I got to work on a listening guide, this week, for an upcoming event this fall. —The design isn’t approved yet, so I’m trying not to share too much. No use in jinxing it! It was a fun project, one of those rare things in design where everything came naturally and easily.

http://www.coolhunting.com/culture/karl-johnson.php


These are so impressive! Karl Johnson cuts these out in a matter of minutes!

MY CAKIES

http://mycakies.blogspot.com/

My friend Lydia sent me a link to this blog last week. I love her photography and recipes.

KATE SLATER ILLUSTRATION

http://kateslaterillustration.blogspot.com

Somehow I stumbled upon Kate Slater’s illustrations this past week. Fantastic work!

88 EXAMPLES OF FORCED PERSPECTIVE

http://www.instantshift.com/2010/08/24/88-brilliant-examples-of-forced-perspective-photography/

These are some fun photos to look through.

DIAGONAL GUIDES ILLUSTRATOR

http://www.nikibrown.com/designoblog/2010/01/29/diagonal-guides-illustrato/

This is a quick tip on how to create diagonal guides in Illustrator.

FREE PSD WEB UI ELEMENTS

http://alexwolkov.ru/blognews/Photoshop/Web_Elements/Free_PSD_Web_UI_Element

An excellent resource to add to your toolbox.

7 WAYS TO INVEST YOUR TIME BESIDES COMMENTING ON BLOGS

http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/7-ways-to-invest-your-time-besides-commenting-on-blogs/

I’m hesitant to include this link. It’s a post that discourages you from commenting on blogs. It makes the case that most people don’t leave useful comments. There are always a lot of “Good post.” “Thanks for sharing.” —and for someone (like me) that tries to respond to every comment, it takes more time to maintain your blog. While I always want comments on my blog, I think this blogger makes an excellent point.

• When I Meet a Freelance Client…
• The Perfect Workflow for Building a Site
• Writing a Contract for a Freelance Client

You seem to enjoy reading about it or at least you’re willing to click on the link….so I thought I’d share a little more.

I’ve already shared about the folder of templates I have set up on Dropbox. I also keep all my documentation in Google Docs. Anytime, I get a new client or project, I will duplicate the Google Spreadsheet for them.

Why Google Docs?

I like being able to access it anywhere: on my phone, on my computer at work, at home, etc. I could even share it with a client if neceessary. (Share > Publish as a web page)

Each spreadsheet has five sheets that way I can keep everything together in one file.

1 - Production Notes

This is the project overview.

• name of the project
• due date
• directory I save it on, on my computer
• contact information
• where the proposal document is
• where the sitemap is
• the current site URL
• the approved comp file name
• where the production files are
• where the content is
• any miscellaneous information
• where the templates are saved
• the color palatte - either an image file and / or actual hexadecimal values
• fonts I’m using
• username and passwords for FTP, Database, Site Admin (if I’m using Wordpress or Expression Engine), Google Apps information

The username and password information is the most valuable section.

I know some of this information seems obvious if I keep my file structure and naming conventions the same for every project. But, it’s invaluable if I have to hand the project off to someone else or if I have multiple revisions of the same file. Which is the most recent? which one got approved?

2 - Time Sheet

This sheet is the one that I visit the most. As soon as I sit down to work on a project, I will record the date and the start time. When I’m ready to move onto someone else, I record the end time, what I was able to accomplish, and the amount of hours I spent on the project.

Believe it or not, I’ve had clients question the amount of time a project took. I was able to pull up my time sheet and explain how every hour was spent. It makes a difference when you’re able to provide documentation!

3 - Estimate

If I’m doing a site build, this sheet gets visited up front. I try and break down the project by items. One of my problems is I like to operate out of what I would like to accomplish versus what is realistically possible. This sheet helps me. I can say, “Oh that project will take 10 hours,” but if I start breaking it down by task, I quickly realize that my estimate may double: develop assets, design the comp, slice and dice, set up the CMS, hook it up to the CMS… you get the point.

The most helpful line on this document is near the end: 10 - 20% contingency allowance. A lot of times I underestimate the amount of time it will take. This section has saved me. Other times, I’ve been right on. When I only bill for the amount of hours actually spent, this section makes them happy because it looks like I’ve saved them a buck or two. Under promise. Over deliver.

4 - Expenses

This sheet is self explanatory. Here, I track anything I purchase for the project, an expression engine license, stock photography, fonts, etc. I want to make sure that I foot the bill to the client.

5 - Meeting Notes

On this sheet I track any meetings and / or conversations I’ve had with the client. This helps when I’m trying to rmemeber what and when something was said. I include:

• meeting notes
• thoughts
• action points
• attendees
• location
• duration
• attachments

The thoughts section is good. It allows me to reflect on the meeting, either things that I said or did, things the client mentioned that I may need to consider down the road, etc.

Action points makes sure that I have a record of what I said I would do and what the client said they would do. A meeting is a waste of time unless an action point comes out of it.

If any files were exchanged during the meeting, I’ll list them under attachments.

Honestly, some project I’m more diligent about recording these things than others. I’ve found, though, that the more I document, the more smoothly the project goes, the less trouble.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

One of my favorite names of God right now is Emmanuel, God with us. I cling to those verses: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Right now, there is so much change going on that I have to cling to the one unchanging thing in my life, the Rock. That’s where I find my grounding, my footing. I love that I have the promise of His prescence. People will come and go. It’s part of life, but God, I have His unchanging presence.

I believe there’s more to that verse.

We must remind ourselves that, for the Jews, the Temple was where the one true God had promise to make his home. The Temple was the place where heaven and earth were joined together. It was the place you went to meet with God. It was the place of sacrifice, of atonement, the place where you went for festivals because you went to celebrate the prescence and love of God.

John constantly says and implies that Jesus thought and acted as though he were some kind of replacement of the temple.

So, we can re-read John 1:14, God the Creator of the universe, the Author of life, comes to dwell with His people, He pitches His tent, His “tabernacle” among us.

In the Old Testament, the tabernacle was a tent pitched in the center of the camp. It was intended to be a sign of His prescence, always among them that moved with them as they traveled.

In the New Testament, Jesus actually lives inside us, pitches his tent in our hearts.

Let’s keep reading.

He who believes in me — out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.

I never put two and two together, until now. I’ve always read that verse and thought water = life. Most major cities are built around water. We need water to live. But, with God, our heart becomes an actual spring. When everything else is pushing down on us, life comes up out of us. Keep going, though, there’s so much more there! —It’s a picture of the creation story.

A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Asshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

As God makes a new creation in me, He actually mirrors the creation story. Rivers of living water flow from my heart, just like the Garden of Eden, the way it was meant to be.

But, it’s also a picture of the temple in Ezekiel 47:1-12.

The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side.

That’s where the spring in my heart is. Flowing from the temple, the new creation in me, where Jesus has pitched His tent. Brilliant.

If I could dribbble it, I would….of course you can always invite me. * HINT * HINT * WINK * WINK * POKE * POKE * GIRLISH GIGGLE *

One of my best friends just moved to Texas (I’m sorry, I hate Texas) to change her career. I’m so excited for new opportunites that she has and definitely don’t want to be the person that stands between her and what is God’s best. But, it still hurts. I miss having her around. I miss seeing her everyday at work.

My love language is quality time. Time is something where I feel like everyone is on the same playing field. Oh, I know, some people live longer than others, but just for today, we all have 24 hours. We all have a choice in how we want to spend that time. I can’t “buy time,” but I can give it away. I love spending time with people. It’s hard sometimes to “make time” with everything else I have going on, but that’s also what makes my time valuable and special. Once given, it can’t be taken back. It’s one of the best gifts that I can give someone —So, to be at a place where I don’t feel like I can spend quality time with my roommate or one of my best friends makes this change even harder.

Six months ago, at a Thursday night Bible Study, we looked at the verse in Matthew that says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…” I had all the girls write down that verse, the date (February 11), and what they needed rest from. I wrote down singleness. I hate being treated like I’m single, like it’s a problem or a sickness. I hate being a singles Bible Study where we either feel like we have to talk about it every week or the exact opposite, it’s taboo. I’m so ready to be in that right relationship! That index card is attached to my dry erase board in my bedroom at the apartment. I look at it daily and wonder when the rest will come.

I came back from Bible Study last night and it hit me. God convicted me. I was complaining about being stripped of these relationships. “You want to spend quality time with everyone else except Me.” So, I pulled out my journal and laid all my cards out. It was a lot of me talking and just outright complaining about where I’m at in life. I went to bed without any answers, still frustrated, but having to accept where I’m at.

This morning, I got up and spend some more time in the Word. I looked at Beth Moore’s 90 Days with John: the Beloved Disciple. (Which is “funny”, because I haven’t looked at this book in about a year and a half!) God picked the conversation back up. This time, He spoke, not me.

I read Acts 3. It’s a story about a crippled begger. He sits outside a temple called Beautiful. Peter and John both walk by. They looked at the beggar and requested his attention. “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (verse 6) Peter grabbed him by the right hand, instantly the crippled man’s ankles and feet became strong. He jumped to his feet and began walking and jumping, praising God.

We talked about this passage a few weeks ago in Sunday School. Funny, then, we assumed the perspective of Peter and John. We talked about previous instances when they were visiting the temple and probably saw the beggar. We focused on the importance of really looking the poor in the face, of giving them dignity. But, the truth is, I can identify much more with the beggar.

Someone today has been begging God for trivial things like silver and gold when God wants to raise her to her feet and jump, dance and praise Him. Why do we wnat God to help us stay like we are? Grab a handful of faith and be changed!

That’s me! I keep begging God to “relieve” me of singleness. I’ve thought that rest would come in the form of Prince Charming, but a guy can’t stand up under that pressure, the pressure of all the things that I want and hope for him to be. There’s idolatry there.

I shared Matthew 11:28 earlier, but the thing is, I stopped where I end the verse in my head. In reality, the following verse is equally as important. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

It’s ironic that it talks about rest and a yoke. I’m not much for farming, but I do know that an ox wears a yoke, unique to them, that enables them to pull the load. They seem like opposites. But, the difference with God’s yoke? It’s His yoke, not mine. It’s custom fit for me and no one else.

The burden of singleness, of loneliness, of friends leaving, this is not the yoke the Lord wants me to carry. Why do I continue to bring myself back to this place, allowing myself to be pulled down under its weight? He has called me to get up and walk, to jump, to praise His name. It’s so hard for me to walk when I’m so used to begging.

Instead of giving me what I’ve been asking for, God has chosen to give me more, so much more.

It’s no mistake that the temple is called Beautiful. This is a beautiful sotry. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” In the world, beauty dimenshes over time, but with God and the things that are really important, beauty increases over time. If you look at the ten verses before 3:11, it’s a series of “there is a time for…”

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

…it keeps going. But the thing is, it’s all those times when strung together that make life beautiful. It’s this season of singleness that will make marriage beautiful. It’s the season of leaving and loneliness that make community so beautiful. I know it sounds cliche, but it’s the rainy days that make you appreicate the sunshine. It’s the winter that makes you appreciate the summer. This is beautiful.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

When you see people walking, it’s normal, expected. There’s not much beauty in it. It’s getting from point A to point B. But, with this man, this crippled man, it was the season of being paralyzed that made his walk beautiful.

When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running…

http://www.fastcompany.com/1684739/chad-ochocinco-fined-25000-for-tweeting

This article was a fascinating read. Apparently, the NFL prevents players from posting on social networking sites 30 minutes bfeore and after the game. If you ask me, this a HUGE mistake on their part, a huge opportunity missed. I feel like they could really capitalize on the players’ thoughts throughout the game.

THE TOP 40 PLACES TO GET THE BEST GRAPHIC DESIGNER INSPIRATION

http://creativefan.com/40-places-to-get-best-graphic-design/
Here are 40 different sites (that are supposed) to inspire you. Everything is covered from patterns, to icons, to ads.

BUSINESS CARD DESIGN STARTER KIT SHOWCASE TUTORIAL TEMPLATES

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/08/09/business-card-design-starter-kit-showcase-tutorials-templates/

This post has been out for a few weeks, but for whatever reason, I just now found it. I appreicate it because it included some business cards that I haven’t seen yet.

MARNETTE

http://marnette.canalblog.com/

Here are some beautiful illustrations. I love her style. They remind me of some of the illustrations in my favorite children’s books when I was little.

15 LOGOS WITH HIDDEN MESSAGES

http://webdesignledger.com/inspiration/15-logos-with-hidden-messages

Some of these logos are older than others. But, the commentary on the new Facebook Place logo? There’s a 4 in the map. A bunch at FourSquare? definitely.

Judge me: I never saw the 31 in the new Baskin Robins logo until today. Brilliant.

http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/17/wired-web-dead/

This is an interesting read. The post makes a good point, the Internet isn’t necessarily dead, it’s the former way of browsing and using the Internet that’s dead. —More and more, we’re using applications or watching video. It’s fascinating how stuff technology morphs and changes. Our concerns and interestes are different now than they were 10 years ago. — Check out the article from Smashing Magazine that I posted on Monday.

IMAGE OF THE DAY :: 133 PEOPLE SURVIVED THIS PLANE CRASH

http://dvice.com/archives/2010/08/image-of-the-da-14.php

This post came through my Reader. The funny / awesome thing about this photo? I have a friend that was one of the 133!

AN INTRODUCTION TO SPLIT TESTING IN WORDPRESS

http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/wordpress/an-introduction-to-split-testing-in-wordpress/
I’ve been wanting to experiment with A/B Testing. —not that I want the crowd to dictate design for me, but I’d be interested to see what the data shows. I posted a bunch of UI links about a month ago, including A Complete Guide to UI Testing.

ICON SWEETS

http://iconsweets.com/

I came across the icon set yesterday. I got a little excited, just because you can use this set commercial or non-commercially. (On the web that’s as free as free gets.)

THE WORLD’S HAPPIEST

http://www.meettheboss.tv/articles/?contributorFullName=adam-burns&mediaTitle=the-worlds-happiest&articleId=445

This post is a few weeks old. But, I do love the infographic. — I think the important take away here is if you’re thinking about moving, but don’t know where, strongly consider Denmark.

Inspired, this morning, I made a banana, peanut butter, and egg sandwich. (The Elvis Sandwich also has bacon) It was so good!

http://blog.appboy.com/2010/07/7-lessons-app-developers-should-learn-from-flipboard/

I linked to Flipboard about a month ago on 5 at 5.. It’s a beautiful app that turns your Facebook and Twitter stream into a magazine.

As the title suggests, this post looks at lessons app developers should learn from Flipboard:

• Simplicity
• Scalability
• Creativity
• Improvision
• Consistency
• Explosiveness
• Inspiration

DOES ANYONE WANT A NORMAL WEBSITE

http://thinkvitamin.com/dev/does-anyone-want-normal-websites/
This post talks about how recently there’s been a shift in the type of web requests being made. People want more brochure sites, iPhone apps, and CMS integration. — This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.

GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS MANUAL

http://identityworks.com/tools/guidelines_and_standards_manuals.htm

This is a list of various companies and institutions style guidelines and standards. —It’s always interesting to flip through these. Includes a range, to name a few: FedEx, The Neilson Company, and UPS.

60 WAYS TO INCREASE YOUR INFLUENCE ONLINE

http://www.copyblogger.com/increase-influence-online/

This is a great list:

• Follow better people. The better your inbound is, the better your output will be. And your output is what people follow. -Robert Scroble
• Create content that stands for something: what I call Higher Purpose Content Marketing. -Joe Pulizzi
• Get very good at filtering and aggregating content. Deliver it to people at the right time, the right size, the right amount - John Jantsch
• Make people around you more successful than you are. - Erica OGrady
• Don’t worry about getting attention from other people. Make something worth talking about. - Nathan Hangen

THE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/08/11/the-future-of-the-internet/

This is an interesting discussion on freedom, security and the future.