That's a wrap

As the faithful know, the blog is the first thing to go once I get busy. Since it's been 10 days since my last post, you can probably imagine that I have been anything but bored. So what's been going on? Lots:

Fun stuff first: a few weeks ago, I was notified that 2 out of the 3 logos I entered in the Connecticut Art Directors Club Annual Awards Show won. The show itself, where winners were notified of what they actually won (gold, silver, or excellence), was last week. I didn't go, because--guess what?--I was working. However I am thrilled beyond belief to announce that both Miriam + Dee, and Objects Pamela Peterson both took home awards of excellence.






Excellent.

Work-wise (not that work's not fun--it totally is--but let's face it; winning awards is WAY more fun than working. Right?): I've been working on an ad template for award winners Miriam + Dee, as well as a blog design for award winner Objects Pamela Peterson. Pam's been very busy stocking up on blog posts, and if they're all like what she's been sending me, you'll definitely want to read her blog once it goes live. Don't worry--I'll keep you posted on that launch date.

I've also been working on a press kit design for Mindy's Meals on Heels--Mindy recently signed on with a PR firm that represents other Food Network stars... hopefully that leads to some serious Food Network face time for her as well!

I am also BEYOND excited for the relaunch of the art + interiors site: Cyndy and I go way, way (way) back, and she was one of my first clients. Her business has grown so much that she needed to adjust her website accordingly; she needed a whole content management system to make browsing her artwork that much easier. Since I'm all about making things pretty, and not so much the CMS side of things, we've been working with a great developer in the midwest who has taken my designs and run with them. I'll keep you posted on the big launch, and other big news that's on the horizon.

If you follow me on twitter, you'll know that my BFF is getting married, so of course I designed her invites (coming soon--I promise). That was so. much. fun, partly because I got to spend a decent amount of time in heaven--I mean, Kate's Paperie. And, you know, the whole best friend getting married thing :)

Projects to keep me busy this summer: I'm working on a few websites--one for a fashion designer, one for a mortgage broker, and one for a heavy metal band. The metal band should be interesting because I'm actually working with Mattio on that one, and well, if you know me at all... let's just say that while I enjoy a little Metallica during spin class, that's about the only place I'm listening to it. It should be great fun throwing myself into this musical genre--maybe I'll even tease my hair and look the part!

I promise to post the wedding invites in the next day or two...

Relay for Life

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to participate in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life:

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.

The Fairfield Relay was 12 hours, 6PM to 6AM on a Saturday night/Sunday morning. It was one of the most amazing experiences.

Here's basecamp: Team Survive, Thrive and Endure. My friend Jane asked me to be a part of this now 3 year old team, and we have 27 team members!




You can purchase a luminaria in honor of anyone--they then line the track with them. At dusk, they have a ceremony when they light them all.




I was walking in honor of both my grandmothers.




Survivor's Lap: There's a bunch of ceremonies that take place during the first half of relay, but none for me were as emotional as the survivor's lap. I'm all choked up writing about it.




Look at the happiness on these survivors' faces.




Team Survive, Thrive and Endure




An overhead shot of Fairfield Relay 2010. All in all, there were 1850 participants which made up 164 teams. I'm thrilled to say that Team Survive, Thrive and Endure raised $9322. In total, Fairfield Relay raised $213,977.54!



At sunrise Sunday morning, my body--especially my legs--was dog tired (I had walked 12 miles total), but I left with so much more strength than when I arrived. To my friend (and team captain) Jane, thank you so much for asking me to be a part of this. I can't wait to do it again next year.

(And to my friend Marty: Thanks for the Sugarbabies. And next year, let's not wait until 4:15 AM to run! :)

Initialed

If you've learned anything from this blog at all, it's that I love type. Pretty much all things fonts and letters. So when I get the chance to wear letters in jewelry form, I'm all for it.

Recently, I came across these awesome letters over on HOW Blog:



How adorable and fun. And at $25 a pop, it's affordable to buy numerous letters to spell words out (as suggested on HOW Blog). Check out By Boe.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have Elsa Peretti's classic initials:



I love the gorgeous curves; and, on some letters, the non-obvious way they are designed. Beautiful. Available at the classic of all classics, Tiffany.

Then we have my new favorite, hand stamped letters from a parent at my daughter's school. Actually a friend of mine recently gave this necklace to me as a gift:



I love the handstamped charm. It's quickly becoming one of my favorite pieces of jewelry. Check out Simply Charmed.

Does anybody out there have any other favorite initial jewelry?

New logo: Medaille College

Quite some time ago, Sara with no H started commenting on my blog. She had a blog too, and so of course I went to check it out, and it's quite hysterical. I liked this Sara chick, and we quickly became blog comment friends.

Fast forward to early spring, and Sara needs a logo for work. She works for Medaille College, in upstate NY, and every year they have an alumni golf tournament, but also a dinner reception for those who don't golf (named after a former student). So they needed a logo that said golf and dinner, without coming across too much of either, and definitely not hoity toity (my words :)

First round presentation:

Versions 1 and 2:
Obviously playing with icons that say golf, dinner and good times. The second script-y font is not my favorite, but these are first rounds, and it's a work in progress.




More of a stamp approach:



Simple, and I get to use Archer! Dammit--I WILL design something using this most awesome font!



Kind of Palm Springs-y, but if I lived in upstate NY I wouldn dream of Palm Springs, too. The second version actually uses the icons for Medaille:




Definitely leaning towards the golf side:



Of course I had to throw simplistic in there--just because it's a logo for a golf tournament, doesn't mean it has to scream golf:



So what did Sara and her Medaille colleagues choose?



I played with the script and found something that was a nice playful/serious combination. In the meantime, totally fun project because hello? I got to talk to Sara beyond Facebook and our blogs. And it turns out that we have the same views on lots of things, including high fructose corn syrup based drinks, where to get your ears pierced, and cocktails vs. libations.

I knew I liked this girl for a reason. Thanks Sara!

We have a winner!

Last week, I received word that 2--TWO!--of my logos were going to be recognized by the Connecticut Art Directors Club this year at their annual awards show.

I know I've featured Miriam & Dee here on the blog before, and I am so psyched to share their logo again:



On the other hand, I don't think I've featured Objects yet--probably because we just finalized colors--but I can't think of a better debut:



The show is in a few weeks, I will certainly share how I ended up doing overall.

Field Trip!

One of the things I love to do when faced with free time (heh heh) in New York City is just to walk. There are so many great things out in the open, and yet so many hidden treasures.

Last night I found myself in the Village, with about 15 minutes to kill before meeting a client for dinner. So, I took a walk around the block (probably could have worn more sensible shoes... oh, who am I kidding? Do I even own sensible shoes??!), and here's some snapshots of what I came across:

How great is the iron type at the top of the gate? I love it's clearly handmade simplicity. I would live here, just based on that type (I pick a lot of things out based on type that I like, which is probably why it's a good thing that my partner in crime has some say in things like where we live. Because he would not base that decision on type).

St. Vincent's, all boarded up. This made me sad, but right at the end of the block was an elementary school, and I could hear the choir practicing as I walked by--which immediately cheered me up. I would have stayed to listen if it didn't make me look completely creepy.

I love this elephant + castle font. I don't particularly care for the illustration, but nice use of type. This was a bar, btw, and yes, I would totally go here.

This chair from Elizabeth Bauer was clearly made for a queen. My girls--queens themselves--would adore this.

Oh, Jonathan Adler. I couldn't love this desk any more, I don't think. But at a bazillion dollars, it's just a hair out of my price range.

I can't resist an orange window. Or orange accessories. Or Jonathan Adler, for that matter.

Folks, this was just a one-block radius of New York--can you even imagine what I could do in a day?? One of these days, I will find the time to take my camera into the city and just start walking.

Notes from an Intern

Hey readers, it's the intern here. Usually I like to send my messages either by voice, or by crayon--but hey, let's embrace new technology. Anyway, I've got to learn how to work a computer some time, right? Why not now?

Anywho. Since I've pretty much hijacked the studio, I figured why not take over the blog as well. I talked to Mommy--er, the boss--and she thought a day in the life of a traciedesigns intern blog post was a great idea, especially since she's pretty busy these days balancing something called "work" with entertaining me. Whatever "work" is...

We get to the office shortly after 8:30, and at this point I demand to watch a movie. Something by Pixar, preferably--they are THE BOMB when if comes to animation.

Some time mid-morning, we go out for what the boss calls "fresh air." I don't know what fresh air is, but it usually involves me getting pushed around in the stroller. I like to sing really loud; and usually singing loudly is frowned upon in the office--especially when the boss is on the phone. I can sing all I want in my stroller, so I really like fresh air.

11:30 is TEAM UMIZOOMI time! Team UmiZoomi is my favorite show these days. I prefer to watch it start to finish, with no interruptions. Seriously. Do NOT talk to me during Team UmiZoomi time.

After Team Umizoomi is lunch time--another favorite time of mine. After lunch, the boss says she does more of that "work" stuff while I nap. I still have no clue what work is, but I'm pretty glad I get to sleep through it.

When I wake up from my nap, usually my sisters--the other interns--are home. At this point, the boss gives me some sort of intern-related task, like play Barbies (which I am all to happy to do). The other interns are doing something called "homework"--again with the work word!

Anywho. That's what a day as an intern in the traciedesigns office is like. Not too bad of a life, if you ask me (except for the whole singing thing. There DEFINITELY needs to be more loud singing in that office).



xoxo, the intern

I love lamp.

I'm going to have to warn you folks: traciedesigns is about to take a very sharp turn towards interior design for a while. See, renovations are humming along nicely (this week, they mentioned the P word: PAINT. As in, we're going to PAINT THESE PRETTY WALLS WE PUT UP. Do I sound excited about this? Just a tad).

Anywho. I am so very fortunate to be working with my awesomer-by-the-minute-friend Catherine Avery (of Avery Design Interiors) and she. is. the. bomb. This weekend, she actually assigned us homework--remember that show Trading Spaces? It was very Trading Spaces of her. Our assignment was to pick up samples of the colors for each room upstairs, and paint a big piece of posterboard, and hang it in the room to be painted that color.

Problem was, we didn't have any clue what color to paint our bedroom--because we had no bedding. I searched the internet. I searched Fairfield County high and low. And where did I finally end up finding out bedding? Homegoods. But--more importantly--what else did I find at Homegoods?

LAMPS.












Readers, I think it's safe to say that I had a lamp-gasm right there in the middle of the store. Look at these lamps! Now granted, I'm not one for the printed shades... but slap another plain white one on there, and voila!

Seriously, I never thought I would quote Brick Tamland, like, ever; but I. Love. Lamp.

Oh, and Catherine's whole paint on the posterboard on the wall? Brills. We nixed a potential color for one of the girl's rooms, and lightened ours by a shade.

And our Homegoods comforter? The more I have it, the more I love it. I CAN'T WAIT to post pics of the real deal room all finished and put together.

In the meantime, I'll be over here drooling over lamps.

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)