November 06, 2013
Taking a calligraphy class has been on my to-do list for a long time, and I finally got the chance to try it out last week when I took a beginners class here in Austin with Lauren of Blue Eye Brown Eye. I loved it!
Lauren explained the various tools a calligrapher needs as well as lettering in general. Then we got down to business and started practicing all of the lowercase letters of the alphabet. It definitely takes a lot of practice getting used to the pen as well as how and when to apply pressure.
I'm setting aside time to practice my new skills and can't wait to incorporate calligraphy into my card designs.
October 17, 2013
I've always enjoyed running for exercise and fun, and now that the weather has finally cooled down here in Austin my runs are getting longer. I'm trying to push myself to keep a consistent pace and run a little farther each time. When I think I can't go any farther or any faster, I repeat to myself: just keep going. Here's a hand-lettered version of my new little mantra.
June 10, 2013
While working on orders, I try to listen to podcasts. My favorite one is By the Way, In Conversation with Jeff Garlin. Jeff plays "Jeff" on Curb Your Enthusiasm, one of my all-time favorite shows. For his podcast, Jeff interviews influential people in the entertainment industry in front of a live audience. Past guests have included Larry David, Lena Dunham, Jeff Tweedy, and Will Ferrell (the guest list is like a who's who of my favorite entertainers/creatives). The interviews are equal parts entertaining, interesting, engaging, and hilarious. This past week, while sleeving cards and packing orders from the National Stationery Show, I was listening to Jeff interview Matthew Weiner, the creator of Mad Men. Weiner spends a lot of time talking with Jeff about how he rose the ranks in Hollywood to get to where he is today. While speaking about how he was so inspired to become a better writer after seeing the film Groundhog Day with Bill Murray, he said he learned to "seek what is great and it will inspire you."
This quote struck me in particular as I had just arrived back in Austin after a week spent amongst other stationery designers at the National Stationery Show. Being around so much talent in a confined area can feel overwhelming, but also incredibly inspiring. I returned from NSS feeling ready to push myself more as an artist and to take more risks. Being at NSS is a great reminder that the community of stationery people also serves to inspire greatness in yourself.
March 28, 2013
March 05, 2013
Easter comes early this year (March 31) and I'm excited to share two new Easter cards I've designed.
The design for the Happy Easter card first popped into my head back in November. The idea came from memories of a large Easter egg hunt my family threw every year at my grandmother's house when I was little. Colorful hand drawn decorative eggs and little bunnies peek behind grass.
The second card is a cross made up of tiny hand drawn flowers and vines set against a pale minty green background. While appropriate for Easter, it can also be used for baptisms, confirmations, and other religious occasions.
February 28, 2013
I love Bob Dylan and am so in awe of and inspired by these creative interpretations of his songs I've come across.
The first is Jason Holroyd's music video for "Like a Rolling Stone" using an overhead projector and photographic and typographic transparencies.
The second is Leandro Senna's hand-lettering stop-motion masterpiece of "Subterranean Homesick Blues." I've watched this video numerous times. Her hand-lettering is amazing!
Finally, you have to check out "Typo Dylan" - a website experience set to "It Ain't Me Babe." Watch Dylan's face appear as the lyrics are typed out on screen. Check it out here.
Image found here
February 21, 2013
February 18, 2013
I've been spending the long weekend pouring over some typography and lettering books I got and am so in awe of many of the talented artists I've come across. Here's some favorites...
February 05, 2013
"Bigger Than Love," a song off the new album from Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service), has been stuck in my head! With the words to the song on repeat in my head, I decided to practice my hand-lettering skills with the lyrics.
January 17, 2013
January 09, 2013
One of the biggest challenges as both a creative professional and a small business owner is figuring out how to balance my time and get things done. I've slowly created a system that works for me and central to it is the idea of "planning for your day." I used to sit down each morning and quickly pull together a to-do list of what I thought I needed to accomplish. This would inevitably lead to me remembering things I left off the list throughout the day and to trying to prioritize what I needed to conquer first.
January 03, 2013
I'm excited to share a sneak preview of our new releases for Spring 2013. There are cards for Easter, graduation, Mother's Day, and Father's Day, as well as new love, birthday, and thank you cards. I'm so excited for the launch of this collection and worked really hard to come up with unique, whimsical, bold designs that jump off the paper.
The new releases will be online soon. Retailers can view a digital lookbook of the new collection here.