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I've been busy this month, so I've taken a bit of a break from beading and just made these few items. The fossils in the yellow-tan stone form little flower petal shapes. I am also in love with the fire agate in the double strand necklace - I might add another piece of turquoise to the necklace as well.

Every year, graphic designer Nick Felton prepares a booklet detailing the statistics of his past year. I've been inspired by it the past couple years, and have just started using the daily personal stat site he made, which is quite fun. I'm tracking the pages I read by genre, what I eat for dinner, how many pieces of jewelry I make and post on Etsy, my daily method of commute, and free time activities (top entry so far: napping). I know I could set this up in excel, but daytum is easier and generates pretty graphics for me.

Continuing on the projects theme, I've laid out a detailed plan of 2010 goals and quarterly "action items" to achieve them (since I seem to have failed at completing my 2009 goals since my last 'goal check-in'). I tried to follow all that advice about making goals specific and quantifiable (e.g. 'drop a pant size by June' instead of 'lose weight'). A few goals I'm excited about: backpack from Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass in August, compete in an orienteering meet this fall, earn $1000 profit through etsy, and create a seasonal recipe database. So far this year I've mostly tackled other goals (improve naturalist skills, manage my $ for retirement and specific purchases, expand my graphic design portfolio to include 10+ solid pieces), but now it's February it's time to step up the pace.

Labels: jewelry, news, weekly

I am so excited and relieved to finally be finished with my website overhaul for work! I started work on it in earnest in mid July, with many breaks in between as I had to switch to other projects.

The old website used tables and ugly out of date code with a bland layout, tiny project photos, ugly feature images, colors that didn't complement the company's logo and identity, and an unclear focus that confused potential clients. Left, old homepage, right, old service page.


My goals were to:

• improve SEO,
• develop a style complementary to the company's identity,
• refocus content to more accurately reflect our work,
• update the code to be cleaner, easier to update, and adherent to current webstandards.

I got to try a bunch of things I hadn't gotten to before, including sIFR text replacement, using php to construct the pages, and a little bit of fine-tuning javascript add ons (gallery slideshow and scrollable project list).

I started off thinking about the site's structure, and reorganized the division of projects to be more logical to laypeople like myself. We discussed what new pages we wanted to add - a blog and a page about our sustainable practices.

To begin, I designed the homepage, which grew from the selected option (below) to the final page at watershedco.com. Funnily, I got stuck around permutation 4 for quite a while while I moved on to designing the service and project pages.


Final homepage (screen capture in firefox 3):


When I had a good feel for how the homepage would look, I started designing the subpages. I divided the meat of the site into sections - wetlands, streams, planning, etc, and each of those sections has a landing page listing services and projects.


Final service page (screen capture in firefox 3):


I started gathering content, since I wanted a description, statistics, and photo slideshow for each project. I wound up writing more myself than I thought I would at first. Also, I had to research options for the features I wanted - photo slideshow, text replacement, and a way to display projects. Originally we had been going to stick with our old webhost, which support asp - but not, I discovered after spending hours teaching myself about master pages, asp.net. Terrible, ancient hosting. Thankfully I convinced my boss to upgrade our hosting. That way I got to use .php instead, which I hadn't used before but now wholeheartedly embrace.

Finally, writing the code (which I prefer to do from scratch), testing, creating styles for print, mobile, and iphone viewing, and the launch!

Labels: design, news, project

I made a few new spice labels to match my set from 2 years ago.

I also polished my black shoes - man, I forgot how much work polishing is!

My parents were up to deliver me stuff, meaning I had to reorganize all my art stuff, kitchen stuff, books, etc! I acquired a bookshelf, which makes our living room look exponentially nicer (not exactly a feat considering the cardboard box table).



Also, we were leaving my aunt and uncle's house and spotted a garage sale - they had a great new dresser we picked up. The mirror is from a different garage sale over the summer - it was $5 so I couldn't resist, although I had nowhere to put it. It's non-functional atop the dresser, but at least it looks pretty ;D

Labels: news, random, weekly

Today's the day - I launched my Etsy shop! Check it out http://kaeldra.etsy.com!

I've been having fun modeling stuff for the shop:

Labels: jewelry, news, project

At the start of summer, I set goals for the next six months. Since it's ~4 months later, it seems high time to check up on these goals and reanalyze whether or not they're still doable / what I want.

Good progress!

* Graphic Design:

GOAL: take another couple classes (logo design, color theory);
PROGRESS: took "Graphic Design for the Web";
REMAINING: planning to take a packaging class this fall

GOAL: redo my website and make business cards for myself;
PROGRESS: designed graphics and started coding TracyDurnell.com, developed Tracy Durnell 'seal', created initial designs;
REMAINING: spice up TD.com design, finalize business card designs

GOAL: get some more experience (through volunteering);
PROGRESS: no time/energy right now! I'm going to push this goal back to spring, I think.

* Jewelry:

GOAL:start selling on Etsy;
PROGRESS: launch date is MONDAY!!!!

* Life:

GOAL: get better at maintaining myself / my stuff;
PROGRESS: have done all sorts of fun body & car & bike maintenance;
REMAINING: maintain myself by getting more exercise: signed up for another round of cardio kickboxing in fall/winter, and am trying to become a runner again - went for my first run last week! Rain is hindering the 2nd run ;D

GOAL: be more social;
PROGRESS: still a homebody :(

Moderate Progress

* Reading / Writing:

GOAL: finish/make significant progress on my book!;
PROGRESS: I spent many lunch hours editing, and am about 30 pages in. I realized as I was editing how much more I have to write, and have lost momentum, switching my lunch hour back to reading.
ASSESSMENT: Start editing during lunch again once I finish current book and next book. Assess how much writing needs to happen and if I still want to do it.

GOAL: increase pace of graphic novel reviews to one per month;
PROGRESS: Wrote 2 reviews; Have notes prepared for 3 more reviews, but haven't written them.
ASSESSMENT: Get my butt in gear and write those reviews!

Haven't done anything!

* Drawing: finish drawings I started in spring; draw for different seasons/solstices

Guess drawing's not on the top of my list any more. I have all sorts of ideas about things I'd like to design and draw, but time and energy is lacking. Should bump this goal up.

* Science: study and take GRE; complete my currently-being-developed get-back-into-science curriculum

This NEEDS to happen SOON if I'm going to do it. I opened the book and read a chapter... I should make a study plan and pay money so I have a deadline...

Labels: news, self_improvement

I've been feeling a little low from lack of energy/feeling like I don't accomplish anything, so I thought I'd look back at the past six months and plot out goals for the next six. And now I feel great! Give it a try! I was surprised.

Since January

• Drawing: took portraiture & figure drawing classes; filled half a sketchbook (versus in previous ENTIRE YEARS filling only 1/4-1/2 a sketchbook)
• Graphic Design: took a graphic design class and designed 3 brochures, one being the start of a cookbook I've been meaning to do for years
• Jewelry: made a TON!
• Reading / Writing: wrote 3 graphic novel reviews; have read several good books (the sci-fi books Grass, Doomsday Book, and The Forever War stand out) - I've been working my way through the dual Hugo/Nebula award winners
• Life: rode my bike to work all through winter, I'd guess probably 60-75% of the time; visited my family and went to Yosemite!; planned and planted my garden; volunteered snowtracking and pulled weeds one morning

Goals for next six months

• Drawing: finish drawings I started in spring; draw for different seasons/solstices
• Graphic Design: get some more experience (through volunteering); possibly take another couple classes (logo design, color theory); redo my website and make business cards for myself
• Jewelry: start selling on Etsy
• Reading / Writing: finish/make significant progress on my book!; increase pace of graphic novel reviews to one per month instead of every other ;D
• Life: get better at maintaining myself / my stuff; be more social
• Science: study and take GRE; complete my currently-being-developed get-back-into-science curriculum

Yay!

Labels: news, self_improvement, weekly

I just finished a graphic design class at BCC I mean Bellevue College, which was a load of fun! Also a TON of work. I designed 3 brochures, 2 on Bali and 1 as a personal cookbook (they said my food photography needs improvement...fair enough.) For my themes, I picked an ecotourism Bali brochure (12pp), an "adventure" packet aimed at college age kids (8pp) (one spread below), and a fifties-themed cookbook featuring dishes ranked by the amount of dirty dishes they generate.



I have been utterly exhausted from this class for the past 2-3 weeks (it was a 6 week class). But now that it's done, I have time to start a new project! ;D

My new project is going to be coming up with a curriculum to teach myself more about different varieties of ecology, get back into scientific reading, try and figure out if grad school in ecology is something I want, and what flavor of ecology if so. Also I need to take the GRE, so studying for that will be tied in. Wheeee!

Labels: design, news, project, science, self_improvement

Framed Artwork

(One of) Mucha's four seasons, framed. This frame was pricey, but it's perfect with it. It looks like peacock feathers.


A couple months ago I finally got an Audrey Kawasaki print, and wanted to frame it to do it justice. I adore her work and have been wanting some art of hers for over a year.


I lightened and sharpened this so you could see the frame better.

Portraiture Class

I took a portraiture class this winter (just finished last week), and I think it helped a lot. Working from models is fun! Here are a few I liked.

Labels: art, news

In keeping with last week's posting that I aim to accomplish something noteworthy each week (last year's and now this year's resolution), I've come up with a rough schedule for the week:

Monday - Projects
Tuesday - Art (Drawing or tutorials)
Wednesday - Comics review / Beading
Thursday - Art class (Portraiture)
Friday - Projects
Saturday day - Culture / Cooking / Cleaning

Weekly Accomplishment Goals:
1 comic review
1 blog post + weekly recap
2 new bead projects
3 decent sketches/artspeak drawing
2 hours (significant) project progress - I need a better way to measure this
2 hours drawing

These goals are in fitting with (most of) my overall goals for 2009:
1) Significantly expand my art/graphic design portfolio
2) Sell my jewelry
3) Daily accomplishments - make sure I can name at least one thing I did each day
4) Exercise 3x/week (biking to work doesn't count :/ ) <-- this is not happening yet

This is all probably being overly optimistic. But if it turns out I wind up still sitting around reading shit on the internet or habitually tidying (not cleaning), as I tend to do on weeknights, I have another idea: pay myself for artistic accomplishments. And only spend money on fun stuff (like comic books, movies, art, beading supplies) what I've earned.

Labels: news, self_improvement, weekly

Since I got my new job I decided to adopt one (typically) religious practice that I think is actually a nice idea: tithing. Not to a church, not even to one particular organization. Each month I am donating a percent of my income to a secular charitable organization. I'm starting out with $50 a month, which is 2% of my annual income; the "standard", it seems, is the 10% of your income, so I too will work my way up to $250 a month.

My motivation? Ultimately, I feel it's my duty as a relatively well-off human to help others (including animals) less well-off than I. Also, it's a way to promote lifestyles and causes I support (e.g. local farmers, alternative transportation, separation of church and state). But I must admit a small part is that I want to correct misguided perceptions of atheists as bad people, and to bolster charitable giving by atheists, which actually is significantly lower than other (religious) groups.

Oh come on, right? No one discriminates against atheists anymore. To the contrary. Hemant at friendlyatheist.com (which I enjoy and recommend reading) pointed me to an article written to explain/explore why atheists were not invited to the Democratic National Committee's Interfaith Gathering:

Democrats will nominate a Christian gentleman who respects others. It’s likely they didn’t invite atheists to their faith service because they didn’t want embarrassing guests. Atheists might bring pseudointellectual proselytizers, who are intolerant, self-aggrandizing and rude. Atheists should fund universities and hospitals. They should feed and clothe starving kids. They should act more like Christians and Jews. If they do some of that — if they contribute to a diverse humanity — they might get better party invites.

I know you’ve heard this before… but you replace "atheist" with "Muslim" in that paragraph and lots of people would be out of a job. As it stands, there’s not much reaction from anyone.

And these are the liberals of the country. :P

Should you like to participate, here's a good list of secular/ humanist/ atheist charities for starters. I started with a local food shelter and the Secular Student Alliance; I think August will go to animals. I may start following Hemant's recommendation to join groups, giving them a donation that way. Global Giving Green also looks like a neat way to find environmental projects needing donations.

[Actually, I just want the tax write-off :P]

Labels: activism, atheism, news, opinion

An aside: I irrationally get very annoyed when people swing extremely wide around me into the other lane while I'm riding my bike, assuming they think I am a horrible bike rider. "You don't need to give me THAT much room!" I think. This is silly because I AM a horrible bike rider, and they SHOULD give me that much room. Plus, when I'm driving, I give all bike riders a wide berth.

For the fourth of July, I made a feast: Deviled eggs, potato salad, peanut-butter noodle salad, beet salad with feta pecans and orange dressing, strawberry daiquiris, and cornmeal-whole wheat biscuits!

Cornmeal Whole Wheat Biscuits
1 1/4 c whole wheat flour
1/2 c cornmeal
1/4 c flax meal (if you don't have, just use 1 1/2 c flour)
2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
2 T sugar
5-6 T cold unsalted butter
1/2-3/4 t salt
3/4 c buttermilk

Preheat oven to 450. Combine dry ingredients. Cut in butter till coarse breadcrumbs. (Optional: add 3/4 c grated cheese, bake at 425 instead.) Add 3/4 c buttermilk, mix into dry till just moistened. Gather dough and knead 5-10 times with floured hands. Roll 1/2" thick, cut 2" rounds. Bake 10-12 min. Yum!

Labels: news, recipe

Labels: news, photos

Dear Seattle Transit Authority: It takes me 25 minutes to drive to work. The same distance takes an hour and a half on the bus. I want to take the bus. But my time is valuable too, and I can't justify two extra hours in transit a day.

Dear Washington Department of Transportation: Traffic is horrible stop and go on 520 until the carpool lane ends and it drops to just two lanes. Is this just correlation or is it causation?

Dear Kaiser Permanente: I've spent my past three lunch breaks trying to get a written and not just verbal referral. Your hold music sucks--you need more than three songs, clearly. Have you never had to issue a referral before?

Things that are right: I saw a kid so excited to get to the ice cream truck he jumped an eight foot fence in two bounds.

Labels: news, rant

I rode a sloth (with Dad's help) at the La Brea Tar Pits. (OK, this was April.)


Robin had her hair and makeup done by a fancy salon who used her as a model.


We had a nice picnic at the headlands after visiting the de Young.


I've created a shrine to Art Nouveau over my bed in my new room.


I visited the UW arboretum on my last free day before starting work since it was a gorgeous, hot day.


A huge patch of the arboretum was devoted to different varieties of azaleas, separated into the historical periods of hybridization. This red flower was from the 60s-70s.




I saw these turtles as I followed an indistinct path along the waterfront.


Saturday, I rode the other direction to a beach with a grand view of these sailors in front of the Olympics. The hill back up was a challenge.

Labels: news, photos

I've returned to the wet climes of WA, and now live in Seattle! Adventures soon to follow.

Labels: news

My internship is ending in a week--as a happy final note, I got to tag along and photograph bobcat kitten surgeries yesterday! The four carnivore biologists homed in on the kittens in their den by locating their mother using radiotelemetry, then after the mother got spooked and jumped the den, we interns and a volunteer veterinarian joined them to implant radiotransmitters in the kittens.

My parents came to visit last week, so I dragged them pitfalling one day.

Labels: adventure, news, photos, science

I am living in the Santa Monica National Recreation Area, on Mulholland Drive, and doing an internship through the park service. For my first two weeks, I am helping out the bobcat crew, which involves getting up every day at 5 am to go check traps and then spending 8-10 hour days looking for cats etc. Yesterday we actually caught a bobcat! In another week I'll switch to my own work, pitfall trapping for reptiles and amphibians.

Labels: adventure, news, photos

I've felt like drawing a fair bit the past couple days. Maybe it's in preparation for Comic Con, which I am going to! Also I'll get to see Danielle, who I haven't seen in 2 years, and that was for an hour.


A bigger version's in the art section.

Harry Potter has been my life since Thursday evening: Mom and I watched movie 3 on Thursday night. All day Friday day I re-read book 6, then at 9 went to the library, where I, Robin, my mom, and 12 6th graders watched movie 4 then started reading book 7 aloud at midnight. We read out loud for 5 1/2 hours! One boy tried to help us read out loud but couldn't pronounce half the words and had a comment about every third sentence. Later in the evening, he kept dozing off for a minute at a time, then jumping up and yelling, "What'd I miss, what'd I miss?!" After sleeping from 6 to 9, I read from 10 to 2. That evening, I reread the last 150 pages. Tonight, I watched movie 2. Basically: Harry Potter overload!!!

Labels: art, news

Oh great, "American military commanders in Baghdad are trying a radical new strategy to quell the widening sectarian violence by building a 12-foot-high, three-mile-long wall separating a historic Sunni enclave from Shiite neighborhoods." Walls have always been positive in the past, right? I mean, the Jewish ghetto that was supposed to protect Jews, the Berlin Wall, the walls along the U.S.-Mexico border that force illegal immigrants to cross dangerous deserts? Tell me how this strategy is radical or new--it's a classic!

It's true that building a wall will reduce interactions between Sunnis and Shia in the area--they will now chiefly occur at the established passages through the wall. Perhaps the Americans think that because they know the locations of these passages, they will be able to concentrate their patrols there and better control what and who goes through. In turn, the passages will present better targets for killing the other sect by concentrating people in one location.

A wall is a short-term solution to a long-term problem, and a response to the effects of problems rather than the causes. According to the NYTimes article above, "many Sunnis across Baghdad complain that the Shiite-led government has choked off basic services to their neighborhoods, allowing trash to pile up in the streets, banks to shut down and health clinics to languish. So the wall raises fears of further isolation." Dividing people with a physical barrier perpetuates psychological categorizations of 'us' and 'them', which will in turn maintain the desire to kill each other. The only way I can see this potentially being positive is if construction of the wall is coupled with major efforts addressing the roots of the problem, which I do not know, but would guess include the lack of balanced government representation, infusion of religion into government, desire for and justification of revenge, and the fear, anger, and stress of living through a civil war.

Labels: news, opinion, rant

Since I graduated 3 weeks ago, I have:

• visited Seattle twice
  
• gone to Victoria for 3 days
  
• baked an extreme coconut cake with Hannah
  
• overhauled my website
  
• stayed awake for one 39 hour stretch
  
• made two necklaces
  
• planted a garden (pansies & lettuce!)
  
• played my saxophone for the first time in 4+ months
  
• visited the library 3 times in a 5 day period
  
• taken two 10+ mile hikes
  

Yet I do not feel productive.

Labels: news