Hello summer! Who’s ready for beach days, park days, zoo days, and farmer’s market days??? We are, and we have teamed up with Kahala Mall once again to create the perfect tote for all those fun-filled days … and it’s totes cute (wink-wink), and best of all it’s FREE as part of a promo with Kahala Mall.
For this year’s exclusive design we focused on Nico Made’s hand lettering with the phrase, Sun, Sea, Surf, and added a just little pizzazz with hand-brushed wave illustrations. We are pretty smitten with the uncomplicated, yet playful design, and we hope you will be too.
Want to get your hands on one of these babies? Well, they aren’t for sale anywhere. They are only available through Kahala Mall.
Just do this:
1) Shop at Kahala Mall (any store, restaurant or the theatres)
2) Save your receipts for all your spending between June 15 - July 31, 2018.
3) When you spend a combined minimum of $250 mall-wide between June 15 - July 31, 2018 you receive our exclusive tote bag, for free! Bring those receipts to the Kahala Mall Management Office, M-F from 8AM- 5PM or at The FaceShop to redeem your bag.
Offer available while supplies last. You can check out more information on Kahala Mall’s promo page.
Super important note: These bags are limited, as in once they run out, they are gone for good (and our tote bag collaborations are known to sell out fast, just sayin’). Promo for this bag is between June 15 - July 31, 2018.
We hope you enjoy!!
]]>Lissa and Jeff were getting married at Kiholo Bay. It is literally off-the-beaten-path and therefore one of the most majestic places on the Big Island of Hawaii. The bay has ties to Hawaiian royalty and is a safe haven for local marine life. Like I said, it is a pretty special place.
Lissa wanted her invitations to evoke an old-time Hawaiiana vibe, and also embrace the simplistic natural elements of the location: lava rock shores, towering palms, and stark kiawe trees. For the main invitation, our focus was on creating the signature Kiholo Bay with kiawe tree silhouette. The detailed coconut tree illustrations were created with the finest-point pen to help give its etched look, and the color palette was limited, which helped provide a sophisticated vintage feel. A simple L & J monogram was also created, and used with the palm illustrations throughout the invitation suite, including custom postage stamps. Day-of elements, such as menu cards, food station signs, and itinerary cards were also designed with matching colors and graphics to tie it all together.
The invitations were printed on sumptuous triple-thick premium paper stock and coordinated with luxurious European style envelopes and liners.
]]>
We also understand how busy everyone is during this time of year, but our downloadable Fall place cards are a fast way to spruce up your holiday table setting.
You’ll be able to pump these out in no time, and then get back to the fun stuff, like the drinks and laughs.
PS - Not hosting this year? These make for a thoughtful hostess gift. Just make them ahead of time and help your hostess prep the table. She’ll thank you for it!
Cheers!
the Nico Made team
Here’s your 5-step guide to a fresh Fall table setting:
1) PRINT: our printable Fall place card (available here)
2) CUT: using scissors or paper cutter (many print shops have these available for your use)
3) FOLD: lengthwise
4) WRITE: since these are 2-sided we think it’s fun to write a name on one side, and a phrase or nickname on the other.
5) PLACE.
Ta-da!! Table setting on point.
PSS- Yes, that is a Mickey Mouse band-aid that I'm sporting, and while I realize it makes for less than perfect images, I like to think it's the official "look" of crafty moms everywhere. XOXO!
]]>
]]>
Nico Made teamed up with PAS-POL, the Japan-based travel inspired lifestyle brand, to create three photo album covers (shown left to right- Beach Day, Aloha Pineapple, Mahalo Hibiscus). PAS-POL is all about evoking the desire to travel, and Nico Made’s goal is to transport you to the tropics though design, so it only seemed fitting that we would collaborate on a project that promotes traveling to paradise.
In a digital-filled era, it’s nice to actually have photos that one can have and hold, as opposed to just swiping through on your phone. It’s kind of like getting that handwritten card in the mail (wink, wink), as opposed to an email. It creates a personal connection, and we are all about fostering those personal connections.
Update: We are so flattered to have our very own project profile on Pas-Pol's website. Check it out here (and if you can read Japanese, let us know what it says ... all good things we hope ;)
Photo courtesy PAS-POL
]]>I was so honored when Kahala Mall approached me to collaborate with them for a second time on a special Mother’s Day tote bag. Kahala Mall is a special client to work with – they respect and understand the family-work-life balance, which can be very difficult to maintain as a mom-run small business owner.
I’m always juggling work and two lively toddler boys so I know the importance of a good “grab-and-go” tote. It needs to be sturdy, big enough to hold the “momsentials” like wipes, snacks, and water bottles, but not too big that it’s cumbersome to carry. I really think we hit the nail on the head with this tote, both in functionality and its “looks cute with everything-ness.”
These bags are limited editions, and are only available through Kahala Mall. So, how do you get your hands on one, you ask? It’s simple:
1) Shop at Kahala Mall during May 1 - May 14
2) SAVE your paper receipts because when you spend a combined total of $200 (and that includes all those purchases from Whole Foods) you get this bag for FREE. Yep, Free!
You can see all the promo details here.
This tote goes out to all the hard working mamas. You know who you are.
XOXO,
Nico Made
Local mama, entrepreneur and swaddle maven, Coco Moon, has done it again. The Honolulu-based company initially started with a collection of swaddle blankets, which we were so honored to have designed. Now, the company has expanded into crib sheets, towel sets, and clothing which feature designs by Nico Made. We worked with Coco Moon to re-size and scale our designs so the prints would work better on those itsy baby clothes and teeny towels, and using their creative superpowers Coco Moon created the cutest little baby outfits that you ever did see (some OMG items - those leggings and this hat).
Photos courtesy of Coco Moon
]]>
Valentine's Day is coming up, and this will be the first time my boys will celebrate it at school. I’m really excited for them, because though it’s been a very long time since I’ve been a little kid, I vividly remember loving all the mini cards, origami hearts and trinkets that were exchanged.
Our preschool has a couple of guidelines. First - candy and sweets are out. I can totally get behind that because, I mean really, who wants a bunch of toddlers amped on sugar?? Not me. Second, they encourage keeping it homemade. Again, I'm down with that because I love getting a little crafty. But, if you are anything like 99.9% of the mamas out there, you have very little free time, plus if you have multiple kids, that means cards for multiple classrooms, teachers, assistants, etc., etc. Yeah, it’s a lot.
Whether you have to make a lot, or just a few, here is a super easy, super quick way to pump out a bunch of homemade Valentine's Day cards for your little ones.
Here’s what you need:
• Our printable mini Valentine’s Day card
• Colored cardstock
• Scissors or paper cutter (I use this one which really saves on time. You can find it at most office supply stores)
• Double-sided tape
• Pen
Here's what you'll do:
1) Print our mini cards using your desktop printer or local copy shop.
2) Trim the mini cards using scissors or paper trimmer.
3) Cut cardstock into 3" squares. I used Kraft paper, but use anything that fits your vibe.
4) Using double-sided tape, stick the mini card to your cardstock. (I got my toddlers to help with this part.)
5) Have your kiddo sign their name at the bottom. Boom, you are done.
We hope you and your littles enjoy spreading love and joy this Valentine’s Day. We would love to see your creations - Tag your images with #nicomade and share, share, share.
Happy Valentine's Day!
]]>
Here’s what you need to make the gift tags:
• Kraft cardstock (or heavy-weight paper of your choice)
• Our printable gift tags
• Scissors or paper cutter
• Hole punch (I used a 1/8” punch, but any will do)
• Baker's twine
• Tape
• Pen
Steps:
1) Print gift tags on the paper of your choice
2) Trim the tags using scissor or paper cutter
3) Address your tags and affix to the fabulous gift that you just wrapped (see tip below). You can either punch a hole at the top of your label and run twine through it, or just tape it to your gift.
Voila!
And if you really want to channel your inner Martha Stewart, you can even trim the corners off the top of your tag. Wow, now we’re really getting crafty!
Wrapping Tip: Keep it simple. I keep white wrapping paper on hand because it works for all occasions. I like to use contrasting materials and colors, and I’m really into the kraft and white paper combo right now. Add a little P.O.C. (pop of color) with baker's twine, washi tape, or fresh seasonal sprigs from your local florist. So simple. So cute!
We’d love to see how you experiment with your own combinations. Comment below, or tag your creations with #nicomade on social media.
Happy wrapping!
]]>
As if designing wallpaper for the super rad Surfjack hotel wasn’t amazing enough, this happened – nico made was highlighted in Vogue for our work done in said hotel. Ahhh, pinch me because this might be one of my biggest OMG moments yet!
It’s tough being a creative entrepreneur. You constantly second-guess yourself, your skills, your projects. And then every now an then, you have an amazing moment like this, and it’s like pure rhapsody for your creative spirit.
If you haven’t had a chance to check out the Surfjack, you need to. Like now. It’s dripping in creative sauce and is a wonderland for photogaphiles. Oh, and while you are there, make sure to take a selfie and post it to Instagram. Because Vogue, that’s why.
Photo: Courtesy of Brooke Dombrowski
Pool lettering by Matt Tapia
The hotel project was sort of “under-wraps-slash-hush-hush”, so I wasn’t given too many details. I didn’t know the hotel name, brand, location, or size. Oh, and of course it was somewhat of a rush project. All these things would normally raise red flags for me, but I honestly think I was so excited for the opportunity to fulfill a creative dream that I just took a chance and went for it. Soon after signing on with the project I learned that several local artist would be tapped for various projects and I instantly knew in my heart that I took the right chance at the right time.
Fast forward several months and it’s unveiled that the project is for the Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club (which happens to be the coolest - check out their vibe), the wallpaper is up (and I’m in love), and I’m happy to report the project was a smash hit on so many levels. The hotel renovation was part of a movement that encouraged uniqueness and selfless progression. I’ve made friends with so many talented artists and pushed the boundaries of my creativity and confidence.
Nothing would have been possible without the vision of the talented people at The Vanguard Theory and commitment to unique design by the Surfjack Hotel and Swim Club. Mahalo!!
At the Surfjack opening party. Hey, look, that's me!
Working on the scale of the pattern. The bigger and bolder, the better!
Touring the property with Michelle of The Vanguard Theory.
The devil is in the details. Surfjack branded crates for in-room dining service.
]]>When we were first contacted by Coco Moon I was still struggling to figure out this whole work-life balance thing (and I’m still trying to figure it out). But, despite our hectic schedules the opportunity to work with a new local company and create beautiful swaddle blankets was something I couldn’t pass up.
Amber (Coco Moon’s founder) had great vision for her company’s aesthetic. We worked together until we got the right colors, scale, and pattern, and in the end I think we created uniquely beautiful designs that are sweet and true to the Island-style vibe of Amber’s vision.
As a designer, it’s extremely fulfilling to see Coco Moon become sought-after, and as a local business owner, it’s so great to see another woman-run business blossom. We can’t wait to see what they come up with next!
Check out some of the custom prints we created ...
]]>]]>