Art Was Framed! Part 1

What could I do with faded and worn artwork and a slightly scuffed frame? Make new fresh and fun art!


I had a 20-yr-old 18" x 24" black and white pointillism piece of three azaleas and leaves that suffered from fading ink, yellowing paper, and staining. I didn't want something so damaged on my walls, but I did like the subject matter. So, I cut out the best-preserved portion of the image to fit a frame I recently purchased. (I reused the original frame for better artwork - a Hugh Syme lithograph.)











The new frame had some scuffs, so I bought some acrylic paint in a nice bright green (Folk Art #503 Yellow Citron), slightly lighter than the frame's original color. If I wanted a smooth surface, I would have used spray paint, but I wanted a little bit of brush stroke texture to the frame, so I used a 1/2" art brush. (I decided not to use the matting.)
















I painted the entire frame, with long strokes running the entire length of the side I was painting. I let the green paint dry thoroughly, then let my creative side take the frame design to another level.


















Using a cream-colored paint (Anita's #11323 Cream) and a very small-gauge brush, I continued the artwork onto the frame with small dots, imitating the pointillism style of the art. Alternatively, I could have used black paint or black art markers.


















For just a few dollars for the discounted frame and two bottles of paint, I will be able to enjoy this pretty azalea for many years to come.

Illustrated Movie Quote

Graphic representation of the Mal Reynolds quote from the movie Serenity.

Easy Craft Project - Christmas Ornament Shadow Box

I liked these shiny boxes that came with Christmas ornaments and did not want to throw them away, so I created a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to reuse them!

Gather the following items:
1. One decorative cardboard box with a lid that has a cellophane window
2. One wire Christmas ornament hanger
3. One Christmas ornament about 2/3rds the size of the box
4. Hot glue gun
5. Matte black craft paint and small paintbrush

Remove the cellophane from the box lid. Set the lid aside.

Paint the interior of the box black. (It took three coats of paint to make the box interior a solid matte black.) Let dry.

Measure how low you want to the ornament to hang. Bend or cut the wire Christmas hanger, allowing one-half inch extra on either end. Paint the wire hanger black. Let dry. (I stuck the hanger end through a styrofoam bowl and painted it.)

Bend one-half inch of the wire hanger 90 degrees and hot glue this end of the hanger to the top center of the box. Once the glue has set, bend the other end of the hanger into a small curve to hold the ornament. If the hanger was glued a little off-center or too long, you can bend or shape it to fit the space.

Hang the ornament, replace the lid, and you're done!

Decoration options:
- Glue black glitter to the interior after the paint dries to add a bit of sparkle.
- Paint the interior and hanger white (add glitter too!) for a winter wonderland lightbox.
- Change out the ornament when you get the whim.

Christmas Trees Redefined

We choose not to have a traditional Christmas tree in our home. A cut tree is kind of depressing, watching it die, and the container for a live tree ends up being a "litter box" for our cats. Also, we don't have to worry about our dogs knocking decorations off of the tree with their tails.

Instead, we go "green" by not having a green tree. We've repurposed two jewelry hangers into adorable and classy "trees," saving both the environment and money!










This jewelry tree, purchased from IKEA holds my long necklaces throughout the year, then with the addition of LED microlights (purchased from Target), some reusable silver starry garland, and our smallest ornaments, we have a wonderful wintry white tree, surrounded by an angel, polar bear, and Christmas dog. Cost: $5 for reusable tree, $6 for one set of LED microlights (needs 4 AA batteries), various for ornaments and garland.

















This classy chrome jewelry hanger, purchased from Container Store usually holds a fun collection of bottle openers and key chains. (I'll post a pic after the holidays.) The hanger's sleek design inspired me to buy one set of small tree ball ornaments (from Target) and arrange them on the hanger and fill the bottom with leftovers.

















I added a "glitter ball" I bought last year for a craft project from Hobby Lobby to the center for extra shine. Cost: $20 for the hanger, $6 for the ornaments, nothing for the glitter ball.






















I've seen at stores this year metal tree shapes with hooks for ornaments. They're cute, but I would rather buy something I can use all year round.

Maybe you need a larger tree, one to put presents around? Here's a clever use for a found object!

This six-foot chrome clothing rack is usually found in a department store. From January to November, it holds clothes in my closet, but in December it's transformed!

By wrapping white wire lights around it and adding our ornaments and a tree topper, we have a sturdy, dead-needle-free Christmas tree. Our tree skirt fit neatly around it and we have the perfect place for Santa to leave us presents. The ornaments are hung on the small hanger balls evenly-spaced around the rack, er, tree. We can see all of our ornaments from every angle.











Since the "tree" is meant to hold many heavy shirts or trousers, we don't worry about the ornaments' weight. The rack is tall enough to keep doggie tails and reaching cats away from most, if not all, of the ornaments. Cost: $0 - found rack, previously purchased ornaments, light, and tree skirt.




















We here at Totem Media, L.C. wish you and yours the brightest, merriest, and safest of holidays!

Scenes from the Old Farm

I took the following pictures during my recent family reunion in south central South Dakota using my Palm Treo phone. Click on each photo to see a larger version.

What I've Learned from Computer Solitaire

I enjoy playing solitaire on my Palm Treo. Over time, I've come to realize there are truths to be found in playing this game.

1. You can't always win. - Even though I've been playing solitaire since I was a child, it is impossible to win every time. (I don't say "without cheating," because if you cheat, you don't win anything.) My average over the past couple of years is between 20-25%. That seems to be the most anyone can win with the computer-version of this game, depending upon which rules you use. A group at Stanford University did an interesting study of solitaire called "Solitaire: Man Versus Machine." (Adobe PDF file)

We want things to go our way most, if not all, the time. Life doesn't work that way. There are too many variables and too many competing interests in the living beings around us (a friend, the guy down the street, a stray dog, a rogue government) and too many uncontrollable factors like the weather to permit us to always get what we want.

2. Learn from your mistakes. - Computer solitaire has the advantage over regular cards of allowing game replay. (I love to play with real cards for the tactile sensation, as well as being able to see the cards full-size.) There's the saying, "In life, there are no do-overs," which is true for most major issues and many minor ones. Still, there are some things we can repeat, hopefully for the better.

If you have to occasionally repeat a task (cook a meal, edit a video, organize a closet, drive to a location), take a moment to look back on your goals and results and see where improvements in quality and efficiency can be made. Try changing one factor and see if your end results are better.

3. Finish what you start. - There comes a point in this solitaire program, where you are obviously going to win and you can either start a new game or continue playing. The end result is already determined, but by continuing to play, you end up scoring more points, which are added to the overall game statistics.

It isn't easy sometimes to complete a task, especially one we dread or dislike, but completing it at the very least gives us a sense of accomplishment, and may benefit us in ways we cannot see at the time. For instance, if you talk about looking for a new job, but never finish and submit any applications, or refuse to do any followup on submitted apps, then you are just talking. You aren't really looking for a new job and will be stuck with the one you currently have, which can't be that great because you're looking for new opportunities! Even if your job applications don't pan out, completing the application and interview process can help you in future potential jobs.

4. Don't waste time. - Even though I enjoy playing solitaire and distracting myself from life for a little while, I do not spend an enormous amount of time playing it. I've kept the game stats since I started playing, about 1.5 yrs ago, and it says I've played 50 hours. That's just over two days, or .004%, of my time doing something I enjoy. YMMV, but I find that to be an acceptable amount.

There are so many things we want and need to do to feel fulfilled as a person and a member of society. Falling into sedentary time-wasting habits or addictions will negatively impact your relationships, employment, and health. Like many addictions, they feel good for the moment, but when you come out of the game-playing haze, the dishes are still there, the dog needs to be walked, you still need to talk to your spouse, and the job still needs to be done.

Great Website Design Article

This is a great article which describes and explains what is needed for current, professional websites.

15 Key Elements All Top Web Sites Should Have

Totem Media, L.C. will help your company start a creative evolution with an interesting, well-designed website!

We have designed, maintained, and updated the following company websites, meeting our clients' needs and budgets:

www.windsweptlandscape.com/portfolio.asp (Online Gallery)

www.rushcon.org (CMS customization, Content Maintenance)

www.johnclassenphotography.com (Online Gallery customization)

www.bikehouston.org (Content Maintenance)

www.blacktiecompany.com (Website Design & Maintenance)

www.hypnomike.net (Website Design & Maintenance)

As you can see from our current work, we can work with a variety of companies, styles, and budgets. Our work meets or exceeds industry ethical standards.

We can develop and implement any or all of these elements for your company's website. E-mail Totem Media, L.C. today!

RushCon 9 was elevated from the norm!

This is a montage I created to celebrate my time in Toronto and at RushCon 9. It doesn't cover all of the fun, late nights, friendship, laughing, and cool RUSHiness of the week, but it does represent my trip to the Distillery District, RUSH's star on the Canada Walk of Fame (and Li'l RUSH pub crawl), the obligatory evening on the Orbit Room's back patio, and me at YYZ, awaiting the plane that will take me home.

The purple coneflowers were growing along the sidewalks in the Distillery District. They, along with lavender, daisies, and other wildflowers, were planted by a local group and look great against the turn-of-the-century brick warehouse buildings.

The word "Evelate" is not a misspelling of "Elevate." RUSH sings in the song Vital Signs, "Everybody got to elevate from the norm" as well as "Everybody got evelate from the norm"

Evelate isn't a real word, but rather a "Rushism." As we are elevating, deviating, and escalating from the norm, we get to the point of being "evelated." You can put whatever definition you wish to it.

Last year, I took a picture of myself at the Toronto airport which I turned into "Consumed by a Single Desire," seen in http://aveddy.blogspot.com/2008/06/consumed-in-single-desire.html . I decided to make it a tradition to see how I'm feeling after a week of late nights (working til 2am) and early mornings (up at 7am to do more work), which are needed to make RushCon a success.

We had a great year, with two guest speakers, Martin Popoff and Michael Mosbach. They were fun and interesting speakers and people. RUSH Karaoke was great, with eight fans singing RUSH songs - without benefit of provided lyrics and timing. The winner, Lisa, got to sing a song with the RUSH Tribute Band, Limelight, during their show for the RushCon 9 Tribute Band Concert at C'est What. You can see her performance on RushCon's YouTube Channel.

The RushCon Charity Auction was a huge success! We raised over $4500 CND, all of which is donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank of Toronto, a non-denominational food bank. Our nine-year grand total in charity donations is over $50,000 CND.

The RushCon organizers, myself, Judy, Mary Jo, Jillian, Kristy, and Holly, really rocked this year and we came out of RushCon 9 eagerly anticipating next year's convention. We also had lots of help from Phred, Kam, Steve, Jeremy, Rob, Robert, Rodney, Todd, Stevie, Bev, and Max. Plus tons of others who helped, donated, bid on auction items, and came to RushCon.

Follow Up on Celebrity Tweeters - I Guess They Do Need Stinkin' Badges!

According to The Social blog by Caroline McCarthy, Twitter is launching a beta version of "verified accounts" for individuals who are subject to impersonation or intentional identity confusion.

Read the article here.

Celebrity Tweeters Keeping it Real!

How do you spot a fake celebrity on Twitter? Ask these questions and you might discover your favorite English actress is a bald 50ish guy in Des Moines!

1. How many followers does the person have? This is an initial check, but not a very good one. Thousands of people follow @joshwhedon and @josswhedon, which are obvious fake accounts for Dr. Horrible, Buffy, and Dollhouse director/producer Joss Whedon. (These accounts haven't be removed, but they also haven't been updated since March.)

2. Who are they following? This is also not a perfect check, but if they are following spammers and lots of fan Tweeple, or are not following people they work with (actors on their show, fellow band members, producers, etc.), it may be a fake account.

3. What do they say? Since many celebrities use Twitter to promote their latest projects or engage with their fans, if the "celebrity" never mentions his or her current work, it may be a fake account.

- Is the celebrity discussing topics in which he or she is supposed to be interested? The fake (and deleted) account @iamgeddy, which was supposed to be RUSH bassist/singer Geddy Lee made vague mentions of their past tour, but never talked about wine or baseball, two subjects he is well known to enjoy.

- To whom are they replying? The fake (and deleted) accounts @mikeweatherly and @pauleyperrette (actors on the show NCIS) were replying to one particular fan, recommending people follow this fan, and talking about phoning this fan. Could it have been true? It's possible, but not in this case. (See the fan site www.mikeweatherly.com for more details.) Pauley Perrette recorded a short video at the end of May stating clearly she is not and will not be on Twitter or any social networking site, except for this MySpace page.

4. Is there a link to the Twitter page on the celebrity's official website? This would be proof the Twitter account is real, but it doesn't mean the celebrity actually Tweets. He or she could have an assistant helping them.

5. What do other fans say? Fans have been led astray (see item #1), but if several fan websites agree that the celebrity's Twitter account is real, then it probably is. Don't rely on just one website, because that fan may be the one who set up the fake account!

So, who really are celebrity Tweeters? Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Oprah, and Ellen Degeneres are some of the bigger names that have Twitter accounts.

I choose to follow a group I call "One Degree of Joss Whedon" and members of the Stargate franchise. It's been interesting seeing the exchanges between the various actors, writers, and producers. See my full follow list at twitter.com/TotemMedia.

Twitter Tips to Help You Tweet Your Best

I found a great blog post on ProBlogger with many helpful suggestions on using Twitter effectively. I recommend reading it.

Additionally, I have a few tips of my own to improve your Twitter followers' experience.

DON'T use Twitter as a message board or mailing list. As stated in the ProBlogger post, if you converse back and forth with someone on Twitter, and someone is only following you, they only see half the conversation. Think about how annoying it is to hear half of a cellphone conversation. It's a weird and disjointed experience. Your followers may feel excluded and bored by your constant replies.

DO take your conversations to an more appropriate web asset. Move the talk to direct (private) replies, e-mail, or if it's a multi-person conversation, move it to a message board or mailing list. On a message board or mailing list,everyone can see the full discussion and join in.

DON'T use Twitter as a full-sized blog. Twitter promotes itself as a "micro-blog," where users can express themselves in 140 characters or less. It's usually acceptable to occasionally carry a thought over to a second Tweet.

DO use Twitter to link to your full-sized blog. If you would need to post three or more Tweets to express your concept or information, post all of it in one blog post or website paragraph and provide a quick description and link on your Twitter page. People will follow the link if they are interested.

DON'T allow spammers to follow you. Letting your follower numbers grow by not blocking (removing) spammers and deleted accounts is not only dishonest, it encourages spammers and other bad netizens to continue flooding the Internet with their porn, spyware, malware, and phishing programs.

DO follow people in your area of interest. If you are a gardener, you can search Twitter for other gardeners. Follow them and they may follow you. It's a good way to develop a network of like-minded individuals who can actually help each other.

DON'T be vulgar. I have stated this before, but it bears repeating since I see so many people damage their reputations by being sexually explicit, swearing a lot, and being mean, cruel, and sarcastic. Your boss or potential employer will seek information about you on the Internet. Even if your Twitter account is for personal use, demonstrating you cannot be civil and polite in a public forum will damage your chances for a promotion or job opportunity.

DO be positive and encouraging. It can be difficult in this instant reply world, but if you can't be nice to a fellow Tweeter, unfollow him (and block him if necessary). If someone Tweets some good news, send them (genuine) congratulations. If someone Tweets a concern or problem, show support and assist them. You have to give good to receive good.

Memorial Day Weekend

Totem Media, L.C. wishes all Americans a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Remember those who serve and served in our military to secure us this great nation by displaying the flag, tend to gravesites, and spending time with family. It's a great time to bring out the old photo albums and pass on your family history.

Also, please take a moment on actual Memorial Day, May 30, to reflect or pray for our troops.

Ddrama the Llama's First Video!

Ion Canon by Demonic Otter Toe is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

This is the first in the Ion Canon animation series. It features Ddrama the Llama, a cud-chewing camel cousin with more than a few issues. Ddrama will appear in upcoming animations, as well as other animal and human characters.

I looked at several photos and videos of llamas to get a sense of what they look like and how they walk. I then drew the characters in Adobe Illustrator. I used a clipart bird from Microsoft, which I customized and created a "dead" version.

The background image is a photo composite with multiple layers and applied filters created in Adobe Photoshop. The original image is of a field and trees in the Texas Hill Country.

I took the characters and background image into Adobe After Effects, animated them, and added video clips from my stock video library. I could have imported the AE files directly into Premiere, but to save Premiere rendering time, I exported the animations as AVI files in AE.

I used Adobe Premiere to edit the animation clips and add audio. I used Adobe Soundbooth for the music bed. The birdsong and nature sounds were recorded this past weekend in a Minneapolis suburban park. I created the Foley FX in my studio.

(NOTE: I just noticed one of Ddrama's legs is missing. It is actually there, but was masked out in AE when I was trying to solve a particular animation issue.)




Ion Canon is produced by Demonic Otter Toe, the animated digit of Totem Media, L.C. All characters, media, and designs are Copyright 2009 Totem Media, L.C. except where previous copyrights have been established. All Rights Reserved.

Recycling Electronics Is Getting Easier

In my March 30, 2008 blog post, I discussed the issues and methods of recycling electronics.

As more retail stores, equipment manufacturers, and local governments open or expand their recycling programs, it is getting easier for consumers to recycle computers, televisions, media players and cell phones.

In the June 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, they answer the question "Why recycle?" by explaining,

"The cathode-ray tube in old-style TVs and computer monitors contains 4 to 8 pounds of lead, a neurotoxin. Cell phones and other electronic gadgets can contain mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and brominated flame retardants. Those toxins can leach from landfills into groundwater."

Read the full article.

We had an old 19" standard-definition, non-HD-ready CRT television that we no longer needed and could not find a friend or neighbor who wanted it. The TV worked fine, but even selling it on Craigslist was more problem than it was worth. We decided to recycle it. Houston has recycling centers that accept glass, electronics, motor oil, and paints. We went to the closest center and dropped off the television with the workers. We explained it was a functional television, so in case they or someone else wanted it, they were welcome to have it.

If you have an old cell phone, check with your local women's shelters or other charities to see if they accept cell phones for their clients. (Some cell phone or office supply stores collect cell phones for this purpose.)

Even scratched or defective CDs can have a new life as the face of a clock, or as reflective hangers to scare birds away from your fruit trees.

If you are recycling a computer that still has its hard drive, be sure to not only delete everything on the computer, but also to reformat the drive. If you can remove and (safely) damage or magnetize the drive, you can prevent anyone from finding sensitive information you may have had on the computer when you were using it.

Recycling keeps dangerous chemicals out of our soil, our water, and our bodies.

AV eddy Gets to the Truth, and Gives Some Hot Stock Tips!

First, a few things I learned from my wonderful mom:

1. Mom was right about washing hands and covering mouths when we cough.

2. Mom was also right that the best way to handle a jerk is to ignore him.

3. Mom was totally right that when you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all. (Makes you look classy and in control.)

THANKS MOM!

Now, a few things I've discovered on my own:

1. A watched blog never updates.

2. Someone who talks bad about others is talking bad about you.

3. You can go far by being polite, confident, and reliable.

4. Loving pets make the world a better place.

5. The dishes really won't wash themselves.

Here's a Hot Stock Tip:

Don't be in a hurry when making stock. Allow the meat and vegetables to simmer for a few hours and make sure the water doesn't evaporate too much. The only vegetables needed to make a flavorful stock are onions, celery, and carrots. Whole garlic cloves are a nice option.

AV eddy Goes to the Dark Side!

Whoa! What's up with the black background? I'm updating (slowly) my web assets, and one of the changes is a black background. I typically prefer black text over white, but haven't found a template or even a revised template that looks right, so I'm going with this look for now.

Mark His Words When Creating a Mark

Nate Voss' blog, Vossome 2.1, has an excellent article about why it is a bad idea to go on the cheap when designing your company's logo. The word directly from the designer's mouth, er, keyboard:

In a Troubled Economy, Why Logo Design Contests and Crowdsourcing Can Do More Harm Than Good.

Read my Feb 19, 2009 blog post, Logo Design Contests Are Bad Design, Bad Service, Bad Business Model.

Proverb

"The thief is sorry he is to be hanged, not that he is a thief."

Happy Earth Day!

Totem Media, L.C. wishes everyone a safe, happy, and environmentally friendly Earth Day 2009!

I created this image using Adobe Photoshop CS3. The floral border is from All My Yesterdays (mentioned in my March 27 post) and a stock photo from istockphoto.com. I wanted to create a richly-colored, deeply-textured, nature-inspired image, with hints of Art Nouveau.

Our planet is a beautiful place. I'm trying to do my part in keeping it that way.

It's Time for Your Business to Start a Creative Evolution!

Most companies have the basics: business cards, letterhead, sales brochure, and a website. Except for a simple contact form or e-mail link, all of these communication methods are one-way - impersonally telling potential customers about the company and its products.

Many websites are not visually connected with a company's branding, are not visually engaging, or are difficult to navigate.

Online stores often feel generic and although the customer is interacting with the website, the shopper can come away with no impression of the company.

As companies explore "social media networks" like MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, as well as the good ol' mailing list or blog, many will misuse the community they build by spamming, staying too impersonal, overposting, being too repetitive, being too unprofessional, or not interacting at all.

(Wikipedia has a list of many social media networking sites.)

Don't let the wonderful opportunities now available pass you by!

1. Have your website designer and company graphic designer work together to display your brand correctly and elegantly on the World Wide Web.

2. Make sure your website has current content your customers want and is easy to navigate.

3. Make sure your website doesn't contain malware or blackhat SEO (Search Engine Optimization). This is a sure way to be banned by search engines, like Google or Yahoo and abandoned by your site's visitors.

4. Make your online store a favorite shopping site by having clear descriptions, high-resolution pictures, fast and friendly customer service, and a unique look so it will stand out from other stores.

5. Only join social media groups that pertain to your company's products, services, or industry.
Have a clear purpose and plan for every mass e-mail, blog post, or update. Make sure it relates to your company's mission and contains interesting content.

6. Update your website and social networks regularly with positive, on-topic content.

7. Never, ever spam.

8. Never, ever spam. (It's worth saying twice!)

As you are evolving your company's marketing, take the time to update your contact list! It is not only a waste of time and money to send materials to uninterested people, you build a bad reputation by continually e-mailing or posting to people who don't want to be contacted by you.

Don't build backlinks to your website by going to every blog and social network and commenting or posting only so you can add a link to your site. It's obvious to site owners you aren't really engaged with the people or topics, and when your name keeps popping up with uninformative or empty words, you will develop a bad reputation.

Both of these bad techniques will lead you to be banned from sites, blocked from pages, and your e-mail will be automatically deleted or will bounce back.

We'll discuss other multimedia options for your Creative Evolution next time!

Totem Media, L.C. will evolve your marketing and communication through the effective and professional use of multimedia and audio-visual technologies. We believe in well-planned growth and development of your company's image.