Design in August | Branding & Stationery Studio » Self Promotion

Stationery | Holiday Card

Daiva — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:25:06 +0000

Of course, the holidays and the new year are well behind us, but it would be remiss of me not to share this project. A former colleague contacted me looking for an upscale holiday greeting – more specifically a new year greeting – to send to his clients after Christmas. Now, his client list includes top executives among some Fortune 50 companies, so we really wanted these greetings to be unique and slick. And to stand apart from the usual onslaught of holiday greetings that many professionals receive.

I jumped at the opportunity to combine other materials with traditional paper for this project. I proposed backing the card with a piece of frosted vinyl. The card would seemingly floated on the vinyl, which created this translucent frame around the message. Something modern, something frosty and wintery, yet also an element that would give the card a presence. My client’s branding includes brackets, so I complimented the back with a pattern of brackets. A custom return address rubber stamp combined with gorgeous hand-written calligraphy on rich navy envelopes (wish I’d had a photo to show you!) really completed this mailing. The best part was hearing that we achieved the wow! factor we were shooting for!

Events | Nashville Bridal Brunch

Daiva — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:29:27 +0000

{WINNERS} I am happy to announce the winners of the Design in August Studio Giveaway!! The lucky brides-to-be are Miss Megan Deising (winner of the custom return address rubber stamp) and Miss Leah Caudle (winner of the custom thank you note set). Congrats, ladies!! I am excited to design these items for you and look forward to posting them here on the blog.

I was delighted to show my stationery work at HER Nashville’s Bridal Brunch this past Sunday. We had an excellent turnout at Vanderbilt’s Commodore Ballroom and I am pleased as punch – or, should I say, mimosas! It was such fun meeting with lovely brides-to-be (and their attentive grooms-to-be) as we chatted stationery needs and paper goods in a lively, brunch atmosphere. I also had fun seeing which pieces caught the most attention – hello, lined envelopes & save the date postcards! A highlight for attendees was the fashion show, featuring gown trends for Spring 2011 (ruffles! ruffles! ruffles!). And a highlight for Design in August was not one, but TWO Studio Giveaways! Brides entered to win either a set of custom thank you notes OR a custom return address rubber stamp. I will be announcing the two lovely winners tomorrow. Thanks, HER Nashville for hosting a can’t-miss brunch. Cheers!

Stay tuned on Wednesday when I will announce the two winners of my Studio Giveaway! Could it be you?!

Stationery | New Address, New Announcement

Daiva — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 23:41:16 +0000

When Mr. G and I began talking about a move to Nashville, the very first thought that crossed my mind went a little something like this: “I get to design a moving announcement!!” Naturally. I knew this would be a great opportunity to announce not only our new address, but also share the recent happenings in our lives. I also knew it had to be a show piece for Design in August.

I stumbled across this original “Chuckle Map” of Tennessee by Bill Dyer that dates back to 1949. Those who know us well, know that Mr. G and I met each other Lindy Hopping in Asheville, NC. So a piece that incorporated all things Tennessee with a vintage 40′s voice was just about perfect. The map determined the horizontal shape of the piece, while I added our own text to the welcome sign on the cover flap. Matching the feel of the “Chuckle Map” illustrations, a handsome 40s-style reporter of “The Nashville Observer” voices our latest news with hep cat lingo of his era on the inside. A string of twine and a western star-printed belly band wrap it up oh-so pretty, while each of the 184 envelopes was addressed with a printed label to match.

Vintage style Nashville hospitality. A little army of announcements about to inundate the mail system!I adore the little scenes of the “Chuckle Map” – especially this sleepy fisherman and the lady archer.Each envelope dressed up with a printed “brown paper bag” label. I had a custom return address stamp made to match the print. Economical solution to printed envelopes!Hep Cat Reporter from “The Nashville Observer.” You dig, Daddy-O?Mr. G and me: Lindy Hop Love.Tennessee is officially the “Nation’s Most Interesting State” – didn’t y’all know?

Branding | Self-Promotional Mailer

Daiva — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:12:28 +0000

With the popularity of social media these days, a tangible piece of personal mail seems all the more precious. Wouldn’t you like to receive a pretty package like this in your mail box? A stack of these went out this week to introduce my Studio to local event planners, including my business card, a hand-written note and a sample of a recent design project: our New Address | New Announcement mailer (to be featured on the blog later this week!).

Whether you are a popular storefront, a personally-owned business operating out of your home office, or an individual looking to promote your upcoming event, consider what an impact a thoughtful and attractive piece of direct mail might have for you. Interested? I would welcome the opportunity to chat with you about it. Cheers!

Pretty packages tied up with string! Colorful stamps in shades of browns, black and greens add a bit of whimsy.