A Picture A Day

I thought it might be interesting to take yesterday's idea of the sketch phase... showing you all of the ideas and then show you the next steps through completion. I used my new fashion illustration in the header to show the progression.

Once I find a position or sketch I like I start to work and and refine it. Sometimes it's quick. There might only be three versions before I'm happy with the outcome and sometimes, it takes a few more tries for me to feel something is just right.

I worked on this one. Starting from the first black and white illustration through the final that you see in my header. constantly refining and making tweaks. I wanted something glamorous but that also represented me. I wanted her to look very fashionable not just in her everyday casual wear.. What do you think? Did I make the right choices?

A Picture A Day

Currently I'm working on four projects that involve fashion illustrations and coming up with specific characters. All four are in the sketch phase and so I'm just trying to get my ideas straight and come up with what works best for each specific one.

This is what my sketch sheet looks like. Sometimes it's in pencil on paper sometimes its a massive illustrator file (like the one above), but either way it's sketch after sketch... a lot of times with very little change... just to work out all the details and positions in my head.

what do you think? Any one in particular stand out?

A Picture A Day

Custom Anniversary Gift

I want to start this week off wishing Happy Anniversary to a Gorgeous couple! I hope you have a wonderful day and love your print! Happy First Anniversary!!

A Picture A Day

I want to go back to my sketch here. All I really told you then was that it was a rough sketch for a logo design... and that's about it... well I'd like to show you the final design today!

This logo was created for the lovely Kristin Gainey for her photography company. Kristin contacted me looking for a new logo design for her company. She wanted something unique, that would stand out from other photographers, and that reflected her personality and brand ... It was so so much fun working with her, learning about her process,what she does, and how she became a photographer and I couldn't be more grateful that she came to me to create her new logo.

A special thank you to Kristin! I can't wait to see all of your marketing pieces and packaging!!

And for all of you, check out her blog and photos, she's incredible...

Happy Friday Sweets!

xo

Diary of a Freelancer: Part Eight

A Bride and Groom's Mad Lib

And their place cards ... just need to be folded

A puppy napping on vogue

A fortune to remember

A beautiful Cape Cod wedding

Gah! Where have I been the last week!? I don't even know... I need a better balance in my life... or an assistant... maybe both! I'll work on that this summer... at least the balance part...

Here is a little run down of what I've been working on and things to come over the next few weeks:

1) Alt Summit Channel features awesome hour long classes about everything from blogging, and branding, to life and finding a balance. The classes are only $15 and are all online. They are at various times throughout the day and they provide great ideas, teach me so much, and allow me to connect with people I wouldn't normally have the opportunity to meet. My favorite so far was Turn your blog into a Brand (and then your brand into a Business)


2) I had an incredible consultation with Meg of the blog Mimi and Meg. She was so supportive and honest and told me things I can do right now, and things to work on over the next few months to grow my company, my brand, my etsy site, and how to better network.


3) Thanks to Meg's (see above) encouragement I joined Twitter...I know, I know, how behind can I possibly be... but I have to say I'm loving it!! Follow me here!


4) The super secret, o so exciting project, I keep mentioning but have told you very little about is officially at the printer. I should be able to reveal it to you at the end of this month!! It's been such an exciting project and process and I can't wait to tell you more about it! I feel so blessed to be apart of it!


5) So so exciting custom projects that range everywhere from a logo design, to a cup design, to a portrait, wedding stationery, and lots of anniversary prints!!

6) I signed up for the Girl's Guide to Web Design Jet Setter edition an online course that teaches you everything you need to start/set up a new site ... while I do know code and can create a website the technology and current tools are ALWAYS changing... it can be a little overwhelming and I definitely needed a refresher... especially with all of the new updates and branding I need to do... and this course is prefect for me... I can log-on and follow the classes on my own time and move ahead to the next lesson as fast or slow as I want... really allowing me to get the most out of the course without feeling overwhelmed.

I'm loving life!

A Picture A Day

Happy Monday Sweets! How was your weekend!?

Mine was spent at a Family Day and Craft Show event as well as catching up on projects I was a little behind on. Here are some pics from the weekend and new sketches I'm working on.

My Studio: Before and After

I finally was able to upload photos and show you my finished studio. It's a space that I love to be in day-in and day-out and just makes me smile and promotes creativity! It's not a huge space but it's perfect for me for right now. The walls are navy blue, my favorite color other then green, all of the furniture is white and I have a few pops of aqua to go with my marketing and brand.

Do you remember these photos, first show here:

Well this is what it looks like now:

 

I can't live without my iphone, datebook, or sketchbook... they are with me always!

 

The top of my desk! If only it was this clean all the time! Typically there is a mug 

of coffee and/or tea, a bottle of water, and miscellaneous paperwork everywhere. 

 

My printer/production area

 

See those adorable crayon drawings on the bulletin board, a special thank you to 

Bridget and Jenna for drawing those for me, they are always inspiring!! 

Hope you enjoyed the peak into my everyday life! 

Happy Tuesday, xoxo

Diary of a Freelancer: Part Seven

Well after a wonderful weekend celebrating a birthday and bachelorette party in New York City I'm eager and excited to start the week. But I woke up yesterday with a scratchy throat and runny nose and I can feel a cold coming on! I'm a little bummed. So I'm taking as much emergen-C as I can take and I'm going to push through it. I'll have to, I have deadlines to meet. So here's hoping I feel better shortly.

I'll have anniversary illustration updates for you, book updates, and even an invitation design to show you this week. I am also visiting a printer to move forward with an extra special project so I'll have updates on that as well!

Have a wonderful week Sweets!

xoxo

Fashion Friday

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

Lately I have been on a shopping mission... a non-successful mission I probably should add... I'm looking for the PERFECT maxi dress. I would love one with a feminine but not to prairie girlish floral pattern on it. I'm also petite and I look funny in really loud prints and I just can't seem to find the "right" maxi dress for me. Here are a few though that I'm currently loving, some are dresses that I can only afford in my dreams and others I should just order right now!! But either way, I think they are all stunning, especially the ivory and tangerine and mint DVF maxi (#1)!!


What do you think and what is that key summer piece you are craving and/or wearing right now?