Earth Day and the Ultimate Designer

April 22, 2013 Leave a Comment

Do you ever do mood boards? Graphic designers often do them. So do interior designers and fashion designers. They put together these collages of images, type, color, texture and anything else that helps them visualize a sense of style for the project they’re working on.

So it being Earth Day and all, I couldn’t help thinking of mood boards as my husband and I hauled wood. I’m always amazed how the elements of design actually are elements of nature. Even in this monochromatic, pre-spring time of year, there is artistic beauty everywhere I look.

God, the Creator of our Earth, is truly the ultimate designer!

colors of split wood

It’s fascinating how the colors of nature naturally go together. Here, I loaded my photo in Photoshop and touched the eyedropper tool to various points. Eureka! A very Arts and Crafts color scheme.

 

split wood shows color scheme

Historically, brown is considered to be down-to-earth, wholesome, stable and of substance. Yet, combined with black and near-white hues, these browns takes on a luscious and upscale image. Think ambrosial chocolates or a richly-paneled law firm.

 

natural rock shows complimentary colorsCheck out this rock from one of my gardens. The pinks and greens are opposite each other on the color wheel, meaning they are complimentary colors. Such a demure and romantic color scheme, yes? Perhaps a women’s clothing boutique or a hotel master suite.

 

lichens growing on a cut of wood

Aren’t the lichens growing on this slice of wood beautiful? So delicate and interlaced. And then there’s the blue with brown, a color scheme that’s rather ubiquitous these days.

So, here you have it. Mood boards straight from nature! This week, in celebration of Earth Day, take a walk outside and really open your eyes. Check out work of the ultimate designer!

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Filed Under: Communicating Christ, Items of Inspiration, Stepping Out
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Wednesday Webs: Even in Boston

April 17, 2013 1 Comment

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper on Boston Marathon bombing

On Monday the unfortunate people of Boston went from having a really great day to having one of horror and chaos. All within seconds. And just as quickly as those bombs detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, the lines of social media took off running with expressions of sorrow, fear and concern.

And anger.

When bad things happen we have a tendency to spew unsubstantiated blame and predictions. It’s easy to fixate on how evil the world has become (and, of course, in our opinion it’s always caused by the sins of someone else, never our own). But God blesses us with many good things and those are the things on which we should focus.

Here is proof that even on this Patriots’ Day, our world is still benevolent and wondrously blessed:

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Filed Under: Communicating Christ, Wednesday Webs
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Schools Using the Harley-Davidson Effect

September 11, 2012 2 Comments

St. Peter's Lutheran School, Helenville, WI, 1906

There’s a really long article by management guru H. Donald Hopkins (Temple University) entitled “Using History for Strategic Problem-Solving: The Harley-Davidson Effect.” In it he tells of corporate CEOs solving problems such as employee moral or product direction simply by examining their own history. And because Hopkins champions Harley-Davidson, his thinking has become known as the Harley-Davidson Effect (although if you google this you’ll likely find more on the Harley-Davidson sound affects:-).

Anyway, my latest project has been an online program for the Wisconsin Lutheran State Teachers’ Conference. I know, I know, associating church with business gives a lot of people the heebie jeebies. After all, it’s the Holy Spirit that works in us, not some business theory, right?

I agree.

But I also go by the conviction that much of our God-given earthly knowledge works really well for his heavenly purposes. The Harley-Davidson Effect is a perfect example.

The Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod (WELS) schools have a strong history in Wisconsin and throughout the U.S. There are 337 schools nationwide, some of them dating back to the mid-1800s. They’re parochial in nature, yet they face the same problems of budget, integration and student-teacher ratio as does every other school. Nowadays congregations do a lot of strategizing and praying just to keep their school doors open.

This year the WLSTC chose “Your Statutes Are Our Heritage” as its conference theme, based on Psalm 119:111. For the program (click here to check it out), we used historical photos to help convey this message. We asked congregations to dig into their archives and, wow, did they do some digging! Not only did people send photos, they also included anecdotes of how their schools were started, what their classrooms were like a hundred years ago, and so many more fascinating stories.

Strategically or historically, however you want to look at them, these photos and stories are poignant reminders that schools have overcome many challenges. They’re proof of so many blessings throughout the generations. And they evoke a sense of pride in the educational work God has allowed them to do.

“Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart,” Psalm 119:111.

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Filed Under: Communicating Christ, Creative Thinking: Good Business, Portfolio
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Involving Participants Makes Conference Fun

July 2, 2012 2 Comments

WLSTC teachers' conference program cover

I’ve got an interesting project going on right now and, being a history buff, I’m really enjoying it. It’s the program and promotional pieces for the annual Wisconsin Lutheran Teachers’ Conference.

How’s the cover looking so far?

In previous WLSTC programs, we’ve always used stock photography for the imagery. This year we’re doing something different. Because the committee chose ”Your Statutes Are Our Heritage” as its theme, based on the Bible verse Psalm 119:111, we decided to celebrate heritage by using historical photographs instead of stock.

Real photos from real schools. That’s my husband wearing a suit in the lower, left corner—you certainly don’t see elementary students in such attire nowadays, do you (my husband either, for that matter)!

So, we’re now in the process of gathering photos. We’ve contacted all the schools in the WLSTC district and not only are they getting involved, they’re responding with gusto! I’ve gotta say, opening my email has been so much fun these days—like a trip back in time!

Here’s what’s really great about this project: It gives participants some ownership. Those who submit photos not only feel part of the project, they’ll go to the conference with a greater sense of belonging. More interest. More enthusiasm. Because, hey, their picture is part of the program!

Want to participate?

There’s still time, but not much. Contact me right away and I’ll let you know how to submit your photos.

 

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Filed Under: Communicating Christ, Portfolio
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Wednesday Webs: Summer Solstice

June 20, 2012 1 Comment

Happy Summer Solstice—the longest day of the year!

Did you know (some of which I did not)…

  • The word solstice is from the Latin word “solstitiumm,” and means “sun-stopping.” On the summer solstice the sun doesn’t rise exactly in the east, it rises to the northeast and sets to the northwest.
  • Ancient peoples determined the summer solstice when the sun rose between the Heel Stone onto the Alter Stone at the center of the Trilithons of Stonehenge. Got that? In other words, on the summer solstice the sun shines just right on Stonehenge and throughout the ages there’s been lots of partying going on!
  • Because it may or may not have originated with Paganism, some Christians get a little uptight about observing the summer solstice. I think that’s silly. God created this fascinating earth, full of beauty and wonderment. Each day, each season is a gift of his love. Let’s be thankful and celebrate!

 

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