7*11*11

I feel like a crazy person right now. I haven't had a day off in over a week, nor do I have one scheduled (indefinitely). I'm trying to launch the rebranding of my freelancing business (new identity and website is in the works, can't wait to share it soon!!!). We just went to our fourth wedding of the year last night (so much wine. so much dancing. so much fun!). And Cory's family is coming to visit next weekend (which I am super duper excited about :)!

I've been a little busy.

But, somehow I managed to sew myself a dress! It is my very first piece of clothing. I think it turned out pretty well! I kept it really really simple because I didn't want to overwhelm myself. But after getting a few compliments on it, I will definitely be making this pattern again, either in a different fabric for myself, or as a gift for a friend.

7*8*11

I've found a super fun website for color inspiration: design seeds. It takes these beautiful photos, and translates them to color palettes. I've been using this website to get ideas for the color palette that I will use in my own identity.

I know I want to use a lavender color. Here are some of my favorite palettes that incorporate it.

Do you have a favorite?

7*6*11

It is so summer. It is so awesome.

Summer. Awesome. Ice cream. What?!?

There's this new app for iphone: IceCreamSpot Pro. It finds ice cream shops near your location!

With or without this groovy app, I've got a couple on my bucket list to check out this summer.

The first one is Ruby Jewel on Mississippi Ave. I've tried their ice cream sandwiches, and they are to die for! This place seems to be the holy grail of ice cream in Portland.

Next, I want to get the full Fifty Licks experience. They're a food cart located on Belmont St, but occasionally they travel around to different events. You may remember that I tried their Caramelized Apple at Eat Mobile food cart festival. It was heavenly, and ever since I've been craving a full scoop!

Then there's the even newer food cart Salt & Straw on Alberta. This cart is "farm-to-cone", meaning they source from local vendors, and has flavors like Pear with Blue Cheese, and Brown Ale with Bacon. Let's go there. Right. Now.

7*3*11

Recently I helped with the invitations of Jayme and Chris. These invites are sweet and simple. Just the info, with an email to RSVP to, all to be hand-delivered by the bride and groom themselves. Each one was handmade by the bride and friends, and each one is unique.

I just love that so many brides are choosing to go the eco-friendly route of not using separate RSVP cards, or all the extra envelope packaging.

Cheers to Jayme and Chris!

7*1*11

It's July. Jeeez. Finally. Think we can get some decent weather already? Huh?

Well, happy July either way. Go download this amazing calendar of the month from Curiosity Group, a Portland creative company. It's making my cube about a 100 times funner. Awesome.

6*29*11

It's been the usual busy busy business in Verelle's world. And it's all good.

I've been looking for inspiration for the upcoming rebranding of myself and jump into the freelancing world. I really want to focus on wedding invitations and paper goods, as well as baby, and small business branding.

So I've been putting a lot of thought into how the Verelle brand needs to look in order to bring in more clients.

And so here's my smorgasbord of inspiration:

I'm loving light bright colors (although I'm having trouble narrowing just which ones... do I have to?). I'm drawn to fat, loopy fonts. And my branding must include personalization. I love this about my current business cards, and I want to continue it through in my future branding. I'm thinking stamped business cards, and fun folding promotional materials...

6*24*11

I found some gorgeous and massive flowers at New Seasons (our locally owned, over-priced, hippie-friendly grocery store). They were pretty captivating, but I didn't have the moolah to bring them home, so I took a photo. Happy Friday!