Jess + Cam Mint Museum Uptown Wedding

Jess & Cam were married on October 22, 2011 at First United Methodist, and then the party moved to the Mint Museum uptown.  We loved their vibrant, modern, deep purple and yellow custom invitations and wedding stationery.  They are such a fun couple--enjoy this little peek at some details of their special day!

Pictures courtesy of Kristin Byrum Photography.

Field of Dreams

We are thrilled to be a sponsor for the 2nd annual Charlotte Field of Dreams this summer!

 This is an amazing event where any child who has beaten or is battling any form of pediatric cancer is invited to go enjoy a gorgeous field of sunflowers, while area photographers capture the memories with their services for free.  Thanks to other community sponsors, there will also be music, food, and fun activities.  Families can share their challenges and triumphs with others who understand what they're going through, and encourage each other in their fight.  It promises to be a night full of FUN and HOPE!

Julie at In His Image started this incredible event last year, and Stephanie had the privilege of designing the new logo.

  Join us on July 9, 2012 from 6-9 pm - if your family would like to be photographed, please contact Julie here.

To view full post visit:
www.howdoyouinspire.com/blog

First, we want to welcome you to the BRAND NEW Inspire Design Studio BLOG!!! This has been a work in progress for quite some time, so we are very excited for its release! We also want to introduce you to the Inspire Team!

Stephanie the owner of Inspire Design Studio, is the heart (and brains!) of the company.  Her attention to detail, and vision for breathtaking original designs are what set Inspire apart.  She is a dreamer who makes things happen--finding beauty and fresh inspiration in the everyday.  Steph loves coming up with new, original ideas for her custom designs by truly getting to know the couples she works with and what motivates them!

Lauren is an album designer, blogger, and our social media expert. Lauren's creative writing talent combined with a natural eye for design make her the perfect fit! Many posts you see on this blog come straight from her keyboard. Trust me when I say this blog would not be possible without her.

Judy is our artistic rock star.  Her watercolor paintings are incorporated beautifully into custom designs.  They have abstract and impressionist qualities that add another dimension to invitations and wedding stationery.  Judy’s work is very whimsical, soft, and dreamlike.  She is also available for commissioned paintings and custom work.  

Watch us in action at The Bridal Showcase

The Bridal Showcase

Are you planning a wedding or know someone that is?
Then you don't want to miss The Bridal Showcase this Sunday!
2012 Shows: January 8 and August 5
Time: 12pm - 5pm
Tickets: $12 at the door or $10 online
Location: The Charlotte Convention Center 501 S. College St., Charlotte, NC 28202

Our booth from the 2011 Show!

2012 SMART Goals

I was inspired to write down my 2012 "Resolutions" today after reading Stacie Francombe's blog.
I put the word resolution in quotation marks because I think of it in a negative way.  If I call it a resolution, I won't be doing it anymore by February...
So instead I am going to list a few of my S.M.A.R.T goals for the year
{specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-based goals.}


1. Take Inspire Design Studio to the next level.
S. I want to double my sales and strengthen my branding.
M. Divide that number by 12 - that's where I need to be each month.
A. In order to grow my business I need to do a number of things:
• Stay on top of SEO and social media.
• Continue to network and grow relationships with wedding professionals.
• Be consistent and intentional with all of my branding.
• Do my VERY BEST work for every job.
• Hire an intern(s)
• ISS Mentoring
R. Track where business is coming from, so I can determine what marketing and advertising strategies are being effective. Know who my target demographic is.
T. December 31st, 2012


2. Stay healthy.
S. I know this one plays into the whole resolution thing... but my goal isn't to loose weight, fit into a certain pair of jeans, or look hot in a bathing suite.  I want to feel great and live a long life. With cancer being a part of my past, I am truly thankful for being healthy today.
M. I will be measuring my success with a scale, but more importantly based on how I FEEL. 
A. This is my plan:
• workout 6 days a week (I get out of the habit easily if I skip too many days)
• A nutritionist once told me "eat the rainbow". It makes perfect sense when you think about it: apple-red, orange-well orange, banana-yellow, broccoli-green, blueberries- blue, eggplant-purple. My artistic personality really likes this!
• Take Barley Life every day.
R. I don't believe in 'quick fix' diets - it all comes down to what we're putting in our body and we're doing with our body.
T. For the rest of my life.


3. Weekly date night with my hubby.
S. My husband and I rotate who plans the date. I do it one week, he does it the following.
M. Have someone hold you accountable. At the beginning of our church small group every week, we go around and tell our date night stories. It's great to get new ideas, plus it holds us accountable!
A. Date nights don't have to be a fancy or expensive. Our favorite is to cook a new meal and sit by our fire pit with a glass of wine. 
R. Too often we get busy with life and take our spouse for granted. Having a date night once a week gives us time to reconnect and enjoy each others company.
T. Once a week. Every week.

Inspire Smart Success

Two weeks ago I went to an event that changed my life & has forever changed my business.
The Inspire Smart Success Experience in Riviera Maya, Mexico.

Before going, I described it as a conference for wedding professionals.
Today I will describe it as a true EXPERIENCE for wedding professionals.
Their mission statement "Inspiring small business owners to think smart
on their journey to success" really sums it up beautifully.
I came home with a notebook FULL of motivational messages, practical business tips,
and inspiring ideas.  Here are a few of my favorites:


Be who you are.
• "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." -Oscar Wilde
• Have a distinct style, find your niche, be a trend-setter.
Dream Big!
• You can be ANYTHING you want to be.
Never give up. Keep going.
• Try and try again!
• Be willing to work harder than you ever have before.
Educate yourself.
• Know EVERYTHING there is to know about your business.
• Set  S.M.A.R.T goals:

specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-based goals.

Get the right people to support you.

• "Letting go of negative people doesn't mean you hate them,
it just means that you love yourself."
• Be vulnerable, reach out to people.
Have faith.

• "A man's gift makes room for him" Proverbs 18:16

• Faith is the only thing that will get you through the tough times

and will show you your limitations.

Give back.

• "You have not lived today until you have done something for someone
who can never repay you." - John Bunyan


I will post more as I begin implementing some of the practical aspects.
In the mean time, check out this video from Epic Motion
{ISSE} VIDEO