Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Logo Design for Green Orchid Events

Another logo project to share!

Juliet Douglas, owner and lead planner of Green Orchid Events, contacted me recently to create a new logo to go along with her new website and other rebranding efforts.
In addition to having Juliet fill out a lengthy questionnaire, we also had a great chat about what she envisioned for her new look. She previously made use of a cartoon figure throughout her website, and wasn't sure if she wanted to retire it entirely. In the course of the design process, we tinkered with color, typography and various design elements. Here are a few designs that I presented:
And here is the winning design!
After a few tries, it became apparent that we needed to in some way incorporate Juliet herself into the design, thus replacing the cartoon figure of yore. So I had Juliet send some photos of herself, traced her silhouette, and voila! She now has a fresh, modern look that still incorporates her fun and sassy personality. What's great about this logo is that she can use it interchangeably. If she just wants to use the silhouette (perhaps as an avatar for social networking sites) or just the typography -- she can.
Thank you, Juliet, for such a fun project! If you're looking for a fabulous event planner in Las Vegas, be sure to give this lady a call.
And obviously, if you're looking for logo help -- info@kellyashworthdesign.com.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Fall Linens

Fall is in the air! At last!
In Arizona, this means open windows, eating outdoors and the end of living in a giant hair dryer. It's my favorite time of year.
But then again, it always has been my favorite time of year. As a kid, fall was ironing colorful leaves between sheets of wax paper, field trips to the cider mill, picking out pumpkins at the corner market. Fall is my wedding day.
My mailbox has been full of fun catalogs lately, many featuring some fabulous fall items that tempt me to empty my wallet. But do I really need a giant soup tureen in the shape of a pumpkin? Probably not. These cuties sure caught my eye, though. Take a look:
Pretty, modern and supremely autumnal. And much more affordable than the pumpkin tureen.
Foglia Print Dishtowel, $3.95 each right here.
What are some of your favorite fall finds? And does anyone know where I can find a cider mill in Arizona?

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Should I Plaster My Walls With Birch Trees?

I happened upon this on the Urban Outfitters site the other day. At first I had a somewhat visceral reaction -- to be specific, "ick". It reminded me of a 70's era motel I stayed at in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Wood paneling, dark, smelled of stale ashtrays and Glade Plug-in's. An entire wall had been covered in a photo realist "Michigan Woods" motif that included a large buck with enormous antlers glaring at me. It was a great trip, though. I swear.
But the more I looked at this, I decided in the right setting it could be pretty cool. Perhaps in a library or study. Or maybe if you're having a kitschy event, you make this a portrait backdrop for your guests.
Then I remembered how much I loved shooting birch trees in my high school photography class. They were such an easy subject -- they stood still, provided an amazing amount of contrast and made for some easy abstract art.
After about five minutes of this, I had gone from "ick" to "yes, I think I need this immediately." Which I realize may expose my own neuroses, but the point of all this is to really consider the things you surround yourself with. Whether you're decorating your home or styling an event, it's important to pay attention to things that you have a reaction to - whether good or bad. You may find that what first seems "icky" will transform your space into something more fabulous than you ever imagined!
Do you have similar "ick" stories? Have you ever plastered your walls with arboreal splendor? Am I crazy?
Birch Tree Wall Mural, $140 right here.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Fun with Baby Shower Invites

One of my all-time favorite clients contacted me recently to create some baby shower invitations for a dear friend of hers. She wanted cute, sophisticated and quick. Not necessarily in that order.
The baby's last name will be "King" and he has been dubbed "BB King" by his parents-to-be, so I thought it would be fun to incorporate the cuteness on the front of the invites. We went with an accordion fold invitation that easily fits all of the pertinent information. It's also great for a little extra drama.
Take a look!
Are you having a baby or throwing a shower? I provide custom design services for the mommy-t0-be and all of you lovely shower hostesses. Contact me (info@kellyashworthdesign.com) to discuss your project.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Inspiration at Your Feet

J Crew has put out so much wonderfulness as of late, don't you think? I'm especially smitten with their peep toe pumps -- which would provide brilliant design inspiration for your next event. Or just dress up your LBD in a major way. Take a look:
Molly satin platform peep toes, $250 here.
Molly printed platform peep toes, $250 here.
Molly printed platform peep toes, $250 here.