Completed Project: A Little Yarn Blossom

When I first started off this journey, it was never my intention to offer any design 'services'. The main reason to it was that the thought of disappointing others or not living up to their expectations was frightening. I didn't think I was capable of coming up with something that people liked, and didn't believe in myself. Then, during the project back in February, I realised that it wasn't very much of a service at all - it was a collaboration - we help and learn from one another. I loved working with people because sharing ideas would lead to learning, which is one of my favourite things to do. 

In May, Bryleigh from A Little Yarn Blossom approached me after she saw the project I worked on with Sophie from Sophie Smith, and I was excited to help her out. This would be my third time working with someone and it was going to be another adventure. :) A Little Yarn Blossom is a knit and crochet lifestyle blog, and one of the topics on the blog includes life learning where Bryleigh shares her experiences and lessons she's learnt from them. There are also honest book and music reviews, and if you're a Panic! At The Disco fan, you can give Bryleigh a hi-five. :) Ultimately, I admired Bryleigh's passion for her hobby.  She has a knit and crochet shop called Yarn Blossom, offering various services and products including iPhone and iPad cases. This was a unique hobby and was perhaps the niche of the blog that made the project interesting to work on. :)

It was a pretty fruitful collaboration, with brainstorming and exchange of ideas. We explored an indigo/midnight blue and goldish yellow palette, as well as other options that Bryleigh also liked, including blush pink and black. Finally, we narrowed down the colour palette and worked from there. The indigo/midnight blue and goldish yellow palette was interesting to work with because they were contrasting trinary colours and complementary. Here's a moodboard with some images and colours that inspired the project. 

(Clockwise from top-left) Eva J Art Print / Jotun St Paul's Blue Paint / Watercolour Flower + Lettering by myself / Ginkgo Fabric Print / Calico Wallpapers Gold Foil 

The word 'blossom' in the header was special, especially because 'blossoms' was also the name given to Bryleigh's readers, so the element of a watercolour flower was added to give it a personal and inclusive touch. Here's just some of the headers that were explored during the process, along with some submark options. 

Since A Little Yarn Blossom was based on Bryleigh's interest of knit and crochet, we decided to use this to add a more unique feel to the header variations, including the thread-like flourish. I also added some of my hand-drawn watercolour graphics of sewing and knitting in the design elements to give more character to the design. It was created with watercolour to give a made-from-scratch feel, just like her hobby.

(Inspiration: From left) Ginkgo Fabric Print / Jotun St Paul's Blue Paint / Calico Wallpapers Gold Foil / Eva J Art Print 

As mentioned in the previous project, I'm no professional, just a self-taught young adult keen to learn more. This is just a hobby I enjoy and love doing, it was completely non-profit, and I'd love to hear suggestions and make improvements about anything. It's an interest that I'm exploring everyday and I'm still learning. Bryleigh was very open to ideas, easy-going and enthusiastic, it was enjoyable working with her. It couldn't have been possible with her feedback and ideas as well, so it made the collaboration a very pleasant one. :)

I was almost fully booked with projects for the month of May, and I've been extremely busy. There's so much more to come such that there's a limited space left for collaboration opportunities in June. It's been a hectic month, which is possibly a good thing. I'd like to thank everyone, readers, for their continuous support and I am ever so grateful for every single one. This has been such an incredible journey and I can never be thankful enough for it.

Until next time ♥

Lettering + Design elements by me, Photos as stated in links

Check out the project I worked on with Sophie from Sophie Smith here. 

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On another note, if you're following me on Instagram, you might have learnt about the devastating news I shared that occurred last week. To give a little insight, here's a link to a photograph from one of the news reports, and you may read more details and updates about it on other reports about the tragedy. Innocent, promising lives have been lost, and the country is shaken and mourning. May the souls of those who perished rest in peace. 

Completed Project: Sophie Smith

Working together with a person from another part of the world is an interesting experience. Mutual respect and understanding is extremely important when we work on projects because it ensures that the process runs smoothly and the outcome is well-received and satisfied by both parties. I'd hoped to maintain a healthy relationship with everyone, and taking any collaborations with anyone new was a bold step for myself. 

Last January, I had the privilege to work with a blogger from Australia, Sophie, who originally owned Catcus Blog (some might have heard of this interesting blog). This being my first collaboration, I was pretty excited. 

Sophie had contacted me and asked to help in creating a blog header with my hand lettering for her new self-titled blog, Sophie Smith. This wonderful lifestyle blog shares beautiful photos with content like the DIY, fashion and travel videos. I must say that the highlight of her blog (for myself at least), is her photography and travel posts with videos. I have difficulties compiling the best scenes from my own travel videos because there's too many scenes to pick out, but Sophie makes these really beautiful travel video montages that summarises her entire trip. 

If you would look at Sophie's Instagram, you'll find she has a clean, bright, simple style, so we aimed to incorporate similar elements in the header. I loved the pastel orange and yellow colour palette she fancied, and made a little moodboard with my lettering and some of her favourite colours and photos from her Instagram.

yellow flower in hand / sunset / picnic / orange potted plant / (Sophie's Instagram)

picnic lettering / sun doodle / watercolour / done by myself

With a bubbly and bright lifestyle blog, the hand lettering for the header had to have an edgy, unique personal touch too. So I chose to use a brush with a drier and rougher texture and offered a simple contrasting addition to the lettering, a stroke of orange watercolour. Here's some of the headers explored during the process, where afterwards, some of them were shortlisted.

This is also my first attempt at creating an inspiration/design board, (I wouldn't call it a brand board because this is a really small project). The board below depicts a finalised version of the project, including design elements. I made the simple orange water colour splashes and strokes for design elements like her Favicon or submark to add a homely and personal feel to the whole style. I'd like to stress that I'm no professional, and I'm still learning. I do realise that it is not the best, so I'm happy to receive any blows and criticisms gladly. :)

Inspiration photos on design board from Sophie's Instagram

A photo posted by sophie smith (@sophiesmithblog) on Mar 30, 2015 at 8:11pm PDT

Sophie has amazing photography skills, and I'll definitely recommend following her on Instagram because her feed is really consistent and beautiful. :)

During the process, I also gave Sophie suggestions and ideas to the design elements of the blog that would fit with the header I created. She also gave her ideas and I honestly couldn't have completed this project without her ideas too. Sophie was really sweet and polite, and I think these factors made our collaboration a really pleasant one. :)

I must profess I didn't actually offer services like designing blog headers or graphics. In fact, I had some initial reservations on taking up this project. But when Sophie approached me, I decided working with someone new was an adventure in itself, and I love adventures. Besides, it would be a great way to get my work out there as well. I looked up if I should make a contract, think about the whole design process. Then l realised that I was just starting, and it was nothing too serious, so it wasn't necessary, although we did lay out some simple regulations on both our parts. 

I just treat hand lettering this as a hobby, something I do for leisure time, so it's completely non-profit and I enjoyed myself creating it. Sophie's enthusiasm and amiability made working with her a fruitful journey. Her openness to ideas and constructive feedback had made the collaboration end on a happy note as well, and it was such a pleasure to work with her. 

This project made me realise the importance of cooperation and keeping healthy rapport through collaborations or any other relationships for that matter. They didn't just need mutual respect, they need honest, direct communication. When both people feel comfortable expressing their needs and concerns, trust and bonds are strengthened. :)

Until next time! ♥

Design elements + lettering by me, inspiration photos  from Sophie Smith's Instagram

On another note, just to clarify, I'm not exactly back from my break yet, this is just a temporary return to showcase my completed project back in January. I will return posting regularly somewhere in April. Happy Tuesday. :)