marigold design

starting the new year with a blank palette

2012-01-04T08:00:00.021-05:00

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!

2011-12-29T21:48:00.002-05:00

May you find simple pleasures throughout the new year!

Wishing you a very happy 2012!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-22T10:10:00.000-05:00

home for the holidays...

2011-12-14T22:46:00.001-05:00

My daughter will be home in one week and I can't wait! Last year at this time, I was in Florida helping her get settled into her new apartment. It was not easy returning home and celebrating Christmas without her. So you can imagine how excited I am this year to have her home for the holidays.

Work has been crazy busy for the past few months. So I have been decorating the house whenever I can spare a few moments during the day or evening. Here's a peek of our country home, all decked out and waiting...

the first snowfall...

2011-12-09T11:22:00.000-05:00

I love waking up to freshly fallen snow, especially the first snowfall of the season. Winters are long here in NE Ohio so I'm sure in the next few months, I will feel differently. But in the meantime, I'm going to take a few moments from my hectic work schedule to enjoy this winter wonderland!

Have a wonderful weekend!

giving thanks...

2011-11-16T08:00:00.009-05:00

Marigold Design would like to say "thank you" with this special gift that you can download and enjoy in your home or office. The letters spelling "Happy Thanksgiving" are ganged up, four-up on a sheet for easy printing. There are two color versions, one with brown and green [shown hanging] and the second one in gray and gold [shown below].

Print, cut on the dotted line and then use a hole-puncher in each corner for the ribbon—it's that simple! I printed mine on French Paper Speckletone and tied the letters with a off-white satin ribbon. Other than fresh flowers on the table and leaves on the mantle, this is the only other decoration I have for Thanksgiving. It does add a festive touch!

Click here to download the pdf in brown and green.

Click here to download the pdf in yellow and gray.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

finding inspiration in cemeteries

2011-10-31T08:00:00.011-04:00

Tombstones at a cemetery in Poland [via istockphoto]

I am not the type of person to hang out in cemeteries. The only things I love about Halloween are carving pumpkins, making costumes for my children when they were young and accompanying them on their trick or treat adventures which did NOT include haunted houses or cemeteries! I went to a haunted house once and it scarred me for life. So you can imagine how I felt about cemeteries! But that all changed years ago when I was in Europe, visiting my daughter in Luxembourg. She had a week off from school and we decided to travel to Poland so she could finally meet her great aunt and cousins on my mother's side of the family. Needless to say, it was a very emotional trip in more ways than one.

candles in a Polish cemetery on All Saint's Day [via istockphoto]

We were still in Poland on November 1, All Saint's Day (Dzień Wszystkich Świętych). This day along with All Soul's Day (Dzień Zaduszny) on November 2 are dedicated to prayer and paying tribute to the deceased by visiting their graves. So when my cousins asked if we wanted to go with them to the cemetery, I couldn't say no even though I wanted to. So off we went, stopping first at the store to purchase flowers and candles to place on the graves. Of course, the fear was building up inside of me as we got closer and closer to the cemetery. I had no idea what to expect upon arrival. I just knew that I was not looking forward to visiting dead relatives!

a cemetery in Poland on All Saint's day [via istockphoto]

We entered the cemetery and to my surprise, it wasn't a scary place at all! There were flowers, candles and people everywhere—praying, talking, and laughing as they reminisced about their relatives that have passed away. Hundred of candles were glowing and casting beautiful shadows on the tombstones and the air was filled with the heavenly smell of flowers and incense. The whole place was very tranquil and peaceful—something I never expected to find in a cemetery! And to my amazement, my fear quickly disappeared.

Cemeteries still aren't my favorite places to visit but I no longer fear them as I did. And I might even visit them from time to time, looking for inspiration!

Happy Halloween and All Saint's Day!

7 interview pet peeves

2011-10-21T07:00:00.001-04:00

As you all know, I have been searching for a part-time design assistant for the past month. I started interviewing applicants this past week and let's just say that I was a little disappointed by how a few of them presented themselves.

Here are my interview pet peeves:

Please give me the same courtesy that you would give to a large agency because my time is valuable too. If you are running late, please call. I know that unexpected things can happen that you have no control over, such as hitting a duck or raccoon on the road (I'm serious, I live in the country) but call me and let me know you will be late.
When you do finally arrive, please don't tell me the reason you are late, especially if you overslept and it's 3:00 in the afternoon! This is not a good first impression!
I don't expect you to wear a suit but do look presentable. That means no torn jeans, t-shirts or bare body parts showing. Yes, I do admit I wear flip flops in the summer but I always look presentable because I have clients and vendors visiting from time to time.
And please don't come to any interview reeking of smoke or worse yet, strong cologne covering the smoke smell! I'm not a smoker and I honestly don't think I could work with someone that smelled of smoke or expose my clients to that. Sorry, but it's the truth!
I'm asking questions because I want to find out how you solve problems, what you are passionate about and overall, how you work. So when I ask why you chose that font, color or the concept behind the design, please don't answer with "I don't know" because that doesn't tell me anything!
Be proud of your work! The pieces in your portfolio should be your best pieces. If you aren't proud of them, how can I even like them. And how can I be sure that you would be proud of Marigold's work!
Be curious and ask questions because that shows you are interested in working with Marigold or any other company to which you are applying at. You can ask me anything—well, almost anything!

And remember to mail out a thank-you note after the interview. If you don't have a stamp or card, a simple thank-you email will do. It's a simple gesture that means a lot and leaves a good impression!

These are my biggest pet peeves when interviewing. What are yours? Please share because I would love to know!

Thank you for your time!

a walk in the neighborhood

2011-10-14T07:30:00.045-04:00

I love walking, especially on an autumn day when the trees are bursting with color. Normally I walk first thing in the morning and early evening but I was having one of those days yesterday and had to get out of the studio to clear my head. So I grabbed my camera and headed outdoors to capture the beautiful hues in my yard and neighborhood. I was amazed how quickly the leaves were falling. It's times like these that I really miss my children because we will be raking those fallen leaves soon—by ourselves! Enjoy!

a glimpse inside...

2011-09-29T19:06:00.001-04:00

I thought this would be the perfect time to give you a glimpse inside Marigold Design Studio, especially since I'm looking for a design assistant. This is where it all happens—good and bad ideas, sketches, marketing, designing, finalizing artwork, painting, tweeting, blogging, client meetings, etc., etc., etc.

The studio is based out of my home in Mantua, Ohio. It is a creative oasis, separate from the main part of the home where clients, vendors, family, friends and my cats love to visit. Filled with sunlight coming in from the skylights and surrounded by inspirational objects such as art, design books and color swatches, it is where creativity begins.

These past few months have been so busy with far too many late nights so I finally decided it was time to hire a part-time design assistant in here. I am looking for someone who shares my passion with design and color, who thinks "outside the box" and isn't afraid to take chances, is very detail-oriented, familiar with all the programs in Adobe CS and loves cats. Yes, cats, because this is a favorite hangout for Gracie and Max!

Max asleep in the studio!

Life at Marigold is never boring! You will be assisting me with projects such as redesigning websites, developing trade show graphics and signage, packaging designs, corporate identity, collateral materials, annual reports, catalogs, vehicle wraps, photo shoots [styling and art direction], social media, color marketing and Marigold's own marketing materials and website. If you would like to apply for the position, please email me your resume and a few samples of your work in a pdf format. Keep in mind that this is a part-time position, 20 hours a week with flexible hours. I will consider a senior-level college student with a stellar portfolio!

This is the first thing you see as you climb the stairs to the studio.

Abstract paintings in various orange hues greet you as you enter the studio.

It's all about color and design in here.

The studio is filled with fun accessories...

art and design books, resource materials and supplies...

my work desk and conference table...

design assistant's desk—waiting...

Thank you for visiting!

happy friday, happy autumn!

2011-09-23T11:37:00.000-04:00

The first day of autumn! It's time to decorate with pumpkins, mums and gourds! I couldn't resist these gourds at the local grocery store—I love their hues! Autumn is definitely my favorite season. It's the perfect time to explore antique stores, art galleries and of course, apple orchards! Happy Autumn!

color inspirations from San Antonio

2011-09-21T22:58:00.000-04:00

I just returned home CMG's ColorBurst in San Antonio. The workshops were fantastic and I definitely returned home on a color high! San Antonio is a little jewel that reminded me of Mexico. I had so much fun exploring the Market Square on Monday after the workshop. There were color inspirations everywhere. Enjoy!

happy friday—it's going to be a colorful weekend!

2011-09-16T09:39:00.002-04:00

I am looking forward to this weekend—four full days of color in San Antonio with the Color Marketing Group (CMG). I missed the last few conferences due to work so I can't wait to be immersed in color once again. I decided to leave my laptop behind because I honestly don't think I will have any spare time to work on anything and thanks to my iPhone, I can easily check email and tweet. I wonder if I will go through computer withdrawal!

Have a colorful weekend and enjoy!

remembering...

2011-09-10T13:00:00.046-04:00

credit: Thomas E. Franklin, [Photo: 2001 The Record (Bergen County, N.J.) Thomas E. Franklin]

It has been 10 years since 9/11 but I'm sure each of us remembers what we were doing when the planes crashed into the World Trade Centers.

Marigold Design didn't exist in 2001. I was working for a small agency and happened to be home that morning working on concepts and sketches for a new project. I remember getting a call from one of the designers telling me to turn on the television because America was under attack. As I watched the second plane crash into the building, I remember thinking that all of our lives were about to change and that America would never be the same.

My daughter was in college at the time and I remember wishing I could scoop her up in my arms at that moment and bring her home because I wanted my family safe in their own home, protected from this evil that was happening around us.

I remember thinking about the parents who had children, friends and spouses working in the World Trade Centers, the Pentagon or were on the plane that crashed in PA—I cannot even begin to imagine what they went through or what it was like for the people that died that day.

I remember thinking about my parents that day. If they were alive, they would have been devastated to see their country under attack. Like most immigrants, they were forever grateful for what America gave to them, especially their freedom.

And I remember thinking how proud I am to be an American, to live in the "land of the free" where people gain strength from one another and come together when tragedy hits.

God bless America and those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

We will always remember...

happy friday—time for some summer's gold!

2011-09-02T08:00:00.004-04:00

I don't want summer to end! The best thing about summer besides the warm weather is the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables grown locally. For city folks who have never tasted a tomato or ear of corn straight off the vine, you don't know what you are missing! Ohio's corn is being harvested now and it is the best. I'm looking forward to grilling some of this wonderful summer's gold over the weekend as we savor the last days of summer with family and friends.

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Enjoy!

happy friday—it's time for some cooking!

2011-08-26T09:00:00.005-04:00

Now that the heat wave is behind us and the weather is a bit cooler, I'm ready to do some serious cooking! It's time to purchase a bushel or two of tomatoes from one of the many local farms in the area and spent the weekend making homemade sauce. There is nothing more heavenly smelling than a pot of homemade tomato sauce with fresh garlic and basil simmering on your stove!

Happy Friday! I hope your weekend will be cooking too!

Enjoy!

happy friday—what a week!

2011-08-05T08:00:00.001-04:00

It has been a very long and hectic work week for me and I'm looking forward to unwinding on my patio this weekend. Max has the right idea!

Happy Friday!

Enjoy!

happy friday—the weekend is almost here!

2011-07-29T08:00:00.033-04:00

photo: courtesy of the West Side Market

I'm so excited about the weekend because I'm going to the West Side Market on Saturday morning to purchase fresh vegetables and fruit. Even if you don't need anything, going to the market is an experience in itself. I love walking around, talking to the vendors and taking in all the wonderful colors and smells. The market is located in the Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland. Please click here for more information on this historical landmark.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Enjoy!

happy friday!

2011-07-22T10:45:00.001-04:00

It is a colorful Friday for me because I'm preparing for my

CMG ChromaZone workshop which is on Monday in Hebron, Ohio.

I absolutely love working with color so I'm really looking forward to this workshop.

I promise to give everyone an update after my workshop!

Hope your Friday is a colorful one!

Enjoy!

a gardening / artist shed

2011-07-20T11:56:00.000-04:00

my dream shed and yard – via HGTV

This past weekend, we ordered a gardening shed from Miller's Sheds in Millersburg, right in the heart of Amish country. It is going to take at least five weeks to be built and then they deliver it on a huge truck and finish assembling it in our backyard. I can't wait—I have wanted one for a long time! I have been researching and gathering magazine clippings of different styles that I like for months and finally narrowed it down to a Gable Style with double doors on the front, windows on the front and side and finished off with a cupola and weathervane on the roof.

Of course, I visualize the shed to be an extension of my studio—a place where I can work on art projects. I added a work bench under the double windows on the one side which will be perfect spot for potting plants or to work on those messy art projects that I don't want to do in my studio. Only garden-related objects will be allowed in the shed such as the tractor, lawnmower, shovels, rakes, etc. I already warned my husband that if I find his golf clubs or anything related to golf in my shed, they will disappear!

more beauties – via HGTV

I promise to post photos when completed. In the meantime, we have to prepare the area for the shed and determine where to place it. Of course, I want it in a sunny spot to take advantage of the natural light and my husband wants to place it off to the side, closer to the pine trees so it isn't in the way of practicing putting. We'll see...

happy friday!

2011-07-15T08:00:00.008-04:00

I have been so busy that all I want to do is relax in my backyard this weekend. No computer. no deadlines, no shopping, no running errands—just me and nature and maybe a glass or two of wine!

Wishing everyone a very relaxing weekend!

Enjoy!

happy friday!

2011-07-08T08:00:00.009-04:00

I'm looking forward to spending a day or two at Lake Erie this weekend.

It isn't the ocean but if I close my eyes...

Happy Friday! Enjoy!

happy friday & 4th of July!

2011-07-01T08:00:00.004-04:00

I can't believe it's July already! Wishing everyone a wonderful 4th of July weekend filled with friends, family, good food, relaxation & lots of colorful fireworks!

Enjoy!

taking time to smell the roses

2011-06-29T08:00:00.004-04:00

@2011 marigold design inc.

Life is crazy at times—we all know that. But in the midst of projects, meetings, deadlines and juggling work and family, we must remember to take a few minutes for ourselves each day. It can be yoga, walking, reading a book or just relaxing on the patio with a cup of coffee, we all need some quiet time to ourselves—to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. I know I do!

remembering my tato on father's day

2011-06-17T00:23:00.001-04:00

Tato is dad in Ukrainian. I have always called my father tato even when I was married with my own children. It was probably my first word spoken since Ukrainian was spoken in our home along with Polish and English.

My parents met in Germany during WWII, both working in the same labor camp. I wish I knew more about how they met and fell in love but they didn't talk much about that time in their lives. They were more concerned about the future, providing their children with a better life than they had—and they succeeded. For that I am forever grateful to both of them.

I have many fond memories of both my parents—far too many to list here but I wanted to share some things about my beloved tato.

Everyone loved him—young, old, neighbors, friends and even strangers. All my friends loved hanging out at our home because he always made them feel welcomed.

He was always polite, helpful and generous with all. He would give you his shirt off his back or his last dollar if you needed it—no questions asked.

He absolutely loved this country and thanked God everyday for the opportunity to live here. You wouldn't dare say anything negative to him about America!

There was not a prejudice bone in his body. In his eyes everyone was equal and this is something he passed on to his children.

He loved to paint and was always changing the room colors in our home. He even went as far as painting the molding around the ceiling in our living room two different colors. I loved it and the fact that he wasn't afraid to take a chance with trying something different. I force myself to do this in my design projects!

His education stopped at the 8th grade but he knew five languages and was very good with money. He paid off his mortgage early and paid cash for everything, even his cars—all on a steel worker's salary!

His garden was the envy of all his friends and neighbors with the blackest and richest soil—he was composting before it even became the right thing to do.

He loved his family, especially his grandchildren and was so excited when I told him I was pregnant that he went out and bought me a maternity top! Of course, it wasn't anything I would have picked out but I wore it proudly because it was from him.

What are your fondest memories of your dad? Please share!

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there! And remembering my tato with love...

good morning sunshine!

2011-06-08T09:02:00.000-04:00

1. Crate & Barrel Marimekko Madison Umbrella

2. Anthropologie Grandiflora Recipe Journal

3. Starbucks Three Region Blend Coffee

4. Crate & Barrel Mug

5. Dwell Facet Cream/Citrine Rug

6. Crate & Barrel Marimekko Madison Pillow

7. Thymes Offering Happiness Candle [packaging design by Celeste Prevost]

I can't get enough of the color yellow, especially in the summer months. Yellow, associated with sunshine, is a joyful color full of confidence, warmth and optimism.

finding color inspirations in nature

2011-05-30T12:08:00.001-04:00

My daughter came home for a visit this past weekend. Even though it rained almost every day, we were able to take a daily walk—something I truly missed since her move to Florida. So in between raindrops one day, we went to our favorite park, Sunny Lake in Aurora which has a 2-mile walking trail around a beautiful lake. It was a very cloudy day but I took my camera and we had a great time walking, catching up and admiring the scenery. I love finding color inspirations in nature! Here's a peek of what we saw.

hidden treasures

2011-05-13T16:51:00.000-04:00

I love going to flea markets and antique shows because you never know what you will find. I'm always on the lookout for that hidden treasure that I can repurpose in my home or studio.

I did exactly that this week with this beautiful picture frame I found while antiquing in Maine. I fell in love with the intricate details on the frame and at $20, it was a bargain to say the least! It's been sitting in my closet for almost a year waiting patiently for me to find that perfect print to frame.

I remembered I had this Abrams Art Book containing 16 plates of Van Gogh that I purchased years ago at an antique show in Ohio for only $10—an unbelievable bargain! The prints were the perfect size so I carefully removed the Sunflowers plate. I know some of you are gasping at the thought of cutting up an old book but I purchase antiques to enjoy, not to resell and I will get more enjoyment out of this print if it's hanging on the wall! I love the warm tones and it complements the warm golds in the frame.

I have no idea how old this frame is. As you can see from the back, all of the original hardware is still intact and there are tiny pieces of old newspaper glued on the metal part of the photo. I wish they were larger so I can make out the information which could give me a clue on the age.

The old photo is fascinating. Who was this lady? Did she have a family, a home, a business? I feel a little guilty removing her from her home. And as you can see, the paper frame tore to pieces when I removed her. The photo is printed on metal so I'm wondering if this is a Daquerreotype or Tintype which would date it to the mid-1800's. If anyone knows, please email me because I'm curious.

And with the new artwork in place, I can now enjoy my hidden treasure!

remembering mom...

2011-05-07T08:00:00.003-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there!

And remembering my mom with love...

signs of spring

2011-04-23T17:00:00.001-04:00

I'm so excited to see signs of spring everywhere, just in time for Easter. My daughter couldn't join us this year for our traditional Easter gathering with family. She's adjusting well to her new life in Florida but I have a feeling that she is missing our Easter traditions and the beautiful signs of spring here, perhaps just a little. These photos are for you Andrea! Happy Spring!

color inspiration found in pysanky

2011-04-16T09:00:00.010-04:00

I have to admit that Easter is my favorite holiday and part of the reason is because of Pysanky or Easter eggs. Decorating pysanky is a tradition I grew up with and one that has been handed down through generations of the Ukrainian heritage. The meaning of Pysanky is "to write" and a wax resist (batik) method is used with patterns drawn on the egg with wax. The wax protects the covered areas from the dye that is applied. A multi-colored pattern is created by repeating this process with different colors of dye. To give a pysanka was to give a symbolic gift of life, which is why the egg had to remain whole. The designs and colors on a pysanka are meant to convey to the recipient protection and good fortune.

The colors used in pysanka are rich in symbolism:

WHITE – purity, birth, light, rejoicing, virginity

YELLOW – light and purity. It is the color consecrated to the light deities, and the sun, stars, and moon. It the Christian symbol of reward and recognition.

GOLD – spirituality and wisdom

ORANGE – endurance, strength and ambition. It is also the symbol of the everlasting sun.

PINK– success and contentment

GREEN – fertility, health and hopefulness; of spring, breaking bondage, freshness and wealth. It is the color of Christmas, Easter and the Epiphany.

RED – the magical color of folklore signifying action, charity and spiritual awakening. It also represents the sun and the joy of life and love. In the Christian era, it represents the divine love and passion of Christ, hope, passion, blood, fire and the ministry of the church.

BLUE – blue skies, the air, good health, truth and fidelity

PURPLE – fasting, faith, trust and patience

BROWN – Mother Earth and her bountiful gifts; earth, harvest, generosity

BLACK – eternity, the center of the Earth and the darkest time before dawn. Black also signified death, fear, and ignorance.

Combination of colors

BLACK and WHITE – mourning and respect for the souls of the dead

BLACK and RED – ignorance arising from passions

RED and WHITE – respect and protection from evil

FOUR or MORE COLORS – family happiness, peace and love

Each symbols also have their own meanings. The most popular ones are geometric such as the triangle (the Holy Trinity and the elements of air, fire and water), diamonds (knowledge) and dots (tears of the blessed Virgin).

My dad's family must have been from the Lembo area of the Ukraine because the eggs we created were the drop-pull style using a pin-head as shown above. I remember spending hours with my mother, aunt, siblings and cousins creating our beautiful pysanky for Easter. My mother and aunt since have passed so it has been years since the rest of the family spent a day decorating pysanky. But if I close my eyes, I can still see the vivid hues and intricate patterns of those beautiful pysanky.

Information on symbolism, traditions and even instructions on how to create these beautiful pysanky can be found on Luba Petrusha's web site. Her pysanky are amazing and she was kind enough to let me share these works of art with my readers.

spring fever

2011-04-07T08:00:00.015-04:00

Winters are very long in Northeast Ohio and by March, I'm counting the days until spring. I have spring fever really bad this year because winter has been extremely longer than usual. Nothing is in bloom here and it doesn't feel like April at all! At least the snow has melted and that's the only good thing I have to say about the weather!

Here are some things I do to cheer me up when I have spring fever. I hope they work for you too.

Purchase spring flowers for your home or office. My flower beds are overflowing with flowers in the summer so I always have fresh flowers in the house but unfortunately, not in winter. I bought yellow tulips last week and daffodils this week. Just looking at them makes me happy!

Spruce up your home or office with some new accessories. I bought these colorful pillows from Target for the family room and studio. The green adds a little bit of spring to my very neutral family room. And the orange one is for marigold's studio!

Change out your artwork to something lighter. I changed the artwork over our fireplace in the kitchen to something that felt more like spring. My friend actually made these prints for me with ferns from our woods. I will share the technique with everyone in a separate blog!

Treat yourself to a new purse. I found this colorful Coach tote. It's perfect for client meetings or traveling. I'm really picky with my purses—just ask my daughter who said she will never go shopping with me again when I'm shopping for a purse! I like lots of pockets and it has to be roomy enough for traveling so I can throw my sketchbook in there.

Treat yourself to some fun shoes or sandals for those spring days ahead. Who can resist a new pair of sandals or shoes! I've been looking for months for some fun and colorful flats and finally found these at Nordstrom. I hate to admit that my daughter won't shop with me for shoes either!

Good luck with your spring fever. Hopefully everything will be blossoming soon!

finding inspiration in quilts

2011-04-03T15:00:00.000-04:00

I attended a quilt show—the North Coast Needlers biennial show in Westlake—this past weekend with a very dear friend who is an avid quilter. I used to quilt, back when I was a stay-at-home mom and before technology overtook my life (that's another story for another blog). So it has been years since I sewed or even attended a quilt show and I didn't know what to expect. I was not disappointed because the quilts were truly amazing, to say the least! I loved the combination of techniques and patterns along with their bold use of colors. Some were truly works of art and would look wonderful hanging on a wall—if only I had more wall space!

Here's a peek at what I saw at the show. I hope these quilts inspire you as they did me. Enjoy!

I apologize for not writing down the names of the quilts and who created them. If you recognize any of these, please email me the information and I will post the proper credit due for each one. I promise to take a pad of paper with me next time I attend a show! Also, please note that many of these have been cropped so you can see more details.

which hat are you wearing today?

2011-03-29T08:00:00.007-04:00

If you're a freelancer or entrepreneur, running your business from a home office or studio, you tend to wear many different hats during the week. This is definitely true in my case. It can be so frustrating when you have to change your hat many times during the week or even in one day. It's days like those when I truly wish there were two of me!

Here are seven tips that have helped me tremendously in running my design business:

Hire a great CPA to handle all of your financials. Not a good one but a great one! Someone you can trust completely with all of your personal information. I don't know what I would do without mine because he's been wonderful with handling all of the financial stuff that I know nothing about. And I also have learned a lot from his guidance and that's one less hat I have to wear!
Organize your work space so you know where everything is and are not wasting time looking for a misplaced receipt or invoice. With that said, have a proper place such as a binder to keep all your receipts, bank statements, invoices, paystubs, etc. even if you keep tract of finances online—your CPA will love you!
Set aside only one day a week (or two at the most) for meetings. I try to only schedule meetings one day a week because if I had them every single day, then I would not get anything else done in the studio. I know this is impossible at times because on top of meetings, I might have a photoshoot or press check during the week but that's part of my life as a designer so I have no control over those.
Set aside time on a certain day for paperwork such as invoicing and paying bills. It should only take a few hours if you do it every week instead of waiting until the end of the month when you have a huge pile to sort through.
Stay focused by scheduling time each day to call new prospects or clients, checking and sending emails, tweeting, blogging, etc. I like to start each day by checking my emails and twitter and then make my phone calls. Then I can concentrate on my design projects. When I'm really focused, you will not see any tweets from me!
Team up with the best people in your field who can give you a hand when necessary. There are times when I'm juggling many projects and I might bring in a copywriter or illustrator to help out with a special one.
Learn to say "NO". This one was the hardest for me since I'm always eager to please and want to help everyone. But it's impossible to do everything and attend every networking event. I found this out quickly! Only join groups that you feel passionate about. And that goes for networking events also. Only attend the ones that will benefit you and don't conflict with your workload or family life. It isn't worth going if you have to stay up until 3:00 a.m. getting a project completed. Just say no!

How do you manage your schedule when you have to wear many hats?

designer turned stylist for a day

2011-03-10T09:00:00.014-05:00

I was a prop stylist for a day while also art directing a photo shoot for one of my clients. This doesn't happen that often. Normally, a professional stylist is hired for the shoot, but due to a tight budget, my client wanted me to shop for props for a "modern cool" look to go with his beautiful bamboo shades. Since I love to shop for unique things for my studio and home, how difficult can shopping for props be? So I did quick sketches, made a list and then ventured out to two of my favorite stores, TJ Maxx and Marshalls. What began as a fun shopping spree quickly turned into a very long afternoon. I now truly understand why stylists charge what they do because it's more work than you would think! And Emily Henderson from "Secrets of a Stylist" makes it look so easy! My final selections are shown above with the color palette I was going after.

My goal was to add contrast and color to the dark bamboo shades along with telling a story for each widow vignette that was shot. There wasn't much wall space so the artwork wasn't even used. Overall the shoot went well but if I had to do it over again, I would have layered each shot more with texture and colors. And a chair or bench would have been perfect to use for layering accessories but I had no more room in my SUV! The final photos are shown below and will be used only on the web site. They still need some minor retouching and brick will be added to one of the bottom shots to give it more of a loft feel. Isn't photoshop wonderful!

What would you have done differently?

marigold's calendar won an ADDY!

2011-02-24T22:00:00.004-05:00

I am so excited to share this wonderful news with all of you! Marigold's holiday gift, "Wishing You a Colorful New Year" calendar, won a Silver ADDY Award from the American Advertising Federation of Cleveland (AAF). The ADDY Awards honor the work produced each year by the most creative local advertising agencies, across a number of categories, including print, broadcast, self promotion and interactive advertising. More than 400 entries were submitted this year.

For the past three years, I have been creating one-of-a-kind holiday gifts for my clients. It's something I truly enjoy doing even though I obsess over it for months! And each year, I try to do something different, bringing in a little bit of myself into the design. The last two holiday gift concepts involved marigolds (the flower). "Wishing You a Marigold Christmas" note cards and "The Magic of Marigold" plantable notepad last year both won ADDYs—this explains my obsession with my holiday gift!

But this year, I decided to do something totally different and since I love color as much as design, I wanted to create something colorful. After many weeks of brainstorming, sketching, driving my intern Jessica and copywriter Lori crazy, I finally knew what I wanted to do—a calendar based on a basic color wheel (see my post from last month about the calendar). I divided the color wheel into 365 days with Sundays highlighted in orange and holidays in a bold font. The biggest challenge was dividing the circle into 365 equal parts along with making sure the dates were perfectly centered within those areas. And for those of you that know me well, you know how I am about kerning and line-ups! But it was well worth the effort because the calendar turned out beautiful!

The calendars were printed on uncoated, recycled poster stock and were rolled up, tied with an orange (marigold's signature color) ribbon and hangtag and then mailed in a simple white square box with a custom mailing label. "FILL YOUR NEW YEAR WITH COLOR, ONE DAY AT A TIME" was the message on the hangtag with the main message about "THE POWER OF COLOR" printed on the poster.

Color is a powerful thing. As a designer, I know the importance of color in design. It can either make or break the overall design of a package or marketing piece. But it's also important in everyday life—lifting our spirits on cold, gray winter days and touching something deep within our souls.

Hmm... I better start thinking about this year's gift!

new + exciting things for marigold

2011-02-17T10:00:00.009-05:00

I can't believe it's mid February already and I haven't even posted my goals for 2011! That doesn't mean I haven't been thinking of them. In fact, that's all I've been doing in my spare time—the little bit of spare time that I have. But instead of posting my goals (and there are many), I would like to share with all you the plans I have for marigold design. A lot of changes are taking place here in the studio—all of them good! Here's a peek at what to expect in the coming months.

A new look to marigold's web site and blog. Designs and concepts are underway and I can't wait to get this completed and programmed. It will have a totally new look with new projects, color and design information plus weekly surprises for my blog!

Marigold is teaming up with a lot of talented graphic designers to start a new business venture, designing anything related to paper—cards, wrap, journals, etc. This is a fun venture for me because I love paper, textures and color. Details are being finalized and I will share them with you soon! If you're a designer that loves paper as much as I do and would like to participate in this, please email me at mcole@marigolddesign.com

It's impossible to do everything when you own a business. That's why marigold is teaming up with Terry Tung, programmer and owner of webgenics, a web design firm, practically around the corner from marigold. He’s the expert when it comes to programming. I know the basics but honestly, that's not my specialty. I'm much better at coming up with the concepts, design and branding for a company than worrying about the programming part. That's why I'm so happy to welcome Terry into marigold's studio!

And this is just the beginning...

There's more to come!

All you need is love...

2011-02-13T12:33:00.008-05:00

In honor of Valentine's Day—enjoy!

source

winter hues of Florida

2011-01-25T08:00:00.003-05:00

I was able to escape from the frigid cold weather of northeast Ohio for a whole week. It seemed so strange walking around in lightweight clothes and flip flops in the middle of January when normally I'm bundled up with a coat, gloves and boots whenever I emerge outdoors for a winter walk. I definitely could get used to living in Florida, at least in the winter months and I truly enjoyed their winter hues which are so different than ours [see previous winter hues post]. I wish I could have placed them in a bottle and brought them home with me! But you just might see these wonderful hues in my upcoming projects!

Mental block? Then change your scenery!

2011-01-18T21:00:00.000-05:00

As creatives, we have all had it at one time or another—the dreaded mental block. And it always tends to happen when you're juggling a multiple of projects or have a very tight deadline. Why is that?

What is a mental block? Dictionary.com defines it as an inability to remember or think of something you normally can do; often caused by emotional tension. If you have been staring at your monitor for over an hour and repeatedly move the same text box around, then I have to tell you that you are in midst of a really bad one!

Here are five things I do when I'm in the midst of a mental block:

Take a walk—there is nothing like fresh air to clear your senses. I always return from a walk ready to conquer anything!
Escape from your computer! Go outdoors with your sketchbook or someplace quiet where you can get to the root of the problem by just sketching and getting your thoughts down on paper.
Treat yourself to your favorite beverage (mine is Caffe Mocha) at Starbucks or a favorite hangout in town. Take your sketchbook or computer with you too. Our Starbucks happens to be noisy so I really can't concentrate there but a trip to one really helps.
Take a trip to your local library or book store (Borders is my favorite) and mingle among books for awhile. Looking at art books or design publications definitely will help boost your creativity when in a slump.
If you can spare half a day, then take a trip to a museum or art gallery. Just walking among the masters and looking at all the wonderful artwork and colors are always an inspiration!

Wishing you a colorful new year...

2011-01-08T08:00:00.016-05:00

I'm a little late with my New Year wishes this year! Since the holidays are behind us now, I want to wish all of you a colorful New Year and share with you the gift that I gave to my clients this holiday season. I always obsess over my holiday gift because I feel it should represent me and come from the heart. And this year, I wanted to do something different. Since color is one of my passions, I designed a calendar based on the color wheel. I separated the color wheel into 365 days (not an easy task). The dates and months are shown circling around the color wheel. I had to print this poster size, 19 x 24 inches or the dates would not have been readable. And from a distance, they aren't but I never intended this piece to be practical because the message and colors are the most important elements.

the message:

COLOR IS POWERFUL.

IT SPEAKS TO US. MOTIVATES US. EVEN INSPIRES US. COLOR SOOTHES, UPLIFTS, AND TOUCHES SOMETHING DEEP WITHIN OUR SOULS. IS IT ANY WONDER SOME OF OUR FONDEST MEMORIES ARE ROOTED IN COLOR.

WISHING YOU A COLORFUL & MEMORABLE NEW YEAR!

Since I received rave reviews from clients and friends, I decided to sell copies of the calendar. I'm offering two options: OPTION 1 is printed on fine art paper which is 100% cotton and acid free for $30 and OPTION 2 is printed on 65# bonded poster stock for $20. Both includes shipping and handling in the U.S. only. Please email me at mcole@marigolddesign.com if you are interested in purchasing a calendar poster. I did revise the copy a bit, taking out the last sentence and emphasizing the first sentence more – please see below.

If you are a designer or passionate about color, this poster is for you! It looks wonderful hanging up. Of course, I have one hanging in my studio and I love looking at the colors, especially on a gloomy day!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-21T16:17:00.011-05:00

Christmas—that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance—a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved. [Augusta E. Rundel]

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas filled with family, friends and everything you love!

Maryanne Cole – Marigold Design

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2010-12-15T08:00:00.008-05:00

I love the holidays and I usually have everything completed by now but I'm a little late with my holiday decorating this year. This past week, I accompanied my daughter, driving two whole days, over 1,300 miles to Florida for her new job in West Palm. It was one of the hardest trips I ever made and not because of the length of the trip but because I knew that I would be flying home alone. This is the first Christmas that she won't be here with us and it won't be the same without her! I'm trying my best to get into the holiday spirit but it hasn't been easy. I finally finished decorating our home and my studio and I have to admit that decorating while a blizzard was taking place really did help! As you can see, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here! Andrea, these photos are for you!

Enjoy!

the last two photos were taken in my studio

inspiration throughout the years

2010-11-05T09:00:00.007-04:00

Two of my favorite classes in college were The History of Graphic Design and Art History. I found both fascinating and would pore over the books for hours, captivated by the design, typography and color in the artwork by famous graphic designers and artists. That's probably why I managed to get an "A" in both classes!

There are so many graphic designers and artists whose work have inspired me throughout the years. It's impossible to list them all but here are a few of my favorites.

Milton Glaser

Herb Lubalin

Paul Rand

Saul Bass

Jan Tschichold

Henri Matisse

Who are your favorite designers or artists that have inspired you?

I love my job!

2010-10-19T22:00:00.001-04:00

I have to admit that I love my job! I have wonderful clients and it is a privilege working with them. The last few months have been extremely busy with hardly any spare time left for anything else [This explains why I haven't been blogging]. Last month, I gave you a sneak peek at a few of my projects. And now, I can share them with you—finally!

Jessica, my intern, was a big help with this project—illustrating graphics for a carpet cleaning truck. I'm working on the web site and collateral pieces now.

Brochure and web site for a courier company. The web site is being programmed.

Logo, business cards and direct mail for a traveling trunk show.

Annual report for Beech Brook.

savoring summer

2010-09-20T08:00:00.008-04:00

Even though I love autumn, I don't want summer to end. I don't know about you but I felt it went by too quickly. I'm trying hard to savor the last few days of summer as long as I can. And if I close my eyes, I can almost feel the warm lake breezes, the cool water on my toes, the wonderful smell of flowers and see the beautiful summer hues...once again.

a sneak peek

2010-09-06T08:30:00.001-04:00

I'm back after a very busy two months! I have been working on a variety of projects—redesigning product packaging, developing graphics for a carpet cleaning truck, branding for a courier company and designing an annual report. I promise to share everything with you soon after everything launches. Until then, here's a tiny, tiny sneak peek. Sorry to tease you but I really can't share them yet. Enjoy!

the comfort of flowers

2010-07-10T22:00:00.010-04:00

Flowers comfort me and make me happy. I love their shapes, textures, colors and wonderful fragrance—I can't imagine my life without them. My back patio is surrounded by flower beds and it's where I go when I need to escape from the demands of work or life in general.

Today was one of those days when I needed the comfort of my flowers. One of my very dear friends passed away this week after battling cancer for the past year and today was her funeral. If anyone has ever lost a friend or loved one, you know how difficult it is to say "goodbye". I can not even begin to imagine what the next few months will be like without my dear friend. My only relief is knowing that she is no longer in pain and is finally at peace but that still doesn't make it any easier.

So today, I escaped to my patio sanctuary for a little while where I sat among my flowers—to be comforted and just to think and remember...

it's easier to design a web site than to renovate a kitchen

2010-06-07T08:00:00.002-04:00

I am happy to say that I survived our kitchen renovation. It was not as easy as I thought it would be. And honestly, I think it's easier to design a web site than to renovate a kitchen—and we only did minor upgrading. I can't imagine gutting the whole room and starting from scratch!

This should have been easier for me—for I am a designer and I make design and color decisions everyday for my clients. But not for myself—that's the difference. After spending weeks and weeks looking at hundreds (yes, hundreds) of various countertop samples, I decided that I had to treat myself as a client if I was ever going to accomplish anything in this renovation project. I began by making a list of things I absolutely wanted in the new kitchen and then put together a mood board of the style and look I was after. After all, I do this for every client project so why not for my kitchen.

Even though I love modern, I knew that look would not go well with our salt box country home. So after spending an afternoon going through decorating magazines, tearing out pages of what I liked, I finally came to the conclusion that the look I was trying to achieve was "modern country"—farm style copper sink, vintage faucet, quartz countertops, subway tile backsplash, farm legs on the island with all the updated, modern stainless steel appliances and a little bit of eco-friendly products thrown in.

The renovation went smoothly but it is not completed yet. We kept the original cabinets which are solid oak and the plan was to only paint the center island to break up all the wood in the room. But now the oak cabinets look very dated compared to the beautiful new island and countertops so they will be painted in the next few months. As I said before, it's easier to design a web site—at least for me!

Here's the mood board I created and a peek at the before and after shots of this transition period before we complete all the painting.

Enjoy!

the thrill of the hunt

2010-05-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

I spent this past weekend in Springfield, Ohio attending their annual antique extravaganza. With more than 2,500 dealers, it's easy to find something unique for your home or studio. Even though our home is bursting at the seams with "stuff," I still had my eyes open for a few special items that I wanted to buy. And of course, it's the perfect place to find color and design inspiration.

Here's a glimpse of some unique and colorful things I saw this weekend.

In honor of Earth Day

2010-04-20T21:15:00.002-04:00

In honor of Earth Day [April 22], I'm sharing these fun, eco-friendly items—practical and perfect for the office or home.

It's time to start living a greener, cleaner and more sustainable lifestyle. Let's work together to make a difference.

I love using recycled bags for shopping. These are from ecobags.com

b.b.begonia bags have a variety of beautiful colors and prints

fun and colorful water bottles from ecobags.com

I love these water bottles from Pottery Barn!

From Target—perfect for the office or home.

My favorite cleaning products, Vivesan — safer for us and the environment.

spring color inspirations

2010-04-03T19:00:00.001-04:00

I am so happy that spring finally arrived. It has been a long winter for most of us, especially here in Ohio—I didn't think the snow would ever melt! It's exciting to look out my studio windows and finally see burst of colors throughout the landscape. A lot of my color inspirations come from nature and spring is filled with so many beautiful hues, making it so much easier to choose that "perfect" color palette for a project.

Here are a few of my favorite spring inspirations. Enjoy!

marigold wins an addy

2010-02-25T21:00:00.000-05:00

The American Advertising Federation of Cleveland (AAF) honored Marigold with a 2009 ADDY Award, for “The Magic of Marigold” holiday gift. The ADDY Awards honor the work produced each year by the most creative local advertising agencies, across a number of categories, including print, broadcast and interactive advertising and sales promotion efforts.

The concept—the magic of marigold—is wrapped around the beautiful, handmade paper that contains marigold seeds and petals which can be planted. The first page contains the holiday message along with the recipe for successful planting of the "magical seeds." The twig pencil is perfect and added the final touch to the gift. The notepads were mailed within a simple brown kraft envelope sealed with a marigold sticker. Loose marigold petals cushioned the sharp pencil within the envelope.

I truly enjoyed designing this holiday gift for my clients even though I did obsess about it for months [just ask my family and friends]. I was under tremendous pressure because I felt it had to be better than last year's "Wishing you a Marigold Christmas" note cards which also won an Addy [now do you understand my obsession]. It isn't easy designing something for yourself to give to your clients. I have wonderful clients and it was important to give them something special and unique. I also wanted to make it practical... when the notepad is empty, they can plant the cover which contains marigold seeds and enjoy the magic of marigold all year long!

Always remember, there is a little bit of magic inside each of us just waiting to bloom. All you have to do is believe!

Hmm... now what am I going to design this year?!

be my valentine

2010-02-11T00:13:00.019-05:00

I love Valentines! I don't know if it's the typography, colors or shapes that I'm drawn to or just the fun in picking out that perfect valentine for that special "someone" in your life. I remember in grade school, shopping for boxes of valentines and picking out the best ones for my special friends. And of course, you had to make a valentine box to hold them. I had so much fun decorating my box with all sorts of things—wrapping paper, ribbon, lace, fabric—whatever I found in the house. I think my design skills were taking shape in those early years because I always had the prettiest valentine box! When my children were young, I enjoyed helping them pick out their valentines and decorating their valentine boxes too. And yes, they also had the best ones! It does help having a graphic designer as a mother that had access to cool paper, stock books and art supplies!

Those days are long gone but I still enjoy picking out valentine cards (or making them) for those special people in my life. I hope you find that "perfect" card for your valentine. Here are a few I found online. Enjoy!

Simple and beautiful, silk-screened cards from Museum Facsimiles.

Handmade cards found on etsy.

I love the fun graphics on these – also found on etsy.

I love handkerchiefs and have a few from my mother that I treasure.

Message in a bottle from Anthropologie.

Winter Hues

2010-02-01T08:00:00.014-05:00

I have to admit that I am not fond of winter. It is my least favorite season. I hate the cold, the snow, the ice and everything that goes with it. Living in northeast Ohio, winter seems to linger a bit too long and by February, I'm beginning to count the days until spring.

But even though I truly despise winter, there is something calming about the winter hues—the soft shadows in the freshly fallen snow, the stark brown branches of the trees against a bright blue sky, the dried red berries hanging off a branch and even the icicles hanging from the roof—all showcasing nature's simplicity at its best. Below is a color palette of the winter hues surrounding my home. What are yours?

Spring is only 48 days away but in the meantime, I will enjoy the hues of winter as I patiently wait for the daffodils to bloom! Enjoy!

Creating mood boards for design projects

2010-01-25T08:00:00.005-05:00

A mood board is a wonderful way to present your ideas and design direction to your client. Not only does it keep you on track and focused throughout the design process but it also helps to keep everyone on the same page as the concept evolves and is finalized. I create mood boards all the time, especially for identity and packaging projects. I have found if I skip this step, my mind will wander in a thousand different directions, resulting in wasted time (and money). And my clients do love the mood boards—it's definitely another way to reinforce your design choices.

If I am presenting to a group, I prefer mounting photos, fabrics and color swatches on a piece of large foam core. This way, it can be displayed and viewed by all as I'm presenting my concepts. But sometimes I create a mood board simply on paper, pulling images into my Indesign file and exporting the page as a pdf for my client to view.

Mood boards are definitely a visual thing but it can also be tactile. One time when I was presenting a mood board to a client, I had him close his eyes and touch the board which contained many different textures—rough stone, suede fabric, embossed paper, etc. It was important for him to understand the concept which was focused around the sense of touch. Needless to say, he loved the concept and totally understood where I was going with it.

Below are a few examples of mood boards I have created for various projects. Enjoy!

the mood board kept me on track with the organic feel of the pieces below

simple and to the point – rough layouts shown below

Vivesan mood board on foam core

the final pieces for Vivesan, plant-based cleaning products

a mood board for a project in the works – I love this color combination!

a fresh start

2010-01-05T09:00:00.005-05:00

The holidays are over and a new year has begun. This is a perfect time to clean and organize your studio or office. I don't know about you but my studio is overflowing with paperwork, publications, graphic samples, color chip books and the list goes on and on. I love starting the new year with a fresh start. This means going through old job folders, throwing out unnecessary papers and backing up completed projects—basically organizing and getting rid of all the unnecessary clutter to make room for those new projects.

Here are some fun things to help you organize the "necessary clutter" in your office space. Happy organizing and here's to a fresh start!

I love russell+hazel linen-covered binders. They are perfect for organizing important client information or to store samples.

These rubber bands from russell+hazel are fun and practical.

You can never have enough folders. I was color coding my different clients until my client list started to get out of hand. From the Container Store.

If you use color swatches constantly, I recommend using a bulletin board. This one is made from linen by Pottery Barn.

I love this rustic board with burlap from Pottery Barn. Hmm...where can I put this?

A fun shape from the Container Store.

Every office needs something to hold magazines. This one is from Crate and Barrel.

Baskets are so practical and can hold project files or samples—from Crate and Barrel.

merry christmas + thank you!

2009-12-23T17:00:00.001-05:00

I want to take a few moments to wish everyone a very merry (marigold) christmas and thank you for following me! Your support means a lot to me. I'm looking forward to 2010 and sharing more of my inspirational finds with all of you.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you!

Unique holiday gifts!

2009-12-16T09:00:00.003-05:00

I love the holiday season but it can be a stressful time, trying to pick out that "perfect" gift for a friend or relative. I'm always looking for unique things to give and keep a stash of extra little gifts for those "unexpected" people that might drop by during the holiday season. I also love to take a small hostess gift with me when I visit friends during the holidays. This can be as simple as an ornament tied to a bottle of wine.

Here are some unique gifts—perfect for those "special" people in your life.

Gold Jeweled Ornaments from Gaiam. I love adding an ornament to a package or bottle of wine.

You can't go wrong with a candle. This monogram one is from Anthropology and masculine enough for your male friends.

Beautiful Murano Glass wine stoppers. Need I say more!

Simple handmade journals found on Etsy.

A beautiful planner from Yellowthreads.

I found this on Esty also—perfect for the "artist".

Books are always nice for your "book lover" friends. These two are on my wish list so I hope my husband reads my blog! You can find them at Anthropologie.

Helping to keep NE Ohio warm.

2009-11-22T19:00:00.001-05:00

The homeless shelters are in need of your help and with Thanksgiving only days away, this is the perfect time to ask everyone for their support in helping the local shelters with donations of food, clothing and blankets.

Marigold is taking part in organizing a blanket drive—collecting gently used and new blankets for NEOCH, Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless. If you would like to donate blankets, please email me at mcole@marigolddesign.com to make arrangements for dropping them off. Or you can deliver them directly to 2100 Lakeside Shelter in Cleveland on your way to work, at lunch or on your way home.

Thank you for your support in helping to keep NE Ohio warm!

Hues of Autumn

2009-10-15T16:00:00.002-04:00

I love the fall—especially the brilliant colors you find in the landscapes this time of year. So it was my honor and pleasure to design the October cover for AAF-Cleveland Portfolio. Since I'm also a color marketer, my inspiration for the cover came from the current colors found in the home and fashion industries. The foliage definitely takes on a different look with those colors!

View the entire publication at aafcleveland.com

2009 color trends at Pantone and Color Marketing Group (CMG)

Perfect fall hues in these pillows by Crate and Barrel.

Beautiful colors, beautiful bedding by Exclusively Home.

I love the muted grey and brown tones of these products —classic colors for an economically challenged time.

Country inspirations

2009-09-28T07:30:00.000-04:00

Almost every day is an adventure when you live in the country—you never know what you might encounter. While driving to a meeting one morning, I decided to take the back roads. Out of nowhere, a flock of geese started crossing the road, taking their time while I came to a halt and waited patiently for them to get across the street. They were in no hurry and didn't realize they were making me late for my meeting—try to explain that to a client!

Country living is not for everyone. We do not have a grocery store or even a Starbucks and we have to travel a bit for shopping, restaurants and entertainment. But we have farms where you can purchase fresh produce, eggs, honey and maple syrup; the sounds of nature—birds, crickets, frogs and other creatures; clear night skies where you can view millions of stars and occasionally spot a shooting one; and wonderful color palettes found in the most unusual places. I can't imagine living in the city, even though city life is tempting at times with it's lack of yard work and having everything close by! But I know I would miss the quiet serenity of the country because in this rushed world of ours, I think we all need a bit of country living from time to time.

Below are bits and pieces of country inspirations for both city and country folks to enjoy.

Red apples in an orchard—a complementary color combination.

I spotted this family of ducks in the apple orchard. I love their markings.

An old barn with its rustic appeal.

Honey bees in a hollow tree—I was afraid to get too close!

Cornstalks add a dash of color to a country road.

Typography inspirations.

2009-09-08T08:30:00.006-04:00

I love typography almost as much as I love working with color. Good typography excites me and it's one of the reasons I fell in love with graphic design. I can't really pick one designer who has influenced me, but a few of my favorites are Paul Rand, Herb Lubalin, Herman Zapf, Piet Zwart and Jan Tschichold. I still have my portfolio from my college days and it's fun to look back on my first layouts and type projects. I definitely think I have come a long way from those early days and of course, the computer has made it easier. My old t-square now holds a place of honor on the wall by my seldom used drafting table—reminders of those bygone days!

It's inspirational to see typography used in artwork, household and everyday items. Who can resist monogram towels or a set of rustic letters for their home or office. I know I can't! I couldn't resist purchasing this rustic letter "M" from Anthropologie for my studio. It looks wonderful sitting on my filing table next to the vases.

Here are a few other items I found with typography. If I had more wall space I would purchase some of these stretched wall art from 2 modern.

I love these hooks from Antropologie. They are perfect for a mudroom, bedroom, kitchen or bathroom to hang anything from coats to towels.

I want some of these mugs from Anthropologie–perhaps spelling out marigold!

Who can resist these beautiful sticky notes?

New book on color.

2009-08-31T08:30:00.000-04:00

I'm constantly adding to my library of design and color books. I recently purchased "all about colour" by Janice Lindsay. I just started reading it but so far the book is delightful, with Janice describing her color journey throughout her life along with the history of different hues.

Two of my favorite color books in my library are shown below. I like to refer to them if I'm having difficulty developing a color palette for a project because they contain numerous examples of different color combinations—so inspirational.

What color personality are you?

2009-08-23T16:57:00.016-04:00

I always have loved working with color, since I was a child with a box of crayons. I literally would spend hours drawing and coloring—the possibilities were endless. Back then, there were only 64 colors in a box of crayons and today there are 120. Today's kids are so lucky!

Since I love color, you probably think my home would be very colorful. Actually, it's the complete opposite—a very neutral color palette with splashes of color tucked into each room. Because I do work with color daily—from selecting colors for an identity project to developing a color palette for a client's new line of products or for their markets—I prefer my personal spaces to be calming, stripped of color where my mind and body can rest and recharge. I also tend to gravitate toward the warmer, natural hues such as ginger, caramel, gold and terra cotta. In fact, I just bought the new issue of House Beautiful (which by the way is a fabulous color issue) and took the personality test based on your name. I am definitely a "Gold" which radiates love, joy, compassion and understanding. And as for home styles, "No. 3 Relaxed," fits me the best.

If you love color, I definitely recommend the September issue of House Beautiful. And take the color personality quiz to find out which color you are!

Welcome to my first post!

2009-08-17T09:00:00.001-04:00

I am so excited that my blog is finally up! I hope I keep my readers happy with my posts and all of you gain inspiration for your own personal projects, either in work or play. As a designer, I find inspiration in so many things—from the simple things in nature to an antique hand-carved apron on a desk—all of these things at one time or another have shown up in my work. It's hard to pinpoint exactly when you will be inspired. That's why I always travel with a small sketchbook or camera. Of course, that doesn't mean you have carry one with you while on a power walk but throw a notebook or something to write on in your car next time you go to the park. Sometimes I'm most inspired while taking a walk and the ideas literally flow out so quickly that I can't wait to jot them down. Many of my best concepts have come to me while walking!

Saturday morning was my inspiration day of this past week. I started the day with a morning walk, ran the necessary errands and then spent some time in Barnes & Noble, just browsing in their art and design section. Then I finished the morning at Anthropologie, one of my favorite stores, for inspiration. I love their unique displays and all their beautiful products, especially the paper ones—journals and stationary. I actually had my camera with me but couldn't take any pictures inside the store. But I was able to sneak a few of their front window display to share with everyone. Enjoy!