Let's Get Together, Yeah Yeah Yeah!

(Check out these fun calling cards!)

So, I've been working on a few things lately- for both my Etsy shop as well as for a local retailer that just started carrying my stuff. (In fact, I delivered goods to them today!) So if you live in Sidney, Nebraska or surrounding area, please stop by The Book Corner/Coffee Corner and check them out!

But I have so much more to do, it's crazy! But I am also really excited about it! While I am starting to establish myself as a stationery designer, I am working on plans to do more. If you have kept up with my blog, I am sure that this is just redundant (sometimes I'm just that way!) But anyhow, I plan to create lines that feature specific color palettes, fun illustrations and various products that will be geared towards the season. There will be things like greeting cards, stationery sets, calling cards and such that will be carried in each line but there will be more! Much more! (Please help the sanity of my family as I open my mouth wide for such a GIGANTIC bite! But no worries because this all has to come in baby steps. But I WILL get there!)

Anyhow- I thought I would share some of the stuff that I have done lately. It's just some fun stuff to start off with. If you are interested in anything, check out my Etsy shop or you can also contact me directly at darcyleadesign at msn dot com. I am also more than willing to do custom orders, too!

Talk about refreshing!

I just ran across this company called Metromint....water with mint! Of course, being a mint fan, I had to investigate. Sadly, there aren't any retailers here who carry their products for me to try, however I do know of a local retailer who might consider it if I suggest it. If not, I guess I'll have to either order online or the next time I am in Cheyenne, I'll have to make a point of finding some and picking it up! If you are like me and enjoy mint, this might be something worth trying. For me, mint is so relaxing, so calming and refreshing. I also have to say that I really like their website- it's clean and easy to navigate. Their product design is also simple, clean and eye-catching. Even if I had not heard of this company and their products, if I were to see these bottles on a shelf or something, I'd probably be interested enough to buy it! I really really want to try out the spearmint!!! (And they have a Fan Club you can join, too!)

New things...

Well, first of all, I am happy to say that I am officially a seller on Etsy.com! (Check it out- darcylea design Etsy Shop!)I don't have much on there right now but at least I have a few things up. And, I do plan on getting more to put on there. I am just so happy that I have finally launched this and am doing more of what I love. It's an awesome thing!

I thought I would mention on here a few things that I plan to change on my blog. I really want to put more work into it, organizing everything and making the functionality more appealing. I am even considering dumping my current portfolio site and integrating it more into this blog. And then I'd like to create a blog or site, possibly, dedicated to my stationery design...that is, once I have more to show and sell, etc. The ideas are definitely there and I do need to work out a plan in order to make it happen. I'll get there!

OH- here are some things that I am planning on working on in the near future, so do make sure you check back here for more information as well as on my etsy shop:
Greeting Cards
Notecards
Stationery Sets
Journals
Buttons
Bookmarks
Magnets/Pushpins/Paperclips
Timeless Calendar
Recipe Cards
Reminder Cards
Parent/Teacher Forms
Calling Cards
Invitations
Etc.

When I dream, I obviously dream big! But that's a good thing!

Monitor March Madness!

I stumbled upon Smashing Magazine's site that has many desktop calendars for March and had to share. You can download them with or without calendars- There are a lot to pick from which is my dilemma- there are a lot of great ones in there! Check it out!

HOW Design Conference: Market Place and a Few Other Mentionables

For quite a few months, I had been hoping that there would be some way for me to attend the HOW Design Conference this year, which is being held in Austin this coming June, but I wasn't sure that it would be possible. I have gone for the past two years and have had to pay 100% of it out of my own pocket. I have to admit that while I am glad that I have had the opportunity to go, I can't help but feel some envy for those who have been able to ride on the corporate dime. But at the same time, I also feel that this is an investment that I am making in myself...and because of that, I feel committed to getting as much as I possibly can out of the conference and finding some way to apply it. I can honestly say that I feel that I have come a long way since the first time I attended the conference. I am now done with school and focusing more on some goals I have set for myself that I want to accomplish. I won't say that I am there yet, but I am closer to reaching them now than I was a couple of years ago and even a year ago. I think I have more focus on what I really want to do and a roadmap as to how I might be able to get there. My biggest issues are procrastination and biting off more than I can chew most of the time. But I think that I am getting better....

Anyhow, the point of this post was really to talk about how I WILL be able to go to the HOW Design Conference this year and will be participating in the Designer's Marketplace with my designer friend, Kelly Parke. (Read our interview here!) Kelly and I worked on a project together over the past several months and will be setting up shop selling the kits there. (You can also find out more information about the kits here.) I will also be selling stationery and some other misc. stuff at our table, as well.


I also started setting up my Etsy shop last night and even though I still have more to do, I am feeling as though I am starting to get some place and getting closer to some of the goals I have set for myself. It's exciting! I plan to get some stuff listed this next week, so if you have a chance, check it out! I have been working with just some random illustrations that I have done but I am going to start focusing on things like color palettes, bringing in some textile to my work, creating not just cards but stationery sets, timeless calendars, memo pads, notebooks, etc. I'm telling you...I have big plans!!!!

My New Favorite Mug!

Okay, I have to rave about some awesome mugs that I just purchased from CurlyGirlDesign.com recently. I just got them in the mail today and I am SO loving these mugs, TOTALLY! I bought one for my sister, who is one of my best friends. I would love to buy another friend of mine one, as she is very much like a sister to me. I just love how awesome the mugs are....from the bright and bold colors to the fun illustrations and the varied layers of textures and patterns. How can one NOT love these, right?! (And I have heard that there will be some water canteens offered in the near future as well. As much as I love my current water bottle, I might just have to replace it in the very near future!!!) If you check out the website, make sure you check out their other products. I can vouch for the magnets and cards as I have also bought quite a few of those in the past as well. They're all awesome!

Back on the ball!

I planned to give this awesome follow up to my previous post which was over a month ago, but I have to admit, I really wondered how I would do it. It's way overdue and I do apologize! One really awesome thing that happened following my previous post was that I was contacted regarding tickets to see Taylor Swift in concert this summer- Let's just say that it was an awesome surprise and my daughter is completely elated! It definitely helped make her 10th birthday one of the very best and most definitely a memorable one! (And for the ones who made it possible, and you know who you are, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you from the very bottom of my heart!!!)

So lately, I've been working on some illustrations for my own stationery and I am very happy to say that I have 5 designs done so far to test the waters. I am really hoping that people will like them and encourage me to do more. I will post more about them later when I can get some good pics taken of them. At the moment, I am planning on starting out small and seeing how they will do in a few small local businesses and also on Etsy.com. I am also planning on selling my work at the Marketplace being held during the HOW Design Conference in Austin this June. I am going to be sharing a table with a designer friend of mine, Kelly Parke, as we also have a special somethin'-somethin' we're going to be selling together. (It's a surprise! hehe) I am so excited that I will be able to go again. This will be the 3rd HOW Conference that I will be going to. Even though I self-pay 100% of my way to the conference, I think that it's worth it. There is so much to be gained by going. The sessions are usually really inspiring and full of good information. There are so many opportunities to do some networking. And not counting the other fun stuff to do on the side! I can't wait!!!

I have to work on some more birthday party invites for my youngest son this evening....he's wanting an Indiana Jones kind of party. So I am trying to brainstorm some ideas on what I could do....should be interesting! LOL