In celebration of #NationalBookLoversDay I created a post for Think.Make.Share. featuring downloadable bookplates by several Hallmark artists (including myself!). Go peruse and download some for your own library HERE. Happy reading!
July Think.Make.Share. Posts
July has been a crazy month full of wonderful travel adventures (LOTS of photos coming soon!), but I wanted to be sure to document two posts I was a part of on the Think.Make.Share. blog. I created a post all about making a road trip clipboard for kids, and I also participated in an embroidery hoop baby mobile workshop! Take a peek at both full posts over on Think.Make.Share.
(I created the mobile on the top right!)
Fourth of July Party Decor FOR Think.Make.Share.
Head on over to Hallmark's Think.Make.Share. blog to see the Fourth of July Party Decor post I created! You can even download a printable for your own holiday celebration. Happy hosting!
Go Blog Social – St. Louis
Today I attended Go Blog Social's St. Louis conference! The event took place in the beautiful Lumen Private Event Space and featured a full day of speakers and hands on opportunity to connect with other bloggers and business owners. I attended with my sister Sophie and we especially enjoyed, Julie Blanner's, talk on relationships with brands, the two discussion panels with local and out of town bloggers, and making flower crowns with Snapdragon Studio! Here are a few photos and takeaways:
- Be persistent, but very polite (when working with brands).
- Research and personalization for pitches is important.
- Produce high-quality photos and content.
- If you are persistent, luck has a way of finding you.
- Analyze your life and present environment; reinterpret to share with the world in a distinct way.
- Editing is vital, find good mentors to help with this process.
- Focus on the social media platforms you are most passionate about.
We also enjoyed a delicious breakfast and lunch by 23 City Blocks Catering! I especially loved the Olive Gelato (served in a frozen tomato) which is pictured below. Thanks, Go Blog Social, for a day full of learning/connecting with wonderful people and brands!
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE SPONSORS:
Lumen Event Space
23 City Blocks Catering
Walls Need Love
Paris312
Snapdragon Studio
Think.Make.Share. Doiley Dream Catchers
Head over to the (just redesigned!!) Think.Make.Share. blog to learn how to make these Doily Dream Catchers! I loved participating in this workshop led by Hallmark Designer Melissa K. The dream catcher I created used mint green yarn, a gray doiley and natural beads and feathers. Enjoy!
Hallmark’s Creative Leadership Symposium
On Tuesday Hallmark hosted their Creative Leadership Symposium and invited the entire creative community to attend! The day long event was filled with amazing speakers, and I have so many notes I knew I needed a blog post to process all the amazing tidbits I scribbled down. Best of all, it took place at the beautiful Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Here are some takeaways from my favorite speakers:
DAYTON MOORE
Senior Vice President, Baseball Operations
General Manager, Kansas City Royals
You have to have a vision to win.
The habits that you have off the field can lead to a broken focus.
We have to manage failure, and the will to win for one another must be first. You win with an undying passion for something bigger than yourself.
Share the glory together, settle disputes quickly, lead with hear
GILLIAN FLYNN
Author
If you want to write, write. Trust in your own weird voice.
It is easy to follow the market, but that is not always the best route.
Creativity is 99% work.
It is important to buckle down, have discipline, and if something isn't working get rid of it.
“I have no muse, if there is one she does not care for my company.”
MAURO PORCINI
Chief Design Officer, PepsiCo
The world has radically changed in the past FEW years.
Brands have competition beyond their direct competition and need to be part of a two direction dialogue.
In this new (elevated) competitive landscape technology will touch everything. And customers are savvy, smarter and connected.
People don't buy products anymore, they seek out holistic solutions, meaningful experiences, and authentic stories.
People consume content at the speed of light and brands now need to become the topic of conversation, and they must earn this right.
The brand experiences then becomes even more important. What will buying the product communicate about ourselves to others?
Products must be relevant to people's lives. Purchases are either visceral (impulse), interactive (satisfaction & loyalty), or expressive (communicate something).
Art by Amber Goodvin for Hallmark CLS
ROB RIGGLE
Actor/Comedian/Writer/Producer/Director
Brevity is the soul of wit.
Great writers aspire to make an impact as quickly as possible.
Electricity is being around others who want to make others laugh.
Choose joy, choose happiness, choose laughter.
Humor, honesty, and sincerity from those you love never goes out of style.
His goal in life is to make someone happier because they came in contact with his life's work.
Comedy is not about overwrought perfection, it's hunting for the joy.
“You turn folded card stock into joy grenades!”
CARLA MOORE
Vice President of Talent Acquisition, HBO
Live with purpose. You already posses the power to change your own life.
It takes a personal transformation to make a leadership transformation.
Life presently. Passion is for you, purpose is for others. Purpose provides motivation.
“Nothing will keep me from living the life I imagine.”
RAUL ALEJANDRO
Designer / Animator / Letterer / Art Director
You can't let your fear hold you back from the things you really want to do.
Life is never quite what you expect it to be.
“My work is not satisfaction from all the people I’ve proved wrong...
It’s a tribute to everyone I’ve proved right.”