How Low Can You Logo?

Recently, we entered a graphic design contest called "How Low Can Your Logo?"  The object of the contest was to design the worst logo possible for a client called Excellencico - a global e-commerce company.  Normally, Abby is in charge of all design work for our firm, but this particular job she was happy to hand to me.  I could hardly quell my excitement!  I get to design something without the slightest concern that the end product would be liked by a client?  In fact, I want it to be disliked?  What could be better than that?

After hours of planning and dreaming, I created this: a logo that is almost trying to be good, but is really quite awful.

Abby looked at it and shuddered - which was a good sign.  I sent it off to the judges at "How Low Can You Logo?" and wondered what would become of my best attempt at badness.

We received notice tonight that my logo, out of the 1400 entries, has been selected to be one of the 12 finalists in the contest! I couldn't be more pleased to be bad.

Abby claims that you need to know what good is in order to create something that is truly bad.  She insists that this means I have a secret and hidden talent towards visual arts.  Perhaps.  Maybe the pressure to create something good had been cramping my inner muse.  It is possible that this is just the beginning of my creative genius...  or, I should stick to blog writing.  I'll let you know what I decide!

Check out our logo and its competition, and read all about the contest and the fictional client, at www.howlowcanyourlogo.com

Christmas Confessions

I have a confession to make.  I absolutely HATE baking for Christmas.  Baking for any reason, really.  It's too restrictive and controlled for my style; since I can't eat wheat, it is a tremendous amount of work for something I'm not allowed to enjoy.  Christmas baking seems especially laborious to me because it is expected.  I resent walking past the rows and rows of baking supplies in the grocery stores - the ones that shout at me "You aren't part of an awesome holiday tradition!  You are seriously lacking in all things maternal and womanly!"  So, in response to these horrible baking voices, I have devised a plan.  I scour the local bakeries for Christmas goodies and let the professionals do the work for me.

One of my recent trips took me to Putnam Market in Saratoga Springs, NY.  It is among my favorite guilty pleasures.  Just walking through the store and admiring the shelves of fresh baked goods, specialty items, and delicious savories makes my mouth water. 

 

Since my husband was born and raised in the UK, I love that I can bring him some Christmas 'biscuits' and tea from the homeland.  As for me, I stock up on the things that I can eat - cheese, olives, marinades and sauces - to make holiday entertaining that much easier.

On my way out?  I indulge in the purchase of a gift basket for the upcoming holiday party.  And all of this is infinitely more fun than baking.

Just don't tell my kids.  They still think I slaved over those ginger cookies.

A Tale of Two Thanksgivings

A beautiful table with neatly pressed, white linens.  Cream colored dishes and candlelight.  Cranberries floating in crystal vases.  Delicate decanters of ginger syrup.  Conversations and laughter, flickering jewelry and smiles.

Two oddly shaped tables shoved together.  Stained tablecloths and mismatched plates.  Bowls of creamed vegetables, spilling over.  Lasagna as a side dish kept in the kitchen.  Loud laughter and chaotic conversations.

These are the two Thanksgivings of Sharpe Designs.  Abby and her family celebrated with style and class.  As for me and mine?  Well, we celebrated with volume and vigor.  And despite the massive differences between our two days, the similarities were all that mattered.  Lots of love, fantastic friendships, incredible enjoyment, delicious food, and overwhelming thanks.

(Send us photos of your thanksgivings or a description of how your day was different than ours and we may post it.)

Sometimes Work Is Too Fun To Be Called Work

On Friday, we conducted a training seminar for approximately 100 teens at St. Thomas Aquinas College. Our topic was Social Marketing, and the purpose of the training was to encourage teens to use social media pages to help them raise awareness for their cause. That sounds serious and important, right? Actually, it was incredibly fun! It was so much fun that it seemed like a good thing to blog about, even though we usually reserve this blog for things we do 'off the clock'.

The kids that attended the seminars were helpful and enthusiastic.  The venue was perfect.  The day was clean and crisp.  The other speakers were interesting and knowledgeable.  And we had a blast!  Especially during the final event of the day.  We designed a game show style review, complete with challenges inspired by Fear Factor.

Thank you to everyone who participated, and to Reality Check of Rockland County for hosting such an awesome training event.

Hello Chocolate, My Old Friend

It is not an exaggeration to say that in this world there are few things I value more than a really good piece of chocolate.  The hunt for it is endless.  There are so many poor quality chocolates masquerading in nice wrappers and pretty boxes.  But when I find a rich, creamy, smooth, velvety chocolate - ah!  The sweet, delicious satisfaction!

Chocolates created at The Chocolate Mill

I am partial to dark chocolate, preferably accompanied by a glass of full-bodied red wine.  During the long, winter evenings, I curl up by the wood stove and read a book with Chocolate and Merlot, my dear friends.  It is enough to make me thankful for short, cold, sunless days.

My favorite chocolate of late is the Caramel with Sea Salt sold at the The Chocolate Mill in Glens Falls, NY - who also brew an incredible cup of coffee.  On my latest trip there, I had sweet potato soup and a house salad.  Both were delicious.  After eating my fill, I purchased chocolates to bring home.  And as soon as this blog is finished, I think I will open the box and uncork the wine.

The little chocolates are the caramels with sea salt

This seems like a good time to wrap up this post, don't you think?  After all, my friends are waiting.

Tantalizing Textures

The only conflict we ever have here at Sharpe Designs is the occasional disagreement of the use of texture over color. Abby's natural inclination is to use a monochromatic decorating scheme, heavy on texture to keep things from being mundane. I tend to choose color, with no thought to the weave or grain of the object. The things that catch my eye are bright and citrus hued, rainbow drenched or rain forest florals. But from time to time, Abby's love for texture wins me over. Like recently. Abby went visiting some of her favorite shops in Saratoga Springs, New York. There, she took pictures of items whose textures caught her eye.

 

Here's a dress from Aggies Boutique on Broadway. What I wouldn't give for an occasion to wear it! Anyone want to invite me somewhere yummy for a holiday party?  The skirt falls like rippling water, and the sequins shine like light dancing on a stream.  A liquid dress.

Paper flowers seen hanging in the window of Miss Scarlett's on Phila Street. Over-sized texture. Light and airy.  Crispy like the fall leaves, but reminiscent of spring.  Gorgeous.

As the world around us starts to shed its color in preparation for the long winter ahead, it's nice to remember that beauty is still to be found in layers of texture.

Things that make you go ooooh!

The way the low slung winter sun shines off the fading leaves, setting them ablaze again.

The large flock of turkeys crossing the corner of my back yard in the early morning hours.

The crisp, clean air that fills my lungs with a sharp, sudden freshness.

The feel of my faithful, trusted sweater, recently pulled out of storage, now providing me with soft warmth.

A mug of warm apple cider in my hands and a scarf round my neck while cheering from the sidelines of the soccer game.

Board games and candy with my family while the fireplace roars and crackles.

The cat purring on my lap while I read.

Fall has come, and will soon be gone.  But while it remains, I revel in all its wonders.

The Passing of Time

My son turned six last week.  While we were celebrating his birthday morning with blueberry pancakes and presents, he opened a pair of soccer socks with the logo of his favorite team, Manchester United.  Delighted with the socks, he asked the curious question, "How many years has it been since soccer stopped?"  Since soccer is played daily all around the world, and therefore has not "stopped", we pressed him to explain.  He said, "You know, how many years since it has been on television?"  What he actually wanted to know was how long it had been since the World Cup ended.  In his mind, it had been several years since the televised tournament.  In fact, it had only been 3 months.

His poor dejected face dropped when we explained that the World Cup had just taken place in July, and that it wouldn't start again for another 4 years.  4 years!  In the mind of a child, 3 months is an eternity.  How long will 4 years feel?

Yet for me (an adult woman who is not quite willing to release her age) sitting there gazing at his face, the past six years were erased in an instant, and he was just a baby, an infant, with no thoughts yet of soccer or birthdays or presents.  The time since his birth was a blink, a sliver, a mere moment.  Yet here he was, 6 years old and counting, just days away from being a young man.

Time is a constant and unchanging thing.  But the way it feels to us, how long or short, how painful or freeing, depends entirely on our perspectives and circumstances.  Today I wish to freeze time, as each passing minute takes me further away from my boy as a baby.  But tomorrow I may wish to speed time up, as I eagerly await the start of the Christmas holidays.  Regardless of my wishes and thoughts, I am certain of this.  Time may bring me pain and heartache, change and conflict, but it will always bring with it laughter and joy, love and friendship, life and beauty.  And soccer.  After all, where would the world be without soccer?

For more information on my son's favorite team, visit http://www.premierleague.com/page/manchester-united

If time seems to be either too fast or too slow to you, please leave me a comment and let me know!

The Difference a Good Cup of Coffee Can Make

Oh Monday!  Cruel, unrelenting Monday!  How harsh is your arrival in the morning as I hide under the soft down comforter.  Even the sun behind the fog is hiding from you.  Couldn't you once just pass me by?  I can not bear to face you, with your schedules and chores and tasks and demands.

But wait...  what is that I smell?  Wafting up the stairs to me, infiltrating my down-covered cave.  I throw back the blanket and rise from the bed.  One foot in front of the other.  Past the laundry hamper spilling over, down the steps with their chipped paint, through the hallway in need of a vacuum.  There.  On the counter.  The beautiful black machine with the musical sounds of dripping and steaming.

I grab a mug and fill it with the dark and delicious drink.  I breath in the aroma.  I take my first hesitant sip, testing the temperature.  Then I take a large gulp, full of creamy roasted goodness.  And I smile.

Don't you just love Mondays?

For all you other coffee lovers out there, here's a link to my favorite coffee of the moment.  Hope your first cup of coffee this morning was as good as mine.

http://www.harrybeanscoffee.com/

An Autumn Poem in Honor of my Husband, the English Teacher.

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stain'd

With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit

Beneath my shady roof; there thou mayst rest,

And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,

And all the daughters of the year shall dance!

Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.

"The narrow bud opens her beauties to

The sun, and love runs in her thrilling veins;

Blossoms hand round the brows of Morning, and

Flourish down the bright cheek of modest Eve,

Till clust'ring Summer breaks forth into singing

And feather'd clouds strew flowers round her head.

"The spirits of the air live in the smells

of fruit; and Joy, with pinions light, roves round

The gardens, or sits singing in the trees."

Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat,

Then rose, girded himself, and o'er the bleak

Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load.

William Blake says it far better than I.  I need to look no further than the light filtering through the orange lace on the trees in my search for inspiration.  If you have a photo of your own that captures the golden load of Autumn, please post them to this blog and share your inspiration with us!

KATY PERRY - FIREWORK (FULL SONG)

For today, our message is best communicated in song.

Here's to a much needed reminder and a message from an unlikely source.

Jon Sharpe's Upcoming Trip to Kenya

In just a few weeks' time, Abby's husband Jon will be traveling to Ndhiwa, Kenya on a trip that will change lives - including his own.  He goes with the mission to build desks for the students in that village, and to teach those building skills to the men who live there.  While in Kenya, 2 colleagues with whom he travels will be taking video footage that will communicate to us the incredible stories of the people of that village.

It was several years ago that Jon first met a man from Kenya, Peter Midodo, who was traveling in upstate New York.  Peter spread the word of his dreams for the village and his hope to gain the financial support that would see those dreams become reality.  In response to the great needs that Peter shared, and with increasing excitement for the changes possible, Hope for Kenya was born.

Hope for Kenya is a non-for-profit organization that pledges every penny it raises to go directly to the work in Ndhiwa, Kenya.  They have committed to building a school open to all children, building a water tower and supplying clean water to every person in the village.

Next month, when Jon visits Peter and spends time at the school and in the village, he will have made a specific and tangible difference in the lives of children and parents.  In respect and support, we dedicate this blog today to Jon, and to the people of the village of Ndhiwa, Kenya.

For more information, please see Jon's facebook page, or visit

www.hopeforkenya.org

www.thejoyschools.org

An Unusual Birthday Present

Three weeks ago, when Abby asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, I could not think of a respectable reply.  I know that at my age (which is a delightfully young 35), the expected response would have been along the lines of, "I don't need to celebrate my birthday anymore!  That's just for young people."  Or perhaps, "Dinner and a movie would be great."  Or maybe even, "A mani-pedi and a facial, please."  But none of those answers rang true for me.  The truth was that all I really wanted to do for my birthday was have a ridiculous amount of silly, stupid, rip-roaring fun.


Fast forward three weeks.  Along with two very wonderful friends, Abby and I spent the day at Six Flags Great Escape in Lake George.  We went on every fast and crazy ride the park offers.  We even went on the SkyCoaster - the 175 foot free-fall ride, which consists of only a harness and a very strong steel cable.  And I went on it twice.  Yes, twice.  In one day.


Four girls, long past our foolish teenage years, screamed, shouted and celebrated in the most outrageous and unusual ways.  We held our hands up in the back row of the Comet.  We plunged down 190 feet on the Sasquatch.  We got absolutely soaked and shivering on the Raging River.  It was the best birthday I could have ever imagined.


So here's to unusual birthdays and fantastic friends.  May this coming year of life be as blessed as the day that kicked it off.  And may all of your birthdays make you as happy as this year's birthday made me.
http://www.skycoaster.com/home.html

Our Muse is The Muse - Uprising

As we embarked on another awesome design project geared towards the empowerment of teens, we immediately reached for this song.  It blared through the office and we could feel our creative juices flowing.  It's even more fun to ride through town with the song blaring and the windows down.  Can't you remember what it felt like to be young, rebellious and free?  It's not too late!

Here's the link to the song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtZV5XdfqrI

Creativity Explored

Our inspiration today comes from an amazing program called Creativity Explored.  This is a San Francisco based, non-for-profit, visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit, and sell art.  We are reminded once again that creativity is not limited to a certain age, race, ethic background, education level or financial status.  Everyone has been given a measure of creativity that is seeking a method of release.  Abby's creative expressions are much different than my own.  She draws, designs, gardens and generally makes everything she touches look beautiful.  I instead use words and food as my mediums of expression.  These differences prove that creativity can not be contained by barriers, boundaries or stereotypes.  So here are the pieces of art from Creativity Explored that we fell in love with.  Some are offered through CB2, a company that partnered with Creativity Explored to re-fashion the artwork into textiles for the home. Check out these websites and remember - there is creativity somewhere inside of you as well.

http://www.creativityexplored.org/

http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=170&f=6054

Falling Water

We have made an important discovery.  As Abby was out and about taking pictures for a client, she stopped to photograph a stream beside her house.  There she witnessed firsthand the beauty of the falling water, the reflection of light off the rushing droplets.  With a cleansed and refreshed soul, she entered her house only to discover the beauty of the stream is reflected in the items she uses to decorate her home - mercury glass, chandeliers and shining silver.  Each of these things are reminiscent of falling water.  So today we are taking our inspiration from a flowing, life giving stream.  Here are a few of the photos she took of the stream and of the pieces that are in her home.  We included links to some of our favorite items that are like falling water you can wear!  We hope you are as inspired as we are.

Crystal Steps Bracelet

Bits and Bobs Necklace

Crystal Emerald Necklace