party like its 2009!

Wishing everyone the happiest of New Years!


This year has truly been the "Year of the Blog" for me. I discovered the world of blogs back in January and quickly became hooked, and have not only started my own as a place to record random creative inspirations, but have continually stumbled upon many, many wonderful blogs that are a joy to read. Thanks to all who have commented and to all who keep reading my little blog!

welcome back

Christmas was over just as fast as it came! Hope everyone's holidays were warm and festive!

It's back to the daily grind for me, but these historically-tinged, colonial interiors have me dreaming of the easy elegance of simpler times. sigh.




Love that secretary desk and those silhouette portraits.

by Ludwig Design found via Set Design Thinking

Merry Christmas!

image from Country Living

the real Christmas story

Luke 2: 4-20

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

image via flickr

Wassail

Here we come a-wassailing

Among the leaves so green,
Here we come a-wand'ring
So fair to be seen.
Love and joy come to you,
And to you your wassail, too,
And God bless you, and send you
A Happy New Year,
And God send you a Happy New Year!

Silent Night

Silent night, Holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon Virgin Mother and Child

Holy Infant so tender and mild

Sleep in Heavenly peace

Sleep in Heavenly peace



Silent night, Holy night

Shepherds quake at the sight

Glories stream from Heaven afar

Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah

Christ, the Savior is born

Christ, the Savior is born



Silent night, Holy night

Son of God, love’s pure light

Radiant beams from thy Holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth

image from here

Christmas at Biltmore

Biltmore Estate seems even more magical at Christmastime:


The palatial mansion in Asheville, NC is decorated with over 50 Christmas trees, miles of garland, countless lights, and 1500 poinsettias.






from here and here

the door 2008

Our office door for this year's office door decorating contest:


A Christmas tree made completely out of Post-Its!



The whole door was decorated using paper and alumimun foil. The only non-paper item used was the tiny ornaments hanging on the door/tree.

holly jolly gocco

I've been meaning to post my first try on the Gocco for a while now, but am just now getting around to it. Christmas is in four days, and I am not ready! My Christmas cards got a little delayed this year, but I finally was able to print a run, so without further ado...the printing of my Christmas cards:

1. For the sake of time, I just designed a quick, simple design in Illustrator, then printed it off our high quality printer at work to get a good sharp master copy.


2. The master screen that my image will be burned onto:


3. Light bulbs go into the lamp housing that will be used to "burn" the image onto the screen.

4. The blank screen slides into the top portion of the Gocco machine. The master image (that I printed out) lays on the bottom pad:


5. When you close the Gocco, you'll see your image through the screen:


6. Now the lamp housing, with the two lightbulbs, slides into the top of the Gocco, over the image:


7. Then I push down completely on the top to "burn" the image onto the blank screen. When you push down on the machine, the two light bulbs flash brightly. There is carbon in the ink of the master image, so when the lights flash, the heat reacts with the carbon in the ink and burns little holes in the screen wherever the ink was.


8. The image is now burned onto the master screen:


9. I slide the master screen out of the machine and peel back its thin clear layer. The artwork is still attached to the back of the screen, so that you can see where to place your ink. I put ink-blocking foam pieces in between the texts so that the different colored ink will not run together:


10. I cover the art image with ink and recover with the thin, clear layer:


11. I slide the master screen, with ink, back into the machine, then peel off the copy of the master image:


12. Put a fresh sheet of paper or cardstock onto the bottom pad, push down the top of the machine. The ink will push through all those tiny holes that were burned into the screen and transfer through the image on the screen onto the paper:


13. Lift up the top, and you've got a perfectly printed piece! Replace the card with a fresh sheet of paper, close the machine again and push down to create a second print, and keep repeating until your heart's content!



Printed and drying on the rack:


Seems complicated, but it's really rather easy. Printing on the Gocco is so fun...I will be sure to share my next printed project!

White Christmas*

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white!

*arguably the best Christmas movie there is! You can't beat those Vera Ellen musical numbers.

meeting the band

One of the big clients of the agency I work for is the National Guard. Last year we partnered with the band 3 Doors Down to have them write a song for the N.G. We produced a full music video which runs in movie theaters across the country before the previews. We've also produced tons of print collateral to coincide with the campaign including massive 3-D theater standees that are supposed to be in movie theater lobbies.


Yesterday, 3 Doors Down played their DC-area show on tour, so we amped up our sponsorship showing at the concert since it was local. Instead of coming into the office yesterday, I spent all day at the arena putting together the theater standees and hanging banners, etc. The theater standees are 7' x 8' feet and take about an hour to put together, so it was quite the day of work. But it paid off as I was given the "all-access" pass to be backstage which was pretty cool. I saw all the roadies setting up, the sound guys running sound checks, the management and production offices busily preparing for the show and the band members eating lunch in the catering room.

Before the concert, we had a meet and greet with the band for several wounded soldiers. I brought my sister along as a guest, and we got to meet the band, get their autographs, and have our picture taken with them in front of our standee. While waiting in line to meet them, my sister and I jokingly wondered, "what do you say to them?" Well, I got up to the line and this was the gist of our conversation:

me: {stepping up to the table} "Hi!"
drummer: "Hey, how's it going?"
me: "pretty good"
drummer: {signing my poster}
me: {wondering what to say, all of a sudden spurt out} "Thanks for all you guys do for us!!"
me: {realizing what i just said} "...."
drummer: {puzzled look on face} "...."
drummer: {looking surprised, thinking 'what the heck do I do that this girl would be thanking me for?'} "well....thanks for all you do for US!!"
sister: {laughing}
me: {embarrased, but moves on to the next band member}

I felt so stupid after saying that to the first guy, that I just smiled and said "Hi!" to the rest of them as I went through the line. I meant to say "thanks for all you've done in partnering with us" but I guess that would have made more sense if I had mentioned that I work for the ad agency that partners with them. I think the drummer thought I was thanking him like I would be thanking a soldier. Oh well. It was great meeting the band; they are really nice, down-to-earth guys. The meet and greet finished and we headed into the arena for the show.

The band

totally not a flattering angle, but I'm getting the lead singers autograph

With the whole band

I wasn't the biggest 3 Doors Down fan, but I have to admit, the concert was pretty good. They sound great live and I recognized more of the songs than I thought I would.

Kryptonite

playing our client's song with the music video showing on screen

It was a really random day, but overall a great time. A nice little perk to my job!

sleigh ride

Our cheeks are nice and rosy

And comfy cozy are we
We're snuggled up together
Like two birds of a feather would be
Let's take that road before us
And sing a chorus or two
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you!

image from Brides via Snippet & Ink

pretty paper

I am in awe of these quilled paper creations by artist Yulia Brodskaya. Just lovely.








found here

P.S. It's my 200th post!