Halloween Highlights 2008

Pumpkin #1 on Kathy & Annabelle's porch.

Aunt Dani oversees the pumpkin prep.

Lonesome Cowboy & The Tricksters.

Beloved Mina, in all her glory!

The whole motley crew.

Pumpkin #2 from Kathy & Annabelle's porch.

Golden Apples

I took this last week at the pumpkin farm. I know it looks like stock art, but I needed some filler to get through to halloween.

Charm Bracelets by Ellen Fagan

I've known Ellen since kindergarten. 

The thing that I remember most about her, is not necessarily her kindness, sense of fairness, or her beauty... 

but rather the fact that in 5th grade, she won the Spelling Bee.

I occasionally run into her, but living such busy lives, we'd have a quick, but brilliant catch-up, 

and like a flash she 'd be gone again.

This time when we caught-up with each other, we had a long sit-down at the diner and she showed me what she's been up to...

How gorgeous are these charm bracelets!!??? 

...and in some cases, how NAUGHTY are they?!

She fashions them out of vintage Cracker Jack charms and old earrings.

I think it's awesome that she's using her Spelling-Bee-Winning intelligence to create things of beauty... using her powers for good, instead of evil. 

The results are so Faboo! It's as though each bracelet is it's own art exhibit!

I have been gently suggesting that she start her own online shop, and hoping it gets through.

Can you guys help me convince her?

Meanwhile, you can find her pieces at this store in Chelsea. Or contact her for more info: hipt79[at]aol.com.

xoh

Rain, Leaves, Trains & Cars

A whole day of rain...

Rain and leaves through glass.

Osprey nest... morning: high tide, then afternoon, low tide.

(view from the train)

Fall.

Main Street, Flushing.

She Came in Through the Bathroom Window...

Autumn did.

Wish Released

At high noon, (a little after 3pm) all activities were halted for the blowing of the wish.

(not a bad pic, for a 6 yr. old photographer.)

It sailed, at an even pace, steadily towards the sky.

Your wish has been granted.

Now go finish your homework!

xoh

Moody Monday: Make a Wish

Today's mood is hopeful.

Tell me what you wish for, and by high noon, this fuzzy will be blown into space with all of our collective wishes attached.

I've been saving it (taped to my monitor) for just this occasion.

Alpahabet Series: Cap W

Today's post is brought to you by the letter "W"

(Long Island Rail Road Station, Flushing, NY.)

More on Logo Design....

(From Dilbert)

WARNING: Mom Rant

What grade would you guess this ONE night of homework is for?

What if I told you it's for FIRST GRADE?!

WTF!!???

P.S... this is the pic I sent in for McCain.

Bloggie Lunch

Yesterday, Patricia of PVE Design & Laura of Shore House Chic came to collect their winning lucite rings, over lunch in NYC. It was FABOO!!! We spoke non-stop for over 2 hours about so many things... art, kids, beach, blogs & bloggers...and STILL we didn't get to talk about everything. 

Patricia: I forgot to ask you about your house!! 

Laura: I forgot to talk Lambertville/New Hope with you!

We ate delicious food, we drank some hootchie kootchie tea, enjoyed the sights of the city,

and we decided to plan another lunch SOON.

Who else is in?

Alpahabet Series: Cap C

 "C" is for Chocolate babka.

Creative Process

Instead of Moody Monday, I'm in the MOOD to talk about process. Creative process. 

Let's take logo design, for example. When clients come to me, (usually after seeing my website) I take down as much information about their product, service, business, clients, etc. as I can. I do ALOT of listening. And you know what? People LOVE talking about themselves and their companies, so it's a nice way to start a client relationship. My hubby The Salesman always says: "There's a reason that we have TWO ears and ONE mouth." 

Below is the beginning phase of a logo that I started last month:

After getting all the 411, I  start thinking about fonts. (That's actually a lie, since I am ALWAYS thinking about fonts. (see Alphabet Series, some here and here ) As I think, I gather. I experiment with the way a font looks in caps, small caps, upper & lower case, script, etc. I put my final contenders on a page.

In the next step, I think about what symbols, graphics or ornaments could express the company mission, in unison with the font. It's like bringing together the ingredients of a recipe. 

I usually come up with 20 different logos, including different variations of logos. Many designers feel like they can keep things in check, by giving clients fewer choices. I disagree. I pursue the creative process until every drop has been squeezed out. I get it all out of my system. Then I hand-pick the best ones to present to the client. It never ceases to amaze me what they end up choosing... almost never the one that I'd guess!

The truth is... most people feel uncomfortable making design choices by themselves. They take home the first round of logos and show their spouses, mother's, assistants, doormen and even their mailmen. Ha! Everyone gives an opinion.

Normally, there are 2-3 rounds of revision and perfection before the final logo is approved. Like magic, it makes an idea for a business *look* real and professional. It makes a dream come true for somebody. It's part of why I love my work.

Above, is a few of the original first-round logos I did for a cement importer. In this case, I was in complete agreement about his choice. Very little was done to revise the first sketch, before final approval. (We made the black panel a dark grey, and the client decided to go plural on the cement.)

In the next phase, I work on the various things that the client needs to move forward. Business cards, letterhead, pocket folders, brochures, signage, electronic catalogs, hang tags, email blasts, menus, etc.

Here is an example of a sheet of business card layouts. It's fun choosing paper samples and printing styles. In this case the client wants embossing on craft-paper style card stock. I'll show you guys the finished product after it prints. Any questions?

Hope I didn't bore you folks! Moody Monday will return next week, with more mood and more monday than ever before.

xoh

Dream Chair

In my dream, I was walking down my street. Up ahead, I saw something... a discarded treasure, sitting forlorn on the curb. I quickened my pace. My heart was beating faster and faster. Infront of this apparition, I halted. It was an authentic  mid-century teak chair. It only needed a little TLC... maybe some new upholstery. I looked to see if anyone was watching. All clear. I picked it up and ran the rest of the way home. Then I woke-up.

(ok, maybe it's wasn't exactly a dream. Maybe the chair is real. And maybe it's MINE now. And maybe I knocked on my neighbor's door to see if she MEANT to throw out such a lovely chair. It's quite possible that she DID. ) 

What dreamy items have YOU found in the garbage?

Random Color

I've been having a rough time uploading pics the past couple of days.... 

Maybe mercury is still retrograde in Uranus? (heeheehee)

Anyhoo, here are some miscellaneous pics that have been building up:

A bunch of fallish pics, plus a trip to a local carnival...

To most of you guys, the pic below looks like a nice mid-century clock tower.

To a very small handful of you, it's the place your eye goes to immediately, 

when you are finished sucking the chlorine out of your braids, and need to know if 

it's time to jump into the deep pool and wrestle with a vaseline-covered watermelon.

This was a school trip to "The Pumpkin Farm" with one of the varmints. 

This place looked more like a pumpkin party than a farm.

Watch the Debate

Don't forget to watch tonight.

Here's a pic of my littlest varmint watching last weeks' debate.

Doesn't he look totally engrossed in the duel?

Or maybe he's trying to figure out if we would be eligible for that nifty tax break...

Moody Monday 10/13/08

I snapped this pic of Dwight Gooden, at the last Met's game ever to be played at Shea Stadium. 

He was in a melancholy mood. Here he was, wearing his "enycee" shirt, in the SNY press box... but he wasn't paying attention to the game. He wasn't thinking about how the Met's were blowing their chance at the play-offs AGAIN. He wasn't even watching the game at all. Following his gaze, I put down my camera and turned around to see the parking lot, and beyond that, stretched the borough of Queens. He was thinking... "I used to OWN this town."