Samantha E. Donaldson http://www.sedonaldson.com Freelance writer and blogger Sat, 13 Sep 2014 00:36:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.4.11 Building basic designs for the symphony http://www.sedonaldson.com/2014/09/12/building-basic-designs-for-the-symphony/ Sat, 13 Sep 2014 00:30:27 +0000 http://www.sedonaldson.com/?p=224 Lately I’ve been working on some basic designing for the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra. Check out this post card I worked up for the upcoming inaugural Masquerade Ball to be sent out to solicit ticket sales.

MSOPostCardFront

 

 

 

 

 

 

MSOPostcardBack

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additionally, I designed a couple of posters: one for the Masquerade Ball and another for the first concert in the new Java series.

Ballposter JavaIposter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I’m working on another poster for the symphony’s concert season, as well as a palm card program for the Java concert.

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Blue Raider videos for examples http://www.sedonaldson.com/2014/08/15/blue-raider-videos-for-examples/ Fri, 15 Aug 2014 19:46:36 +0000 http://www.sedonaldson.com/?p=221 Since so many of my videos are still with the DNJ, I’m posting some silly videos that I’ve done.

The first one is from an MTSU basketball game when the Blue Zoo fan group offered their own take on the “Harlem Shake” trend.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10101981566531965&set=vb.38402035&type=2&theater&notif_t=video_processed

The second is a video I put together to show my skills in video editing and putting together a video presentation. It is a bit long, as far as a typical video for online, but I feel it does express what I can do to promote through video.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10101981569156705&set=vb.38402035&type=2&theater&notif_t=video_processed

Hope you enjoy!

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Video Archive Links http://www.sedonaldson.com/2014/08/12/video-archive-links/ Tue, 12 Aug 2014 21:31:05 +0000 http://www.sedonaldson.com/?p=212 These are links to some early videos that I shot and edited. Unfortunately, due to the fact that DNJMediaGroup owns dozens of my videos, I cannot use them as examples of my skill and experience. Here are a few I have access to, however they are in no way a full sampling.

Hunter’s Court Jumper

http://archive.dnj.com/VideoNetwork/2297012753001/Hunter-s-Court-trainer-shows-off-young-jumper-Joe-Pike

UDMD Press Conference 2013

http://archive.dnj.com/VideoNetwork/2291920928001/Old-time-music-sets-tone-for-Uncle-Dave-Macon-Days-press-conference

Maura White loves downtown

http://archive.dnj.com/VideoNetwork/2407415895001/Maura-White-shares-her-love-of-downtown-farmer-s-market

Mix It Up: Blue Raider

http://archive.dnj.com/VideoNetwork/2448327684001/Mix-It-Up-How-to-make-a-Blue-Raider-Tea

Mix It Up: Alohatini

http://archive.dnj.com/VideoNetwork/2365988781001/Mix-It-Up-Try-a-Boulevard-Alohatini

Gamma Rays

http://archive.dnj.com/VideoNetwork/2310225962001/MLT-presents-dramatic-Pulitzer-Prize-winning-play

 

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Photo Gallery: Dining and Entertainment http://www.sedonaldson.com/2014/08/12/photo-gallery-dining-and-entertainment/ Tue, 12 Aug 2014 21:26:19 +0000 http://www.sedonaldson.com/?p=186 Here is a gallery of some of my images from my time at The Daily News Journal when I covered food, fashion, entertainment, business, and family events.

Colton Dixon signs autographs while his family looks on. 'I'm Connor. I'm not Aspberger's' Carpe Cafe Country Gourmet Uncle Dave Macon Days 2013 Foam Party on West Main Golden Eagle Jeff's Family Restaurant La Tavola On the Rocks opening night Reveille Joe's Longhorn Maple Street Grill Slick Pig Your Pie Marina's on ths Square McAlister's Deli OK Jose Stones River Battlefield Pa Bunk's Pa Bunk's Toot's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at Social Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at Social ]]>
Photo Gallery Links http://www.sedonaldson.com/2014/08/12/photo-gallery-links/ Tue, 12 Aug 2014 21:16:45 +0000 http://www.sedonaldson.com/?p=183 For a glimpse at some of my basic photography skills, here are links to my older photo galleries. Many of these are “smile and snap” type photos, and they are not indicative of my complete experiences. However, many of my previous photographs are owned by DNJMediaGroup, making them unavailable to me.

Uncle Dave Macon Days 2014 Press Conference

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152449402818278.1073741831.84859058277&type=3

2014 Trailblazer Award Winners

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152614362823278.1073741834.84859058277&type=3

2014 Uncle Dave Macon Days Motorless Parade

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152615585888278.1073741836.84859058277&type=3

2014 Uncle Dave Macon Days Heritage Award Winners

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152616199598278.1073741837.84859058277&type=3

2014 Uncle Dave Macon Days

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152614562908278.1073741835.84859058277&type=3

Coconut Bay Bike Night

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150316889019933.360027.124766674932&type=3

BoroParty.com Pool Party

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.405576239932.178886.124766674932&type=3

 

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City Tile: Making Our Way Outdoors with Outdoor Tile http://www.sedonaldson.com/2014/08/12/city-tile-making-our-way-outdoors-with-outdoor-tile/ Tue, 12 Aug 2014 21:06:01 +0000 http://www.sedonaldson.com/?p=180 Warm weather means more time outdoors, in the pool, in the garden, grilling on the patio, and just playing around in the sunshine.

Create your own outdoor oasis using outdoor tile, automatically transforming an unused portion of your yard or your boring planked deck into a stunning sitting room. You can create leisure and entertaining areas, quickly and easily.

From plain terra cotta or red clay to fancy glazed polychrome Spanish tiles, using tiles outdoors has been a tradition for centuries across the globe, especially in warm climates.

Concrete tiles are proving stronger and more long lasting than ceramics. Wood tiles have come of age for covering up old concrete or wood decks with squares of attractive wood flooring. Very thin stone tiles allow architectural stonework to extend into unique applications. Artisans are also hand-crafting specialty tiles with unique patterns and textures.

But why would you opt for outdoor tile? For one, it’s durable, meaning an investment goes a long way. But it is also easy to clean because it doesn’t absorb liquids or dirt.

The large selection in color and materials means you can find the right look for your outdoor space, no matter if you are covering the slab of concrete in your backyard or creating a new space in the garden you’ve worked years to cultivate.

Just imagine: garden walking paths, creating secondary patios or an extended outdoor seating with a tiles floor space complete with a fire pit, outdoor bar, or grilling station. Just gets you excited about summer, right?
[http://www.citytile.net/outdoor_tile]

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City Tile: Patios? Pati-Ohhs! http://www.sedonaldson.com/2014/08/12/city-tile-patios-pati-ohhs/ Tue, 12 Aug 2014 21:02:53 +0000 http://www.sedonaldson.com/?p=177 Today’s patios are more than just concrete squares that extend from the back of the house. They are more than wood decks.

Trends for modern patios include unique focal points, including staircases, garden features, fire pits, and more, all creating a new space that adds character, and more room, to your home.

You may want to make more of your yard or deck, but don’t know where to begin to create a cozy nook for your family to entertain or just veg out in the evenings. You have to know how you are going to utilize your new patio — entertaining, dining, relaxing, etc. — before you can add the details.

Once you know what you are likely to use the space for, you can then look at how you want to create the atmosphere.

  • Outdoor tile: The foundation of your new patio, you can cover an existing area, extend it, or create a whole new outdoor “room”. Outdoor tile can add structure, color and texture, and it sets the tone for the rest of the décor.
  • Outdoor lighting: From string lights to light posts, solar lamps to lanterns, you can use lighting to set perimeters to your patio and add ambiance.
  • Trends for this summer include sumptuous seating and bigger dining areas, and plush cushions for entertaining guests during the evenings. Also popular are transitional areas that bring indoor contemporary looks to the outdoors.
  • Although bold colors like cayenne, marigold, and oranges are popular this year, you will need to pair them with neutral shades to balance, or use corresponding colors to create tonal combinations. Popular color combinations include yellows and grays and tonal blues. Black and white is always in style.
  • Finishing touches: Black fences are commonly seen in Japanese-inspired gardens, and provide a dramatic backdrop, especially striking when contrasted with the white shutters. A black fence can also is a striking backdrop for plants, especially native plants with their gray-green colors.

Fire pits, specifically stone pits, are also popular, providing a focal point for your patio, as well as a center for conversation. They also function as a way to keep warm on cooler nights, roast weenies or marshmallows, and add lighting to a dark night.

[http://www.citytile.net/patios/]

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City Tile: Empty Nest is Potential Space http://www.sedonaldson.com/2014/08/12/city-tile-empty-nest-is-potential-space/ Tue, 12 Aug 2014 21:00:41 +0000 http://www.sedonaldson.com/?p=174 Your son or daughter has gone off to college or moved out, and you are feeling like the house is incomplete with the empty room.

For a little investment you can change that empty room into a home office, recreation or crafting room or even a guest bedroom.

Update the space with an accent wall painted in a fun, bold color such as emerald green, navy blue, or mustard yellow. You can also find fabrics for window hangings, plush pillows and rugs that add color or texture.

You can find inexpensive shelving to store all your files, knick knacks and other pieces, and depending on your renovation’s purpose, a bench by the window or arm chair in a corner can create a quiet space to reflect, remember or be productive.

A small bedroom can be transformed into a large dressing room with shelves, suspended rods, vanity table, full-length mirrors, and jewelry armoire. Or a study or library only requires shelves, comfy seating and great lighting to become a sanctuary.

Guest rooms or a futon in a home office can be great options if you want to retain sleeping arrangements for when your child comes home to visit.

[http://www.citytile.net/empty-nest-potential-space/]

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Controlling current chaos through containers http://www.sedonaldson.com/2014/08/12/controlling-current-chaos-through-containers/ Tue, 12 Aug 2014 20:48:39 +0000 http://www.sedonaldson.com/?p=167 storage-containers

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of my flaws happens to be how I handle stress. For those around me, it’s nothing new, and they just let me do my thing, but for those who don’t see me on a day-to-day routine, it might seem that I’m a little crazy.

When I am really stressed out, I tend to clean, organize, rearrange and create a new space. It’s controlling behavior, really. I find a way to control one thing in my life while the rest is chaotic and up in the air.

After my time at the DNJ ended, I went from one end of our home to the other reorganizing, moving furniture, and purging tons of stuff that had been taking up space. In the end I created a much more open, comfortable living space with less clutter, but in the middle of the whirlwind I’m sure my husband thought I had lost my mind

But this is how I handle change and stress. I’m sure any supervisor would think I’m wasting time, or get stressed that I’m not going to get something done, but this is actually not the case.

This is one reason I loved Sandee Suitt at the DNJ. She let me be my creative, somewhat kooky, self. When I was working on a big project, she new that I was going to come in and redo my inspiration board at least once, that I’d clear out my filing drawers, and that I would probably move my computer from once side of my desk to the other. When the deadline was quickly approaching, my new perspective and nervous energy was gone, and I was able to focus on the job at hand, knock it out, and deliver a product I was confident about.

Recently I was getting myself worked up about a new project for Grandaddy’s Farm. It’s one of the bigger contracts I’ve taken on so far, and I wanted to make sure it was perfect. Poor James! He came home from rehearsal and I had reorganized our bathroom with new baskets and containers.

I love containers. They are the best way to control clutter. I’m not partial to any particular type; at least I don’t think so. I love baskets, filing cabinets, trays, storage totes, and tables or dressers with drawers for me to fill with essentials. I guess you can see why I’m constantly cleaning out clutter.

Because that is my other flaw: crafting and collecting crafting supplies. But that’s a story for another day.

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Making cakes and eating them, too http://www.sedonaldson.com/2014/08/02/making-cakes-and-eating-them-too/ Sat, 02 Aug 2014 20:30:50 +0000 http://www.sedonaldson.com/?p=146 IMG_1681After my position was eliminated last year, I decided to take advantage of the extra time on my hands by tackling something on my bucket list: cake decorating.

My mom was always a culinary genius when it came to baked goods, and my baby sister can whip up some extraordinary scrabbled eggs and tilapia dishes.

For years I’d wanted to take some classes and learn a few decorating techniques to add to my inherited baking skills. And with Michael’s craft stores offering classes half off, I really had no reason not to.

For 12 weeks I had a blast learning about making different types of icing, how to use them to create patterns, petals and more, and even got some work with fondant and gum paste.

What’s been really neat, though, is how I’ve been able to continue learning and practicing — and even making some spare change — through making cakes for friends and family.

Check out some of my sweet creations!

Sharlene's Birthday Sharlene's Birthday Hidden heart for Poppa's Birthday Learning royal icing with daffodils Royal icing daffodils Inside of daffodil cake Kayla's Baby Shower... requested simple Kayla's Baby Shower... she loves camo Joanne's 75th Birthday cake Joanne loves red roses! '50 Shades of Gray' Party Cake '50 Shades of Gray' Cake had gray layers inside ]]>