Tues Ten 071310: News Headlines

Wow! A Tuesday Ten post. Yep, the last one made an appearance back in May. Ouch.

I know; I know. It’s been an unreasonable amount of time since I’ve posted anything with real substance, and to be honest, I doubt this one will qualify either. However, I wanted to update the Junksters on some things that have been going on lately. You’re not going to see George Steinbrenner or Afghanistan or BP (well maybe a touch of BP), but they are newsworthy in my world nonetheless. And since I was in press release mode for my day job recently, I decided some EJ headlines were in order. Much of this post could easily have been part of an Oh Happy Day! Gratitude Project report, but I’ve opted for Tuesday Ten since it’s Tuesday Wednesday, and I’m in the mood for lists.

So, without further ado, I give you this week’s Tuesday Ten: Top Headlines in Junkie Land. I’ll go ahead and say right away that I can’t call it “late-breaking” because, I’m, well, late. But, you know me by now and to apologize would be redundant.

1. “Tuesday is Wednesday”
At least in EyeJunkie world this week. Sure enough, I’m late and not late-breaking.

2. “EJ Discovers Guest-posting Rocks”
I was invited by my friend, Annie, over at SisterWisdom to write a guest post as part of her ReDefining Modern Homemaking series this June. I was ridiculously negligent in promoting the series or my guest post, but click on over there and read it. And read the whole series while you’re at it. It’s moms from all walks sharing about how they view homemaking. Good stuff.

3. “Baby Girl Becomes Verbose”
Yes, my planned Tuesday Ten of Baby Girl’s burgeoning spoken vocabulary will need to be bumped up to a Thursday Thirty soon. How has this happened in my brief neglect of EJ? The news of note here is that “cheese” and “sickle” read “popsicle” have been added to the list. That’s my girl! And, you’ll be comforted to know that “No, Mama!” is still a perpetual favorite phrase. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

4. “Gulf Waters Matter”
You may have seen my recent posting of a dialogue about the Gulf oil catastrophe. I submitted the essay to my friend Ann’s Blogger Monday with Ann Evanston weekly roundtable of blogs on Facebook. I was amazed to see the interest of folks outside of the Gulf region in this earth-changing event. So, click over to that article and scroll down to the comments. They are worth the read.

5. “The Queen is Relinquishing Her Throne”
No, not the Queen of England or the Queen of all Media. The Queen of Dux D’Lux, my day job home for 16 years, decided in late May to retire. She opted to close the company, and I’m very excited to see what cool creative endeavors she finds next. Needless to say, her abdication means big changes for my work situation, but I am so grateful for her mentorship and friendship over the years. Plus, she’s promised me a pie.

6. “Little Drummer Boy Steps Out”
Into the big ol’ world. In August, LDB will be starting “big school” for five-year-old kindergarten. Can I get a Kleenex, please? I’ll no longer be the mom of three preschoolers. I’ll be mother to two plus one kindergartener with a Spiderman backpack in tow. I’m sure my processing of this particular event will be fuel for several upcoming essays. At the moment, suffice it to say: “Thank God he still wants to hug me.” I wonder how long that will last.

7. “Haley Jumps Into the Deep End”
Given the advent of #5, I’m pleased to announce that I started my own company this month offering graphic design, website development and online media services. I’m calling this whole shebang Small Pond Graphics, and it’s been quite a leap. I’ve been so amazed by the support and encouragement of my Dux D’Lux clients as well as my network of family and friends. Starting a business is a scary endeavor, but an adventure I’m very excited about. So, hop over, dabble your toes a little and let me know what you think. Also, please connect with me on the Small Pond Facebook page. I’d love to include YOU in the dialog.

8. “Plop! Launches”
So, I’m spreading my writing wings a little more. In conjunction with Small Pond Graphics, I’ve also launched a new design and marketing blog called Plop! You can read the backstory in my first post there, but I hope to use it to highlight the wonderful clients who place their confidence in my abilities, to offer exposure to some of the “creative types” in my life who are using their talents to do cool things, to inspire readers with images from around the design world that are fueling my own creativity, and to share some of my experience and maybe expertise in the areas of business communications and marketing. I hope you’ll book mark it or “follow” it on Facebook and join the creative conversation.

9. “Reclamation is the New Black”
Yeah, had to work hard on that one. Obviously, the structure of my days has changed somewhat with the closing of Dux and the launch of a new business. I’m very excited that I’ve been able to reclaim an area of our house to use for my office space. Something about getting my surroundings settled always helps settle my spirit as well. So, the opportunity to make this space usable and comfortable was very cathartic during this time of transition. I’ve gathered my books, reference materials, design inspiration, crazy packrat files, art supplies and general Wacky Pack nonsense all in one spot. It’s lovingly displayed and arranged so that I have computer working space, meeting space, art/layout space and couch space (which is so important). Enjoy a quick look.

10. “Invisible Girl Returns”
With all the changes and transitions in my life of late, it’s been a challenge to find the time to write here. It’s been even more of a challenge to muster the energy for the soul searching so often required for a quality look inside. Thank you for hanging in there with me. Regardless of the new adventures ahead, I still need this blog as my unencumbered outlet for thinking, paying attention and writing about that process. I’m ready to return. I’m working on some new posts to share soon. The first will involve green flamingos and Nelson Mandela. How’s that for a teaser?

Word Up! Wednesday

The Junkie and I have been on the outs this week. Nothing serious, I’m just regrettably behind on my posting.  I thought I’d better explain why and share a little enthusiastic “howdy” with an 80s-lovin’ Word Up! Wednesday. (If you’re over 45 or under 30, please consult your nearest UrbanDictionary.com for a translation.)

Did I mention that I love my day job? I do. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to do lots of really fun things with the added bonus of being able to draw, write and play on the computer every day. It’s a tad more complicated than that, but you get my drift. The Queen has given me lots of leeway to explore many hair-brained ideas, and the last few weeks are a prime example. I am so excited that the evolution of our company marketing has given me the chance to start up some new work-related writing projects in conjunction with our new website design. In short, I am now authoring a company blog for Dux D’Lux Advertising called Quack! as well as a bi-weekly ezine called Quick Quack! Nifty. Holy Brain-Overloadus, Twatman! I’m also tweeting for the company and managing our Facebook fan page and group to build up our “social media presence.” Double nifty.

In addition, we are gearing up for the launch of our new website on Monday, July 20th — incidentally coinciding with the anniversary of the Apollo moon landing. The metaphor of the level of complication involved in this “launch” is not lost on me considering the 6537 hours I’ve spent obsessing about this newest iteration of the Dux website!

So, that’s the Word Up!  My thoughts and keyboard have been otherwise entangled of late, but I can’t wait to flesh out some of the ideas I have simmering just below the surface. You’ll be the first to know, Junksters.

I leave you with some screen shots of what’s been monopolizing my thoughts. We’re hosting a Website Preview Party facilitated by Facebook Guy tomorrow. I hope you’ll take a minute to click over to our fan page and cop a comment on what you see!

Tues Ten 062309: Junkspiration Blogs

For this week’s Tuesday Ten Twelve, I’m highlighting design, style, crafting and generally pretty blogs that I’ve been reading this month. These great sources of junkspiration are also very selfless blogs, often highlighting the wonderful work of other artists. Because many of them update several times a day, they’ve been like mini-vacations when I need a little creative jump-start. Please go check them out if you’re window shopping for ideas.

[What's up with the 12, you ask? Well, 10 made the last square dangle down there all by itself, and you know how that makes me crazy :) ]

1. A Field Journal
2.  S.HOPtalk
3. Creature Comforts
4. Sara Jane
5. How About Orange
6. Oh Happy Day (Jordan Ferney)
7. Modish
8. The Bright Side Project ~ This one is completely dedicated to offering a great give-away each day from those committed to helping us look on the well-designed bright side!
9. Oh Joy!
10. The Blah, Blah Blahg
11. Melissa Loves
12. Love. Obsess. Inspire.

Tues Ten 042109: Creative Inspiration

This week, I give you link love for ten creativity-inspiring websites. I can and regularly do eat these up with a spoon with chocolate sprinkles on top.  Enjoy:

1. Creature Comforts – for the design-loving, awe-inspired, cut-and-pasted style maven within
2. A Field Journal – for the old-fashioned, craft-loving, compulsively-artsy, hand-making bookmaker within
3. Sarah Jane Studios – for the love-me-some-baby-boys-and-girls, kiss-on-em-all-day, coloring-book speedster within
4. Oh Happy Day – for the vintage-inspired, rubber-stamped, lace-trimmed woman of letters within
5. Gaping Void – for the snarky, incessant-doodling man-about-town within
6. Small Magazine – for the still-plays-with-toys, bangle-wearing, giant window shopper within
7. Poetic Home – for the upcycling, place-for-everything, “reads” Anthropologie junk-yard dog within
8. bumblebird – for the needling-wielding, felted and embroidered girlie-girl within
9. Everyday Design – for the typography-seeking, pop-culture noshin, grocery-aisle-gazing design student within
10. Inspire Me Thursday – for the perpetually challenged, 1000-words-worth creative juicer within

Junkspiration: First Day of Spring

The first day of Spring.  It’s official, at least by the calendar’s estimation.  And, the few flirtations with warm weather we’ve had here in Mississippi assure me that soon the weatherman may not be too far out of the loop on the change of seasons.  Spring brings an inescapable feeling of newness.  As the earth reawakens and brown blades and bark give way to green, I find my spirit renewing as well.  Just the introduction of a little more color in the landscape makes me crave more. New life is inspiring.

So, aside from the calendar and temperatures above 60, what’s inspiring me to think Spring these days? Try this Junkspiration collage of ten on for size–purchases, old favorites, colors, designs.

1.  I bought these placemats at Wal-Mart because I loved the colors and chunky woven texture.  We’ve taken a break from placemats for a while, so when I put them on the table everyone was excited (yes, placemats and toddlers can co-exist). They brought my rustic table made from old rescued floorboards to a whole new level.  Spring green, and turquoise, with a touch of red, orange and chocolate.  I’m sure those colors will show up in some design work over the next few months.

2. Bodoni Ornaments–my favorite font of old-style printer’s ornaments.  They are a wonderful design punctuation.

3.  Charlotte’s Web, E.B. White’s tale of a Spring pig and his eight-legged friend, was first published in 1952.  I was prompted to pull out my 1973 ragged paperback copy after several viewings of the stunning movie version featuring Julia Roberts as Charlotte that we bought my gifts for Valentine’s Day.  Garth Williams’ illustrations are timeless and I love that the turquoise dye on the page ends still hasn’t worn off. White’s story is aptly capped off by this statement:

“It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.”

4.  Vladimir Script–a lovely calligraphic font that’s not too frilly

5.  I love this guy!  He’s the bumblebee that came to Frog and Miss Mouse’s nuptials with “a banjo buckled on his knee” inspiring a “nimble flea to dance a jig.”  Feodor Rojankovky provided the picture for John Langstaff’s Frog Went A-Courtin’ which one a Caldecott Medal in 1955.  Nothing like a Spring wedding!  And, Little Drummer Boy especially likes it when I sing a few bars after the reading is done.

6.  From Robert Frost’s account of the season’s rite of passage “Putting in the Seed”:

You come to fetch me from my work tonight
When supper’s on the table, and we’ll see
If I can leave off burying the white
Soft petals fallen from the apple tree
(Soft petals, yes, but not so barren quite,
Mingled with these, smooth bean and wrinkled pea),
And go along with you ere you lose sight
Of what you came for and become like me,
Slave to a springtime passion for the earth.
How Love burns through the Putting in the Seed
On through the watching for that early birth
When, just as the soil tarnishes with weed,
The sturdy seedling with arched body comes
Shouldering its way and shedding the earth crumbs.

7. Fine floral engraving from a book of reproducible versions we have at work.  The drawings from a multitude of disciplines are an endless source of wonder.

8. This nest and a single egg was a logo development rejection for one of my financial company clients a few year’s ago (the nestegg gave way to an illustration of her trademark dog breed), but I’ve always loved it.  The nest is more alive with three eggs of “robin’s egg” hue.

9. A lovely hyacinth blossom from the recycled gray-brown pot of bulbs I also purchased on my spring-inspired Wal-Mart jaunt.  Vibrant with a multi-colored cloth belt from my college years tied around it. It’s purple and sweet smell are the unmistakable cues of Spring.

10. Cotton pastel pink and turquoise and chocolate dots for my Baby Girl pea pot soft spot–her first Spring in a continuous string of firsts.

Welcome, Spring! God’s yearly reminder of life and growth and creativity is here again!