpliche {sim-plee-chay}. It is a twist on the Italian word for simple, spelled 'semplice'. I was caught up in incorporating my Italian family heritage, the simple element of my work and my life, and the fact that I thought naturally...people would see this and read: Simpliche by Chelsea Renee.

{...none of which worked}!

Therefore, plain and simple: I am my work.

Chelsea Renee Designs it is...and rightfully so!

I have long used this blog to post all that I have going on in my life with work and artistically. I am still going to use this as an outlet to post the creative aspects of my life and what I have going on at the time; but I am going to use it as more of a personal log of my life. Posting a few pictures of my work at the time, tricks of the trade, and a little of the adventures where I am!

Chelsea Renee Designs will be my working portfolio. A place for people to learn a little about me, view my work, and more importantly...easily contact me.

I hope that you can stop by and visit the site!

So excited for all to come with it. But above all...for this little change and new start.

Feel free to give feedback - email me, call me, comment...anything at all!!

Hope that you all have a great week. The fun has just begun!

xo

CRR

Throwback Thursday? ...Let's go with Flashback Friday!

I'm not sure that many or any of you would realize this...but, I did a bit of a facelift to the blog yesterday. I began this blog in 2010 and after looking over things for quite sometime, I've decided that it's time to start fresh! {Well, let's say Revise Fresh}.

So much of my life has changed. Personally, and above all...with my work - my style and writing of art, but especially the type of work that I have decided to focus primarily on. When I started this blog I was baking, printing, writing, painting - you...name...it! I had no focus, I just simply - was in go mode. I went into it with an "I Can Do All" passion and quickly found myself...doing too much! I was right out of college, ready to do it all. Not exactly sure what "all" entailed. Or what I truly wanted to be doing.

I'm going to take the time in this post to kind of "flashback". To highlight some of the best times from those posts which I have removed. Some of the fun with my baking, my old art, the things that I dove into for the first time wayyy back when and am still doing, the personal memories...a little of everything!

We'll start with prints..

My heart will always lie in printing.

Some of my very best memories of my college education are found in the courses that I took in printmaking. I focused primarily on linoleum block prints and just...absolutely loved it! I even printed on gift bags for my dear friends Emily's wedding favors. It was nautical themed and we truly celebrated her "tying the knot"!

These are not prints...but wanted to throw a little painting in the mix!

Invitations.

Like I said, some things I went full speed ahead with - invitations were one of them. But in the midst of baking and calligraphy and printing and everything else I had going on...I forgot to line my ducks up. Invitations and a line of stationery are something that I would like to expand my work into encompassing. But for now...this is where I started with them!

Painted Glassware.

Ohhh yes...I even painted glasses! I'm telling you - where my mind was when I decided that I could do all of these lovely things...I'm just not even sure. But yes indeed, I painted some darn glasses in my time!

Baking.

I looove(d) to bake! Still do. Just don't make the time for it now as I once did. It came to the point in my love for baking, that I was baking for anything. And everything! But that is something I knew that I could never venture into without a much more commercialized plan. A little too iffy getting into food and selling food. But a pretty little cupcake or some adorable little cake balls?...I was all over it!

Calligraphy.

Here is where my focus now lies. About a year or so ago, I took all of the other activities that I had going on and put them on hold. I needed some focus...to consolidate! This is where my style has changed. I am self taught at calligraphy and was introduced to the art at a young age by my mother whose good friend Cheryl made a living and profession out of selling her beautiful calligraphy. I grew up in art, loving to write, and always admiring Cheryl's work. I would dabble in teaching myself, and truly took a harder look at it when I was in college. So when I began this blog and started showcasing some of my work...it was the beginning to my style - to teaching, learning, and polishing my art of it.

My style is still very similar - but I feel as an artist that I have personally come a long way with much of it. Definitely grown and become more confident with it. Which is hard for me to admit sometimes. So...allelujiah for that one!

Miscellaneous Details.

This is still very much where my focus is.

I deal a lot with weddings and the details that accompany that magical day. The small details...are always the worst to figure out! That is where I come in. From the table numbers, to the escort cards and random signs to place around the event - I looove to bring together some details!

Name Tags.

Again - very much where my focus is nowadays.

I began many years ago with just helping out my dear best friend with their sorority recruitment name tags. She knew that I was growing my work and could creatively lend a hand - and that I did. Since then, I have continued to provide the tags for their recruitment and have expanded into doing the tags for many other sorority functions and recruitments!

Here are some from over the years...

My life as we know it. 

I'm going to stop the recap of my work here and now. But I do want to provide some personal pictures that have appeared on the blog over the years. Pictures of my amazing family, friends, beautiful baby girl{dog} Elsie Rae Rampi, and so much more...

Part of the posts deletion was the very first, and the introduction to my life. Most of these pictures somewhat sum it up pretty perfectly and that little sentence that just appears truly does. But just to add to that - the people in my life are so very important to me. I travel...a lot! Simply because my relationship keeps me on the go. But, it is truly worth every second!! I pack up my work, check that bag full of goodies onto the plane, and make it all work! From Orlando, from Texas, from California - from where the heck ever. I was born in Orlando and that is where my home currently is. My entire family lives there and continues to grow and plant their roots there. My oldest brother, RJ, married the love of his life, Olivia (a friend of mine from high school), and the Rampi family began it's expansion last May with their wedding and my gaining of an amazing sister. My youngest brother is planting his roots there with the purchase of his first home! After two diplomas from the University of Florida in Engineering and currently working on his Masters, all whilst devoting his time to a great job...the boy has well deserved his right to buy that house!! The two wonderful people that began it all - my loving parents - have been happily and wonderfully married for 31 years now come this April! They are a true testament to a loving marriage and strong relationship - the kind that people admire and spend their entire lives hoping for!!

Life is pretty crazy - the way it plays out, the lessons that you learn, and the people that remain in it. I can't express how strongly I truly believe in faith and keeping it as the basis to your everyday life..

Focusing on yourself, where you want to be in your life, and what you love. "Everything else will work itself out - ...it always does".. {Words of wisdom from my beautiful mother}!

And there we have it! 

A little of me, and a lot of my work. So here is where we start fresh! With the blog, with my work, with the future and all that is to come with every bit of it. I'm going to use this blog to post all that I have going on in my life -- to journal my travels, where I am in my life, and of course...the work that I have going on at the time. Hope that you're caught up and hope that you enjoy the posts that still remain. 

A lot to come...so we'll have to talk again soon!

xo

CRR