Chicago: as the Focal Point

I am still soaking in the fact that we are staying in Chicago! And I am barely staying afloat this week with all sorts of new, exciting and fun design projects. Plus it's the end of another term at school which means grading, grading and more grading. So, I thought I would just share some beautiful design pieces that focus on my hometown: Chicago. (I just love saying that). Enjoy!

From the Amazing Starshaped Press

I really love the simple beauty of Chicago. This beauty can be found on etsy.

Love it!

Wish I knew the illustrator here, but I found it on Pinterest (my new fav place)!

Another cutie from etsy.

Chicago is Where the Heart Is...

image via

You know the saying, "Home is Where the Heart Is"? Well, after many debates, discussions, pro and con lists, and some tears; Reid and I have decided to stay in Chicago. We are very excited that we have finally made our first long-term decision. I LOVE the city of Chicago and am thrilled to call it home!

The Letters of Doyald Young

Can you believe this was done with pencil? (1966)

As I was researching typography for today's post I found out that the typography great, Doyald Young, passed away yesterday. I am terribly saddened by his passing, but know that his beautiful letterforms will live on for generations, and continue to inspire letter lovers like myself.

 

Design Process: Baby Dewar Monogram

Last week, I was involved in a sketch workshop with current graphic design students at Westwood College. A bunch of instructors (myself included) gave quick presentations about our creative   process. It was quite stimulating to see how others work and really got my creative juices flowing.

Since then, I have been thinking a lot about the fact that I should share my hand-lettering process to others. So here it is. My first "Design Process" post...

Right before the new year, a friend from high school emailed me about a custom monogram for her "soon-to-be" baby girl's nursery. She wanted something cute and feminine to put on the wall above her crib. I was thrilled at the opportunity to create a large-scale monogram and grabbed my pencil and tracing paper immediately.

My design process for monograms goes a little like this...

Step 1: frantically research letters
I typically start by searching on the internet, in books I own, and from the letters that I see around Chicago. I also look at font foundries, historic monograms, and random samples of handwriting. Some of my previous posts have actually been examples of the monograms I find during my explorations.

Step 2: Figure out letter structure and relationships
It means a lot to me that the letters in my monograms "love" each other. Basically, I want the letters to flow in and out of each other seamlessly – as if they have formed a special connection with each other. So, I spend lots of time figuring out what makes a letter special and unique, and how the letters can structurally work together.

Step 3: Sketch Sketch Sketch
I then begin serious sketching. We are talking tons and tons of tracing paper, and lots of pencil sharpening and erasing. I work best with a super sharp pencil! And, I do most of my lettering by hand (which includes tiny tweaks and changes) before I move to the computer.

From these sketches, I normally send a client around three pencil roughs, so they can choose a style and direction to move forward with. Below are the examples from Ashley's monogram...

 

Step 4: Finesse the Letters

After talking to the client about the pencil roughs, I have a better direction of where to go to suit their needs. I make the last few tweaks (which normally take me a long time, but, hey, I am a perfectionist, or in my husband's words, I have "obsessive lettering tendencies").

 

Step 5: Digitize the Monogram

Once the final pencil rough is approved, I move to the computer. Since I do so much of my drawing by hand, this step is normally pretty speedy. At the end, we have a final vectorized monogram that can be used at any size and anywhere.

Ashley's nursery wall is a grayish purple, and we laser-cut the monogram on white vinyl. The final size is about 3 feet square. Ashley is hoping to put the monogram on the wall this weekend and I cannot wait to see pictures. Hope you enjoy and have a great weekend!

Found Monogram: Laurens Girard's Aristocratic Monogram

Last weekend Reid and I went to the Art Institute of Chicago to check out the new Kings, Queens, and Courtiers exhibit. I was instantly drawn to all of the illuminated manuscripts and early printed books, but after awhile I discovered the above monogram from 15th century France. The image does not do it justice. Imagine a dimly lit room filled with old French aristocratic paintings and books, and then this glass roundel backlit on the wall. It was like a tiny glowing orb pulling me in to look closer. While the ladies holding the letters are not my cup of tea, the monogram itself is completely mesmerizing. Beautiful!!!

The Doily Trend?

I am going out on a limb here, but unlike everyone else, I like Melissa Leo's doily inspired dress by Marc Bouwer. Of course, I don't know if it is a great Oscar gown and I think it would look a LOT better short, but I like the big bold doily-inspired lace. Below is a picture from Bouwer's Fall 2011 Look Book. Pretty awesome, huh?

Maybe it's just me, but I am totally digging lacy doilies lately in both fashion and design. What do you think about the new trend?

I saw this dress a couple of weeks ago in Miami at BCBG, and I instantly fell in love. The doily detailing is stunning. In my opinion, it would be the perfect dress for an outdoor rural wedding.

I am not sure I would ever need or want to stencil my windows, but I thought this was a neat and unique way to use a lace design.

Lights + doilys = beautiful and simple decoration. Love it!

 

Oh Martha, how do you make it look so easy? Martha Stewart has so many beautiful doily inspired ideas.  We can make most of them ourselves when we find the time, right? Above are beautiful lace votives. You can find out how to make them here.

These doily-inspired place mat and center-pieces are also from Martha.

And... I wanted to end with my favorite. What a great liner idea for invitations, right? I am so inspired by these liners and hope that I can find a bride in the future who will let me design something similar!

Boy, doilies have come a long way since the elementary school days when I had to make Valentines cards out of paper doilies.

Monday Inspiration...

Wow! The weekend flew by and it looks like this week is going to be jam packed with awesome new design. The above image made me very happy on an otherwise stressful Monday. I am always inspired by hand embroidery especially when it deals with type, and the negative space here is amazing. Enjoy!