homemade candles

One of my Thanksgiving projects was to make homemade candles. I love candles and think they add a nice element to any room.

After rummaging through our local thrift store for vintage tins, I found some keepers. Thrift stores are also full of old pillar candles. So I snagged a few, melted them down, added my own pomegranate oil scent and poured the contents into the tin. Then wah la! My very own vintage style candle. Gotta love DIY.

have a wonderful weekend!

Staying warm here in Idaho is a challenge. We finally got the heater in our apartment fixed. Before we got it fixed, I've kept warm with a blanket and my hubby. Here are some things I've found that inspire, keep warm fuzzies inside and the thought of cold weather out.

Warm colors and unique ideas featured on simplesong. I instantly fell in love with this design blog!

The ALT design summit. Oh man do I want to go! It's only a few short hours away from where I live. If only I had $400 dollars to go and no school to interfere. Anyone want to sponsor me to go? The speakers sound amazing and the networking would be amazing!

 

This article featured on Oh Joy! and pretty much everything else on there I love. Maybe it's the soft, romantic colors that make me forget about the Idaho cold.

Enjoy the weekend and find ways to stay warm!

giveaway!

My talented friend Sarah is doing a giveaway from her Etsy shop! Fall in love with this beautiful blackberry necklace and get your chance to win it!

Don't miss out on this unique necklace!

hand type

No, your eyes do not deceive you. This is a hand rendered lettering of the font Baskerville. One of my favorite fonts, it has a classic style with the hanging 'g' and a variety of weight between thick and thin. I didn't use any tracing paper to copy the letters, or even type out what it looks like on the computer and see the spacial awareness or height of the letters. All proportions were estimated from observation, lots of erasing and measuring. I was fairly close to the original for not having copied it.

I fell in love with type in my first Typography class. The class was a tough one with a hard to crack teacher and the task of memorizing 50 fonts by sight and the class they belong to. Needless to say, I learned a lot about type along with my love and appreciation growing. One of my favorite parts of the class was experimenting and creating our own type. The object was to create a style of font that embodies a word. Here is mine.


What do you think? Does the thin, dirty strokes embody the meaning of poverty?

guest bedroom

Finally I get to redecorate my high school bedroom at home. I'm not joking when I say, it looks like high school exploded in there. Pictures from dance team, sashes from court, you name any high school recognition stereotype and it's in there. I love going home for the holidays, but it always felt like a time warp going into my room, and I felt like a high school-er again. With the final "Ok" from my parents, my sister and I have decided to redecorate it in yellow and gray. I can't wait! It will be a wonderful project to do together when I come home for Christmas. I'll be sure to post some real before and after pictures. But in the mean time, here is some inspiration that we are going off of.

Thanksgiving projects

I am so excited that Thanksgiving is around the corner. It will be a great time to relax with my husband and do some projects that I've always wanted to. I'm a DIY girl. I love projects. I think this will be my next one. I'm not a huge fan of real taxidermy, but I think ones like this, made out of paper or cardboard at interesting texture and dimension to walls.

I have a strong feeling this sewing display will be made too! I Pretty much want to make everything from Design Sponge. I'll be sure to post any finished products! Happy weekend everyone!

wedding invitations

I love invitations. It presents a challenge to get all the desired information in a limited space. All the while, trying to make it look good. My first invitation was our wedding. It was so fun to design, yet a little stressful at the same time simply because I had so much on my plate to begin with. We decided to go with an embossed ink which gave it a classy texture. I love how you can represent your style through a simple piece or paper.

In the image above, you can see the embossed texture really well. So by now you might have realized that I love birds. I just had to put these cute little love birds (that I designed myself) on our invitations. These little cards were placed in specific envelopes, inviting people to our sealing. Here is the complete set (minus the picture we sent). Our engagement photos were done by the fabulous wedding photographer duo, Chad and Rebecca Hansen.

I loved making these invitations and would love to help you with yours. If you are in need of wedding invitations, birthday party invitations, business cards, or want a print made to hang on the wall, feel free to contact me. I would love to help you create something special.

home sweet home

While searching through my usual inspirations, I came across a fabulous photographer in Portland. My heart ached for home when I saw the gray fall skies set among fabulous clothes and the beautiful city scene. Amy Nieto  captures it all. I can't wait to go home for Christmas! Walking through the door to see the garland wrapped around the stair banister is the image and inspiration getting me through finals. In the mean time, I want to share a bit of home with you.

fashion+nature = portland

Ok, yes, this is a toy horse tied to a real horse ring. These little horses are all over Portland. The Horse project was started by a man that wanted to incorporate art in the community. It makes for a fun scavenger hunt or a shocking double take if you've never seen one before.

found alphabet

I've decided to start posting more graphic design work I've done. Many people have asked me if my work is online. Sadly I said no. That is, until now! This was a project I enjoyed so much. My objective was to find letters in common objects. Without creating the letter, but rather manipulating it's shape or direction, I was able to create a whole alphabet. The fun part is, it's all made from jewelry! Raiding my jewelry box and my sisters, it wasn't hard to find a variety of textures, shapes, sizes and colors. The letters were found in necklaces, rings, earrings and more. This adds interest to the alphabet and an element of surprise when you realize which letter it is. Have fun singing your alphabet as you go through mine!

center stage poster

This is the poster I mentioned in the previous post about having worked with the campus event and media services. The symphony was beautiful and was an honor to create a poster for them. This is the first of many graphic design projects that I will post. If you like my work, give me a call and I would love to work with you on any graphic design projects.

AfterEffects

While on my search to expand my networking, I came across a blog of a fellow graphic designer I had the privilege of working with. Back in winter semester of 2010, my graphic design class worked with the University Communications Department on campus to compose posters for upcoming concerts. Tony Carpenter oversaw the project and gave me a great opportunity to learn how to work with a client and art director. The best posters from each event were chosen to present to the head art director of BYU-I, where he would make the final decision if the poster was used or not. I was ecstatic to be chosen to present, even more ecstatic to be the final poster chosen and see my poster in print all around campus and town!
Anyhow, that is how I know Tony. This is a video he made and posted on his blog. I absolutely love it! It inspires me to learn AfterEffects. Guess I better get started!

infatuations... continued

5. The Apothecary's Daughter... on my kindle.
Ok, so it's not really MY Kindle, just a rented one from the library. I've always been partial to having a real book in my hands, what with the feel, smell and the joy of turning each page. But I must say that the Kindle is an experience of it's own. The sleek design and feel in your hands makes you feel cool. And important :) Now, enough with the kindle.... and on to the book. The Apothecary's Daughter was recommended to me and I'm so glad at that! I haven't finished it yet but the intrigue, suspense, love triangles and well developed characters make this a must read!

6. zumba class
I'm one to get restless with work out plans. I love to run, but if I do it too often without any variety, I tire of it quickly. I found some exercise classes near by and Zumba is my FAVORITE! It's a high energy, cardio work out set to Latin music. Many Latin dance moves are thrown in, but by the end you'll find your heart rate up and and a sexy swivel in your hips.

7. custom jewelry by Truly Sarah
I LOVE these one of a kind pieces. My beautiful and talented friend Sarah Onken makes all of these by hand, uses real precious stones and metals. I had the honor to wear some of her jewelry for a photo shoot and had a great time. Check out her etsy shop and buy some pieces! They would make great Christmas gifts for someone special.

8. urban outfitters online apartment sale
Pretty much the best thing since sliced bread. This store has one of a kind prints and details on home decor items. Although my poor married college student budget, doesn't fit full priced items (not that I can ever get myself to buy things at full price anyways), I've found that UO has great deals! Check it out and see what treasures you can find.

refinishing furniture 
Go from drab to fab with with a little time, paint and a sander. This piece found at the salvation army store for $30 has become quite the home accent. I've been having my eye out for unique pieces like this one, but with little luck. Once I do, I'll be sure to post something about it. In the mean time, check out how this DIY furnishing woman did it. 

10. trying new recipes
To keep things new and exciting, I enjoy trying new recipes at least twice a week, if not more. I enjoy the challenge... and of course the finished product! Sometimes I find a gem of a recipe that I use it over and over. This banana crumb muffin has definitely made the list of favorites. With it's perfect balance of banana to bread ratio, heaven in my mouth is the outcome. Not to mention the brown sugar crumble on top is divine. With Halloween just over and Thanksgiving around the corner, my husband is having me cook everything pumpkin. I've been having fun trying to make pumpkin desserts. Try it! You'll be amazed at all the options besides pumpkin pie. Happy Baking!