Wow me, windows, please

I'm off in just a little bit for a fun, Northeast Ohio field trip with Kim Godfrey of Always Genuine Events. She and I are giving a workshop in the spring on techniques for businesses to WOW-up (who knew I could make that a verb) their storefront windows. We are traveling small towns and suburbs today to do some research, take some photos of good, bad and otherwise specimens of the holiday kind for discussion, comparison, tips and hints. I am excited to get out in the nice, cold sun to cruise around some great spots...Vermilion, Rocky River, Lakewood, etc.

Flippin' finally, I know

I know this may come as a shock to the 47 of you who have emailed, telephoned and sent the signed and verified petition to coerce me into creating an account on Facebook, but I did it. I’m on there now, so add away. The jury is still out on my pending addiction, like you all keep telling me that I’ll be suffering from soon. I couldn’t even drink my dirty martini Saturday at Light Bistro without hearing all about reconnecting on Facebook, yada, yada, yada…. So now I’m sitting here, enjoying a gorgeous, sunny day and the 6-foot waves from yesterday are gone from the bay. I’m pondering this new Pepsi (excuse me, pepsi) logo and look. It has me fascinated on so many different levels, you just can’t imagine. It was so funny to see it for the first time while I was watching a couple argue at the grocery store about whether or not they were about to purchase the correct item. Ha! Nothing like a little brand confusion to help things out…in addition to the fact that every other pepsi product in the store is still cluttered with the old logo, the 3D effects and the busy background and graphics. Phew…. I could go on all day, but I won’t. I just wanted to let you know what I think about when I’m working on your glorious projects. Soon I will have photos of my new office, I promise you. I am still finishing some decorating and have one final project to get going on—The Great Wall of Ideas. This aha creative version of a creative inspiration center as well as display (including the Wall of Shame) has finally made it past the sketch stage and will be going up very soon, if all goes well. Then you’ll see some photos on here, I do promise.

Greetings from The Feick Building, #603. This is really feeling like home now. The shore and water are actually quite serene and beautiful, even in the quiet solitude of winter in Sandusky. There is something peaceful about the off-season around here that makes me stick around through the crazy summer traffic and, sometimes, idiotic visitors. But summer can sure be fun, too, which I was reminded of yesterday when I bit it HARD onto the completely ice-covered sidewalk. Ouch. Ibuprofen, ibuprofen, ibuprofen.

Sitting here, with aching knee, I am taking a moment to watch the thin covering of ice form in the bay and the not-so-smart bird that keeps running into my window. It is almost the end of another calendar year, a great one at that, and time for a little reflection of the past year's activities. I have jumped right into the creative web design pool and I really love it. It is wonderful to get to learn new things and challenge myself with each new project. And, of course, it just adds to the variety of projects I have the opportunity to design. Life doesn't get any better than that for me. I have several sites in progress now, thanks to all the fantastic-o referrals from sweet folks like you, and I have recently finished a couple of really fun sites. I thought you might want to check out some of the things that have been consuming my time at the end of 2008.... www.babycreationz.com (what a cool product and a fun, fun, fun site to design!) and www.duppsprinting.com (totally different subject matter, but also much fun to present it in a light, recognizable, memorable way). Still awaiting a nice pair of binoculars....I sign off for another day.

Not a good week for roller coasters

It is work day two here in the new office at 158 E. Market Street, #603, Sandusky, Ohio and I'm loving the new casa aha. The toasty radiator is cranked and I'm looking out at water rolling across the Sandusky Bay and the frigid roller coasters at Cedar Point. Brrrrrr..... that's all I can say to that. The first post from the new office seemed like a good time to roll out the new blog page. Make sure you update your bookmarks! And make sure you stop by to check out the new office. The décor is still a work in progress (this building really deserves lots of great art deco objects), but the coffee maker is working away and we're ready for visitors, friends and clients aglow!