Did you miss me?

No, I'm not the worst bloggie in the world. I've been preparing a launch of my new website complete with snazzy custom blog on my own domain, and have discovered that a) I'd like to think I could just sit down and churn out my own blog design, but alas, I am not so smooth when it comes to web design. And I refuse to admit defeat and ask for help. So for now, I am modifying things, uploading them to the seemingly correct folder and watching as, wait for it, nothing happens. It took me less time to make my entire website and first line of card designs than it has for me to not change my blog header.
I'll give you the skinny on what's been happening, and then I'll tell you where to find what you missed, and then I will go back to posting on blogger and importing my posts over there. Why? Because over there it is ugly, and over here someone with a clue put neat little dots on some cool theme that I just got to pick.

So what's been happening. Apart from my battle with a little blogging interface or something of the sort, (I don't know the terminology), I've been contemplating a number of things....my multitude of self-help books, my no multitude of time, etc. Check out the gallant fox at gallantfoxgallery dot com. To view the blog posts you missed, click on the blog link. The site is only temporary,...I've been working on the full monty so to speak, but it turns out I am also pretty inept at dreamweaver and am not particularly inclined to read the rather impressive and expenisve training manual I bought with the very smooth pages and nice pictures.

Gallant Fox Gallery at the Arboretum

Today, Hub and I went to the NC State Arboretum in Raleigh.  It's an amazing place to go in the spring when all the trees are flowering, but we found the summer to have lots of neat foliage and blooms as well.  If you live in the area, it's definitely worth it to check it out.  It's free and is a great place to take photos and get landscaping ideas.  I had planned to spend the weekend working on my first letterpress prints, but as it turns out, I am still missing a piece for the press.  If I ever opened my mail on time, I would have known this 2 weeks ago.  But I don't open mail.  So, since I didn't end up being able to print anything this weekend, I've provided some photos from out arboretum adventure to tide you over.

 Hub was trying to get me used to using the tripod for my shots.  I am stubborn, so even though I know that Hub is right in his mantra that to get really great shots with a macro, you really should use a tripod.  Especially if you've got a tremor, which I do, and the camera is heavy to hold steady, which it is.  See Hub is a member of the Ansel Adams worshippers.  And I am not going to lied to you, his stuff is good.  In fact, Tom Hubscher Photography will soon be featured on the Gallant Fox Gallery (well, as soon as I figure out Dreamweaver...I was using simpler, but somewhat lame program before, so I am making the switch, well, um attempting to make the switch.)  Where was I....oh yes, I had given in, and was following Hub's instruction.  So I was lugging around the camera, and tripod, and looking sweaty and uncute in the 100 degree heat, when I saw this beauty.  A black and blue butterfly, and I've got a thing for butterflies.  But, he was taunting me and my tripod.  Every time I got settled in for the shot, he would move on to a different bloom.  So, with reckless abandon, I pulled the camera off the tripod and stalked the little bugger.  Gotcha!

This little guy was elusive.  But I once entertained the notion of being a spy...probably due to just a tiny La Femme Nikita obsession.  It didn't help matters that my friends and I actually called eachother things like "Libby Bond" and "oo9."  So, I can certainly get into stealth mode and do some recon.    Below, target on the move.

Once, I got my action shots, I moved on to more tranquil subjects With the tripod.

I'm too old for all nighters!

I'm going to spend my monthly whiney blog allowance. Last week, I turned 29. I showed up to an event at a friends, 30 minutes late and 1 day early, and she said, "Lib, you're too young for this type of mixup." Lovingly, she said it. You know what I mean. Now, I've just spent the entire night at work. And since I am now 29, I've turned into a raving hypochondriac. When I was a kid of 21, I could type all night with no ill effects. Now, I feel that I have a rather acute case of mouse finger and keyboard wrist, along with an unpleasant feeling in my stomach. I am not sure if this is a result of the 10 cups of coffee, vitamin water, and 4 krispy creme doughnuts that I deemed necessary to survive the night, or if it's caused by me overanalyzing how much fat I just consumed and how it's probably coating my undeniably adult arteries as I sit here. And oh boy, do I want to sleep. Back in the day it was different. I could cram for days for final exams and then I got to go home and sleep for days....but alas, no, no sleep for the weary...it's um, monday. Now how did I get myself into this mess of an all nighter, well, I don't want to point any fingers, but this is a result of me responding to job ads that say things like 'thrives in a deadline driven environment'.....hmmm....red flag!! It should read, enjoys pressure and stress and doesn't need a pat on the back for a job well done ever. Extremely good at all nighters. Wears business casual all the time, so is ready for dress code on Monday morning...ooops. Hey, I have a toothbrush and toothpaste in my desk, anything more than that, and I think somebody needs to have a talk about what's a realistic expectation and what's just plain delusional. OK back to annotating. You don't want to know. It's not fun. Really.

Fun with Macro Lenses

It's a stormy evening, so Kali, our pit bull (we like to say 'Pit Boolah', it sounds more distinguished) is pacing about. My mind is racing about. My day job this week has become my day and night job, so that leaves me very little time to write and work on Gallant Fox. On a brighter note, my supplies to fix the Santo Vida arrived from NA graphics today, so I am finally set to print. Once things calm down at work, I'll have time to finish up my designs and get some plates made by Boxcar. On Thursday, I'll be turning 29, and it seems strange how quickly time is flying past. I want to stop and reflect, but things just keep zooming by. Anyhow, I've less time to come up with any wit and whimsy for you, so tonight I thought I would share some photos. Libby likes photos.

I like how you can pick up tiny dew drops and the fuzz on a bee. You see things from an entirely different perspective. So I guess this rainy night is all about perspective. To some lightening storms are beautiful, to the the pit boolah, it is some scary business.

Oh, Foxy Logo

Today I have a draft of the Gallant Fox Gallery Logo.  I've got one on the website already, but I took this little guy out of the first design for my whimsy collection.  It'll be the first card I print, so once I get some feedback from my crew of mentors and get it in perfect shape,  I'll be ready to order the photopolymer plate.  I think his little legs are off, but in 'real life', he was stepping onto a tea cup saucer so it looked right.  I do like the look of him though.  What do you think?

Typography, Mate! and other things near and dear to my heart

Last night as Hub and I were waiting for our 10:15 Dark Knight movie time, we went over to Borders and I picked up Computer Arts Projects, a creative trade journal published in the UK.  This issue was about typography, which is an entire creative entity all by itself.  It features the work of some famous type designers, including Marian Bantjes from Canada.  Her work is incredible and edgy.  She created a design for Saks Fifth Avenue's Want It campaign that featured calligraphy-inspired type and background filled with swirls that gave the feeling of echoes of the type.  As an added bonus, the magazine comes with a cd full of fonts and some other goodies.  Now, I once tried calligraphy, and I am not going to lie to you....it did not go well.  It was one of those do-it-yourself bride adventures, where I planned to write each guests name on a card that I would hang from a tree.  In the end, my poor little momma had to write out all the names!  But I did make all my bridesmaids their own jewlery, so my do-it-yourself adventure wasn't a total bust.  Anyway, Marian Bantjes work has inspired me to give calligraphy and typography a shot.  It can only improve my designs.  I've added her to my blog list...she has a ton of amazing projects on there.

So I entered Dark Knight feeling good.  I left feeling a bit creeped out, 

honestly.  But it was a very well done movie.  I've been a Christian Bale fan since Newsies....yup, Newsies.   Haven't seen it?  I'm sorry.  That's probably because it was a Disney musical movie that I saw on a free preview when I was a kid.  It features Christian Bale as a rebellious orphan who led a strike to earn rights for the Newsies.  At the time, I didn't have a crush on Christian Bale, but I did have a slight infatuation, ok huge, with Gabriel Damon.  Not sure who he is, check him out.  This picture was in 1992, mind you.  He was Spot Conlin, the guy from Brooklyn who shot people with a slingshot and was sort of a scrappy guy.  And I wanted to take up a slingshot, put on a newsies' cap and join his gange.   If I weren't going to have a busy day filled with brunch, a friend's wedding dress fitting, and a cake decorating lesson, I would totally dig out the old VHS and have a Newsies afternoon.  I love Newsies.  I didn't love Dark Knight, but it was pretty good.  I had actually been hoping to catch Mama Mia, but I didn't particularly feel like torturing my husband on date night.  Oh yes, so back to the subject at hand, the other things near and dear....I have to put in a plug for my favorite artist, Stephen Huneck.  I have one print, "Love is Give and Take", which Hub gave me for Christmas, and every morning I drink out of the "Networking" mug.  Take a look at his work at dogmt (dot) com.  It will be worth it.  Right now he has a special edition print called "Chase Away K9 Cancer", which is a lovely fundraising print.  He has a gallery that you can bring your pets into, except that I couldn't bring McGuzzio in there, he'd probably try to "mark" one of Huneck's brilliant wood carvings.  Yikes!

Love Stories

Some of you may have heard me talk about my favorite website, Confessions of a Pioneer Woman.  Ree, the wicked cool lady who created this fabulous source of endless entertainment for me and countless others, has the entire detailed story of how she met her husband.  I literally spent a good portion of an afternoon guzzling up her tasty narrative like a thirsty kitten.  (And that's saying something,...we've got a maine coon who will spend hours at the faucet slurping up the H2O goodness...)  anyway, I decided that since I am totally inspired and a newlywed, I would share some choice stories of Tom's and my 'courtship.'  

You've already heard about the labrador peetriever.  Remember him?  Here he is again in all his glory.  Right now he has all white whiskers and one black.  Last time I was telling you about how I thought trying on an engagement ring would jinx me.  So how did that play out?  Well, the proposal was maybe a little jinxed.  Unbeknownst to me, Tom had the ring in his possession and was planning to drive out to the Outer Banks with me and his two canine accomplices.  Once there, he intended to find some secluded beach location where he would write, 'Will you marry me?' in the sand.  This was perfect, seriously, the perfect plan.  For a number of reasons, which I will now list.  First, I love the beach.  Tom is a mountain man, but I am 100% beach girl.  My body even loves the beach.  My hair curls and lightens giving me just a suggestion of being a carefree girl again.  I get freckles that I treasure.  I love swimming in the ocean.  I used to pretend that I was Ariel, the little mermaid, for hours on end in our above ground pool.  I still remember all the words to those songs.  Plus, the salty ocean makes floating easier, and there's not much that rivals a good, long float.  You can fly kites there.  Tom and I made quite a few trips out to the Outerbanks to see lighthouses early on in our relationship, so the beach reminds me of those great times together.  We have a thing for writing our names in the sand whenever we go to the beach.  Ok, so....good plan.  Little did Tom know, that I had tried the damn thing on and jinxed it all.  Oh boy, did I do a doozie on his plan.  First, he said, let's go the Outer Banks this weekend,....um, we have a housewarming party...oh, ok.  While at the housewarming, my friend's husband decided to do a little meddling and asked Tom when he was going to "finally" pop the question.  Plans-ruined Tom responded that he hadn't really thought about it.  Weeks later, the Jinx overcome, my friend confessed to me that she was totally relieved...after Tom's comment, her husband had confided that he didn't think it was happening anytime soon.  So, the next weekend, Tom ponied up and suggested that we go to the Outer Banks for the day on Saturday.  OK, see, we live really far from the Outer Banks...probably over five hours.  A day trip?  Not so much.  So I suggested a different beach.  It was a hot april day, and the beach was filled with people.  Not just filled, but people were packed on that sand like sardines.  We couldn't find any isolation at all.  Pretty hard to have an intimate moment when people are right next to you.  It didn't seem to bother the people next to us who were graphic and confusing tangle of pale white winter skin and fried chicken.  We had brought the dogs, who love to swim in the creek at Hub's parents house, and revel in chasing crabs and sticks and chomping the sucking it in like whales.  But that is a creek.  It doesn't have big, scary waves.  Yup, the pit bull and the labrador were scared of the ocean.  They got hotter, we got hotter, and I never noticed the giant, square box in the pocket of Tom's board shorts.  So we drove back inland.  I wondered the whole ride why Tom was so quiet.  He had seemed very ambivalent about leaving the beach, but when the lady and dogs are hot, and there's a strange human sculpture next to you, you do the right thing and go home.  Hours later,  I was watching iRobot in the living room, and Tom was hiding something behind Keyser Soze, our fat, siamese kitten.  He made me close my eyes and when I opened them, he was holding the jinx ring.  He didn't say anything!!  So I caught my breath and said, what for it, it's classy, "Is that for me?!!!"  That's right.  I am a classy girl.  I didn't cry, I didn't swoon, I screamed, "Is that for me?!!"

The Road To Letterpress

So, the letterpress is almost ready to make its first print.  I say almost because, um, well in the process of assembling Santo Vida, I broke something.  I'll admit it.  Those of you who know me, know that I am once clumsy girl.  Not a day goes by when I don't slam my knee into my desk at work...and in the process of assembling the letterpress, I banged my foot not once, not twice, but three times on that hunk of iron.  

I was beginning to think that my venture was doomed, and that the foot abuse was fate's way of saying, "Hey you, you're a scientist, damn it.  Stop this creative stuff you like and get back to work."  But I am handy and a glutton for punishment, so I persevered.  I recruited my husband, a dead blow mallet, and alot of oil, and together we got the last few pieces together.  

I believe that I snapped the spring during one of these foot banging incidents.  So, now I am eagerly awaiting 4 new roller hook springs that are on their way from NA graphics in Colorado.  Fritz, a letterpress guru I am told, hooked me up.  He also told me that the Kelsey is tough, but a good way to learn.  He said my next press would be a breeze once I've mastered Santo Vida.  Ok, obviously, he didn't call it Santo Vida.....but he did say 'your next press', and so I hung up the phone beaming, raving about how nice people from the letterpress community are, and thinking "Ha, take that fate!!!  Fritz said my next press...."  my faith was instantly restored.  Then, like magic, my BoxCar Base arrived, as did my Adobe Illustrator, and I got to work.  I've worked up quite a few designs in my pony notebook that my awesome friend Professor Sarah gave me, and I am working on recreating them in illustrator...with a little creative handholding from my artist friends at work.  Once the designs are done, I'll post them.  Hopefully, the Gallant Fox Whimsy card line will be available sometime before September.  Stay tuned.  And keep your f

ingers crossed for me, I am afraid this post may have irked fate just a bit...and I am just a tad superstitious...I didn't want to try on engagement rings before my husband proposed, thinking that the violation would jinx me.  Alas, I caved to friend pressure of my wise, married-lady friend Beth, put on the dreamy ring, and t

hen proceeded to giggle to Tom that I had "done something bad," tee hee hee.  So totally lame.  Yup, I'm super cool.  Marry me.  I am a giggling tool.  Anyway, apparently I was wrong about the whole jinx thing then, but I don't want to push my luck.

This is unrelated, but here is my hunky letterpress assembler, pictures in St. Lucia, taking one for the team, so to speak.  He does not share my love of horses, especially after his horse "Macho" bolted and took off with him.  But, I do love this photo.....What can I say,...we look good in hats.

Good news or bad news?

So, the good news is that today I decided to buy Adobe Illustrator for my lovely, wonderful iMac. I think my husband is surprised that I don't actually tuck my iMac in at night. I just love it so much..... anyway, I found a really great deal on the software and I can't wait to get started with it. I've been using Lineform, which is actually a pretty good program, but there are more toys with Illustrator, and all my artist friends convinced me. It was peer pressure. Try it, you'll like it. I'm pretty sure that I will. And as a bonus, even though by day I am a medical writer and not an artist, I get to work with a group of really talented artists and graphic designers who generously answer all of my stupid "how do i do this?" questions.

The bad news, um, I've now been at my medical writing job for 10 hours. Not to complain about long hours, but when you don't absolutely love something, it's pretty hard to do it for this long, and with an empty stomach. I keep thinking about how anniversary dog, all our other fuzzy children (did I mention we have 6 pets!!! we're practically hoarders!), the hub, Santo Vida, and my iMac are all at home. I am a hardworker, but frankly, this is just uncool.

Independence Day

This independence day the hub and I headed up to Maryland to visit his folks. Nature gave us her own fireworks in the form of a pretty crazy thunderstorm on the fourth. On Saturday, we went to the inner harbor in Baltimore and had Cheesecake Factory and the National Aquarium. Does anyone else struggle choosing what to eat at Cheesecake Factory? The menu is sprial bound. I think that pretty much says it all. Too many options. The national aquarium was neat. I especially enjoyed the open pools with sharks, stingrays, and giant turtles swimming around. As you tour the aquarium, you actually descend down the side of these pools and get to experience them from different levels, which is pretty amazing. I'll post some pictures later when I get a chance.

On our first day back in Apex, Santo Vida came. My first letterpress was, as the seller promised, in excellent condition. It was in pieces in several boxes, so it requires some reassembly. It's kind of a puzzle to assemble something like a letterpress without a picture. Good thing I don't like puzzles....I LOVE them. So now Santo Vida is all put together, except that I realized that I hadn't attached the gooseneck, so she'll need to come apart a bit to get that on, and then we'll be ready to go. As part of my letterpressing goody pack, I also got some type and black rubber-based ink, and since my rollers shockingly appear to be in pretty good shape, I think I am going to get some practice in this weekend. I can't wait to see how my type runs come out. I will put up some examples as I make them.

So to the topic of my post....I guess I sort of feel like trying something new, and focusing on developing my creative business and art, makes me feel like it is my independence. It marks a new beginning. I feel so inspired, motivated, and energetic. I am so excited to see how this adventure develops. I don't think I deserve any fireworks or a song yet, but I feel a little like a firecracker.

Anniversary Dog

This weekend was my dog's and my four-year anniversary. I got him on June 28th while my boss was away in Japan. I had gone to the pound with a friend who wanted to look at the kittens, and I found myself wandering into the dog room. Anyone who has been to a pound knows the telltale noises and smells in the dog room. Frankly, even if you are a dog person...it's not pretty. It's a caucaphony of barking, howling, growling, and chain link clanging. Then there is the fine aroma of more excriment than one should ever be exposed to. I spotted the Gooz right away. He was a big, white lab, and he was absolutely silent. He was sitting pretty in the back of his cage, but as soon as he saw me, he ran to the front, sat down, and threw up a paw, imploring me to "get him outta there." I didn't. I had a small apartment and I was in grad school. I over-analyzed it.

By the next morning, I had convinced myself that he was supposed to be mine, and that if I didn't get there by the time the pound opened that morning, he would be gone already. To my amazement, he was still there. I took him home right away, named him Ollie (which soon became Monsieur Oliver, then Oliver McGuzzio, and then "The Gooz") and then to PetSmart to begin the spoiling that must commence as soon as someone adopts a pet. He walked around, checking everything out, standing still for kids to pet him...an absolute doll. He sniffed, he eyed the 40 lbs bags of food, and then he lifted his leg and peed all over the iams display. I don't know if he was claiming at his or what. Wow, I got myself a classy dog. Pee in the nasty concrete pound stall with a drain in the floor, no way. Pee in the lovely PetSmart in front of a mother and children, yes!

Is it any wonder that a little over a year later on my first date with my now husband, we went to the dog park, and the Gooz decided to kick the date off by peeing on the camp chair of a woman who was there with her dog. Did I mention she was sitting in it at the time? But, to be honest, I am glad that the Gooz peed. It was a test, I think. A test for Tom. Who passed with flying colors when he turned to me and said, "What did she expect....it is a dog park after all. I would't bring my best camp chair here and expect it to come out clean." Now that's a keeper.

So in honor of the Gooz in all his flabrador peetriver glory, his matchmaking skills, and our anniversary, the pup received a piece of doggy heaven.....canine carrot cake from Three Dog Bakery. And I got a sloppy, carrot cake breath kiss. Happy Anniversary Gooz! I'm glad we found eachother.

The thrill of victory

Santo Vida aka the Mercury model 5x8 Excelsior by Kelsey is mine! Oh, victory is sweet. I can't wait to begin printing. I'm already working on my first set of designs for when that baby is arrived and ready for action. I've even commissioned my husband to build me a heavy-duty work stand for it. And he is a wood worker who doesn't mess around. I know I am probably a bit too excited about this....I've read about Kelsey's quite a bit, but honestly, I am easily amused. So I think this will be the start of a beautiful friendship. Letterpress here I come.

Love of Stamps

Today I would like to dedicate my blog to my recently-developed love of stamps. All of this came from my do-it-yourself bride adventure. I wanted to make everything myself for my wedding. Not a little bit of everything, but everything. I tried to find a vintage paper with birds and flourishes, but I couldn't locate the exact thing that I was looking for. Until I discovered a store at Triangle Town Center called Archiver's. It's a scrapbooking paradise--aisle after aisle of every imaginable stamp, paper, and bling-age imaginable. So I started a giant pile on the counter and before I knew it I was hooked. The pictures are some of the table cards and programs that I created for the wedding. I photographed them today with my husband's Canon SLR and a Sigma macro lens.

After the honeymoon and getting back into the busy swing of things at work as a medical writer, I had packed the stamps away and momentarily forgotten my new love. As luck would have it, our fantastic wedding photographers, Mark and Joanna Bolick of Tuesday's Frog in Asheville, sent us our wedding photos this past week. In the goody pack, along with dvds of all of our fantastic images, was a tiny stamp set with owls: a gift from Joanna. (They are wonderful, by the way. I would totally recommend them for a special event. Not only did I instantly want to be friends with them, but they are so talented!) I was so excited about making all of my wedding ephemera that I had shared my newfound stamp crush with Joanna while she photographed the bridal party getting ready on the wedding day. Being a fellow art and scrapbooking enthusiast and an all-around wicked cool lady, she had reminded me of the crush by giving me these precious new stamps to try. I am planning a project for them as we speak.

So now, I will be stamping with owls, and am hoping to take my projects to the next level with the acquisition of my first letterpress!! I'm currently entangled in a vicious battle to the end to win an auction for a letterpress. I've become so attached to it. It's a mint-condition Kelsey Excelsior 5x8, with lots of accessories, and I'm practically baby-talking to it. There are 5 hours to go, so I am incessantly checking to make sure I am the top bidder. I almost feel sorry for the other side of the bidding war.....he or she doesn't know how they are up against....a girl who's already named the darn thing. Santo Vida the letterpress...it does have a ring to it, doesn't it?

The Triple Crown

The triple crown is elusive. A goal that many reach for, dream of, and yet, never reach. My own personal triple crown is pure joy, art, and total freedom. That's the goal of Gallant Fox Gallery. I've been thinking about taking this first step--one that is small, but feels enormous, for a while. So here it is, my humble beginning. But I guess, in a lot of ways, that is the only way to start. Even Gallant Fox, the 1930 Triple Crown winner was once a scrawny, wobbly colt. So for now, I am choosing to focus on that. And suddenly, feeling scrawny and wobbly doesn't feel so bad after all. It feels pretty darn promising.