Racecar Custom Invitations

Rattle and Roll... Baby!

Freezing Hatch Green Chiles

August is beautiful month.  To me it means:  Back to school (yay for school supplies!), slightly cooler weather (wishful thinking in Texas, but it ...

My Favorite Child

As a parent, you're not supposed to have a favorite child. And if you do, you're certainly not supposed to say it out loud (gasp - much less write ...

Fireplace Transition into Fall

As the beginning of October approaches (and temperatures start to drop), I'm REALLY looking forward to fall - specifically -  nights by the fire!  ...

Cleaning a Rainbow Trout

Warning: This post may be graphic and appalling to fish activists (if that's a real thing), but let me say this: Although the fish in these photos ...

When Inspiration Strikes in the Shower

Over the past few months, I've noticed that all of my best ideas seem to happen when I'm in the shower.  I've tried a variety of ways to document t...

Letterpress Stationery Love

I have a confession to make.  Although I own a paper and gift store, and I've ordered beautiful, expensive stationery for many many customers... I'...

2014 is Here!

Happy New Year!  It's officially 2014, and if you don't have a calendar yet... you need one!  Here are my two favorite picks from this year.  In fa...

Toscana Soup

It's no secret, I'm a soup lover, and Toscana soup is definitely in my top three favorites right now (the other two are Chicken Noodle and Egg Drop...

Hidden Remote Tutorial

When I saw this idea featured in Country Living magazine last year, I thought it looked like a pretty fun (and clever) idea.  It seemed easy enough...

Rum Cake

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not big on desserts.  My brother got the sweet tooth in the family, and generally speaking, I'm disinterested in...

Happy St.Patrick's Day

Happy St.Patrick's Day from me and my little redheads! (I can't even tell you how many tries it took to get a shot where Linus wasn't trying to ea...

Halloween Mantle

Since I already shared a small part of my transition into fall decor, I thought I might show you the completed Halloween mantle look.  Each year I ...

Barque's 5th Birthday

We feel SO blessed to be celebrating our 5th birthday as Barque! For this year's celebration, we decided that we will acknowlege the occasion wit...

Graduation Luau Invitation Ideas

Graduation Luau Party Invitations Graduation parties are really fun with a theme, and it seems like lately we've been doing a lot of LUAU invitati...

Roasted Cauliflower

One of my favorite go-to side dishes on a weeknight is roasted cauliflower. It's just a few ingredients, it doesn't take long, and it's delicious {...

Salted Cod with Corn and Clams

This past weekend I had the pleasure of my friend Tony coming to visit, and we had such a great time!  We worked together several years ago, and no...

Top 5 Spring Break iPhone Apps

Happy Spring Break, friends!  My facebook timeline is filled with families on vacation, and although I'm not, I thought you happy Spring Breakers m...

Brick Chicken

When asked for my favorite, go-to dinner when the weather warms up, this recipe immediately comes to mind. It's simple but tasty and a real crowd-p...

Chicken & Dumpling Soup

I apologize for the lack of posts the past few weeks.  I've been sick, and that means no energy for anything other than what's necessary.  Blogging...

Eggs Over Medium

I love eggs.  A lot.  For breakfast, if there's a choice between ANYTHING and eggs, I choose eggs.  Always. My trainer at the gym keeps trying to ...

Hail Caeser... Salad!

When the weather warms up, nothing beats a crisp, delicious bowl of greens!  I love Caesar Salad, but I'm not a big fan of store-bought Caesar Dres...

Egg Drop Soup

I love eggs.  I love soup.  And I've always loved egg drop soup, just never tried to make it.  This week on a whim, I decided to do a little rese...

Delicious Parm Dip

Officially, this recipe is called Salsa di Parmigiano... but I've lovingly adapted the name to "Delicious Parm Dip" because it's just easier. A nei...

10 Days + A Spinal Tumor

This past week and a half has been a complete roller coaster of emotion...it's only been ten days, but it feels like it's been three weeks!  I won'...

Crème Fraîche Mashed Potatoes

First, what the heck is crème fraîche anyway?  In a word:  Awesomesauce.  In reality?  It's a "fresh cream" that is naturally soured (not quite as ...

JOY to You and Yours

As some of you know, this year wasn't exactly my favorite.  I lost my beloved Sarah, and that pretty much made me want to skip Christmas altogether...

It's beginning to look a lot like Valentine's!

When I take down the Christmas decorations, it always feels so... empty in the house.  To cheer myself up, I like to pull out my Valentine's Day de...

Re-purposed Nesting Box Turned Planter

Last year, mom and I attended our first Fall RoundTop Antiques Fair just to "check it out", but we were overwhelmed by the options - way too many g...

My Favorite Hallway

I admit, I have a favorite corner of the house... Ok, technically it's a hallway (a teeny tiny one).  It's the 4x4 space that leads into the master...

Hidden Bar Cabinet

A few years after college, my grandmother gave me a small clothing wardrobe (that she actually found it on the side of the road) . I've always love...

Sarah's Birthday Cake

Happy Birthday Miss Sarah!  Today is her 8th birthday, and I'm not about to let it pass without a celebration.  Tonight made her a banana and carob...

Coffee Cozy Gift Idea

This week we're supposed to have some cooler weather (hooray!) so I thought I might feature this super cute gift idea - the coffee cozy (and option...

It's a BOY!

Well, it's official... Lucy and I are adding a BOY to our little family!  He's a (red) golden retriever and approximately a year old... and I get t...

Christmas Woodland Centerpiece

Every Christmas, I try to do a different theme for the dinner table, and this time I really wanted something "woodsy"...  So I purchased some a mos...

Famous Chicken Noodle Soup

Now, keep in mind... I'm no chef.  But since I get requests for my homemade chicken noodle soup pretty regularly (and I've probably made it once a ...

Dill Chicken Salad Snack

Moving into the New Year, I'm really trying to make a conscience effort to snack more wisely. Sometimes at work I get so busy that I might not have...

Garlic Parmesan Roasted Chickpeas

Since I'm allergic to peanuts, there are limited protein-packed, healthy snacks that I can munch on during the day.  I was really excited to try th...

Sleep in?

Man, it's pretty hard to be motivated to get outta bed when you're staring at these two adorable faces between the sheets on a cold winter morning....

Kale & Parmesan Pesto Pasta

Another great recipe that we featured on Sample Saturday was the Kale & Parmesan Pesto Pasta.  This is the Easiest.  Dish.  Ever.  And it's del...

Sun-dried Tomato and Turkey Sandwiches

This recipe is so easy and delicious - it's makes the perfect summer sandwich or appetizer for a party.  We made them for our Sample Saturday, and ...

5 Items You Should Always Have in Your Fridge

As a single gal, I think having a few items in the fridge is crucial. At all times. Here are the top 5 necessities that I think you should have in ...

Halloween Details

I must admit, I'm a bit of a Fraidy Cat.  I can't watch horror movies {accidentally saw 5 minutes of Children of the Corn when I was a kid and it h...

"Windows to Nowhere" DIY

I've always been been fascinated with interesting doors and windows - particularly antique ones.  In fact, for years (and in two different homes), ...

Guest Room Redo

Please don't judge how terrible my guest room was before.  I knew it was bad.  When I moved in two years ago, it was runner-up for LAST thing on th...

Two Electricians and a Pinterest Moment

Yesterday I shared an unexpected Pinterest moment- with two electricians installing a new light fixture in my kitchen.  I know it sounds odd, but i...

Milk Jar Collection Storage

Over the past few years, I've become a collector of vintage milk jars (as if I  need more quirky items to collect).  I started my collection when I...

Eggy Avocado Toast

I'm not really a fan of bread in the morning.  I don't care for donuts or muffins or pancakes - don't get me wrong, I'll eat them if that's what's ...

Company coming? Make sure you're prepared!

I found one of my favorite quotes about hospitality in Food & Wine Magazine, when they interviewed Bronson van Wyck.  He said, "Hospitality in ...

A Reminder from your Local, Friendly Stationer

Let me just say, as a paper lover, it kills me when I see people making poor paper decisions... If you're like many this year, as you're clicking,...

Banner Word for 2014

Well, I've been seeing all over Instagram and Facebook that my friends and inspirations have been choosing a word to focus on for 2014. I tried to ...

Home (and Heart) Expansion

As life would have it, we are once again a home with three redheads.  It all happened quickly, but already it's been a blessing.  To be honest, I w...

I Used to Hate Customer Service

When I worked for a wholesale invitation designer straight out of college, my first job was "customer service".  I answered phones, took orders, di...

Egg Nest Brunch

When it comes to brunch, one of my  favorite go-to recipes is a version of one I saw in a cooking magazine few years ago.  They called it "Breakfas...

Let's Talk About It

If you've been taking notes, this has been a hard week for a lot of people.  We lost not one, but TWO icons to suicide - first Kate Spade and then ...

Fly Fishing Weekend

Without a doubt, fall is my favorite season.  The first time that air turns crisp, I'm as giddy as a schoolgirl. For past several years, my grandp...

Christmas Dinner Centerpiece

This holiday, I went with a slight variation of the centerpiece I used for Christmas dinner last year...  I seem to keep getting stuck on using tho...

Bloody Mary Bar

I love brunch.  I love the idea of sleeping in, taking time to prepare a meal for family or friends, sipping on a cocktail mid-morning (because tha...

Guest Room Refresh

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Rug Cleaning

This summer was unusually WET for West Texas, and I mortified to discover my porch rug looking pretty green and mildew-y.  Instead of throwing it a...

Garlicky Fries

Today the weather was gorgeous and sunny, so I thought a homemade burger would be the perfect lunch on the patio.  To accompany my tasty burger, I ...

Ghoul's Night In - A Spooktacular Halloween Dinner

Ghoul's Night IN is one of my favorite Halloween Party themes.  In fact, I throw one almost every year for my girlfriends.  It gives me a great cha...

Ghoul's Night In - A Halloween Dinner

Halloween isn't always just about the kiddos!  What could be more fun than throwing a small dinner party for your girlfriends - a Ghoul's Night In...

Quick Hatch Green Chile Sauce

Every summer, I countdown the days until the Hatch Green Chile Festival... It's usually at the end of August, and my Market Street brings out the b...

Change is Coming

Normally I don't like change.  It's uncomfortable.  It's different.  It's not always fun, but sometimes it is necessary- and in this case I think i...

Succulent Tower

Last summer, I made a fun little "succulent tower" to put on my front porch.  At the time, I was just playing around and had no idea that someone m...

Football Mantle

As soon as September arrived, I felt an itch to put up festive mantle decorations, but I wasn't quite ready to deck it out for Halloween... so I we...

DIY Felt Bunny Napkin Rings

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Movin' On

Last fall, we had the unique opportunity to design custom invitations for Congressman Randy Neugebauer's "Movin' On" Celebration.  He served 14 yea...

FREE Red Mustache Printable

With St. Patty's Day right around the corner, I thought it might be fun to help you get in the Spirit O' the Irish! How about this straw idea for y...

5 Ways a Procrastinator Can Cheat Gift Giving This Season

"Knowing is half the battle." - G.I. Joe That's a little phrase that has stuck with me since childhood

Gift Wrapping with Custom Holiday Tags

Our custom holiday tags were wildly popular this season

Prettying up the Porch

Last summer  was my initial "investment" in the patio project.  I didn't want to spend a lot of money, but I knew that I had to start somewhere, so...

Market Trends January 2017

My Happy Place

I'll admit, I don't get much vacation time anymore. In fact, it's been years since I had an honest-to-goodness vacay (sigh). Everyone says that run...

Tailgate Style Shoot

In preparation of creating the Tailgating Guide for Calligraphy Etc., I'm not gonna lie - I needed a little help.  Well, a lot of help, actually.  ...

Resolution to Write

Still reeling from the hustle and bustle of the holidays?  Well, they're offically over, which means... a) it's time to join a gym. b) you don'...

A SPOOKTACULAR Ghoul's Night IN

This Halloween, how about throwing a Ghoul's Night IN? We love the details from this party - especially the invitation and the "shocktail" stati...

Pinterest Party

Do you LOVE Pinterest?  We do too!  That's why we love the theme for this Girls' Brunch- it's a Pinterest & Pajamas Party!  What could be a bet...

Summer Brunch

Summer is the perfect time to host a brunch- especially on the patio or poolside... and we've got a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing! ...

Custom Invitations

We love custom invitations - they add a personal level to your special event.

Changing Table Turned Drink Cart

Hands down, my "green cart" is my favorite entertaining accessory.  It's served as a drink cart, a dessert cart and even a crafting cart!  This bab...

YOLO

#YOLO. You Only Live Once. This kind of mindset never meant much to me before now... Last year, my grandmother passed away. She was really the firs...

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The First Anniversary - Paper

After you've said your "I Do"s, it's time to get settled into life as a newlywed couple.  The first year of marriage is exciting, but it's also a l...

Tomato Cilantro Salad

Tomato Cilantro Salad 1/2 cup chopped cilantro 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 3 T. white wine vinegar 2 t. Dijon mustard 1-2 small cloves of garlic...

Arugula, Watermelon and Feta Salad

Arugula, Watermelon, and Feta Salad (from the Barefoot Contessa, Food Network)   For the vinaigrette: 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice 1/4...

Olive Cheese Balls

Olive Cheese Balls 2 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1 1/4 c. flour 1/2 c. butter, melted Small pimento stuffed olives, drained (about 36) Pa...

Green Pozole with Chicken

9 cups water (divided) 1 bay leaf 1 large white onion, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (divided) 6 garlic cloves, chopped (divided) 1  teas...

The Best Guacamole Hack - the Guac Lock

I’ve been using the Guac Lock for a few years now, but until recently, I hadn’t been able to find a wholesale distributor so we could offer it in t...

Sparkly Cranberry Maple Syrup

Want a breakfast or brunch idea for the holidays that will shimmer and shine?  Try making Sparkly Cranberry Maple Syrup!  It's easy- only 3 ingredi...

Chilton Drink Pouch Gift to Go

If you know a Chilton lover, they will love this quick and easy gift idea. You'll need: -  "I like my lemons the Lubbock Way... in a Chilton" drink...

Blue Margarita SHARKtail

In honor of Shark Week, we're mixing up Blue Margarita SHARKtails, and for this recipe... you're going to need a bigger glass!  This oversized cock...

Jumbo Easter Egg "Bunny" DIY

Which came first, the bunny or the egg?  We don't know, but we've been loving the Jumbo Easter Eggs!  We did a post on filling them up, but this is...

A Snackle Box To Go

In case you haven't noticed, Snackle Boxes are trending all over the internet... and we recently tried making our own.  The verdict?  We're hooked!...

Cabbage and Carrot Easter Table Setting

If you want a more subtle Easter table setting, this garden-themed idea might work for you.  No bunnies, no eggs - just veggies!  The best part abo...

Easy Pumpkin Jam Cheesecake Bites

When we first tasted Kelle B Jammin's Pumpkin Spice Butter Jam, it was just like pumpkin pie on a spoon!  With so much flavor packed into a sauce f...

7 Beach Must Haves

The beach is my happy place.  It's where I relax the fastest and it always renews my creativity... so it's no surprise that I go as often as I can....

Single Serve Drink Pouch Sangria Recipe 

You know, sometimes sangria sounds good, but you don't want to make a whole pitcher... Single Serve Drink Pouch Sangria to the rescue! In a measuri...

Personalized Stasher Bag Gift Idea

You know we love all things personalized, and this travel hack we shared previously inspired us to take it even one step further.  This idea would ...

Travel Hack ✨

Looking forward to traveling this Summer?  Here's one of our favorite Travel Hacks, using two of our favorite products. 1.  Pack a Spongelle Wildfl...

Cabbage and Cilantro Lime Slaw

This cole slaw is different - it's very light and refreshing - and it keeps well in the refrigerator, so it's a great "make ahead" dish.  I actuall...

Easy Iced Chai Latte Recipe

I'm usually a hot mint green tea drinker, but when the weather heats up, I like to treat myself to an iced Chai tea latte.  At Starbucks, this crea...

Boho Graduation Party Inspiration

We think that the invitation sets the tone for any party, so it's always fun for us to design one that we know will expand into little thoughtful d...

Jumbo Easter Egg Ideas

Easter is early this year - April 4th - and it seems like the hot item for 2021 is going to be our Jumbo Personalized Easter Eggs!  They're a roomy...

Charcuterie Board for Two

If you're keeping things low-key this Valentine's Day, a Grazing Board for Two is the perfect idea.  You can still make a cozy evening in for you a...

5 Secrets to being a Great Host/Hostess

If you're having guests over - for a dinner party, cocktail hour or even for a weekend stay - it's important to know how you can be a great host or...

Charcuterie Cups

While massive charcuterie boards make our entertaining-lovin' hearts happy, it doesn't seem like the safest food option in these crazy times.  Luck...

S'more Barque Team Fun

The Barque Team is always down for s'more fun... and last year we had the BEST time at our little outing at At'l Do Farms.  Even though it was a li...

Air Fryer Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

If you love using pumpkin to cook this time of year, or if you just enjoy carving jack-o-lanterns but don't want the seeds to go to waste, try air ...

Meet the Owner

Hi friends! I’m Kandice, the Creative-in-Charge around here at Barque. In 2008, I bought the store I had worked for in college (it was called Calli...

Flavored Simple Syrup Recipes

Flavored Syrup Recipes We're so excited about these new arrivals - they're gourmet flavored simple syrups!  Now you can add the taste of the season...

How to Use Wool Dryer Balls

Wool Dryer Balls Wool Dryer Balls are a natural, eco-friendly alternative to dryer sheets... and they're so much better!  You can eliminate harmfu...

Bacon-wrapped Chicken Thighs with Jalapeno

This idea is like a jalapeno popper without the cream cheese.  I love grilling these up in the summer because they're very easy and flavorful. Baco...

Crazy for Chiltons

The Chilton cocktail was born here in Lubbock, Texas, so we designed the Chilton Cocktail Collection as a nod to the famous West Texas drink. The c...

3 Ways to Add Gratitude to Your Routine

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity...it makes sense of ...

Warm Potato Salad

This recipe is a take on one from Jacques Pepin (if you like to cook, you should follow his videos on Facebook - they're chock full of great tips a...

The Party Can Go On, Even During a Pandemic

Loved ones are still having birthdays and graduating, and getting married and having babies... so how do we continue to celebrate these occasions w...

Conversation Hearts Valentine's Game

This is one of our favorite games for any Valentine's Day or Galentine's Day get together.  It's easy and great way to get to know your guests! Con...

3 Grocery Store Swaps to Help the Planet

In a wold where almost everything is disposable, it's easy to overlook the small conveniences that have a hefty price tag on our environment - if w...

A TWO-Rex Birthday Party

We loved designing the invitations and food signs for this adorable birthday party.  The invitation was simple with a few colorful dinosaur silhoue...

'Til Death Do Us Part

Custom Wedding Invitations - for ANY Theme! We design a LOT of wedding invitations every year, so it's particularly fun when a couple wants to do s...

Baby Shower Cutie

Cutie Baby Shower Custom Invitations We love a themed Baby Shower - especially one that includes fruit (see proof here)! This "cuties" theme that w...

3 Wedding Invitation Mistakes to Avoid

We do a LOT of wedding invitations for brides in Lubbock, Texas every year, and these are the most common mistakes we see couples trying to make. L...

Grilled Corn Salad

In the Summer, we love a good salad, especially one that's easy, refreshing AND includes a grilled element. This one checks ALL of those boxes! It'...

Mad Scientist Party Custom Invitations

Mad Scientist Custom Invitations If you've known us for long, you know that custom invitations are our specialty. We've created invitations for all...

Bad Axe Team Party

Axe Throwing Party The team that throws together, grows together... isn't that what they say? Well our Barque Team had a BLAST throwing axes at Bad...

A Note from Teacher

photo credit: @jsscytn Custom Folded Notes This past Spring, we were so inspired by Jessie, a loyal shopper and local middle school teacher. She ha...

Taco Twos-day Custom Invitations

Taco Themed Custom Invitations Taco 'bout a Party... everyone loves TACOS and we love these ideas for a TACO TWO-sday birthday party invitation.  A...

Spring Appetizer Board

Creating a Spring Appetizer Board Spring is finally here, and that means more gatherings are around the corner - Easter, Mother's Day, Graduation...

Clothesline Custom Baby Shower Invitations

National Stationery Show 2019 Recap

National Stationery Show 2019 You guys might be used to seeing my National Stationery Show posts in May or June, but for the first time ever, this ...

Christmas Movie Bingo

Everyone knows that Hallmark Christmas Movies are some of the most-watched shows of the year.  In fact, a lot of girls (and guys) live for weekend...

Halloween X-Ray Invitation

Custom Halloween Invitation - Medical Examiner's Report Style   Flashback Friday to this custom Halloween invitation.  It's about a decade old and ...

Personalized Halloween Treat Bags

Monogrammed Halloween Treat Bags Have you heard the old saying "A monogrammed treat bag keeps the candy stealing monsters away!"?  We think it's ...

How to Throw a Fiesta

A Fabulous Fiesta Are you tired of hearing how much we love a Fiesta yet?  Sorry, it's still our favorite party to attend OR throw! If you follow ...

5 Lists to Plan Your Party Like A Pro

How to Plan a Party Our #1 Tip for Party Planning (of any kind) is to make A LOT of lists!  Here is a peek behind-the-scenes of how we planned our ...

Island Stack Up

In Summer, we're all about easy dinners that utilize the grill, so this recipe is a go-to. It's perfect for a gathering by the pool or a backyard ...

Fiesta Stock the Bar Custom Invitations

Fiesta Stock the Bar Invitation If you've been following us for awhile, you already know how much we love a Fiesta theme, so when we had the chanc...

Peachy Keen Baby Shower Invitations

Peachy Baby Shower Invitations A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of working  with a customer to design a fun and unique Baby Shower invitation. ...

Refreshing Mint Towels

On a hot Summer day, sometimes all you can THINK bout is cooling off - and FAST!  This solution is borrowed from our friends at the Anse Chastenet ...

Swim Party Custom Invitations

The best way to beat the summer heat AND celebrate a birthday is with a pool party!  We've done several designs over the years, but this custom poo...

SWEET Summer Stationery with Stamps to Match

Popsicle Stationery We are SO obsessed with these new popsicle stamps from the United States Postal Service - we designed stationery to match!  Ha...

The Fabulous Patio Egg

Patio Egg Mosquito Repellent After the rain, mosquito deterrent is a MUST if you plan to spend any time outside.  The Patio Egg has been a staple ...

Painting Party Custom Invitations

Art Party Invitation We love how this art party custom invitation turned out - it's messy and colorful and FUN!  Need invitations for your paintin...

You're Cool Popsicle DIY

Summer just started and it's already a scorcher - over 100 degrees every day this week!  As a special "thank you" for the team working so hard whi...

Lime Salt Watermelon Bites

This easy recipe makes for a delicious summer treat - especially for cookouts and backyard parties!  {It was a favorite during the Barque Team Luau...

12 Great Gifts for Grads

With Graduation Season in full swing, moms of grads seem to get overwhelmed with all there is to do - order graduation announcements, get gifts for...

Summer Locker Makeover

Our Lockers got a little Summer inspiration today!  We love how this display turned out (using diecut palm placemats as the backdrop).

First Birthday Fiesta

With Cinco de Mayo on a Saturday this year, we've done a (taco) truckload of Fiesta invitations!  This First Birthday Fiesta invitation is just one...

Margarita Punch

With Cinco de Mayo around the corner, we thought you might enjoy one of our favorite Margarita recipes.  It's a twist on the original, but it's sup...

Behind the Scenes "Barbie Hands" Gift Tag

We needed a new gift tag for graduation this year, and I thought that something girly would be fun, so I sketched out this quick idea - a few g...

The 5 Best Buys from Jon Hart this Spring

Many of you already placed orders during our Jon Hart Trunk Show for your graduation needs, but if you missed it, we have great news... it's not to...

Written and Bound

  If you've been in the store recently, you may have noticed our growing selection of children's books... and we couldn't be more excited about ...

Llama Love

When a sweet customer requested a Llama invitation for an upcoming baby shower, we jumped at the chance to design this beauty.  She gave us free re...

Easy Easter Gift

Need an easy Easter gift idea? This is one of our favorites (and it’s super affordable too)! These little cups of candy will make a great gift fo...

You Can Girl

“I’ve always been independent, and even as a child, I never liked hearing the word “NO”. 😜 In hindsight, having this incredible opportunity to own ...

Team Letterpress Pizza Party

I'm so proud of our Barque Team, and thought it would be fun to show them a little love right before Valentine's Day.  This is the biggest our team...

Caesar Salad Dressing with Greek Yogurt

Nothing beats a crisp, delicious bowl of greens (especially if you're having something really filling like pizza)!  I love Caesar Salad, but I like...

5 Trends from January Market You'll See in 2018

When we go to Markets to buy new products, Kandice loves to spot which TRENDS are going to be popular in the coming months - it's like a game of "I...

Photoshoot Fail - Behind the Scenes

When our new Punny Valentines arrived last week, we couldn't wait to take styled photos and share them with all of you.  (This is our favorite batc...

Woodland Holiday Table

This Christmas, my holiday tablescape was inspired by evergreen trees, and I love how it turned out.  First, I used a plain white tablecloth to cre...

DIY Gift Bow Drink Markers

Need a quick and easy idea drink marker idea for your holiday party?  We have one (and it's a very inexpensive solution)!   All you need is a packa...

Hot Dr Pepper Cider

So many of you messaged us for this recipe, so here you go!  Hot Dr Pepper Cider has been a staple in Kandice's family for years, so we're excited ...

Infused Maple Sugar Cranberries

Sugared cranberries are a delightful holiday treat, but they're even better when you make them with maple syrup!  Our favorite is the Cinnamon + Va...

Poinsettia Holiday Cocktail

For Small Business Saturday this year, we served a festive cocktail that everyone loved!  Since so any of you messaged us and asked for the recipe,...

Small Business Saturday 2017

“If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.”  - John Irving Any small business owner will ...

Pumpkin Soup

I originally got this recipe from a Caribbean cookbook when I visited Jamaica, but since it calls for "Scotch Bonnet Sauce" (made from a pepper loc...

FANG-tastic Hostess Gift

For several years, our go-to Halloween hostess gift has been disguising a bottle of wine in witch's tights with a tag (see it HERE).  It's still on...

Photo Gift Tag Idea

Last weekend I attended a baby shower for my future nephew, but since I only flew in for the day, I didn’t have my usual gift wrapping supplies. I ...

Fiesta Fun

If you're a regular around here, you already know how much we LOVE a Fiesta!  Last weekend, Kandice hosted one to celebrate "a collection of friend...

Courtney & Allen's Wedding Invitations

When we first met with Courtney, she wanted her wedding invitations to have watercolor details.  We showed her what we had done for Elissa (by hiri...

Top 3 Game Day Bags

Are you ready for football season?  We are, and today we're sharing our Top 3 Clear Bags for Game Day!  Most college (and professional teams) now r...

Flamazing!

Planning a last hoorah for summer? Flamingo-themed is the way to go! We love these custom invitations and cups we did for a party recently - aren't...

Summer Lockers

Dear Summer, we should hang out more. {Can you spot our newest item in the shop?  Hint - it's not a croquet set!}

Elissa & Tyler's Custom Invitation

We do a LOT of custom wedding invitations, but this one for Elissa and Tyler was one of our favorites this year!  They got married this past weeken...

Amber's Baby Sprinkle

What do you do when you want to show a Momma a little love before her second baby arrives?  You can't have full-blown baby shower... so you have a ...

DIY Sprinkle Flower Arrangement

We love this idea for a SPRINKLE themed floral arrangement, and it was easy to do! Supplies needed: 2 vases (or a vase and a cup - one that...

Patriotic Lockers

Our lockers are ready for the Fourth... are you? {big thanks for @kelseylaineholt for the hand lettered sign - check her out on Instagram!}

Behind the Scenes: Patriotic Cups

Over July 4th weekend last year, when I had the red, white and blue on the brain, I was inspired to design our newest patriotic foam cups.  The fir...

Cinco de Mayo Custom Invitations

It's no secret that designing invitations for a Mexican/Fiesta themed party is one of my favorite tasks (evidence here and here), and luckily this ...

Kentucky Derby Graduation Party Invitations

Over the past few years, we've done several invitations for Kentucky Derby themed graduation parties, but this one is my absolute favorite!  The th...

Beach Must Have

We are SO excited to announce that our favorite beach blankets have arrived! (Seriously, we've been looking forward to this all year... it finally ...

Behind the Scenes - Ole!

In Texas, we throw a lot of Fiestas - for any occasion - birthday, retirement, graduation, engagement, couples shower, baby shower... just about an...

Barque's 3rd Birthday

This April, Barque turns THREE!  We can't believe how quickly the time has flown, but we're still loving every minute of it.  We celebrated our 3rd...

Signature Gift Wrap - Making Kids Parties Easy

Are your weekends filled with kids birthday parties?  It can be quite a task to find an inexpensive (yet thoughtful) gift, a birthday card AND some...

NEW Personalized Gift Tags for Kids

When we introduced personalized gift tags over the holidays, several customers requested that we do something similar for kids... and now they're a...

Dos & Tres Fiesta!

When our sweet customer Casey needed invitations for her son and daughter's joint birthday party (turning 2 and 3, respectively), she threw out the...

Carry On Chico

[et_pb_section admin_label="section"][et_pb_row admin_label="row"][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text"] Jon Hart Chicos are g...

Valentine's Day Brunch for Dinner

For this semester's Barque Team get-together, I thought it might be fun to have "Brunch for Dinner".  The benefits would be twofold - a great way f...

Buttermilk Biscuit Basics

At the store, we love the buttermilk biscuit mix from Callie's.  They make making biscuits easy and delicious (plus they make a great gift when pai...

Valentine's Day Lockers

Love is in the air... and for our customers, we hope it's in their mailboxes too!  This LOVE-ly locker renovation is inspired by mail for and from ...

New Punny Valentines for 2017

One of my favorite products to design are punny valentines, and I love to draw inspiration from my collection of vintage designs.  I found these at...

New Year's Eve Lockers

Our lockers are ready for 2017... and so are we! We're thankful that 2016 has been a great year for us, but we're looking forward to even more f...

Metal Monogram Holiday Door Decor

Did you know our metal monograms can be spray painted any color to match your decor?  Or that they can be wired into holiday (or any other seasonal...

Custom Ribbon

One of our favorite "cheater" moves for dressing up a holiday package is to add custom ribbon to it. Gift Wrap Hack:  Personalized Ribbbon a)  It g...

Custom Holiday Recipe Cards

Do you have an avid baker or cook on your holiday shopping list?  Custom recipe cards make a great gift for foodies!  We have several options that ...

Clever Candle Gift in 3 Easy Steps

One of our favorite gift ideas this holiday season involves our favorite candle paired with an unexpected surprise - custom matches! This ideas ...

4 Personalized Ideas for Giving or Hosting

When it comes to holidays, we think the more personal you can make it, the better! Whether you need a gift for that someone (or family) that has...

Pilgrim Wine Topper

Need a quick and easy hostess gift for Thanksgiving?  Grab a bottle of wine and our Pilgrim bottle topper for an adorable token of gratitude to you...

Behind the Scenes Holiday Gift Tags

This is the first year we've offered custom holiday gift tags, but we're not sure why it's taken us so long - everyone seems to love them!  In fact...

Behind the Scenes Nutcracker Madness

I love designing custom invitations for our customers' events, but when they give me complete creative freedom, it's a lot more fun. I was recen...

Colorful Holiday Lockers

Our lockers got festive over the weekend!  Check out the adorable bottle brush trees we got in this year - aren't they fun?!  Each color wave set i...

Thanksgiving Table Ideas

Thanksgiving is around the corner, and we've got a few ideas to help make your table decor easy and beautiful!  Check out our setting. Paper t...

Chicken Wire Frame DIY

One of my favorite ways to display paper goods is with clothes pins on chicken wire - it's just so easy and if there are "gaps" between items, you ...

If The Broom Fits FREE Printable

With Halloween just around the corner, we've been decorating the house, gathering costume ideas and accumulating candy for trick or treaters... but...

Football Lockers

Are you ready for football season?  Our lockers are! {This locker redo was done using details from my Football Mantle at home - I wanted to ...

Election-Themed Wedding Style Shoot

Today we're throwing it back to a style shoot we did four years ago.  It was an election year, and the upcoming Presidential election was all over ...

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

For our Aloha Team Dinner, I decided to keep the prep easy for BBQ Pulled Pork tacos by using a slow cooker, and this recipe turned out to be a kee...

Back to School Lockers

Summer's over and our lockers are ready for School to start!

Meet Linda McMillan

Graduating high school or college is a milestone, so it's only fitting to have a photo session to commemorate the event.  Luckily, we've partnered ...

Aloha Lockers

After our Aloha Team Dinner, I hated for all of the decorations to go to waste, so we gave our lockers one last summer wardrobe change. We know it ...

Aloha Team Dinner

This past weekend the Barque team said "aloha" (goodbye) to summer AND "aloha" (hello) to a great fall ahead!  It was the second annual End of Summ...

Pretty Painted Pineapples

For our Barque Team Dinner this summer, I had decided on a tropical theme, so I knew that PINEAPPLES would be the way to go for decorations. Ult...

Dogs Get Skin Cancer Too

Although I've been a dog owner my whole life, it's never occurred to me that my dogs needed protection from the sun.  If it's never occurred to you...

Fiesta Floral Invitation: Behind the Scenes

We create a LOT of custom invitations, but this spring I designed one of my favorites thus far - a festive Mexican floral with stripes.  In my head...

Patriotic Lockers

Just before Memorial Day, we gave our lockers a little Red, White and Blue treatment.  All of the fun paper fans, tissue tassel garland and strings...

Garden Floral Arrangement How To

For Shannon's garden-themed bridal shower, the floral arrangements were one of my favorite details, so I thought I would share a few tips for creat...

Graduation Lockers

Our lockers are ready for Graduation Season... are you? Fabulous hand lettering on the "happy graduation" sign by @kelseylainee , The World ...

Mexican Blanket Invitation: Behind the Scenes

A few years ago, I was walking into the grocery store behind a gentleman wearing this shirt. (Sorry it's a terrible photo, but I was on the move.) ...

Shannon's Bridal Shower

Over the past three years, we've had the pleasure of working this pretty special girl right here ---> Shannon.  She's always got a smile on her ...

Weekend in Greensboro

For my birthday this year, I had the pleasure of visiting Greensboro, North Carolina for a long weekend.  My friends Tony and David moved there las...

No Spring Chicken Custom Invitation

This year I had the pleasure of designing the 50th birthday invitation for my friend Tony.  He's been one of my favorite people for over a decade, ...

Let's Flamingle!

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What's Trending for 2016

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Welcome 2016

After my New Year's photo shoot with the pups, I thought the mylar balloons would be a great addition to our lockers for the new year. Adorned wi...

Holiday Decorations Cheat Sheet

It's time to deck the halls again! I used to think decorating for Christmas was daunting - where does THAT item go... Was it on the mantle or on...

Thanksgiving Dinner Game Plan

I love planning a holiday meal.  As new food magazine issues emerge on the shelves, I start collecting them - and scouring them - using page flags ...

New Fall Stationery? Check.

Buffalo check, in fact. This summer we basked in the glory of cabana stripes, but as we transition into fall - we knew it was time to switch...

End of Summer Fiesta

To wrap up the summer, I thought it might be fun to throw an End of Summer Fiesta for the entire Barque team.  We've never had an official "office ...

Fiesta Tissue Napkin Rings

As I'm planning an End of Summer Fiesta, so I thought it might be fun to create decorative napkin rings for it.  They were easy, and I like how the...

Pineapple Plates

While in Costa Rica for my brother’s wedding, my family took a half day fishing tour. When the young local fisherman presented us with a gorgeous p...

Back to School Locker Makeover

With our Back to School SALE ending Saturday, we thought it was time for  a mini-makeover on our locker display behind the register! Books, chal...

On Trend NOW - Perfectly Pineapple

As summer comes to a close, it seems like some of us are holding onto visions of palm trees and pineapples to keep the feel of summer alive.  Or ma...

Balsamic Honey Glazed Grilled Carrots

 Balsamic Honey Glazed Grilled Carrots Ingredients: One bunch of carrots 1/2 cup Savannah Bee Company Grill Honey 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar 1 tabl...

Summer 2015 Market Trends

We just got back from shopping Atlanta Market over the weekend and couldn't wait to share with you what looks like the hottest trends for this fall...

Cue the Confetti!

Have you heard the news?  Barque was just named Trendy Stationer of the Year by Stationery Trends Magazine!  We're honored and excited and feel ver...

Summer in Full Swing

Temperatures are up, which means Summer is in full swing.  That means it’s time to get our lockers seasonably dressed… with an Estate Sale croquet ...

The Watermelon Keg

It's summer - and that means that picnics, backyard barbecues and outdoor get-togethers are happening NOW! For your next summer party, use a waterm...

Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken

Did you attend our "Snack and Shop" event in the store?  We served treats made from a few gourmet food items we offer, and a clear favorite was the...

Sample Saturday 6/20/15

Last Saturday, June 20th we hosted a “Sample Saturday” in the store. We served a few gourmet foods that we love (and offer in the store) – from gou...

3 Step Margaritas

Some weekends, the best way to beat the Texas heat is to whip up a batch of easy frozen margaritas.  This recipe is tried and true (from my friend ...

National Stationery Show 2015 Recap

Every May when I board a plane for NYC to attend the National Stationery Show, I get "first day of school" jitters.  I'm anxious to see what new pr...

Just for the Summer - Cabana Stripe Initial Note Cards

If you're a regular shopper, then you're familiar with our grab and go initial note cards.  These are a great quick gift for $12, and they're even ...

Earth Day Wildflower Seed Bombs

For Earth Day this year, we wanted to do something really fun for our customers... so we've made wildflower seed bombs! The idea is that  you ca...

Gonna Party Like it’s Our Birthday

... because it is! Wow, it’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since we made The Switch to Barque! It’s been a crazy year, but it’s been a G...

Employee Easter Eggs

For holidays and special occasions, I want our staff to feel appreciated, even if it's with a small gesture.  This Easter, I had the idea of making...

That's the Ticket!

With Barque’s First Birthday coming up, we thought it might be fun to change up the decorations above our register. I envisioned something colorful...

Grilled Artichokes

With beautiful weather in store for this week, I couldn't resist pulling out the grill over the weekend!  I've only made this recipe a few times (I...

Vacation Inspiration - US Virgin Islands

For my birthday this year, a few girlfriends and I took a trip to the US Virgin Islands (St.Thomas and St. John). It was a wonderful time to relax ...

2015 January Market Trends

As always, my last trip to Atlanta Market did not disappoint.  It's true, going to Market IS fun, but make no mistake - it's NOT a vacation or plea...

Dinner in the ATL

One of my highlights of visiting Atlanta for Market is the variety of incredible restaurants within a stone's throw.  Being in West Texas, I don't ...

New Year's Day Brunch

This year, on a bit of a whim, I decided to throw together a New Year's Day Brunch with my girlfriends.  I had the day off, I still had plenty of f...

5 Reasons to Shop Small

Today is Small Business Saturday, and we've got 5 reasons why you should "shop small" with businesses like ours {Barque}! 1.  Sometimes Less...

Happy Howl-o-ween

From my Correctional Facility to yours, hope your weekend is Spooktacular! {I love doing a Halloween card with the pupalups every year.  Thi...

Witchy Wine Hostess Gift

Do you need a cute, quick Halloween hostess gift  (or something for a friend or neighbor)?  This is the EASIEST idea (seriously, it takes less than...

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

With a drop in the temperatures this week, I'm getting pretty excited about fall!  It's time to pull out my down comforter and favorite scarv...

Biscuit Bar Brunch

When it comes to brunch, you can almost always bet I'm going to go for something savory (and probably with eggs), but I know not everyone feels the...

DIY Turf Tailgate Runner

Fall is here!  Well, technically it doesn't feel  like it yet since temps are in the 90's, but the arrival of September means that at least it's on...

Garlic Truffle Fries

Summer burgers on the grill are good, but homemade fries make them better... and when they're garlic truffle fries, well then they're BEST! In h...

Summer Sangria

Sangria is so delicious and SO easy!  Try this recipe for your next Summer cookout or get-together. Summer Sangria (yield: approximately 3 quarts...

Gift Tags: Behind-the-Scenes

I think most people imagine that designers sit around, gazing off into the distance over a steaming coffee (brainstorming, of course) and then grac...

Lemony Goat Cheese & Basil Dip

In honor of the store's upcoming Semi-Annual Lemons and Leftovers Sale next week, I thought it might be fun to share a delicious, lemony recipe tha...

July 4th Dog Safety

While celebrating July 4th is fun for us humans, it can be very stressful for our dogs.  In fact, July 5th is one of the biggest days of the year f...

National Stationery Show 2014 Recap

Last weekend, I made my annual trek from West Texas to the Big Apple for the National Stationery Show (#nss).  It was a last minute decision to att...

Easy Guacamole

Guacamole has always been one of my go-to dishes to bring to a party.  I so fresh and yummy (and it's really easy to make)!  With tomorrow being Ci...

Grapefruit Margaritas

Shake things up this Cinco de Mayo weekend with a tart and delicious Grapefruit Margarita!  This version is perfect for spring - easy, delicious an...

Graduation Gift Guide

With grauation just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about great gifts for grads!  Customers always make it sound like "graduation gi...

"The Switch"

Even though it's been a long time coming (almost 2 years in my head), the transformation (aka - "The Switch")  from being Calligraphy Etc. to Barqu...

Wild Hibiscus Cocktail

For the preview night before the official grand opening of  Barque, we used one of our newest products to create a super easy (2 ingredient!), sign...

Barque

So this new name, Barque, how do you say it?  [bahrk] - sounds like a dog's bark or bark on a tree. Now then, what does it mean? According to...

Why Change? Why Now?

I know what you're here for.  You have two questions:  Why change? and Why now? I'll answer that in a bit, but first, let me back up and give yo...

Punny Valentines

I've always enjoyed collecting vintage Valentines,  mostly because they're punny!  "I long for you" on the image of a dauchsund, "You make my heart...

Holiday Garland Tip

As you start to think about packing up your Christmas decorations, try this little tip I use for organizing garland.  It's simple one, but if you'r...

Books and Birds Halloween Party

Well, if you've been following along, you may have already seen some of the details from my #booksandbirds Spellbinding Halloween Party a few weeks...

Definition Straw Flags

For my #booksandbirds Halloween party, I decided to make definition straw flags to coordinate with the literary theme.  Using the definition of "dr...

Mercury Glass Tutorial

... just in time for Halloween decor! Mercury glass is such a classic and spooky look, it's just perfect for Halloween!  When I decided to s...

More Stationery Show Pretties

I found a lot of great paper items this year at the National Stationery Show, so I just had to post a few more of my faves. Love this greeting card...

National Stationery Show Recap 2013

 A few weeks ago, I ventured from West Texas to attend the National Stationery Show in New York.  On the plane, someone asked if it was my first ti...

Lunchbox to Mail Organizer

I found this "mailbox" lunch box at an antique store in town and instantly snapped it up...  I especially love the "Mr. Zip" on the side (hehe).  W...

Severe "Heart Attack" for Valentine's Day

If you need a last-minute Valentine's Day idea, I've got one that is fairly easy but will be a big hit your sweetheart!  I did this for a boyfrien...