Kent Island, Maryland | Child and Senior Photography» Giving Back

A Creative Thought Gone Wild – T Shirt Design Contest

Jennie — Fri, 06 May 2011 12:18:06 +0000

Every now and then I have (what I think) is a fabulous idea. Sometimes these ideas take on a life of their own and become much, much bigger! Such is the case with my seemingly simple idea to have a t-shirt designed for Lil Blu Dragonfly.

I had been thinking about designing a t-shirt for Lil Blu Dragonfly for at least a year now and actively talking about it for about 3 months. I did my research, talked to people and looked online for printing places. And then, I stalled and stalled. You see, I realized no one – not a soul – would wear any shirt I designed unless they really, really liked me or were looking for some major brownie points! Then flash, boom, bang a flash of inspiration – what if I got a talented high school art student to design the t-shirts for me? Brilliant!!

And now my friends, this is where the idea morphed into something much bigger… I was lying in bed trying to fall asleep when “the idea” started spinning larger. What if I made this into a contest? Have students come up with a design – put it on our Seniors Facebook Fan page and the one with the most ‘likes’ is the design winner. Wait, wait – the winning student definitely deserves a reward for their design – so $100 to the winner. Ok, all good so far but here’s where it takes a leap – seriously, your brain can go wild places just before you fall asleep!

When I started in photography I just wanted to create! I was clueless as to all the other steps/aspects involved in taking an idea/design, putting it into production and ending with a final product of which I could be proud. I had some great mentors who not only taught me many valuable lessons but also nurtured my craft (yep, that’s you Eric and Caroline!). I realized I wanted to pass on what I had learned. What if I walked the winning designer through the entire production process – from getting quotes to cost per item etc? I loved the idea of giving the student an opportunity to learn through process.

I had a few more tweaks to the process – not only will the winning student receive $100 for their design any profits from the sale of the shirts will go to the designers charity of choice. I wasn’t looking to profit from the t-shirts and thought this would be a perfect way to give back as well.

With these thoughts, I contacted the art teachers at Queen Anne’s County and Kent Island High Schools. I told them that I wanted a t-shirt design and that I had two ways of going about it – send me a handful of students and their portfolios OR this other wild idea that was really my preference. Stephanie Zeiler, the art teacher at QAC High School, loved my idea and together we brought it to fruition! I can’t thank Stephanie enough for climbing on board and her support!

So here is where we’re at now – the voting process! Please come over the Lil Blu Dragonfly Seniors Facebook fan page, become a fan and like your favorite design. The design with the most ‘likes’ by 9 pm May 10th is the winner. Remember, whatever design wins you’ll soon see on a shirt near you – so cast your vote for your favorite! Please come support the students!!

The Cricket In Times Square

Jennie — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:47:26 +0000

Some books become beloved best friends. You read them over and over and over again. I discovered The Cricket in Times Square around 4th grade and it quickly fell into the beloved friend category. I have no idea how many times I read it, but it was multiple, multiple times. However, I can tell you I settled in on the couch and reread it last week. It was like being with a best friend you hadn’t seen in 20 years (hate to say it, but it was probably closer to 30 with The Cricket and me!!). I found myself totally engrossed and laughing out loud, not something I can say about every grownup book I read. So, without further ado, I’d like to introduce you to my friend – The Cricket in Times Square.

Chester Cricket has a love for liverwurst. Never in his wildest imagination did he ever expect it to lead him to Times Square, NYC! What started as a picnic basket mayhap turns into a great adventure for a this Connecticut country cricket. Along the way he makes friends with Tucker Mouse, Harry Cat and Mario, the newspaper stand boy. Together they have many adventures, from trips to China town to learning all sorts of music. Along the way Chester makes his own mark on the city and Times Square.

A little housekeeping: Unfortunately, a monthly book giveaway was overly ambitious on my part and I apologize for not being able to follow through on that promise. I am however on schedule and committed to a seasonal book giveaway. From here on out, I will hold a Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall book giveaway. I look forward to sharing more of my favorite children’s books with you!

The Rules: For the sake of simplicity, all comments must take place on the blog attached to this post (doesn’t have to be fancy, even a hi will do!), comments on our Facebook fan page won’t be counted. I’ll close all comments 9pm EST on the set date. If 10+ people have commented I’ll put the total number of comments into a random number picker (your assigned number is based on the comment sequence – first comment = 1, second comment = 2, etc…) and the number that comes back is the winner! I’ll announce and contact the winner two days after the closing date and arrange to send them a copy of the book! So excited to share this with you!! So here are the details for this month’s book.

Winter 2010 Book: The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

Comment Closing Date: December 7th, 2010

Announcement of Winner: December 9th, 2010

Lucky Number 8

Jennie — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 23:45:19 +0000

We have a winner!!! Thank-you to everyone who participated in the 2nd children’s book giveaway. This month’s lucky number, as you can see below, is the number 8.

I’ve always had a special spot in my heart for the number 8. You see, certain numbers, in my head, have a personality and well 8 has always been the forgotten middle child. She’s stuck between wanna be just like nine 7 and bratty 9. Today 8 gets to shine all on her own!

I’ve contacted the winner and soon will be sending Harold on his way. I hope they enjoy it as much as I did!

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Jennie — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:57:37 +0000

So maybe, possibly, quite probably, starting a new monthly series the month before I moved 300 miles – Connecticut to Maryland – was not well planned out. Somehow, I pushed aside all of my previous moving experiences. I didn’t fully recall the chaos and the amount of time it takes to settle in. But oooh I have been reminded. It’s only this week that I now finally have reliable phone service at the house! (Thank-you Mr Dixon for solving my communications “Black Hole” problem!!) Things seem to be 3/4′s of the way back on track now – whew! I’m ready to announce this month’s book giveaway AND a bonus extra to making up for my dropping the ball! Without further ado I give you: Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson.

One night Harold decides to take a walk in the moonlight with his purple crayon and oh the places his imagination takes him! He takes you from a straight line, to the moon, to a boat to sail on and a pie to feed his hunger – all created with his purple crayon and imagination. Harold explores all the greatness and possibilities outside his front door in the end finding himself home again settled in his bed.

July 2010 Book: Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

Comment Closing Date: August 3rd, 2010

Announcement of Winner: August 5th, 2010

Bonus!!: This month to make up for my dropping the ball I’m also giving away the dvd cartoon version of this book – it’s the same one I was shown in school many many times!

Now if you just can’t wait until August 5th here’s an Amazon direct link.

Magic Number 13

Jennie — Fri, 14 May 2010 17:00:11 +0000

Thank-you to everyone who participated in Lil Blu Dragonfly’s first book giveaway! The final number of comments came to 13 which I totally loved!

I have always been partial to the number 13. I was born on the 13th and missed turning 13 on friday the 13th by one year!! (Thanks Mom…) So when I saw that the final comment number was 13 I thought “How cool!” My next thought was “Wouldn’t it be even cooler if the winning number was 13?” I put the total number of comments in a random number generator on Random.org and I kid you not the winning number was 13!! Here’s a screen shot of the results:

This completely made my day! I’ll be contacting the winner shortly and sending Mr Popper on his way. I hope they enjoy it as much as I did!

I’d love for you all to come back in a week and check out the next book giveaway. Please spread the word to your family and friend too!!

A Book is Like a Garden…

Jennie — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:19:06 +0000

A Book is Like a Garden Carried in a Pocket – Chinese Proverb

Book Give Away, Book Give Away, Book Give Away!! *hint* read all the way to the end.

I was standing in the bookstore with 4 new books in my hands when a group of children, sitting in circle being read to, caught my eye. In a flash, I knew I wanted to share my love of books with you all. I decided, right then and there, that I would start a monthly posting based around my favorite books from my childhood. I also decided I wanted to give away a copy of each book I featured to one of you.

You see, books were a HUGE part of my upbringing and I do mean HUGE! Piles of books could be found around the house, weekly trips to the library occurred and we were read to every night. I’m still a serious reader, often reading several books at a time. I adore that my sisters’ instilled this love of reading in my nieces and nephews too! It never ceases to amaze me to find children, 7 and under, choosing to sit on the couch to read.

The dinner table and Mr. Popper’s Penguins sets the scene for one of my fondest childhood memories. My mom brought home a book and explained that this was one of her all time favorite books when she was a kid. Not only did she want us to read it, she wanted us to read it as a family. Her plan was to have one of us read a couple of pages out loud then pass the book to our right for the next person to read.

Mr Popper is a small town painter who is bored with his life. He dreams of far off travels and seeing the Poles. His down time is spent reading everything he can on explorers and their trips to the Poles. One day he writes a fan letter to famed explorer Admiral Drake. To his complete surprise, Admiral Drake sends him a penguin! Soon the small Popper Family grows to include 12 penguins – all who have to eat! The traveling show “Popper’s Performing Penguins” is born. The penguins create all sorts of trouble and slapstick moments while on the road. Every night would find us at the dinner table waiting with anticipation to see what the penguins got up to next!

Now the fun part! The book giveaway!! Every month I’ll feature a book in a post and set a comments closing date. For the sake of simplicity, all comments must take place on the blog, comments on our Facebook fan page won’t be counted. I’ll close all comments 9pm EST on the set date. If 10+ people have commented I’ll put the total number of comments into a random number picker (your assigned number is based on the comment sequence – first comment = 1, second comment = 2, etc…) and the number that comes back is the winner! I’ll announce and contact the winner two days after the closing date and arrange to send them a copy of the book! So excited to share this with you!! So here are the details for this month’s book.

April 2010 Book: Mr Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

Comment Closing Date: May 12th, 2010

Announcement of Winner: May 14th, 2010

Now if you just can’t wait until May 14th here’s an Amazon direct link.

Giving Back in 2010

Jennie — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:30:03 +0000

Over the past few years a little voice inside my head kept telling me I needed to do more – I needed to give back to the world around me. I responded by giving my time and talents to local causes – Habitat for Humanity and Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue – to name two. I loved it but as I got busier I found I had less time to give.

At the end of 2009 I found myself pondering these questions – 1) who do I want to give back to and 2) how do I want to give back. I knew pretty quickly on that I wanted to help women and children. I ended up choosing two organizations – Save the Children and Grameen Foundation. Both of these organization currently have an A rating with Charity Watch. Save the Children was an easy decision for me – I’ve been involved in the lives of children – be it babysitting, nanny, juniors rowing coach or photographing them since I was 11 years old – perfect fit!

Grameen came on my radar when a Facebook friend referred them to me. In regards to helping women I wanted help them in power and better their circumstances. I started researching micro loan organizations. The majority of the people helped by these organizations are poor women who want to make a change in their lives and the lives of those around them. Hard part was finding a micro loan organization that truly did what it said it would. With the combination of my friend’s referral and their Charity Watch rating I’m confident Grameen Foundation is an excellent match.

Here’s my plan for donating: Complete a session with me this year and I will donate $25 to either Save the Children or Grameen Foundation in your name. I would like you to help me choose which charity you would like the money to go to. For those that have no preference, in December I will evenly divide the money and donate to both organizations. I’m really excited to start giving back in this way and thank-you for helping me make it happen!!