New Place for Posting Articles About Media

Hi all, check out my new website that I created using Wordpress. Here is where I will continue to migrate old blog articles to, and where you will see all new articles. So book mark this new site, which I named Website Design at the Crest of the Hill. Why? Because this represents the idea that I offer you top value, with insight and creativity, as well as intuitive design. Also, hopefully the search engines will pick up my site if you search for Chapel Hill web designers -- because I have the word "Hill" in the url for my site.

Any how, hope you visit my new look as well as new postings at my new locale!

To Facebook or Not?

I have participated in Facebook interactions for quite a while now. Some think it is frivolous. Some a waste of time.

I don't think so and here is why...

One, it keeps you connected with many folks you would not have stayed in touch with otherwise. For me, just one friend from high school, but many that are artists in my community are friends. And I get to see their new projects posted most every day. What a delight to have coffee with friends while still in my pajamas.

Two, I get all the political news I need without having to actually read the news. It is already filtered and digested by very smart astute folks who read way more than I have an inclination to.

Three, and most important. There is a new ethos (actually an old tried and true one): I will scratch your back if you scratch mine. This is not a tit for tat system. It is organic. But it is a delight that I will comment regularly on what you post and you will reciprocate by commenting on my posts. Or we simply both like as frequently as possible. It keeps us connected in an age when there are less chances to interact with others because our lives are so busy.

So when it comes to Facebook, I give it a thumbs up!

How about you?

Hey, don't forget to see my media site. Lots of visual goodies there, for sure!

It Is Only Natural

It is only natural that a writer uses a blog to broadcast the publishing of her new book. Actually a two-part mystery series named Until Proven: A Mystery in Two Parts. It is written by a long time associate and friend of mine, Nora Gaskin. We have known each other for some thirty years. Nora's dad was a Literature Professor at UNC Chapel Hill, and my father-in-law was also and one of his best friends. So as one might expect -- after many lively discussions at dinner parties --Nora and become acquainted. And have had a blast sharing many yearly festive activities at my home and hers.

Until Proven is a mystery, a family saga, and an examination of how a community changes--or doesn't. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. So I immediately ordered an ebook version and read straight through parts one and two in two days. The two different eras described in the story provide perceptive insight into the tenor of both times in a small southern town-- in particular race relations as they evolved. The mysteries that unfolded kept me at the edge of the page!

So check out Nora's recent blog that describes the many ways you can order this new intriquing series.   Online, or in book stores.

PS, I helped Nora set up the blog and she caught on immediately. She got busy changing font sizes, colors, added new embellishments. Hard to keep up with her willingness to lay it all out there in print -- even the kind to expect online!

So, check her blog. It will definitely satisfy.

Barbi Dalton Painter on Orange County Artists Tour

Coming up, the Orange County Artists Guild Tour, Nov 3 & 4, 10 & 11 in  Chapel Hill. Check out this short movie created  by Trudy Thomson on her website that shows the lovely work of Barbi Dalton, who is located at 2 Crow Hollow, Chapel Hill, 27514.

See: http://www.trudythomson.com/barbi.html

Metaphorically Speaking

Coming up, the Orange County Artist Tour. Check out the following video that shows the detailed elegance of art pots created by Judith Ernst. Her work is a wonder. She is part of the tour that is held the first two weekends in November. (I am also on the tour offering fused glass and fiber arts) -- Trudy Thomson

Video Captures the Cosmos And Chaos

This article introduces you to a  recent video I produced for a new artist friend of mine who creates abstract art she describes as Cosmos And Chaos. She slaps paint on to the canvas, scrapes, whips and whips brushes around to add pigment, sand, earth, and grit to her canvas. The layers are built up and destroyed. The results? Stimulating!

Shelley lives in Chapel Hill and she will be participating in the upcoming Orange County Artists Guild Tour the first two weekends in November. So stop her designated site to see her work as well as many other worthy artists in the group.

Here is her story in a video format.



In this video, Shelly Hehenberger describes how nature in the inspiration for her artwork, what her painting process and techniques are like, and shares with us a recent exhibition of her work at the NC Museum of Life Sciences, in Raleigh. This video was shot and edited by Trudy Thomson of Chapel Hill.

See my website for other video examples as well as this vimeo site for my art videos. 

The Psychology of Social Media

Just got a great newsletter from MOZ about the latest in Social Media and Content Management. Ah, yes, so boring. And who has the time. But this group has some very serious breadth and depth about how to handle everything from Facebook posting to the psychology of the words you use when you are blogging. I am always interested in research about how we interact, why we do what we do, and how our images influence our lives. So this is in alignment with my current interests.

I particularly liked this link about how one uses a Facebook page to promote a service or product -- or how one avoids common mistakes about the words you use to entice others to come on along with what you are promoting or offering.

To see the full list of there offerings for this month take a look at this site. The author is SEOmoz. I am impressed, and hope you will find a few articles of interest to your particular needs. We are each different. Yes indeed.

For more info about website design...particularly if you are a small enterprise that would like the benefits of a large idea, see http://www.trudythomson.com. Love shaping the message so that each and everyone gets a chance to reach the ring!