We Joined the WP train a couple years ago when we started blog Gamil, and have since learned how powerful it can be as a CMS system. Congratulations WP we agree, you’re awesome!

Below are a few sites we designed with WordPress CMS.

ABOVE: Our portfolio site is powered by WordPress

ABOVE: With WordPress SPARKcon  festival website was able to organize 50+ events & details leading up to and during the festival

ABOVE: WordPress was chosen for Triange Technology Executives Council website, because it is a great Open Source CMS

ABOVE: We chose WordPress for Blue Flame Tattoo’s website because of the ease to update the artists galleries

]]> http://www.gamil.com/2009/11/23/wordpress-open-source-cms-award/feed/ 3 http://www.gamil.com/2009/11/19/robyn-hitchcock-often-dream-trains-new-york/ http://www.gamil.com/2009/11/19/robyn-hitchcock-often-dream-trains-new-york/#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:47:15 +0000 britt http://www.gamil.com/?p=1810

I Often Dream of Trains in New York DELUXE EDITION

Gamil Design worked with Yep Roc and Robyn Hitchcock to create a deluxe CD package for a limited Deluxe Edition of “I Often Dream of Trains in New York”. The classic looking CD package unfolds and transforms into a phenakistoscope, or moving picture machine. Original CD and DVD artwork can be viewed as animations through the included viewer. Gamil developed and produced the package concept, design and artwork. Each part of this deluxe package was made in the USA. This Deluxe Edition can be purchased at Yep Roc!

Robyn Hitchcock Deluxe Edition

Robyn Hitchcock Phenakistoscope Assembled

Check out the video below that Yep Roc put together showing the phenakistoscope in action!

This signage for the brand new McDonalds, on the corner of Boylan and Peace Street in Raleigh, pretty much sums up my own mental turmoil upon going there. MMMM…fries…no, it’s bad for me….mmmmmm…no I should support local businesses…french fries mmmmm…no!…mmmmm.

Designbox has it’s 7th annual Brand Fandango celebration this season. The show opened First Friday, but DB has extended show hours, open on Saturdays through the 20th from 11a-4p and weekdays thru 19th from 12p-6p. Lots of unique gifts, including one-of-a-kind A.H. Peele tee-shirts made from multiple screens from his designs and commercial work. You may find a PBR logo nestled amongst some trippy flowers, or Willie Nelson’s head sticking out of some of Adams swirly vines! Also find unique and affordable art, beautiful contemporary jewelry, hip apparel, funky bags, hilarious holiday cards and more!

The 16th annual Boylan Artwalk is this Sunday, December 7 from 1p-5p. Over 100 local artists and crafts people display perfect gifts on porches and in homes throughout the neighborhood. Enjoy the walk and then walk away finished with your shopping! Whether you are looking for metal, glass, clay, wood or fiber, it’s all here.

The Rock & Shop Market, a hip urban market featuring emerging designers and live music, is Sunday, December 13 from 1p-5p at Tir Na Nog. Over 30 vendors will be selling jewelry, silkscreen stuff, ornaments, soaps and candles, bags and more – all to the sounds of Whistlestop and The Tender Fruit.

Looking for local music? Check out Holly Raleigh Christmas, a compilation CD of local musicians! The proceeds go to local charities, and the project is sponsored by local businesses, including the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association.

Give more to your favorite local music artist by buying music direct instead of through a big music store. Superfan Records is a record label where the musicians actually get the money! Really? Yes!  Buy the new Kickin Grass CD (art designed by local designers – GAMIL!), Regina Hexaphone or Monologue Bombs!

Here’s a list of other great local places to shop:
Rebus Works: a gallery of NC arts and crafts, as well as framing.
Stitch: Holly Aiken’s wonderful world of bags, now on Hargett St.
Great Outdoor Provision: All the outdoor gear of a big box in a great locally owned store.
Father & Son: Vintage, Kitsch, Mid Century and other buzzwords for your offbeat gift needs.
Stuff Consignment: Taking thrift store to a whole nutha level.
FM Goods: your local source for street wear, sneakers and art with some attitude.
Nofo: locally owned store of eclectic and funky gifts with a cafe for a nice little break.

Also, check out NewRaleigh.com throughout the season. They’re always up to date on events and opportunities. Have Fun!

calendar dreams...

Hey, I hate to brag on the creative scene in North Carolina but Mebane is the home of this online service for the ultimate in DYI fabric fun! The crafting revolution is going tech in all the right ways with sites like Etsy and Raleigh based groups like The Handmaidens.

pretty bird...

Upload your ideas and get sewing your dream weaver fantasies today…

Yes, for once, NC is getting some major attention in a national election campaign, and being described as a battleground state! Not only are Obama, Biden, McCain and Palin all regularly visiting us, but we’ve got famous people entertaining us where the only price for admission is listening to a li’l plug for a candidate.

Today, James Taylor played a free concert in Moore Square in downtown Raleigh. It was a beautiful day and a perfect mid-day lunch excursion. And despite the minimal advertising and notice given, he played his music and his “Vote Obama” message to a full crowd.

Thanks, Dan, for the pix!

Fill it out and mail it to your County Board of Elections before October 10!
Where’s your NC County Board of Elections? Find out here.

Are you an out-of-state college student in NC and wonder if you can vote in NC?
The answer is YES “if you intend to make your home in the community where you are physically attending school and have no intent to return to your former home after you graduate.”
C’mon. You know yer stayin.

What if you just moved to NC?
YES! You can register to vote…you must have been residing in your NC home for 30 days b4 the actual election.

Wanna know more about NC voting?
Go to the NC State Board of Elections site.

Not in the state of NC but wanna know how to register to vote and when your deadline is?
The Declare Yourself website has state by state info!

Midway Plantation, circa 1900

Raleigh native, Godfrey Cheshire, premiered his new documentary “Moving Midway” this weekend at The Rialto. Pressured by modern sprawl, the Hinton family plantation was moved in 2005 and Godfrey was inspired to film this monumental family event. He may have imagined what ghosts lied beneath but never could have foreseen the synchrony that expiates their demons.

Midway under-way, circa 2005

For me, you can hardly get more local. It was an easy stroll from my house, a short drive from my ancestral farm and a subject that continues to divide the country we live. With multi-racial presidential candidates, new books giving voice to founding mothers and a slave history married to the untenable conflict of ‘All men created equal’, I can not imagine a more timely film.

The twain shall meet

Unlike Godfrey, I am no film critic, so I will leave that to my betters but I will say, “you should see this movie!”. Regarless of your origins, yet, you seek better self-awareness through history, find the world torn by a legacy of polarization or think that it is time to call the chickens home to roost, “Moving Midway” is a movie that might rattle your skeleton’d closet.

There were a number of rankings listed, including number of registered voters, percentage of active voters, resident political contributions, campaign spending, etc. The summation of all of that led to the overall “Most Political” ranking that Raleigh won.

Apparently, North Carolina in general is pretty highly ranked, with Greensboro sitting at #6 overall and Durham at #34. In comparison, our nation’s capital, Washington DC was down at #16, and New york was a low #89.

Here are the individual rankings that led to Raleigh’s #1:

Active Registered Voters: #46  (Durham = #24   Wash DC = #21)
% Counted Ballots: #7  (Durham = #62   Wash DC = #92)
‘08 Pres. Donations = #39  (Durham = #77   Wash DC = #53)
Campaign Spending = #37  (Durham = #73   Wash DC = #2)
‘08 Primary Voters = #7  (Durham = #6,   Wash DC = #66)
‘04/’06 Senate Voters = #8  (Durham = #24   Wash DC = n/a)
‘04-’07 Gov Voters = # 4  (Durham = #11   Wash DC = n/a)

Check it here and see how your city ranked.

In order to stay on top, ya gotta vote! In the state of NC, you have to be registered by October 10!!
Pass it on…

Known as the Bloomsbury Estates, this building sits at the edge of Boylan Heights in Raleigh. Designed with bizarre Victorian architectural references by Perkins & Will in Chicago, this building certainly needs a more fitting name. Take the poll and give us your opinion. Image by BloomsburyEstates.com

After 107 votes, the results are so far:
Victor Victoria 35%
Lampshade 35%
Boylan Fridge 24%
Other 7% (including 2 who liked Bloomsbury Estates and “Galvanism Mano”)

Late add: “The Adams Family!”