About Sheryl Checkman

Sheryl Checkman is an award-winning designer with more than 25 years' experience in applying innovative yet pragmatic solutions to the full range of communications and design challenges. Before opening Checkman Design, Sheryl was Vice President & Manager, Design Services, for the public relations agency Burson-Marsteller from 1981-1992. Prior to that she was an Art Director at the The Barton Gillet Company, a marketing communications firm. Sheryl graduated from Cornell University and attended a Masters program in Communications Design at Pratt Institute as well as a three-month design program at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. She graduated from the High School of Music & Art in New York City. Sheryl is an avid skier and scuba diver. She swims, plays tennis, practices yoga and enjoys taking pictures, both above and below the water. She adds her creative signature to her photographs by creating Digital Fine Art which she currently exhibits in her online gallery. She recently launched a line of inspirational sports-themed T-shirts under the name Life is Balance®. In addition to her design work, Sheryl also creates custom photomontages for a variety of corporate and consumer clients.

A $250K Grant for Life is Balance – wishful thinking? Maybe not!

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Sheryl Checkman

Life is Balance wants to win the $250K Mission Small Business Grant

Vote for Life is Balance for the Mission Small Business $250K Grant

Sometimes you just got to go for it. What would you do if you had the chance to get a $250,000 Small Business Grant? I asked myself that very question the other day and my answer was simple… go for it. Never mind that every small business in the United States is after that very same prize. You have to believe that your business is worth it and just put it out there. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say.

So, I have until June 30th to get 250 votes in order to be considered for this life and business-changing Grant sponsored by Chase and LivingSocial. As many of you know, I recently launched Life is Balance®, an inspirational line of apparel that celebrates the various sports and activities that balance our lives. Getting this Grant will enable me to grow this business in ways that I’m not able to do on my own. And, if that happens, it will enable me to really make a difference and give back to society.

But I need at least 250 votes at missionsmallbusiness.com to be considered for this $250,000 Grant! Here’s where you can come in. Please support Life is Balance and help me reach 250 votes before the June 30 cut-off.

1. Go to missionsmallbusiness.com

2. On the Right-hand side of the home page, click on Log-in & Support

3. On the next page type in “Life is Balance” where it asks for business name. The city and state is New York, NY and click Search

4. When you see Life is Balance in New York, NY come up, click Vote!

That’s it. You’ve now helped me get that much closer to qualifying for this incredible $250,00 Grant!

Below are some screen shots showing you what to do:

Vote for Life is Balance for a Mission:Small Business $250K Grant

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

If you want to read more about the Mission: Small Business℠ Grant, check out this Press Release.

Thank you so much for supporting Life is Balance by voting now and please share this with your friends!

Watching My Garden Grow

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Sheryl Checkman

Urban Garden on the upper east side of Manhattan

My zen garden!

Some of you might remember how the tree in my backyard came tumbling down last October in the freak snowstorm that hit our area. The heavy snow, falling on the tree still full of its autumn leaves was just too much for my poor wild cherry! The massive tree took out both my deck and the fence to my neighbors yard as well. The good news was that insurance covered the replacement of my deck so I got to start from scratch (almost) in planning my new garden oasis on the Upper East Side of Manhattan!

I thought I’d bring you up to date on my progress so far! The contractor and his workers got the new deck built (based upon my design) in just over a week. I was amazed at just how efficient and ON TIME they were. Oh and did I mention that their craftsmanship was really first rate too?

Once the deck was completed, it needed some color! So I went to my local garden center, Urban Garden Center on 116th Street and Park Avenue (yes there is a garden center in Manhattan). Dmitre was very helpful in suggesting plants and flowers that would do well in my northern facing garden. I bought as much as could fit in my friend’s Mini Cooper and spent Saturday afternoon planting away. I still need a bit more but I think my garden is starting to shape up nicely! In the rear of the garden I placed some black river stones to create a zen rock garden. I plan on adding a Buddha fountain as well (as soon as the one I want is back in stock!). Stay tuned for more updates and photos as my garden continues to take shape!

My Rhododendron is starting to bloom!

Hostas in the deck cut-outs and impatiens and vinca vine in the baskets on the fence.

If you love to garden, or know someone who is, take a look at this gardening t-shirt from Life is Balance! It makes a great gift for any gardener, urban or otherwise.

I’m ready for summer…or at least spring!

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Sheryl Checkman

It’s winter again today! After temperatures in the 70’s last week it just plain wrong that it was back to winter today in NYC! My summer mojo was poking it’s head out, complete with t-shirts and shoes without socks! Today it was firmly put back in its’ place as I layered up once again in sweaters, scarf and ski jacket! Well mother nature’s tease did put me in the mood for spring to hurray up and get here for good. I’ve had enough of scarves and wool hats! I want to wear my new straw beach hat, my flip flops and nothing but a tank top and shorts! I guess I’ll have to wait a bit longer though.

This past weekend I visited two distinctly different trade shows that each added to my yearning for the warmer season to arrive. The first, on Saturday was the Whole Bead Show at the Metropolitan Pavilion in NYC, where I stocked up on some new stone beads and silver charms to add to my Life is Balance Jewelry Line. Roaming through the various stalls of bead vendors I got inspired to create an “Ocean Collection.” Here are are few photos of the end result:

Life is Balance Ocean Collection Fish Balance Necklace

Silver, Laboradite, Amazonite & Swvarski Crystal Balance Necklace from the new Ocean Collection

Balance Bracelet with dolphin charm

Balance Bracelet with tiny Fish Charm

On Sunday, I took a bus from the Port Authority to the Exposition Center at the Meadowlands to visit Beneath the Sea, the largest consumer scuba and dive travel show in America. There I walked from booth to booth salivating over all the wonderful dive destinations I’ve yet to visit. I stopped by and visited with vendors who I have gotten to know over the year such as David Dunleavy, whose paintings bring the underwater world to life and Roland St John, an incredibly talented jewelry designer who specializes in beautiful diving and aquatic gifts. David and I talked about my Life is Balance® line of t-shirts – (he too has a cool line of marine life tees). Of course I was wearing one of mine!

Protect and Preserve Ocean Conservation T-Shirt

I stopped by my local scuba shop’s booth (Scuba Network) to look over the dive computers and try to decide which one I will eventually buy to replace my older model. I just can’t seem to decide between a wrist model or one on a console! I was also on the lookout for a decent strobe light for my camera to take underwater with me the next time I go diving. I stopped by a couple of photo booths and learned a lot about the Sea & Sea YS-01 DS-TTL Strobe. It sounds like the right set-up for me. Between that, the dive computer and all those great destinations I want to travel to, I think I need to start saving my pennies (and selling more t-shirts)!