Busy, busy, busy here in design-land.  So busy, in fact that I can’t write much for this post because I’ve got to get back to designing.  However, I couldn’t let you down on giving you a sneak peek at a few of the blog design projects I’m working on right now.  Check it out:

As the title of this blog “The Savvy Grandma” would suggest, this grandma has CLASSY taste and we had to make the design show that.  She wanted something very simple, homey and classic-looking.  She loved the idea of using a pic of a white door with a wreath on it, which we have incorporated into the design.  She really wanted to use blue-tones.  I found a lot of these pictures where blue was used for decorating to inspire our color palette, patterns and design.  Expected completion date: Friday, December 11th.

Whenever a client orders a design project, I always send them my design questionnaire to get a feel of what style, look and feel they’re looking for.  The typical adjectives I hear clients use to describe what they want is “vintage/retro.”  Carrie of “This Mama Makes Stuff” was a perfect example of how we all tend to think of those terms differently.  Some think vintage means victorian era, while others think vintage means early 1900’s.  Retro is similarly broadly used.  The client behind this design wanted “vintage” and I was thinking vintage as in 1950’s.  My first proof showed this kind of design.  It didn’t appeal to her at all and she was frustrated because she wasn’t sure how to describe what she wanted.  I told her to send me pictures of anything – clothing, room decor, etc. – that had the look and feel of what she wanted in her design.  It worked like a charm.  Carrie used to be a clothing designer so, not surprisingly, she sent me a lot of clothing pics.  From that, I saw that her idea of vintage/retro was mostly rooted in 1970’s design and {ba-da-bing!} we were communicating on the same page and have created a blog design that fits her style.  Expected completion date: Friday, December 18th.

Sidenote: I really believe that good blog design reflects the blogger behind the blog, almost as if an extension of that blogger’s personality.  By getting to know the blogger’s style – fashion, decorating, etc. – I can tell a lot about the direction their design needs to go.

I’ve more projects to unveil soon, so stay tuned next week and I’ll try to showcase some more.  Also, on Friday I have a big ol’ special treat for you!  Woot!  I can hardly wait to tell you!

Blog design availability: I am still accepting blog design clients who need their design completed by the end of the year.  I will only be doing this for a week or so more, depending on my work-load, so if you’re anxious to get your new look going before 2010, send me an email (quinn{at}createdbychicks{dot}com).  xoxo

At the Startup Princess Image + Media Academy I made a complete, goofy fool of myself to Sarah Ward, founder of Cable Car Couture. I was giddy to meet her and – sadly – didn’t have much restraint when I finally did meet her. It was very embarrassing and I’m sure she questioned whether or not I was a stalker. Oh dear. Luckily, however, she is one of the sweetest gals I’ve ever met. She gave me a second chance and we became fast friends.

Sarah Ward is a 20-something Image Management Consultant who loves to helps people look and feel their best. She loves expressing herself artistically through jewelry design, flamenco dancing and music composition. Sarah has been an educator for the last 10 years. She thrives off of meeting new people and networking and has been featured on Good Things Utah and BridesAccess.com TV. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, she now resides in Orem, Utah with her husband Tim and kitten Ginger.

1. Why is creativity important to you?

I am an artistic creature, through and through. It’s the twinkle in my eye, the skip in my step. Creativity is definitely what adds flavor, culture and spice to life. Creativity, for me, is self-expression.

2. What do you enjoy creating the most?

Happy encounters! While beautiful ensembles, jewelry and music definitely add beauty to the world, it’s the encounters and relationships with other inspiring people that really send me over the moon.

3. Do you have any fears when creating? Are your family & friends supportive of the things you create?

My fears have to do with doing the same thing twice. Sometimes I worry that talent, this Midas touch, will run out. I was blessed to grow up in an environment that nurtured and encouraged creativity. One of my earliest memories is drawing on my bedroom wall. My parents are both artists and gave us full reign over creating masterpieces, even on the most random places, like the bedroom wall. That license to create has permeated throughout my life and enabled me to try new things, and create in new, exciting ways.

4. How do you find time to create?

Evenings and weekends are awesome for being creative. Sometimes I feel absolutely compelled to strap on my flamenco shoes, or lift the lid of the piano and that just takes over. Spontaneity is something that totally nourishes that creative flair.

5. Words of inspiration to creative chicks:

Cultivate friendships with other creative women. It really helps to get me moving when I see other women sharing their art with the world. Nourish what inspires you! Even if your art is something that doesn’t pay the bills, there’s nothing like cultivating a creative venture that propels you forward, infuses your life with joy and light and inspires other creative chicks around you!

Isn’t Sarah delightful?!  And she absolutely oozes creativity.  You can’t help but feel more creative when around her.  I love her fashion sense; we have very similar style preferences.  Check out Sarah’s fab fashion site/blog at CableCarCouture.com.  And when you get the chance to meet her, don’t worry if you’re a blubbering fool like I was.

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Sarah is hosting a fantastic giveaway on her blog for a Nepali Cashmere ruffle scarf – go RUN over to enter to win; just have to leave a comment.  Also, Nepali is offering the ultimate contest for creative chicks to design a scarf.  The winner will have their scarf created and sent to them!!!  How fun is that?!  Get your creative juices flowing and submit your design for a chance to win!

Lately I’ve been working on completing a lot of design projects as well as starting some new ones.  I’m having a blast; I love blog design!  I thought today it would be interesting to show you the process of a recent client’s design.  Every client begins by answering my design questionnaire which gives me a good idea of the style, look and feel the client is looking for in their design.  At first we thought we’d go with an old-time look for this design:

But after they saw this proof, they decided they wanted a more simplified design.  They had said they wanted purple incorporated into the design.  From their questionnaire and their response to the first proof, it seemed like the style they were looking for was similar to an invitation/bridal look.  I found this image online that guided me in color/style combos:

Then I put together a few more design proofs for them to evaluate:

This one had kind of a victorian, vintage wedding feel (above).

This design was EXTREMELY basic and simplified (above).

And this design (above) was the one the client selected from the proofs.  It’s simple, classy and feminine.  I’m excited to see the header installed to see the complete look.  This is for a brand new blog that’s being started.  It was a lot of fun to design.  And here’s the coordinating button:

To follow-up, I recently finished PheMomEnon.Blogspot.com’s site.  Click on the button I designed for her below to see the full design on her site:

I loved designing PheMomEnon’s site, too.  We have some more finishing touches coming up in the future, so stay tuned for more yumminess!

It’s Monday.  The weekend is over; it went by so quickly… it always does.  However, I have a feeling that this is going to be a GREAT week for all of us!!  It’s in the air!

Mondays I like to share a little about my design work, thus the title “Design Monday.”  Today I’m going to share “what I’m cookin’” (working on).  Whenever a design is ordered, I create a “design file” to use as reference during the creation process.  I have the client send me links to designs they like and links to the style they like.  I also have them suggest fonts and colors that they love and could possibly see using in their design.  I ask a lot of questions to feel out exactly what style and feel they want their design to have.  Everyone has a different preference and I really like each of my designs to well-represent that client’s tastes and personality.

Here are two design files from a few blog design projects I’m working on right now:

Emily wants a really retro theme to her new blog design.  She is looking for something sassy.  She loves Diet Coke so when we found the vintage Coca Cola ad, we thought it was the perfect fit for the feel of the blog.  She also likes paisley so we’re finding ways to incorporate that into her design.  She sent me this image of an Anthropologie display window because she thought the design would fit well with her theme (& she just LOVES Anthropologie).  Em is also a big fan of chocolate so we’re pulling all of these images and genres together to create something really special and unique.  Em’s blog has been really fun to work on!  Expected completion date: Nov. 20th.

Holly is looking for a sophisticated, but warm blog design.  She sent me the image of the cupboard door and picture frames to show me the country, rustic feel she also wants incorporated into her design.  Holly is a food blogger, so we felt it was important to put a gorgeous food pic into her header.  This cupcake pic has the feel we’re looking for: it has sophistication while also being warm and inviting.  Holly feels that her writing style is very non-pretentious so she’s been very concerned that readers will feel welcome and not intimidated by her blog design.  I envision her blog design to be like enjoying homemade goodies on a beautiful country porch with friends.  Holly’s design has been delicious fun to create!  Expected completion date: Nov. 11th.

I can hardly wait to finish both of these designs and unveil them to you!  I’ve really enjoyed working with both of these creative women and together we’ve come up with some really fantastic design ideas.

If you’d like to get your blog design or other design project on my schedule, contact me quickly.  I am booked through Thanksgiving and the wait is only going to get longer.

Also, I’m now an Etsy seller – woot!  You can purchase my design work at my brand-spankin’-new Etsy store, or by emailing me directly at quinn{at}createdbychicks{dot}com.