The Making of a Logo

Curious about what goes into designing a logo? Here is how the logo for the the NAME National Convention in St. Louis was created.

Step 1
In 2012, I gathered information from the Steering Committee of the event. The committee requested that the theme of the convention, "Rollin' on the River" be used in the text, along with a strong visual.

Step 2 
I find that brainstorming visuals and writing down words helps to put me in the right frame of mind for creating logos. I brainstormed word associations: boat, river, Mississippi, Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, steamboat, riverboat, fishing, woodtype ornamentation, and many more! Time: approx. 1.5 hours 

Step 3 
I began sketches based upon the words that had strong visuals. Time: approx. 3 hours 

Step 4
The design process moved to the computer, where I came up with several iterations of the logo until I was happy with the final. Here are 2 earlier iterations:

I had settled on the visual of a steamboat; representing the Mississippi River, the connection between all of the states in the region that is hosting the NAME event. But I struggled with the amount of text; it was just too many words to use with a graphic.

As you can see in the second version (above), I was starting to play with the shape of a boat - stacking words on top of a woodtype ornament to suggest the bottom of a boat. I decided to simplify the design further, and make the text into the shape of a steamboat. The "LL" in "Rollin" was extended to appear like smokestacks, and a flourish was added to give the impression of steam as well as balance the graphic ornament on the bottom of the logo. Time: approx. 5.5 hours 

It was such a fun project, that I even designed an additional graphic to go on t-shirts, tote bags and aprons:

Hope to see you in St. Louis!

What Did Georgia O'Keeffe Read?

On a recent trip to Santa Fe, I enjoyed a visit to the O'Keeffe museum and a tour of her home and studio in Abiquiu, New Mexico. Many of her possessions have been preserved and are available for public viewing, including a bookcase which houses books on gardening, cooking, nutrition and exercise. The bookcase, a sensible construction of vegetable and fruit crates, includes some interesting titles!

Here is a glimpse into a few of Georgia O'Keeffe's domiciliary interests...

The work table from O'Keeffe's studio contains some of her art materials.

New Kits for Spring!

Last Winter, we were busy designing new kits for the following Spring. It was not an easy task to think "Spring" when we were under a record amount of snow and cold! At long last, the warm temperatures are here and the kits are ready!

The Marigolds in a Milk Carton Kit has been reintroduced, and with it, the Wooden Crate with 6 Marigolds Kit. The 1:12 scale flowers may be painted any color you like, and are just the perfect thing to sit in a window sill, in a potting shed or a gardening scene. I think that they would be so cute with a trowel and a pair of gardening gloves! 

The 1:12 scale Wooden Crate with 6 Marigolds Kit.

For quarter scale devotees, we've created incredibly realistic garden structure kits. An Arch Top Arbor Kit is the perfect entryway or a focal point for a garden. 

The 1:48 scale Arch Top Arbor Kit

The Arbor with Swing Kit is delightful and yes, the swing actually moves! 

The 1:48 scale Arbor with Swing Kit

The Pergola Kit is the perfect setting for an outdoor tea party. 

The 1:48 scale Pergola Kit and Table and Chairs Kit

A very tiny, quarter scale kit that includes a table with a "tile" top and chairs with fancy backs (the motif is included) fits into any garden decor.

Happy Spring!

Janice Crawley and a Mini Trip to Asia

While at the Sarasota Show, I stumbled upon an artisan's work that I was not familiar with. Her name is Janice Crawley, from Winnipeg, Canada. Janice is a Fellow of IGMA and works in porcelain. I am particularly fond of her whimsical teapots (if you read between the lines, it means I'm starting a new collection - oh dear)!

Teapots by Janice Crawley.

The elephant has a place for a warmer.

100 Dollhouse Miniature Halloween and Fall Tutorials

Enjoy these links to dollhouse miniature tutorials for Halloween and Fall while sipping a mug of hot apple cider! These are a followup to the 50 tutorials that I posted in 2012 (below). If you would like to share a link to a Halloween or Fall theme tutorial, please leave a comment below. Suggestions are always welcome!

1. How to find spooky bits Cauldron Craft Miniatures
2. Pumpkin fairy house Cauldron Craft Miniatures
3. Make Your Own Spooky Dollhouse Cauldron Craft Miniatures
4. Spooky shutters The Addams Family
5. The Witch's Kitchen Joann Swanson DIY Miniatures
6. Mossy steps and fall leaves otterine
7. The Consummate Bibliophile Joann Swanson DIY Miniatures
8. Halloween lollipops agdollcrafts
9. Halloween cake AkameruKawaii via Youtube
10. Witch Hat Gina Bellous Dolls
11. Thanksgiving postcard printables about.com
12. Paper mache decorations The Paper Mache Resource
13. Leaves Tweety Petie Products
14. Acorn nut pie for woodland miniatures  Julie Old Crow
15. Mayflower boat from a walnut shell about.com
16. Corn husk doll Julie Old Crow
17. Fairy mushrooms Julie Old Crow
18. Potion bottles MiniMaker via squidoo
19. Witch hat Wee Little Delights
20. Felt hats Tony Barton via onesixthwarriors.com
21. Pumpkin on a vine minttumeirami
22. Rag rug minttumeirami
23. Pumpkin lamp (in French) Creamalice
24. Candelabra (in Spanish) Sole Garcia Zamora
25. Mince pies Lisitza's Mini Kawaii
26. Apple pie momyrun via deviantart.com
27. Fantasy trees 2paintminiatures via youtube
28. Apple pie and Apples SugarCharmShop via youtube
29. Lemon Heads candy jisfruit via youtube
30. Pumpkin pie Garden of Imagination via youtube
31. Halloween garden miniaturegardenshopp via youtube
32. Spider cake collbn via youtube
33. Pumpkin teapot Garden of Imagination via youtube
34. Pumpkin Garden of Imagination via youtube
35. Phantom of the Opera mask Garden of Imagination via youtube
36. Ghost animals Garden of Imagination via youtube
37. Face jars Garden of Imagination via youtube
38. Melted candles Garden of Imagination via youtube
39. Caramel apples joannesminis via youtube
40. Pears joannesminis via youtube
41. Wood stove torisaur.blogspot.com
42. Country style buffet from matboard 1 inch minis by Kris
43. Cattails about.com
44. Quarter scale pumpkin house minimotion.com
45. Scary trees minimotion.com
46. Quarter scale candy corn house minimotion.com
47. Jack o Lanterns lit with LEDs minimotion.com
48. Masks minimotion.com
49. Skeletons - bending plastic figures Maple Leaf Miniatures
50. Dragon skin Maple Leaf Miniatures

Tutorials posted in 2012:

1. Tree stump house Laura Miller
2. Apples Barbara Dezza via CDHM
3. Candy apples GardenofImagination via YouTube
4. Halloween candles collbn via YouTube 
5. Jack-o'-lantern collbn via YouTube
6. Candy corn collbn via YouTube
7. Chocolate candy bars GardenofImagination via YouTube
8. Halloween candy joannesminis via YouTube
9. Halloween flowers (black roses) collbn via YouTube
10. Grinning pumpkin cauldron Pixie Dust Miniatures
11. Witch's brew Mary Eccher
12. Spider chrysanthemums about.com
13. Fall decoration (bucket planter and pumpkin) joannesminis via YouTube
14. Bonsia/spooky tree technique jicolin.free.fr
15. Braided mat jicolin.free.fr
16. Bushel basket joannesminis via YouTube
17. Ghost joannesminis via YouTube
18. Potion bottles MiniMaker via Squidoo
19. Harry Potter Jawbind Potion Toni Ellison via YouTube
20. Harry Potter Mandrake Restorative Draught Toni Ellison via YouTube
21. Harry Potter Drink of Despair Toni Ellison via YouTube
22. Harry Potter Skele-Gro Potion Toni Ellison via YouTube
23. Cider and cinnamon donuts Mary Eccher
24. Canning vegetables Mary Eccher
25. Canning pot 1 inch minis by Kris
26. Wine rack 1 inch minis by Kris
27. Witch's broom Jody Raines via CDHM
28. Ladies boots gminiature.com
29. Corn stalks about.com
30. Dried Corn jicolin.free.fr
31. Needlefelted cat about.com
32. Kitten made from wool lapappadolce (in Italian)
33. Flying bats about.com
34. 1:48 Scale Moonshines smallpackages via webshots
35. 1:48 scale lilies/fall arrangement Wanna in El Paso
36. 1:48 scale Laura's roadhouse Wanna in El Paso
37. Skeleton joannesminis via YouTube
38. Fixing up a cheap skeleton Wanna in El Paso
39. Rat Alice Zinn via webshots
40. Wizard's set Collector's Club
41. A Halloween peddler's cart Joann Swanson
42. A bit of Autumn Joann Swanson
43. Potatoes Barbara Dezza via CDHM
44. Pumpkins Sandra Keller Palesch via CDHM
45. Pumpkin needlework design about.com
46. Pilgrim's hats about.com
47. Simmering stews Mary Eccher
48. Thanksgiving dinner GardenofImagination via YouTube and My Small Obsession
49. Thanksgiving printables Sherree via Picasa
50. Pumpkin pie Mary Eccher

Additional tutorials suggested by readers:

• Scarecrow from Brae at otterine.com
• Halloween projects minitreasures.pbworks.com

Preparations are Underway for Tucson

Are you packing your toolkits for Tucson? Hopefully, you can join us for the NAME National Convention starting next week! We are introducing many new kits (the most we've ever brought to a show)! If traveling to Tucson isn't in your schedule, no worries... these kits will be available on our website in late July. I'll send out a newsletter announcement when they are ready, so you may wish to sign up for the newsletter.

Hope to see you in Tucson or another upcoming show!

Creepy Coffin Kit may be decorated with 5 new Halloween glitter houses and blue LEDs.

Scream and shOuthouse with blue LED.; 1 of 5 new Halloween glitter houses for the Creepy Coffin Kit.

Quarter scale, vintage style stove kit.

Quarter scale Pyramid Kit, in conjunction with Stewart Dollhouse Creations.

Quarter scale party scene for mummies; kit by Stewart Dollhouse Creations

2 quarter scale kits: fireplace with icicles and glitter houses.

Inspiration from Giverny

On our recent trip to Giverny, it was easy to see how Claude Monet drew inspiration from his amazing gardens and the surroundings of this quaint village. Now a home to the Giverny Museum of Impressionism, gift shops, and restaurants, Giverny is abloom with enchanting fragrances and colors!

Tucson Workshops Still Have Openings!

This is your last opportunity to sign up for our workshops at the NAME National Convention in Tucson, July 8-14. Registration closes May 31. This year, we are offering two workshops:

A Night in the Museum

Mon., July 8 - Tues., July 9. This is not your typical Egyptian pyramid; it’s a Mummy’s Day party complete with tiny treats! On Monday, students will build a 1:48 scale pyramid, age, and apply a “magical mummy mixture” to the exterior, construct the Egyptian style furnishings, electrify the room with a battery-powered LED, and apply the wall, ceiling and floor designs. Students will learn different aging and finishing techniques. On Tuesday, students will create quarter scale treats with Ruth Stewart. She will teach polymer clay blending techniques as students make cake pops in pyramid and mummy shapes, create a cake decorated with Egyptian motifs, and tiny cupcakes with a mold that will be yours to keep. A menagerie of tiny laser cut mummies and camels will be provided to decorate the scene. Contact Carol for registration info. 

A quick and easy technique for finishing the exterior will be taught.

Students will create Egyptian-inspired treats in quarter scale with Ruth Stewart.

Silent Night Fireplace with Glitter Houses

Wed., July 10. Create an all-white, snowy, village scene on a beautiful, 1” scale fireplace. Make a winterscape on the mantel; add an ice skating pond, trees, and a hill for the church to rise above the village. When the LED lights are switched on, the snow sparkles and the houses glow warmly! Sparkly icicles and a snowflake garland complete your fireplace decor. Contact Carol for registration info. Hurry, there are only a couple of spaces left!

Create and light 3 houses. Winterscape a mantel with an ice skating pond.

Fireplace is included.