NEW WORK – THE BRIDE’S TREE ONLINE MAGAZINE

Not too many words needed for this recent job, the product speaks for itself! This free online magazine for Sunshine Coast brides will feature quarterly on The Bride’s Tree website to help bride’s source inspiration and local vendors for their big day.It was a fantastic project to design and I love working with the girls over at The Bride’s Tree and with such stunning images and weddings!

The design of the magazine was trustingly left in my hands and here is a little sneak peak of what’s in between the pages.


YOU CAN FIND THE WHOLE MAGAZINE HERE.

TIPS TO BETTER SLEEP FOR THE CREATIVE MIND

Forgive me internets for I have sinned. It has been, wait for it, one year since I last blogged! Today I start since I last blogged! Today I start out again with a renewed motivation to blogging. With the 365 days that have passed have come a lot of new experiences and lessons about freelancing that I really would like to share.

The first cab off the rank is the issue of sleep and the creative mind. I have struggled with issues of sleep for sometime and find it difficult to turn my brain off at night after a day working with colours, fonts, pictures and clients, oh my! My brain knows no bounds once I have stopped work and I am constantly developing new concepts, guilting myself over blog posts not written or stewing over financial matters while tucked comfortably in bed.

The way to healthy sleeping is to develop the right routines and to stick with them, but a looming deadline can put these routines off course. Or, if you’re a night time designer like myself, routinely going to bed at the suitable hour of 9.30pm is just not on the cards. So without further ado here is a little compilation I have put together to try and help combat restless nights.

Designers, artists, programmers, photographers, anyone who suffers from inadequate sleep…what do you do to help turn your creative minds off at night?

SO HERE ARE 10 QUICK TIPS TO BETTER SLEEP FOR THE CREATIVE MIND

1. Finish working on the computer at least an hour before bedtime. Do not discuss, look at, think about, touch, read, or write anything creative for the hour or so before bed. Do something relaxing like read a book or go for a walk.

2. If you must stay up late to finish a project, try doing something else for half an hour before you hit the sack. Read a book, make your lunch for the next day, fold and put away your laundry. Just something to try and move your mind from the recent job and into a relaxed state ready for sleep.

3. Read a book you’ve already read for half an hour. New books can be horribly addictive but re-reading an old favourite might be less stimulating before sleep.

4. Though a frosty beer sometimes seems like a stupendous idea to devour while working/ stressing, consider that alcohol can cause disturbed sleep so at the least make it a lunch time brew!

5. Now brace yourself because this one is a killer. NO caffeine after 2pm. And don’t kid yourself, tea also contains caffeine. Water is definitely the best option.

6. Do not check emails before bed, you just know there is going to be one in there requesting the 68th revision of the job you’re currently working on.

7. Don’t take work calls after 6pm. Sometimes this is hard to avoid but I find if I take calls any later my brain starts working of the job independently of my hands and I concentrate less on the sleeping I’m supposed to be doing.

8. Don’t use your phone in bed before sleep or check it if you have been unable to fall asleep – for 3 reasons. 1, it’s addictive. 2. You might find something that makes you frustrated or upset and your mind will reel 3. The light emitted from electronic screens such as phones and iPads can mess with your sleep cycles.

9. If you have tried and failed to fall asleep, get up and walk around your house. Move to another room and do something boring but unstimulating. Again, the laundry might be good or a Sudoku.

10. A tip that sometimes works for me if I am failing miserably at falling asleep is switching beds or sleeping on the couch. I have no idea why, but I have always liked the novelty of sleeping in a different place.

And here are a few really interesting facts about sleep from the experts. You can find the source site here.

- Anything less than five minutes to fall asleep at night means you’re sleep deprived. The ideal is between 10 and 15 minutes, meaning you’re still tired enough to sleep deeply, but not so exhausted you feel sleepy by day.

- Experts say one of the most alluring sleep distractions is the 24-hour accessibility of the internet.

- To drop off we must cool off; body temperature and the brain’s sleep-wake cycle are closely linked. That’s why hot summer nights can cause a restless sleep. The blood flow mechanism that transfers core body heat to the skin works best between 18 and 30 degrees. But later in life, the comfort zone shrinks to between 23 and 25 degrees – one reason why older people have more sleep disorders.

I would love to hear your tips and suggestions for nodding off so please leave a comment.

GEEK CHIC DECOR FROM ETSY.COM

Etsy.com caters so well to design folk, harbouring some of the world’s most creative and unique items at real people prices. Scouring the site is like falling into a black hole, it sucks you deeper and deeper and 2 hours later you realise you’ve lost a large chunk of your afternoon. But hey, you’re supporting other creatives like yourself! Some of my choices might be a bit passé but here are a just a few Etsy finds that will have your friends and clients admiring your geek chic décor.

Moe ring and brooch from Isette

I love these, they’re fridge magnets with Barney Stinson quotes! Also in the store are Andy Warhol, Oscar Wilde, Sheldon Cooper and the IT Crowd.
MagnetikMania

I know these letters are dime a dozen at the moment but I still think there’s a place for them.
Edies Lab

If you’re like me and you’re slowly destroying your iPhone by not having a case it’s time you and I both got one of these cassette tape covers. Takes me back to making mixtapes from Rick Dee’s Top 40 on sunday afternoons when I was about 12.
Mama Studio

I love tea. A lot. Nuf’ said. Tea towels from MrPS

I’m a little bit lot sick of the “Keep Calm” posters. Pirate theme in my humble opinion, will be ‘in’ forever.
Monorail

Cushions from Dancing Arethusa. Love an owl with a bit of attitude!