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Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
It’s been snowing like it’s going out of style here in Canada, and faced with a foot of snow at the cottage in Gatineau, I first made a friend to support me in my shovelling/scooping efforts! Over 2 hours later, the driveway was clear. Unfortunately snowy safetygoat had: 1) lost his head, and 2) been peed on by the local dog, Whiskey.
Don’t worry, I have replaced his head with white snow, and he is happily hanging out in the Great White North!
My snow sculpting leaves a little to be desired... maybe more of a snow llama? Poor safetygoat!
Arty shot. Notice hair peaking in! I had to use my computer covered in a plastic bag to get the shot...
His lifejacket doesn't fit very well! He is a growing boy afterall... Maybe he needs a new one for his birthday!
Last year’s goals, 50% complete… plus goals for 2010
Friday, January 1st, 2010
So it’s the end of the year, and I look back at last year’s new year’s resolutions, and I’m pretty pleased with what’s happened. I’ve reworked safetygoat, launched some apps, done some designs, learned some new computer stuff, and had an adventure!
I still haven’t got a vinyl toy of safetygoat made, I didn’t make half as many new clothes as I planned, and I definitely didn’t do as much spraypainting!
2009 was a great year though!
I launched my first apps, thepickuptruck and graffed, and I’m close to getting theboxcat out in private beta. I also started writing for Smashing Magazine, and will hopefully become a more regular writer this year. I also quit my job at bview in September to go traveling for a while, and have realized I am more of a projects girl than a traveler. I’ve realized that you’ve got to try things to find out if they’re for you.
I’m really excited about 2010, and I think this decade will be very good, but I’m not sure what this year will bring. I’m not sure about my visa for England, so I’m not sure where I’m going to be living, but there’s something a bit exciting about that. In that sense, it’s hard for me to make resolutions for next year, but it is fun to do!
1. Get a job
Travelling these past few months have been fun, but I really want to focus on my web design. I would love to see if I could do part time somewhere, and then do freelance part time, but as long as I’m doing something that challenges me, with interesting people, I’ll be happy.
2. Refine and refine
2009 was great for new websites for me, and I’ve learned so much about coding, designing and usability. I’ve done some good work on some websites, on safetygoat, on graffed, boxcat, etc, but they’re a work in progress, and I’m looking forward to refining them!
3. More drawing
Last year, I occasionally used my lunch hours to do sketches, mostly of cbc radio 3 songs. It was really rewarding, and a good way to keep drawing. I want to get my “lunch time sketches” up and going and at least once a week, if not twice a week, to keep me coming up with visual concepts.
4. More arts and crafts!
I’ve bought some books on dress making, and I’d love to learn how to make clothes in a bit more traditional way– ie not me making it ALL up as I go! Whether I get my safetygoat made, or continue to experiment with moulding them myself, I want to continue trying lots of new things.
My Peru Trip: Top 10 things we did
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
When you write for web, you start thinking in “how-to” and “top 10s”, so I thought I would do the same with my trip to peru! Here are my top 10 things from my recent trip to Peru!
10. “Bird poop island” AKA the White Islands
And when they call them the White Islands, it’s definitely the “few feet of guano” that they are referring to. I didn’t get pooped on, so it was definitely a successful boat ride!
9. Beautiful churches and ruins
If you want to see Inca ruins and 16th, 17th and 18th century South American churches, Peru is definitely going to satisfy your craving. We saw many many fantastic Inca ruins, including Macchu Pichu, of course, as well as Inca cities even bigger than that between Cusco and Puno. The most stunning church was probably San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, considered the Sistene Chapel of America (incredible painting and art pieces). I preferred the more rustic churches, though.
Convent of Santa Catalina
Considered the most important building in Peru, it’s easy why people are impressed with this place. More like a mini city than a building, it’s got a few streets and it probably the most beautiful, colourful place I saw in all of Peru.
8. Sheep, alamas, alpacas, cows, donkeys, one goat, and oh so many stray dogs!
It’s no wonder their hats and scarfs are made from llamas and alpacas, as they are everywhere! They really have a different relationship with their dogs in Peru. We thought the dogs were all strays, but it looks like owners just let them wander around during the day. I was in love with all the animals we saw EVERYWHERE!
Oh, and eating guinea pigs!
It’s the traditional dish in Peru, and they eat them on special occasions. Even their paintings of the Last Supper features guinea pig! It was actually delicious– tasted a lot like chicken actually!
6. Chivay’s dancing and hot springs
Near the Colca Canyon, we stayed in a little town called Chivay. While we weren’t keen on the “touristy meal” idea, their live band and hilarious dancers really made our night. I was the first to go up and boogie with the guy, and then Ollie was roped into a 10 minute long dance fiesta!
El hot spring-os
What could be better than a hot spring in the mountain side? More like a swimming pool than a spring, yet it was over 39 degrees celsius in the pool, and 87 degrees where it came into the pool!
5. Our new card playing friends in Puno
We went to the bar and were going to play some cards. Somehow I dealt our bartender in to a simple game of 31. I’ve never seen people having so much fun playing such a simple game! Our friends played some great tunes, and we had an absolute ball that night.
4. Sanddune buggy riding and sandboarding
Well, let’s just say my throat was killing me after sandduning in this buggy from screaming so much! We’d go down almost vertical hills; it was MENTAL! We also got to try sandboarding. It’s just like snowboarding, except not as fast and not as cold. Ollie was brilliant on his first few attempts, so we think he really has a future in it!
3. Playing soccer with the kids on the floating islands
They build their lives on floating islands made of reeds from lake titicaca, and yes, it’s definitely a touristy thing to do. Their lives are hard but simple, and they seem to be a very happy people. This little guy approached us to play soccer with him, as we got some free time. After almost kicking the ball off the island, we managed to get a little game going, and then his brother joined in. They wanted to practice header balls, which was hilarious as the older guy would just launch the ball at his brother’s head and knock him over! We were sad to leave, but at 3800m above sea level, you can’t run around very much without feeling like you’re going to die!
I then got to row a traditional boat… It looked so easy, and I’m an excellent rowboat rower… The guy who was taking us on the ride let me try, and then was cracking up at how horrible I was at it!
2. White water rafting near Cusco
We signed up the day before, and had no idea what to expect, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ollie so excited! He must have swallowed half the river from grinning and laughing like a madman! It was the start of the rainy season, so the water levels were pretty high, and the guide said they were level 5! A few close moments of almost falling in, definitely, and “surfing” under the rapids was hilarious! We had an AMAZING time!
1. The Inca Trail to Macchu Pichu
Well, no surprise here, but the Inca Trail is absolutely beautiful, and Macchu Pichu is stunning. The walk there in itself is difficult, there’s lots of stairs, and with the altitude, it’s slow going. We were so lucky to have a fantastic group of mostly Australians, and while everyone kept up, no one held anyone back either. The porters and tour guides we had with SAS Travel (Paull, our main guide, and Rodney who has sexy legs!) made up our camps for us every night, and we had a trained chef who made our meals (which was incredible considering what he had to make it with!). We had lots of laughs (“stop peeling your corn”, “stunt cow” and so many more retarded jokes!), and at least one of the nights we all went to bed crying from laughing so much. While the journey made your shoulders and legs ache, knowing that we did it, and seeing Macchu Pichu from the trail was an epic experience!
Overall, we had a fantastic time, didn’t get robbed, didn’t get hit by a car, and spent a fortune doing all the things we could! El-tripio was a huge success, and as Ollie would say, “Vamos!”
If you’re looking for a few more pics, you can check out all the albums on Ollie’s flickr. Here’s the highlights album! 
Will the real safetygoat please stand up?
Monday, October 5th, 2009
I wanted to include some facts about goats on safetygoat’s about page, and was searching for more information on goats in relation to water sports, swimming and boating. Some sites said that goats hated the water and would avoid it at all costs, while others claimed goats were great swimmers.
This lead me to youtube today, where I found Fred, a goat who loves to swim and also wears a bright orange lifejacket.
I am surprised.
When I came up with safetygoat, his swimming abilities were a figment of my imagination! Just as they say, in this big wide world, “Anything is possible!”
Permission for a holiday away from your goals
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
I’ve done a lot in the past year, career wise… No one could possibly accuse me of slacking.
I went through weeks at a time when I worked from the time I got home until the time I went to bed. Dinner was chosen for its quickness of preparation and subsequent quick cleanup; minutes could not be wasted.
It was worth it though: I have never grown so much skill and amassed such a collection of projects that I’m pretty proud of, as I have in the past year. This constant “home work” has been great for my career too: bview is now a site I’m proud to say I’ve worked on (even though it’s not perfect and still needs work… it’s a big site, after all!), and I can easily wack out new designs and code them up quickly. A year ago, I was okay. With all this extra side projects, I’m pretty good now.
But I’m tired of working every evening.
I know I should be working on graffed and theboxcat and finishing my redesign of safetygoat, making a new mould of safetygoat, and getting started on the multitudes of other projects I keep thinking about.
But, I finally admitted to myself that I need a break. I want my evenings back.
I want to read my Terry Pratchett books over and over. I want to watch countless episodes of CSI and My Name is Earl. I don’t want to spend time writing code, designing websites, networking, drawing, doing ANYTHING productive or work on ANYTHING that will make me better.
I feel guilty feeling this way.
But you know what, just like a holiday away from your job, I think it’s important to step away from your passions and the things you really enjoy, so that you can come back to them fresh. That way, you don’t come to resent your projects, and you do them properly.
Until next week, safetygoat’ll be off after-work holidays and back at it. See you then!
safetygoat is on holidays!
Rant about the “tech girl”
Monday, July 13th, 2009
I just watched this talk from Adriana Gascoigne, who is the creator of Girls in Tech. She’s very charismatic and a good speaker, but I think the facts that she presented were the wrong ones. I knew what she was fundamentally trying to say, but her figures didn’t say it, and talking to a predominantly (tech) male audience, they didn’t mean anything. She forgot that…
The disparity between the sexes is old news.
I’m really torn between those that are saying, “Women in tech aren’t getting the recognition, there’s only 8 women that are hear of fortune 500 companies… blah blah” and the other side that says, “Sorry, but there just aren’t as many women in tech, and proportionately the same amount that are doing anything really amazing.” I don’t want to hear mediocre women speaking about mediocre things. I want experts, same as everyone else.
It’s something brought up so often, but I still find myself wondering about it. We’ve beaten this topic to death, but why do we keep bringing it up? Because we’re still lonely, us girls in tech.
We’re just oh so lonely. And, frankly, it’s kinda embarrassing.
Where are you, ladies?
The question is, why aren’t there many women in tech?
While I consider myself a designer first, I do spend 80% of my life coding these days, so I guess I’m a tech girl, and my two closest tech girl friends here in London are probably the most fierce, competitive, self-starting, and definitely intelligent ladies, but also developers. No one would call any of us timid. Is this lack of traditional “girliness” a requirement for these lonely female developers? First thought, maybe, but that’s not it, I’m sure of it.
Me and my nerds, nerding it up at the firefox 3 launch party
Something scary about being surrounded by men?
Fact: if you’re in tech, you’re going to be surrounded by guys. Is that why there aren’t more girls in tech?
No, because the guys in tech are very open to having girls around. They WANT there to be more talented girls in tech (well, most of them… there’s always a few haters).
Most teams don’t want to be all sausage, and often a sole girl will have a bit of an advantage over an interview with a similarily qualified male competitor. (note: I hate the idea of a girl getting a job just because she’s a girl– I am very hard on my female techs: they better be at least as good as their competitors. None of this, “Oh, we need to get the male/female ratio right” bullshit.)
But it’s ALL men. My work is 5 guys and me. My graphic design course in highschool (to learn photoshop/illustrator) was 22 guys, and 2 girls, and most other start-up tech teams I’ve met have been predominantly male (with a token female every once and a while). If, as a girl in tech, you’d like a bit of female companionship, you’re going to be well out of luck. If you’re not a confident lady, it’s not easy being amongst all men, no matter how nice everyone on the team is.
At barcamplondon... spot the girl, almost like a where's waldo!
Why haven’t more girls gone into tech?
I’m really not sure, but I think it has a lot to do with nerdiness.
There doesn’t seem to be the same high level of awkward girl nerds around as there is for guys (not saying that all tech are awkward, but we definitely are nerds!). And to be really good, you have got to be a full on, hardcore nerd since you were 12 years old.
My friend Margaret, a java developer, told me that she used to fix the computer for the teacher when she was in primary school. She was excellent at math. I was always in the top of my math classes in primary school and high school. I spent HOURS on our Mac LC3, reorganizing, designing, learning new applications, creating clubs, designing newsletters.
I asked a few of my dev guy friends what they wanted to be when they grew up, and many have said, “I’ve always wanted to do something with computers.”
Everyone around is touting about becoming an expert taking 10,000 hours. Coincidence that these guys have been honing their skills in every possible moment of spare time since they were pre-pubescent? I doubt it.
These guys, and the token female nerd, definitely have an advantage over those people that only decide to do computers in university. Growing up, none of my girl friends liked computers that much. Why? Because they were nerdy, possibly. I know I did, but then again, I was a huge nerd. Complete with glasses and a mushroom haircut.
Guess which one is me!
Computers are a lot cooler than they have been in the past, so maybe this will start changing. I hope so, because then I will be on the cutting edge of cool.
It’s a man’s world
I love computers. I love design. I love learning new stuff. But, as much as we don’t want to admit it, I’m a girl in a guy’s world. It was not built for me, and because it was built by enthusiasm, and continues to move fast, it’s still predominantly built by guys. Should that matter? No. Does it make a difference? Sure. A great rugby player who joins in a soccer match will have to adjust to a very different game, same as a guy who becomes a stay at home dad. It’s not his world. I don’t mind: I think they’ve built it very well, but maybe that’s a barrier to some of these girls getting their feet wet.
Women are supposed to be fantastic at languages, and while we’re on the sexual stereotypes, they’re also great communicators. What is a computer built on? A language. In my high school, the girls were equally good at math and science as the guys. Where’s the barrier to going into computers?
Side note: I hate the “girl in tech” winers
I really hate them. Just because you’re a girl in tech doesn’t mean you should get recognition. Just because you’re the only one you know doesn’t mean you should get some award. Sure, it’s difficult not having the same-sex companionship and community, but I’m tired of seeing mediocre design and dev girls wondering why they’re not rock stars. Or, the mediocre dev girls that become rockstars because everyone feels like they have this obligation to have equal opportunity. I don’t want to hear about your mediocrity.
And as much as the guys want some eye candy around, I’m sick of mediocre devs/design girls becoming popular just because they’re gorgeous.
Okay, maybe I’m just jealous.
But, I love being a girl in tech
First and foremost, I love all the guys I’ve worked with. They have been so supportive, encouraging, and, while sometimes harsh, have always done it in a way that makes me continually improve. I think being a girl on the team, and especially since I’m an outgoing one, adds a good balance and fun that they wouldn’t have without me. Of course, they may think differently….(but I’m sure they’re too scared of me to tell me! hahaha!).
Joining the team
I’ve joined some women in tech groups (there are LOADS of them, for design and for dev). So far, I haven’t seen them making much progress in getting publicity. Maybe that will change, but right now, it’s pretty much a love-in for ladies scratching their heads wondering why they’re not getting results. Hopefully my membership will become more useful as the number of talented ladies increases. If any of us does become famous, I just hope it’s not just because we’re a girl though.
Is it a bad thing to use your lady status?
Sometimes I really wish I weren’t judged on being a girl. But you know what, I am one. Saying ‘people shouldn’t judge’ is a complete cop-out that takes reality and chooses to ignore it. Sometimes being a girl is a disadvantage, but I also believe that you use everything in your arsenal to your advantage. Standing out is the only way to get ahead, and I plan on doing it morally but smartly. I’m a decent designer, but definitely not the best, and definitely not within the top 1% (maybe top 5%… there are a lot of crappy designers out there!). In the world of women though, I’m pretty darn good. In the whole field, I wouldn’t be noticed as easily if I were a guy. This doesn’t mean I think I deserve this extra publicity, but I’m going to take it. You know what, I’m going to take every advantage that I can. And when I launch an app that I have lovingly crafted, that I get 3% more traffic because I’m a girl in tech, well, I’ll take the gender divide to my advantage, thank you!
Someone wants to give me a little bit extra because I’m a girl? Is that bad? I don’t think so, because I’m definitely not coasting on it, and in all honesty, it’s really not giving me that much extra. No one could say that I’m not hungry to get better, to create constantly, and it’d be difficult to hold people’s attention without substance.
And you know what, if I get really good (which I plan on doing), I will definitely become a mentor. I wish there had been a lady around to mentor me. We ladies like to have mentors.
Then maybe we can stop talking about this, and just get on with it!
Safetygoat a retro/vintage champion?
Sunday, March 22nd, 2009
Well, what do you think? Is safetygoat the champion of retro wordpress design? Well, we’ll see. Customizing wordpress to work for this design was quite a learning experience. It would be nice to win something for it, so who knows? You gotta enter in these things So I’m entering it in this: Best WordPress Design Award
Fingers crossed!
Update: You can now vote for safetygoat here!
Win a safetygoat!
Wednesday, January 21st, 2009
Hello all you safetygoat fans. Some of you out there have told me that you would like one of my handmade creations. I’ve sent some out already to my favourite people, but I thought I’d give people a fairer chance at getting their little paws on one. SOOOO, I’m holding a little mini contest…
If you add a safetygoat haiku to my site, and I judge it as one of the top 3, I will send you your very own safetygoat.
Hell, the top person, you can even specify the colour! (traditional white is popular, but black goat is quickly becoming a favourite, and the bright pink and lime green are both awesome as well!).
How to win:
1. Add your haiku as a comment to this post, or by using the form on my homepage
2. Entries should be in before midnight friday (January 23) (I’m very impatient and want to send you your goats!)
3. Looking for inspiration? Check out my homepage. You can scroll through a few of the safetygoat haikus I’ve already got there on the left hand side.
For all of you haiku newbies, a haiku is a short 3 line poem. The only rules are that the first line should be 5 syllables, the second 7 syllables, and the final line 5 syllables.
Good luck kiddies!
Safetygoat’s 2009 hopes and dreams
Tuesday, January 6th, 2009
Everyone is writing new year’s resolutions, making predictions, and looking back, and at first I wasn’t going to join in the party, because most of these dreams fade come February 1st. But let’s face it– I’m an annoyingly cheerful individual and I can’t help but be excited about 2009. So, in no particular order, here’s my 2009 resolutions.
1. Rework, rework, rework safetygoat
This is actually a cheating one– I’ve been working on this for the past few months (speeding it up in the past few weeks), and my grasp of wordpress is slightly above dunce level now. Sure, putting a plug-in (that’s not a widget) seems to take me 3 hours to configure, something that would take someone even remotely proficient a few minutes, but I’ve depended on other people too much to get this site up, so now it’s time for me to do it myself, with all the optimistic bells and whistles.
2. Launch apps I’ve been working on for ages
Let’s face it. It’s sad having to go edit your portfolio page to change the launch date, which you set to November, thinking you were leaving lots of room for contingencies, way back until march. BUT I WILL ACTUALLY FINISH THEM! (I hope, soon).
3. Get a vinyl toy designed and made
I’ve made my own plastic safetygoats this past year (if you want one, email me and I might just send you one) and it’s been fun hand painting them and giving them out to people, but I think it’s time to do this properly. This means a) doing the sketch/3-d model b) finding someone who will do a short run. No problem!
4. Make more custom things
I’ve made some dresses, but they haven’t been perfect. BUT I got a dressmaking mannequin for Christmas from olliekav, and have already made my first dress, which I wore to new years. 2009 should see more dresses, but I also want to make some custom shoes, maybe some bags… you know, stuff with drawing on them!
5. Learn learn learn
I’m amazed how far I’ve come in the past 2 years. I mean, I made my first real website with css then (I don’t think html tables in high school really count, do they?). I’m thinking I’m very good at css now, and have gotten great working in the java environment, but I would like to master styling in ruby and flex as well as getting the hang of some of the more advanced jquery stuff. As I get better, I will be able to try out more experimentative webdesign, and use a lot of the css3 selectors well and properly.
6. Write more
I used to keep a diary in high school and uni and used to write in it every night. Of course, it was just hormonal teenage rage, but it’s so interesting to reflect on things and then have a paper trail to actually see where and, more importantly, who you’ve been. So, writing, yes, but maybe writing more blog posts too. I’ve learned a lot while redoing safetygoat this past while, so I will definitely be sharing some of the stuff I’ve learned.
7. Talk to my best friends more
I live in the UK. My best friends are in Canada. We will always love each other, but I’m rubbish at keeping in touch. This is unacceptable!
8. Get into shape
I know, I know, this is everyone’s resolution, but lord I’ve packed it on over the holidays. It would be nice to at least get back to where I started.
9. Spraypaint
I did a bit of work practicing this past year, but I’m frankly rubbish. It’s fun, so I will be doing more. This is definitely not a chore!
10. Have an adventure
Pretty sure I know what this will be, but I’m going to keep it on the down-low for now. Stay tuned for my crazy times!
Designing for the web: Don’t forget about newish browsers
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008
The other day I found out about 24ways.org, a design-style advent calendar, which gives us 24 articles until christmas for the month of December. Imagine my surprise to see the site design…. First thought was, “Um, is it finished?” I was looking at it at work in firefox 2 (maintained on my machine for testing purposes), and it looked a mess. Take a look at what I was seeing….
People were RAVING about it on twitter, and I just didn’t get it. It looked like garbage to me, and I was a bit upset, because max voltar is one of my favourite designers, and I have been wearing his made by elephant button with pride ever since I got it down at dConstruct. So yesterday I was deathly ill, but still on board for my daily december design dose, and looked at the site in firefox 3. It looked very nice. It was very unique, very clean.
Now, back at work today, and I’m reading my dose in safari to get away from the non-pretty version. Question is, shouldn’t web designers make sure that their sites look kind of similar in firefox 2, which is a fairly new browser? I mean, firefox 3 only came out about 6 months ago! For kicks, I checked the site in ie7 and ie6, and while ie6 had a few issues, it at least looked mostly like the design is supposed to look.
I don’t propose to be a front-end genius, and I don’t think that designs need to look pixel perfect across browsers (heck, safetygoat looks like CRAP in ie6, but that’s another story) but there should be a standard for browser support, especially amongst web designers. They are obviously using all the cool new css tools that are just coming out, but for those browsers like firefox 2 that doesn’t have support, it looks like they’ve just forgotten about it. If we don’t abide by our own rules, how do we expect the rest of the world to do it? This is disappointing, as this is supposed to be a drool-worthy site which pushes boundaries. It just makes the whole lovely thing slightly bittersweet… not that I won’t be gagging to read the articles first thing every morning until christmas!
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