final decision!

So I finally made up my mind!  I decided to take the leaf I designed for my own wedding invitation, and use it in my design logo.  This leaf is one of my favorite designs, and I love the font so much.  It is simple and clean, and I love blue so much.  So I'll be working on getting some business cards printed and start getting my name out in the wedding world.  I need to print some invitation samples and maybe even be motivated enough to create a sort of brochure or booklet to give out.  

It's hard to feel inspired some days.  Right now I feel like I'm in a design rut.  It's funny because I feel inspired away from home, with great coffee, great music, and sweet lighting.  That's when I feel the most productive.  So my goal is to get myself in those settings more often so I can get some good work done!

Here is the design in a business card layout and close up.

what's in a name?

So I'm thinking of coming up with a new design name for my invitations.  I love Cambiamento, but it always seems to confuse people.  I need something simple and easy to remember.

My sister and I have been brainstorming, and we've come up with a couple of names that I like, and I've done some rough, and let me stress rough sketches. 

Eden design is one of my choices.  I love the idea of having a natural feel to the name since a lot of my designs are inspired from nature and organic shapes.  If I choose this, I'll be reworking the layout to find something I like.  I think I will incorporate a green color, but I haven't figured out quite what I like yet.

Now this is more of a thoughtful idea.  I was thinking that if I do get more into maps or table seating charts, then a more logical approach to a logo would be appropriate.  The idea of the shape is like a thumb print.  I got the idea from the leaf designs I've been working on for my own invitations.

I'll be reworking each of these and come up with a more solid idea so I can make a final decision.  Hopefully, I can get this done quickly so I can print some business cards and give them out.  

the invitation

I've been working on Hannah and Jon's wedding invitations for their spring wedding in May.  Hannah wanted something simple and unique, so I did a basic illustration of their faces using the colors for their wedding.  Also, she liked the idea of a monogram.  I did a modern monogram using Helvetica (my favorite typeface) and some brush strokes.

We're still working out the details for this invite.  It will probably be a double-sided invitation on a cream or ivory cardstock.    

This is probably my favorite style of design.  I love the illustrative effect from using a brush and drawing the image.

Letterpress Love

I love the look of letterpress.  The designs are so simplistic and the contrast is great.

 

My fiancee and I were walking around the Saturday Market in downtown Portland, and we came across a little booth of letterpress products.  I was so intrigued and drawn into the work I saw. The gal in the booth told me some of her creative process and even gave me a list of her paper suppliers.  She then gave me two quaint little note cards to take home.  

This was truly an inspiration for me.  

Later, while browsing the web for letterpress ideas, I found some instructions for creating a small home letterpress.  I think that maybe this summer I will try and build the press and start experimenting with printing.  This will become my baby project for the year I think.

Lately, I've done a couple of rough sketches that were inspired by some of the research I've done.  The leaf design is possibly the rough draft for my own wedding invitations.  I hope to be able to hand make them if my press gets built.  The bird design is for a thank you card.

style

These designs were created for my senior art show before graduating from college.  

My last semester in college was when I really started developing a definite style of my own. These reflect what I would call my "style." I love open space and contrast in shape and color.