Palm Springs Save-The-Date

So, I haven't posted here for a while. It's taken me some time to adjust to not having a 9 to 5 type job. It has been harder than I could have anticipated. I think working for a company for so long, especially the same company like I have, leaves a bit of a hole in you when you realize it's no longer a part of your life anymore, and you aren't just on vacation from it. I know that's funny to say about a job, after all it was just a job, but it was nice to feel needed.

Lest you think I have been twiddling my thumbs since leaving Rubberball, Alma and I had plenty of work getting ready for the Art Weekend we helped put on with Nicole Gerulat. Needless to say, it was a success and I am still communicating with the students that took my classes so that they can have additional materials to learn from. It was hard packing so much material in 2 hour classes.

Anyway, since then Nicole, being a seemingly endless, generous supply of work for us, contacted me a few days ago about doing a SAVE-THE-DATE card for a woman that is getting married soon. She wanted it to resemble a vintage travel postcard, using her wedding colors.

I must say, this is my first SAVE-THE-DATE postcard, but I enjoyed the process. It feels good to be drawing on paper again. It's been a while.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

New, At Pebbles!

I have some new Christmas designs at Pebbles in My Pocket, that can be purchased in stores or online! I had a blast creating these Christmas designs. I'll let you know when some of my other Christmas designs are up for sale! These are 3x3 gift tag cards. I'll be adding some more of these soon and some folding cards.



I love working with Pebbles!! If you haven't been in the store for a while, make a special trip in!

Pumpkin Photoshoot

A little over nine months ago, Mike and I announced our finest masterpiece. Well, although it's not exactly business-related, we thought we'd share with you a few pictures that we took today. While Mike and I both appreciate good photography, and while Mike is a genius at Photoshop, neither of us is fully comfortable with a camera yet. We'll need to sit in on Nicole's class again for a refresher since we were too busy to do our homework last time we took it, over a year and a half ago.

We are, however, very happy with how our spontaneous pumpkin-picking excursion went!

BOOYAH! by Olivia

I'm so excited to announce a great product I've helped to develop that is being sent to press! Around the beginning of September, Peter contacted me about doing the illustrations for a children's card game that his daughter Olivia invented. We talked through the game, through potential categories, and a couple months later, the game is ready for preorder! (Note to all family members: Two guesses what you're getting for Christmas this year.)

This was such a fun project, and Peter is fantastic to work with. I appreciate his taking a chance on me, since nothing in my portfolio showed that I was capable of doing illustrations like this. Heck. Even Mike was surprised.

If you're looking for Christmas gifts this year and want to buy something unique and fresh, this game is the perfect choice. The game is totally based on chance (no strategy) which actually makes it perfect to play in a group with all ages.

Check out booyahbyolivia.com to preorder this game. They are expected to be available by about Thanksgiving!

Suburban Matron graphic

I'm very happy to have completed a graphic for Suburban Matron yesterday, who was a fun client to work with! This is the first idea that came to me (as I talked through things with Mike, and we tried to think through exactly what would be the best concept and fit for the blog), and then I developed a few others to explore different looks and feels. Ultimately, I'm very pleased with the final result! Check out her great blog about being a mom, which includes all that hidden work that you don't always see that goes into running a household.



ALTERNATE CONCEPTS:

The Globetrotter Parent

I just finished up the design for The Globetrotter Parent. I'm very happy with the way that things turned out. I think that it's such an interesting blog, too! Definitely worth checking out. My client is Canadian, married a Frenchman, and has international children. They're currently living in Madagascar.



Here are some images of the other concept we considered:

What I won't miss about my day job.

Lately I have been reflecting on my day job ending here at Rubberball, and I have thought a lot lately about all the things I love and will miss about the job itself and the people I have got to know over the years. Today I came across one thing I will not miss about what I occasionally have to do, and it is this...



Over the years I have had to remove many unsightly things from pictures including, but not limited to:

• snot
• drool
• sweat stains
• dandruff
• whiteheads
• blackheads
• moles with hairs
• female beards
• excessive body hair both male and female
• etc.
• etc.
• etc.

Not until today, have I had to remove the product of a giraffe reliving itself, and that my friends, is a heck of a way to go out.

{Mike}