Photo courtesy of Bake or Break
My mom and sister are amazing photographers. I’ve found it easy to fall back on their photography for the big events in my life. My mom is always ready and willing to shoot amazing photos of the kid’s birthdays and other events. She handles the pressure well and I am free to work on the details of entertaining. Being spoiled, I’ve managed to put off improving my own photography skills. Now that I am blogging, I have new incentive to step it up.
Recently I have noticed some of the best photography on the web is found on food blogs. Jennifer at Bake or Break is the perfect example of this. I am always impressed by her depth of field and how true her colors and lighting appear. Her photos are so mouth watering, I want to reach through the screen to sneak a bite.
So, I’ve been inspired to pull out the camera whenever I cook with the kids. It’s great practice for me, plus the kids love that their hard work is worthy of photography. Lately we’ve been making recipes out of Jack’s book, Wookiee Cookies: A Star Wars Cookbook. Surprisingly, the recipes are easy enough for a five year old AND quite tasty. Who knew? So far our favorite is Yoda Soda, which tastes fab, but looks somewhat repulsive, so no photos. Other recipes we’ve enjoyed are Skywalker Smoothies and Wookie Cookies.
Below are some photos of our kitchen creations. The photography is a work in progress. Think of it as a self imposed homework assignment. I hope to make improvements with every meal. Here is a sampling from our first week of “class”. Bon appetite!
Wookie Cookies: Major problems with depth of field and focus. Han Solo would not stand still. On the bright side, I'm thrilled you can't see the egg shells that made it into the batter!
Basil, Tomato & Cheese Panini: I'm happy with the appearance of the bread, but need to work on the lighting and background.
I’m excited to announce I’ve been interviewed by Louise at Pretty By Pistachio for her lovely blog. You can read our interview to learn more about who we are and how Jumping Jack Designs came to be. You’ll also learn some completely random details about me, like the fact that Nicholas Cage’s voice bugs me. Intrigued? Go check it out.
Louise also has a fabulous Etsy Shop where she sells her stunning handmade floral jewelry. She also offers branding for Etsy sellers. Please stop by and say hello!
You would think designing a party invitation for a six year old boy would be a breeze. Not so much. We were on a timeline. A TIGHT timeline. While packing for a weekend trip I realized I needed to get Jack’s party invitations in the mail before we left. Uh, oh.
First, I needed to come up with a theme. Of course my little Jedi wanted a Star Wars party… again. My first reaction was to run screaming through the yard, pulling out my hair in slow motion. Luckily, mom-mode kicked in and I gently nudged him to the dark side… Race Cars. Of course he thinks it was his idea, so I know I accomplished my mission.
Next ordeal, the car. Everyone has an opinion. Dad wants a classic muscle car, Jack wants a futuristic car, Kate wants a pink car. Enter the magic of compromise. Hello shiny new Camero. Modern muscle. By this time, Kate was distracted by dandelions so I didn’t worry about her pink request.
Now we needed color. I love color and so does my family. In my brain the design was blue, but Jack insisted on red. The only red paper + envelope I had on hand was metallic red (and this needed to be in the mail by morning). Turned out it was just what was needed to send our design racing toward the finish line. It was perfect! Exciting, tactile, fun. Just like Jack.
Our design was complete by dinner. After baths, we printed, assembled and addressed. Jack went to bed a very happy boy. Several days later, he’s still happy about it. Check out that grin!
For more details about our Speedy Race Car Invitation please check out our website. If you have suggestions for other fun birthday party themes you’d like to see, please leave a comment.
Staying on task is often my biggest challenge, especially when it comes to tasks vital to the backbone of a business. I am all too willing to focus on design and production while pushing marketing and growth to the back burner. These tasks are not my forte, but carry great importance when growing a small business.
That’s why I was thrilled to stumble upon Jena Coray and her inspiring blog, Modish Biz Tips. Jena created the Monthly Goal Meetup. It is a way for creative small business owners to put their goals “out there”, making themselves accountable to and invested in goals and accomplishments of others.
So I have created a list of realistic goals for the month of May. The list may seem short, but several are goals I’ve been stumbling on for several months now. Plus the end of the month is quickly approaching! I will be back the first Friday of every month to let you know how I did and post a new list for the next month.
I’m feeling a bit naked, but here goes…
1. Begin monthly Newsletter
2. Prep: Research online press kit
3. Design and package “variety pack”
4. Complete custom design PDF forms x 6
5. Blog three times per week
So the journey begins. Here’s to support, collaboration and chasing the dream…Cheers!
Photo Courtesy of Animal Ark
The great thing about invitation design is the process. Clients don’t just walk in, pay and leave. They stop and talk. You get to know them; who they are, what they represent, and their personal style. As a designer, becoming invested in a custom design is intensely rewarding. As interesting design opportunities arise I hope let you in on the process.
Currently I am working on a design for an AMAZING local wildlife sanctuary. Animal Ark is a 38-acre sanctuary and nature center northwest of Reno. They house non-releasable wildlife in natural habitats. They are open to the public and offer a multitude of educational opportunities to our community. My first memory of animal advocacy was a fifth grade field trip to Animal Ark. Since that day, twenty five years ago, my love and compassion for wild animals has grown exponentially.
Over the last 3 years I have had the privilege of designing several invitations for Animal Ark Fundraisers. This spring I was asked to design an invitation suite for this summer’s Animal Adventure fund raising event. The theme is “Out of Africa”, an homage to resident Cheetahs, Zulu, Moyo and Jamar. Four thousand invitations will be mailed to loyal Animal Ark supporters.
Executive directors and co-founders, Aaron and Diana Hiibel, where looking for a clean, organic design with an elegant flair. They requested recycled papers and original artwork. I love the look and feel of Neenah Environment paper, so I knew it would be the perfect match for the event. The art was created by my sister, the queen of wildlife art. We chose to feature a cheetah paired with a simple yet elegant African henna design.
Below is our original draft. It was well received by the Animal Ark board of directors. Now we are in the process of editing text, making font changes and contracting with a print shop. As the project evolves, I will keep you updated on our progress.
If you are a Northern Nevadan or just visiting the area, be sure to visit this amazing gem. They truly make a difference.
Jack in the Box
I consider myself the luckiest person in the world. I am able to run my own business while being home with my kidlets. Essentially I have a big scrumptious cake and get to eat it, too. (Although, if I put down the cake, to go pee or answer the door, it will be gone when I return. I’m sure I’ll address that can of worms in another post.)
As many of you know, when you operate a business out of your home there is a tendency to feel ‘boxed in’. To my surprise, the blogosphere has become my much needed lifeline to the outside world. I read an ever growing list of blogs every day. They have become part of my routine. They run the gammit: News, Humor, Design, Family. Now, I can’t go without because I would never know what is going on outside of my cozy box. How would I know the haps in world news, design trends or what my sister is up to? On the days I only venture out to the kid’s school and the Post Office, I am still in the know. Kinda.
So now, I want in on the blog action. I have made a few weak attempts at blogging in the past. All abandoned quickly when my staight-forward-and-to-the-point writing style takes over. It’s hard to sustain a blog when I edit my entries down to 10 words. This time, I am determined to make it work; less editing, more free flowing thoughts. That being said, I hope you stick with me as I find my ‘voice’. Please leave comments with your thoughts, suggestions, and requests. I need all the feedback and guidance I can get my paws on.
From KVangeel on Flickr
After a very busy few months, we are taking the family on a little getaway. We are off to beautiful San Diego for Legos, sand and the Red Bull Air Races.
Pete and I were married on the beach in La Jolla, so San Diego holds a special place in our hearts. Plus our amazing friends have moved there, making it is the perfect getaway for our little family.
We will return on Monday, May 11th. Enjoy your week and don’t forget to kiss your mom on Sunday!
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