Going Provincial!!

As a kid I always wanted to be an artist, then in high school I defined it more specifically to a "Commercial Artist". The in University I realized I wanted to be a "Designer" and not a "Visual Artist" I wanted to be the designer behind magazine layouts, kick-ass advertising campaigns and truly great logos. And in the back of my mind I always had a little wish list of projects I wanted to work on throughout my career as little one offs just to say I did. Things like, design a giant check, create a billboard, make something with a die-cut, use metallic ink, embossing, and foil stamping, design an entire magazine from scratch, and design the side of a bus!

The best part about looking back on my short but sweet career so far is that I have to start a new list of "to-dos" already. In the past 4 years I have been able to check all of the above off my list and on the 19th I am going provincial!! I love my job! (most days)

On the 19th of October we are launching a advertising campaign for the recruitment department on campus working with Pattison Advertising my design will now be spread through southern Alberta on the sides of buses, on bus shelters and on billboards! (I had already completed campaigns in Edmonton and northern Alberta in previous years)

So needless to say It is pretty exciting to be able to drive to Calgary and see stuff you have designed. I am truly blessed.

Everyday I am thankful that I had a teacher named Mrs. Faulks in High school that taught me to follow my passion and that Art didn't just have to be a hobby. She inspired me and molded me into the artist I am today. Thanks Mrs. Faulks!

Chester Creative on Facebook!

Hi everyone!

I wanted to send out a quick and shameless self promotion for my freelance design business Chester Creative! We are now on Facebook, so become a fan!! Try this link or search for "Chester Creative" on Facebook.

I am currently working on collecting all of my recent work into one place and thought I would start a page on Facebook for my business while I work on updating my current website/portfolio (www.chestercreative.com). I hope to keep my Facebook page updated with my recent work in the meantime, so please take a peak and let me know what you think and if you know someone in need of some design work pass along my name.

I know this is shameless self-promotion but I would love feedback, support and to pay off some wedding bills ;) God-willing I will continue to pursue my passion and the talents God gave me.

Thanks for Listening!

Enjoi

Goodbye Summer of 2009 . . .

This summer was a summer to remember for me and my family. So many things have been happening and/or have happened in the last few months, that it seems like someone has hit fast forward to the summer of 2009.

Brad and I have been married 51 days today, can you believe it! I spent the last year planning our wedding and on August 9th it was all over. Now we are married and adjusting to married life as best as to be expected. I love the guy but I do feel like a babysitter somedays ;) Everyone says the first year is the hardest and now i kinda can agree although I can't really say it's been hard yet just more of an adjustment and training period ;) Other then the dirty piles of clothes, open stale bags of chips and cans everywhere I guess I have very little to complain about so far ;)

All-in-all married life is good! great even just wish I could now hire a maid!

This summer My brother also started University at the University of Victoria and My twin cousin erika is expecting her 4th!

What is with this time of year and for a metter of fact this last year . . . I have had a running total of pregnant friends and as soon as one friend pops the baby out another is preggo. I think at one point in time I had 18 preggo friends now I believe the number has gone down. And a matter of fact it is looking good for the girls of the class of 2027, cause my friends have been having a lot of boys in the mix of it all. lets recap:

1. Alanna = Noah (Girl)
2. Alesha = Bensyn (Boy)
3. Jamie = Finley (Girl)
4. Ariel = Cameron (Boy)
5. Erin = Emery (Boy)
6. Chelsea = Aalia (Girl)
7. Sarah = Soren (Boy)
8. Mica = Daniel (Boy)
9. Lana = Daniel (Boy)
10. Kerry = Chloe (Girl)

Baby's still to come:
11. Jeanine =
12. Andrea =
13. Erika =
14. Caley =
15. Jana J. =
16. "Secret" =
17. Alisha =
18. Mia =

I will keep this list updated, as a few of the above are ready to pop and day! I guess I must be at the age in my life when all of my friends are having babies! crazyiness!!

:: Tis the Season :: The season of Premieres that is!

As I say good bye to summer, I look forward to fall for a few reasons . . . New school year rush of people, Lots of back to school events and TV SHOW SEASON PREMIERES!!!

I don't claim to be a couch potato but I do like the fall when all my shows come back again and I don't have to watch re-runs anymore. I often have a couple of shows I watch religiously througout the year, but this year with the addition of a PVR in our basment and an onslaught of new and fantastic shows I am forseeing a lot of gym time to make up for all of the show watching I have scheduled. I know it's sad isn't it . . . lol

Here are the highlights to all of the great new and old shows I have on my radar:

1. One Tree Hill: Season Premiere TONIGHT! More Info
2. Gossip Girl: Season Premiere TONIGHT! More Info
3. Vampire Diaries: NEW SHOW PREMIERED LAST WEEK THURSDAY. Ps. to all of the twilight fans out there you will LOVE this show! More Info
4. Grey's Anatomy: Season Premire SEPT. 24 More Info
5. The Office: Season Premiere SEPT. 17
6. 90210: PREMIRED LAST WEEK TUESDAY More Info
7. ANTM: PREMIERED LAST WEEK WEDNESDAY More Info
8. Criminal Minds: Season Premiere SEPT. 23 More Info
9. Degrassi: The Next Generation: Season Premiere OCT. 4 More Info
10. Three Rivers: Season Premiere OCT. 4 More Info
11. Private Practice: Season Premiere SEPT. 17 More Info
12. House: Season Premiere SEPT. 21 More Info

What do you like to watch?

:: Fab Finds :: Photo Editing Galore

So over the past few weeks I have been working on editing down and organizing the gazillion photos my photographer took for our wedding. I have been experimenting with different editing techniques I have found on other blogs and photography websites. and I have found a ton of cool and amazing things you can do in Photoshop to make your photos go from Fine to Fantastic!! My creative brain juices have be awakened and I have a sudden erg to explore deeper into the world of photo editing then I ever have before.

I have only done one photo edit that I am in love with so far, which seems like very little but I have been mostly reading and learning a lot and doing a lot of testing and playing around so far. And I thought I would share the fab finds with you!

Here is the before and after of the ONE photo from our wedding I have finished so far. I am going to use this photo to send with our thank-you cards which i am also in the midst of writing right now.

Before, unedited, straight from the eye of the camera lens (which I might add is a great photo, I just wanted to adjust the colours):



AND After:



I know the differences are subtle but I am happy with what I was able to do with the colours or the sky and the wheat without it looking unnatural.

If you are interested in learning some techniques yourself check out this webite cause she is amazing!:

thepioneerwoman.com

Fresh Fest 2009

So recently I have been doing a lot of fun freelance projects. For those of you who don't know I have my own business aside from my Full-time job at the University of Lethbridge. My business is called Chester Creative (and will not be changing even though I am now a Karsten. The "artist" in me will always be a Chester.) You can check out my site at www.chestercreative.com or become a fan on facebook (just search 'chester creative')

I have had the opportunity to work with a lot of amazing clients since starting my business officially in 2007. The best part about it all is that I have not had to advertise yest and all of my business has been through word of mouth which makes it that much better cause I get to work with people who know of have already seen my work and come to me because I am me and they like my work. Anyways I did have a point for this post . . . beside shameless self-promotion . . .

Recently I did up a series of posters for the Students' Union here at the U of L, and I wanted to share them with all of you for entertainment purposes, cause they are funny and quirky and just plain cute. and I love them! So for some visual treats today here you go . . . enjoi!



As you can tell the theme was Lemons, a fresh fantastic fruit.

:: Family :: All grown up.

Sorry I haven't posted in a while but I plan to get back on daily posting, as my mind has been filling up with many things to write about and share. The last weeks have been a whirlwind of good news, bad news, sad news, happy news and so forth. My mind has been working overtime at work and I am finding instead of being drained of creativity, my mind is doing the opposite, I have so many creative ideas floating around and post-it notes everywhere with doodles and scribbles and notes.

Anyways, I will be sure to keep you entertained for the next while you can be sure of that.

So this past week my little brother Mike started University (UVic). He moved in to Residence, left the nest and started what I expect will be some of the best years of his life. (They were for me, and that is why I love that I still work at a University and can feel somewhat still connected to that part of my past.)

For all of you who know me well it will come as no surprise that this week was an emotional week for me. I wish I could have been there to watch my brother start University and am sad that I missed it and reminded of how hard it is to live so far from my family and my brother Mikey. I haven't missed an important event yet until now, which is something I know I am going to have to learn to live with but it'll take time. Simply this week I missed my brother and my childhood home.

So my brother is all grown-up and I couldn't be more proud of the man he is becoming! I am as proud as a big sister could be of her not-so-little anymore brother!

So congrats Bro! I wish you all the best in the years to come, may you make great memories, challenge yourself, grow into the person I know you'll be, laugh often and take a big breath and enjoy University and working towards your dreams!

Love you Bro, your the best!

From little to big, where did time go . . .