When heading into this project I knew, from a photographer's point a view, that your clients, work and locations are very diverse and ever changing. Keeping this in mind I wanted to create several different logo/watermark options to fit any occasion or person that she could be photographing. The top image was all the logos I presented her in white over a photo to show the "idea". She ultimately ended up picking a few of them, but I still wanted to present her quite a few options.

I had a lot of fun with this project since Jamie and I share similar tastes in just about everything it turns out. I was like designing for myself, only easier because I can NEVER decided on anything for myself haha.  Usually I spend a lot of time sketching first, but I hardly did this time. I just dove into it in Illustrator. I knew immediately what colors, fonts and shapes I wanted to start with and it all evolved from there.

Well hope you enjoy another peak into my work life.
Kat

1) What do you love about blogging?

2) Who is your favourite band/musician?

3) If you could have dinner with anyone (living or dead) who would it be?

I'd have to say Stanley Kubrick. I've always admired his creative aesthetic in film and photography. I'd just like to pick his brain and see where his inspiration comes from. OR Zooey Deschanel. I feel like we would hit it off quite well with our sarcastic personalities.

4) Do you like collecting? 

5) If you could have lived in any other time period, which would you choose, and why?

A window seat: for quiet moments with books or story time.
Lots of vintage charm, particularly stained glass windows, old hardwood floors, clawfoot tub etc..
A dreamy studio space.
A decent sized yard for forts, tree houses, a garden and finally a dog.
A great porch for mornings/evenings drinking coffee and tea with people that I love.
A garage for my handsome man to do his "working on cars and old things" manly stuff.

We are still half heartedly home shopping. I have my eye on a few places that are just about perfect... but I'm not getting my hopes up or anything. I'm not super particular on things like how big the rooms are or all stainless steel kitchen etc... I want a home.... a cozy, comfortable place to relax in, make memories in, fall in love again in. I've always wanted to live in an older home... and it's in the details. I love the interesting shaped windows, the thick window sills, old wooden floors, claw foot bath tubs, intricate details on the doors and porches and of course the tin ceiling and roofs. (We have the same dresser as #2 so I'm so looking forward to creating something similar for our bedroom!)

We've talked a lot about buying an older home that needs work and I think we're both exciting about a challenge like that. One of the many things about my boyfriend that I adore is that he prefers to live simply.  He doesn't spend time worrying about obtaining superficial things like expensive clothes or nice cars. He prefers staying at home and watching movies, cooking or working in the garage over partying or going out to eat. He has taught me so much about life and the value of family and the simple things in life. *Warm fuzzy feelings*

That being said the only thing I'm weird about and will be picky about in old homes is old toilets, sinks and bath tubs.  Probably anywhere that I move to those things will need to be replaced at some point. I just don't really want to reuse someone's old toilet, especially one 100 years old haha. I've watched enough HGTV to know that it's unrealistic to expect to get everything that you want so I'm keeping my eyes and mind open!

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6

 It's been another busy week here in the Gypsy Beard Shop =) We've got great vintage western shirts and pretty vintage dresses. And anyone remember the great rompers and skorts of the 90s?! Check them out in the shop.  Back to work now.

Kat

Also we have our 2 winners of the giveaway contest! Congrats to Nadya & Jessica! Check your email ladies! Happy shopping!

Excuse me for being so m.i.a this week. It's been busy!!!! I've been trying to get things ready for my son and I both for school, trying to plan our upcoming vacation,  planning little man's 5th birthday and lots and lots of WORK. I can't complain about any of this at all though. I'm completely happy with how fast things are changing and moving forward. I can't wait to share some of the projects I've been working on in my studio!!  Needless to say, I'll be happy when this weekend is over. We have been trying to have a little bit of fun amidst the craziness... We went and watched Turbo (WHICH WAS HILARIOUS!) We've been trying to hit up as many parks, carnivals and museums as possible too. Anything in the AC will do honestly haha.

Also, I was hoping to go to  TX Style Council but I don't know if I'm going to be able to make it. Are any of you going?

Well back to work!

Kat

I feel like I've been posting a lot lately. Ha. I just feel so pumped about the blog lately... I'm meeting a lot of great ladies lately and thanks to the AMAZING Texas Women Bloggers Group that I joined, I feel even more passionate and excited about where things have been going lately.  If you are from Texas I cannot stress enough how much you will love being apart of the group.

I'm off to another lame weekend at "my real job" or as I like to call it my "back up plan". Eh, it pays the bills when I've had a slow week in the studio/shop. Next week will be FULL SPEED ahead in the studio though with lots of new work coming in. Also I'm starting to plan Conrad's birthday party which is in August. If you follow me on pinterest then you've seen a lego frenzy going on lol.  So in order to remind myself of the happiness of the weeks past, here's another round of pretty summer pictures that make me happy and somehow force me to not call in and quit my weekend job haha.

(P.S. Conrad wanted some face paint so that he could look like the Tonto from The Lone Ranger... I feel asleep on the couch while we were watching a movie and woke up and he has drawn all over his body with it! That's why his face is all red!)

Well happy weekend guys!

Kat


DON'T FORGET!! Only 4 days left to enter the giveaway! TWO winners will receive a $30 Gift Card to my etsy shop Gypsy Beard Vintage .





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To sum it up quickly, the past few weeks have been eventful with the 4th of July and what not. So here's an every life summary of the past few weeks. Lots of cooking out, spending time at the lake, reading, fireworks, dessert, visiting with friends from out of town (and their cute babies!), hosting my first giveaway on the blog (which is still open for a few more days!) and of course breakfast art via syrup haha.

 I'm so sad that summer is halfway over... like what the heck? I've accomplished absolutely nothing that I planned so I guess it's time to put things in high gear aye? I hope your accomplishing more with your summer than I am! haha

Kat

I mentioned a while back about checking out the local roller derby team in my town... well since then I've gotten to know a few of the great ladies and I hinted at how I'd love to work with them... and we ended up working something out. Well here's the first draft for a logo I did for the newest team in the league, The Murder Dolls". It's exciting to do work with people who are more true to your personal tastes. I'm sure we'll be making changes but so far I'm pretty stoked with where it's going.


And here's a little peak into the work process. (I'm TERRIBLE at drawing stars by hand. I always have to fix it in Illustrator haha.) I usually start with a hand drawn sketch in pencil that gets scanned and traced in Adobe Illustrator. The sketch for me is always a rough draft. I always end up making tons of changes once it's on the computer because my usual drawing style is very grungy and unclean lines. When I know I'm drawing something that will be transferred to a computer I try to keep it as clean as possible. (On an unrelated note, I adore my blue desk lol)

Hope you enjoyed a peak in to my work process/life.

tata guys

kat

Conrad and I have been spending A LOT of time this summer and I've been spending even more time reading.  I've come across so many great creative and business books by great ladies. 

This book, Growing Your Handmade Business, in particular has blown my mind and I've haven't been able to get my nose out of it. I purchased her previous book Handmade Marketplace and loved it as well, but her recent has to be my favorite. I think Kari Chapman is a genius just for the record. For anyone wanting to start their own creative business or grow an existing one these books are so inspiring and thoroughly helpful!!

The Anti 9-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice For Women Who Think Outside The Cube & My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire .
These two books by Michelle Goodman are also good reads in terms of starting your own business and having your dream job. These were helpful for me because of my "dream job" of becoming a full time graphic/web designer. 



I also picked up these others at the library just for the lovliness of them and for the sake of having a 25 book check out limit each time!!

Love Letters of Great Men It's what the titles states, love letters written by famous men throughout history... Henry VIII, Beethoven, John Keats, Napoleon... I checked it out because let's face it, I'm a huge romantic at heart. (IE my Jane Austen and Victorian era movie collection) It was an interesting read and took me back to the days of chivalry and honor and also opened my eyes to the fact that just about everyone back in the day was also getting divorced, cheating and having the same relationship problems we see today. But the idea of true love and romance still carries strong haha.

Toasts You Ought To Know 
This is another book that is exactly what the title states... it full of toasts for every occasions, some inappropriate, some comedic and some heart moving. I checked this out because 1. I have a 25 book limit so I went a little wild. 2. The cover and the inside pages were designed so well. I buy/get anything for its packaging, typography or illustrations haha.


Have you read any good books lately?? Please share! I know once school starts I wont have anytime for it anymore.

tata guys!

kat

It's definitely been feeling like summer lately! I hope everyone had a great 4th of July! I know we did! We spent our 4th with my parents at this awesome spot at the lake.  It's a park that hasn't opened up completely yet but luckily my dad kind of  knows the people. We were out on this peninsula on a "beachy" area and fireworks were going off on every side of us including all across the other side of the lake. It was by far the coolest fireworks experience I've ever had. It was pretty magical.

We ate some great food and I tried this recipe out for the first time. It was yummy! I left our the preserves and used a bag of frozen mixed berries just because we were rushing around and it was cheaper.  The owners of the place may even turn into future clients after talking with them at the park haha. I love little opportunities like that! Well I'm off to work at my other job for the weekend.

ta ta folks

Kat

P.S. Don't forget about the giveway! Two winners will receive a $30 gift card to the shop ! Enter in the post before this one!

In celebration of the 4th of July & Summer I'm hosting my first giveaway from the shop! TWO beautiful ladies will be able to win $30 Gift Cards towards any item(s) in the shop. =) Enter below!


 a Rafflecopter giveaway


Happy 4th of July all of you lovely people.

Kat 

I fell in love with this fellow BRAD WOODARD's web site design via pinterest... his whole portfolio makes me smile. All of those gorgeous colors and his illustration style are brilliant. Mad props sir, mad props. =) Check out his site for more of his incredible work.  I'm really considering taking his online Digital Illustration: Communicate with Color, Pattern and Texture course at some point in the future. Hope you love his work as much as I do.


pics courtesy of www.bravethewoods.com and http://dribbble.com/bradwwoodard