Baby Shower Invitations Inspired by John Lennon's Animals

I'm very excited to share the printed version of the baby shower invitations I mentioned last week!

Here are some pictures

The mom-to-be is actually my cousin, and she has the John Lennon Real Love nursery collection that came out about 10 years ago, all in perfect condition. She and her husband, my cousin Darren, are big Beatles fans, so this nursery stuff really fits them to a T! I wanted to incorporate something about it into these invitations so they would be extra special to them, so I re-drew the animals that John Lennon drew for his son (named Julian!), which are part of the nursery bedding. You can see what some of the nursery pieces look like here. 

The animals are a pretty loose interpretation because I didn't want to copy them, but I think they came out so cute!

These invitations are stunning in person. The colors are so amazing, I can't even get over it! And they were definitely a labor of love because I cut all of my prints myself, and there were about 75 invitations here... Imagine me hunched over my paper cutter for about an hour with squinty little eyes. So cute.

Congrats to Darren and Cathy! I can't wait to meet the little guy!

Projects, Projects!

After Christmas I didn't have much going on in terms of design work, and with planning a move and all of the other things we had going on, I'm sort of glad that I had a break. Now I'm back at it with all types of work. Some projects have been self-initiated, which are usually my favorite ones, and some are for clients, which really puts the pressure on!

This is a little project that is a gift for my cousin who just had a baby earlier this month. It's one of my favorite birth announcement designs so far, and it happened to match her nursery really well.

These pictures were taken at night so the lighting in my apartment wasn't great!! I'm definitely going to take better pictures for my design portfolio.

This next project was self-initiated because I want to better my web design skills, and my mom is a florist who doesn't have a website. It's so important to have a website as a business owner, and my mom doesn't really understand that or value that, so I'm taking control of it and just doing it for her! I've been using Webydo to create the site, and so far I've had a decent experience. There are some kinks that have slowed me down but it's like any software that you've never worked with before- you just have to get used to it. I'll probably write more about my experience when Im all done!

So this is the new logo and color scheme that I've dreamed up that works with the colors that my mom already has going on in her shop. I plan on expanding the whole brand into new business cards for her that will include her new website address.

So far I only have a few pages that are "done" and the rest of it will be slow moving because I have to take pictures to use as content for each of the pages. Hopefully I can get most of the content I need to get it running within the next month, and then I'll be able to add things as I go and as the seasons pass and my mom puts out more work.

The next thing that I have in the works is a baby shower invitation for my cousin Cathy, who is expecting a baby boy in April. I'm just waiting to hear that the details are definite and also a count of how many to print.

Cathy has baby bedding from Carter's that is based on the animals that John Lennon drew in his book for his son (fun fact: John Lennon's son's name is Julian!). She bought it when she worked there ten years ago and has saved it all this time. Cathy and Darren (who is my second cousin) are huge Beatles fans, so the bedding is really special to them. I wanted to include something that was very them in the design for the invitations, so I recreated the animals in the bedding to put in the banner at the top of the invitation. I can't wait to get these printed! They're one of my favorite invitations that I've done so far!

This next project was proposed by an old friend who I met at my first job. She wants to start a tea beverage business and came to me asking for a little bit of branding work. So I got to work right away drawing up a logo and thinking of the color scheme. I can't wait to show her what I've come up with so far! 

The challenge here is going to be translating my handwritten logo into something digital. I've started to draw it on my computer and it's not perfect yet. It'll take lots of work to get it looking the way it need to look. Here are the colors I'm thinking so far, and a little pattern that could be used somehow.

I can't wait to see how it pans out!

This last thing was something I did in my spare time last week while I was still without wifi. I plan to have it printed (although I haven' decided what size) and framed for Julian's room. I originally planned to make a huge print of it but since I have the painted fox in there now that I want to be the focal point, this guy might be a little smaller, but equally as important of course.

This guy is so graphic and awesome. I want one for my room! I love art like this because it's so interpretive and the types of colors you include really communicate the personality of the character that you create. This fox is really sassy and really has his own set of rules, which is exactly how Julian is. Sassy and headstrong!

When I'm looking back at all of these projects I can't believe how many different things I'm doing right now. Babies, tea branding, foxes, flowers... holy cow! I love how each project is so different than the next. Some are more in depth and complicated, some are completed and some are a work in progress. I love having work to do. It motivates me to be creative and productive, especially at night, when Julian has gone to bed and all I feel like doing is watching Treehouse Masters. Yeah, totally my new favorite show. I'm serious.

I hope to be able to add all of these things to my portfolio soon! Thank you to everyone who supports my talents and my dreams and my crazy obsessions. Every new thing I take on is an opportunity to learn something new.

Recent Projects

I didn’t really take any breaks from design work for the holidays, mostly because all of the projects I work on are things that I really am excited about. I feel lucky to love all of my projects, and I know that as I continue in my design career, that won’t always be the case.

Anyways, I was up late almost every night over the past few weeks, mostly working on a new blog design/branding project (but also staying up all night working on my New Year's Greeting!) for a fellow blogger who also happens to be a co-worker of mine at Boyle & Anderson. We first worked together with some very basic designs and branding ideas back in September, and it was definitely time to take her blog design to the next level.

So I began to work hard at showing her my ideas and putting together a moodboard, and before we both knew it I has completely re-designed her blog! The new look should be in place later tonight, so be sure to stop by her blog tomorrow, once all the kinks have been worked out.

I’m super proud and excited, because this is my first blog design project, besides my own, and although it took very basic coding knowledge, I did it all by myself and all of the designs are, to my knowledge, completely original and based only on my visions!

So, here is the moodboard and the branding board for Felicia's new blog design! You'll be able to see the full design on her blog and on my portfolio site by tomorrow morning!

Another really great project that was recently completed was a birthday party invitation for a sweet little girl who is turning 1 this month. her mom, Nikki, came to me with her vision of a Mad Hatter Tea Party themed party, so I got to work thinking of the funnest way to convey the theme while still keeping in mind that the party is for a baby girl. It came out amazing- definitely a one-of-a-kind design!

In my opinion, invitations to a party are what sets the scene. If you want to throw a great themed party, having well-designed invitations is like putting a key into a door (which sort of reminds me of Alice In Wonderland haha!). Your guests will know to expect high quality at your party! Some people won't appreciate your effort, but a lot of people will, and it's an amazing feeling to recieve those complements!

These two projects were both a really amazing way to end 2013 and start 2014. I can't wait to see the party that Nikki puts together for Elli- I know it'll be amazing- and I can't wait to start working on putting Felicia's blog design into place tonight! Stay tuned for the final peek at that!

Elmo Second Birthday Invitations

I'm excited to share a little project that I've been working on recently for a friend. When she told me she was planning an Elmo themed birthday party, I was a little nervous because that's sort of not my "style". But, a really great idea came to my head that would make them extra special. I also didn't want to use the predictable Sesame Street/kid fonts, so I paired our friend Elmo with Origin and Honey Script.

I wonder if Jay-Z would like this

A few weeks ago in this rant about my online classes, I posted a picture of a project that I was working on for my Typography class. I finished the project and the class, but the result of my project wasn't portfolio-ready with the artwork specifications we were given for the project. So, last night (my idea of a fun Saturday night) I started building a Rolls Royce to put into my poster. Cause if you know Jay-Z like I do, you know he has a sparkly Phantom sitting in one of his many garages.

I don't know Jay-Z that well, but I guess its sort of common knowledge. Maybe I saw it on Cribs?

So, roughly four hours later (three of those hours were without break) I finished it and substituted it for my original poster art.

Behold, one of my most prized works so far:

It's a fictional event for all you fans that are wondering!

The largest font is Metropolis, the second font is Bellerose, and the third font down is Cassannet. 

I don't know where I saved the original picture, which was decent for its purpse, but the artwork was typography based, and just wasn't working. There comes a time in a typography fanatic's life when she must admit there was too much type. That was one of those moments.

Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

I wonder what Jay-Z would say.

A Little Self Promotion Never Hurt Nobody

You were supposed to say that in your best Fergie voice (like in The Great Gatsby).

I've been getting little projects slowly but surely, mostly from friends and family here in Auburn. My Etsy shop has not taken off at all so far, which is disappointing, but I haven't exactly marketed myself as much as I could/should. There's not enough time in the day! I thought I'd share some of the things that I've been working on...

This one is a gift for my former college roomate who just had a baby girl! I think I got the inspiration for the flowers from a greeting card that I saw on Pinterest. Isn't it darling?

Congrats Ibelise!! (If you're seeing this, it should be coming in the mail soon!)

The daughter of a coworker approached me last month to create the party invitations for her little boy's second birthday party, which is at a local pumpkin patch here in Central New York. I usually do a few different designs for clients to pick from, especially if I'm not exactly sure what they're envisioning. This was the final decision:

This was another choice, and I loved it just as much! The perfect twist to a fall color scheme!

I've been trying my hand at designing custom resumes for some friends. They're quick and easy to do but they make a huge difference! Just imagine an employer's delight when they open this up:

And no, I wasn't talking about how beautiful my best friend is. I was talking about how effective the design is! (Ha-ha)

And this is another one I did. Cute, right?

And this is my resume! I did this one awhile ago, and I'd actually like to redo it a little bit. Make it a little more sophisticated.

If you're interested in my work, you can pop over to my Etsy shop and look at more of my designs, or email me at emmabauso@gmail.com, and we can get a little project in the oven!

Online Classroom Rant-Sesh

I've mentioned that I'm working towards my Bachelor's in Graphic Design with the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division (AIPOD), and that takes up a major part of my time between Julian's bedtime and my bedtime. I spend a huge amount of time working on assignments and commenting on discussion posts- even while I'm at work (sshhh...). I don't think conventional schooling is not for me for lots of reasons, but online school definitely gives me a run for my money. I would give anything to be able to sit in a room with other students, raise my hand to answer a question, participate in a live, meaningful discussion and leave feeling like I'm a tiny bit smarter than when I came. It's frustrating to keep up on deadlines, especially when they fall on a Friday and Monday for assignments and Sunday and Wednesday for commenting on my peers' work.

I wish I could say "end rant" and say that I'm grateful that our technological advancements allow me to even be able to call a web address my classroom. BUT there's more.

My problem with those deadlines and the shortness of my classes is this: how do they expect me to produce quality, portfolio-ready pieces of art when I have about 3 days in between assignments? And another life before and after "school"! To anyone seeking a review of AIPOD, my official opinion is that it's great if you already know how to do a lot of the things you're seeking your degree in, and you have the ability to teach yourself what you need to know. It's not for you if you need more guidance and serious honing of your skills. I consider myself to be a somewhat skilled designer for being a beginner, and the work that other students are producing often make me wonder if someone is playing a joke on me.

Ok, that was mean.

Now I sound like this egotistical bitch that thinks she's some artist sent from God to reform all the untalented artists. No. But I do wish a "professor" would be a little stricter with their criticism and say something other than "you're going in the right direction, but...".

I wish there were good art schools for me to go to in my area, and that I actually had the time/ability to go to a tangible school with real, serious people. I just wonder how much value my hard work will pay off once I have my degree from AIPOD and am trying to get my first job as a designer.

So, what started out as a post titled "Lately" and was going to be a little update on some things and some vague feelings about some things in my life just turned into a rant about school. I'll probably do that post later today.

At least I have some pictures of what I'm working on right now in my Typography class! I can't wait until the class is over and I can tweak the piece to be something worthwhile for my portfolio. I'm hating all of the restrictions and rigidness of these assignments. I just want to create beautiful things that reflect my style and the direction of my work!

Favorite Fonts!

I'm always on the lookout for new fonts, and I started a Pinboard for all of the great fonts that I see from other bloggers and Pinners. That way, when I'm working on a project, I can go to my board and scroll through font snob heaven the fonts I've pinned, click through, and download! It's so much easier to download a few fonts as you need them than to have a lot that are pretty but that you might now ever use.

Once I download a font, I open up a Word document that I have saved to my computer and type the font name so that I know which ones I have already and what they look like. It's such an easy reference tool that I find myself looking at every time I open Illustrator.

So, because there are so many fonts that I admire, I thought maybe I could share some of them with you! These are some of the ones I use on a regular basis- some are fancy, some are simple, but all of them are fun and gorgeous! They're all great to have in your designer pocket.

English Essay.Odalisque.Lobster.Alexandria.Dawning of a new day.Ecuyer DAX.Riesling.Quicksand.

I just began a Typography class through my online school, and I'm loving it just as much as I thought I would. I've been sort of re-learning the things my high school graphic design teacher touched on, and I'm super psyched for our project! I can't wait to share the end result- I hope it goes the way I'm seeing it in my head. A piece I did as a final project for my most recently completed class didn't turn out the way I expected it to, and I worked really hard on it, so that was sort of disappointing. 

Have you ever experienced this? Have you started out on a project thinking/picturing it to be one way and then it didn't end up that way? There's no worse feeling than not being able to accomplish something, even though you put forth your greatest effort to do so.

I'm curious to know what your favorite fonts are! Are there any of my favorites that are yours, too?