art and letters

> I love to poke around in antique stores. Don't ask me what I'm looking for. I don't know...until I find it. I've come home with lots of treasures that I didn't realize I was collecting, until I find the "next" one that I have to have. It's more fun that way! There is one thing I know I cannot pass up: wood block type. I LOVE typography, so it's really no surprise to someone who knows me well. I've found that even though I have more than I can display, if I find some of the large display letters, (which doesn't happen often), I HAVE to buy a couple pieces. 

> I was at an art show over the weekend, and I found a type drawer. I have two others, but each is unique. So while I didn't come home with any art, I did buy that type case and will use some of the type I've collected over the years and will create my own work of art using the wonderful aged and inked block letters that I adore.

building bridges

> A common piece of advice after a spat with a college roommate, or a break-up with a boyfriend (it's me, it's not you!), is "don't burn your bridges". It's good for business too, and advice that I follow. I'm sure many people would find it strange that I'm still friends with my ex's, but I've never really been a bridge-burner. In fact, I'm just the opposite. I find every opportunity to build bridges. I've been fortunate to work with some really talented people, so when I have the chance to refer them, I do.

> Sometimes those relationships turn into something more permanent. A couple of years ago, I was hired to design a calendar and a historic tribute book for the First National Bank of Layton. The editor, project manager and I really enjoyed working together, and felt like we could target a niche market with our combined experience. So, we created a partnership, appropriately named "Tribute Book Partners", (branding: courtesy of mGraphicDesign), and we work on projects to gradually build this side business, while still maintaining our individual businesses. Being able to utilize and draw on each other's strengths, contacts and vendors expands our own individual abilities and competencies. Besides that, we really enjoy each other!

> Burn a bridge and you can only go back where you came from. Build one, and you never know where it can take you.

happy mothers day

> I went to high school in a small town and took all the art classes that were available. In my first semester of college, I enrolled in more. I wasn't sure what I wanted to "be" when I grew up, and while I loved art, this was back before computers made design and art something that people could do and make a living. I'm a cautious decision-maker, so I tested my choices. I decided to not take any art classes my second semester. My mom still laughs today when she recounts my explanation: I wanted to see if I would miss it.

> My mom always knew that I would do something creative. That somehow, I would find a way to bring art into whatever I ended up becoming. She knew, but had the wisdom to let me figure it out for myself. Thankfully, I did.

> Happy Mothers Day! Thanks for always seeing the vision of what I could become in my life.

(the above quote is from a book I designed for Gibbs-Smith Publisher, called "The Outhouse Reader", by Texas Bix Bender and Judge Roy English).