Pam Winters Studio

Creative Design and Illustration

“If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.”

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Maker Mentors
Maker Mentors

This week, I am doing something that I have never done before: attending a conference that is strictly online. One of the best parts about this particular conference, Maker Mentors (MM), is the fact that it is three days packed full of information and inspiration geared toward creatives, like me, who are launching their own businesses. It is also for those wanting to improve a business that already exists and/or to simply soak in the ideas and inspiration that the conference offers. Another great thing is being able to enjoy the benefits of MM in the comfort of my own home. Still another great part about this experience is actually feeling like I’m at an in-person conference, in a sense, in that everyone attending can see each speaker talking in real time, ask questions via the chat room and interact with other conference attendees during the sessions, as well as outside them (e.g., in the forums on the MM site).

There are talented, knowledgeable and driven creative professionals behind Maker Mentors: Cassie Boorn (founder), Erin Wetzel (creative director), Liz Sabo (marketing coordinator) and Gary Robinson (graphic designer/webmaster). Having just completed Day 2 of the conference, I can say firsthand that the MM team is doing a fantastic job of pulling off this unique online event. Cassie and Erin check in with all of us logging on first thing in the morning (7:30 a.m. sharp), and briefly go over what to expect for the day, as well as general reminders, etc. I am thoroughly impressed with how smoothly the conference has been running, and with the fact that Cassie and Erin each have a laser-like focus on helping attendees get the most out of these three days.

For me, coming together with others who are serious about doing creative work; building and growing their own businesses and/or helping others get started and progress is the biggest gift I could give myself right now. I am truly grateful for the opportunity and intend to apply what I’m learning and absorbing to my own life, to the best of my ability. One thing seems pretty much universally agreed upon among conference attendees and speakers: one’s success boils down to showing up regularly, contributing and speaking from the heart.

Below is a brief list of shared wisdom, advice and positive affirmations that have stood out for me personally during the past couple of days (Please note: I have paraphrased from my notes on the different speaker talks and presentations, adding my own emphasis to certain words in the form of all caps):

  • Write a blog and say whatever you want to say in long format. The objective is to pick a platform and tell your story. ~ Cory Huff, digital strategist & actor
  • SMILE! Be enthusiastic and passionate about your product/business. It will transfer to others! ~ Jenna Herbut, entrepreneur & maker
  • Building a business is all about just DOING it, and creating something that aligns with who you are as an individual. ~ Jennifer Lee, coach & author
  • Take SMALL steps. Don’t let focusing on the “big goal” paralyze you and your work. ~ Kendyll Hillegas, illustrator & maker
  • STEP AWAY from the work daily, taking time to pause and regroup during the day. Breathe deeply and stretch. ~ Kerry Burki, teacher, author & maker
  • You HAVE to make sacrifices to launch your career. ~ Lisa Congdon, illustrator & fine artist
  • There is no “right way.” There is YOUR way. Trust in yourself is vital, and you have to practice it. ~ Molly Mahar, coach, teacher & writer
  • When you connect with others authentically, promotion comes naturally. ~ Tara Gentile, author & coach
  • You WILL get rejected a lot. Focus on moving forward to the YES. ~ Tracy Matthews, jewelry designer & mentor

Pictured above: Maker Mentors promo image; a photo from one of Friday’s sessions, featuring conversation with Joanna Hawley, creative director and blogger (© 2015 by Pam Winters); the quote in the title of this post is attributed to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Invitations: Romantic Floral

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Another recent custom wedding invitation suite I worked on is this one, for easygoing couple Sarah and Joel. They are an active, young couple that has long enjoyed Southern California and all it has to offer, including the opportunity to hold their wedding ceremony and festivities just across the border in Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico. The special occasion was to take place at Encuentro Guadalupe, known for its modern eco-lofts and resort amenities. I worked mainly with event planner Catherine Bachelier to come up with invitation ideas that would coincide with the wedding and related events: colorful floral arrangements were to be a common thread and focal point. Knowing the theme, I researched and pulled together corresponding image options, and then used them to create some layouts for the couple to review. It didn’t take long for Sarah to gravitate toward the invitation suite pictured here. In particular, the colors and variety of the floral images spoke to her and what she had in mind for the wedding, which was to be a celebration of marriage, with nature’s beauty as the joyful backdrop.

Due to the number of details and special shuttle arrangements that needed to be conveyed to the guests attending, the couple appreciated how seamlessly the invitation suite incorporated all the necessary information, in separate, yet visually corresponding, cards. Much like Jamie and Luke’s invitation suite, we were able to clearly present quite a bit of text, by breaking it up into separate cards that were digestible, one by one, by the recipients. One card led to the next card, each one having a distinct purpose and category related to the event.

There are five individual cards included in this suite: invitation card and lined envelope; RSVP card and envelope; information (“Where to Stay”) card; itinerary (“Welcome”) card; and flat thank you card and envelope. All designs are pictured in the slideshow above.

Click here to read about Sarah’s experience working with me.

Invitations: Rustic Chic

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Pictured above is a wedding invitation suite I recently worked on for a couple, Jamie and Luke, getting married in Mexico at Encuentro Guadalupe, home to the concept of “luxury camping.” I worked closely on this suite with the bride-to-be, Jamie Ehrsam, and Catherine Bachelier, who helped organize and plan the wedding and festivities. Jamie and Luke, an adventurous couple, travel for a living, scoping out the best event venues and documenting their photos and impressions online (See their website Venuelust). Given the nature of their business, it was no surprise that this was to be a destination wedding!

They requested that the invitation suite not look like your typical wedding invitations, but rather, resemble a menu design more than anything else. Food was to be at the heart of the event and resort location, and the suite needed to incorporate that, while striking a balance between being elegant and casual. Once complete, Jamie and Luke were more than a little excited to send out the final product to guests; one reason being that the suite alluded to the tastes and ambience they and their guests would soon be experiencing. Jamie and Catherine were the best team to collaborate with on this, and I had a great deal of fun discovering ways to match the requested aesthetic, while pointing unmistakably to a very special destination wedding.

There are five individual cards included in this suite: invitation card and lined envelope, RSVP card and envelope, information (“Where to Stay”) card, itinerary card, as well as folded thank you card and envelope. The Invitation and RSVP cards are printed on both sides, using original photography provided by the client, which was also referenced by me in order to create the silhouettes of the wine bottle and soaring bird. I gathered the vintage animal images from various image resources, and made additional items for the client, as needed, including decorative stickers with the vintage animal imagery (to decorate and seal the back flap of the invitation envelope), as well as custom wine labels to adorn bottles of wine intended for wedding guests. All designs are pictured in the slideshow above.

Click here to read about Jamie’s experience working with me.

Invitations: Colorful Party

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When asked to create a modern, elegant Bat Mitzvah invitation suite for a young lady by the name of Sarah, I was more than happy to oblige, and equally thrilled to find out that the client wanted eye-catching colors to take center stage. Sarah and her mom, Jessica, were truly a pleasure to work with throughout the project, giving detailed feedback at every stage, in order to make sure the final product was a true representation of Sarah’s personality and the Bat Mitzvah festivities. Event planner Catherine Bachelier collaborated with us throughout, offering valuable insight into the look and theme of the party.

This invitation suite was unique in that brunch and party cards, as well as more than one RSVP option, were needed; I also made custom envelopes (by hand) for the party cards, and these tied in with the rest of the suite. There were three versions of the thank you card design printed, in order to have Sarah’s name appear in all three of her suite’s main colors: purple, green and blue. Shimmering silver paper and envelopes served as the perfect complement to the bold color scheme. Bright silk papers in green and purple served as an elegant double backing to the silver invitation card; the finished invitation was then wrapped with a satin ribbon in coordinating bright green. Needless to say, the client was extremely happy with the final product, which gave guests a sneak peek into to the colorful festivities that would greet them on the day of the big event.

There are five individual cards included in this suite: invitation card and envelope, RSVP postcard, party card and envelope, brunch card, as well as thank you card and envelope. All designs are pictured in the slideshow above.

Click here to read about Jessica and Sarah’s experience working with me. 

Invitations: Baseball Ticket

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This project is a Bar Mitzvah invitation suite I worked on for Jake, the eldest of two sons, and brother of Hannah, whose Bat Mitzvah invitations I had previously designed (see Hannah’s invitation suite here). Jake is a baseball player and a great young man. I worked with Catherine Bachelier, who planned Jake’s Bar Mitzvah party, as well as with Jake and his parents, in order to come up with an invitation suite that spoke to Jake’s love of all things baseball. The Bar Mitzvah party itself was to include sports nostalgia and vintage touches, and I kept that in mind while putting the visual elements of the suite together. We all agreed it would be fun to make the invitation card look like an authentic baseball ticket, complete with an actual perforated line separating the invitation from the main RSVP, so that the recipient could easily tear off the RSVP and send back to Jake’s family in the enclosed envelope. The final product was truly a collaborative effort, and most importantly, hit a home run with Jake!

There are three individual cards included in this suite: combined invitation card and child’s RSVP, adults’ RSVP card and envelope, as well as folded thank you card and envelope. There is also a digital save the date, which I designed and coded, and for which I provided instructions to the client (for emailing out in advance). All designs are pictured in the slideshow above (with the exception of the save the date).

Click here to read about Ronit and Jake’s experience working with me.

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