Quail Creative

Boom Chaka Laka Laka

2011-08-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

My sister came to visit me in Columbus this weekend so I decided to take her to the most magical place on earth, Igloo Letterpress.

Every Saturday they have a great activity set up on press for people to walk in and do. This weekend was printing mini wood type posters. We spent the entire morning brainstorming what to put on our posters (close seconds were Admiral Ackbar saying "It's a Crap!" to hang in the bathroom and "Ballz". Tasteless, I realize.).

Instead we chose "Insert Ideas Here" and made them into prints and a sketchbook for each of us.

Groveling and a Project

2011-08-02T06:14:00.000-07:00

Oh hey, it's only August. I only haven't updated since June. No biggie, right?

(Please forgive me. Please. PLEASE!)

So what's been going on? Pffft, a lot. I recently accepted a new position at a fantastic small agency in Columbus called Mlicki. I wrapped up my work with another great Columbus agency, Ron Foth Advertising. In the meantime, I've been working with some wildly cool freelance clients. I have one big project finishing up in a few days, so you just wait!

These are super fun die-cut cards I had the pleasure of working with Igloo Letterpress to design. You can find the butterfly here and the birdie here. They also come in 10 packs. Awesome. We're working on a few other things with these little guys, so don't think you've seen the last of 'em.

How is everyone? Still kickin'? Here's hoping. It's summer time. Go jam to some Pete Townshend.

Aaargh Dangerfield, Keepin' it Moderately Real

2011-06-13T08:45:00.000-07:00

Today is my youngest sister's last day of middle school. I think we should all congratulate her on surviving the hell that is 8th grade.

Every year before school starts we sit down and deck out all of her school supplies-- backpack, binders, agenda, the works. This is one of the only things that seemed to survive the entire school year, her history binder. We cut up some old 1970's National Geographic magazines and pooped out this beauty.

And this is my desk? There was a pile of orange junk on it a couple days ago and I couldn't resist.

Yeh. I'll have way more exciting stuff to show you next time. Until then, enjoy the sunshine and go smash some water balloons on your unsuspecting loved ones.

You Win Some, You Lose Some, and Sometimes Your Arms Rot and Fall Off

2011-06-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

'Ello friends! I'd like to begin this post by saying that I'm not an illustrator (if you want to see some great illustrators, check out some of the links on the right). But occasionally (rarely) I like to try. Because if you don't try, you know, something bad will happen. Your arms will rot and fall off. I don't know. Something bad.

I digress.

This was the beginning of a poster I was working on for the Columbus Zoo at work. Unfortunately, it got canned before I got to finish it... and now... welp... it's as finished as it's ever gonna get!

Keep Your Roots Local - Local Matters Logo

2011-05-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

Well 'ello! How are you today? Good? I hope so. I hope where ever you are, the sun is shining.

Enough with the formalities.

I have things to tell you. I made this. The other day I saw that one of my favorite Columbus organizations, Local Matters was having a contest to design a logo and slogan for their annual local foods week. The prize is a summer of free produce, which I can definitely get down with. Go make something and enter! There's still nearly a week left.

I almost always start a project out by sketching, but I rarely (if ever) show anyone the preliminary stages. Today is a special treat.

And I almost forgot! I have succumbed to the madness that is Twitter. I KNOW! Have I no standards?! Anywho, if you care to become amazing friends with me and potentially share a milkshake with two straws some day, you should hit me up. Here I am.

Take care, everyone.

Certifiably Awesome

2011-05-13T10:11:00.000-07:00

Well hello! Did you miss me? DID YOU?!

I made this for you.

If you need this shirt on your body, you can purchase it right here. AND YOU CAN MAKE IT ANY COLOR YOU WANT. Are you excited? Me too.

More shirts coming soon, I think. I'm in the mood.

Columbus Advertising

2011-03-30T12:30:00.001-07:00

You remember that one time that I posted like... four entries in the period of one week? And I told you "don't get used to it, keep your expectations low, etc etc"? And then I didn't post for a whole month? Yeh.

Sorry.

Check it, yo. This is my very accidental (as in, tripped a keyboard shortcut) black and white version of a quick page header that I ended up liking better than the color. Buuuuut, since you're so nice to me, here's the color version for your perusal.

Stormy Seas

2011-03-07T20:35:00.000-08:00

I've been messing around more with hand lettering. I'm no good yet, but practice makes perfect, eh? I'm not sure where I was going with this... perhaps I'll turn it into some nice alcohol packaging for fun.

Original ocean photo found here.

I hope everyone enjoyed Motown Monday as much as I did. Bebop.

One if by Land, Two if by Sea

2011-03-01T18:39:00.000-08:00

This quote popped into my head last night and wouldn't go away until I had made it into something. So, this is for you! I was going to paint you a portrait of Paul Revere to go with it, but I decided to eat dinner instead. I wouldn't want you getting spoiled.

I'm going to assume that .01% of the 10 people who read this blog will want to check out the original poem that the quote came from, so here-- "Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

I'm also going to assume that a solid 3% of you just want to listen to some Paul Revere and the Raiders. I won't judge you. Here. I actually taught them that little side step dance move. Also, don't want to brag or anything, but the puppet in the video was my idea. I'm full of surprises.

Fox Books

2011-02-25T13:28:00.000-08:00

You know the movie You've Got Mail? With Meg Ryan? Before she got a ton of facial surgery? Aaaanyway, the Tom Hanks character owns a chain of bookstores called Fox Books.

I accidentally made this today. I love me some foxes.

(I know, there's been two posts in the past 48 hours. I know, I'm happy about it too. But don't get used to it or anything. I like to set the bar low, and then pleasantly surprise you with an occasional post. NOW GO ENJOY YOURSELF SOME WEEKEND!)

ITSA ME.

2011-02-24T13:35:00.000-08:00

Sorry for being such a stinker. I made you this semi-depressing piece of art in an attempt to make up for it. Please accept my apology.

If I don't post sometime in the next week, it's because I'm having a hot passionate STEAMY love affair with the mere idea of Springtime coming.

2011-02-02T07:19:00.000-08:00

There is love, and then there is Bill Murray. Happy Groundhog Day.

Something Amazing Print

2011-01-31T16:35:00.000-08:00

I've been getting a lot of emails lately about this piece I posted a few months ago. Normally, I would have made it into a print to put on etsy, but I honestly haven't had a spare second. So! In the spirit of giving, here's a PDF for you, good people of the internet.

Vanilla Face Valentines

2011-01-26T08:23:00.000-08:00

I know Valentine's Day is a big holiday for a lot of you, so in the spirit of the upcoming event, I made you some little Valentines to pass out to all your friends and significant others. I worked really hard on them.

Download the PDF here so you can print out 400 of them and post them around town.

And because you're going to look it up anyway, I'll save you the trouble.

I also feel like I should apologize to Becky, my ultra hip awesome grandma (who I'm 99% sure will read this) for the swearing and the use of the word "sexy". It won't happen again.

GRAAAAAWRRRR

2011-01-18T14:22:00.001-08:00

Hey. I made you something. It's got a bear on it. I hope you like it.

I lost a bunch (read: all) of my iTunes music today. I have no more Spoon! Van Morrison! The Smiths! I am beyond sad about it.

Anyway though, this is a beautiful song. Maybe you've heard it already. If you have, you should listen to it again.

All for one and one for all.

2011-01-04T18:39:00.000-08:00

I was making you a picture and my computer crashed. Twice. BOO. And then it corrupted my file (cue the violins, if you please). At least I had a screen shot! You should probably come bake me cookies to make me feel better.

Anyway.

I've been really in the mood to read "The Three Musketeers". Alexander Dumas is just the bomb. In high school my two best lady friends, Malin the Sea World trainer and Leah the photo journalist (Did I ever mention how amazing my friends are?) had pretty major crushes on the Musketeers, as I recall.

2011 - The year of the Sea Pony

2010-12-29T12:50:00.000-08:00

I have mixed feelings regarding 2010. Some really good things happened (I'm very very lucky/blessed). But, some really crummy things happened too. In a nutshell, 2010 was kind of a wet fart. It's out, it's over with, you're better because of it, but it just overwhelmingly stunk.

And although I'm not really one for New Year's Resolutions, this one really hits home for me. Aaaaand I had a tiny bit of free time at work today.

So here's to 2011! By this time next year, my lifelong dream to ride an sea pony may have finally come true.

Just like Beggar's Canyon Back Home

2010-12-25T18:01:00.000-08:00

Dear Internet, for Christmas I want a catapult. You have no idea how cranky I'm going to be if I don't get one.

I hope everyone had a Happy Christmas. I made this calendar with the intention of magnificently silk screening it on some soft and supple* 18x24" linen paper. It would have been great, I'm telling you.

Instead, I'm giving it to you, dear readers, as a gift. It's only 8.5x11, but guess what?! It's free and has a bear on it. Nothing says "new year" like a hungry bear** calendar. You can print one out on some nice cardstock, if you so choose. You can also print out 60 of them and use it to wallpaper a bathroom. I know I'm going to.

So anyway.

Here. Hello Bear 2011 Calendar. It's a PDF, so if you right click the link, you should be able to save it.

I just deleted a 3 paragraph tangent on the annual Christmas Star Wars Marathon. Suffice to say I enjoyed it, and I have a healthy*** obsession with Wedge Antilles. The understated hero.

*"Supple" is one of those words that just makes me cringe. Like moist I guess. Bleeergh. The only word that seems to come naturally after supple is "bosom". And if I'm being honest, "bosom" kind of eeks me out too.

**Hungry for love, not people flesh.

***Debatable.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

2010-12-13T19:24:00.001-08:00

I've been re-reading The Outsiders during my lunch break every day. (Actually, I've burned through a number of books in the past couple of weeks... any suggestions for what I should tackle next?) I haven't ever seen the movie, but you better believe it's on my to-do list... look at these fellas!

And really, it never ceases to amaze me that S.E. Hinton was only 15 when she wrote this book. How completely amazing is that?

2010-12-06T17:53:00.000-08:00

I looked high and low (youtube for about 2 minutes) for a decent video of this song. No go though, my apologies. I DID, however find you a nice tribute to Arrested Development (only one of the best shows of all time) set to "Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger. Even better, no? You're welcome.

Got any favorite lyrics? This line makes my top 20 list, at least.

2010-12-02T10:30:00.000-08:00

During my lunch break I made you a pretty picture and wrote* you a song AND baked you some cupcakes**. No big deal. I hope you like them.

*I may have embellished the song writing part.
**This is just a straight up lie. It's the thought that counts.

Betterment Society - Beginning

2010-11-29T16:54:00.000-08:00

I've been working on a little project for a few weeks now. I debated whether or not to share yet, since it's all in progress, but hell... why not?

Work work

2010-11-09T13:39:00.000-08:00

I'm still alive (are you? How are you?). I've been working bunches at a great agency called Ron Foth Advertising. Apart from not leaving work until after dark (I hate the autumn time change with a burning passion), it's been pretty wonderful.

I've been gearing up to show you some personal projects I'm doing, but until then, please indulge me as I post a smattering of work work (work... from work...).

A few header compositions I worked on for the Columbus AdFed's upcoming events.

I'd love to show you more, but for now, this will have to do! Until next time, dear friends.

"If you want to be a painter, paint everyday."

2010-10-22T11:14:00.000-07:00

Thumbs way up for this little piece of advice. The quote came from a great interview on Rifle's blog.

Pumpkin carving this weekend. You in?

Do it!

2010-10-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

I'm not even going to look at the last time stamp on my entry. It's bad. I know. Guess what though?! I got/started a job. It's great (really!). I'll tell you more about it another time.

I've been doing everything possible to enjoy every minute of free time I have. You should too. This weekend, Pumpkin Festival and apple orchard. Ay-oh!

How's the wife and kids? It's been awhile.

P.S. Let's not even talk about how much type is in circles around here. It's embarrassing. I need to get it out of my system!

What are you doing today, dear internet?

2010-09-23T08:10:00.000-07:00

Today I am continuing the quest for world domination. I'll let you know how it goes.

(And will share more about this project soon.)

(I really love putting type in a nice circle, don't you?)

Solid Ernest

2010-09-09T18:07:00.000-07:00

It's September, and although I realize I have graduated, I'm craving a nice no-rules project and some tight deadlines to exercise my design chops. So... in true Rachel Dangerfield fashion, I gave myself an assignment. Here's the tip of the iceberg. More later.

I'll be spending this coming week seaside with some family and friends and I couldn't be more excited! My bags are packed, I'm ready to go... all I need to grab is a few good books and a folding chair. Any good reads lately?

Boston Heights

2010-08-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but my dad and stepmom, Stephanie are in the antique business. Throughout the years, I've spent quite a bit of time going to auctions, antique malls, and flea markets with them. Stephanie and I were talking a few weeks ago and decided she needed to get some of her great finds on Etsy.

So we did! It was a great day-long project. I designed a banner and quick identity for her shop, Boston Heights (named after their ultra adorable boston terrier, Gus) . Definitely check it out. She's got buckets of beautiful hand made lace that she's getting ready to list.

If you're interested in revamping your etsy, blog, or business, shoot me an email! I'd love to hear more and talk about how I can help.

A Dangerfield Kind of Tuesday

2010-08-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was spent at the beach* with my family. I was mostly incapacitated during the trip due to a knee injury**, but it was still a blast. The photo above is three generations of my family.

Another pattern I finished up for fun.

And lastly, good music for your Tuesday afternoon. I came across Gregory Alan Isakov from his designer, Justin Fuller's website. Two seriously talented dudes.

The house is extremely chaotic today (always), so I'm doing my best to hanker down in the quieter areas (currently limited to bathrooms and the back porch).

*Not the beach. Just a beach. In Ohio. Which isn't much of a beach at all really... but hell, we're from the Midwest, we take what we can get!

**Our dear sweet dog ran into yours truly at full speed... where upon I fell directly onto my ass (ouch)... and in the process twisted my knee (double ouch).

Lions, Tigers & Bears (oh man...)

2010-08-11T06:58:00.000-07:00

Hi all! Here's a peak of a project I've been working on. I can't tell you too much about it yet, but hopefully in a few weeks I'll be able to share more.

I always wanted a pet bear. It's unfortunate that they maul people, don't you think?

And they lived happily.

2010-08-06T14:10:00.000-07:00

Hello there friends*. I hope you've been playing outside a lot (have you?). I've been trying my best to get out there as much as possible, but my picnic count this summer still remains an abysmal low... of zero**. Regardless of my appalling picnicking, the above advice is getting me through this bizarre limbo of a summer without breaking a sweat. Enjoy the weekend. I'm going to make some of these.

*I assume you are all friends. If you are foe, please proclaim yourself so I may arrive at your door (under the cover of darkness, obviously) and kick you in the shins.

** If you are interested in picnicking with me, name a date. I will clear my schedule.

Orange You Glad?

2010-07-30T13:26:00.000-07:00

I haven't been to California, but when I imagine it, it's quite nice. I'm in a really coastal mood today and needed a break from thinking about serious things, so I made a few patterns. (Here's one!)

And this song? Well. It's perfect for trying to imagine how nice it is in California right now.

Also, can I just tell you how much I love wikemedia commons? It's not much to look at on the outside, but it's chock full of good stuff, I promise. The original image I used for this was found there.

PUT YOURSELF IN MY SUITCASE

2010-07-26T16:04:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a much needed mini-vacation to Chicago with one of my best friends, Leah. I had no idea what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised. The lake was beaaautiful. And guess who got to go to the American Girl Store? THIS GAL.

In the past few weeks, I've become mildly obsessed with the simplicity (and cuteness) of tangrams. This little foxy fella is the first of a small series that I'm working on. They won't all be traditional tangrams (read about them here), but they're certainly inspired by them. Each little shape is cut out of a different fabric swatch, to ensure maximum cuteness and cuddleability (...do you not cuddle with your paper products?).

Any animals you'd love to see? I'm working on a bear, giraffe, turtle, an elephant, and a rabbit.

2010-07-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

This is shaping up to be a hell of a week for me, so posting may be scarce! On Wednesday my friend Leah and I are heading to Chicago. I've never been there before, so I'm pretty pumped. Any good restaurants I should make sure I visit?

This is a preview of a new invitation suite I've been working on. Hooray for watercolor! I hope everyone is having a good summer. It's hard to believe it's half gone.

GATSBY INVITATION SUITE

2010-07-09T07:10:00.000-07:00

1. Main Invitation
2. Belly Band
3. Envelope & Liner
4. Reply Card
5. Thank You Card
6. Favor Tag

Hi friends! It's Friday (can you believe it?). This weekend I'll be heading to my neighborhood Greek Festival and an Arts Festival. I'm soooo excited for the spanakopita and baklava.

This invitation is one from the DIY series, where you'll be able to select the colors and personalize the wording. Then, you can choose the PDF option where you'll be able to print and assemble them at home, or the Envelope Ready option, were I'll print and assemble everything and send it all to you in a nice little package! That way, even if you have a small budget, you can be sure to get exactly what you want.

LITTLE AVIARY WEDDING PREVIEW

2010-07-06T16:11:00.000-07:00

1. Accordion Fold Invite / Extra Info / Perforated Reply Card (holy moly, right?)
2. Vellum Origami Inside Envelope
3. Thank You Card
4. Envelope (more colors available)

Finally. I've been wanting to create a wedding line for... oh... three years now, but the hectic school schedule and heavy workload have held me back from really giving it a shot. I've got plenty more to show you, but for now, here's a peak of the first invitation suite from Little Aviary.

Shoot me an email for questions / pricing. I do custom invitations too. FREE air high five for anyone who recognizes the movie the bride and groom are from.

I LEFT MY HEART IN... (INVITATION PEAK)

2010-06-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

I've been working pretty hard the past week or two finishing up Little Aviary's wedding invitation line. I cannot WAIT to show you. Until then though, here's a tiny sneak peak!

In other news, I've been researching my butt off trying to figure out where I want to (try) and land a job. So! I'd love to hear a little about your favorite places-- where you live or where you wish you lived.

Happy Dad's Day!

2010-06-20T09:49:00.000-07:00

Hey dad. Thanks for being consistently great. From Star Wars to short holes, thanks not only for being an amazing dad, but also one of my best friends (and biggest fans). We're lucky to have you.

TO ROME, WITH LOVE

2010-06-14T13:41:00.000-07:00

This is one of the last projects I did in my silk screening class last semester. It's giant... it gave me hell when I was trying to transport it from Columbus to my home town a few weeks back. They are now residing peacefully under the couch until they find good homes.

You want to race me to the playground? Loser buys snowcones.

SOMETHING AMAZING

2010-06-06T20:02:00.000-07:00

Hey internet- honesty time. These past few weeks have stunk. Like... blown chunks. I had a super amazing job opportunity, and because of formalities (international work visas-- ugh), I lost it. Right now, I'm in this bizarre limbo while I try to figure out my next move.

But I realized the other night that having no opportunities kind of means that I have every opportunity (does that make sense?). No doors are closed... I can move anywhere... I can do anything... shoot for the moon and all that jazz, know what I'm sayin? So- A print to commemorate the chance to make something amazing happen!

In the meantime, I'm certainly accepting freelance work (check out Little Aviary to see my portfolio). If you are super awesome and need some equally awesome designin', shoot me an email. I want to know you!

ALPHABETS ARE FOR LOVERS (PRINTS!!)

2010-06-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

The only thing that's missing is you.

U & I are meant to be.

I just finished going through my alphabet prints I finished up in my silk screening class. Aaaand, there is a surprising number of them that I didn't royally screw up, so I'll be selling some of them at my etsy shop, Little Aviary. I also put some of those sunny thank you cards on there. Feels good to do something semi productive!

Also, can I just tell you how happy a nice font makes me? So happy. Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day- here's to more sunny days!

THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND

2010-05-27T16:56:00.000-07:00

Every time I have a reason to send out a thank you (which is often... I have much to be thankful for), I absolutely MUST design a new card. So! Here is this week's thank you card! Super fly!

Things I am Thankful for Today:
1. Puppies
2. Kittens
3. Blueberry Muffins (we've eaten nearly all of them)
4. Unicorns
5. Books
6. Sisters
7. 90's Alternative Rock

PEACHES N' BLUUUEBERRIES

2010-05-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

Haley (of Little E & Co) and I have been working together for the past few months on her website, blog, and logo. When she told me her little Elizabeth was turning one, I was happy to help out! The party theme was a Peaches & Cream.

I made some blueberry muffins today, so I decided to take a few photos of the cupcake toppers and invitations. Check out more from the adorable party here. Happy Belated First Birthday to Elizabeth!

AIR GUITAR SOLOS

2010-05-26T10:02:00.000-07:00

Aaand, my internet life is officially complete. Allison just sent me an email letting me know that the amazing Kathryn at Snippet & Ink stuck my postcards into one of her famous inspiration boards.

High fives and 20 minute air guitar solos all around!

IGLOO LETTERPRESS AT NSS!

2010-05-20T07:15:00.000-07:00

This past week some of my favorite folks in Columbus made it to NYC to take part in the National Stationery Show. It was Igloo Letterpress's first year out there, and I was so happy that Little Aviary got to be a small part of it! Allison Chapman and Sharon McMullen (amazing designer, definitely check her out) did a FANTASTIC job putting together a great booth. I'm so proud of my Worthington Family. Hooray Igloo!

Photos from Oh So Beautiful Paper, Paper Crave, and Poppytalk.

HISTORIANS - NEW WORLD, OLD FLAME

2010-05-19T20:57:00.000-07:00

This morning I had a minute to snap some quick (crummy... I apologize) photos from a fun project I recently finished up.

I went to high school with a couple talented musicians who both happened to land in Columbus. Both are members of a fantastic band called Historians. They needed some CD artwork for their EP, New World, Old Flame and I was happy to help them out. Mike Puncekar did a fantastic job on the ink illustrations. The case is a trifold with a pocket so the CD slips securely in the last panel's pocket. Classy.

Historians - myspace - bandcamp - facebook

GRADUATED!

2010-05-17T08:06:00.000-07:00

Guess who graduated?! THIS GIRL. Seventeen years of schooling, and I'm done. How bizarre!

L to R: Krysti Kalkman, Em Beros, Me

My sisters and I (Me, Randi, Rebecca)

L to R: Jordan Merchant, Quinn Kellogg, Dave Armstrong, Me

So, a HUGE congratulations to all my amazing classmates at Columbus College of Art & Design. It has been a phenomenal four years. I really encourage you to check out a few of their websites. I graduated with some seriously talented friends!

Stay tuned this week. I can't wait to tell you about what's next for me!

HEY MOM

2010-05-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to formally announce to the entire worldwide interweb that my mom is awesome. The best. So thanks mom. Thank you for always supporting me. I love love LOVE you!

LIVERPOOL RUBBER COMPANY

2010-05-03T15:14:00.000-07:00

So what does this designer do with her abundant free time? Designs.

Actually, that was a fib about the free time. It's finals week, and I've decided to start a new project! The past few weeks have been so crazy and mentally exhausting that I was feeling creatively zapped. So, rather than writing my 7 page paper for Philosophy (due tomorrow and not yet started, mind you), I decided to open this little can of worms.

I'm sick of lackluster shoe companies... and ugly shoe boxes, so I decided to create a new identity for an old (long time defunct) brand, Liverpool Rubber Company. A little Wikipedia-ing led me to this gem, and before I had time to think about all the work I need to do on finals, this guy was already started and well on it's way to becoming a full fledged branding project. Here's a peak of the logo I ended up going with!

(P.S. Does it crack anyone else up that the name could easily be misconstrued as a condom brand? Yeah me too!)

LITTLEAVIARY.COM HAS LAUNCHED!

2010-04-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

Hello! I'm so excited to announce the launch of LittleAviary.com! I've been slowly working on it for the past few weeks, and it's so wonderful to see it finally up and working. I hope you'll take a peak!

This past Wednesday was Columbus College of Art & Design's senior career fair. It was an exhausting process, but a really fantastic experience. I want to thank everyone who stopped by and talked with me-- especially a few CCAD students that mentioned they read this blog (by far the coolest feeling ever to know that I'm not just writing into space!).

Have a great weekend! I'll see you next week.

ZOINKS, JENKIES, YOWSA, ETC.

2010-04-27T07:05:00.000-07:00

Hello stranger! It's sure been awhile, hasn't it? These past few weeks have been a doozy. In just two weeks I'll be graduating!

With everything quickly wrapping up, I've been left with my head spinning. I have some extremely exciting news that I'll hopefully be sharing with you next week, but until then I'd like to show you my little branding packets I've been working on. They each come packed in a little muslin bag (with a cute tag of course) and have a mini resume, a business card (not pictured), a birdie notebook (you can see the set a few posts below), and a Little Happiness Card. Fun stuff!

I'll see you soon! Things should be slowing down shortly. Wish me luck!

ALPHABETS ARE FOR LOVERS

2010-04-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

Hello there ladies and gents. Today I bring you my morning shower idea from today (I always get the best ideas when I'm either falling asleep or in the shower...). Letters for lovers! The first one is a take on the I -heart- You idea with the small type at the bottom reading "U & I are meant to be".

Aaaand, the second one has one empty spot and reads "The only thing that's missing is you." (GET IT??!)

With all the craziness of my life right now, I'm really attracted to simple designs like this. I'll be screen printing them tomorrow at 18x24. I think this would look pretty smashing framed in a bed room or living room. I'll be sure to make some extras to put in Little Aviary's shop! If you'd like to reserve one in advance, just let me know... I'd be happy to.

Happy Wednesday everyone!

POSIES FOR APRIL

2010-04-06T10:42:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I hope your Easter was wonderful! This was the first year I didn't get to go back to my home town to see my family, so in that respect, I was really missing them. On the other hand though, Mike and I learned that we cook a mean ham and that potato flakes, while a good idea, will never compare to the real thing.

Without further adieu, here's a piece for an invitation suite I'm working on. The posies are watercolor I scanned in and the type is simple and modern. My plan is to launch a line in late May, but if anyone is interested before then, please feel free to shoot me an email.

I HEART B&

2010-03-30T10:21:00.000-07:00

A tiny idea for your Tuesday! My family is very musical. We're always singing, dancing, or playing an instrument (or all three at once!). And honestly, as geeky as it sounds, marching band is what I miss most form high school. A few years ago my youngest sister, Rebecca picked up a saxophone and has been playing ever since.

I'm going to turn this design into a silk screen for her and her girlfriends to put on t-shirts and tote bags. Just because we're band geeks doesn't mean we can't be fashionable!

AVIARY LETTERPRESS NOTEBOOKS

2010-03-29T14:50:00.000-07:00

One of the many things I've been working on lately is this series of mini books. They're tiny (about 3.5 x 5'') and are (in my opinion) damn cute! I printed the covers in letterpress (at my dear Igloo Letterpress in Worthington) and then digitally printed and glued the blue strips on top. They read "Good Ideas Can't Be Caged", "Onward & Upward", and "Prepare for Lift Off"-- all as a sort of homage to my upcoming graduation. It's time to spread your wings, dear Rachel ( eh eh?).

If anyone is interested in having a set, let me know in the comments! I'll shoot you an email when they go on sale!

Cash It, Trash It, or Stash It

2010-03-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Long time, no see. Things have been extraordinarily busy on my end. I'll be graduating in just a little over a month from now, so as you can imagine, I've been working my tail off trying to get everything done. I have so many great new projects to share with you, but for now I thought I'd tell you a little about this project I did with my dad, Dave Dangerfield.

He's an antique dealer, an auctioneer, an appraiser, and an all around great guy. Lately, he's been doing a lot of speaking events around the area where people bring in their antiques and he tells them about the history of it and what it could be worth. We were joking around one day about how essentially he tells these people whether they've got a hunk of garbage or some real treasure... and how sometimes the truth hurts! So, we decided it might be fun to start a blog-- Cash It, Stash it, or Trash It. Over the years, he's accumulated a lot of great stories and great advice on the ins and outs of antiques. We're still working on getting it properly rolling, but the idea is he writes about his experiences, as well as writes about pieces people send it to him to appraise.

MOON OR BUST

2010-03-15T12:52:00.000-07:00

It's an odd feeling when you realize that what once was a hobby has been molded into a career. I'm so so lucky to be able to do what I love every day... it's truly pretty fantastic.

The only problem is now I'm left without a real hobby or distraction... perhaps I will take up knitting? Or skydiving? Or knitting while skydiving? Once the weather gets nice I'll at least be able to go play outside!

In the meantime, reading books and doing these little no-purpose side projects give my brain a bit of a break. Now! Back to the homework!

LOCAL MATTERS MAILER

2010-03-11T15:51:00.000-08:00

I finished these pieces earlier today. Local Matters needed a piece that they could produce and send to potential donors. Since their budget is small, I wanted the pieces to work separately as well as together. The business card holds the folder shut, so glue strips weren't necessary. There are three postcards that each highlight a different Local Matters program (forgot to take a photo of the flip side, sorry!) that tuck into the folder. The last piece is a personalized letter to the potential donor.

My family is coming to visit me this weekend and I can't wait to take a little break from work and show them to a few of my favorite Columbus spots. Hope for sunshine!

POPPIES AND SUNSHININ'!

2010-03-09T11:24:00.000-08:00

It's an amazingly amazing sunny day in Columbus, Ohio right now.. and boy is it making it hard to focus on school work! And what better way to spend my time then to do some watercolor doodles of some pretty poppies? I have class in an hour, but I think I might go sit outside and bask until then.

Enjoy the day!

BIG BEAR, LITTLE BOAT RETURNS!

2010-03-07T16:51:00.000-08:00

I've been taking a course in silk screening this semester. It's a blast, but I certainly have quite a bit to learn still! I may be the messiest silk screener in the world (but practice makes perfect right?). The rest of my weekend was spent at Igloo Letterpress finishing up a big project we were working on.

Sorry updates have been sparse here. Last semester = way too much to do! I hope everyone is well-- spring is here! I can feel it!

POSTCARDS

2010-03-01T07:23:00.001-08:00

I've been working on a series of postcards to share with you at the Little Aviary etsy shop. Instead of making you wait until they're all finished, I thought I'd share a bit of the progress with you! When all is said and done, there will be 5 designs all based on different favorite motivational quotes of mine.

This one reads, "Do not ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Howard Thurman

Do you have a favorite quote you'd love to see made into a postcard? Leave a comment- I need a few more ideas!

PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

2010-02-25T07:37:00.000-08:00

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about personal branding (business cards, website, etc). I'm not sure what to do with this idea, but I just had to get it out! I thought of it while I was falling asleep last night and decided I needed to do a quick mock up this morning. What do you think? Are you a fan of off beat business cards or do you think something more standard works best?

WEDNESDAY IN LIMBO

2010-02-24T07:35:00.000-08:00

It's Wednesday already! Where does the time go? I still seem to be stuck in this odd limbo with projects... nothing finished, but quite a few in progress. So here's a bit of what I've been up to! I'm taking a course in After Effects (which might just be the bane of my existence... only time will tell if I can conquer the 10 ton dragon that is motion graphics!). I'm working on a 30 second spot for House Hunters. This is a little snippet of what the graphics are like.

Also, can I tell you how hard it is to keep projects secret when you have a blog and want to share anything and everything with the whole entire universe? It's hard. So stay tuned! There's always more waiting in the wings!

WHITE IORA - SIMPLE & CHIC INVITATION

2010-02-18T10:15:00.000-08:00

I can't recall if I've ever mentioned this, but I would love to design wedding invitations. I needed a mental break from course work last night, so I created this simple invite. In the future, I'll be designing the rest of the suite to sell, but right now it's just this little guy! Hopefully after graduation, I'll be able to launch my invitation business (White Iora) on the web. If anyone happens to be interested in getting wedding invitations designed by me, feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email at quailcreative@gmail.com

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week thus far. I'm gearing up to drive back to my home town this weekend and hang out with my family. I absolutely can't wait!

HOOK, LINE, & SINKER

2010-02-15T13:26:00.000-08:00

This semester I was lucky enough to fit a watercolor class into my schedule. I'm certainly no fine artist, but I have a blast! Here's what I did the last few minutes of class. I've been in the mood to do a card series or something of that nature in watercolor, and just felt like experimenting a bit.

It's a white out here in Columbus, so afternoon classes were canceled today. I should work on something...

Stay warm everyone!

SALINGER CONFECTIONERY CO. - IN PROGRESS

2010-02-15T07:25:00.000-08:00

For the most part, I use this blog to show you finished pieces of my work, but I thought I'd take a minute today to show you a couple in progress screen shots of my self imposed "Salinger Confectionery Co." Project.

The first shot is based on the story "For Esme with Love and Squalor". It will turn into a small box of bonbons. The second is based on "Just Before the War with the Eskimos" and has been aptly named "Ginnie Finds a Heart". To loosely relate it back to the story some more, it will be a tin of hot chocolate mix (so the rectangular label will wrap around, and the circle label will stick on top, if you can picture that).

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Weekend! Are you working on any interesting projects? I'd love to hear!

VALENTINES GIFTS

2010-02-08T16:19:00.000-08:00

Have I ever told you about how amazing my family is? They're pretty amazing. I have two younger sisters (Randi and Rebecca) who I miss insanely while I'm in Columbus. I wanted to send them a Valentine's gift but was stuck on what to get them... until I saw these great little letter locket charms. Perfect! I snagged three... one for each of them (and one for myself of course!). I wrote a little note for both of them and illustrated them with some little fingerprint hearts (my pinky is still red... I didn't realize the ink was so permanent! They'll be in the mail tomorrow so they can have them in time for Valentine's Day!

Part of my amazing fantastic family - Left to right, The Marvelous Mom, The Rebecca, The Randi (this was her high school prom), and yours truly.

SALINGER CONFECTIONERY CO.

2010-02-07T13:04:00.000-08:00

This is going to be a hilariously wild week for me. If there was ever a time for me to be the star of a reality show in which I run around like a chicken with my head cut off, this would be the perfect week to premier. I can't promise anything, but I can guess there might be a few tears and a few sleepless nights. Such is the life of an art student!

This photo is a preview of a project I started this weekend. Columbus was a snowy icy mess (and beautiful to boot!), which meant I was mostly stuck indoors. I recently reread Salinger's "Nine Stories" again and was in the mood to do a project about it to round out my portfolio. There will eventually be 9 pieces... one to commemorate each story in the best way I could think possible... chocolate!

REPURPOSED CHILDREN'S BOOK

2010-02-04T07:10:00.000-08:00

I mentioned a few days ago that I've been interested in repurposing damaged and unappreciated books into things that can be loved again. When I found this classic children's book sitting sadly in a trash pile, I knew it had to be saved! About half the pages on the inside were torn or cut apart, rendering the book unreadable. The other half of the pages were perfect though, so I carefully pulled them out of the book and made them into a small stationary set to be used once more.

I was worried people might be upset or insulted by me pulling books apart, but I truly make sure that the books I use are beyond reading or donating condition before I do these things.

Tomorrow is Friday and I am oh-so-excited! I think next Monday I'll share my Valentine's from the past few years with you all!

VALENTINE GIVEAWAY ON POST GRAD HAIRCUT!

2010-02-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

Almost forgot to mention! I'm giving a set of the mini Valentine's away here on Sam's blog, Post Grad Haircut. If you're in the mood to win some cute cards for Valentine's Day, head over there and comment to enter!

MOTHERHOOD VIDEO

2010-01-31T17:56:00.000-08:00

Can I get a giant "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!". The amazing Katherine Center created a video essay all about motherhood for the Mom 2.0 Summit coming this February. Aaaaand I just got an e-mail from my wonderful stepsister Jenny letting me know that they had included one of my Bit of Happiness Cards right at the beginning of the video. It reads "you are beautiful".

I really have no words... a huge thank you to everyone out there who has been reading. Your comments have encouraged me to keep doing what I love!

REPURPOSED BOOKS

2010-01-28T07:36:00.000-08:00

So... I've been really into the idea of heirloom design lately and this is my first (baby tiny small) project I did with it in mind. I love repurposing old books. Whenever I find one someone is about to throw away, I snatch it up and make it into something!

My idea for this is to use it as a substitute for a ring bearer's pillow in a wedding. I didn't have any fancy rings to shoot inside it, but I think it's easy enough to picture, right? After the wedding you can keep it on the bookshelf, or on the night stand, or where ever really...

I like the idea that it can be passed on through generations too, don't you?

I LOVE

2010-01-26T06:48:00.000-08:00

I'm a bit obsessed with this sort of pattern. My notebooks are filled with mindless doodles of it, and my portfolio contains at least one other instance of it... so I've decided to embrace it! And hey, they're a tiny bit reminiscent of bird feathers (right? ...right...) so it'll kind of sort of go well with the whole "Little Aviary" / "Quail Creative" thing. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

I love love, and this whole Valentine's Day phenomenon has given me a chance to take a tiny bit of time off from school work and create some fun little pieces of art. So last night I finished this little guy up and put it up on Little Aviary's Etsy. I may make it into a card series, depending on this week's school work load (last semester = butt kicking frenzy), but until then you can purchase the print here on Etsy.

Lastly, thank you to all the wonderful blogs out there who have posted about Little Aviary, Quail Creative, and me! It's been so encouraging to see people enjoying bits and pieces of my work. Until next time, dear friends. Happy Tuesday.

BOOKIN'

2010-01-25T16:06:00.000-08:00

So! Things are happening! I've (mostly) been a total nut case since last Tuesday, but things have been good. I took a little time tonight to relax a bit, watch some Gilmore Girls, and paint my nails (it's the little things in life, right?).

You may remember that I've been interning at Igloo Letterpress with the amazing Allison Chapman. We've been extremely busy getting things ready for the National Stationary Show this coming May. This weekend was spent printing Valentines on the press and sitting in on a Book Binding class where I made this little beauty! I think I'll be using it as a sketchbook for this semester...

Igloo's actually got quite a few really awesome classes coming up in the next month or two. If you're in the Columbus area and you're interested in learning letterpress or book binding, you can find the upcoming class schedule here.

LOVE NOTES - MINI VALENTINES

2010-01-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

I promised you Valentine's yesterday, and here they are! These are sort of a throwback to my elementary days when we'd all bring in a Valentine's "Mailbox" and fill them all with mini notes and lots of goodies! I'm selling them in flat sheets that are perforated, so you can tear them out yourself and give them to all your friends (and lovers o'course!).

It's my sweet and simple take on a holiday that has been overrun with somewhat ridiculous commercial expectations.

If anyone is interested in purchasing, I listed them on Little Aviary this morning! Now, off to my very first (last) class! It starts in 15 minutes... and I probably shouldn't have posted this!

MAY THE CHAOS COMMENCE!

2010-01-18T20:31:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow begins my last first day at Columbus College of Art & Design. How bittersweet! Wish me luck, and be sure to check back tomorrow to see the new Little Aviary Valentines!

CLAY & ROSSI WEB

2010-01-15T08:29:00.001-08:00

I've been such a busy girl over break, I nearly forgot about my Clay & Rossi project I had yet to show you! I've posted about it before, showing you progress, but never got around to showing quite a bit of it!

The first picture is a series of hanging graphics in the New York store. The 2nd picture shows a big of the web graphics and my guerilla proposal to have Clay & Rossi collaborate with the amazing Sartorialist.

FEATURED: Love. Obsess. Inspire.

2010-01-14T06:48:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Lexi of Love.Obsess.Inspire. for featuring the "Bit of Joy" cards on her amazing blog yesterday. It sure did put a smile on my face!

As always, you can find the cards she featured on Little Aviary's Etsy! I think I might do a Valentine version soon as well, so check back if you're interested!

BIG BEAR, LITTLE BOAT

2010-01-12T08:03:00.000-08:00

This is my last week off, and let me tell you, I've been working like a crazy person trying to get things done! This coming semester I'll be taking a silk screening class, so I'm kind of sort of trying to prepare a few ideas to use in that class.

So in comes Big Bear, Little Boat! Things will be modified if I end up screen printing, but for now, I feel like I have a tiny bit of a leg up. Maybe. Hopefully!

This semester just might kill me. Let me tell you about my classes, hm? Philosophy! Watercolor! Advertising & Graphic Design! Printmaking! Music Appreciation! Art Direction! Portfolio! And, Igloo Letterpress Internship! I'm a bit nervous...

SNOWED IN

2010-01-08T08:46:00.001-08:00

Balloon Alphabet Print available on my etsy, o' course!

I'm taking the day off today to spend some much needed time with my family.

My puppy and his beau at the lake.

My little sisters and my mom (elementary school principal) are off from school today due to the massive amounts of snow covering the ground, so we're taking the day to go play outside with the puppies. Sledding? Possibly. Hot Chocolate? Obviously.

And I almost forgot to mention...! Last night the blog got a much needed makeover. I'm itching to tell you all about my whole plan for the Little Aviary family, but I'll save that for another day. Hope you like it!

Everyone have a smashing weekend! Stay warm!

LITTLE AVIARY

2010-01-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

As this is my last true break before I graduate, I've been really working my tail off trying to get everything ready.

So! This week I've added a few super duper neat designs to Little Aviary's etsy site! The Balloon Alphabet Posters are up along with the One of a Kind Prints. In the next week, I'll be putting up three more designs that I think you'll love.

This has been a long time goal of mine that just kept getting set aside because of school work... so it feels extra good knowing I've accomplished this little thing!

(The photo is from a mini shoot I did with my lovely sister Randi last winter.)

NEW YEAR

2010-01-04T18:42:00.000-08:00

Guess what? Four days ago, 2009 came to an end. Did you hear?

It was an excellent year, there's no way I can deny it... but I can't help but be excited for 2010. In May, I'll be graduating... and with that, I have many many maaaaany hopes, dreams, and expectations! I can't wait to see what happens!

CLAY & ROSSI POSTCARDS

2010-01-03T07:43:00.000-08:00

I don't think I ever got to show you a few of the pieces for my Clay & Rossi (my "man"thropologie) line I created last semester. These would be inserted into men's magazines (such as GQ) as well as being sent out as mailers. A message is laser cut into the outside sleeve to give a peek at what's inside. The inner postcard then pulls out to reveal a photo by their proposed partner, the Sartorialist and the brand mission. I had high hopes of mocking this baby up and photographing it, but so far this semester has stolen my soul (exaggerating... just a BIT) and I've just had no free time to do that.

SLEEP to DREAM

2009-12-30T09:32:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you've all heard by now how much I LOVE hand drawn type (take a look around... it's everywhere... I just can't seem to help myself!). So, this was my project for last night! My poor (patient) boyfriend sketched and watched Dirty Jobs with me while I painstakingly tweaked all the lines in Illustrator. Don't worry... we rewarded all our hard work with pancakes and omelets afterwards.

I'm thinking about making this a print... I think it would be cute in a bedroom. Not sure if these are the colors I'll stick with though... I am one fickle designer, let me tell you!

This isn't all I've been working on though... and I can't wait to show you the rest! This coming Monday will be a kind of mini launch of Little Aviary! I'm excited... and nervous... and my tummy gets all jittery... every time i think about it! Eek!

IN THE GARDEN

2009-12-20T17:17:00.001-08:00

Have I ever mentioned how much I love the look of cut paper? You can probably tell when you look at the Adam & Eve Soap packaging I did.. although that was a bit nuts of me, I admit. A few years back, I did a series of pop-up cards that looks much like these, with just white cut outs and a bright color behind them. Purty purty.

This little guy is three layers of paper all stuck into one of those deep box frames. I wish I had more time to do things like this... they're so relaxing (but so time consuming!)

ONE of a KIND POSTER

2009-12-17T17:38:00.001-08:00

I'm so excited to be on break! It's giving me a chance to work on all of the things I've been itching to work on since, oh, August. I showed a version of this poster that I used for a self promotional piece, but rather than keeping it all to myself, I thought it should be shared! Like the previous Alphabet Posters, it'll be in the shop in January.

It feels so nice to be getting started on some of my dreams lately. Stop by for more tomorrow! I almost can't wait to show you...

BALLOON ALPHABET

2009-12-17T13:50:00.000-08:00

So! The balloon alphabet is finished, and let me tell you, it was a labor of love! I'm planning on putting it in the Little Aviary etsy shop when I launch a bundle of other things in early January, but if anyone is interested, comment here and we can get you one right away!

This series is going to be made into posters you can purchase. They're a perfect gift if you're going to a baby shower or if you're setting up a nursery! I think I'm going to make them into shower invitations or possibly baby announcements as well. When you purchase one, you'll let me know what color scheme you want, and what letter (or letters) you want. Should be fun!

Here's the whole alphabet that you can choose from...

BALLOOOOONS!

2009-12-14T19:51:00.000-08:00

Tonight's project! Floating balloon alphabets. I'm still trying to wind down from this crazy semester (which is over, thank goodness!), so I decided to do something simple... and I'm in a balloon mood tonight!

I was thinking I might make the entire alphabet, then print them individually so people can buy them and frame them... wouldn't something like this look cute in a nursery? I think so...

THE WAREHOUSE CAFE & DINER

2009-12-09T13:37:00.000-08:00

This project was a quick assignment in a copy writing class. We had to create a strong brand voice. Warehouse Cafe & Diner is a delightful little family owned dining joint in Columbus. While the food and atmosphere are spot on (it is, as you might expect, in an old warehouse), their branding is non-existent. I chose them because I truly thought they could benefit from a little vocalization and 'rebrand'.

In other news, I am officially in the home stretch! Twenty four more hours and I am absolutely home free. And can I just take a moment to tell you, I CANNOT WAIT!!! I have so many projects that have been brewing for the past 4 months. And so many great poster designs and cards that I know you will love! In the meantime, thanks to everyone who purchased a set of "A Little Love" Cards from Little Aviary. If anyone is looking for a stocking stuffer or a cute gift for your best friend, check them out!

Thanks for everyones support these past few weeks! It's been a busy semester, I'll say it again!

PLACES TO GO, PEOPLE TO SEE

2009-12-02T13:09:00.000-08:00

Things have been wildly eventful! We're down to the final week and a half of the semester, and boy are they keeping us busy (or... busier than usual, I should say!). The holiday was wonderful though... we had three birthdays (mine, my boyfriend Mike's, and my lovely mom's! Much fun (and much much food) was had! Limited time and zero budget means you work with what you have when it comes to gift wrap, so kraft paper was what they got...
I took a few days to just visit with my family (my sister Bec and I saw New Moon... so geeky girly glorious) and play with our pup.

And now I'm back to the grind! I presented my concept to the Columbus Food & Wine Board yesterday. The wine bottle was a little extra idea I had... since the event hosts 25+ local restaurants, I proposed branding a wine bottle for each of them to display in their restaurants as a shout out that they're participating and to advertise for the event.
The next 12 days will be wildly wild... but as soon as the semester is done, I'll be starting a few new (hopefully amazing) projects that I think you guys will love! Stay tuned and wish me luck!

CLAY & ROSSI TAGS

2009-11-25T20:06:00.000-08:00

So, a week or two ago I shared some progress on a class project I'm working on for a fictional men's clothing store, Clay & Rossi. I finished these guys a few days ago, printed them on a light grey fabric, and then stitched them into my lovely (and very cooperative) boyfriend's coats. Poor kid had to go cold for a day while I took photos. What a trooper!

At times, being a student can be aggravating, because you have great ideas, but hardly any resources (and a negative $5.00 budget!). But I suppose on the flip side, I should be embracing the fact that I have almost 100% creative freedom!

The next few weeks will be extremely hectic for me... finals week and preparing Igloo Letterpress for Winter Fair (if you're in Columbus, stop by!). Posting will be inconsistent (as usual), but I promise to make them all wonderful and interesting! Thanks to everyone who bought A Little Happiness Cards from Little Aviary on Etsy. It makes me so happy to know that people enjoy them as much as I do!

FOOD & WINE POSTER

2009-11-18T21:47:00.000-08:00

I just (mostly) finished working on a poster for my advertising class. Our assignment was to design a poster for the annual Grand Tasting event hosted by The Columbus Food & Wine Affair. I'm officially exhausted, but fairly happy with the results. The bottom will be left blank so we can insert all the formal information and photos later.

Also, a HUGE thank you to Kate of the NEO-traditionalist for mentioning me on her blog... it made my week. And thank you guys for checking out my new Etsy account, Little Aviary. It's fairly empty right now, but I'm getting ready to put some more posters and cards up for sale after finals week! The bunting cards are up though, if anyone is interested.

LITTLE AVIARY ETSY SHOP!

2009-11-17T23:37:00.000-08:00

I had a bit of free time tonight (I'm lying about the free time) so I decided to join Etsy and attempt to start selling some of my designs. I've been wanting to for a veeery long time, but I never had the confidence (or time) to sit down and do it.

I bought my domain name last week (a story I'll save for another time) and I think it's time to bite the bullet. Just in time for Christmas, right? And honestly, I've been trying to add to the "Get Rachel Through Her Last Semester in College" Fund. I've made it this far, and there's no way I'm not going to graduate in May just because of money issues!

Right now, I'm only selling the "Little Bit of Happiness Cards" (more photos in the previous entry), but after finals week, I'll start adding more to the shop. I've got some neat ideas up my sleeve, so be ready!

You can find my new Etsy shop Little Aviary, here.

A LITTLE HAPPINESS, PLEASE

2009-11-14T17:49:00.000-08:00

Yes, I've been completely AWOL, I know. There is no excuse. This has been one of the most difficult (yet exciting) semesters of my life. I'm attempting to pull myself together for my May graduation (by the way I'm SO EXCITED about that). I've been working on some amazing projects though that I know you're going to love.

So please, I beg of you, bear with me. I have some marvelous things to share with you in the next few weeks.

In the meantime, I've brought you this tiny project. I (like everyone else) have been loving the bunting flag trend, so I decided to do a quick and fun project with them. I have a weird feeling I recently saw a project like this, but I can't put my finger on what it was or where it was from... I know it will come to me eventually! Ah well... on with the show...

I love how a simple fill in the blank can make a card instantly more personal (and more fun!). I think I might sell these in the near future.

CLAY & ROSSI - GETTING STARTED

2009-10-25T10:17:00.001-07:00

This is a brand-spankin' new project I've been working on... and I'm very excited about it, so I hope you'll forgive me for showing you the entire gambit of logos I've created! It's going to be a men's retail store... kind of a Manthropologie. Right now, I'm kind of going for a modern barbershop feel.

The initial logo sketch! For the record, S's are ridiculously touch to draw!

I wanted to have quite a few variations of the logo, since they'll be going on all sorts of items... from stationary to jeans.

This is the quote I'm kind of living under through the duration of the project... it was what sparked the initial idea. The always inspirational Kate at The NEO-Traditionalist posts a daily quote and this one caught my eye a few weeks ago (thanks Kate!). It's got the perfect tone and voice for this project...

So! Much much more to come on this project. I can't wait to really get started on everything. The logo was just the first hurdle!

LIT BOOKS LOGO DESIGN

2009-10-22T20:14:00.000-07:00

I've updated the Lit Bookstore logo to make it a little more sophisticated, but still have the whimsical dreamlike feel. It could use some graphic tweeking, but apart from that, I think I'm liking it for now. Any thoughts?

The sign idea is from a store down in West Virginia called Paradox. It's a very small hole-in-the-wall book shop that served as my main source for inspiration.

LIT BOOKSTORE POSTCARDS

2009-10-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

This is a (very) simple postcard design for Lit Books. They would be sent out to customers on their mailing list to inform them of upcoming book swaps. The different photos could be sent out for different promotions and hopefully would be kept and displayed somewhere.
I also proposed doing a pack of three postcards that could be picked up in the store by customers and sent out to their friends. By including the customer in the "advertisement", the store can gain a more personal relationship with their customers. And everyone loves snail mail, right?

Little Books is something I didn't get to focus on for this particular project, but that I'm hoping to have time to look at for my portfolio. Children's book stores are so much fun!

SLOW GOINGS

2009-10-19T14:49:00.000-07:00

I've been working on some really interesting assignments the last two weeks... but none of them are anywhere close to being ready to show yet. So... posting will be slow for the next week or two.

Thanks for being patient!

LIT BOOKS

2009-10-13T07:31:00.000-07:00

So, it's been a long time coming (a very long time) but I'm finally finished with this project! Here's a few of the finished images I took and edited.

Stop by tomorrow to see the rest of the project. It'll be fun, I promise!

LOCAL MATTERS, ROUND TWO

2009-10-08T16:26:00.000-07:00

Who says CCAD is an insanely tough school? Surely not I.

I recently shared the results from my Local Matters campaign with you. We turned them in last Thursday, and I was fairly happy with the results. Today, however, my professor let the class know that our fictional campaign was rejected by our clients and we needed to give them a totally new concept and look.

If it were a real assignment for a real client, I wouldn't mind. I would, of course, expect to need to do changes or develop a new concept. But I think it's a wee bit ridiculous to add another project to our already heavy workloads. It's quite a few more hours of work to just teach us a lesson.

I think what Local Matters does is fantastic though, so luckily, it was relatively easy to come up with a new idea. These are the beginnings of my quick solutions. I'll be writing and adding copy in the next few days, along with some other extensions.

What say you? Anyone have any advice or opinions on the design and headlines? I'm all ears.

*None of these photos were taken by me. If anyone knows who I can give credit to, let me know!*