It is almost time for FALL MINI SESSIONS!
Enjoy updating those family photos or just bring your puppy dog along. Anything goes for mini sessions!
We will hang out at the beautiful Henry Clay Estate for 30 minutes and all your photos will be delivered digitally with a print release.
Christmas tree farm minis coming soon!!
Snag your spot: https://calendly.com/franzett…/fall-mini-sessions/10-27-2018
After months of praying alongside a team of independently amazing women business owners, I’m thrilled to announce our latest partnership with JRow Everything!
JRow Everything owned by Jacqueline Rowan is based in North Carolina and ships custom apparel and quilting products nationwide. Her tagline is literally similar to what Octane provides: “it’s everything”. What excites Octane the most about this partnership is the accessibility of new handmade products now available to our clients through our shop.
JRow Everything produces high end custom products such as:
Be sure to follow JRow Everything across INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK and continue to follow Octane’s blog as we feature more products.
A: Honestly, I never really intended on being an entrepreneur. My passion is the art of crafting and it’s something I can’t live without. The urge to share my passion with the world was what drove me to becoming an entrepreneur over time and opened doors that I never dreamed of!
A: As a mom it seems as if I “work” from the time my feet hit the floor until my head touches the pillow… sometimes that doesn’t happen until 2am! Every morning I create a todo list for he day based off my calendar of events/orders to complete etc., working from priority on down. I do have squirrel moments throughout the day haha but it’s easy to get back on track. One minute I may be covered in saw dust the next I may be dressed up for a business meeting or rocking thread remnants from sitting at the sewing machine for hours! Each day is different which keeps it fun and interesting!
A: I love working and helping with people in general…That’s the joys of art. Working with everyone and their visions to create beautiful original works of art is beyond rewarding!
A: When I’m not designing for clients… I love to art journal, read, write, binge watch Netflix & Hulu, or just chill out with my family.
A: I’m a foodie… I see food… I eat food.
A: Top 5: Harry Potter Series (book nerd), RENT, Singin’ In The Rain, Pulp Fiction, Jurassic Park (the original).
A: I recently had a client pregnant with a “rainbow” baby that wanted a baby blanket designed and made that represented her journey. After suffering losses myself, I understood her journey and was honored to create a beautiful rainbow heart quilt for her.
I remember each quilt I’ve ever made… I feel as if I stitched a piece of my heart into each one!
We came. We ate. We conquered! Had a great visit to Crave Lexington in support of #ACAcakes sweet tooth booth at Masterson Station Park in Lexington, KY.
ACAcakes Owner Amanda Edwards had all the right style but needed help executing her plan on short notice of a food festival opportunity. Luckily she knew where to go to knock it quick and professionally!
Her laminated signage by Office Depot was grommeted for easy hanging and her banner printed by PrintLex offered quick turnaround. Design only business cards was a quick solution for her to print as needed before Octane quickly produced signature “sweet staff” t-shirts to complete the full branded concept.
Amanda wanted her signage to pop but also reflect the playful energy she has as a professional cake artist! Her food not only looked good it tasted amazing! Did you try them?
Of course we couldn’t NOT tour the grounds and explore ALL our tastebuds. Samantha Johnson of @SamanhattanPR didn’t skip a beat and was my grounds co-explorer as we ate all kinds of sweet treats and good eats! The grounds were full of activities for kids, families and adults.
At the end of the day the job was not only complete but filling inside and out!
Interested in having #ACAcakes create beautiful and tasty sweet treats? Visit her online at: www.acacakes.com
As a diverse business Octane strives to provide services to clients who strive to increase diversity through its services and / events.
Recently, Octane owner Danielle Meadows Stinnett, alongside Samantha Johnson of SamanhattanPR and Shalon Thomas owner of Passionate Event Designs was selected to participate in the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business’ Von Allmen Entrepreneurship Bootcamp.
The business incubator program runs for 15 consecutive weeks covering various topics from branding to business finances. According to their website the program is:
“Designed for creative and collaborative entrepreneurial learning, growth, and innovation. The “Entrepreneurs Bootcamp Program” is a one semester program designed to assess and validate the feasibility of a business concept, create a business model, and provide hands-on experience with real world projects. With a schedule of programs created to foster collaboration among UK students, faculty, clinicians, postdocs, and community mentors/entrepreneurs, the Entrepreneurs Bootcamp is open to those interested in immersive learning.”
Successful completion of the program concludes with a $3000 grant to the winning company/ idea business pitch.
Our business pitch is simple; we offer services that share and execute inclusion for festivals and events to incorporate diversity according to there needs. This is the basis of Kinship: “inclusiveness anywhere; diversity everywhere.”
Our team is still growing within the program but its foundational members share core attributes to execute the ideals and structure of our agency. Meet them below:
Samantha Johnson is no stranger to Octane and brings years of multicultural marketing experience to the group. As Event Director of ever popular community event The Night Market, Samantha has a natural talent for not only finding diverse talent but showcasing / marketing it wherever the party is!
Shalon Thomas brings years of event design to the group. Her specific background in knowing how to create mood by interior & exterior design on a budget sets the tone of the level of style execution we want to offer each client. From layout to lounge and booth decor, Kinship offer services that are welcoming, inviting and inspirational.
We are more than excited to see where this goes! Be sure to follow our Instagram accounts as we continue to progress in the program!
For more information about the boot camp visit, http://vace.uky.edu/venture-studio.
From meet n’ greeting a range of professional artisans, building marketing plans, 1:1 skill setting and more, Octane’s Summer interns are making some serious moves!
Get to know them below…
#MoreThanGraphics #AmazingInterns #Growth #Network #Artisans
Likes: French Fries & Comics
Favorite Superhero: Nova & Batman
Dislike: Teen Titan Go! & New Thundercats Roar
Hobbies: Comics, Movies, Trumpet & piano
Career Aspirations: Computer Science, Graphic Design, or something related in those fields
Likes: Art, visual art, animation, socializing, sketching, social media, movies, driving, sunsets, my friends, photography
Favorite superhero: Deadpool
Dislikes: Sour people, that feeling when you walk into a room with negative energy, people who bring down your energy, bad animation, art block, the relatability of mental problems on social media
Hobbies: Art, animation, drawing in cool breeze summer days, hanging out with my friends, driving to Louisville, the Law Of Attraction, shopping, creating
Career aspirations: Animator, have my own animated series, social media influencer, or both, online artist
Octane was super excited to be a part of this years Wild Hearts Fun Run Superhero 5K benefiting Kerringtons Heart Inc at Keeneland this year, sponsored by UK Healthcare and Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital.
With over 600+ 5K participants and over 75 Super Sprinters this event was filled with superhuman abilities! The biggest part was fundraising $12,000 for children with congenital heart defects in Kentucky.
From caped crusaders to legendary heart heroes, let’s recap!
Octane has designed this special event for Kerrington’s Heart since its conception in 2015. The organization chose a superhero theme because they believe that kids fighting and living with congenital heart defects are real life superheroes (and they are)!
For Octane this means pulling elements of comic book flair which was fun and challenging. Each year a different type of superhero was selected which means whole new color schemes and new artwork was created. The traditional logo for the event focuses on a traditional comic pop art with a beating heart in the center.
This year theme: The Incredible Hulk featured in the recent Marvel Infinity Wars Pt. 1!
Before we settled on the Hulk we were still playing around with the latest Marvel film Infinity War Pt. 1 and wanted to incorporate that feel in the initial teasers of the event. Phase 1 began with the FB cover and phase 2 with the theme and updated website followed. New this year was our first ever 5K Photo Filter created for participants Facebook stories!
Its first event held at the former commonwealth stadium brought a few hundred people together to support kids and families in Central Kentucky affected by Congenital Heart Defects. As the event grew we found that Keeneland was a better location logistically for both our families and our sponsors.
This year the crowd was OUT! We loved how the barns helped breakup the various activities and sections of the race (Registration, Kids Metropolis, Awards Stage). And the course is absolutely beautiful! THIS is Keeneland!
This years theme was all about “Hulk Smash!” With that in mind we wanted all the awards to reflect the epic heroism of the Incredible Hulk.
All the awards of Best Superhero Boy and Girl were given hulk mugs with the event decal.
Earlier in the design process of the event, the race committee liked the idea of the rips and cracks of the hulk coming from his center, similar in mark to the hundreds of CHD kids and adults that have the iconic heart surgery scar across their chest, many enduring heart surgery within days after being born. The medals and t-shirts followed this design pattern with the iconic silhouette of the mean green machine.
All event sponsors were given autographed event posters from the Kerrington’s Heart Board of Directors as special thanks for supporting CHD families in Kentucky.
T-shirts Printing: 10th Planet
Medals: Always Advancing Medals
Printing & Signage: PrintLex
Event Design: Race Director Britney Howard & Committee
Venue: Keeneland
Event Photography: Adam Padgett Photography
Event Branding, Graphics & Social Media: Octane Design Studios
Many moons ago I had this idea that we should start an event for entrepreneurs. Finally in 2018 it HAPPENED!
The concept of the event is to provide networking opportunities and resourceful information that any entrepreneur could use at value to start or grow their own business.
So I began asking my friends that were each really good at a specific thing within there own businesses, if they’d talk about these skillsets in a group of 5-10 growing entrepreneurs. One by one they said, yes! With each yes I asked “What advice do you hope entrepreneurs obtain by coming to this event?”
Here’s your recap!
I knew initially that I wanted the word to be an action verb (as all conferences are typically) and I wanted it to still look similar to the branding of my company that was sponsoring the event. I started with “O” words that circle gaining new knowledge and then it hit me! Obtain, a lot like Octane. I ran the idea past my PR specialist, Samantha Johnson of SamanhattanPR. She liked the idea but couldn’t see the word used as a logo. I love bold typography and decided to go vertical with the word instead of the typical horizontal. The flame inside the block lettering of the O seemed to streamline the connection of Octane and Obtain so that it stands on its own.
It worked out so well on all the other branding across social media and the conference badges. I loved creating the DIY photo backdrop and with each answered “Entrepreneur Wisdom” response I was able to brand the speakers quotes not only across social media, but into a unique poster piece as well.
. 
. 
I had thought about amazing places to host it but when it all came to it, I knew that my fave place Pivot Brewing was truly the sweet spot to start small. Pivot was PERFECT due to the multi-functioning of the facility but also because I could offer them a unique experience of trying craft ciders. I’m a HUGE cider fan and Pivot is the only cider brewery in Kentucky!
There modern mesh of industrial chic decor makes me feel right at home and I knew once the evening crept in that the Edison bulbs in the community room would just “sing” in the space.
I love working with Bevin and ALL the staff at Pivot! Truly humbling people to ensure your event goes without a single hitch! What was super awesome was the bottled baby’s breath centerpieces we got to incorporate on our welcome / registration table and on the food table & barrels for decor.
In the beginning I thought to go the catered route but I realized closer to the event it was way cheaper to use simple appetizers for guests that came early or on time.
After consulting with Shalon Thomas of Passionate Event Designs, I came up some simple solutions that I felt worked best and paired well with the free ciders each guest received with entry:
Shalon glammed out the appetizer table and I loved all the positive vibe details in the floral arrangements, she did a fantastic job making the space glamorous and inviting!
The event speakers were not only dear friends but honestly they all responded after how humbling this experience was to give back in a way that helped others be successful. In the famous words of our Keynote Speaker, Chris Hudson of Life’s Journey Clothing, everybody “planted seeds” that night.
I’m so grateful to each of them for their time and talent:
Instagram Marketing for Growth: led by Michelle Franzetti of Franzetti Photography with Samantha Johnson of Samanhattanpr
Balancing it All: Nakia Coffman of Warner Bros. Entertainment & The Mixx Magazine
Entrepreneur Stories: Joi Starks & Angel Brown of Dee’z Bowties
Keynote Speaker: Chris Hudson of Life’s Journey Clothing
Entrepreneur Panelists: Tiffany Williams of Quality Tax Services, & Albert Shumake, aka DJ Always of Domestic Thuggin LLC
.
This event taught me a lot but it was so rewarding seeing those that came leave such positive remarks across social media. I definitely want to host another one next year with some funding for business pitches!
Event Photography: https://franzettiphotography.client-gallery.com/gallery/obtain-2018
T-shirts: Steven Coffman, SCprinting
Event Design: Shalon Thomas, Passionate Event Designs
Venue: Pivot Brewing
Event Photography: Franzetti Photography
Event Branding, Graphics & Social Media: Octane Design Studios & SamanhattanPR
Event Printing: Office Depot (Woodhill Drive Location)
I’ve officially completed the first week of 2018 and I’ve been doing quite a bit of purging, clean slating and then reconfiguring. I’ve noticed that right toward the end of the year the piles of trash and paper scraps have flooded my office floor. My desk is loaded with business cards and the occasional scattered brochures. It’s THAT time of year!
A New Year means new beginnings right? Out with the old and in with the new? I’ve been inspired by some amazing people in 2017 as I continue to “build up” in the New Year.
To help motivate myself I’ve candidly captured some wisdom from some of my fave creatives / business owners / colleagues to inspire/advise you to make 2018, your year! If you don’t know these powerful ladies, get to know them. Better yet, follow there success. I’m still learning from them.
Here’s to littering the floors more, breathing fully (metaphorically and literally because the flu is no joke this time of year) and laughing a lot louder in 2018.
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” -Lao Tzu
“Business Wisdom: find people who are smarter than you and figure out a way to work with them. Barter, trade, save up. Do whatever you have to in order to ensure you are working with people who are better than you. It’s the only way you will have the space you need to get better too!”
“Be humble in all that you do as your business will eventually reflect your inner true self. Do things for the right reasons.”
“Keep your blinders on, worry about you, your business, and being successful. Passing on some wisdom does not dull your shine at all.”
“My Advice for 2018 is …no matter who you are, odds are you unintentionally think to prepare for the worst more times than not, but in 2018 try to ask yourself, “what’s the best that could happen?”
Ephesians 3: 20-21 in the Message: “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us”
Do the work. You literally have to stop overthinking and journaling and positive meme posting and just do the first thing. A lot of our answers come out in the movement, not in the brainstorm during a netflix binge. Write the next 20 lines or pages, contact the adoption center, take your health seriously, schedule therapy, record that podcast, audition for that film, go viral… do something toward your goals/happiness to force yourself to take the next step.
Get out of your own way and be great daily!”
“Starting a business can be an amazing fulfilling adventure but it will take time and patience to build the business of your dream. Don’t get discouraged if in the beginning things are slow or not going your way. Don’t quit! Keep going and remember that the world wasn’t made in a night… nor a successful business.”
“Don’t harbor unforgiveness. You immediately imprison your own heart. Forgive and set yourself free. This is true liberation.”
“Successful entrepreneurs (online or brick and mortar): What’s your no.1 fear for you and your business?
Is it:
a) Revenue: How to increase profits while decreasing overhead expenses
b) Balance: How to balance your business and personal life before you lose your cool.
c) Retirement: You don’t have a plan in place. All you ave is the business as your retirement plan. “
True Story: While reading a bible passage of the Christmas story to my kids before bed, an idea came to me. I was literally telling my kids that each time I reflect on the birth of Jesus and how it ALL came to be, I notice more subtle details that make this story more special than before.
“Just get the idea out so you don’t have to worry/stress about it anymore.”
I’ve recently listened to the words and advice of Tim Jones, Creative Director of Cornett at a local networking event at Pivot Brewing and this specific one stuck.
I love crafting. The idea of uplifting others is always a core denominator for me. But this specific idea keeps recirculating in my heart and I can’t keep holding onto it anymore!
Time to get it out!
Since the adoption of our son in 2012 I’ve gone the extra mile to make sure his little moments were just as meaningful as the big ones. I’ve seen countless unique birthday project organizations outside of Kentucky for foster kids and newly relocated families. At first I started crafting a few cards to parents that mentioned there child didn’t have any friends show up at birthday parties or a newly moved family that was just getting settled and the kid(s) needed some encouragement.
These moments resonate with anyone at some point in there life. And with all the wordly pressure to “fit in” I figure a few sheets of glitter and cardstock can make an impact with others in a dark or lonely place. Put that next to an amazing cake or a cool gift card and you’ve got a few extra smiles that wouldn’t have come any other way.
Keywords here: Positive. Vibes. Only.
So look out Kentucky! I’m rolling up my sleeves and partnering with multiple organizations across the Bluegrass to form The LexParty Project. A simple way to ‘pay it forward’ and inspire others! Click below for info or fill out the form to send a kid some encouragement in Kentucky.
We’re a graphic design firm firmly planted to provide fresh logo design, driven creative branding, precise print collateral, and dynamic web design.
Plain and simple: we love what we do. Contact us today!
We’re the real creative connoisseurs. We are planning thoroughbreds that take the lead. We are experts in graphics, project management, sweet treats, amazing cakes, rocking photography, the dougie and righteous hi-fives. We assist businesses and individuals in building powerful brands for today and tomorrow. We are women, mothers and dreamchasers. We ignite cultural influence and believe in it like a cold Ale-8-One. This is Octane.
