My mornings/early afternoons usually consist of a little work and a quick walk outside with a good friend from college that I just so happen to work with now. We do a few laps around the building to get out of the office and chat- which offers a great break to the monotony of the day. This morning our chat consisted of the recent cease in production of one of our scrapbooking magazines here in the office... a publication in which she art directed. We agreed that it's slightly bittersweet.
I was telling her how I could never really get into scrapbooking and that sometimes people just can't believe that with me being a designer, I can't put together a scrapbook layout to save my life. (in my opinion at least... it's quite a pathetic sight to see how frustrated i get.) I can't see the layout in my mind and become very overwhelmed and unsure of what I'm doing... even though there is no wrong or right.
I was also venting my frustrations of not being able to see any layouts lately that didn't involve a wedding invitation. I've hit a bit of a creative wall when it comes to marketing and direct mail design work, but do you want something that incorporates an earthy feel without going too granola and has a punch of color in a quantity of 100? I'm your girl. I could concept about 4 or 5 different layouts in 20 minutes. It's all I see anymore- weddings. I secretly love it.
This is when my friend told me it's probably because that's what I should be doing with my life. Now, keep in mind that this light bulb turned on about 3 or 4 months ago for me , but it was set to dim and I haven't really tried to turn it up. With her saying it out loud (and having some encouraging words about the next step I want to take with my designs), my bulb's getting brighter... and my enthusiasm for working toward progression is slowly building. I'm finding more and more materials I want to work with in order to pull my designs out of the run-of-the-mill feeling. I'm working under the naive notion (don't you love oblivion sometimes?) that I'll find an audience for what I'm offering... even if it's not right here within the 275 loop. I figure the less I worry about WHO I'm marketing to, the more creativity will come out of me. I'll find those brides, don't you worry.
Time is my nemesis right now, however... which it seems to always be for those that have a hard time leading a simple life. I just finished reading this post by Michelle of Cicada Studio. When I first found her, her life was very similar to mine... working full time, working semi-full time on her own business and trying to keep somewhat of a life in order in between- husband, kid (plural in her case), family, friends and home. I think I'm keeping a good balance, but that could also be me thinking naively (again, sweet oblivion). But I do know that right now I'm not making the time to push my business past this comfort zone it's fallen into and at the same time, I'm not sure I have the time to devote to doing so right now. Summer always makes being productive a challenge... and even moreso that my Little Miss is off and running (literally). Thank God for grandparents and their insistence on spending as much time as they can with that little girl otherwise I don't know what we would do.
With that said, though. Summer allows me to get out and get inspiration. You can only soak up so much from reading blogs and watching some occasional television. I'm pulling together snippets of inspiration, color palettes and materials... so in some ways I'm being pretty productive on the backend of things- which is encouraging.
This next month is going to be a whirlwind of trips, plans and people... Come August, I'll welcome s less-scheduled calendar and a little more down time (and I say all of that with hesitation because I know there's a strong possibility down time might not happen.) Next week I'm off to Virgina, come back for the NKOTB concert, the 4th of July weekend, followed by a wedding weekend, followed by a vacation and then the aforementioned down time... hopefully. I'll try to post a little more regularly- the camera is coming with me everywhere I go pretty much, so there should be some fun documentation along the way (even if it's for the sole purpose of reminding what it was I did the day before.)
• • • • •
Weight loss update: Yesterday my 30 Day Shred video arrived in my mailbox. This DVD scares the bajesus out of me. Tia is my unofficial mentor on this... and her candid account of how she's getting along after this video is what frightens me. But I've got 10 lbs sticking to me like glue and it needs to go away... fast. I'm perfectly happy with the progress I've made so far- it's definitely more than I honestly expected out of myself... it's this last hurdle I need to get over to really feel like I've done all I could do. So, with that said, Jillian Michaels, please have mercy on my soul.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
A renewed love affair
... with my blog. yes. i need to rekindle the flame. we need to make nice again... i need to let my insecurities go and just write. so look over there----> on the sidebar. there's where i click on a daily basis. go over there, look around and bookmark 'em... they offer up good stuff.
to do
• heather's invitation quote
• meshawn's invitation quote
• first letterpress quote (yay)!
• pool party goods
• moving card reprints
• finish printing up jacki's invitations
here's what i've done lately...
that third one down is the best thing i've done so far...
to do
• heather's invitation quote
• meshawn's invitation quote
• first letterpress quote (yay)!
• pool party goods
• moving card reprints
• finish printing up jacki's invitations
here's what i've done lately...
that third one down is the best thing i've done so far...
Friday, May 29, 2009
almost...
this is for those of you keeping score (which i'm sure there aren't that many of you). and if you have no interest in weight loss talk- skip down to the • • • • •
down 15.
10 to go.
here's how that pans out. ignore the bad photos. there isn't much lighting to work with up in the loft at 11:30 at nite.
to recap, the red dress is what i was in after Little Miss came about. attractive, i know. the blue is my goal dress. my coveted blue dress. the dress i've only been able to wear once in my life... but WILL wear again. to a wedding. in july. come hell or high water.
the green dress is what i'm in now... and it's actually a tad bit big, but i'm not going to press my luck. i'm in it. i'm comfortable and it still looks good with 3 inch heels. cannot WAIT to get out in this.
and just for fun i tried on the coveted blue dress tonite. it zips up... but it ain't goin out in public any time soon. it fits. i could wear it... but i'd get a few looks and i DEFINITELY wouldn't be comfortable or confident. and that's okay. i have time... and i'm making progress.
(side note- express is selling the exact same coveted blue dress except 5 inches shorter right now. i think i might have to go buy the green one just because...)
so, slowly but surely i'm getting there. biggest loser starts up again this week at work and i'm determined to win this time (watch out lynn!)... i've really severely cut down my wardrobe since most things from last year don't fit (and i stupidly threw out most of my favorite stuff in a pregnancy this-will-never-ever-fit rage), so i'm desperately in need of a summer wardrobe. i'm hoping i'll be able to make some slight alterations to some of my favorite "bigger" clothes in an attempt to not go out and spend a lot of money on clothes i'll hopefully have to replace in a month or so. i already need to buy new jeans-- even though i just bought 2 new pair a month ago. yikes. good thing i really only wear dresses in the summer.
• • • • •
so here i am... doing the same thing i do everytime i'm absent from blog world. i write a post, save the draft, write another draft. read both, feel awkward and completely moronic in both post and then end up writing whatever finally gets posted. um, get a life. i know. just write the damn blog post.
... and this is where i blank. every form of my social media that requires updating has been terribly neglected (except facebook which is my new BFF).
let's do this in list form...
• first big wedding out the door last week. i didn't design them, just sourced materials and printed, but nonetheless it was a big job. who knew finding magenta envelopes and navy envelopments would turn into phone call after phone call and countless ask.com searches. but, i found both just in time and no one has called me crying yet to tell me they hate them, so i think i'm in the clear with this one.
• second big wedding started printing this weekend. this bride is absolutely adorable and she's been a dream to work with- all the way in PA. more on that after i get them printed and assembled.
• i've had a few more inquiries for quotes, so we'll see how those pan out. my Sarah invitation seems to be pretty popular these days.
• so many projects going on in my head and not enough projects making it into layout. it's a bit frustrating... especially when i think one has really great potential. i've somewhat decided to concentrate more on the wedding aspect of my business but i want to keep the custom stationery pieces available for options sake. i've begun to offer the invitations "unassembled" as a money saver and almost all of my brides have taken advantage of this.
• i'm hoping to get a few descriptions written up this week for a few of my new invitations so i can get them listed on etsy. i haven't listed any new product for awhile, just renewed what's been in there. not sure if it will get done, but it's on my to-do list.
• i ordered a fun new printers block for margaret. Little Miss is headed to the grandparents house this weekend- all weekend- so i'm hoping to spend some quality time printing downstairs. i've already gotten shot down for buying a bigger press because "you don't use the one you have" to which i responded that wasn't fair because i haven't had time. so margaret... let's hang out this weekend, okay?
i think that about sums it up. it's girls-only-no-boys-allowed week here... hubs is on a business trip and then off for a bachelor party, so Little Miss and i will be fending for ourselves. i've already got my girls lined up for the week and i'm working on the weekend festivities, so i'm definitely excited to have the nites to myself to hopefully (cross your fingers!) get some work done and just be productive.
... yeah and i'll work on posting more regularly. promise.
down 15.
10 to go.
here's how that pans out. ignore the bad photos. there isn't much lighting to work with up in the loft at 11:30 at nite.
to recap, the red dress is what i was in after Little Miss came about. attractive, i know. the blue is my goal dress. my coveted blue dress. the dress i've only been able to wear once in my life... but WILL wear again. to a wedding. in july. come hell or high water.
the green dress is what i'm in now... and it's actually a tad bit big, but i'm not going to press my luck. i'm in it. i'm comfortable and it still looks good with 3 inch heels. cannot WAIT to get out in this.
and just for fun i tried on the coveted blue dress tonite. it zips up... but it ain't goin out in public any time soon. it fits. i could wear it... but i'd get a few looks and i DEFINITELY wouldn't be comfortable or confident. and that's okay. i have time... and i'm making progress.
(side note- express is selling the exact same coveted blue dress except 5 inches shorter right now. i think i might have to go buy the green one just because...)
so, slowly but surely i'm getting there. biggest loser starts up again this week at work and i'm determined to win this time (watch out lynn!)... i've really severely cut down my wardrobe since most things from last year don't fit (and i stupidly threw out most of my favorite stuff in a pregnancy this-will-never-ever-fit rage), so i'm desperately in need of a summer wardrobe. i'm hoping i'll be able to make some slight alterations to some of my favorite "bigger" clothes in an attempt to not go out and spend a lot of money on clothes i'll hopefully have to replace in a month or so. i already need to buy new jeans-- even though i just bought 2 new pair a month ago. yikes. good thing i really only wear dresses in the summer.
• • • • •
so here i am... doing the same thing i do everytime i'm absent from blog world. i write a post, save the draft, write another draft. read both, feel awkward and completely moronic in both post and then end up writing whatever finally gets posted. um, get a life. i know. just write the damn blog post.
... and this is where i blank. every form of my social media that requires updating has been terribly neglected (except facebook which is my new BFF).
let's do this in list form...
• first big wedding out the door last week. i didn't design them, just sourced materials and printed, but nonetheless it was a big job. who knew finding magenta envelopes and navy envelopments would turn into phone call after phone call and countless ask.com searches. but, i found both just in time and no one has called me crying yet to tell me they hate them, so i think i'm in the clear with this one.
• second big wedding started printing this weekend. this bride is absolutely adorable and she's been a dream to work with- all the way in PA. more on that after i get them printed and assembled.
• i've had a few more inquiries for quotes, so we'll see how those pan out. my Sarah invitation seems to be pretty popular these days.
• so many projects going on in my head and not enough projects making it into layout. it's a bit frustrating... especially when i think one has really great potential. i've somewhat decided to concentrate more on the wedding aspect of my business but i want to keep the custom stationery pieces available for options sake. i've begun to offer the invitations "unassembled" as a money saver and almost all of my brides have taken advantage of this.
• i'm hoping to get a few descriptions written up this week for a few of my new invitations so i can get them listed on etsy. i haven't listed any new product for awhile, just renewed what's been in there. not sure if it will get done, but it's on my to-do list.
• i ordered a fun new printers block for margaret. Little Miss is headed to the grandparents house this weekend- all weekend- so i'm hoping to spend some quality time printing downstairs. i've already gotten shot down for buying a bigger press because "you don't use the one you have" to which i responded that wasn't fair because i haven't had time. so margaret... let's hang out this weekend, okay?
i think that about sums it up. it's girls-only-no-boys-allowed week here... hubs is on a business trip and then off for a bachelor party, so Little Miss and i will be fending for ourselves. i've already got my girls lined up for the week and i'm working on the weekend festivities, so i'm definitely excited to have the nites to myself to hopefully (cross your fingers!) get some work done and just be productive.
... yeah and i'll work on posting more regularly. promise.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
This is the second blog post I've started today. The first was at work- got caught up in, you guessed it- work and then here we go again at 10:30 at nite thinking I'm going to have anything witty and meaningful to post and that even if I DID have anything witty and meaningful that I would be able to string two sentences together to make it comprehendable- or comprehensible. Whatever. I'm tired over here.
Very random : can i just say that according to my webtracker, 2 of the top searches that land you on my blog are "let's get to the party don't be tardy" and "let's have a party don't you be tardy." I'm not sure if I should curse or thank Kim from RHWof Atlanta for that.
The day job is definitely keeping me busy leaving me somewhat unproductive on new product, which frustrates me to no end. I have some great opportunities in front of me (um, hello TheKnot.com!) and I can't run with them like I should. I've been toying with a few changes to my business plan and I'm thinking I might like the path a little better than the one I'm on now. It wouldn't shake things up too much, but it would discontinue a few things, which is okay by me. I've been contemplating a gradual move out of the stationery world and strictly into the wedding world, but I'm not 100% convinced I'm ready to give it up. It just gets a little frustrating when I make plans to unveil a new line or new branch of the business and then find I don't have time to execute things properly. I've never been one to hesitate to hold off on releasing new product, when I've said it would be coming, for lack of cohesiveness and to make sure it's just right (um, hello? typewriter project? still in my brain waiting to have the final details ironed out!). I'm thinking stationery might have to become one of those "filler" projects or a "when the idea strikes" project.
And then there is my poor neglected Margaret, The Letterpress... *sigh*
I've had a slew of lovely brides fly thru my door as of lately... invites, reception pieces- the works! It's been great pulling together variations of my "staple" designs and being able to find ways to work with all budgets. I've found that many girls are able to put their craftiness to work and opt for a slightly fancier invitation in exchange for assembling all the pieces themselves. It's a great timesaver for me and a great budget saver for the girls. That has also left me with a stack of finished work that needs to be photographed and uploaded to Flickr.
With that said, I'm afraid I won't make my self-imposed deadline for my desk accessory line. I have a few pieces of fabric designed, but not ultimately "finished" (are they ever really finished though?)- I need to do a shelf line up to see how all the components will work together (i kinda sound like i know what i'm talking about, huh? it's all a façade, i promise).
And then, as usual, there's that pesky website I have to get up...
Very random : can i just say that according to my webtracker, 2 of the top searches that land you on my blog are "let's get to the party don't be tardy" and "let's have a party don't you be tardy." I'm not sure if I should curse or thank Kim from RHWof Atlanta for that.
The day job is definitely keeping me busy leaving me somewhat unproductive on new product, which frustrates me to no end. I have some great opportunities in front of me (um, hello TheKnot.com!) and I can't run with them like I should. I've been toying with a few changes to my business plan and I'm thinking I might like the path a little better than the one I'm on now. It wouldn't shake things up too much, but it would discontinue a few things, which is okay by me. I've been contemplating a gradual move out of the stationery world and strictly into the wedding world, but I'm not 100% convinced I'm ready to give it up. It just gets a little frustrating when I make plans to unveil a new line or new branch of the business and then find I don't have time to execute things properly. I've never been one to hesitate to hold off on releasing new product, when I've said it would be coming, for lack of cohesiveness and to make sure it's just right (um, hello? typewriter project? still in my brain waiting to have the final details ironed out!). I'm thinking stationery might have to become one of those "filler" projects or a "when the idea strikes" project.
And then there is my poor neglected Margaret, The Letterpress... *sigh*
I've had a slew of lovely brides fly thru my door as of lately... invites, reception pieces- the works! It's been great pulling together variations of my "staple" designs and being able to find ways to work with all budgets. I've found that many girls are able to put their craftiness to work and opt for a slightly fancier invitation in exchange for assembling all the pieces themselves. It's a great timesaver for me and a great budget saver for the girls. That has also left me with a stack of finished work that needs to be photographed and uploaded to Flickr.
With that said, I'm afraid I won't make my self-imposed deadline for my desk accessory line. I have a few pieces of fabric designed, but not ultimately "finished" (are they ever really finished though?)- I need to do a shelf line up to see how all the components will work together (i kinda sound like i know what i'm talking about, huh? it's all a façade, i promise).
And then, as usual, there's that pesky website I have to get up...
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