Mother Nature's cruel joke

Holy cow, Mother Nature is cruel, but beautiful sometimes.

Here's a great time lapse video of Eyjafjallajökull's eruption in Iceland last month. Says photographer Sean Stiegemeier:

So I saw all of these mediocre pictures of that volcano in Iceland nobody can pronounce the name of, so I figured I should go and do better. But the flights to get over took forever as expected (somewhat). 4 days after leaving I finally made it, but the weather was terrible for another 4. Just before leaving it got pretty good for about a day and a half and this is what I managed to get.

Stunning.

Iceland, Eyjafjallajökull - May 1st and 2nd, 2010 from Sean Stiegemeier on Vimeo.

Originally seen on PetaPixel.

Interns!

So unfortunately, this week, my intern was back. Most people don't refer to an intern as unfortunate, but in my situation, my intern is 2. And this week, she had a stomach bug. That's a whole lot of unfortunate.

Oh, she tried to make it look like she was working...



But she always had her eye out for me,



And whenever she thought I wasn't looking, this would happen:



See, nobody told her that that is NOT graphic designer Barbie, so she made no contribution whatsoever to my workload this week.

However, I can happily report that the intern is feeling much, MUCH better and will report back to her day job tomorrow. So starting tomorrow, I will be intern-less.

And, she tells me, she'll be taking her Barbies with her.

Literally running for life

This year I'm so excited to be participating in my first Relay for Life. For those not in the know, Relay for Life is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society:

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

I know both survivors, and people who--unfortunately--have succumbed to this terrible disease; including both of my grandmothers. It's scary for me to think that we've come so far in modern medicine, however, we have yet to find a cure for a disease that takes so many lives each year. I'm not one to use my blog/social media to go around asking for money--but I feel really strongly about this cause.

Won't you please support my efforts in Relay for Life? Make a donation to my team here.

Thank you so much; not just from me, but from every person touched by cancer.

Panic! At the Design Studio

You know how sometimes, you wake up in the morning, and you're all OH. EM. GEE. I AM SO STRESSED OUT. And then the stress just gets to you, and it builds. Like, a lot. And by 10AM you've convinced yourself that you are completely insane for running your own business, and what on earth are you going to do there is so much stuff to be done, and my God you are a fool for not working at all last night.

Then, you start with the little things on your list. Knock a couple of those off. Then maybe you get a medium sized thing just about done before 5:00 rolls around. Then you realize it's Friday, and your to do list is looking significantly less intimidating, and oh yeah, you have a date with your husband in a few hours.

Maybe then you'll plan to work for a few hours this weekend, get a jump start on next week.

And then you'll realize that your clients are not all running for the hills. Things aren't so bad. In fact, things are actually pretty good. Then you smile to yourself and think, Man, I am so LUCKY to have my own business.

Because this is exactly how I felt on Friday.

Anyone else? Bueller?

What Not to Wear: traciedesigns edition

OK, let's face it: I've always been into art and fashion. At one time in my life--in grade school--these paths crossed, and I spent most of recess not running around like the other kids, but sitting outside with my back against the wall designing outfits. I had a whole composition book filled with them (God, I wish I had kept that!).

Of course, that phase didn't last much past the 5th grade. And while I'm not designing my own clothes, I still have a big interest in fashion--I think, for a work at home mom, I can be pretty stylish (if I do say so myself).

Well that thought lasted up until about yesterday at 2:00.

Because yesterday, I had a meeting with a potential new client--a fashion designer who is looking to get back into the biz--and let me tell you, yesterday, in my J. Crew cargo pants, what I thought was a great shirt, and what I thought were even better sparkly sandals (sidebar: I love me some sparkly shoes these days!), I have never felt less fashionable in my life.

Because remember Laura Bennett, from Project Runway? She may as well have opened the door to greet me the other day. Black symmetrical flow-y, awesome top, black leggings, black loafers that I could sell to put one of the kids through college. Thrown together fabulousness.

I, on the other hand, felt like a prime candidate for What Not to Wear: Work at Home mom edition.

Don't get me wrong, the potential new client said or did NOTHING to make me feel like that (well, except for being fabulous); and also, I am SUPER WAY EXCITED to work on this project because she showed me some sketches and fabric samples yesterday, and one word comes to mind: drool.

Definitely not work at home mom apparel. But definitely apparel that work at home moms can wear when they go out for a night on the town and want others--men and women alike--to drool over them.

So, note to self when meeting this woman again: less J. Crew, more Barneys. I wonder if this is becoming a write-off...

Friday Fun

I'd like to end the week with not the usual wrap up (cause you all know what I did this week), but rather, on a very light note: Jon Stewart--who, the more I watch, the more he is becoming my hero--taking on Apple.

As you head towards the weekend, I'll leave you with this awesome quote:

"Microsoft was supposed to be the evil one. But now you guys are busting down doors in Palo Alto, while Commandant Gates is ridding the world of mosquitos! What the f*ck is going on??!"

3-2-1-GO!

The bad news: it's been a while.

The good news: It's been a while, because I've been super busy!

I've been working incredibly hard on a new site, and I'm happy to say that it LAUNCHED YESTERDAY! Ladies and gentlemen, meet Mindy's Meals on Heels.

Mindy knows how to throw a party--looking H-O-T, by the by--and came to me this winter looking for a small website to go with her lifestyle and entertaining company (and hopefully soon to be published book!). Recipes, party menus, entertaining tips... Mindy has got it going on. Her recipes are to die for--seriously, I like to bake, but I've never baked a cake that wasn't from a box. Mindy's recipe totally rocked.

Plus, hello? Meals on HEELS??! If this website wasn't speaking to me, well, I don't know what would.

So go check out Mindy's Meals on Heels--but, don't say I didn't warn you: Don't do it on an empty stomach.

Weekly wrap up

This was like, week of excitement, people. So many good + exciting news/projects, it's nearly killing me. If you follow me on Twitter (and if not, hello?? Why not??), you'll know that a few weeks ago, one of my BFFs got engaged, and another had a baby. Well, this week several friends and clients are following their lead: one friend/client announced her engagement, and 2 friends announced they have babies on the way.

And if that's not enough excitement, a totally separate friend/client has some may-jah business news that will come to fruition in June. And I couldn't be happier for her.

And all that excitement is all just on a personal level.

Let's dive into work now, shall we?



This is a little tease of a website that I'm currently working on. Hello? There are shoes in that there image. 'Nuff said.

Also, one of my first clients, ever--who also happens to be a friend (notice how I refer to all my clients as my friends. Tells you something about the people I work with) is working on updating her website in a HUGE way. I feel a bit like my baby is growing up!

Keeping with the excitement theme, let's get to the construction update. Folks, it's been a while since I've updated on this front, but the house construction is moving along quite nicely.



As you can see, the outside of the house looks finished (oh, but come inside and see how we fool everyone). I'm so psyched about the roof, the siding, the windows... pretty much everything that keeps the weather OUT of the house.

But let's get down to the most exciting thing of all:



SHOES. WILL. HAVE. HOME. SOON.

Talk about excitement.

If the shoe fits...

Now we all know that I love me some shoes. But I loathe (loathe, loathe, loathe!) shoeboxes. I don't have the space to store my shoes in the boxes they come in; so because I have major environmental guilt, I have turned our cellar into a shoebox land fill--until we actually needed the space. But Puma? Puma wants to see my cellar (and, alright, the rest of the world) freed from shoeboxes:

The bag uses 65% less cardboard than the typical shoebox. Created out of non-woven mesh, the recyclable material requires less work and creates less waste. It has no laminated printing and no tissue paper, it takes up less space than boxes and also weighs less when shipping. It can also can serve as a replacement to the retail bag. According to fuseproject, all of this will result in Puma's reduction in water, energy and diesel consumption from manufacturing by more than 60% a year.

Love it. Shoe companies? Are you listening?

(via Creativity)

I really am alive. No, for real.

Let me tell you, taking just about a week off to lay around and watch soap operas all day can really take a toll on a girl's business, nevermind her blog.

So as seen by my post THIRTEEN DAYS AGO, I did not exactly take an almost week off to watch soap operas. I was forced to take an almost week off due to an ugly case of strep throat; the soaps were just something to distract me from feeling like total crap (it did not work).

Upon feeling better, I had quite the backup of work. So apologies again, dear readers (if there are even any of you left) for the lack of updates, but my goodness, April has not been good to me thus far.

I am digging myself out of the strep hole quite nicely, thankyouverymuch, but it has definitely taken longer than expected. But I hope to be back up and running at full speed by next week at the latest.

So please stay tuned, I promise all sorts of Tracie and design and traciedesigns goodness to come next week.

Ugh. And ugh.

So as if I wasn't stressed out enough with all this construction, and rain (which, by the by, don't mix well. I know--who knew?), Monday morning I got completely knocked over on my butt by what looks and most definitely feels like the flu.

Fabulous.

So apologies to readers and clients alike--hopefully I'll be back to 100% brain function sooner rather than later.

Sketch it out

Originally, when going to college, I was going to be a bad-ass fine arts major. Cause that's what I did, I was an artist: I drew (a lot), and sometimes painted. I wore black. I wrote poetry and watched foreign films--because that's what artists did (right?).

Of course, I was all, forget THAT once somebody handed me a mouse (and keep in mind, we're going back a ways--this all took place when Photoshop 3.0 was out (yeah, it was rad. See below if you don't believe me). There was maybe 10 tools. Now there's stuff like this awesomeness. Nowadays I wish I had more time to draw--like really draw, draw--not just sketch something out. But I digress.




I do like to sketch things out--specifically logos (and a friend just recently recommended I sketch out websites before I design them, too. How did I not think of this on my own??!). Actually--especially in recent years--I won't even think about using a computer to design a logo until I've got a few pages worth of ideas down on paper, with pencil (pen, crayon... heck, sometimes it's marker on a napkin. Hey, I'm still an artist).

So it was with great interest and excitement that I stumbled upon Rohdesign's SXSWi sketchnotes:



Guys, you have to go check out his entire sketchbook from SXSWi--it's so awesome, so inspiring. There's notes, ideas, quotes, and--my personal favorite--fonts as shoes. Also? Guac and chips. Ladies and gentlemen, this cannot be argued with.

In all seriousness, this is so great; and in many ways, more effective than page after page of handwritten--or typed--notes.

Completely awesome, whether you're an artist or not.

(Thanks to the also-awesome Brandflakes for Breakfast for this one)

I heart you, Internet

OK, first let me say that the Internet? It's pretty awesome.

Why, you ask? Because ladies and gentlemen, I am stressed. Stressed to the max. Construction, work, lack of sleep... it's not a good combination. It's not a productive combination. It just downright sucks.

But the internet cheers me up almost instantly. OK, well maybe not the internet--but stuff on the internet. Take Ben Folds (who I think is awesome) and add ChatRoulette (which I think is kind of creepy) and you get 5 minutes of pure wait-what-just-happened-here? Then you watch it again, because, hello? Dude is on ChatRoulette while performing a concert (in Charlotte). Then you realize that the title of the video is Ode to Merton, and you're all who-the-heck-is-Merton? And come to find out it's a dude on his piano, who logs onto ChatRoulette and sings to people.

The Ben Folds version, for your viewing pleasure:



And that totally whacked-out scenario made me forget my stress for about 15 minutes. So thank you Ben Folds. Thank you Merton. And most of all, thank you Internet, for making this all possible.

Weekly wrap up

Well, well, well. Ladies and gentlemen, I am VERY pleased to announce the return of CONSTRUCTION UPDATE to the WWU! That's right--today's wrap up is going to be pretty construction heavy, because , well, it was a construction heavy week.


Day 1: The roof is coming off.


End of Day 1: No roof--but plenty of rain, wind... and as a result: a tarp.


Day 2: Builder and co. hard at work. Love them!


Day 4: Walls!


Day 5: Walls! Floors! And a tarp just in case!

So not only did we have construction excitement (!!!!!!!), but there was a bit of publishing excitement as well: THE BEST OF BUSINESS CARD DESIGN 9 CAME. Dear readers, my work has been published in a book for the SECOND TIME THIS YEAR. Mari the Studio and Glow Gluten Free both are representin' in BoBCD9.

I think I might burst with all of the excitement.

In between excitement, I did do actual work. Lots of stock illustration research for a website I'm working on, and color development for a logo. I met with the super awesome color client today, and she was thrilled with her choices. The perfect way to end the week.

With more excitement.

This weekend I think I might have to tone it down; I'd love to go skiing--God, I love me some spring skiing--but I don't think that's in the cards. We'll see, she says, with a glimmer of--what's that? Oh right--excitement in her eye.

Aprés storm

During the day this past Saturday, and into the night, our little corner of the world experienced quite a storm: torrential rains, screaming winds--it was madness. We ended up losing power for a few hours Saturday night--but we were lucky; many had lost it right through Sunday evening.

Sunday I drove around in the mist documenting some of the fallen trees--it was insane the amount of roads that were blocked. Every road I turned down there was a detour of some sort. Here's some of what I found:


A tangle of police tape, branches and wires.






I love the texture on this fallen tree trunk.






Brookside Drive, Fairfield.






A tangle of fallen wire.



The owner of this house--to add insult to injury--was having his basement pumped as I shot this one. "The lesser of the two problems," he said to me.






In all the destruction, a sign of spring.

Letterpress Love

Yesterday a friend posted this link on my Facebook wall, and then--completely unrelated--I caught Mattio watching the short movie last night (and um, he tweeted that he was completely fascinated by the letterpress machine. Sorry to get all mushy on you guys, but I just fell in love all over again! That's like me saying to him that I was fascinated by NHibernate--and even if I knew what that is, I can guarantee that I will not be fascinated by it [sorry dear]).

Colosseo: Reimagining the Roman Coliseum with type (Canon 7D) from Cameron Moll on Vimeo.

You guys, I have to have this poster. The passion that went into not only designing it, but printing it? It's priceless.

...the artwork was handcrafted character by character, totaling roughly 250 hours of work from start to finish. Characters from the Goudy Trajan and Bembo Pro typefaces form the Coliseum (or Colosseum), also known as today as Colosseo (Italian) and originally known as Amphitheatrum Flavium (Latin).

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.

Let's get happy

After a week of stress, computer problems, and stressful computer problems, I needed a pick me up. Although this video came out last week (old news!) it still makes me smile--as do most of OK Go's videos.

How could this not make you just a little bit happier?



The Rube Goldberg Machine (or, as we refer to it, big game of Mousetrap) was built by Syyn Labs:

When the rock band OK Go, famous for their viral videos including the spectacular and award winning "treadmills video", wanted to feature a 4-minute long Rube Goldberg Machine in an upcoming video, they tapped Syyn Labs to build it. The requirements were that it had to be interesting, not "overbuilt" or too technology-heavy, and easy to follow. The machine also had to be built on a shoestring budget, synchronize with beats and lyrics in the music and end on time over a 3.5 minute song, play a part of the song, and be filmed in one shot. To make things more challenging still, the space chosen was divided into two floors and the machine would use both.

We had our work cut out for us; every facet of Syyn Labs' expertise was required to meet this tremendous challenge. See the results of this remarkable effort in the video embedded above.

Want more OK Go happiness? Check out the original video for This Too Shall Pass, featuring the Notre Dame marching band... and, oh yeah, filmed live.

Or, watch the video that started it all: Here it Goes Again.

Please stand by...

So you'll notice that last week there was no weekly wrap up. It you're really keen and paying attention, you'll notice there was no nothing on Friday.

After weeks of my computer acting all wonky and buggy, I finally called Mike the Mac Doc and had him come diagnose all the wonkiness and bugginess. Turns out, it was a hard drive issue; as in, I needed a new one.

24 hours and a trip to the Apple Store later, my computer came back, definitely less wonky and buggy, but still not 100% right. Reinstalling, reconfiguring, redoing... Wonky computers take up a lot of time; but once-wonky-now-fixed computers take up even more.

So, here I am, digging out from the mess of a messed up computer. Sorry for the lack of post, and hoping that my machine is finally on the mend...

Day of awesomeness, twitter and fame

Yesterday, I was famous.

Twice.

I know, right? I'm still buzzing about it.

So here's the thing: a few weeks back, I made a new Twitter friend (yep, this is another Twitter post. Sorry, haters. Well, no. Not really). Meg Robustelli, of Fairfield County Child, started following me on Twitter, and liked what I had to say enough that she asked me to be her MomCrush of the month. What's a MomCrush, you ask?

I meet so many cool, inspirational moms here in Fairfield County. Every time I meet a woman who dreams big and puts words into action, I admit it, I develop a little girlcrush. I want to know everything about her and what lead to her success. So I decided to feature one mom a month (my Momcrush) on FCC so that I can spread the word about the cool things she's doing. She might be an entrepreneur, an athlete, an inventor or someone who donates ther valuable time to the less fortunate.

My answer was along the lines of, HELL YEAH! So yesterday my MomCrush post went live on Fairfield County Child, and now I'm sort of famous.

But wait. There's more.

Yesterday I also stumbled upon this super awesome mini film from Oliver Peoples eyewear. It was so adorable, I had to share. So I blogged about it, and then came up with some clever little tweet with a link back to my blog.

You guys, OLIVER PEOPLES RETWEETED MY BLOG LINK.

So, just to recap how totally AWESOME twitter is (and, let's face it, my day yesterday):

Woman with a thriving blog devoted to Fairfield County parents sees my tweets and features me on said blog--not only that but hello? She's got a crush on me.

AND Oliver Peoples exposed my blog to 1500 people that may or may not have ever seen it, because I liked their film enough to tweet the link to my blog, where I wrote about it.

Awe. Some. Ness.

Update: Oh, right. This wouldn't be a proper Twitter post without mentioning everyone's handles: Follow Fairfield County Child, Oliver Peoples, or yours truly.

The children are bored on Sundays

My second or third "design" job out of college was laying out a trade magazine for eyewear. Like any other job, it had it's ups: high fashion photo shoots (that made me feel oh-so-important), MAJOR discounts on glasses; and it's downs: a LOT of grunt work, especially on said photo shoots. But I got some great experience, got to meet and work with some really cool people, and above all, got to see just how much the world of eyewear had to offer.

One of the more fun brands I was exposed to was Oliver Peoples. Recently, Oliver Peoples signed on Elijah Wood and Shirley Manson (of Garbage fame) as the faces of OP. Even more recently, I stumbled upon this 2 1/2 minute OP promo movie starring the two: Les Enfants S'ennuient le Dimanche (The children are bored on Sundays). Filmed by Autumn De Wilde, and set to Just You and Me, by Zee Avi, the movie is quirky, fun and adorable--a great burst of inspiration which immediately brought me right back to my days at the magazine.

Which, in turn, made me feel younger (Thank you, Oliver Peoples).