Meet the Heart & Hands Behind SoInvited 💕

Hello everyone!

I’m Ilaria, Co-founder, crafty mind, and the official "whatever needs to be done" woman behind SoInvited.

If you’ve ever found yourself happily lost in a craft store or obsessed with the tiny details that make a big moment special, you and I are going to be great friends (Bonus points if you think most stationery is beautiful and love the smell of books!).

A Lifelong love for Crafting 🎨

I’ve been creative at heart for as long as I can remember, a trait passed down straight from my mom and grandpa. Growing up, I lost track of how many hours my mom and I spent hunting for colorful bracelet beads and paper napkins for decoupage.

Whenever we went on family holidays, craft supplies were always my absolute favorite souvenirs! I’ll never forget a family trip to France (I was probably 14 y.o.), where my souvenir was three entire tubes of buttons. I still have some.

Fast forward to today, and not much has changed! I still fall head-over-heels for new materials, textures, and tools:

• 📱 My newest iPad & Procreate : my absolute favorite digital playground where all my designs come to life!
• ✏️ Colors, pencils, and stationery: for all the physical planning
• 🧶 Cotton, wool, and hooks: ready for the next idea
• 🪡 Needles, threads, and hoops: scattered around, on shelves as well as in my wallet (because you never know…)
• 🕯️ Wax and essential oils filling the room with scents. Neroli and orange are my favourite smells!
• 🧵 Fabrics, scraps, and my sewing machine: the newest addiction.

Getting into quilting and upcycling clothes is the exact reason I brought a sewing machine into the house! I haven't tried quilling yet, but give me time. Honestly, even if our apartment were double the size, I still wouldn't have enough room for all my beloved crafts. I am 100% the person who buys supplies faster than I have space to store them! 🙈

From Lockdown Blankets to Local Markets 🛋️➡️🎪

During the pandemic, my creative itch needed a fresh outlet, so I picked up crochet again after learning the basics as a kid. It started small, but before I knew it, I was crocheting like there was no tomorrow!

Tiny projects quickly turned into massive blankets. They became my ultimate source of comfort, sanity, and focus during that time. Right alongside rewatching Harry Potter and The Big Bang Theory. 🍿

Eventually, my blanket stash outgrew my home entirely, and I knew it was time to share them. I set up a stall at a local Christmas market, bringing my dog along as my trusty assistant. 🐾…because, yes, I had made a full BIG bag of crochet christmas ornaments during spring/summer as well as scarves, blankets, hats and 3 cardigans.

It was such a wonderful day meeting sweet, supportive people. Seeing someone’s eyes light up over something I made with my own two hands, and having them actually buy it, was a huge defining moment for me.

How SoInvited Was Born 💍🔨

When Stephen and I got engaged, we immediately knew we wanted our big day to reflect who we really are, which meant crafting everything ourselves. In our minds, our wedding wasn't going to be super formal. We wanted a big, joyous party or a little version of an italian festa patronale! 🎉

Stephen and I make a pretty unstoppable team:

• Me: The planner, list-maker, people-person and color enthusiast who draws custom pieces on Procreate and loves unique, highly personalized designs over mass templates. ✨
• Stephen: The brilliant engineer who can’t rest until a project isn’t just done, but built with long-term precision and care. 📐🛠️

When we searched for stationery, keepsakes, photo organization, and decor that matched our vision, we noticed a gap. Plenty of options existed, but nothing offered everything in one place with a truly unique feel at an affordable price. So, we did what needed to be done: : we built it ourselves.

That labor of love became SoInvited: a place where handcrafted art meets thoughtful technical craft.

Welcome to Our World ✨🎨

At SoInvited, every ornament, craft, and keepsake is made with intention, care, and a lot of heart. I truly believe your big moments deserve pieces that feel as individual as your own story.

We’re constantly adding new ideas as they pop into mind, improving our products rapidly, and taking every piece of customer feedback onboard with gratitude.

If you love handcrafted details, unique design, and clever technical solutions that make your wedding or event feel special, you’re in the right place.

Thank you so much for stopping by and supporting our journey. Take a look around, say hello on social media or via email, and let’s make something beautiful together! 💌

Love,

Ilaria