Andrea's quick mind, collaborative spirit, and creativity have brought many people to her door. Her pursuit of excellence, dedication, and design prowess have kept them there—many turning into decades long clients, friends, and colleagues.
Known for her warm, patient, and personal approach, and the originality she brings to each client, Andrea's vast experience and deep treasury of ideas have made her the designer of choice for top event professionals and clients around the world. Andrea is a trusted resource for some of the world's most prominent families and celebrities who appreciate her discretion and good taste when designing custom invitations for their weddings and private events.
Andrea's love of color, pattern, and texture started early. "I grew up surrounded by textiles from around the world. My family is in its third generation as Oriental rug dealers, and over the years the collection branched out into tapestries and other jacquard-loomed fabrics. The rich textures and intricate patterns were influential in developing my eye for color and appreciation for fine craftsmanship and detail. This highly visual and tactile environment was the backdrop for my childhood. I could often be found curled up with a book among the piles of rugs and rolls of fabric dreaming of faraway lands and adventures. I continue to be inspired by the world around me and especially by the people I meet and the stories they tell.
"I come from a long line of entrepreneurs and am passionate about excellence and doing things well. I love sharing my experience and ideas with my clients and creating invitations that make their hearts beat faster. I'm very proud of my strong team of artisans who put their heart and soul into each piece that leaves our studio and my staff who serve our clients with impeccable detail and care."
Andrea is passionate about the performing and visual arts and has built a niche for her non-profit work with a special focus on major cultural institutions such as The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum, and the National Portrait Gallery, among others. She has proudly created invitations for all three branches of government including the White House, justices of the Supreme Court and members of Congress, as well as the U.S. Department of State. Her corporate and hospitality clients include Ariel Investments, Washington Boots Alliance, Driehaus Enterprise Management, NASCAR, McDonald’s, ITW, The Peninsula Chicago, and The Langham Chicago.
She is the founder of Scraps to Art, a non-profit program that donates art materials to local schools, theaters, art therapy programs and other social service organizations in the community. Andrea sits on the board of the Institute for Therapy Through the Arts, a comprehensive community-based Creative Arts Therapy center that specializes in art, dance/movement, drama, and music therapy for individuals, families, schools, hospitals, and other therapeutic settings.
Andrea's work has won many prestigious industry awards including three Gala Awards for Best Invitation, 10 Louie Awards including Card of the Year and Best Invitation, Runner Up for Card of the Year, and 42 Louie nominations, BizBash New York's Style Award for Best Invitation, and the Catering Executives Club of America’s Award for Industry Excellence in Invitations & Stationery. She is an active member of the Greeting Card Association’s Public Affairs Committee with a focus on postal issues, has testified as a design expert before the U.S. Postal Rate Commission, and worked with the GCA and the U.S. Postal Service to develop the butterfly stamp.
Her designs have been published in Inside Weddings, Weddings by the Ritz-Carlton, Oprah Magazine, Modern Luxury Weddings, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, BizBash, Special Events Magazine, The Bridal Circle, Chicago Magazine, ABC-TV Chicago, ESPN, and the Wall Street Journal, among others.
Andrea earned her BS in Journalism from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her MS with Highest Distinction in Advertising from Northwestern University. She is currently enrolled in the Philanthropy and Nonprofit Organizations Certificate Program in Northwestern's School of Professional Studies.
When not working, Andrea enjoys reading, traveling, entertaining, and baking from-scratch soufflés, breads, and her famous pecan pie. She loves spending time with her husband and her Siberian Husky, Gilden, and is always dreaming about her next project.
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