moodboard | hot and hazy

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Summer is most definitely on my mind! I have a couple of really fun trips lined up for July (New Orleans!) and August (Outside Lands in San Francisco!), and I am absolutely giddy with excitement. As a result, my thoughts these days are all about lazing around, enjoying the heat, and basking in the sun. Add in a great soundtrack (I'm thinking lots of Black Keys and Edward Sharpe), and things really couldn't get more perfect!

link list no.2

1  /  Awesome pictures of people appreciating art, as curated by Diana of Miss Moss.

2  /  This poster by Studio on Fire has me dreaming of warm summer nights!

3  /  I always love Inslee's work, and her new spring cards are no exception.

4  /  How fun are these place cards? I want to do this for my next party :)

5  /  Maddie always brightens my day -- her party nose is possibly my favorite thing, ever.

work | the wind in the willows

Remember this moodboard? Well, I've been work, work, working away on this project for the past month or so, and I'm so happy to finally share the results! I created this design for the 2013 Penguin Design Award, which asks for an imaginative and modern redesign of The Wind in the Willows (which is where I found this quote!). It's an international competition, so I'm not really expecting to win -- but it was still such a fun project to work on.

I was definitely inspired by the whimsical nature of the novel, and I wanted to capture a childlike feeling while still maintaining a minimalistic aesthetic. I've mentioned before how I much I love working with paper, and I knew almost immediately that I would be using paper to create my final look. After some (very rough) sketching, I decided on a simple, idyllic scene with a layering to add depth.

I have to say, this is one of my favorite things I've ever made -- turns out, I really love designing book covers!

moodboard | clean & fresh

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Or, in the words of Outkast, so fresh and so clean clean. My moodboard last week focused on the rejuvenating qualities of spring, and this week is somewhat of a variation on a theme. I know I can't be the only one who has the spring cleaning bug, and for me this includes everything -- my room, my wardrobe, my computer files, etc. Visually, this translates to gorgeous whites, crisp blues, and clean lines. And with such a pretty palette, I admit I can't help but feel a little excited to do some cleaning and reorganizing!

sketch | spring

I revisited The Wind in the Willows a few weeks back for a little side project -- and it was every bit as magical as I remember it from my childhood. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty much guaranteed to love any story that involves adventuring animals, and this book is no exception. I didn't pay much attention to the craft of writing as a child, but upon rereading the book, I discovered that Grahame had a brilliant way of describing nature. 

The quote above, in particular, really struck me as a perfect way to describe that feeling of excitement and anticipation that comes with spring. I knew immediately that I wanted to create something with it, and after some doodling, I ended up hand-lettering the quote and creating a soft gradient (a transition from sky to earth) with watercolors. I'm really pleased with the end result -- and I'm excited to announce that I've created a Society6 shop, so you can purchase a print if you'd like!

moodboard | seaside rejuvenation

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One of my favorite things about spring is the sense of renewal -- a second fresh start, if you will. With everything fresh and green and in bloom, it's not hard to get swept up in the possibilities of new projects and new goals. And while flowers and foliage certainly communicate that feeling, I've recently been drawn more towards calm and clean beach scenes -- with a touch of citrus. Nothing is quite as refreshing as a day by the sea, right? 

just pinned | 12

engagement photo | blush dresses | ice cream

ocean view | sailor with bubbles | masked octopus

white chairs | pink balloons | workspace

I mentioned last week that I wasn't particularly interested in Easter-y color palettes, but it looks like things have changed! With the (theoretical) arrival of spring and with everyone's favorite bunny-centric holiday quickly approaching, even I've been drawn into pretty pastels, soft blush tones, and basically all things light and airy. I'm really excited to start focusing more on color -- with my beloved neutrals mixed in, of course!

I have this theory that I'm much more productive when I can enjoy the sunshine, and the past couple of weeks of (on-and-off) nice weather have proven me right. I've been working on some fun projects that I look forward to sharing with you in the next couple of months (follow me on Instagram for some sneak peeks!), Also, I also have some new things in the works for the blog, so stay tuned for updates :)

moodboard | natural & earthy

I've been working on a little side project recently, and I thought I'd share a quick first look. As you can see, I'm playing with bringing together various aspects of natural beauty, from specifics like luscious greens and golden sunshine to a  more general sense of rustic earthiness. Add in a dose of whimsy, and I think I'll be able to capture just the feeling I'm looking for!

sketch | lucky charms

Can you believe St. Patrick's Day is this weekend? March is really flying by thanks to projects, classes, and upcoming finals, but I have had a little time to doodle and experiment on the computer. Digital illustration is an area of design that I've been wanting to work on more, since it's a little outside my comfort zone. I definitely gravitate more towards drawing by hand because it feels more personal and natural to me, but different situations call for different aesthetics and I want to be able to work comfortably with all kinds of media. And even though my "lucky charms" are far from fancy or complicated, I'm still pretty pleased with how they turned out :)

moodboard | rustic meets glam

I've been in the process of working on some invitations for a couple of friends' wedding and I'm having so much fun working with the cozy-yet-chic theme. Here's a little sneak peek at possible colors and themes -- I really can't wait to see everything come to life! As much as I love my computer (and the online world), there's really nothing quite so satisfying as seeing my work become a physical reality... Yet another reason to appreciate all the awesome textures and details this wedding has to offer!

moodboard | cheerful whimsy

I am so excited about this project -- especially because I get to work with a dear old friend (we've known each other since fifth grade!) Annie's blog is filled with adorable pictures of her family, crafty DIY projects, and whimsical illustrations (she's an illustrator!), and I definitely want the redesign to reflect her artsy, happy, and oh-so-sweet personality. For the color palette, I love the idea of these updated primary colors, with a cheerful yellow as the star. We've also discussed including some hand-lettered or hand-drawn elements, which I think fit perfectly with Annie's artistic and crafty side.

This is my first time going through my new-and-improved design process (I'd say it's "official," but it's really just more organized than what I've done before), and I'm already thrilled with what it's helped me accomplish. I can't wait to share more of my work -- and stay tuned for the final redesign of Annie's blog!