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Every year it’s hard to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Last week, I shared some of my favorite Meekly Yours gifts for the holidays, but what if you want to make your own? Creating your own laser cut ornaments is great way to give small, unique gifts from the heart.
“But wait! I’ve never made a wood ornament before. O.O I don’t know where to start.”
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Image by jaroszpilewski
“Alright. Time to get to work.” Then hours of taking care of small, unexpected tasks, chores, lunch & social media distractions later you look around & wonder what happened to your well laid plans. Sound familiar? Don’t worry, I find myself in the same position on an all too regular basis. I like staying busy so I often get caught up in ancillary tasks & distractions that take me away from the primary projects I planned for the day.
So what's the solution....?
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Creating a wholly new project is a feat. The process leads to something new &—hopefully—exciting, but it’s a learning experience, forcing you to challenge yourself, your creativity, your resilience & your expectations. I learned innumerable lessons while working on the Meekly Yours wedding collection. Here are five of the most important lessons I learned.
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There is a sea of creative software out in the world, but all creative software is not created equal. It's imitating weeding through search results, forums, product reviews & blog posts trying to find the best program for a given project. So let's talk software.
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I create a number concept sketches for each project in pencil, before refining & finalizing them with ink. I also, do larger sketches to work through detailed parts of the design. The above concept sketches helped determine the final design for these mermaid invitations.
After pulling together images, color palettes & ideas for inspiration, it's time to start developing concepts. With the ease of modern technology, some creatives overlook concepting & start working with digital tools right way, but I find developing concepts plays an important role my creative process.
reating a series of rough sketches with pencil & paper—usually a minimum of four sketches—for each project, helps me explore different layouts, styles & accompanying illustrations quickly& effectively to find the best solution.
People love talking about inspiration. Interviewers and fans love to ask creatives and innovators, "What inspires you?" A quick Google search brings up a slew of articles with surefire tips and techniques to draw out inspiration—anytime, anywhere. Even the way we define the word "inspiration" makes it sound like there is a reservoir that—once found—will solve all your creative problems forever. As much as we may want it to be, that simply isn't true.
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People often say that the a craftsman is only as good as his tools. Good tools are invaluable, and poor tools can limit your ability to work effectively. However, getting a fancy set of pens, a brand new camera, or cutting edge software doesn't suddenly make you good at your craft. An important part of learning and developing any craft is knowing how to use the tools you have.
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In my work, each design is unique and has it's own personality. However, I also strive to develop designs that fit into a distinct Meekly Yours style. Designers and letterers work differently based on their style and the tools they know best. Here's how I create most of my hand lettering and illustrations pieces.
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Sketches and final piece from Kristie Len's hand lettering on glass workshop.
I believe in learning something new every day—whether it's honing your skills, developing a new talent, or learning interesting information about a topic. Education is the foundation of how we operate in the world. The more we learn, the more we can share with others and understand the world we live in.
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Hand lettering designs are each drawn by hand either with pen & paper or digitally, using creative software. Each design created with a specific project and style in mind.
“So, what do you do?”
"I'm a designer, hand letterer & illustrator.”
*nodding* “That's cool.....So, what is that?”
This is a common exchange when I meet new people & start talking about my business. Although hand lettering has become ubiquitous in the creative & DIY worlds, it is often misunderstood in other industries & parts of society. Many people have seen the work of a hand letterer & don't even realize it, let alone fathom the possible uses for it beyond a fun hobby.
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