A Jewish Calendar of Festive Foods | Completed!

Something pretty exciting came in the mail for me last week: A Jewish Calendar of Festive Foods! A whole bundle of them. And mine was signed. (Last week was a good mail week // I heart books.)

The sneak peek I posted for this project was eons ago it seems, so here's a little reiteration:
"Since December of 2008, I've been working with the author of this unique cookbook, Jane Portnoy, to create a professional and practical book design. But the beginnings of this book came long before I entered the picture. Jane is Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthamology at the University of Pennsylvania. Which probably makes you think, "Sheesh. How in the world does she have time to write and publish a book?" Great question. I still haven't figured that one out! What I do know is that this project is a lifelong dream of hers. One tends to make time for those sorts of things."

And an excerpt from the introduction:

"I began collecting recipes from my mother’s friends when I was about twelve. At first, I collected only desserts. Then, whenever I encountered a special dish, I asked for the recipe. Recipes therefore became much more than food, but also links to special people, places, and memories. And that to me is the real meaning of tradition — taking the best of what you know and linking it to the future. To do this in the context of the Jewish calendar is a rare and special privilege. " (Copy courtesy of Jane Portnoy)

A Jewish Calendar of Festive Foods is an intelligent combination of the traditional foods and calendar of the rich Jewish heritage. After almost two years of testing and editing again and again, the book is complete, printed and ready to be enjoyed. If you're interested in purchasing a copy of the book for your own collection, you can do so here...and just in time for the holidays!

Illustrations by Robin Reikes.
Book printed by Jostens USA.
Primary Title Font: Bodoni
Primary Body Copy Font: Avenir

Television. Interviews. Ants in your hair.

Three of us involved with Our Portland Story got to experience all of the above when we filmed Outlook Portland a couple of weeks ago. If you missed the show (which you would have if you sleep past 6:30am on Sunday mornings), you can find the links to the show's four segments here:

Segment 1 - Rick Emerson interviews Melissa Delzio about Our Portland Story
Segment 2 - Ditto. Also, details about Alice, the author I designed a page for (1:10). Alice has a great story.
Segment 3 - Rick Emerson interviews Melissa Delzio and me
Segment 4 - Rick Emerson interviews me and Paul Sorenson...and (what you've all been waiting for) I spy an ant crawling on Pauls head. Seriously. Note how I can't stop looking at it (4:44 on). Oh my gosh. At the end of the clip I'm finally able to tell Paul and brush it out of his hair. Heebie Jeebies! Note: The ant is in no way a reflection on Paul's personal hygiene. He showers and everything. It just wanted to get in on the Our Portland Story fun, I guess.

(You might note a few incorrect things in the caption on the screen grab above. Unfortunately, you won't find me at "clark-and-go.com" and I'm a designer, not a "desioner", though that sounds intriguing. The youtube uploads will be corrected shortly. They must have just been to excited to air it and typed too fast the first time 'round.)


Enjoy! And if you'd like to get your hands on a copy of the book, you can purchase one here. Don't pass up the offer to have it delivered via bike if you live within Portland's inner metro area.

- Megan

Our Portland Story + NW 32 TV - Coming Soon!

Yesterday was a first.

Thanks to Melissa Delzio and the fruition of her fabulous Our Portland Story brainchild, an interview with her, Paul Sorenson and myself with Rick Emerson was taped for Outlook Portland. It will be aired on October 17th on the CW (NW32TV). We had a blast with the show host and team. They were super nice and only scared us a little when they were looking over our makeup situation and said "The show is in HD." Yikes. Unless our blush is too bright or our lips too pale, we'll be sharing a link to view the four OPS-focused show clips late next week.

Cheers to charting new territory: TV!

Sincerely,
Megan

Our Portland Story | The Official Launch Party

"Our Portland Story is Volume 1 is part yearbook, part insider’s travel guide, and part collected memoirs, but is all about Portland by Portlanders. This story project is an independent creative venture spearheaded by Portland designer, Melissa Delzio."

From the Our Portland Story website

I'm honored to have been involved with this project. Previously posted posted sneak peeks can be found here and here for the pages I designed (9 and 76). Tonight was the launch party in NE Portland at Mississippi Studios. The place was buzzing with excitement and fraught with end-of-the-year-yearbook-signing like activity. Authors meeting designers. Designers meeting authors. Everyone meeting each other. It turned out great! The event and the book that is. For your own copy, click! We heart you, Portland.

The Clark Boys | Photo Book

I'm so glad I can finally share this project! I've been waiting because it was a Christmas gift to my in-laws and I didn't want to spoil the surprise. Last Christmas I scavenged through a large cardboard box full of old photos of my husband and his family (which includes three younger brothers!). I came out with 100+ photos that I brought home, scanned, edited, and compiled into this photo book.

You've gotta have the classic tub shot...

And all the sports....

And the vacations to Disneyland...

And the messy baby....

I started and ended with some photos from even before the boys were born. The baby in this image is my mom-in-law. I hate to think of what happens to photos over the years when they haven't been digitized. Now we don't have to worry about that; the book turned out to be a great keepsake for all of us in the Clark Clan. It was created using blurb.com. Just like the Weber-Capell Wedding book.

Weber-Capell Wedding | Photo Book

For Christmas this year I designed an album of my sister's wedding photos for her and her husband using Blurb. Blurb.com is a super resource for those of us interested in self-publishing...or simply interested in creating a quality coffee table book or photo album. Like this one!

The wedding was in my parents' backyard and it was beautiful.

Even Buffalo, my parents' abyssinian cat got in on the fun.

It was a fabulous day - one that we all had fun remembering on Christmas Eve when I could finally let the couple open this gift. Happy First Christmas as a married couple, Mal + James!

Photo credit: Miguel Rivera, Mark Coffin and Megan Clark

Here's some of the wedding signage from the day, by the way.

Printing by Blurb.

A Jewish Calendar of Festive Foods | Sneak Peek

Since December of 2008, I've been working with the author of this unique cookbook, Jane Portnoy, to create a professional and practical book design. But the beginnings of this book came long before I entered the picture. Jane is Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthamology at the University of Pennsylvania. Which probably makes you think, "Sheesh. How in the world does she have time to write and publish a book?" Great question. I still haven't figured that one out! What I do know is that this project is a lifelong dream of hers. One tends to make time for those sorts of things.

Here's an excerpt from the introduction:

"I began collecting recipes from my mother’s friends when I was about twelve. At first, I collected only desserts. Then, whenever I encountered a special dish, I asked for the recipe. Recipes therefore became much more than food, but also links to special people, places, and memories. And that to me is the real meaning of tradition — taking the best of what you know and linking it to the future. To do this in the context of the Jewish calendar is a rare and special privilege. " (Copy courtesy of Jane Portnoy)

So there you have it. A Jewish Calendar of Festive Foods is an intelligent combination of the traditional foods and calendar of the rich Jewish heritage. Jane and her husband, Marshall, have done a fabulous job articulating all of the details of the lunar calendar.

Jane commissioned an illustrator who had caught her eye, Robin Reikes, to work on custom images for each holiday. Here are partials from a couple of my personal favorites:

(Images courtesy of Robin Reikes.)

Contact her at kindheartedwoman@me.com with illustration inquiries.

Jane and I have spent hours and hours researching self-publishing, working on design and making sure the book will really work for those who will use it. We still have a lot of work to do, but we're getting close, so I couldn't help but share this little sneak peek. I myself can't wait to see the finished product. And, of course....try my hand at Matzah Balls, Jewish Apple Cake, Schnecken, Sweet & Sour Cabbage Rolls,  Mandelbrot....you get the idea.

Get your kitchen ready and stay tuned.

The Global Awards - We have a winner!

The Marquis Companies 'Vital Life Book' was awarded a Finalist Certificate in the 2008 Global Awards. (Okay, okay...so when I said winner, I really meant finalist.) This book is a project that was and is near and dear to my heart. Marquis is a company that was a client at an ad agency where I spent 2 and a half years. During that time I got to know and understand Marquis's people, their residents and their mission very well. And I wholeheartedly love each part of what they do. Apparently that ardor shows! The book is comprised of touching stories from residents, inspirational quotes and thought-provoking questions.

From The Global Awards Website:
"The Global Awards are recognized as the only awards dedicated to excellence in healthcare communications on an international basis. The Globals have achieved the status of the world’s most coveted honor in this field....the mission of The Global Awards is to lift the perception of creativity above clever headlines and smart design, and to explore the feelings and emotions transmitted between a message’s creator and its recipient...The Global Awards honor this profound connection."

Getting that recognition feels like winning no matter what. Congratulations to all involved.

Book credit:

Rick Dalbey, Creative Director

Megan Clark, Art Director and Designer

Steve Bloch, Photographer

Courtenay Hameister, Copywriter

Jennifer Mele, Account Manager

Marquis Companies, Client

Photo credit: 

Award certificate, www.theglobalawards.com. 

Book, Art Directed by Megan Clark, Photographed by Steve Bloch.