A Little Taste

This song may have made an appearance in my video- simply because it's upbeat, gives out energetic, fun vibes and makes me dance...every time I listen!!! Lisztomania by Pheonix. (How's that for a song name?)

The epic ending is definitely what makes the entire song... so much emotion!

Enjoy

Wine Job Update

There is about 24 hours left in the voting process for Murphy-Goode's future "Wine Country Lifestyle Correspondent!"

After anxiously waiting for my video to post, it is finally up and the vote count is increasing! The direct link to my video is http://www.areallygoodejob.com/video-view.aspx?vid=b-pdrNQa-Q0. Thanks to all those who have voted and passed on the word. Please keep up the good work!!!

I must say, after my initial video was rejected because of music copyright regulations, I was a little bummed. I worked really hard to write, direct, edit, and put some really great music on the video. That was not the e-mail response I was expecting and I definitely did not want to delay my application submission any longer. The "Murphy-Goode Screening Team" was super-generous to grant me an opportunity to resubmit. Thank you Screening Team!!! (You're way more understanding than the "Island Reef Job" desicision executives that rejected my submission because their server failed to handle the intense uploading activity.)

Thankfully, after spending a couple more hours working on the new sound bits, I am very pleased. I even think it blows the first take out-of-the-water. "Screening Team," I respect that you have rules to follow, thanks for the second chance, and most importantly thanks for unknowingly making my video better!

Cheers!

Hey, Murphy-Goode, We'll Make a Great Team!

Murphy-Goode Winery in Healdsburg, California (Sonoma County) is currently searching for a social media whiz to use Web 2.0 to bring some attention to their award-winning winery. The lucky winner of the brilliant video essay contest Murphy-Goode is holding will become the "Wine Country Lifestyle Correspondent." This creative, web-savvy individual will get handsomely rewarded for their hard work learning about winemaking, indulging in samples, and more specifically using tools like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and blogs to stir up attention for Murphy-Goode.

The excellent compensation of $60,000, per 6 month contract, and free housing in what I would like to call a "baller" house in Healdsburg, California (click here to see map) not only drew me in to the idea, but the fact that it was a contest wherein I could express my creativity played a huge factor. Contests are great; my contest enthusiasm could be considered a strange fascination. There was no doubt about it that I would enter this one. Yes, I can use my creativity to make a video, but I am the right person for the job???

Definitely!!

I am...

A wine-loving,

Hardworking,

Focused,

Passionate,

Adventurous,

Eager,

Creative,

Tech-Savvy,

Energetic,

Outgoing,

Independent,

Diversified,

Motivated,

Business Educated young woman intent on building an excellent brand image, increasing sales, and establishing world-wide recognition for the Murphy-Goode Winery.

I can't do this alone: You can help me! Vote for me to be cast into the TOP 50. Please tell all your friends and family!!!

Cheers,

Heather

Consumed ("With Love") Avec Amour

Sorry, it's been about 2 weeks since my last post. It has been a busy, but also relaxing 2 weeks ironically. The main project I have been working on is getting together my purse designs. I have been at the sewing machine heaps... and I LOVE IT (its been too long)! I have been making some bags and trying to get my portfolio together to be legit and professional. I also made business cards (shown above) to hand out when people comment about the sweet bags I carry around... made by me, of course! 

I updated my portfolio on Coroflot.com with some nice pictures. I went to Freedom Park in Charlotte with a good friend from high school and we had the first official Avec Amour Designs  photo shoot! We had fun bringing out our inner flower children and playing on restricted trains. The shots turned out great and with a little Photoshop action are looking even better! You can find my new summer collection at www.coroflot.com/avecamourdesigns. I am really excited about this and hope to sell some bags!  

E-mail me if you see anything of interest... avecamourdesigns@hotmail.com

HTC S743

Finally got a new phone! I love it! The HTC S743...its pretty rad, a smartphone with wi-fi, and all the ammenities. I'm playing with it to set it up the way I like...more of the unboxing and reviews to come!! 

I am off to set up pandora on it right now!!! sweet!  (FAILED ATTEMPT!! Apparently my mobile is too innovative for pandora to support. They have some serious catching up to do!) 

Currently streaming Triple J without fail!!! Amazing, I can take my aussie musical stylings with me everywhere!

goodbye to my thrashed, tired old phone!! hello to a stylee new accessory! 

So much time, so much to do!

Free time leaves me with my mind in a spin; there's so much to do, so many projects to start, so many abandoned projects to finish, or just enjoy the free time with leisure and reading (which unfortunately makes me feel guilty for not actually doing something...) Since I have had so much of free time lately, I have been doing all of the above and much more...

What's really great is that Charlotte, NC is getting pretty big, which means some excellent stores are flying south. For instance, IKEA!!! Occupying a rainy day last weekend, my mum and I tackled the new IKEA located off I-85 near UNCC. It's so overwhelming, you fall in love with

 everything and then walk away with close to nothing, because you couldn't actually make up your mind on anything. I made an exception...I indulged in my guilty pleasure (no, not in the piping-hot, steamy, moist, cinnamon-y, pleasantly overwhelming aromatic, cinnamon buns tempting us as we waited for the torrential downpour to cease), but I indulged in FABRIC!!! IKEA has some really great fabric and I went a bit crazy because they're "cheap as chips, mate" and are splashed with incredible colors and graphic designs!

I made one purse with some of the fabric I purchased and I need to use my free time to make some more. They are for sale! Check out my portfolio link at coroflot.com (www.coroflot.com/avecamourdesigns). I have pictures posted and they are on facebook, as well. 

Worthy Photographers

The world is a pretty amazing place, scattered with great people, cultures, and beauty. Capturing these things into a photograph is pretty difficult, unless you are extremely talented. I happen to have some close friends that have sick skills in doing just that.

John Schreiber- Studying in Perth, Western Australia, I met John and got to road trip through the South Island of New Zealand with him. He was the appointed right-side-of-the-car, left-side-of-the-road driver and the only guy accompanying four girls... we were thankful for his nice camera because he was taking pictures (even while at the wheel). His love for getting the perfect shot would sometimes call for him to lay down in the grass to get breathtaking shots of Mount Cook or pulling over on the side of the road to capture brilliant rays of sun penetrating the dark, hazy clouds to illuminate mountainsides in an unbelievable fashion. John is extremely skilled and is now pursuing his passion for photography by getting his Masters in Photojournalism (http://johnschreiber.wordpress.com).  He's always on the move hitting up cool places and capturing their essence. Keep an eye on John... he takes sick pictures!!

Doug Stratton- Doug's keen eye for detail always leads him in the direction of a gnarly shot! He's stoked on HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography, his photos are absolutely amazing! By using the HDR technique, Doug is able to capture and focus in on vibrant colors and details in the entire composition of the photograph... taking photography to an all new level! His love for travel and photography have taken him to beautiful places where he's captured people in their element, coastal landscapes, urban architecture, and anything else that he finds beautiful and inspiring. He's introduced me to a great blog, www.stuckincustoms.com, filled with colorful and intriguing shots its a fun site to look at, get some good inspiration, and wish for a chance to travel to all the sweet spots this guy is lucky enough to experience. 

And last, but not least...

Sean Ruttkay- He's an avid surfer that travels all over the world to not only catch some good

 rides, but also to catch some good shots. He has formed a business around his passions (a key to any good business) called Elemental Digital Art. His business is incredible stuff...he takes his shots and puts them onto a medium that can be displayed outdoors. His finished work is waterproof, sunproof, and weatherproof. Hang it on a tree, display a panorama shot beside a hammock, or keep it in the shower- EDA has no limits. You know what else?! Sean is able to do this with any photography. He can create a weatherproof piece of art with your photography!!! (It looks best with shots from a Digital SLR or camera with high-resolution.) Super-cool idea and great for a present!

Getting to work for him as an intern in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina last year I got to see the whole lot of his impressive work from the photos to the fabrication (and also helped design the retro 80s logo). Sean has spent time in Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Barbados, and other places with famous waves; with his underwater camera housing he is able to get some pretty spectacular pictures. Another cool fact...while in Wrightsville Beach, he sponsors a surf team, EDA Surf, which is comprised of local groms and rippers. He's able to get them exposure through his lens and getting them into contests. Sean's a super cool guy, with some great photography!!

I have some cool friends; let them know if you like their work!