Janna Wilson

geeked about web design!

Yep. I guess I'm ligit. I've designed two websites on my own-- (Bryan Alexis at UAFS is a pretty awesome web professor, if I do say so) and I'm pretty proud of the most recent...my portfolio website. This is bare bones coding from the ground up...wow! I've got a couple of issues in Safari browsers gonna troubleshoot that soon as I get a bit of time and I can't wait to add more of my work and tweak it a bit more. I actually never thought web design was something I'd be interested in doing but its really challenging...I love a good challenge. I've learned a lot and hope to keep at over the summer to hone my web skillz.

Hope you'll pop in and check it out. Try out the contact page and send me a note?

 

a day off? nahhhh...

I've been lying to myself and pretending I had a real day off today. Well, maybe not to do whatever I wanted but no school/work and I haven't done housework yet either :) oops!

Abby had her track meet and that was fun...she was a little discouraged with 6th place in her first race but I reminded her to do her best on her next event and she was thrilled with 2nd! And she felt satisfied that she did her best.

I got a couple of pics...and this is why I love Photoshop-->

You can still see the selection around where the girl was. Just lasso'd the little girl and deleted with content-aware...I didn't mess with it anymore...even though I wanted to.  It left the track lines a bit wavy in the background but girl gone...mission accomplished :) Abby is the super star now!

Abby got second in the hundred meter dash :) Cash was cheering her on--->

And I went to Staples and took advantage of this awesome deal!!! And I came straight home and printed this for my laundry room - I love it!

This was a part of my final in Adv. Typography...oh you can see more here.  It was a fun project, I think I'm going to offer some of the prints in my Etsy shoppe! Fun!!!

Well, I'm on the run again-- happy Thursday!

 

 

puzzled...

(papers from Echo Park Note2Self at Jessica Sprague, note paper a freebie kit by Erica Zane, stitches by Carina Gardner)

Well, since I have been working on my craft/scrapbook website, I have been so rejuvenated by all my old projects...its really made me want to create...something, anything. I never really embraced digital scrapbooking-- I love the whole tactile aspect of paper, textures, etc. --plus I just didn't have time before. But given my experience as a designer, my limited time and the face that I REALLY have needed a creative release...well, here I am! Digital Scrappin'! LOL!  No, its really fun, and the best part is that there is absolutely NO mess! If you don't count the external hard drives, flash drives, cords and sketchbook!  LOVE getting these Instagrams on these pages.

You know me...I'm always dreaming of something, looking forward to a new adventure even though I really don't ever go anywhere at all LOL!!! I've had a lot of things going through my head. I love to learn new things and be challenged. I'm experimenting with some things right now, learning some new things (outside of school), and we'll see what happens.

I mentioned my craft website...want to visit? I may never get done because I have so much content but I thought it would be a good chance to practice my web skills.  Go peek at this...

Remember its a HUGE work in progress...but I'm excited to share-- Happy Sunday!

 

IMCBM

what's with the title you ask?

Don't you agree?

Well, I'm high on a 5hr energy drink and I am just finishing up this project for school that is due tomorrow.  I procrastinated a bit and the weather blindsided me...because, well, I don't really look at the weather :) So I had to shoot (most of) these indoors with no natural light.

It was pretty eventful, this project (for my Advanced Typography class) -

I was frustrated and short on time...so I actually hot glued the INSPIRED on my office wall and guess what...I LOVE IT!!!

I had to dig out the Christmas lights and the Scrabble tiles for #2 but I think its my favorite.  May have to try that with a different word?

CREATE -- well, I'm still hobbling around like an old woman after that experience!  So sore!!! (so out of shape, I know) Thats about 25 ft of sidewalk chalk art that I did Wednesday afternoon. Each letter took a whole piece of chalk. It was washed away without a trace as of this morning (rain).  Oh well. Its my least favorite photo :(  Looks some much better portrait...but we had to do landscape.

Stitched BEAUTIFUL by hand and propped with my sweet old Singer :)  Now that is beautiful.

MESSES...had fun with that.  For weeks I have been itching to make a mess, do some mixed media projects and I CANNOT wait till Spring Break...I'm SO DOING IT.

Here's my first project from this class...

I thought it was pretty stinkin' cool...however I got a B. :( insert sad face ):  And thats all I have to say about that. The objective was to create a design with letters and showcase the forms and counterforms while using a pleasing color harmony and utilizing the letters in a particular quote of your choosing.

And another...a magazine spread...I like this one. Grungy.

5:30 comes way too soon...ciao for now.

 

 

 

828 Logo

Well, as we all know- there is not enough time in the day.  It does do my heart good to blog a bit and share a bit...its good therapy, isn't it.

I have this idea...which is on hold like many of my fabulous ideas :) LOL!  It got me thinking I needed to create a new logo- sort of brand myself.  Something that will probably come in the next semester of school, but with a few projects I have in mind, I needed it sooner than later ;) 

As with everything I create- there had to be special meaning and purpose to the design...it had to incorporate a bit of my signature blue (and colors be interchangeable), and I wanted a clean look that I would n'arry tire of.

Romans 8:28 is sort of my life bread.  It keeps me going.  Its a promise to me.  I don't question it. I wanted to incorporate 8:28 into the design even if it wasn't evident to anyone else (which is really isn't) - but it would serve as a reminder for me- in my life, in my career, in my adventures...and that's what matters.  Its about branding me...right?  Here's my logo...

Hmmm...What do ya think?

My favorite font: Century Gothic

My favorite color: turquoise blue

My favorite number 3 (the three circles) is represented-- three kids

My verse descreetly woven into the design

I think its me. 

 

(calendar winners posted)

Well, I got off track- I've been a little too emotional over the past few days to think/worry any more about my own personal goals for 2012...though I intended on recording them here for my own accountability more than anything else. So that is coming later...however--

I do need to choose a winner to receive a calendar from this post...where I was going to send the random name one of these...

But what the heck...I'll just give all five posters one!  YAY!  Calendars all around!  So if you are one of the five commenters on this post --email me your mailing address and I'll send you one of these cute things :) Except you, Becky :) I'll get yours to ya!  These 8 x 10 wipeable calendars make fun gifts and they're very reasonably priced...if you're interested in purchasing - they're just $10 and come with a pen.  Think hostess gifts, bunco group gifts, bridesmaids- I do school colors too! You can email or check my etsy for more info :)

Ciao for now ;) jw

 

 

 

Can you tell I'm out of school...

Oh how I've loved a small taste of freedom the last few days.  The kids were back to school Monday and I've yet a few more precious days till my college mama grind starts anew.  I'm excited for a new set of classes and yet enjoying just creating for the sake of creating.  Working on some "wanna do" projects- calendars, chore charts and fun stuff.  Thats a fun perk of my job at Inscriptions-- I get to do some pretty creative stuff, these started out as calendars that were going to be printed on paper, but I laminated a couple for me and well...they are 8 x 10 personalized dry erase calendars now!

I love calendars.  Long time "wanna do" was to create a binder type planner that you could print, add to, customize.  I actually started that with these calendars a while ago and hopefully time will come when I can finish. 

Made this fun thing for Cash yesterday...

He had fun checking his list and getting a reward for a job well done!  I just realized I forgot "pick up toys!" LOL!

One final share...have you made any goals for 2012?  Resolutions?  I always think about what I want to accomplish in the year ahead...you can pick up this printable freebie I created for www.passionforsavings.com.  This is a website I frequent and have LOVED for a few years now.  Check it out, leave a comment here and I'll choose a random winner/commenter.  I'll make the lucky winner a personalized dry erase weekly planner! 

 

 

College Mama blogs twice in a two day period!

Just finished designing a school project with a "bag of crap" based on a book title/author.  Interesting, yes!  I found myself snubbing most of the treasures in the "bag" and sticking to paper (the paper bag itself) and pen...imagine that!  OOps! We had to photograph our composition of said "crap" and that would be the finished designed --only cropping and slight adjustments in PS.  No major Photoshoppery allowed.  The goal was to familiarize yourself with photography.  CHECK!

I'm not ecstatic with my result...I wish I'd been a little more flexible with the idea- I got too determined I think?  But at this point, I'm calling it done.  Done.

Lets just say I had more fun doing this...which took like 2 1/2 minutes, maybe.

I wanted to create that depth with my "bag of crap" school project as I did here with the doilies.  But I don't think it translated as well.  I'm really crushin' on doilies--so precious.  So this was a little experiemental doily "tag" I did a few weeks ago.  Can't wait to play with this idea some more.  All in good time, right...

I added a few of these to my flea market booth today...fun stuff.  I love making and decorating with these fun things!  I added big tulle poms to the ends and its super cute!  Do you BELIEVE?!?!  These banners feature a precious vintage Santa I got over at the Graphics Fairy!  LOVE her. love. Thank you Graphics Fairy!

I'm so ready for the Holidays!  I guess working at the fun store is getting me in the "mood" earlier this year.  We must have a dozen scrumptious trees!  I've contemplated decorating a bit early this year...hmmm...I've already started wrapping presents!  I've not actually "made a list" but that hasn't stopped me from checking it twice!  I know whose naughty and nice...yes I do!  Something I've purposed to do this year is purchase vintage items for my family/kids.  So far I've gotten some real treasures at the "flea." (our fun little flea market here in town called Angel's Crossing).

Tomorrow's Friday!  Wonder what exciting and happy things tomorrow could bring?  Hmmm...

I'll leave you with this - a favorite of late because I love my little sister too much!  She's absolutely beautiful and I'm SO proud of her!

 

seriously? REALLY?

 

Have you noticed that those (post title) are the trendy words these days? LOL! It makes me giggle a little - seriously!  So since its been SO long since I blogged, I thought I must come up with a fitting- catchy title! REALLY!

I'm about 2/3 done with my semester of school...finally, I am in a groove.  I think?  Things are going smoothly for now--maybe this is just the calm before the storm?  Oh well, I'm going to enjoy it...for the fleeting moments that it lasts. I really love my classes -- I have an illustrations class, a graphic design class and a grds history class (+ Philosophy and an Art History).  Interesting stuff.  I look at the world a lot differently than I did before.  I love the art history classes...good stuff.  

I was reminded in an article I read this week to "do something creative everyday."  Well, I'm pretty well creative to some extent everyday, but I think I'm going to try to do better.  I haven't really taken a lot of pics in recent months because I'm so busy-- for that I'm really ashamed.  REALLY!  We've got a little assignment going in one of my classes where we utilize photography...so I thought I might better warm up a bit.  So today I thought...I'm going to look at things with my creative eye...just some things around the house- that I love. All taken with my 30D 50mm lens on manual settings-- some slight PS adjustments on each...well, except the lamp...I had to bring it to life!

This is just some cabinets in my dining room...I liked the lines and light situation.  I cropped all these into squares because I have plans for them...  : )   And because I love Instamatic/Instagram prints.

 

Used the Instagram "earlybird" filter on the above.  Can you guess what it is?

I absolutely LOVE doilies.  I think about how someone handcrafted these beautiful pieces of art...to me they are like snowflakes.  No two handmade ones are truly alike.  I buy them a lot and love to just look at them.  It amazes me how inexpensive they are.   Beautiful. 

 

Last but not least...this is a knob from the closet doors in our "powder room."  I admire it often and have meant to photograph it.  I like how this turned out.  Wow. 

Other creative endeavors this week...I typed a letter on this...which was both fun and a workout for my hands and fingers...

 

I made this cute banner for a customer at the store.  Let me know if you need one. 

I ordered this pic in a wrapped canvas...YAY!

(snapped by my little sis at Hendrix campus)

Hope your fall is abundant with blessings.

 

 

quickie...

I'm going to attempt to do a quick post...

So far-- it's not going quickly, had to ditch internet explorer because I couldn't type my post there?  ;/

Oh well, that won't deter me!  It's Tuesday...which means I SHOULD have been hitting my books hard and catching up on the procrastination situation...however, I felt the need to create.  I set up the most boring invitation yesterday at work...Crane, typical :)  High end paper...low on pizazz.

blah...

 I thought to myself, "self...there must be a cuter wine glass invitation"...so I came up with this one...

And then, I got frisky and did this one.  I just like it.  You know...colorful, hounds tooth, puffy little clouds, cute font...need I say more...

In my fantasy world I would letterpress this. Even though I don't have a press...yet :) Oh how I dream of one day...to play and create again.  School is going good...but sure puts a damper on being creative for the sake of being creative...and have so little time outside of buzzing in my little circle of life/work/school/kids.  

Be sure and watch my little Etsy shoppe as I am transitioning there from the other blog/shop.  Adding all new things to Etsy.  So fun to fill sweet little orders from there...thanks to my customers!