It’s been a rough few weeks for everyone, hasn’t it? When our son was little he used to scream this at the top of his lungs, with great joy and excitement in his voice, nearly every day … at dawn. When I’m having a bad day I think about his cute little voice shouting out “BEAUTIFUL,” and it helps get me through. Next time you’re having a bad day try taking a moment to focus on one little spot of beauty in the world. It’s always out there. — xoxo, E.
I’ve been using big 17in laptops for nearly 10 years … and I’ve been searching for a cool laptop bag to fit my 17 inch laptop for nearly 10 years! After fruitless searches (they’re all too ugly, too boring, too small, or too expensive) I’ve resigned myself to using a big tote bag as a laptop bag instead of a traditional laptop bag. The Orla Kiely one I have now is awesome for day to day toting around my MacBook Pro, but not perfect for traveling because the handle isn’t long enough to go over my shoulders if I’m wearing a jacket. It looks like I’ll be doing a bunch of traveling over the next few months, so it’s the perfect time to invest in a new travel tote bag. At least this is the way I’m justifying the expense. Which one do you like best? I bought one … can you guess which?
SOURCES // top left: yellow tote top right: emerald green tote 2nd row: canvas tote 3rd row left: cognac brown leather tote right: mint green leather tote 4th row left: navy and white stripe tote right: brown leather tote
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Filmotype LaCrosse is a true retro font — it was first released in the 1950s. Can’t you just picture it on an ad for lipstick or gold earrings? I love the casual penscript … I really wish my own handwriting looked like this.
There’s something dreamy and romantic about rusty ironwork. Loving the random juxtaposition of garden statues, succulents, rusty garden carts, and that fabulous spruce green wall at Antiques on Cedros in Solana Beach, California.
Last night after work I popped over to Stems to see Charleston artist Lulie Wallace‘s stunning floral paintings. I think my jaw dropped to the floor when I walked in. I wanted to take them all home with me! I also really want to paint my living room that gorgeous dark emerald green color now. Who’s with me?
Lulie was super adorable and gracious. I was so focused on the paintings I forgot to snap a pic with her, but trust me: adorable. I wanted to squeeze her.
Yesterday I was feeling a little homesick for the bright colors of Southern California, but the exhibit cheered me right up. Lulie’s color palette seems to be pulled straight from my dreams: lots of spring green, chartreuse, yellow, peach, with a touch of blue iris … and a mini touch of nearly neon). I have my eye on one of her larger paintings for my home, but for now I couldn’t resist a few of her smaller pieces for the Delphine studio. I had planned to give a few of these away as gifts, but it’s going to be hard to part with them.
Oh, Charleston. Every day I’m floored by how gorgeous you are. Loving this color palette: Charleston Green, Slate, Apricot, Stucco and Vanilla.
This house on Beaufain Street in Charleston is for sale. Buy it for me? Pretty please?
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This project was a first for me. Nanna’s boyfriend, Oliver, hired me all the way from Denmark to design a logo for her as a surprise birthday present! I have to say it was a little scary to design something for someone I couldn’t talk to, especially when communication is her field —and, when it boils down, mine, too— but it all worked out great. Nanna loved it (and was completely surprised), I had fun tapping my inner journalist (my old job), and Oliver got loads of brownie points for being an awesome boyfriend.
Nanna is a freelance journalist and communications consultant in Denmark, so the design had to be professional and to the point. I chose a font that has a hint of a pen and a black and green color palette, inspired by vintage typewriters and those dark green office chairs everyone used to have (I still have one at our drafting table).
The logo isn’t her “real” signature, but I can almost hear the scratch of a fountain pen when I look at her name. I threw in the typewriter and pen icons for a touch of whimsey for her social media avatars, but left the business card and note cards clean and simple. It was also fun to design for the standard European business card size, which has a different proportion than American business cards. They’re a little bigger all around, but also more square, which frees up a lot of precious negative space.
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So March totally snuck up on me. Sorry for the lack of posts last month! We were super busy in the studio making some much needed changes to the Delphine website … it now works on mobile devices, yay!!! We also added a few new designs, including Ponderosa, which has been a big hit so far. Thanks to everyone for your support and well wishes as we prep for a super huge wedding season. XO – E.
It was so much fun to design this playful logo for Jany Columbo, a pet sitter (and pet lover) based in Charleston, South Carolina. Taking care of someone else’s pet is serious stuff, but a big part of the job is play, and I wanted that aspect to shine through with the branding. Jany has a bright, cheerful personality and a genuine love of animals, thus the bright colors and fun animal graphics.
The bright, fun color palette was inspired by the outdoors: turquoise sky, green grass, and sunshine yellow. I chose a strong, modern font with a little bit of quirkiness. The bright graphics and bold font choice imply trust and stability, but nothing is too serious looking, since I wanted to stress the importance of play.
We’re still working on some other elements, including a report card for pets and a website, so check back in a few weeks.
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Of all the branding projects I’ve worked on over the last few years, this one is most near and dear to my heart. As any designer can tell you, designing for yourself is nearly impossible. After many starts and stops, crumpled sketches, head banging, hand wringing, and second guessing I’m beyond thrilled to present our new brand, Chromatic & Co.
It’s our newest paper adventure, and the focus is all about color. Inspired by the golden age of advertising, and the trappings of a graphic design studio circa 1959, the brand has a decidedly retro vibe. You can check out the inspiration board we’ve been using at the studio to help guide our new brand on our Project Chromatic board on Pinterest.
Check back soon for snapshots of our new business cards, press kits, and other collateral. Meanwhile, please pay Chromatic & Co. a visit online, and by all means, follow ChromaticCo on Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook, too! (Instagram & Vine coming soon).
UPDATE: 5/17/2013: just got word that this logo won a graphic design award from HOW Magazine. Yippee!
I’ve had color, color, color on the brain lately. I’m loving everything chromatic these days. Here are some fun ways to introduce a bit of color into your life. I just bought the 2-tone balloons from Brooklyn Bride’s Pop Up Shop to use at an upcoming party. Love them so much, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to wait until the party to blow them up!
Sources: 1| Two-tone balloons 2 | Colorful packing tape 3 | Brightly colored note books 4 | Colorful Pantone iPhone cases
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Flowers blooming on vines that wrap around porch columns and garden trellises, flowers spilling out of planters and window boxes … these are the scenes of Charleston that never grow old. I spotted these purple flowers hanging from a neighbor’s chartreuse porch and had to sneak a photo. Aubergine and chartreuse green always hues look great together. It’s an unexpected, slightly wild, but elegant color palette for Autumn, taken right from Nature herself.
One of the many joys of being back in the South is access to one of my favorite snacks: boiled peanuts. Pair it with a cane sugar Coke and I’m a very happy girl. I snapped this pic at Butcher & Bee the other day because I just loved the traditional color palette: coca cola red, peanut brown, a bit of green: an old school classic color palette that would be a great jumping off point for planning a fall party.
Here in Charleston, rainy days abound. Last week, after 3 straight days of clouds, I had had it. To compensate I busted out my brightest shirt. It helped.
//photo by Erika Firm for Delphine
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I picked these Lays dill pickle chips up at the Coming Street corner store the other day. The flavor intrigued me (and I’m happy to report they are delicious). Also noticed that the colors on the package are my favorites … lime greens and yellows. Then I noticed that the colors match my Orla Kiely wallet perfectly. I guess I’m pretty predictable when it comes to favorite color palettes.
//photo by Erika Firm for Delphine
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