By Madi Mae, Creative Director + Branding Expert

By Madi Mae, Creative Director + Branding Expert Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from By Madi Mae, Creative Director + Branding Expert, Graphic designer, Mystic, CT.

✧ Top-Rated Social Media, Web Design, and Brand Identity Services ✧

Specializing in Building and Managing Bold Brands with my marketing company, Skellydog 🦴❤️‍🔥

06/18/2026

Little late to this trend but we persevere 😅

PSA, insufferable men: Misogyny isn't sexy whatsoever.

Thankful for a man who allows me to expand, cheers me on, and watches me flourish into everything I was meant to be.

Hoping my friends find a partner that does the same for them. 🩵

Let her cook 🤭

When I think of dreams, I think about where I once was in my life and I think of how far I've come. But there's also so ...
06/16/2026

When I think of dreams, I think about where I once was in my life and I think of how far I've come.

But there's also so many places to still go.

I really started thinking about where my dreams are now that I have gotten to the point in my life that I once hoped for, and a few things came up as absolutes.

First off, I want to build a marketing agency that's against the norm. I want to be a powerhouse that stands tall in our roots, encourages our clients, and truly do what we think is best for them.

Second, I want to inspire others. And I don't give a flying f**k about the following count, tbh. If one person told me today that they looked up to me, I would feel like the things I'm going through is for something or someone to become better because of it.

I have this big sister complex because I am, in fact, an eldest daughter (surprise, surprise). I just want people to not have to go through the things I did in order to be able to get here. I really do believe that the stress I've had throughout many avenues in my life have been the root cause of my immune system hating my guts (literally). I would never wish this on anyone, but we keep going.

That also being said, empowering people, especially working mothers and single parents, to be able to do both work and be a great parent is something I'd like to accomplish. Maybe one day, I'll have an office building and offer some kind of childcare initiative at an affordable rate / offer them flex time to spend with their kids.

As you can see, I'm manifesting here. lol.

The main dream of mine, though, is to keep going and keep being myself, pouring myself into my craft and my loved ones, being the best person and leader I can be, and being able to value myself above productivity or my "title."

One day, I hope to reach all of these goals and have a new set, just like I figured out today. Regardless, this life is beautiful and I am grateful for everything that has got me here today.

Keep fighting, keep going, I love ya.

xoxo Madi

I’m getting kind of emotional thinking about how I found out I have Lupus. 6 months after I had my son, I was free to do...
05/23/2026

I’m getting kind of emotional thinking about how I found out I have Lupus.

6 months after I had my son, I was free to do all the things I wanted again.

Weightlifting, painting, playing video games, running my business, getting into a rhythm, playing with my baby… all the things.

Then, around May 2024, I started getting some horrible pains in my wrists, toes, ankles, and fingers.

It got worse as time went on, but by July, I was in so much pain I couldn’t open my hands at all.

My hands shriveled so bad I had to pry them open.

When I went to my (not usual, long story about Tricare) Primary Care doctor, he told me “You must be pregnant.”

I told him I definitely was not (for reasons I’ll leave out, lol) and he told me to get a pregnancy test anyway.

Negative. (surprise surprise 🙄)

However, my blood work came back, and my inflammation panel was completely off the charts.

So much so that the 1 year wait to get into a rheumatologist got decreased to 6 months. I felt like I was spiraling.

6 months I waited for a diagnosis.

6 months without the gym, barely being able to wake up, not being able to hold my son, not being able to do my hobbies without debilitating pain, not being able to work on my business… nothing.

I gained a ton of weight, I lost all my good mental health, and I was truly in one of the lowest times of my life.

Eventually, I was diagnosed with Lupus. An autoimmune condition that can effect well... literally everything in your body.

I suffer from:
🦋 Extreme fatigue and short endurance spans
🦋 Butterfly rash + joint redness
🦋 Swelling + edema
🦋 Brain fog
🦋 Joint pain, muscle stiffness, and hypermobility
🦋 Swaying mood swings, depression, and anxiety
🦋 Raynaud's Syndrome

Thankfully, I am in remission of my Lupus and I am medicated, healthy, and on an upward trend. I have not had a *bad* flare in a while (I have definitely had bad days, though).

I say all of this not for sympathy, but to remind you that
1) your health and rest is SO important and
2) to be an advocate for yourself, always, especially when you are undeniably effected by something.

Hopefully this is a good contribution to Lupus Awareness Month. 🦋💜

05/21/2026

Ever since calling Connecticut my home, I started making moves to get out into the community a little more.

One of those ways is supporting the local businesses (and avoiding big box stores at all costs) in our area for gift giving, supporting local artists, and overall entrenching myself in it.

This time looked like (stuff I filmed a loooong time ago.. heh..) taking some time in downtown Mystic!!

Of course I had to stop for a coffee and croissant at Sift Bake Shop 🥐
After my business meeting, I went down to Bank Square Books for some funny socks, stickers, decomposition notebooks, and a mini print from their little dispenser as gifts for friends 🤩

(I feel like ass for not knowing the artist off the top of my head, but the linocut prints are AMAZING)

Anyway. Looking forward to doing more in my local community and HIGHLY recommend y'all do the same 🩵

Boring brand guidelines are out.Let’s talk about guidelines that bring more of a brand’s energy to the table ✨Naming col...
05/18/2026

Boring brand guidelines are out.

Let’s talk about guidelines that bring more of a brand’s energy to the table ✨

Naming colors for a palette? You shouldn’t settle for “blue” or “green.”

You’ve got the chance to make it fun, memorable, exciting. An opportunity to turn a color into a key part of your brand.

I mean, just think of that baby-blue on a Tiffany Box, or the red-bottoms on a pair of Louboutins. It’s not just a color, it's a symbol of what you’re about to experience.

Your brand’s colors deserve a name and a vibe to match. Think of it as part of the story.

Instead of just “light yellow,” try something like “Champagne aura.”

Or instead of “lime green,” just call it “Citrus!” Tie the names to a vibe, an object, or something meaningful to the brand—it makes the whole palette feel alive.

Clients actually love this part.

When they see colors that sound like their personality, they’re way more excited to put their brand guidelines to use (and more likely to use it correctly).

Here’s your sign to push your creative bounds a little further.

Your brand guidelines should feel fun, not like a textbook. 🌈

You are not required to tolerate disrespect, underpaying, or micromanaging clients who treat every deliverable like they...
05/14/2026

You are not required to tolerate disrespect, underpaying, or micromanaging clients who treat every deliverable like they’re holding it hostage.

Most of the horror stories I’ve lived through could’ve been avoided, or at least made a little easier, if I had stood up for myself for one thing…

…a signed mf contract.

I’ve dealt with all kinds of red flags:
🚩 Misogynistic comments
🚩 One of my previous clients was viscerally shocked that a “22-year-old woman” was running my business the first time I met him years ago
🚩 People refusing to sign any contract
🚩 Chronic late payments
🚩 Gaslighting that made me question my skills (when they were just trying to get out of paying their invoice)

But NOTHING compares to the chaos that comes from skipping the contract “just to get started” or because the client makes it awkward.

So let me say this louder:
When a client says, “I don’t really do contracts,”

You need to say: “unfortunately, I need to walk away.”

Because what they’re actually saying is: “I don’t want to be held accountable when things go wrong.”

That is not casual.
That is not harmless.
That is a walking red flag in SOCKS AND SANDALS.

Without a contract, you’re at their mercy.

Know when it’s time to leave — especially if they refuse to work within basic structure.

And REMEMBER THIS, if nothing else at all: enforcing your terms does not make you “difficult.”

You’re allowed to leave clients who drain you — especially the ones who refuse basic professional structure.

Save this. Share this. And send it to the designer bestie who’s still saying “I’ll send the contract later.”

05/12/2026

Sorry if it stinks, but I think it's time to air out my dirty laundry 🫠

A previous client of mine and I had a great working relationship.

She paid on time. She got me what I needed quickly. There were some hiccups, of course, but that's any relationship.

Besides that, it was actually smooth…

Until it wasn’t.

Payments started slipping…
Then slipping a little more…
Then… stopping all together.

I have a very clear clause in my contract: “If payment isn’t received within 8 days, services pause.”

Well, she fell behind by over $2,000. Then it became $3,200.

And because she didn’t pay, we had to do the hard-but-necessary thing and hit pause… right in the middle of a big project.

Ahem… RIGHT IN THE BEGINNING OF MY MATERNITY LEAVE.

That was the spark that lit the match.

I was literally mid-c-section recovery, stitched up like a rag doll, and I had to deal with the aftermath of HER missing payments.

I was the villain in her story.

She claimed she shouldn’t have to pay because I “left her to go on maternity leave” (she was well prepared, btw).

How I was “rude.”
“Disrespectful.”
“Unprofessional.”
”A bitch.”

All while I had the receipts proving her wrong.

And then came the threats:
🙄 She said she wasn’t going to pay (she already wasn’t…)
🙄 She said she was taking me to court.
🙄 She even said her event failed because of me…

…in reality, she was having serious financial issues and couldn’t keep up.

She needed someone to blame, and I was the most convenient target.

So I did what I had to do:
I took her to a small claims court.

After a year and a half of fighting her and a too-long story to talk about right now,

I WON the case.

But here’s the thing no one tells you: winning a judgment doesn’t magically line your pockets.

There’s no “Deposit to Madi” button the judge hits.

I never saw the money. I still haven’t.

So learn how to ACT on the red flags.

A client who stops paying is telling you exactly how much they value you.

They’re not worth the GRIEF 😜

05/10/2026

Society tells us that we can’t be a great mom and a great business owner at the same time.

(pfffff. Yeah, watch me, lol)

Society tells us that we have to do everything ourselves, let the man run the house, save the working for him.

Your dreams are on pause until the kids leave the nest.

Thankfully, I think society is slowly switching.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t mean the pressure isn’t still there.

Mothers… you deal with so much and often, for little reward.

Let me be the first to tell you (and I should take my own advice) that the life you make for yourself will, in turn, be the best thing that happens for you and your kids.

Your best self means that you can be the best for your kids.

You’re allowed to take a break. You’re allowed to have help. You’re allowed to have dreams. You’re allowed to be who you want to be.

You’re also allowed to be exhausted after doing it all.

I am so grateful to live in a home with the support that I need, but I know that’s not always the case for everyone.

If you are the latter, I am here for you. A shoulder that gets it + has bad days all the time.

Reach out if you need it, and happy Mother’s Day you bad bi***es 💙

Some light reading for my Friday morning plus some amazing food at Clark & Co. in Norwich! ☕I'm so happy to announce I r...
05/08/2026

Some light reading for my Friday morning plus some amazing food at Clark & Co. in Norwich! ☕

I'm so happy to announce I received the cover feature for Boss Moves Magazine by She Rises Studios for the month of May!

This article and feature means so much to me - an homage to the hard work I've been trying to put out for years.

In this interview, I talked about Building Brands That Work From the Inside Out - from start to finish, 0 to 100, and the strategy to design to ex*****on approach my team takes when we think through a project with Skellydog, Top-Rated Marketing Agency.

If you'd like to read the article visit the link below:
https://www.sherisesstudios.com/post/madi-balman-building-brands-that-work-from-the-inside-out

Valentine's Day is here and so is my favorite brand I've ever pulled out of my butt and posted, hoping that I didn't get...
02/14/2026

Valentine's Day is here and so is my favorite brand I've ever pulled out of my butt and posted, hoping that I didn't get negative feedback 😂

So while I get my hair done this morning and build mini-lego sets with my hubby this afternoon, enjoy this repost of W***y, the no-ego condom brand that captured the hearts of so many. It's even cupid-approved 😉

This brand features:
🍆 Condom packaging
🍆 Logo design
🍆 Vibrant color palette inspired
🍆 Custom abstract illustration + patterns
🍆 8+ different custom wrappers
🍆 Brand messaging development

Because sh*t like this doesn't have to be taboo. End the stigma behind being safe in every aspect of your life and remember to wrap up today 😘

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Mystic, CT

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