STARMAS

This is the third year that Christopher and I put together our holiday website! We do this in lieu of sending Christmas cards. This project all started with our wedding website, which was designed for our wedding information and RSVPs. Later that year, when the holiday season rolled around, we decided to keep the digital communications going. I love that this is a project that we collaborate on. We also keep a record of years past, which makes me all kinds of nostalgic!

Our excitement for Star Wars VII was the inspiration for the site this year. We've been dreaming about the new movie for what feels like forever making the timing for this style of site was perfect. Christopher found a technique using CSS to run the scrolling text and title sequence. From that point, it took writing our update and creating some sweet action figure style graphics to go along with the look to bring it to life.

Click on the image to view the site and make sure to turn up the volume!

After creating the site, we made a graphic for the email we sent out (title image above). Projects like this are so rewarding to work on because they come from a fun place and intended for an audience that we love (our friends and families).

Shooting our photos was the best! We had a very basic set up, using a sheet and a stand-in beer bottle as lightsaber to make it happen.

I hope everyone is having a great holiday so far and the end of 2015 is filled with love and happiness! May the force be with you always!

CHRISTMAS STUDIO SOUNDS

Have you been feeling festive this year?

Have you been listening to Christmas music since before Thanksgiving, perhaps?

Maybe you've just been bit by the Christmas bug, like me?

Welllllll I want to share with you some great and new(!!!) Christmas/holiday tunes that I've been listening to while in the studio. Tell me what jams have been giving your inner elf something to dance about too!

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

By far my favorite new Christmas record this year has been provided by the lovely Sharon Jones of Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. This R&B and Soul album, named It's A Holiday Soul Party has a great vintage sound, like time traveling back to the 1960's. It's a little brassy and Sharon's voice is so filled with passion and joy. I think the first track on the album 8 Days (of Hanukkah) is a very fun way to set off this album, not only by giving some love to this Jewish holiday but it sounds like it beamed in from a School House Rock video! Seriously! Even the music video is perfectly retro. There are a couple classic Christmas tunes on this album as well, perfect for you to sing along with instantly. Another song I love for the narrative and non-traditional perspective is the second track called Ain't No Chimneys In The Projects. Hit that play button below and enjoy!

Charlie's Hand Movements

This little batch of songs from Charlie's Hand Movements is sort of flirting with a bit of an 80's flair. The first track Secret Santa has a techno robotic vibe that feels pretty current. The second track, It's Christmas Time (And I Don't Want To Wait) sounds very love struck and emo-ish circa early Death Cab for Cutie, but to me, I think it nails that melancholy feeling that accompanies the holiday season. You know the one, when you run head-first into the holiday season and then when it draws to a close it leaves you feeling a bit sad. The third song is a DELIGHTFUL cover of the Elton John song Step Into Christmas. The final piece is a spoken word selection being played over instrumentals, it's not holly or jolly, it's opinionated and rather funny.

a Drift

This song, Merry Xmas (war isn't over), by the French band a Drift isn't your typical Christmas song by any means, though it's instrumentals would lead you to believe otherwise. It's as if it's a response to the John Lennon Christmas song Happy Xmas (war is over). The response is a little more… well… realistic. It packs a punch, but it goes down smoothly, like a really nice bourbon. And really during a time of year when people tend to reflect, it is important to take into consideration large scale issues. I appreciate that this song does just that! Have a listen to the track, which is posted below, and let me know your thoughts!

Lindby

Bringing this list back to a little bit more of a poppy and happy note, try out this little set, entitled Dashing To The Snow is by Lindby, a band out of Fort Worth, Texas. The first song in the set features Leon Bridges, so there's that! These songs are festive to a T and a bit jazzy too. The only wild card song is the third song, Trepak (Russian Dance) from The Nutcracker. This playlist is a perfect little slice of Christmas joy! I think this list is perfect to play while decorating Christmas cookies or wrapping presents, IMO.