The Music Genome Project

okay, so in my "digging" through the internet, i happened upon a genius musical idea: Pandora.
Now, i have to admit, I have never been a big music fan, I didn't really follow new artists, I just had my own set of people that i liked and i listened to the same people and the same songs over and over.
Pandora has changed my whole music world upside down. In like three days, i have found songs i have never ever heard of by the same artists that i have loved forever, AND it chooses songs that i might like based on one artist that i know i like. It is absolutely crazy. I am so overwhelmed with so many artists that i want to check out. I mean i just don't even know what to do right now with following so many new groups, bands, and artists.
One of my new favorites: The Carolina Chocolate Drops
Just Watch, But Definitely Watch In the Full Screen Mode. Also if you have time, click through several songs, they play absolutely everything from kazoos, to spoons, to glass jugs. Oh my gosh, they are so talented. Okay, so just go ahead and see for yourself.

a few thoughts...

So, i am really kind of new at really digging through the internet and finding all these different sites buried out there that have existed for quite some time. And i have to say that i am really fascinated by all the great design stuff that i am seeing. I have pretty much been stuck in my own little design world, with my liberal arts education from Berry College, which didn't really go into "teaching" design. But I am so encouraged by all the stuff i see out there on the internet. I love taking ideas and being inspired by someone's photography, or someone's art, or someone's typography. Typography is something that i love and would like to get into more. Anyways, just wanted to share my enthusiasm for all the millions of different forms of graphic design/art.

I am thinking of starting a design diary, and I will be posting images on picasa. I will go ahead and tell you that the days will not be consecutive, cause I know myself, and i know i wouldn't create and upload an image everyday. So maybe weekly would work... we'll see. :)

Some More Exciting News: Adobe Creative Suite 3 will be arriving hopefully sometime this month, and I can quit cheating on picnik! (not that i consider it cheating, cause i honestly enjoy that website!)

Also, another update: i found out how to link my blog to facebook, so check me out on Facebook's Blog Network, and become a reader!
my blog on facebook (you have to be signed in to facebook for this link to work)

new form of design = the glog

found another really great design website today: www.glogster.com
except that i am not exactly sure what the practical use for this "glogs" are. i know you can link it to your blogger account, and post your new glogs on your blog. which i did. but it still seems a little strange and foreign to me now. my first glog was created in a matter of about 7 minutes, which didn't really allow me enough time to investigate all the tools and options yet, but i plan on digging a little deeper when i have some more spare time... so keep your eye out for some more glogs on my blog. who comes up with these terms?

"Jackie" Palmer

one of my favorite people in the world is my nanny.
i swear i absolutely love this lady.
and if you have ever met her, you know exactly why i adore her.
and if you have never met her, you should, cause you are missing out on one of the most important people in the world.
she is strong, independent, loving, and absolutely hilarious.
and she loves me the most.
so i designed a little something for her.

The Rock Ranch has a great flyer at your nearest Atlanta Area Chick-Fil-A!

so, i've noticed some cool designs recently, and one of which comes from a partner of Chick-fil-A called The Rock Ranch, which is a really neat farm funded by Truett Cathy. The farm is actually really close to where i grew up in Pike County, i've never been there though. Anyways they host events called Fall Family Fun Days, and they have just sent out some coupon/flyers advertising these events at Chick-Fil-A locations, and the flyer is just really cool. I meant to bring one home with me to scan in and share, but i forgot. Maybe next time. Their website on the other hand is a terrible reflection on the well-designed coupon/flyer. Anyways, still check out what the Rock Ranch is and all the really cool things going on for the Fall Family Fun Days - like this HUGE pumpkin cannon. check out this video.
Rock Ranch Pumpkin Cannon

losing sleep over my obsession

okay, so after posting about how i love picnik, i stayed up late and made some more. Here they are! Enjoy!
probably one of my favorite bible verses, probably should have put where it's found in scripture on this pic, but i forgot... It's Isaiah 40:8.

and this was the back window of our car after our wedding, that Russ still hasn't completely gotten off his windows (even after a year and three months...)

meet my new friend, picnik.com

so, i just really wanted to share my new favorite website with everyone! it is www.picnik.com, i heard about it through my friend, brittany. it is so simple to use, and is my new favorite thing to do when i have an extra 10 minutes in between my busy schedule.
Basically it is a mini version of photoshop online, and the best part about it is it's free! well the basic version is free, and there is also a premium version that you can pay for (at a very reasonable price)
anyways, i have only played on this for about two days now, and have edited/made probably 15 pictures! Right now I haven't been able to get Adobe CS3, so this is nice to use to have fun while i wait patiently for my new software!

i think that i am going to try and make something at least once a week, and post what i make on my blog to share it with everyone.
So far my favorite thing to do is make backgrounds for my computer with pictures and song lyrics, but i also did some neat stuff with some wedding & flower photographs.

Let me know if you would like me to make one specifically for you.

Here are two that i made this week:

the first one is from a Sandra McCracken song called Traincar.

and the last one is from a Derek Webb song called Somewhere North.

Feel free to download them from this site and use them for yourself. Just be sure to tell someone, if they ask, that you know this really cool designer that made it. then give them five dollars for the compliment.