Sakura Designs

Humorous Design Animation

2009-03-12T11:51:00.007-04:00

For anyone out there trying to make it as a freelance designer we have all been in the position where someone wants us to make them a website or business card or anything else we do for free. They tell us it will be great exposure, and that we will really get more out of it than they will. Yet, if you were to mention they provide there product or services for free they would be completely astounded. I have not idea why people think that designers love working for free. We went to school and work just as hard as they do. This short animation is a hilarious representation of this exact situation. It is from Mayhem Studios. Enjoy!

Video Art

2009-02-24T08:29:00.004-05:00

This is one of the most beautiful videos I have seen in a long time. It is from Israeli artist, Oren Lavie. It is simply amazing and perfectly illustrates how new technology can help create timeless art.

via design*sponge

Valentine's Day Pie

2009-02-19T09:46:00.002-05:00

Travis and I decided to have a very low key Valentine's Day this year. His one request was that I make him my signature cherry pie. It looks lovely and tastes even better. I wonder what I can make for St. Patty's Day...

The Hot Cookie

2009-02-11T10:34:00.006-05:00

I am helping my friend launch her cookie and coffee cafe called "The Hot Cookie." We are going to start out by selling our delicious artisan cookies wholesale to restaurants and gourmet grocery stores around Indianapolis, as well as, a number of farmers' markets this summer. Then in the fall we are going to open the retail cafe on Mass Ave. in Indianapolis. The idea behind the business is to start with 5 perfected doughs to which customers can then add mix-ins and the cookie is then baked for them on the spot. There will also be a selection of rotating house specialty cookies available daily, as well as, specially imported teas and coffees. I am helping with the business plan, marketing, and branding of this fin establishment. More information to come, but this is the logo.

Cranberry and White Chocolate Chip Cookies

2009-02-10T13:11:00.004-05:00

I am helping my friend open a cookie and coffee cafe here in Indy. I am doing all the branding and marketing for the company and in the spirit of baking cookies decided to try out a recipe I have been wanting to make for awhile. On Sunday I made these cranberry and white chocolate chip cookies. They are chunky and chewy and totally delicious! The secret ingredient I used was Jamaican rum I got on my honeymoon instead of vanilla. It gives the cookies a little kick and makes them taste special. Yummy!

Business Card

2009-02-09T15:20:00.004-05:00

I have a couple of business meetings coming up. Since it seems that I am more likely to be working as a freelancer these days I decided I should probably make some personal business cards to pass around to potential clients. What do you think?

Job Search

2009-02-08T17:45:00.002-05:00

I have not posted in awhile because I have had the always fun opportunity of looking for a job. Woohoo. The job I initially took when moving to Indianapolis did not turn out to be what I was looking for so I quit the first of the year. I am now searching for art direction/graphic design work in this hellish economy. At least I know more people here now than I did when I lived in Muncie. I also know more about the type of job I want and questions to ask a potential employer. At this stage in my life and career it is just as important for me to like an employer as it is for them to like me. I really want to find a place where I belong where I can stay for awhile and accomplish some great things. If you know where to find that let me know.

Technology & Usability

2009-01-13T11:11:00.003-05:00

Travis has been working for almost a year now at Tuitive, a web development company that specializes in making websites easy to use and understand. He has recently been writing blogs about usability issues he faces in everyday life and easy ways to fix those problems. Check it out here and be sure to leave a comment if you like what you read. Thanks!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-29T15:50:00.003-05:00

I just got back from spending Christmas in St. Louis , and I wanted to post a photo from Travis and my first Christmas in Indianapolis. I hope you continue to enjoy this festive time and have a wonderful new year!

STL Trunk Show

2008-12-07T18:34:00.007-05:00

I had a great time this weekend in St. Louis participating in the Santa's Cause fundraiser for COTA. First I went to a fabulous fashion show at a great shop called The Time Boutique and then I set up my jewelry display at Mosaic restaurant. I met a lot of people, sold a bunch of jewelry, raised a lot ton of money and had a great time!

Trunk Show and Fundraiser

2008-12-01T21:39:00.006-05:00

Travis and I are heading to St. Louis, my hometown, this weekend to participate in Santa's Cause. This is a fundraising event featuring a Santa-guided restaurant/bar hop up down Washington Ave. in the loft district. There will be food and drink specials at every stop. All proceeds of the event will benefit pediatric patients in the St. Louis-area currently working with Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) to raise funds to cover transplant and transplant related expenses.
I will have a table set up at one of the restaurant along the route and will be donating 10% of the night's sales to the cause. Come check out some of my jewelry, have some fun, and help some kids all at the same time.

Hummingbird Necklace

2008-12-01T21:12:00.005-05:00

I have been working on some new pieces for an upcoming show I have in St. Louis the first weekend in December. In the midst of doing this work I received a request from my brother-in-law to create a necklace for his wife for Christmas. She loves hummingbirds, and I wanted to take take that imagery and create a simple, elegant silhouetted pendant. After I cut my design out of silver I gave it a brushed finish and hung it from a chain with a simple dangle of her wedding colors from earlier in the year. I really love how it turned out and would like to expand upon it for my new collection.

"MMS" necklace

2008-09-29T21:17:00.003-04:00

I recently completed a commissioned piece for an alumna of my high school, Cor Jesu Academy. The piece was commissioned for her by the chair of the annual auction because she works for Oprah and got tickets to the show as an auction item. I designed a custom monogram with her initials and then hand cut it into sterling silver sheet, strung it on a sterling chain, and added a labradorite dangle. I think it turned out quite nice.

Ikea!!!

2008-09-21T17:37:00.004-04:00

So, when Travis and I were in Chicago last weekend, we had to go to Ikea to get things for the house. We had never been before, and it was an experience! We were there for 5 HOURS!!! It was totally awesome, though, and we got a ton of cool stuff for the house. We spent the past week putting things together and I will post photos of the things we got and new photos of the house soon. I am so glad that parts of the house are definitely starting to come together.

Renegade Craft Fair

2008-09-09T15:26:00.003-04:00

The second weekend in September is my favorite of the whole year for a number of reasons. First, it is my birthday. Happy Birthday to Me! Second, and more importantly, it is the weekend of the Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago. Over 300 vendors from across the country come to sell their superfly handmade goods. Items include screenprinted t-shirts, purses, pillows, soaps & lotions, jewelry, zines, stuffed items of all kind, and so much more. If you are going to be in the Chicago area this weekend - CHECK IT OUT!!!

Owl Necklace

2008-09-03T16:38:00.003-04:00

This is a new piece I just completed for a guy I work with. He wanted a special owl necklace for his wife's birthday so I sketched a design and cut it by hand out of sterling silver sheet. I then polished it and stamped a "Two Pies" tag which is their special code for "I Love You." He was thrilled with the end piece, and I cannot wait to see what his wife thinks about it!

Pod Necklace

2008-07-16T21:14:00.004-04:00

This is a necklace I made for a guy who works in the same building I do. He wanted to have something special made for his wife for their anniversary. He saw an organic pod design he liked and wanted me to make something similar. I hand cut the pendant from sterling silver and gave it a high polish. Then I put it on a thin sterling silver chain. Finally I made a tag out of sterling silver that I stamped with S+P which are their initials, and hung it from the end of the necklace with a blue topaz. The necklace turned out really well and everyone was happy.

Wally the Dog

2008-07-15T08:54:00.003-04:00

BubbleShare: Share photos - Play some Online Games.

We have a new addition to the family! Travis and I picked up Wally on Sunday from Adopt-A-Lab. He was rescued from a shelter in Missouri that could no longer care for him because of the floods. While he was in foster care he got his leg broken so now he is in a splint, poor guy! He is the sweetest dog I have ever met and loves to give kisses and play in the backyard. He doesn't even seem to notice the splint. Travis and I are looking forward to showering him with love

Paint the House

2008-07-06T21:57:00.004-04:00

We are finally getting started decorating our new house to fit our style. I got my sisters to come to Indy from St. Louis to do some manual labor for me. I can't wait to get the rest of the house done!

Go Green

2008-06-01T19:51:00.004-04:00

I have been reading an interesting book lately called Go Green, Live Rich. Mainly it is about calculating your carbon footprint, or the impact your lifestyle has on the environment. There are so many simple things we can do to reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. Here are just a few of the things I do that are easy and cheap:
1.) Always take your own shopping bags with you to the store. Many of them fold up into a tiny carrying case that you can keep in your purse or car.
2.) Ride your bike or walk for all of your quick errands. 40% of all car trips in the US are less than 2 miles. Plus you save money on gas and burn off some extra calories.
3.) Shop local and shop organic. Find a local farmers' market. Not only are you supporting local farmers, but you are reducing your carbon footprint by buying food that has not used much energy getting to you. Also, organic food is healthier for you, healthier for the plant or animal, healthier for the environment. Plus, stores like Whole Foods now offer store brand organic items that cost less than the name-brand non-organic ones. If you can't buy all organic groceries, get at least organic produce that you know doesn't have pesticides in it.
4.) Replace burned out light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). CFLs use 75% less electricity than regular incandescent bulbs, last up to 10 times longer, and will save you $45 per bulb for the life of the bulb.
These are just a few of the many easy and inexpensive things we as human beings can do to show respect to our planet, other earth inhabitants, and ourselves which end up saving us money.

Home, Sweet Home

2008-04-22T09:28:00.003-04:00

We got our house! We closed yesterday and got a key and everything. It was very exciting even though we can't technically move in until next Monday. It is kind of scary to see when the loan will actually be paid off and how old we will be and how much we are actually paying in interest. Everyone kept saying not to pay attention to that part. Now we just have to move in and actually buy some furniture. Wahoo!

Natural Decor

2008-04-17T08:59:00.005-04:00

I discovered a wonderful resource today for people that like to bring a little bit of the outdoors into their decor. Nettleton Hollow carries a beautiful selection of branches, driftwood, and dried flower and pods. They also maintain a blog that contains shop updates as well as inspiration for using their products in your home.

I Got a Job!!!

2008-04-11T16:18:00.002-04:00

I was offered a job today as a graphic designer for a studio in Indianapolis called Silver Square, Inc. I am so excited! The people who work there are fantastic and I cannot wait to get started on some new projects. Wahoo! (p.s. That photo is stock, not me)

Toy Car Art

2008-04-11T16:12:00.003-04:00

I saw these pieces at Three Potato Four and fell in love. They are so fun and seem to tell a story. Plus I love unofficially titled "Missouri" because, of course, I am from Missouri. These are 6 x 6 photographs printed on archival paper, mounted on wood blocks, and sealed with UV protecting sealant.

Amish Furniture

2008-04-04T11:19:00.002-04:00

Travis and I have been shopping for furniture for our new house. We have decided to get some nice, well-made pieces (finally!) and happened upon this amazing store in Indianapolis called Simply Amish. Not only do you get to customize your style, wood, stain, and hardware, but "Simply Amish furniture is made by authentic Amish craftsmen, working on more than 50 family farms scattered throughout the heartland of America. Most are small family shops with only four or five craftsmen. Each piece of lumber is still cut, shaped, sanded and stained by seasoned hands, using a keen eye to eliminate any imperfections and bring out the natural beauty of rich maple, solid oak and other select hardwoods." In addition to its beautiful designs and unmatched quality, Simply Amish is also earth friendly and a founding member of the Sustainable Furniture Council. Plus, when you go into a store to shop there are fresh Amish baked goods for you to nibble on while you browse. Travis and I are in love with the Shaker panel bed in a coffee bean finish and the Carlisle rectangle farm table and Urbandale chairs in a dark stain as well.

Re-purposed Items

2008-04-02T09:40:00.005-04:00

I spotted these images at apartment therapy and had to re-post them. I think they are great ways to use old item you have around the house!

Our House (Almost)

2008-03-13T10:54:00.007-04:00

BubbleShare: Share photos - Powered by BubbleShare

Travis and I are thisssss close to closing on this super, fabulous, beautiful house in a historic district of Indianapolis. We are supposed to hear something from our agent any minute. I can't wait!!!

Moroccan Tables

2008-03-05T12:53:00.005-05:00

I have appreciate Moroccan design for a long time, especially furniture. I spotted these tables at Vivre and thought they were fantastic. They are a perfect blend of Moroccan shapes and contemporary colors. While they are out of my price range they are fun to look at and inspiring.

Photography

2008-03-05T10:49:00.001-05:00

I was reading one of my favorite blogs and stumbled upon this amazingly gifted photographer, Irene Suchocki. I am in love with the gorgeous layers of texture in her photos and her beautiful use of color. Check out her shop right here.

Custom Initial Necklaces

2008-02-29T14:31:00.004-05:00

I just finished a custom initial necklace for a nice man who had it made for his wife for their anniversary. It seems that these classic, elegant pieces are my bestsellers. People have them made with their initials, their children's initials, a special date, or a word that is important to them. I can make them in a number of styles and designs. These are truly one-of-a-kind custom designed jewelry pieces just for you. I can make them in sterling silver or 18k gold. Email me at kmk222@hotmail.com or visit my shop to design your own.

Snow Day

2008-02-21T08:34:00.004-05:00

I was at work yesterday taking breaks every once in awhile to go watch the snow fall out the window. It was beautiful, Christmas morning snow - big, soft flakes. I just wanted to go for a walk out in the snow because it is so quiet and peaceful. As I was surfing the internet I stumbled upon this photo that I thought was perfect for this snowy day. I am sorry I don't know who to give credit to for this photo, but whoever you are, I think it's gorgeous!

Art Show

2008-02-19T16:01:00.003-05:00

I got two of my pieces from my thesis show accepted in the 18th Annual Minnetrista Juried Art Show and Sale. The exhibit runs from now until the end of March at the Minnetrista Cultural Center in Muncie, IN.

Bird Houses

2008-02-19T09:43:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite things about the spring and summer is having a bird house and watching all the birds that come to feed and live outside my front door. I just open the door and watch them for hours. I especially love when I am lucky enough to have a cardinal visit - they are so beautiful. I was looking around sprout home and saw these sweet ceramic bird houses for $27.50. I will definitely have to get one of these!

New York, New York

2008-02-04T16:42:00.000-05:00

So I was getting myself all prepared to move to Indianapolis in May and then Travis gets a call from the big company he really wants to work for. He had a telephone interview today and it went really well. But, the job is in New York City! That is a LOT different from Indianapolis or St. Louis, where I am from. New York would be so exciting but, also, a little scary. There would be a lot of design opportunities for me there, though, which would be nice. I guess I will just have to see how he does with the rest of his interviews.

House We Love

2008-01-29T08:28:00.001-05:00

This is the house that Travis and I love! It is in an artsy neighborhood of Indianapolis called Broad Ripple. It is a perfect first home for us, and I am really excited to make a bid on it. We just have to wait for Travis to get a job offer. Wish us luck!

Precious Metal Clay Jewelry

2008-01-17T16:05:00.000-05:00

Here are some of my older designs using hand formed precious metal clay. I like how using PMC gives an organic, human feel to something that can be so cold and mechanical.

Life Cycle

2008-01-14T09:22:00.000-05:00

Life Cycle #2 (2006)

This is a bangle I made completely by hand. It is constructed out of sterling silver and oxidized copper. The sterling leaves are pierced and polished to represent "life", and the copper leaves are etched,pierced, and oxidized to represent death. The bangle itself is marriage of metal on top, and all sterling on the inside against the wearer's skin. Also on the inside the lyric "My heroes have the heart to lose their lives out on a limb, and all I remember is thinking I want to be like that" by Gnarls Barkley is stamped on the inside as a private reminder to the wearer to live life to the fullest. I like this piece because you can wear it two different ways and it relates in an intimate way to the wearer.

Life Cycle #1

Etched, oxidized copper and etched sterling silver
["Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." -John Lennon, on back]

Life Cycle #3
Anodized aluminum, copper, & sterling silver

My Dream House

2008-01-10T14:52:00.000-05:00

My husband, Travis, and I are currently in our last semester of grad school and looking to move out of Muncie, IN. Where we will move we have no idea. I guess wherever we get jobs. I was looking at houses in the Indy metro area and found this old Victorian that I thought was the most beautiful house I had ever seen. I like the idea of mixing a very classic style of house with somewhat modern interiors to give it a nice balanced look. Well designed, yet comfortable.

Paloma's Nest

2008-01-10T12:29:00.000-05:00

I was poking around Etsy and stumbled upon a store call Paloma's Nest that sells the most exquisite pottery ($12-$44). I love the pure white color and the simplistic use of text. The shop also sells balsa wood cards. Their tagline, "crafting, one PEACE at a time" is a lovely sentiment reflected in their work.

My Bunnies

2008-01-07T12:42:00.000-05:00

Here are my babies, Molly and Lucy. Molly is a dark gray and white Netherland Dwarf and Lucy is a black and brown Tan rabbit. They are the cutest little rabbits and are so fun to have around. Rabbits make excellent pets because the can be trained to use litter boxes and do not require as much attention as dogs, do not have dander like cats, and still have lots of personality. Visit the House Rabbit Society for more information on adopting a rescued rabbit.

Molly & Lucy

More Etsy

2008-01-06T16:55:00.001-05:00

I spent the weekend taking more photos of some of my older jewelry and posting it to my Etsy shop. I have already sold my labradorite and marcasite earrings. I am excited to get back into the studio to try some new techniques and styles, mixing my silversmithing techniques with my love of gemstones and vintage pieces. Here are just a few samples of my recent Etsy posts:

Handmade glass bead, vintage faux pearls and crystals, sterling silver dragonflies and clasp

Sterling silver bangle that I hammered and oxidized

Handmade glass beads, hematite, Czech glass, and sterling silver

Etsy Site

2008-01-03T14:25:00.001-05:00

I recently opened a shop at www.etsy.com. Etsy is a great place to buy handmade items from independent artisans like myself. My shop is Sakura Designs and I am going to be selling my beaded jewelry featuring semi-precious stones and vintage pieces, as well as some of my new metals work. I will be working this spring on a new website featuring all of my new work & I will keep you posted on that.

Bracelet made with vintage pieces, Czech glass beads, and 18k gold-filled chain & clasp.

Earrings featuring faceted labradorite, marcasite, hematite, & sterling silver

Earrings featuring ceramic dragonfly beads draped in 18k gold-filled chain

Thesis Show Pics

2008-01-03T14:03:00.000-05:00

Here are some photos of the pieces in my thesis show, Body Adornment. I wanted to create pieces of forged silver that accentuated the beauty of the female form without overshadowing it.

The Beginning

2007-12-21T11:35:00.000-05:00

I am starting this blog as I finish up my master's degree in jewelry design and metalsmithing. Last week was the opening for my thesis show Body Adornment where I showcased nine pieces of forged silver jewelry I have been working on for the past semester. Here is a link to photos from the opening: http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/284978
In the coming months I will be setting up a commercial website and designing and producing a new line for 2008. Thanks for visiting!