Meet Samantha: a mountain climbing, New Zealand-loving gal with a fiery spirit!

Remember that sister I was telling you about who made the new Wooly Moss Roots banner?

I've been meaning to introduce you.

Meet Samantha!
A fiery, passionate soul, full of zest for life. We've shared a lot of life together and a lot of memories. We fought more growing up than I ever have with anyone, yet we loved each other all the more. There is something so wonderful about fighting with someone and having them still love you afterwards, isn't there? In fact, it made us closer in the long run.
 

What do I admire about my sister? So many things.
One would be her courage. 

When she was in first grade, she beat up a fifth grade boy who was picking on a kindergartener on the playground. Yep, I'm still bragging about it.
And since then, I've admired her again and again.

I admired that she followed her heart when it guided her to change majors in college even though it didn't seem convenient and her brain insisted on what she "should" be studying to make a good living later. 

I admired her for listening to that inner voice when it prompted her to study abroad in New Zealand even when she had absolutely no idea how she would pay for it, and it seemed like a far-off dream.

I admired her when she let go of so many fears and explored so many things, halfway around the world. I enjoyed traveling vicariously through her.

I admired her when she chose the lesser paying job when she had several offers, because it was the one that fed her spirit, even though that meant taking longer to pay off her student loans.
My sister is a beautiful spirit I feel blessed to know.


When I wrote about the new banner, I told you I would show you more of her graphics work. Well, you'll get to see some of her photography as well!
Two of her greatest passions are photography and digital graphics.
In her beautiful words:


"Art is a journey  – a journey of finding myself, letting my inner child loose, and pushing myself beyond my comfort zone – and then still a little further.  Through the process I discover what I am capable of and I’m always changing along with my art.  Photography and graphic design have parallels as artforms, but utilize varied areas of interest to me.  Photography comes naturally. It has technical processes to be mindful of, but I have an eye for the “decisive moment” as Cartier Bresson describes it.  Graphic design is a completely different process and pushes me out of my comfort zone, providing me with greater joy in reaching an end result. Photography grounds me and soothes me, while graphic design inspires and excites me.

Once the photograph is taken, the work of photography begins. In the digital lab, I can see what that “decisive moment” was all about and if it really was something special.  I often discover things about the photograph that I never noticed before and it often takes on an entirely new voice. With graphic design, I start out investigating the project - figuring out what message I want to convey and often receive inspiration at this point.  If inspiration is not knocking on my door then I find ways to jump-start it through looking at fonts, textures, and styles that might lend themselves well to the style of design I am going for.  I then begin on the project, placing the items on the page with the color pallete and font I want to use, then I rework it and rework it and rework it - until finally - hours/days/months later - I reach the solution I have been looking for.  I am always delightfully surprised at the end of the project because each is unique and challenges me in various ways and on different levels.

 I was a sophomore in college when my grandpa died.  I had always been close to my grandparents and his death was the first loss I suffered of somebody close to me.  Everything changed.   What was I doing with my life? Was I living a full life?  Was I choosing a future for myself that was just financially safe?

 I began pursuing hobbies I had long given up and picked up a camera again for the first time in years.  I fell in love all over again. I felt inspired and full of life.  My soul seemed to dance with joy every time I took a picture and then again when I saw the end result on the computer screen.  I switched my major to Studio Arts and took as many photography classes as I could.  I stumbled into a graphic design class along the way and fell in love with a new artform. Graphic design took aspects of photography that I loved, but pushed me further than photography had since the beginning.   Graphic design never stops pushing me - continually evolving along with me.
Graphic design and photography are extremely fulfilling to me and I absolutely love working on projects related to these media."

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Here are some of her photos, from her world travels:

(Aboriginal girl in tree. Australia)

(Bar in St. Thomas)

(Japanese Gardens. Australia)

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What is she up to these days? In her words:

"I currently live in Lander, WY with my boyfriend & best friend, Thomas.  We moved out here in January on a leap of faith.  I received an offer for a graphic design internship with The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).  NOLS is a phenomenal company whose mission connects people with the outdoors, teaches leadership & survival skills, & shapes individuals in order to change the world for the better. The move wasn't the best financial option, but it was the best SOUL option. And everything has seemed to fall into place perfectly for us.  I love my job! I love learning more about design everyday.  Getting challenged by different projects, working with every department of the organization, working in such a positive environment, and seeing the inter-workings of an international non-profit.  But most of all - I love the people and the atmosphere that that creates.  Outside of work, Thomas & have been keeping really busy.  Lander may be a small town (roughly 7,000 people), but there is a lot to do! We've made some new really good friends in the short time we've been here. We spend our free-time road & mountain biking, hiking, practicing yoga, gardening, reading, playing soccer-tennis, and painting and playing with other art forms. In the winter we spend our time skiing/snowboarding, cross-country and skate skiing, as wells as snow shoeing. I'm excited to try out ice skating this winter. One thing that inspires me about our location is how active people are here all year round, even when it is below 0.  That helps to inspire me to become more active."
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Some of her Graphic Design creations:
(ranging from postcards to posters, protein bars to t-shirts...)

 Do you need a new banner to spice up your blog or website? A catchy business card?
She offers:

brochures, posters, multi-page booklets, business cards, letterhead, envelopes, bumper sticker, t-shirts, web banners, postcards, mug/glasses, photo retouching, logos, ads, skate & snowboard art, album art, bookmarks, & green bags


I highly recommend my sister, Samantha, for your design needs. She's gifted, inspired, works to create just what you have in mind, designs with a wide variety of styles and has incredibly reasonable rates.

                                               You can find out more on her website.

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Thanks for sharing your inspiration with us Samantha!

I'm so grateful to have you for my sister.