Rockport Publishers creates beautiful illustrated source books for professional designers and artisans of all types. Their books present the best design work from around the world and bring you inside the world’s most talented design and art studios to see how the work gets done and the inspiration that lies behind each finished piece.

Their editors are constantly looking for the newest and most noteworthy trends in the design industry as well as keeping abreast of the best work being done in the traditional areas of commercial design and art. Their editorial vision in combination with outstanding design and production standards make Rockport’s books not only objects to admire, but also essential tools for the working designer and artist.

http://www.rockpub.com/graphic-design.asp

Some of their books:

The new ASUS Eee PC 1005HA-P is currently the most popular netbook on the market, but is it as good as the hype? We took a look to find out.

The first thing that strikes you is that it is a very good looking piece of equipment, which can be a big factor for netbooks, considering their ultra portable nature. It also comes in under the $400 netbook price threshold So good first impressions.

Second, is the fantastic battery time coming in at between 10 and 11 hours, you should never have a problem being ‘caught short’ and it weighs in at 2.81 pounds with the battery.

There is also a whopping 160 GB storage facility, giving you enough for a huge range on applications, music movies whatever you want really. this is combined with bluetooth, Wi-Fi and the ATOM CPU from Intel, the N280, which offers a 667MHz FSB and is the fastest in its class.

These sort of stats are still being seen on some of the full size notebooks so to be able to get them in something as small as the ASUS 1005HA-P is really fantastic.

However, the all important question, now that we have established it’s technical credentials is it’s useability.

Well, it seems ASUS have been able to set new standards there as well. It comes with an ergonomically designed keyboard, which is 92% of the size of a full size one. We found we could type over long periods without feeling the strain and tiredness so familiar with other netbooks. There is also a wide-format multi-touch touchpad which meant we could scroll around the screen without a mouse.

The 10.1 inch display uses a new technology LED which we found we could use to read the screen in any light conditions and we could also see a standard web page without scrolling left or right.

To sum up, it’s currently an exciting time for netbooks and the ASUS Eee PC 1005HA-P is certainly at the forefront of that, at the right price and we are happy to recommend it.

To order the ASUS Eee PC 1005HA-P or read more details and see customer ASUS Eee PC 1005HA-P Reviews and user videos go to yourconsumerreports.org.

Visit : Camcorder Reviews

A friend and I went on a road trip yesterday to collect some Christmas presents for ourselves, and others, from a variety of interesting places found along a 186 mile loop through Maine’s Midcoast area. This is what I brought back:

After eating our fill of waffles at the Seabreeze Restaurant on Verona Island, we headed to our first destination – the Sweetgrass Farm Winery & Distillery. There, for $2.50 we tried a variety of fruit wines, port (Peach Smash is delicious), rum, brandy, and their Back River Gin, which has gotten some excellent reviews, and was even to me – a generally non-gin consumer – quite interesting and tasty.

From there in Union, ME, we bebopped over to Morse’s Sauerkraut & European Deli in North Waldoboro. That is a store you can spend excessive amounts of time in. I have yet to actually try their kraut, but I usually come away with fun English tea cakes or Turkish Delights.

Since we were so close, from there we had to buzz up the road to Moody’s Diner for a piece of pie. Moody’s has been a Rt. 1 tradition since 1927, and their pie is really quite excellent.

Headed back in the direction of home but by no means finished shopping, we went to Rockport to check out the State of Maine Cheese Company. After snacking on delicious cheese curds, I got some Kennebec Dill in the “Dinghy” box for my boss, and an “oops” block (less than 8 oz.) for myself.

It gets dark by 3:30 p.m. here, which made for excellent Christmas lights viewing as we came back up Rt. 1 through Camden and Belfast. It occurred to me as we drove along that many more metropolitan areas have specialty shops like these collected onto one lovely street, while we had to spend a day driving around Maine, going to somewhat obscure little towns. I can’t complain though. A day of Christmas shopping with a friend is fun any way you turn it, whether you’re walking from shop to shop, or making a 186 mile tour of your state in brilliant sunshine and the warmth of a cozy car. I suppose I prefer the latter, actually!

Cape Hedge of SandyBayDay (just “hedge” here I believe) posted an old photo, possibly circa 1963 of Dock Square back in January. Last weekend I took the same photo. Surprising how little Dock Square has changed. But then, not really. I grew up on the other Cape. When I visit Falmouth I am not so peasantly surprised as to how much has been built. I love Cape Ann because although a lot has been rejuvenated it seems like no one has forgotten why it is a special place.

Almost 50 years and a roofline or two has dormered out and the cars have seat belts. Not sure about that telephone pole …

Send me your old photo and I will retake the shot today.

“But then I realized how much I am actually doing every day. I have a job- though it’s not the perfect dream job it’s a job. And I like the people that I work with and I like the atmosphere. I blog for Bates. I’m a networking/career guru. I do yoga every day. Somehow I’m maintaining a productive and healthy romantic relationship. I write emails to my grandparents. I call my mom and dad. I co-organized a mini Bates reunion in Rockport, MA. I called NPR and made shameless plug for myself. And now I’m writing for a girl’s magazine.” Read more.

This past Saturday was not fit for man or beast to be out on T-Wharf in Rockport but plenty of small children and Santa himself braved the cold raw wind to light the Rockport Christmas tree in Dock Square.

With Capt. Bill Lee at the wheel, the Ocean Reporter sweeps past T Wharf. A large contingent of children (not shown, I was freezing and my camera as you can see was getting pelted in the rain) were screaming “IT’S SANTA!!”

Harbormasters Scott Story and Rosemary Lesh expertly coax some kayakers (are they nuts? It’s freezing!) out of the way so the Ocean Reporter can pull up to Motif #1.

Santa gingerly disembarks. The crowd is hiding from the wind behind the Fudgery.

Santa asks if everyone has been nice. There were no naughty children out in this weather.

Two Rockport police officers keep a wary eye on me while I chase down Santa to make sure he got my list. Yes, and he had checked it twice this time.

Santa buckling up to the Rockport Fire Truck for a ride back to his sleigh.

After Santa was gone there were still cookies and hot chocolate in Dock Square before everyone got back to Christmas shopping on Bearskin Neck. This GMG cub reporter quickly found a hot toddy.

I come from a long line of (forgive me family) big calved women. I have yet to inherit this trait (although after this article I am bound to)! Anyhow, my family members have relentlessly told me how difficult it is to find boots to fit over their pleasantly plump calves (a.k.a the muscular ones). 

 So it was to my great surprise to find this awesome blog by Ashley Falcon where she discusses the difficulty of women like herself who have had trouble finding boots. Who would have thought, my fam was telling the truth after all?!  Boot problem..check! While solving fashion problems can sometimes be difficult, it seems we nipped this one in the bud, thank goodness!   Next time you think about squeezing and shoving that calf of yours into a boot that’s screaming STOP IT, remember these brands: Sudini, Nine West, and Rockport!  So what are you waiting for…Go Out and Get Your Boot !!!

Joseph Newman (1890-1979)

Joseph Newman was born in N.Y.C. in 1890. He attended the Pratt Institute and the Adelphi College Art School. Newman served in the U.S. Army during W.W.I. After the war, he married and travelled to Europe. He came home in the mid 1920’s to form, with a group of contemporaries, The Fifteen Gallery in Manhattan. Newman exhibited frequently at the Brooklyn Museum, The National Academy, The Carnegie Institute, The Whitney and The Society of Independent Artists.

He was a member of the L.C. Tiffany Foundation, The Salmagundi Club, Rockport Art Association, and the American Watercolor Society. His work is represented in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum, The Newark Museum, the Boston Library, and the Library of Congress. Newman was the recipient of many awards throughout his career.

SEE AVAILBLE WORKS BY THIS ARTIST

Look who's coming to breakfast...

No, not Clarence Clemens, famous E. Street Band saxophonist. The other big man… Santa Claus himself. When the Cute Potatoes’ mama was a little girl growing up in N.J., it was a family tradition to have breakfast with Santa. It was a fun, family outing made even better by good food and the appearance of the man behind the beard. Okay, enough of that.

Fortunately, there are several towns in Maine where Santa plans on enjoying breakfast this year. And each location has its own unique spin on the event—kids can write letters to Santa, have their photo taken with him, visit with Mrs. Claus and the elves, create fun holiday crafts, sing, listen to holiday stories or pig out on bake sale food. And what, we ask you, could be better than that?

Saturday, December 5:

Maniax Café
8 Market Place Drive, York
8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Free
Juice, muffins and more
Added info.

Wilhelm Reich Museum
Dodge Pond Road
Rangeley
8 a.m.-11 a.m.
$5.00 per person
Blueberry, M&M and chocolate chip and plain pancakes, sausag
Added info.

Crescent Park Elementary School
Crescent Lane
Bethel
9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Free
Added info.

Hamden Academy
One Main Road North
Hamden
8 a.m.-10 a.m.
$3.00 per person
Added info.

Molly Ockett School
25 Molly Ockett Drive
Fryeburg
8 a.m.-10 p.m.
$4.00 per person
Pancakes, sausage
Added info.

Sunday, December 6:

Greely Middle School
351 Tuttle Road
Cumberland
7 a.m.-10 a.m.
Kids: $3.00
Adults: $10.00
All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast

Saturday, December 12:
(not quite breakfast, but….)
Farmers Fare
Route 90 and Cross Street
Rockport
Noon- 3:00 p.m.
Free
Cookies and cider
Bring your own camera

Sunday, December 13:

Nonantum Resort
95 Ocean Avenue
Kennebunkport
8 a.m.-noon
Kids: $10.00
Adults: 20.00
Holiday brunch

Just one day left. How will the kids get to sleep tonight?

Checking SANTA TIMER.

Santa rounds Bearskin Neck at 3:45PM Saturday. He then offloads at the Tuna Wharf (that’s the pier with the Fudgery. I like to say Fudgery.) Santa then gets on an old Fire Truck (have you seen the youtube of the baby saying Fire Truck?) for a quick ride to Dock Square.

Santa comes up from Bearskin Neck on the left and the tree that he lights is right in the middle of Dock Square at 4PM. Boy, I need to update my photos which I will tomorrow. I will have an orange jester’s hat on just like Sean’s (but will not be wearing a jockstrap) and my daughter will have a Santa hat on. We will be hanging out at the hot chocolate and cookies or saying hello to the harbormasters Scott Story and Rosemary Lesch who will have escorted Santa’s boat into the harbor.

Photos posted to GMG no later than Tuesday at my normal time slot at 2PM. If you have never seen this you have to come down. I witnessed this event for the first time last year. Even the Grinch’s cold cold heart would melt by the sight of dozens of small children jumping up and down screaming, “IT’S SANTA, IT’S SANTA!!!” Mine was warmed and then I started screaming “IT’S SANTA!!!”

Fun Fact: It has been proven that screaming warms the peripheral blood system. Since Santa has ordered at least 4.7 million snowflakes to dust Rockport tomorrow you need to join in.

 We load 3,500 pair into a 20′ container and 7,000 pair into a 40′ container. No restrictions, can be sold in the USA.
FOB USA

PRICES
USD – $18.25 for 14,000 pr.
USD $20.95 for 7000 pr.
USD $23.75 for 3500 pr.
USD $26.75 for 2500 pr
USD $31.00 for 1250 pr

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT DEAL .NO IMITATIONS, NO CUSTOMER RETURNS, NO MIS MATES, NO WORN, NO DAMAGES.ONLY AUTHENTIC GENUINE ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR. OUR CUSTOMERS LOVE THIS LOT.GREAT FOR EXPORT

contact t.1000.a@hotmail.com for pictures and all information
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DESIGNER AND HIGH FASHION SHOES…..

Brands may consist of Kenneth Cole, Marc Fisher, Nine West, Cole Hahn, Sketchers, Ralph Lauren, Rockport, Stride Right, Brown Shoe and many more…
These are not damaged or customer returns.
These shoes are shelf pulls from M*ac*’s and/or Bl**mingd*ale’s department store stock from Fall 2007.
All original,genuine and authentic name brands in retail boxes. 

contact t.1000.a@hotmail.com for pictures and all information
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Today’s Featured Cause:
Outreach Church – Outreach Church is a church charting a new course built on the ageless foundation of biblical truth, while focusing on today’s postmodern society.

Save yourself some money with coupon codes and and support Outreach Church by shopping with Donation Street. Today’s top money saving offers:

Barnes & Noble- Save 60% off Homicide Life on the Street: The Complete Series on DVD!
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Toshiba- 15% off Toshiba-brand laptop accessories.
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Rockport- 15% Off Orders Friends & Family Sale
Martin + Osa- 50% off SWEATERS

For Winter 2010 UNDRCRWN introduce a brand new men’s capsule-collection titled “D.O.C.” The Apparel Range, conceived by Dustin Canalin (UNDRCRWN Creative Director), will most likely just concentrate on rary “Cut & Sew” pieces. In addition, there is a collaboration with footwear collaboration with Rockport.

“To kick-off the capsule, we’re releasing the limited edition “D.O.C x Rockport Delta Boot.” Truly for the aspirational at heart, the shoe features an array of luxe materials. The dark grey Melton wool & black suede upper is reminiscent of fabrics used on premium varsity jackets while the black and white gingham lining counter-balances the darkness of the shoe. Giving it the sense of luxury found in tailored suits and handcrafted luggage, pinstripes were also added to the upper. A butter soft leather heel and embossed leather patches on the tongue further compliment the refined aesthetic. To lighten up the design, a pop of color was incorporated through the use of pink-waxed laces. Hand sewn elements and purple stitching found on the heel mimic the construction of apparel and provides the perfect finishing touch to tie it all together.”

More images of the shoe after the jump.

Info: Hypebeast

This winter, UNDRCRWN’s Creative Director, Dustin O. Canalin, will be releasing a very limited capsule collection dubbed D.O.C. (his initials).
Release – 27th November 09
Limited Run – 100 pairs

Experimentation – Silhouettes

When starting out in photography it’s always good to experiment with creative ideas.  Experimentation is a great way to learn about exposure, lighting, posing, etc.  You discover what works and doesn’t work and will certainly retain that knowledge better than if you had just read about those things in a book.   You will also refine your own style as you try out ideas and develop a knack for particular things.

One great thing to experiment with is silhouettes.  You don’t need fancy equipment — the sun, a lamp, or a flash can be used to create a silhouette.  Soft, reflected light combined with shorter exposures often creates striking silhouettes in images.  You might try posing someone under (or near) a streetlamp at night and then get down on the ground to shoot the silhouette.  Another element you can vary is how much the silhouetted subject is exposed (as you increase the exposure you eventually lose the “silhouette” effect of course).

Here are a couple of images which I created on a whim to experiment with silhouettes.  I created the first while out catching the sunrise in Rockport, TX (see some of my Rockport images here).  My daughter happened to show up on the scene so I asked out her to stretch out her hand roughly in front of the sun.  Not a great overall composition but it’s useful as an illustration here.

Rockport Sunrise Silhouette

This silhouette of my son jumping on the trampoline was just an idea I had while sitting on the porch watching him jump.  I got underneath the edge of the trampoline (be especially careful with larger children or you’ll end up with a concussion!) and fired away.  The shot I set out to make was one of him jumping high in the air with his arms stretched out (I did get some of those).  However, the way the sun flared out from my son’s hand in the following photo made this a favorite.

Doing His Tricks

Have some fun and experiment with silhouettes.  You’ll get some great shots, and hopefully learn a few tricks which will become a useful part of your photoshoot arsenal.

Civilisation is a movement and not a condition; a voyage and not a harbour. ~ Toynbee

Rockport Men’s World Tour Classic Walking Shoe

The WT Classic casual shoe for men from Rockport® offers a simple, versatile and comfortable design with a padded tongue and collar and a Strobel construction. A Walking Platform provides excellent rearfoot stability, forefoot flexibility and long-term comfort. It includes a removable, contoured EVA footbed for added cushioning and a fiberlon shank for support.

Reviews from Customers

“Great Comfort”
I have plantar fascitis which means that walking distances without orthotic shoe inserts and well supported rubber soled shoes quickly results in agonizing heel pain. Finding good walking shoes that look good at a reasonable price is almost as painful. In short, these work so well that I now have three pairs and are my shoes of choice for any activity short of dress up functions. I would note that they tend to run a tad smaller than other walking shoes and you may want to order a half size larger than normal if you have orthotic shoe inserts. Best approach is to find a store where you can try them on to verify size and then buy them from the source that offers the best price, choice and service which is usually going to be Amazon. I am really pleased with these shoes and will probably buy another pair (color) when they go on special sale.

“High Comfort”
Most shoes have a distinct comfort lifespan, in the shape of a bell curve. They are uncomfortable for the first few days while you shape them, then are fine for a year or so, till they start to lose padding. But, not these!

I just bought my second pair of this wonderful design, as my first pair was starting to lose tread after over three years. These shoes feel great from 15 minutes after you first put them on, forever(or at least 3 years).

These shoes run a little bit larger than normal, and I find myself comfortable in a 10.0 instead of my usual 10.5.

“great shoes but shop for price!”
Great shoes, very comfy, true to size

After receiving them I googled the model# justfor fun and found them $15.00 cheaper and with free shipping at different online companies.

Bargain Outfitters charged $ 89.97 plus $9.99 S&H

Next time I will do some more research – Amazon is not always the cheapest!

See all detials of Rockport Men’s World Tour Classic Walking Shoe

Bluză Rockport autentică, de culoare neagră, în stare foarte bună. Din bumbac 100%, mărimea M(dar merge şi ca L).

Calitate: 4 stele

Preţ: 35 de lei, plus 7 lei transportul oriunde în ţară.

Today’s Featured Cause:
Northgate High School Girl’s Basketball Program – Help support Northgate Girl’s Basketball. Home of the Broncos.

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Overstock- Get $20 off $500!
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Rockport- Receive 15% Off Boots
Olympia Sports- 15% off Entire Order! Exclusions Apply.

After a blustery night with rain pouring down in sheets, Sunday dawned with sparkling sunshine and bright blue sky.  The perfect day for my field trip with the Creative Imaging photo club.  Destination: Halibut Point State Park in Rockport.  Although the foliage had faded somewhat, the gray of the granite, the golds and oranges of the leaves, and the blues of the sky and water made for great shooting.  A wonderful day of walking along the trails and sitting on the granite walls of the quarry, gazing at the pond and the ocean beyond.  Halibut Point is one of the North Shore’s jewels.  A truly enjoyable Sunday afternoon.

As part of the exhibition “Backgrounds & Foregrounds” Quidley & Company is pleased to present an online catalog, which explores the artistic backgrounds of these outstanding New England landscape painters.  For this show, the blog will host three separate posts in the ‘A Closer Look’ series, one on each artist William Davis, William Duffy, and TM Nicholas.

TM Nicholas - Road to Waterville - 8 x 12

Learn about how TM Nicholas grew out of his father’s shadow to become the foremost painter of the Cape Ann School tradition.

TM Nicholas has been immersed in the art culture of Cape Ann since birth.  He has studied with many of the areas most renowned painters, including his father Tom Nicholas, a National Academician.  Now, TM is considered the finest painter of his generation representing the Cape Ann School and its 150 year tradition stretching from Fitz Henry Lane, to Winslow Homer, to Charles Gruppe and now to TM Nicholas.  Following this continuum, his painterly style captures New England in magnificent color and rich textures.

In many ways, TM has great expectations to live up to, following his father, and carrying on the Cape Ann tradition, however, he doesn’t seem overly concerned with any of it.  In this lies the key to his success.  TM paints because he loves the process, he loves the exploration, the challenge and the discovery that comes with painting plein air, responding to nature and light.  T.M.’s humility and passion for painting are as important to his success as his artistic roots or his immersion in a historical hot-bed of American painting.

TM Nicholas - Evening Sail Gloucester - 30x40

Some of the well known painters who’s styles helped define the look of the Cape Ann School; Frederick Mulhaupt, Edward Potthast, Max Kuehne, Harry Vincent, Charles Hayley Lever, and more recently; Tom Nicholas, Anthony Thieme, Don Mosher, John Terelak, Paul Strisik, Emile and Robert Gruppe.

The North Shore has been home to, and a destination for many of America’s most important painters.  Although there is a general style to the Cape Ann School, a variety of styles and ideas were brought to Cape Ann over the years, this is an important part of the area’s diverse artistic make up.  Fitz Henry Lane (Luminist), Francis Silva (Hudson River School), Winslow Homer (American Realism), John Sloan (Ash Can School), Cecilia Beaux (high society portraitist), Frank Duveneck (dark, painterly Realism), Child Hassam and Guy Wiggins (American Impressionists), Edward Hopper, Stuart Davis and Marsden Hartley (early Modernism),Milton Avery (color field Abstraction), Mark Rothko  (Abstract Expressionism).

TM Nicholas - Summer Clouds,VT

Nicholas literally grew up knowing the area’s top painters as family friends.  He absorbed knowledge of the market, art history, painting techniques, and philosophies as he grew up in ‘the family business’.  TM always liked to draw from a very early age.  By age 20 he was teaching and painting regularly on the side.  TM went on to study painting at the Montserrat School of Art and John Terelak’s Gloucester Academy of Art.  His work initially followed the look and feel of his father’s.   TM is pleased to tell you that to this day his father is his biggest inspiration.  As he developed, his work began to take shape as we know it today.  He attributes the initial stylistic break to his interest in form, whereas he says his father is more concerned with texture.

TM would go on painting trips with his father out to California, studying and working beside well known California plein air artists Donald Teague, Millard Sheets, Jade Fon, George Gibson and others.  These California trips were very important to TM’s artistic development during his teenage years.  The exposure to different styles driven by other ideas was influential and motivated a young TM to explore plein air painting in a new light (literally and figuratively).  He took at least a half dozen painting trips to California between 1977 – 1982.

Tom Nicholas - Main Street

Working all day, everyday, during these California workshops helped establish a work ethic that is attributable to his current success.  The ideas developed in the field, and at the nightly critique sessions would merge with what he knew from Cape Ann.  “I think that artists that work outdoors, there’s a similar vein, cause they derive things from nature, and it has that similar chord running through it, different styles, but there’s similarities from working from observation.”

TM Nicholas - Morning Light, White Mountains - 30 x 40

There are the important ideas that he takes from Cape Ann’s rich artistic history.  He seems to favor certain North Shore artists for their intentions and ideas as much as for their paintings.  For instance, a favorite of his is Aldro Hibbard who painted outdoors in the most rugged conditions, famously painting snow scenes at the expense of his own health.  T.M. admires the commitment to plein air painting, and Hibbard’s relentless exploration of how to paint white.  He also notes Walter Palmer for his studies of snow and its endless possibilities for color, something T.M. passionately explores.

Nicholas has taken away many ideas from his time with great artists on the North Shore and in California, and from Cape Ann’s rich history which he is very familiar, but like all great artists, he has developed his own style.

‘I grew up in the area, was born here, my father knew all the old artists here.  I always admired them early on, but I really just live on Cape Ann.  I’m not trying to be anything other than what I am.  I think that artists that work outdoors, there’s a similar vein , cause they derive things from nature, and it has that similar chord running through it, different styles, but there’s similarities from working from observation.’

TM Nicholas - Sugar House,VT

TM does not seek to stand on the shoulders of giants that came before him, nor does he feel burdened by a responsibility to carry on the rich history they have made. In an era of self-awareness; a modern time where there’s a compulsion to rank everything, and project others’ places in history,  it is inspirational to find someone who is not concerned with any of those centric obsessions.  He has freed himself from his history, though it is undeniably in his blood.  By being his own artist, he is becoming a better artist, and in doing that, he truly is moving the Cape Ann tradition forward.

View paintings by TM Nicholas