Yesterday morning I contacted a graphic designer and commissioned an image of Ivy.
Mostly for the blogs. Because the images I’ve used haven’t really been a good likeness of Ivy.
Ivy is very important to me. She’s a big part of this blog, and will be in the next one. So I wanted a good likeness of her when I depict her on my blogs.
The woman I contacted happens to live in London. I’ve purchased graphics from her Etsy store before.
With Etsy, as with many online stores, it doesn’t matter where they’re located. They can deliver what you need electronically, as we all know.
Years ago, would we have believed all this is possible??? Wow, I still recall years of using a phone attached to the wall.
When I first contacted her via her shop, I asked her how much this would cost. She asked me how much I was willing to pay.
I was stumped. You don’t want to low-ball it to the point that you offend the artist. I really had no idea what price to give her.
So I shot back: “How about $20?” She said okay.
Commissioning A Graphic:
The first graphic she sent me had Ivy with a puffy tail at the end. I asked her if she could change that. So she did.
Once I saw the image and how much she’d carefully followed the two photos I’d sent her, I said make it $25.” She did a great job in my opinion.
Then she sent me an invoice and I paid it. Best $25 I may have ever spent.
And that’s not all I did yesterday. I was quite busy. After spending the morning acquiring Ivy’s graphic, I then turned to my new book blog design.
Creating A Blog Header With Graphics:
I spent the whole afternoon putting together graphics for a header for Cozy Little Book Nook. You can get graphics cheap on Etsy. I’ve been buying them there for years to create my blog headers.
When you put together a scene from various graphics, it is kind of tedious. It’s very detailed, but then I’ve always been detail-oriented. You might put a couple of graphics up there; say a chair and a lamp.
But then when you put it on the computer screen, you see that the lamp graphic is on the wrong side and you can’t see all of it.
Details Of Creating Graphics With Various Images:
So then you have to download the individual graphics again and add them in a different sequence. Say, the chair first and the lamp second. Or the other way around. Eventually you get it right.
That is how it is for the entire scene you’re trying to create. And when I show you how detailed this is, you’ll understand what I mean.
If anyone is interested in creating scenes with graphics, I’ll write a post about how I do it.
So here is what I came up with, after hours working on it.
You may remember I have used this same mustard-colored chair before. It was in a blog header with both Ivy and Gracie.
But I was so upset about Gracie dying that I could not look at that header every day when I posted on this blog.
So I changed it to a house graphic, which is what this blog header is now.
I was always taken with this mustard-colored chair. I’ve always loved that color. I use it throughout my home in decor, etc.
I’ve nearly ordered both a couch and a chair in this very color, but I obviously changed my mind. I thought maybe the color was too much for a big piece of furniture, so I went neutral.
What Does A Cozy Book Nook Look Like?
Obviously I wanted to create a room that featured a cozy place in which to read. A place you are drawn to for sitting down and reading a book.
You know the things I love: house plants, candles, paintings on the wall or leaning against it. I find them to be elements of a cozy home.
And of course I wanted Ivy to be in it, of course. Which is why I wanted a good image of her for both the blogs. (I’ll be changing the cat in this blog’s header to the commissioned one.)
When you read you might want a cuppa coffee or hot chocolate. In this case it is hot chocolate because it is wintertime. Which you can tell by looking at the snow through the window behind the chair.
Warmth from a fireplace. A nice soft rug. House shoes at the ready.
Did I nail a cozy room in which to read? Or did I miss a detail?
The new header is really nice and looks so cozy and inviting. You have such a talent for design.
Great work on both graphics. The Cozy Little Book Nook is my idea of heaven.
I think it’s perfect, I especially love the colors, the window frame, the chair, the fireplace. I can easily imagine being there!
I love the graphics. It fits you perfectly.
PERFECT!!
Beautiful, cozy and welcoming!
I love the graphic of Ivy and I absolutely love your Book Nook Graphic.
The graphic of Ivy is perfect! She’s such a beautiful cat. I’d thoroughly enjoy sitting in that beautiful nook.
Perfection at its finest! 🙂
You certainly did nail it, Brenda! I’d love to curl up with a book in that nook!
I love it! At most I’d add an ottoman, or if that’s too big, a little footstool. If that’s not easily done it’s perfect as is!
Nailed it!
I have always thought your blog headers were beautiful and I would love to see a post on how you create those! I think the Ivy graphic is beautifully done! I can’t wait to see your new book blog!
What a lovely graphic! Just a couple of thoughts…wow would it look with Ivy facing us instead of the fireplace? And perhaps make the stones in the fireplace a bit darker so that Ivy doesn’t blend in so much?
I only have a side view of the Ivy graphic, so I can’t change that. Nor can I change the fireplace. These are graphics I purchased and can’t be changed in terms of color, etc. Maybe I’ll move Ivy.
Lovely, but Ivy should be much more prominent. She is the main attraction after all. Remove the plant. You already have that one on the mantel. Good luck with your new venture. Hope you find joy and good health in 2023.
I’ll look into this. Thanks!
I like the setup…the only thing is I found it hard to locate Ivy first glance…wondering if you darkened the fireplace stones a bit, if that would make Ivy a bit more prominent…just a thought…
I’ll try to fix this.
Brenda, I love it ! Just perfect and cozy !
I love the Cozy Book Nook. the addition of an ottoman and a lab quilt would be very nice as well. great job
Brenda,
You NAILED it!!
You nailed it!
I’d be interested in a post about creating scenes with graphics.
Oh this is so cool!! I love you sharing this new baby with us from the ground up. It’s exciting. Because I love books so much and buy them, get them from the library, download them to my iPad, I can see your reading blog is going to attract a lot of attention from many people. Making Ivy in such a strong presence is the icing on the cake!
It is very sweet Brenda.. and very cozy and warm and inviting. Just the place I want to read a book! Love the gold chair.. and I think I would love to see Ivy snuggled in a round little ball in a soft furry cat bed, next to your feet or chair. But I love it the way it is too. There ARE ways to make your own picture (of Ivy) into a PNG image, to use in your scenes. I used to know how.. now I’ve forgotten! There are a couple of programs that you can use and they are quite simple. I have it written down somewhere! Didn’t know you were going to have a separate book blog.. must have missed that announcement! But that will be fun, as I love to read.. and most of the time I print out or write down the books you’ve reviewed and read. Have fun with it all! Marilyn
I love it, Brenda! It’s just right! And Ivy is truly Ivy – the designer did a wonderful job.
Looking forward to the book blog for sure.
The graphic is really pretty and Ivy looks spectacular! I would vote for adding a knitted throw over the chair to be ready to wrap myself up in as I settle in to read. Especially with the snowy weather outside the window. Perfection. You have done it again!
Yes ,,,,, I agree!!
Everything is really nice Brenda!!
Oh I agree … a throw and an ottoman for my feet so I’m real comfy.
Wow very impressive. You’ve for sure lost me on creating this graphic! It’s absolutely wonderful as is but I know you will play with it some more. Just curious though how do you get the word out about a Book Blog and being the new kid on the block! I want you to have tons of followers!!
Just have to cross my fingers and try to get the word out I guess!
Brenda, it is absolutely perfect–and beautiful! Looking forward to the new blog.
Oh it is so wonderful and cozy, I want to sit in that chair and bring my book! You nailed it! And miss Ivey – this image could not be any better.
I love the graphic. I also considered adding a quilt or pillow, but thought it might be too busy. It’s absolutely perfect as is. It makes me want to read a book!
Brenda, it is perfect!!! I cannot wait for the post to give the details of how you did it.
May I suggest links to the shops that you use to purchase graphics? Great for you and to highlight the hard working artists too. If that is not too much trouble, sadly many people are not willing to share these things. But I think it is a testament to the hard work of the artists.
Looking forward to the blog!
Have a wonderful day!
Oh, Brenda, I love all of it!
Good Morning Brenda,
when you referenced a phone on the wall; I laughed. My 98 year old mother still has a working rotary dial wall phone in her kitchen! My grandchildren were fascinated to learn and use it to call relatives.
I love your reading nook, it made me want to bring a book and a drink and step into the space and settle in by the fire. It feels comforting and pretty!
Have fun with your designs, all of us come away inspired.
It’s perfect as is. I would buy a print of it to hang in my cozy room if possible. Wonderful job!
I left a comment but it didn’t come up. So excited for you in your new adventure. The graphics lend a cozy vibe. I thought you could have had a candle and I scanned and you had one. I agree with Carole on adding a throw and everything looks great. Have fun working on your new blog.
It is absolutely beautiful, Brenda! Books on the mantel, books on the floor, greenery, hot chocolate, oil lamp on the window sill, kitty warming by the fire, and, oh! just found the slippers by the chair! What more could anyone need?!
I love the Ivy graphic, I think it looks just like her. The creator you found sure has talent. I also love the cozy book nook graphic you put together, it looks great! I think you nailed it, it’s the perfect spot for getting cozy and losing yourself in a good book. The chair is inviting and I love the fireplace. To me, having a fireplace is the height of coziness, whether it’s a wood-burning fireplace, electric, ethanol fuel, or filled with real or battery operated candles. When I downsized and moved into my current home, one of the first things I bought was an ethanol (gel fuel) fireplace, and it has been so cold here it’s been put to good use! For myself, I would add a footstool or ottoman so I could raise up my feet and an afghan to put around my shoulders and cover me all the way down to my toes, but I tend to be a freezy cat. I would have a glass of wine instead of hot chocolate, personal preference 🙂
I am so excited for you and your new adventure! I loved the graphic. The first thing that popped into my head was that it looked so cozy. I was scanning for a candle which you had. I didn’t catch the throw until Carole mentioned it. I agree that would be a great addition. Have fun working on your new blog.
I had a basket with a throw in it in one scene I created. I’ll have to move things around again. Because I just tried adding it, but like I mentioned in the post, you have to add things in a certain sequence. Which means I’d have to recreate the whole thing. I’ll play around with it.
Yes you nailed it Brenda, I love it!
I would love it if you told us how to create scenes with graphics, I would like to give it
a go.
Looking forward to your book blog.
Okay, I’ll get a post going very soon and describe the steps I use.
I love it! Purr-fect! Lovely companion to your main blog with the same cozy vibe.
I thought so too!
what about a pillow or quilt on the chair?
I tried a green throw pillow. But I couldn’t get it to fit the seat angle of the chair.