I am so excited to share this invitation suite that I designed for my best friend’s bridal shower and bachelorette party! Even though the events were on the same day, each party was a special celebration, so I decided to design two separate cards that complemented each other. While the wedding colors are inspired by peacock feathers in a more subtle way, I wanted to be bright and bold for these invitations! I printed them at home and mailed the cards together in teal envelopes lined with chartreuse paper. I am really happy with the outcome and they definitely helped set the tone for our party marathon! I’ll be sharing some fun event details, including a bachelorette party survival kit soon!

If you are interested in customizing these design for your peacock themed event let me know and I’ll get to work on them for you! I also just added a Pinterest button below so feel free to PIN AWAY!

More from Ciera Design:

1. Peacock Party Inspiration Board
2. Amelie G Magazine Launch Party
3. Identity design for upcoming event in New Orleans

Two weeks ago my friends and I threw an awesome day-o-fun (shower & bachelorette party) celebrating Chelsea’s engagement! I had been collecting images on a Peacock Party pinboard and planning for months and it finally all came together. Here are some of my favorite inspirational images and I’ll be sharing the invites and fun event details soon!

Another item crossed off of my 30 before 30 list! Be sure to subscribe to the Ciera Design RSS feed or follow me on Twitter so that you don’t miss out when I post the invites and party pics! Visit my Peacock Party pinboard for image credits.

More from Ciera Design:

1. Brights & Stripes
2. Pinsperation
3. Amelie G Magazine Launch Party

My January featured sponsor, Sequin Crush, is helping to spread the awareness of National Wear Red Day and the Go Red For Women movement who’s goal is to share the truth about heart disease, the number one killer of women.

The facts are clear. More women die of heart disease than all forms of cancer combined. Unfortunately, the killer isn’t as easy to see. Heart disease is often silent, hidden and misunderstood. The truth is, we can stop our number one killer together by sharing the truth. Make it your mission to fight heart disease in women on National Wear Red Day, Friday, February 3rd, 2012.

If you’re like me and not sure how to pull off a red outfit, it’s our lucky day! Jasmine at Sequin Crush has put together a post with three awesome ways to go red.

Head on over to Sequin Crush to get the details on these looks!

January was full of family, friends, setting goals… and my first outfit post!  In case you missed anything throughout the month, here are my favorite posts:

1 // Instagram Week In Photos
2 // 30 Before 30 – A Year of Goals
3 // Keep Me Warm by the Fire
4 // Stanley Restaurant New Orleans
5 // Custom Notecards
6 // A Very Special Quilt
7 // What I Wore – BBQ in January
8 // Island Creek Oyster Bar Identity

I have a lot planned for February but if you have any special requests just let me know! xo Ciera

I am sharing some tips on Kyla’s blog for staying connected, engaged and inspired online without it taking over your life!

 Some of my approaches included: creating a list, coming up with a realistic online schedule, unfollowing negative people or blogs and interacting with people instead of just following. Head over to Kyla’s blog to read more about intention setting, managing your online life and honoring your differences and what some fellow bloggers have to say as well.

I’ll be expanding on how I managing my online life soon so subscribe to the Ciera Design RSS feed or follow me on Twitter so that you don’t miss out!

More from Ciera Design:

1. My Favorite Blogs – Check ‘em out!

Finally back to Boston after 36 days home in New Orleans. I am finding it difficult to get back in the swing of things. I found this simple illustration by Lizzy Stewart that says what I am feeling perfectly.

Ciera Design is a lifestyle and design blog where I share my adventures as a freelance graphic designer and everything that exhilarates me as an artist. I love being able to promote other artists and small businesses on this blog! If you’re interested in sponsoring please check out my advertising page and we can get started!

More from Ciera Design:

1. Ciera Design is Now Accepting Sponsors
2. Think Big, Shop Small – New Monthly Feature!

I shared a little sneak peak of this project a few months ago but since it was a surprise, I had to wait to share the final product. For Christmas we gave my grandmother a quilt made from individual squares. We each wrote something special on our square and my aunt sewed them all together into this beautiful quilt!

If you are interested in giving a quilt like this as a gift and don’t have the sewing skills my aunt has an Etsy shop and accepts custom orders!

More from Ciera Design:

1. Special Grace
2. Longing for Jazz Fest [A Flickr Friday Special]

If you hadn’t heard of SOPA before, you probably have by now: some of the internet’s most influential sites—Reddit and Wikipedia among them—are going dark today to protest the much-maligned anti-piracy bill. Freedom of speech should reach every part of our world. Learn more here.

More from Ciera Design:

1. Happy Social Media Day! My Social Media History

My family threw a birthday party for my sister and I last weekend and decided to grill since the weather was so nice! My dad grilled some amazing chicken, peppers and pineapple and my mom made this unbelievable Saints themed cake! One of my 30 before 30 goals is to try some outfit posts this year… so here is my first one along with some Instagrams from the day!

Gray Shirt – Old Navy // Black Shirt – Express // Skirt – H&M // Boots – Thrifted // Locket Necklace – from my grandmother // Whistle Necklace – Forever 21

My username is CieraH on Instagram if you want to follow my photo stream! 

More from Ciera Design:

1. Nip Chop Shirt Design
2. Polished
3. Etsy Favorite – New Orleans Skyline Necklace

Love the identity and collaterals for Island Creek Oyster Bar by Oat Creative. It really stands out from the typical seafood restaurant style by pulling inspiration from old school office forms, tags and stamps while incorporating clean typography, touches of handwriting and bold colors. Can’t wait to check this place out in Boston and see all of this beauty in person!

More from Ciera Design:

1. Habit: New Approaches to Creative Thinking
2. Brand Spotlight: Kate Spade
3. Brand Spotlight: Flywheel Stationery

I created these custom note cards for a giveaway over on Freckled Nest last month. I just ordered the cards and envelopes from OvernightPrints.com for Fair Ivy, the winner!

If you are interested in these note cards for your business or personal use let me know and I’ll get to work on some for you!

More from Ciera Design:

1. Putting the FREE in Freelance
2. Give Thanks – Freebies
3. Holiday Cards DIY

My sister and I recently ate at Stanley Restaurant, a cute little place in Jackson Square, New Orleans. We decided to share the Bananas Foster French Toast and the Breaux Bridge Benedict. They split the dishes for us and they were both SO amazing! I’d like to visit Chef Scott Boswell’s fine-dining counterpart, Stella! next.

More from Ciera Design:

1. Wandering Eye settles on New Orleans…
2. Sucré New Orleans [Much Love Monday]
3. Thanksgiving Instagrams

I have been home in New Orleans for over two weeks and it has only been cold for one day. Even though I’m sitting here with the AC on, I can’t help to think of how to stay warm once I head back to Boston. This winter, I’d like to spend time bundled up, drinking tea and coffee and cooking lots of delicious things!

thermos // journal // slippers // throw // mug // cook book // scarf // teapot // hat

After a much needed break I am ready for 2012! The new year always sparks a sense of inspiration in me and this year instead of picking one resolution for 2012 I decided to make a 30 before 30 list of both professional and personal goals. This works out well since my birthday is on New Years Eve.

01 // create an inspiring studio space at home
02 // website/blog makeover
03 // create a better home/work balance and learn to take real days off work
04 // travel to Austin or San Francisco
05 // more tangible artwork
06 // learn to plan better for blog posts and focus on unique and meaningful content
07 // read more books
08 // create a stationery and art print line and online shop
09 // use camera in manual mode more than auto
10 // serious purge of closet and create a coherent wardrobe
11 // design and send out Christmas cards
12 // refinish living room table
13 // explore new places in Boston
14 // more DIY projects
15 // week-long camping trip
16 // visit Salem during October/Halloween
17 // guest posts and/or collaborate with other bloggers
18 // buy another lens for my camera
19 // visit Boston Harbor Islands
20 // host a fabulous dinner party
21 // create a regular exercise program
22 // update my design portfolio
23 // take a self-portrait
24 // go ice skating
25 // try a “what I wore” post – What I Wore // BBQ in January and more to come!
26 // learn Zander’s pizza recipe and work on cooking skills
27 // leave the house more (easier said than done when working from home)
28 // one date night a month
29 // throw a special bridal shower/bachelorette party for my BFF – Inspiration Board and more photos soon
30 // less online time

In the coming months I will be sharing with you my progress, along with lots of other DIY projects, photography, home decor, arts and crafts, inspired living and all things graphic design! It’s going to be a busy year but I can’t wait! ♥ Ciera

More from Ciera Design:

1. Two Year Blogiversary
2. Last day for Ciera Design Giveaway on I Just Might Explode!
3. Found a Print Magazine from my birth year!

Glitz & Glam, Comedy, Lights, Family, Football, New Orleans, Food & Fun!

 My username is CieraH on Instagram if you want to follow my photo stream!

More from Ciera Design:

1. Instagram iPhone Photos
2. Thanksgiving Instagrams
3. Weekend Photos: New York City

Font: strangelove

December brought a few changes my way. I am officially back to full-time freelance and because of that I am taking a long trip home to New Orleans! Also in December, I announced that the blog will now be accepting sponsors. I thought a lot about this and decided that it was time! In case you missed some posts throughout the month, here are my favorites:

1 // In My Bag
2 // Sultry & Sweet Holiday Looks
3 // Perfect Holiday Packaging
4 // Simple Afternoon Snack Recipe
5 // Maine Antiquing & A Coffee Table
6 // Homemade Gifts & Washi Tape Cards
7 // Ciera Design is Now Accepting Sponsors
8 // Christmas Brunch

I have a lot planned for January but if you have any special requests just let me know! xo Ciera

More from Ciera Design:

1. November Favorites – A Recap
2. DIY Washi Tape Cards
3. October Favorites – A Recap

Yesterday was my parents first Christmas back in their house since hurricane Katrina so it was extra special to be back there! My dad was sick in bed the whole day so that was not ideal but overall it was a great day. And look at what an awesome job my mom did decorating and cooking!

More from Ciera Design:

1. A very vintage Christmas
2. Christmas Wish List
3. My Mom’s Awesome Christmas Tree

The blog just celebrated 2 years and as it continues to grow I receive more inquiries about advertising and sponsorship opportunities. I’ve been holding off on that for a while because it’s important to me that advertising does not influence my content. I wanted to concentrate on creating unique ideas and give the blog time to develop.

Now that the blog is on a steady track and I’m back to working full-time freelance I have decided to open the blog up to sponsorship in order to dedicate more time towards creating original content. Sponsorships also help to build great relationships in the web world and allows me to share all of these new friends with you!

I have simplified my sidebar and reserved spaces just waiting to be filled with potential sponsors. If you’re interested in sponsoring please check out my advertising page and we can get started!

Photo by Zander White

More from Ciera Design:

1. Follow Ciera Design on Bloglovin
2. Grand Opening – Shop Ciera Design on Etsy!
3. Last day for Ciera Design Giveaway on I Just Might Explode!