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: Moodboard

Client: Devi Women's Health

If I want or need a little creative inspiration, often when working on branding design projects, I look no further than color to get things rolling.

That is certainly the case with one of my branding design clients, Mimi of Devi Women's Health Care, a contemplative women's whole care practice in New York City. 

Mimi isn't afraid of color. In fact she embraces it and sees it as an extension of herself and what her brand should reprsent: her desire to provide embrace women with genuine 'whole care' to foster wellness and good health at every stage of life.

The color palette for this branding project is all of that and more. It's colorful like the many personalities, faces, backgrounds, and cultures of the women that Mimi is sure to care for in the years to come.  Mimi herself (pictured below right) is the embodiment of the kind of encompassing brightness and light that we want her logo exude. 
 

 sources:
lanterns via plumo ; lotus flower wall paper via osborne and little
mother and child painting via patty fleckenstein ; lotus flower necklace via perfect
Sarong via Calypso St. Barth ; Buddah hands via plumo
Buddah hands photo via little republic

In addition to color palette, branding design will be directed by Buddhist beliefs and symbols focused on the the enlightened spirit, something Mimi hopes to instill in the clients and patients of Devi Women's Health, helping them to embrace their lifelong journey of their own health and its inevitable stages and changes.

Suffice it to say, there is a lot of inspiration going 'round and 'round my head.

What's inspiring you today?

Hope it's a great one on your end. I'll do the best to make it the same on mine.

Ciao for now,

Stocking Up

Always Adding

I've found, as an etsy shop owner, a good way to continually drive traffic to Bates Mercantile Co. is  to add new products on a regular basis. Just like a brick and mortar shop, you want your customers and potential customers to find a good amount of stock.

To that end, I've designed and listed two new premade logo designs that will be customized with business name. I've sold premades to people all over the world, including my most recent customers this week in Australia and San Diego. It's a quick, easy, affordable way to brand a business for a really reasonable price. I'm talking $20 reasonable. I know, I'm crazy, right?

Regardless, here they are!

- check this logo out here -

 

Simple, clean, friendly, & fun. 

If you follow me on instagram, you may have seen that I've added to my morning cuppa tea ritual and have been playing with watercolors most mornings. I have to say I'm really enjoying this new creative jolt to start my day before I sit down to the computer.

This new premade logo is the result of this morning's pattern play.

 -see this logo in detail here-

Beyond enjoying playing with watercolors, I'm also having fun creating art without a mouse and then importing into photoshop and illustrator and playing with them more.

If you have a business that is all about being a free spirit, well, look no further.

Premades can be customized even more with add ons for color, font changes, and other minor adjustments. 

Beyond that, I'm busily working at my desk on new custom logo designs, as well as meeting ad design deadlines, and revising logos, and finalizing logos for clients.

My hands are not idle, that is for sure, so I guess I'm not going to hell yet.

What's happening in your world today? 

Rock your day!

Ciao for now,

From The Desk Of: Pamela J. Bates

A New Way To Brand Your Business

Hey gang! How's your week so far? Mine is busy, busy which seems to be a running theme. Spending many hours in the studio =  design time.  I've been working away on many custom logo designs and branding collateral design and am happy to be doing so.  Along the way though, as I create and revise, and finalize logo designs for clients, there are logos (or the beginnings of what could be a great logo) that just don't end up working for that project for whatever reason that sit in my 'someday' file.

It's high time I put some of them to good use and here's one way for me to do that:  One of A Kind Premade Logo Designs.  What that means for you or other small business people is you can professionally brand your business for success with a professionally designed premade logo that is yours and only yours.  I've offered the OOAK option in the shop as an add on to a premade logo (that hadn't been purchased previously by anyone else), but I'll now be offer premade designs that are specifically made to be one of a kind designs. 

This also helps me to continually add product/services to my shop offerings. That is something I've found to be very helpful as an etsy shop owner, in driving new traffic to Bates Mercantile Co. As a business owner, that's important to me and my bottom line.

And here's the first OOAK Premade Logo now available in the Bates Mercantile Co. shop.  I'm offering, which I think could lend itself well to a lot of different business types, from wedding based businesses, jewelry design, professional services, salons.....the list goes on.

Premade logos, whether one of a kind like this new design or not, give small business owners an affordable way to create a well received presence for their business.  Being one of a kind makes it all the more special.


 I think it is a strong, classic logo that is quite versatile. Especially considering that rather than have to purchase a premade logo and then an add on for font changes, color changes and minor changes to the logo, they will be included in new OOAK Premade Logo listings (1 set of initial changes, and one round of revisions).  So if you liked this logo, but wanted it in a different color or font, it's included with your purchase.

If you're interested in this one of a kind premade logo, you'll find it here. 

More to follow as I find time. For now, I'm busy working on custom designs.  If you are interested in working with me on designing a custom logo or collateral for your business and would like to get your project on the boards you'll find more information here. It's one of my favorite ways to spend time in the studio. I'd welcome the chance to learn more about your business, as well as your hopes and dreams for where that business is going to take you.

What's happening in your world today?

I wish I could say the sun is shining, but it's a rainy, cloudy day here. Of course, all things being relative, I guess that's better than snow!

Speaking of relatives.................A quick birthday shout out to my mother's baby brother, my Uncle Bobby. 

(Celebrating in Florida with part of our family gang.  

They're obviously treating him right. Thanks for the pic Stacey!)

Happy Birthday Uncle Bobby! Our crazy family wouldn't be the same without you!  

See you all on the flip side.

Ciao for now,

Moodboard: Steph Skardal Logo

Not Afraid of Geometrics & Color

My client Steph Skardal is a photographer in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She also sews, and she also works on web development. Oh yeah, this gal wears many hats.  She came to me looking for a new logo and branding collateral. Steph wanted her logo to feel modern, geometric, illustrative and fun and that would incorporate some pretty happy, bold colors.

Steph communicated all of that to me in the answers to her creative brief, as well as in our phone conversation to review all of her information (more about the process here and here and here).  She continued to communicate with me as her wheels were spinning and she began leaning toward a pinwheel shape, something she thought could represent all of her creative areas of expertise.
 
I began to gather my thoughts, ideas, and color palettes visually on a moodboard as I do for each client, and Steph's grew to be full of of color and shape.

sources:   geometric house/bates mercantile co.; pinwheel garland/steph skardal
handdrawn triangle patterns/blix studio ; pinwheel quilt/freshly made 

vintage room/apartment therapy ; triangle logo/sewing in no man’s land
folded paper backdrop/martha stewart ; elephants love water pinwheel quilt/blueberry park
web & bird photo: john & fish flickr stream ; tiles/by hanna

 

Just what this New England girl needs in the midst of The Winter That Won't End.

Pow! Take that!

There is so much to love about Steph's board and where it has taken the design process. We've finalized the logo and are currently in the midst of minor revisions to the set up of business card and letterhead designs. 

This has been one happy project to work on.  I can't wait to share all of Steph's designs with you when all is complete.

Happy Tuesday all. Be great today.

Ciao for now,

From The Desk Of Pamela J. Bates: In The Mood

Setting The Tone

Hi guys. Today I'd like to tell you a little bit more about my logo design process. Something that I neglected to include in my recent 'how a logo is created' posts 'Part 1' and 'Part 2', was creating a moodboard.  I'd like to backtrack for a moment, if I may..............

When I work with a client on custom logo design or branding collateral design, I send them a creative style brief questionnaire. As you guessed by the name, it has a lot of questions for my clients to answer.  All are aimed at giving me better insight regarding a client's needs, a good understanding of their business and their market, the benefits their product/service provides to customers, their business belief system, as well as a their style likes and dislikes. Once I receive the creative style brief questionnaire back from my clients, I think it is important to speak with them and review their answers. I find that there are some things that come out through conversation that aren't always unearthed by the questionnaire, and they can be important to the design direction of their project. Plus, call me old fashioned, but I think it is a good thing to have a person to person conversation.  Email is great, but it's not always a replacement for a phone call or face to face meeting.  Inflections and tones can be misread in an email and having a conversation can help to avoid that.

As I  move from the creative brief review, I'm generally sketching and collecting ideas for their custom logo design.  If my clients have pinterest accounts, we connect there so we can look at visual examples of things that we both think speak to the direction a design should take.  If not, they will send me images they've collected, or links to things that speak to them.  These examples are are not always literal. It's more about mood, shapes, colors, and tone. That's where a moodboard comes in. It's one more point of reference for me as I work on logo and branding collateral design.

One of my current clients, is Northbound Knitting. 
 
 


Owner Lisa Mutch is located up north in Ontario, Canada and has successfully built a great following and a niche market for herself.  Her shop is very representative of the style she wants to convey to her market. Her vision is clear, but Lisa knew it was time to rebrand her business so that her logo better reflected that same vision and style. She continues to increase her business' foothold and is ready to take it to the next level with a new logo that will support her market reach and future growth. 

The moodboard that I created for the Northbound Knitting project is all about sharp/clean lines, shapes within shapes, the entire gamut gray hues, angular motifs, and a modern, slightly edgy sensibility. Plus some.

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stoneware bowls:michael graydon for herriot & grace / coffee table: west elm
hand-dyed yarn and patterns: northbound knitting / arora borealis ring: hybrid handmade
atlantic ocean: pamela j. bates/the muse / geometric line art: jeele martens
studio mister: overlapping transparent squares
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The thing with moodboards is that there aren't really any rules.  They're about feel, texture, color, shape, tone, and so much more. They speak to a business' market, and product or service.  They're a visual representation of a client's creative style brief and our collaborative review.  It wraps their style and direction up in a collage of sorts, that becomes one more piece in the design process.

As a designer it's important for me to use all the tools at my disposal to create a solid foundation for the design work to be done, and moodboards do just that.

One thing I really love about moodboards, is that they are as varied as my clients, their businesses, and their projects. 

If you have any questions about the design process, feel free to ask. After 20 years of working with small business owners on their visual and written marketing/advertising/pr efforts, I've had a lot of experience with a large variety of clients, projects, and situations. If I can help one of you with things that I've learned along the way, that's great. So, shoot.

Make it a great day in your corner of the world and I'll do the same.

Ciao for now,

What Inspires You Wednesday: K.I.S.S.

Keep It Simple Stupid

In between the projects currently on my board, I've been stealing some moments for myself to consider, research and work on re-branding for Bates Mercantile Co.  It's part of our mission for the year. You see, when I began this little etsy shop a little over three years ago, it was really to fill my need for another creative outlet, where I could simply create for creating's sake.  Apparently the universe had other plans and in the past year, I started introducing my design services, something I've been doing with my offline business for nearly 20 years. Lo and behold, it's been receive very well and I've been working with people all over the world. Offering my design services has taken Bates Mercantile Co. in another direction and to another level.  As I opened my shop in a fairly spur-of-the-moment, unplanned, not-much-forward-thinking, shoot-from-the-hip manner, I've run into challenges with my own branding. Isn't it funny how at times, we're the last ones to benefit from our own expertise, talents and skills? But that is indeed the case.

This is what my logo currently looks like. It is simple. It is clean. It does an ok job of speaking to my market, but I don't think it truly reflects my sense of design, what the business has become - a sort of modern mercantile for home and business if you will, or the skill-set I employ on behalf of my clients on a daily basis.

 

It could be so much more and do so much more to reflect who I am and increase my bottom line.  Yes, people, don't say I never told you that owning a business is not just about how happy you are doing something, it's about the bottom line. We all have bills to pay and things we want to do in life that make our souls sing.  Guess what? That's OK.  And having a health bottom line certainly helps with all of that.

So I've gone back to the drawing board so to speak. I'm considering what I want my entire brand to say, what I want it to reflect, how I want it to feel, where I want it to go, and the story I want it to tell to my ideal market.  I'm working with myself the way I work with my clients (see here and here)- answering questions to create a creative brief which include where I see this business now and the future, my design likes and dislikes, how to build on the foundation already laid in branding Bates Mercantile Co., how to create a logo design and brand that can continue to evolve.  I've done some good groundwork on my re-branding and new design, but I still have a ways to go until it is complete. This time, I want to do things right so that I can maximize the impact of the re-brand.

Looking at all that goes into branding a business, is what keeps leading me back to the simple principle of K.I.S.S.: keep it simple stupid.  As I said, I want to focus on building on what is already present, and make changes that make sense for where I want to go. I want to do it in a way that keeps the design and branding simple, clean and classic.  All of which will help me to create a brand that can truly evolve.

I've been reading up on design (does one ever truly stop learning or craving more information about what they love to do?) and have been finding quotes that really speak to me.  

"A designer knows when he has achieved perfection, not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."  - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

This is something that really resonates with me at this point in my life.  There is so much going on the world around us that it is often mind boggling. If I can be more judicious in my re-branding design, I think it will serve me well now and in the future. 

When I'm working with clients, I often try to steer them in one direction or another because I think it will serve them the best, but in the end, the final design direction is their decision. The final decision is left to me this time- which of course, can be liberating as well as a little intimidating. I've no reason not to create something I really love, which isn't more complicated than it needs to be, and sets me up for growth and success. 

"Our opportunity, as designers, is to learn how to handle the complexity, rather than shy away from it, and to realize that the big art of design is to make complicated things simple." -Tim Parsey

A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/antoine_de_saintexupery.html#OBj8SzCPckUAFmQA.99

A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/antoine_de_saintexupery.html#OBj8SzCPckUAFmQA.99

I've also been searching for and discovering design, in all genres (art, packagin, architecture, photography, etc), that really speaks to me.  Of course I've been pinning some and have created a 'clean design board' on pinterest to gather some of the things that are inspiring me on this re-branding project.  

 source: best made company

 

 source: alte sage

 source: MARCH

 source: Pietro Russo

All of these things are helping me to find the direction and inspiration I need to create something that: #1. builds on the foundation already laid  #2.  I'm ultimately happy with/proud of  #. Can grow with Bates Mercantile Co. #4. speaks to the people who make up my dream market and helps move my business forward  

"The only important thing about design is how it relates to people." -Victor Papanek

What's inspiring you today?

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

Ciao for now,

 

From The Desk Of Pamela J. Bates: How A Logo Is Created Part II

Revisions: Part of The Process

 

Hi guys! On Tuesday I shared with you my process in designing an effective logo for my clients. I left off at the stage of the initial design presentation to my client.  

Perhaps I should have given you a little more background, so let me backtrack a moment.

Helios is a natural, artisan skincare company that creates its products in very small, customized batches.  Helios was chosen as the name for the business because it is the name of the Greek sun god, and the natural ingredients used in Helios' skincare line would be nothing without the sun to help them grow.  Helios, the sun god, was said have worn a crown of sun rays and rode a golden chariot to Mount Olympus bringing the dawn of each day. 

Here are the two initial logo design branding boards I showed you on Tuesday.................

and the cliffhanger I left you with............which design did the client decide to move forward with?

drum roll please............

the design on the left.

However, it needed tweaking. The H and sun ray lines in the middle just weren't quite what my client Jamie was looking for, but she felt it needed something. So, we moved into revisions, which are more often than not, part of the logo design process.

It requires more communication between client and designer. It requires more clear communication regarding the direction a client wants to move in and more listening on the designer end as well as advising. Then, then it requires more design work..........tweaking the design, making changes, taking away elements, adding elements and so forth.

Here's the revised logo I presented to my client.

BUT, still..................it wasn't quite right for her. That is why revisions are part of the process and you have to trust in the process to get to the final logo.  My client thought perhaps it shouldn't have anything in the middle, but after trying it that way, I felt that it did need to have some design element in the middle and communicated that to her as I worked on second round revisions.

I went back and read more about Helios and how, as night fell Helios would hide himself in a golden cup and his wife Selene, the goddess of the moon, departed for her own, nightly journey.

Ah, now I was onto something. I did more designing and eventually presented my client with this:

Success!

Working through the process with my client, we reached the final logo that had her saying, "You killed it! It's beautiful and I absolutely love the moon and the star in the centre. It's a beauty and I can't believe I have a logo!"

I'm sure at this point you get the idea, but it is worth repeating. Logo design is a give and take process between client and designer. It requires excellent communication and patience.  Even though clients are usually quite excited about having a logo designed for their business, you have to keep in mind that on the client end you are reviewing designs, while on the designer end there is a lot of research, brainstorming ideas, roughing out designs, streamlining designs, presenting, more communication between parties, revisions rounds, changes....well, you get the picture.Creating your new identity is not something you want to rush, it's too important.

I ask my clients to trust in the process. If each party communicates and listens throughout, eventually you reach the logo design that feels right 'in their gut'.

It's my hope that this post, combined with the first part, gives all of you business owners out there insight into this design process and how you might approach it with a designer so that you are both able to work together in a positive, fruitful way that results in a logo that is representative of your business and effectively speaks to your market.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

And of course, if you're are in need of a logo or a rebranding for your business, please visit my shop. I love what I do!


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In other news....................it's snowing again.  Getting quite heavy and we're expected to get upwards of another 12 inches.  I'm not surprised after last night's sunset.
 

It was so pretty, I had to pull over at the next door neighbors for another shot as I headed out to bookclub/champagne ladies.


What a crazy Winter...........it's throwing all it's got at us.  That snow pile in the first picture, will be getting much larger over night.

See you on the flip side.

Ciao for now,

From The Desk Of Pamela J. Bates: How A Logo Is Created

Insight Into The Logo Design Process

Much like other creative endeavors, logo design isn't just one single act.  It's not just a swoop of a paintbrush across paper, but rather a multitude of brushstrokes that in the end becomes a painting.

Custom logo design is indeed a process, something I always stress to my clients.  It's one of the reasons that there a revisions built into the custom logo design services that I offer. A matter of give and take. Of asking the right questions. Listening the answers.  It's about getting to know the client, their business, their market, their design style, their dreams and their goals.

It is extremely important for the client to remember that designers are only as good as what is  communicated to them. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard, "I don't know what I want, but I'll know it when I see it" over the last 20 years, I certainly wouldn't be sitting here writing this post. I'd be vacationing in the Caribbean on my private yacht. If you don't know what you want, how on earth can you expect a designer to know? Before you hire any designer, spend time considering what you want and need in a logo. What designs you like and don't like.  What components you want incorporated into your logo. Then, communicate that clearly to your designer whether it be through something like the creative brief questionnaire that is part of my process, or a pinterest board, or pictures you've been collecting in your 'idea file'. 

When a client decides to work with me the very first thing I do is send their Creative Brief Questionnaire.   It's several pages long with a ton of questions and it covers a lot of information: palettes, fonts, mission, product, market, services, design likes and dislikes. The list goes on.  I ask them to fill it out as completely as possible so I can learn about all the things I mentioned above. I  prefer to have too much information than not enough.  The final creative brief is what I use to guide the design direction of any logo and is an essential piece to the puzzle. I also like to go over the answers given on a creative brief in a phone conversation (or in person if they are close in proximity) with my clients if possible. A conversation not only further establishes a connection between myself and my client, but often gives me more insight into how they want their logo to represent their business and what the face of their business branding should look like.  Research follows. I research similar businesses, their market, product, etc.  I learn all that I can learn, and that all effects the logo design.


I can't stress enough, how important the preliminary part of the process is. I know when someone decides to invest in a logo for their business that they are excited and anxious, but it is most definitely a process and I'd be leery of any designer who implied anything different (whether it is indicated through a ridiculously short turn around time, or by lack of communication before design begins). Each step is dependent on the one that came before and the ones that will come after, to reach the final outcome: a logo design the client loves and that will help effectively brand their business for success.

Now it's time to get down to designing.  Sometimes I rough sketch on paper. When I say rough, I mean rough.  I might even sketch as I speak with a client and review their creative brief.

Other times, I start working right in Illustrator, which is the program I use to create logo designs.  I also use photoshop for creating different effects, but the actual logo is created in Illustrator. {Note: any designer you choose to work with should be using a vector based program like Illustrator to design a logo for you.  Final logo designs should be vector based because they will be scalable and editable.  This means, your logo will look just as good on a business card as it does on large signage for a trade show. It is the industry standard.}

Now, my artboards in Illustrator may start out looking as rough and full of ideas as my sketches.  This Illustrator artboard, shows a bunch of initial design concepts I was roughing out for my client Helios (a natural, handcrafted skincare business launching this Spring) including a hand-drawn sun that I scanned and imported into Illustrator.

Then comes a lot of fine tuning and tweaking until I'm satisfied with the initial logo or logos that I will present. Sometimes it all falls together quickly, other times I have to step away, let it sit a bit and then come back to it with new perspective.

When I feel I have a logo design/designs ready to present to a client I take one very big extra step.  I don't just send a logo to my clients. I create a branding board to present to them; a mood board of sorts for a business' brand.  I think it's important to show my clients how I foresee the logo being used and to give them a better idea of how it will look on different collateral.  It's a lot of work, but I think it's worth it and important. It allows me to visually communicate more about the logo than I would be able to otherwise.

Here are the two initial branding boards (side by side) boards that I sent to Helios.

And a closer look..........................

At this point in the process, the client decides which design they would like to move forward with and we move into revision rounds if necessary. Sometimes clients are happy right off the bat, but often they would like to see some changes made to get the logo just right for them. And sometimes, once they see the changes, they decide it's better the way it was.  Clients just need to 'see' things before they make up their minds. Understandably so. After all, this is a decision that can have enormous impact on their business' growth and success.

My job as a designer is to understand that, as well as gently guiding them in the direction I believe (in my professional opinion), will serve them best.



Cliffhanger Caution:
I'm saving the rest of this process for Thursday so you'll have to come back to see the final Helios logo.  Which logo did my client move forward with and did it need revisions?

I really could use some dramatic music at this point, but instead it's just me wondering what you think about all of this?

Have a great day and thanks for being here.

Ciao for now,

From the Desk of & Freeform Friday

In The Studio

Hey ya'll. OK. I'm not from the South, but I just have to give ya'll a shout out once in awhile despite that my feet are firmly planted in New Hampshire.

How has your week been? Mine has been hectic.  It seems to be the modus operandi of the last few months and as mentioned in yesterday's post, I'm trying to learn ways of getting a better handle on things.

That said, I'd sure rather it hectic than not. Not would be so utterly boring.

In between the custom branding design projects I'm working on, I'm trying to squeeze in a little time to create premade designs.  Took the dog for a walk this morning after my tea, came back, sat down at the desk and did just that.

Whoops............before I show you, remember the one I showed you on Monday?  It sold withing 24 hours. Hell to the yeah. I love that.  Customized for my customer and off to Wales it went via email.  Easy peasy.  And can I get an amen on awesome feedback? "It really is so perfect, I'm very happy to have found it.  Many thanks. I love it (I think I mentioned that already)". You are more than welcome Sharon.

OK, next up........the latest premade logo design (customizable with business name) in the shop!

 

 Oh my. I'm in love. Is that ok?  (trust me, it doesn't happen often since I'm your typical creative. Remember? I'm my own worst critic ).

The great thing about premade logo designs are they are affordable even on the tightest budgets and allow small business owners an option for branding their business professionally.

I've been working hard on custom designs for clients this week and they have covered the full spectrum business and design wise. This always makes for interesting work.

I'll be pulling together some branding boards for one of my clients today so I can send her the initial logo designs for her business.  Always exciting.

I'll be quite happy if I am able to complete that and check it off the list. 

Freeform Friday

It's Friday and in my book, that's always cause for celebration. It's not that I don't like the rest of the week, but I love knowing I don't have to get up in the morning for anything. I'm not what you would describe as a morning person. I'm a night owl. It's when I'm at my best. And after Friday, comes Friday night when you know I like to have a little craic (no, not that crack! Jeeze people). Craic, the Irish kind-- a mighty fine time with perhaps music and most definitely fun.  So let's get started early.   I'm sure I've shared this before, but it gets me going and puts a smile on my face.  Get up out of that chair and let me see you shake your tail feather like I know you can.  Trust me, I am. Click here if you're reading via email.

This weekend will be a mix of both business and pleasure. I'm going to work on some designs over the weekend, but I am also going to enjoy some much needed downtime. I might throw some organizing into the mix, like putting the rest of my holiday decorations up into the attic. These are the things that fall by the wayside when the studio is busy, busy.  Other than that, the weekend's a blank slate.

What's happening in your corner of the world?

Ciao for now,