down the gardening path...

I love spending my free time outdoors, playing in my flower beds on warm, sunny days. This is how I relieve stress after spending all day—sometimes 12 hours—at my computer. When I'm outdoors, I don't have to worry about deadlines, preparing files for printing, or making sure every detail is perfect—my flowers are happy just as they are!

Our gardening shed before it was painted

We have almost two acres but half of it contains trees. It has been a challenge through the years, determining what works best in our shady yard and that's why we never planted a vegetable garden. After removing numerous trees in the back that were damaged, we had a gardening shed built last fall in anticipation of a future vegetable garden. And a few weeks ago, our raised vegetable beds went in! While other mothers were getting flowers and jewelry for mother's day, I received a truck load of dirt, vegetable plants and flowers for my beds and I couldn't have been happier!

Here are two inspirational photos (shown below) I found on Pinterest—aren't they beautiful! My shed and garden will never look like these but they did help me determine what I wanted.

I spent the long weekend, planting flowers around my shed. Of course, I still need more plants for the shed, grass needs to be planted and stone pathways put in but slowly, everything is coming together.

I only put in two vegetable beds but if they do well this summer, more will be added next year. And if the bunnies and deer don't leave them alone, a picket fence will follow! 

Both my parents were avid gardeners—my mother had the most beautiful flower beds and my father's vegetable garden was the envy of neighbor and friends. So I'm hoping I inherited their genes!

More photos to come once everything is completed. Happy planting!

  

a sneak peek...

You can tell when I'm busy because there aren't any new postings on my blog! I truly have to get better about blogging but honestly, the past few months have been like a roller coaster ride with me hanging on for dear life — well, not that bad but I have been extremely busy! 

I took a mini vacation last week to Captiva, Florida and it was just what I needed! I came home rested,  inspired and ready to begin new design projects. Here's a sneak peek at what I have been working on. I promise to share more once they are completed. 

branding and design for a binder that holds bamboo shade samples

branding and website redesign

branding and website design

branding and website design

These are just a few of the projects that kept me busy since December. I'm also working on a catalog, seasonal signage for 2013, packaging and another branding project but I can't share those until they launch.

I love my job! I'm so thankful for the work and my wonderful clients that keep me busy!

tangerine tango in marketing campaigns

I have been seeing more and more Tangerine Tango being used in fashion, home furnishings and products since Pantone announced it to be the color of the year. And I'm especially excited to see companies embracing the color in their marketing campaigns. A good example of this is the new jcpenney catalog that was mailed out the first week in March. Not only did it show off their new logo and campaign but almost every page has some shade of this lovely hue! Here are a few of my favorite spreads from their catalog.

 

I love how the boxes are brought into the catalog, repeated on the pages and used to guide your eye throughout each spread.

I have to admit that I don't love their new logo but I do think it's a vast improvement from their previous ones. What I do like about it though is the whole concept behind the square design—reminding customers to "frame the things they love". It also represents American heritage and commitment to treat customers "fair and square". I might even start shopping at jcp now!  

What other companies are using tangerine tango in their campaigns or collateral pieces. Please share!

in the pink and gorgeous!

I had the pleasure of working on a branding project for a local day spa that was moving to a new location. They wanted a new look for everything—from the logo to all the collateral pieces and even the interior space. The new location is in the heart of Chagrin Falls, a quaint little town filled with unique shops and restaurants. The client wanted the spa to be portrayed more like a boutique that specialized in skin care and makeup among many other things.

 

I had less than two months to complete everything! I started with the logo. The goal was to make it feminine, glamorous, yet fun... and what color is more perfect to portray all that than pink! Pink is such a happy color. It stimulates energy and encourages confidence, making it a perfect choice for a boutique that specializes in skin care and wellness! Pink also happened to be the client's favorite color and she wanted to carry pink throughout the decor of the new place.

It was important to carry the tone of logo—the feminine playfulness—into the boutique. The new space is filled with a combination of vintage and new furniture and accessories. Makeup products are displayed within old china hutches, buffets and tables that have been lovingly repainted and restored.

Pink stripes are used on the collateral pieces and also on one wall in the seating area. A vintage chandelier and photo add to the overall tone of the space. There is even an inspirational wall, filled with gorgeous divas from the past. 

How can you not feel gorgeous in a place like this? If you're ever in Chagrin Falls, stop by and visit La Look. They are located at 100 N. Main Street, Suite 350. You will love it!

You can check out their website, lalookboutique.com, for more information but I have to warn you the site isn't completed yet. That's next on my to-do list!

a weekend painting project

January was a very crazy month for me. I had several large projects in the studio which kept me quite busy, even on the weekends! This past weekend, I finally had some free time and I was in the mood to paint—not walls but an old chair that I picked up at a flea market.

The chair had seen better days. It was pretty beat up and the chair cushion was a very dirty green vinyl. But for just $5, I knew it was a special jewel just waiting for a makeover. 

I wanted to use the chair in my studio so I made a trip to Home Depot and purchased an orange paint to match marigold's logo. The color is called Fresh Tangerines by Glidden.  

I couldn't decide on the fabric so I ended up buying both of these. Either one would have worked but in the end, I chose the geometric pattern.

The chair—before and after. It's amazing what a little paint can do! Total cost of the project was under $20 plus $5 for the cost of the chair!

starting the new year with a blank palette

There's something refreshing about starting the New Year with an empty sketchbook or journal. That's why I decided to give my clients a "blank palette" or a special marigold journal as their holiday gift this year. It's a perfect size to fit in a briefcase or purse—to jot down ideas or to-do lists. I don't know about you but I can't survive my week without having a to-do list sitting beside my computer!

As you all know, I tend to obsess over my holiday gift every year. It has to be extra special because my clients are extra special! Last year's gift was a calendar based on a color wheel. It was very unique but not very practical. But it looked great hanging on a wall and it won a Silver ADDY locally and in district. I don't know if I can top that but that's OK because I think this year's gift is just as special and a bit more practical!

The journal is simple and elegant with only the embossed marigold's mark on the front—nothing else. It is enclosed within a belly wrap and mailed in an orange (marigold's signature color) square envelope and sealed with a marigold sticker.

The main message is on a separate tag and tied with an orange ribbon to the coil binding on the inside. The tag could be used as a book marker. It contains various icons on the back—simply drawn to represent inspirational things such as planning a trip, writing, drawing, etc.

I hope my clients enjoy their special journal and I'm already thinking about next year's holiday gift. But in the meantime, here's to new beginnings in 2012!

Happy 2012!

May you find simple pleasures throughout the new year!

Wishing you a very happy 2012!