Elevated - 2012

Go on over, and be jealous of my Elevated Envelopes (but more jealous of the ones that are coming in the mail.... )

(but you're just jealous.)

They're Here...

Don't forget to read to the bottom. I want to give you something...

In true AIM fashion, I had quite an adventure putting these bad boys together. If you want to know more about the experiment go on over to my blog where I will bore you with the details (and photos.)

In other news, who wants some to hand out? Send me your physical addy, how many you want, and I'll send some your way.

*************

Part 2 of getting this blog-bus moving is going to involve some FREE GREETING CARDS from (so, there.) It's pretty obvious that the more people involved with the blog, the more we all benefit so....

I want to give away free cards to every contributor from now till my birthday (Feb. 15).

Four ways to get 'em:

1- Send an adventure to me to put on the blog. It can be a tip, a question, a critique request, anything. Remember, it doesn't have to be about design, it can be about any pursuit.

2- Don't have anything to send right this minute? Sign up to be a regular contributor on the site. Send me an email, and I will send you a little questionnaire and get you set up on the blog. Then you can put things up when you are ready.

3- Once you are a contributor, get other people to contribute so we can see what they are up to as well. If we get more people looking, showing, commenting, and sharing it will only get better.

4- If you start commenting like mad on the site (don't forget to leave your name so I can find you) I'll probably notice and want to send you one too.

Let's see what ya got. It's winter, and that's crafting time, so I know you're up to something good...

GO!

WHEW

Sorry again for the dead air- good news is I've been a ton of stuff done, including plates for new Christmas cards (which I should have had you all critique!) and for AIM business cards.

That's right, I am getting ready to push this site like mad! I am so excited about all you followers.... but you are so quiet. I want all your silly questions right here, right now.

Would anyone like Adventures in Making business cards to hand out? The more people looking and talking, the better the community will be.

REMEBER - Silly questions, right here, right now. (I'm looking at you...)

another welcome!

Today we have some more great additions! Everybody welcome Jacqui and Scott of Slide Sideways, and some guy named Patrick (my husband, and technical resource.)

Scott and Jacqui Scoggin

Scott and Jacqui like to think of themselves as all around makers of cool stuff. They started Slide Sideways, a handmade and graphic design business, in 2008, mostly as an outlet for complete creative freedom. Typically they spend their days at the screen printing press and sewing machine busying themselves by making tea towels, posters, sketchbooks, zip pouches, and more for their shop.

They currently reside in Tacoma, WA, living a simple life and staying happy by drawing, picture taking, food making, bike riding, thrifting/estate saling, playing, watching movies, day dreaming and just all around creating and making stuff.

email: wearesliding@gmail.com

website: www.slide-sideways.com

shop: slidesideways.etsy.com

blog: unitedweslide.blogspot.com

Patrick Lang

Patrick learned how to destroy and build things with electronics and other crafts at an early age by taking everything apart and putting it back together. Growing up, he also spent years in Boy Scouts learning the art of the kludge, how to survive outdoors, and plenty of other skills.

Today he lives near Seattle with his lovely wife, Alison, and work as a software developer. At night, he obsesses over coffee, computers, music, building, and fixing things around the house.

I know that Patrick has a tip article in the making about file types (jpg vs. gif vs. png), and I can only guess at what great things Jacqui and Scott are working on.

This is getting good.

(PS- Like I always say, if you have a question, problem, great resource, or project you'd like to share, send it to me at adventures@andsothere.com. If you would like to become a regular contributor, let me know, and I will send you a questionnaire right away!)

welcome Kat!

We have another great contributor signing up-

Everyone say hi to Kat! I can wait to see what she's up to.

Kat Duke

When Kat was growing up in Texas, her family spent every school holiday making something. In fact, crafts and creating took up all the time that books didn’t.

Now in Seattle, she's a crocheter, knitter, photographer, singer/songwriter, occasional (and optimistic) artist, and general crafter. She has been refinishing tins, crocheting interesting creatures, perfecting patterns for knit and crocheted hats, and trying to figure out what to make for guy friends for the holidays.

email - kathebeth@gmail.com

(Oh, and in case the fancy animal isn't up your alley, check out the napkin challenge at Doodlers Anonymous.)

Have no fear....

Design Mommy is here!

We have a new contributor to the site- Lindsay Jewell of A wooden nest. I'm excited to have her as part of the team! Of course I forgot to mention Rachel of Camp Smartypants coming on board, and she has already got my brain storming.

Rachel Beyer

Originally uttered the words, "Help me! Design Mommy!" in 2008 while working with Alison at a design company in Seattle, WA. Since then she's always turned to Alison for advice and constructive criticism whenever she's in need of a fresh eye and an honest opinion.

Rachel currently lives in Portland, Oregon where she works as freelance graphic designer and small crafty business owner by day and busser at a fine dining restaurant by night. She is the creator of Camp Smartypants, a line of women's clothing, accessories, and paper goods. She's obsessed with bright colors, thrifting, feathers, crafts, stickers, markers, hosting parties, eating good food, and laughing with friends.

Email : campsmartypants@yahoo.com

Design Portfolio: http://www.rachelbeyer.com

Camp Smartypants: http://www.campsmartypants.com

Blog: http://campsmartypants.blogspot.com

Shop: http://campsmartypants.etsy.com

Tumblr: http://campsmartypants.tumblr.com

Lindsay Jewell

Lindsay was born in Sweet Home, Oregon, but has lived in Portland, Oregon for the last sixteen years. She recently graduated from Portland State University with a BA in English, and is currently building a writing portfolio for her freelance business while dabbling in various arts and crafts. She is obsessed with food, homemade bread, books, films, second-hand linens, paper, pretty thrifted mugs and her fluffy feline.

email - Jewellmc@gmail.com

blog: http://awoodennest.blogspot.com

Adventures in Making is still seeking contributors of all kinds. Even if you aren't up to anything right now, your experience and opinions are all needed.

We have high standards, but I can almost guarantee that you will meet them.

Do you do stuff with your hands/brain?

Do you have experience in anything?

Do you have opinions?

Do you decorate/design/craft/write/doodle/compose?

Do you have some time occasionally to share any of the above things for the betterment of us all?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, we want to hear from you. Email adventures@andosthere.com with your adventures and your questions, and leave comments any and all times the mood strikes you.

Oh, and pass the word on. We'd love to hear from your friends, family, and foe.

(Remember to email if you'd like to become a regular contributor to the site, I'll send you a short application and soon enough you'll be writing articles.)

Our Contributors

and growing...

Alison Lang

Adventures in Making stared as the brain-child of a somewhat lonesome designer who missed the critiques of school, and the problem solving of retail. Proclaimed “Design Mommy,” Alison pressed friends to send her projects to look at, and questions to answer. (They didn’t seem to mind.)

Alison is a graphic designer and slave to the letterpress with a background in paper, and an obsession with adhesives. She has a small series of letterpress designs (www.andsothere.com) and a shop on etsy (sothere.etsy.com). Originally from Texas, she now lives under a large white cedar in Issaquah, Washington with her husband and three cats.

email - adventures@andsothere.com

(so, there.) shop - sothere.etsy.com and www.andsothere.com


blog - butyourejustjealous.blogspot.com

design portfolio - alisonlang.net

Rachel Beyer

Originally uttered the words, "Help me! Design Mommy!" in 2008 while working with Alison at a design company in Seattle, WA. Since then she's always turned to Alison for advice and constructive criticism whenever she's in need of a fresh eye and an honest opinion.

Rachel currently lives in Portland, Oregon where she works as freelance graphic designer and small crafty business owner by day and busser at a fine dining restaurant by night. She is the creator of Camp Smartypants, a line of women's clothing, accessories, and paper goods. She's obsessed with bright colors, thrifting, feathers, crafts, stickers, markers, hosting parties, eating good food, and laughing with friends.

Email : campsmartypants@yahoo.com

Design Portfolio: http://www.rachelbeyer.com

Camp Smartypants: http://www.campsmartypants.com

Blog: http://campsmartypants.blogspot.com

Shop: http://campsmartypants.etsy.com

Tumblr: http://campsmartypants.tumblr.com

Lindsay Jewell

Lindsay was born in Sweet Home, Oregon, but has lived in Portland, Oregon for the last sixteen years. She recently graduated from Portland State University with a BA in English, and is currently building a writing portfolio for her freelance business while dabbling in various arts and crafts. She is obsessed with food, homemade bread, books, films, second-hand linens, paper, pretty thrifted mugs and her fluffy feline.

email - Jewellmc@gmail.com

blog: http://awoodennest.blogspot.com

Kat Duke

When Kat was growing up in Texas, her family spent every school holiday making something. In fact, crafts and creating took up all the time that books didn’t.

Now in Seattle, she's a crocheter, knitter, photographer, singer/songwriter, occasional (and optimistic) artist, and general crafter. She has been refinishing tins, crocheting interesting creatures, perfecting patterns for knit and crocheted hats, and trying to figure out what to make for guy friends for the holidays.

email - kathebeth@gmail.com

Scott and Jacqui Scoggin

Scott and Jacqui like to think of themselves as all around makers of cool stuff. They started Slide Sideways, a handmade and graphic design business, in 2008, mostly as an outlet for complete creative freedom. Typically they spend their days at the screen printing press and sewing machine busying themselves by making tea towels, posters, sketchbooks, zip pouches, and more for their shop.

They currently reside in Tacoma, WA, living a simple life and staying happy by drawing, picture taking, food making, bike riding, thrifting/estate saling, playing, watching movies, day dreaming and just all around creating and making stuff.

email: wearesliding@gmail.com

website: www.slide-sideways.com

shop: slidesideways.etsy.com

blog: unitedweslide.blogspot.com

Patrick Lang

Patrick learned how to destroy and build things with electronics and other crafts at an early age by taking everything apart and putting it back together. Growing up, he also spent years in Boy Scouts learning the art of the kludge, how to survive outdoors, and plenty of other skills.

Today he lives near Seattle with his lovely wife, Alison, and work as a software developer. At night, he obsesses over coffee, computers, music, building, and fixing things around the house.

The best that Adventures can bring

Adventures in Design is here to address the fact that…

Sometimes you are too close to see that something is just a tiny bit “off.” Sometimes you might have overlooked a minor detail, or a huge one. Did you misspell a word? Leave out a letter? Miss a stitch? Break your template?

Sometimes you just don’t know how to finish a project. What tool should you use? What’s the best glue? Is there a program or code to do it easier?

Sometimes you are busting to share a finished project with people who can appreciate it. Sometimes you find something great in a place no one would think to look.

You will make this site (and each other) better by-

Sending your questions, problems and inquiries of all sorts.

Sending your projects to be looked at by the group.

Giving your feedback on each of the things above in the comment section of each post.

Sharing your resources for better answers, information, and inspiration.

Whether you are just getting started (with a project, a business, or a concept) or you are already in the throes, we are here to help and support you along the way. Please don’t censor your questions and suggestions– we want to see it all.

As I have said, this blog is an experiment, and it’s the addition of new topics and people that will make it a success.

A little bit about “Design Mommy”

Adventures in Making will always be “Design Mommy” in my head, and it will always be spoken in the voice of Rachel B. It all started long ago (I am an older sister and programmed to give my opinion) but what you really need to hear about is the seedling. I apologize for all the personal pronouns- but until this site it launched it's just an idea in my head. It is y'all who will make it great.

I was an avid critic in my design courses. I don’t think everyone appreciated it. I always got the most excited about projects that had obvious merit and just needed a little tweak. Outside of school I worked in jobs that would allow me to interact with people and give suggestions. I preferred creative outlets - fabric and paper stores for instance.

Finally, I was called “Design Mommy” by coworkers at my design job because of my willingness to give criticism and advice.

All of this implies I’m pretty perfect.

Well, here’s the secret. Every time someone asked me a question, it was like a puzzle. They had the pieces, and all I had to do was put them together properly. They did most of the work, and all I had to do was a little creative thinking, research, or opinion giving. (It’s cheating really.)

The best part: I learned a little something. I got a little inspired.

***

When I left my job about a year ago, I immediately missed the day-to-day interactions with creative people of all sorts. It’s easy to sit at home doing freelance and independent projects and forget that you need that daily infusion of outside help and inspiration. It’s easy to get stuck on those projects and end up with something you really don’t like.

So I came up with the idea of a blog community filled with all kinds of creative minds who are willing to look things over and address challenges while inspiring and supporting each other. Each time we help each other we are helping ourselves become more rounded and more inventive.

This blog is an experiment, but I have a feeling it could be great.