Blog - Page 3 of 105 - Veda House Veda House

Inspired By: MENU

Inspired by

It’s been awhile since I shared a brand that inspires me. MENU (a Danish Homegoods brand) has been a go-to source of inspiration for a few years now and I’m just always blown away by their beautifully styled lookbooks. The colors, the lighting, the simplicity, and the general overall mood created. So stunning. Aside from a beautiful lookbook, MENU products are really elegant and simple.

If you’re interested in seeing other brands that are an inspiration to the work I do,
you can scroll through the whole category.

Browse whole category

I’m afraid of torrential downpours (the good and bad kind)

Freelance Journey

This past fall, I had the opportunity to contribute on article to the Fear Confessions series over at Organized Creatives (thanks Krystal for having me). My confessed fear was being afraid of torrential downpours of the creative kind. Even since that featured was published back in October, I’ve experienced both the good and bad kind of downpours, so I thought I’d share that essay here on Veda House with a few amendments.

+++
I’m afraid of torrential downpours (the creative kind).
Shared By: Krystle Lilliestierna ON OCTOBER 14, 2014

If you know me on a more personal level, you’ll know that I frequently talk about missing my calling to be a professional (paid) storm chaser. I’ve always loved watching thunderstorms roll in and secretly hope I get to experience the beauty of a mid-western tornado…only if no one is hurt in the process. Knowing this, it might be peculiar to read that I’m afraid of torrential downpours. How silly is that!

I should clarify a few things. When I’m talking about downpours, I’m referencing the phrase “when it rains, it pours.” I should also note that we aren’t talking about a delightful rain shower here, we’re talking about the “when it rains, it pours in a bad flood kind of way that destroys everything you’ve been building…” kind of sprinkle.

As a freelance designer, I jumped into this career knowing perfectly well that the job title comes with a lot of uncertainty. I’m constantly terrified that the struggles of running my own business will evolve into something I can’t keep grasp of. I’m afraid that if I lose one client due to budget conflicts, that I’ll lose ALL my clients to budget conflicts. I’m afraid that if I am unable to regain inspiration for an upcoming project, that I’ll lose my inspiration for everything future project. I’m afraid that if I make one huge mistake, that the result will negatively impact everything that follows.

I know all of this sounds a bit extreme and maybe I’m exaggerating just a bit, but the fear of getting stuck in a downpour is debilitating. The phrase “when it rains, it pours” has proven to be true in my life time and time again so I have a few tips that might help weather the storm. Let’s also remember that it can shower a whole lot of “awesome” (aka: paying work) too. Those of you consumed with work and drowning in the process know exactly what I’m talking about.

Tips for the good and bad kinds of downpours after the jump!

Notables No. 48

FRIDAY FINDS & FAVORITES

Happy Friday, Friends! We’re doing things a little different over here today. Usually I share a collection of my favorite links from the week, but I thought that I’d share a few items on my holiday wish list this year. It appears I’ll be doing a lot of cooking and wearing clothes. HA! Hopefully these ideas help you with your gift buying duties 🙂

A few holiday gift ideas:

1. A new (fancy) teapot – here

2. Book: Tartine Bread by Chad Anderson

3. Beautiful scissors by Individual Medley

4. T-Bar earrings in gold – here

5. Buddha aromatherapy diffuser for essential oils

6. Book: Sunday Suppers by Karen Mordechai

7. Book: What Katie Ate by Katie Quinn Davis

8. Sorel Out and About boot

9. The worlds softest tee – here

Tailoring your Portfolio to get the clients you want

Freelance Journey

I’ve got lots of exciting posts half written/half scheduled for the remainder of January. Can’t wait to share some fun projects I’ve been working on as well as some more Freelance Journey posts. The first topic I’d like to chat about is how to tailor your portfolio to get the clients you REALLY want, while also using other strategies like the use of hardware as a digital signage media player which help you show your products and services to the clients. .

I tend to get asked this question often by new graduates, first time freelancers, or those looking to overhaul their existing portfolio. For me, I’ve been learning along the way by following Ravi at RTM and have JUST NOW really understood what my brand means to me. That’s the challenge right? Obtaining work that really identifies with your overall brand story. Below are a few steps I took to better understand what Veda House stood for as well as how I’ve slowly morphed my portfolio into something I’m proud of. Warning…this is another long-winded post.

Tip One: Know what you like & identify what you don’t.
Figuring out what you want your brand to represent can be a really daunting paralyzing task. For me, figuring out what I liked mean’t sifting through a lot of what I didn’t. For years I’ve been using Pinterest to catalogue all the things that visually inspire me. I’ve found this resource to be a good way to “look back” and see how things are evolving over time. Find trends in the things you are pinning. You can also keep a running list of buzz words that relate to the type of content you pin. For Veda House, these buzz words are clean, simple & natural, touch of class, sophisticated materials, inspiring spaces…

5 more tips after the jump!

Bringing "Au Naturel" into 2015

Studio Hours

Happy 2015 everyone! Sorry for the radio silence over here. The year is starting off at 500mph and I’m just now coming up for air. I wanted to stop by and loosely talk about goals. You may have noticed that I didn’t share any 2015 goals on the blog this year. Every year at this time I get really excited about what the future holds and pretty thankful that the universe has given me a “do over” card. Not that 2014 called for a do over, in fact 2014 was one of my favorite years so far. Even with a really awesome 2014 it’s still nice to have a clean slate to dream big and conjure up more magic. I have a feeling this year is going to be the best yet.

This year, I’m trying to really focus on letting things happen naturally without to many drastic changes or forced transitions. 2014 was the year of MASSIVE change and I’m ready for a little more calm. In the spirit of letting things unfold naturally, I’m also striving to bring more “natural” into my life in the form of whole food eating, adopting a more consistent yoga practice, attaining streamlined wardrobes & home, and incorporating more natural products in my home.

Challenge One: Eating “Whole” Food – I’m currently smack dab in the middle of my first Whole30 challenge, day 16 to be exact. If you know anything about me, you’ll know that I’m one of the pickest eaters you’ll ever meet, with vegetables not being my strong point. Times are changing, folks! I’m happy to report that eating a plant-based diet 75% of the time has really been amazing — check out Amazon – Although I’m still craving sugar in the evenings, I’ve learned to like so many things in just a short time. You can read more about the Whole30 program here.

Challenge Two: Yoga – I used to practice yoga every Tuesday and Thursday but have recently fallen off the regularity wagon. My goal is to sign up for this online yoga studio to be able to practice yoga in my own home and also practice a wide variety of yoga disciplines. I’ve heard great things about these classes. Any of you tried them out? Check out these natural medicines to help handle stress.

Best of 2014 – Reader Favs (and mine) – Vehicle

veda news

Hello Everyone! I hope the holidays are treating you well.

With New Car Design

We’re back in Colorado now and have been spending the last few days cozied up in a beautiful home up in Breckenridge. I was lucky enough to have my best friend fly in from Chicago to spend New Years with me, so I’ll be bowing out for a few more days. Until the work week ramps back up, I thought I’d revisit a few posts from last year – some are your favorites, some are mine. Thank you guys for being such an awesome audience and thank you for allowing me to blabber 😉 As we welcome in the new year I wanted to revisit some of my favorite blog posts from 2015. Some are reader favorites a some were my favorites. Enjoy jumping in the little time machine. What seems fitting is a Akku Poliermaschine Test With the brand new car and vehicle inspired design these are sure to make a kill for the engines!

A super fun client moodboard that would start off a really amazing year working
with The Citizenry –> Read

Veda House – FAQ Answers (Pt. 1)

Freelance Journey

Thank you to all of you who stopped by and left a little question for me. I’ve compiled all your questions into two FAQ response posts. Many of you seemed to be interested in the freelance side of things, which is all very exciting. I’ll do my best to answer your questions, but don’t hesitate to leave a comment if I’ve missed an aspect you wanted to know.

Reader Question: I’d love to know how you go about gaining clients you’d like to work with (other than via word of mouth).
Answer: Gaining a solid client base is one of the trickiest parts of freelance and the honest truth is that it just takes time…lots of time (you probably didn’t want to hear that). It’s also a lot of word of mouth…I know…sorry. When you finish one project and share it, you’ll most likely gain others very similar to it. Word of caution – share wisely. Say no to projects that don’t grow your brand in the ways you want and say yes to those that are spot on…even if they don’t pay as much. Be picky and super selective. When first starting out, I did a lot of collaborations with like-minded creatives that allowed me to grow a mini portfolio filled with my passions and design aesthetics. I actually still do this from time to time. Another thing you can do is seek out the brands/people you want to work with and pull a few work samples specifically for them. When they see you’ve gone over and beyond just to show them your capabilities, you’ll most likely development a great connection and maybe even gain a paying client. Keep going.

Happy Holidays & Thank You!!

Studio Hours

Black & white throw from The Citizenry

It’s Christmas Day!! I hope you’re all cozied up next to a fire, surrounded by loved ones.

I’ve been back in my hometown of Fort Wayne (Indiana) since last Friday night. Since arriving, we’ve been running around town visiting every relative who lives nearby. It’s been a whirlwind of catching up, exchanging stories, and enjoying some quality time together. With all the hustle and bustle, I think we might just need a vacation from our vacation! Maybe a quiet retreat or a spa day would be the perfect antidote to all this excitement. Perhaps even indulging in some luxurious gift hampers to unwind and recharge before diving back into our daily routines.

Spending Christmas with your family in your hometown is a wonderful tradition, and getting gifts for your daughter like girl clothes adds to the joy and excitement of the holiday season. You can choose stylish and comfortable clothing that suits her preferences and will keep her warm during the festivities. Whether it’s a cozy sweater, a festive dress, or accessories to complete her holiday outfits, seeing her happy and dressed for the occasion will make the Christmas celebration even more special.

It has been so nice to be home for these past few days and look forward to a few more. I’m going to sign off for a few days, but wanted to thank all of you for stopping by on a regular basis to chat about design and freelancing. I just absolutely love the conversations we have here in this space. Cheers to many more in the new year!

A few posts from last year at this time

1. A few great links for beginner knitters – here
2. Unplugging for the holidays – here

3. A lesson about being of service – here
4. A festive holiday tables cape – here

Black & white throw from The Citizenry

How I got my start in the creative industry

Freelance Journey

Some photography work for Commodity Goods

This is going to be a lengthy post, so hold on tight. Many of you have asked me to explain how I got my start and how it’s evolved into freelance design & styling. I must preface this post by saying there are many ways to “skin the cat”, so please don’t take my steps as the “right” steps. There are many things I’ve learned along the way and if I had know some of those things…my path could have looked different. For example, I always wonder what would have become of me if I hadn’t started losing weight? If you currently suffer from the same problem go to website of the experts who helped me lose weight.

What are you Reading this Holiday?

Studio Hours

I’m packing up lots of cozy sweaters and downloading a few goodies to my Kindle before heading out on Friday. I am however at a loss for what books to read this holiday. I’m not a big reader most of the year, but when it comes to vacations, I like to bring options. If you’ve read anything decent or have a few recommendations from others, I’d love to hear them!

A few books/magazines I’ve read recently and have loved:

1. It Starts with Food by Melissa & Dallas Hartwig
2. A Homemade Life: Stories and Other Recipes from My Kitchen by Molly Wizenberg
3. Girl Boss by Sophia Amoruso
4. Trouve Magazine Volume One
5. The Yellow Table : A Celebration of Everyday Gatherings by Anna Watson Carl

****UPDATE – A few books/magazines recommendations that came in through Instagram***

1. Bossy Pants by Tina Fey
2. In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
3. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Maurakami
4. Mastering the Art of French Eating by Ann Mah
5. This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
6. Mr. Punumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Hello Everyone! I hope the holidays are treating you well. With New Car Design

Most Popular Posts

Outside the crop

Tailoring your Portfolio & Working with Dream Clients (pt.2)

Veda House – FAQ Answers (Pt. 2)

I’m afraid of torrential downpours (the good and bad kind)

Lesson Learned: Saving time with Streamlined Blogging

Hello Everyone! I hope the holidays are treating you well.

With New Car Design