tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53959258842918219712012-01-16T03:30:45.057-05:00heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.comBlogger421100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-41368118710575021342011-08-15T19:16:00.005-04:002011-08-15T19:29:12.793-04:00

 It’s been almost a year since I last posted, so I guess I’ll just call this my annual blog post. But it’s certainly worth a post -- my little boy turned ONE! Before having a living child, I never knew why first birthdays were such a big deal. Just another year, right? Whew, boy, I had no idea. The first birthday is a celebration of everyone making it out alive. And I don’t even mean that

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-53054951791871691582010-09-23T09:23:00.000-04:002010-09-23T09:23:08.370-04:00

Yes, two months later, I decide to post :) Little Lochlan Gray Young was born July 22, 2010 at 8 pounds 14 ounces and 21 inches long, after my labor was induced due to my nearly going batty counting kicks each night and day. Praise God for a healthy baby! I'll eventually post his birth story and describe his roller-coaster first two months outside the womb, but for now, I just wanted to leave a

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-2683846670087250222010-05-17T09:27:00.002-04:002010-05-17T18:49:26.626-04:00

I broke down and cried this morning. It had been a long time coming. So much pressure has been building up with this pregnancy, that I hardly realized it until today. I was just reading a book and in it, a dad and his daughter were together eating lasagna in the chill of early autumn. Boring story, right? But tears started flowing down my face and I couldn’t stop. Because they were together, a

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-8971064869540772562010-05-11T16:44:00.003-04:002010-05-11T17:02:00.776-04:00

As many of you know, I’ve been put on bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy. I’m still amazed that this has happened – the pregnancy was absolutely perfect until two weeks ago! I had no negative symptoms, besides my trusty ol’ hot flashes. No swelling, no pain, no discomfort, no heartburn. Blood pressure was actually (and still is) quite low! I had begun exercising more regularly, first

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-37486296553909282772010-04-21T13:55:00.007-04:002010-04-21T18:02:35.908-04:00

Over the past almost 18 months (wow, can you imagine me having a kid that old right now?) since Grace left us, we’ve had SO many encouragers come alongside us. Some of the things people wrote us and said to us in have been mind-blowingly good. The best were the simplest statements, each which carried an immense weight of meaning. Now, I was planning on sharing the “Do’s and Don’ts” of things to

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-50922632797593499022010-04-08T09:03:00.008-04:002010-04-08T17:22:08.141-04:00

(Side note before I begin – because I’m in such a happy place now, it’s a little tough to go back to the depths of my emotions in 2009. So, I’ll leave out a lot. I can’t talk about her funeral – as beautiful and worshipful as it was—and I can’t talk about the many ways I mourned her and missed her. I just can’t go there right now. But please know that even though I don’t write out my feelings of

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-52408007050384867062010-01-12T12:06:00.005-05:002010-01-12T12:19:37.272-05:00

Yep, it’s been a while since I’ve posted. I completely meant to continue Grace’s story and post weekly installments, including her funeral, and how people helped us heal along the way, and the episode of life-threatening hemorrhaging I endured the day before Christmas Eve 2008. And I completely meant to make this blog something I kept up with – I get so many, so so many hits on it, even still!I

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-34654643685973702082009-10-28T12:49:00.026-04:002009-10-28T14:20:31.302-04:00

Psalm 139:13-16For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-8684274014066747592009-08-26T16:29:00.006-04:002009-10-28T12:49:46.670-04:00

I’m sorry to have kept some of you in suspense. Many people emailed me asking how I was doing, and I feel guilty for not updating, especially since everyone was praying so hard for me. When I saw in my Google Analytics that this blog is still getting hundreds of hits, even though I haven’t posted in over a week, I knew I needed to come in and say something.I canceled the surgical procedure. Have

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-32497042933447684392009-08-13T09:22:00.006-04:002009-08-17T09:41:02.331-04:00

As I have sliced my finger open and am having a hard time typing, I will post the next part of the story next week.I want to ask for your prayers, though, as I am having an exploratory surgery of sorts on Monday to find out answers on why I have had now two miscarriages in 2009, both completely unrelated to anything else we've experienced in the past. We know that our God is the HEALER, the

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-15890276328810764012009-08-04T10:22:00.001-04:002009-08-04T11:20:58.321-04:00

Today, August 4, 2009, Grace would be nine months old, and I’d be planning her first birthday party. I'd plan to have a pink & brown cupcake party, with gluten free cupcakes, and Grace would have her first ever taste of sugar. She’d wear something beautiful in the same brand as her coming home outfit (Biscotti), or maybe a fluffy tutu-dress from Belle Ame.But here, instead, is the beginning of

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-83154760694870134442009-07-27T15:15:00.026-04:002009-07-27T17:48:56.853-04:00

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him... My heart rejoices in the Lord." - 1 Samuel 1:27 & 2:1 First Trimester From day one, I was blessed with the perfect pregnancy. I got an enormous thrill watching as the lines on those pregnancy tests to which I’d become so addicted got darker and darker each day. I often carried around the latest one in my purse so I

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-80385413420836546482009-07-21T11:39:00.007-04:002009-07-21T12:19:19.757-04:00

Ever since Grace died, I’ve had a horrible aching in my soul, a nagging feeling, urging me to write what I’ve gone through. From the very beginning, I have not wanted to. Sometime during the first week when I came home from the hospital empty-handed, someone wrote to me in a sympathy card that I should write down everything that was happening to me in a journal to later use as my story about God’

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-26132530872499472712009-06-16T17:40:00.006-04:002009-07-21T11:39:52.221-04:00

I've decided that from now on, this blog will be deeper, less about my work and more about me. I'll be removing it from my design website so that it won't be linked at all to my business anymore. I'm ready to talk about nitty gritty stuff! Stay tuned in the next few days for posts.Until then, I just want to put up one last plug for Sugarcoat Paperie. I'm hosting a Giveaway this Thursday on the

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-90330558938874446662009-04-30T09:21:00.005-04:002009-05-02T09:07:11.083-04:00

I'm going to take a little break from blogging for a few weeks. I need to rethink where this blog is going, and how much personal information I want to share. I love blogging, and actually want to do much more of it than I have been currently, but I'm not sure the way I want to go about it. So, I'm off to think!

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-87114127760474025102009-04-23T15:18:00.020-04:002009-04-23T17:04:00.255-04:00

I don't think I'll get around to designing a Mother's Day card this year. I had lots of cute ideas, and even sketched them out, but each time I tried to finish one I'd start sobbing. I probably should have stuck with flowers and hearts instead of drawing mothers and babies...But I did want to put up this reminder, at the very least: Please, please, please don't forget to celebrate ALL of the

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-85838373518940898472009-04-22T08:33:00.006-04:002009-04-23T16:32:44.900-04:00

For most of my life, I rolled my eyes when Earth day rolled around. When I was a kid, I wasn't into the whole "save the whales" thing; I never had an obsession with dolphins; my back-to-school shopping never included buying recycled notebook paper. To me, saving the earth was some abstract idea meant to make people feel guilty, but I didn't think you could actually make any long-term difference

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-15541706367780962532009-04-13T11:11:00.015-04:002009-04-13T12:14:48.039-04:00

Happy Easter, everyone.My holiday highlights:It felt wonderful to be back in my pre-pregnancy size, in a happy pastel (dress above, from jcrew).It's so liberating to worship my God and thank him for the hope of salvation and oneday meeting with Him and my daughter again in heaven. Easter is by far the most hopeful of all holidays!The weekend was extra special because it was the kick-off of a

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-66533018854595522112009-03-27T09:56:00.008-04:002009-03-27T10:18:10.466-04:00

My treasury this week features a quintessential spring color. It's similar to Restoration Hardware's oh-so-popular "silver sage," but here it's traditionally called "robin's egg blue."Featured:mnemosynedesignspixiepotionsforgetmenotdreamsfrenchsugarvintageCheerupcherupSimplyDaisythebackporchshoppeWildArtDesignsroyaloakcottagemisskrisstudioannechoviejzroszell

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-77581716739596145932009-03-20T08:48:00.003-04:002009-03-20T09:00:54.321-04:00

Happy first day of Spring!I have to say, this week has been really hard for me. I'm missing my daughter like crazy. Last year at this time we had just recently found out we were expecting, and our lives just couldn't be happier. In early April, we visited the cherry blossom festival in D.C. with some friends, and I was filled with inspiration and joy! The picture above was taken during that trip

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-8258933952358532152009-03-11T08:22:00.015-04:002009-03-13T11:27:18.435-04:00

Business is surprisingly booming for me lately, despite this crazy and unstable economy. I'm not sure, but I think the reason is that companies have discovered how to stay afloat in hard times— they market and market and market some more. If nothing else, you've got to keep the customers thinking about you.A large chunk of my work lately has consisted of identity projects—new businesses looking

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-34779314600600687112009-03-03T12:35:00.006-05:002009-03-03T15:04:47.602-05:00

I secured a spot on Etsy's Treasury today. My list is called "Vintagey Feminine Neutrals." I'm in love with every item I put on there! I'd seriously buy every piece.Featured:Turtle PapersGorgeous RedheadTrendy KnittingLisa GoLightlyLudwigas Linenyumi yumi5 Dollar French MarketPrecious MeshesVintage ScrapsBliss CandlesAlicia BockCallooh CallayAlthough everyone complains about how difficult it is

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-63396727908011985522009-02-25T08:41:00.002-05:002009-02-25T08:54:45.337-05:00

I just found the coolest site! It's called Craft Cult. It's based on this invention called the "Heartomatic" where you can type in your Etsy store name and see exactly how many "hearts" you have on the store or on individual items. So no more stalking your own store, clicking on each listing to see how many people love it—you can do that stealthfully on Craft Cult!If you want, you can look up

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-73576657253240375582009-02-17T12:02:00.012-05:002009-02-17T12:35:09.994-05:00

I don't think Jeffrey and I have ever needed a vacation as much as the one from which we just returned! The five days and four nights at Excellence Playa Mujeres were the ideal escape from the grief that has filled our minds for the past three months. We were dealt perfect 85-degree sunny weather, great all-inclusive food & free-flowing drink, cheery aqua blue Caribbean waters, and seemingly

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-76736528595575617702009-02-10T14:00:00.011-05:002009-02-10T15:28:17.622-05:00

My current decorating obsession is anything in creamy off white—especially for winter (well, summer too since shells are white!). And although a lot of interior designers will tell you that using white shows fear of color or lack of creativity, I definitely beg to differ. I think its softness is homey, comforting and elegant.For my birthday, my mom took me shopping and bought me these deliciously

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-58445862374067744752009-02-03T20:53:00.010-05:002009-02-04T20:39:56.017-05:00

Pink!Although I never got to finish my baby girl's nursery, I still want to share photos of it, because I look at it all day and it brings me great memories of my pregnancy. Even when I don't want to remember or grieve, the nursery fills our upstairs hallway with a glow of pink light, and I can't escape it. Pink will always remind me of my baby girl.Anyway, I love the things we bought for the

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-82881067415288508762009-01-29T10:01:00.004-05:002009-01-29T10:21:43.069-05:00

I have found that the best way to get some relief from my sadness is to fill my time with work. Thank God, I've had several clients—old and new—coming to me for projects recently. Logos and salon service menus have been the name of the game. See my website for a few new logos!And to pick up from where I left off last year ...Before the tragedy of losing my daughter occurred, I was working on

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-49677841280970516502009-01-22T10:47:00.011-05:002009-01-29T22:49:51.564-05:00

As some of you know, and many of you don't—as I never updated here that I was even pregnant —I lost my daughter, Grace Evangeline Young, in my 38th week of pregnancy on November 4, 2008. She died in the night while I was sleeping, due to her umbilical cord wrapping around her body and cutting off her oxygen supply. I will never quite understand why *I* had to go through such a tragedy, but I do

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-79566275023863042632008-07-14T15:15:00.011-04:002009-01-21T18:57:07.622-05:00

Announcing the grand opening of Sugarcoat Paperie, my newest freelance design venture. At this Etsy store, you can buy baby announcements, invitations, holiday cards, save-the-dates and more. Please take a look, make my shop a favorite, refer a friend, or even buy something ;)[Pink Gardenia Announcement, Available Only at Sugarcoat Paperie; © Heather G. Young 2008]Sugarcoat Paperie... where

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-3506125319798184242008-03-04T14:24:00.004-05:002008-03-04T14:44:12.379-05:00

I'm currently offering 50% OFF graphic design of the following items, for first-time clients (Salons/Spas) only:Postcard DesignMagazine or Newspaper Advertisement DesignTri-fold Salon Menu DesignBusiness Card DesignDiscount ends April 4, 2008All of my work is custom-designed just for your business. Allow me to enhance your brand identity with gorgeous graphics.Leave a note for me through the form

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-45102443032198954642008-01-28T09:44:00.000-05:002008-01-28T10:55:10.606-05:00

I know that some folks cannot afford a designer, or prefer to make their own marketing materials in Microsoft Word or PowerPoint or some other everyday program. That's OK. But, if you are one of these people, let me give you one piece of advice: do not use the following fonts. They're the telltale sign of a non-designer/rookie/newbie/person-with-no-taste. And they won't win you any points with

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-69428219097832745182008-01-17T09:13:00.001-05:002008-01-17T09:49:45.950-05:00

I know, it's only January and you've just finished recovering from Christmas, and you're scrambling to get Valentine's Day up and running. Because of the winter holiday rush, Spring somehow becomes the most underrated and forgotten marketing season. From what I've learned over the years working with my salon clients, though, is that Spring holds the most opportunities to attract new clients,

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-88895502651709086192007-12-23T15:57:00.000-05:002007-12-23T16:02:24.330-05:00

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-27254407295801926092007-12-13T17:42:00.000-05:002007-12-13T18:18:38.677-05:00

I'm trying to turn my brain off from red/green/snowflakes/candles and change my focus to Valentines and spring flowers, but it is difficult! Especially as I sit here up to my elbows in Christmas cards. (I've sent out a total of 117 so far! And counting!)Here's a random compilation of tid-bits that are giving my brain a rush of inspiration:1. Anything with a hand-sewn, or homemade feel. Even if

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-44462505893917142262007-12-03T11:59:00.000-05:002007-12-03T12:27:33.527-05:00

Without further ado, here are a few photos of the family Gingerbread House Extravaganza 2007.The mess begins...When my husband Jeff participates, he always finishes first!(And yes, it is really funny that Jeff sometimes participates.) This year, he did a train station.Rachael and her castle. Very Anthropologie, if you ask me! (Hers was better than mine.) She would kill me if she knew I just

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-73832133287077777152007-11-21T09:14:00.000-05:002007-11-21T09:49:21.271-05:00

Tomorrow, Jeff and I are headed south to visit our families, who conveniently live only 10 minutes away from each other. We'll do a meal at each house, and then separate to hang out with our own siblings.At Jeffrey's house, everyone plays football, watches football and does typical boy stuff. At my family's house, all five right-brained artist sisters (ranging from the youngest--age 12--to me,

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-62428927180764015542007-11-01T18:00:00.000-04:002007-11-01T19:02:33.415-04:00

I must admit, I've never been a huge fan of Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel or even Restoration Hardware. I think it has something to do with my inner need to be ever so slightly different. Don't get me wrong--their stuff is beautiful and quite high quality, but it's just not for me.However, Jeff and I did give Restoration Hardware a try--two weeks ago, actually. Yeah, we bought a huge chaise longue

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-64239052622497166292007-10-29T08:28:00.000-04:002007-10-29T08:30:48.325-04:00

On this day two years ago, I married the man God made just for me.I become more aware every day that no one could be more perfect for me, or so patient with me, or so able to make me truly happy.Who would have thought that so many years ago as a naive high school senior, I'd have already met the one with whom I'd spend the rest of my life.I never did get cold feet. And I have never and will never

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-82504043764358804812007-10-24T15:33:00.001-04:002007-10-24T15:45:00.208-04:00

I'm surrounded by friends with kids. This has caused me to 1. think about babies constantly and 2. dream up baby announcement designs.I'm having so much fun designing these announcements that I've begun the process of getting a professional printer to add a virtual storefront to my site. That way, everyone who has been asking me for announcements can buy them on a whim, right from their home

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-68949083191079537492007-10-23T13:26:00.000-04:002007-10-23T14:25:44.604-04:00

As a freelancer, I often get the question, "So, what exactly do you DO all day?"It used to be annoying, but now I just see the question as an opportunity to tell people how passionate I am about my work. I mean, how many nine-to-fivers get to walk in the park for three hours, then snuggle into a big wool blanket and sip a latte out of an antique pink mug--and still get a lot of work done?The way

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-71214246046237586562007-09-20T10:33:00.000-04:002007-09-20T10:48:55.266-04:00

Christmas is coming faster than you or I know! I'm seeing it creep into stores, my favorite shopping websites, and of course...into my own work. Yep, I've begun my Christmas marketing campaign already. You'll be seeing my newest postcards and mock-up custom Christmas cards on the website within a few weeks! Get excited!Meanwhile, here are two sneak peaks (meaning: teeny tiny corners) of my latest

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395925884291821971.post-72357720642133404052007-09-17T09:57:00.000-04:002007-09-17T10:15:25.470-04:00

I'm Heather G. Young, a passionate writer, graphic designer and artist. This fresh, chilly September morning is a perfect time for me to start a brand new blog. Here's a little introduction to me. Up next: photos of my latest artwork in progress.*********** The desire to start my own business has always tugged on my soul.Fortunately, my gifts and talents—writing, design and art—fit snugly into

heathergyounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516556553574621485noreply@blogger.com0