Last night, I was looking back through some photos from our trip to Memphis last October. I love looking at signs — hand-painted and otherwise. I’m fascinated by how they impact the view of places attached to the sides of buildings and structures. Today I thought I would share some of the ones I photographed during our walks and trolley rides Downtown.
[The Peanut Shoppe — a Main Street classic since 1949]
[homage to the 1930’s William Len Hotel]
[Hotel Chisca building through the trolley car window]
I’m not exactly sure why I decided to call these the “Gentleman’s Set” except that they have a decidedly non-girlie slant, and I love the simple black imagery. These block printed designs are new in the print shop, featuring black ink on oatmeal recycled French Speckletone paper — one of my favorites. I’ll be adding several new designs printed on these 4 x 6″ cards.
Bicycle | Chair | Thumbtack | Spectacles
By the way, you may have noticed a change in the print shop. When I started the shop, I named it “The Frogkisser” because I sometimes call myself a frog kisser for hire. However, over the holiday break as I was thinking through the business, I decided the extra name and graphics were a little too much to manage. I wanted to simplify and bring everything into sharper focus. [Yes, even marketing professionals need to re-evaluate, re-tool and refresh!] So, this January, I’ve re-imagined the print shop as “Small Pond Graphics Hand-Drawn” which allowed me to simplify my vocabulary and graphics a bit and bring more consistency to my different creative endeavors. I hope you’ll check back often as I add new designs and prints!
Ok, you definitely can’t enjoy the month of February –the Love month– without a few Valentines! I sent out the February issue of AQUA, my monthly creative ezine, earlier this week, and it included some free printable valentines I thought I would share here also.
I know Valentines Day may make some of you roll your eyes, so I had a little fun with watercolors creating these printable sentiments to appeal to both the loved and the love-lorn. The woodland-inspired set above are for those in the “he loves me” category. AAAND, for those in the “he loves me NOT” group, you’ll find the alternate set below.
I hope you’ll take these with all the tongue-in-cheeky-ness intended and enjoy sharing the love loud and proud on Valentines Day and every day. Life is short! Don’t miss the opportunity.
It was a busy January with some projects for events in Starkville, and I thought I would share one of them this morning. I was able to do some illustration work for this Spring’s unWINE Downtown wine tasting event hosted three times a year by the Starkville Main Street Association. The Spring edition is often held close to Valentine’s Day, so I wanted to do something that would share the love! Here’s a glimpse at the sketches and the finished poster design. Enjoy!
Hello & welcome! I’m Haley Montgomery, and I’m the designer and owner of Small Pond Graphics. I sometimes fancy myself a frog kisser— a documentarian coaxing poignant moments from unexpected places. This blog has evolved from those moments.
The small Pond FIELD GUIDE is part diary, part sketchbook, and part wish list – an archive of ordinary wonders. For years, this space has housed my stories – creative ideas, vintage inspiration, our forays into curious places, and the simple artifacts of quiet of conscious living. Through watercolor, photography, and illustrated tales, these pages uncover the blessing of ordinary days and the wonder found in authentic places and pursuits.
I invite you to open the boxes.
Peek into the drawers.
Rustle through the pages.
I’m honored to have you here.
© Haley Montgomery for Small Pond Graphics.
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Sharing of photos and images from this site is acceptable, provided that proper crediting links are included. No downloadable content may be distributed without written permission. All art is a gift forward. Please support designers, creators and makers everywhere by respecting copyright ownership of creative property.
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Phone: 662.312.4001
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