Graphic Recording: Notes on Blogging

Ever heard of "Graphic Recording"?

{These people are resident experts at it if you'd like to read more...}

 

I was more than mildly intrigued after I attended a meeting where the graphic recorder captured three days of notes on 2 huge pieces of paper--all in pictures. All of our sales team's thoughts and words from those 3 days were transcribed into a mural.  

 

My heart did a little leap to think of the possibility. The possibility that my insane doodling during meetings could actually be beneficial.

 

The possibility of a career I never even knew existed.

 

As you can imagine-- fluffy, arty, alternative "notes" are not high on the priority list in corporate offices with restricted budgets.

 

(It's important to note, that the year I experienced this was a fab-o year of sales for our team. The laws of business are similiar to gravity; what goes up usually must also come down.)

 

My little spark of "possibility" was momentarily extinguished (until I can figure out the magic ROI formula) but that didn't stop me from practicing.....plus doodling helps me pay attention.

 

If you are a blogger (or want to be one),  maybe my "practice" can help you figure out what the hell to write about.

{The below is just my opinion on blogging....I make no claims to be an expert.)

 

 

 

 

I'll let you know if & when I ever get to be a real graphic recorder but In the meantime, I'll keep practicing. If you have any ideas on where to start, I'd love to hear them.

 

Breathe, Focus, Pray, & Color (a ripped off title from Pinterest)

{Via Work is not a Job}

Sundays usually remind me that Monday is tomorrow.

And Mondays remind that I haven't done a thing to stop the dread.

{For the record, I'm officially tired of wasting my life waiting for Fridays.}

No new revelations today. Just sharing the ladies that keep creeping out of me.

This shirt is at the shop and from the minute I saw it, I wanted to draw it.

We also got in a slew of new bejeweled hair clippies and the packaging was less than Stash worthy. This card allows the clippy to sit in her "hair" and if you ask my packaging junkie brain, "Why, yes, I'll take one in every color."

After Letter Whimsy 1.0 AND 2.0 classes, I lettered (and doodled) this as a thank you to the artist.

Those classes were serious therapy for this caged (er, cubed) sales analyst.

{Her class is still available if you need a brain break.}

This one is also a "work in progress" packaging lady for the shop..

Is there a Fortune 500 company out there that needs a doodler on staff?

{Just for the sake of giving credit where it is due...the pinterest pin that inspired this post's title.}

Geek Girl Artistry

{Get your very own printable version here.}

Very much still in burn-out (or on the verge of anyways) mode.

I love to design. And I love to learn. Hmmm...learn design.

Today, I set out on trying to learn how to use a clipping mask in my graphics program.

(I don't have Photoshop. Santa, are you listening?)

I run across tutorials for PS and then I have to try and figure out a way to do the same things in Paint Shop Pro. (The ghetto version of PSP--only because I think the license was $47 vs. $470.)

So Ghetto Graphic Designers, your geekery for today:

-a clipping mask tutorial for Paint Shop Pro.

{The word "fork" in the above was a sucess in clipping mask action.}

&

-a lesson in installing/using PS .abr brush files in PSP.

Besides that....

I've been creating a little......"Paris" (it's an oldie, but a goodie)

And the "Found & Bound Workshop": An e-course in Art Journaling..

I think you can still sign up for the class--there's a little banner on the right side of this blog to take you to the "guru of art journals."

{Page 10..."Smart girls are beautiful." Especially when they wear their glasses.}


{Page 4. The first page I ever did....I feel like this 6/10ths of every day.
I hear the song..."Take me away..to a better place..." every Monday-Friday when I enter my very grey cube.}

{Page 9.."Free of Blah, Blah, Blah...especially like the blue lipstick, (or hair :)}

{The cover--bound by yours truly with waxed cord a la some ancient Japanese bookbinding techniques.}

I'm off to do some more geekery....and meditate.

Monday: Mental Health Day

After devouring one of my fave magazines yesterday, I came across this sentence from an "Are You on the Road to Burnout?" article:

"It's not that you aren't a caring, compassionate person; it's just that you hate everyone. "

Yep. Pretty much sums it up.

In light of this, I declared today a mental health day and decided to do what I do. Drink coffee, read blogs, and glue the hell out of something.

(Only after I waste some significant life hours on Pinterest...you can follow me here, if you like. )

I saw this photo on a blog I read, pinned it, and got down to business...

{Photo courtesy of Allison @ Little Lovelies}

They turned out soooooooooo very cute. While my head was occupied (in a zen-like) state trying not to hot glue my fingers together, I had an idea.

I think we've talked about my obsession with lovely packaging before..and nothing has changed.

These little bookmarkers would make such a cute gift.

{And please don't start the old e-reader spiel. I like real pages, broken spines, notes in the margins, passages highlighted, the smell of the paper, and the whole idea of a real book. Get off my ass. I'm on the road to burnout. Talk to me about the Nook another day.}

Where were we? Oh yes, such a cute gift but presentation is essential when giving a handmade present.

A library card! Yes, attach these little lovelies to an old library card. A special library card that I have designed. A little library card to go with your little lovelies that I am going to share with you!

{Download Library Card Template here}

For the perfect gift for the old school reader in your life:

-Go make your bookmarks. It's felt, hot glue, and paperclips.

-Download and print the library card. I used vanilla-ish colored card stock to print it out on.
-Punch a small hole in the side of the card and clip your book mark to it.

-I found this "Library Card Pocket" template that you could make for you card.

If you are going to use this pocket, the card fits pretty tight. So trim off as much as you can when you cut the library cards apart. Yes, Part of the little girl's body will get cut off. Just follow the lines, it'll be ok.

-For that most special reader, tuck a bookstore gift card in the pocket with the library card. And/or some homemade bookplates...I like these, but I'm sure there are freebies everywhere.

I'd say a successful (if not perfect) mental health day.

I'll leave you and myself this one final reminder:

{Via Lindsey TePastte Kloeckner on Pinterest}

Union Jack and Beach Houses

I've been unbelievably obsessed with all things containing the Union Jack Flag for about a year now.

I can also smell summer in the air which has me pining for a cabin, a retreat, a place without television or cell phones. A place full of dusty books, sandy floors, and soft, slightly stained, cotton quilts to curl up in.

The two go pretty well together.....in fact, in a perfect little corner of my mind lie these images.
The happy place....

So my friends, another graphic message....I' ll do the same.

Happy New Year...

Graphic Courtesy of the Graphics Fairy

Happy New Year! What does 2009 have in store for us??? I can't wait to go for the ride. No resolutions-only the promise to do one thing per day that matters.


I love packaging (we've spoke of this before) but what I love more is designing labels. "The Girls" are in the shop and they needed some introduction, don't you think???

"The Girls" are going on a little trip. You see, I found the "Toy Society" and their contribution to the world is to give without expecting a thing in return.

The girls aren't good toys as they are, BUT give them a message and a purpose.... A day brightener.

I'm always looking for some sign, a blinking arrow to point me in the right direction. If I were to randomly find one of the girls and she holds a message that says, "Today's the day." Well, I'm ready to conquer the world from (a clothespin??) a little serendipitous message that I just happened to come upon.

(Don't we all have a 7 year old hiding in us? I'm going to use that as to the reason I am so wanting to make more.)

Here's to being 7 and one thing a day that matters.

Silence?

I haven’t had much to say lately nor have I wanted to hear my voice write anything anecdotal.

In the past weeks, I have been receiving 4 caring bridge site updates to my inbox on almost a daily basis. If you are unfamiliar with Caring Bridge, it is an internet outlet for those who are sick and/or hospitalized to keep their friends and families “in the know” and allow you to electronically voice your support, your prayers, your wishes to the patient and their family.

There is Ms. Courage who is battling ovarian cancer, Mr. and Mrs. Together at Last who have a baby awaiting a bone marrow transplant who have several other children at home who have been in the hospital for too long, Mrs. Ray of Happiness who has two small boys and a young husband who has suffered a stroke, and Mrs. Eldest Girl who, too, has cancer everywhere and is doing everything in her power to live.

So, I don’t like out-dated hairstyles, hot dish, or Facebook. So, I can shop. Big freakin’ deal. Doesn’t it all seem so trivial? These people just want a normal life back and here I am—blah, blah, blahing. There is some guilt associated with my ramblings but….


It goes on and that’s just it. It will always be something. Herein, lies my lesson for today. Live your life. One has no idea when the game will change. “Normal” today just might not be “Normal” tomorrow.

What I Know for Sure Today (can you tell who graced my mailbox recently?):
1.) I have a lot to learn.
2.) The phrase “If I knew then, what I do now…” now makes sense.
3.) When it comes to moments in your life, the word random is never involved.
4.) What goes around, comes around.
5.) Attitude really is everything.
6.) You get out of it as much as you put into it.


I also have a few new quotes I “randomly” came across today:

-NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST.

And

-BE NOT AFRAID, YOU WERE BORN FOR THIS.

Silence.

Graphic lessons for today...Sometimes we are much cuter when we don't talk.