Down in the Valley by Seattle-based folk band, The Head and the Heart, explores the theme of wandering roots. The song discusses going out in the world, exploring new things and even being a little reckless. Though a nomadic lifestyle can be exciting, there will always be an underlying desire to settle down and return to the safety and comfort of your roots.

Because of the folk style and symbolism present in the song, I took my inspiration from the rustic valleys of the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. I created six different logos, incorporating key phrases from the lyrics that illustrate the theme of wandering. The logos imitate postage or passport stamps, marks associated with travel and journeying. I printed the logos on a faded map of the Smoky Mountains and hand stiched a path into the paper with red thread. 

When designing this pattern, I chose warm tones and rustic textures to create a worn look but comforting mood. Bold typefaces, similar to those found on craft beer labels or vintage posters, make the phrases easy to read while furthering the folk theme. The hand stiched path adds movement through the abundance of logos. The red thread stands out from the brown kraft paper but still relates to the warm color scheme.