Letter Love & Fonting Around

This poster found on the How blog made me literally laugh out loud! I love it, and it is so true...

We creative-types spend so much time inspiration searching whether it is for the perfect font or just general imagery. It is important for us to stay up-to-date with the new trends and current designs, but when is it too much?

All I know is that I wish I had a little bit more time right now to do some creative inspiration searching. I would be happy to "font around" for an hour or two.

Turkey Type!

 

Simple and elegant. By Sarah Burghart

Thansgiving Typography Inspiration

It's officially my favorite time of the year. I absolutely love Thanksgiving and everything that comes with it: food, festivities, friends, family and the beginning of the holiday season.

This week, I am going to take some much needed time to relax, but I plan to post a few fantastic Thanksgiving inspired designs during my time off...

This typography project by Judith Uzcategui is absolutely stunning. As a whole it is a textural beauty, but when you look at the close-up and realize the strategic and meaningful placement of each word it becomes even more magical.

Starting Up: Can a tidy office really exist???

UGHHH!!! My office is a disaster right now. It consists of paper samples, swatches, ribbon, printouts, boxes, and books galore. Not to mention, our new puppy has decided it is her favorite room which means puppy toys are everywhere. I am normally fully in the work zone when I am in my office that I don't think about keeping it super tidy. I know where everything is, and that's all the matters, right? Well, maybe not...

Recently, I have been doing a lot of planning, branding and growing of my small little company (Chena). If I am spending all this time, energy and stress creating my very own small business, shouldn't my office reflect the same sense of professionalism?

The answer is, without a doubt, YES! So, as of today, it has become my newest home improvement project. I am dreaming about organizing, which is very rare. I can't wait to buy boxes, paper shelves, etc. Honestly my current office space, when tidy, is a pretty good reflection of my creative style, but I want to push it more with paint, bulletin boards, shelves, etc. My office should become my design Mecca. I will try and keep you in the loop as I work to develop my new and improved work space.

As a starting point, I have gathered some inspirational creative offices. I only hope in the end mine looks this stunning. Enjoy!

I am digging the clean look and white space here. Plus, I always LOVE orange. 

This work space is pretty close to perfect. My only change would be a color instead of black. 

Pretty and a little shabby chic. I like all the cubbies and the green wall. I am starting to see a pattern in loving color on the walls. 

Again, the cubbies are wonderful. Also love the magazine bins in this office. 

Chena Design Holiday Cards are Here!!!

The holidays are right around the corner (I know it doesn't seem like it, but they are, I promise!), and I am VERY excited (practically ecstatic) to announce the release of Chena Design's 2011 Holiday Photo Card catalog. Please take a look, let me know what you think, and order away!!!

Happy Shopping...

Open publication - Free publishing - More holiday cards

You can also click here to view the catalog.

New Designs: The Creative Exchange & Becky Ellsworth Photography

I am so excited to share these two new projects! Partially because they are showcasing a new web/blog design section in my portfolio. In all honesty, I know how to code a website through basic html and css, but I completely don't LOVE it (hate might be too strong of a word, but not by much). Luckily, Tony from Evenpar Solutions contacted me awhile back about collaborating with his amazing programming skills. In my opinion, it is a perfect match. I can now design fun, creative and beautiful websites and then hand it off to an incredibly talented "web guy". We both get to do what we love!

Tony has given me the opportunity to design a bunch of great blogs recently like The Creativity Exchange, seen below. Not only do I get to design the look and feel of the site, I am also learning a lot and finding TONS of new creative blogs to follow. Cyndy came to Tony with a great inspiration board of colors and textures. The design just clicked, and I am thrilled at the outcome. You should check out the entire site here.

My new collaboration with Tony is also working the other way around. Becky Ellsworth, a childhood friend, asked me to help her rebrand her photography business which included a completely new and revamped website design. (Guess who did all the programming???)

Becky Ellsworth Photography's new site is simple and elegant with a pop of bright color to keep it fresh. I must admit, I LOVE this site and everything we were able to do with it. Not to mention Becky's photographs are incredible.

Letter Love!

This A is beautiful – a great color palette and fantastic use of geometric line. 

found here

An Exciting New Collaboration: Holiday Sweets Mini Session with Chena Design & Ten Little Bluebirds Photography

Hi!!! I am back after a short brief hiatus with some VERY exciting news for everyone in the Chicago area (or anyone willing to travel). I have recently started collaborating with the very talented Emily Cummings of Ten Little Bluebirds Photography in Chicago. So far we have done a couple of small projects together – she photographs special moments and I design the cards for them. Today, we are ready to announce our First Holiday Sweets Mini-Session which will be held at the adorable and delicious Amy's Candy Bar on Saturday, November 19.

We all know how busy the holidays get, and sometimes our holiday cards get pushed to the end of our to-do lists. Hopefully our mini-session will help save time and provide you with a wonderful keepsake of your little ones along with a custom holiday card to share with your friends and family. 

We have two packages to choose from:
The $75 Package includes a 20 minute photo-shoot, 1 professionally edited jpg, and a custom holiday card that you can print or use as an e-card.

The $150 Package includes a 20 minute photo-shoot, 3 professionally edited jpgs, an 8 x10 print, and 25 custom holiday cards with envelopes.

There will also be plenty of a la carte items including prints, extra cards, colored envelopes, etc. that you can order after the mini-session. 

Great idea for gifts! 

Email Emily at emily@tenlittlebluebirds.com to reserve a time. Spaces will fill up fast so please sign up early.



Each session includes a custom holiday card design. You may choose from one of the following:

And, just in case...

The Fine Print:
Package session fee non-refundable, non-transferable is required to book your session. If there is a last minute emergency and you are unable to book your session we will try to find someone from the waiting list to fill your spot in which case you session fee will be refunded.

Full-resolution digital images in color and black and white sent to your email on or before November 25th to give you plenty of time to print and mail your holiday cards.

A custom holiday card with full printing rights sent in your email along with the images. If you choose the package with printing, you will also get the hi-res jpg image.

If you need additional prints, you can print these out or have us print them for $30 per pack of 25.

Please let us know if you have more than 4 children so we can set up the proper accommodations.

*All design and images can be used by Chena Design and Ten Little Bluebirds in the future for marketing and portfolio.