#48: Write Newsletter

Back in April I started offering Email Newsletters as one of my freelance social media services. Since John (of Glass Gardens) is my #creativepartnerBFF, he was of course the first one to jump on board. Around the first of the month, with the help of Heather from Small Acts Count, we've put out some pretty awesome informational newsletters - including todays! To be included in the fun, sign up here. 

Click the image below to read the full newsletter.

Number #48 is off the list.

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. Click here to see my 92 To-Do's for this Summer - and to see the brave souls tackling their own lists!

Toss Bouquet

My sweet friend Sarah and her handsome groom got married on October 25, 2014. I was more than thrilled do design their wedding invitations and signage, but I was so honored when she asked me to make her toss bouquet for the wedding. Her colors were coral and navy so I perused the artificial flower lanes at the craft store and found these perfect little Carnation minis for the filler.

Turns out, coral felt (the pretty, soft coral color) is really hard to come by. It's either red, dark red, or approximately 15 shades of pink. I ended up with "grapefruit" and got to work. A typical toss bouquet will come with 4 flowers and filler for $20-$25. It can match the wedding bouquet flowers perfectly (in a smaller fashion), or it can be something completely different that your lucky guest will be able to cherish for many years to come.

As for the rest of the evening, the wedding couldn't have been more splendid. The Attic at Waterman's is such a hidden gem! The venue over looks the Atlantic Ocean and is stunning as the afternoon and evening sun starts to set. The food was fantastic - and lots of it, plus the ice luge (which brought fond memories of a friend's 21st birthday) was a more-than-appropriate touch! Many congrats to my two wonderful friends!

#85: Bastille Day

Bastille Days in Ghent, a first-time event was held last week on Colley Avenue in front of Blair Middle School. I had the privilege to be in the know about this event from the beginning because I was asked to design the posters!

Like any inaugural affair, there were some aspects that had to either be nixed or downsized, but in less than a few months this event was pulled together and a great success. I was so excited that my design was very well received and found its way all over Ghent. The Harbor Gallery is selling 12x18 versions, framed and unframed. The Alliance Francaise Norfolk was selling t-shirts and it made it's way into the "Passport" that attendees used to discover all the events and specials.

The two-day event included Can Can Dancers, wine & cheese tastings, French story hour, tricycle Tour de Ghent, waiter races, French themed movies at The Naro, antique markets, fresh flowers, a guillotine photo booth, music and so much more!

Community paint project. There were two easels set up with blank canvases that anyone walking by could paint on. Here, someone started an Eiffel Tower and these girls were adding their artistic touch. This is a great idea for an art pop up or a feature at an art show.

We tried the all natural crepe with brown sugar and butter...delicious. Monique's Crepes is a Richmond-based food truck and has lots of events on their upcoming schedule.

Bastille Days t-shirts! 

Table Seven's adorable setup! They had lots of French inspired gifts, books and candy, I loved the Eiffel Tower suckers. Hopefully next year, the market can include more vendors with an even more eclectic collection of French-inspired vendors and booths.

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. Click here to read all about it and here to a see a gallery of pictures of everyone participating. 

#91: Make a Map

This outcome is not what I had in mind when I put this on this list, but definitely another highlight of the Summer! Andrew from Better Block emailed me last week to ask if I was interested in compiling another map for the weekend community transformation project (see my first one and second one). How could I refuse? Even if with my mom in town, wedding dress shopping, Harborfest and beach season upon us!

Lucky for me, the talented 504 and a 1/2 created the fun event poster, so I used that as my color palette and went from there. I'm going to try my very best to make it up to the event this weekend. Looks like they are getting bigger and better every time. Although, you know there will never be one better than Better Block on Granby Street :)

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. Click here to read all about it and here to a see a gallery of pictures of everyone participating.  

Favorite Projects of 2013

It's been a great crafty year! I wanted to highlight some of my favorites from 2013, in no particular order :)

Bringing back the Felt Brooches, in all seasons. They were a huge hit with the customers this year and I have so much fun making them!

Norfolk's first Better Block, held in April. I met my good friend John Wharton and his wife Patricia - along with tons of other amazing people in the arts community. We opened our first Pop Up Shop and had a fantastic weekend running the show.

Thomas' Smash the Cake session in June. It really tested me as a(n amateur) photographer, working with babies isn't easy...but it's fun!

A year of felt food, which included nachos, donuts, salads, pita sandwiches, caramel apples, mini cupcakes, cheese wheels, blueberries and a custom-made horse food set. The horse set was my favorite, by far!

Another successful 92 Days of Summer...is it bad I'm already planning for 2014?

My felt flowers have been a long time coming and while they are still taking a while to become a big seller, I think 2014 has much more in store. 

Custom-designed wedding invitations a very awesome couple.

Refinished China hutch, a nice thrifty before and after. 

A second opportunity with Better Block, this time strictly on the design and marketing side of things. 

Better Block: Round 2

Better Block is happening again! This time on 35th Street and Newport Avenue, and it's the biggest event to date with 12 pop-up shops, seven food vendors, three parklets, food trucks, outdoor (and indoor) stages and so much more. Fairview Place isn't popping up this time, but my partner-in-crime Glass Gardens is, along with Intelligent Lushes and By TAlyse. I was super excited to have the chance to design another map for the event. Colley Avenue Printers donated the printing and they look fabulous! All the festivities begin tonight at 5 p.m., better see you there!

Cheerful Chicken Farm

I had the privilege of working with this lovely family farm out in Disputana, Virginia (about an hour northwest of Norfolk). The owners, Shaun and Heather, had a local artist paint his logo in two pieces, they were then photographed and I merged the two, added the colors, shading and wording. Cheerful Chicken raises pigs, sheep, goats, chickens and veggie without herbicides, pesticides or tilling. Cage free, pasture raised and a Veteran...! The couple made their dream of owning a farm come to life and I wish them the very best!

Be sure to check out their Facebook Page and "like" to stay up-to-date on the latest news.

strEATS

A new food truck inspired restaurant is coming to Ghent! I absolutely loved working with the owners to create this fun and vibrant logo. Can't wait to see what the menu has to offer.

#79: Freelance Projects

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. Read about it here.

#79: Freelance Projects

One of my (many) dream jobs is being a wedding planner. A wedding planner who designs all the printed materials for the event, how fun would that be? You can imagine my excitement when I got the opportunity this Spring to design the wedding invitations of a very good friend and his fiance.

They are such a fun-loving, outgoing and amazing couple and we wanted their invites to scream those sentiments. Not to mention, he was in a local band for years, so we knew the invites would be a little non-traditional and, of course, include the band's font. After the amazing job Norfolk Printing Company did with the Better Block maps, I had no doubt I was going to use them again. They did a fantastic (and quick) turnaround job and I couldn't have been happier with the final product.

invitation

map & info card

RSVP postcard front

RSVP postcard back

rehearsal dinner invite

If you, or someone you know, are getting married, please email me for having custom-made invitations for your big day!

I'm participating in my third annual 92 Days of Summer challenge. Read about the project here.