Missing Summer...

Fall means that Winter is around the corner; this girl does not appreciate Winter, despite the Canuck's best efforts to make it seem palatable.  Anyways, in order to relive happier days, I finally got around to taking pictures of some summery birthday invitations from earlier this year.

(All My summery plants have been killed by frost; hence the apples.)

  Maggie's two adorable boys had a joint party-- picnic-themed, which is so perfect for summer.  I wanted to design something simple enough for a picnic, but with a few cute details, like those pesky ants marching their way around the border.  Lady Rene, an all-time favorite font, ended up working so well to get that cute-and-casual look I was going for.

The original was colored pencil on watercolor paper,
to get that nice texture. A fine pen for the lettering, of course.

More details...

I matted them on red and yellow gingham with thick brown card-stock behind that. Nice and sturdy. 

 These boys are all boy, by the way, and so completely adorable.  Happy birthday to them both, a little late. ;)

At the Wedding March

Weddings are lovely. I'm honored every time I'm asked to contribute to that most important day.

Planning the board- so many possibilities!

The classic fonts Elizabeth chose for this board worked so perfectly with the gorgeous filigreed frame.

Rough draft worked in chalk. I love this organic look...

The details coming together!

 

Designing this board was pure fun.  The larger script is Edwarian, and the smaller is a variation on Bickley. (The original Bickley was a bit too noisy; I wanted those classic Edwarian curves to stand out.)

Ready for delivery! 

I wish many blessings on the new couple; in the words of Hopkins, may "each be other's comfort kind; Deep, deeper than divined." 

Summer Wedding

This last weekend I had a chance to help decorate for a lovely outdoor wedding. Karianne and Jeremiah brightened up their rather rainy wedding day with hundreds of sunflowers and bunches of yellow dasies picked by the roadside. Here's a peek of the board I drew for their reception.

First, of course, I had to do my least favorite job. Scrubbing a board clean takes a lot of energy & elbow grease.

Then I was ready to create!

Here's to many years of wedded bliss!

The Circus is Coming to Town...

All aboard!

I was thrilled last week to be able to send off a special package to my first long-distance customer; a friend from Tennessee whose adorable son is turning one picked a circus train themed party and asked me to design the invitations!  And so I got to spend my time sketching cute animals and tiny cabooses in bright colors-- pure fun. 

I used colored pencils and felt-tipped markers on rough paper and matted the final prints on blue card-stock.  Using stripy twine to secure the package adds a little extra carnival flavor...
Come one, come all!

Clarence the Clown

Giraffes were a must.

Ten little monkeys jumping on a train...

AND... the little red caboose!

Happy New Year!

Wedding season has begun, so I didn't have time to wish everyone a happy Cambodian New Year last week.

Happy New Year!

To celebrate I made a pot of curry-- all fresh ingredients, which takes a ridiculous amount of time, especially if you grind spices in a mortar and pestle.  I cheated and used this modern invention called a "blender."

                                             

We also bought a durian.

                                               

If you ever choose to tackle one of these spiky, stinky fruits, don't start hacking away at it with your cleaver; find a seam at the base of the fruit and slide your knife (or finger) along it.  It will split open to reveal the creamy, fragrant part of the fruit.  I, like any good Asian, crave durian; however, it's not a favorite of most westerners.  They tend to describe the flavor as something like "onion pudding."

                                                 

Mango and coconut rice for desert:

Sour s'dey chnam tmey!

This Week's Dose of Mischief

This weekend I visited the lovely ladies at Mischief's Brewing Coffee and Tea to add a bit of spring to the menu boards there.  There is no better way to work than with a mug of delicious coffee that you can refill at a moment's notice.  I've had the privilege of designing and drawing a majority of their menu chalkboards since they opened last year; if you haven't given them a visit yet, drop by and grab a quick drink, or visit their website at www.mischiefsbrewing.com.

 I love drawing chalkboards to match different personalities. The owners of this coffee shop always remind me to add a bit of mischief to each board.

This week's mischief was especially enjoyable; it's about time spring stopped by.

A Sample or Two

Hi, this is Anna here.  Seeing as I got my start in the chalk business as a kid, scribbling on concrete slabs in Northeast Cambodia, I may just be going places; now I'm in Libertyville, Illinois, designing menu boards for coffee shops and sales signs for thrift stores. There's a lot to learn, and I'm enjoying the challenge.

Here are a few details of work I've done in the past:

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Getting Started

Thanks for visiting ShortCake Signs.  Pictures of my work are on the way!  The Canuck and I have been apartment hunting, which ends up taking more time than you would think; but in between checking out studios the size of bathroom cupboards and peering into ancient two-bedrooms that smell like stale dishwater, I've managed to fit in a few chalkboards at a local coffee shop.  I'll be sure to post some pics from my past projects as well.