I may sound crazy, but I love/thrive on being busy. This is when I’m most productive and really must prioritize and make time for who and what I value most.
So this week is almost half over, but yay for long lists, caffeine, commitments, meetings, annoying alarm clocks, fun projects and quite moments. Here’s a little encouragement/motivation if you’re in the same boat.
All images from weheartit.com
I cannot believe it’s Labor Day Weekend!!! Craziness!! It’s the “official end of summer” and today was actually the first day it truly felt like summer to me. Sad, I know. I went for a run in the sun (you can see my tan lines-ha!), then an afternoon BBQ, sipped a great iced coffee and then met up with a friend…essentially a perfect Saturday.
I realized it was one-year ago this weekend my friend’s threw me a going away BBQ before I left NOVA (DC Metro Area) and moved to Australia. Sooooo much can happen in a year and man, it has been a blur. It def had been the coolest, most challenging, hardest year of my life, BUT I experienced so, so much, met AMAZING peeps and would not change a single day. Well, that’s quite enough… don’t want to get too personal. haha.
On another note and why I started writing this post… yes, I can easily get distracted…I have been wanting to pull off this look and finally had the perfect day to. I have tons of scarfs and have been wanting to wear one as a shirt. Nothing epic, I know, but I thought it would make a great tank. Fortunately Arizona is still hot as ever, so there are plenty more days to wear some more of my scarfs. Give this look a try, just remember to tie a TIGHT knot. ha. I tucked-in the front, but you could also leave it out with a pair of skinny jeans…just givin ya options. :)
Jessica and Micheal are married AND they had such a cool wedding stationery suite. I loved working with Jessica and hearing all the details she was planning. You can view a style preview of her special day as featured on the Cedarwood Mansion blog. I already shared the invitations a while back, but now here is the full suite.
We kept the same art from the invitations for both the program and escort cards. She hung the escort cards with clothespins. The programs were four pages and connected with little-bitty clasps. Jessica wanted to feature the bridal party with stick figures in a fun, original way. Love.
it’s yet another week…with some of fun projects to share. having a slow monday? this may put a little pep in your step.
Here’s fun little project to add a little glam to your fridge or any metal surface. Click the image below to enlarge the materials list.
I got the September J. Crew catalog and the styling is fab and I am digging many of the spreads, so I used it for the background. Enjoy!
STEP ONE: Get an assortment of mismatch costumer jewelry or raid your jewelry box to find earrings that have lost their match. I got these beauties from an estate sale.
A couple weeks ago Kelly Hicks and I decided to go on a little photoshoot adventure…ya know, to get the creative juices flowing. I must say, I sooooo needed this and ADORED my time with her. She took pics of me and I of her, twas fun (and intimidating because she’s pretty dang good! haha)! You can see some more shots from the day on her past two “Fashion Friday” blog posts. Here’s a glimpse at the abandon lot we both fell in love with…vehicles, scrap parts and all.
Linda was the winner of the Wedding Chicks Birthday Giveaway back in March. It’s ironic because she’s in DC and I had just moved away from the DC metro area. It was a pleasure to design some chic little invitations for her! She added a details and thank you card to make a complete wedding suite.
It sounds like its going to be quite the event and DC is sure the place to make that happen! Linda & Matthew I wish you the best!
Need of inspiration? Sometimes you need to get some great visuals for projects or just life. I took the extra plywood from the desk I made and put together a little spot for inspiration. Just clipped and taped up images I love. I’ll just add and remove images as I need to keep it fresh.
Today I stumbled across these pics I had forgotten about. Cute, little Rayne and I spent much of our summer together. She’s unbelievably precious, has such a personality and can make-out with her stuffed animal “bow-wow” (dog) like no one I have ever seen. haha. Just thought I’d share.
Two of my dear friends got married this past weekend in “hotlanta.” I so wish I could have made it. Okey’s looking quite dapper and Leslie… well, she just has it going on!! They make the CUTEST couple and they are some of the most A-MAZ-ING people I know!! I just wanted to share this pic because I love it as much as I love them!
Here’s a mock up of their program to match their invitations (Blanche from the Classy Ladies Collection) and website.
I’ve been in dire need of some structure and goal planning in my life. Elsie from A Beautiful Mess challenged readers to create four simple goals to accomplish by 2011 within the following criteria. Easy enough, right? Well, I have a much longer list of personal and professional goals I am working on, but here are my “4 simple ones.”
The best part of goals is setting rewards… I can think of many things I would enjoy that I don’t treat myself to… like getting my eyebrows threaded, spurge and buy lots of yummy groceries and having a dinner party, going out for frozen yogurt, buying a new pair of shoes or a dress… those are some of the options that first popped into my head. :)
So this week starts my intentionally and discipline… which really excites the “achiever” in me (via Strengths Finder… great book & tool/resource to identify your strengths).
Last Saturday we had one more crafternoon before back to school and busy schedules. It was complete with fun projects like headbands, wire rings and button earrings. I think I had a sugar buzz all weekend from all the sweets I ate. It’s so for fun crafting with other because you can see their personality and style come out in their designs. So inspiring!! Love you ladies!
I realized I really haven’t taken any pictures actually of Arizona (or everyday life) since moving here…kinda sad. A recent goal is to start a new art journal and capture those everyday moments, places and random items I take for granted. Last fall in Australia I kept a consistent journal and it’s a great keepsake full of memories and experiences!! Here’s a little peek of it…
Well, last night I went for a little stroll by my house and took some pics. Here’s to documenting my life… haha
Want to know one of the ways to my heart?!? FRESH FLOWERS! I just love them. If you know me well, you know I LOVE to have fresh flowers in my home. Not fancy-smancy arrangements, the natural looking kind. Like getting them from the farmers market, my backyard or the side of the road. Ha. And yes, I may go back and pick those yellow ones pictured above… I have done it many times before. And yes, I realize that they technically may be considered weeds. (more…)
Here’s the card I made for my friends over at Abolition Media. “Abolition Media creates communities of local musicians and artists who use the platform of music, arts, and media to raise awareness about modern-day slavery, as well as raise funds to fight modern-day slavery, and connect the community to practical ways they can get involved and make a difference.”
They are currently raising funds for the 333 CAMPAIGN, which is in collaboration with Streetlight Phoenix to provide safe housing and prevent further risk of exploitation to victims of child sex slavery here in southern Arizona.
You can support Abolition Media this Wednesday, August 11 (details here) and check out some bands… (more…)
I recently did a little branding work for Rachel Spears Photography of Cincinnati, Ohio. Rachel wanted to play off the earthtones of her current website and have something that captured her fun personality, yet be modern and cute. Specifically, she wanted to focus on getting a logo and a new CD design.
We were a little fun with the typeface and leaf design and kept it a little modern/funky/retro with the lines. The square logo can easily be incorporated on her website and would make rad square business cards. I also added the circle “rs photo” design to be used for packaging… maybe turn into stickers or print off as a unique sized stationery with a square envelope?!? So many options. haha
Here are some of the logo options we went through to come out with the final design.
Isn’t this adorable?!?! Rachel, you’re quite the talented lady!!
What have you been listening to? The past several months I always come back to Florence and the Machine. I can’t seem to get enough. It’s quite funny though, because lately it’s a mix between the normal tunes, sermons and worship music. What a blend. haha. I do want to give a shout out to Matt Chandler’s series “Beyond the Sun: A Study of Ecclesiastes.” I just finish it today and soooo good and soooo challenging. I greatly appreciate Matt Chandler’s teaching style, passion for TRUTH, honestly and vulnerability. Check it out, seriously!
Anyway, I’m officially back into running. yay! Feel’s good!! A couple weeks ago I was not the brightest person and went for a run in the afternoon (it was cloudy when I started and two minutes later the AZ sun was blazing on me!!)… and I was on this long stretch with the mountains ahead of me in the distance and this song came on. Though Florence’s message is not intended for how I perceived it, but that’s okay. These lyrics were just what I needed at that moment and not just for my run…because “I know my SAVIOR’S love is real.”
YOU’VE GOT THE LOVE | You can right click and “save link as” for The XX remix. Enjoy!
Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air
I know I can count on you
Sometimes I feel like saying “Lord I just don’t care”
But you’ve got the love I need To see me through
Sometimes it seems that the going is just too rough
And things go wrong no matter what I do
Now and then it seems that life is just too much
But you’ve got the love I need to see me through
When food is gone you are my daily meal
When friends are gone I know my Savior’s love is real
Your love is real
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
Time after time I think “Oh Lord what’s the use?”
Time after time I think it’s just no good
Sooner or later in life, the things you love you loose
But you got the love I need to see me through
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air
I know I can count on you
Sometimes I feel like saying “Lord I just don’t care”
But you’ve got the love I need to see me through
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
Janine got married yesterday, so now I can share the programs and menus I did for her. She took the two pages and made fans for her outdoor wedding. I love how bright the colors are. You can see I incorporated some of the design elements from her invitations. The reception had an “Around the World” menu, hence the passport menus…so fun!!
This New England bride wanted to spice up the traditional formal wedding invitation. We used metallic paper, scrolls with a TON of movement and fun, charming flowers. The main invitation features a chandelier that I drew based on the one in the reception ballroom.
Go, Fight, Win!!! I never was the cheerleader type… though I was voted “Most School Spirit” in high school. haha. Oh man. Anyway, here’s the tee I designed for North Georgia Christian’s cheer camp. I think athletic apparel often looks too boring or too cheesy. I try to take the “fun” approach and incorporate the same standard icons (ie, megaphone) in a new way. Dig it?!?
My brother-in-law and sister are hosting a 3-on-3 basketball tournament this weekend. Sounds like so much fun and I wish I could be there to hang out and play!! It’s random events like this that make me miss family, but hopefully I can visit soooooon!!
