Welcome November

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I'm not sad to see October in the rearview mirror. It was probably the craziest work month I've had in the past year. Most days (and some evenings and weekends) were spent in my office working hard on a variety of projects for some of my favorite clients and even some new ones. I love what I do, but I tend to overcommit.

I'm excited to see all that November will bring: one month closer to meeting baby Miles, the end of the election, Mike's birthday, Thanksgiving, and a little bit more breathing room in my schedule!

A Weekend Away

Last weekend, Mike and I drove 3.5 hours north to a little cabin in the woods. The leaves were bright orange and red, it was chilly and rainy and we had an amazing time.

From the moment we got opened the doors to the cabin, the world slowed down. We unpacked the car and Mike went right to work starting a fire in the wood stove. Can I just tell you how much I loved having a fire inside? It made the entire cabin so warm and cozy. I spent most of the weekend curled up by that fire reading the Hunger Games' second book, "Catching Fire". Can you say addicting?!

On Friday night, we cooked dinner over the fire outside, and tried our hand at making baked potatoes in the hot coals. Let's just say that didn't work, and I ended up having a cheese sandwich for dinner. But anyone who knows me, probably knows, that was what I wanted anyway.

Saturday morning we woke up to a wet and chilly fall day. So we decided to go for a drive, and got rather lost on those back roads, none of which had road signs. The rest of our time in the woods was pretty uneventful. I sat by the fire and Mike went four wheeling. I was sad to forgo the four wheelers this year because of my ever-growing belly(remember, I'm preggo).

There was something beautiful about stepping away from our normally busy lives.

We didn't bring our computers. We didn't watch much tv. We weren't distracted. It was beautiful.

New Creative Ventures

Last week I decided to start a new Etsy shop with modern, typographical Scripture art prints. I think it's so important to infuse the Word of God into every area of our lives. Putting the words deep into our hearts is what matters most, but placing a Bible verse poster on the wall can be a great way to memorize Scripture and remind us of what's important.

If you shop at a Christian bookstore for home decor, it's likely going to be kind of cheesy or really country. I wanted to provide an affordable online shop with artwork that works in a modern or traditional home.

I'll constantly be adding new items to the shop, so check in often!

Tales of Young Designer Shop: Spreading the Word of God with Good Design

Like Arrows in the Hands of a Warrior

One from Apple Latte / Two from Dearwinsome / Three from Tryst by Kerry

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows

in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man 

whose quiver is full of them." 

           - Psalm 127:3-5


I came across this verse in the Bible the other week, and it had my heart pouring out gratefulness to God for his blessing. I thought an arrow necklace would be a great reminder of how Miles is a gift straight from the hand of God. So I headed straight to Etsy to find some unique options. I haven't ordered anything yet, but these three stand out above the rest.

And, I have yet to read The Hunger Games, but are arrows a huge focus of the book? So many of the necklaces on Etsy had references to the book.

24 Weeks

Pregnancy Stats:

How Far Along: 24 weeks (eek only 4 months to go)

Size of the baby: Eggplant

Total Weight Gain: Not much, which I'm excited about.

Gender: Still a little boy

Movement: He's really just started to be active a few times throughout the day, usually when I'm sitting at my desk or relaxing on the couch. It really is one of the most exciting parts of pregnancy so far.

What I miss: Drinking all the coffee I want. Now that the weather is getting chilly, I want to be sipping on hot coffee all day long. But I'm limiting myself to a 1/2 cup in the morning to ward of headaches.

Cravings: None, I really haven't had any so far.

Symptoms: My back aches some days, and is perfectly fine others. But for the most part I'm feeling totally awesome and normal.

Best Moments of this week:

• Getting the nursery glider in the mail and setting it up in Miles' room
• Running around on Saturday with Mike searching for the perfect dresser/changing table
• Hanging out with small group friends for a Sunday night dinner
• Picking up some new fun things for Miles' room (see photos above)

Volunteer Design Work

Recently, I teamed up to volunteer with the Keystone Art & Culture Center, an art studio close to my house that makes art accessible to students and individuals in the community. I was asked to create a flyer for their upcoming Fall Bash. Having a project without regulations and strict design standards, is strangely freeing and a little intimidating. But once I got an idea, the creativity started flowing. Even though the design below wasn't the final choice, it's the one I'm most proud of :) I'm looking forward to the big bash on October 20th! But now I need some costume inspiration!

Here's a link to the Fall Bash page for more details and to see the final flyer design (ignore the low res image)

Studying the Bible in Community

Through reading the blogs of some wonderful women, I found an awesome tool to study the Bible daily. This initiative was started recently by women who wanted some accountability and conversation when reading the Bible. We are currently reading through Galatians using the You Version app. There is a portion of Scripture appropriated for each day, daily devotional thoughts and conversation.

I've only been doing this for five days but I'm loving reading the Scripture passage for the day then seeing what other women have to say about how God is using it to touch their hearts. There is something so special about seeing how the Holy Spirit speaks in different ways.

See for yourself what it's all about - She Reads Truth.

A Room for Miles

The nursery for Miles is slowly coming together. Now that the weather is cooling down in Central PA, Mike can move his office to the third floor. It gets insanely hot up there, so that has been the major hold up. Even though I'm only 23 weeks preggos today, I feel like we are way behind in the nursery planning and buying.

Over the weekend, we hauled all of Mike's office furniture and equipment up a flight of stairs and cleared out Miles room. Now that the crib is assembled, things are starting to feel more real. We will be bringing our sweet little mister home in about four months. After a long time of dreaming about a baby, it's finally a reality. God has blessed our little family in ways we never would have imagined.

Oh, but back to the nursery. There are still a ton of things we need, but I'm trying to remind myself that it's not about how cute the nursery is or how well stocked it is with the latest baby stuff. That little pile in the picture above is about all that we have ready: 7 homemade burp clothes, a turtle rug from Nepal, 5 onesies, Aden + Anais swaddle blankets and three picture books.

What more could a newborn need?!

What I Want

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I want to blog more of my life. 

I want to glorify God through my words.

I want to connect to others. 

This blog has been a hodgepodge of sorts, and has honestly been a struggle to even think about. Something about it has felt disingenuous. I don't have amazing fashion sense or an eye for interior design, and I think I've tried to make it a resource for that - with very little success.

I've decided to make this more of an outlet to share my life and thoughts. As I've gotten older, I have lost a sense of community and relationships that don't go weeks without talking. Life gets busy and somewhere between friends moving away, full time jobs starting and marriages becoming a priority, we loose touch, we loose closeness.

I can remember my four years in college, and the amazing relationships that God sprung forth. We would spend hours talking about our lives and evaluating God's impact on our lives and the world. Often my heart longs for that again. I find a little piece of that when I read blogs of women, mothers, daughters and wives that share their stories online, and invite others into it. These connections certainly don't replace face-to-face friendships, but they do inspire and challenge me to seek God deeper.

I want to do that here. I'll still share the special and mundane things that are happening at Oneleven Creative because that is a huge part of my life and day. But as Mike (my husband) and I embark on our new journey as parents, I want to record our journey. (I used to journal everyday, but have long lost the time or dedication to continue, and this blog can be that again.)

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
             - 1 Corinthians 10:31

Little Boy Fun

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Little boys like this make me excited to be having a little boy. Whoever says that girls have cuter clothes has never laid eyes on this sweet boy and his green loafers.

My Favorite Season

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Fall is here and I'm so excited by its arrival. I love the cool air and crisp evenings. Last night was one of the first fall-like evenings, and I fully embraced it by reading outside on the back patio. I find myself being inspired by autumn colors in my designs and craving pumpkin spice lattes, and it's only September 10th.

What's your favorite thing about fall?

Going Digital

In preparation for our new baby Miles to arrive in January, I'm trying to best set up my business to run smoothly. One part of that is offering do it yourself, printable wedding invitations and response cards in my Etsy shop. This is a fairly new development in the stationery business, and brides seem to really like  having the option to print their paper products on their own.

All digital files for both a wedding invitation and response card cost $55, which includes 3 versions of changes made by a professional graphic designer and typesetter.

I'm hoping this option takes off because I have a hard time picturing printing, trimming and packaging hundreds of invitations while caring for a newborn.

Our Little Family of 2 is Growing to 3

I've been holding onto a little secret for the past 5 months, and it's just about impossible to keep hidden any longer. We are expecting our first baby in January!

I can't believe how much my heart has grown the past few months, and how much I already love our little mister. It's hard to imagine that in five months we will be welcoming Miles into our lives with open arms.

Etsy Finds - Modern Embroidery Art

Fun and handmade embroidery hoop art by Moxie Doll and King Soleil.

Mary Kate McDevitt Illustrations

Mary Kate is an amazing talent coming from Portland, OR. Her hand lettering and illustration work is inspiring. Check out more of her work on her website, marykatemcdevitt.com.

Jean Jackets Make a Come Back

I'm so happy to see that jean jackets are on their way back in. Now I just need to dig mine out of the back of a closet for fall. Is this a trend you're happy to see making a come back?

1. J.Crew / 2. Gap / 3. Urban Outfitters

Summer Projects

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There have been some very exciting things happening in the studio the past few months. I can't wait to reveal an extra special project I've been working on.

The summer has been flying by, but I've found some time to get away to Delaware for vacation. My wonderful hubby has been making our kitchen beautiful by painting the cabinets which will hopefully be done this weekend! Say goodbye to the 1990's builder grade orange cabinets.

Vacation Time

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Oneleven Creative will be closed starting this Saturday for 7 amazing days. I'm super excited to be taking a full week off work. This hasn't happened since I've started Oneleven, but it needs to be a yearly thing for sure! 

Black and White Inspiration Board

Black and white is a classic wedding color combination that can either go super formal and classy or modern and whimsical. My Veda Invitation was inspired by both ideas. The bold graphics and fun typography would suit a variety of styles and couples.

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Happy Friday!

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I'm so glad today is Friday. It's been a great week, but I'm so ready for the weekend. Here are some of the highlights from my week:

• Started a new logo for a local landscaping company
• Bought an iPhone
• Featured on an awesome blog as a wedding vender
• Watched Linotype: The Film at the Ware Center with some of Mike's students
• Got my invoicing and paperwork in order (I put it off for weeks)
• Created a series of ads for a local non-profit

What was the best part of your week?

Outdoor Wedding Reception Details

I love outdoor weddings that aren't under tents. Don't the above receptions feel so open yet cozy? If you're brave enough to not have an above covering, do it! Each of the featured weddings creates a homey feel by adding elements that hang from above. Chinese lanterns, bunting flags and hanging baskets are all great ways to create interest in the great open space.

I bet these outside wedding receptions were a blast and lasted all night!

photo credit: Jen & Chris Creed / Vela Images / Jose Villa

Summer Style

1: Anthropologie / 2: Dolce Vita / 3: Ray-Ban / 4: Ann Taylor / 5: Anthropologie

This morning I'm dreaming of spending the day on the beach with lots of sunshine and a good book.

Words to Live By

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"Do Good Work for Good People" is an awesome philosophy for any business owner or freelancer. I have been fortunate to have worked for some many great clients who are really good people and friends. It is also awesome when my clients do good work. I get so inspired by their creative ideas and ambition. It's easy to create good work for businesses who get what good design means for their business and for their brand.

Self Promotional Package

I was so excited to get these bad boys in the mail on Friday. I have been working on the design and assembly for a while and it feels great to be putting these in the hands of local wedding venders. I hand picked some great vendors that I would love to work with and I'm hoping to set up some meetings with them in the next few weeks.

It's a little scary to actually be putting myself out there, but I'm excited to see where Oneleven Wedding can go.

If I Weren't So Scared...

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If I weren't so scared, I would want an awesome tattoo like any of these.

Feminine and Bold Photographer Branding

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To help build up my portfolio and keep my creativity strong, I sometimes work on developing an identity and marketing materials for a fictional business. Last week I created a brand for Emma Rose Photography. I first started by creating an inspiration board and color palette. From that, I developed a few logo thumbnails and tweaked them until I had a finished logo. The Emma Rose logo was inspired by the trend of "dipping" things in paint. This photographer is very feminine but has a strong point of view. I think this logo is both girly and bold, which perfectly suites her business.

For pricing or information on small business branding, shoot me an email at laura@onelevencreative.com. 

Charming & Girly Headbands

I love Etsy. I know that I've said it before, but I seriously love it! I just ordered these two headbands from Three Bird Nest. Shop owner Alicia creates the sweetest headbands and accessories. I can't wait to get these beauties in the mail.

Inspiring Hand Lettering

I am so very often inspired by things that I can absolutely not do. One of those things is draw. I know five year olds who can sketch better than me! So when I see hand drawn designs and letters, I'm in awe.

I discovered Anna Ropalo through Dribble this week (I love Dribble and seeing what other designers are working on). Anna is a very talented designer who is currently a student at Portland State University and is fabulous at working with type.

So Soon

                                       photo from Geronimo Balloon Troopers 


Within a few hours or a few days I'll get to meet my little niece. Until then, I'm sending prayers and encouragement to my sister-in-law and brother-in-law. 

The People's Pennant

I stumbled across a cool new project put together by three great designers, The People's Pennant. Each month a new felt screen-printed pennant will be released by a different designer. I love the Coffee Break one, but I really am eager to see which one comes out next month. This will be a fun project to follow. 

Living Outside

Once the warm weather hits, I get really excited to be spending evenings and weekends outdoors. Our small city backyard is one of my favorite parts of the house. I'm always thinking of ways to improve the space. I love these urban backyards designed by Foras Studio.

Studio Sweet Studio Blog

I just came across an awesome blog, Studio Sweet Studio. It's an online space for creatives to get inspired by other creatives. They feature studio tours, interviews with designers and other cool features.

If you have some time this weekend, take a few minutes to check it out.

Featured Young Professional

This month I'm the featured young professional on The Lancaster Chamber's YPN website page. As a member of the program's Advisory Committee, it has been really fun to help shape the agenda for the coming year. I hope young professionals start to come out of the woodwork and get involved in The Chamber.

Here's what was included in the feature:

Name: Laura Brady Title: Owner/Head Designer Company: Oneleven Creative Job Responsibilities: I'm responsible for running all aspects of my small, one person design studio. In a given day, I can be found designing, sketching, communicating with clients and printers, working on marketing materials, hanging out on social media, and trying not to work into all hours of the night.

AS A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL, WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST VALUABLE PART OF GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE LANCASTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE? The Lancaster Chamber has a special place in my heart, because up until last summer, I was an employee. The organization does so much for our local business community, and as a young professional, it's essential to get plugged in. As a young business owner, I often use The Chamber's Membership Directory to find local companies; attend Professional Development Friday sessions to learn more about everything from marketing to finances; and keep up-to-date on current advocacy issues happening at the local, state and federal level through reading the newsletter and enews.   WHAT MOTIVATES YOU IN YOUR CAREER? Motivation is never lacking here at the studio. I am inspired by a deep love for what I get to do every day. I love working with clients to create brands that tell their story; dreaming up wedding invitations for couples all across the U.S.; and designing business collateral that carries an important message in a creative way. Being the only person who is responsible for my studio's success is also extremely motivating.   NAME AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF YOUR SERVICE TO YOUR CLIENTS. One of the unique aspects of my studio, is that the companies I work with aren't just clients, but friends. By taking a real interest in a client's business and their goals, I am able to learn their story and create art that shares that story with others. For me, graphic design has never been about just making something pretty, but it's about communicating in a thoughtful, organized and beautiful way.

Dream World

I've been a reader of Design Love Fest for over a year now, and this style post of Bri photographed by Max Wanger, is one of my favorite posts ever! I love the colors and the airiness of the photographs. Bri has such unique style and isn't afraid to takes some risks.

Worst Blogger Ever

I admit it, I'm the laziest blogger ever lately. Work has exploded, which is a great thing, but doesn't leave much time for posting on here.

Here are some things I've been working on the past few weeks:
- Designing and printing lots of calling cards from Etsy
- Creating new marketing materials for a local financial advising company
- Designing brochures upon brochures for a local non-profit
- Laying out some promotional pieces for Oneleven Wedding for an upcoming bridal show
- Designing, printing and assembling wedding invitations

I will be spending this weekend taking it easy and meeting with a couple to discuss wedding invitations.

Have a great weekend everyone!

To My Valentine...

To my sweetest valentine,

You've been my husband for nearly 3 years, and life has never been more lovely. And I have never felt more alive. Being your wife has forever changed my life. Even though we've both changed so much since first saying "I love you" on the day we got engaged, we have grown together and accepted each other completely. You're my best friend and my favorite person in the entire world! Happy Valentine's Day!

Refrigerator Style

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My shopping list would look awesome on the refrigerator with one of these killer gold animal magnets. Love the little animal butts! You can find them in El Y Ella Paper Designs Etsy shop for $12.

Decades of Love

On their wedding day

My grandparents have been married for more than 6 decades. That is no easy accomplishment. What they probably don't know is that even now in their eighties, their love speaks loudly. The way my grandfather cares for my grandmother is inspiring. He gladly sacrifices so much time and energy to see that she has everything she needs, just as my grandmother took care of him and their four children for many many years.

To find love that stands the test of time is a miracle from the hand of a good God. While I know for certain that things weren't always easy for them, they stood by each other through it all.

I've been thinking a lot about what type of legacy I want to leave behind, and a solid marriage is a huge part of that. I want my grandchildren to look at Mike and I and see that the covenant of marriage is a beautiful and grace-filled thing.

So today, I will pray for my husband, clean his office, email him throughout the day and welcome him home with a smile because good marriages don't "just happen."

Inspiring Colors

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Often times some of the most unexpected and beautiful color combinations can be found in our everyday life. I love to look at photographs on Pinterest and see what colors are found in nature, interior design and fashion.