Blonde Dutch Girl Art and Design

The House is Always Calmer on the Other Side of the Clutter: New Cover

2012-02-21T19:16:00.004-07:00

The House is Always Calmer on the Other Side of the Clutter

2012-02-10T17:29:00.002-07:00

Bottle Labels: Ideas for a Vintage, Exotic Look

2012-02-07T22:04:00.001-07:00

Know One In Particular: Improv Comedy Group

2012-02-07T22:03:00.001-07:00

Cook. Bake. Smile. A Cookbook by the (Dutch) Tenpas Women

2012-02-03T18:54:00.001-07:00

Cook. Bake. Smile. by Melissa M. Tenpas | Make Your Own Book

Military Prayer Guide: Earnestly Interceding on Behalf of the Military

2012-01-26T12:37:00.004-07:00

Military Prayer Guide by Matthew Ayers, Melissa M. Tenpas, and Colen Willis | Make Your Own Book

Military Prayer Book: Earnest Intercession for Servicemen and Women

2012-01-25T09:38:00.003-07:00

This simple guide, inspired by our Scriptures, walks you through a prayer journey to forgive, grieve, embrace, and live in hope. In Colorado Springs we understand that you interact with local military through family, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances almost every day. We are all affected by the unique responsibilities that our servicemen and women experience. The purpose of this guide and this prayer room is that we would earnestly intercede on behalf of the servicemen and women and their families, and on behalf of those affected by our military around the world. We desire that all people would have fellowship with the triune God who loves all of us and promises a day that we can all look forward to in hope. It will soon be available for sale. I am extremely proud of this project and the two men who wrote the prayers.

Uniform Broker: A New Logo for a Great Business

2012-01-05T17:22:00.003-07:00

It's always fun to hear the dreams that people have. Dreams for a new business with much-needed skills to help others succeed. Here is a new business venture that will be taking off in 2012. Can't wait to see where it goes!

Christmas Card: Dream Center Women's Clinic

2011-12-13T15:26:00.001-07:00

Vintage Bronze Helmco Lacy Hot Chocolate Dispenser From the 1950s

2011-12-05T09:09:00.005-07:00

As you can probably see, no, I did not design this (amazingly beautiful, vintage, cute, awesome, where-in-the-world-did-you-get-that) hot chocolate dispenser. I found 13 of them under my house. THIRTEEN! I still remember the day. My dad and oldest brother helped me move into my house and my dad kept shouting out, "Hey! Here's another hot chocolate maker!" I couldn't for the life of me figure out what he was talking about. But, after I finished my other moving duties, I opened some of the boxes. Yes, they were still in boxes! And, they had been hiding in the crawl space under my house for possibly 50 years. Incredible! I have used them at parties and they are such a great conversation piece. The best part? The little sign at the top sways back and forth announcing to everyone that there is delicious hot chocolate available. I love that. I'm selling one on ETSY. I mean, no matter how cute they are, what would I do with 13 hot chocolate dispensers?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This incredible, vintage, adorable Helmco Lacy Hot Chocolate Dispenser from the 1950s is in beautiful condition and is a gorgeous bronze/copper color. It's a definite conversation starter...and makes delicious hot chocolate. The heating element works perfectly; the motor to turn the paddle needs a bit of work (see details below.) I have used these dispensers at formal parties I have thrown, Christmas parties, casual gatherings, and have one on top of my refrigerator. The round sign moves back and forth, beckoning everyone to drink some hot chocolate! I found some of these dispensers under my house, built in 1952. I guess the previous owners ran a Dairy Queen in town, but multiple dispensers is still a delicious mystery!

See the newspaper ad for the very same dispenser from 26 November 1955. Awesome find! : )

The top part of the machine is the motor that turns a silver metal paddle to stir the hot chocolate while it is heating. The 2-prong cord plugs into the bottom barrel portion of the dispenser. The barrel (bottom) portion of the dispenser heats up the contents inside the 15-cup dispenser. There is a dial to adjust the temperature to suit your taste.

Details

23.5 inches tall to the top of the round "Hot Chocolate" sign

10 inches wide on the round base

This is a vintage/antique Helmco-Lacy Hot Chocolate Dispenser.

The heating element does work to heat up the water and hot

chocolate. So, you can use this dispenser for your next holiday

party, home gathering, or just as a fun vintage decoration.

NOTE

The metal paddle and internal engine makes noise but does not turn the paddle or move the wagging "Hot Chocolate" sign back and forth. An applicance fix-it-man or small engine parts

place would likely be able to fix this easily.

Information Printed on Machine

Helmco Inc.

Model No. POA-3 300 W

115 V.A.C. 60 Cycle

Chicago 31, Ill

Palmer House Hot Chocolate

FE. 9=8141 Plymouth Bldg.

Minneapolis, Minn.

Happy, Blessed, Joyful, Grateful-For-You Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T19:32:00.004-07:00

Colored pencil. It still makes me so happy to work with this medium. It reminds me of Bill Peet books, my FAVORITE as a kid. I loved his stories, but his illustrations really kept me in love with his fun stories. Someday, I would really love to write and illustrate a children's book (or several) and stories are percolating in my head. But until then, I'll keep on illustrating cards and doodles and wish that I had 1 percent of the incredible gift that Bill Peet did. Thank you for sharing your gift for writing inspirational, fun, cute, sweet, positive valued stories. My nieces and nephews will ONLY request Bill Peet's books for me to read when they come over to my house. Thankfully I have several on hand.

Workshop Flyer: From Old School to Oh Yeah

2011-11-20T19:09:00.002-07:00

A client sent me a PDF and said, "Could you PLEASE help my friend? I want her flyer to be really professional. Look at what she sent and see what you can do." Well, you can see the before and after difference. It helps people know that you're legitimate, that you're professional, that they're attending a real workshop, and that it will be worth their time and energy. It just brings a little "oh yeah!" to your print (and email) materials.

Owl Magnets: Set of 6 Super Strong Magnets

2011-11-18T10:39:00.003-07:00

And some more fun refrigerator (locker, file cabinet, artsy piece of metal in your home or office) magnets. These six owl magnets are adorable! The first set was purchased within the first hour of posting. Here's set number two from my ETSY site!

Christmas Magnets: 'Tis the SEason

2011-11-15T16:03:00.001-07:00

These adorable, vintage, I Love Christmas glass magnets have super strong ceramic magnets to stick to metal surfaces with ease and hold your photos, artwork, or sweet little notes. These 8 magnets are all different and have: Prancer, Rudolph, Vixen, Dasher, Santa Approved, Frosty, "Comet, Cupid, Donner, & Blitzen", and Holiday Cheer. The deep reds, light, warm, slate blues, and hints of green and fun drawings of reindeer, snowflakes, Santa, and Frosty give these a vintage Christmas feel. Adorable!

They are for sale on my ETSY site!

They come in a tin tied with cute ribbon and ready for anyone to receive as a gift you decide "just because", a thank you for a job well done, a cool galvanized steel artsy wall that acts as a magnetic bulletin board, or cute decoration for your home, your child's locker, or your office. These magnets are about 1.25" in diameter with a 1/2" super strong ceramic magnet on the back. Enjoy!

Proceeds from these magnets will go toward medical mission trips and supporting children helped by Compassion International.

Dream Center Women's Clinic Thanksgiving Card

2011-11-14T18:07:00.003-07:00

The Dream Center (DCCS) Women's Clinic in Colorado Springs has been so Blessed and shown favor from God. We are a free health care clinic for women between the ages of 18 and 64. Over 250 patients have already come to us for care since our official grand opening on 1 August 2011. Check out our Dream Centers of Colorado Springs website and hear about the great vision for future ministries related to our mission to: To provide health and hope for people working to rebuild their dreams. Values: God loves and values everyone. Therefore, each person deserves tangible help to live with purpose in our community. We highly value the life and ministry of Jesus to guide and direct our words and actions. Above all, we desire to know and rely on the love and grace that God has for us. We are so extremely grateful for each and every member of the volunteer and staff team and want them to know that their work, compassion, and creativity has not gone unnoticed. It's a beautiful thing...

Canine Campus: Website Redesign

2011-11-14T17:48:00.003-07:00

This is a local dog boarding company, Canine Campus. And whew! They LOVE taking care of dogs. Joelle, the owner and founder, loves to give the dogs an "Ivy League Experience" and they eat amazing food, play all day in a pack, have an outdoor swimming pool, and just have a great time making new friends. Owners can go to work and don't have to feel the least snitch of guilt for going to work all day long; their dogs are having more fun than they are! Canine Campus: Where Good Dogs Go to Have a Great Time. I'd say so!

Book Design: If I File It, Can I Find It?

2011-10-25T21:49:00.004-06:00

This book, If I File It, Can I Find It?, was written by Sue McMillin, a professional organizer and trainer. She owns With Time To Spare and specializes in organizing homes, offices, children, paperwork and...your life. She states that: If you or your business associates have been promising to get organized, you are in the right place!! Or maybe you've just now realized that you are going through your work to get to your work and you are wasting time shuffling your work. We understand and can help! Today is the day that you can start bringing order to your desk and your office, by booking this FUN business workshop tailor-made with you and your business in mind! We promise to give you the skills and the motivation that are needed to create a productive and organized work environment!

This was a really fun project to work on. It is a cute, straightforward, 169-page book printed here in Colorado. Now, I am working on her next book entitled How to Organize Your Home, Children, and Paperwork. It really does take a shift in thinking to be organized, doesn't it?! Stay tuned...

ETSY: Ordering The Blonde Dutch Girl Photos & Cards

2011-10-19T13:55:00.004-06:00

Check out my ETSY site. I love that there's an affordable way to get my photos and photography cards out into the public. After travelling to 19 countries - and the fact that I live in gorgeous Colorado - I'm bound to have some photos of incredibly beautiful, intriguing, precious people. Proceeds from my photos and cards will go toward sponsoring a child from Compassion International and future medical mission trips. It's a fun way to give back! Ahh, these kids (and adults) live in such different worlds, but their souls still yearn for safety, health, and knowing and understanding Truth.

Global Tec Training Solutions: Website Redesign

2011-10-17T12:41:00.006-06:00

Global Voice: A Translation Company

2011-10-04T17:29:00.000-06:00

This soon-to-be created company, Global Voice, will specialize in translation and interpretation services for English and Spanish speakers. The owner extraordinaire, Cecilia, lives in Lima, Perú. I was fortunate enough to meet her while on a Compassion International trip last July. She's amazing and I know her business will thrive!

God and Country: A Christian Journal

2011-09-20T17:01:00.002-06:00

‎"God and Country" is a new Christian Journal written by Margie & Scott Vess. They asked me to design the monthly journal and will be publishing and promoting this around the city of Colorado Springs and around the country. It includes articles pertinent to the military, government, patriotism, and the Christian Faith. There are feature articles by well-known teachers and scholars as well as testimonials from people around the nation, local holidays, poignant quotes, and other bits of fascinating information. It's fun to see someone's dreams come to life in a tangible publication!

Watercolor: Pikes Peak, Inspiring Mountain

2011-09-02T16:10:00.006-06:00

This is Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs. Before understanding the intricacies of graphic design, I often hand-painted cards. I was inspired by the beauty of Pikes Peak, just like Katherine Lee Bates, the author of "America the Beautiful." The lyrics are extremely touching and poignant.

"America the Beautiful is an American patriotic song. The lyrics were written by Katharine Lee Bates and the music composed by church organist and choirmaster Samuel A. Ward. Bates originally wrote the words as a poem, Pikes Peak, first published in the Fourth of July edition of the church periodical The Congregationalist in 1895. At that time, the poem was titled America for publication.

In 1893, at the age of thirty-three, Bates, an English professor at Wellesley College, had taken a train trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to teach a short summer school session at Colorado College. Several of the sights on her trip inspired her, and they found their way into her poem, including the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the "White City" with its promise of the future contained within its alabaster buildings; the wheat fields of America's heartland Kansas, through which her train was riding on July 16; and the majestic view of the Great Plains from high atop Zebulon's Pikes Peak.

On the pinnacle of that mountain, the words of the poem started to come to her, and she wrote them down upon returning to her hotel room at the original Antlers Hotel. The poem was initially published two years later in The Congregationalist, to commemorate the Fourth of July. It quickly caught the public's fancy. Amended versions were published in 1904 and 1913." - Wikipedia

America the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet

Whose stern impassioned stress

A thoroughfare of freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America!

God mend thine every flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife.

Who more than self their country loved

And mercy more than life!

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness

And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the enameled plain!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

Till souls wax fair as earth and air

And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,

Whose stem impassioned stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

Till paths be wrought through

wilds of thought

By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale

Of liberating strife

When once and twice,

for man's avail

Men lavished precious life!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

Till selfish gain no longer stain

The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

Till nobler men keep once again

Thy whiter jubilee!

Cook. Bake. Smile. A Family's Collection of Recipes

2011-08-20T07:32:00.009-06:00

It's here! It's finally here! After hours and hours and hours of collecting recipes, editing the text, searching for photos, editing photos, and rearranging pages, the Tenpas Family cookbook - Cook. Bake. Smile - is here. It's an 80-page book (hardcover or softcover). I was tired of dirty, flour-covered, butter-soaked, handwritten recipe cards and pieces of loose paper. Plus, I wanted everyone's best recipes, too! It was a lot of work but so much fun. I admit, I stayed up until 2 or 3 am several nights just to finish it before my Groupon expired. But it was so worth it! Pieces of excellence take time, right?

And wouldn't you know, after all of my hard work, sweat, and tears, NOW everyone remembers recipes that should have been included. For "Cook. Bake. Smile. Second Edition" I will be sure to include ALL recipes from the Tenpas Ladies and maybe even a few from the Tenpas Men. Hmm...do they even cook? We shall see. I'm sure it will include deer venison, elk venison, goose, duck, and...well, let's just stop there. Enjoy previewing my newest book!

Wedding Invitation: At The Warehouse, Part I

2011-07-13T11:47:00.004-06:00

This sweet couple is getting married at the end of August. After their wedding takes place, I will upload their wedding invitation and rehearsal dinner invitation. I love their creativity! They both love (LOOOVE) to cook, so their main icon is 2 ladles. "Some have his and hers towels...we will have his and hers ladles." Cute! I love seeing the personality of the bride and groom in their invitations. These are all 100 percent custom-made and bride/groom inspired.

Wedding Invitation: Texas Style

2011-07-01T16:38:00.003-06:00

Life Light Ministries: Aurangabad, Maharashtra - India

2011-06-01T15:23:00.003-06:00

Babies, Babies, Babies

2011-05-22T13:23:00.002-06:00

My 14th niece (or nephew) will be born in July. So excited. It has amazed me how much I can love each and every new little baby. Just when I fall in love utterly and completely with one, another is born. My heart expands and I embrace him or her. Over the years, their unique personalities emerge and my heart swells with love, adoration, and pride. Yup, another baby will join the family soon and I can't wait!

Forty Years...And Still Going

2011-05-11T21:33:00.000-06:00

This was an extremely fun (albeit slightly stressful secret) surprise party! My parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. It was really fun to see what people brought. Our neighbor (who lived there before I was born and still lives across the street from my parents) brought over 40 cups of sugar. You know, because that's what neighbors borrow.

The First Rule About Fight Club Is...

2011-05-06T14:35:00.003-06:00

Dragons, Dalits, and Darfur: A Global Leadership Forum

2011-05-03T09:19:00.002-06:00

Logo: Beyond the River

2011-04-21T15:39:00.003-06:00

A ministry in China wanted something simple, clean, and modern feeling. I fell in love with the boatman, but the client felt it was a bit too vintage and may not appeal to modern Chinese. The final option really conveys a sense of "beyond the river" while still being simple with a beautiful color selection.

Stationery: E. Peb Jackson Consulting

2011-04-19T11:44:00.003-06:00

I admit. I'm in love with this stationery. The client chose a beautiful natural paper and a perfect fly (for fly fishing) to capture vintage, rustic, down-to-earth Colorado. I love it.

Logo: ROOT (Yoga. Nutrition. Integration.)

2011-04-19T10:55:00.005-06:00

Earthy. Organic. Growing. Life growing from roots in the ground. Brown. Gold. Copper. Sage. This sweet yoga instructor wanted a new logo to represent her business and is already imagining a copper sign hanging above the door of her studio. Someday soon. Someday. Next up? Web redesign!

Logo: Wealth Advisors

2011-04-19T10:51:00.004-06:00

This company had an outdated logo that didn't quite convey the message they were hoping for. They wanted a more modern-looking sun that was a sunrise; something positive and uplifting. It needed to be dignified, professional, and appeal to an older crowd of clients. I think this conveys their message quite nicely!

Logo: GlobalTec

2011-04-19T10:49:00.003-06:00

New Logo: This brings a fresh, modern look to their training. Since they have government contracts and want to be cutting-edge and appeal to the modern world, this new logo gives a fresh update to their company. Now, we can use these colors, fonts, and look and feel to design business cards, brochures, and future marketing materials!

Old Logo: This logo has a lot of energy, but doesn't give this company's clients a feeling that they're modern, able to train people with knew knowledge, and a modern edge. It just needed a bit of a face lift.

Be Still, My Soul: CD Design

2010-11-07T17:13:00.003-07:00

Stick Horses in Pants: Business Cards

2010-11-07T17:12:00.001-07:00

Apple Pie Sale Poster

2010-11-07T17:10:00.003-07:00

Canine Campus Menu

2010-08-26T14:32:00.000-06:00

Canine Campus Banner

2010-08-26T14:28:00.000-06:00

Jackson Piano Studio

2010-08-26T14:19:00.002-06:00

Cain Piano Studio

2010-08-26T13:54:00.001-06:00

The Plaza Young Adults Ministry Logo

2010-08-21T08:06:00.003-06:00

Stork and Nest Baby Shower Announcement

2010-08-21T07:54:00.006-06:00

Cards Part Deux (to raise money for missions)

2010-07-01T16:05:00.007-06:00

Baby on Board

2010-06-21T23:48:00.004-06:00

There's something to this fresh, mountain air that just promotes babies. A friend just had a baby yesterday, on Father's Day. How sweet (and perfectly timed) is that? Another friend is due mid-August. Another in 12 weeks. Another on December 17. Another in a few weeks. I'm telling you, this fresh, mountain air just screams, "Babies must see this, too!" Yup. That's what it is. There's a baby explosion around these here parts, and I'm happy to report that my dear friends Suzanne and Kevin are having their first really, really soon. A gift, just in time for Christmas.

The Tempest Girl

2010-04-11T16:54:00.002-06:00

A new blog: http://thetempestgirl.blogspot.com

Pregnancy Announcement: Going Shopping

2010-03-10T08:12:00.002-07:00

Pregnancy Announcement: Just Hangin' Out

2010-03-09T22:26:00.003-07:00

Pregnancy Announcement: Bun in the Oven

2010-03-09T22:03:00.002-07:00

A Very Merry Family Christmas Card

2010-02-03T20:05:00.001-07:00

To the Point Editing

2010-01-12T09:56:00.002-07:00

CD Design - Like Mary Through the Gloom

2009-11-04T15:00:00.006-07:00

Physical Therapy Consultation Business Tools

2009-10-12T21:21:00.005-06:00

Book Cover and Contents Design

2009-10-12T20:47:00.003-06:00

Here's a newly printed book called How to Think Like a Physical Therapist: in your everyday life. It has been really fun working with Kelli to finish putting this book together. We worked hard on all of the parts of this book: initial concept of book size and layout, cover design and images, photo shoot with patients doing stretches (or things incorrectly), inside design of all chapters and question and answer sections, to advice on how to self-publish this book and legally gain a copyright, ISBN number, barcode, and Library of Congress Control Numbers. Whew! It's finally ready. Can't wait to see a hard copy of this final masterpiece. Stay tuned for further books on thinking like a Physical Therapist at work, on the athletic field, and wherever else you should be thinking like a PT.

Logo - Synergy Physical Therapy Clinic

2009-10-12T20:22:00.004-06:00

A client opened two new physical therapy clinics in Colorado Springs with three co-workers. Synergy Manual Physical Therapy is in the old Van Briggle Pottery building next to Carmichael Training Center, Lance Armstrong's trainer.

Wedding Ceremony Program

2009-10-11T22:16:00.003-06:00

Website Concept

2009-08-19T08:17:00.002-06:00

This is a concept or mockup of a website that a client is working on right now. She will be discussing the Truth of the Bible through essays, blogs, music, art, and other avenues. This is a rough mockup of a site that is currently in progress.

Wedding RSVPs

2009-08-19T08:12:00.002-06:00

Kevin and Suzanne are getting married and having a dessert reception for all guests and then a private, friends and family only dinner reception. So, they needed two RSVP cards. The dinner reception card has a tiny Starbucks-like cup on it with "Suzanne and Kevin" swirling around a horse's head, the iron work on the front gate of Crooked Willow Farms. Kevin works at Starbucks and they met when Suzanne walked up to the counter with her wordless book bracelet on and said, "I could do Vacation Bible School every day for the rest of my life." She had him at Bible School.

Wedding Invitation: Gatefold design

2009-08-19T08:06:00.004-06:00

Kevin and Suzanne wanted something unique; something that told their story, something that was casual yet elegant, and something fun for their guests to open and read. This is a gatefold design with Kevin on the left-front and Suzanne (surprised!) on the right. They each have on a wordless book children's bracelet, the reason they met at Starbucks in the first place so that bead design is carried throughout the invite. The photo is one of their engagement shots I took at Crooked Willow Farms. It's going to be such an amazingly beautiful wedding.

Destinations

2009-06-17T18:15:00.002-06:00

Oil Change

2009-06-04T20:47:00.004-06:00

Playing God

2009-05-21T10:20:00.001-06:00

Compassion Sunday

2009-05-21T10:06:00.002-06:00

Twisted Bulletin

2009-05-21T10:03:00.001-06:00

Wedding Invitation

2009-04-22T11:13:00.002-06:00

Together Strategic Service

2009-04-22T11:09:00.002-06:00

I Dream of Genie

2009-03-05T21:53:00.001-07:00

Starting Point

2009-03-05T21:39:00.001-07:00

Man vs. Wild

2009-03-05T21:27:00.001-07:00

Involved

2009-03-05T21:24:00.002-07:00

Christmas Eve

2009-03-05T21:08:00.002-07:00

Jonah

2009-03-05T20:37:00.004-07:00

Imagine

2009-03-05T20:36:00.004-07:00

Beautiful Day

2009-03-05T20:35:00.001-07:00

Clockwork

2009-03-05T20:34:00.002-07:00

Everybody

2009-03-05T20:33:00.003-07:00

Q3: Three Questions

2009-03-05T20:32:00.002-07:00

Step by Step

2009-03-05T20:30:00.001-07:00

It Came from Within

2009-03-05T20:26:00.003-07:00

Breakaway

2009-03-05T20:23:00.002-07:00

Sinai Code

2009-03-05T20:21:00.002-07:00

Missing Ingredient

2009-03-05T20:19:00.002-07:00

Take it to the Limit

2009-03-05T20:13:00.004-07:00

Christmas Bulletins

2009-02-24T00:14:00.002-07:00

MMT Letterhead

2009-02-24T00:09:00.003-07:00

reTHiNK

2009-02-24T00:08:00.002-07:00

Easter

2009-02-24T00:07:00.002-07:00

Heroes

2009-02-24T00:03:00.002-07:00

Mass Mailer

2009-02-24T00:01:00.001-07:00

First Reformed Church Community Night

2009-02-23T23:59:00.002-07:00

First Reformed Church is in Waupun, Wisconsin - a very Dutch town with very Dutch attendees. It was so much fun to work with the education team at the church to come up with something dynamic, a bit edgy, and actually...cool! Yes, the tattooed guy with faded jeans did raise some eyebrows and the kid actually raising his hands and singing to God with all of his might may not completely represent the often quiet and conservative church, but I think this piece had a big impact on the community. Funny thing is, one of my mother's cousins was outraged over this flyer. Why? Because his church can't come up with something this fun and professional, too. Kudos to First Reformed!

The Stick Horses in Pants

2009-02-23T23:58:00.002-07:00

Perspectives in Global Health Conference

2009-02-23T23:57:00.002-07:00

Go Fish

2009-02-23T23:54:00.002-07:00

Letters to the (now) President

2009-02-23T23:48:00.004-07:00

Dear Mr. Obama...

Well, we did not know whom would become President when this series was actually presented, but it was one of two people. During this Andy Stanley series, I was given the opportunity to do set design and the printed piece. What did that mean? I had to go up onstage, in a skirt and dress shirt, at 7 in the morning, to set up a Presidential podium complete with black cloth (to look sufficiently and Presidentially intimidating), a seal of the President of the United States (is that legal according to the FBI?), and lots and lots and lots of flag bunting. It felt like the fourth of July and honestly, after a while, I started to believe McCain and Obama were actually going to show up. I know...fantasy world, but that was a fun stage design to dream up!

Elements

2009-02-23T23:47:00.001-07:00

Evangelism Explosion

2009-02-23T23:44:00.001-07:00

LO$T

2009-02-23T23:40:00.002-07:00

Raise your hand if you have never seen an episode of LOST. Now, admit it. You took one look at the black smoke and heard about the island polar bear and turned and ran for the hills. Honestly, this show is addictive. Yet, I felt the same way when the first season aired. Not for me, thank you very much. But then during the summer replay of season 1, I mysteriously and inexplicably was drawn to the screen and to the Oceanic survivors. Well, when the LO$T series (notice the dollar sign here) was scheduled to show at Red Rock AND I was in charge of set design, I was a little nervous. At the creative team meeting, however, two other guys who are also LOST devotees dreamed big with me. We drew up stage set design and figured out all kinds of ways to make LOST come to the high school auditorium.

I called several places to track down - oh - an old destroyed plane. The closest I got was an old instrument panel and airplane seats from an old Cessna. Thanks to Mr. J.W. Duff in Denver, a kindly old relic from WWII, it definitely set the mood. I bought life jackets, took old clothes I was about to give to Goodwill, and purchased a suitcase at a garage sale that I promptly destroyed (with surprising glee at wrecking a perfectly good piece of luggage), and set it all up on stage. My cohorts and I also set up a shelter in the breezeway with spooky jungly death sounds, an old flashlight, vegetation, a cot, and lots of duct tape. We even asked a guy to bring in an old Apple IIe computer, coached a man on how to be John Locke (he even came with his own Bowie knife), and had the computer beeping and the numbers flicking over the screen. You should have been there...

Well, since we went to such lengths, I needed to create bulletins to really make people feel like they were entering The Island, and it worked! They received airplane tickets for the Oceanic Flight the first couple of weeks and then Dharma Initiative pieces the last several weeks. It was very awesome, and thanks to the help of some other very creative people with a passion to make things as real as possible - minus The Others and real blood - LO$T left a lasting impact on all who heard the message.

Drift

2009-02-23T23:39:00.003-07:00

Ooh...I loved the outcome of this design. Something about boats floating on lakes always gives me a profound sense of peace. This series was a stand alone series created by the pastor of the church (aka not Andy Stanley's video series) meaning that I was given complete artistic license. Sometimes that can be scary; the whole world of creative ideas can be too much to choose from sometimes. But, I found an image of a lazily drifting boat, posterized it with REI-like colors, and created a washed antiqued look for the rest of the piece. Ahh...this design just makes me a little giddy inside.

Thank you very much

2009-02-23T23:37:00.002-07:00