Monday Motivation - Watch With Glittering Eyes

Good Monday Morning! My husband and I just returned from a long weekend in Charleston, South Carolina. It's one of our favorite places to visit for several reasons - delicious food, beautiful views, rich history, good shopping, and it's just oozing with true Southern Charm. We spent hours walking through Charleston's historic downtown taking in the amazing architecture and sophisticated gardens. I'm in love with those stately front porches, intricate iron gates, gas lanterns and beautiful courtyards.

I left Charleston with a renewed and refreshed spirit, motivational energy, and tons of inspiration for not only my business but also our lifestyle. So many days of my life I spend "in a hurry" - trying to cross things off the list without taking a moment to enjoy the Creator's beautiful masterpiece around me. Taking time out to explore the world around us and recharge our batteries is crucial to a well-balanced life. My friend and mentor, Whitney English, often reminds us that we need to allow for more "white space" in life, and I totally agree. The following quotation by Roald Dahl is an eloquently worded reminder that we must take time to watch the world around us with glittering eyes in search of the magic that lies in the most unlikely places.

I will be taking some time these next few weeks to complete and catch up on unfinished customer orders. I will also be using this time to finalize my new branding and website so that I can finally be 100% proud of the business I've built over these past 5 years. This Wednesday the 22nd will be the last day to place orders for the next few weeks. I hope you understand that I desperately need this time to recharge my batteries so that I can better serve you - the customer - the most important and appreciated part of my business! Thank you for your support, and stay tuned for the exciting re-launch of the new & improved Beth Hart Designs!

What's Happening Wednesday - Brand Inspiration

I'm using my lunch break on this rainy day to brighten, refresh and better define my brand. With the start of this new year, I've naturally been doing a little personal and professional soul searching. I've asked myself numerous questions that essentially get to this point:

Why am I in this paper design business and how does it answer to my higher calling?

I absolutely love what I do, and Beth Hart Designs is such a large part of me and my life. I'm proud of the hard work I've put into BHD, but I know there is plenty of room for improvement! The about page on my website helps to define a little more about me and why I'm in business. But I ultimately want all aspects of my brand to reflect the love I have for Southern style and the faith I have in my heavenly Father.

So I'm ready to get to work and give Beth Hart Designs a fresh new look. My current website is terribly outdated, and there are oodles of designs and products I offer that no one even knows about. Shame on me! So I'm building a sparkly new website, editing my logo a little, establishing my collections of products and designs, and making sure that BHD represents everything that I value and hold close to my heart. It's so exciting!

If you follow me on Pinterest, you'll see that I've been busy pinning many ideas for color and pattern inspiration on this board. To sum it up, I've included my favorite pictures below:

I can't wait to share the finished product with you this Spring - don't you think Spring is the perfect time to launch a new beginning and have a fresh start? I better get back to work! Happy Wednesday!

Fall Favorites 2012

Hi there! It's been a busy week, so I apologize for my lack of blogging. So many fun things are happening in the studio this week! I'm gearing up and preparing for my upcoming Christmas shows {Christmas Village in Nashville and The Market in Birmingham}. Lots of new merchandise and designs are in the works... it's crunch time though... these shows are less than a month away! Yikes!

I wanted to take a minute to share some Fall inspiration... I love fall and all the goodness that comes with it! Here are a few of my favorite things...

Don't forget! The Early Bird Christmas Card Special ends October 20th... be sure to get your orders in for a 15% off discount! You don't have to have your photo yet, just send your card design choice, quantity and wording. Happy Fall!

Monday Motivation - Uplifting People

Good Monday Morning! I need a little extra motivation today... it's a dreary, rainy morning, and I'm worn out from a fun but very busy weekend! Friday night, my husband and I attended the Homecoming tailgate and football game for my 10 year high school reunion. It was so nice seeing some old familiar faces and catching up with everyone! It's funny how much some things change, but how some things remain the same. I'm thankful to have these people in my life... all of them have contributed in one way or another to my personal growth throughout the years.

A few of us girls from the Class of 2002

Saturday, we traveled to Oxford, Mississippi to see our Ole Miss Rebels take on the Texas Longhorns. It was a game that has been built up for several years now, and the atmosphere was electric! The Grove was busy with excitement, anticipation, school spirit, and of course the tailgating that has made it famous. Although Ole Miss lost the game (after putting forth a good effort), it was fun to be in the midst of the fall football fun! I also loved visiting with my brother whose birthday was yesterday... Happy Birthday, Mark!

My husband and me in the Grove - Yes, I love bringing paper to the Grove! (Homemade banner behind us)

Sunday was topped off with a little relaxation with my parents at Pickwick Lake and coming home to our church's Community Group meeting. I really love our Community Group and the relationships we've established with those friends. They are tremendous blessings to my husband and me, and I wish for everyone in the world to be able to find a group like that with which to "grow up" and experience life. I'm so very thankful for these friends!

This morning as I reflect on the busy weekend with friends & family and look forward to working on my {long} to-do list for the week, I'm reminded that I can be successful because of the amazing people around me. My friends & family are as much a part of my achievements as my hard work and determination. I want to inspire and encourage them in the same way they support me. I'm incredibly blessed, and I urge you to find people around you who will bring out the very best in you! I hope you have a productive and successful week!

What's Happening Wednesday - Football Baby Showers

Happy Wednesday! I'm loving this time of the year... Fall is almost here! Which means football is almost here! And as most people know, football is kind of a big deal here in the South. Thanks to a little inspiration from a customer, I have put together a series of baby shower invitations representing none other than fans' favorite football teams! These designs can be customized to your favorite team's colors... what a great way to celebrate the upcoming arrival of another football fan!

Represented Teams: Auburn, Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee - Others Available!

And now time for my shameless plug... Hotty Toddy! (That's a little thing we say at my beloved Ole Miss)

Monday Motivation - What You Become

Good Monday Morning! I hope you enjoyed your weekend and are rested and ready for a productive week ahead! I have so many fun projects to work on this week - projects for both my customers as well as the business development of Beth Hart Designs! Tomorrow, I will be sharing my experiences and lessons learned from The Stationery Academy... so stay tuned!

Since my trip to The Stationery Academy, I've been making lists and setting goals for how to improve my brand. I've been digging deep to figure out what it is I wish to accomplish as the owner and designer of BHD. I know that I want to work hard to provide excellent designs, products and services, and I want to inspire a deep passion for Southern living, style and hospitality. But mostly I want to honor our Father in everything I do. More importantly than what I will receive by reaching my goals, is what I will become by achieving my goals. My business means much more to me than just the products I offer, and I'm so excited about the future of Beth Hart Designs!

So while you're working hard to reach your goals, remember that in the end it's more about who you will become rather than what you will receive. Here's to a great week!

What's Happening Wednesday - A 30th Birthday Par-Tee!

Happy Wednesday! I wanted to take a little time to fill you in on what's been happening around here at Beth Hart Designs. My husband turned 30 yesterday, so I threw him a surprise birthday party last Friday night. We loved having our friends with us to celebrate, and I really enjoyed putting my design skills to use with a "golf par-tee" theme!

While doing some research on the internet one day, I came across a contest titled "Made in the South Awards" hosted by one of my favorite magazines, Garden & Gun. I thought to myself "Oh what the heck, I'll give it a shot!" So I called up my talented friend Molly of SimplyMPhotography to help me by taking some professional photos of the party products I'd made for my husband's birthday. She blew me away with the images she captured, and I was beyond thrilled to submit them for the contest! Whether or not I receive an award from Garden & Gun remains to be seen, but I'm so proud of the beautiful photos that Molly was able to give me! Here are a few of my favorites...

And now for the not so professional photos that I took at the party on Friday night... (I sure am glad I decided to go with paper design rather than take the photography route!)

Monday Motivation - Failure Does Not Exist

Wow! What a weekend I had! I left Thursday morning for The Stationery Academy feeling a little nervous and unsure of what was to come. I knew that Beth Hart Designs was in need of some guidance  and direction, but what I received was so much more than that. I'm still soaking it all in!

I attended the 2 (full) day workshop with the most amazing business women and designers in the stationery industry, and I learned so much from all of them. I am very excited about the future of my business, and because of the Stationery Academy, I am now confident that I'm capable of doing great things!

The development of the new and improved Beth Hart Designs will be an intentional, fun, detailed, exciting, time-consuming, and slightly scary progression because I'll be laying myself {all of me} out on the line. I'm going to make my business and brand something I'm 100% proud of... and something that will reflect me, my style, my heart, my passions, and my love for Southern living and hospitality. What's going to carry me through this development will be the wonderful support system of family, friends, and clients that I'm so blessed to have around me... Thank you!

I have so much more to share with you about my experiences at The Stationery Academy... it's going to take way more than one blog post! But for today's Monday Motivation, I want to encourage you to pursue your dreams and go reach your potential - knowing that you will not fail. We had to address our fears this weekend, and many ladies feared failure. The wise and encouraging Nicole of Libby Lane Press let us all know that we cannot be afraid of failing, because in our minds we have to know that failure does not exist. Amen, sister!

I came home yesterday to my amazing and supportive husband of 6 years {July 29th is our anniversary} with the knowledge and confidence that my business will be great because I won't fail. I have 22 new friends and motivators from The Stationery Academy, and I'm already so blessed by my family and friends here at home... my cup runneth over!

Who I Am...

I've recently been challenged to be more personal in my business... tell a little more about the girl behind Beth Hart Designs. It's been a bit difficult, but I've finally developed a biography that I can proudly say truly represents me and why I'm in business - it expresses who I am and what I believe. Enjoy!

I’m a Southern girl.  A lover of life.  A child of God.  A blessed woman.  A firm believer.  A wife.  A daughter.  A sister.  A friend.  A designer…

Hi! I’m Beth Hart.

I love Southern hospitality… all aspects of it. From sitting with a best friend drinking sweet tea (or a glass of wine) on your front porch to hosting a swanky shin-dig at which you get to feel oh so sophisticated in your best dress. Southern hospitality is warm and gracious and makes you tingle with excitement at the very core of it.

What better way to portray Southern hospitality than with the perfect invitation or a personalized note card? Paper is a true icon of Southern hospitality. A hand-written note can do wonders for a bruised ego or a broken heart. The ideal invitation can excite your guests for the soon-to-be party-of-a-lifetime. With paper, birthdays are anticipated, weddings are glamorous, anniversaries are milestones, new born babies are introduced, Christmas greetings are shared, Life is celebrated.

I believe in paper, and therefore I’m a designer of paper.

I came to love paper through several life journeys… beginning with my heritage. I’m the daughter of a mother who treasures sending out heartfelt and meaningful Christmas cards. She also possesses the gift of writing and has touched so many lives with her handwritten notes – a true ministry. My grandmother was a hat-maker, yes a real-life milliner, who designed and created hats of all kinds for all types of people. Her work was superb, and her vigor for life and business makes me wish she was still here to inspire me. I’m blessed with a creative heritage, and for that I’m very grateful.

Southern hospitality runs deep in my education. From attending middle and high school at Battle Ground Academy, founded in 1889, to exploring the rich history of The University of Mississippi (fondly called Ole Miss) throughout college. I’ve learned to value education, work hard, be a teammate, lean on God, cheer at football games, graciously be a Southern lady, and flourish throughout life’s lessons at these incredible institutions, and for that I’m also grateful.

So there you have a taste of me, a bit of Beth Hart. A lover of music, fashion, sunshine, old hymns, antiques, twinkle lights, Sunday drives through the countryside, history, tradition, lazy days at the lake and of course, paper. I desire to be good at what I do and reach out to others to inspire stylish design and encourage Southern hospitality.

To go along with this biography, I needed some new professional photos. So I called up my good friend Molly of SimplyMPhotography to help me out. I'm amazed with her work! She possesses real talent - a true gift! She made me look good and was so patient with the sun & wind to work in our favor... I couldn't be more pleased! Thank you Molly! Below are a few of my favorites from the session:

Digging Deep

The world of stationery and invitations has changed dramatically since I began my little business in April of 2008 (I can't believe it's already been 4 years)! The internet has brought about so many possibilities for designers to expose their work and reach people that normally would have never known about them. We have all the social media of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc... and Etsy is stocked full of amazing designers who are able to sell their work to a world-wide market. It seems overwhelming to me to even begin to tap into this expansive world and somehow set Beth Hart Designs apart...

So I'm digging deep! My friend, Molly of SimplyMPhotography, is a talented photographer and fellow business owner with whom I love "talking business" and sharing ideas. We both struggle to find ways to creatively market ourselves and set our work apart from the rest. It's especially challenging with limited budgets and only one employee - ourselves! But it's so nice to work through it together, and we are equally encouraged when a customer loves our work!

I'm learning that most customers today desire a somewhat personal relationship with the people with whom they do business... they want to connect with that designer, photographer, caterer, etc. on a level where they feel comfortable and feel as though they are being treated not only as a customer but as a friend. I strive to do this on a daily basis, but I've also been confused with thoughts that I need to become a "big business enterprise." But is that really what I desire? Of course I'm planning to continue building my business to new heights, but I don't want to lose that personal connection with my customers. That's what makes me thrive!

So I'm digging deep! I'm working hard to develop my brand into something that makes me proud, thrills my customers, and sets me apart from the other thousands of stationery designers out there. I'm so excited to launch my new biography and headshots (to be taken by Molly on Monday! Yay!) which will allow you to know a little more about me and the desires I have as a Southern girl just trying to live life to the fullest and run a stationery business.

I'm working hard to bring you new products and designs. I offer so many things that only a fraction of you know about because my website is in need of some major TLC! I'm so thankful for and blessed by my faithful customers who trust that I can provide just what they need even though they don't see it on my website. Thank you!

And so, I'll leave you with another print (yes, I offer frameable prints!) that pretty much sums up what I desire to be said about me and the way I live life and run my business... don't we all want to feel this way?