The Art of the Invitation

 Inspired. Handmade. Impeccable.

The alchemy and art of events starts with the invitation; ours are among the finest you will ever find. We look at each project as a new canvas filled with possibilities and approach our work as an art form. Each invitation tells a story and marks a moment in time. We pursue perfection. We celebrate excellence. We listen. We collaborate. We have a depth of experience and ideas. No detail is too small to be noticed and attended to.

Our repertoire includes unusual materials and premier printing techniques, both state of the art and old world. Our execution is flawless and most importantly we care — about our work and our clients. We are masters of our art form.

Welcome to HH Design and Hannah Handmade. We've been designing made to order invitations since 1991 and we're happy you're here.

Weddings

We set the tone for couples looking for one-of-a-kind invitations that express their individuality.

Galas

We design invitations for major non-profit and arts organizations that help achieve development goals and high levels of patron engagement.

Celebrations

Our innovative invitations get the party started from the moment they arrive.

Corporate

We create invitations and event accessories for some of the world's most recognized brands.

A Way of Working

We approach projects large and small with the same curiosity and adventuresome spirit.

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HH Design is an award-winning design firm and each of our projects is made to order for our clients. Our studio is located in a 109-year-old building on the North Shore of Chicago where a small group of experienced artisans put great care and attention to detail into each piece. The Hannah Handmade touch of excellence can be found in everything we do from concept and design to fine craftsmanship and mailing. 

We enjoy exploring new ideas and techniques and welcome creative challenges. We think two heads are better than one. We're passionate about the pursuit of excellence and how a dedicated team of artisans can solve puzzles and come up with new ways of doing things. Our best and most important inspiration is our clients and the stories they tell us about their lives, their relationships and the celebrations they are planning. We'll ask you questions and listen deeply to the answers. We're curious about what moves you and how you want your guests to feel when they receive your invitation.

Our many long term clients tell us that when they have an important event, they come to us because they know it will be done right. They enjoy the luxury of knowing they can relax and that all will be taken care of with a focused attention to detail so they can enjoy the journey as much as the finished product.

 TESTIMONIALS

Our clients say it best.

A true delight to work with – creativity infused down to a cellular level.
– MD, Event Planner
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Hannah Handmade couture invitations have the class of Jackie O … and the creativity of Lady Gaga! – JA, Media Personality
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We are in complete awe of your artistry. This exactly encapsulates our vision and what we want our wedding day to represent. You have such a gift. We cannot stop smiling and touching them. Our friends and family are going to be beside themselves. Thank you so much!!!!!!!! – AB, Bride
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No other company on the planet can touch
the elegance of your handmade creations.
–SD, Corporate Executive
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Andrea is my guardian angel, invitation designer to the stars, and a glitter covered MacGyver!
– LM, Director of Special Events
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Once again you come through with flying colors for me and my family. Thanks a million!
– CS, Private Client

It was like being in a design studio version of Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory … and I love both chocolate and design! – KR, Private Client
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There is truly nobody better in this industry! I treasure every project we’ve had the pleasure of working on together! – HW, Wedding Planner
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You are amazing.
Everything you do is with your full heart.
– SC, Mother-of-the-Bride
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You never fail to CAPTIVATE me, with your creative designs, elements of classy fun and engineering that scream . . . “Hours of assembly & detailed work!!!” Each one is a masterpiece! However, produced in large quantities, An Amazing Feat!– SK, Event Planner
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WOW! These are truly stunning! Thank you so much Andrea and your team for exceeding our expectations with our wedding invitations. These are works of art and I feel like I have to pinch myself when I look at them to remind myself that they’re ours. – BM, Groom
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It was so wonderful meeting you yesterday. You have such great ideas and somehow read our minds with exactly what we were hoping for.
– AS & GG, Bride & Groom
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Thank you for your magical and always exquisite wizardry. – BW, Private Client
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We have received our invitation, HOW BEAUTIFUL!! It is truly everything I could’ve hoped for and more. Knowing all the thought out details and the story behind both pieces while working with you puts a big smile on my face. Not only are we so in love with the invites, I have received some of the most incredible messages from friends and family about them. One even mentioned how everything about it was so “ME” and the elegance and beauty to it was something they’ve never seen before. – BWR, Bride
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Oh Andrea!!!!!! There are just no words at all, for how remarkably fabulous the invitations are, live and in person. Just seeing them on the computer screen was amazing enough. But, to see this stunningly incredible extravagant piece of art, even the Queen of England couldn’t turn us down! You’re just brilliant, and your talents change the world, and make life so special. P.S. We’ve already received several “WOWS”!!!! – NS, Private Client
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Andrea – we got our amazing wedding invitation in the mail today! It was so special opening the envelope, and the inside was truly breathtaking. Seeing our vision come to life was better than we could have ever dreamed of. We loved every detail of the invitation. Each part is so special. Thank you for all your thoughtfulness that went into this piece of art. We really enjoyed the process with you to get to this moment. – A&J, Bride and Groom
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Andrea’s passionate commitment to her work, and our industry, is a constant inspiration to everyone she touches. Her creativity and innovation continue to elevate and expand the possibilities of our medium while quietly defining a true standard of excellence we all strive to achieve. Her kind words of support and friendship tear down walls of competitiveness and help create an atmosphere of community. As an industry, we move ever forward, and with Andrea’s grand contribution we do so with graceful, giant steps. – KL, Industry Colleague

CUSTOM COCKTAIL NAPKINS

Swanky. Stylish. Sophisticated.

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Our latest muse is a mighty 6 x 6" square.  

Made-to-order cloth napkins elevate the cocktail hour and set the tone when entertaining at home or away. Designed to complement your interior design or event decor, they are a mark of quality and gracious living. 

Find inspiration in our vast library of fabrics in a range of textures, styles and patterns, or select from our classic hemstitch collection available in 50 colors. For the ultimate in personalization, our in-house workroom can customize your napkins with embroidered monograms, logos, icons and #hashtags.

Well-made and reusable, our cocktail napkins make thoughtful and stylish housewarming and host/hostess gifts, and can be used as a branding tool for hotels, restaurants, product launches, and corporate events.

To view our custom invitation portfolio, click here.

Scraps to Art

We like to give back as we go along, so we started a program to share our art materials with non-profit organizations in our community.

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Since the early days of making art for a living and being someone who doesn't like waste, Hannah Handmade’s founder and creative director, Andrea Liss, has been sharing her studio's leftover materials with schools and art programs in the community. Over time we formalized the donation program, gave it a fancy title, Scraps to Art, and have been quietly and steadily donating materials to organizations large and small. We take care of the sorting and shipping and all we ask is to see photos of the art that is made from our HH Design scraps.

We learn so much from the recipients of our donations. Art therapists and their clients remind us of the healing power of art and self-expression. We're inspired seeing what school children can do when presented with new materials. We love that in the process they're learning about being conscientious, repurposing, and making the most with what you have. Our clients delight in seeing photos and hearing stories about the recipients of the materials related to their projects. We're told that Hannah Handmade is the ultimate scrap bin!

Organizations we have worked with include Chicago Children's Museum, Boys & Girls Clubs of ChicagoThe Douglas CenterThresholdsChicago Opera TheaterCameras for KidsPine Ridge Indian ReservationSarah's CircleArt Therapy Connection ChicagoFrancis W. Parker SchoolMiguel Juarez Middle SchoolFamily First Center of Lake County, Cancer Wellness Center, and many more.

Please contact us if you know of an organization that might benefit from our scraps or if you would like information on how to set up a similar program in your area. You can call us at 847-864-8292 or write to our program administrator at scraps@hannah-handmade.com.

Andrea Liss

Founder and Creative Director

 

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, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago, 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.

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's work has won many prestigious industry awards including two Gala Awards for Best Invitation, ten Louie Awards including Best Invitation and Card of the Year, and BizBash New York's Style Award for Best Invitation. She has testified as a design expert before the U.S. Postal Rate Commission and worked with the Greeting Card Association 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.

Clients

We serve clients large and small, providing personal and in-depth service to all who cross our path, including:

Ariel Investments
Art Institute of Chicago
Biohaven
BizBash Media
Bon Appétit
Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago
Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Children’s National Hospital
Citadel
Deloitte
Driehaus Enterprise Management, Inc.
The Richard H. Driehaus Museum
EBONY Magazine
EFFEN Vodka
Embassy of the State of Kuwait
Engage! Luxury Wedding Business Summits
The Estate by Gene & Georgetti
Field Museum of Chicago
First Lady Michelle Obama
James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Juanita and Michael Jordan
Kohl Children's Museum
Kuwait-America Foundation
The Langham Chicago
LEARN Charter Schools
Mellody Hobson and George Lucas
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art
McDonald’s

Merrill
Modern Luxury
Naples Winter Wine Festival
NASCAR
National Geographic Society
National Museum of Women in the Arts
National Portrait Gallery
National Stationery Show
National Symphony Orchestra
Neiman Marcus
Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital
Northwestern University
Oceanique Restaurant
PAWS Chicago
The Peninsula Chicago
Rascal Flatts’ Joe Don Rooney and Tiffany Fallon
Sherman Prize
Smithsonian Institution
Swarovski North America
Toshiba America
Tourist Office of Spain
UNICEF
United States Olympic Committee
Uniting Voices (formerly Chicago Children’s Choir)
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Illinois College of Architecture, Design and the Arts
U.S. Department of State
Walgreens Boots Alliance
Washington National Opera
White House Social Office
William-Blair

And hundreds of private clients including some of the world's most prominent families and event professionals.

Contact Us

We'd love to hear from you.
To inquire about our services or set up
an appointment, please call us

800-670-6703

or send us an email
hello@hhdesign.com

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