What Inspires You Wednesday

Denim/Honey

Over the last two weeks I've been working on a custom logo design for the rebranding of a boutique.  I'd mention the client's name, but where it's a rebranding, I don't want to dilute or diminish her big launch for the new branding. 

Let me state the obvious. The focus for this project is on denim and honey.

I pulled together some things that have been inspiring my design work on this project.

Lots to love on this logo/branding inspiration board. 

credits: top honeycomb picture & bottom honeycomb in jar via

 maya sunny honey, by Robin Hearfield; bee skep via

Colonial Williamsburg Marketplace,

blue honeycomb via National Geographic

 

Right now I'm in the midst of the first round of revisions and I love the direction it's taking. 

Have I told you I've been working with many lovely ladies lately thanks to my shop on esty, Bates Mercantile Co.? I love helping other women take the next step in branding and growing their businesses. That's not to say I don't work with men. I have worked with many over the years and am more than open to it.

For the most part though, I've found in my experience that women communicate in a more emotional (what they like/love), visual, creative and thoughtful manner (as in, they've given each piece of the puzzle quite a bit of consideration), while men seem to be more analytical, concise, and right to the point. Neither is better than the other, it's just different styles I've noticed in the past 19 years of owning my own business. How our gender affects the way we visualize, communicate, and plan growth for our businesses is interesting stuff to ponder, don't you think?

Although I offer premade logo designs via Bates Mercantile Co., what also really inspires me is working custom designs. It means getting to the nitty gritty of what someone wants their business to say, what the benefit of their business is, and how to get it all across visually. Always a challenge, and more often then not, a process between me and my clients to reach a design that speaks to them, their business and their market.

Hey, did you notice the blue honeycomb on my inspiration board? It's real. Cross my heart.  Farmers in an area of France noticed a couple of years ago that the bees were producing blue and green honeycombs and honey. It was discovered that the bee had started to feed off the leftovers from the local
M & M plant instead of flowers. Henceforth, the M & M plant kept their
by-products covered and indoors. Problem solved. Sure is pretty though.

What's inspiring you today? I'd love to know.

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

Ciao for now,

Mission Organization? Oh, yes please.

It Looks Like A Tornado Came Through Here

Dorothy can't be far behind. At least, if I'm to judge by the way my office- studio looks at the moment. It's scary.

Really.

Truly.

Scary.

You don't believe me? This is just one pile. I will preface this picture with this fact: I am my father's daughter. (Right Mom? Right Dad?).  I simply don't work in the most 'organized' fashion. Let me also say, that doesn't mean I don't get things done.

Now, usually by the end of the day things are looking better than this.

However, that isn't happening of late.

I present to you a close up of another pile, and ask you to consider the proof.

You know when you can't even think straight because everything is turned upside down? Yes? Ah. Thank goodness I'm not the only one.

I have to tackle the mess that is my little corner of the world before I can accomplish anything else on my list.  Please, wish me luck. If you don't hear from me in the next couple of days, somebody send a search party.

Inspiration In The Most Unlikely Places

Lo and behold, even in the midst of my nightmare of a mess, there lies inspiration.  I was lucky enough to come across melonheadbookmarks
last week on etsy. Melonhead is a wonderful little shop run by Hailey, who opened her store this past summer at the ripe old age of 10. Don't you love her already?

Well, I fell in love with one of her book marks.

via melonheadbookmarks

I think she's quite an artist with a fantastic eye for color.  The bookmark is now mine, but others are available.  I think it's too pretty to hide in a book. At the moment it is on my inspiration board (if you can call it that, it's really just a catch all, but soon-to-be-inspiration-board).

Those colors just make me smile.

See what I mean about it not 'looking' like a true 'inspiration board' quite yet?

Well, it may not 'look' like one, but it is already serving it's purpose which is to inspire, right? Hailey's use of color inspired my latest illustration 'So is love'.

 via batesmercantileco.

Very cool being inspired by the art of a talented 10 year old.

Other Happenings 'Round The Estate

It snowed last night. The weatherman must have known about my 'glittering prize' post the other day.

It sure looked pretty this morning.

I love it when it covers the stone wall just enough -- so you can still see the stone wall.

The dog loves it when he can play in it, and then come back in and sleep in one of his favorite spots. 

Lucan couldn't even muster up enough energy to care.

Let alone open his eyes all the way.



That's what's happening in my world, what's happening in yours?

Freeform Friday

A little Hal Ketchum. What? You don't know Hal Ketchum? What? I haven't told you we have a very eclectic taste in music? Punk, classical, rock, reggae, pop, and opera are all in our collection. So is Hal. Just love this man's voice. If you're reading via email, click here.

Have a fantastic Friday and an even better weekend. Got any plans?

Later gators,