Boutique Girl

I'm from a family of creators. From my father working on oil paintings in the garden, my brother bending old wires into sculptures, my step-mother teaching me to cross-stitch, and my mother sewing my prom dresses, each of us has our own artistic outlet. My sister has turned her creativities into a fabulous business. We recently worked together to re-style her branding, and I'm so excited to reveal the results!!

 

First, we updated the business card.  This funky flower echoes the kinds of fun fabrics she uses. The dashed line suggests that most of the items are sewn, and the tagline in a scripty font adds a handmade charm.

 

Next we expanded the design to her Etsy shop! Check it out here to see the banner and avatar I made (and the totally affordable bibs, blankets, aprons, etc. that she made!)

Here's a shot of the new design on product tags.  

Not only was this a project that updated her look and gave me material for my portfolio, it was a fun way for she and I to connect and keep in touch even though we live so far away from each other!

Photo Work

I recently took photos at an event for a local non-profit organization, at Yoshi's sushi bar & jazz club.  Here are a few of the shots! 

Fall Posters

I've finally gotten around to posting some of the recent posters I made at work.  I especially had fun with this yellow graphic one-- it was a fun challenge to not use any photos. What do you think? 

1/100

Today, I celebrate my 100th post! I'm thinking back to what has come of blogging for about a year.  Its been fun!  More than one person has mentioned in conversation that  blogs can be very self-serving, navel-gazing endeavors.  I see their point, but still, I have enjoyed this experiment and would like to keep going. I don't believe that thousands of people should follow this blog, or that I offer something unique and amazing to add to the world through this medium.  I do, however, enjoy keeping a bit of a public journal, one I can review for myself and share with my friends and family.  Another reason is accountability:  Being committed to this blog, to posting about fun things I do, music I find, and things I make, keeps me doing all these and celebrating life! 

  

In addition, I so love reading the blogs of other people I know.  Here are two you may want to check out!

Boutique Girl Gifts : My sister blogging about her etsy business (amazing handmade items, check it out!), her thrifty finds (can you tell we are related?) and her life in general (I'm on the current post!)

Let Us Go Then, You and I : My friend Amber's blog.  When she was my housemate last year, we still found out things from one another's blogs that we didn't talk about in daily interaction.  Now that she has moved across the country (wah!) this has become an important way for me to keep up with her!

S. Carey

I am LOVE LOVE LOVING S. Carey's album, "All We Grow." If you like Bon Iver, you may like this--he's their drummer!  Here are some tracks I recommend.  The first is very calming and the 2nd just sounds plain cool. Enjoy!

When Two Became One. Or, Tragedy to Triumph!

Within the last year I lost quite a few earrings.  Most of you ladies will understand how sad this can be--you are left with the lone remainder of the pair, which brings bitterness to your heart whenever you see it sitting uselessly in your jewelry box, unwearable.  This long weekend I finally had the chance to reinvent the earrings I had left from what used to be two of may favorite pairs. I bought a chain at the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse, and got out my jewelry pliers.  So, here's introducing my newest accessory, lone earrings transfigured!!

Emiliana Torrini: Heartstopper

Here's a little ditty for Friday! Happy long weekend :)