Watercolor Wedding Invitations: Starfish & Beaches

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Ashley and Andrew had a beautiful wedding at Amelia Island Plantation on the coast of Florida. Everything about their wedding was inspired by the serene beach setting. Ashley selected blue and green as her accent colors, and we quickly began working on a custom stationery package that would fit her style and coastal location.

Ashley was drawn to the look of watercolors, so I got out the paint set and went to work. I think we were both pretty excited with the look of the starfish on the invitations. We decided to compliment it with a beach scene on the RSVP cards and programs. We printed them on textured paper to give it the feel of watercolor paper. To finalize the entire look, we added navy belly bands with bakers twine wrapped around the center of the invites. They were mailed off in crisp navy envelopes that also offered that coastal feel.

The entire wedding was beautiful and the weather was great. Ashley was a stunning bride, and we are so glad that she let Texture Design help her with her big day!

For more information on custom wedding invitation packages, feel free to send us an email. We would love the opportunity to be a part of your special occasion! God Bless!

(Wedding Photos by J'adore Studios)

Adding A Logo: Cotton Sail Consulting

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Cotton Sail Consulting is a new consulting business with a very clear vision. Their mission is to "increase effectiveness by strengthening leadership and applying Biblical principles". The founder just so happens to be one of the greatest men I know -- my dad!

 In his email describing the new concept, he writes:

"The thought of a cotton sail brings to mind the early days of sailing when the skills of seamanship really meant something. Mariners set a course for a new destination. It was a journey marked by obstacles and the excitement of new discoveries. In large measure, however, success depended on competence, leadership and teamwork."

T H E   C H A L L E N G E 

We wanted the logo to have a clean look without getting too trendy or modern. With a business like this, you want to communicate that the company is grounded and constant. Whereas, a company like a hair salon would want a more stylized logo that gives off the impression that they are in line with the latest trends. 

T H E   S O L U T I O N 

Serif fonts (with the little feet on the ends of the letters) are associated with being established, confident, and classic. We found a serif font that still had very clean lines. Paired with a crisp, simple outline of a sail, we had our look! Clean and Classic! (like a good sailboat) We added in some notoriously nautical colors - navy and gold, and we were ready to start the printing press! 

Another fun project completed! (with one of my favorite people!)

Adding a Little Craftsmanship: Landon Lacey Jewelry

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We are so excited for the chance to showcase Landon Lacey Jewelry on our blog! If you remember, we included one of her necklaces on our blog's summer wish list. She had such an interesting story, we thought it would be fun to do an interview with her on the blog! Check it out below.

Store Name:  Landon Lacey Jewelry

Owner:  Landon Lacey

Product: Handmade Necklaces, Earrings & Bracelets

TDC: How did you get started making jewelry?  
Landon: When I was in high school, a friend’s mom taught me how to make glass beads by melting glass onto little sticks under a torch.  I loved watching the glass melt into red-hot globes, and I loved stringing my creations onto wire for necklaces. But my hard-earned little gems were less than beautiful!  I decided to forgo creating my materials from scratch, and instead began a now decade-long hunt for stunning materials made by regional artists to incorporate into my own designs.  Melting glass was my starting point, and it has evolved into the Landon Lacey line I have today.

TDC: You have such an interesting story about how your travels and homes have influenced your designs. Can you share a little bit of that with us?

Landon: Yes!  I feel like my style is a perfect reflection of three of the places I’ve lived.  Twenty-two years in the South left me an appreciation of pearls, pastels, and old gold.  I grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina and went to Wake Forest University, a preppy southern school. I first began selling jewelry in college and was blessed by an extremely supportive system of sororities who encouraged me during my initial hurdles. 

After undergrad, I moved to Thailand to work in an AIDS orphanage called Agape Home.  I didn’t drag my jewelry supplies across the world, so this was a hiatus from actually creating jewelry.  Instead of making jewelry, I allowed myself to be inspired by the delicate Asian symmetry, minimalism, and attention to detail.  I remember paying $2 for some of the best street food I’ve ever had, and being shocked at the way it was presented: a pair of perfectly placed purple orchids, slightly off-center, at the top of my plate of fried rice.  I developed an appreciation for all things sparkly and understated. 

A year and a half after moving to Thailand, I headed back home to get a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology.  I pulled my tools and supplies out of the storage unit, and began creating again.  I went to UNC Chapel Hill for grad school and was again blown away by the network of females around me who supported my growing business.  Southern prep met Asian minimalism in a pretty burst of delicate gold and pastels.

While in graduate school, I met the love of my life who was wrapping up medical school.  He wound up matching for his residency in Chicago; we graduated on the same day, rented a U-Haul, and moved everything (beads and pliers included) to the Windy City.  I fell in love with Chicago the second I saw it.  Gorgeous architecture, killer style, extreme seasons, delicious foods, killer concerts and comedy… this city has everything.  I live downtown on the 28^th floor of a high rise next to Navy Pier right on the river.  Looking out my window, I’m reminded why my jewelry took an edgy turn when I moved here: this city is full of sharp angled buildings, shiny glass, fancy cars and high heels.  Bye bye pearls, hello spikes!  You can see all of these places reflected in my jewelry line.

TDC: What is involved in the process of creating and designing jewelry?

Landon: A new piece can be born in a variety of ways.  Sometimes I’m inspired by something I see: a sunset on Lake Michigan can turn into to an ombre fire opal necklace.  Sometimes I’m inspired by other jewelry, like Gwyneth Paltrow’s gorgeous horn necklace she seems to wear daily.  Sometimes I’m inspired by a pendant or stone that may sit in a box or my desk for months until I finally decide how I’m going to use it.  Occasionally I’ll doodle sketches completely from scratch and set out to find the supplies I need to bring it to life.  I try to keep my jewelry relevant and trendy, but also personal and unique to my line.

TDC: Which item in your store is your personal favorite?

Landon: Oh goodness this changes every week!  Right now, I have a gold horn necklace that I hung from a black onyx rosary chain that I just posted to Etsy today.  I wore it to my cousin’s engagement party this past weekend with a funky dress and got a million compliments!  I think that’s my favorite, but I’ll change my mind next week : ) 

TDC: What part of the job do you love the most?

Landon: My customers.  I love how jewelry has opened me up to so many people I wouldn’t otherwise know!  There are people in Chicago who have found me through Etsy, have come over to hand-select their pieces, and we’ve begun a friendship.  Shop owners, bloggers, brides-to-be, book clubs, trunk shows, craft shows, and Christmas parties are all ways that I’ve been able to branch out and meet new people.  Seeing my jewelry on someone’s smiling face is priceless!  It’s an amazing feeling being able to share my art and see it appreciated by so many other people.

TDC: Do you have a favorite Etsy shop to visit?

Landon: Yes!  I love supporting other artists whenever possible, and Anna Woolf at WildCardPottery does great work!  I recently sent my dad a barnacle coffee mug, and he loves it.  Her product is truly unique! I’m also a big fan of SucculentSalon – I can’t get enough of succulents and hers are some of the best.

TDC: You make all of your products in Chicago, IL. Can you share with us some of your favorite spots in the city?

Landon: I’ve been here for a year and feel like I haven’t scratched the surface!  My two favorite restaurants are probably Café Baba Reeba and Purple Pig.  Both have fabulous tapas-style bites.  For dancing, I love Untitled and for comedy I love Second City.  A fabulous jewelry supply show called InterGem comes through Chicago a few times a year to Rosemont, and I’m able to stock up on new little treasures.  Right now, I’m trying not to repeat places because there is so much to experience – but the one place I keep returning to is Yolk for brunch.  Their coffee is the best!

Tea and Work! Follow Landon Lacey on Instagram here!

Landon, thank you so much for your time! We love your shop and your beautiful craftsmanship! Visit the store here and like Landon Lacey on Facebook to check out more images of her products! 

All photos courtesy of Landon Lacey Jewelry.

Adding A Logo: Branding for Melissa Griffin Photography

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We are doing a little "Throw Back Thursday" this week. About a year and a half ago, Texture Design had the wonderful opportunity to work with Melissa Griffin Photography to formulate a logo and brand identity. Her business was starting to build, and she needed a cohesive look that reflected her style and personality as a photographer. Read more about the process below!

T H E  C H A L L E N G E

Melissa Griffin's portfolio is full of natural, candid portraits. Her favorite photos are the ones where people are not paying attention to the camera (like the one below). Her portfolio is full of people laughing (not on cue) and families just being themselves. The idea of being very real, candid, and natural needed to be conveyed in the logo. As we were brainstorming, Melissa explained to me that she would like to keep the feeling more organic and have less of the straight-lined, architectural feel. She was drawn to the script fonts, so the key would be to find a script that was still casual and legible. 

Photo Courtesy of Melissa Griffin Photography

T H E  S O L U T I O N

An earthy approach would fit the laid back personality of the photographer. It would be great to include the idea that she is capturing a brief moment in time. That is when the idea of the dandelion formed. It isn't an overly girly flower, but it is very organic. Looking at it from a metaphorical point of view, within seconds a dandelion can blow off into the wind. It is a special moment in time; but it takes skill to capture it quickly before it is gone. The idea fit so well with Melissa's goal. After finding the perfect script font for Melissa's name, the letter "g" was mimicked in the stem of the dandelion. The repetition of elements lends to a more eye-catching logo. A little more tweaking, and we were set! I don't think either one of us could have been more excited with the final product!

After completing the logo design, we began designing the business cards, client thank-you cards, cd envelopes, and website. We carried the colors and dandelion concept throughout to create a unified look that people recognize as Melissa Griffin Photography. It was a fun and rewarding project; and it has been even more exciting to watch her photography business "blossom"! (sorry for the pun)

Check out more of her work here 

www.melissagriffinphotography.com. 

Add Some Blooms: Lovely Peonies

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Last Friday, Martin surprised me with peonies from Trader Joe's. At the time, they were sweet little delicate blooms. I had no idea that two days later they would be in full bloom and absolutely stunning!! On Sunday, I walked into the living area, and they were just gorgeous! I felt the need to snap SEVERAL pictures of them when we got home from church. I'll spare showing you the multitude of photographs (probably 50, ha!), but I thought I'd put up a few of my favorites!

 It also inspired me to change my screen savers. So I thought I'd share the screen saver images. Click on the links at the end of the post to download!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

God Bless!

"See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." 

Matthew 6:28-34

Adding A Little Fun: Our Summer Wish List

I love this time of year! The sun stays up later, people are gathering for cook outs, and ice cream never tasted so good!!! I especially love the bright colors associated with summertime! Check out Texture Design's summer inspired wish list full of pops of color and fun! These unique finds can make a great gift or a fun treat for yourself!

ALEXA Z DESIGN

Being from the peach state...I had to put this precious print on the list. It is so cheery! 

Perhaps it makes me think of homemade peach ice cream :) 

Definitely check out the rest of the store's cute and colorful prints!

COCONUT BEECH

These brightly painted boat cleats are perfect for hanging towels, hats, or purses!

The set includes 4 - 6" cleats. The color combination is absolutely delightful! 

SMALL LIFE STUDIO

These balancing blocks are a great toy for young ones but they would also be cute on a shelf in a nursery! What's even more awesome is that 100% of the profits from the sailboat sales will go to "That Others May Live Foundation". 

LANDON LACEY

This is one talented jewelry designer! All of her pieces are amazing, but I especially love this turquoise pendant. It is the perfect piece for a summer wardrobe!

COBALT SKY STUDIO

Check out these buoy pillows from Maine! They are great replicas of the buoys on lobster traps. You can also get them personalized with a name, date, or zipcode! They look great hanging on a wall or sitting in a chair.

CATHERINE PICONE

This fish pillow has so much personality! It would be the perfect accessory for a beach house or a child's room. Need a different color? No worries, the shop has a variety of fish to choose from! 

JILLIAN AUDREY DESIGNS

I absolutely love all the colors and textures in this photograph! It is one of those images that takes you to another place. You can purchase the Cape Cod photo in various sizes and with or without a matte to frame it.

ATLANTIS SHELL CO

What is not to love about these little sea urchins? They would be perfect for a nightstand, coffee table, or bookshelf. Definitely my kind of house warming gift!

PRINT STITCH & PASTE

Ta-da! We've found the cutest pocket notebooks! This shop's goal is to "make beautiful, well-crafted and functional items that add life and whimsy to the daily grind." I would say goal achieved!

POTTERY LODGE

It is a little whale plant holder! A smiling face and tiny tail included! If you're looking for the perfect succulent or cactus holder, we have found your guy! Add a plant and give it to your friends! These clay pieces are all hand pinched and brush glazed by hand.

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Well folks, that concludes our bright, summer-y wish list! I hope you can check out some of these hardworking shops! AND HAPPY SUMMER!

(All photos provided by the individual vendors)

Adding A Little Vacation: Refueling Your Creativity

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Nothing fuels creativity better than getting away and relaxing for a few days. We spent last weekend at Lake Burton in north Georgia. I may be a little biased, but I consider it one of the most beautiful places in the world. It was so refreshing to get away from our usual scenery and take time to enjoy our surroundings and the company we were with.

I love waking up and going down to the dock where I can just sit and stare out at the water. The lake is like glass, there is usually a little mist rising, and the ducks have the lake to themselves. Sitting there looking out over God's creation, my mind and creativity just start pumping. Before I know it, I'm jotting down all sorts of ideas. You should see my notebook!

However, this is no new concept. "Taking a break to observe new surroundings" is widely proven to be effective for increasing creativity. Google "how to fuel your creativity" and you will find all sorts of posts about this very topic.

"Give yourself a break. Being able to write down creative ideas whenever you get them is a great start to fueling your creativity, but - if you’re like me - that isn’t going to be enough. In order to fuel your creativity you need to take time to relax and find creativity in everyday life. If you feel overwhelmed or stressed, your creative juices will be running slowly; but if you feel relaxed and comfortable, your mind will be more open to new, creative ideas." http://creativesomething.net/post/24890802/top-10-ways-to-fuel-your-creativity

Another writer talks about observing:

"Observe.  Life happens. Everyday. It seems obvious, but we walk around most days oblivious. Take a moment and just watch. I bet you see something that you could write about, that your audience would love to hear. One of my most popular posts came from noticing a partially-eaten donut in the lounge at work. Somehow, I made a connection to it, and my readers loved it." http://goinswriter.com/fuel-creativity/ 

 This writer explains what happens when you take a break:

Do Something else

• As the old saying goes, “A watched pot never boils,” so stop waiting for inspiration to strike.

• Your brain is a marvelous multi-tasking machine, so go do something else. Ideally, you should pick something monotonous like mowing the lawn or washing the dishes.

• Once your mind starts to wander, you’ll be surprised how quickly it will start generating ideas.

• The trick is to record them as soon as they pop up, so you don’t forget them. http://artbistro.monster.com/benefits/articles/11950-5-unique-ways-to-get-creative-juices-flowing?page=3 

So in summary, if you're having trouble being creative or coming up with new ideas and solutions, it is  time to take a break! Go on a walk, sit outside somewhere, take time to observe. You may not be able to go on a vacation at the moment, but you can still change up your scenery and relax. It may seem at the moment you're wasting time, but trust me...it will be worth it when you're brain is overflowing with new ideas! (Now I'm off to start on some of those new ideas.)

All photos and typography by Texture Design Co.