I had many adventures before starting my design business in 2007.

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride really began in San Diego, California in corporate marketing where I worked for over 12 years as a project manager driving award-winning, large-scale projects from concept to implementation; supporting brand initiatives; launching campaigns and programs; and leading creative teams, agencies, and vendors. I became a brand addict :), thrived in this role, and gained invaluable experience and insight into what it takes to make a solid, cohesive, and memorable brand.

During my stint as a project manager, I attended San Diego State University at night and earned my B.S. in Marketing/Business Administration, with plans to move into a Marketing Manager or Director role… little did I know there was another plan in motion.

While still working full-time in marketing, I partnered up with my Brazilian husband to launch and operate a full-service restaurant. We loved to cook together and he was an avid surfer, so Surfari Eats was born to serve the Ocean Beach (aka “OB”) community with a themed restaurant we designed around surfing, tropics, and Brazilian dishes we made together (and experimental dishes I concocted). After two years of literally burning the midnight oil, I left corporate and transitioned full-time to the restaurant. This 5-year journey allowed me to gain unmatched experience in all areas of business, from administration to operations to management, marketing, promotion, and creative.

Then one day it all changed… and that’s how it happens.

Next thing I knew, my man and I parted ways, the restaurant was sold, corporate was behind me, many challenges were before me… and I was at a fork in the road. I took a hiatus to create mixed media art and designed a direct mail campaign for my work and exhibitions. A friend who received the package really liked my campaign and asked if I could design a logo for her business. I was like, “what”?

That day everything truly changed and God opened a door to a new career I had never before imagined, one as a designer that combined my love of marketing, branding, creative, and art.

Other adventures and divine detours along my journey included working at an auto salvage yard… the unforgettable, amazing, and humbling adventure that truly inspired my art.

I’ve been mentored by, and worked with, some amazing people; had a blast doing super cool, wild and crazy things; have been blessed to have the support of family, friends, loved ones, and colleagues; and am grateful for the opportunities and experiences that have brought me to my current destination.

When I’m not designing for brands, you can find me creating a work of art, hunting for vintage treasures and found objects, enjoying a glass of cab, or escaping into a good sci-fi, mystery, thriller, or action flick.

Thanks for reading my story. I look forward to getting to know you better and working with you to design something that will make a difference for your brand! :)

I’m often asked about my last name, “Skye,” so here’s the 411.

During a professional and personal transition, I was about to start a new journey, write a new chapter in my book of life, and having parted ways with my man that ended in divorce, was going to give myself a new last name, too :). While enjoying drinks with friends at the infamous Pac Shores in OB (aka Ocean Beach, CA), we began jotting down options on napkins.

The drink I was enjoying was SKYY Vodka and Red Bull. As I was ordering at the bar and gazing at the deep iridescent blue bottle and bold, but simple, “SKYY” brand, I jotted down “Lilly Skyy.” It resonated with me, both in sound and symbol, but I wanted a different spin on the spelling and didn’t really want to be compared to the SKYY label LOL. And there it was, “Lilly Skye,” to represent the bold, new changes I was making in my life, that I was different, and that no matter what happens, the “Skye’s the Limit.”

01::12 Unhealthy Obsession
Pastry, ummmm, no, pasta, ummmm, no, cheese, ummmm… can I have all three please? :)

02::12 Outdoor Adventure
Walking in the desert outside my house pretending I’m the lone survivor in a post-apocalyptic world — think Mad Max and Lara Croft hybrid

03::12 Verse That Keeps Me Grounded
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” –Jeremiah 29:11

04::12 Family Secret
My family had a motel and cafe in Deadwood, South Dakota that catered to the Sturgis Biker Rally crew… what happens in Sturgis stays in Sturgis :)

05::12 Club Cocktail of Choice
Vodka and Red Bull or Ketel One Oranje Vodka Press (but ONLY if it’s made JUST right)

06::12 On My Playlist
80s all the way, baby — but my playlist includes a variety of sounds including new wave, house, techno, hip hop, rock, punk, funk, super old school, and other sounds from around the world

07::12 Young Ambition
Modern dancer — I had an opportunity to try out as a Fly Girl for the 90s show, “In Living Color” and turned it down

08::12 First Concert
Invasion of Your Privacy tour in 1985 with Ratt and Bon Jovi at the legendary Compton Terrace at Firebird Lake (leopard print mini-dress and red snakeskin pumps, baby — good times… don’t tell Mom!)

09::12 Mom Always Told Me
Tomorrow’s a new day

10::12 Favorite Flicks
Anything Alfred Hitchcock, James Bond, and Indiana Jones — After Hours, The Game, and The Cube are faves, too

11::12 Travel Bucket List
Industrial tours of Detroit and Chicago (once you get to know me, you’ll totally get this)

12::12 In Another Life
I launched, owned, operated, and cooked in a Brazilian restaurant in Ocean Beach, California