Here’s a sneak peek at the most intense design project I’ve worked on to date: the alumni magazine for The American University of Paris. As the school prepares to celebrate its 50th Anniversary Gala in less than two weeks, I learned that there was a last minute design project that needed tending to: a 40-page, full color, magazine. A special 50th anniversary edition, no less…. and we had a week to pull it off. Could it be accomplished? I was doubtful. But, there’s something to be said of working under pressure—the adrenaline kicks in and you just concentrate on the job at hand. We’re closing in on the final product now and I couldn’t be happier with the result. Whew.

I certainly felt a sense of accomplishment with the completion of the spring issue of Berkshire Botanical Garden‘s magazine, Cuttings. Working with a new client and under an extreme deadline, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Fortunately, we had instant chemistry and the design progressed seamlessly. With the project to the printer in record time, we were patting ourselves on the back for a job well done! Oh, and the poppies took the prize for the cover image! (It was definitely my favorite!)      

Spring has sprung and I’ve decided to take the graphic designer’s approach to gardening: layout the Berkshire Botanical Garden’s next edition of “Cuttings.” I’ve been getting my hands dirty, digging through the Garden’s library of images for the perfect cover.  Here are my favorites… will have to wait and see which one takes the prize!

I’m super excited to be working with interior designer, Carole King of Details on the redesign of her website and advertising. We’re just getting started… but thought I’d share a sneak peek at where we’re headed. Carole is an amazingly talented woman: not only does she run a successful interior design business, but she also owns an amazing shop in the village of Egremont, MA. It’s loaded with unique accessories, artwork and furniture that can’t help but inspire your space in some way. Her energy, talent, creativity and honest approach to design has made my job so much fun.

Here’s a thought: why not arrange a dinner party where everyone brings a little “something” to the table. No, not crock pots and casseroles… “something” different. Last Saturday, my husband and I were guests and contributors to the first-ever Collaborative Berkshire Dinner. Everyone pitched in: the Welds (Berkshire Mountain Distillers) mixed up pre-dinner cocktails, the Tesoros (Ooma Tesoro’s) prepared a delicious multi-course dinner and Doria Pollinger (HR Zeppelin) added the perfect finish to the evening with her decadent chocolates. I designed and printed the menus and our gracious hosts pulled it all together in their beautiful home. Host, Eric Korenman, photographed the evening (his beautiful work is below). The result was an unforgettable experience that lasted until the wee hours of the night. An amazing event and I look forward to the next!