Western Legacies | Logo Reveal

Here it is, my latest logo creation! This logo is for Western Legacies - a photography team with a passion for capturing the western way of life. Jordan & Krystal, the hard-working cowgirls behind this company (& behind the lens) wanted a logo that had a retro cowboy feel, with a tooled-leather look, and very indicative of their pride in the western, ranching way of life.

I loved that when I asked them to describe their aesthetic, they told me they wanted their logo to have the same feel as this quote:

“I want to be beautiful the way worn out things are. Touched by time & proud to be rough around the edges with a story to tell.”

The predominant 'Western' script is hand-lettered, and the logo artwork is hand-drawn. As you can see, we created several different versions of the logo, as well as a text only version to be used as a watermark on the client's photography. I believe in the power of variety & versatility in my logo designs, and like to give my clients several logo options for their marketing needs.

Thank you Jordan & Krystal for this opportunity! And thank you for strong ideas & inspiration - I love the final result!

Introducing: Thunderbird Collective | Logo Reveal

I'm so incredibly excited about this logo. When Alyson came to me with her ideas for this project, I was over the moon. I have created artwork for Alyson before, and she is always wonderful to work with - positive, enthusiastic, and full of incredible ideas. She's what this graphic designer's dreams are made of.

This logo is for Alyson's soon-to-be online boutique Thunderbird Collective. She describes it as a 'ranchy meets boho' specialty boutique with eclectic tees, apparel, accessories, and home decor.

Thunderbird Collective | Logo Design

When I asked who her ideal customer was, she said her customer is 'female - early twenties to sassy 60's and has an appreciation & love for the past and vintage. She's an old soul. She has a deep emotional connection to old barns & old pick-up trucks. She would prefer to spend the day sipping sweet tea and eating buttermilk pie on her family's front porch. She most likely has a strong agricultural background. She has simple roots & big dreams.' Oh, and she listens to Miranda Lambert, The Eagles, Waylon Jennings and Fleetwood Mac. Do you understand now why I love this lady's vision. She descriptive, specific, and right up my alley. LOVE.

We agreed that the logo should feel a little bit country, but a little bit 70's rock-n-roll. Vintage and nostalgic, feminine yet bold. I am so excited & proud of the finished product. The logo is entirely hand-lettered and hand-drawn - which adds an approachable & vintage western vibe to the bold, simple thunderbird emblem.  

Since her vision was so deliciously specific, and it would be a shame not to, I have also shared the mood board I designed inspired by her dreamy descriptions, as well as the several different versions of her logo that I created, plus a few collateral items.

Obviously, you need to stay tuned, because the Thunderbird Collective is what every dirt-road-driving, road-trip loving, graphic-tee wearing, day-dreamer needs in their life. I am so thrilled.

Thanks for allowing me to be a part of this project Alyson. I CAN NOT WAIT to see what's next.

View fullsize

Thunderbird Collective | Mood Board

Inspired by Alyson's description, I created this little piece of hand-lettering to help embody the Thunderbird Collective brand.

Vintage Stamps: Make Snail Mail Great Again

I'm trying my best, but Lord help me - I just can NOT seem to get the hang of Snapchat. Aside from taking the occasional picture as a puppy dog or a dancing bunny rabbit, I have about as much finesse with the medium as I do with a chainsaw. (That is, none at all). I feel especially incapable when comparing my social networking skills to the likes of my teenage compatriots - who not only are capable of using it exclusively & un-selfconsciously as their primary mode of communication, but are well, good at it. Their timing, commentary & ability to take selfies & perform quirky Boomerang-augmented dance moves is masterful. I'm making myself sound old, when perhaps I'm just a slow learner...but either way it is not a tool in my toolbox.

Which is a long way of saying - I feel way behind the times. And instead of trying to play catch up - I've decided to embrace what I am good at. I'm going to focus my time & energy on old school, out-dated, practically extinct - SNAIL MAIL. That's right. I'm determined to give letter writing, package sending & envelope addressing the time and attention that I may otherwise devote to failing miserably at modern social media. Not only is it a great excuse to practice & showcase my calligraphy - it's a way for me to share my vintage stamp collection. 

I have a beautiful collection of vintage stamps from my grandmother. I inherited my knack for collecting from her - and in addition to her many other collections (costume jewelry, Coca Cola memorabilia & anything Frank Sinatra) she had an array of old stamps that I was able to use as a jumping off point for my own collection. When Theo and I started planning our own wedding - he put his time and energy into managing how, when & where the wedding would take place - while I focused on the really important things - like curating a collection of vintage stamps that would compliment our wedding location & our invitations. (Our wedding planning may have been a bit unconventional).

Some of the stamps I collected for our wedding invitations - picked for their thematic relevance to our Cody, WY wedding. 

Our wedding invitations.  

Note the Buffalo Bill Cody & Wyoming stamps. 

Since then, I have been asked many many times where I find my stamps - and I have one really good answer. ETSY. God bless Etsy.

Here are some of my favorite Etsy shops to buy vintage stamps:

Art Stamped

Verde Studio

Edelweiss Post