Anne Bryant Creative

My New Site!

2011-01-03T19:57:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011! One of my goals for last year was to (finally) redesign my web site and get a lot of my more recent work up. Now it's up, so please check it out and subscribe to the RSS feed on my blog through my new site. I won't be updating my Blogspot blog anymore now that I have the new site to show my work.

I've also uploaded my Etsy shop with my modern homesteading cards if you would like a set.

Cheers! :)

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

2010-12-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

I hope you all are having a peaceful holiday today with family and friends. Another year has flown by and 2011 is right around the corner! It's hard to believe this was the fourth year of being my own boss and running my own business. I've met some really great people and gotten to work on some fun projects over this past year. Last summer I met Willi Galloway from one of my favorite gardening/food blogs DigginFood. She asked me I was interested in partnering with her on a project we could both share on our blogs—desktop wallpapers with a calendar for each month of 2011. I happily agreed and starting thinking about themes, imagery and eventually landed on the idea of modern homesteading. It works with the things she blogs about plus I thought chickens and goats would be fun to draw.

So here is my gift to you, my loyal blog readers (hi Dad) and anyone looking to brighten their desktop with some colorful images. January starts off with little birds at the feeder which I enjoy seeing in my own backyard every day. There are three sizes to choose from—just select which one fits your monitor and click on the link to automatically download the file.

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I decided to take the images I created for the desktop wallpaper and create a set of 12 notecards with envelopes and stickers. I'm really happy with how they turned out! If you would like to purchase a set which comes in a cute cotton drawstring bag, please visit my Etsy shop.

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-13T17:03:00.001-08:00

I've been crafting up some winter decorations, trying to only use things from my garden and neighbors' yards rather than buying them. In case this is the last blog entry I get to for 2010, happy holidays everyone!

2011 Sneak Peek

2010-12-08T16:32:00.000-08:00

I've been working really hard on my 2011 mailer which is something I send out to my clients as a thank you and also to folks I would love to partner with in the coming year. This mailer is a little bit different than the calendars I've done over the past two years. Here's a sneak peek of one of the images that hopefully will boost your holiday spirit. I love making wreaths and decorations with things found in my yard—it's so much cheaper and just as pretty than store bought. Happy holidays!

Branding for Tilia Natural Health

2010-11-17T17:58:00.000-08:00

Wow, I've been away from my blog for sometime now! The end of the summer and fall is always a busy time for me as my clients try to wrap projects up before the end of the year. I've been working on the fall magazine and annual report for the Museum of Science in Boston, some fun projects for LaLicious including package design for a new scent, redesigned the newsletter for The Meridian School and many other miscellaneous things. I've been working hard on my 2011 mailer which will be a little different than the past couple of years—more details to come!

Besides all of that, one big project I'm really happy to share is the identity and branding I developed for Tilia Natural Health, a new naturopathic clinic in Seattle that opened it's doors in October. In the information gathering phase, I put together some image boards (see previous entry) which helped drive the look and feel of the branding. Some of the key words the brand needed to convey were: caring, professional, sustainable, creative, modern, bold, confident, friendly, attentive and approachable.

Tilia is a type of tree whose flowers and leaves are used medicinally—if you visit the office you will be welcomed with a hot cup of Tilia tea. I knew that the plant should be heavily featured in the branding while keeping it fresh and modern. I drew all of the pieces of the plant by hand and used them create the pattern which is used on the back of the business card, letterhead footer, notecard and postcards.

The application of the Tilia brand was applied to the new space (which was a complete remodel) by the talented Laura Zeck of Zinc Interior Concepts. She did a great job taking the brand elements and translating it to a warm, welcoming and modern space that totally matched my vision.

August Update

2010-08-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

Where did July go? I can't believe I haven't updated my blog since June—I blame it on the fact that we get about three months of beautiful, sunny weather here in Seattle so when I'm not working I'm outside in my garden soaking it all in. I've been working on the branding for a Seattle based naturopathic physician. I always start with a brainstorming session and create an image board—I'm old school like that, but it's a great way to learn what appeals to my client visually, which in turn streamlines the design process. More to come as the project progreses!

Seattle Animal Shelter Awareness Campaign

2010-06-10T15:23:00.000-07:00

Last fall I was asked to be on the team to create an Awareness Campaign for the Seattle Animal Shelter. In addition to the dedicated folks and volunteers for the shelter, I've worked with Cindy Chischilly of White Canyon Design and Emily Rieman of Best Friend Photography—two huge animal lovers themselves. We designed a series of six ads which run on Seattle bus tails and interiors to educate the public on important issues: animal cruelty, spay/neuter, adoption, licensing, finding your lost pet and public safety. Currently the fourth ad, Find Me (pictured above), can be seen running on the busses so keep your eyes open. The final two are currently underworks and will launch later in the year.

The animals featured in the ads were all photographed specifically for the ads and their inspiring stories can be found on the shelter's website.

Georgetown Garden Walk: Sunday July 11th!

2010-06-03T09:52:00.000-07:00

I've had the pleasure of designing the materials for the annual Georgetown Garden Walk for the past four years. In 2007 we had the plucky strutting chicken who reappeared on a cozy nest of flowers for 2008. Last year it was a collaboration with my husband who had designed the Garden Walk materials for several years prior to me. For this year's concept I was thinking about everything that is going on below ground to make a successful garden. Who doesn't like worms? Those hard-working little compost makers, chugging along, eating up waste and churning out pure garden gold.

So mark your calendars for this awesome, free event and plan on checking out the 15th Annual Georgetown Garden Walk! For more information, contact Jon Dove at 206.763.9895. Free maps of the garden locations are available the day of the walk at the Bank of America parking lot, 1112 S. Bailey St.

A June Desktop Background for You

2010-06-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

Between travel and work, May somehow disappeared on me. I've been busy catching up on projects, tending to my garden (slug patrol) and hoping that summer sticks around once and for all here in Seattle. I'll soon post some recent design projects I've been working on, but in the meantime here is a new desktop background for you. It's from my 2010 calendar and was one of my favorites.

Same directions as the last one—there are three sizes to choose from, just select which one fits your monitor and click on the link to automatically download the file. I hope you enjoy it! :)

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A Fresh Desktop Background

2010-04-07T11:05:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about making some desktop backgrounds for you to download and brighten your workspace. I thought about taking the designs from my 2010 calendar, but I figure some of you already have that so why not do something new? Continuing with my experiments with painting with walnut ink and my love of poppies (remember these?) I drew these the other day. Then I took them into Photoshop where I made them white, added some textures, color and text. I'm kind of in love with green right now—the bright, slightly chartreuse kind that is popping up all over my garden.

There are three sizes to choose from, just select which one fits your monitor and click on the link to automatically download the file. I hope you enjoy it.

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Securing a School's Legacy

2010-04-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year I designed this piece for Bertschi School's capital campaign, 'Believe in Bertschi'. It consists of a brochure which opens up to reveal information about the campaign and a pocket which holds information sheets on the new science building and the endowment. It matches the look and feel of other pieces I've designed for the school which align with the Bertschi brand.

Painting with walnut ink

2010-03-29T08:46:00.000-07:00

The other day I felt like trying something new with my sketching so instead of using a pen to draw I grabbed a bunch of brushes and some walnut ink. I like the way it layers like watercolor and the sepia tone is really nice. But what to draw? I remembered a yummy looking recipe I saw in my new issue of Sunset Magazine and thought that would be fun to try. I liked how the buns were all lined up in the pan with their little icing Xs on top—it made me think of a game of tic-tac-toe. Plus I could use write out some of the ingredients, that would be fun.

After I painted all of the pieces, I scanned them into Photoshop where I rearrange everything and added the color and fabric. I like the combination of the sepia walnut ink and the orange—I thought about adding more, but liked the simplicity of just using two colors.

Corbis Stock Illustrations

2010-03-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

Corbis recently added some more of my illustrations to their Cherry collection. So if you're looking for the perfect petri dish, ice skates or gardening girl check out my selection which are available for purchase. Don't see what you're looking for? Then contact me about creating custom illustrations for you! :)

Spring Has Sprung

2010-03-08T20:56:00.000-08:00

It's a little more than a week away until it's officially spring, but here in Seattle we've had record setting warm weather lately. Daffodils, crocus and cherry blossoms have been making an appearance for a couple of weeks already. So I'm going to pretend that it wasn't snowing today (what the heck?) and forge ahead with the belief that my veggie garden will soon be underway.

For this illustration, I sketched the lettering and a few elements, scanned them and then started refining it in the computer where I could play with color. Looking back at a previous spring illustration, it's funny to see some of the same elements pop up—gradation, bird, flowers—but I can see how my illustration style is evolving into a less fussy, more playful style. I hope you like it!

Georgetown Centennial Identity

2010-02-16T12:49:00.001-08:00

2010 celebrates the 100th anniversary of the annexation of the Georgetown neighborhood by the city of Seattle—an important moment in the history of this colorful community. Over a period of several months I worked with the Georgetown Community Council to develop this identity which will be applied to materials for upcoming events, fundraising and marketing.

Some of the key words the identity needed to convey were: quirky, fun, historic, independent, gritty and enduring. It also needed to be timeless and evoke the personality of the neighborhood—a unique, rich historical past, along with spirited community activism.

I presented several options to choose from and in the end my favorite solution was chosen. The palette represents the brick of the neighborhood's buildings and the individual elements highlight some of the well known landmarks of the area.

Green Eyed Lady Illustration: In Print

2010-02-01T16:32:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's already February! I hope you all enjoyed Hot Tea Month and have flipped your calendar to settle into Embroidery Month. A couple of weeks ago I got an advanced copy of the February/March issue for Horticulture Magazine and was so happy to see my Green Eyed Lady illustration peering back at me. Pick up a copy, it's chocked full of great gardening advice!

2010 Calendar for Sale

2009-12-29T17:04:00.000-08:00

If you're still looking for a fun 2010 calendar to brighten your space, I have about 25 calendars left for sale. The calendar is a desktop style and comes in a plastic case which folds back on itself to sit on a flat surface. Each card is 4 5/8 x 5 3/8 and digitally printed on Classic Crest Recycled Bright White stock.

Rather than putting them in my Etsy shop, if you would like to purchase one, drop me an email at fern(at)annebryantcreative(dot)com and I will send you an invoice through Paypal. It's very easy and secure. The price is $12 which includes shipping. You can click on the images for a closer view.

You know what this means?

2009-12-22T13:38:00.001-08:00

It means I've gotten through ALL 12 illustrations for my 2010 calendar and it's currently at the printer! I thought I'd get this done sooner this year, but my December got really busy with client work (which I'm thankful for). I'll put some in my Etsy shop as soon as they're delivered. :)

2010 Calendar: coming soon!

2009-12-08T19:40:00.000-08:00

I'm halfway through illustrating my 2010 calendar. Last year was the first calendar I did and got lots of great feedback on it so I was excited to start on 2010. This year I'm doing the illustrations by hand and collaging them in the computer—I technique I started using this past year. I like seeing the imperfections of something drawn by hand. Here's a taste, more to come soon!

It's baking season!

2009-11-30T12:02:00.000-08:00

The holidays are upon us and I'm determined to not leave everything to the very last minute as usual. We spent the weekend getting our holiday decorations up and even got a little tree for the first time. The Christmas tunes are loaded on the Ipod and we're getting in the spirit. For me that means baking and making gifts to give—those are often the most meaningful and from the heart. Here is a fun holiday illustration I recently did for Corbis and their new collection.

November News

2009-11-02T08:56:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's already November and I didn't get one update for the whole month of October. Every since September hit I've been non-stop busy with work: brochure, magazine, identity project, tradeshow, web interface and illustrations. Hopefully I'll have time and some finished projects to show here soon. In the meantime, here is a new illustration that is part of a collection I'm creating for Corbis. Even though it's fall and I should be putting my garden to bed for the winter, I can't stop thinking about everything I want to do in the spring. It will be here soon...

Green Eyed Lady

2009-09-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I was so excited to be asked to create an illustration for an article in the March 2010 issue of Horticulture Magazine. The article is about a very lovely, but invasive berry vine that spreads it's roots and seeds while trampling native vegetation. The art director really liked the Georgetown Garden Walk poster that my sweetie and I designed, and wanted to show the plant with human qualities.

I thought it should be represented as a bit of a vixen/temptress lady—she's alluring, but a little bit dangerous. The palette came from the actual colors of the plant, but exaggerated to be more stylized and graphic. Here is the final illustration and my sketch below it. I look forward to seeing it in print!

Neat-O

2009-09-04T19:13:00.001-07:00

Have you noticed a new addition to my blog? Those cute little boxes to the right? Those are links to my Etsy site—check it out! I'll be adding more prints and other goodies for sale over time. And if you have a special request—illustration, custom jewelry, etc—just let me know. Currently the prints are listed as 8.5 x 11, but I can print them at other sizes as well. As of today, there are 111 days left until Christmas. Just sayin'.

Fresh Fruit

2009-08-31T16:15:00.000-07:00

I'm on a roll—here's the third illustration in my breakfast series. I figured that after donuts and bacon we could use a healthy option: oatmeal, fruit and juice. With all the amazing fresh, local produce from the farmers market this summer I think I've eaten my weight in fruit—I can't get enough! As always, you can click on the image for a closer look. :)

Bacon: the downfall of a good many vegetarians

2009-08-25T13:01:00.000-07:00

Oh boy, I can't believe it's almost September! What a beautiful summer we've had in the NW. The garden is bountiful and we've got so many tomatoes, squash and beans it's not even funny. So no excuses on the lack of blog updates. Instead here's a new illustration which is part of my breakfast food series. (Remember the donuts?)

For the Birthday Girl

2009-07-17T10:04:00.000-07:00

I just delivered this special request necklace and earring set for a dear friend's birthday. I heard yesterday that she loves it which I'm so happy to hear—it's always a little nerve-wracking because I want it to be the perfect gift. For this set I knew it should be natural and semi-precious beads, nothing to sparkly or man-made would be right. It also shouldn't be too matchy-matchy or symmetrical. The focus is a silver pendant I made a couple of years ago when I took a metal smithing class at Pratt. The silver has an emboss of fern leaves which is created by putting the silver and leaves through a heavy duty roller. A very cool process, I'd love to do more of that some day! The necklace is on silk string done with a knotting technique unlike the previous piece I posted which was all wire work. Doing this set reminding me I love the look of knotting and want to do more of it in the future. For a closer look to see more details, click on the images above.

If you're looking for a custom jewelry gift for yourself or someone else, drop me an email. :)

Gardenwalk Follow Up

2009-07-16T16:32:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've updated my blog—I've just been too busy enjoying this beautiful summer we're having here in Seattle. I think it's the nicest one we've had in a long time. Last weekend was the 14th annual Georgetown Gardenwalk and of course that was the first day in a while that it decided to rain. Luckily the sprinkles were light and the cool air made the day enjoyable for strolling. A little rain doesn't deter Seattleites, after all. My sweetie and collaborator in the poster snapped a few pics of the poster in the neighborhood windows—it's always fun to see them up!

Pretty things for you or someone special...

2009-06-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

Here's a necklace and earring set I made as a special gift for a friend to give to his wife. The request was to include blues & greens. I found the glass and leaf pendant at my favorite bead store, Fusion, and that inspired the rest of the beads: apatite, sunstone and some swirly blue & green ones that I already had in my stash. I use sterling silver wire for the wire work and the chain which I break and reconnect depending on the design. If you're looking for a special gift for yourself or someone else, I'd be happy to make something for you. Fancy gift wrapping is included. :)

Museum of Science Magazine, Spring

2009-06-10T11:20:00.000-07:00

I recently wrapped up a big project with Plural—the spring issue for the Museum of Science in Boston. This is the second time we've done the design for the magazine, the first time being their fall issue. Once again it's chocked full of impressive and engaging stories about what's going on at the Museum. The design follows the look and feel of the previous issue so that the Museum's brand is consistent to its audience. The 32 page, plus cover magazine was printed with post-consumer recycled paper.

As always, you can click on the images for a closer look.

Butterfly, Flutter by

2009-06-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

The other day I was sitting on the patio trying to figure out what to draw. First I tried drawing the hops but they were too detailed and I got frustrated trying to be precise. Then I noticed the white butterflies dancing around the flower bed—the kind that almost look like they must be drunk the way they flip flop around. I started sketching butterflies with stylized patterns. I liked the play on words of 'butterfly' and 'flutter by' and used the text in the background, kind of like a wallpaper effect. I added some scanned papers because the flat colors seemed, well—too flat. :)

I thought it might be interesting to see my original sketch so I'm including that as well.

Georgetown Garden Walk: Sunday July 12th

2009-06-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

Friends and fans of the Georgetown Garden Walk have been chomping at the bit to see this year's poster so without any further ado, here it is! This is the first year that the poster will be screenprinted in a limited edition of 200, making them a nice keepsake for the event. The files went off to the printer this week and hopefully will start popping up around the neighborhood in the next few weeks, so keep your eyes peeled and mark your calendars for Sunday, July 12th 10 to 5.

As I mentioned earlier in my blog, this year it was a collaborative effort between Jay and me which was a lot of fun. We brainstormed on the concept and wondered just what flowers would look like if they were Georgetown hipsters—voila!

For more information about the Garden Walk contact Jon Dove at 206.763.9595. Free maps of the garden locations are available on the day of the walk at the Bank of America parking lot, 1112 S. Bailey Street.

Playing with Patterns

2009-06-02T14:38:00.000-07:00

If you know me, you know that I'm a total pattern junkie. Can't get enough of them—florals, geometric, traditional, mod, hand drawn, etc. I love them all. (Well, ok maybe not leopard or zebra unless they're on the animals themselves.) A while back I came across this tutorial for making a repeating pattern by Julia Rothman (love her work!) and I've been meaning to give it a try. She made it so easy to understand how repeating patterns are made—a ha, that's how they do it.

So I took elements of this drawing I made and created some patterns from it, playing with different color combinations—so much fun! I would love to screenprint these on giftwrap. :)

As always, you can click on the image for a closer look...

The Living is Easy...

2009-05-27T23:21:00.000-07:00

Recently there has been a strange phenomenon here in Seattle—sunshine and warm weather! It's quite rare to have such good weather weekend after weekend here this time of year. Usually summer doesn't really hit until after July 4th and it's not even June! Trying not to jinx myself here, but I'm hoping it will stick around until, hmmmmm, how about October? That would make up for the terrible winter and spring we endured.

So here's a new illustration for you inspired by the sunshine. Enjoy. :)

Georgetown Garden Walk Sneak Peek

2009-05-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

I've been busy working on big project—a 36 page magazine for the Museum of Science in Boston—which just went off to the printer. I love that stage of a project. Now I just sit tight and wait for proofs from the printer before it hits the press and ink meets paper.

In the meantime my sweetie and I have been cooking up the design for Georgetown Garden Walk materials. This is the 6th year that one of us has done it: he did it three times, I did it twice and this year it's a collaborative effort. And if I do say so myself this is the best one yet! We've retired the chicken and gone in a fun new direction. So mark your calendars for Sunday July 12th and hope for sunny skies!

Here's a tiny sneak peek to tide you over...

An oink oink here...

2009-04-30T17:52:00.000-07:00

It must be all the swine talk of late that made me think of these illustrations I did for Migo mugs a while back. Wash your hands folks and let's keep our sneezes to ourselves. Hopefully the news will be back to talking about happier things such as the recession before we know it.

Cute hoots

2009-04-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

The other day I did a new little illustration for a friend's baby onesie—a little blue owl. I thought he needed some friends so I did a few more to hang out in his tree. Here are the owlies in the day and also how they look at night time.

Bertschi School: Teaching Sustainability

2009-04-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

My client Bertschi School in Capitol Hill has an on-going commitment to sustainability and uses a global approach to education. Recent additions to the campus include an impressive LEED certified building, water cisterns, solar panels, a green roof and more. Last year I designed an interpretive signage system to highlight these features, as well as inform students, parents and visitors. The signage functions in tandem with an interactive kiosk which gives additional information the viewer.

I created a system of 14 signs that cohesively fit with the style of the existing campus signage. Each of the signs represents one of the 5 main categories—sustainable sites, water efficiency, solar energy, air quality, materials—and has a corresponding illustration at the top of the panels.

We created the signs to be: intriguing, engaging, fun, informative and to have a 5-8 year lifespan. They also needed to have the ability to display the students' artwork year round. The signs are made from steel and allow the metal's natural finish and oxidation to show through, then were protected with a clear coat finish.

Poppy pods

2009-04-15T19:16:00.000-07:00

I did this illustration a couple of years ago and just rediscovered it in my sketchbook. I always liked it and thought it would look nice with some color and texture added. One of these days I'll get around to planting poppies in my yard—the big frilly orange kind that are so perfect they almost don't look real.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-11T21:29:00.000-07:00

Wishing you a peaceful Easter and sunshine on your egg hunt. Moms and Dads—keep track of where you hide them, it's no fun playing 'find the rotten egg' two weeks from now. Me, I'll be hitting the after Easter candy sales—there's nothing like stale Peeps. Mmmmmmm.... :)

Snail snack

2009-04-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

I've often heard the old adage 'write what you know'. Sometimes when I'm stumped on what to draw I remind myself the same thing applies—'draw what you know'! So here's what's going on in my little corner of the world: starting seedlings for the garden and keeping an eye on two pet snails. I curse the snails and slugs when they're chewing holes in my hostas and ligularia in the garden, but I can't bring myself to kill them. Most often they spend their retirement in the yard waste bin.

So here's a new illustration for you. This time I incorporated painted textures, paper and a scan of a rusty background. Hope you like it.

Donuts make people happy

2009-04-08T19:51:00.000-07:00

Here's another illustration for you inspired by the yummy donuts at Top Pot here in Seattle. Nothing like a fresh donut and good coffee! This time I scanned some origami papers and combined them with the drawing and painted textures I made. Enjoy!

Launching DZO Strategists

2009-04-07T16:56:00.000-07:00

I recently created this system of business papers for DZO Strategists. Their objectives were to convey a solid, confident, smart and solution-driven brand. I designed the DZO identity last fall so it was great to take it to another level and apply it to their printed materials. I selected Neenah Classic Crest in Avalanche White which is another of my favorite enviro-friendly stocks. When choosing the perfect red for their identity, we felt limited by what Pantone had to offer so a custom red ink was mixed to exactly match what my own printer had produced.

Robot love

2009-03-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

My onesie winner Aly had a special request for her little guy which I was happy to make. Beep beep!

Onesie winner!

2009-03-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone that left comments about my onesie designs! It's great to hear positive feedback and encouragement. I'll work on getting some up on my Etsy site and post a note here on my blog when they're listed.

The winner of the giveaway is Aly! Drop me an email and let me know what design I can whip up for your little guy. :)

Laundry time

2009-03-25T20:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a new little drawing for you. Must be the spring weather, sunshine and fresh air that inspired me. That and striped socks.

Onesies for your little one

2009-03-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

The other day I had a request for some of my hedgie onesies which really made my day. I've only made my iron-on onesies for friends in the past, but this gave me the idea to perhaps try selling them. So I'm dipping my toe in the water to hopefully get some feedback on interest. I might put some up on my Etsy shop at some point, or I can just sell them through my blog—Paypal makes it very easy. Here is a pic of some designs I've done in the past but am currently working on new ones and can also do custom requests.

I'd love your feedback. If you are interesting in purchasing just drop me an email. Prices are $10 a piece (plus shipping) and for sizing please visit here.

And as a bonus if you leave a comment, I'll randomly pick a reader and send them a onesie in the size and design of their choice. :) Check back a week from today (March 26) when I announce the winner.

Toasties!

2009-03-06T19:20:00.000-08:00

I've been having fun doing these little drawings, then playing with them in the computer adding color and fabrics. Here's a new one!

As always, you can click on the image for a closer look.

Coffee & Tea

2009-03-04T12:53:00.001-08:00

Here's a quick little drawing I did. First I drew it with pen, then took it into the computer, added color for accent plus some hankerchief fabrics. It's definitely busier than my recent illustrations, but I like that about it—it makes it feel more girly and tea partyish.

Fun + Friends + Fitness = Boardwalk 5K!

2009-03-03T18:46:00.000-08:00

Here's a project fresh off the presses announcing a fun upcoming event for Treeswing. It's for their 4th annual 5K Run/Walk on April 26th which helps fund physical education programs in the Seattle Public Schools. I wanted it to be attention-getting and lively so I made the text bold used the bright colors of the Treeswing palette. If you and your family would like to participate, go here to sign up!

Summer sign-up

2009-02-25T13:31:00.000-08:00

Although it's February and rainy, summer will truly be here in a few short months. So that means Bertschi School needed a Summer Program schedule created to get students signed up for all of their fun, creative classes—knitting, robotics, inline skating, pirates! Seriously folks, kids today have way more options to keep busy during the summer months than I did—not that I'm knocking my mad macaroni necklace skills.

I designed this schedule to print in two inks to keep costs down, but mixed and matched the inks in varying percentages to create a finished piece that doesn't have the boring duotone feel. In keeping with the school's commitment to environmental responsibility, it was printed on an FSC stock with 100% post consumer waste and soy based inks.

As always, you can click on the image for a closer look.

Something sweet

2009-02-10T11:18:00.000-08:00

In honor of the upcoming holiday, here are some cute Valentine cards I made last year and sold on Etsy. The fabrics are some of the vintage handkerchiefs that I've collected over the years.

Hello '09

2009-01-05T17:12:00.000-08:00

This is what I've been cooking up for the new year—a promotional calendar with colorful gardening themed illustrations. I had 50 sets digitally printed on Neenah Classic Crest recycled bright white, one of my favorite enviro-friendly stocks. I've got one sitting on my desk and it's a nice little reminder that spring & summer are just around the corner.

Hedgie love

2008-12-22T14:41:00.000-08:00

I made these onesies the other day for our friends' baby on the way. Fun with iron-ons!

Treeswing Jumps!

2008-12-22T14:10:00.000-08:00

Here's a recent invitation package I designed for Treeswing. It's for an event in January—a live performance by a professional jump rope team and a showing of the film Jump! I have a feeling these kids are way more advanced in the jump rope department than I ever was. The invitation package supports Treeswing's existing brand along with some new imagery and illustration.

A sweet stocking stuffer

2008-12-16T17:05:00.000-08:00

Here's a necklace & earring set I was commissioned to make for a holiday gift. So as to keep it a surprise, I'll just say it's for someone very special. :)

December Day

2008-12-08T10:09:00.000-08:00

We've had a really mild winter so far here in the Northwest—in fact there are still leaves on some of the trees and flowers are blooming. The little birds have been all a twitter around the thistle feeder lately—always happy to discover a free lunch.

Sneak peek, take 2

2008-12-03T17:24:00.000-08:00

I'm excited about this promo I'm working on–it's not too often I get to be my own client! Here's another tease...

Sneak peek…

2008-12-01T22:32:00.000-08:00

Here's a peek of something I'm cooking up for the new year. Hmmm, what could it be? Stay tuned...

Happy Thanksgiving (& please pass the turkey)

2008-11-26T09:25:00.000-08:00

Finally, I've got an excuse to show off my sweet greyhound Murray. Here he is modeling a scarf I knitted up the other night using size 50 needles (!) and Lion Brand 'thick & quick' yarn. This yarn definitely lives up to it's name. Thanks to the jumbo sized needles and thick yarn, I cranked this scarf out in an evening of TV watching. I hope everyone has a cozy Thanksgiving!

Museum of Science, Boston

2008-11-25T11:24:00.000-08:00

Here's another recent collaboration with Plural. This project is a 36 page magazine for the Museum of Science in Boston. There is also a concise annual report inserted into the center of magazine. The audience is members and donors so it is chock full of the many exciting things going on at the museum. As with the Brandeis project, I was given well thought out brand standards to work with—a recently updated logo, font and palette selection. It was my job to take those elements and design a magazine that reflected the museum's character and quality. So if you're in Boston, check out the museum—you'll see Triceratops Cliff, one of only four nearly compete Triceratops on public display anywhere in the world!

Shopping for something special?

2008-11-17T20:19:00.001-08:00

The holidays are just around the corner! If you happen to be stumped on what to give to your someone special, I'm happy to create a unique piece of jewelry for you to slide under the Christmas tree. Here are a few pieces I've done in the past, and while these are no longer available, I can make new pieces based on your color and style preferences.

Brandeis Anthology

2008-11-14T13:15:00.000-08:00

I recently partnered with Plural, a Brand Strategy and Design consultancy in Boston to design a 70 page anthology for Brandeis University. The collection of essays are written by academics on the subject of Jewish Experiential Learning—in other words, stepping out of the classroom and learning by doing. I really enjoyed working on it for a few reasons. The University has an existing brand that is well-designed and allowed me to build upon it. I also had really great photography to work with, which is not always the case. For this project, after reviewing every essay, I recommended photography styles and content that would support the text. The cover was printed in 4 color process, while the rest of the book is only 2 inks–blue and brown—however I used the two inks in a variety of combinations to really push the results. A lot can be done with only two inks! Above are a few spreads from the book.

Stay tuned...

2008-09-19T09:53:00.002-07:00

I've been a little negligent when it comes to updating my blog, but trust me I'm not slacking off—I'm just busy with work! Currently I'm partnering with a design firm on the East Coast which has been keeping me busy with an 70 page anthology and a 36 page magazine. Hope to have those wrapped up in the next couple of months so I can share them. Also, I'm happy to say that the signage system I designed for Bertschi School will be installed any day now—so once it's in, I'll photograph the results and blog about that fun project. More to come...

Green Your Halloween!

2008-09-19T09:53:00.001-07:00

It's hard to believe but October is right around the corner—the grey skies and changing leaves guarantee it. So if you're like me, you're already thinking about carving pumpkins and getting visits by cute (and sometimes spooky) trick-or-treaters. Green Halloween, a local organization and a program of Treeswing, is thinking about it too and wants you to consider giving out other fun stuff instead of candy. I know how crazy that sounds, being someone who is mildly obsessed (ok, majorly obsessed with chocolate), but trust me—your kids and their parents will thank you! Last year we went with the the Green Halloween plan and handed out stickers, play-doh and temporary tatoos and the kids were thrilled. I recently designed this Green Halloween action kit which is full of ideas, recipes and other fun stuff to get your family on-board. Hope you have a happy (and healthy) Halloween!

KCSARC: End the silence

2008-09-19T09:53:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars for another worthy cause on the horizon for 2009: KCSARC's annual 'Kids Are Our Business' breakfast on Tuesday, February 24th. This one is their 20th anniversary and will be an opportunity to hear moving testimonies of how they have helped many sexual assault victims in the King County area. This is the second year that I've designed their event materials and again, the artwork is created by one of the children they have helped. For more information, visit their website here.

Treeswing

2008-08-26T11:16:00.000-07:00

Did you know that 1 in 3 children is overweight? Or that obesity will soon top tobacco as the most preventable cause of death? Scary news, isn't it? That's why a local non-profit is doing everything it can to get the message out that eating healthy and being active are crucial to the lives of our children.

I recently partnered with Treeswing to develop and design their new donor materials. Their existing brand was extended to the gatefold brochure along with new images that convey the spirit and energy of the organization's mission: to help kids lead healthy, active lives. We printed the piece on an environmentally friendly stock, Mohawk Via pc cool white which is 100% post consumer waste paper manufactured using wind-generated electricity.

Upcycling cuteness

2008-08-19T15:11:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you've created something you really like, but the client doesn't? Use it for something else to make something new or as some folks would say: upcycle it! I took an illustration I recently created for a client and used it for my favorite one-year-old's birthday card.

Lady Lam

2008-07-24T14:28:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love stories of people quitting their 9 to 5 jobs to follow their true passion? I think it's something we all dream about, but few of us actually have the nerve to go through with it. That's why I was so happy to help my friend Christine with a logo and business card design for her new endeavour. She had a great start and a clear vision of what her logo should convey: nostalgia, glamour and good, old-fashioned customer service. As you can see, the updated logo has a fun vintage feel with a modern palette, perfect for her new business (opening September 1st).

More from the garden

2008-07-14T16:59:00.000-07:00

Although my work load right now is busy (which is great!) I've been sneaking out to the garden for more sketching when I can. The summer months here are so short, you have to enjoy them while they last. The other day I tackled Bee Balm which to me looks straight of a Dr. Seuss book. I planted it last year and this year it has completely surprised me with its size and color. Initially I tried to draw it very realistically but it is so detailed, I quickly realized this lady had to be stylized so I changed gears and got much looser with it. The hummingbirds and bees adore it.

From the garden

2008-07-07T16:43:00.000-07:00

After brainstorming for a client's project the other day, I sketched one of the echevaria babies I started that is now getting pretty big. I drew the black outline with pen as one continuous line (not lifting it up as I drew). Then I went back with colored pencils and tried to capture all of the different colors in this little guy.

Home comforts

2008-07-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

I haven't shown too much craft on my blog yet, it's been mostly design work. So here's something I made the other day. I've been looking for cute pillows to use with our outdoor furniture during these precious few months of Seattle summer but hadn't found any. So I decided to overcome my fear of sewing in zippers and make my own. Zippers are actually a lot easier than I thought and thanks to this handy YouTube video, I whipped up four new pillows last week. The patterned fabric is 'Midwest Modern Moss Martini' by Amy Butler which was inspired by 'beautiful summer days in Amy's Ohio garden'. Being a buckeye myself, maybe that's why I was drawn to it! Once I put the pillows out in their garden environment, I discovered how similar the combination of the two fabrics is to one of my favorite plants, the euphorbia. I could have a whole garden of euphorbia and be happy.

Vitality

2008-07-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a business card design project I recently completed for a naturopathic physician. I'm really pleased with the results and hope she is too. The design of the cards needed to be: professional, trustworthy, organized, and nurturing. Aesthetically, she wanted it to have a modern, yet organic feel. The botanical drawings of lemon balm and licorice create a pleasing wallpaper effect, and are symbolic to the naturopathic field. To keep costs down we printed them with an eco-friendly online printer.

Hey Mr. Postman...

2008-06-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

So who else besides me is excited about the new USPS issued stamps honoring the work of designer duo couple of all time, Charles and Ray Eames? We just got ours today and they are lovely. So much so, I almost hate to use them. Good thing we ordered two pages of them! I might just have to keep one. Get yours here while they last (and before the rates go up again).

It's here!

2008-05-29T14:28:00.000-07:00

Art with Heart has just released it's latest publication, 'Magnificent Marvelous Me' and it's chock full of engaging activities and amazing illustrations to benefit children who have a sibling with a disability or serious illness. I'm honored to be a contributor to the project. Learn more here.

Texture 101

2008-05-20T15:07:00.000-07:00

When I'm working on an illustration, I try to include handmade and organic elements so that the illustration doesn't feel entirely created in the computer. I think it gives it a more unique, more imperfect feeling. That could mean drawing or painting and then scanning it in to use, or perhaps scanning fabrics, paper or other found objects. This example is an illustration I did that needed some texture to it so I took the left over coffee grounds and dropped them around on a piece of paper, then left it out in the sun to dry. The next step was to scan it in and adjust the contrast, then take that file into Adobe Illustrator which is my absolute favorite program for drawing. In Illustrator the texture was then colorized and layered into the background of the snail party which gives it more depth and interest.

The top image is the texture I made and the bottom image is the finished illustration.

From the archives

2008-05-20T14:34:00.000-07:00

Last year I designed this invitation for a fundraising event to support Children's Hospital. It needed to be friendly, but elegant and print in two colors to be cost effective. I used the Eames Furniture Weave Finish in Pacific Blue which was also used to create custom mailing envelopes.

Mark your calendars!

2008-05-09T13:28:00.000-07:00

Even though the weather here in the NW sure doesn't feel like it, I'm pretty sure Summer is right around the corner. That means flowers will be popping up in full bloom and I'll be sporting my dirt manicure. It also means that the Georgetown Art & Garden Walk is coming up! That's right, before you know it, folks will be oohing and ahhing over all of the fabulous gardens and studios in the Gtown neighborhood. I've done my second poster design for the walk and due to popular demand, the chicken has returned. This time she's roosting on a nest of flowers and straw. So mark your calendars for the walk, Sunday July 13th, 10 to 5. Free maps are available the day of the event at the Bank of America parking lot.

Sightline

2008-05-06T13:25:00.000-07:00

I recently created some web banners for my client Sightline to use for their spring fund drive. I kept them simple, but included fun spring graphics that complimented their existing branding. If you would like to have a part in creating healthy, lasting prosperity in the Northwest, visit their website.

My lucky day

2008-05-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

I found out that the Revival identity and business papers I designed just won silver in Neenah Paper's Paperworks First Quarter Letterhead Contest. How exciting! In addition to the recognition, I won a $300 MasterCard gift card. Hmmm, now to decide what to spend it on...

Letterpress printing

2008-04-17T13:29:00.000-07:00

In 2007 I did an identity project for La Luz Photography. My client wanted a logo and business card design that were sophisticated, classic and conveyed elegance—all qualities of her photography. She was also in love with letterpress because of its rich, tactile nature. We chose a lovely brown and robin's egg greyish blue for the color palette. At that time I didn't have my press up and running so we printed them at Bison Press in Bellingham who did a fantastic job.

Art with (lotsa) Heart

2008-04-05T13:56:00.000-07:00

The other day my dear friend Steffanie of Art with Heart asked me to create a page for one of her latest books. This book will be similar in look and feel to Oodles of Doodles, but this one is for the siblings of children diagnosed with serious or debilitating illnesses. It will be a therapeutic activity book which will focus on meeting the emotional needs of siblings dealing with a wide range of confusing emotions. The page I illustrated is a board game that will help the kids engage with others in their circle of support and help reduce isolation. If you would like help to make this project a reality, visit here. It's a wonderful organization and I'm honored to contribute to the project.

Sprout

2008-03-31T10:43:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been feeling like the metaphorical seeds I've been sowing over the past year and a half are starting to take root. I've been getting calls, referrals and keeping busy with both old and new clients. I look forward to the new opportunities Spring will surely bring its way. As for seeds of the literal type, it looks like the sunflowers and the heirloom tomatoes are the early achievers of the season.

Welcome Spring

2008-03-21T09:40:00.001-07:00

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say 'Welcome Spring'! Winters here in the NW can tend to be a tad grueling although this one wasn't too bad, but nonetheless I'm ready for longer days, sunshine and working in my garden.

Time to shop

2008-03-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

Revival is now open for business in Georgetown! Check it out.

Cut + paste

2008-02-28T14:46:00.000-08:00

When I started my own business just over a year ago, one thing I really wanted to push myself to do is more illustration. I like not having a specific illustration style, rather I try different techniques, mediums and materials—creating some parts by hand and then working with them on the computer. One of my clients is Cozi, which offers a free software service for busy families to stay in sync. I've done some interface design for them, but when it came time to do some printed collateral, we decided to use an illustration of a family rather than generic stock photography. I created the image used on this piece with cut paper and fabric—it gives it a kid feel, appropriate to their audience and the circular motif picks up on the Cozi branding.

Letterpress success

2008-02-12T10:44:00.000-08:00

About a year ago I acquired something that I've wanted for awhile—my very own letterpress. It's a C&P Pilot Press, which is a table top platen press originally manufactured for schools. As eager as I was to get the press, it has taken some time to get it up and running—between keeping up with my design projects and figuring out how to work it, its been slow going. A 50+ year old piece of equipment doesn't exactly come with a user's manual (although I have been discovering an impressive amount of information online). There are many diehard old timer pressmen out there, as well as a whole generation of enthusiastic newcomers. I originally planned to print mostly with polymer but now I want to experiment with some linoleum cuts. I have a few pieces of old wood type which give a lovely impression, hopefully I can add more to my collection. I just finished my very first project—my business cards. There was some trial and error of course, but as with most things it's a learning process. My letterpress mantra continues to be, "It's an art, not a science."

Logo makeover 101

2008-02-08T13:52:00.000-08:00

From time to time we could all use a little spiffing up of our appearance. We might not even realize it until a friend points it out. For example, your girlfriend might say (nicely), "Do you know you've had the same hair style since 8th grade?" Or, "Just because you ARE a mom, doesn't mean you should be wearing those mom jeans!" It's those little things that we might never notice ourselves, but once you make the change you see what a huge difference it makes. Sometimes a logo needs a makeover too. It may not need a complete rebranding, but just a little tweaking here and there to make it work better. When a brand has equity and is recognizable, it makes sense to not reinvent the wheel. I worked with Treeswing, a Seattle based non-profit to improve upon their already good identity. The logo had a couple of challenges: in order for the tagline to be legible the tree had to be huge. Although it was two colors to begin with, they were not used in the best way possible. I adjusted the logo by scaling down the tree and using two more distinctly different greens to emphasize the human figure inside of the tree as well as the organization's name. This allowed for the tagline to be larger and be more legible. See what a big difference that just a few 'tweaks' can do?

Classic yet modern

2008-02-05T18:51:00.000-08:00

When a client says they know exactly what they want before the project even begins, a red flag starts flapping away in my mind. That is because unless they have an understanding of marketing, design and branding—what they envision is probably not going to be what I think is a good solution. But every so often I have a client that 'gets it' and they are a joy to work with. Recently I partnered with Leah Steen who is opening a fresh, stylish and affordable home store in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle. If you've been to Gtown lately, you've noticed change is afoot there and I think Leah is one smart lady to be setting up shop. With a freshly signed lease lighting the fire, we moved fast and developed the brand for her store 'Revival' which will open Spring 08. She had a vision of a modern brand with classic, elegant roots. After looking through vintage type specimen books for inspiration, I chose a contemporary typeface 'Neutraface' which was based on signage designed by architect Richard Neutra. I printed her business papers on a recycled stock: Classic Crest Recycled Bright White which comes in a nice hefty 130 double thick cover weight, perfect if you want a substantial feeling business card.

A 'taste' of the Market

2008-01-30T13:07:00.000-08:00

If you've ever been to the Pike Place Market in Seattle then you know it's a colorful, jam-packed place full of history and so many flavors to sample that it's nearly overwhelming. That's why the founders of Taste Pike Place started their business—to show visitors the nooks and crannies the Market has to offer from a local's perspective. I developed the brand and marketing materials to be fun, friendly, colorful. We decided from the start that the materials should utilize illustration rather than photography to give their brand a unique look and feel. Familiar icons from the market—fish, fruit, wine and coffee (of course)—give the viewer a taste of what's to come when they take one of the fabulous tasting tours they have to offer.

Building a brand

2008-01-29T18:47:00.000-08:00

Creating a brand for a new business is always exciting, particularly when it's for someone putting their heart and soul into the effort. When my friend Beth Cullom asked me to partner with her to develop the identity and business papers for her new art gallery I was happy to help. As a small business owner myself, I know keeping costs low is important when you're first starting out. I set out to design the materials as economically as possible, but still make them elegant and have elements of Japanese printmaking. Everything was printed on one of my favorite environmentally friendly papers: Neenah Environment PC White in one ink only. I had a stamp made of the little bird I designed which Beth uses to add an accent of red to each piece, showing a custom touch to each piece of correspondence from Cullom Gallery.

It IS easy being green

2008-01-29T11:13:00.000-08:00

It's my lucky day when I have a client that is not only easy to work with, understands good design AND has a commitment to environmental concerns! I recently partnered with Bertschi School to create a brochure that complimented their new recruitment brochure. This new 'sister' brochure is all about their commitment to Sustainability & Diversity. Bertschi is an amazing school—energy, enthusiasm and enlightened thinking abound. I really admire clients that understand doing their part for the environment is not only good for the planet but also for their brand. It shows that they are forward thinking and respect the triple bottom line: planet, people and profit. We printed the brochure with an FSC certified printer with soy ink on FSC certified 100% recycled post-consumer waste paper (Neenah Environment PC 100) that was manufactured with 100% certified renewable energy and without the use of chlorine.

Wishing for summer

2008-01-28T13:16:00.000-08:00

I'm going to use my blog to show some of the projects I did in 2007. A fun one was the poster and branding for the Georgetown Art & Garden Walk which was in July—long ago from this snowy January day! With the generous contribution from Princeton Press in Georgetown, the walk had its very first color poster. Although the poster was digitally printed, it had the look of screenprinting from the handmade textures I used and the overlapping elements. How fun it was to see my colorful chicken strolling through this funky and eclectic neighborhood!

Recycling cuteness

2008-01-28T12:26:00.000-08:00

The other day I took some of the illustrations I had created for a client last spring and decided they would be cute on some onesies for my friend's new baby. I took the illustrations and transferred onto the fabric using iron on transfer sheets I printed on my Canon Pixma Pro 2000. Easy as pie and cuter than store bought if I do say so myself!