logo redesign

I created my biz logo for Creative Stash 3 years ago when I was selling handmade paintings and gifts at a local farmers/craft market. I signed up to be a vendor and scrambled to create a logo and print business cards. I have wanted to redo it for awhile but, the timing was never quite right. This year, Creative Stash has branched off into a few different avenues and I felt it was time to revisit my logo and create a professional and cohesive look.

I redesigned it to be a clean, simple design based off the color wheel and used own handwriting ta-boot! Remember when I created my own font? I am thrilled to be able to use my handwriting, it gives the design a personal touch. I'm really excited to begin using my new logo. Hopefully, it doesn't take me forever to get it implemented on my website, blog and etsy shop.

thank you veterans!

Happy Veterans Day to all who have served (and currently serve) our great nation. Thank you for your courage, dedication and sacrifice. Thank you for our freedom and for protecting our families. Many thanks and blessings.

i'm an art masterpiece guide!

The Olive Tree by Vincent van Gogh

I just finished the last of the mandatory training classes for the Mesa Public Schools (MPS) Art Masterpiece Program. As of tonight, I'm a trained Art Masterpiece Guide. WooHoo!

I learned about Art Masterpiece during parent/teacher open house and am really excited to be involved at Ethan's school. Art Masterpiece is an art appreciation program offered to elementary children by parent volunteer guides. Essentially, art history for kids. The goal is to help students look, think and talk about great masterpieces of art. As a guide I will lead 15-20 minute discussions about famous paintings once every two weeks starting in January. I am grateful for the training classes as they provided me with information about the program, art history and lots of presentation ideas. And, it was really nice to learn that Mesa Public Schools puts a high value on art education.

I remember loving my art history courses in college and look forward to learning about the artwork. Plus, seeing it through the eyes of 5 and 6 year old kids is going to be awesome!

monthly goal meetup

(image: Modish Biz Tips)

Ahh November. Weather outside is just perfect, we are spending our days visiting parks once again. All of the sudden life feels a little kinder, a little slower and a little more festive as the holidays peak around the corner. Last month I joined modish biz tips blog in their monthly goal meetup to help keep my on top of my biz goals for Creative Stash. I did not accomplish all the goals that I set in Oct but, I did start mid-month instead of at the beginning so, I guess I can cut myself a little slack. ;)

Here were my October goals and what I accomplished...

1. create weekly schedule for marketing/business/creative time so, I'm not so overwhelmed
2. take jewelry pictures for etsy shop
3. gift packaging idea & photo for etsy shop
   
4. website splash page
   
5. new business cards

November Biz Goals:

1. graphics referral sheet with info & prices
2. website splash page
3. new business cards
4. gift packaging idea & photo for etsy shop
5. add bookmarks to etsy shop
   

Best of luck to all those participating in the Monthly Goal Meetup for November!

happy halloween!

Bert & I and some of our oldest and dearest friends are all in Indio, CA right now enjoying a 3 day music festival put on by the band PHISH. This Halloween we are experiencing lots of treats and maybe even a few tricks! The boys are spending the weekend with Nannie and enjoying many treats of their own I'm sure!

Here are our little cuties in their costumes this year!

Hudson the Bumble Bee sharing some cotton candy.

Ethan and his schoolmate Caleb both dressed as Super Mario Bros.

Costumed kiddos doing the limbo!

Ethan running through a spooky haunted house!

Here are some blasts from Halloween pasts:

Halloween 2008

Halloween 2007


Halloween 2006

Halloween 2005

Wishing you and your family a Safe and Happy Halloween!

vac8tion

We’re el8ted to be leaving town in a few short hours to start our vac8tion! We are headed to Festival 8, a three-day Phish festival this weekend at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.

Keeping the tradition of past Halloween shows, Phish will don a musical costume on Halloween night and cover another band’s album. And everyone is a buzz about what album they will be covering! The tradition began on Halloween 1994 with Phish covering The Beatles’ The White Album. In subsequent years, they covered The Who’s Quadrophenia, Talking Heads’ Remain in Light and the Velvet Underground’s Loaded.

Phish will play 8 sets over the course of 3 days, and as with all past festivals, there will be numerous attractions and art installations throughout the weekend.

Bert & I will be meeting up with a bunch of old friends ta-boot! Can't wait!!!

i heart etsy

I love making handcrafted wares of all types and this summer decided to open Creative Stash Etsy shop. I have loved Etsy for quite some time. It's pretty exciting knowing I'll have a place to sell all the little handmade creations I make from jewelry to paper goods to painted decor and prints and possibly basic graphic services.

Etsy News ...

I had my first Etsy sale this week! WooHoo! Big thank you to Nancy who purchased my Beach Antique Brass Art Necklace

I created 6 new black cord art necklaces that are online for sale

I joined a local Etsy team called the East Valley Artisans

The East Valley Artisans are a talented group of local artisans who offer a wealth of knowledge, support and friendship while encouraging the handmade movement. I met them last night for some coffee at a great Downtown Mesa coffee shop called Inside the Bungalow. The East Valley Artisans are excited to present Craft-oberfest! A Halloween event that will feature hand-made jewelry, glass beads, bath and body items, accessories, paper crafts, food, fun ... and more. Everyday and Halloween items will be available for purchase. Put Saturday October 24 on your calendar and come see what we they are all about!


I hope to expand my shop regularly and sell items based on what I want to create and share with the world at that particular moment. Maybe someday I'll have a specific niche but, right now I think it'll be nice to leave my options open and see where this journey takes me.

gone batty!

Our family has been a bit under the weather for last 2 days. With the kids in the house all day we got a little batty! We don't have many Halloween decorations so, to make it feel a little more festive we strung up a garland with some paper and black string we had in the house. I found a half bat template online and a ghost rubber stamp that I outlined and printed them both out. I had the kids cut some shapes and I cut a bunch for the garland.

Ethan made some bats but he had his own plan for them; he colored it black and made a card instead. Hudson had a great time cutting but, not into any actual bat or ghost shapes. While I was stringing the garland the boys decided they wanted bat kites so, Bert helped them cut out the shapes and tied with some black string.

They happily ran back and forth in the living room as there kites flew! The best part was, this craft project kept everyone engaged and whining / arguing free for quiet a while. :)

monthly goal meetup

(image: Modish Biz Tips)

Whoa there - mid October already?! Where oh where has the time gone. It is finally feeling a bit cooler here in sunny Phoenix although rumor has it we may hit 100 degrees on Sat! I just keep reminding myself that by the time Halloween arrives the 100 degree days should be history.

I have been following the modish biz tips blog for quiet some time. When the monthly goal meetup started I remember thinking that it would be a nice way to stay on track with my Creative Stash biz goals. I stuck the idea on the back burner for awhile and in September I decided it was time I join in the fun. Here goes ...

October Biz Goals:

1. create weekly schedule for marketing/business/creative time so, I'm not so overwhelmed
2. take jewelry pictures for etsy shop
3. gift packaging idea & photo for etsy shop
   
4. website splash page
   
5. new business cards

Best of luck to all those participating in the Monthly Goal Meetup for October! Read more about how it all started on Modish Biz Tips Setting goals & keeping goal - Let's do it together.

font capture

Today in my daily candy email they spoke of this clever site, fontcapture.com where you can create a font from your very own handwriting! All you need is a printer and a scanner. So cool. Here is my handwriting:

Ethan is learning how to write all his letters in kindergarten. At the end of the year how fun would it be to make a font of his own letters?! Okay maybe my idea of "fun" is a little skewed but, still it will be cool. You can create your own font online at fontcapture.com.