Creative Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Creative Shell is donating 20% of all proceeds to the cause throughout October!
The month will finish with a 27km walk (the 7 bridges walk) to raise money for the cancer council. All donations are very much appreciated - you could help save a life!

(Click here to donate)


My Mum's Story
18 years ago my Mum was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer, and was told her chances of survival were slim.
The survival rate for a woman who is diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer over a span of 5 years is about 16 to 20%. The odds were slim but she has not only survived 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, but 18 years!! She still isn't cured because It can always come back. But it is an absolute miracle that she is alive today! That is my motivation for the 7 Bridges Walk!
She is unable to do the walk herself, so I want to do it for her and raise money for others who have suffered and are suffering like my Mum did!

Myself, Mum & my brother xx

Jim's Fragrance

Everyone in Australia knows Jim Penman! 

It all started with Jim's Mowing - now expanded to Jim's Group which has over 3000 franchises Australia wide and includes :

• Jim's Antennas
• Jim's Bookkeeping
• Jim's Dog wash
• Jim's Computer Services

Is there anything Jim doesn't do??

I thought it was about time he brought his own fragrance line out!! So to help him out I've designed a concept for him: 'Fresh Lawn' for men... and women if you're into that! Would you buy this? haha!

Sabbath Ideas App

How exciting! My first app design!
Here we have my SabbathIdeas.org logo design
A magazine advertisement for ACCENT magazine
A sneak peak of the app!

The Sabbath is a weekly day of rest or time of worship. It is a day of religious observance and abstinence from work and is kept from sunset on Friday evening to sunset on Saturday evening.

SabbathIdeas.org is an app which has a large collection of activities to do on the Sabbath, you can view ideas and even submit your own ideas. Even if you don't take part in the Sabbath it still has some great activities you can do on the weekend. 

Unfortunately, this app is still being developed so it cannot be downloaded yet. Just a few more weeks and tweaks to go!

For more info visit: www.sabbathideas.org

      

Project'89

Project'89 is a non profit organisation that raises money for orphans in Uganda. 

A simple but effective logo design was required, that would reflect Uganda, orphans and help in some way. 

Below is the final result:

These were 2 other concepts that were explored.

Ms Saunders

Isn't Nancy just stunning!??
Believe it or not, there are her 'BEFORE' pictures! Before her 6 week hard core training stint.
This was just a fun, muck around shoot we did at 5:30am before the sun was up, and before the rest of the town were up haha! They turned out pretty good If I say so myself!
Nancy has not been edited at all - impressed?
I bet you're looking forward to seeing the 'AFTER' photos aren't you? xx

Thrippleton Family Photoshoot

A mini family photoshoot of a beautiful family very close to my heart. 

Just hours before the shoot little Dean came down with a cold and was coughing every few minutes, poor baby!

Despite Deano being sick and the bad weather conditions, I got a few good shots.

I hope you enjoy them. xx

Infringing the Trademark...

19.12.2012

Creative Shell is the new Shell Designs

I haven't posted anything in 4 months  - I'm still alive!!! After the passing of one of my best friends and then a big trademark saga, I've been feeling down and my high spirits were dampened..... well drenched!

It was September 11, a memorable day already and I came home from work and had received a letter from 'Shel Design' (yes i spelt it correctly, one 'l') saying that I was infringing upon her trademark and must cease operating under the business name of 'Shell Designs.' My heart sank, it felt like everything I had worked so hard for was just ripped straight out from under my feet!

Click to enlarge and read the letter 

I had always dreamed of having my own business, even as a little girl I had my own business called 'Handmade by Shelley' where I made all sorts of things - cards and beaded angels! So for someone to tell me I couldn't have my business name anymore was a shock. At that point it seemed my business venture was over, and the only resolution was to give up. Although in the back of my mind I knew Nanny would be disappointed if I let this hold me back!

I'd done everything right, I got an ABN number and I registered my business name and it was accepted!!! I even checked the trademark website for 'Shell Designs' and nobody had trademarked it (not thinking to search for 'Shell Design' without the plural.)

'Shel Design' had trademarked the words 'design', 'Shel' AND 'Shell' in relation to graphic design, even though it wasn't in her business name. Unfortunately for me it was too similar to 'Shel Design.'

I was threatened with legal action if I didn't change everything over within 30 days, I had to change my business name, remove any type of advertising with my business name on it and hand over my domain name to 'Shel Design'.

What I didn't realise was that trademarks over ride business names full stop. I had no chance! I was even able to speak with another business that received the same letter from the same woman. 'Shell Design Partnership' were such a great help - letting me know my rights as they had been through everything I was about to go through! They had been established for 10 years. Then 'Shel Design' comes along 10 years later, trademarks a few words and hey presto, so long 'Shell Design Partnership' - I hardly see that as being fair but its how the cookie crumbles.

I had to deal with it and move on! It was a stressful few months, there was problem after problem,  I thought it would never end, and coming up with a new business name was so difficult... not to mention business cards and an entire new website!

It's 4 months later and finally all over. Looking back, although I'm sad to say goodbye to 'Shell Designs' I'm so glad it happened! Now I have a far more diverse name - 'Creative Shell' and a much better logo! As I always say - things happen for a reason and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.

AND GUESS WHAT... I'M IN THE PROCESS OF TRADEMARKING MY NEW BUSINESS NAME haha!