SILVER SPOON STUDIO : A graphic designer’s blog

I have yet to write a post exclusively on SpirituallyShe, LLC, a new business venture with my best girlfriend, MK.  We’ve been doing this for the past year and now our ducks are in a row. We’ve set up the LLC, designed the business cards, set up our PO Box, fax, restructured business protocol and duties, brainstormed ideas and read scripture to design the packaging, order rules and fulfillment obligations.  Did you catch all that?

I’ll be slowly winding down business here for Silver Spoon Studio until January 2010 (of course client updates and such are most welcome).  I feel the Lord is calling me to concentrate on building his kingdom and out of  joy, excitement and obedience, I am happy to oblige. 

We are a stationery line which focuses on spreading the gospel and encouraging women of faith to memorize scripture to fully equip them on their spiritualwalk.  Our most advertised item are our scripture sets which include 55 beautifully designed cards with a cross that are left intentionally blank along with a guide that give suggested bible verses to write on the blank cards.  There are three packs which you decide you’d want, mostly determined upon your age group.  We left them blank so women could use their own preferred bible translation.  After doing several bible studies together, we knew that obedience isn’t enough but knowing how to accurately recite and find scripture is important in our Christian walk.  I am always thinking of, James 1:21 which is written on a Post-It at my work computer, “Therefore put away all fithiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”  His word saves us from drifting away from him.  It is our prayer that our products do the same for our customers.

MK and I are happy to introduce SpirituallyShe to the world. 

The company: 

The mission of SpirituallyShe is based on 1 Thessalonians  5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”  As Christians, we believe the Bible, the scriptures of the Bible, both the old and new testaments, to be the verbally inspired word of God and instruction book for life.

In order to live a life the way God intended, we use the Bible as the only reference for life’s decisions.  It is a necessity for us as sisters in Christ to understand the importance of using scripture to witness, and encourage not only ourselves, but fellow believers at any stage in life – whether it’s rejoicing, comforting, or simply a reminder of God’s sovereignty. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have home.” – Romans 15:4 (NIV)

The products of SpirituallyShe are to serve as convenient and beautifullydesigned tools to inspire and encourage believers of all stages.  Whether our products are used by new or old believers or simply by those curious, it is our prayer that our line of products be uplifting and allow sharing and learning God’s word more delightful as they continue on their spiritual journey.

The duo:

Finding your kindred spirit is rare, but that’s exactly what Diana Jung and Meagan Kimmerle found in each other the day God brought them together at work – right next to each other to be exact.

Daily the two encouraged one another and did the typical things best girlfriends did.  But it was more than their worldly common interests, but their love and dedication to the Lord that solidified their friendship.

One day, the idea of memorizing scripture on a weekly basis turned into a discussion on finding beautiful cards to write them on, because displaying God’s word on any index card just wouldn’t do for these two girls of grace.

The idea of creating products to spur other women of faith was an incredible opportunity.  God laid the idea of starting such a business on their hearts and considering Diana’s experience in business and graphic design and Meagan’s education and experience in sales and marketing, SpirituallyShe was born.

Visit our website: www.spirituallyshe.com read more about us, buy our products online, or come to an Open House. 

Our Open House schedule:
June – Buckeye
July – Tempe
August – Glendale
September – Scottsdale (tentative)
November – Phoenix

If you can recommend a church or store for us to connect with, please send an email to info[at]spirituallyshe.com. 

Connect with us now:
Facebook
MySpace
Twitter 

Next weekend MK and I will be taking photos with Trudy Hill with CottageInk .  We’ll be posing with our products and to use on our website and new marketing material.  I’ll be sure to share them when we get them.

The inspiration:

I drew this:

Freehand. With a fine tip Sharpie, no mistakes. Artist for hire. This will be a wallpaper backdrop for a holiday photo campaign.

I am taking a bow.  Er, courtsey.

$23 at etsy.com by dazeychic

I have many-a-things to blog about right now, like how I did Miss Arizona’s new business cards, JM’s suprise bd party, my photo taking abilities in manual mode down bridal path, and our first online order for SpirituallyShe.  But I can’t. I am too busy crossing things off my list before I begin the luxuries of sharing all of those wonderful things with you because I am playing catchup on life (yet am still behind) and I will just share a photo of me from LA with my Club MED girls:

These are from a wait in line to get into Hollywood Forever Cemetary on Santa Monica where we watched “Night of the Iguana” some old black and white film, but it had sound.  There were people in line and there’s Diana the Sherpa as Emily called me.  Go figure.  The girl who absolutely hates hiking gets stuck carrying the WearaChair thingy…funny.  We had food from Bristol Farms and the wino’s as I call them had their wine and panini’s.  I had Chinese food.  Heck. Yah.

I’m back into the melting heat of Phoenix.  I did some great shopping and it was super relaxing, got a wonderful tan, and as always, M and E got burned in strange spots.  Knee caps, anyone?  I always walk away with a flawless tan.  *shrug* Asian genes.

1. Whenever I have a loaner car, I change one of the radio station presets to KLOVE.  I don’t know why, but it’s my way of sharing and maybe someone will hear a message they need that moment.
2. I have many of friends, a ton of acquaintances, but a very small sphere of spiritual influencers and lifelong friends. 
3. No one can influence me or make me do something I don’t want to do.  I’ve always been this way.  I have always had the strength to say no. 
4. Anything pink immediately catches my eyes.
5. I want to live off of love like Jamal and Latika in Slumdog Millionaire and I do believe it is possible to live off of love alone, as long as it’s true, biblical, Christ-like love (1 Cor 13:4-7)
6. My favorite movies are The Shawshank Redemption and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
7. I have been blessed with discernment, and I keep praying for more.
8. I was a red carpet reporter for E! Entertainment when I lived in Los Angeles. The only person who really gave me the “pinch me is she really in front of my face” moment was Paula Abdul. I just kept thinking in my head, “Straight up now tell me…” when I stood on the other side of the red carpet interviewing her.
9. I have a king sized bed but I only sleep on one side, two inches away from the edge.  I have yet to fall off because I sleep motionless.
10. While I don’t do it full-time, or nearly enough to say part-time, I enjoy acting and modeling.  When I was little, I used to stand at the top of the stairs and make my parents announce my name and I’d sing and dance down the stairs and do it all over again. I was such a ham.
11. Things I used to want to be growing up (in rough order from when I was little): teacher, actress, veterinarian, nurse, Rockette, fashion magazine editor, news reporter, entertainment/tv host, marketing director, business owner. 
12. Ariel is my sister from Big Brothers Big Sisters and I’ve known her since she was nine, and she’s turning 17 this weekend. Her family is my second family.
13. I am like Homer Simpson. I love donuts. Old fashioned, preferably.
14. I am 100% Chinese. I don’t know why people keep saying they think I’m mixed or Korean.
15. I can speak a little bit of Cantonese and Mandarin, but not enough to translate for anyone, or help me get around. But my vocab definitely goes beyond Happy Chinese New Year and what my name is.
16. I work one day job as a marketing communication specialist/senior designer and also run two LLC’s, a graphic design business (www.silverspoonstudio.com) and a stationery business (www.spirituallyshe.com) with my best friend Meagan.
17. One of my favorite lines told to me was from an old boyfriend who was a teacher.  He told me, “Choose your attitude.” 
18. I’m overly forgiving, but I’m not forgetful, but also not resentful.
19. Ever since I was 19, I write a yearly reflection of my year of age right before my bd. My first one was at 15, but I picked it back up again at 19.
20. Life hasn’t always been perfect for me, but God is, and so that is enough for me.

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July.

I had a wonderful time with my sister and friends, I took a few pictures this past week from Phoenix’s Bridal Path and JM’s surprise BD party, 4th of July picnicing, but haven’t had a second to sit down and process any of them.  While I have many pictures to share, they will have to wait until much later, I’ve got a slammed week and then I’m off to LA for the weekend to spend time with my Club MED girls (Melissa, Emily and Diana), I know, we’re sooooo jr. high, but we love it – and each other.

I was talking out loud about my mess of a face and how I feel like a teenager all over again with the frustrating breakouts I had and how I needed a facial…well someone was paying attention and booked me a surprise facial with Silver Spoon Studio client Mozaik Skin & Body last Friday. I had the organic facial with Natalie and absolutely LOVED it. New clients get a discount, regular price is $95 and the new client price is $65. Check out more of their monthly specials here which last until the end of August. He was also paying much attention and sent me these beautiful flowers from another Silver Spoon Studio client By the Bunch:

I joked that I pulled an Esther (a woman in the bible who underwent 12 months of beauty treatments) since I also had a visit with Leslie of Lashology(another client of ours), got a haircut, received a facial and got a mani/pedi. It just so happened that all the hygiene fell on the same week, honestly I don’t do this at the same time, but it’s nice to hammer it all out at once.

I wish that when I was sleeping this could all happen because I find it so time consuming and I’d rather be out and about doing other things. I’m really not complaining, what’s to complain about, really?

This happened a few weeks ago (and I am now going through my photos I took).

I had a special evening with the M ladies, yes as in JM and her mother-in-law and sister-in-law who I am so fond of. I planned to make Taco Rice Salad from my favorite Cooking Light magazine/book.

This was my kitchen, it was preparation time.  Chopping, mincing, mixing…

Setting the dining room table:

The menu: Taco Rice Salad which is delish.  Click here for the recipe.  I promise it’s amazing and healthy.  It’s a perfect summer meal, and it’s easy and it’ll take you under an hour to prep and it feeds 6-8 (depending on who you’re having over.)  The drinks were from World Market and Trader Joe’s, sparking juices.  The dessert was a carrot cake from Trader Joe’s along with ice cream bon bons.

The setting: Glasses and bowls are from Pottery Barn, placemats from Ballard Designs, measuring cup used as individual vases from World Market.  Each girl took their flowers home.  Little sauce/dressing dishes and dessert plates from Anthropologie. I love their kitchenware. Small flower buds were from Trader Joe’s.

The next day I received a flower delivery from By the Bunch, my favorite florist that just so happens to also be one of my clients.  It was a thank you from the M’s.  It was an incredibly beautiful evening.

We are celebrated FC’s birthday (early) today.  We had a Chanel-themed birthday party.  It was absolutely perfect since her last name is Cheng.  Here’s what I came up with!

The invitation:

The party:

A girl should be two things: Classy and Fabulous. – Coco Chanel

All attendees were dressed in black, white and pearls (as the invitation requested).  Above is the gift I wrapped for her.  You like the quote? Yahhh. I am going to visit FC in London and we’re going to go to Paris and I’m so excited! 

Happy real bd to my sweet friend JM!  Love you!  Can’t wait to celebrate with you this weekend.  You light up my life. xo