The Custom House Maritime Museum

I'm so excited to talk about this recent invitation design I did for the The Custom House Maritime Museums Annual Patron's Gala. I truly believe when you combine the talents of different creative individuals unbelievable results can be achieved. The process began with a call from Jen Hansen owner of Gracious Events she invited me to be a part of the creative team she was putting together for her upcoming event. I would be designing the invitations and tickets, Jen Wright owner of Jen Wright Signs and her Graphic Designer Tracey Smith would be designing the posters and signage. From the moment I met Jen and Tracey I knew working with them would be fabulous. On a sunny summer day in Jen Wrights studio our meeting that was suppose to be short turned into a 2 hour creative brain storming session which resulted in a stunning vision for this years Patron's Gala.

I waited to see what Tracey came up with for the poster before designing the invitations because the purpose was to have a seamless look. I loved the logo she created for "Patrons Gala" on the poster  as well as the look of the map in the background. Those two items were my jumping off point when creating the invitations. The CHMM is located in historic downtown Newburyport where the once thriving maritime commerce was the pulse of everyday life. The Custom House erected in 1835 serves as a connection from the past to the present. I feel the invitation suite reflects a maritime feel while maintaining an elegant look that you would find at an affair like the Patron's Gala.

I design a lot of invitations and it normally ends there; it's rare to be at an event that I've designed an invitation for. I am so excited because not only will I be attending the Gala but I will be participating in the Event Planning side. I've recently joined the fabulous team at Gracious Events and was able to see first hand how an event comes together. Being inside the venue prior to designing the invitation truly gave me some insight that I normally may not have had.

An evening of "Intriguing Mystery" will take place on Friday September 23rd from 7 to 10 in the evening. I personally invite you to join us for a Scavenger Hunt through maritime history and to try your luck at the raffle or silent auction. As an active participant in the auction I know first hand that we have some wonderful items to bid on. It is going to be a beautiful evening in the heart of downtown Newburyport with live music, waterfront views, superb delicacies and micro-brews. If you are interested in purchasing tickets please go to The CHMM's website or send an email to info@thechmm.org.