a winter-inspired color palette

December 27, 2013 Nikki Mihalik

a winter-inspired color palette // brown, tan, gray, white // photo by Mutt Love Photography [pinit]

Teann of Mutt Love Photography was actually a winner of one of our very first photo contests. If she didn't live so far away, I have a feeling our love of animals would make us immediate friends. :)

Though this particular photo is lacking one of her usual furry subjects, I couldn't help but be drawn to its simplicity. The ice atop the branches is just so delicate and beautiful...and the reddish-browns look lovely against the white and gray.

Thank you for another wonderful submission, Mutt Love!

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BROWN #3B1314 / RED-BROWN #902B15 / TAN #AC8D72/ LT GRAY #CAC7C0 / DK GRAY #908780

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Happy WINTER Friday!

Did you know that *many* of my favorite designs came about “accidentally”? Take this, for example. I was trying to think of ways to make an interesting yet simple rainbow, and ended up with a super awesome #9! Lol. Ok, ok, so my client had no use for a number 9, but if I had presented this to YOU as a “typographic study of the number 9,” you may have been more impressed, right? The point is... creativity is all about experimenting. I very rarely come up with winning ideas right off the bat. It takes a lot of brainstorming, sketching, and mistake-making before I create something worthy of showing a client. If I could give business owners ONE piece of advice when it comes to branding, it’s DON’T RUSH IT. Plan ahead and move through the process naturally. Your branding is the foundation of your business, so take the time to do it right!
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#typography #typespire #typographydesign #logodesign #creativeprocess #creativehappylife #creativepreneur #branding #branddesign #brandstylist #brandingforcreatives #buildyourbrand #houstongraphicdesign #houstoncreatives #heartandhustle #calledtobecreative #communityovercompetition #tuesdaystogetherhtx #houstongraphicdesigner #htx #womeninbusiness #womensupportingwomen #momboss #akulakreative

Swipe left for the reality behind this seemingly put-together flower. :)
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But yay to finally learning how to do some simple embroidery! Pei taught me how to backstitch and tie a French knot at a workshop at @thepapercraftpantry the other weekend. It took me forever but the process was relaxing and fun. It feels so GOOD to try something new again. (I haven’t had time to do that for sooo long.)
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What should I try my hand at next? Have you made anything fun lately, just for the heck of it?? Tell me, tell me!!
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#creativehappylife #diy #embroidery #embroideryart #floral #floralart #floralillustration #creativepreneur #branding #branddesign #brandstylist #brandingforcreatives #buildyourbrand #houstongraphicdesign #houstoncreatives #heartandhustle #calledtobecreative #communityovercompetition #tuesdaystogetherhtx #houstongraphicdesigner #htx #womeninbusiness #womensupportingwomen #momboss #akulakreative

Am I right?!! Whew. 🤪 The definition for “vacation day” in my Small Business Manual is “do double the work before you leave, then stop getting paid while you’re gone.” 🤣
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#vacation #smallbusiness #truth #vacay #handlettering #brushlettering #smallbusinesslife #creativepreneur #branding #branddesign #brandstylist #brandingforcreatives #buildyourbrand #houstongraphicdesign #houstoncreatives #heartandhustle #creativehappylife #calledtobecreative #communityovercompetition #tuesdaystogetherhtx #houstongraphicdesigner #htx #womeninbusiness #womensupportingwomen #momboss #akulakreative

I love how elegant and upscale this mark feels. When I first drew the daisy, I was afraid it looked a little “country,” but in a subtle gray deboss I think it would be killer. (This is another concept that we didn’t use during one of my collabs with Outlaw Creative. Sasha and I both loved this one, but the client chose a different direction. Can’t wait to see what Outlaw does with the website!)
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#florallogo #floraldesigner #handdrawnflorals #botanicalillustration #botanical #logodesigner #creativepreneur #branding #branddesign #brandstylist #branding101 #brandingforcreatives #buildyourbrand #houstongraphicdesign #houstoncreatives #heartandhustle #calledtobecreative #communityovercompetition #tuesdaystogetherhtx #houstongraphicdesigner #htx #womeninbusiness #womensupportingwomen #akulakreative

“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.” - Edgar Allan Poe
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I was really tempted to use a pun here about being “petrified” of the dark, but didn’t know where to take that...sooo, instead, you get Poe! This is a petrified-wood-moon concept we threw out during a branding project quite a while ago. I totally understand why it didn’t work, but I still love these heavily textured lines!
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Does anyone else use “offset path” in Illustrator as religiously as I do? It’s my fave.
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#moon #moonchild #logodesigner #icondesign #creative #creativepreneur #dstexture #branding #branddesign #brandstylist #branding101 #brandingforcreatives #buildyourbrand #houstongraphicdesign #houstoncreatives #heartandhustle #calledtobecreative #communityovercompetition #tuesdaystogetherhtx #houstongraphicdesigner #htx #womeninbusiness #womensupportingwomen #akulakreative

Happy Bring Your Kids to Work Day! Since having a kiddo, I’ve noticed more and more posts by new moms asking the community, “How do you do it all? How do you care for a baby while running your own business?!” The answer is :: you can’t do it alone. You need HELP. And that goes for everyone, not just new moms and parents.
Running a business is one of the hardest things you can do, and if you try to wear all the hats all the time, you WILL burn out. If you don’t currently have the budget to hire help—whether it’s for childcare, housecleaning, an assistant, a CPA, a photographer, a designer, etc.—cut back on other expenses until you do. If you give yourself the time to focus on what you do best, your business will grow and YOU will be happier. And, if you still can’t find the money, revisit your pricing because you’re probably not charging enough. ;)
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This photo was taken a little over a year ago by @kimberlychau. Em’s face cracks me up. It’s the last time someone took a pic of us in the office together. 😬 (See my stories for more up-to-date pics.)
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#bringyourkidtoworkday #mompreneur #momboss #mompreneurlife #studiolife #mommyandme #houstonmom #presentoverperfect #communityovercompetition #heartandhustle #homeoffice #mombosslife #creativepreneur #houstongraphicdesigner #htx #akulakreative

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