Recent Work: Banjo & Scout

I had the wonderful opportunity to install another blog design last week. This time it was for the lovely Amber of Banjo & Scout. We've been following each other's blogs for quite some time, so getting to know her a little better while also designing something for her was a great experience. Below, I'll share a little about the design inspiration and process with you!

When Amber contacted me, I knew right away what sort of style and feeling she would want Banjo & Scout to evoke. With such a folksy title, we took a lot of inspiration from nature. I referenced photography from several of her past posts (specifically her outfit posts in wooded areas) for ideas. This was especially helpful when creating all the foliage, as I wanted it to feel authentic to Amber and be representative of her surroundings. Amber was not at all afraid of color, which is a real treat. It allowed me to pick some gorgeous, bold, natural colors and Banjo and Scout's color scheme just might be my favorite yet. Mossy green, deep mustard yellow, dark moody grey, a bold berry blue, and a bright fig inspired purple. The real magic was balancing out all the earthy, woodsy, moody elements with a streamlined and clean backbone. All that color pops beautifully against the soft white and linen.


To see the design in action, be sure to give Banjo & Scout a visit! I had a lot of fun with little details this time around, such as hover effects, so check all those out as well. Be sure to say hello to Amber while you're there, too! She's a great friend to have in the blogging community. Thanks so much for letting me design for you, dear!

xx Emorie

P.S. I mentioned before that I would be slowing down my design services a bit. I'm still trying to figure out the best way to schedule out clients, so I hope those of you who have already contacted me can understand and bare with me a bit. My design services are booked until the end of 2014 and I will be updating the information on the Design Services page soon to reflect some changes that will be happening. It's an exciting time! Thank you all so much for your interest in my services.

Snippets: The Changing Season

A COLLECTION OF ALMOST FORGOTTEN IPHONE (& A FEW DSLR) PICTURES.descriptions of pictures are sorted by row, below
1 | Autumn in the foothills is super lovely. I took these pictures on a hike a few weeks ago — one of the first signs I saw that let me know that Fall was finally coming.
2 | An afternoon affogato (a scoop of chocolate brownie ice cream and a shot of espresso). My favorite treat lately.
3 | The skies (especially in the morning) have been unreal lately.
4 | Pippin shaking it out during a refreshing morning hike.
5 | The first fallen leaves in Julia Davis Park.
6 | I gave myself a bit of a haircut. It was getting a little too post-pixie mushroom-shaped and it definitely benefited from a reshaping. Haircuts make me happy.
7 | Pippin goes all out with the photobombing.
8 | Pumpkin beer is my favorite beer and these new fall floral tights are lovely as well. I also finally own a felt hat and it's the perfect color (I suck at selfies, though).
9-12 | I got off work a little early this past Saturday and was itching for adventure. But it had been raining all day (and for days) so we decided to just pack a little picnic and stroll along the river. The rain let up for a bit, even. It was beautiful to see some green springing up one last time from all the rain amongst all the autumn colors.

With the season changing, I like to reflect on my routine and reassess those things I call priorities. I'm experiencing quite a few changes this month, in addition to the lovely weather shift. It's an exciting time for Will and I and I'm just trying to take a quick step back and appreciate everything as it is now. I can't wait for the days ahead, but I'd also love to live in all these little happy moments. It's always a good idea to slow down for a bit, especially when you've moving forward so quickly. It's so important to create that balance in life, I think. So, that's exactly what I plan on doing.

As I sit in my chilly apartment this morning, bundled up in a cozy turtle-neck and sipping a hot cup of coffee, I'm feeling very grateful for this inspiring season. For the opportunities both Will and I are having, for all the wonderful people in my life that love and support me, for this space, and for all of you (that stick around even when I don't have the time to post). You can expect to see me around here a lot more the next few weeks!

Happy October!
xx Emorie

Recent Work: The Desert Poppy

My schedule has been a little hectic lately, so while I actually did the install for this design on Monday I'm finally getting a moment to tell you all about it on Friday. That's just life sometimes. Regardless, I'm so excited to share my most recent work with you! Designing for Kassandra was really fun — we have very similar styles and tastes, so getting to the same place creatively to envision the new look for her blog was relatively easy. I'll share a little about the design inspiration and process with you!

Kassandra's blog is titled The Desert Poppy, so rightfully I wanted to take a lot of inspiration from the desert. But, having already done a very deserty design, I didn't want the design to feel unoriginal. And as with the previous (Desert Darling) design, I didn't want it to be too deserty (think cactus) or come off as cheesy. Kassandra also wanted everything to come off more modern and clean and moody, so we made some bold choices that I think made all the difference. Adding a chalkboard sidebar really set the stage for this design. It added such a unique and interesting element! But, I didn't want it to be too distracting — so I kept it slightly grey instead of a harsh blackboard. This complimented the paper textured background and desert colors wonderfully. I went with a array of desert greens this time, with a pop of coral and poppy pink. The addition of hand-drawn desert floral and succulent accents really tied everything together.



Be sure to give The Desert Poppy a visit to see the design in action and see all the fun details at work. Be sure to say hello to Kassandra while you're there, too! Thanks so much for letting me design for you, Kassandra!

I'll be slowing down my design services a bit, as I just don't have the time to work on them as I used to. But if you are at all interested in having me design for you, don't hesitate to email me for more information and let's reserve you a spot!

Happy Friday!
Emorie

Autumn Checklist

The Balloon Classic last weekend, followed by several days of fall-like weather, has me super anxious for autumn. After all that excitement, I'll admit, I was a little upset when the forecasted high this weekend was 90. But my walk to work this week was marked with quite a few trees already dropping yellow leaves! And when I got off my shift just after 8:00 this evening it was already cool and dark outside! I'd call that a sure sign of a fast approaching new season.

Our autumn is always full of so many great events and traditions, but I don't want to miss a thing this year! So, a while ago I compiled a list of all the autumn activities I have planned, which I've listed below.

+ Day hike on the Hull's Gulch Interpretive Trail
+ Watch the Balloon Classic from the park (and hills) — Done!
+ Take a camping and/or backpacking trip in the Sawtooths
+ Walk around Art in the Park (doing this in the morning!)
+ Eat and bake pumpkin flavored everything
+ Walk around the Hyde Park Street Fair
+ Find a good recipe for homemade apple cider
+ Decorate for Halloween
+ Visit a corn maze or pumpkin patch
+ Carve Pumpkins!
+ Make our halloween costumes (see last years here and here)
+ Go to an exhibit at the art museum
+ Go on more photo-adventures and start doing outfit posts again

Please come soon, new season.
Because I really want to watch Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown again.

What are you most excited about this Fall?
xx Emorie

Hot Air Balloons Make Me Happy

The other day I tried to explain to someway why it is that I love the Balloon Classic in Boise so much. I don't think I quite got my point across in that quick conversation, but writing my thoughts here might have better results. Friday morning I woke up early to an anxious pup whining, wanting to be let outside. I decided, since I was already up, to take him for a quick morning walk in the hills behind our apartment. I was sleepy and grumpy and lonely (Will had been gone for work for two weeks), trudging up the trail quickly. But as I made my way to the top of the ridge my spirits were instantly lifted as I took in the view of colorful hot air balloons floating above the valley (pictures from that morning here and here). I breathed in deeply, breathed out slowly, sat down on top of the hill and watched dozens more balloons launch from the park across town as the sunrise warmed me up.

Sunday, Will was home and Pip and I were happy. We all woke extra early to put on warm clothes and make a pot of coffee before heading down to Ann Morrison park to watch the final launch of the weekend. On this final day, all of the pilots will launch in a three minute window, weather permitting, and the result is particularly magical. On a cool morning, that feels particularly like autumn, with mist hovering above the damp dewy ground, dozens (I think there were 50 balloons this year) of hot air balloons inflate into life before your eyes. The park transforms into a whimsical garden of color. Perhaps it's the happy nostalgia surrounding all my memories of the River Festival (an event that occurred yearly when I was a kid), but watching the Sprit of Boise Balloon Classic every year fills me with a childlike sense of wonder, if for only a few days.

This year, after watching them launch and hover above the city in the park, we decided to then get back in the car with our packed thermos of coffee and drove high up into the foothills to watch the remaining balloons float across the valley. What a magical morning. And what a perfect transition into a new season.

xx Emorie

See last year's balloon classic here.

Snippets: Summer's End

A COLLECTION OF ALMOST FORGOTTEN IPHONE PICTURES.
1 | I've been waking up a lot earlier than usual lately. Like, almost always before the sun has come out from behind the hills completely. That's really early for me! I've been hiking a lot more too, thanks for fair weather. This was a pretty sunrise in the foothills, while I was out walking with Pip.
2 | Just some weeds, my favorite new nail color,and documenting the fact that I sometimes have to put on a jacket in the morning now (yahoo!).
3 | Baking for my favorite ladies at work on a chilly, rainy morning.
4 | Coffee and pastries a few Saturdays ago.
5 | The loveliest mail ever from Alma.
6 & 7 | Will has been gone a lot lately (last week and this week) for work and I've been keeping myself occupied at night by rearranging/redecorating parts of our apartment.
8 | The clouds just looking freaking gorgeous one morning last week; I had to panorama it.
9 | Took myself out to lunch last payday when I wasn't feeling well.
10 | Just some #methodsofselfcare. Tea, ice cream (and midol), and sketching design ideas before dinner.
11 | Pippin is an even bigger baby than I am when Will is gone. I think he's done with me today. He wants the fun human to come home.

The days are finally getting shorter and I am very grateful.

xx Emorie