I'm still alive, just have been really busy with commuting and house hunting. I'm getting out of Barrie and back to Toronto next month and cannot wait. I am going to launch a new website this summer, I think in Joomla but am still just thinking about the design at this point. And Joomla. I just taught myself Joomla last month and have been creating a monster site for my work, Bang Creative Communications: http://doc.creativitygoesbang.com/index.php . I'm almost done but it has taken so long to create that I am still not confident that this is the way of the future with web design. I could have whipped up the same design in HTML in like a week. This mofo has taken 4 weeks at least. Maybe it will be easier to maintain. I like that people can comment and share content easily. See, I'm torn. Anyways, I am using Twitter a little more these days so if you'd like you can follow me at https://twitter.com/ElaineStam Check back in August for a new, way more awesome site! :)

So I notice more and more job postings lately that are looking for a designer/programmer. I believe that there may be a few individuals out there that are both talented artists and programming wizards but how many, honestly?

 

Employers figure that they can get the most bang for their buck and request that their employee be experienced in not only print and web design programs, have amazing artistic talent AND know all best coding practices, including PHP and MySQL. I think it's unrealistic. I think it is more sensible to seek out a talented artist who knows their design programs inside and out and who can understand how to effectively design a website. Then why not hire an experienced programmer to work with a few days a week for the issues that come up that are beyond the grasp of your designer. It seems to me the only realistic approach.

 

I know in larger studios that I have worked at that this is how things are run but I think the small studios need to see this distinction. I used to apply to jobs that I felt were a bit beyond my reach in terms of skills but now I would prefer to work somewhere where they have an understanding of reality and how the mind and talents of a programmer and designer differ.

 

I bought the pot, sand and succulents at the garden gallery. I plan to keep my eyes open for pots when I'm out antiquing so I can collect a stash of neat pots and then just need to buy the plants. I'm going to start cloning the succulents I already have too, I just bought a book all about it and am pumped to start playing god with my plants.

I have no idea who is out there reading this blog but thanks for your interest nonetheless - 3000 hits in 5 months is amazing!(and a little frightening...) Have a lovely Christmas my friends :)

 

Zac and I took a wrong turn on our way home one day and found this unassuming antique store. It is actually a massive antique centre with over 25 rooms across three floors of an old warehouse. There is a whole floor of sixties and seventies modern furniture and things to suit any collection a person could have. Both times we went we left with tons of cool stuff.

 

I went looking for a paperweight to give as a gift for someone and found all of these awesome things, my favorite being a hedgehog pendant with red gemstone eyes and a stone on it's back between the quills. Made in Toronto and only $10!

 

Barrie Antiqes Centre:

272 Innisfil St. Barrie, ON ~ 705.726.1663

 

 

I've had almost 3000 hits to my blog since it's inception 4 months ago.. ummm, what?! I figured I was just allowing myself an opportunity to vent to someone other than my boyfriend but people are actually reading my ramblings?!? Scary!

I have been listening to so many different genres of music lately that I kind of forgot about electronic music for a while. I downloaded the latest Transition mix by John Digweed and am back in love with progressive. You can subscribe to Digweed's podcast here and he posts samples from his upcoming releases. I just downloaded Bedrock 11 and can't stop thinking about getting myself to a party!:

 

itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect

 

I heard the newest Transition mix yesterday on Sirius and it was amazing. The last two tracks by Union Jack blew my mind. I'm going to download them right now..

 

 

 

Ummm.. what the hell happened to November?!

What a month. It's nice and busy at work and I've been working on a couple of freelance projects at home and then all of a sudden there's only one week til December! I've been fighting the urge to put up my Christmas decorations but might give in this weekend. I'm not a Christmas fanatic but with each year I get more and more into it. I think I'll do a little bit of Christmas shopping on my way home, then I've got to finish a website I've been working on forever. I hope to have it complete by tomorrow night.. I'll post a link once it's finished.

I usually listen to Sirius radio when at my computer at work but I'm at home working today so I thought I'd try and find a good oldies station from iTunes for my Sunday of oldies (now a tradition). After getting most of the way down the list listening to crummy programming and tons of ads I discovered this station and it's great!:

 

www.sockhopradio.com