just a little update...

With all that has been going on in the past few months, I feel like my head is spinning.  Sometimes you don't realize what is on your plate until you sit down and think of all that has to be accomplished.  And I have never been one for great time management.  So please anyone out there that has a full proof, (or idiot proof) way of doing that I'd love to know what it is!! 

But in the mean time I have been doing all sorts of things.  I have finished up work on a bookmark design for the wonderful Mandie Newsom of Captured.  She has been such a wonderful client and her business has really taken off very well for her.  I can see great things coming from her in the future. And don't forget to become a fan on facebook.

I have also been finishing up some logo work.  And I am also creating a wonderful packet for photographers.  Would love to go into details on what that all entails, but I am not quite there yet.  I am in the beginning stages of creating it.  I have found that it is more time consuming than I had anticipated, but I am very excited to unveil it.  So be on the lookout.

And here is one more design that I created for Mandie.  It is another business card that can be put into her rotation.

say hello to my little friend!!

Look what I found in my driveway this morning.......

To my surprise as I was going around my jeep to take my son to daycare, I almost stepped on this little guy.  We've been getting quite a bit of rain lately and I think this little one came up from our pond behind our house.  I guess it needed to be a bit of a land lover for a bit.

Living in the south you can come across some neat things.  We have seen our share of alligators.. there is a pluthra of turtles and egrets... and I have seen my fare share of snakes that are poisness.  This little guy though seems to top it all!!!!

marketing material | quick share

Hello..  I just wanted to share a business card that Mandie Newsom of Captured asked me to do.  If you remember in another post, she purchased one of my "logos for sale".  She has also asked me to create a business card to pass out to potential clients.

 Thanks again Mandie!!  Cannot wait to see it printed.  Oh and don't forget to become a fan of her facebook page.

One side note, I am totally excited for a new template design I just created.  I am waiting for it to come back from the printer and I'll post images as well as the template over at the shoppe.  It is totally customizable and easy to use.

Just wanted to give you a little teaser before it gets here!!!

branding

Has anyone told you that designing for someone is easier then designing for yourself?  Well if they have not, it is.  Trying to pin point down what you want to convey, what style you want to present is not an easy task.  I have been through countless ideas and colors and everything in between. 

Branding is a very important part of anyone's business.  It defines who you are and how you want to be presented to your collegues and clients.  That is why it is very important to higher someone you trust that will get your angle.  But do not be discouraged if it takes time.  Creating a brand for someone is a process.  Some people are very successful of getting their clients over night and others, it just may take some time.  But it is well worth it in the end.  Plus I think it's fun in the idea of getting to know your client.  You build lasting relationships for years to come. 

Oh, and any post is no fun without a pic.  This is a logo design that I did for a client out of the "logo's for sale".  I was really excited with what we came up with.

 Stephanie of Stephanie Dawn Photography purchased a "logo for sale" and we tweaked to her needs.  Once I get her website, etc I'll post so you can check her out.

time is going faster everyday

Hey friends... Long time no see!!!!  I wanted to share a little something I was thinking about.  Well it seems I think about it a lot lately.

Growing up I'm sure you remember telling your parents you can't wait till you get older.  That being a kid you just don't get to do all the cool stuff as grown-ups do.  Ya, I remember those days.  And now I wish I was a kid again.  If only we could revert back?

Now that we are older we see just how fast time really goes.  Especially when you have kids.  I remember as if it was yesterday the birth of my little man.  So little and cuddly.  Had that cute baby smell.  Little fingers and little toes.  And while so many things are still the same; the belly laughs, smiles, how he wiggles his fingers at you when he wants you to pick him up, there are so many things that change.  He's a big boy!!!  Having full conversations with you.  Being self sufficient. Oh the list could go on.

 See what I mean!!  Just too big too fast.

Oh, he loves giving funny faces..  Well actually I asked for them that day knowing he would be willing to be funny for me.

And this is my Michael Buble wanna be...  Isn't he cute?

look what came out of the "logos for sale"

I was pretty excited when I posted unused and unwanted logos that I immediately I had a sale.  And not only was it fun trying to adapt what was already created, but seeing the final and the little extras.

Mandie Newsom of Captured contacted me and we got to work.  We were able to do several things to help in promoting her business.

We created a logo, a facebook profile badge (that's the square one), a watermark, and a favicon for her website or blog.  Pretty cool aren't they?

If you need a photographer in the South Mississippi area, become a fan on her facebook page and contact her today.  Currently she is running a special through the beginning of November.  A free session and a high quality CD of your images for you to print.  But be sure to contact her immediately as her weekends are filling up quick.

And if you like what you saw here from my "logos for sale" head on over and see what I have left.  Again, they are going for $60 and you can already see what you get out of it.

Oh and in case you wondering, this is how the logo first started off.   

more logos...

I know lately it seems this is all I am doing.  But they are fun and I really enjoy the process. 

Here are a couple more that I recently did for a couple of clients.

This one was for Michelle of "As I see It Photography".  I'll post a link to her blog as soon as I get it.

And this one was for Vanessa of "Nessy B. Photography".  This was a simple one as she had the elements and such figured out, I just helped with a better placement. 

logo work

Just wanted to post a little logo work I finished up.  I had the pleasure of working with Mellisa in creating a logo for her photography business.  I was quite please with the results and I can't wait to see it in action for her. 

45 minutes

This past weekend I have to gloat on a milestone.  No it is not mine, plus I can't even remember when I had this one.  Hmmmm?  Well... While hubby and I were putting together our new grill, oh by the way.... you really should have Lowe's or the place you by it from put it together.... don't get me wrong, it wasn't hard, but when you seem to mix up the nuts and bolts you appreciate the "already assembled" theory.... Anyway, our little man decided to ride his bike.  Now that might not seem too exciting, but it is when after months and months of getting him to grasp the concept of feet moving forward results in bike moving, it's pretty exciting to us.

He did it all on his own.  No mommy and daddy showing him, not even grandma, grandpa, or Mimi showing him.  I guess it holds true to the idea that someone other then next of kin should show a child how to do something.  They never seem to listen when you tell them what they should do.  He must have listened to his inner self and figured it out.  Stubborn stink he is!!!

Now that he is riding his bike, I have the wonderful idea of going for walks.  It's more my agenda then really his, but he gets to benefit from it as well.  And today what I thought would be a quick little 15 minute jaunt really turned in to 45 minutes.  I wasn't expecting to be out that long or that far really.  But to top it all off, I was not wearing the proper attire.  I mean really, I love me some flip-flops.  Wear them everywhere and all the time.  But walking on hot pavement in the middle of the day chasing a child who has just learned to ride a bike is really not the time to do it.  Oh and I have to mention that we went the equivalent to a mile.  Might not seem long to most people, but remember that it's eternity when you are wearing flip-flops.  Thin wonderful Reefs flip-flops!!!

Maybe some day I'll learn.  How about tomorrow?

Well, I didn't take my camera along with, although right now I wish I had.  To get his first long bike ride.  But I'll share another photo with a little processing that I am stumbling across.  Lately you have been seeing moody type of processing, and while it has taken me a while, I think I have figured it out without having to purchase actions.  I am sure to many of you, it's really easy and you probably think I am lame and dumb for just now getting it, but that's ok.

Here is what I have, and I am going to do some tweaks to it, and then I'll post a little tutorial on how I did it. 

Have a good Monday. 

Disclaimer: Now I know there are so many technical things wrong with this.  But I just loved his face and his expression especially after playing in the water.  And I felt this type of processing worked with this image.

busy, busy | logo design | monogram

I am excited to show a couple of things I have been working on.  I was asked by Amy and Kathy of Capturing Moments Photography to design a logo for their business. 

Thanks again ladies for allowing me to design a logo for you.  I had a lot of fun creating it!

Also, I was asked by a dear friend whom I have known practically all my life, to create a monogram for his wedding.  And I have to say at first I was a little challenged, but was able to come up with something they loved.

I had this black and white, but thought it would look better online in one of the colors they are using for the wedding.  Thanks again Chris and Megan for asking me to design a monogram for your special day.  Can't wait to see how you use it...

maybe they were right!!!.. feel free to doodle | misc thoughts

I have been beginning to feel that maybe my college professors were on to something.  Well, maybe even my high school teachers if we really want to go that far back.  Hmm!!  Well I guess I have been too stubborn to think that by just jumping into things, I can still accomplish what I set out to do.  For instance, come up with this really great and wonderful design that everyone in the entire world just has to have.   Something that one person buys today, will go and tell all of their friends tomorrow they just have to have it. 

But that lies the problem!!!

I am the type of artist who does not always follow the rules.  Or the one's that can keep you from going totally out of your mind.  I like to jump in, both feet sopping wet just because I have a thought in my mind.  You know it's always a great idea, swirling around in the vortex of many thoughts, just trying to get out. 

Yah, ideas are great!

They get you all excited and tingly!!  Like a school kid playing on the playground.

That's until you start creating them.  Well, at least for me anyway.  Now don't get me wrong, I am a creative thinker.  I have many years of experience, talking about 30 years of experience to be exact.  But it still doesn't take away from the fact you have to work through those ideas.  What lies in your head, does not always come off well on paper, or for my case most of the time my camera or computer.  This can all lead to hours wasted, when all that needed to be done was doing a little brainstorming first.

College was tough years for me.  I tried hard to define my place among the artistic.  Many classes taken, many mediums studied.  But one thing that seemed to be the unifying plot, was thumb-nails.  Yah, working through your ideas on paper.  Whether you draw them out or you write a sentence visually allowed you to see what your mind is conjuring up.  And let me tell you, there are a pluthera of ideas running rampid in my mind.  Some days it doesn't seem to stop!!

So after all these years, being taught by countless teachers and profs, maybe they were right after all.  Ok, you can insert "I told you so" at this point.  You know I was never one to admit when I was wrong.  I mean come on, how could drawing small little representations of what my mind was playing behind my eyes actually free you of any questions you have about that one idea?  Something to think about I guess.  But also something to take advantage of. 

Just wish I knew then, what I know now...... 

mr. i | vera

I feel as if I have neglected this place in a while.  And for the most part I have, but it's only for good reasons.  So many things lately have been keeping me from here.  Paperwork to do, designing, all kinds of things.  And to make it more difficult, the little guy is only in daycare part days which makes for a long day sometimes.  Ya, he can play on his own just fine, but that doesn't excuse the fact I feel bad for not playing with him when I am trying to get work done.  It's that whole balancing act that mothers have to do.  You know be everywhere and anywhere at once.  Multi task!!! 

Here he is at his finest.

(This was image that was part of an assignment, and I loved it so much I had to post it here!)

On to another topic.  I received in my email the other day a promotion.  I was kind of excited because it's something that I love getting.  Well, a little history.  Many women know about it.  It's been around for many many years and the styles just keep getting better and better.  The coolest part is it's based where I am originally from, Ft Wayne, Indiana.  And they do amazing things.  And I am not talking about creating bags, or luggage, or even house wares.  They, well I mean She, does quite a bit for breast cancer research. 

I'm sure you have figured it out by now, but just in case you haven't, I am talking about Vera Bradley.  All I have to say is I have many pieces, probably not as much as some people.  But this one was really fun.  The promo they sent out was for their new lunch bag.  Yup, she has created a lunch bag design.  Well $10 off their lunch bag.   It's very cute!!

I was hoping to find other colors, but since I already had some pink pieces, I thought they would blend nicely.  Sorry guys for the girly post.  I just couldn't help myself!!!

lemonade & spearmint | color

Each time I am in the grocery store, I find myself going towards the magazine aisle.  Don't get me wrong, this selection wasn't anything to boast about, but I did find myself there.  I like to thumb through the pages and see what kind of things pop out at me, artisitically. 

Even though I am happily married, have been for eight years which I am still trying to figure out where the time has gone, I picked up a bridal magazine.  Well, I can actually say that I can still pick it up since my sister is getting married a little over a year from now.  Gotta get her some ideas!!!  On to the real reason for picking it up... They always have great images or designs.  You can get great inspiration from someone's weddings, whether it be a theme or style.  And while all of those really jumped out at me, it was the photography and the color inspirations that it gave me.  They talked about the color trends that are really popular right now.  The one's that can go with each season.  They all seemed gorgeous, but for some reason my eye kept going to lemonade and spearmint.

I mulled on it for days.  Trying to think of something that would be interesting.  Something that could make for a great design, until i sat down again with that same magazine and saw elements that just screamed out to me.  One's that would be great to incorporate.  And along with that came these colors.  Finally I decided to scetch what I was seeing and thinking, and believe me, I hate scetching out designs.  I would rather jump to the creating then the brainstorming anyday.  You can ask my prof's from college, that's of course if they still remember me?  But for some reason this time it worked.  I was able to plan and idea of what I wanted.  A basis for a complete thought. 

And here it is!!  It's a 5x5 promo card for someone who is just starting out and wanting to build their portfolio.  This is just one piece in a large marketing collection that I have in the works.  And just for the fun and the preview of it, the first 25 comments 50 comments on this post will be able to get this template FREE!! 

Now kids, I'll be out of town starting tomorrow afternoon, but I'll be back Sunday night.  I'll send you the file within 24 hours of your post, but if for some reason I take longer, well I'm sorry and I hope you understand.

Here's the front if you would like to see it better:

Here's the back:

It may take me a little while, but as I said earlier I am in the process of creating a large marketing packet.  Business card, pricing sheet, you name it.  And speaking of naming it, I would love a little help in ideas of the things you can't find in a marketing packet that you would like to see.  Who know's, I may just give you that item free.  Oh, and don't forget to fill in your email addy.  I have to know where to send the template too!!!

where have i been | hiatus | inspiration

For some reason this past week my brain has been on empty.  I think part of it has to do with getting up now at 6:30 a.m. because I need to get my child to daycare by 7:30, when before it was around 9 he would be strolling in.  I mean everything I have layed my hands on, just doesn't seem to produce the results I had in my head.  Like a design or even a photograph that I have been trying to attempt.  And with that I haven't posted anything here.  Again, empty brain. 

With all of this said, I have been taking a little time to thumb through magazines and the internet to see what pops out at me.  A little inspiration.  Something to drum up the creative juices and let it all flow. 

We'll see how it all works out!!!!

scooter boy |cheeky smiles

Each time I try to get shots of the little guy, he always gives me this cheeky grin.  The one where his eyes squint tightly and you see all of his teeth.  I think he gets that from me always telling him to say cheese when I want to get a shot of him!  Well, on my quest for finding some light (which by the way, I found it in my garage!  or maybe yet, I forgot about the garage..) I had him do little posing for me.  He seems to get into it a little bit more now which in turns helps me out.

Here's what he gave me.

I know, the first one isn't too cheeky, but the second one gets closer.  He really know's how to ham up the camera!!!!