The Story Behind the Logo

Thanks to Art with Jenny K., there's no more mystery behind the teacher logos! Mine is a fun story (a simple one, but fun nonetheless).

Well, the story begins with the name of my blog and TpT store, which some of you may know. My name is NOT Daisy, although a lot of my customers think so. Nope! Daisy is my dog's name! And she is a precious little (and loud) chihuahua! Here she is...

Look at that sweet fur baby!!!

I am a total dog lover and Daisy is a very special dog.

In early 2011, my husband was diagnosed with Brugada Syndrome and had to undergo some surgery. We were shocked, depressed, and super stressed out, especially when he had to be out of work for half a year. So, for his birthday I got him sweet baby Daisy to keep him company while I worked my booty off in a crappy retail job and went to school for my Education degree (the things we do, am I right?). We then got another dog named Pudgy (she lives up to her name, let me tell ya...) and we are now a chihuahua loving family!

When I made the decision to start blogging and selling on TpT, thinking up a name was tough! But I came up with Daisy Designs and the adventure started there. My current logo was not my first logo! I went through a few as I taught myself how to use Blogger, TpT, and social networking. Want a blast from the past? Here's my very first logo and my original blog designs!

Here's the original photo I LOVED for my logo.

Here's my first logo! Don't judge me on the quality. It really looks awful. Thank goodness it is a cute chihuahua, or I would have been doomed.

I then had a brown and pink blog design, so I changed it up a bit to this:

I changed my blog design a few times and one day I found one I LOVED. Then all of a sudden, the hosting site for my blog backgrounds and images basically disappeared. So I had to start all over. I know, I know. I could have paid a designer to make it look really great and I might do that one day, but for now, I knew that this was an opportunity to learn something new and to figure things out on my own (well, with the help of Google and YouTube). 

I also realized that no one every understood why there was a sideways dog in my logo, so when I found a blog design I loved, I decided a more consistent look would suit it better. I think I made the right choice, even though it ditches Daisy the doggy. I like the look with the flowers and the fact that the flowers look like they were drawn by a child. Even though I miss my little baby in my logo, I think my current logo fits what Daisy Designs is all about: education. 

So there ya have it! The story behind Daisy Designs! A DOG! :) Thank you Jenny for a great link-up! Click the others below to check out more stories behind the logo.

An InLinkz Link-up

Daisy Designs Top Ten Insta Pics of 2014

Anyone else ADORE Instagram? It is my favorite social networking site because the teacher bloggers I love to follow and communicate with not only post their teaching ideas and TpT products... but they post about their lives! It is a mix of professional and personal and I feel like I really get to know the people I follow #creepynotcreepy. Also, hashtags are fun.

And you know me! I'll find a linky for anything! That being said...

Thanks Teachery Tidbits for a fun linky!

Here are the top 10 Insta pics of 2014 (with their original captions and hashtags)! And all of them are from THIS school year. Interesting.

"Coming right along! What should I add around the edges to cover up the sloppy mod podge and cut edges? I'm thinking a rope light. Thoughts? #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #kindergartenjobs

This is my iPhone job chart! My kids and I LOVE it. It is an oil drip pan for your car so it's like 4 feet tall and bigger than most of my students and I have them names on magnets underneath their job for the week!

Loving my #pirateclassroom !!! #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers

This was when I finished setting up my classroom this year! In case you didn't know by now... we have a pirate room. :)

My mom and I made this dollar store creation today! Pool noodles wrapped in wood grain contact paper and a plastic table cloth as the sail. Cost me about $5! I'm obsessed with it. #craftyteacher #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #pirateclassroom

Ya'll really liked my beginning of the year posts. So far everything is from like the same week... :)

Giant mustache duct tape ten frame fun. #kinderbabies #kindergarten #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #centers

Hehe. This is one of my math centers. My kiddos love it!

I am still making it through Supernatural. I'm on season 8! #netflixingteachers @bubblyblondeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #iteachtoo

It cracks my up that this little thing made it to my top 10 Insta Pics. Teachers love some Netflix!

I am seriously SO SICK. But I am also SO BORED. At least I can get ahead on some sight word practice sheets for the kiddos. #kindergarten #bored #iteachtoo #teacherspayteachers #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #tpt

I remember that illness well. On the bright side, that product the sheet in this screenshot is in should be ready to be posted some time this week!

WOOOOO!!!!! 90% of my picture is hair but whatever! #cousinit #official

My first teacher badge! I was super duper excited. :)

Day 4. Joyous! Hanging up paper chain garland made by 5 year old hands. <3 <3 <3 <3 #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #iteachtoo #capturingdecember

This was part of a daily Instagram photo challenge for December (which I made it to like Day 6... so...). Day 4 was something Joyous! That paper chain garland was there the whole month and we added on to it all the time until it filled the room! The kids loved it and even though I bumped my head on it every 2 seconds, I loved it too.

#TodayISaid #iteachtoo #teacherproblems #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #whatintheworld #howisthatagoodidea? #kindergarten

Hahaha. This is another one that I can't believe made it to my top 10. In fact, 3 of these made it to the top 10, but to avoid only having these up, I chose my top one to represent them all. If you haven't looked up the Today I Said hashtag, do it now, and prepare to LAUGH until you cry.


AND NOW... my Number 1 Insta Pic for 2014...

OMG! Saw this on twitter and HAD to share! #outlander #outlanderday #outlanderwedding #bridesmaids

HAHAHAHA! You guys crack me up! THIS is my top pic?? Comment below if you understand this picture and its reference. Us fangirls gotta stick together!

Oh Dear...

I have been away from my blog for FAR too long! How many of you are pulling your hair out right now with the craziness that is December? *raises hand*

My school participates in something called VSA (Very Special Arts). Our school has a large population of ESE students and in Florida, VSA is the state organization on arts and disability. Every year there is a theme for the school and we decorate our rooms, have things called "art stops" where classes are scheduled for students to participate in creating and learning about the arts. Here's a link to get more information to bring it to YOUR school in Florida. VSAFL.org.

Well, because I'm an overachiever, I decided I wanted to do an art stop. What was I thinking? I'm dying over here. Well, we will just let the Sunday Scoop tell it to ya straight...

So, dear readers, there ya have it. Everything on my Sunday Scoop is something I HAVE to do, but I ran out of room at the top. Sigh. There also wasn't enough room for: creating the train video for TOMORROW, go to my mom's house to feed and take out her dog since she's enjoying herself out of town, and OH, eat something at some point today. What happened to restful Sundays? Oh, right, I'm a teacher.

Although I have been neglecting my blog a big, I have NOT been neglecting my Pinterest! Check out my Christmas and holiday boards below and don't forget to follow! I have gotten a TON of ideas this month off of Pinterest. What did teachers do before Pinterest??

Follow Amanda Smith @ Daisy Designs's board Holiday Curriculum on Pinterest. Follow Amanda Smith @ Daisy Designs's board Christmas in the Classroom Collaborative - The Teaching 2 Step on Pinterest. Follow Amanda Smith @ Daisy Designs's board Kindergarten Crafts on Pinterest.