An Organized Logo

It's a bit difficult to design a logo when you haven't been given many "wants" from a client. Other than telling me that she liked a couple casual fonts I really had nowhere to start. Oh, except to have the design look like the tagline "making space for your life". What on earth does that look like? I don't know. Do you?

She's a professional organizer so the file folder and the sketched boxes would be things she deals with on a regular basis. Do you like that corrugated cardboard underline? Yep, upper right logo. She's had her hands on plenty of cardboard boxes over the years. And those cherries? Well, "life is a bowl of cherries" so that's the playful reason for those! 

It has been fun working on this, I must say.

Take Note! Stationery for a Special Touch

an art deco style ornament

a floral ornament for a garden club member

a font style from the 1880's

Stationery is a great host/hostess gift in my book. And I had the chance to create some especially for some dear friends. Last month my husband and I stayed and visited with them in their home in Massachusetts for a couple days. They moved to this wonderful town, Newburyport, a few months ago and what a lovely town it is! The best part is they are walking distance to just about anywhere one would want to go. And their home is probably about 200 years old with these amazing, original, wide plank pumpkin pine floors. They both have a traditional and classic style, and she loves her garden so I think these just might fit them well.

A Gratitude Valentine

This is a big year of gratitude for one of my clients. Her team of realtors is having 52 Weeks of Gratitude! Each week they are having a drawing for a fun prize for one lucky client and this week all their clients will get a Valentine! Awwww, so sweet! Did you notice that fabulous logo? I love it!

Last year I sent Valentine's Day cards to some special clients, including this special gal, and that's when she decided she needed to do the same so it was added to her 52 Weeks of Gratitude line-up.

Construction Business Card & Logo

It hit me the other day that I had not posted the final design for Starboard Construction! It might sound like this company is in the boat building business, but not so. They do deal with a lot of water though! Underground water and sewer pipelines is the business, and besides that Kevin has a love of sailing. After coming up with a few designs which I posted earlier here, the owners decided to add a compass rose. Love that detail! The colors are earth and water which seem to fit perfectly.

Just a Note

Personalized notecards are a treat to have. But then I love anything that is personalized with a name or monogram or cypher. Somehow it makes the item more special and maybe even royal! These are a crisp two-layer flat card with matching envelope. I hope Teri feels super special when she gets these!

Getting Down to Business Logos, and Business Cards

With color requests, a company name, and a tag line (the definition of starboard) I started to work on a logo/business card. These are a few ideas I came up with so far. Now for feedback... I'll be back with the final design later!

Detail Follow Through

From the invitation to the thank you note, I love it when a theme and color scheme is woven throughout an event. A charming detail to this 50th birthday party is the name tag that doubles as a wine glass identifier. On the reverse of each tag is a quote about friendship which serves as a nice conversation starter for guests that might not know each other. I was so pleased that the birthday girl wanted me to create thank you note-cards for her that would match because, well... that's Detail Follow Through!

They're Engaged! Part Two

Despite the fact that I love details, and I mean LOVE, it's the people that make the party. The family the friends the laughter the smiles. But back to the details... I had to use the "Danielle & Bill" logo on the water bottles followed by h2oh so in love, and the ribbons on the wood boxes that matched the invitations. And sweet Danielle & Bill wearing the appropriate colors was perfect and I'm sure they knew it was expected of them. And Bill's mom and dad joined in the color coordinating too with their brown and turquoise. Yay. And of course they won the "traveled the farthest" prize flying in from Idaho, although Grams did fly down from Seattle so maybe it's a tie. Three Cal Poly college roomies made the long trek, the local friends the short trek, to give long overdue hugs. And the tapas? The Promiscuous Fork rocked the yummies!

Got Logo?

Recently a couple logos have been requests that I've received. A Christmas tree, wreath and garland program at my church which donates trees to military families, and also a sort of dinner club at church both needed logos. No great surprise, I had fun playing with fonts!

Hey Grad!

There's no doubt it is graduation season. Announcement number three showed up in our mailbox today so I thought I'd post some graduation announcements, grad party invitations that I've created and my daughter's graduation "thank you" notes. Knowing that she would be writing the same "this is what I plan to do now" I thought it best to just state that on the front of the folded card with a fun photo and leave the inside for the personal note of thanks. Best wishes to all the grads!

Lending Library

It's always good to share a good book. I rarely read a book and give it away. Most of the time I want it back and every so often one never finds its way back to me so that got me thinking. I just finished reading a book I really enjoyed and plan to share it with a friend, and then my daughter, and most likely another friend or my mom after that. So I decided to design a bookplate for our little library here at Stone's Throw. These are just a handful of what I've been playing around with. Bookplates have been around for hundreds of years and I intend to make sure they do not become extinct!

Move is not a "four-letter word"!

Someone recently told me that people don't like the word "move". Apparently "relocate" is preferred. As if there's something wrong with moving. I suppose I'm not thinking that it conjures up the day when everything gets packed in boxes, a "moving" van comes and the sad goodbyes take place. Does "relocating" happen in an easier fashion?

Over a year ago we "moved" our daughter all the way up to Idaho. And I say "all the way up" because it was a long haul in a U-Haul on snow and ice covered roads! But her adventure was just beginning and we were so excited for her. Was it because she'd landed her first big job out of college and we were no longer paying tuition and other assorted bills? Well maybe. But honestly, to know she was launching into the world, and into her career that she had worked hard for, was thrilling.

We had our sad goodbye at the airport when we flew back home but my next little project awaited me. Her "I've Moved!" cards of course! So many people had asked "Now where exactly is Idaho Falls?" so that's what I started with... a map.

Okay, "move" does have four letters in it, but it's not a four-letter word.

Identity Crisis!

I'm having an identity crisis. Or maybe I have multiple personalities, in a completely sane sort of way of course.

Identity.. the business card that says who you are, what you do, what your style is. Nailing that is more difficult for oneself than for others. I can design your business card, but can I decide on my own? And then some words of wisdom from a dear friend.. "Oh I change my card every few months." So I probably will do the same. But I still want input from others so don't be shy about commenting.