The Dingbat’s Agenda

  • May15th

    Contractions, uggh!!!

    Posted in: Custom

    So I’m really trying to not have this baby until at least THURSDAY! However my 36 week along baby body is telling me otherwise. I have 3 jobs that ship this monring, yea! And 3 small jobs that will print and ship tonight/tomorrow. Then I’m free to let this baby run it’s course. I thought I had given myself at least a week (like until next week (after memorial weekend) to get everything together with the blog, and the house before baby #3 made it’s presence known to the world considering my actual due date isn’t until June 9th!

    Unfortunately you are the ones that will be suffering from adamant baby arriving earlier than anticipated. I’m betting Wednesday or Thursday at the latest. Not wishful thinking here. So without further adeu:

    Mormon Temple Giveaway: Winner will be announced before Baby is due.

    AND since I’m leaving you hanging with no other scheduled blog posts for the next week and a half at least, check back before Thursday for my last giveaway before the baby is born, you’re going to love this one!

  • April14th

    DBA: Dingbat Custom Orders

    Posted in: About Me, Custom

    A little about the custom design process: FYI, I LOVE custom work, it’s what really drives me. The one thing I thought I’d miss about agency and more corporate design was the fulfilling need to be challenged by someone else’s parameters and ideas. Custom jobs give me that challenge and it’s always fun to work with someone who is ordering stationery for a life event. I like to really try to get to know the person I’m working with as well as what sort of event they are going for (wedding) or what sort of lifestyle they live (announcements, personal stationery). I try to take elements they’d like to incorporate into their stationery and then graphically convey who they are through illustration, type, and style. Custom jobs are fun because everyone is so different. One day I may be working on a refined rustic invitation suite, and another a whimsical baby announcement. It keeps me up on my style education and art history!

    How long do custom orders usually take to complete? I recommend 4-8 weeks due to the nature of proofing, revising and printing (which takes some time too as everything is hand printed by yours truly)! Number of pieces can add or subtract to that time frame as well as how many colors are being printed on each piece. Some wonder why it takes longer to turn around until they get going with proofing and realize all the little nuances that go into the customization of their specific suite. Upon completion and approval of proofs, there is also printing. Due to the nature of hand printing, rushing the process isn’t advised so that proper and accurate impressions, color and alignment/registration can be obtained and a beautiful and impeccable product can be shipped to the client.

    To Be Continued…

  • April9th

    Busath Photography

    Posted in: Custom

    I couldn’t resist sharing! We had these done last weekend while down visiting family in Salt Lake. I can’t believe in the 2.5 years I’ve never had Evelyn photographed professionally (2nd child neglect I think). I just got my online key to view the whole sitting (living in Idaho and being almost due doesn’t facilitate a second trip to look at photos in the studio) and can hardly stand it, I love my darling girl!

    picture-661

    Photographer: Dave Labrum of Busath Photography

    If you are ever in need of a good portrait photography studio and are in the area of Salt Lake, you really can’t go wrong with Busath. They did my senior portraits (10 years ago!), photos of David and now despite the fact that I feel I can’t quite afford it, I’m glad I bit the bullet and had Evelyn done as well. I can’t wait to get one of these for daddy for father’s day!

  • April9th

    Easter Surprise

    Posted in: Custom

    Someone’s getting some wedding invitations but this is all I can post for right now!

    eastersurprise1

    picture-66

  • April7th

    DBA: The Dingbat’s Workday

    Posted in: About Me

    In Continuation on the Doing Business As series: The Dingbat’s Workday

    My work day is centered around the needs of my family. I have my iPhone that keeps me in contact with email and clients 24/7, however there are still kids to feed, injections to give, and time for kid play. For the most part, it works well. I check my email and do estimates, etsy orders, and accounting in the mornings while kids play. During nap-time I usually get a few jobs printed or proofs off and then when lunch time rolls around we head out to ship orders and do something fun (weather permitting, work permitting). Obviously if there’s a big deadline, a babysitter or Daddy is there to help out so 100% focus goes into product and a full workday ensues. I try to schedule out how the day or week will go depending on the amount of jobs I have going through the studio during that time, but the schedule can change due to RUSH jobs or cuts and scrapes! Once kids are in bed, I’m back on my computer generating designs, sending proofs to clients, making follow-up phone calls if they haven’t been made during the day (and because some people can’t discuss wedding details at work:) and occasionally printing as well. My hubby works late hours some evenings so I can get a lot done in the 4 hours after bedtime. I almost always pull an 8 hour workday, it’s just not typical 9-5 style!

    To Be Continued…

  • March31st

    DBA: Starting Dingbat Press

    Posted in: About Me

    In continuation with Doing Business As: Why I started Dingbat Press

    I always wanted to be a graphic designer and/or illustrator due to an inspiring and mentoring neighbor who sparked my interest at a young age. So school was a matter of finding the right BFA program. However, I found a husband first, so I made the best out of school that I could. Luckily, the university I received my BFA from had an excellent design program with amazing professors.

    Due to my husband’s line of work (fly-fishing outfitter) I knew we’d be living rural and that I could work for someone else or work for myself. I did the agency thing for a few years and had a great experience there however later decided to take the plunge as our family expanded and I wanted to be at home more with my children. The business evolved out of my ADD obsession to create new designs whenever I felt like it, which led me to stationery. Letterpress was already an obsession and so the two naturally melded nicely.

    What makes you do what you do? I do what I do because I love it. There’s just something so breathtaking in seeing a design go from the drawing board, to digital proofs, to press and then into the client’s hands. That final printed piece is what keeps me coming back to do more. There’s also the added perk that I can have a studio in my home, letting me be there for my family too.

    To Be Continued….

  • March24th

    Doing Business As: Dingbat Press

    Posted in: About Me

    In this economy, it’s more important than ever for consumers to know who’s behind the wheel in a business before making a purchase. Special event stationery and invitations are no exception, seeing that they can be significant in how they emulate what type of event is being thrown and can take up a large chunk of the event budget.

    This is a small series that will be posted throughout the next few weeks giving insight into the business brains behind the designs and a little about my process, designs and why I do what I do.

    What is the name of your business? I’m DBA Dingbat Press. Sometimes I get funny reactions and snickers from people when they hear my business name as they think I’m the dingbat (which in some cases I can be), however the historical reference behind the name is related to a printer’s dingbat, often used as ornamentation in typeset letterpress printing.

    How long have you been in business?     Since December 2005 – officially – however I’ve been printing for about 5, and designing invitations here and there since 2000.

    What is your name, title, and role in the business?     My name is Adrienne Berry. I am owner and sole-proprietor. My colleagues call me suzy homemaker, or the one-man-band because at this stage in my business I do it all: design, print, represent myself, take care of the house, love my kids and my hubby, be an accountant and gardener (when the spare moment arises).

    To be Continued…

  • March19th

    Aesthetics of a 4 year old.

    Posted in: Kids

    dinos

    Sometimes I go about the day without paying much attention to my surroundings. These were discovered after I got the kids in bed last night and finally had a look around at the disaster zone within my home. I thought it was so beautiful how each dinosaur/creature was aligned and balanced on our 8′ railing, observing the usual chaos that encompasses our daily lives. Still and silent predators, they were awaiting my attention. Oh how I love the spontaneous aesthetics of a 4 year old!

  • March16th

    It’s RAINING here!

    Posted in: Custom

    FrontDoor

    Wishing it looked like this today! Here’s a view from the front door taken last week. Hopefully this rain will melt back enough for me to get out and put some new soil in the raised beds next week! Wishful thinking…happy monday. I’ll be back later with more product shots!

  • March12th

    Printing loves playdough

    Posted in: Home, Kids

    Play dough fun!

    Ever wonder what one does when a babysitter is scarce and printing needs to be done? Enter playdough. I’m not a big mess encourager (except for paint) and now I can’t believe I haven’t made playdough before! It is a mindless, hour over hour kid entertainer. No fights ensued today! Lots of printing got done. Totally worth the cleanup involved afterwards. Photos from the press tomorrow and over the next week! 

    Recipe: 2C. Water, 2C. salt, 1c. Flour. Add all ingredients into pot on cooktop and stir constantly on low heat until it balls up. Prepare for dead-arm. Keep stirring until its on the drier side. Remove from pot and let cool for a minute of two, add food coloring and knead in. If its still a little sticky, let sit out for about an hour (the kids won’t be happy about this). Keeps 2-3 weeks in ziploc baggies. Or you can let your sculptures air dry. Enjoy!

    Related Posts with Thumbnails
Next Entries »
Return to the Homepage