I have to say that I have not been the best blogger in the last few months. Will you forgive me? Please oh please? I have a few projects I am going to launch within the next couple of months… and I have been working oh sooo hard and traveling a bit too…The good news is that I have sketched out a better schedule for the late fall and winter for some better blog posting time. AHH I can’t wait. I really love being a part of a GREAT online community. And I really miss my interactions with all you guys.

I haven’t done this in a while, so hopefully you all have built up some questions. ASK A QUESTION IN THE COMMENT SECTION!! I will visit back to this post often to answer any questions you may have. So ask away. And I would love it if others chimed in with answers too.

(photo by Maile Knight Wilson)

HOOOOOOO HHEEEEEEEY HOOOOOO HEEEEYYYY!!! Jasmine star and I had such a fun time designing, dreaming, and planning for her new website.This site was created with SHOWITFAST.COM software. A big HUGE thanks to Brett, and the Showit team for creating an AMAZING software and helping this site really come to life. If you are in the market for a new site, definitely check Showit out. We used some new features to create this site, and they will be available for showit users in mid September. I cant wait! I use the showit software for my own site and I LOVE IT!! PLUS I have a little special design treat coming out for all you showit users in the next couple of weeks. SO EXCITING!!!

BRAINSTORMING:
It first started with a brainstorming session in beautiful Santa Barbara, where Jasmine came prepared with great magazine inspirations and a REALLY open mind. I was actually kind of surprised with her willingness to think and try anything. This started out REALLY fun for me. When a client is totally open like she was, the possibilities are ENDLESS!! I was excited to dive in a little deeper. I came with inspiration from magazines as well.. and we were really excited that we pulled some of the VERY same images and layouts. PERFECT!! We started out on the same page. [Sorry, this photo was taken with my iphone.]
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I am sooo excited to announce the partnership of Jasmine Star and I on her new website design using showitfast.com. Jasmine Star is an off the hook photographer in Orange County California. She was voted “Top 10 Wedding Photographer in the World” by American Wedding Photo 2009. WOW. Jasmine has an editorial photographic style, so we wanted to incorporate that feel into her website as well.

She has a lot of special features in this site including a “Life In The In Between” page with a real magazine layout, a contact page that looks like a subscription card, and multiple horizontal sliding photo galleries.

I will definitely share the design process soon. YAY!

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THE WINNER IS: MYLYNE FROM BUENA PARK CA.
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I was soooooo STOKED to see an email from Shabby Apple saying that they WANTED to give you ladies a dress!! FOR FREE!!! I seriously couldn’t say no to this. When I went to their site I was COMPLETELY blown away. The quality of clothing is OUTSTANDING, their fashion sense is seriously top notch, the photographs are whimsical and beautiful, and their logo, design, and website are ROCKIN!! Shabby Apple couldn’t be KILLIN it more than they are. That being said I am SOOOOO EXCITED for this opportunity for you ladies. A BIG THANK YOU TO SHABBY APPLE!!
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A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of photographing a promotional shoot with Brillare hair Academy (formerly Toni & Guy) in Phoenix and Scottsdale. They are releasing a new website soon designed my mindspace.net and so they needed some photos for it. I saw the comps for the new website AND IT IS SOOO BOMB! I will post a link when its up. Brillare had their students from the school model and do each others hair. It was so fun to see how creative they are backstage. This shoot was SOOO fun getting to work with a bunch of unique artsy people. And I totally felt like I was back at art school again. It brought back some fun memories, and It was great. But the over 100 degrees at 7 am in the morning was not so great. haha. In this season of my life I am SOOOO enjoying the chance to collaborate with my dear friends. It is such a High to get to create and feed energy off of each other. Alex collaborated with me for directing and posing of the models. It was so much fun to have her energy there.

This shoot was shot over 2 separate days with a total of 8 different models. The client wanted natural real life looking photos (not in a studio) and mostly back lit for a light sun-flair because Brillare means “to shine”. We had some lovely talented ladies contributing to this shoot:

Make up: Chanel Warwick
Stylist: Alex Evjen (Check out her blog post on this shoot w/ different photos HERE)
Producer: Kristina Wood from Mindspace.net

Check out my scissor necklace creation too. haha. I think the idea is a little cheesy… but hopefully it was executed well. haha.
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On the way home from Rome I finished reading this MIND BLOWING book called “Rework”, recommended from our friends over at Soul City Church. To be really honest, I am not a big reader. My mind usually gets really distracted and I start dreaming of creative ideas that get me carried away to another land. But this book really kept my attention and helped me view my business in a different way. It was cool to see that some of the things they mentioned in the book, I am already doing. And others I was enlightened beyond belief. I will definitely fill you in more on some of the amazing things they touch on in this book. But the last page had my name written all over it. It was titled:

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INSPIRATION IS PERISHABLE
We all have ideas, ideas are immortal. They last forever. What doesn’t last forever is inspiration. Inspiration is like fresh fruit or milk: It has an expiration date. If you want to do something, you’ve got to do it now. You can’t put it on the shelf and wait two months to get around to it. You can’t just say you will do it later. Later you won’t be pumped up about it anymore.
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Within in the past few months I have been really inspired by patterns, prints, and color in home design print magazines. There is something so fresh about being able to flip through the pages, to feel, and look through the design layout. I search for a lot of things online… But I just love the relaxing feel of browsing through a magazine over coffee or an airplane ride.

We are getting ready to leave Rome and head home. Vacationing, sightseeing, and shopping is really fun… but there is nothing better than home. Do you agree? I am piling up all my good reads and fun magazine inspiration before tomorrow when we leave.

Lately I have been completely entertained and inspired by Vogue Home. There is a level of funky fashion, shock factor, and random/odd placement of fun furniture. This magazine has rocked my socks off. I pulled some of my favorite spreads from this particular issue.

What are some RAD print Magazine that you have been into lately? I always love to check out new stuff. So link or post your own photos to show here in the comment section.
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SO…. My friend Alex Evjen from AVE Styles, you know…. is a fashion stylist. Check out some designs I did for her HERE. She came over to my house the other day to get somethings together to style a recent photoshoot I was in. We were going for a boho/hippy/survivor look with lots of layers and colors. She had this brilliant idea to combine my scarfs for a chunky looking neck wrap (which I think was BRILLIANT) I have worn this scarf many other times since that photoshoot. She rocks. I think this idea is awesome if you want to add a whimsical extra layer to your outfit. This is a PERFECT accessory for easing your way into the fall months. Check out how to make your own below.
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Hey guys!! I am so excited to tell you that I am going to Rome THIS SUNDAY for a little over a week. I really can’t wait. This trip came as a huge surprise to us! Our good friend is house swapping In Rome and they invited us to come be a part of it. AHHHH!!! I seriously cant wait. I have been trying to play catch up and research some things that we would want to see. So I need your help!!

Have you been? WHAT DO WE NEED TO SEE? Any favorite places or restaurants? I promise to take tons of photos.
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Today when I opened up my personal email account I saw a HUGE bright Red Robin mass email advertisement. haha. I see them every so often in my email and I just don’t have the guts to unsubscribe. haha. It’s sad I know. And it’s sooo torturous. Red Robin corporate send those emails out when they know Promise Tangeman is at her weakest point. BECAUSE SHE LOVES RED ROBIN.

I know it’s really dorky to say that Red Robin is my favorite restaurant, but it is!! IT’S TRUE!! The cat is out of that bag. Whenever that question comes around.. like “where do you all like to eat?” Everyone else has these really posh restaurant names that probably serve gourmet something somethin and have really shiny spoons or menu items that I can’t even pronounce. But I LOVE Red Robin.

Cant go wrong with a etch-a-sketch contest. IM IN!!

I love the bright colors and the random clitter on the walls. I think my love for Red Robin comes partly from the memories behind it. It was one of that “main” restaurants in my home down, and I would pick to go there for every birthday celebration. haha. There is something really comforting and familiar about it. PLUS they have scrumptious fries. Next time you go there get the poppy seed salad dressing to dip your fries in. AND order the Ragin Cajun chicken burger. ITS THE BEST and it’s not on the menu, you have to ask specifically for it.

So that being said… what is YOUR favorite restaurant and WHY? I like funny stories too… if you have any.

A few of my blog readers requested that I touch on a few of the topics that I covered in my presentation for the showit freedom tour. So…over the next few weeks I will be posting a few thoughts on branding and seeing your business through a different creative lens.

In this post I want to talk a little bit about getting inspiration FROM your logo. I know the title “get inspiration from your logo” sounds a bit funny. But maybe after reading this you can try looking at your logo in a new way… and maybe even be inspired to try something new. This is my first time trying to describe the process that happens inside of my head… so I hope this makes sense. If it doesn’t just ask questions in the comment section and hopefully I can clarify.

A lot of creative small businesses can get carried away being inspired by OTHER creative businesses. And even get caught up thinking “WOW i wish my branding looked like theirs”. Therefore they end up copying that business’s website, brochure, or business card and just replacing their logo with their own. Well, instead of getting distracted by other’s looks… why not be inspired by your own logo and create your design piece around the shapes and structure of your own logo?!?! Does that idea make sense?

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It is very freeing and refreshing to work with people that are so naturally inspiring. That is a characteristic that comes few and far between. It’s so fun to go to a shoot and feel that one creative shot with energy leads to the next and before you know it, the shoot was COMPLETELY different from what you were expecting in the BEST way possible. It’s amazing to watch and experience a shoot unfold with a life of its own. That is definitely what happened here and I was loving every second of it.

I was SOOO INSPIRED shooting this adorable family. Seth and Crystal are great friends of Brian and I, and I seriously was on a high when I was at this shoot. Their kids LOVE the camera and they come running to it. How cute is that? haha. Check out the shoot I did with them a little over a year ago HERE. This time because the kids are a little older they wanted some fun colorful graffiti and an urban setting. I think this worked out SOOO perfect for them. I love color so much and I love these people so much too. Brian and I had so much fun with you guys. Seth and Crystal-YOU ARE LOVED!!
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