Tag Archives: Creative Process

Mother’s Day

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Recently, a stencil customer told me a sweet story. She purchased a wall stencil from me, hoping to add some flair to her small apartment. Her parents came to visit soon thereafter, and while they were in town, they helped her stencil a wall in her living room. The time together, working on a project, was a welcome bonding time for the three, who haven’t been able to spend time alone together in quite awhile. After the wall was finished, her mom offered to use the stencil to create coordinating pillows! Now, when she looks at the wall, she not only enjoys the color it added to her apartment, she has a weekend of memories too. I love it!

My mother and I have always had a special bond over doing “stuff” together. It’s how we communicate, how we spend time together, how we have grown closer over the years. The things we have painted, sewn, constructed, sawed, hammered, and glued have bonded us with sweet memories. She’s taught me so much, and I credit her with my tendency to dig in and try new things. I love you, Mom.

In honor of my mom, and in honor of families creating memories through doing “stuff” together, I am offering 25% the purchase of any stencil, now through Mother’s Day (May 8). Click here to go to the store, and use coupon code LUVMOM2011.

Grab your loved ones and do stuff! As always, I’d love to hear about it when you’re finished. I can’t wait to see what you do.

SALE Extended! Happy Holidays to YOU!

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I’ve changed my mind. I get to do that, you know. :) I’ve decided to extend the Grand Opening Sale thru December. Why? Because I like you. And because I know many of you are still trying to decide which stencil you want AND that the holidays are a terrible time to rush that process. So let’s just take it a month further, shall we? Enjoy!

In case you’ve forgotten or missed it the first time, here’s the deal:

GRAND OPENING SALE!

How would you like a 40% rebate on your most recent stencil order?
I thought you might be interested.

Here’s how it works:

Buy a stencil and use it somewhere. Apply for the rebate using the form link below. Tell me about yourself, the stencil you used, and where you used it. Upload a picture (or five) of your work. I’ll send back 40% of your purchase price. No kidding. That’s pretty much it.

Not bad, eh?

A few terms and conditions:

  1. Pictures must be at least 800×600 (bigger is better), and taken with a digital camera, not a cell phone camera.
  2. At least one picture must include the whole project, not just a portion of it. You can upload up to five pictures, so feel free to send different angles and portions of your project, so long as at least one picture is the whole thing.
  3. By taking advantage of this offer, you agree to let me use your name (first name and last initial only), your location (state only) and your review for promotional purposes. If you have a website, I would be more than happy to link back to you.
  4. One rebate per household/business.
  5. Rebates come back to you via PayPal, no exceptions.
  6. This offer applies only to stencils purchased until December 31, 2010. Photo(s) and information must be submitted before February 28, 2011.
  7. Rebate will be given only upon approval of submitted photos and information. I reserve the right to refuse this rebate based on unacceptable, unusable, or incomplete images and/or information.
  8. Email confirmation of rebate will be initiated within 10 days of receipt of acceptable photo(s) and information.
  9. Custom stencil orders will receive a 15% rebate.
  10. Does not apply to wholesale orders.

Ready to go? Fill out the form here.

New Pattern: Venice

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While traveling through Venice last month, I was struck by the Islamic influence on the city’s architecture. Such lovely peaks and curves, so unique to that culture.

Today, I made a pattern from the doodles I did on the train from Venice to Florence. Introducing “Venice.”

Talk to me if you’d like to use this pattern somewhere.

Inspiration

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It’s not really a New Year’s resolution so much as a “what I need right now”, but I’ve decided to look around more. I am so inspired by other designers!!

Yesterday, I spent a good chunk of time staring at Letterhead Fonts. Lots of typographic eye candy. Check ‘em out.

I also stared at Jessica Hische’s website. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend you refill your coffee and click here. You’ll stare for a long time. Gorgeous work.

And one of my favorite, favorite things to look at is Patty Young’s designs. I love, love the colorways she uses.

What inspires you? What do you find yourself staring at?

Images from Letterhead Fonts, Jessica Hische, and Patty Young. I am not affiliated with any of these individuals or companies, only hold them in high regard. :)

Interviewed on SparkyFirePants!

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Check out my interview on sparkyfirepants.com! Fun questions, fun answers, and my very own recipe for the *perfect* PB&J.

Thanks, David, for a super-fun conversation!

Love This.

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I was just playing around with Alluminare’s custom fabric tool (because lately, it’s like crack), and came up with this.

Do I get to love my own work this much? Because really, I love that colorway.

New Pattern Collection: Alice

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Alice One

While staying at my grandma’s this summer, I was drawing while we watched TV, and she asked what I was doing. It was really just a page of doodles, but she honed in on one in particular. Her first name is Alice (she goes by Ann), so I named the collection after her.

Check it out!

Contact me for licensing options.

Microsoft Office, Will You Please Go Now?

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I’m beginning to question the way I set up projects. I’ve had three clients, one with 30+ graphics, recently request I put everything I’ve done into an MS Office program. This request usually comes after I’ve put a couple weeks (hours and hours) into the project, and have sent them proofs along the way. This baffles me. I’m not sure where to put it in my brain, because asking the client up front, “Do you want me to do this in Word?” seems both traitorous and unprofessional as a graphic artist. Yet it keeps happening. Has anyone else experienced this? Am I crazy? Is graphic art moving away from both graphics and art?

A thought is that it’s that ever-lurking Bad Economy. They hire an artist to design a page they intend to use long-term, but don’t want to pay to have it changed down the road. It makes sense from that angle. I guess I’d just like to know that up front, before I format an InDesign spread for print or a 30-slide Illustrator presentation. The process for creating a Word document or Power Point presentation is completely different than it is for laying out standard graphics, and I just have never thought to ask about that from the beginning.

Honest Questions, Honest Answers

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A couple questions come to mind, this beautiful Friday morning. I am hoping for some honest answers from other designers, but would also welcome non-designers to lend their perspectives.

  1. You design something for a client, and after the project is finalized, you think of a better/new way to do it. Do you tell the client?
  2. You design something initially, and the client requests multiple rounds of revisions. At what point does your role change from Designer to Consultant? And do you inform the client?

My inclination on the first question is to say no. It would depend on the client and my relationship with them, but in my experience, this can depreciate my status as the Expert (in the client’s eyes). What I struggle with, as a designer, is feeling like it could always be better. Even when it’s at its best, it could be better. A tweak here, a tweak there. I lay in bed at night, redesigning things over and over in my mind. It’s just who I am, and the way I process. Ten years from now, I will still be mentally redesigning everything I’m working on. It’s not a lack of experience; it’s a creative process. But what if I have a sudden stroke of genius, late in the game (say, post-finalization or post-site launch or post-printing)? Should I tell them? Again, I think it depends. The balance is a better end-product versus your status as the Expert, which could affect potential repeat business.

The second question: I have no idea. If I present myself as a Designer, does that morph over time, or should I stick to my guns? Do I allow the client to dictate the specifics of a project, even if my own design sensibilities are in disagreement? Is there a formal switch from Designer to Consultant? Answering a question with questions: I am clearly tossed.

Would love some feedback.