I’m loving my new blog design! I can’t believe it! It really captures the vision of my company, and the designers at Logoworks by HP did a great job incorporating the look of my “inspiration dress” (see the “Fancy Threads for my blog” post for a better explanation). I’m so excited to continue and share my inspiration and design process…with a few unexpected surprises along the way.

I’m making good progress on my “to-do list” and feel like I have a handle on the logistics of starting my company.

So far:

• Company named: check.

• Printer lined up: check.

• Selected paper stock: check.

• Contents of the cards kits decided: check.

• Logo designed: check.

• Custom blog: almost…check!

So, now on to the fun stuff…designing the first card kit collection. In my free time I’ve been looking and researching all things birthday. For me, nothing quite hits the mark. My vision: I love the elegant looks of damask fabrics but still love the bright colors that invoke a party feel. So, in taking that just a step further, I was thinking how neat a damask design would be if there is a little unexpected surprise hidden in it.

As a mom to a nine-month-old little girl, I’m a sucker for darling clothes! During a shopping trip yesterday afternoon I found this darling summer dress and fell in love with the design of it! I’m going to upload a photo of it to the creative brief for my blog. I hope it will help give my blog designers a little more direction on what my vision is for my blog, now that I’ve seen the magic they worked with my logo.

Now that I have my logo, I’m ready to make my next step: a website. I’m terrified! Right now, I’m pretty new to this whole blogging scene, and don’t know anything about managing a website. I shared my fears with a member of the Creative Services team at Logoworks to figure out my options. She was so great to work with and after explaining my business vision for Cherries Jubilee Creations, she suggested I get a custom designed blog instead of a website. Brilliant! After all, I really want to have a personal connection with my customers, be able to share my creative inspiration, and get feedback! In the beginning I started with a templated WordPress blog so I could have a journaling of my creative process, and figured it would be in-addition to my website…sometime down the road, but now I can use my blog as my website! That’s not as intimidating, plus I have lots of options for the customization of my very own blog! Logoworks has really made it easy to let me focus on how I want to look and I trust leaving it in their hands. 

I received my logo designs back today from Logoworks by HP. I can’t believe how fast I was able to get them, especially when I think that less than a week ago I hadn’t even started this process and now I have 6 great designs to chose from.

Now, I want your feedback! I think several of these designs are going in the right direction, but they may need some tweaking. I want to know what you think: likes, dislikes, and any constructive criticism.

Every company needs its own identity. After a friend of mine got her logo (and LOVED it) through Logoworks by HP, I decided I’d give them a try. I’ve always been a control freak who figures that if I want it done right, I’ll have to do it myself. But with my long to-do list of everything I’m working on trying to keep my focus and vision for my new business in tact, I decided I needed some help. So, I visited www.logoworks.com, and started my new logo project. I just finished filling out the creative brief to outline my ideas and expectations of how I want to brand my business. Check back on Friday to see my logo designs.

Over 120 years ago, Cherries Jubilee was a dish prepared especially for Queen Victoria at her Golden Jubilee Celebration by legendary French chef, Auguste Escoffier. Since then, this fancy flambéed dessert has been served all over the world at the finest restaurants. Well, it’s 2008 and time that Cherries Jubilee be updated. So, I’m here to introduce Card Kits by Cherries Jubilee Creations.

 Themed Card Kits will include:

• Six beautifully designed patterned papers, 2 of each.

• Sentiment strips and borders.

• A dash of assorted embellishments including ribbons, brads, and more.

• Six card bases that include sentiments printed on the inside.

Mix them all together and you’ll get 6 quick, easy, and dazzling hand made cards.

The pits in cherries and the flambéed surprise of Cherries Jubilee make this dessert very unexpected. I’ve designed these card kits to have the same unexpected surprise. We’re the first handmade card company to offer coordinating sentiments on the outside and inside of the card. Even as a writer, I’m sometimes at a loss of what to write inside the card. Well, Cherries Jubilee Creations takes the guesswork out of that. Not only can you make 6 different cards with each card kit, but each card comes with pre-printed sentiments inside. Just like cherries, it’s a little unexpected surprise.

I’m so excited to announce my new company, Cherries Jubilee Creations! The process of having my own business is finally coming into fruition; and I couldn’t be happier! More content and exciting things are to come! Please, check back often!