Garden at the Beach

I wrote about the tiniest butterfly garden in an earlier post, and the butterfly emerged about a week and a half ago. We were lucky enough to catch it shortly after it emerged from its chrysalis and was pumping fluid through its wings and drying out, preparing to fly. When we came home, it was gone. It was an Eastern Black Swallowtail.

Eastern Black Swallowtail

I have been reading the Rodale book of Composting, which goes much further in-depth about compost than I ever think I will use, but one particular section was interesting–that about slugs and snails.  In Coastal North Carolina, we have all kinds of creatures–insects, birds, butterflies, spiders, mosquitoes, ticks–roaming around in our yard.  We do not use insecticide of any kind, so our yard is a nice little habitat for all kinds of things.  Last night, my husband shrieked for me to come out with the camera.  This was sliming across our patio:

Slug or Snail?

We also have a super watch-dog who alerts us to every thing passing buy  (but not in an annoying way).  She only barks when something of great interest is happening.  For a while this January, we had a lost cat living with us.  Jack the cat  (we later learned his name) was big.  He meowed constantly, so we were glad when we found his owners.  He is beautifully colored–a true tuxedo cat.  Every now and then “the cat comes back.”  The other day, Lucy was barking up a storm.  I looked out the window and did not see any walkers or bikers.  I looked down at the sidewalk and Jack the cat was looking back at us.

We’ve had a busy week in the Garden at the Beach!

Yesterday, my official business logo design was finished! I hired HaltomDesign via Elance to design my logo for me. Upon looking at the portfolio of Eric Haltom, I knew right away that he could create something interesting, unique and exciting that would express my business, my personality and would be useful across a variety of platforms. He delivered with shining colors!

Things to Consider when Hiring a Logo Designer

When considering a new logo design, there are several factors to consider that many people do not think about until the logo is finished and only suited for printing, and nothing else. A great printing logo is imperative because that is what you will use for business cards, stationary, and other printed items such as t-shirts, magnets, etc. However, there is another use that many people do not think about: Embroidery and other Promotional Items. (More about that later)

My logo is super because it will work across a variety of platforms. In addition to the version you see above, my designer provided a version without the fade, a version in black and white, and versions with and without the website address. He delivered the logo in every different file format that I might need for printing, embroidery, and other products.

My Logo Expresses My Personality

I hired Eric because I thought that he could create an original logo that expresses my business and my personality. To me, the logo definitely expresses my business–writing. I like the way the words sprout and grow–the way my ideas sprout and grow. I love that the “Of Words” is very concrete, because words are concrete, while ideas are more like a garden, and grow and change. The logo also expresses my personality. I love the logo because it expresses the TWO sides of my personality–up in the world of ideas, and firmly grounded on the page, in details.

Printing, Embroidery and other Promotional Products

My day job is at Queensboro, a custom embroidery and printing company. As part of my job, I view thousands of logos, so I know what works well and what does not. I know what file types I need. I know how to modify logos for embroidery and still communicate the message. Most of all, I know the power of using custom embroidered and printed items like hats, shirts, bags, jackets to spread the word about my business. (I will be attending a conference in September, and will be ordering several things from Queensboro–to wear myself, and to give away!)

My Logo for Embroidery

When my logo is digitized for embroidery, it will look a little bit different than my printing logo, shown up top, which includes a fade and my website address. The web address will not be on the logo. (The web address is too small to be able to read on a shirt without someone getting uncomfortably close!) The logo will not contain the “fade,” but rather, The Garden will be a solid color and Of Words will be a solid color. I might play around with some of the flowers being different colors, but I have not decided that yet. Fading does not translate very well to embroidery because you cannot mix thread like you mix ink. Additionally, some of small details in the “garden” above the words “The Garden” may be removed so that the logo still has a clean look, but maintains its original feel.

My Logo For Printing

I will have my logo printed as-is by Queensboro, with their digital printing service. The digital printing service allows full-color printing with no setup fees if you send them print-ready artwork. So, I made sure that part of my logo deliverables included a 12×12 high resolution file suitable for printing! The digital printing allows me to keep my shadow and fade effects in my logo.

Promotional Items

If I were to use a company to produce other promotional items like pens, magnets, mugs or something else, I might use my logo as-is, or I might use the black and white version. It would depend on the item and the company.

Think Broadly When Designing a Logo

When hiring a logo designer, think about your logo’s potential uses across a wide spectrum–embroidery, printing, stationary, websites, blogs, identities.  Make sure that before you choose your final design, you are happy that it can be used for a variety of purposes and expresses the personality of your business.  Your logo is your brand.  Make it the best!

I love to read the Atlantic Monthly. I started reading it when I was about 18, which is a little bit strange, I know. The Atlantic has been around for over one hundred years. A recently published book The American Idea: 150 Years of Writers and Thinkers Who Shaped Our History is a retrospective of writing at the edge of culture and ideas in the United States.

The current issue is their First Annual Ideas Issue.

June/July 2008 Atlantic Monthly Cover

I read the title article with great interest yesterday–at Barnes and Noble. I scored a “comfy chair,” of dubious cleanliness, but nonetheless more conducive for reading and thinking than one of the benches in the magazine section. I read the whole article “Is Google Making us Stoopid?” with great interest.

Because I make at least half of my living writing web content, I thought it would be interesting to see what author Nicholas Carr had to say. At first glance, my hackles were up: Stupid is a very subjective adjective. Everyone thinks that at least one person, thing, or idea is stupid, but that really has no bearing on how the next person views the same things.

How dare Carr call think that we are growing stupid because we use the internet? (Because Google is, effectively, as far as I’m concerned, the whole internet.) In fact, many would argue the opposite–the Internet puts so much information at our fingertips. The catch is that, while search engines scan and deliver content, they may not deliver the most accurate content. That is the beef of most with the internet. That is exactly not what Carr discusses.

He laments his lost ability to sit and focus for long periods of time. He lets us know that our brains are continually forming and re-forming, breaking and making connections based on what we experience, and that experiencing the fragmented, sound-byte, bullet point, powerpoint content that most of us digest daily is re-working our brains.

While reading the New York Times Style section this morning, I happened upon a short interview with sweet Abigail Breslin, who plays Kit in the newly released American Girl movie.  Kit is an aspiring journalist during the Depression.  She writes with a typewriter.  Miss Breslin says, to her interviewer “They showed me the typewriter, and I’m like, where’s the screen? Where’s the backspace?”

Abigail Breslin is something like 12 years old.  She practically born teething on a computer  keyboard, or a cellphone cord.  Each new generation is shaped by new technology.  Breslin reminds us of that when she says she sends and receives 600 text messages a day.  I can barely text “Hi” and send it, and I’m not that old!

What I liked about Carr’s article for The Atlantic is that, by the end, he has not really answered his question.  He acknowledges that each generation is skeptical of the next version of technology  (the printing press included), and that we are right to be skeptical about his skepticism.  He leaves us with more questions to ponder.  Namely, not whether Google is making us stupid, but is Google replacing altogether the need for thinking?  Now that is a scary thought.

Start Your freelancing career at the number one freelance site in the World. Ok, maybe Elance is not actually the number one site, but it should be. If you love to write, draw, crunch numbers, draw engineering plans and more, Elance is the place for you. Additionally, if you need to hire a graphic artist, freelance writer, virtual assistant or blogger, Elance is the place to go. Before you click and get started, keep in mind these tips for success:

Buyers

• Put a topic description in your subject line of the project description.
• Be detailed and thorough in describing what you need. If you don’t really know what you need, that is fine, but expect your providers to help you figure that out before they commit to your project!
• Use the escrow payment system. It protects all parties involved, should there be a misunderstanding.
• Answer communication promptly so that the provider can keep working.
• Set a realistic budget.

Providers

• Diligently build your provider profile page. Include your work history, educational history, samples, a picture, contact information and your preferred projects.
• Determine a payment structure that works for you, and note that under payment details. It is better to state your terms up front.
• Answer all communication promptly, and do not leave your buyers wondering where you are.
• Use the escrow system, it is a way to protect everyone involved in the project
• Never provide new, free samples or mockups. That is against Elance terms of service, and will generally end badly for everyone. (The project poster gets free work, none of the providers who bid are awarded the project.)
• Set a realistic schedule for yourself. It is better to finish early than late.
• Draw up a simple contract–or download one from Elance.

• Use Elance functions for as much communication and file transfer as you can. You pay for the service, so use it!

Buyers and Providers

Spend some time in the Water Cooler. I found it to be a tremendous resource and a great sounding board for ideas and questions. I learned a lot from experiences of past buyers and providers.

Elance is The Best

I have worked through a variety of freelance sites, and I feel that Elance is the best. As with any freelance job–found through a website or your own connections, sometimes there will be misunderstandings, sometimes frustration and sometimes confusion. That, however, is life! Elance has hundreds of thousands of qualified professionals that can help you save time and money on virtually any project.

I am most often a provider, but I did have my website The Garden of Words built by an Elance provider and I was extremely pleased! To find my web designer, click through the link above and search for “justinemcd” You won’t be disappointed!

These days, you can outsource almost anything. A site like Elance can help you find qualified professionals and work with them in a highly structured, moderated environment. A win-win situation!

One of Winston Churchill’s most famous quotes is “Never give in.” There are more nevers and ins. Usually, the quote is represented by “Never, Never, Never Give Up.” Accompanied by a picture of a frog strangling a duck as the duck tries to eat the frog.

Never Give In

Churchill’s quote is worth quoting in its entirety, though. Without the rest of the quote, an important part of the overall message is missing. While never giving up seems to be a noble goal, sometimes it is not possible. At some point, every person will find himself or herself stuck in a situation that is going nowhere. Moving on does not mean giving up, as long as you keep going–it means moving on. Following, is Churchill’s quote in its entirety, and the context surrounding it. The quote and its context are from The Churchill Centre.

“This is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

—Harrow School, 29 October 1941. It is commonly believed that Churchill stood up, gave the three-word speech, “Never give in!,” and sat down. This is incorrect, as is the suggestion, variously reported, that the speech occurred at Oxford or Cambridge. It was on his first visit to his old school, Harrow, where he would continue to return for the annual “Songs,” making his last appearance in 1961.

What Churchill’s quote really says is not do not give up, but rather, do not give up on yourself and your team.  However, if circumstances warrant, use your honor and good sense and move on. I think a lot of people miss the moving on part. Sometimes a situation is unsalvagable.  At that point, it is best to learn your lessons, gracefully say your goodbyes, leave on a high note and move on.

This spring, we embarked on a large landscaping project. What started as a small bed in the front and a small bed in the back (notice the orange paint in the “before” picture of the back), ended up as a full-scale re-do of the yard.

I have tried to select plants that, once established, will be fairly drought-tolerant. I like to sprinkle in a few annuals here and there, for extended summer color. This year, I have selected heliotrope, annual vinca, angelonia and profusion series zinnias.

Below are some before, just after and one month after pictures. (Except for the back garden, which is having issues. We put down 5 inches of composted turkey manure out front before planting, and the plants are CLEARLY happier out there. I tell people all of the time to properly prep the soil before planting. My own yard is no exception! I will be spending the fall doing some soil-amending!)

Back Garden Before Planting

Back Garden Just after Planting

Front Garden Before Planting

Front Garden Just After Planting

Front Garden One Month after Planting

Another view-Front Garden

After years of working at botanical gardens around the United Sates, I finally have my own garden. I will be adding to it–that much is certain. I think that my garden project grew from two small flower beds to encompassing half of my yard because I have always gardened on a massive scale–at least since I was 18 years old. I don’t buy just three of anything–I am used to planting at least 30. When you are used to planting 10,000 plants each season, scaling back is rough!

Next year, it will be time to tackle vegetable gardening in the south. I am sure that will be interesting!

Our dog Lucy likes to look out the big window that faces the street. She enjoys peering at passersby in cars, on foot or on bicycle. When we moved into the house last September, I decided to plant the teeny tiny flowerbed between the house and the sidewalk as a small butterfly garden so that Lucy could also watch butterflies. (I don’t have kids–yet, so my kid’s garden is for my dog.)

Well, it worked! This spring, we have been visited by larvae of Black Swallowtail butterflies. They have been munching on fennel, and one has made a chrysalis on the ornamental grass plant in the bed. To make the tiniest butterfly garden ever, all you need is a fennel plant, an ornamental grass plant, and a nectar plant (such as lantana or pentas).

To be certain that your larvae turn into butterflies, NEVER use insecticides in your butterfly garden.

Swallowtail Chrysalis attached to Ornamental Grass

Swallowtail Larva Munching Fennel

Nectar Plant-Pentas

I grew up in the Midwest, fascinated with Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture. In the town where I attended college, there was a Wright house that occasionally opened its doors for tourists. I never got to go in.

How delightful, then, to discover the book Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. Horan has been a journalist for most of her writing career, and used her finely honed research skills to create this novel. Loving Frank tells the story of the love affair between Frank Wright and Mamah Borthwick Cheney between 1900 and 1914. Few know about this true story, as historians and keepers of Wright’s legacy do not speak often of the affair. Horan imagines and adds depth to real-life individuals and their cataclysmic love affair. (I won’t give away too many details–you have to read the book yourself.)

For pictures of the house where Wright and Cheney lived together, visit:

The Taliesin Preservation Website

For those interested in the story behind the famous Architect, Loving Frank provides an intimate, personal look at Wright’s early life.

Free Rice is a website that allows visitors to donate rice to the UN World Food Program. It is possibly the most brilliant development synergistic partnerships, ever. It is a great way to give your brain a workout and help feed the hungry. There is no reason not to play.

This post is more of a “Do as I say, not as I do” because I spend most of my time working on other blogs and writing projects rather than my own blog. Occasionally, I run across something I think might be helpful, and underused, and then I squeeze in time to post.

Blogs–Everyone thinks it is a great idea to start a blog for marketing purposes. I sure did! I have quickly learned that for a blog to be effective, you do need to post twice a week or more. (Which I don’t.) If you will be using your blog for marketing purposes, you have to commit to this. Otherwise, search engines will not pick up your site as they scan the web.

The type of content you post will affect your success as well. If the newspaper has a two day life span, and cable news a 24 hour life span, internet pages might have a 12 hour cycle, but the most-used, most-consulted blogs are updated several times a day. That is not feasible, nor is it necessary for most marketing-related blogs. However, because blogs are consulted as instant sources of useful information digested into easy-to-consume pieces, you need to make the most of your post.

Great Blog Posts

Each great blog post contains at least one of the following:

1) A link out to another site such as a video tutorial

2) A tip or trick related to the blog subject that is easy and quick to implement

3) Timely topics–if your blog is about gardening, and you are posting in August, you will want to include gardening tips and trick for gardening in August, or planning for the winter. Timely things!

4) Nice pictures or graphics. (These also help people locate your site through Google Image searches.)

My Favorite Blogs

There are millions of useful blogs. These are my favorites for quick, easy, timely and useful content:

http://retailemail.blogspot.com

http://www.themillionsblog.com

http://www.presentationzen.com

http://www.newvoicesofphilanthropy.org