Maternity Photoshoot: Mercedes+Stephen

I met Mercedes at Millennia MMA a little over a year ago. She is my kickboxing instructor & I am proud to say that she has helped me get my body back into shape. Mercedes is the most bad-ass, super fit, pregnant woman I know. She can still kick my butt any day... lemme rephrase... she DOES kick my butt everyday during kickboxing class, making sure I finish my 400 sit-ups & a dozen sets of the following exercices: 25 push-ups, 10 up/downs, 12 8-count push-ups, etc. etc. Did I mention she makes us sprint & run for for-e-v-e-r! She is THE BEST instructor & wouldn't change her for the world. Thank you Mercedes for busting my booty back into shape everyday =D

We had so much fun doing their maternity shoot at the cove in Corona Del Mar, CA. It was the perfect autumn morning at the beach. Mercedes & Stephen were so easy to photograph. Their love for their first child was oozing from the both of them. 

I felt so bad for making Mercedes climb up & down the cliff side, but she ensured me that it was a piece of cake. We started the shoot at the top of the cove then worked our way down to the water. We got some great shots of the both of them +baby bump! They are expecting a little baby girl come the new year. Congratulations again to Mercedes & Stephen!!!

The baby was actually kicking in this photo above.

My sister-in-law came along to assist me with the shoot & we were cracking a few jokes. We asked them to spoon, but only spooning... because we all know spooning can lead to forking!!

I'm glad they got our corny jokes... LOL.

Gorgeous mommy-to-be!

My FAVE!

Food Feast

On this holiday I'm thankful for my family & friends. The hubby & I are off to spend half the day with his family then later on in the evening with mine.

Since Thanksgiving always revolves around food in our families, I wanted to share some of our foodie adventures from our weekend in Chicago.

Have a safe & joyous Thanksgiving weekend peeps!!

XOXO, Tawny

I'm turning Chinese (not Japanese)

I love that 80s song..... but in this case, I've turned Chinese.

Sorry folks for the pause in posts, but I have been away on business these past few weeks. I never thought I would get an opportunity to tour the world on business. Although its work, I manage to have fun in the midst of all the stress that comes along with the job. I thought I would share a little bit of my travels to China & Hong Kong.

A quick plane ride... 16 and a half hours later, I found myself half way across the world in a place where mah-jor business happens. When you see on items that you purchase from the retail store "Made in China," you may feel that everything nowadays is "Made in China." I can honestly say...... the Chinese people do indeed make everything!!! Such an amazing experience to do business with wonderful & intelligent people.  

Not only was going away for business a fantastic career opportunity, I was able to explore the vast culinary cuisine China had to offer. Just call me the Asian girl version of Andrew Zimmern. This was actually my second visit to the country, so I was prepared to feast on the exotic eats.

Below was our menu of choice........ and YES, I did eat each & everyone of them. Not too bad at all.

Hong Kong nights.

We ended the work day early & hit up the department stores in Time Square.

I really think about half of the 1.3 billion population was in the Sogo department store while we tried to shop around. Talk about a crazy mob of people. It was like there were mad black Friday sales going on & everyone was trying to buy the deals.

I also noticed cars in other countries. This was a funny Toyota van driving next to us. So goofy looking, but extremely useful to taxi people around in.

Happy Halloween

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy & safe Halloween! Here's a few photobooth pics from a costume party my husband & I attended last weekend. I went as Hulk Hogan & he was a ninja. So much fun!

XOXO

Product Design: Oh Balls!

It's not too early to start thinking about the Holiday season. I already see Christmas popping up at retail stores. It's barely Halloween.... Sheesh!!

I'm thinking of decorating my Christmas tree this year with these Pantone ornaments. How FAB right??

Have a merry weekend!!

http://www.seletti.it/pantone/pantone_xmas_ball.htm

Just my TYPE Tuesdays: Helvetica cookie cutters

How cute are these cookie cutters??? Definitely a must have ;) http://beverlyhsu.com/cookies.html

Wedding Invitation Design: Gigi+Ryan

The art of letterpress is fantastically beautiful. Gigi+Ryan decided to go with a clean modern letterpress design for their wedding invitations. I had so much fun spacing each letter by hand to make perfect typographical harmony. Even their mailing envelope had their names & return addresses pressed directly onto the fine charcoal paper. I'm telling you..... it's all in the details. I loved designing these invitations for this cute couple. You can also check out here their Save-the-Date postcards I did for them too!

Congrats again to Mr. & Mrs. Olaes!!

 

 

 

 

Just my TYPE Tuesdays: Old Toooool

How COOL is this logo design?!?!?

Hmmmmm...... what can I do with my old tools....... ummmmm..... hello?? Make a totally radical & functional logo/bar sign out of it! Sheesh, people are so stinkin' creative.

'Atelier Mecanic’ or Mechanical Workshop, in English, is a bar in the Old Town of Bucharest, Romania. This original design makes me appreciate art & design in so many ways. Who needs a computer to design when you have old tools sitting around!

One valued lesson I learned in design school was that you do not need a fancy computer to create art. The tools are your hands & the creativity is your mind.

One of my design professors beat this lesson into us. I should know first hand because one evening during a critique, I had my design pinned to the wall to discuss. It was my turn to discuss my design that was supposed to be grungy, distressed looking. My professor asked, what filters or effects I used to create this effect, so I told him photoshop specifics. He took my work off the wall, crumpled it, opened it back up & rubbed it face down on our classrooms concrete floor.

I.Was. Shocked. Shocked beyond belief!! I thought WOAH..... who the h*ll is this guy ruining my hard work. Then he professed how sick he was of students relying on "the computer" to create the design. In hindsight, I knew that moment would seriously teach me a lesson.

More detail shots of this very cool, so far away bar, that I would LOVE to visit one day!

 

Images by Cosmin Dragomir

Wedding Invitation Design: Heide+Mike

Heide + Mike planned a perfect wedding. Every detail was thought out & executed perfectly. As a guest & friend, I was honored to be a part of their special day.

Heide came to me with all her ideas fully loaded. I helped here make those ideas come to fruition. A mix of vintage, elegance & modernism were the theme. Since her fave color is lime green, she didn't want it to over power the elegant factor. We sprinkled lime green here and there to accent the stationery. A wonderful balance of sophistication & design aesthetic. Love love.

Below are details of their invitations, thank you cards, wedding signage, name cards & the ever so fun Heide + Mike table names. Heide bought these gorgeous blingy blang picture frames, all different, for the table names. As a twist to the occasion & a taste of their lifestyles, Heide + Mike came up with a list of their fave cocktails to name each table. Some table names were Long Island Iced Tea, Gin & Juice (sooooo thug.... lol) & the brides fave White Russian. I LOVE when clients choose to do something out of the norm numbered tables.

 

 

 

 

 

 

{Above image: Catherine at Four Creative Studio}

 

{Above image: Catherine at Four Creative Studio} 

 

{Above image: Catherine at Four Creative Studio} 

 

{Above image: Catherine at Four Creative Studio} 

 

{Above image: Catherine at Four Creative Studio} 

 

{Above image: Catherine at Four Creative Studio}  

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO MR. & MRS. LA TURNER!!!

Wedding Invitation Design: Betty + Elliot

So I know this is REALLY late posting...... but better late than never right?!?!

Betty + Elliot have been married for just over 7 months now & I am so happy for the newlywed couple. I have known the couple for a while & I love them to bits. When I first heard that they were engaged I was thrilled! It was only a matter of time that they would also walk down the aisle & become husband & wife.

Here are snapshots of their wedding invitations that I designed for them. Their wedding colors were a deep red and shades of the Miami Dolphins teal blue (Elliot's fave football team). I also photographed her engagement party which you can also view here.

 

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous bride & her lovely parents.

 

They had a photobooth, which is ALWAYS a huge hit at events. Here's some funny pics of me, my husband & my cousins! 

 

Congratulations again to Betty + Elliot!!