Esthetic Revelation (New Shop)

My husband suggested that I create a Cafe Press store to sell some graphics and art and stuff. I created this tonight using an account that I (apparently) started in 2007. Weird!

Anyhoo--I named it Esthetic Revelation to simply signify that it is a store of creative awesome. You can see it here. Once I have a few more exciting things on there, then I'll put a proper link or widget or something in the sidebar.

Two ideas I had for this store:

1. Utilize the incredible artistic skills of my friend Legolas so that we can go in on this side venture together. She and I will come up with the ideas. She'll create the original art, and I will do the legwork of posting it to the store. She has the talent and creative ideas, but no desire for such things as marketing; I have creative ideas and knowledge of marketing, but not nearly the amount of artistic talent she has. We should make a happy team.

2. I had an idea of making t-shirts that tell a story. That is, a small piece of a short story would be creatively laid out on a t-shirt design (or whatever other product you wanted it on), and it could stand alone or make even more sense when paired with other designs. Sounds like a unique idea to me--now I just have to find the story.

I don't expect this to be a huge source of income, but it's a way to get my designs out there and possibly make a little extra income. You never know...

Tutoring for Young Writers

Improve your writing skills through unique one-on-one sessions that focus on developing your own stories, your own words. Learn the basics of grammar, punctuation, syntax, and more, while learning how to write a compelling page-turner at the same time.

Ages
Students ages 8-18 are accepted; boys and girls; all levels of experience.

Methods
We can either work through your existing written novel or you will receive writing assignments to bring to our sessions.

We will go through your piece together, line by line, and work to punch it to its highest potential. Along the way, you will learn how to correct problem areas as we encounter them in your own writing.

In this way, we will use our time more effectively, covering only the topics that need to be covered, and barely touching on that which you have already mastered.

Journaling may also be suggested for additional writing practice.

Locations & Times
Sessions are held online via Skype (audio only), so a strong, reliable internet connection is required.

Colorado Springs area students can meet face-to-face in a coffee shop or cafe setting for our sessions. It's an incredibly cozy (and yummy) atmosphere to learn.

Times are flexible and can be discussed on a per-student basis.

Complimentary Consultation
Prior to our first session, we will meet via phone or Skype for a 15-20 minute conversation about your goals and what you would like to accomplish during our tutoring sessions.

A writing evaluation can be discussed at that time as well.

Rates & Billing
Session rate is $35/hr and includes:
- 2-way conversation time during the hour
- editorial/writing/submission instruction
- writing critiques (length per session is dependent on skill level)
- writing assignments/prompts for short stories (if desired)
- 5 emails (not to exceed 30 minutes) per week of Q&A between sessions

I will come to each session fully prepared, having read whatever we are going to be working on, ready to discuss and instruct.

Tutoring sessions must be paid four (4) sessions in advance.

Questions?
Contact me directly at mangycat (at) gmail (dot) com.

Caregivers Team Logo...Controversy?

Does this remind you of the medical Mary Jane dispensary logos? Or does it work as a church care ministry logo?

Sparkles & Royalty

We're getting ready to order this card for the church to list the message topics for an upcoming year-long series. I'm rather happy with the result of it! The title of the series as "33 Riches of Divine Grace", so I went with the sparkly gold and royal blue theme.

The blue background layer is a free design that I found online. The white is a filled layer with a pattern effect applied in order to give it a crackly, textured look.

The coin and banner were formed in Photoshop. The sparkles around the title were hand drawn using a star-shaped paintbrush (at varying sizes) as well as a glow layer effect.

The title text is a combination of Copperplate Gothic Light and Harrington, which made for an elegant, yet fun design for the letters. I love how the "G" in Grace and the "E" in Riches are touching. Sometimes you couldn't plan as well the things that happen by accident.

Change of Seasons: Winter to Spring

You may have noticed the shiny new graphic header at the top of my blog, yes? Spiffy, no? (Don't answer that if the answer is no.)

Due to some recent nudging from the Holy Spirit and a downright kick in the pants from the Father Himself, I am going to begin developing a freelance clientele to both add variety to my work experience and bring additional income for our family. The new business is called MangyCat Creative Design or MCCD. Oh, for the love acronyms!

I'll post later on about what specific services I will provide, what they entail, and general rates, but to give you an idea, here's a short list:

• General Graphic Design (Web & Print)
• Writing & Editing (Fiction/Nonfiction)
• Photo Editing & Manipulation
• One-on-One Mentoring for Young Writers
• Blog Design & Other Webmastery
• Writing & Design Workshops/Seminars

I will most likely be charging a flat hourly rate for most types of services, which is actually a lot more affordable for the client (and much easier for me to calculate). That's how I have worked in the past, and it seems to be a good model that people can understand.

Now to presumptuously answer a few questions:

Is your blog going to become some boring, business-related blog?
Never fear! I plan on continuing to post creative work here so long as it spouts from my fingertips.

Can you do creative services for anyone in the world?
Yes! Well, anyone with an email address anyway.

What will you be charging?
That's for me to know and you to find out. :ninja: It is an affordable hourly rate, but it is different for different kinds of services.

What's this One-on-One Mentoring for Young Writers thing you mentioned? Don't you do that on Cleanplace?
Actually, I haven't been able to keep up on CleanPlace as much as I have in the past. Though the teens on CP are like my adopted nieces and nephews, my focus right now is on my family at home. I thank God for Nia, our invaluable, incomparable lead admin on CP, for she is steering the ship with incredible acumen and a sincere love for the CP teens. I have the utmost confidence and trust in her ability to do so.

What I am offering here is a deliberate, purposeful, and personal mentoring program that focuses on raising a young writer's skill level and help her work toward publication. This would be a weekly meeting (in person or through Skype/IM) that includes critiques, instruction, and Q & A time.

You're not going to shamelessly plug your design services, are you?
Now that you mention it...

[shameless plug] If you happen to know of anyone who is interested in hiring a creative person, please pass on my name and contact info. I would love to get in touch with them. [/shameless plug]

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Thank you, friends, for walking through this with me! And thank you for your support of my creative endeavors.

Ribs for Dinner (a poem)

Ribs for Dinner (or "Jasper’s First Date")
By MangyCat

BBQ sauce dipped
luscious, tender meaty meat
lays beside my corn.

How can I enjoy
this red flesh upon my plate?
Conundrum indeed.

All I can think of
is just how God created
woman from a rib.

How can I fit the universe into 14 lines? (a haiku)

How can I fit the universe into 14 lines?
By MangyCat

Fourteen lines sadly
won't hold the great universe.
But maybe three will.

Unplanned Poetry

I just wrote this haiku over IM, and I thought I would share.

Annie's Laptop

By MangyCat

Five or six years old

Showing age and uselessness

Brokenness defined

And this is a perfect opportunity to post the poem I wrote on Friday night at my young writers group, Midnight Muse. The prompt was (basically) to begin or end with the phrase "listen to the wings of the nightingale watch." I went for the obvious, but I like the juxtaposition of different senses and affects.

The Taste of Migration

by MangyCat

Lines: 16

Listen to the wings of the nightingale watch

for winds blowing strong from the east.

Tawny feathers scent night currents

for autumn's sweet fragrance.

Icy wisps of northern breeze

whistle between avian claws

as auburn beak lances a hint

of the flock's gathering restlessness.

Rustled leaves blush to lime

as green retreats with summer's defeat.

Gales of gold paint quivering teardrops

that rustle around a watchful nightingale.

Alighting frigid whispers,

the bird escapes its roost,

seeking waves of sun,

green, and boundless freedom of wing.

Project 365 Update: Excuses

Blog Header: Martial Arts Passion

I created this tonight in about an hour for one of my young friends on CleanPlace. She posted a request on Facebook for a graphic header for her Martial Arts blog. I had fun finding out how to make smoke and fire effects in Photoshop. (By the way, she liked it!)