From The Desk Of Pamela J. Bates

Northbound Knitting Branding

I've been banging away at a ton of branding design for the last year working with clients as varied as a wine consultants, skin spas, a children's boutique and everything in between. I've been quite remiss in sharing some of this work with you and thought it was high time I at least began to catch you up on that front.

When I was approached by Lisa Mutch of Northbound Knitting to design a new logo and collateral to better reflect her brand, I was excited as soon as I took a look at her shop. It's gorgeous, and so are her products. Northbound Knitting has a modern, clean aesthetic; is really well put together, and has grown into quite a success. In fact when Lisa launches her new dyed yarn batches from her studio in Barre, Ontario, Canada, they often sell out in a matter of hours if they last that long. Due to this fact, many of her customers pre-order her hand dyed yarns. Her yarns are stunning and have deep color quality to them, thanks to the color-fast acid dyes she uses. Lisa also has a booming business in great part to her knitting patterns, many featuring simple geometric lines.

We took inspiration from all of that, as well as her market and where she envisions her business going as it continues to grow.

I created two initial design concepts.  The initial design Lisa chose to move forward with, was a play on her business initials- NBK, an abbreviated version of her business name which is how Lisa and a majority of her clients refer to her business.

This is how it began.

The simple, clean, straight forward lines of this logo really appeal to me.

There were only minor revisions needed for us to get to the final logo, which is one of my favorites that I've designed so far.

 

 Here's the final branding board for NBK.

It was a pleasure to work with Lisa who was an excellent communicator about her business, her needs, and her desires, right from the get go.

Lisa began incorporating her new logo and collateral into her Northbound Knitting marketing right away, from a new shop header to new business cards and hang tags for her products, as well as social media pages. 

When I get a response like this from a client, I know I've done something right.

"I'm so excited!! Your work is amazing, I can't wait to slap this logo all over!! I will also be having it tattooed on my forearm, hahaha!"

I don't think Lisa's gotten the tattoo yet, but you get the picture.

What have you been working on lately?

Make it a great day, it's a great day to have.

Ciao for now,

What Inspires You Wednesday: Variety In The Studio

The Mix of My Clients & Their Designs

There are some designers and marketers that focus on just one industry, like automobile, computer, or high tech. It's their specialty.

My specialty on the other hand has always been working with small business. What this means is that, although I do have a specialty so to speak, within that specialty is a huge variety of business types. Just to give you an idea, I have worked with companies that run the gamut from construction, banking, limousine, retail, campgrounds, restaurants, and yes, even a funeral home. 

This ensures that my work, on a day to day basis, doesn't have a chance to get boring.

Some of my recent clients have included a fiber artist, a photography and web developer, a yarn dyer, a wine consultant, a online skin-care outlet, a dog walker....the list goes on.

One of my clients is Mary Lynn of Prairie Grace Designs, who is rug-hooking artist who wanted to reach a 'less crafty' market and more 'art and design' influenced market. She wanted her logo design to encompass a feeling that was welcoming, warm, nature inspired and flowery that perhaps incorporated queen anne's lace or cone flower to represent the prairies that are her muse.

This is one of the initial design that I proposed to her, and the one that Mary Lynn chose to move forward with for her logo through revision rounds.

This is where Mary Lynn's revisions brought us.....to a logo she felt could really represent what her and her art are all about.

I introduced you to my client Steph Skardal through the moodboard I created for her project.


Steph was looking for something fun, happy, welcoming, and colorful that could work well for her website which encompasses her photography, web development work and sewing.  During the process of fine tuning the direction for her logo design and branding collateral, Steph decided that the classic pinwheel could be an element that would express her nature as well as how she wanted her business to be represented.

Here's one of the initial designs I proposed to Steph.

We went through a round of minor revisions, where the size of the triangles within the pinwheel triangles were made bigger, and this is where we ended up.

I'm currently in the process of tweaking Steph's collateral design (business cards, letterhead, etc.)

Mary Lynn and Steph: Completely different businesses, people, and aesthetics- and that's just two of my clients. 

It truly is inspiring to work such a variety of people and businesses on a daily basis. I'm intent on getting to the nitty gritty of my client's design likes and dislikes, what benefits their business provides to the customer, who their target market is, so that together we can create a design that really speaks to them. It keeps my mind working, my creativity flowing in different directions, stretches me to meet each client's personal needs while creating a design that will help them grow their businesses.

Damn if I don't love that and feel pretty inspired by it each day I spend in my studio.  If you would like to be one of the people who inspire my days in the studio, and want to work with my on a custom logo and branding design, you'll find me here.

Today's studio inspiration includes collateral revisions for the aforementioned Steph, the same for my client Lisa, as well as logo revisions for a children's seamstress/boutique, new logo design for a spiritual/wellness spa and gift shop, an arborist and an European art buyer/dealer.  See what I mean about the variety? Oh yes, there is a lot happening in the studio..................

What's inspiring you today? Is it something work related, or more about your downtime? Or something completely different altogether? Do tell.

Make it an awesome day and I'll see you round these parts tomorrow.

Ciao for now,

From The Desk Of Pamela J. Bates

Custom Logo Design: Denim & Honey

I was waiting to post this until my client, Jada and her husband James, had their grand opening. Well, that was back in mid August. So, I'm behind the 8-ball on this one.

Jada was taking over the store she had been working in, Denim 33, in Greensburg, Indiana.  The previous owners were expecting a baby, and were ready to move onto that phase of their life. In stepped Jada and James, who were excited to launch their own retail venture, building on what the store had offered and giving it their own special twist.

Wanting to be truly successful at taking the foundation they had and really making it their own, they renamed the store, reworked what they offered and knew they needed to rebrand it to really put their stamp on it.

That's where I come in- Jada contacted me about a custom logo design via my etsy shop, Bates Mercantile Co., ready to work with Jada on rebranding the store so she could launch her venture in a way that represented her style and what her store was all about: Denim & Honey. Jada would not only be offering denim and apparel, as the previous owners did, but she would also be featuring a honey bar in the store as a reflection of the agricultural area in which they're located.

I got to work and created a mood board after having Jada fill out the Creative Brief Questionaire I send to my clients to get a better feel for what they're looking for, as well as speaking with her to go over everything.

I sent her the initial design concepts via branding boards (which I do with all my logo/branding projects), and this is the one she chose.

Coming from a retail background, Jada understood the importance of a strong brand and equally strong signage.  Their sign maker did a fantastic job.

via Denim & Honey

I love the way they carried the pattern to the store window. 

 via Denim & Honey

Not only that, but Jada incorporated parts of the logo into the interior of the store, and really made the most of her branding. Smart girl.

 via Denim & Honey

via Denim & Honey 

Now, it might be time to step up to the honey bar...................

via Denim & Honey

If you're in Greensburg, Indiana, stop into Denim & Honey and say hi. Be sure to tell Jada that I sent you.


I love working on logo designs for different types of businesses. It pushes me creatively because my mission is to create something that not only represents my clients' styles, but their business, their markets, and where they want their business to go. That's a lot all rolled into one design. It's a challenge I'm always up for, so if you need a logo for a new business or are ready to rebrand your existing business for more growth and success, I'd be happy to hear from you.


It's a glorious fall day here today. The sun is out, the windows are open and all is right with the world.

Have a great day. It's a great day to have.

Ciao for now,

From The Desk Of: Pamela J. Bates

Budget Friendly Professionally Designed Logos

As you probably know by now, one of the things I do is design logos. I really enjoy working closely with my clients, getting to know all about them and their business: their plan, their market, their mission, their product, why they started the business, where they want it to go.  It's exciting to work with someone on establishing a brand that will help them grow their business and bottom line.

I know that a custom designed logo is the absolute best way for you to establish an identity that truly reflects what you and your business is about. And I think that my custom logo design services are very, very reasonable for the amount of work (and heart and soul) I put into them and what you receive in the end.  However, there are a lot of people out there who are trying to get their businesses off the ground on very tight budgets and what are they to do?

That's where premade logo designs come in. Premade logo designs are fun for me to create because I have no constraints on what I design. I get to create whatever my heart desires. Of course, always with a focus on how a design will work as a logo. Premade logos are then customized with my client's business name and they get a professional logo design at Blue Light Special prices.  No kidding.

Here are some premade logo designs I have added to my etsy shop, Bates Mercantile Co.,  recently.

First, classic black and whites.

 champion metalworks premade logo design

 

paper press co. premade logo design

And now, for something completely different (anybody else a Monty Python fan out there?)..............

Some color.

 

get centered premade logo

 

 trektonic premade logo

[Did I show you that last one already? Couldn't find it in the files, so if I did, pardon the repetition]

I do my best to create a variety of premade logo designs that speak to different business models and styles.  And in case someone likes a design, but wants to make minor changes- to so font, color or alignment..........that's an add on option as well.  It really is a great budget-friendly option.

As you can see, I also design business cards. They're just a natural extension of what I do.

Speaking of what I do........did you know I've been working with small business owners on  advertising, marketing and public relations for 19+ years? In addition to what I mentioned above, I also work on everything from collateral design including letterhead/stationery, point of sale posters/cards, menus, direct mail postcards, marketing kits, press kits, press releases, direct email design as well as creating and implementing adv/marketing/pr campaigns for my clients.

I love working with small business people. That's why I've been at it so long. Put my experience to work for you. I'm just at the other end of your computer screen.


Gorgeous sunny day here.........I welcome it with open arms, but first- work to be done at the desk.
I'm working on revisions on an awesome custom logo design project. I've really enjoyed designing the logo and working with a super nice couple from Los Angeles. He's a wine consultant. Hello? How do I get that job?My guidance counselor never mentioned that was an option.


Make the most of it in your corner of the world and I'll do the same here.

Ciao for now,

Best Foot Forward

Two Cents, Please

I've been working on updating some of my graphic design listings in my etsy shop.  Specifically my logo designs. I want to show them off in the best way possible, so I'm always trying new things in hopes of doing that.

This week, I've been placing my logo designs over some of my photos. I'm hoping to show visually just how the logos might look once they're being used for branding.

I'd love your feedback.

Shown before like this:

 

Now shown like this:

 

Shown before like this:

 

 

Now shown like this:

 

 

 

Shown before like this:

 

 

 

Now shown like this:

 

 

 

 

Shown before like this:

 

 

 

Now shown like this:

 

 

For now, I'm creating two listings- one with just the logo as the lead photo and the other with the logo over a photo as the lead picture.

 

I know you guys are a good sounding board, so what do you think? Does it help visually to see how the logos would work over a photo?

 

In other logo news, I've been adding some more premade logo designs to the shop including....

 

this:

 

 

this:

 

 

 

and this:

 

 

 

Of course, as always, custom logo designs are also available. They really are the best way to get a logo that speaks to your business and your market. However, the premade logos are a great budget-friendly option that have worked great for people and that I have fun designing.

 

Do you have a logo?

 

If you don't, I'd love to talk to you.

 

Do you have one, but it's not quite it? Shoot me a line (upper right sidebar email link). 

 

I work one on one and provide personalized service so you get a great logo that represents your business and helps you grow.

 

And in case you didn't know, I design other business collateral like business cards, postcards, brochures, and even design email campaigns.

 

Over and out. Hey, don't forget to give me your two cents.....or two bucks to account for inflation.

 

Glorious summer day here that is sure to end 'in the pool' with another beautiful sunset. Hope yours is as nice.

 

Ciao for now,