Vale Design : Freelance Package Design & Branding

Learned & Loved No 04

LEARNED

4 Life Lessons We All Need To Learn from Bréne Brown via OWN

Sprout Robot (tells you when & what to plant by zip code)

Work Smarter, Not Harder via Young House Love (great tips on here! love the "things to blog about" secret pinterest board idea.)

Freshbooks (researching this accounting/invoicing system for my business)

Cashboard App (researching this accounting/invoicing system for my business) per Naturally Ella suggestion

Wish i Knew Wednesday emailer series via Jess Lively (free business advice is always good)

Food Bloggers Against Hunger via Eat This Poem

Free Bulk Basics brochure from Whole Foods (list grain to liquid cook ratio and cooking instructions)

 

LOVED

Lonny April issue

New Honest Diaper Designs (love those strawberries!)

A Spin on Salad via Cupcakes & Cashmere

Nail Polish Guide via Cupcakes & Cashmere

Cupcakes & Cashmere (visually lulled me into dreamland the other night. so many pretties...)

The Best Water Bottle from Lifefactory (glass. BPA free! purchased at Whole Foods)

Bréne Brown blog

Updated the Vale Design portfolio (over due & more updates coming)

Lost Love via A Cup of Jo

Make Your Own Salad Dressing via A Cup of Jo

Top Pops - 55 All-Natural Frozen Treats To Make At Home (in my amazon cart already)

Perfect Pops: The 50 Best Classic & Cool Treats (also in amazon cart)

Living With Kids via Design Mom (loved Laura's quote about little people and their equal share on space)

Happy weekend everyone! See you back here on Monday!

{image credit Vale Design}

My Favorite Quote + Free Printable

I collect quotes.

They are all over my house in some fashion. On our blackboard wall, on this blog, in my quotes journals, etc. They are everywhere. I love the bullet point therapy session they provide. You hear it. It sinks in. It clicks.

The quote that I am holding in my heart right now is by Theodore Roosevelt. "Comparison is the thief of joy." Read it again. Comparison is the THIEF of joy. Comparing yourself to others will ROB you of your life.

I am a woman. I was once a teenage girl and I was once a little girl. Now I am the mother of a little girl. As women, I think we are trained at an early age to look around at others and made to feel like the person in the mirror is not good enough. Look left and right. What does she have that makes her so happy? Why is she so much prettier than me? What about that couple makes them so happy? Why is that mother mothering better than me?

We all do it. We all questions outside of ourselves instead of looking inside. God forbid we acknowledge that we are enough. When in reality, we do the best we can and that is good enough. If I spend all my time comparing myself to others, I am going to miss out on the joy that is my life. The look my Husband gives only to me, his wife. My daughter's giggles that she gives only to me, her mother. I REFUSE to miss my joy. Some days it is a second by second reminder, but the power of this quote brings it to my mental surface. I stop. I take a breath and I speak my gratitude. Gratitude births joy.

As a mother, I do not want my daughter to suffer as I did through my teens and 20's, but in reality, she will. I want her to know that she is good enough. I hope that by growing up with this quote on our gallery wall and all the other quotes I will rain down on her, that some will stick. That some small tidbit will give her the courage to say "F - it. I am going to be me and I am good enough." I want her to know that in the whole huge world of comparisons, she is prefect to me, her mother and I want her to feel that joy all the way down to her toes.

So for all of you that need a daily reminder, here is my favorite quote as a 5x7 DIY FREE PRINTABLE for you. Enjoy and remember not to let that so-called perfect person, scenario, couple, job, etc. rob you of your joy.

Download Quote Theodore Roosevelt here.

COMMON SENSE RULE: For personal use only. Not for commercial use.
© erinvaledesign.com 

Learned & Loved No 03

LEARNED

Indoor Herb Garden via Pure Mamas

Landfill Harmonic via Kickstarter (instruments out of garbage. donation options available)

Better Small Product Photography via Bower Power

Save The Arts via Design Mom

Super Soul Sunday on OWN (are you all caught up?)

5 Tips For Better Self Portraits via A Beautiful Mess

10 Blog Layout Tips via A Beautiful Mess

99 Ways to Increase Blog Traffic via Slap Dash Mom

 

LOVED

Healthy lunches to bring to work via David Vale Fitness (yep, he's my brother-in-law)

Woolly Pocket modern indoor planter

Pinja Colada website

On Bread & Baby Registries via Babble by Erin Loechner

Black Sheep by Gin Wigmore (rock on with your bad a@$ self)

Happy weekend everyone! See you back here on Monday!

{image credit Landfill Harmonic}

Learned & Loved No 02

LEARNED

Web color scheme generator (lots of color grouping variations)

Brené Brown's Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto from OWN

25 Blogging Tips & Tricks via Design Crush

Built-in styling for reference via Young House Love (our built-ins are finished! pics coming!)

LOVED

Pink comforting crying girl at concert (I told you, she's a bad a@$!)

Olive Us "How To Be 2" video (Little G's favorite)

Olive Us "Betty In Paris" video (my favorite)

Snoball Cookie recipe from "I'm Hungry Snoball Cookies" (made during Spring snowstorm)

Bribery, Coercion and Other Forms of Motivation via Bower Power

Jessica Alba's The Honest Life book

One Republic song: If I Lose Myself (new album is a pep talk for your soul!)

One Republic song: I Lived (pick your children up and have a dance party. dare you not to cry.)

One Republic song: Life In Color (hospital should play this for new parents when they have a baby)

Happy weekend everyone! See you back here on Monday!

{image credit Vale Design. Built-in tile sneak peek!}

Learned & Loved No 01

 

LEARNED

Bréne Brown TED video

"Why You Truly Never Leave High School" via New York Magazine found via Design Mom

Photoshop Tutorial White Balance from Bower Power

Alt Summit Keynote Stephen Sagmeister summary via Design Mom

Alternatives to Gotham Font via imjustcreative

 

LOVED

Healthy Homemade Ice Pop recipes from Jessica Alba on Katie

Rebirth of Slow Blogging via Design For Mankind

Lunch ideas for a 2 year old via Design Mom

Before & After Gallery Wall

Mucca Design

Note To Self blog (graphic design eye candy)

Try by Pink (She is such a bad a@$)

Bangarang by Skrillex (A must to your workout music lineup. I dare you not to get pumped!)

Happy weekend everyone! See you back here on Monday!

{image credit Vale Design at Indianapolis Childrens Museum. Chihuly installation}

My Favorite Antique Store

  

Get ready to Google maps. (ps I reveal my favorite store at the end of this post!)

Old movies and antiques are two of my deep loves. I am definitely an old soul. My heart aches for those simpler times. A time when people spoke to each other, not "friended" each other. Chatted up current affairs around the dinner table, not sitting in the same room all staring at different devices.  When the mailman came twice a day, not work and personal emails flooding in demanding immediate action. I love to quietly stroll through antique stores and just slow down and observe pure craftsmanship.

I pick up small Depression glass pieces and wonder what lady's hands have held this same piece? Was she hosting a dinner party? Impressing her new in-laws? Run my fingers along the worn keys of a typewriter. Who else's thumbs hit the same space bar? Were they typing out time cards or love letters? (meet my current typewriters here.)

Here it is. My favorite antique store is...

Great Lakes Antique Mall in Coloma, Michigan

It is inside an old grocery store and has so many booths. I have been antiquing in many cities and many states. GLAM (oh look it spells GLAM!) has the best "littles" in my opinion. Littles being small accent pieces. Typewriters, glassware, lamps, chairs, jewelry, artwork, etc. We have transported some spectacular large pieces the 3 hours home to Indy from here as well. Their prices are so reasonable. Hope to see you there sometime! Happy shopping!

Do you have any favorite antique stores we all need to visit or know about? Please share!

642 Things To Write About

A pen, a notebook and a blank page. Ahh the possibilities...

When I was younger, I would tuck myself away for hours and write short stories. I would fill up spiral bound notebooks with secret worlds and shove them in my closet. I knew I was going to be a graphic designer since I was in 7th grade, but writing has always held a special place in my heart. At Purdue, I majored in Visual Communications Design and was only a few credits shy of double majoring in Creative Writing. I signed up for so many English classes for the sheer enjoyment of reading, writing and being surrounded by beautiful words.

After college, design ruled my life. I did not have the time, energy or passion to keep writing. Journaling just never seemed to stick. Fast forward to this past Sunday. My Mom and I were wandering through Anthropologie. I was thumbing through book spines, like I always do, when I stopped. I picked up this specific book. I read the title again and an old exhilaration came racing through me.

642 Things To Write About is a book by the San Francisco Writers' Grotto and produced by Chronicle Books. It was written in one day! It contains 642 writing prompts with plenty of blank space to fill in your answers. Exs: Write a poem about a tomato, choose how you will die, life among pirates, a beginners guide for getting up in the morning and so many more! I was thinking of answering the prompts digitally, maybe one a week. This would be a great gift for a child/teen who is an aspiring writer or a blogger to help with writers block. Do you think Erin Loechner of Design For Mankind every has writers block? (She is my favorite blog writer. Outstanding and inspiring). Grab your pencils or keyboards and get writing!

{image credit Vale Design}

Before & After :: Gallery Wall

It's about freakin' time. They should have a support group for people who are afraid to hang things on walls.

I have been making a real effort to work through my nail-in-wall phobia. I have had beautiful images framed and leaning against random walls for years. Then came professional baby pictures shot by my crazy talented friend Sonja of Moonbug Photography. Once I saw those images of Baby G, I knew we had to get hangin'. Enter the gallery wall.

The idea of measuring out a gallery wall used to make me sweat. That was until I came across this easy gallery wall tutorial on Young House Love. So easy. Trace. Place. Nail. Hang. Done. There is no way to mess that up. Not even me! Well, my husband. I set up the layout and then went to the grocery store to keep myself away from the nailing. I came home and it was all done. Love my man!

I love white frame groupings. Clean, neutral and the images are the main focus. As you can see, we have one black frame around the large close up shot of the baby. Truth: we could not find an 11"x14" white frame. I bought the black frame with every intention of spray painting it white. Once we mapped out the wall, we loved that the black frame drew your eye right to our favorite picture, so we left it! Happy accident.

I could not be happier with how the gallery wall turned out. Long overdue, but well worth the wait.

Images on our wall worth noting: All black & white family & baby photography by Moonbug Photography | Framed Thank You note from my Father-In-Law (somewhere Nate Berkus is smiling) | My favorite quote + empty frame for another quote | G's birth announcement by Rifle Paper Co | First footprints from hospital | Cursive V by Three Potato Four | Illustrated Letter V by Jessica Hische | Goregous letter G that I printed on kraft paper

The Power of Yes

I live(d) in a semi-state of fear.

My immediate internal reaction to something new was always "hell NO I can't do that!" This fault has caused me to miss some major opportunities in my life (like having one of my finch&hawk® printable designs in a major fashion magazine).

Not too long ago, I was bouncing around Twitter and I stopped on a tweet from the Huffington Post OWN division. It said "Tina Fey's #1 Rule For Success." Something in my gut (love that gut instinct) told me to click on the link. I did...and things started happening. Immediately.

The link was to Tina Fey's Success Secret: 'Say Yes'. It told the story of how in her professional career, when she was presented with a scary new opportunity, she said YES and figured out the logistics later. So simple. Scary, but simple. I thought, "what If I try this?" Then I thought, "Screw it. I AM going to try this."

You guys, I am not kidding, the NEXT DAY I was emailed about a wholesale opportunity for finch&hawk® notepads. I normally do not offer wholesale because it just seemed like uncharted territory, but I responded yes and figured everything out. Set up my printers. Set up my pricing (helpful wholesale formula found in Craft Inc.). Set up my labeling. Hand delivered to client. It was fantastic!

There seem to be 2 types of people in the world. The "Say Yes" people who figure out how to get it done after they commit. And the "Say No" people who are too afraid to even give it a chance and miss major life experiences. I conquered my biggest personal fear (giving birth) and now I get to kiss my little girl everyday. Professionally, I have turned down too many jaw dropping opportunities. No more. I am not saying to say yes to every project or experience, but if your immediate gut reaction says YES! Go for it! I know you can do it. Here is to holding hands and stepping into the unknown together. I bet there is magic on the other side!

The Daily Love | Tony Robbins 3 Things You Need For Success

Currently Reading :: No.1

Two things you should know. First, I will NEVER read books on an e-reader. I love the smell and feel of an actual book page and I live to crack the spine while I am in the middle of reading it. Is it any wonder that Little G's favorite toys are her books? Well, that an an egg separator. Second, I am a voracious reader. VORACIOUS. My passion for reading started when I was bus + train + bus + L commuting for 2 hrs each way into Chicago for work. You can only stare out the window and listen to your ipod for so long.

I have been known to read three books at once. I had a room enclosed to be an office so I could have some built-ins made to help "display" my books. I am currently waiting for our contractor to finish up our family room built-ins for my ever growing book collection. Patiently waiting for them to be hand crafted of course. Trying hard not to be the crazy lady calling him every five minutes.

Presently, my nightstand is covered in my latest book loves. I thought I would share what I am reading.

Blog Inc - Joy Cho  {is inspiring me to blog all over again!}

Yoga To The Rescue - Amy Luwis  {cute, snarky quick reference yoga pose + body link book}

Return to Love - Marianne Williamson

Illuminata - Marianne Williamson

A Course In Miracles - Foundation for Inner Peace

Be Love Now - Ram Dass  {also loved Ram Dass Be Here Now. Story telling through art}

Bringing Up Bebe - Pamela Druckerman

{image credit Vale Design}

Day in My Life

This past year has gone by in a blur. Time really does fly when you are raising a child. I thought I would let you in on just what goes on at Chez Vale while I am hanging out on the other side of the computer screen. Here we go, a day in the life...of me!

7:40 - 8:40 Wake Up Sleepyheads

My 14 month old "baby alarm clock" starts whining over the monitor. I listen to her coo and cry for a bit. Then I roll/fall out of bed and check my phone for any important {yeah, I'm checking my Instagram} emails that came in over night. I put my hair up in a messy pony and I wander down the hall and greet Little G. She likes to hang out in her crib for a while, pointing at the animals on her walls, knocking on her wall, pointing at her books and petting her lovey, Kitty. She really is not attached to any lovey, but we are trying to help her "friend" this pink Kitty. I sing Sheldon's "Soft Kitty" from the Big Bang Theory to her. She loves it!

 

Year + 1 Month In Review

From 2000 - 2011 I was a Designer. I knew that title. That title was me. Erin. Designer. Got it. Check. Then at the very end of 2011, December 24th, a nurse handed me my baby girl...and my title shifted to Mama. We came home as a family of 3 and my life got flipped upside down. I was unprepared for the hormones, lack of sleep, recovery and fear that comes along with that title. (That baby scared the hell out of me for about 3 months).

I made a conscience decision to step back out of design for a bit. My business card read Mama. No email address. No phone number. I was not online that much. I did not take any new freelance jobs for a whole year. I aimed every ounce of attention on the new peanut.

I woke up, played with baby toys, read books, fed her, naps, baths, diaper changes and back to bed. I watched her grow, smile and giggle, sit up, roll over, try her first solid foods, commando crawl to real baby crawling and pull up to standing.

At times, I have been accused of being a "black or white" person. I don't handle the gray area well. I could not figure out how to balance my new title and my old title. I did not feel creative. Nothing was firing up there. It felt like that part of my brain would be shut down for an infinite amount of time. Then she took her first step...right into that gray area. She wobbled over to me and in those small independent steps, she gave me permission. She gave me permission to take a beautiful picture with Instagram while she played with her toys. She gave me permission to design a logo after she went to bed. She gave me permission to use Pinterest while she took a nap. She gave me permission not to have to choose between my titles. She gave me permission to be both Mama and Designer.

So I am putting Designer back on my business card, in italics, under the bold Mama. My creative floodgates are opening back up and the ideas are starting to flow. I have slowly been accepting new projects. My timelines are now respectful to my clients' schedules as well as my toddler's. During the day, it is Baby G and Mama. After 8 pm bedtime, it is Erin. Designer. I am still working on the balance, but it feels great to be coming back.

Design is like breathing to me. I missed it and I missed all of you. I hope you have all been well and that 2012 was terrific. Here is to an amazing 2013! I am excited to see what journeys we will all be on!

Cheers!
~ Erin

ps Wish me luck! Little G and I are off to our first Mommy and Me class today. Fingers crossed we both make it through.