So about yesterday… I said goodbye to my full-time job as art director/graphic designer in an in-house camping/kids play tent company! My husband always reminded me through my twenties and thirties that he always wanted me to work if we had kids, he didn’t want all the pressure to provide to land on his shoulders and I fully agreed with this concept. So the idea of being a full-time mom was never an option. Once we had Hue home for a little bit he started saying how he thinks we could swing a one-income household for a little bit. I was in shock for a WHILE. I still kind of am! I held strong to wanting to be a part-time working mom. I could see me working a little bit and also being with Hue a little bit. I had no idea how much work it would be, just to work part time. I had to pack for Hue the night before, I had to pack his bobby, bouncer, extra car seat base for emergencies, travel crib, baby carrier, play gym, diaper bag with extra clothes, warm necessities, clean burp cloths and blankets, formula and diapers!!! I’m already exhausted and this is the night before! Then I would  feed Hue early in the morning, check his diaper, get ready myself and drive to the east side to drop off Hue, all his stuff and then drive to work where I would get into work mode. We were so lucky to have some really good friends watch Hue. They were amazing. Even with friends watching Hue that I trust it is still VERY hard to leave him. On the first day back to work on that long, tortuous drive on the 101/134/5 commute I knew what I needed to do. I walked into work from maternity leave and immediately put in my two weeks. It was shocking and scary because I had put in almost six years of hard work and things were finally at a good pace but I want to be Hue’s full-time. Plus the paces are different, with Hue – time is slow and patient and at work – it is a race to get a million things done in the shortest amount of time possible. It was hard to switch paces all the time. Work was super understanding, everyone completely understands my choice – which is great. A bitter/sweet farewell took place yesterday. I am doing a little freelance on the side from home to help out with big projects and photoshoots but my full-time days are behind me. At least for now…

Shall we take a look at some of the great moments I was behind? And some of my favorite projects?

I asked some co-workers, the ones I worked closest with what their favorite projects were that I designed. Here they are in no particular order:

Erica loved the packaging I did for Costco! At the time it was different than any packaging Pacific Play Tents had done previously. It was a breath of fresh air to some very outdated packaging. It also set the tone to how we wanted to look as a brand going forward. It was a very pivotal project. Erica also became a great friend. She came to my baby shower, she watched me grow as a designer and she was the one who decorated my desk to say Farewell and the cute blow pops that I am currently eating.

Tyson’s favorite was this tent we internally named “The Enchanted Forrest” where I hand illustrated the whole tent, panel by panel digitally. It was so much fun! It is one of my favorite designs. I got to work on this because of a terrific sales woman, Emma, that I worked with. She made this opportunity possible and it was the beginning of a long work/personal friendship.

James favorite was what we nicknamed the the “Gnomes and Unicorn” teepee. Another opportunity made possible by Emma! I designed it with the Nordstrom Toy Buyer and Emma. It was a great experience and also all hand drawn by me! I have one for Hue when he gets a little older!

Jimmy’s favorite were the monster dome tents. They were definitely a new concept for the time!

Of course I loved it all!!!!

Here are my favorites:

The 2016 Pacific Play Tents catalog. I had a couple of catalogs under my belt by 2016 but this was the first one I really did from start to finish on my own. I am very proud of it. It wasn’t too excruciating to look back at it because I scoured every page while making it looking for any mistakes. Plus, I know the products so well that it was such an organic experience.

And of course…. my first baby! Playfully, the Pacific Play Tents blog. I got it up and running. I have been a part of every brainstorming meeting and behind every post. I organized all the photoshoots and talent. It was a HUGE undertaking and is still a WIP but loved the adventure and I learned SO MUCH doing this!

Also, I went to two New York Toy Fairs which were amazing + I got flown up to Seattle to present my designs to Nordstrom’s with the sales team. Which also were some big highlights!

If you want to see any more of my work you can go to my online portfolio. It needs severe updating but it has a lot of work I have done over the years.

And while I was at work part-time, here is Hue with his new favorite people: