I was asked by Karin Abarbanel, writer of Birthing the Elephant to speak at the Montclair Adult School on March 21, about "Second Careers for Women: Launching a Business You Love." The panel was amazing! We had at least 40 people in attendance.

One question Karin asked was, "What is the most rewarding, what do you love about your business?" My response is this: My creativity has grown tenfold since I started this business. An example is just the other day, I was creating logos for a new client and I used Playdoh! Never in my career could I have had the opportunity to enjoy my creative process as much as I do now. I love the fact that I left corporate and can use the Play Method to create. As notes Susan Doyle, Assistant Professor of Illustration, RISD, 81, IL/MFA 98 PT/PR, “Play is part of human nature, in some cases, adults don’t think they need to play. But the most creative people play all the time – when they paint a picture, compose music, even study a spreadsheet because they know how to have fun at what they do,” she
points out.

In my experience this is absolutely true. So go out there, play, experiment, experience and enjoy! Your life and career will be all the richer for it!

Posted by Sana Mantell, May 30, 2011

Lilac Design Studio and the North Essex Chamber of Commerce hosted its totally reinvented "Women to Women" networking meeting. It was held in the home of Sana Mantell of Lilac Design Studio and we had an attendance of almost 40 people. What a tremendous succcess. Check out some more of our pictures in Flickr.

Posted by Sana Mantell, September 21, 2011

Went to an NJAWBO meeting to hear about women entrepeneurs. Fantastic Speaker- Karen Abarbanel wrote "Birthing the Elephant". www.birthingtheelephant.com The book is genuinely helpful to anyone starting their first business. Karen is such a lovely and inspiring person. One thing she told me was to find the courage, as a woman in business, to ask for what we are worth. I believe this is sage advice for anyone. Thank you Karen, I look forward to reading your book.

Posted by Sana Mantell, September 19, 2011

I created 4 outdoor posters for "Dyanna, Body and Nail Spa". www.dyannaspa.com I chose a bronze standing frame, and designed a poster for their newest product- Cirepil Blue Hard Wax. Also check out posters for Regular Body Wax, Brazilian Mani-Pedi, and Regular Mani-Pedi.

Posted by Sana Mantell, July 23, 2011

I went to the North Essex Chamber of Commerce event: ITS NOT JUST LUNCH. Met some great business owners from Montclair and West Caldwell. Hoping to create some fantastic pieces that will help them to promote their companies. www.northessexchamber.com

Posted by Sana Mantell, July 15, 2011

I just got back from 2010 NJ MarCom Joint Summer Networking Event at the Mayfair Farms in West Orange, NJ. Connected with a lot of communications people, other creative directors, and marketing professionals.

Posted by Sana Mantell, July 14, 2011

"In 2005, the AIGA Task Force on Professional Diversity developed a list of recommendations for increasing diversity within the profession. Among the stated goals were to create awareness of outstanding designers from culturally and racially diverse backgrounds and create traveling shows of the work of diverse designers."
View the full article about the exhibit at: www.aiga.org/content.cfm/exhibit

When I attended this exhibitions I felt like part of the diverse and extended design community. All of the exhibits showed designers from varying backgrounds, coming into NYC to display their work and explain how their roots were reflected in their work. One of the coolest exhibits was a graffiti wall. Anyone who came in could add to this wall with magic markers that were provided by the AIGA. I of course included Lilac Design Studio!