Kara Kurth reflects on 2010 trends + forecasts 2011! PLUS A Stationery Giveaway!

We asked Kara Kurth, our leading trend-setter to recap her biggest takeaway for 2010 + to give us a preview of what's to come in 2011, this is what she had to say.

2010 was all about being bold! Pop, shine + surprise. Our most popular holiday card was this lovely card, which totally encapsulates the bright + bold idea.

My prediction for 2011:: it will start out in a dreamstate, followed by spring trends with a mixture of whimsy + bold patterns and textures reminiscent of the 70s. 

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I think a dreamstate palette will claim the new year. It's the perfect transition from 2010 to 2011 and I am excited to see the other trends take light over the coming year. Stay tuned.

My advice for any new year? Be your own-trendsetter. Whether it be preppy, classic, modern or vintage-- own it. Confidence is what 2011 is all about.


Never be afraid to make a statement

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You will be remembered for it! Plus, life is too short not to.

The devil is in the details

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The smallest touches are what make you, you.

Surround yourself with inspiration ::

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Your home, wardrobe + stationery should inspire you to be the very best version of yourself.

What were your favorite trends of 2010 and what do you predict for 2011? Let us know and you might just win Red Stamp stationery from our signature collection. The perfect way to start off 2011 in style.

Just leave a comment below letting us know + we'll randomly pick 5 lucky winners. {We'll announce the winners on our blog, so don't forget to check back next week to see if you won!}

Our designer bakes, bright + bold.

It started at first stitch. The holidays are more than stuffing stockings to our lead designer, Jen Colburn. To her, it's about when she met design + fell in love. 

When Jen was very young, she'd gather with her grandmother, mom + siblings to decorate cookies. Everyone around her raced through it, loaded on the frosting + sprinkles and that was that. Not Jen.
Then
"I remember sitting there -- meticulously placing each chocolate sprinkle on a gingerbread man so it was perfectly stitched. Looking back, I realize this where my passion for design started to evolve."
From frosted snowmen with blue nonpareil eyes + sugar buttons, to gingerbread people with chocolate sprinkle stitching, her attention to detail and love for design started young + is now a part of her daily life as our ever-inspiring, lead designer. 

That was then. This is now.
Now
"Inspired by all that's bold + bright this season, from sequined skirts {J.Crew}, to sparkling holiday decor {love Lonny Magazine's Holiday Mini Issue!} to glistening ornaments, my cookies this year took on a bold feel with bright colors and a bit of sparkle."
Her cookies aren't the only place she infused bright + bold inspiration, check out some of her signature designs for our New Year collection. Her same thoughtful attention to detail, born out of stitching tiny gingerbread people has carried into our holiday collection. The perfect way to greet the new year - with a POP of color.

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A Bright + Bold Cocktail Party

Our lead trendsetter, Kara Kurth, is also quite the hostess. She's getting ready to throw her 5th Annual Holiday Party + we wanted to know how she keeps them coming back for more, year after year. Learn more.

The drink that can't go wrong

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 This year she's going festive with her drinks, with a little help from Oprah. Inspired by this recipe, Kara's guests' spirits will warm with Moscow Mule Cocktails. Her twist? Add a little rosemary to garnish, instead of mint -- makes a bit more festive.

Decorations that pop.
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She's a trend-setter for a reason. She captures the season with festive elements, but adds her own flavor. A vintage reindeer, freshly gathered pine cones and bright + bold elements sprinkled in with her flock wreath and tiered platter. This party is her favorite excuse to pull out her favorite flatware. Bold, tiered plates {for yummy treats} + sparkling crystal, which adds the perfect glimmer her evening needs. 

Her ensemble, you ask?
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Nothing less than polished. This hostess with the mostess, certainly looks the part.  From head to toe Kara will rock a flowing, fire-engine-red frock -- the best vest for moving quickly. Both for hosting + rocking the dance floor. 

So what keeps them coming back?
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 Her parties are spontaneous + free-flowing. Her guests love the mysterious allure of what's going to happen each year. Will it be new refreshments? New games? New decor? The opportunities are endless + this trendsetter delivers {year after year}.

 

An Alluring Palette :: Ladylike Military

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We have two more palettes left to show you. You've seen what inspired our designers to combine the perfect colors to make the Big + Bold Color and Black, White + Gold palettes + today we're excited to introduce, Ladylike Military.

We invite you to take a journey this fall + winter with our Ladylike Military palette. Explore the soft earth tones of camel + chocolate as they mix with upscale military tones of olive and green. This color palette is a safari to your senses senses ::  with a soft + subtle colors that combine perfectly with exotic animal prints + hints of travel. Like the other two palettes, a little pop of red adds the perfect balance to the subtle hues + alluring patterns of the safari.

Indulge your inner-animal and take a peek at our leopard print stationery + invitations. Stop back soon + check out our Holiday 2010 collection to see where our designers pulse in these enticing palettes.