Crazy Busy!

Wow! I hadn't realized it's been 2 months and some change since we last connected! It's funny when life gets in the way and the days just keep going by without a chance to post! I've had some very exciting developments in the past few months.

{List of Exciting Developments}:

1. YES! I am on Pinterest! And I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

2. Landed a repeat account that has the potential to
develop into a full time thing......DO I WANT THAT? yes!

3. I am on Pinterest!

4. I have been retailing my knitting
(not exactly print-design related, but exciting none-the-less)

5. This isn't a development YET where I live,
but who is ready for THIS?!:

Between getting ready for a new baby in the house (IN TWO WEEKS!) I've been establishing myself in the Creative Community in our area. I have many leads from living here previously, and one of those connections came through in a big way! So needless to say, one thing turned into another thing, and into another thing, and I've learned the art of balancing work-at-home life and my home-life.  But I still would like to know how people do this and stay sane!

The other night, my husband had JUST walked in the door from work, still in uniform, and I kissed him goodbye with hardly an explanation, and took off for a coffee date with girlfriends. Needless to say he was a little confused. But I had to get out. RIGHT THEN. And it was good. Really good. Salted Caramel Mocha minus the calories good.

Services Postcard

We're here to stay people! Sure, there are boxes everywhere, but my office is unpacked, and we're ready to roll! So is my promotional postcard. I'll have a bigger post in a few! But if you want to leave some love for me, well, I'd sure appreciate it! Anything you'd like to see included before I print and mail?

~Jessica

Big Plans!

Hi Everyone!

We are settling into the Inland Northwest! North Idaho, the 51st State. Or it should be!  We are SO happy to be back in the area, and things are falling into place.

We saw a BUNCH of horrible rentals, but just today found a really cute 3 Bd/1.5 Ba that is going to work perfectly for us! It came down to "Will we be happy here for at least a year?" The answer was YES! Not much for a yard, which was high on my list for my 2 boys, but there are a few parks in walking distance, so that made up for that. Hubbins is not a city boy, but he took the "if you're happy here, I'm happy here too" approach. Thanks babe! That's part of why I love you SO MUCH!

Creatively, I have much in the works. Settling into town, and starting to dream up ideas for growing my business is tops on my list. I have this huge urge to contribute to the family coffers, even being a full time mom, and then baking another baby on top of everything else!

Once again, this is about what I feel like right now:

I'm hoping things settle down really soon. I'll be previewing my promotional postcards soon, as well as announcing a giveaway of some SUPER CUTE custom recipe cards, to bring out the mama-jama in all of us! Or as a friend calls it, the "Becky-Homecky". Hold me to it! What would all of you like to see on a design for a recipe card? What inspires you to create?

The Good Life

My husband is Wonderful with a capital "W". I've always known this, but today I'm able to take a minute to be grateful. He's working his tail off so that I can stay at home, and work from home, and spend time with our son.

Like right now, I'm drinking an iced coffee, recipe courtesy of The Pioneer Woman, a couple logo ideas stewing on screen, and my little Mr. Mr. is running around outside within eyesight shooting his "water soakers" at every little bug that dares to get in his way. Oh, to be 2. (We call them water soakers because he also has a fascination with guns, and guns are not allowed to be pointed at people EVER, while water soakers can.....see how that can get confusing?)

Courtesy of Flickr. Love the tranquility in this photo,
with the promise of some excitement in the clouds!

And I just had to take a peaceful minute to let you all know, before the reality of a day at home sets in and I'm swamped with the dishes, lunchtime, bathtime, dinnertime, naptime, and various "clean up all of the potty accidents" times.

~Jess

Exodus of Re-Branding. Take 2

The wind is blowing. My little Mr. Mr. is nearing the end of his naptime.
 

I am re-branding. Again.

I have a problem.

I mean, really, a PROBLEM, with a capital P.

 Here's my problem. I LOVE color, I LOVE designs, and I can't have one design for myself. Why is that a problem? Well....how am I supposed to let everyone know who I am and what I do, if one minute I look like the lady at the bank, but I moonlight at the nearest Kon-Tiki?

Help me stay on track people! I am re-branding. This WILL be the last time. (Until my business base is established, that is.)  I am going with this, I will make business cards, and letterhead, and a blog header, and some stickers at Moo. The stickers are amazing.  

(And if you go to Moo, and happen to check out their blog, and leave a comment,
go ahead and give a kickback that you heard of them from me. That'd be spectacular.)

So check this out:

I've found that if I can design within a business card parameter, the logo generally figures itself out, and makes it easier to apply to my paper collateral. Weird, I know, but it works for me.

I will also be revising my list of services in the coming years weeks, so check back if there is something special you'd have me in mind for. I specialize in design for print, but I am slowly letting myself be pulled into web. I've been resisting since I've been in college. I know it's the newest coolest stuff, but I just have too much fun with the printing presses.

My favorite Piece of Eye Candy!

You guys are going to DIE when you see this door. Ready?

AAAH! I LOVE it! And since hubbins and I are a little bitten by the home buying bug, this may be a reality for us soon! Love it!

No Posts Since February!

Geez. No wonder no one reads this anymore!  Well, I've been a LITTLE distracted. We found out at the end of January that we're expecting! I'm due in November, just a scant week before my little Mr. Mr.'s 3rd Birthday. Way to go with the planning?! Eek! Yep, and we're STILL traveling, so my last few months have been filled with the details and possibilities of what can and will happen realistically in the coming months.

Suffice it to say.....every other area of my life has suffered a little as we've worked out the details.  And since every other area of my life is changing, so shall my blog.  I'm working on a website for my creative business, so this blog is going to be less business minded and a little more creative. Eye candy, for instance, is a designers best friend.

If my hubbins had to choose between diamonds and the latest design software/hardware, the romantic in him would go with diamonds, and I'd swoon, and probably cry a little. If the practical side of him kicked in and he went with the usable, oh my goodness, I'd be in heaven. I love my laptop, my mighty mouse, my Wacom Tablet, and my software. I use them DAILY, and my dream of a creative firm is going to take flight on those basic "necessities".  I'll keep ya posted.

~Jess