Just a short post to show-off the latest from my Moleskine. I got out my Prismacolor pencils the other day and had some fun drawing and coloring at Starbucks. Here's the what I came up with.

I project I'm currently working on for a client called for some hand-drawn images of vintage cameras and typewriters, so I got out my Moleskine and had fun doing some sketching. Getting off the computer and taking pencil and paper in hand felt really good, and I realized that I don't do that enough anymore. I used to fill entire sketchbooks full of drawings and illustrations to the point where I was going through two full-sized sketchbooks in a year.

My creativity migrated to the computer after M was born. The computer was a nice, neat way of having everything I needed to be creative all in one spot, with no sharp implements or permanently-staining paints or toxic glues for a pint-sized person to get into. If she cried, all I had to do was hit save before I ran to see what she needed, and I could be sure that when I returned to it, my work would be exactly as it was when I left off. In short, the computer was (as it was intended to be) convenient.

But what I always loved about physically drawing, or painting, or writing, or even cutting and pasting, was the tactile feel of it. The way my fountain pen felt as I drew it across lined paper; different than a ball point pen, or a felt-tipped pen. The way watercolor paint spread outward from my brush strokes on rice paper, or 150lb Arches, and swirled and mingled with the other colors. 

I guess I always assumed that I liked to draw and paint for the purpose of visual accomplishment, but now I realize that the physical act, the tactile senses involved in the creation process are an equal part of the enjoyment for me. I need to make a point of working time into my schedule for painting and drawing again. 

All week the forecasters were saying we would see snow, possibly even accumulation, today. But I must not have really believed them because I was actually surprised when I woke up and looked out the window to see everything covered in white. It was a beautiful sight! Of course, it had all melted away by noon, but I ran out and got a couple shots before that happened. Last year, the first snowfall didn't happen until January, so hopefully the fact that it snowed so early will mean we'll get to see more of it before the winter is out! 

Every once in a while I get asked by a friend or family member to do event photography. On even rarer occasions I volunteer for the office, and such was the case for my cousin Cathy's wedding (because I love her to bits and pieces). She called up three weeks ago and announced she was getting married the Saturday after Thanksgiving (three weeks, Cathy? Sheesh! Give a girl more time to plan! ). With everything going on in our lives lately, I didn't think we'd be able to make it to Michigan for Thanksgiving and the wedding, but my very sweet hubby was extremely patient and good-natured when I rearranged all our plans to head to Michigan last week so I could shoot the wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony, and my cousin was a stunning bride! I cannot even express how excited and happy I am for her—she married a wonderful man and I wish them every good thing! Here are a couple of my favorite shots from the wedding.

I love shooting weddings (and other events), but what made this even more fun was that I got to team up with our best friend, Scott, my photography sensei. He made plans to visit us over Thanksgiving before the 3-week warning my cousin gave us for her wedding, so we dragged him along to Michigan. It's pretty much his fault I got into photography in the first place, and he taught me everything I know, so I twisted his arm and made him shoot the wedding with me. So, here we are, shooting the wedding (my hair actually looks good in this shot--proof of Scott's mad skillz)!

And here are some of my favorite shots from Scott:

So, now I'm home again (after a 13 hour drive yesterday!), and getting back to my regularly scheduled designing/coding. Hope everyone had a fab Thanksgiving!

I love my job for a hundred different reasons, but definitely one of the best things about what I do is getting to meet and work with so many amazing clients. People come to me with these great ideas for their online business, and I get to use my particular creative abilities to help them make their business ideas a reality. I'm always inspired by the passion and innovation my clients bring to the table, and that's what ultimately gets my creative juices flowing in order to create the site that is just right for them. The websites I create are a result of creative collaboration between me and my client, and I love that!

Last month I had the pleasure of launching a site redesign for one of my very first clients, Erin McMillen of www.myurbansuburban.com. When she hired me in the summer of 2008, shortly after I had launched Lilac Creative, she had this great idea to start a lifestyle blog for the Fraser Valley in British Columbia. Her business vision was spot on: start out with a basic blog about various things to do and see, places to shop and eat, etc. in her area, and down the road add other resources to that site, like a local business directory, photo gallery, even advertising spots for local businesses. 

The original design we came up with was very clean and simple: 
 

This summer, Erin was ready to give her site an overhaul in order to develop her budding business' brand a little further and add functionality and easier navigation to her blog. The design is still clean, simple and open, but features full branding, ad spots and a photo gallery.

I get totally excited about all the projects that I get to be a part of, but when Erin hired me for her redesign it was a special honor to be given the opportunity to be a continuing part of her business' growth. I loved seeing how far she had taken her original idea, and getting a glimpse into her vision for the future of her site. Congrats on over a year of being an Urban Suburban, Erin!