10 Things You Would Never Guess About Me

Sometimes it's fun to do a completely random post, especially in the midst of a busy, design-heavy week. It's also fun to get you guys involved in these blog posts. So today's topic has nothing to do with design, business, or Elle & Company. Instead, I'm sharing some things you probably wouldn't guess about me so that we can get to know each other a little better. I hope you'll enjoy these little odd facts and join in by sharing some fun facts about yourself! Here goes:

Another fun fact: I have no clue who this guy is. Completely random photobomb while I was having my headshots done by the lovely Andrea Pesce.

10 Things You Would Never Guess About Me

1. I was a Jazzercise fanatic in high school and an aerobics instructor in college.
2. I've been known to bust a rhyme (case in point)
3. I've also been known to sleep through fire alarms. Jake claims that I'm the hardest person to get out of bed in the morning. I politely disagree.
4. I won second place in our middle school art show. The first place winner? My unartistic husband... and he still brings it up.
5. I'm very gullible. When I was younger my family made a game out of seeing what they could make me believe. They had me convinced that my dad had false teeth and even worse, that he robbed a bank. Being the youngest is rough, I tell you!
6. I earned extra money in high school the way every other successful artist did: drawing colored-pencil portraits of people's pets.
7. I came close to switching my major to psychology or accounting halfway through design school, but my wise older sister talked me out of it (thanks Allyson!)
8. I never had a nickname until I became an aunt. Now I'm affectionately referred to as LaLa.
9. Although you would probably have me pegged as a pop music loving, Taylor Swift singing girly-girl, I actually prefer Indie music. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., Great Good Fine OK, and Toro Y Moi are some of my current favorites.
10. I was sooo not a cat person until Heidi adopted us a few months ago. Now she has me wrapped around her cute little paw.

Are you surprised by any of these? Now it's your turn to share your secret talents, quirks, and pet peeves (extra kudos if you come up with 10!). Happy Thursday!

A Look at My Creative Process

As I've been navigating this foreign world of entrepreneurship, I've realized how important it is to nail down my creative process. It may seem like creating a logo or illustrating an art print would be fairly straight-forward - sit down at the computer, draw for a little while, and you're done - but it's never quite that simple. Designers are problem solvers, and there are many steps that we take in order to come up with the right solutions.

Like most occupations, it's helpful to have a process in place as I go about my work. I haven't seen many creatives approach this subject, so I thought it might be helpful to spend the next few weeks sharing my own creative process. While this method may not work for everyone, my hope is that these posts will encourage you to streamline your own process and think through the steps you take as you go about your work.

Why it's important to have a process

Before I jump into the first step in my design routine next week, I thought it would be helpful to explain why defining your creative process is beneficial in the first place. 

It provides structure. Defining your process helps streamline your work, set up a timeline, and create structure in your daily routine. It sets the stage for your workweek and gives you definite starting and ending points.

It helps you juggle. Two weeks ago I wrote a post on how to juggle multiple projects at once, and writing out your process was the first step on my list. When you've thought through each step in your routine and the amount of time each step will take, you have a better idea of how many projects to take on at once and how to space them out in your schedule.

It increases productivity. Outlining your projects and setting up a system allows you to get more done in less time. You're able to stay productive and on schedule because you have a step-by-step guide to follow. 

It fosters creativity. Sometimes my creativity is at a low and ideas don't come quickly. When you have a process in place, you can account for those uninspired moments by adding steps for brainstorming, researching, and gathering inspiration. My creativity usually flows freely when my process is clear and defined. 

It streamlines collaborations. Having a timeline and a step-by-step guide makes it easier to collaborate with clients and other business partners. It gives them insight on the time and effort that goes into your work and they know what to expect from you.

Now it's your turn! What does your creative process look like? I would love to hear the methods and routines you've found helpful for staying organized and productive during your workweek.

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Weekly Truth: Beatitudes Week 4

We're halfway through the Beatitudes series, a small Bible study within Elle & Company's normal Weekly Truth routine. We're digging into Scripture to learn what these 8 verses from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount mean for us as we go about our daily lives, and I'm sharing a free phone wallpaper to help us memorize them and remind us of Truth throughout the week.

The Beatitudes, Week 4

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Matthew 5:6

"The grass is always greener on the other side." We hear that phrase often and we can always relate to it in one way or another. Our human hearts are restless, always longing for what we don't have - money, fame, relationships, success, perfection. And even if we somehow attain the worldly things we long for, they make us happy for a moment and then we're quick to seek after something else. It seems that no matter what we attain, we are never truly satisfied. 

In Matthew 5:6, Jesus doesn't tell us that seeking is wrong; God created our hearts to have an inconsolable longing. But Jesus tells us that we should hunger and thirst for righteousness, not the things of the world. Then, and only then, will we be truly satisfied.

So what is righteousness and how do we seek it?

Righteousness is the state of perfection required by God to have eternal life. We don't have the strength or ability to obtain righteousness on our own. Each one of us falls short of perfection every day; we are all inherently sinful. So righteousness is not found in us. It's given to us by the only one who lived a perfect life: Jesus. When we seek after righteousness, we're seeking after Him. Jesus is the only one who will truly satisfy that longing in our hearts. 

"Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear that your soul may live." Isaiah 55:2-3

Chasing after Instagram followers, a 6-figure salary, a smaller waistline, or even a significant other will never satisfy your soul. Only Jesus.

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Each week I design a new iPhone background with a different verse and share it on the blog. Seeing Scripture several times throughout my day reminds me of truth, strengthens my faith, and helps me me memorize God's Word so I can accurately share it with others. Feel free to download, pin, and share these backgrounds as many times as you would like!

Brand + Blog Design: Grace to be Free

I don't know what has had me more excited about today: the fact that I finally get to share one of several branding projects I've been working on or the launch of my client/friend's new brand and blog, Grace to be Free. So much heart has gone into this one!

You might remember my "client" from this Coffee Date back in May. A couple months ago Logan contacted me about starting a faith and lifestyle blog. I loved the mission behind it (and I had been secretly admiring Logan's writing style since our art history classes together at Tech), so I was thrilled when she asked me to take part in the brand and blog design. We started from the ground up and created a gorgeous new site that has become one of my favorite projects to date!

Since a branding project is a partnership between a client and a designer, I thought it would be fun to share the design process from Logan's perspective. Here's her take on the last couple months that we've been collaborating on Grace to be Free.

Why did you originally reach out to Elle & Company for design help?

The honest answer is, God told me to. I was thinking about starting a blog but was at a total loss as to how I would actually create a website. While looking around her inspiration online I began frequenting Elle & Company, drawn to it for Lauren's creative design and the curiosity of seeing what an old college friend was up to. I sent her a message to congratulate her success, and she sent one back congratulating me... it ends up Lauren had been following along with me as I was on an 11 month mission trip. The more we caught up with each other, the more I felt God telling me to ask her for help. I was hesitant at first because I didn't want to come off as being a friend for convenience's sake. Thankfully, I listened to God on this one. My initial request was just a time where I could ask her some general questions and get advice on starting a blog. One thing led to another (aka God working) and Lauren and I embarked on a collaborative creative adventure I could not be more thankful for. 

What were your initial design goals?

My initial design goals were to have an easy to use website that was also beautiful and creative with a look that would draw people in. I also wanted branding and a logo that represented the heart of the blog - God's grace gives us freedom. (And the even more real truth is that I wanted my blog to "look legit.")

What keywords came to mind when you imagined the appearance of your blog?

Bright. Clean. Fresh. A cleansing breath, and a new start. Light. Freedom. Joy.

What was your favorite step in the branding process?

Oh that's a tough question! I think for me it was just seeing how Lauren could take my words and ideas and then translate them into an actual design. But I also so appreciated Lauren's organization, creativity, willingness to listen, and her mix of professionalism with genuine friendship.

Were you surprised by any part of the project?

Every time I talked to Lauren I was surprised, but in such a pleasant way! It was always so thrilling to get on my website and see what new additions she made. I was also surprised at just how much detail goes into creating a blog/website, and so thankful that Lauren did the real work and simplified the rest for me.

How was the overall experience? Did we successfully accomplish your design goals for Grace to be Free?

Consider my design goals achieved! And the experience was not only fantastic, but one I would recommend to others and repeat myself. Lauren has a heart for helping people which so successfully translates into this design process. Her passion to create what I wanted and needed made me even more excited to start Grace to be Free. 

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Logan, I'm so grateful that I could play a part in the making of Grace to be Free. Thank you for trusting me with the design of your brand and your blog; it was a joy to work on and you were a joy to work with! Best wishes with this new venture. I can't wait to follow along and see where it takes you. Happy Launch Day!

Follow along with Grace to be Free

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New to the Library: Monogram Art Prints

The latest additions to the Elle & Company Library were originally created as Christmas gifts a couple years ago. I drew some colorful flowers in Adobe Illustrator, arranged them in the shape of letters, printed them out, and placed them in some white frames I picked up at Michaels. I was thrilled when my friends and family loved them, and their positive response encouraged me to open an Etsy shop selling prints and other paper goods.

These monogram prints were by far my top seller. Today I brought them back and added them to the Library so you can enjoy them, too! Because who doesn't love a pretty monogram?

Simply log on to the Library, print a letter on your favorite paper, place it in a pretty frame, and voila! You have a lovely art print to add to the walls of your home. These monogram prints also make great gifts for bridal showers, weddings, birthdays, baby showers, house-warming parties, and Christmas (which is right around the corner!).

Log on to the Library to access these new prints today or subscribe to the Library if you haven't already:

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Recent Library Additions