Tenn Hens Design

new year news

2012-01-25T13:27:00.001-06:00

Yes we're already a month in, but better late than never… hello 2012! We have been busy bees over here and have so much to cover so here goes. One of the biggest things happening at Tenn Hens is that Bonnie has moved to Dallas. Yee-haw! Her husband started a job there so they have recently relocated. It sounds like a big change, and it is, but it's pretty much business as usual here at the shop. We are still working full time on some great new projects and just hoping to expand our business in the big D. Thanks to Face-time and the 'ole internet we're able to continue doing what we love together just in two different cites. So, if you know anyone in the Dallas area looking for a designer, or a new friend, tell them to give us a ring.

In other news, we've been doing a ton of invitation work. Designing special party invitations is such a joy and allows us to create something truly memorable & personable for folks. Here's a quick view…

… more to come y'all so stay tuned in!

cooper grey

2011-12-02T10:59:00.001-06:00

A friend of the hens, Cooper Grey, called us a while back in need of our design services. What started with a logo + cards eventually led to a new website, photoshoot, and blog launch. Hooray! It was great to work with someone who truly has a great eye. Ceri uses designer fabrics to create gorgeous pillows and all sorts of items. She had loads of ideas and inspiration, but we whittled it down to her key goals and came up with a modern, clean look with loads of personality… just like the designer.

She has since launched a handbag line and has all sorts of other ideas cookin' away. Be sure to check out the blog because there are recipes, decorating ideas, and even a little fashion thrown in - this girl does it all so look out everybody!

nashville library

2011-11-09T16:42:00.000-06:00

Nashville is lucky to have an incredible Public Library downtown. Not only is the building beautiful, and a resource to the community, I've heard they have some especially great childrens programs.

Anyway, each year they thank their charitable supporters with a patrons party. We were thrilled when this years event planner approached us to design the invitation. Our minds immediately drifted off to library cards, shelves, bookmarks, words, card catalogs…oh my! Our design inspiration was imagery from the featured author, John McPhee's novels. What we came up with was a gatefold with a letterpressed card inside that perforated into a bookmark keepsake. And let's not forget the envelopes. Always a nice touch to make them feel special. Currier drew all the illustrations and continued the design on the front of the envelope, then Kitty Hobbs worked her magic touch with the calligraphy.

music city wedding

2011-10-14T13:29:00.003-05:00

An old friend of mine is getting married this Fall…hooray…and came to Tenn Hens for some of her wedding materials. We sought to capture the feeling of downtown Nashville where most of the events are taking place. A lot of guests are coming from out of town so this was a chance to showcase the local vibe of the city. We wish the couple a very merry wedding.
The rehearsal dinner at Merchants is in a building which was once a pharmacy and later a hotel. Many notable Nashville legends stayed at the old Merchant’s Hotel, including Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton. The new owners have spiffed up the place, but kept the original marble counters and old tile. The chevron border we used on the invite mimics the motif used through the restaurant.
We also created these adorable bags + mason jars. Love all the Nashville imagery and hopefully out of towners got a real taste of the South.

only in nashville

2011-10-14T10:43:00.001-05:00

Where else can you see the Avett Brothers rise from the crowd, Robert Plant swing his mic stand as he grooves, Lucinda Williams rock out, and Gregg Allman sing "Sweet Melissa"? Only in Nashville. This is our 5th year working with the Americana Music Association and we felt so proud to sit in the sold-out Awards Show last night. They've had quite a year… even Merriam-Webster announced the inclusion of the musical definition of the word Americana to its Dictionary. Good stuff.

We've been to the awards the last few years and again, they did not disappoint. It was an evening of celebration and appreciation for those in the field. We leaned in, feet tapping, heads nodding, and were lost in the music inside the "mother church".

chic eats & live beats

2011-09-08T14:01:00.001-05:00

Turning 16 is a pretty big deal. All that freedom on the open road ahead. Well, last year we designed a very cool invitation for a birthday boy celebrating the big day. And this year his sister turned sweet sixteen so we had to come up with another design that was just as chic. We went with a silver + blue palette, with a punch of red. Our idea was for guests to open the envelope, revealing a baby envelope inside, and then pull out the tiny fold out invitation inside. Each piece revealing a detail of the party with the last being a "ticket" guests had to tear off for entrance into the club. And the calligraphy? Ridiculously good. We were happy with the whole shebang and hope all the partygoers live it up that evening!

don't mind us… just stuffing, gluing, and stamping away here at our work station thank ya!

hudson river valley

2011-09-08T13:51:00.003-05:00

A sweet New York couple contacted us to design their rehearsal dinner invitations. The venue, the Stilling House, is a 300 year old home which gave us lots of good, rustic imagery to work with. We mapped out the Hudson River Valley and layered with wood texture to give it a vintage vibe. Chin-chin to the bride & groom!

cool blue : letterpress

2011-08-22T11:22:00.003-05:00

Here's a look at a job we've been working on. 1 color letterpress metallic + black on this very subtle baby blue paper that feels like velvet.

baby girls

2011-08-04T15:27:00.003-05:00

These are a couple beauties we recently whipped up for parties. One was for my little chickadee Miriam who turned one. My, how time flies! The other invitation was for a girly baby shower happening in town.

stitched together

2011-06-15T10:09:00.056-05:00

It seems like spring jumped right into summer around here. Flowers popping up, the sun beating down, and the wedding season in full bloom. Recently, we were lucky enough to work with Big Events on a beautiful farm wedding. The bride requested that fabric play a big role in the invitation so we picked one in her color palette and had it stitched to the paper. We left the design clean and simple and let the thread colors, fabric and wood grain paper be the stars. They'll be posting more pics from the big day on their blog so check back soon.

{wood grain paper bellyband to tie everything together }

{the suite included invitation, rsvp, and rehearsal dinner invitation}

upstate healthy living

2011-05-17T10:02:00.000-05:00

We're excited to show off a new identity project that's been in the works. The company is called Upstate Healthy Living. They're launching healthy vending machines in Upstate (South Carolina) schools, offices, and hospitals. The machines are truly amazing. They even have LCD screens running with healthy tips and fun facts. Looks like Twinkies & Cokes are out and Clif bars and organic milk are in!

milestones

2011-05-04T14:25:00.035-05:00

There's definitely something in the water lately, because there are babies at every turn. Baby showers, baby announcements, and baby birthdays. All fabulous reasons to bring on the pink & blue.

Here are just a couple of designs we've been working on for some friends.

record store day

2011-04-15T08:23:00.000-05:00

In support of our client, The Americana Music Association, we wanted to spread the word about Record Store Day. There aren't many great ones left, but luckily Nashville has Grimey's and Greenville has Horizon. Happy listening!

sneak peak

2011-04-01T09:14:00.001-05:00

Our fingers were practically stuck together after a marathon afternoon of gluing. We spent the last 3 days assembling, trimming, stitching, stamping,stuffing, and wrapping… but we're not quite finished. We've been working on a wedding invitation that required a good bit of hand work. Luckily we got some incredible days outside that made the smell of spray glue tolerable. And all that work is always worth a happy bride in the end!

bump smitten

2011-03-18T15:29:00.000-05:00

Some Friday fun… Tenn Hens is featured on Bump Smitten, an adorable baby blog, this week. They highlight real baby showers and have loads of cute ideas. Very cute, especially if there's a bun in the oven.

love stamps

2011-03-08T13:53:00.000-06:00

We're sort of obsessed with stamps around here. All the different colors, special editions, old & new. I know, I know, they're constantly going up in price, but you still won't catch us buying those liberty bells. Nope, we love mixing them up and finishing an envelope with the perfect little piece of art.

Needless to say, we're really excited about these Garden Stamps by José Ortega coming out in May. Brides are going to be all over these and I know we'll be snapping up quite a few for some lucky projects.

americana groove

2011-03-07T13:53:00.000-06:00

Hard to believe, but it's about that time again. We're gearing up for another year of working with the Americana Music Association. This year we are shaking up the look of their materials quite a bit with a retro/mod design. Here's just a peak at what we're working on.

jarrard work

2011-02-08T12:36:00.003-06:00

Some of Tenn Hens very first clients are still with us today & we think that's pretty cool. It makes for an easy relationship because you know how one another works and things seem to cluck along seamlessly. Jarrard, Phillips, Cate, & Hancock is a group we partnered with early on and we continue to help them with various marketing/design needs. Here's just a sampling of projects we've been busy creating for them.

Fort Mill Medical Center :

Piedmont Medical Center:

chalkboard art

2011-02-07T08:50:00.000-06:00

Check out these chalkboard graphics. Amazing right?? The woman behind them, Dana Tanamachi, is a graphic designer / custom chalk letterer. Love the simple black & white, the fonts, just all of it.

southern living weddings

2011-01-21T10:13:00.001-06:00

We've been waiting and waiting to share the news, but Tenn Hens work is featured in Southern Living Weddings edition!!!!! We got a call a few months ago from someone at the magazine who'd found our blog. We didn't think too much of it until they asked us for samples of our work. I packaged them up and sent off the package with fingers tightly crossed. Sure enough they wanted to feature Bonnie's wedding invitation that we designed in '08. We are beyond thrilled to be included in such a beautiful publication.

And just in time for wedding season. If you're interested in any custom design work, please contact us for more information. info@tennhens.com / 615.292.9263

gigi's cupcakes

2011-01-15T13:40:00.002-06:00

Tenn Hens designed the branding and packaging for Gigi's Cupcakes. We created a new logo, color palette, and cupcake box designs. Sure makes you want a taste of something sweet, huh?! Their stores are popping up all over the place as their business expands.

2010-12-28T15:11:00.002-06:00

Over the holidays we designed quite a few holiday cards, but admittedly we're a little partial to this particular card. Must be the precious baby!

some new work

2010-12-01T14:09:00.011-06:00

Tis the season again (see last year)… so Tenn Hens assisted PharmMD with their annual holiday card. A clever play off the logo and the letterpress printing really made it a special piece for folks to receive in the mail.

…and below is a new brochure we designed. Churches Together is on a mission of helping those in need in Africa through church-led holistic ministries. The creative simply delivers their message while showcasing the beautifully shot images.

americana music is a risin'

2010-11-15T12:03:00.013-06:00

The Americana Music Association has been a client of ours for the last 5 years and it's a joy to work with such a creative group. Plus the genre "Americana" has been on the rise and this years event in Nashville did not disappoint. Their award show represented folks like Robert Plant, John Mellencamp, Roseanne Cash, and Ryan Bingham. Pretty darn cool! Music city is a lucky place to be.

We created everything from posters, signage, and ads to a book for the festival.

up up and away

2010-11-04T13:20:00.012-05:00

Currier grew up in downtown Franklin, Tennessee. Back when it was just a simple little town with not a lot going on. Well, today, it's a hot spot for shopping and dining. Even the old theater is being restored. The Heritage Foundation is one of the organizations to thank for it's success. They're a non-profit dedicated to protecting and preserving the historic resources in Franklin.

Their largest fundraiser is the Heritage Ball and they asked us to design this years program. H3 did the event design and created an "up up and away" theme. We were happy to help with such a special evening and wish the folks at Heritage much continued success.

brickyard bbq

2010-10-14T09:40:00.002-05:00

Cold beer & smokey barbecue on a hot summer night with friends, makes for a good party. This one was particularly special as it was an engagement party. We incorporated a brick wall illustration to play off the family brick-making business. And what's a barbecue without a pig? Guests even got to take a little secret family sauce home to taste. Such a cute way to kick off the nuptials! …see more on Oh So Beautiful Paper

a new hen

2010-10-07T13:57:00.003-05:00

sevier & white interiors

2010-09-01T08:27:00.014-05:00

Remember our friends Sevier & White? Well, they've been busy with change. New design projects, the arrival of a baby, and an office move. The ladies closed the doors of their beautiful retail store, Petit Chateau, to focus completely on their interior design business. So they called on Tenn Hens for an identity spiff up! Be on the look out for their blog… they're going to have design tips, inspiration and showcase cool new projects.

Just to peak your interest… this is a home they designed and had featured in the pages of Southern Living.

story of a song

2010-06-17T15:51:00.008-05:00

A weekend turn around deadline is not ideal, but our client was in a bind and luckily we were there to step in. Below is the DVD cover we created for a documentary exploring the phenomenon of one of Gospel music’s favorite songs. The cover required multiple artist photos, but we wanted to retain a light and inspirational feel in the design as well. We hope the new packaging will help bring them success in spreading their story of a song.

movin' on and along

2010-06-14T16:27:00.009-05:00

Well folks, we have some news to share. Tenn Hens has moved! We had a wonderful 4 years on Acklen Avenue, but it was time for a change. Not to worry… it's business as usual and we're still cluckin' along at full speed this summer. Same phone and email as before so give us a ring any time to talk biz. or just to chat. We'd love to hear from you. Cheers, Bonnie + Currier

Tenn Hens Design
615.292.9263
info@tennhens.com

bun in the oven

2010-04-26T11:45:00.009-05:00

The big news around our office these days is there's a bun in the oven. That's right. Miss Bonnie's having a baby! To celebrate the upcoming event, we put our heads together to design a fun shower invitation. We love any excuse to celebrate! The type and design was all illustrated by hand in a whimsical, funky style. After all, this was no ordinary shower. No overly sweet pink or blue here. It needed to be kind of cool and most of all… really fun. Plus Bonnie's not finding out the gender so we had to keep it all sort of neutral. The corners were rounded, the invites were mounted on blue hued paper stocks, and each one was tied up fittingly with bakers twine. All that was the left were the envelopes. We used old stamps we'd collected mixed with new abstract art ones that were just released. And we mixed in some envelope liners to really make this package feel special. Now we just wait on the bun in the oven. It will be the newest member of the Tenn Hens family nest!

Oh and we got a little pub from a fabulous blog… check it out! Oh So Beautiful Paper

food + napkin tags

friends + fans

2010-03-29T13:39:00.008-05:00

We may be late to the party, but better late than never. Tenn Hens has joined the ranks and now has it's very own Facebook page. It's going to be a place for friends to see what we're up to and accompany us on our little adventures around town. We hope you'll be our friend… or is it fan? Either way just join us and stay connected. We promise to make it fun!

: cluck here :

a special delivery

2010-03-09T14:41:00.020-06:00

Pink is for girls and blue is for boys. Or so they say anyway. For this baby shower though the idea was a bit more modern. The concept was to incorporate the mother's move from Music City to the Big Apple in a whimsical design. So we created our own vision of a stork, in a cowboy hat of course, flying over the Brooklyn Bridge with a very special delivery. After all, who wouldn't want a country music singing bird to deliver their baby?

the music continues

2010-03-03T10:36:00.007-06:00

This is just a preview of more to come. We are busy gearing up for another year of partnering with The Americana Music Association. Stay tuned because they are hosting another incredible music festival. Just another beauty of living in music city!

one for the hens

2010-03-01T08:22:00.001-06:00

Recently, Tenn Hens got to hob nob it with all the creative folks in town. The Addy's are the advertising industry's largest and most representative competition. Agencies and design shops around town gather annually to celebrate the winning works of the year.

We were surprised, but thrilled to get an invite from our wonderful printer, Jive. They entered one of our invitation jobs (49 & Holding) and it won. Sweet. So we got all dolled up and mingled with lots of familiar faces from our advertising days at Buntin. The vast array of creative talent was evident that evening. Thank you Jive for submitting our design and allowing the hens to celebrate such a great honor. We were incredibly flattered!

Remember this one? It's a personal fave of ours. And even though they didn't have all our little details with it at the show, we still thought it deserved a little pat on the back!

fashion forward

2010-02-28T12:00:00.003-06:00

This project is still in the works, but we couldn't wait to share it. Tenn Hens is designing a website for Hemline of Nashville. It's a women's boutique offering all the most fashionable brands. We also did a photoshoot to capture some of their eclectic style. The store is full, rack after rack, of pretty little numbers. You may just have to make a trip to see for yourself!

little book of land

2010-02-26T15:28:00.019-06:00

"TENNESSEE HAS MORE TREE SPECIES THAN ALL OF EUROPE COMBINED."

This statement reflects one of the powerful tidbits compiled for the Land Trust for Tennesse's "little book of facts." Tenn Hens has worked with the Land Trust in the past and feels a deep connection to their mission of preserving the unique landscape of our state. Tennessee is incredibly lucky to have such a passionate and active organization.

The vision was to create an informative booklet that clearly expresses the message of the Land Trust. We designed the brochure by highlighting sections of each service area: Farm Land - Historic Land - Natural/Recreational Land - Urban Land. This creates an informative and concise booklet of facts for the Land Trust to use out in the community as they continue to spread their message.

Oh and check out the embossed tree on the cover. It's a very textural and subtle effect on the recycled paper. So lovely!

sneak peak

2010-02-11T09:26:00.007-06:00

We have a some new projects cooking in the Tenn Hens studio for 2010. It's too early to share all the details, but here's a sneak peak of what's to come...

hottest ticket in town

2010-02-02T08:57:00.012-06:00

Our assignment was to design an invitation that you'd receive from the most exclusive new club in town. It was for a sweet 16 party and needed to be incredibly cool to grab all the teenagers attention. After all… they've seen everything. Our concept started with a masculine color palette and two beautiful paper stocks in silver and deep blue. The paper did all the work. In fact, we never even used any ink. The front had the type raised with no color on top, the back was a silver foil pattern, and the numbers were die cut to reveal the blue. The best part, in our mind anyway, was the ticket at the bottom. It was something every guest was "required" to bring for admission into the party. Hopefully all the kids felt very special receiving this in the mail!

all is calm, all is bright

2009-12-22T09:05:00.009-06:00

We wish you a very merry season with family and friends.
* Happy Holidays from Tenn Hens *

silver bells

2009-12-18T15:19:00.005-06:00

Tis the season for holiday greetings and our newest design turned out beautifully. As you know, we love letterpress and love it even more when our clients want to use the printing technique. Pharm MD was looking to send out a greeting to colleagues, friends and clients and knew they wanted to use this special look. So Tenn Hens designed a fun, play on their logo and had it printed on thick blotter paper to highlight the imprint.

65th celebration

2009-12-16T11:29:00.014-06:00

It was love at first sight with this project. Our client brought in old photos of their mother and one of the frames was incredibly beautiful. It was engraved with little storks on each side and all of her birth information below. All the little details were so precious so we couldn't help using the cute baby stats on the invitation The milestone was her mother's 65th birthday and the children were throwing a big party with friends. Sweet & reminiscent on the outside, and lively on the inside was the idea.

turkey time

2009-11-03T15:38:00.009-06:00

Every holiday deserves a little recognition. Thanksgiving isn't one of the holidays you typically receive an actual invitation for, but I for one prefer this over a phone call! It's a special day of family and food to give thanks for. So when we were asked to come up with a really fun invite, Currier whipped up a gorgeous watercolor turkey. Then we adhered the card to some linen fabric and frayed the ends - very festive and Fall. Plus the Macy's Day stamps they have at the post office are simply divine.

a clear vision

2009-11-03T13:32:00.007-06:00

I believe we've posted about this project before, but now it's even better than the first go round. Our client, Tenvision, needed to order more tri folds we'd designed for them. This time though, they really wanted to improve the durability of the folded sections and change paper stocks. So, we tinkered around with a couple of ideas and between us and our fabulous printer's suggestions… a new and improved folder was born. It's sturdier to hold the notepad & the un-coated, thick paper we choose showcases the embossed (raised) cover beautifully. The logo was embossed and the word "ultrasound" was blind embossed, creating a beautiful silhouette. We're always open to improvement and in this case, revisiting an existing idea in a new way, produced an even better result.

off and running

2009-11-02T08:04:00.000-06:00

We met Jim back when we had just opened Tenn Hens doors in 2005. We were designing a project for CMT, where he was working, and he sought us out recently as he started this new business venture. Running 4 Cover is a Nashville based production company. They represent a group of video directors and also offer an in-house studio. We were thrilled to hear from him and find out he'd gone out on his own. I guess you could say we root for the upstart. After all, it's what we did!

Some clients come to us looking for a little polishing up of their existing brand. In this case, he already had a logo and great looking website. What he needed was to pull together their marketing and create a really cohesive look. Tenn Hens designed business cards, labels and note cards based on his existing look. We wish him much success.

a special treat

2009-10-15T19:50:00.004-05:00

The big 4-0 is certainly a reason to celebrate. This particular client had some hilarious photos to work with on her invitation. So we designed a girlie, whimsical pattern in the background, then letter-pressed the hot pink type. Our favorite detail was the luxurious envelopes. They had a slight texture and were letter-pressed as well on both sides! We carried the theme over to napkins and favor tags. Lucky guests received a small box of truffles from The Cocoa Tree in Nashville - yum!

music to our ears

2009-10-15T14:31:00.005-05:00

Americana seems to be quite the buzz word these days. The Americana Music Association is really fabulous and it's catching on like crazy around the world. People seem to really respond to roots music and it's variety appeals to so many types of listeners. So we slipped on our boots and headed to the Ryman Auditorium for a magical evening. We were thrilled to see all of the pieces for this years event really come together. And I think the 10 yr stamp was a great way to showcase their anniversary. It's quite a milestone to hit! We tip our hats to the people running the show and to another fabulous year of music.

itty bitty teeny weeny

2009-10-14T20:01:00.001-05:00

The latest invitation job Tenn Hens was charged with, was a baby shower for a very close friend. There were no color or design limitations so we really wanted to a less traditional and very fun invitation. And since it was such a close friend, we did a little "styling" for the event as well! We think the result is very sweet.

calling cards

2009-09-23T13:00:00.000-05:00

We don't leave them on silver trays in entry ways anymore, but calling cards are still relevant today. Stuck in wedding presents or with a hostess gift, they're a wonderful touch. And we thought they could use a little touch of whimsy. A combination of old textures, scans and watercolors, they take on a personality all their own.

Contact us for more information on pricing and styles.

colorful style

2009-09-01T13:21:00.001-05:00

Music City has a unique, artistic style associated with it. Our latest job involved recreating that look for a grand opening invitation. The Hilton Garden Inn opened it's doors a couple of months ago and wanted to celebrate their new location in Midtown. So we created a rustic invitation with lot's of texture on recycled paper. And since we love stamps, the return address fit nicely on the back in a red hue. If you're ever in that neighborhood, check out the hand-painted mural in their lobby - it was created by the Hee-Haw set designer!

client news

2009-09-01T07:31:00.004-05:00

Grammy's will be putting Americana on the map : That's the headline on USA Today that jumped out at us this morning. "The building blocks of American popular music are moving into their own home." We're so proud to be associated with such a cool group of folks!

cricket hollow

2009-07-28T10:48:00.004-05:00

Even the little details can make a big difference when throwing a party. We created some labels for a summer supper at Cricket Hollow. If you are looking to add some flair to your next soiree just give us a shout!

firecracker hill

2009-07-08T11:27:00.010-05:00

Apparently an invitation in a box is one hot ticket lately. Our most recent request was from some friends of ours, who were getting hitched on July 4th, and we happily obliged. The setting was the groom's family farm near Fly, Tennessee - what a cool name! And they call the hill where the ceremony took place "Firecracker Hill." Pretty fitting for independence day.

Elegantly southern, but with a hint of non traditional flare. That was our starting point for the design. We incorporated vintage motifs and played off the intricate metal work on the arbor.

And finally..... the beautiful calligraphy by Ginger English adds the perfect bit of whimsy!

49 & holding

2009-06-23T15:20:00.002-05:00

Some people cringe and hide at the thought of another birthday. Others are ready to ring it in with a big bash. This client is the latter! So..... their event coordinator, the FABULOUS Elizabeth James, hired us to create a special invitation to get the ball rolling.

We designed an invitation suite around the theme, "49 & Holding." We found some vintage playing cards (actually in Currier's grandmother's bridge table), then had a bit of fun with the imagery and some clever copy. "The cards are stacked against him… He's over the hill and picking up speed. A big celebration is just what he needs!"

And on a side note: we want to give a a little love to our printer from this job......... Jive. They are wonderful to work with and turn out a great product! Next time you have a printing need, check them out in Cummins Station.

some new branding

2009-06-18T16:27:00.002-05:00

Even after many years of continued business success, every company can use a little sprucing up. And that's what Steve Ward and Associates decided they needed for their marketing. SWA is a full service dealer for laboratory furniture, institutional casework and custom architectural millwork. They are a wonderful group of professionals and we were so excited to be a part of their re-branding.

They'd already hired us to create a company brochure and now we were charged with helping them update their brand. We started with their logo. The goal was to create an identity based on their past mark, but with a more modern feel and updated color palette. Next, we designed the stationary which they chose to have engraved. Engraving is such a beautiful, traditional technique that makes each piece feel special. The result… the next generation of Steve Ward & Associates.

the tradition continues

2009-06-18T14:38:00.001-05:00

10 must be the magic number this year, because The Americana Music Association is also celebrating their 10th anniversary! The organization is going strong and has some big news:

The Recording Academy will officially recognize the Americana genre next year at the Grammy's! “These are the country’s preeminent artists, who not only pay homage to roots, but truly shape modern music. The Americana community couldn’t be prouder of their decision.”

More to come on this, but here is the logo we created for this year's event that will be held September 16th - 19th in Nashville.

yes, please

2009-06-17T14:54:00.008-05:00

At Tenn Hens, we are constantly looking for new inspiration for our design work. There are a few businesses out there that seem to always impress us with their work. Well, to our surprise, two of those companies recently collaborated and the result is fabulous. Anthropologie partnered with Hatch Show Print to produce their latest catalog.

Anthropologie is always producing great looking clothing, but more importantly, their store displays and home goods are to die for. Their styling and knack for funky, cool design is enviable. Then there is Hatch. Not only are they located right here in Nashville, they're also America's oldest working poster print shop. They use handcarved letters and images to create the best posters around. We are in LOVE with their typography & anything letterpressed. Enjoy!

moroccan theme

2009-06-14T16:47:00.003-05:00

Sparkling bold colors, belly dancers and star filled tents fit the bill for a moroccan themed party. To set the mood, we created a very colorful and unique invitation. Our inspiration came from the moroccan tents with striped poles and patterned ceilings. They are so chic! And since the party is for an 18th birthday, we knew we could get a little funky with the design. Plus, Currier did the hand lettering on the envelopes which gave these a really cool touch.

hens portfolio

2009-06-01T11:32:00.005-05:00

special graduation

2009-05-25T13:16:00.005-05:00

A true individual, we were so excited to help this client with an invitation. She went back to art school as an adult. Her family wanted to celebrate her thriving spirit and talent. Congrats!

a feast for the eyes

2009-05-21T14:55:00.003-05:00

It's tradition. Memorial weekend = Furniture sales. So it's no surprise John Richard wanted to let their customers know about their "tent event." This is a quick direct mail we put together and hopefully folks will flood their doors looking for deals.

paper love

2009-05-20T12:04:00.003-05:00

Who doesn't love getting something really special in the mail? Well, we love paper… and the thicker the better for that matter. Nice paper can really make a piece stand out and it doesn't always have to cost more.

Kelley McLaughlin, our wonderful rep from Athens Paper, recently dropped by our office with some fabulous new samples to share. There are so many options now a days. Textures, cotton fibers and a ton of gorgeous colors. Plus, the paper companies have all responded to environmental issues. From recycled content, FSC certification and even green power - there are a wide variety of options which make being green that much easier.

These paper companies ( Neenah • French • Gmund, just to name a few of our faves ) put out beautiful samples of their different lines. They show you how paper can really impact the end result of a job. Just something to keep in mind for your next project!

10 years in Tenn

2009-05-19T13:21:00.002-05:00

The Land Trust kick-off party was last night and we celebrated along side supporters, volunteers and land owners. It was a beautiful evening and everything went off without a hitch. We even created a hand-drawn sign to commemorate the anniversary. And Mose, one of our canine supporters, was kind enough to pose with our work of art!

under construction

2009-05-18T16:50:00.001-05:00

This is just a sneak peek of a website we're working on for Carbine & Associates. They are a Middle Tennessee construction management team, focused on producing a product that meets the quality and value expectation of every client. More to come!

welcome friends

2009-04-30T16:24:00.002-05:00

A sweet addition was made to our roost today. Drop by any time and say hello!

dog gone girly affair

2009-04-28T14:26:00.005-05:00

We think dogs rule. So we were happy to help with A Cause For Paws. It is an annual luncheon that raises money for the Nashville Humane Society. This year's theme sprouted from a brightly colored Tory Burch shoe-box and the infamous "Dog's Playing Poker image." The illustration grew from there and includes some fabulous doggie hats of tennis balls, bushes and bones.

The sold out event was a hit with the ladies and what a good cause to support mans best friend!

love thy earth

2009-04-22T20:52:00.007-05:00

LIFE. LAND. LEGACY.

This is the motto of the Land Trust for Tennessee, an organization near and dear to Tenn Hens. Their mission is to preserve the beauty and character of the Tennessee landscape through conservation easements. Their dedication is truly something to celebrate......... it's also their 10th Anniversary!

To kick-off their 10 years in Tenn, the Land Trust is throwing a party at the fabulous Loveless Barn. Our concept for the invitation was to incorporate their "roots" - a play off the emblematic tree used in their branding. Currier created a natural, folksy illustration of tree roots underground, that really wove in and out of the type.

Cocktails, Tunes & Tidbits - what a great way to toast such a remarkable milestone!

300+ architecture : 150+ living

2009-04-20T08:07:00.010-05:00

Some big milestones were approaching the Page family, and they reached out to Tenn Hens to help kick off the celebration. We created a tri-fold wrap with the info card held in by cut flaps. The idea was to incorporate their birthdays while also nodding to the 3 homes they have so lovingly restored over the years. The family has a keen sense of design and classical architecture (Ben being a renowned landscape architect) so we really wanted the invitation to convey their love of detail. Hopefully these beauties are hanging on guests' refrigerators all over town. I'll also mention that The Page's are full of charm and wisdom, and just a delight to be around, which always makes our job that much more fun!

OFFICE - built 1910 : COUNTRY HOME - built 1848 : MAIN RESIDENCE - built 1908

every chair needs a home…

2009-03-18T21:44:00.009-05:00

and we know just the place to get one - John Richard furnishings has opened up shop here in town and Tenn Hens is thrilled to have them as a new client.

Started in 1980 as a family run furniture manufacturer, they are rich in the history of producing high quality pieces. Their new venture as a retail store front is exclusive to Nashville for now, but I have a feeling the concept will fly to other areas in the future.

Tenn Hens was charged with creating a "look" for the store's marketing materials - evocative of their rich history and yet informative to a new & old audience. We played off the textures in the furniture and the mood each room creates when you walk into it.

Two concepts are below and we are finalizing one to run in local publications. Drop by if you're ever in their area - they definitely give a welcoming vibe.

see what's hoppin'

2009-03-10T15:00:00.007-05:00

Currier, the in house fine "artiste," here at Tenn Hens just finished up a spectacular Easter invitation for a client.

She painted the bunny then created hand drawn typefaces for the layout. The client loved our previous "invite in a box" so we duplicated that feature, but added some lime green stuffing and colorful Easter eggs for effect! And we couldn't resist having a little fun with Miss Ellie, the yellow lab, on the label. Such fun!

a little self promo

2009-03-03T10:10:00.003-06:00

love is in the air

2009-02-17T13:05:00.004-06:00

Ahh… the month of love. In keeping with this theme we recently had two projects revolving around the color pink.

Because we are big dog lovers over here, Tenn Hens volunteered to help with this years Nashville Humane Society event. They have a killer fashion show and luncheon to raise money for all the needy cats & dogs out there. More to come on this big event!

A really fun invitation for a friend - just a little pink and a whole lot of bling.

crème de la crème

2009-01-22T10:45:00.011-06:00

They say "green" is the new black and our friends at Petit Chateau are sticking with the trend at this years Antiques & Garden Show. They're heading up one of the parties for young folks around town. Petit Chateau has fabulous French antiques & interiors on antique row.

Tenn Hens was thrilled to design their branding when they opened up shop last year. Plus Brooke & Meg are wonderful to work with. Drop by and check out their cute little store mascots as well!

building on experience

2009-01-09T12:08:00.004-06:00

We love to work with other small, women owned businesses and this one was a treat!

Jennifer Deal was venturing out on her own after many years in the construction and real estate business. She had a ton of experience and our job was to add value to her brand by coming up with a classic and professional look.

Tenn Hens created an identity, business cards and a small brochure for Deal to hand out. The next step was a website so potential clients could really learn more as the word spread. We wish her much success in '09!

custom invitations

2009-01-01T09:03:00.000-06:00

check out a few of our favorite soirees…

seasons greetings from the hens

2008-12-22T12:56:00.004-06:00

Wishing you a an egg-cellent Christmas…
and we look forward to working with you in the New Year!

on the Airways…

2008-12-16T15:33:00.004-06:00

The Americana Music Assoc. has teamed up with the book giant Amazon for their Music Chart. There are photos, videos and you can download some new tunes. Check 'em out!

down on the farm

2008-12-05T14:44:00.000-06:00

Birds chirped, the sun shined bright and wedding bells rang out on the farm. I got married a few months ago and took full advantage of designing every bit involved in the big day. Style Me Pretty - a beautiful site I referenced all the time for inspiration is featuring us. Our buddy Josh created all the illustrations and talk about a secret weapon - he's so darn talented! cheers - b

photos courtesy of mary claire crow®

from the inside out

2008-11-03T11:28:00.009-06:00

"Looking at your world from the inside out" - that is the tag line of Tenvision Ultrasound - a business that approached us last year looking for a graphic design company to help them with their brand. They are a great group of professionals with over 20 years of combined experience under their belts.

As good as their business was, they really wanted to increase their market share in the local healthcare community. We put our heads together and came up with a new logo that represented their broader vision for the company. Based on that identity, we developed an ad campaign to show off their experience. A couple of team players even made it into the photoshoot and they were total naturals!

behind the camera

2008-10-27T12:58:00.030-05:00

This summer I met a wonderfully talented photographer named Mary Claire Crow. She is a very cool chick and we immediately hit it off. The timing was perfect because she was looking to update her identity materials and I was looking for a wedding photographer. Tenn Hens was happy to oblige and it was a joy to work with a fellow creative.

We started with a new logo and color palette. She wanted an elegant and serene look that complemented her artistic style. She mainly shoots weddings and children so it needed a sense of whimsy, while keeping the color palette crisp. Mary fell in love with the vintage style of letterpress after seeing my invitations so we had die-cuts made of her stationary for the embossing process. Finally, we created a sign for her cool studio space in Old Hickory.
Please check out her exquisite body of work maryclairecrow.com or maryclairecrow.squarespace.com

Big Winner!!

2008-10-15T09:51:00.006-05:00

Recently, Bonnie and I attended a Ladies Who Launch luncheon in Franklin. We always meet interesting people at their events and often see a few familiar faces. It's a great way for Bonnie and I to get out of the office and network. At the event last week, First Farmers & Merchants Bank was giving away incubator spots to a select few lucky winners. And guess who was the first winner!! Me! Bonnie gets to go with me of course. We can't wait to get started this Thursday. To learn more about Ladies Who Launch and their incubator sessions visit www.ladieswholaunch.com

press check anyone?

2008-10-14T14:26:00.005-05:00

We thought we would post a few images from a recent press check. We frequently go to the print warehouses and check our jobs on press... just to make sure everything looks good. Paper quality, colors, and placement are all things that we are checking. Julie Cook, our favorite account manager from Buford Lewis is always very helpful. This particular quarterly newsletter that we do for Tennessee Health Management is pretty big, so it goes on a monster of a press. Check this thing out!

getting hitched

2008-10-03T11:49:00.002-05:00

you're invited…

2008-10-02T11:02:00.011-05:00

Good weather brings out the party in all of us and this summer was full of celebrations. We occasionally get invitation design requests from clients who want a one of a kind piece. It's such a fun change of pace and we really get to use our artistic side.

Currier is always painting in her free time so we tapped into her talent for a few jobs that we received. She created some whimsical watercolor illustrations for a rehearsal dinner and a cocktail supper which were a huge hit.

Please let us know if you have an event coming up that needs a unique design touch and Tenn Hens would love to be of service.

- B

a memorable evening

2008-09-23T18:38:00.007-05:00

The Americana Music Association brought down the house with an amazing 2 nights at The Ryman last week. Currier and I enjoyed every minute of it after some hard work on all their materials. Allison Kraus and Robert Plant made a special appearance which was amazing. I got in a tiny bit of trouble for taking the pic above of them, but it was worth it to document the occasion! We also met a fellow graphic designer from Indiana who is amazingly talented so check out his work: http://oneluckyguitar.com

This years festival has come and gone, but we look forward to continuing our partnership with AMA as their organization gets better and better!

it's a little bit country… and a little bit rock 'n roll

2008-09-16T08:00:00.003-05:00

It's called "Americana" - a little bit country, mixed with blues, folk and lots of rock 'n roll. The group responsible for advocating this genre of music is The Americana Music Association. We've had the honor of being their official graphic design studio for the last 3 years and continue to sing their praises for the amazing festival they put on each year. So keep your eyes out around town for our designs on posters, banners and ads.

They host 80 musical acts over the next 4 days at downtown venues such as The Ryman.

We Hens will be rockin' along with them and hope to see you out there!

"The coolest music scene today." - The New York Times

Here goes…

2008-09-15T17:15:00.001-05:00

Hello & welcome to our nest!

Hints of Fall are peaking through as the weather slowly begins to cool off here in Nashville. Our office is humming away with all kinds of new projects. As we head into a new season, we thought a blog would be a great way to keep everyone updated on our current happenings. We'll be filling you in on the latest and greatest over here at Tenn Hens Design and will keep you enticed, so check back often as it evolves. Thanks for stopping by and please feel free to send us your comments!

- Bonnie & Currier

about us

2008-01-01T09:15:00.001-06:00

Hello, and welcome to our nest! We're a graphic design studio located in beautiful Music City. Tenn Hens was established by Bonnie Cross & Currier Howard in 2005. After working together at an advertising agency, we realized it was time to hatch our own shop. Each day we come together with a shared passion for creating smart and effective design solutions. We love what we do and think it shows through our enthusiasm and commitment to our clients.

When we’re not pecking away in the studio…You can find Currier whipping up delicacies in the kitchen or outside hiking the trails at Percy Warner, while Bonnie is busy twirling around her new baby girl or catching live music whenever she can. Stay tuned in to see our current work, latest happenings, and design inspiration.