Another Litter Logo!

WOW!! Where has the time gone by? It has been a whirlwind since the beginning of the year... we've been busy training Haze(seeing a behaviorist for his reactivity and also tok a few private agility lessons!) and working with June and earning her CGC title! We also have been struck with puppy fever... back in March, my PBP was bred to a wonderful stud dog, Parker, BISS GCH HiBourne's It's All About Me, BROM and the flurry of anticipation began!!! I have been waiting for this breeding and hopeful to be able to get a puppy from my friend and mentor, Linda. Once the breeding occurred, the next milestone was the ultrasound and then Xray to see if it took and then how many to expect. Then, the whelping. Since Linda allowed me to be present and help for the last litter, she asked me again to be with her and Savi this time around. I helped welcome 7 bundles of gray joy into the world on May 9th. And for the next 8 weeks, had weekly visits with the Grayhart Fast Times Litter. Yes, this one has a theme and of course, I just had to design a logo again. The bar was set last time! LOL... so Cameron Crowe movies (This has been been a theme near and dear to my heart as I love his movies AND I too work for Rolling Stone.) Naturally, my pick was to be "Almost Famous" so I basically was just waiting to see which pup could and would he the one. Linda had a catchy theme and called them the Fast Times (after the C.C. movie, Fast TImes at Ridgemont High). It also works since many of these pups will be trained for performance sports and lots of fun, fast times! Coming up with the logo was easier than Almost Famous' call name... we had a few and nothing was really sticking until one day, Chris said CeCe. Do you know why And I realized he said C.C. (Cameron's initials) I liked it; not loved, just liked and then I looked it up... CeeCee or CeCe has some Greek origins to the word meaning BIRD. A Crowe is a BIRD and these Weims are BIRD dogs so it just really made sense and I LOVED it then.... Linda (thankfully) also loved it so CeCe had a name, an AKC registered name, but we still didnt know who she was.... 4 weeks ago, we waited after a long conformation evaluation for our friend Debbie to pick the pup she wanted and for Linda to tell us who she was picking for us... Miss Pink! She was the pup on the first Tues puppy duty Chris had who kept "losing" her ribbon and he must have re-tied it 3 times! :-) The pup I called Pinky Tuscadero from week 6 on. The pup I secretly liked from week 5, the pup who's ribbon I loved with it's sparkled edges! The pup who skidded out first to the dinner bowl stampede, my Parker x Savi pup... my puppy I've waited three years for from my sweet Puppy-by-Proxy! Our world has changed (again due to a Weim) and we are over the moon with joy and lack of sleep LOL more to come soon, as I've already created a "mini" Blue Ribbon announcement for Miss CeCe... in her colors and exemplifying her name.

Happy Holidays!

to all!

Official Logo of the Rockstar Litter!

Many months ago (it seems) litter themes were flying around my head in anticipation of my friend's impending pups. It's a fun little hobby I have, coming up with AKC names and themes based on the Dam and Sires and although I'm not a breeder myself, I have wonderful friends and mentors who indulge me! One of the themes really seemed to work for Jam and it was super easy coming up with many (100, in fact!) name choices. At RS, we were working on an SIP (Special Interest Publication) called the Top 100 Guitarists of All Time and in it, there was to be an Essential Playlist... the best song for each rocker. I had jotted down a few and then once the mag. was printed, I supplied the full list. (I also was able to procure a copy of the SIP which is no longer in print for each of the pup's family) Fast forward to mid September... the little "rockstars" made their debut and I sat down and started playing... my "other" hobby. And I came up with a logo for one of the photos posted on Linda's puppy blog

It was so well-received that it became the official logo of the litter! This past weekend the pups went home. During the Puppy Party, Linda (who is an AKC Breeder of Merit) holds a class to go over important facts and requirements and general Weim-puppy rearing advise. She creates a booklet chock-full of info including vaccine schedules and protocol, feeding and crate training, pedigree, and photos. This year guess who helped? The Rockstar litter Puppy Manual was in full color and... rocked this on it's cover!

Linda mentioned that she believes this is the first Weim litter to have an official logo. (And now the bar is set for Savi's litter LOL... what WILL I come up with, next???) The lovely pups have now each gone "solo" on their WORLD TOUR... I wish each new family all the best; these Grayhart pups are near and dear to my heart and I can't wait to watch them grow and take the Weim world by storm!!!

It's Blue Ribbon Time!

Each June, the WCA magazine publishes the Blue Ribbon issue in which breeders and owners showcase their Weims' accomplishments. The editor will create ads for a small fee in addition, but many people opt to have their ads professionally designed (or do them themselves!) Last year, at the behest of my dear friend, Linda Hartheimer, I created a book of ad designs to bring with us on our trip to the Nationals to show the Weim community what I could create for them...I met so many people who took my card and looked at my book (some even requested a copy of the book to take home with them!)
Although I still don't have my own copy of the magazine, many do and can see all the lovely Weimaraners' ads. I got a peek at Linda's copies yesterday and was excited to see not only my two ads, but some of the photos I have taken of other Weims used in their ads designed by fellow Weim lover, rescuer and designer, Sara Renee. (Those ads are for Bebe, Trudy, and my pbp, Savi!)

One of the two dogs I was hired to design ads for is Elle, a sweet girl from Silverhoney Weimaraners who is a new CH. I run into her owner/breeder, Suzanne at shows and some hunt tests. Back in February, I was taking some photos ringside and got a few head shots of Elle that I knew would be perfect for an ad for her. Many ideas danced in my head and Suzanne and I discussed the possibility of me designing an ad. Once Elle got her last points and finished her title, Suzanne asked me to send her some proofs! Just a few copy changes and we were all set to print!
This is Elle's 2012 Blue Ribbon:

The other ad I designed is for Cass! If you all recall last August, I posted an ad I designed for my friends in Alaska for their male Weim, Cassiar... Throughout his show career, I have watched him quickly earn his CH, Can CH and most recently, his GCH. Each step along the way, I made note that we would be sure to include these milestones in a Blue Ribbon when the time came (and if they wanted to hire me to design it!!) I had lots of ideas dancing around my head so when his owners asked me to create his Blue Ribbon, I quickly set out to pull it all together with some win shots. With a few tweaks called in from the RV while on the show circuit, Cassiar's ad was sent in just under the deadline! ;-) Here is Cassiar's 2012 Blue Ribbon:

Thank you to the following people for allowing me the opportunity to
help their Weims SHINE: Linda Hartheimer, Rich and Barbara Alfieri, Bonnie and Steve Lane, Suzanne Honeyman, and Julie Aune!

A reminder...

Wanted to make a little something to remind all our TSWR friends that our annual picnic/fundraiser is coming up...

Holi-daze!

Our holiday card for 2011...
Wishing you all a happy holiday season and all the best for 2012!

Dont forget the Dogs...

on Halloween!
I know this is late, but I thought I'd share a quick little sign I made for all the Natural Balance reps to boost sale on our mini rolls. I p'shopped in a bunch of the rolls into the dogs' jack o'lantern pails. Not award-winning, but cute and it got the job done!

On Halloween weekend we had a big party at the Pet(store)co where Chris works. He was dressed as the red logo dog and he LOVES those rolls! LOL!

Rescue Rosette

Yesterday was the big day for the rescue Weims... We had originally thought we would have 10 Weims to parade around the showring, but a few didnt make it so we went with 5. We had lots of fun and it was a great experience for many rescuers to meet each other, meet & see REPUTABLE breeders and... get to see so many beautiful weims in one place!
My club offered each dog in the parade a prize... a goody bag jam-packed with treats, a bandana, photo album and a stuffie! And each dog also got a magnet I designed to look like the ribbon rosettes that are given out a dog shows. Once I had the concept, I decided to try to make our club logo look like a medallion. I ran a few filters and did some fancy retouching handiwork and it really came to look like metal! I tried to get orange streamers, but went with rich burgundy and then color corrected the "rosette" behind the "medallion" to match the satin! I now have a badge maker (I ALWAYS wanted one when I was a kid!) for rescue so I ordered materials to make the magnets and assembled them and attached the ribbons. They were a hit! :-)
The day was a success and we are talking about trying to make the Rescue Parade an annual event.

Rescue Parade Commemorative Rosette

I'm home this week recuperating from surgery and will be assembling the rosettes I designed for the GSWC's Rescue Parade.
Pictured is the first rendition of the center...It's nothing really elaborate or any groundbreaking design, just something I came up with for my club to help honor all the Weim rescues! I used the club's already established logo and put a ribbon behind it. The final version of the commemorative rosette will be a nice magnet with streamers in autumn colors.
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It should be an AWESOME day :-) Our club always hosts shows with good judges, yummy food, neat raffle prizes, friendly competition and of course... all the gray dogs!

FIONA in Philly--ADOPTED!!!!! :-)

This flyer was designed by a friend and fellow rescuer. While Fiona is not a Weim, she a great girlie who needs a new home ASAP!!! Please take a look and please dont the shelter be her last home!

this is from Ma's friend JL:

This is my pen pal at the shelter in Philly (dog I am paired up with to work with and try to find a home for).

They are REALLY full so she needs out whether it be by an adopter or foster home! If you know anyone considering a dog shes awesome. Good with dogs, cats and kids! Adoptions this weekend are FREE! Otherwise her fee is only $20 this month and includes UTD on shots and vaccinated.

Heres her video I made: http://youtu.be/ET0wQUOSDaU

Here's her CL add: http://southjersey.craigslist.org/pet/2560305860.html

Normally I wouldnt beg or send an email out like this but my last pen pal was put down and this girl is amazing. She deserves to get out. So please share her. Thanks!

Flyers I designed...

For Weims available through my rescue, TSWR

This is Zach:


And this is Jake:


This year I started to design these for a booklet for volunteers to take on our Meet & Greets. As each Weim comes in, they get a page and as each one gets adopted and adored, they get an upgrade (a "stamp" that says ADOPTED on their page). This is a way I can combine my love for Weims and rescue with design! They are also available to foster homes to post in their local vets' offices and pet stores to spread the word! Since our rescue covers such a large area and many of our foster dogs are spread out in PA, NJ and DE, these booklets and flyers help to get many Weims' faces out there.

June's Birthday

Today, my little girl turns nine! I can't imagine what she was like as a pup, since she was rescued at 3 1/2 yrs old. But, even at her new-found "senior" status, she's still quite active and full of vim & vigor...Not to be shown up by her younger whipper-snapper brother, she recently discovered a lust for white bags and Lure Coursing and is getting ready to try her paw at Rally with me!

In honor of her big day, I created a special work of digital art.

Cass's Ad

When I met my wonderful friend/Weim mentor, Linda, I had no idea where the adventures we'd go on would lead me to. They say in life it's not the journey, but who you travel with... Well, with her, I've travelled to so many great places and met more great people and their dogs (predominantly Weims). This past May, we went to the WCA Nationals and I got to meet and spend time with Jen and Bliss(the Alaskan Princess Grayhart pup and littermate to Savi, my pbp) and another Alaskan Weim, Rosewin Benelli Bring on the Birds, "Cassiar", and his people.
Cass was shown and garnered Winners Dog at 6 months of age. You could feel the electricity in the air even as Jen (his handler) and he were running in the ring.
Once the official photos were taken, I mentioned to his owners, Julie and Lyle that I do design work and showed them my book of Blue Ribbon Ad samples. I had been creating ad samples to show around there in hopes of picking up some work. They seemed impressed and asked for a book to bring home to Alaska to look over. I sent one up and within a week or so, they hired me for his first ad!! I got to work researching his name and finding other materials and info for font treatments. I discovered that Cassiar is a mountain range and town in NW Canada, now a ghost town. I found an awesome photo of a mountain in that range complete with some northern lights! The font for his name is called Northern Territories. I echoed the aurora borealis in the bar under his name to put his AKC name. I tried a few different fonts and layouts and submitted 2 versions of the ad. Once I got his official win photo, I sent version 3. The final version.
This is the ad printed in the August issue of the WCA's Weimaraner Magazine.



Cass is competing later this month in Washington. I am hoping he has another big win and also that I will have the honor of working with his people again!

Playing...

Today I had not alot to do at work and finished up a poster for the Union Square Petco's Grooming Dept. (You're welcome Josh!)

Then... I got to thinking that one of the Weimaraner Clubs I belong to doesn't have a logo. Now, I'm sure it isn't NECESSARY to have a logo but I wanted to play today LOL. So, I found a picture of the stud dog of the President of the club and some other collateral materials to work with and got busy.

My favorite in the contact sheet is version 7... and then I kept playing and did number 9.
Now my fave overall!
How about you? Post me your fave in the comments!

The inspiration for my dog designs...

My Weims. Specifically, Blue, the first one. My heart dog.

Blue's "Yearbook" creation from when he Graduated Obedience School!

Some other treatments of my Weims' photos:


June and Blue's Summer "siggy"2010


Haze Pop-Art"Graffiti"


June Colorblocked Head-shot


Before and After of Haze to make it look like a painting.

Finally....

For a while now friends and family have been prompting me to set up a second blog of all my design work...Here it is! I plan on posting mostly dog design work I do... for fun and profit.
2K Designs started out in 2000. The name just worked with my initials and I created a logo and got busy! At first, I did lots of greeting cards and scrapbooking items along with traditional arts and crafts sold at local craft shows. Lots and lots of greeting cards... As I've branched out, I started doing invitations for showers, parties, weddings and worked closely for a few years with a basket designer in Staten Island creating custom cards for her wedding baskets. Then I started dabbling with photoshop filters and effects and tiptoed into the waters of the world wide web forums, blogs and cottage industry websites.
Since then, I've done a host of stationary, business cards, logos, online forum "siggies", (Weimaraner) dog rescue flyers, posters and signage for local pet stores, and most recently my VERY FIRST Weimaraner Magazine Ad!

Concentrating on championing dogs, my work now combines my 2 biggest passions.
I figure by posting here, I will have an outlet to allow more people to see my work.

Stay tuned.

~KellyAnn