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.