Hello K*fans!!! We have some very, very exciting news to share with you all! First off, we’re super excited to announce our newest client, we are now working with The Children’s Museum of Houston!!! It is a privilege and honor to have an opportunity like this, we feel very blessed! It took 2 years of hard work, struggles, tons of meetings and long late-nights to get to where we are now. We feel very proud of our brand’s growth, our mission and all of the support you guys have all shown us throughout the years. HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL THE K*BELIEVERS!! We can’t wait to start sharing some of the fun work we’ll be creating for the museum, it’s very EXCITING!! #MOMENT4LIFE
And now, for the next set of exciting news…read below!
You’re probably wondering what that graphic above is all about…well, what you see there is the beautiful country of El Salvador and an excellent quote that I truly LOVE! I am leaving to visit San Salvador, El Salvador this Sunday, I’m going to be traveling through the beautiful country for 10 days! El Salvador is my parent’s birthplace, this is the country they grew up in. I’m excited to see my Grandpa again, although I feel like we’re meeting for the first time, the last time I saw him was when I was 4 years old. I’m looking forward to hearing the stories about my mother’s youth and to see the places she used to spend her time at, the delicious food, seeing the people, and experiencing the culture. I have NEVER visited the country before, so I am a little nervous and anxious, but overall I’m EXCITED, I’ll be in good hands—meeting up with my mother and sister who left the U.S. earlier this month!
During my trip to El Salvador I will be taking LOTS of documentary-style photographs and will be designing a cute Photo-book to share online with you all! I hope you’re excited for that, you will all be traveling with me through my camera lens! And, don’t worry, I’ll be gone but my TEAM is prepared to keep you INSPIRED next week. I’m actually excited for you all, there will be a lot of inspiration posted on our Facebook wall while I’m out, so stay tuned!!! And most importantly, STAY INSPIRED, STAY+ and SHARE THE INSPIRATION.
ALL THE BEST,
Cindy K. Menjivar
Today, we are proud to celebrate Kardia Design Studio’s 2nd Birthday!
We are so very thankful for the opportunities you have given us, the distance we have traveled on our journey,
the people we have inspired, the friendships we have established and the wonderful customers we have served!
We thank YOU for your business, support and endless motivation!
*To celebrate our 2nd Birthday we are now offering 20% off on all Design or Stationery Orders placed through the month of July.*Hello Kardia friends!!
First off, we’d like to wish you all a very Happy Summer, hope you all are staying cool and hydrated during these heated days. We’re so glad you guys continue to follow our creativity, things around the K*studio are going steady, and we’re consistently meeting our busy summer deadlines. We’re enjoying meeting and building strong relationships with our new & existing clients, creating new designs, and reading all the inspiring comments from our fans!
This time, we have some new photographs to share with you all, these shots showcase 2 of our previous projects—we always upload the digital files to share with you, but now we took some close-up shots from the actual printed pieces. Everyone knows that everything is better in print!!!
- The first set is a Custom Tri-fold Annual Luncheon Invitation for SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES.
- Features unique hand-painted watercolor backgrounds and Illustrations, custom RSVP/Donor Cards, and Envelopes.
- The second set is the Spring Issue of PORTFOLIO Fine Homes Magazine, produced for PRUDENTIAL GARY GREENE, REALTORS.
- Features soft elegant textures and contemporary clean layout, 48 pages, Gloss Stock
(We just finished the new Summer Issue V.55, which will hit the streets in July!!)
- Features soft elegant textures and contemporary clean layout, 48 pages, Gloss Stock
It’s been a while since we’ve posted some new work, things have been pretty fast-paced around here at KDS. We’ve been experimenting with lots of new projects, one of them is this exciting new website we designed for a new clothing line called “Goodshirts Clothing“! In the beginning of May, we were contacted by Danny Good, the owner and mastermind behind the Goodshirts brand—he was searching for the perfect design team to bring his creative ideas to life on the web. After our first design consultation with GS, we were very excited to get started and as expected we had a great creative collaboration and completed the design just in time for his May 28th Inauguration!
The Goodshirts Clothing website features a custom “Lookbook” on the Home Page which showcases all of their new looks and it also features a integrated “Blog” for all their news and updates, our favorite part of this website is the custom “Shop”, where all viewers can easily purchase their products and check out directly from the official site. Our web design is clean, has bold style and performs with simple functionality. As for the overall look and design, we decided to give this site a playful, hip and fresh look! We feel that this style is consistent with their existing brand and it compliments their expression. We kept focusing on good design + user friendly. Our color palette consists of cool greys, black, white and red…we also added some dimension by adding soft textures to some of our patterns. In the end, our client was very excited and happy with his new website—our mission is complete.
*Special thanks to Bruce Gemberling and Daniel Martinez for assisting with Custom Integrations and Flash Art!
Below are a few screenshot previews of the website!
If you’d like to see the official new home of Goodshirts Clothing, click on this link: www.goodshirtsclothing.com
ARTS & CRAFTS , HOME , INSPIRATION , RESOURCES
Our little Crafty Weekend, New Art & Family Fun Ideas!
This weekend we were feeling pretty crafty again and being that it was so nice and breezy outdoors, we decided to spend our Saturday evening creating art in our patio with the family. We thought it would be fun to take a break and do some art together, so we all sat outside, painted and laughed our little hearts out. There is just something so admirable about watching your family create art, we love sharing the beauty and joy of it. Below are the photos of the little art fest we had going on here—yes, this is how we love to spend our weekends. We think this is a great way to share some quality time with the family, it’s also very fun! You should try it with your family and friends!
By the way, are you going to be creating any crafty decorations or projects for Easter?
I am anxious to create some new paintings inspired by P A S T E L colors!
If you want to get crafty with the family or kids this weekend, here is a list we created of some fun Easter Decorating Ideas that we absolutely love! If you decide to try any of these ideas or any others, please share a photo with us on our Facebook! We’d love to see your art.
- Beautiful Easter Egg Dyeing Techniques via Martha Stewart
- Super fun & easy Easter Egg Garden via Parents Magazine
- Sweet Peeps Bouquets & S’mores via Your Home Based Mom (This one is too cute, I might just try this one myself)
- Make a Chicky Piñata via Better Homes and Garden
Hope you enjoy these ideas and don’t forget to share your art with us!
- Daniel’s new bonsai tree
- Our artfest: the family and Daniel painting
- Ravishing Oleanders — by Cindy
- Close-up of texture — *(My favorite pattern!)
- Peacock Bizarre — by Cindy *(I think this one is totally weird!)
- Paint in the Lines — by Daniel
Tonight, I’m inspired to do some creative art with my hands! Yes, HANDMADE ART! As a Graphic Designer, I spend most of my time in front of my Mac dealing with fonts, computer design software, email and printers. When we deal with the digital world 24/7 it is easy to forget to reunite with our artistic roots. That is, the basics of a pencil, paper and paintbrushes. The digital world has made it so easy for us to create “Graphic Art”, and believe me I LOVE that, but I think it’s time to finally take a break from the computer. Usually, my only time off to do fun Kardia things like this is when I’m NOT busy with a current project late at night—so now I’m taking advantage of this quiet time. As much as I LOVE art, it is hard to actually make time to create art for myself. So tonight, I shall paint my canvas turquoise.
Lately, I have been shopping at Michael’s Arts&Craft store, gathering cool crafting supplies here and there to start making some cool art for the shop! I have all these creative and dreamy ideas flying in my head and they need to reach the paper already. I truly enjoy making handmade art, it helps me relax and it is also very fun! I think any designer or artist can relate to that statement.
I took a few shots over the weekend that I’d like to share with you all. Below is a shot I took of my latest art haul, Daniel creating some art and my work in progress—just a little sneak peak behind the scenes at the design studio.
That’s all for tonight, STAY INSPIRED AND STAY+ !
xCindy
Art Haul pictured below:
• New paintbrushes: I like to buy the value packs because I do a lot of texture work in my backgrounds, so I tend to destroy them easily.
• Butterflies and Cupcake 3D stickers: I’m thinking of using these pretty pieces in my mixed media paintings.
• Watercolor Pencils: I love painting with watercolors, it’s my favorite! But, I’ve never used the Watercolor pencils, thought I’d experiment.
• Chocolate Bunny and Animal Print Scrap-booking Paper: I just loved these patterns, could come in handy during my crafting session.
• Paper Flowers, Flowers bunch, Colorful feathers, Glitter and Metallic Beads: I’ll use these to add a little pop to my acrylic paintings!
Hello everyone, thanks for stopping by at K’s little blog hut today! I hope you like the new changes we’ve doing around here, it’s been crazy busy since the start of this year {which we are extremely grateful for}, it has been fun and invigorating! I feel like Kardia along with myself and my team are growing and blossoming in ways that is going to get us places and open doors for new opportunities. Opportunities not only for us, but for the people who we believe in and work with as-well. God willing—because we just do the hard work and let God do his will in us. <3
Today, on my drive back to the studio I got this wonderful feeling of happiness and joy. The warm sun rays and beautiful blue skies and lush greenery that Spring has brought us is very inspiring! It really made me STOP and reflect on the goodness that is around us, the beauty that exists. I was going to post a facebook status, but then realized I had a lot more to say, so I thought it would be fun to share it with you all. My initial thought was “Today is a great day, just like every other day.”. Although, I felt like that statement could almost be a contradiction, because sometimes we do have our negative bad days, busy days, dramatic days and sad days, but HONESTLY, if we really think about it, everyday is a GREAT day because God has blessed us with a new day. Count our blessings and realize that we MADE it through and we survived—that in itself is a miracle!
People always and I mean ALWAYS ask me, “How do you stay so positive?”, I don’t really think that is true…I do have my weak moments and I do have things that corrupt my positive attitude at times, but I try hard to live my life as an example, because I really want people to learn how to live a positive and happy life. Staying positive is what I preach, so when my ships starts going down, I know that I have to anchor myself and not let myself drown in negative thinking or get emotional {which is extremely hard, but very doable}. I have to do the opposite—you should too. It’s super easy to dwell on the negative, one thing I’ve learned through my solo career as a female business owner is NOT to worry so much about the things you can’t control and to enjoy life and the people I have been blessed with. No problem is too big and every problem has a solution. When we start to worry that’s when things get worse, but YOU must remember and know that if your at that point where you feel like it can’t get any worse, brace yourself and GET READY because that means something BIG and GREAT is coming your way. Struggle is a sign that God loves you. I promise. Next time you feel close to jumping in the negative side of the pool, catch your step and reflect back on all the goodness and blessings that are right in front of you. Our God, our lives, our story and our purpose on earth is BIGGER than any problem or enemy on this universe, planet, world, nation and country.
I love writing and having intellectual conversations, I would love to read your thoughts and see what advice you may have that can help us all STAY POSITIVE. Like our STAY+ Artist Megan White once told us, “Dont sweat the small things, and everything is a small thing.”
B R E A T H E // STAY+
xCindy Menjivar
P.S. Would you like to continue seeing more posts like these in the future? This is my first one! So, let me know what you think. I’d love to share my thoughts and inspirations with you all, if it inspires you.
All photograhs taken by Cindy Menjivar for Kardia Design Studio.
The new issue of PORTFOLIO of Fine Homes magazine has finally arrived to the newsstands in Houston! PORTFOLIO magazine is a showcase of all the Fine Homes in Houston, TX presented by Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors. This issue was freshly redesigned with a brand new look and art direction. Total distributions of this piece is 3,600 copies in the local area of Houston.
This was truly a really fun and exciting project, although I must admit it was very challenging. It was a complete new process for us, we handled everything from the listing submissions to photo editing, design, production to pre-press and proofing. Thankfully, I was able to keep everything under control and as always, delivered on time! I am very satisfied with the final results and so was our client and their readers—positive feedback like this always makes the hard work worth it! Meeting our clients standards is always our goal.
Well, now you can check it out too! Below is the full digital version of the magazine and a few previews of our favorite spreads.
Let us know what YOU all think!
Happy February to all! What a greater way to start the month of love and friendship than with a dose of some positivity and inspiration from our new STAY+ Artist of the month, Gaby Luces Guillén!
This month, we bring you an artist who has inspired us with a series of art pieces that fit perfectly for this month’s theme—all about love, positivity and change. Gaby joins Kardia’s growing list of amazing STAY+ Artists all the way from the beautiful land of Venezuela!
“It is my pleasure to have met and made a special connection with Gaby, I am excited to be able to share her story and art with you all. I have been inspired by her story, creativity and positive attitude. God always seems to connect the right people at just the right time. I hope that her story and work inspires you as well. And as always, thank you so much for taking the time to read our STAY+ features every month and for sharing with your friends. You are helping us spread love, inspiration and positive art all over the world! ENJOY!”
—Cindy, Founder & Designer of KDS
Gaby was born in Valencia, Venezuela, just 25 years ago, she says she does badly at math and practical subjects—they are like learning Chinese for her. Thankfully, she has always showed an artistic vein, through music especially singing, dancing and drawing.
As a child she spent hours in her aunt’s studio who is also a Graphic Designer, she was always excited to see her aunt working in the design world. She believes that her aunt was her first inspiration and one of the most influential persons to influence her career choice. She remembers her father always saying that she would become a graphic designer one day and she never believed it. She always knew she was a 100% artistic person, but she never thought of design as a way of living. Before she even thought of becoming a designer she attended Universidad de Oriente for two years trying to get a chance in Medical school—something that never happened. She then attended IUTIRLA in Barcelona, Venezuela and graduated in 2008 as a Graphic Designer, she worked at TVO Televisora de Oriente for three years as a Editor, Producer, Post Producer, and Graphic Designer. She also had the opportunity to become a host for a program called Momentos de Cine, which is simply a show about the memorable times of Cinema History. The concept behind Gaby’s work is based on conveying art and messages that not only look good, but also inspire and make people feel moved by what they see in her designs. Emotions and perception of those feelings are reinterpreted to become her designs, direct and simple messages are her goal, something that can be understood by many with just a glimpse of an eye. Gaby is currently in the process of developing her own brand.
“I definitely believe that design saved my life.”
+ONE ON ONE WITH GABY:
Q: How do you stay positive in the midst of a negative situation?
A: It might sound cheesy, but the way I see it is “there is always a new day”—it’s as simple as that. I have learned that most situations are out of my hands and there is nothing I can do, so I just breathe and let things be the way they are meant to be. Love is the only answer for staying positive, especially God’s love.
Q: What is something weird that inspires your art?
A: Sleep…[LOL]. Many of my designs are created while I am dreaming.
Q: What is something normal that inspires your art?
A: Every small thing could be the start of a bigger idea. I always pay close attention to those hidden and unnoticed phrases people say, those sayings or quotes could become the muse for my next project. Music is also a very important source of inspiration in my life as an artist.
Q: Do you emulate any other artists?
A: Of course, I am influenced by the work of others. But, I try to follow my heart and sometimes the heart connects with that collective stream.
Q: What was the last meal you had?
A: I had a tuna sandwich this morning.
Q: Name one song that always gets you pumped up.
A: It’s so hard to pick a single song because there are so many, but it would have to be Decode by Paramore. By the way, I am not a Twilight fan, but that song just gives me chills. I also love ¨Beautiful¨ by Elogy.
Q: What is the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Did it work out?
A: Deciding to leave my job after three years of working as a Post Producer and Graphic Designer for a local TV station. I made that decision with absolute enthusiasm to follow my dreams and do what I really wanted to do for so long. I have no idea if it will really work out, but I do not regret it so far. I feel like I am at the right place and doing the right thing!
Q: If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?
A: I do not see myself being anything other than an artist, but I would probably be a doctor.
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite quote?
A: Yes, I have two favorite quotes. ¨I know that I know nothing¨ –Socrates, the more I learn the more I am aware of all the things the design world has to offer, a lifetime wouldn’t be enough to discover them all. The other quote I love is ¨What goes around comes around¨, it is always important to spread good positive vibes around, things that make you and others happier and it’s also a smart way to attract the people you need to be in your life.
Q: What is your question for our next featured artist?
A: Did you ever think you weren’t good enough to be an artist?
Our previous STAY+ featured artist Megan White wants to know:
Q: How would your life be different if you weren’t an artist?
A: My life would be totally different! I definitely believe that design saved my life, before that I really didn’t seem to fit well in other professions.
To learn more about Gaby Luces Guillén and to see more of her positive creations, please visit her Flickr page here.
Written by: Cindy Menjivar, Madeline Hollern, Gaby Luces Guillén
If you want this goodie, download the full-size image at our site, click here!!!
ENJOY and most importantly if it inspires you or makes you smile, PASS IT AROUND!
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