Leave it to our dear friend Agnes from Knock-Knocking to kick things up a notch. While she loves our Menagerie Children's Furniture, she was envisioning something a little "crazier" for her kids' room. Never one to settle, she begged and pleaded and pulled our arms (just kidding!), and we came up with this non-toxic metallic blue finish on this Rhino Chair just for them. No problem! We specialize in custom work. Have an idea for something you'd love us to craft or build for you? Contact us! We welcome custom commissions from clients, interior designers, retailers... and you!

I don't think I took a breath the whole time. My eyes were watering, and I needed to blink. But this lesson in concentration and patience is one I love dearly. A true test in mastering my craft. A challenge in the quest for "perfection." I look forward to these moments as a creator.

Lovingly hand stamped, one tiny letter at time, this bowl spells out the wedding vows a couple will share with one another next month. This bowl will be displayed and cherished in their home. Their children will one day learn to read the words. Their grandchildren will save it as a reminder of their love. Their great grandchildren will ask to hear the story of this bowl.

Creating heirlooms is our passion. Crafting pieces that will be as beautiful in 100 years as they are today is our inspiration. What inspires the work you do?

Ever wonder what else we do here at Paloma's Nest besides make Ring Bearer Bowls™ ?  Lots of things! Here's a little list of projects we work on, that you may not know we do over here in our corner of the world...read on!

Custom Favors: We design and create items of all sorts for special events. From place setting details to decor, swag to welcome gifts, we can create keepsakes exclusively for you and your guests. Ceremonies, celebrations,  big or small-  let us customize something memorable.

Corporate Gift Giving: Tired of giving pens & coozies (I hope you don't really give coozies) to your clients and colleagues  as a representation of your business? Stop! Paloma's Nest creates a wide array of gifts that are completely unique and represent your company in a modern, creative way. We put our branding experience to work designing something that reflects and builds upon your brand, incorporates your logo and style, and meshes beautifully with your current marketing.

Private Label Designs: Looking for the perfect compliment to your own product line or retail assortment? A unique tag or packaging element? We work with businesses, manufacturers, and product designers to produce tiny details with big impact.

Is there something you've been curious about?  How we work? Where we create?  Leave a comment and ask!

What wonderful praise for our beloved Bouquet Text Tile! Custom crafted with the names, dates, words or monogram of your choice, and finished with gold or silver leaf on the edge, our little personalized token has been making appearances in some of the biggest and best wedding publications this month! This "charming" little charm makes a beautiful addition to your bouquet (tied around the stems, or nestled within the blooms), and later doubles as an heirloom-quality ornament or decoration in your home for years to come. A thoughtful personalized gift, and a timeless detail for the couple to include in their ceremony. We are so grateful to Town & Country Weddings, Cosmopolitan Bride (Australia), and Southern Living Magazine Weddings Issue for including our work in these latest issues. As an added bonus, Southern Living has included Paloma's Nest in their list,  "Best of the South."  Thanks, Y'all!

One of the questions I am most often asked is "What do you think I should I have stamped on my custom piece?" My answer is always a very honest one. The most special thing about having a Custom Ring Bearer Bowl™ or other custom piece made just for you is just that- it is made just for you.  Sure, I have stamped many wonderful words on pieces for other brides and other clients. Some of them have become favorites, some even added to our permanent collection. But what makes a custom piece wonderful is the meaning behind the words you choose - not someone else's clever idea, no matter how cute.  Perhaps your text is a few lines from a love note you have saved. A snippet of your wedding vows. A nickname, or an inside joke. When selecting your custom text, dig deep. Think with your heart. The most beautiful, most memorable, and most cherished words come from you and from those you love.  I look forward to making a beautiful custom piece for you soon. What will your custom text be?

This was originally posted on this blog on February 26, 2010.

When we created the very  first Ring Bearer Bowl™ several years ago, our goal was to create a piece that had meaning long after the wedding day. A piece that could commemorate a moment, a union, an occasion- yet also be functional. The Ring Bearer Bowl™ was created to provide an alternative to a ring pillow in a wedding ceremony- but it was also cleverly designed to be so much more.

Our design allows you to securely attach your wedding bands to the bowl, so they are safe as they make their way down the aisle. But, don't think you have to have a "ring boy" to incorporate a Ring Bearer Bowl™ into your ceremony. In fact, many couples don't! The simple timeless design of our Bowls makes them just as beautiful carried by an officiant, a parent, a groomsman or a bridesmaid. Or include your guests in a ring warming or ring blessing ceremony, using your bowl to hold your precious rings.  Even if you are having a very small ceremony, incorporating a Ring Bearer Bowl™ into your union allows you to have an heirloom: a family treasure that will be cherished and passed on for generations to come. Available in over a dozen designs, or customize your own for a truly personalized piece.

After the wedding day has passed, your Ring Bearer Bowl™ will find the perfect place in your home. Your Bowl can be hung on the wall, perhaps next to a wedding portrait. It can hang on a holiday tree, or in a shadow box frame. Of course it can also be used as a ring bowl, to hold your jewelry and other small treasures. However you decide to incorporate your Ring Bearer Bowl™ into your wedding and your home, it is sure to be a special piece that will always remind you of your commitment to each other.

We look forward to creating the perfect Ring Bearer Bowl for your wedding or vow renewal. What would yours say, and where would you use it after your ceremony?

I have recently had the pleasure of working with bridal designer Annette Thurmon of Chaviano Couture on a special order for her 2011 Collection. Annette just returned from Bridal Market in New York City this past week, where she debuted her newest designs.

Annette contacted me a few months back to see how we could create something special for her gowns and dresses this year. Something unique, something that would be a keepsake for her clients. Something that reflected her brand. We came up with these porcelain hang tags that will come with each dress she makes this year. This image shows the final product on display at her showroom at the Market.

I love how these turned out for Chaviano Couture, and they are the perfect example of how we can turn a custom design into something very custom and personalized. I have mentioned before that we can add design motifs and elements to your custom order from the artwork you provide. For this project, that artwork was the Chaviano Couture logo, but maybe for you it is an element from your wedding invitation design, something in your own handwriting, or a sketch of your home. Whether for an event, a gift, or a branded corporate project, if you are looking for a creative idea, contact us!

And don't forget, with our Holiday Collection now available, it's that time of the year! We are accepting orders large and small for businesses and personal or professional events- discounts are always available for quantity orders and business orders. We would love to create the perfect gifts for you this year.

Anuja and Joe were married here in our city of Austin, at the historic Mansion at Judges Hill in a classic event arranged by BZ Events.

Their Custom Ring Bearer Bowl™ was captured by photographer Kim Peichel, and was hand stamped with the quote "What's Important to You is More Important to Me," along with their names and wedding date.

I love this image, and it brings up something I'd like to point out about our Ring Bearer Bowls™.  They don't have to be carried by a Ring Bearer! Many brides these days don't have a Ring Bearer, but instead ask a maid of honor, groomsman, reader, parent, or officiant carry the Ring Bearer Bowl™ down the aisle for them. Having this piece as part of a wedding ceremony makes it even more meaningful to cherish for years to come- whether in a ceremony, a ring warming, or a ring blessing.

We hope that this piece has become a treasured heirloom for Anuja and Joe!

Many of you have heard me gush and swoon over our wonderful Studio Manager, Danielle. She is the lady who runs the show behind the scenes at Paloma's Nest- the one who organizes your orders and requests, and cracks the whip at me to stay on task in the studio. (She also cracks me up all day long.) With Dani around, things get done: questions are answered, designs come to life, and clients are happy. She is my right hand woman, and I love her dearly.

So....imagine how excited we are to welcome Danielle's husband, Coby, to the Paloma's Nest team! Coby started at the studio this week and has already proven himself to be a jack-of-all-trades. We are thrilled that Danielle and Coby have decided to join us in making Paloma's Nest even more of a "family business," for many years to come!

This newest design is a tribute to Danielle and Coby, and to their inspired lifestyle. Not only are they a fun and talented couple, but they are also committed cyclists. ("Committed" meaning their car only leaves the driveway when they have to buy 50 pound bags of food in bulk for their two giant dogs.) The two of them can be seen riding their beloved bikes around Austin any day and any time.

When we found this wonderful vintage cycle image, it only seemed fitting that we create and photograph a sample piece for Danielle and Coby;  in honor of their future with our company, and in honor of the love they have for each other. We hope this design,  is the perfect modern heirloom for other bike-loving couples out there!  Customize it with your names and wedding date, or a short text, as we did here for Danielle and Coby.

Our clients Kimia & Kenny were married this spring in the grand Rotunda at San Francisco City Hall. The couple selected a Custom Gold Leaf Ring Bearer Bowl for their classic and elegant celebration- be sure to view more images from the one and only Jose Villa on the blog of event planners Dream a Little Dream Events, who did a stunning job bringing this wedding to life! Congrats, Kimia & Kenny, and thank you for the opportunity to create a custom heirloom for you!