Inspired: by holiday penguins?

Ok I am not really inspired by these cute little guys, but I sure am seeing alot of this motif around this holiday season! They are great for decorating because you can have penguins out all winter long.... since they are not really Christmas specific :) Here are some great ornaments and plates that I found while browsing some of my favorite stores websites.

clockwise from left to right: Iced Penguin Ornament, Glass Penguin Ornament, Penguin Friends Dessert Plates, Felt Penguin Ornament, Skiing Glitter Penguin Ornaments, Teardrop Penguin Holiday Ornament

And how cute is this wrapping paper from Paper Source! It would look great under a tree decorated with silver and white ornaments.... maybe some sparkly twinkle lights :) I love making my wrapping paper I use to wrap my gifts match the colors on my tree. Just looks so pretty when everything coordinates.

well time for another day of work..... get out there and check out all the penguins!
~erin

Project: My Wedding Invitations

I am going to post photos of my pride and joy... my wedding invitations! I had so much fun designing, creating, and assembling them. And thanks to Jason and Impressive Print for doing all the printing!

Previously I posted the colors and the initial drawings of the art that I used for all the wedding collateral. Here is what the art looks like with color applied to it.

Here is what our Save the Date looked like.... setting the mood/inspiration for the wedding to come!

So with these patterns, flowers, and frame, I created our invitations. I gathered my inspiration, analyzed what I liked about other invitations I saw, and noted what I didn't like. From that I began figuring out the amount of pieces I would need to convey all the information and how all of those pieces would be tied together. I began by looking at envelopes and in the end fell in love with some box mailers from Paper Source. Since it was a box it had to be sealed somehow so I designed a label that would wrap around the box in the top left corner and the bottom right corner. Here is what all the cool boxes looked like before i hauled them to the post office! (yes it is one single ram stamp on there :))

So now that you have seen what housed the actual invitation, time to share the good stuff. Upon opening the box the invited would see a layer of lace. Under that lace was a portfolio pocket enclosure, that Jason and I folded and glued together. A very thin delicate red twine was wrapped around that. We also placed a 4x6 engagement photo underneath it all for a little something extra for the guests.

 Our wedding theme has been 'The Adventure" This is a song by Jason's Favorite band Angels and Airwaves. It is also the song that I walked down the aisle to played by a stringed quartet! Which was by the way soooo beautiful. Anyway.... I incorporated the lyrics throughout all of our wedding collateral. Bits and pieces of the song words were used in the invitations. I wanted the invitations to reflect our personalities and to reflect my design style (yet be different from anything i have done previously). I also designed them ot be rather informal :) Here are some photos....

So let me know what you think!!! And if you like my style and design... contact me and maybe i can offer you my creative services for your invitations!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!
~erin

Color: MY wedding color palette

As I am tagging and viewing wedding photos on a certain social networking site tonight I thought I would start sharing my creative design process for our wedding. I will start out simple with the basic components that I built everything else from :)

The colors:
I gave all involved a key ring with paint swatches that jason and i gathered at the hardware store. Everything was to evolve around that color scheme. Here are the names of the paints we picked out (i always wonder what you have to do to become a professional paint color namer?)
The reddish oranges-
-Firemist
-Rosita
-Rosa Azores
-Rosa Flmenco
-Delta Clay
-Burnt Red (ok this one is not that creative)
-Candy Corn

The teal accents-
-Lucky Shamrock (the name is deceiving... it is not a shamrock color at all)
-Palmetto

Now that you are visualizing what they might look like according to the paint swatch names... here are the equivalents i used to design based on those paint swatches (these are not in order as listed above).

Not quite the normal fall colors but a little more modernized twist and the teal accent goes so lovely with the reds and the oranges!

The Drawings:
With that color palette and these drawings below (by me:)) I created all of our wedding collateral

 It was killing me to not share all of this process and my pretty designs sooner but I didnt want to ruin the surprise for everyone who was actually invited to the wedding. So now that you know what the foundation was for 'print identity' of my wedding, next post I will show you the beautiful stationery pieces I am so very proud of!

~erin

Inspired: by AUTUMN

Wow has it really been a month since my last post? huge apologies from me! Now that I am almost back to everyday reality after my fabulous wedding, I will definitely be posting more frequently again.

Besides all the gorgeous colors on the leaves.....

 

you can really tell autumn is here when you see gourds like these EVERYWHERE. Now if only i could think of a tasteful way to use them to decorate (besides putting them in a bowl:)). The colors are amazing and the shapes are.... well odd.

I saw these pumpkins and the above gourds at a stand along the highway on my way to southern MN yesterday to visit a vineyard. They had any size pumpkin there for only $4. (Too bad my husband wasn't along to pick out our pumpkins to carve this year cuz that price was a steal!)

Well I just wanted to get you thinking AUTUMN today :) cuz I know I am!!!!!

Soon to come..... all the postings about my wedding that I know you have been waiting to see! From concepts and planning, to stationery, to hopefully amazing photos from the talented Sara Jayne Photography

have a lovely evening!

~erin

Inspired: by photo books

Well, with all my wedding activities happening in these next few weeks, I seem to be accumulating a plethera of photos! Not to mention the amazing photos I will have from the day of my wedding which will be taken by the fabulous Sara Jayne (check her out! www.sara-jayne.com). So sometime after all of the festivities subside, I am totally creating a photo book from this website!!!!

www.blurb.com
I just flipped through a fellow artists portfolio yesterday who created her book with this site's software. The quality of the cover and binding was amazing! The cover had a very soft rubbery feel to it and it was not really glossy either! The color quality of the images she had in it was great as well as the quality of the paper it was printed on.

I am so excited to make my own photo book through this site!
check them out!

~erin

Project: miss Nora

I have been itching to draw and create a pretty new pattern.... and I finally found some time to do it! I present to you miss Nora....... ta da!

I love these round little balls of yellow flowers... i dont know what the name of the actual flower is (if anyone knows please inform me) but they are simply sweet! I toned down the shade of yellow a little with some neutral greys and taupes. The original drawing was unbelievably simple but i had a good idea of what I wanted to do with it once it was scanned in. This is the drawing...

The color palette was easy to compose because i am in love with these colors right now :)I think the color combination goes great for any season.
Hopefully this pattern will make it onto a variety of products so you all can enjoy it as well. Fabric to quilt with? maybe a greeting card or two? maybe some scrapbook paper and embellishments? What do you think?!! 

~erin

Project: my website

Now, I know you wish I was posting a link to my website I am creating.... but unfortunately it is not live yet. Still in the works! I have been working on uploading my patterns today (among the various wedding odds and ends I am doin... not to mention laundry and trimming bushes in my yard) ... yes a busy day! Thankfully the weather is gorgeous and is keeping me productive. Although Max is looking at me right now with very sad eyes thinking 'throw my ball already mom!'


I purchased a wonderful template from a company and bought my domain name about a month ago. I have been working on the layout and editing since. I really like how it is coming along and I think i have it organized well. When it is live I will post the link for feedback!
Here are a couple little screen shots from parts of it :)

isn't my little logo cute :)
and here is what the navigation bar across the top will look like... for now.

Hope everyone had a wonderful week! I am going to the Great Minnesota Get Together tomorrow.... aka MN State Fair. I will make sure to taste some food on a stick for you all.
~erin

Color: orange,teal.... and neutrals

Wow where has the week gone!???? I took a roadtrip down to Iowa yesterday to move my little sister into college for her first year and after that flat, uneventful, and rather boring drive back up 35 last night put me in no mood to blog about colors as great as these. So I am sharing it with you today instead:)

The products shown are from the company BlisslivingHOME. They make various home decor things in GREAT colors. I originally came across the photo above of the pile 'o their products on the front of a trade publication and I instantly LOVED the color palette. All of the different shades of browns and neutrals are accented by the bright orange and blueish teal. The colors almost look fallish but .... the grey brings it all back to be neutral enough to decorate with anytime!

check out their website for the other great colors featured on their products!
~erin

Inspired: by vintage lettering

Hello on this gorgeous monday! (I don't know what the weather is like where you are but it is absolutely wonderful here in MN) I thought I would share some recent findings briefly before i head out into the sun this evening.

I took a little outing on one of my lunch breaks last week and visited the Bachman's Garden Center in Plymouth MN. They just recently launched a whole new gift selection in their stores. The theme is definitely vintage. I mostly went there for inspiration for my wedding decor and happily left the store totally inspired by all of the vintage lettering i saw there.

hmmm what could I use these letters for?
and how cute is this pillow... not to mention it is my favorite number! I love how the 3 is tipped on the pillow surface!

It is so much fun to go poking around garden centers.... all of the organic and nature inspired things get my creative juices flowing. Also reminds me that it is time to weed my gardens and tend to my jungley looking yard.
Off to get some fresh air!
~erin

color: in simple patterns

Look at this ad that greeted me in my inbox this morning! Too bad it made me want to buy one of these crisp looking duvet covers from West Elm and climb back in bed.

The simplicity of the patterns would compliment any bed and the colors are soft but not boring. I would pick the one in the grey of course :) Although the orange/redish one would match my bedroom perfectly!

Off to my second day back at work after my sisters wedding on the shores of Lake Superior. Trying to get back into the day to day rutt :) I find myself daydreaming about listening to the waves of the calm and chilly Great Lake rather then designing greeting cards....sigh

Anyway.... congratulations to my sister and new bro-in-law!..... and welcome back to reality for me!
~erin

Inspired: by food?

First of all.... apologies for not posting anything about my creative doings last week. My lovely sister is getting married this coming weekend and I have been in the midst of my maid of honor duties. I will get back in the artsy swing next week!


Anyways.... I have been on this yummy sandwich kick lately. Probably due to the extreme humidity and heat we are experiencing here in MN. I came across a couple recipes i might just have to try asap!

Doesn't this apricot, mozzarella, and cinnamon sandwich on sourdough bread look to die for????? mmmm
also check out the great color contrast of the blue colander and the soft peach apricots! If apricots aren't your fav... try apples instead.

and.... to wash it down..... SANGRIA! This recipe is from epicurious  but feel free to modify as per your tastes. I love fresh fruit with a little wine.... might as well put it in the drink!

Stay cool everyone enduring the heat!
I will try to post again this week..... if wedding going ons allow ... otherwise I will be back next week refreshed with some new creative ideas to share with you!
~erin

color: bluesy

I have been searching for a good blue color palette recently. Who would have thought that I would find such enticing colors in Target's 2010 back to college selection!?

these colors would be so pretty on a new floral pattern wouldn't they??? as you can see they look so calming together. Maybe the blue could be the main background color with the yellow green as a minimal accent. Now to find a flower to sketch that would look pretty with these colors. Any suggestions?

I will see what I can come up with for Friday!
~erin

Inspired: by Print & Pattern book

Can I register for books on Amazon for my wedding???? An amazing book by a blogger I follow is now being sold in the US..... and I would like to own it:)

Here is the link to buy it! Print & Pattern by Bowie Style
and here is the link to the blog: Print & Pattern

From what I can see in the few page views she has posted, this book is filled with tons of inspiration. There are so many talented artists out there and this book gives credit to some of the best. It is great how it shows how the patterns are applied to different products around the world.

I think I need to update my resource library at home. There are so many amazing books out there that have been published to inspire. Sometimes I get held up in the online world and forget about the benefits of the good ol fashioned book. If anyone else has any other suggestions of good design/color/pattern books I should add to my book shelves let me know!

off to find some pretty colors to share with you!
~erin

Color: dining room colors?

I have had the worst itch (like the itch of a new mosquito bite.... constant and pestering) to repaint my dining room. Currently it is a dark marroon. It is a fairly small room to begin with and the dark color does it no favors. A new dining room table is on my wish list as well of course. So to take a break from the wedding mayhem and from working on my personal website.... i decided to look into some good color combination possibilities for new paint in the dining room.

I have lots of different wood tones that the color needs to coordinate with so i am thinking something fairly neutral but a little modern with maybe a pop of color in the accessories (can you tell i watch HGTV alot???)

These are some color combinations that i really like.
The first one is from Behr paint's website. They have fabulous color ideas and inspiration on there that can translate to just about anything! it is great.

This next one i just found online but am in love with how the beams on the ceiling are painted! what a great way to bring in a little more color... too bad i can't add beams to my ceiling.

and finally these last two images are from West Elm. This company does such a great job using neutral colors in a very trendy yet classic way. LOVE LOVE LOVE

I might have to splurge and buy myself some of these bird plates!
my winter project this year will be painting my dining room.... if i can stand the itch and wait that long... might happen sooner :)  for now i will gather color ideas for it.

back tomorrow!
~erin

Inspired: by wood grains

Have you noticed all of the 'wood grain' all over desktop and stationery items lately? no I am not talking about your big oak desk your computer sits on.....

As I am looking into more eco friendly materials for a 'possible' new product line at my job, I am noticing the very awesome ways that other people are using the texture on paper products.

Some of the best 'wood grain' texture art can be found at the modern yet folksy Night Owl Paper Goods. Their products boast eco friendliness to the extreme.
AND they even have actual wood greeting cards. How cute is this one with dahlias on it!

  At my weekly Target visit today I browsed through the stationery aisle and what do my wandering eyes spy..... a set of note cards with wood grain texture. These ones even have an envelope with a wood grain printed on it to match. I really like how leaves pop on the darker shade. The two tones look great because they are balanced ... not too much dark, not too much light.

I have something colorful to show you on wednesday... so check it out!
~erin

Inspired: by MN lakes

OH how I desire to be on a lake ALL THE TIME during the summer. Nothing can beat the sound of the waves on the shore and the loons calling to eachother from across the lake.

As you can tell I have a little itch to hide away at a resort for AT LEAST a couple days. It was such a tease to spend time for my sister's bachelorette party on lake pokegamon (not sure on that spelling but i decided it should just be called lake pokemon). The log cabin we stayed in was built over a year ago and it still had that piney/cedar smell lingering mmmmm.

So after some searching for beautiful lake resorts in MN... and finding WAY too many that seemed perfect... I decided this one is where you would find me. Grand View Lodge on Gull Lake. I will be sitting on the 3rd adirondack chair on the beach sipping a glass of wine and reading my book.

Not only is being by a lake totally relaxing but it is oh so inspiring to be around all of that nature! All of the textures, colors, and sounds make all of my senses come alive.

anyone want to go with me? hint hint fiancé of mine!
Everyone, find the time to enjoy the MN lakes this summer!
~erin

Project: my wedding invitations...

Wow busy friday for me! I have been running around all day today.... very productive but boy is it good to just sit in front of my computer for a little bit. Among the garage sale rummaging, iced latte sipping and grocery shopping I have had wedding invitations on my brain!

Now I know you all are dying to see what I have up my creative sleeves for the design of my invitations but I really want it to be a surprise! So instead I am going to share a few websites that have REALLY inspired different aspects of what I am coming up with.

Emmy Lu Designs :

Most of this oh so talented company are a little too simple for my taste but they have a amazing sense for good type/information layout. They really know how to pull out just the right information and let the other text be subordinate. I love this layout.....

April Ink:

This stationery boutique has the most unique invitation layouts i have seen! I love the use of type and image AND COLOR!!!! All of the pieces coordinate so well but aren't too similar.... each a piece of artwork in its own. If I wasn't a designer and artist myself I would totally trust Shannon to design for my wedding. Her RSVP layouts are great... especially the one for this package.

There are so many artistic creators out there...... maybe after I post my invitations (probably after my wedding this fall) you all will want me to design yours too!

oh and ps. I will try to not let my next week's project posting be revolving around wedding stuff.... not everyone is in ooo la la wedding land like me :)

we will see what inspires me at the lake this weekend! check back monday
~erin

Color: Gray and lemon

Well, yet another rainy day here in MN. So my mood seems to be latched onto the dreary color combination that I have been finding totally intriguing for the past few months. I can't seem to get enough gray.

You may be thinking.... blah gray who would want to wear anything or decorate anything with such a boring color. Well think twice and take a look at all the wonderful shades and values of grays there are out there! Gray is the new black?! :)

My Anthropologie catalog came in the mail a few days ago and as I was flipping through I came across this great duvet comforter! Just so you know I 'dog earred' the page and it has gone onto my wish list. The warm gray is paired with light wheat colored yellow accents. While browsing their website (bad idea for a girl on a strict wedding budget) i found this adorable oh-so-comfy looking dress.

I promise you this is not that last time you will read a blog post about how up and coming gray is!
Check back friday to see my creativeness for the week.
~erin

Inspired: by Paperwink

After a well needed LONG weekend of relaxing and visiting with family and friends I am preparing mentally to go back to work tomorrow. Yes, I have one more day off and besides loving picnicking on the beach with my fiance, I am totally inspired today by this adorable stationery boutique in CA. Paperwink.

Paperwink's journals were featured in Real Simple magazine. As I was sitting chatting with my mom and her sisters on the fourth, I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to have my own little creative stationery company like Tara and Darcey do. Oh the beautiful products I would come up with :)

How great is their patterned masking tape! Sunshiny yellow and orange stacked and held together with a ribbon! This tape would sure make my broken back screen door look much cuter then the patchy packing tape now holding the bottom of the screen in tact.

I think the use of the black and white frame on this journal is a great compliment to the teal of the cover. Add a little color to your desk yet keep it professional looking with the black and white accent. Then to marry the two colors together in this calling card is fabulous! Very summery combination of buttery yellow and teal.

Check out Paperwink! Maybe their simple designs will inspire you like it inspired me.
~erin

Project: Perpetual Calendar

Well my morning has already gotten away from me and it is only 10:30 am! The warm sunshine and nice breeze this morning was calling me to be unproductive and take a nice long walk with the dogs instead. So I did.


This afternoon will be time to whittle away at the perpetual calendar assignment for Gina B. Designs. I currently have 2 perpetual calendars in their line already that sell wonderfully!.... so why not add a third.
I layed out all of my patterns so far that would create a good mixture of colors and types of florals. Below is what I came up with (top left is January and goes left to right by row ending in the bottom right being December. The next step will be to take these patterns and format them into the page layouts for each month.

For those of you who don't know what a perpetual calendar is (as I did not previous to my first design)... the purpose is to record birthdays and anniversaries all in one place. It is perpetual because it is not dated. Each month has blank lines numbered with the date next to it and then you just hang it somewhere where you can reference it.
This is the calendar I designed last year! Aren't the birds cute!

Anyway this new calendar I am working on today will be for sale in a month so check back to Gina B. Design's website and get one for yourself! Be Organized!
Check back with me on Monday after a fun inspiring 4th of July weekend! Have a safe holdiay everyone.
~erin

Color: the 'new' red white and blue

Ok, so I have fireworks and greasy food.... oh yeah and patriotism... on my brain tonight! Being just a few days away I thought I would point out one of the best variations on red white and blue. Do you ever feel like if you dont wear clothes in the 'holiday colors' you won't fit in? Red and Green plaid for Christmas time, pink shirt with a heart on it for Valentine's Day, orange and black knee highs for Halloween. Well this color palette, of a 'new' red white and blue, will leave you feeling summery, trendy, and WAY cooler then everyone else who put on their standard red white and blue. Not to mention the 3 shades look fabulous together!

Dress from Anthropologie
Bag from Etsy
Necklace from Etsy

A red with a very orange base accented by a soft ivory and a very soft blue is a color combination everyone should try!
~erin