mmm

The president and vice presidents of the publishing house take the interns out to lunch in shifts. Today was my day, and oh what a day it was! Before ordering they told us not to hold back, so I did not. This was the best restaurant meal I have had all summer.
To start my friend and I split crab and tomatillo-corn cakes, yellow tomato emulsion.
For my entree I ordered grilled beef tenderloin with roasted asparagus in a red wine demi glace and pommes william- which were these incredible potatoes with a fried outside shell in the shape of a pear. When you opened the pear, brie drizzled out! I wish I had a picture.
For dessert I had a lemon custard topped with raspberries.

When first trying meal, the president who I was sitting next to, told the rest of the table, "I think Kylee's getting saved all over again down here"


The art department had an afternoon tea for Adam, the other art intern, and me. My last day here is Friday. I am not looking forward to this ending. I can't believe how easy it was to feel like I belong here. I am thankful.



My friend Mandy was in kansas city on Saturday. Mandy and I had most design classes together at NNU and she and I went to Europe last summer on an art history tour. It felt like no time had passed, except now we were talking about design jobs instead of design homework. It was so fun to walk around town and equally enjoy stops like the paper source (the most incredible stationary store I have ever been inside)
Mandy graduated in the spring, so when we said good bye, it was so strange to think, there is no guaranteed next time to see each other. I have a feeling this will happen with many in the next couple of years. great.

a week of sorts

Twice this week I tried to water ski. Notice the word "tried". My friends were so patient and encouraging, and I probably tried to get up 50 times between the 2 days. Wow, that sounds ridiculous.
I have never been winter skiing and I dislike roller skating and ice skating because I either end up on the railing like a baby or "friends" take my hand and drag me around on the rink, while I'm praying I don't knock my teeth out. So the fact that I couldn't get up on the skis for more than 2 seconds before falling over wasn't that surprising, but I really wanted to get it. After my second evening of pursuit on the lake, we passed a girl who looked 4 years of age, gliding along effortlessly on her skis- my desire to achieve this awkward task increased.
Surprisingly enough, you are still incredibly sore the next day whether you ski across the entire lake, or fall 50 times. Boy am I feeling that everywhere!
I write to tell you this because, all week I envisioned a post on this blog, exclaiming my accomplishment with a picture to prove it. I can't really do that yet, but I wonder if I needed to admit my weakness before I could flaunt my athletic ability or simply, balance.
I'm going out to try again Monday, we shall see!

Earlier this week, I was called in by the book people. Very nice people, some of my favorite here at nph. They started by saying "now, you did everything we asked you to but, "
then started the running of my nervous thoughts. They continued to explain that they really liked the book cover I did for them, but after further editing of the content and showing the author, they realized the cover was too happy and light. The subtitle is "staying on course through life's changing circumstances" and I learned that the majority of the writing is from the perspective of being in a place you really don't want to be, but trusting God to get you through.
One of the editors saw my first cover (see previous post for image) as the blindfolded bird as being stuck, not knowing where to turn, but they have this internal compass guiding them. That is mostly what it was meant to suggest. The other editors and the author however saw the cover saying "well, I'll just walk blindly by faith and everything will be okay".
They said they needed the new cover in 4 days because stores need images for online sales. I was up for the new challenge but felt rushed in such a short time.
I write all of this, not to complain but explain why you won't be seeing the previous cover after all and to tell how much I learned from this experience of really working for your client.




For those who care to read more, one more story of the week-
Wednesday afternoon I was walking out to my car to head to the lake to attempt to ski. I didn't make it to the lake that day. I realized I left my keys in my friend's car while out on a donut run. (reason #20 not to eat donuts) Five minutes go by and I remember my brilliant dad, who knows my tendencies, put an emergency key in a hidden box underneath my car! After finding that, I went to start my car, and it would start for about three seconds and then quit. Some nice co-workers grabbed their spark plugs to help me, and they didn't work. 3 other nice co-workers wanted to try their spark plugs and they didn't work! 7 o'clock and the tow truck arrived. The past two days the mechanics can not figure out what is wrong. So I'm preparing myself for a huge bill or not having a car. Well, my dad called the mechanics today when I couldn't really understand what they were talking about. After they talked a while, they figured out that the key I was using was the spare key.
The spare key only unlocks the doors to the car, and isn't made to start the car.
and I thought the water skiing inability sounded ridiculous.
Thank you men at work for attempting to help!
Sorry mom and dad about the towing and worrying!
Thank you Todd and Melissa for loaning a vehicle!
Wow.
Well, it won't happen again!

After I have been honest, and you have read, I wish you a happy weekend.
Tomorrow I will work some, my friend Mandy from college will be in town and we will have lunch, then in the evening I will view some MLB! I have tickets to watch the Kansas City Royals lose to the Texas Rangers.

ps-
my friend travis was kind enough to share his opinion and some questions about my previous post. I will respond in the comments section of that post if you wish to read.

magic markers still exist

There is an assumption that the computer has taken over the art world. While the use of the computer has provided many advances in art and about everything else, I have seen that the old skills of hands and mind are still essential in making art. For this I am glad.
At NNU, the art department views the computer as a wonderful tool but believes that simply knowing the computer and memorizing functions does not make one a graphic artist. Because of this view I have been exposed to many mediums and many ideas. It is so enjoyable to blend a few different techniques into one piece.

I was reminded of the elementary forms of art still being used today at work. Below is a picture of my office neighbor Rick, who yes, is drawing with magic marker and highlighters on paper plates.

the hulls (and all their married names) had a reunion

wonderful aunt aarlie

For the first time I flew to visit my family, then when vacation was over, I flew back home, to a place that isn't the boise airport. a weird feeling. not a bad feeling, just new.

My great grandparents Lee and Reeda Hull died a few years ago. It's okay, it was time, but while they were on earth, they sure did a great job. Of a lot of things I am sure. One of the greatest contributions I believe they made was instilling love in their children and the understanding of the importance of passing on that love to others.



cousins kylee, kaylee and kallee are named for great grandpa lee, along with about 16 others having lee somewhere in their name.

From my first November to my 16th, Lee and Reeda and her siblings who were still living, and all of Lee and Reeda's children, grandchildren and great grandchildren would meet for a wonderful thanksgiving meal. Every year, every one was responsible to bring their designated dish, so the consistent tastes have become essential to the proper thanksgiving in my mind. Every year my grandpa Jerry or great uncle Larry (great uncle sounds so old, he's not that old), who are twins by sight but not personality, would organize a sharing time, so that at least for that day of the year we could connect as family.

papa jerry and great-uncle larry

This was always one of my favorite days of the year. Because of schedules and I'm sure many reasons, thanksgiving doesn't happen like that anymore. We still have that sharing time, it just looks a little different. It's a lot of sharing in 4 days to last 2 years!
This year the reunion was at Paul and Roxie's in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Beautiful AND has humid-clear Northwest air! Thanks to another very generous great uncle (thank you Norman!) I was able to fly west for the weekend and attend. It was such a gift. I am so glad almost everyone was able to come.

Some highlights of our time include:


-cousin Macalister making up songs for us to dance to on the trampoline, such as "I want to be a pine cone, pine cone"
-wonderful food.especially the thai/indian night with frozen sorbet following, el salvador coffee, and the sandwich gorging after the long bike ride
-did i say bike ride? yes not 14 miles on a one speed, as I was told, but 17 miles! which feels a lots longer when you're expecting 14 and your legs just can't push any faster. But what a beautiful ride!


mom and cousin david
-speaking of bicycles, my cousin David (mostly his wife, cousin Laurie) GAVE me a beautiful original orange schwinn bicycle! Painted on the side is the name, "the collegiate"-so fitting for my last year of undergraduate which is quickly approaching.


-I enjoyed being around cousin Cole very much. In the above picture we are playing a game. he is the only one in the cat lovers line, while everyone else stands with the dogs.


-cousins Sam and Levi taught me how to calmly hold a wild bird. i'm so country now. wyoming roommates would be proud
-playing 'up and down the river' and being reminded of how cousin heather makes me laugh


-successfully making my favorite salad in bulk and for the first time. Melissa's wonderful poppy seed, almond, strawberry, mandarin salad.


cousins beau and bethany
-you know when someone understands you or what you're trying to say and you don't have to explain what you usually would? cousin Beth did that for me. i love her.


-our nightly devotional time followed by game time. i was surrounded by wise, interesting, dedicated people.
-most of all i am very thankful for the conversations I had with the 40 family members present.It was an honor to hear what they have been doing and who they have continue to become.


cousins olivia, kaylee, gentry and sister kadyn around the nightly camp fire.

Feeling close to home made me miss all of my Nampa family.(oregon too!)
I hope all of you, my loved ones are having a fantastic summer.

fish are jumping and the cotton is high

I am realizing there are two kinds of summers. Well three. Two common types of summers as you are transitioning into adulthood.
There's of course the summer of a child in a pool, with a couple weeks of camp, mosquitos and the constant smell of barbecue. The carefree summer of a child is where the ideal of summer comes from. But headed towards reality I am realizing there were two common kinds of summers.
One that is planned as a dream of relaxation with no responsibility. A summer where you take a job as a part-time barista and clean a couple of classrooms- the bare minimum, because this is your summer, your time, a break. About three weeks into this kind of summer you become disgusted with boredom, daytime television and the walls of your house. You long for things to need to get done, routine, tasks, a role to fill that consists of more than pouring steamed milk over two shots. You tell yourself to soak it up, thinking 'I'll miss this', but really the kiddie pool summer now feels a little cramped.
There's another kind of summer. One where you apply, audition, pay for and hope for that ambitious opportunity. Because that is what it would look like to take advantage of all that this speedy world has to offer. Right? But a couple weeks into the 12 hour a day sports camp, honors classes that cram a year's worth of content into a month and a 1/2 or in my past case, traveling to a different town each day promoting a school you forgot you actually attended and not only sold. These summers seem more draining than rewarding- until the end when you look back. But would you go do it all over again? And you decide to sign up the next year, because why not? Why not stretch yourself? You're supposed to do something. Achieve something. Or maybe you think of the alternative and you feel less guilty choosing the latter.
Is this what summer has become? Is this what rodeo cheering, fair riding, crickets listening, ice cream truck running, lemonade sipping summer has become?
I thought so. I unknowingly narrowed summer down into these two options.
Then there is this other kind of summer. A time when you're not thinking about what would be better. A time you're not thinking about what is over there, someone else's position, or what comes next.
Because you want to be right where you are. A place where you're discovering you really do enjoy and are able to do what you've decided to do. A time when you would be okay with extending the weeks some. A summer with people around you who love so well. A summer when you're learning because you want to. A summer that even includes of couple of evenings of boating, when you can't help but smile because of how beautiful it is. A summer you know won't happen this way again. A summer you want to freeze. A summer I am blessed to call mine, for right now.

i went to st. louis

It is funny how close cities are to cities when you go further east. So close that you venture out on these things called "day trips" that seem great, easy, doable- until you're on your way home, alone, and really just want to sleep. 4 hours to St. Louis from Kansas City is a lot nicer than the 7 hours from Nampa to Portland, but now after making the drive, I do not recommend making both trips in the same day.

I am glad I went. My brother, Cody was in St. Louis for the Nazarene Youth Conference held every four years. It was very fun spending the day with him and seeing he and his friends had grown up. A fun transition to see, which seemed to happen fast.



Here Cody and I are standing next to the foot I designed for the publishing house's exhibit. All of the 16 different feet were this tall. The security was so tight (which is probably a good thing), so people from work had to sneak me in.

For your enjoyment, I will tell you a short story about the drive there.
I had been helping Idaho's reputation all morning by not driving slowly and not cutting people off...until I stopped in Jefferson City to get gas. I chose a gas station having a sale. So did 5 million other drivers. After getting a snack, I quickly ran back to my car and started driving away, so the line of cars behind me could get their chance. I made it about 8 feet, then I felt a forceful pull. What could that be? I turned to look in my mirrors and saw that I had forgotten to put my gas pump back in it's holster. And I had managed to pull the entire hose out of it's place and I now had the pump and hose dragging with my car.
So much for quickly helping out the fellow drivers at the gas station, so much for helping Idaho drivers' reputation, so much for not feeling like a fool.
I then returned the pump (what could I really do with it), apologized and made my way back to the interstate.
thank you, thank you very much

On the drive home that evening, there was lightning to keep me awake and God and I had a great time. All in all a good saturday in st. louis.

true north

Finally, here is the book cover.
The subtitle is "staying on course through life's changing circumstances".
The last week or so we were going over colors, there were many options. I initially thought these colors were too cold, but with the migrating bird concept, it should look cold over warm, and the author talks about her experience of many changes while being in Alaska, so the editors decided on the blues and this is the final cover. I really enjoyed the whole process and having my client be the author and the editors. The editors I worked with are wonderful and gave me a lot of freedom.




Speaking of book covers, yesterday a few of us were asked to help my friend Chad in a photo shoot for a book he's working on about the growing church. The only instruction I had was to hold my hand out in this position, and he would later do some photoshop work and "it would all make sense". (I was NOT holding the gun, nor will I ever)
This morning when I showed up to work, he thought he was pretty funny. He said the expression called for a weapon.
Thankfully, there is a different version he is working on!

a summer sunday

a day filled with a fabulous sunday school lesson, barbecue brisket, glow in the dark mini-golf, oreo blizzards, teaching minors poker, and boating at sunset with 80s tunes blaring, makes me wonder what I ever complained about.

Here are some pictures of boating with the Fryes.


Here Logan and I are on the beautiful lake where we go boating. I'm usually working when the real sun is out, so I'm still the pale self everyone is used to, not to worry.


Watching new friend Scott wake board. He is the first I have met that could give my mom a run for her money in knowing 70s and 80s pop/rock.


Brennan is so brave, when we go tubing together he wants to go faster than I


look at that.


Melissa and I singing the parts but maybe not the right words to the music.
What a good summer.


Here is Landen with his two cousins, my new friends, Grace and Ben on this great 3 man couch like tube. Though willing to take part in the adventure, I enjoyed sitting and supporting the daring yesterday. They did awesome.


When Brennan saw my car from across the parking lot, without taking a breath, concerned, he asked, "kylee, your car broken?" So yes, the missing hubcap is enough to cause concern for three year olds.

Tell me about your weekend!

an ode to one of the most influential in my life.

Today my favorite professor, Jonathan Bouw stopped in Kansas City to have breakfast with Brandon, JR and I. (Brandon and JR work at NPH full time and studied under Jonathan at NNU). He and his family are moving to Indiana where he will change the art department at Taylor University-similar to the wonderful work he did at NNU for 10 years.

What a passionate, truly caring and loving, funny, genuine man of God. I am a designer today because of him and his influence. His teaching was phenomenal and as students we could see the validity in what he was teaching by our changed view of the beauty in the world around us. After the guys and I dropped him off, we were thinking about the gift we were given of knowing him, we don't even know the extent of that blessing.

I wanted to share the great time and hard good bye of today. To a friend and teacher who deserves many thanks.

(the book cover still has changes to be made, I will post it next week)

a good start

This morning I woke up early thinking I would get an early, efficient start. As I was walking outside, (feeling sore after wrestling with a seven year old stronger than I for two hours last night), I noticed something.

What do you know, my front left hub cap is missing! I checked the others, and they didn't seem to be loose. I don't think anyone would want to steal the shiny rims my dad graciously gave me, but wouldn't I have heard it falling off? It looks bad.

After I treated myself to an uplifting double shot raspberry white mocha (light flavor), I felt embarrassed getting out of my car. But really, should it matter?

Oh let me be humbled with my ugly tire-d car.
(hopefully only for a couple days)



i will be ready to show the book cover tomorrow, I am finalizing the type.

Here are a couple more pictures of some of my intern friends. Unfortunately, they start leaving next week. What great girls.