MAMA LANA HAS ARRIVED!!

I'm so thrilled to finally able to share the launch of my collaboration with Mama Lana, a subscription box service for mamas-to-be (a fantastic idea if I ever heard one), founded by two passionate women who have been a total joy to work with.

Anna and Lauren came to me needing to pretty much start from the ground up – logo, packaging design for their awesome boxes (so fun), design for the collateral that ships inside, all new photography, and a website overhaul. And lucky me – in addition to being passionate about honoring mamas and birth, these two believe that to be any good, design has be an integral part of their decision making at every turn. Say what?! Yeah, you heard me. You're jealous. It's ok.

From custom paper tape to big ol' stamps with pigment ink to my beloved manila tags, these gals were game for every wacky thing I threw their way. I had such a great time with them last weekend in Chicago – poring over their amazing products (the chocolate! god. the chocolate) and hatching on-the-spot solutions to whatever challenges we ran into – all while talking our faces off. This is the kind of ground-up, collaborative, super-creative work that I want to make my bread and butter.

I'm loving the way it all turned out – take a peek below to see what I'm talking about!

TALL AND WINDY, JUST LIKE ME.

I'm Southwest-ing my way home from a lovely, whirlwind work weekend in Chicago – my first time in the city since I was 12. All I remember about the last trip is the Sears Tower and my sister being crabby. Needless to say, this trip was an improvement.

I was in town to help out however I could as my newest client prepares to launch their amazing new service for mamas-to-be, set to launch on Mother's Day. I've had the pleasure of working with a couple of amazing ladies while designing their logo, website, and packaging, and I can't wait to share our hard work and sing their praises once it's all up and running. You're going to love it! Let's hear it for the ladies of small business. These broads know how to get stuff DONE.

In addition to sleeping in and room service (French toast and bacon, the best of all worlds) and a little shopping (including a ridiculously unpractical sequined mesh cropped tank that Topshop made me buy) I got to catch up with a college friend and fellow designer who I hadn't seen in something like 8 years. We had a fantastic dinner, chatting about type designers, kearning by the millimeter with a certain professor who will remain nameless, Plaka ink, ugly curves and angry angles that stab at your eyeballs (another professor). We agreed that while we didn't know anything about anything back in college, we managed to learn some things that we still carry with us today – and all for the better. She also reminded me of how much I love vodka gimlets.

Enjoy the snaps of beautiful Chicago and remember, when in a strange city, skip Yelp and ask the checkout ladies where to eat lunch. I had the best Italian sandwich + cookie combo of my life, true story. Now to track down my Wacom pen (possibly left in Chicago, ack), put the finishing touches on their graphics and get outside with my little men. It's a gorgeous day in San Francisco!

FASHION SHOW MONDAY

At the urging of my friend Erica, I'm posting my secondhand shopping adventures on the blog. Fashion is creative fodder, right?

It is not an understatement to say that secondhand shopping is a main hobby of mine – I'm a little obsessed with a) the feeling of clearing out those things that seemed like a good idea at the time, then b) turning those things into more things that seemed good at the time. Hooray for accomplishing things! And so, the revolving door that is my closet. When you didn't pay an arm and a leg for the thing in the first place, taking a risk (sequined 80's dolman sleeve midriff top, anyone?) is easier to do, and letting go of them is simpler too (though that one is a KEEPER).

I took a spin through Crossroads on Market Street yesterday and had a banner day. I tried everything on with this silly yellow skirt, and all of a sudden everything looked amazing with the silly skirt. So I bought the lot (almost). My favorite is the grey and pink sweater, which must have been priiiiicey to begin with because it was $40 at Crossroads. But it feels like little bunnies from heaven and drapes beautifully. I'm wearing it with a pair of shoes that they didn't take because they're clearly nuts – so I took them back and now will wear them come hell or high water. 

All of this fun (even more than pictured!) for $50 after trade-ins? Don't mind if I do. And do and do again.