Dazzling it is!

This past Sunday Carla David Design and Love Life Images put on the most amazing and unique bridal show---The Dazzling Details Wedding Bazaar. It was for those last minute brides who want a more hands on, buy local approach to their wedding. With flowers being donated from local florists and given away for free, cake pops for tasting, personalized bridal gown hangers made right in front of you, and then to seal the deal, when the complimentary valet brought your car back to you, a honeymoon kit was gently placed on your front car seat. Oh the details! Carla David design and their design team really pulled it all off!

Check out more pictures here!

This stopped me in my tracks, yet made her go...

I was actually talking to my Typography professor about one of our assignments. He linked me to his blog to learn a little bit more about what we were talking about for our next assignment and to let me know he posted my latest work on his blog. As I was scrolling down, I instantly stopped. WOW. What a powerful, motivating, emotional introduction spread to a story about a woman who can finally walk thanks to this company. In fact, its so good it gave me chills. What do you think?!

Roll back

A couple of entries ago I mentioned doing a project in my undergrad about combining worlds. Let me warn you, this is from awhile back now. My skills and style have improved. But I figured I would share anyways, since I found it in my backup files from 2009. (critics: don't be too harsh)

Abbrevs

Abbrevs: (the language of abbreviating)

Who actually started abbreviating words? I really don't think we can physically think back that far. The Military uses acronyms which abbreviate words/sentences to make things sound more confidential and shorter to write or even easier to communicate (given that the person you are trying to communicate to understands and can decipher the coded speech you use). Businesses use abbreviations in memos and emails passed along the office--comm (for communications), promo (for promotions/promotional), NPI (New Patient In)..

But technology has made this acronym and abbreviation usage much more prominent in everyday life. Text messages went from Be Right Back to BRB. The less you write the quicker you can text. But then text language, became the spoken language. Which now is referred to many as Abbrevs.

You can pretty much abbreviate anything and everything you want. Tots- totally, diff- different, obvi- obvious, grizz- grizzly, fab- fabulous, OMG- Oh my God (which by the way has the same amount of syllables so we really aren't shortening anything here), rents- parents, etc.

No one person says that this is appropriate or not. People do argue over it. They stress their opinions that the English language is being ruined or that people sound dumb when using Abbrevs. Yet people keep doing it. And who is to say we can't? As long as people we are talking to understand the language, then why stop? I mean technology is advancing because Americans are extremely inpatient. They all want the fastest phone, fastest car, fastest computer, fastest internet, fastest everything! Now, use generation x-ers have given them the fastest way to speak... Abbrevs. I mean all we are doing is "expressing ourselves clearly and simply to someone else"--as Zinsser would put it.

Just to make people laugh: This is the best abbreviation I could find. 
AAAAAAAAAAAAA which means---all asian, african american, and american association against acronym and abbreviation abuse anonymous. 


And yes, that is true. http://www.abbreviations.com/

Oh, Calendar Girls...

This layout was in the recent Washingtonian's Bride and Groom Issue. This magazine is an extremely selective magazine when it comes to vendors. In fact, when you are graced with the pleasure of seeing your name finally in the preferred vendors section, you are almost royalty. No joke. I guess thats is why their spreads are just so beautiful. I love everything about this...oh weddings. How I love you.

Wow.

When I was in my undergrad, I was assigned a project that would "loosen" the imagination. It was to combine two different worlds to create one cohesive one. When I recieved this assignment, I questioned myself on what two worlds I wanted to actually portray. My other classmates were combining worlds of insects with humans or going beyond that to create a world of the future by combining olden day technologies with more modern appliances. Althought their ideas had substance, I wanted to create a world that was more artistic and pretty straight forward. I loved the movie where Roger Rabbit and his pals are all in cartoons but they are placed in a real world setting that we would film a movie in--kind of like Space Jam. Anyways, I combined illustrative qualities to human characteristics. Much like Douglas Alves. In fact I did a lot of researching through his website and listening to the techiniques he used when doing my own project. Although his are of much more substance and not exactly what I finished my product to be like...his designs WOW me. They are believable and share emotions that spill off the pages.

This particular design of his shows the complexities of his dynamic. How can a girl be so ridged and stiff while he is trying to portray nature? Then her hair is represented by digital imagery to flow and tangle around her adding curves and a much more flowness relaxed feel. The colors are dim and mainly all of his designs are black and white. So it is not the colors that intrigue his viewers eyes, its his style, his approach, the professionalism that he portrays and the interesting emotions he conveys with just imagery, no words.

Everyone should check him out at his website!

my hero.

I figure I should at least put up something on my blog about my festivities I took part in over spring break. I was extremely excited to go celebrate with my family as my brother was awarded the silver star from the 4 Star Admiral down in Savannah, Georgia. His heroic actions while deployed last summer not only saved his life but the lives of many of his soldiers. As a Ranger, his job duties are confidential and highly risky. As stated in their creed:

Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of my Ranger Regiment.

Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster and fight harder than any other soldier.

Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one-hundred-percent and then some.

Gallantly will I show the world that I am a specially selected and well-trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow.

Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.

Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission though I be the lone survivor.

You can find the g-rated version of his story at The Army Times. (Just scroll down to Cpt. Jonathan F. Logan's story) I say "g-rated" because a lot of the background information and more details are classified and not for anyone's eye other than the Rangers who witnessed it and important military figures. Either way it is an amazing story and the journalist had a lot to work! (Jonathan and the other soldiers honored with this award were constantly saying "No comment" to his questions.)


I love you Jonathan! Hooah! ( and for those of you who want a connnection between words and images-- check out the meaning to that word!)