Champagne Wishes...

I decided to revisit some wedding invitations that I created several months ago and share. I was approached by a gal off of Etsy to create wedding invitations for pocketfolds. She had seen some Save-The-Dates that I had created and really loved the design so much that she wanted her whole invitation set created in it's fashion. Her colors were Chocolate Brown, Chartreuse and Cream. I am biased, I realize, but I really feel that the whole set turned out beautiful. I really wish that I could have been sent one so I could have an actual printed piece for my portfolio and to show others interested in my work, but I didn't get one. But that's okay....I have the original files and may try printing some just to have on hand for that reason. I really do want to build myself up more as an invitation designer and so I can definitely see the benefit of this. I absolutely love designing invitations and all the coordinating pieces to go with. It's the kind of work that I can work way into the early hours of the morning, go without sleep, food, etc. It becomes almost an obsessive thing. I love it THAT much. It gives me about as much pleasure as a day at a theme park...which I love.

Okay- so my next point is that I am currently working on some new designs for some new clients and I cannot wait to share! It's almost like waiting for Santa to come. I know I have to wait but I am so excited that there are moments where I want to burst! And there are moments where I just want to stare at my screen in adoration with what I've created and somehow imbed the design onto my eyes forever. Okay, okay, okay...that sounded pretty intense but I do love some of this stuff I've been working on and I hope that when I can finally share it with you,  you will love it, too!

Follow the Golden Rule!

So I am really wanting to try and make an effort and post more on a regular basis...even if no one reads this, it helps me to think about things that inspire me and it's a shame I haven't been consistent in my posts in the past. I might have a treasury of goodness by now!

Anyhow- I ran across some awesome work done by Studio on Fire. I've seen their work before quite a few times and actually, I think I have mentioned them in a post before. But no mattah....I want to talk about them again. They inspire me.

I found this awesome print done in letterpress, a collaboration between a young blooming illustrator, Koen and his dad. I just love it. I love every aspect of it. It's a simple concept and illustrated quite well- a 6 year old totally understands the message! Definitely a print I'd love to have and hang up and hope to spread that same great message. The colors are bright and cheery. I also love the fact that this was a collaboration between a father and his young son...I love that the dad brought his son in on a project like this and was able to share his trade with him. I have worked with my kids on some projects in the past. My 14 year old son actually helped create the concept for my husband's logo for his construction business. And I know that when the subject comes up, my son is very proud of his contribution. Including kids in projects means so much to them and so I love seeing projects that are created with collaboration of children.

Peace, Love & Desserts...YUMMM!

When I saw the logo design for Peace, Love & Desserts when reading a newsletter from HOW Design, I couldn't help but fall in love with it. It is one of the winners from the 2011 HOW Logo Design Awards and I definitely agree that it was a good one to pick! I love the messy/organic look because it really does relate well to the kind of company that it is and also speaks well to the audience. It's yummy! I love the color choices for the design, as well. The company's website is a simple one-pager but it is really straight forward as far as what they offer.  I'm sitting here practically drooling and close to licking my monitor. Okay, maybe not that far....but it all does look simply delish!!!! Why oh why can't they deliver to Nebraska? I want a cupcake now!!!!

Have Yourself a Happy, Letterpressed Year

How is this new year treating you so far? It's only a week in but I really feel that this year is going to be far better than 2010! So, what better to start the year off but with a new calendar? Out with 2010 and in with 2011!

I decided that I would share a letterpress calendar project that I was given a great opportunity to work on with 12 other designers from around the USA and also from Canada. We were each assigned a month to create an illustration for. The results turned out beautiful! My month was July- I created an illustration based of an image of my grandmother in her younger days. Most people think of fireworks, the Fourth of July...I wanted to try and bring some familiar associations but present it in a different way. I felt that it would be fun to focus on the image of a beautiful woman and give her firecracker status. Overall, this project was a lot of fun to work on and I really love each and every designer's illustrations. I am so very glad that I got to be a part of this project and hope that I can be included in future projects like this down the road!

OH- There are still a few calendars left that you can buy and they are on sale now for $20 from JHPapers, which is a $5 savings! Get one now before they run out as they will never be reprinted again! You won't regret it!

 

  

 

 

Photos courtesy of Jane Hancock Papers

How to Eat an Angry Bird

Okay. I couldn't help but to post this. I recently became an Angry Birds fan a couple of months ago and I won't lie, it's addictive! Whenever I found myself waiting around for anything, it seemed like I was completely obsessed with knocking out those green pigs with flying birds! A friend of mine posted a link on facebook for these edible cake toppers featuring Angry Bird characters, made by Artisan Cake Company and are available on their Etsy shop. These are so great, I'd hate to eat them, though! There are other great edibles for cakes & cupcakes featured on Artisan Cake Company's Etsy shop. I am making them a favorite!

Welcome, Welcome 2011!

I don't know about any of you but I am happy to welcome 2011 and try to put 2010 behind me. I'm not going to lie- while there definitely were some pretty awesome moments in 2010 that I will cherish for always, there were a lot of very trying and tough times for my family and I that I am happy to put behind us. A lot of big life lessons learned and while times were tough, I do feel that it did bring my family closer together and taught us some bigger morals in life and reprioritize a few things. And with that- I am actually very hopeful for what 2011 might bless us with!

I have to admit, I am not the most consistent blogger. I have proven that. But it isn't because I haven't wanted to, more that I haven't made it a priority over other things that consumed my life, especially in 2010. But I am going to give it an earnest try to be more consistent for 2011. I want to really put focus on not only things that I am doing but also things that interest me and inspire me, hoping that maybe it might be of interest to others out there...and also serve to inspire you as well.

As far as new things on my to-do list, I have one, possibly two wedding invitation ensembles to design and I couldn't be more excited! They're both for very good friends of my family and it's an honor that they have come to me with the opportunities to help make their days more special! I am also working on The Sketchbook Project and hoping I can get it all done in time and mailed/postmarked by the deadline.  

In any case...it's getting rather late and I have to be at work tomorrow...Time to jump into the new year and ROCK IT! So I am gonna need a good night's sleep!!!