SIMPLE TRUTH

 I've been focused on simplicity lately. I have been craving simple. I've made a life goal of it. But, its such a fragile thing. Simplicity comes with ease, not effort. The harder you try to make things simple, the more difficult and complex they become just by the simple nature of trying. 

So here is to not trying, just being, and attracting a simple answer. 

A few more quotes that are currently resonating with me lately...

"If the path ahead of you is clear, its probably someone else's."

There are no answers, and no finite point in time when things are 'finished' or 'perfect'. Life is a continuous motion, not a stagnate pool. It's human nature to continually want more. Having your journey laid out in front of you means you aren't challenging yourself, you aren't asking what you can do better, fuller, brighter, easier. The future is never clear unless you're fearful of it. So here is to embracing the unknown and loving each (however scary) moment. 

"There is no truth. There is only you, and what you make the truth"- Conor Oberst

Always a favorite. PERCEPTION people- reality is a matter of opinion. Be in tune with this and you will be much more able to accept other's actions. 

STYLE SET: GOLDEN TOUCHES

Usually when I can manage to think about accessories (I'm consider myself polished if I don't leave the house wearing leggings) I go for silver, gold strikes me as antiquine. But along with a few recent purchases, these modern accessories have changed my mind. 

From top left: Balenciaga gold headbands, Cat Bird gold and diamond rings, Elizabeth and James rings.

NEW LOGO

Stay tuned...this incredible collaboration coming soon. 

I just did a little redesign of the logo- loving both but I think the top is our front runner. 

JMM HEALTH & WELLNESS BRAND BOARD...

WHITE ON GRAY..

An image I snapped on my phone while walking out of my apartment on this particularly rainy day (which by the way, I am more than perfectly fine with). I love this little moth. This palate is super inspiring, might influence my design in the coming weeks.  

DESIGN STUDIO

I just completed part of the rebranding process for my good friend, Rachel, whom I met while studying Integrated Design at Parsons. She is incredibly talented and designs clothing, home goods and accessories using organic & natural materials. She's always been so inspiring to me- and unlike most of us, who let our passion slip out of grasp, she held onto it and never stopped creating (I'm working on catching up).

We spent almost every day together back in school so I am so happy we were able to keep the creativity going after over three years- she has an amazing spirit and it's just been good to talk again. The best part? The barder system- I will be receiving a piece from her collection in exchange for my work (Eeeeee!). Rachel, our instructors would be proud!

Now...what to choose...
I'm leaning towards this clutch made from reclaimed leather and a beautiful Navajo print fabric.

GO check out her stuff and 'Like' her here.

More fromt his rebranding coming soon!

RE-WORKIN' IT...

I just started playing around with this today. I love my jumping fox logo a ton but I want something a little more streamlined and compact. Feel free to weigh in...

Milk Moon...

"With this Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse there is a great opportunity for eradicating limitations that have help you back from getting what you want. If you utilize the energy effectively, it will launch you closer to your dreams."

Such a beautiful moon last night. 

In the Spiral Arms Above...

"What is 'Spiral Arms'?", people will ask. "Is it a pen like name?" "Does it mean something?" "Did you make it up?"But mostly when people hear or see it they just nod, maybe they think it's weird or existential or stupid. Really, I don't care, because it's one of those things that repeats in my head over and over, a mantra of mine.

I don't know- I suppose its more of what I'd like to call everything I do. It was the name of my fashion label in college, it was the name of a book I wrote to correspond with the clothes, it's the name of everything I want to be behind in the future.

I don't remember how it totally first came about. I do remember that my brother first thought of it- he wanted to use it as a band name or as the title of a song, but he let me have it. He is a so generous- and I am forever grateful.

I jotted it down but it didn't find any permanence immediately. It is one of those things that grows within you and then finally revels itself clear as day. You see it in your notebook three weeks later and you need it so much more than you did before.

At the time, I was painfully obsessed with the stars and space theory and above all, its a reference to  the out-reaching bits of the Milky Way- they glow with intensity as they are sites of strong star formation. You'll hear cosmic theorists use the term on TV.


But overreaching the technical meaning behind these words came a more literal translation and imagery within my heard- spiral arms-it made me think of a hug, I think I needed one at the time. Spiral Arms- its the biggest hug you could ever imagine. It's the universe folding in on itself. It's the galaxy expanding enveloping itself in an infinite cycle, bound by all the love it is creating. That visual what what made me need the name.

This little made up meaning- it's powerful. Its all that was and all that ever will be, all that I hope to contribute to. It's all light and its all love.

So here goes a blog...

This blog will be my format to share with you what I find beautiful, inspiring, amazing and new. I hope to post some of my own work as well as other's which influence my way of being.

First, a little about who I am and what I do.

My name is Jill. I live on the Connecticut Shoreline. I love the seasons, the water and the mountains. Here I find my inspiration. Always a creative, I choose to attend Parsons The New School for Design in New York City. There I studied 'Integrated Design' focusing my practice in branding, graphic design, fashion, illustration and film (not very 'focused', I know).  I graduated in 2010 with a bachelors degree in Fine Arts.
There I found my future.

After school, I found an incredible job in a world I soon feel in love with, and it was something I never expected. The bridal industry wasn't one I ever considered but it encompassed so much of what I believed in- it celebrates beauty, love, truth and life by way of fashion. I often describe it to people as "the last place in design with a soul" as the industry is still so much about making the client happy rather than moving merchandise through the door.  There I found my way.

After working in sales for some time, though, it is time to turn my attention to my passion and give value to the world in the best way I can- through design.

I now work as a freelance graphic designer and brand builder- which means I add value to businesses by way of visual marketing, social media, design and art direction.
It's here I find my truth.

When I'm not designing I enjoy the elements, yoga, cooking and healthy food.