Jeffco Blog » Website

New Template: Slim DVD Case

jeffco — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 17:01:12 +0000

New Template for a Slim DVD Case.

I’m taking some time to update and beef up the Templates section of the Jeffco Website. Though the section is quite popular, it hasn’t received much attention in a while and lots of the templates, while still good, could be better, so stick around and check back as I add new and updated files which you can use to make your own CD and DVD cases, booklets, envelopes and whatever. Let me save you the trouble of measuring everything out, because once you’ve done them once, they don’t often change.

First up though, and a new addition, is the slim DVD case. It’s provided in three different formats:InDesign CS5 (INDD), JPG, and PDF. Hopefully one of these formats will suit your needs.

Be sure to check out all of the templates that are already online on the Templates page of the Jeffco site.

Speaking of Winterlude…

jeffco — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 14:12:16 +0000

A snapshot overlooking Dows Lake from the Pavilion.

Since Winterlude seems to be in the air yet again (every year!), I thought I’d go back and beef up some of the Jeffco site’s content on Winterlude in general. I’ve added a new page which includes some Winterlude links and general winter links, and also a list of links to BeaverTail resources including several recipes for making your own BeaverTails. If you’ve ever been to Winterlude the sweet smell of sugar and cinnamon (and eating a napkin or two) is no doubt part of your memory.

I’ve often said that the NCC and the City of Ottawa have really missed the boat on hosting a real web presence for Winterlude and all of it’s activities. This was made even clearer as I went to find links to share. Why there isn’t a larger single site with more and better content is beyond me. I’m sure it’s related to money and because the event has an unevent history of being caught in between a tug of war between the two organizers, but that’s really no excuse. Winterlude is a national celebration which deserves more money, more respect and better online representation.

That said, I’ve done what I can to capture the amateur sculptor’s side of things with lots of information and historical documentation on my site, and as time allows, I’ll try to go back to add more of my many, many photographs from Winterlude events and locations.

Check out the Winterlude links page or the Sculptor’s Resources pages if you’re interested about finding out more Winterlude, the City of Ottawa, BeaverTails, or any of the other wonderful celebrations of Winter in Canada’s Capital! There’s even links to recipes for making your own BeaverTails, in case you aren’t able to make it this year – Don’t forget the napkin though!

Winterlude Snow Sculptures

jeffco — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:41:04 +0000

With Winterlude right around the corner, it seemed like a good time to remind people about the Jeffco Snow Sculptures.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Winterlude or the City of Ottawa’s snow sculpture competition, check out the many links and resources on the Jeffco site, and while you’re there be sure to check out all of the Jeffco Snow Sculptures.

Updated Site to PHP

jeffco — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:50:37 +0000

I’ve changed the background code for much of the site, but hopefully you won’t notice.

Much of the site has been updated so that instead of HTML files, they’re now PHP files. Why you may ask? Because PHP will allow me to update files a little more easily and dynamically, without having to change hundreds of files and then reupload them all. I hope no one notices frankly since the performance should be the same, but if you come across any broken links or anything, please let me know. This change however will begin to pay off in the coming weeks as I’m able to streamline some processes and update more regularly and more easily. Stay tuned!

Looking Back on the Jeffco Site

jeffco — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:02:15 +0000

Various looks of the Jeffco site.

The jeffco website has existed in many forms dating back to 1996. In that time it’s had many looks, many themes, many variations. While someday it would be amusing to post some of the early blogs and different pages, for now I’ll just post a sample of some of the different looks. This is by no means exhaustive. See how many you can remember…

New Photo Page Template

jeffco — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:20:04 +0000

When visiting the Jeffco photo pages you may notice a new look. We’ve switched everything over from Photoshop templates to Lightroom templates. If I’m being honest, I think I still like the look of the Photoshop ones a bit better, and the way they handle css and relative linking is superior, but Lightroom has several things going for it as well. First, and biggest, is that it allows me to compose and upload the entire photo sections as extensions of collections built within Lightroom. Which means I can drop at least two major steps from the creation of the web pages. Also, it means no duplication of files like one set for web, another for print, which it was previously (although the web ones are different, they get uploaded directly to the server). Part of that also means metadata and comments and stuff like that get added once, and kept with the files throughout, making metadata more worthwhile and less work in the long run. Another huge advantage though is the ability to modify the photos and quickly upload again to make editing and adding to existing collections much faster and frankly more likely to be done.

Ideally in the future, the site will move to some kind of content management system (as Sandi has always correctly suggested), especially with over 5,000 photos already up, but that takes time and money I don’t want to give right now. Plus I haven’t seen the perfect system that allows me the same control yet. In the meantime, this relatively simple shift allows the files to be prepared in a forward-thinking way that should mesh with a content management system when we’re ready and the system is more accessible. That’s the thing with technology, it’s not just about building for today, but building for what tomorrow will accept and what tomorrow will serve.

Also, a change every once in a while is a good thing; it allows us to update, clean house, revisit and reinvigorate. I hope you like the change, or at very least tolerate it. I think once you get used to it and see the advantages, you won’t even remember the old way…

And as always, feel free to send us feedback if you have an opinion or suggestions on the changes, one way or the other…

Feelin’ The (Christmas) Love

jeffco — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 02:34:21 +0000

This is an example of the email I get throughout the Christmas season. It’s so nice when people take the time to write. I wish I had time to get more albums up to share with people…

Contacted through the Jeffco Productions Website:
Just want to thank you so much for the Tijuana Christmas downloads. This album was an essential part of our childhood Christmas and I’ve been trying to track it down for years. You’re going to make it a very special Christmas for me, my siblings and my father and I hope our children learn to enjoy Tijuana Christmas as much as we do.

God Bless You,
Matthew H.,
Stafford, England

Was Tijuana Christmas part of your childhood? How about one of our many other offerings? Find out here: http://www.jeffco.ca/christmas/downloads.php

Jeffco,
For many years, I have been after a particular old Christmas album I heard when I was a wee young kid! It’s been very hard to find, but finally I found the full version on your your website.

I did happen to recently obtain a vinyl copy from a local second hand recond record shop, but was too much fiddling around to digitize it for myself, especially as I currently don’t have an amp for my turntable.

Thanks for putting albums like this one on your website, as they are greatly appreciated.

Merry Christmas
Russell. (Australia)

You have made my Christmas. I have been searching for an old Childhood memory for years – Tijuana Christmas by The Torero Band, and you have digitised it. We had the record years ago and it was the traditional Decorating and wrapping music, but has since been misplaced and thanks to you we can here those cheesy(but fab) tunes again. Thank you so much and have a very Merry Christmas!!

Kind regards and season’s greetings
Mike J.

I just had to write and say THANK YOU!

In 1982, when my daughter was 3, I bought her the album “Christmas is for Children” produced by the Ontario Lottery Corporation for $3. in South Common Mall in Mississauga because we heard it playing as we walked through the mall and thought the music was nice. Now, 25 years later, I have quite a sizeable Christmas CD collection and Christmas is for Children is, by far, the single very best Christmas music CD I have ever heard. My daughter feels the say way. We’ve often wished we could find it again because our copy (album) is well worn and we even tried to find the rights to the music so that we could look into having her theatre group re-record it but had no luck. She mentioned it again today in an email and after suggesting she go online again to see if anyone else might have it available by now, I went online myself and found your website. I have already downloaded it, burned myself a CD and I’m listening to it right now – thank you so much, you’ve made our day!

Leanne F.
Merry Christmas!

Hi, I own Tijuana Xmas on vinyl from years back but don’t have a turn table anymore. I’ve been looking for this for ages – brings back childhood memories.

Thanks SO much,
Paul
UK

Contacted through the Jeffco Productions Website:

Just want to thank you so much for the Tijuana Christmas downloads. This album was an essential part of our childhood Christmas and I’ve been trying to track it down for years. You’re going to make it a very special Christmas for me, my siblings and my father and I hope our children learn to enjoy Tijuana Christmas as much as we do.

God Bless You,
Matthew H.,
Stafford, England

Hi

I am e mailing from England! I am desperate to find the Terero Band Tijuana Christmas sounds of brass, which I have been delighted to see you have!!!!!!

It would mean so much to me to have a copy of this but I am struggling to download. I have to admit I am a bit thick when it comes to PC’s and have to wiat for my husband to tell me everything. Am I able to download this over here or do I need to do something else. So sorry to trouble you but would love a response.

Many thanks
Delia M.

Just wanted to say thanks for the download of “Tijuana Christmas”. I had this years ago on LP and haven’t been able to find it anywhere until now. I can’t wait for Christmas now.
Frank

Wow! Thanks for the memories! I remember when my Dad got that Christmas is for children album from the ontario lotto corp. way back when – he still has that switched on santa album too! Keep up the great sight and thanks again!
Dave

Jeffco Website Fundraiser

jeffco — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 18:52:25 +0000

Time to pay the fees again…

This weekend we’ll be holding our second website fundraiser. The last one was four years ago. We raised enough then for four years of paying for the www.jeffco.ca name, which comes in at $50 a year (plus GST of course). Now, I could totally pay that myself, and in fact, I already have, but I like to ask the jeffco community to share in that cost if they feel that they’ve gotten something out of the website. And rather than just ask for money, I like to make it a fun event so that people can have fun and feel like they’re getting something out of it. Since the website hosts several people’s kid’s photos, wedding photos, etc, etc and other things for people, and lots of people get some use out of the site with downloads or whatever, I like to give an opportunity to kick in a buck or two to help with the running of it. This year we’re showing Borat and having chips, drinks and chocolate bars people can buy and all profits going towards the registration cost. Even if we don’t raise much money, it should be fun for everyone. I expect a decent turnout, and I expect we should have little trouble paying for at least another year, but I’ll let you know how it goes.

Update: Success! We’re covered for another two years! Thanks everyone who came out and contributed.

Searchable Christmas Music Section

jeffco — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 18:44:38 +0000

It’s been two years since the site’s Christmas Music section was updated, so it was time…

Enjoy the new iTunes-format listing of all of Jeff’s Christmas music. Still a bit buggy in places, but a huge improvement over what was there.

Screenshot of the Christmas Music Section of the Website.

Check out the section here:
http://www.jeffco.ca/christmas/catalog/index.php

Snow Sculpture Daily Updates

jeffco — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:39:36 +0000

Returned the daily update notes from the snow sculpture section back to the website.

It’s been six years since any changes were made, but thanks to the annual resurgence of interest in the site thanks to Winterlude, I decided to add the daily notes and updates from the sculpture section back in (they were removed in 2003). These notes were taken during the sculpting process and added to the website for visitors to follow our progress. I also added back the feedback, which a few of the examples of emails we’d received from visitors to the site.

Check out the Jeffco Sculpture section here:
http://www.jeffco.ca/sculptu/sculptures.php