Hello, my peeps!

So I've been crazy busy. I keep saying that and I think I am at the time until I find even more to do then I'm even crazier busy or is it crazy busier. Maybe I'm just crazy :) Either way, I thought I'd fill you in on a little of what I'm doing.

First off - I sent a new website design to the programmer this morning!!! Mr. Techy (his real name is Daniel - I think Mr. Techy makes him sound smart, as he is) will be totally reworking our website over the new few weeks. Look forward to revealing that to all of you.

Secondly - you can see a button for the Great Big Home and Garden Expo on the right side bar. We will be making an appearance there in February! We have a booth display and have been asked by the shows producer to do some special projects within the trade show - details to come later. Very fun stuff for us! If you are in the Cleveland area stop by booth 937 anytime from the 5th to the 14th. If you have plans to go let me know and I can get discounts on tickets for you. This is one of the largest home shows in the nation and there will be an appearance made by the one and only Ty Pennington for the opening ceremonies. You know, the Extreme Makeover Home Edition guy. That adds just a touch of excitement to the festivities ;)

So that's a little of what's going on here in the studio "behind the scenes". Busy busy and now it's November - Christmas shopping has officially begun! Personally, I'm counting down till the big Thanksgiving Dinner. My mom makes the BEST stuffing (lots of fresh sage, c'mon!) and my sweet mother-in-law found a pumpkin pie recipe that is lactose free, just for me :) Don't think I can't eat the whole thing! haha

Have a good day ladies and gents. I'm out-

Halloween Fun!

I don't post a lot about the family on the blog but I thought I'd share a couple of Halloween pics :)

Cole 11 and Mackenzie 13

Cole went old-school horror flick with the Freddie Krueger costume while Mackenzie went disco.

Cole and his buddy, Jake, went together this yr. Mackenzie has outgrown going trick or treating with her parents and opted to go with a couple of friends around the neighborhood. Getting Mom some Butterfingers ;) YUM!

And this is me. I think the only pics I've posted of myself were me playing softball. I feel the need to post one of me wearing a little less dirt! LOL

FREE SHIPPING!

Customer Photos!

These first 4 photos are custom jobs I designed for Dr. Megan in Canada. In the 3rd photo you can also see our Safari Growth Chart. The 4th photo was for her husbands office the other 3 were coordinated for her office. All of them are very positive and motivation. Love that!

The last 2 photos are a custom logo for DkDesigns. They create beautiful handmade wedding favors including hand sculpted clay flowers. AMAZING work! You can see their work that appeared on the Martha Stewart Show on their website www.dkdesignshawaii.com We cut lots of logos and can cut yours too!

MC Escher

MC Escher is one of my favorite artists. While other teens had heart throbs on their posters (New Kids on the Block anyone? ok, I did have a couple ;) my room had posters of pencil sketches. I usually bought them at The Museum Store in the mall in northern Cincy. I also had a few pages torn from magazines of ads I found visually appealing. I remember a 2 page layout of a zebra with a bright colorful bird on it's back on a white background that I taped to my closet door. I don't remember the company or product but I can remember the contrast of the black and white stripes with the bold, bright colors of the bird. I still enjoy such contrast in color.

As I was going through my creative file today looking for inspiration this is what I found. MC Escher and his play on concave/convex shapes. He has a lot of pieces like this. I like this one. I also like his self portraits. They may be my favorites of his work. But today, this piece is drawing me in. Am I coming or going? Up or down? In or out? This piece and Deuteronomy 28 have been going through my mind today. I find it an interesting mix.

New Art!

Seems I found a little inspiration tonight.

Here are the results...

New Art!

Burn Rubber

Elegant Accents

New Art!

A Sign of Growth designed to coordinate

with our Jungle Nursery Mural Kit.

pushing beyond past successes.

Making plans into progress.

Finding inspiration sounds very magical - sometimes it is. Other times you must fight for it. That's what I've been doing the last couple of days. I have a big deadline approaching. The project is nothing I've ever done before. Not only is it my first time out of the gate but the work must be superb. It must be better than I've done up to this point. There's no room for mediocrity. Not that there ever is, really. But there are times when there just isn't any wiggle room. You must excel in an arena where others are experienced and you are not. You must compete on that level your first time out. No excuses. You must be relentless in your pursuit.

Do you know what it is you pursue? This project is not my pursuit. It's a big step but it is not what I ultimately seek. I think it's important to identify your steps as steps and not your pursuit. You must never lose sight of the truth of your motivation/drive. That is your pursuit. And if you are truthful about that drive your pursuit will never end. That drive will always push you to be better. A better person. A better artist (or whatever it is YOU are). You will instinctively follow it deeper and deeper. When you keep the the pursuit pure you enjoy even the hardest days of the journey (aka life) because you know, at the end of those days, you've grown into something just a little bit better.

New Art!