Alesia Zorn Calligraphy

When I say "Anything you can dream up..."

...I really mean it!  I'm doing chalkboard menus for a wedding this weekend.  I wish I'd been clever enough to think of this, but I give total props to the bride, it was her idea.  Besides large menu chalkboards, she wanted to have signature cocktail chalkboards on the bar... but not just any chalkboards - rebus puzzles!!

 

 

The answers:

Jack and Cola (there is that trademark issue ;-)

lemon, raspberry and gin

beer or wine

I had to scan and send this now because I'm so excited about her clever idea.  I'm hoping the photographer will take detail shots of the menu boards.  Yes, boardS - one for apps & dinner and one for a dessert menu that will make you weep!

Calligraphy Going Green & Going Green is Delicious!

I've discussed in other posts what a killer working on menus is - the difficulty isn't the work itself, it's being so focused on the food!  Every once in a great while I get to work on a menu for an event I actually get to attend - this is one of those stories!

This month, our ISES (International Special Events Society) local chapter held our meeting at the gorgeous LEEDS certified Buchan Reception Hall at The First Unitarian Church.  The food was beyond incredible - big thanks to Mark Lopez from Crave Catering (appetizer), Max Popejoy from Celebrate Catering (salad), Grace Pae from Artemis Foods (entrée) and Rob Leon from Phresh Organic Catering (dessert).  Our meeting host Mathew Weber of A Swank Affair was very fun.

For this meeting I provided the name tags and programs.  The name tags and program covers were printed on 100% recycled paper (70% mill pulp, 30% post consumer waste -aka pcw).  The pages of the program were printed on 100% pcw recycled paper.  The programs were tied with hemp twine that I waxed prior to sewing (eco friendly and smells deeeevine.)

For the name tags I tried to feature several eco-friendly mediums - walnut ink, which is either made from walnuts or, the one I use, is made from peat (you know, composting plant life); sumi ink and lapis lazuli paint. 

Big thanks to Dwayne Thomas, president of Hollywood Lighting for this photo as I foolishly forgot my camera. 

Menus for "Pimp My Warehouse"

I was asked to produce buffet card menus for the monthly ISES (International Special Events Society) meeting.  It was held in a car warehouse, the theme being "Pimp My Warehouse."  It was the coolest thing possibly ever.  There was an area of the warehouse separated by pipe & drape - the drape being chocolate brown velour.  I walked into the grooviest lounge space, with couches, cocktail tables, big plushy chairs - all in brown, red and white.  Very urban and very groovy!

It was my tortuous pleasure to do the menus that sat on the buffet tables.  The caterers were Premiere Catering, who I've raved about before - and I'll rave about them again.  The food was fantastic, as I commented on my facebook page, I wouldn't want to live in a world without Premiere Catering.

The meeting's theme was also very fun, I had a great time with the menus...

Here's a scan for a close up.

I lettered the menu on white watercolor paper.  I did the little red squares with red Inktense watercolor pencil, the lettering is done with a pointed pen in walnut ink and is based on Frank Lloyd Wright's Exhibition type.  The menu was mounted on the dark red squiggly 8.5x11 inch backer card with foam tape so there was some dimension.  The four red squares in the corners are also the red watercolor pencil, with free-form calligraphic marks made with the same pointed pen and walnut ink and mounted with foam tape as well. 

There were 2 different menus.  I'm going to be a bud and only tempt you with one.  Trust me, it was goooood.

I certainly enjoyed creating little works of art and do my small part to pimp the warehouse!