50th Anniversary Party - Gold Gold and more Gold!

Meet Mom and Pops. Aren't they just adorable for being almost old people?  These two have raised 9 kids, lived in a Utah, California, Florida and Illinois and are leaving Monday to be missionaries for a year in Reno, Nevada. To celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary this year the sibs and I decided to throw them a farewell party to rival all farewell parties - and it was a blast!

First we sent out this invitation:

Having all my immediate family together is no small task, but they all flew out for the festivities a few days early and we crafted, baked, chalked and hung out. It couldn't have been a better weekend. Then when party time drew near all the sisters went into overdrive and helped get everything organized and decorated without a hitch. Thanks for all the help!

Photo Credits: Emily Smith & Robbie Collett

On the porch we had a sign-in tree made by my brother John. This thing is amazing. I sent him a picture of what I had in mind and he just took it the extra mile. Made out of wood and foam and spray painted branches from his own yard, this thing was stunning. Guests were asked to write well wishes on some tags that we decorated with glitter and washi tape (American Crafts). That glitter tape is amazing stuff and I am slowly bedazzling everything in sight with it.

Once the guests headed inside they had a chance to visit with the matron and patron of honor and then they preceded into the dining room to be fed. If there is one thing is this world the Smith Family loves-- food--and lots of it. Every event has loads of delicious goodies and we didn't want to disappoint seeing as Mom had thrown great parties like this for each one of us a time or two in our lives. So we baked and cooked and tossed and stirred and it all turned out fabulous.

For the food we served:

Pulled Pork on Homemade Rolls
Vegetable Platter with Dill Dip
Crackers and Spicy Jalapeno Dip
Orzo Salad with Feta
Bow-tie Salad with Broccoli
Shrimp Cocktail

Mom's Brownies with Glitter Sprinkles
Mom's English Toffee
Glitter dusted Meringues
Sarah's Shortbread Cookies
Glitter Dusted Sugar Cookies in the shapes of "5's" and "0's"
Grandma Boyd's Chocolate Pound Cake (the best ever)
Grandma Boyd's Coconut Cream Pie (with my own special alterations)

How could I not end on that cuteness!?

If you are interested in where I sourced the decor:
Tablecloth: Just an old un-hemmed swash of fabric from Ikea (to my mom's chagrin) $20
Serving Platters: Things we had on hand or bits and bobs I found at the thrift store.
Pedestal Frames: Ikea and spray painted with gold. $1
Flowers: Myself and Blooms by Brittney (my friend's new floral venture)
Pinwheels: DIY with American Crafts paper
Garlands: DIY tissue and crepe paper projects
Pumpkins: Pinea Farms
Food Fancies: Orsen Gygi

New Work - Crate Paper Close Knit and Maggie Holmes Flea Market - CHA 2013

Check out the rest of the line HERE along with Maggie's wonderful blog HERE.

I started this great job last November at American Crafts working on their Crate Paper line of scrapbooking supplies. AC is this fabulous company that creates all sorts of scrapbooking and crafting stuff. Although I am an avid anti-scrapbooker I have managed to find the greatest place to draw all day and drink copious amounts of diet coke (free soda!) with fabulous co-workers and an even greater boss. It's wonderful. We designed these lines this Spring and are working on some even more adorable ones to come out in January.

The papers and embellishments were designed along with my amazing hand lettering partner in crime Jill DeHaan who shares MY EXACT SAME BIRTHDAY. We were meant to be friends. Seriously go spend your afternoon perusing her website and dreaming about all the t-shirts or posters she could letter for you. She's AMAZING. We worked on this line together along with the wonderful Maggie Holmes. It's screaming girly and gold and I can't get over all the foil.

Jill and I also worked on the Close Knit line of products that were released for CHA Summer 2013 at the same time. Enjoy the rest of that line HERE.

Principles of Design - A Mr Collett Video

Husband made another awesome video about the principles of design. We have had many a lively discussion about what constitutes an element and what is a principle. Oh to be married to a non creative would be so blasted boring.

Elements of Design: A Mr Collett Video

Husband recently designed and animated this video about the elements of design. Talented guy.

Ink Run Press Annual Valentines Sale!

My art showed up in Target one day...

Isn't it though?

So if you aren't already sick of me talking about seeing my artwork pop up in the ol' Tarjay well then sorry folks because I have to document it somewhere and especially if nothing else exciting happens to me in the next 10 years then I will definitely need a blogpost to look back on it in a "look I think I did something with my life once before I became old and boring" kind of way.

Anyways for the quick lowdown, about a year ago at my old place of employment DCWV I started a project with my Pam-boss that involved me doing whatever the heck I wanted for a possible typography endcap with the Target Home Decor department. It was a fun, torrid 2 weeks that I got to design some inspirational quotes/cute box-like typography solutions that I thought would probably not go anywhere but I still had high hopes. I never got to design anything that wasn't totally art directed there so it was a blessin' to just be let loose on a project.

So we sent them off to Target for review for which Target came back and asked for 10 more designs by the next morning. THE FREAKING NEXT MORNING. So I spent 4 hours on a blustery January morning bursting my design brain out and by some miracle sent them the remainder ideas by noon the next day. Which they loved! Woohoo! It still makes me tired just thinking about it.

So of the 30 or so designs they ended up picking 12 to go into all Target stores starting Dec 26th. Of course they picked some of my least favorites... why is it that the client always, always picks the cheesiest/plainest/fillerest design you include in the bunch? Oh well, no biggie, who cares when you get picked for Target?

Fast forward a very, very long year later to December 26th 2012. Christmas came and went and that's when the stalking began. Dragging husband to every Target Home Decor department along the Wasatch Front in hopes of catching a glimpse. 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, no luck. Husband began to believe Wife had made up this "my art is going to be in Target" thing. Then we just stopped looking cause meh, whatevs who cares anyways. Target probably nixed it. Then one day I just decided to look again for funsy.

And it was a very happy day. The End.

Old Work: Logo And Branding - Does Knot

Awhile back I did this logo for a new company, Does Knot. Selling crocheted slippers, they wanted a very classic, clean look.

Very simple and classic

Business Card Mockup

-If you didn't hear I'm playing catch up for the last 6 months of lame blogging. I'm periodically updating with work that I've done and projects that I've completed. Check back often!

A BIKING POST

Photo Credit: Public Bikes

With the recent heart pounding, squeamish inducing, Joseph Gordon-Levitt swooning, and subsequent viewing of PREMIUM RUSH, the NYC bike messenger tale of heartache and woe, the Teacher and I have been discussing getting bikes. We live close to everything we need and feel terrible about our carbon footprint and want to do our part to lesson our emissions on the world.

The upcoming Frontrunner opening in Utah Valley, along with these AWESOME posters by Mother New York to encourage biking has got me ready to purchase.

Let's pause for a moment to appreciate the ingenuity:

// Found via Black Eiffel from Mother New York

Great right? So I am on the prowl for a great street bike. Not a racing bike, nor a cheesy beach cruiser but maybe something a little more sophisticated yet hardy for everyday wear and tear. Once the Front Runner opens I will be able to bike to the station (if I get up early enough) and bike from the station in Provo to work. How great does that sound?

Plus a basket and maybe a rack on back to take groceries home in would be so charming!

 Here are my out of my price range loves:

// Sources: Public, Public, and Velorbis

Anyone know of a great bike that doesn't cost a gagillion dollars? Preferably in a blush pink or pale minty green? I don't need much. :)

New - Andrew Bird Tour Poster

Decided to take a stab at designing a tour poster for Andrew Bird. We went to see his concert last week with some friends (Thanks Annie! Best wedding present ever!) and I was inspired to create some Bird art. I still feel like it's not completely done but hey might as well post while I have the energy to do so. I started off in Photoshop, brought in text from Illustrator and some colored pencil drawings and texture.

Inspired by the song "Sifter"

sound is a wave like a wave on the ocean
moon plays the wave like a violin, pushing and pulling
from shore to shore, biggest melody you never heard before, no

what if i were the night sky? if i were the night sky
it's my lullaby to leave by

Me and the Teacher, tickety tickets, the always gorgeous sun-kissed Tracy, Andrew in his blurry magic

Old Work - A Texas Howdown

Doesn't this make you jones'n for some beef brisket and baked beans? Designed last March for my sister, the best client there is. Basically she loves anything I do so it makes me want to design anything she wants at any time. Apparently this hoedown is a big deal in Texas, and they take their square dancing quite seriously.

-If you didn't hear I'm playing catch up for the last 6 months of lame blogging. I'm periodically updating with work that I've done and projects that I've completed. Check back often!

Ink Run Press First Annual Graphic Designer's Show

Looking for some cool Friday night fun? Or something to take your new beau to? Well look no further.

Ink Run Press is hosting it's first ever Annual Graphic Designer's Show.

Details below:

When: Friday May 18th

Time: 7-9 PM

What: A radical art show featuring graphic designer's from near and far!

Where: Ink Run Press Print Shop & Gallery

387 1st Avenue Main Floor

(the old church on the corner)

Refreshment, music and merriment will commence on opening night,

and it also coincides with the SLC Gallery Stroll. So come, peruse and then make a night out of it!

When a Graphic Designer and a Multi Media Teacher get Married

It happened on my birthday. Well done Mr. Collett.

About time...

Seth & Kim met 10 years ago, and just now decided to get hitched. Here's how I designed their story:

A really fun announcement to work on, it was designed to be folded accordion style like a mini book. I'll post a copy of the printed version when I get one in the mail.

Seth and I met back in 2004 when we both attended the short lived BYU Nauvoo program for a semester. He's a great writer and filmmaker. Glad to see he found a good woman. Congrats Seth & Kim!

More Chalk Love

Ace Hotel + Martin Greenfield Clothiers from Dana Tanamachi on Vimeo.

I feel like it is necessary to include Valentine or Love into every post I make until Valentines day.
So deal with it :)

Also, I can't seem to get enough of Dana Tanamachi. She rocks.

VALENTINES SALE

Come one, come all to our VALENTINE SALE! We have awesome new cards! And some old favorites!