The Four Strokes of Brooklyn uprising!!

Map for a new housing development

2008-10-17T19:48:00.005-05:00

My job has developed The Gates Cooperative, a green design (leed certified) apartment building in Bedford Stuyvesant. Our Housing Development Director just loves the maps I put together. so he asked me to create a community map of the development and surrounding schools and major transportation hubs. You can see The Gates Coops at its very website: www.thegatescoop.org

take a look at the map, and for a starting price bracket of 87k for a one bedroom, you cant beat that!

Branding for a Construction Company

2008-10-14T14:01:00.004-05:00

You like?
It's for a woman owned and managed development/construction company...I think it speaks professional, yet sassy much like the owner ; )

catching up!

2008-10-11T16:26:00.006-05:00

I have been neglecting my blog! I know, I know.

but here is something I should've posted a while back. I'd designed a map for Landra and Darren's wedding in Ocho Rios, Jamaica...which just so happens to be today! The map that i designed was then photo blogged by her photographer, Carmen (of Studio by Carmen)!

Landra had her invitations designed by Smashing Cards but asked me to design the map along with a welcome/rehearsal dinner invite. When Carmen received the invite in the mail she took this gorgeous flick and posted it to her blog:

maps!

2008-07-18T09:25:00.003-05:00

Ive been busy working on Julie and Rob's invitations but had to post a map that I worked on a month ago at my office.

It is functional more than anything but it definitely does the job.

Samples for Julie and Robert

2008-06-20T17:15:00.005-05:00

Julie and Robert are getting married at the Brooklyn Bridge Park and will follow up with the ever famous Bubby's of Brooklyn as their Reception venue. BTW Bubbys has fantabulous comfort foods like Mac n Cheese and the biscuits are to die for....the pies ain't so bad either ; )

Now, I have made many Bridge invites, but it is safe to agree that this set is one of the most gorgeous sets I have done. The paper is fashioned after aged/antique paper...

When Julie saw the pieces for the first time she emailed me, "Wow...Very Beautiful!!".

Here's a look at the set. The soon to be Bride and Groom used Cream, Merlot, and chocolate colors for their Fall wedding.

Images of the sample.

Closed with a simple band:

Closed with coordinated bands:

Open to show panels and rsvp card:

I love how the paper became leathery after the printing process:

The best is yet to come with this set. Stay tuned for map inserts!

The Hawthorne Ribbon Cutting and Showcase

2008-06-01T11:37:00.004-05:00

I planned an event this week .... well two events! the first was a ribbon cutting for the Hawthorne Condominium at 420 Classon Avenue. The spin off event was a designer show case. We featured two of the most awesome local designers! Repop and My Little India!

(l-r) Here is Executive Director of PACC, Deb Howard, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, HUD Exec, the lovely Peter Spina, and Ms Denise Scott, the executive director at LISC of NY!

this is a before pic of 420 Classon. Taken from the blog of one of my neighbors
(in prospect lefferts gardens) Renovating on the Cheap

Here is the after photo provided by my coworker,

and the renovation project manager
Denise Kleinman

check out some blog posts on the development:
Brownstoner

brown gatefold bridge invite

2008-05-29T16:29:00.004-05:00

Virtual Sample...Yay!

Brown and Creme Invites...

2008-05-27T22:06:00.005-05:00

I have so many events in the next few days...I only had time to make these tonight.

Photo Retouching

2008-05-27T20:46:00.004-05:00

Before: Scratches, "sweater" on lap, distorted shoe:

After: Cat on Lap is revealed, edges are sharper, various pieces of fencing are "cleaned", crumpled edges are filled. the face was best left alone in this case:

Swinging Sixties Birthday Party Invite

2008-05-20T18:59:00.005-05:00

Liz from New Jersey asked me to put these together for her mom's surprise party. Mom will be 60 on the big day!! These are called Enfolds and were fun to work with. they fit a standard A2 (1/4 letter sized paper) envelope. I had to retouch the photo that Liz gave to me...those photos will come later. But if you notice in the picture Liz's Mom, Ginny, has a cat on her lap. Really it was that murky that I didn't even notice the cat until i began cleaning the image up!

Destination Kenya!

2008-05-04T19:57:00.004-05:00

Anne and her fiancee are getting married in Kenya this December, I was so ecstatic that she asked me to design her Save the Date postcards! Postcards are a great way to market and in this case, a low cost way to get friends and family excited about an upcoming event.

Anne's colors are dark chocolate and kiwi.

Along with the postcard she can use matching or complimentary envelopes.

To order your own personalized postcards (in increments of 100, 250, and up) email me.

Tropical Rehearsal Dinner Invites

2008-04-22T00:51:00.005-05:00

Along withe the map for Landra, I was asked to design a rehearsal dinner invite. I came up with two, one with a tropical feel and the other inspired by the colors of the Jamaican flag.

Navy Blue Save the Dates...Finished!

2008-04-21T15:30:00.008-05:00

Map of Jamaica for Landra and Darren

2008-04-14T11:42:00.005-05:00

I've met so many people since becoming an Event Planner and dabbling in Graphic Design. While on the DW Board, I met Landra who also happens to be a fellow Brooklyn-ite. Landra and her fiancee are getting hitched in Jamaica! She asked me to upgrade her monogram last August.

Her wedding day is approaching, so invites and stationery are a priority. We are working together to create the map inserts for her invites. Click to be taken to the draft that she created.

It took a lot of layers to create the map...keep in mind it is still a work in progress. Landra was originally getting hitched at Half Moon in Mobay, but due to circumstances had to switch the venue to The Ruins in Ocho Rios.

These maps are design only, Landra has purchased the image so that she can print as many as she wants for her various stationery and gift bags. I think the image can also be used for a nice tag on her Out of Towner Bags : )

Navy Blue save the dates.

2008-04-09T22:30:00.003-05:00

Bari Part 2

2008-03-08T12:08:00.005-05:00

After going over the design I made last week I am trying something a little more "greener" using orange as an accent.

Invite 3.6" x 8.5"
rsvp card 4.25 x 3.6"
reception card 5.8 x 2.83"

this is a comparable picture from envelopments

virtual invite set

2008-03-01T19:24:00.006-05:00

Last night i worked on a Brooklyn bridge virtual invite set.
questions, comments?

seriously....

2008-02-17T16:28:00.001-05:00

I would never do this to a client....but its too funny not to share!

The winner is revealed....

2008-02-16T09:59:00.003-05:00

Well it seems as though Lisa, the Future Sargent's Wife is the winner. Although i hid the comments, she was the first to comment and gave a great critique! Lisa works on her Vinyl Plotter to make fun and funky items with edgy decals. you can view some of her work at her 8 is Definitely Enough blog.

Thanks so much Lisa!

Leora wants a GOBO!

2008-02-06T23:59:00.000-05:00

Leora and her fiancee are looking to have a GOBO at their wedding...what is a GOBO you ask? It is a projection of an image on the floor and/or walls during an event. A lot of department stores are doing this besides the event planning community.

image from "light your name"

In order to create the GOBO, the image has to be made as a black background with white lettering in the foreground. The lights would then add the color. To be honest I wasn't sure it was going to work out seeing that a lot of my monograms are color contrasting and complimenting

A Save the Date Draft for Sophia.

2008-02-05T23:35:00.000-05:00

Sophia and her fiancee just recently got engaged. He popped the question atop the Brooklyn Bridge! While searching boarding pass templates, Sophia found the site and requested a save the date magnet using the Brooklyn Bridge back-drop.

Here's what I have so far. This is just a primary virtual sample.

Free Cothing re: website improvements!

2008-02-04T02:04:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone!
I just got through updating the website and I would like to get some critiques on it.

I will be giving away one fourstrokesofbrooklyn ladies tee to the first person who can give me a review of the site and offer some suggestions. If we make it to ten comments I will give that tenth person a lady tee and undies to match!

All you have to do is peruse the events and paper webpages accessible through HERE.
both winners will also get a blog spotlight, and of course no repeat posting : )

heres a slide show of some of the clothing on my line:

Good Luck,

Michelle

Jamaican Ally needs a monogram!

2008-01-24T21:21:00.000-05:00

Ally is getting married in Jamaica and asked me to create this for her:

comment here if you'd like one!

A Tribute to all of my New York Brides!

2008-01-05T16:38:00.000-05:00

Marketing Campaign for Homes in Clinton Hill

2008-01-05T10:59:00.001-05:00

The application process is over on January 18, 2007. The best way to get an application at this point is from the website: www.prattarea.org and it must be sent to the P.O. box provided on the application.