the pure interest

I would like to take a break from my regularly scheduled fitness update to talk about design and websites. Huh, remember when I used to do that? Talk about my profession instead of my personal life? Oh well.

Kristin informed me about the iheart revolution months ago and I downloaded half the songs, but I had, for some unknown reason, never actually visited and explored the site. I did it today and I was struck by how unique it was, and I really liked it. All of the main content is on the first page, and instead of switching pages when you click main navs (aside from the obvious myspace and facebook links), it smoothly slides you down to the next section using anchoring and bookmarks, where the same nav is present again so you don’t get lost. I thought this was so cool and although an old technique, used in a new and efficient way. Not to mention how the main “i heart” graphic is created, layered gifs over a really cool background, this being the first stop on the navigation journey - all the links are sort of hidden inside. The site loads quickly, smoothly and is all there - so no waiting for new pages to load.

I like how they’ve broken the typical “link-must-click-to-new-page” preset and done something easy and simply unique.

Thoughts?

Take some time to check out the site and read how the album was created. It is beautiful stuff! I praise God for people who can use these talents in music and media for Him.

This is an old picture I took of cherry trees a few years ago (surprise, right?). It’s peaceful to me.

In June, I actually have some “profit” from freelancing, and I was deciding between a Wacom tablet or the new Microsoft Office 2008 for the Mac. After reading some not-very-good reviews on Office 08, I decided on the tablet. I ordered from Amazon one that had decent reviews, was medium sized, and not ridiculously costly - so I am excited to work with it. It’s supposed to be here today! I hope I can do some new types of illustration and it gives me some more freedom I’ve been looking for.

I went roller blading by myself last night, and it was ok. The only things I hate about blading/walking at the penninsula are the clouds of gnats. I had to have breathed some in because I would notice I was plowing into them way too late! I did 6 miles in 45 minutes, which meant I was going relatively fast. When I sat down in the car I wasn’t sure if I could get my blades off I was so exhausted . . . but somehow managed to. Then, I went home, had some veggies for dinner, and did “3T - Totally Tubular Turbo” . . . yeah, sounds cheesy but it’s a great workout using resistance tubing for weight/strength training. About 30 minutes after being done, I noticed I was having trouble lifting my limbs and walking up the stairs. I guess it can truly be said that I beat myself with working out yesterday! But I needed it so I am glad!!

This was mainly to make up for the fact I went to Olive Garden yesterday with my sis and my hubs and had the new Chicken Milanese. I did give about half to Bri and Amy, so that was good. But it was unbelievable. Worth every calorie, bite, and bloated feeling afterwards.

Also LOST last night? Wow. Some questions got answered, which was crazy, but somehow I have a really hard time putting it all together still. I depend on the short reviews for stupid people so I can sort of get a handle on what I saw!

Tonight we have small group which is always a pleasure, and I think some new folks will be joining, so I am excited about that! Brian and I also need to find an air conditioner this weekend, which needs to be a priority, and I am searching flyers for the best deals.

Oh and update: I have no accent, because Erie is awesome:

Have a happy Friday everyone!

I was looking through my most recent Pottery Barn catalog, sort of disappointed as I’m not really into the whole nautical/coastal beachy theme, and the first half of the catalog was themed around that. Some of I thought was downright hoakie, like this console and this bedding. But that is personal preference. However, near the back of the catalog I tunred to this piece and almost had a heart attack.

Isn’t it so beautiful? I would love to have something like in a master bedroom! I just think it is awesome. Maybe one day my home will have more Pottery Barn stuff… for now I’ll have to be content with IKEA

One of my first big freelance projects finally wrapped up last month, and I was so excited to have the real CD in my hands. I think the look of it really goes with David’s style. You can listen to him here, and pick up a copy of the cd.

I also completed some web order buttons and banners to go with the style.

Anyway - it’s been a really fun project, and I’m actually quite sad that it’s over. The good news is my husband and I are still working on our worship CD, and I’m pretty much ensured to be the chosen graphic designer on that job ;-), so I know there is another one on the horizon.

I’m sorry to my normal commenting-bloggy-friends that I haven’t been commenting lately, I’ve been really just scattered and haven’t gotten to many blogs. Also, it is so warm and sunny out I’m trying to be outside more than in!

Why do I insist on taking pictures of every haircut I get? I really don’t have a reason for it except I’m usually SO thrilled with my hair color and cut right after I get it done, I want to remember how I was happy with it at that time, especially since my tragic December hair butchering. It’s finally getting to a point where my stylist and I can put a new spin on it, and have a cute shorter style without being “chopped.” Anyway, I went brighter blonde for warmer weather. I didn’t sleep well last night so excuse any dark circles. I love having a web cam on my work computer!

Brian was out last night so I was feeling kind of down and lonely, he hasn’t been home much since beginning of last week and our horrible stomach episodes. But it inspired me to work on a fun project that I’d been talking to one of my best friends about - designing a sort of self-promotional website for her future ministry endeavors. She wanted it pink, which made me super happy, because I rarely get to design in pink! Obviously, I won’t be revealing the design yet, but be sure you’ll see it eventually

THIS IS SO EXCITING - I am always looking for advice on Vectors, I think it is a lot harder to find that Photoshop tips. Check out Vectips!

Have great Thursdays. Yay, the Office is new and on tonight!!!

I know that I have been pretty M.I.A. the last few weeks.

Basically my weeks have been filled with this: (Most designs and by Danielle and implementation by me)

Basically the main photo bar takes you to a new section of our site. The campaign billboards are around Erie and direct you here to read true stories from real people in our church from all stages of life. Who is grace? We are grace. I am grace.

and this: (looking at these now i see some dust on my lens and i’m not happy about it)

and this (first time i’ve witnessed them on a bed “together”):

and many other non-photographic elements including web updates, grocery shopping, budget planning, laundry, kitty playing, husband and friend time, worshipping at church, volunteering, life life life life.

Can’t wait to get back in the game!

It snowed and snowed and snowed and snowed and snowed yesterday and then again last night. I have to admit, it IS beautiful as it has coated all the trees and houses with a lovely icing of white a few inches think. But I am definitely ready for it to be over!! I am cold and I want to be in my garden again

I downloaded these so cute free flowers here @ You the Designer. I still don’t really understand how people have time create this kind of adorable, perfect art. But hey, I’m glad they do it so I don’t have to!!

I promise to have some photos and updates soon… I took some awesome ones this weekend because it was snowy but sunny and gorgeous. I went out on Lake Erie, frozen, for the first time in my life! The last two days have been so crazy from running to one thing to another that I have neglected the pure interest. Do you ever find yourself so overwhelmed by photo posting, organizing, touching up and flickring and blogging that you just DON’T? That’s kind of where I was at.

forgive me?

I am swamped on finding “the perfect layout” for a newsletter two designers have been going back and forth on for…. about a month and a half. It’s so tricky! There is something we are trying to find and we just aren’t find it. I want to post it up to get opinions but that’s probably not a good idea because it is still in working stages so I’ll just show you some thumbnails from In Design were all important parties are protected (I think). The debate here is finding a way to make the headline large and in charge, but not overbearing, so that it stands out and compliments the red & black bars. Those colors are changeable but are part of the client’s logo so therefore are sort of an easy go-to-color combo.

Thoughts?

Any words would be appreciated…. we’ve been going back and forth on this for so long!

**Edit** My boss and I discussed and are going to present 2 & 3… but I’d still love more thoughts if anyone has them. I now have to make this work on 3 more spreads. or 2. I forget.