Well… it happened a lot faster than I thought, but my “official website” is up and running. www.tobysturgill.com will be the home for my blog, portfolio, hire me, and contact information. When I have a chance, I’ll have this page (tobysturgill.wordpress.com) pointed to the new one so it’ll take to you where you need to go. It might be a good idea though to go ahead and change any link you have to me to www.tobysturgill.com

Thanks! See ya real soon!!

*Phew! The winds of change are blowing again over here. I’m really excited about what’s coming soon. (I’ve included a sneak peek screen shot to the left) I’ve decided to blend my portfolio site (tobysturgill.com) with this blog (tobysturgill.wordpress.com). I have far more frequency and reach here that I think it’ll be great for business.

So don’t worry. Utobia2.0 isn’t going anywhere. It’s merely getting a face lift and putting on a few pounds. You’ll notice some changes have already taken place. To the right you’ll see I’ve added three pages: Contact, Hire Me, and Portfolio. This way you’ll be able to keep up with projects I have going on as well as have the chance for me to work on something for you. Yay!

Also at the very top are two quick links to the Hire Me page and the Contact page for quick reference. I’m available for graphic design, print brokering, visual design, and bartending. Contact forms will be coming soon. Until then, use the information under the Contact page.

Ok, well that’s it for now…stay tuned. The next chapter is being written and I think it’s gonna be a good one.

They’ve done it again! PixelsPreach.com released their third presentation package this week: Circles & Swirls for only $39.95. Click on the image above to get it.

This package brings together the unique blend of a grungy background with clean, smooth lines. Brown, yellow, and shades of orange will give you the edge you need for your next presentation.

I like this one. Very UPS. What can brown (and yellow, and orange) do for you?

I was thinking the other day that I have a VERY eclectic style of music. I wonder what it says about me? I like everything from the orchestrations of Hans Zimmer to well, High School Musical. Guilty.

So I decided to be completely honest and transparent here and list the first 10 songs from my iTunes when it’s set to random. I have NO idea what’ll come up and I’m a bit nervous.

So…here we go: (It’s important to note that I will NOT skip any song no matter how embarrassing it is)

1.) “If It’s in My Mind, It’s on My Face” from System, by Seal. Not a bad start.

2.) “Map of the Problematique” from Black Holes and Revelations by MUSE. (I’m 2 for 2 so far)

3.) “Like it or Not” from Confessions on a Dance Floor by Madonna (I wasn’t a fan of this album)

4.) “Forever Love (Digame)” from Wreck of the Day by Anna Nalick (Ugh, reminds me of a certain ex-wife)

5.) “Don’t Let Me Down” from Across the Universe soundtrack by Dana Fuchs (Ehh…pass)

6.) “Sorry” from Confessions on a Dance Floor by Madonna (Really? 1374 songs and two of them are from this wretched album… not looking so good here, y’all)

7.) “Open the Eyes of My Heart” from Worship by Michael W. Smith (SO 9-11, 2001)

8.) “Let God Arise” from See the Morning by Chris Tomlin (goodness…I haven’t heard this one in a while)

9.) “Elm” from Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow by Hammock

10.) “End Title” from Driving Miss Daisy soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and James Fitzpatrick (what a way to end the list. I love this song.)

So there you have it. The first 10 songs at random from my iTunes. I’ve included a link to iTunes so you can have a listen to see if we share any of the same interests. Maybe next I’ll do the top 10 most played. THAT would probably say more about me, huh?

I’m just thankful that the ONE Bette Midler song I have didn’t come up. Talk about embarrassing.

I think I may have been the only straight guy (and Republican for that matter–GO SARAH PALIN!!) that sat down for the season premiere of Bravo’s Top Design last night. Wow! I think I may have found my show.

I’ve been watching Project Runway all season, but have no interest at ALL in getting into fashion or the fashion industry. (Imagine that… something that I actually DON’T want to do!) I admire and am inspired by the artistic expression and creativity of having to make a cocktail dress out of, say, lettuce and tomatoes. Now THAT interests me.

I kept seeing ads for the second season of Top Design and thought I’d give it a try. It’s like Project Runway, but with rooms and furniture. Being a “Visual Designer” I have some interest in interior design and would like to one day add that to my resume, but I’ve got bigger irons in the fire at the moment.

Last night the contestants where grouped into teams and had to design urban lofts in the style of their chosen clients. With a budget of only $2,000 (pennies when it comes to designers who are used to spending that much on a single lamp) each team had just hours to pick out furniture, paint, wall papers, fabrics, floor covering (one team decided to install hard wood flooring upstairs) and accessories to match the style and taste of their client. AND they had to all agree on everything. Oh the drama.

India Hicks is no Heidi Klum, but we can’t have it all, right?

Check it out if you have the chance. It’s on Wednesday nights at 10/9c on Bravo. Watch What Happens.

Pixels Preach is just getting started and to help them draw traffic they’re GIVING AWAY FREE AD SPACE.

It won’t be free forever, so click HERE to download info on how to submit your logo/URL for ad placement.

Pretty sweet deal, I’d say. Be sure to pop over and check ‘em out. I’m sure they’d love to hear from you.

I came across this website/blog while looking for ways to tweak out THIS blog (stay tuned…some changes are in the works, yet again. Gotta keep it fresh, y’all)

It’s a blog dedicated to the art of logo design, a skill that some people are just born with.

Professionals. They always make it look so easy.

In case you’ve been wondering where I’ve been all these days, I’m sure that no one really has, I’ve been in a little corner of the Internet called, PixelsPreach.com

It’s an idea I’ve had for a while: to create and offer top-notch presentation graphics. That’s it in a nut shell, really. It’s a great resource for churches and organizations that use PowerPoint as they’re main medium for visual communication.

Each package includes: native Photoshop files, PowerPoint template, JPGs, and outstanding customer service! Who offers native Photoshop files?! Pixels Preach does. That’s who.

So stop on by and us out. I’d love to get your feedback. Both good and bad.

Design is at war with itself. We are taught that design is about finding solutions. But the success of these solutions is judged so narrowly – Did it ooze desire? Did it shift units? – that we find ourselves implicated in problems far greater than the ones we solve.

The time has come for a radical shift in priorities. We are now faced with some of the most daunting global challenges in human history. These are real targets, worthy of our problem-solving skills, ripe for our intervention. Yet those who have the vision to rise above national and political boundaries still have no symbol to rally under. You’re invited to create a flag – free from language and well-worn clichés – that embodies the idea of global citizenship. A symbol that triggers pride and cohesion, whether worn on a backpack, displayed on a door, or flown on a flagpole. A symbol for anyone to declare membership in a growing and vital human cooperative. Prove that design has a real role to play in the fate of our world.

Submissions will be critiqued by a panel of prominent design professionals, then featured in Adbusters and supporting design publications. The winning flag will go into production, ready for flying by the patriotic citizens of Earth. Deadline for entries is December 1, 2008.

Submit your entries here.

I’d like to return some love to my top three referrals of all time by recognizing them in Utobia2.0’s list of Who’s Who. Thanks to everyone for dropping by and keeping up with all these silly posts and making me feel like I have something worth blogging about. Afterall, we’re all in this together.

#1//*theblogstar (Chad Jarnigan, rock star extraordinar)

#2//Into the Substance (Kari Slusser, the coolest young mother of two)

#3//Anam Cara (Shelia Mullican (relentless pursuer of beauty and truth. Check out her new tat!)