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November 08, 2007

what Lisa's been up to, October edition

Have I mentioned that I've been busy before? Really? Because I feel like I'm busy like never before. And while, yes, there were days when I worked for Chronicle Books when I would duck out early to go to yoga, and then take a hour lunch with friends, then leave early to have a glass of wine with Brenda (sorry, Chronicle), working for myself is a whole different animal. My boss? She's is a slavedriver.

One of the coolest things I launched in October was a series of podcasts for world-famous author Sara Paretsky. Sara came over to our home and we set up some of Shawn's old microphones and my copy of GarageBand. We went ahead and recorded a series of ten different podcast episodes. Sara read from her new novel, Bleeding Kansas (which will hit bookstores January 1st) and her series of essays on her journey as an author and advocate of free speech, Writing in an Age of Silence. My liberal soul especially admires her writing in the chapter entitled, "Granny, look what we're doing in the land of the free," a meditation on her immigrant grandmother's experience as an American, compared with her own today. You can subscribe to her podcasts via iTunes, or listen to any of her podcasts on the site. It was an absolute delight to work with Sara, particularly in this new medium. There will be a major media push for her new novel when it pubs in January, so look for more interesting developments in the coming months.

Next, I designed an email newsletter for Incorporating Movement, a New York City-based Pilates studio. I've been doing a ton of email newsletters lately for clients, a medium that presents interesting challenges and results. Like with Sara, it's been exciting to see my long-term clients further expand their businesses.

If my butt looks kind of big these days, it is because one of my new clients is Cincinnati-based Madisono Gelato. This new and delicious client is building a business that supplies Cincinnati's best restaurants with his creamy confection and a new store that sells direct. In the coming months, we'll be working on selling online. I have been generous enough to test Madisono's shipping services by receiving sample pints because I should really know my clients as best as possible.

And my most ambitious project to date, Margot Madison Creative Stationery, (yes, she is married to Madisono) is getting very near completion. Keep watching for that exciting launch.

Lastly, my article for HOW Magazine about design for the Christian market entitled "Putting a Fresh Face on Faith" has hit newsstands with the December issue. I spoke with a variety of incredibly fascinating designers who are working to elevate the level of design for the Christian audience from the likes of clip-art doves, praying hands, and dusty-leather bound Bibles to innovative and (yes) inspirational design. My favorite folks were the provocatively petulant Brad Abare of ChurchMarketingSucks.com (a blog dedicated to challenging churches to actively market themselves as a way to reach their members) and Relevant Media, who are creating some of the most progressive design I've seen, Christian or otherwise. And Ty Mattson, who has sucessfully worked with a number of faith-based organizations to help them elevate their design to better promote themselves. (One of his biggest clients is the author for "The Purpose Driven Life.") You can read the entire article here.

I wrote about a million reviews for MomFinds.com. Some of my favorite products of late have been the Beinjoy Yoga Mat, Zooni Mop Top hats, and the Chicago skyline T from So Silly Stuff.

Lastly, I've been writing about a ton of fun Chicago adventures with kids for Kids Off the Couch. Finn has definitely benefited from this one, as I was totally in the know of where to go for art exhibits for kids, fruit-picking, and even an adventure to Greek Town.

Phew! I told you it was a lot.

Posted by lisa at November 8, 2007 07:24 AM

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