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Monday 10am - 3am Tuesday 10am - 3am Wednesday 10am - 3pm Thursday 10am - 3pm Friday 10:45am - 3pm

Creative Cete

Empowering Businesses with Creative Solutions and Voracious Design

06/01/2026

Every week this month I'll be spotlighting a different q***r indie author. Week one: Kerry Lockhart.

Kerry writes books that feature and celebrate q***r characters and she's been a friend of mine for over 10 years. Watching her step into a brand new genre (a post-WW2 P.I. mystery!) and come out the other side with a cover she's genuinely proud of? That's the good stuff.

In this video I walk through our recent Power Hour together: from 10+ Canva drafts that weren't quite landing, to researching 1940s typography and wartime posters, to building a custom silhouette that actually looked like her protagonist (short, curly hair, pants...not a hyper-feminized stock image 🙅‍♀️).

Her mystery is on pre-order right now and I've already grabbed my copy. 👇

📚 Kerry's website: https://kerrylockhart.com/
🔖 Pre-order link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2FDG62Y
💡 Book a Power Hour with me: https://www.tidycal.com/leanne-creativecete

Go support a q***r indie author and happy Pride Month! 🌈

04/23/2026

Nothing too special to report. Just excited to have pink hair again. 💗

04/16/2026

There's something genuinely satisfying about the moment a client goes from "I don't know if this is working" to "okay, I actually love this now."

I've had a few Power Hour Consulting sessions recently that reminded me exactly why I offer this.

One was a returning client, an indie author, who had designed a whole bunch of book cover concepts herself. She didn't need me to start over. She needed a second set of expert eyes to find the gold in what she'd already made and help her refine it. One hour. Solid next steps identified. Done.

Another was a new client who'd built a downloadable workbook for her website. The bones were good. She just needed guidance on tightening up the design so it felt polished and professional. We worked through each element type together, and then she had me in her corner for a full week of feedback through Canva comments as she made revisions.

Two different needs. Two different outcomes. Both clients left feeling confident and excited about their projects again. And that's exactly the point.

Here's how Power Hour works:

💻 The full Power Hour ($300): includes a pre-call questionnaire or discovery call, a recorded 60-minute one-on-one session with me, written actionable recommendations, and a full week of follow-up feedback via Canva or messaging. Best if you want structure, documentation, and ongoing support after the call.

💻 The brain-pick hour ($100, not listed on the site just DM me): just you, me, and an hour to dig into whatever design challenge is in front of you. No prep package, no recording, no follow-up week. Just direct, honest expert input when that's all you need.

If you've been DIYing something and hit a wall or you're just not sure if it's landing the way you want, this is for you.

🔗 Go to https://www.creativecete.com/services/graphic-design-strategy-consulting then hit "Get in Touch" and let's get something on the calendar.

06/05/2025

Day 4. Me at the table

06/03/2025

Enjoying my time catching some cool pics of plants and enjoying all the creative energy and camaraderie. Representing 🙌🎉

06/02/2025

I’ve officially landed in Arizona and the Graphic Artists Guild () booth is all set up at CreativePro Week () ☀️🎨

If you’re also attending — come say hi! I’ll be here all week sharing:
✨ Daily handbook giveaways
✨ Stickers (yes, the good kind)
✨ Info on our newsletter, webinars, and resources
✨ Plus conversations about the Guild’s advocacy work that supports you as a creative professional

There’s no better time to join the Guild (and maybe even volunteer!). Whether you’re just starting out or 30+ years into your design career — there’s room at the table. I’ve had some of my most insightful chats with designers who’ve been around the block and with those who are just getting started. That kind of exchange is what makes this community so great.

📍Come find me at the booth, grab some goodies, and let’s talk about the future of our profession — together.

09/30/2024

Can we talk about product development?

So I love Athletic Brewing Co. beer (the yellow box on the left). A LOT of folks ask me what's the point of nonalcoholic beer. For me it's nice to be able to enjoy a beer and be the DD.

NOW, I am not one to shame nonalcoholic options. I support, appreciate, and encourage them strongly.

BUT...as someone who loves seltzer and sparkling water and I know all about the hard seltzer being super popular.

How did we go from flavored seltzer water to hard flavored seltzer water to nonalcoholic flavored seltzer water with electrolytes that costs more than a dollar a can?

09/27/2024

The Advice I’d Give My Younger Self as a New Marketer 👇

If I could go back and give my younger self some advice as I started out in marketing, here’s what I’d say:

Though I’m a graphic designer first, I’ve spent most of my career working within marketing departments. My work often revolves around marketing, but I’ve also had the opportunity to assist teams in HR, Facilities, and Security with design.

Here’s the tip I wish I’d known earlier: Start taking on clients as soon as possible – even during college! 🙌

Whether you’re a designer or a marketer, offering free services to student organizations, nonprofits, or family and friends helps you gain invaluable experience. Once your portfolio grows, start charging! 😉

In college, you have creative freedom, but in the real world, you're working for clients with their own visions (which may be very different from yours!). They might ask for bright red instead of the perfect maroon you picked or follow a style guide that contradicts everything you’ve learned.

It’s crucial to learn how to work with clients who may not fully understand your role, to gracefully receive feedback, and to build positive working relationships. Sometimes, maintaining that relationship is more important than being "right."

These early experiences will give you the skills and mindset you need to succeed. Trust me – it’s better to learn these lessons in college than in your first job! 💡

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self? Share it below!

09/25/2024

Why I Choose to Work for Free – With Boundaries!

Every business expert will tell you: "Never work for free!" And while I mostly agree, I do make an exception – every single month. 😬

Yes, you read that right. But I’m not losing it, I promise!

I give about 25% of my working hours to philanthropy or volunteer work. However, I have very strict guidelines to avoid burnout, ensure the work aligns with my values, and protect myself from being exploited.

Here’s how I decide when and where to offer my time:

👉 Research: Is the organization actually unable to pay for the work, or are they just looking for free labor?

👉 Creative Freedom: Will this project let me flex my creativity and enhance my portfolio?

👉 Values Alignment: Does the work align with my values, and will it make a positive difference in the world?

👉 Scope of Work: Is the project manageable with the time and energy I have?

Most of my time goes to Violet Studios and the Graphic Artists Guild, two organizations I believe in deeply. Occasionally, I’ll help other groups, but only if they meet these criteria.

Now I’m curious – what about you? Do you ever work for free? If so, what questions do you ask yourself before committing?

Let’s discuss below! 👇

09/23/2024

Many folks ask...Creative Cete...how do you pronounce that?

Cete = 🗣️Seat

Cete: collective noun. a group of badgers.

We like to keep it upbeat at the cete. 🦡

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Charles Town, WV

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 3am
Tuesday	10am - 3am
Wednesday	10am - 3pm
Thursday	10am - 3pm
Friday	10:45am - 3pm

Website

http://www.creativecete.com/

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