Back over the summer, I found myself recording the wedding of Elizabeth Jackson and Josh Hall, two dear friends from both college and high school. Four days and literally 660 photos later, I had a mammoth task on my hands (thankfully a fully digital task). One: organize (ie, toast was before or after the first dance?). Two: optimize (make everyone look as pretty as they really were that day... red eye, lighting). Three: the fun part. Pick out the best of the weekend.

What resulted was a DVD slideshow and a mini online collection for friends and family. This set of organic embelishments became the connecting theme through the project, playing on a set of layered purples that came out of the flowers and bridal party's vests and dresses. Put it all together, and you have (a lovely site) to share.

This is a classic and simple use of vector graphics. Just take a rectangle and pinch off the ends. Then you just give it the graceful swoop, right out of Victorian wallpaper samples. While the individual pieces are nice to look at here, they make much more sense when you visit the site. (Enjoy.)

Sire, you are an august and mighty monarch; have pity on a poor honest man who would be more incapable of inflaming a revolt than an icicle of producing a spark.
—Victor Hugo

Here in New York, I only see ice dripping down boulders in Central Park, and on the edges of walks where the powder was never cleared when it first fell. But in Virginia, the snow falls overnight, and the morning warms the air enough to send down freezing rain. Ice on snow, ice on snow. And so layer upon layer covers everything like a wintry german chocolate cake, encrusted with a slippery, glistening layer of coconut-pecan icing on top (recipe here).

The supposed but never realized Christmas greeting for this season was to have several layers, including a story much as this one. Of things known and unknown, the continued transition to city mouse from country mouse, and the subtle things that change in a season with only a mere change in geography. While in the moment, the creation of this window view into winter was purely iconic of the holidays... over time I am recognizing the ways - big and small - that my life and all around me is moving. Even as I sit here in the still night, watching the snow fall and thinking of the ice-covered trees of home.

Hello candy caners with beautiful brainers.
—Jack White

I had an elaborate idea to put together a holiday card this year, topping the line art cards I published last year (romanticising NYC... more on that from Vector soon). This year's theme was to center on the idea of "good cheer" and "mirth and joy"... one wrapped with red stripes; the other in green. All with a lovely modernist message inside from Madeline L'Engle. A classy little design, if not a bit supersaturated in color.

The card would invite further delectable treats online, following these themes through spoken word, recipes, stories, and philanthropy opportunities. And a key ingredient to this online confection was this little number I worked up. A floating peppermint, inspired by the Hewlett-Packard 2003 marketing campaign (Starbucks + hp).

More stories from an unfinished holiday project tomorrow...

Art Deco in France found its American equivalent in the design of the New York skyscrapers of the 1920s. The Chrysler Building was one of the most accomplished essays in the style.
—John Julius Norwich

The corner of 3rd Avenue and 44th Street is one of the best spots to photograph the Chrysler Building, where the surrounding buildings part and allow the second highest building in New York City to gleam through (see my photo).

I originally did a work surrounding the Chrysler with a full brigade of colorful buildings (voila), and then decided to do the same in reverse, tracing the details and lighting its distinctive windows. And being November, the first winter storm had arrived: so my first iteration included a blurry snowstorm.

This version is more for the shape and an excuse to study a few lighting themes, much as I get to pass by each day, whether rain, fog, or late at night once the lights are off.