Dentistry on Brock Holiday Ad: December Issue Uxbridge Town Talk

Check out the latest issue of Uxbridge Town Talk to see this ad designed by Take Root Creative.

Steamline Industries Logo - Drafts to Final

I thought that this would be a great opportunity to show the process I go through for developing a logo. Below you will see the initial notes and sketches down to the final logo.

[Initial notes and sketches]

[Another idea minus the sardine can which was the start of brainstorming for the Noises Off poster!]

[Initial drafts on the computer]

[Another set of drafts on the computer]

[The final logo!]

Window Poster - Remax Uxbridge

This poster, designed by Take Root Creative, hangs in the window of the Uxbridge Remax office facing the CIBC.

Store Signs for Elemi Organic

Stop in at Elemi Organic in Uxbridge and you will see new signs designed by Take Root Creative!

Happy Halloween from Take Root Creative

Movies, Martinis and Manicures

It is that time of year again! Movies, Martinis & Manicures tickets will soon be on sale and once again Take Root Creative designed the poster!

Logos that use punctuation

This is a great round-up of logos using punctuation. As seen on Naldz Graphics. Check out some of my favourites below and see the rest here.

[image credit: Jimsbee]

[image credit: Tabitha Kristen]

[image credit: Brandstack]

[image credit: Creattica]

[image credit: Jerron]

Clever shopping bag design

Very clever idea for a shopping bag...by Canadian designer Kate McLaren as seen on the Canadian Design Resource.

[image credit: Kate McLaren]

Positive Posters Project

This is a great idea.


Positive Posters is a non-profit international poster competition, that "gives graphic designers an outlet to create freely, and to use their skills to inspire, challenge and make a positive difference in a non-commerical way".


This year's theme was "A glass half full" 


Check out a few of my favourites and see all the finalists and find out more about the competition here.

[designed by Woo Jin Lee]

[designed by China Stylus]

[designed by Carlo Mussett]

Gorgeous colour chart

This beautiful colour chart (above) seen on DesignSponge, originally posted on Imprint... 

...and my not-as-elegant-looking-but-useful painted version from university!

The "Buy Local" Movement

For the best small business trends of 2010 and 2011, "Buy Local" was at the top of the list. There are many factors that contribute to this trend but the main reason is that we (as the consumer) want to support local businesses. This fantastic article by Debbie Swanson (posted at Freelance Switch) covers a few tips, as a small business owner, how you can make the most of this trend. Check out the article here.

October Desktop Calendars - Smashing Magazine

I meant to post this sooner, but here it is better late than never...

Dress up your desktop background with these calendars from designers all over the world - compiled by Smashing Magazine. I've included a couple of my favourites below. All of the calendars can be found for download here.

[Designed by Anna-Lena Lewerenz]

[Designed by Pietje Precies]

[Designed by Nishith]

Noises Off Poster

This is the show poster designed by Take Root Creative for the On Stage Uxbridge production of Noises Off. The photo was taken by Lydia of Lydia Keen Photography.

Jeanette Salvesen - Illustrator

Jeanette Salvesen is a student in Norway with aspirations to be a child's book illustrator. She works in watercolour primarily, but can also paint digitally. Can't you picture these images below becoming one of your most cherished book titles? Check out more of her work here and here.

Brave Services - Logo Design

I am thrilled to present the new logo for Brave Services designed by Take Root Creative!

Very graphic poster from the Canadian government. The website isn't active unfortunately so there isn't more info available. [post originally on The Canadian Design Resource]

[image credit: www.organiccanada.ca]

Dog Logo Designs

Great examples of dog logo designs compiled in an article by Naldz Graphics. See the other logos here.

[image credit: Logo Moose]

[image credit: Brandstack]

[image credit: Creattica]

Sunfish Energy Logo

This logo was designed in collaboration with Sweet World Media and Take Root Creative for Sunfish Energy Solutions Inc. (Thanks to Kirsty for this great opportunity!)

Oklahoma! Poster

I am happy to debut a new project from Take Root Creative - a poster for Cadenza Production's Oklahoma!

Technology - tiny USB drives

I use jump drives (USB drives) on a daily basis so this Store 'n' Go Clip It USB Drive  from Verbatim in 2GB and 4GB formats would be extremely useful...

[image credit: Verbatim]

More Inspirational Business Cards

Smashing Magazine did a great post about unique business cards. See my favourites below and click here for the full article.

[image credits: Smashing Magazine]

Wine Awakenings

A friend of ours gave us a wine aroma kit from Wine Awakenings used for wine tasting with Pinot Noir. It has the little bottles with each scent and cards to explain their origins. (I keep thinking about that scene in French Kiss with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline...) Anyways, the box, bottles, and accompanying printed material are gorgeous! Have a look below and check out their website for more photos. (Thanks Shawn!)

Wedding Invitations - Akimbo

Another stunning colour combination (along with great typography) seen on wedding invitations from Alicia of Akimbo. Check out more images here. (via Oh So Beautiful Paper)

[image credits: Alicia/Akimbo]

Rainy Days

A little illustration in honour of the wet, dark and windy day...

[image credit: me]

Autumn colour inspired by nature

Loving these colours and the way the tomatoes are arranged to create the rainbow on DesignSponge. Check out the full article here for more great images of colour gradation with nature here.

[image credit: DesignSponge]

Burton Kramer - CBC Logo

When it comes to famous logos (and controversial due to changes made later), you can't beat the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) logo designed by Burton Kramer. This great article from Aisle One features links to more of Kramer's work as well as an archive of the CBC logo as it has progressed since the original design debuted in 1974. Check out the full article here.

[image credit: CBC and Burton Kramer]

Quilling - Birthday Card

My husband's grandma, Doris Taylor, noticed my interest in making stationary and introduced me to two new techniques to try: quilling and tatting (the latter of which I have not had a chance to try yet). For her 80th birthday this past August I made my first card using paper quilling and the result can be seen below!

[image credit: me]

Flowers of Autumn - Mums!

Another thing I love about the fall is mums, so I did a little illustration below in honour of the seasonal flower.

[image credit: me]

Making Journals

Continuing with my love for journals/sketchbooks/note pads etc. (basically paper bound together that I can write on!) this great tutorial appeared on DesignSponge on how to easily make your own books from scrap paper. To see the full tutorial click here.

[image credit: DesignSponge]

The Landfit Logo

Landfit matches people who have gardens that they don’t use with people who don’t have gardens who want to use that space to grow flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Design agency Good People received a request to design a logo to accompany this idea and with a very, very tight deadline. I think that the resulting logo is just as great as the idea itself. (via LogoDesignLove)

[image credit: Good People]

"P.S.-I made this..." by Erica Domesek

P.S. -I made this... is a blog (and now a book) by Erica Domesek based on her motto "I see it, I like it, I make it" where she creates things to wear, use or look at based on something she has seen (that is often very expensive!!) and makes it with things that you may already have or are easy to find. Her latest post is a handbag charm. Each post is also accompanied by a collage with the theme of her post. Check out her blog here and let me know if you make one yourself!

[image credit: P.S. -I made this...]