YELLOW DOG HALLOWEEN!

Attention canine-lovers, -bloggers, -aficionados, and those for whom less than the finest counter-cultural leashing system is insufficient: if you don't know Yellow Dog Design, sit right where you are. We've gone on about them before – they design and sell strong, durable leashes any biker gang would be proud to tote – but now they've got a Halloween collection up. And it's perfect. Imagine your pooch's pride on your neighborhood walk. Imagine your own.


Around the office, we've carried on a penny-ante debate: is it the spook-tastic designs, the long-lasting printing, or their strong braiding and substantial feel in the palm that makes them so covetable?


Lynn thinks its the latter, which, with a pit-bull as excitable as yours truly, makes good sense. Adam, blogging understudy, throws his weight behind the printing, which you could depend on through retirement. Britt and Melinda contend it's the design; who else makes pumpkin-cobweb-ghosthouse leashes? (Personally, I think it's the synergy.)

These bad-boys are available through Yellow Dog and their retailers. Grab yours now, and hit the streets right this weekend – or any time, really.

And, because it's clear you came here for glamor shots, here's some sugar:







Client: Yellow Dog Design
Team: Daniel Hulsbos, Lynn Platow, Britt Martinez

MORE MFA GOODNESS

As the clocks darken earlier, the streets prepare for youngsters baiting tooth-rot and their parents parceling holiday invites, our friends at the Mortgage Finance Authority are wrapping some of their biggest projects of the year. Which, not coincidentally, is great news for a great many New Mexicans as the cold seeps, and kids and families need warm homes to return to with stories and candycorns. But where's the heartwarming if you don't know about all these great developments? It's time for the Fall MFA Newsletter!


From helping an elderly New Mexican man retain his home (with new heating and cooling systems, windows, doors, tile, insulation and siding, plus refurbishing the kitchen and bath, oh my!) to successful partnerships with NM Tribal Housing agencies generating a writeup in August's National Mortage News, MFA's been busy. They've funded approximately $47.1 million for state tribal projects since 1993. They've built or rehabilitated 800 housing units in 17 of our 22 tribes' reservations. Most are multi-family rental units, though some are single-family for-sale homes. It's good, important work.

As ever, TC designed and shot much of the document. We think it's a big deal that an organization like MFA look meaningfully sharp when they promote their activity.


They also put the final staples on these five projects around the state:

• In Anthony: CIMARRON II APARTMENTS will provide quality, energy-efficient homes for 84 very low-income families in southern NM.
  
• In Farmington: LA TERRAZA APARTMENTS will keep 72 larger low-income families roofed.
• In Los Lunas: HILLTOP APARTMENTS has received $5 million in stimulus funds to rehabilitate. Imagine the possibilities!
  
• In Santa Fe: VILLAGE SAGE, a new community designed for veterans, people with disabilities and formerly homeless individuals, has on-site management, nearly 1/3 of the property is preserved open space, and provides easy, walkable access to trains.
• In Albuquerque: The affordable VILLA NUEVA SENIOR APARTMENTS staff help for resident transport, homemaking and healthcare needs, and coordinate resident activities. Villa Nueva is designed to help seniors remain healthy, independent and active, while – and we think this is revolutionary thinking – allowing them to stay close the neighborhoods where many of them grew up.

Pick up your copy of the newsletter at MFA's downtown Albuquerque offices, or from their website.

Client: Mortgage Finance Authority
Team: Britt Martinez, Daniel Hulsbos, Lynn Platow

LOCAL IQ'S NM BREWFEST

Who doesn't want to pass their Saturday afternoon sipping from a crop of the finest local breweries? Even if beer's not your imbibe of choice, the charming coincidence with Albuquerque's virtually unrecognized perfect early Fall weather, and conversely, our internationally renowned Balloon Fiesta, makes it hard to say no. Throw in several local bands (including local design/print impresario Don Mickey's Breaker 19), local food tastings, and non-alcoholic options for the driver in your party, and you've packed enough action for the whole weekend.



Our friends at the Local IQ organized this Brewapalooza, with Chama River, Santa Fe, Turtle Mountain, Marble and Tractor, among several others, topping off six hours of sample glasses. And of course there was more: those who bought a VIP ticket were treated to hourly food-and-beer pairings, food cooked with Odell's legendary brews, and even a tasting of IQ's own nano-brew, whipped up special for the event. Through it all, one had the sense beer's ancient roots were kept close at hand – you might say you could taste them.


Meanwhile, not only was TC photographer Daniel there to capture it, our newest team member Kristopher poured innumerable hours into organizing it. The former enjoyed shooting in the fun, easy-tipping atmosphere, the authentic Brat selection, and IQ's dirndl-clad, stein-bearing mascot. Kristopher's pleased to report the sky was cloudless, the heat pleasant-not-overpowering, and the lines moved fast. What more could you ask for on an October Saturday? You didn't even have to miss the game.



Client: Local IQ, NM Brewfest
Team: Kristopher Legits, Lynn Platow, Britt Martinez, Daniel Hulsbos

GLITTER-TOOS

Remember in middle school (or even grammar school?) when glitter marked all the cool kids' notebooks like each of them had been specifically blessed with fairy dust? Keep thinking back: there was only one cooler, more establishing adornment you could sport: the temporary tattoo. (Incidentally, you know this is true of college and The Real World, don't deny.)

So what if someone combined them? Surely, the bearer of such magic could stop bullies, could leap small piles of textbooks in a single bound. Well, Glitter-Toos is such a pair of magicians, and we, their branding house. GT was founded last year by an artist and a skin care specialist. They started with children parties and charity events, grew into Corporate and Sporting Events – and now, because they love you, Do-it-Yourself Retail Kits.


Here're some tech-specs:

True Glue™, a water based, all-natural adhesive, formulated exclusively for them by a world-renowned chemist, contains no toxins, parabans, preservatives or allergens. Indeed, everything's made from raw ingredients with the highest of standards in the USA. You get days of sharp-talkin' magic.

The glitter, of which there are over 30 available colors, is produced locally using the highest grade polyester with no added fillers, toxins or buffers. Their glitter is cosmetic-grade, so it's safe around the eyes, as well.


Even their stencils are made with love and attention, designed and produced in-house using only domestic vinyls, with water-based FDA approved adhesives. They choose the texture, thickness and tackiness of various vinyls according to the stencil design.

The above stencil, however, we produced in our house. We then used their glitter and glue, photographed and Photoshopped it to create the logo.


So why are you still reading (beside your abiding affection for us)? Get on over to Glitter-Toos' website, where you can pick up their Facebook, Twitter, and contact. Then venture out and pick yourself up a pack of long-lasting, scrupulously-safe glittery awesome.


Client: Glitter-Toos
Team: Britt Martinez, Lynn Platow, Daniel Hulsbos