The specified account does not have any social accounts configured. Use the link below to manage your social links.

Add Links »
Thursday
04Mar2010

happy birthday, lil sis

DateThursday, March 4, 2010 at 07:47AM

Today is Bryce's birthday. My baby sister is turning 19. She is finishing up her first year of college. She is smart, beautiful, confident and way cooler than I could have imagined being at the same age.

My sister's birthday gives me an excuse to be nostalgic. A chance to look back at photographs from the day she was born, or when we vacationed at the lake, or when she graduated from high school. And because of the value I put on these photographs, I feel its only fair to post some of my favorites here, in honor of her birthday. She will either thank me for it, or beat me up later when she comes to Charlotte for a visit this weekend. :)

Also, her birthday -- for me -- always signifies a strenghtening of our relaltionship as we grow closer to similar points in our life. Being ten years older has never made for natural 'sisterly' relationship building, but over the last few years the age difference has dissipated, and I can remember several phone calls recently where she gave me advice more worldly than I could've expected from even Dr. Phil. Without question, my sister is one of the most insightful and compassionate people I know.

She is silly, charismatic and not afraid of the color red (like I am.)

She loves Aida as much as I do.

She always allows me to take photographs of her.

And she has way better hair than I do.

So to my sister - Bryce - I love you, I admire you, and I can't wait to see you soon. Have a great birthday! ((hug))

Authorericaanne | Comment1 Comment |
in , , ,
Monday
01Mar2010

h.a.l.o.s for haiti

DateMonday, March 1, 2010 at 08:31AM

I'm a firm believer that all designers should do at least one pro-bono project each year. Something for a cause or an individual they are passionate about. (Of course this goes hand-in-hand with not giving away too much free work, something I'm still struggling with myself...) These projects usually allow a lot of creative freedom and collaboration, but they also keep us grounded - as artists and as individuals.

As I've explored the types of projects I like to do most, I've discovered a love of work for non-profits, and other causes that focus on people, animals, the environment -- and making our planet a better place to live all around. Usually, it is also these organizations that don't have the funds to hire great designers, yet are most in need of impactful marketing pieces to get their message across this sea of media over-stimulation.

Recently I was approached to help with a fundraising effort in honor of Haiti - and more specifically - an orphanage in Haiti named God’s Littlest Angels, located southeast of Port Au Prince. GLA serves children as young as newborns up to around age 7. This orphanage has stretched its resources thin to care for its orphans on a day-to-day basis, and to assist the surrounding community with clothing, medical needs and other necessities incurred as a result of the earthquake’s damage. There are even more orphans now as a result of the earthquake, and many of the staff members also need help paying for home repairs and funeral expenses. The world responded, but there is still work to do.

HALOs for Haiti's Littlest Angels is a fundraising campaign launched by Triangle TRACKS, an online resource which links to 2,000-plus “tools, resources and activities for Carolina kids” throughout the region focused on the improvement of children’s lives.

The HALOs for Haiti's Littlest Angels project hopes to raise funds to "Help Accommodate and Love an Orphan" through the sale of "HALO Passes." These passes are categorized into four categories and price ranges: Platinum ($150), Gold ($115), Silver ($75) and Bronze ($27). Each pass is priced at 50 percent of its total value and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to GLA.

Fourteen local businesses have agreed to help by kindly donating services, products and/or fun stuff for kids to do including tickets to Cinderella, a kid's cooking class and a hockey stick autographed by the entire 2009-2010 Carolina Hurricanes team. I consider myself lucky to have been included in the businesses donating services to this cause, and over the last few weeks, Triangle TRACKS and I have collaborated on the design of these unique passes.


Each pass includes an original illustration by Laura Kelly, and lists the individual items the buyer receives when they purchase the pass. But the real gift is that 100% of all proceeds raised through this fundraiser will be donated directly to God's Littlest Angels Orphanage. These passes go on sale today at 10a.m., so click over to Triangle TRACKS and find out how you can help too! This is an easy (and tax-deductible!) way to get involved, help children, and have fun new things to share with your family!

"People ignore design that ignores people." –Frank Chimero

Authorericaanne | CommentPost a Comment |
in , , ,
Monday
22Feb2010

featured: papernstitch

DateMonday, February 22, 2010 at 08:39AM

For the next month (feb 22 through march 22) some of my work is being featured on papernstitch, an Etsy-style showcase of handmade and handdesigned pieces of invited and approved artists. You can pick up extra copies of my 2010 photography calendar (discounted!), or pocket-sized art pieces such as metallic photographs which look great framed or clipped to an inspiration board. Also, my new line of Equestrian Stock Pins - Puffer Pony Pin Co. - has been launched with a couple of customizeable proto-types. And I continue to wonder where all my time goes?

Click here to visit my work on papernstitch!

 

Authorericaanne | CommentPost a Comment |
Sunday
14Feb2010

album design: melissa + tom

DateSunday, February 14, 2010 at 09:21AM

Happy Valentines Day! I hope everyone's day is filled with the people they love! I cannot think of a better project to post on a holiday like today than a wedding album design. The photography was done by The Schultzes, who epitomize love for me, through their own relationship, and how they capture that of others. Here are a few sample spreads from this newly design album. For more on the album collaboration between myself (design) and The Schultzes (photography), click here.

"Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired."  -Robert Frost

Authorericaanne | Comment1 Comment |
in , , ,
Thursday
11Feb2010

valentine giveaway!

DateThursday, February 11, 2010 at 09:16AM

Over the Christmas holiday, wandering around a shop in New Hope, I came across a book called "Dear Old Love - Anonymous notes to former crushes, sweethearts, husbands, wives and ones that got away." As I was perusing through it, I thought some of the "Dear Old Love…." letters within it were just too good *not* to post - and truly appropriate for acknowledging a holiday focused on love - present, past, young, old, living or lost. Read through the post to learn how to win a copy of this book for yourself - Happy Valentine's Day!

Dear Old Love...

...I'm so glad it didn't work out the way I wanted it to.

...I love my dog even though he doesn’t have a job, clean up after himself, have a driver’s license, or help out around the house. And he sometimes makes a mess on the floor. However, it was unfair for you to expect me to love you under those same conditions.

...Mother told me, 'Don't buy the first coat you try on.' So I broke up with you. But in retrospect, I think she was talking about coats. Sorry.

...I never tired of looking at you over the tops of menus.

...Since you left, I still make two cups of coffee in the morning. I drink both of them.

...When I gave you that burrito, I was saying that I wanted us to get back together.

...I would have been happy with our secret love affair. We could have secretly moved to California and had secret jobs on a secret vineyard.

...I don't care that you miss my dog. When you cheated on me, you cheated on him too.

...You signed my ninth grade yearbook, "We could've used a girl like you at the Alamo." I've had a think for you ever since.

...I'm glad you were my fourth.

...I didn’t want you to go, but I’m so glad you’re gone.

…You thought the way I pronounced certain words was cute. Now I think I have a speech impediment.

...I was afraid if you got close, you'd see the Scotch tape holding me together.

...I miss flea-marketing with you. You had a way of turning old jump into slightly less junky junk.

...I know you only gave me a backrub because you happened to be standing behind me when the music stopped, but to me, at fourteen, it felt like fate.

...You left me for someone who doesn't know who Andy Warhol is.

...I asked for my DVD's back, but what I really wanted was all the love I gave you.

...How were you against holding hands? That's like hating springtime, or being anti-kitten.

...I wish we'd met when we were sixteen.

...You like the club scene. I like to knit. You said that wouldn't matter. It did.

...I'm still your plan B, right?

...I miss things we never even got to do together.

...You were adorable and rich, but you didn't make me laugh.

...Boy meets girl. They fall madly in love. It peters out for one of them. You, in this instance.

...I'm over you like Batman is over losing his parents.

...Your wedding announcement is hidden in my scrapbook, behind a postcard of Mount Rushmore.

...I don't break easily, so you must be really strong.

...I'll be waiting for you after your mild fame evaporates.

..."We all miss you" was a cruel thing to say, and you know it.

...I hate that I can't forget your birthday.

...You had me at "get on the handlebars."

...Thank you for teaching me that I was, at 13, worth dancing with.

…Thoughts of you do to me what dreams of horses do for little girls.  (< clearly, one of my favs)

 

At the end of the book, it reads this:
"It can be tough to come up with a sentence or two that concentrates the essence of a relationship. To make things easier for you, we've provided a head start with a series of Universal Love Experiences; you just fill in the relevant details. Then post them on your blog, line the birdcage with them, or tie them to a bunch of balloons and let them float away."

I've provided a few of them here for you to celebrate Valentine's Day with your own mad-lib experience - funny, heartfelt, vengeful, sad, optimistic - however the mood strikes you.  

Post your favorite on my blog as a comment, and one reader will receive their own copy of the "Dear Old Love" book!

•••


Dear Old Love… _______.

I hope you're _______.

Not a _______ goes by that I don't _______ the fact that we never got a chance to _______.

When I see you on the _______, it's all I can do not to _______ my _______ until it _______.

At breakfast, do you still stir _______ into your _______? I always found that _______.

Do you remember the time we _______ on the top of the _______? And the moon looked like a _______? I don't.

Whenever I'm in a crowded _______, I think I see you _______.

•••
Check out many more "Dear Old Love…" letters at the book's web site: www.dearoldlove.com

Authorericaanne | Comment12 Comments |
in , , , , ,
Friday
05Feb2010

mitey riders 2010

DateFriday, February 5, 2010 at 02:43PM

Last year we started the tradition of "Mitey Rider Photo Week" -- a handful of days where we come out dressed in our best MR gear and smile big for the camera. Well, last year it rained. And it was cold. I had my fingers crossed that things would be different this year, but no such luck. We had a few brief minutes of light on Wednesday, but the rest of the days were cold, cloudy and wet. But, as always, we bundled up and made it through. 2,100 photos later, I managed to narrow it down to 506 final images, with a handful shown here. Check out a larger gallery here, or become a Mitey Rider friend on Facebook.

*LOVE*

Our few minutes of sunshine...

This one is a little blurry because I had just turned around at the very moment Tristan leaned in towards Case, but with an image like that, how could I not post it?

One my absolute favorites from the week:

Authorericaanne | CommentPost a Comment |
in , , , ,
Wednesday
03Feb2010

calling all moms!

DateWednesday, February 3, 2010 at 08:50AM

Hey everyone! Are you a mother? Or someone who *loves* to buy baby shower gifts? A client of mine is looking to develop a new, unique and super-chic product and we need your help. If you have 2 minutes and can share your opinion in a very short 10-question survey, PLEASE CLICK HERE! Feel free to send additional comments to me directly.

Authorericaanne | CommentPost a Comment |
in , , , , ,
Sunday
31Jan2010

resolution report card + my etsy addiction

DateSunday, January 31, 2010 at 03:57PM

So here we are - the last day of January, Two Thousand and Ten. We have all had a solid month to get the gears moving on our New Years Resolutions, and with an unexpected snow on the ground and air too cold to walk the dogs, I thought I would take the extra time to give myself a "resolution report card" ...and see where I am at on all the things I promised myself for the new year.

For those who missed it, here is my original post announcing my 2010 New Years Resolutions. Now, for the grades.

Drink more water - Grade: C
I even bought myself a new water bottle, hoping this would inspire more agua consumption on a daily basis. I would say 4 out of 7 days a week, I'm pretty good. Well, better than I was. Even as I write this I have a 20 oz. glass of green tea sitting in front of me. That counts, right?

Stick to a GF diet 90% of the time - Grade: B
I went out and bought 4 different types of flour that are wheat-free. My darling significant other bought me a wheat-free cookbook for Christmas. I've tried to make G-F cookies, pizza crust, full course dinners and cereals, all with success. Its a good start, but still a ways to go (it's not my fault Portofinos doesn't make a G-F pizza option - *grin*).

Read more fiction - Grade: C+
Effort has been made to solicit suggestions and purchase a stack of well-recommended fiction. However, I have yet to open one of the books, mainly due to time. Right now the stack includes: The Help, The Lovely Bones,  The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Society and Flipped. I will say that in my quest to read more fiction I discovered a web site that is currently sitting in my Top 3 visited sites on a weekly basis: www.swaptree.com - if you have never been, go. Now.

Travel to at least 3 places outside of CT/NC - Grade: B
While the actual travel has not yet taken place, there are 2, possibly 3, new trips already on the calendar.

Teach Aida a new dog trick - Grade: D
I'm trying to teach her how to wash her own dog bed. So far, it's been a big fat fail.

Take my career to the next level - Grade: B-
Work has exploded for me lately. The projects and clients I currently have are unique, different, passionate and truly wonderful. However, because of the amount of work I am doing, I have not had opportunity to expand the depth, location, or elements of my actual business. But increasing work load & client diversity - in a way - is taking my career to the next level, right?

Take my riding, and my students' riding, to the next level - Grade: A
Okay, this is the only one I can give myself an "A" on one month in. Early in January I contacted a new dressage trainer - Brett Ingram - who is fabulous and wonderful and is helping me take my own riding to the next level - on a regular basis! As for the kids, our first horse show of the season is scheduled for Saturday, Feb 20th! It's going to be a fun horsey year, I can feel it.

Listen to more - and new - music - Grade: B+
I put a note on my calendar for the first of every month to spend some time on iTunes, and download something "new" to try. So far, so good. New on the list: Tyrone Wells.

Try to finish one of my many "big idea" projects - Grade: D-
Time, time, time, time, time, time. What?

Send more letters, just because. Handwritten, of course - Grade: C
Thank you letters went out for the holidays, and Valentines Day is coming up. But the "just because" has yet to take place. Which makes me feel like a bad friend. I better get on this one.

Overall, some major progress, but still a lot of work to be done. (sigh)

To end things on a more interesting note, I thought I would finally address one of my main addictions: Etsy. You may remember [post here], I promised myself (and some friends/family) that I was going to buy as many "handmade" gifts as possible for the 2009 holiday season, and beyond.

Well, with the help of Etsy, I have been fairly successful in my efforts. Of course it took me this long to realize that I never posted any of the actual gifts (or items from earlier in the year) that I bought, or the stores and artists who have become some of my absolute places to look for inspiration ...and retail therapy.

So without further ado, I share with you "Things I Bought" and "Things I Still Lust For" …. because yes, my name is Erica, and I am an Etsy Addict.

Things I Bought

01. Gorgeous fiber for my spinning-lover mother; 02. Stunning, unique wide dog collars (Confession: I have a lot of these, in different patterns. Who says dogs can't have a wardrobe?); 03. Of course, it says "Aida", not "Razzle"; 04. Super-soft camera strap lightens the load for long shoots; 05. Letterpress cards for the car-lovers in my life; 06. Polish-made organza flower brooch for my Farmor; 07. Paper stars, for almost everyone I know; 08. Super-cute ornaments for my newly-engaged cousin (P.S. YourWishCake is by far on my most fav Etsy vendors); 09. Silkscreened scarves for my fashion-forward friends an family; 10. A yarn bowl! I know, I couldn't believe it either - I want one, and I don't even knit; 11. Custom-engraved guitar pick for you know who; 12. Recycled bike gear bottle openers, way too cool.

Things I Still Lust For

01. Mixed-media wall art; 02. Yummy bath salt cubes; 03. Something just to freak out house guests; 04. Letterpress poster *love*; 05. Gorgeous tags for all my bridles; 06. Reusable food storage bags (for all my G-F goodies); 07. If you know me at all, you know why; 08. One for every room in the house; 09. Just because they look cool; 10. Caramel marshmallows? Yummmmmmmm; 11. Typographic belt buckle? Yes please!; 12. Im not a huge wearer of jewelry, but something about this screams "you must have it."

Authorericaanne | Comment4 Comments |
in , , ,
Sunday
24Jan2010

meet jackson

DateSunday, January 24, 2010 at 09:38AM

Jackson is our new foster dog for Vizsla Rescue. He is 3 years old, and all boy. He is also camera-shy. It took all the energy and patience I had to get him to sit *and* look at me. And after about an hour, all I got was a peek. Without further ado, here he is.

Jackson is modeling a collar from one of my absolute favorit-est Etsy stores: Nola&Spencer.

As you may or may not know, it was discovered that Jackson has a heart condition - a grade 3 heart murmur and enlarged valves. Please send good thoughts his way as we travel to NC State in the coming week to find out what the future holds for this gorgeous boy with the big heart.

Authorericaanne | Comment4 Comments |
in , , ,
Sunday
17Jan2010

Mitey Final posters

DateSunday, January 17, 2010 at 12:43PM

You may remember the Spring Festival posters for Mitey Riders I listed a while back. If you offered your suggestions on color and design, I thank you. After some back-and-forth, the final three posters were chosen, edited and printed. You can see them below.

These posters represent an internal design piece, preparing our families and volunteers for the coming months as our Annual Mitey Rider Spring Festival is planned, and takes place. In an effort to be more "visual" around the farm this year, we hope a bold design and color choice will keep everyone engaged. This poster will remain as the inspriation for other peices moving foward this season including the Spring Festival Invite and Spring Festival Booklet.

Authorericaanne | CommentPost a Comment |
in , , ,
Page 1 2 3 4 5 ... 12 Next 10 Entries »