Polka Dot, Crabs, and Lollipops

My aunt, Janey, came up with the name "Cayenne Paper" since I was called "Cayenne Katie" as a child. I'm not sure why, but they say it's because I had a spicy hot temper! ;) Since then, I have had many compliments on my business name because it's one you're sure not to forget. But I do have people occasionally calling it Cayenne Pepper, so at least they're on the right track!

Ever notice the names of some of the Etsy and other online boutiques out there? I have found so many other small online boutiques out there and am happy to see these kind of opportunities for SAHM (stay-at-home-moms) and WAHM (work-at-home-moms). In fact, my web-hosting service is called Merchant Moms, a company for mommas with their own boutiques and companies. I've met many other mommas here and my business has really grown because of it.

I've also run into some really cute stores since I opened mine online in 2003. I've come to notice a trend in their business names. I tend to see lots of "polka dots", "crabs", "ladybugs", "preppy", and "lollipops". Have you noticed this, too? I wonder if they have a story behind their names or if they just sounded cute?

Latest Projects

Spring is almost here- hip, hip, hooray! Although we have had a mild winter this year in Virginia, it's always refreshing to see the first blooms of spring- daffodils, crocus, and forsythia to name a few. Usually winter is a slower time (except for Christmas) for Cayenne Paper, but not this year!

Here are some of my latest projects...

"Emily Periwinkle" by Whitney English - invitations, reception cards, reply cards, and note cards for Olivia's Bat Mitzvah. Although it looks light blue here, it is really a beautiful shade of periwinkle (hence the name). We did the text in the same periwinkle color, making it elegant yet still youthful for a young girl.

 

Pink toile invitations (and at a great price- on closeout) for a baby shower. We used the font "Cute Cursive" to make it sweet and perfect for a baby girl on the way!

An order of blue toile note cards for Gwen:

See the pattern here-- toile and damask! These are my 2 favorite designs, so it was a nice treat for me to work on these when cooped up in the winter months. My next project is to design and create my brother and his adorable fiancee's wedding invitations for September in New Orleans. Ooh, the possibilities!