Christmas.

Today I got 2 packages in the mail and 2 shipments from UPS. Being that I forgot about some of the items I ordered, it felt really nice...almost like Christmas again even though 99% of the items were for the boys, it was still really fun opening everything.

My new boots also arrived and I am in love all over again...I had the sand colored boots 4 years ago and I took them on our vacation to Laguna Beach and when we came back home I never got them out of the back of the car and so one day I just told Billy to throw them out instead of bringing them in! In my defense I was pregnant with Micah at the time and i am telling you I make horrible decisions when I am pregnant! BUT I am happy to announce my feet can go back to being as comfortable as ever. Colbs and Billy think they are so ugly..but they don't understand how comfy they are! And it just goes to show what a good husband I have because it was Billy who tried to surprise me with a new pair for Christmas but he didn't know which pair I wanted and since we never made it into Don's Shoes together with our crazy schedules, he finally just ordered them for me...and my feet and I are both very thankful for that :)

The boys' new clothes also came in and I never thought I'd say this, but I think I almost enjoy shopping for them more than myself...and they aren't even girls! Good thing J.Crew makes such cute boy things and in all of their sizes because I love for them to all match!

And speaking of J.Crew I am loving their new look book online (where I found the above image) and I can't wait for the catalog to hit my mailbox!

Other than being overly joyous about my mail this week, we've been busy with lots of projects...I'm looking forward to making some big announcements (God willing!) soon!

Happy weekend everyone!

Getting ready to make some waves!

So proud of these ladies! And men! :) When Amy first contacted me with some questions when Mommy Tsunami was first starting out I knew I wanted to do something to help with their cause. Because Billy and I know the value of good design and how it can help legitimize a business (or in their case, an organization), can help with communicating a message, and how a logo specifically puts a "face" onto something that makes it easy for people to remember..well....we decided to help by donating our design services!

We met with Amy (a respite worker) and Mary (a grandmother who is the primary caregiver for her grandson who has developmental disabilities) and from that meeting designed the Mommy Tsunami logo and later a flier to promote their walk from Yuba City to the state capitol to remind officials of the Lanterman Act: an act to keep those with disabilities out of institutions and in their own homes and communities.

The letters in the Mommy Tsunami logo are all hand drawn by Billy and we incorporated the wave (which they hope their movement will make) into the wording. We included a rendering of the state capitol to help explain their cause and mission.

They want to see a shift in the way the politicians are handling the budget cuts. They are calling out for accountability....and so I had to share this video they recently posted online.

So proud to see them pushing forward for a great cause and must say, I'm pretty proud of that handbill you will see Amy holding in the beginning, and of course the logo at the end. :)

Great job everyone!

Make sure to find Mommy Tsunami on facebook and join the walk...any part of it...if you can!

a week in...

So. Here we are...first week of the New Year has come and gone...We are pretty excited over here because we went down and got our 2011 business license! We have set financial goals we need to make in order to be able to design full time and open a design studio...and I am so happy to announce that even though we are only doing this part time with NO advertising, for the first week we have succeeded our FULL time financial goal! I hope this is just the start to a great year and I really have to give all the glory to God.

Also, at the end of December I shipped out an order of couture headbands I made especially for Meg Fish. I'm sure you've heard me rave all about her work right on here on my blog!

Looks like they arrived just in time because she was using them as gifts for all her newborn baby girl clients (how sweet is that?) and today I was tagged in this sweet photo! This adorable little girl is the daughter of the wedding photographers over here.

Also excited to announce that the full page ad we designed for Moments To Remember Photography studio (we also designed their logo too :)) is now circulating in this month's issue of Me and Mine.

I should really be in bed right now but my husband is up watching Tombstone and so I figured I'd catch up on my blog reading while the movie is on :)

late night blogger

soooo should be sleeping right now! but sadly Isaac just fell asleep and so I need a little quiet time to unwind...poor little guy has been so fussy lately, I think he may be cutting in some new teeth.

Other than holding him 24-7 we've been working on some design jobs which are always a fun challenge. We'd love if you'd come by our site and say hi!

I have been working on getting the hair pretties collaboration pieces ready and here's just a little peek at the sweet bobby pins featuring the beautiful hand crocheting flowers lovingly made by my adorable Grandma.



Been doing lots of reading lately too...mostly on simplifying life....its funny how easy it is to let life get cluttered with things that don't matter....spiritually, emotionally, mentally...physically...! It can be draining and sometimes its so nice to purge ourselves of old things that no longer hold any value or meaning.

So there you go...the mindless rambles of a tired mama!

virtual ribbon cutting

Our web site went live today. Still more to do, but I feel so much better that it is up now!

So...I feel like we should celebrate in some way...bring out the sparkling apple cider :)

the times they are a changing...

It's time...Different By Design is growing...and we couldn't be more happier about that. We love what we do...we know anyone can hop into a print shop that offers graphic design services on the side....or buy one of those 'one size fits all' logo templates but we think people deserve better.

Here at Different By Design we design on purpose. We have a unique designing process and a thorough knowledge of the key elements in creating good design....because after all, "Good design is good business."

And we are in the business of doing good :) So...to better showcase our work and who we are and why we can help you, it's time for a web site. Of course we will still have our facebook page too, but I am excited to get the web site up and running...give us one more week and I think we will be good to go!



"Different X Design's Dynamic Duo: helping our clients win the fight against bad design one job at a time."

broken record.

so I know I keep saying this but really...can life just slow down for even ONE minute?! We have so much going on right now I'm not even sure where to start! Colby and I got sick (again). We should win some type of medal the way we've had the flu around here!

In happier news a few weeks back I had the honor of snapping a few photos of Meagan and her sweet little girl. Aren't they beautiful?! I am NO photographer, but I was happy Meagan humored me because she and her little one made for beautiful models! And yes. They are both wearing their hair pretties!



I also received these photos in my inbox taken by the talented enluce photographers! Natalie was a beautiful bride and she even wore a hair pretty too! LOVE! I may have looked at her pictures a million times already! Congratulations Natalie!!!



And in other news we are getting ready to launch our site for Different By Design. We did some studio work with Gary Roberts for the site and I can't wait to get some edited pictures but here is a raw image for fun :)



Gary was even kind enough to snap a picture of my little sister in a limited edition hair pretty and sweet baby Isaac running wild in his black sheep costume! Thanks Gary!!!




SO. Life has been keeping us busy to say the least :) Hope everyone is alive and well!

proud to announce..

we finally wrapped up some design work we did for a wonderful local photographer. You can read about what went in behind the making of the logo over here.

I love so many things about her new logo but my favorite thing is that the birds are composed of the thumb prints of her two adorable children.

And a new blog header...you can follow her blog right here.

*old blog header


*new blog header

Up late...

...or an I up early? Hmmm.

Printing the last invitation on an order right now...plus my evening kind of got off schedule when I had to sit in the ER alone with Isaac for 2 plus hours because Micah decided to stab him in the eye with an Iron Man toy while I was swishing salt water around in the bathroom (yes just another lovely thing I get to do because of the jaw surgery). And Isaac will be fine, thank God.

Don't let those little faces fool you!

Other than that I think I have house fever...the way some people get baby fever, lately I have had homes on the brain. We know eventually we want to build our own home with a decent sized design studio and I am just dying for that day to come! Don't get me wrong...I am so grateful to have a roof over my head and I am trying to be a good steward with the home God has given us now...but that doesn't mean I can't dream a little right?

So. A few pictures I have been saving up for inspiration...

Happy Friday!

I hope everyone has a great weekend... What's everyone doing? I think we might try and brave the heat and go to the Peach Festival. Last year I was so pregnant and hot it was awful...I even bumped into my obgyn who told me I was "brave"...more like stupid! :) But this year I am not about to give birth so we may just give it another shot.

Other than that it will be church as usual and I have a lovely massage scheduled that I'm sure my back and shoulders will thank me for...plus we will get to debut the new look for Cakes By Request, the best bakery in town, and some sweet little twin girl baby shower invitations!

Happy Friday everyone!

*photo found on tumblr

busy little bees...

Billy and I have been working very hard getting our collection of boxed sets of invitations ready.

Too bad my photography skills can't capture how cute these are in person!

So far we are offering 5 different designs, all sold in sets of 15:

*Cowgirl Birthday

*Cowboy Birthday

*Baby Shower boy

*Baby Shower girl

*Bridal Shower

We currently have the SWEETEST twins baby shower invitations in the works as well...tell us! Is there anything else you'd love to see? :)