tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80412220428912457552024-02-18T23:52:07.189-05:00Purple RaincoatPurple Raincoat: Where invitations for life’s special occasions become unique, beautiful, personalized keepsakes.Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-83817633832374475042013-01-09T00:49:00.001-05:002013-01-09T00:51:39.130-05:00Time to take off the Purple Raincoat
You may have noticed this blog has been dormant for a while. There are a couple of reasons. 2009 was a tough year for me - I got laid off from my day job, and was working frantically to get a new one in the midst of the deepest recession since the Great Depression.
In December 2009, I fell on the ice and broke my right forearm, strained my rotator cuff, and basically broke my wrist. And, of Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-15736740487206412762009-07-15T22:29:00.008-04:002009-07-15T22:40:12.712-04:00Forever entwinedIt has been a busy day. Before 9AM this morning, I had already attended a wedding – well, I was virtually there, along with millions of other people, watching as Leigh and Nick became the 10th couple to be married on the Today Show. As Meredith Viera said during her toast to the couple, Leigh and Nick “exemplify what these events are all about – that’s love, joy and grace.” Of course, that’s whatCarol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-47832434795977391982009-06-21T16:32:00.003-04:002009-06-21T17:04:57.808-04:00Happy Father's Day!On Father's Day, I am especially grateful for the continued presence of my father in my life. He is nearing his 99th (99th!) birthday but is still very much "with the program," as he would put it. He lives alone in an apartment but is very much involved with daily activities and friends, including the minyan (daily prayer group) at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan. He gave up his Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-37609513518413141882009-02-01T14:07:00.014-05:002009-02-01T14:24:04.169-05:00Is buying a Super Bowl ticket a good investment?It’s only a few hours until Super Bowl XLIII between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. How much would you pay to go to the game? According to several ticket purchase sites, tickets are still available at prices ranging from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars – one site lists a private suite with seating for eight if you are willing to pay upwards of $74,000. Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-44460923812048353042009-01-26T22:52:00.027-05:002009-01-31T12:54:55.108-05:00Happy Chinese New Year!Fireworks, parades and music traditionally signal the arrival of the Chinese New Year. But traditions related to money permeate the New Year rituals and celebrations.According to Chinesefortunecalendar.com, “the most popular greeting is Gong Xi Fa Chai (pronounced 'Gong Hay Fat Choy'), which means ‘congratulations and make a fortune.’ ‘Make a fortune’ is to wish people rich, because Chinese love Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-26056498592836117132009-01-25T18:37:00.013-05:002009-01-25T20:05:09.291-05:00With the stroke of a pen – why signatures matterUpon becoming President of the United States, Barack Obama almost immediately began to establish policy in a variety of areas by signing executive orders. The first acts of a presidency are often seen as symbolic, and the ritual of signing an executive order is witnessed and recorded as part of history. Why do signatures hold so much power? Why does a president have to “sign” a bill? Wikipedia Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-21569992267960499132009-01-23T00:23:00.006-05:002009-01-23T01:00:22.399-05:00An inauguration invitation grows in Brooklyn - it’s the real thingI’ve been searching the web for images of the “actual” invitation to President Obama’s inauguration and guess what? It turns out that the invitation I received in the mail and turned into a Purple Raincoat sample inaugural keepsake is the “real” invitation, after all. One million of these invitations were printed in less than a month by Precise Continental, a small union shop in Brooklyn that Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-49482862133871500942009-01-21T22:47:00.005-05:002009-01-21T22:55:12.330-05:00Calling All Purple Ticket Holders!What you can do with that purple ticket…While glued to MSNBC yesterday watching the inauguration (along with the pre-game and post-game shows, so to speak), I heard some of the commentators mentioning that there were people who had tickets to the swearing-in ceremony but were unable to claim their rightful seats. I thought about how heartbreaking that would be – to be so close and to have a Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-20234685790820081652009-01-20T14:02:00.023-05:002009-01-20T17:47:34.573-05:00Happy Inauguration Day!Tips for an unforgettable inaugural experience Were you lucky enough (or connected enough) to get a ticket for Barack Obama’s inauguration as the 44th President of the United States? If so, you may feel as if you won the lottery – which, in a way, you have. You will be part of history whether you have a reserved seat at the swearing-in ceremony, a place along the inaugural parade route or an Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-71433692895616335202008-11-20T19:42:00.011-05:002008-11-20T20:05:49.444-05:00White (House) WeddingsThe election is over, and now we know that the 44th President of the United States will be Barack Obama. President-Elect Obama soon will be moving into the White House with the rest of his family (and the new puppy promised to his daughters). But no matter who lives in the White House, we generally like to think that it belongs to all of us. And whoever lives there is President of the United Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-89310497631756306462008-11-03T16:15:00.008-05:002008-11-04T15:29:01.665-05:00Engagement survival kit for brides-to-beThere's silver, there's gold, and then there's platinum. Platinum is strong, durable and relatively rare - qualities that make it desirable for many couples when choosing an engagement ring - qualities that we hope apply to every engaged couple, as well. If you're a bride-to-be who has been lucky enough to receive the engagement ring of your dreams, and it happens to be made from platinum, AllureCarol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-30067776296129218812008-10-22T23:32:00.004-04:002008-10-22T23:47:38.627-04:00The campaign to elect the invitation to your partyOK, we’re 13 days from electing our next president. This Presidential campaign, which seems to be endless, actually will come to an end. And someone will win. And that might be someone you support (or don’t). For many people, election night is a time to throw a party. If you’re one of those people, why not use an election-themed invitation? At Tres Chic Designs, you can create an invitation Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-29997545828512780302008-10-10T19:39:00.006-04:002008-10-10T20:00:25.089-04:0098 and counting…My father was born on October 10, 1910 - that's 10/10/10. He turns 98 today – happy birthday, Dad. One of the things my father loves about birthdays is getting cards, and fortunately he gets a lot of them. This year, my husband, daughter and I are going to visit him for a family birthday celebration, so I’m going to bring him a special card: a Purple Raincoat collage made especially for him. It Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-49337315550636216892008-09-30T01:54:00.007-04:002008-09-30T17:15:25.872-04:00Invitation keepsakes start with great invitations, Part IIIa: Be ready to answer your dealer's questionsA good dealer (see Invitation keepsakes start with great invitations, part II; selecting a dealer) will ask you lots of questions before you start – and you should be prepared to answer them. Key questions include the following:• What is the occasion - for example, is it a wedding, engagement, bar/bat mitzvah, or milestone anniversary, baptism, retirement ceremony, or surprise birthday?• What Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-9548296668374547702008-09-23T19:27:00.005-04:002008-09-23T19:51:21.955-04:00The apocryphal bar/bat mitzvah invitationHere is the bar/bat mitzvah companion to the "don't let this happen to you" wedding invitation. (You'll have to click on it to read it but trust me, it's worth it).In my days as an invitation designer, fortunately, I never saw anything like this. You can find versions of it all over the internet at places such as The Bat Mitzvah Blog (which has the fabulous subtitle, "You're not going to wear Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-32661573366028524192008-09-19T15:34:00.030-04:002008-09-23T19:12:53.035-04:00Calling all brides, present and pastYou’ve heard of Martha Stewart, maybe? You know Martha Stewart has a thing for weddings, right? Well, Martha has completely updated and revised her the “weddings” portion of her website, in cooperation with Wedding Wire. There are two routes to this resource: you can get there from MarthaStewart.com (click on the “weddings tab”) or from Wedding Wire. You’ll find free planning tools, a community Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-47013252177340640332008-09-14T15:46:00.023-04:002008-09-23T19:11:03.212-04:00Save that envelope! Save that stamp!Personalized stamps, such as those made by PhotoStamps, are becoming increasingly popular for weddings, bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, and other celebrations. The PhotoStamps website is a fountain of inspiration and information about personalizing your postage and ways to use these stamps. The stamps are a small indulgence, but remember that the price per sheet goes down the more sheets you order – Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-69353627511857902252008-09-09T16:19:00.016-04:002008-09-23T19:09:26.407-04:00I love New York…weddingsIs anyone you know getting married in New York City or on Long Island? If so, be sure to let them know about these two wonderful wedding resources: www.liweddings.com and www.nycweddings.com. If you need it for a wedding, you can find it on these sites. And there are great forums on the site for brides and grooms to ask questions and share experiences. Engaged couples and newlyweds can find lots Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-68184367565690315032008-08-28T17:57:00.006-04:002008-09-23T19:08:13.761-04:00Celebrate the silver momentsWe can’t all be Michael Phelps and win gold every time we dive into the pool, but winning the silver remains an accomplishment to celebrate. So when Fitness Together in Lexington, MA was awarded a certificate commemorating their status as a Silver Level Franchise, they didn’t just want to frame the certificate – they wanted to display it in a way that was commensurate with this achievement. Who Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-43228623421702985632008-08-23T11:14:00.010-04:002008-09-23T19:05:51.963-04:00The other side of the coin - $27,800 just doesn’t buy what it used toIn contrast to our last post (the popularity of the $100+ invitation), it’s clear that rapidly rising prices are causing more couples to take a closer look at how they spend money for their weddings. From the August 20, 2008 Boston Globe:“Couples planning their big days are finding that their budgets - whether hundreds of dollars or tens of thousands - won't stretch as far. The cost of the Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-86585598179137638822008-08-19T01:26:00.006-04:002008-09-23T19:01:26.459-04:00Have you heard the one about the $100 invitation?For many people, holding an event to celebrate a life milestone involves making choices based on cost. Some have an afternoon event because lunch costs less than dinner. Some use potted plants as centerpieces because they are less expensive than flower arrangements. Some print their own invitations or send announcements by email to save on printing and postage costs. But it is obvious that for Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-4808703840146567832008-07-29T12:55:00.008-04:002008-09-23T18:59:57.342-04:00Design on the vineThere’s something about vineyards…For many people, vineyards are associated with romance – after all, wine is a traditional symbol of joy, while vines traditionally symbolize life, abundance, and fertility. And isn’t that what we would wish for any couple taking the leap of faith to join together in marriage? So it’s no wonder that a vineyard, full of fruited vines inseparably intertwined, Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-88947145203854233952008-07-25T00:13:00.012-04:002008-09-23T18:54:04.856-04:00Where have all the pressed flowers gone?Although I would like to believe that Purple Raincoat invented the concept of framed invitation keepsakes, the truth is that people have been decorating and framing invitations for many years. One popular style, which has been around since at least the 1970s, involves using pressed flowers as decorations for invitations.Crafting with pressed flowers first became popular during Victorian times. Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-10249279885631353372008-07-08T10:55:00.008-04:002008-09-23T18:51:34.304-04:00Please Mr. Postman, part II: "Deliver the letter, the sooner the better"“How much is it going to cost to mail my invitations?”That’s a question I often was asked when I designed and sold invitations. I always said, “there’s no way to know until you take a full invitation, complete with all inserts, to be weighed at the post office.” Unless you’re sending one folded piece of paper in a standard business (#10) envelope, determining the postage required for a mailing Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041222042891245755.post-18657951709549602092008-06-23T12:37:00.009-04:002008-09-23T18:48:45.845-04:00Please Mr. Postman, part I: Putting the right “stamp” on your invitationsThe postage required to mail an invitation often requires a stamp in a denomination without a lot of design choices. For many people, custom postage stamps are a creative solution that helps you send an additional message about your event as part of the invitation. Stamps also can be used to showcase something about the event or honoree that might not be reflected in the invitation. For example, Carol Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301614022726308877noreply@blogger.com0