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It's always nice to know little something about the people with whom you work! I'm Patti Moss Williams, a freelance graphic designer who is blessed to be able to work from home and do the kind of work about which I am most passionate. Doing business as PMW Communications, I have worked in the area of graphic design since the early nineties when as the director of a small non-profit organization, I found I enjoyed doing the newsletter, posters, and publicity pieces myself. When a grant fell through and left me without a job, I was able to parlay those skills into three years at home doing typesetting and graphic design for local printing companies while my lovely daughter was in grade school. What a joy it was to finally have a little flexibility to serve as a room mother and volunteer for school events.
As a single mother, I soon had the need for some health insurance, so I accepted a position at a large church in Mountain Brook, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham, where my tasks included doing the church newsletter, website, and other publications. During my almost 12 years there, I received some excellent training in the Adobe Creative Suite. Now, I acknowledge that I have God-given talent in artsy things. I was always drawing something as a child and was very often chastised by my parents for wasting so much of my notebook paper. Spending time at my grandparents' florist, I was often found playing inside the large cardboard boxes with a magic marker in hand, creating my own little world. In grade school once, I even led a campaign to decorate the cloak room. It was amazing! When I was a little older, I was always designing my class float for the homecoming parade. When time came to graduate from high school, I was voted "Most Talented" and "Class Poet." I know part of the reason for the talent thing was the fact that I also play the piano and clarinet and was a proud member of the Oneonta Redskin Marching Band. I believe I am almost totally right-brained! But I am an organization freak and a details person and often assist in event planning for a local non-profit organization. In 2009, I took a leap of faith and decided to return to full-time freelance graphic design. Over the past 18-plus years, the Lord has blessed me with a wonderful husband who supported my decision – and me – as I made this transition. God has never ceased to amaze me with His awesomeness as He has blessed me with many clients. I've included a list of some of them on the right. Do I have a degree in art and design? I graduated from Jacksonville State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies with an emphasis in the humanities. Remember, I am right-brained. I received some great instruction in the Adobe Creative Suite at New Horizons training center in Birmingham under the direction of a great teacher, Jeremy Waas. I am also self-taught in many areas. What inspires me? Great music. During the day, I listen to contemporary jazz music on Sirius XM Watercolors (satellite radio). This type of jazz is medicinal to me and I love love love it! Plus I am a big Steely Dan fan! Also, the need to pay my bills inspires me greatly. THINGS I LIKE/LOVE Reading I love books and prefer real ones to digital ones. My favorite authors are Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Robert (Rick) McCammon. The last book I read was "Sycamore Row" by John Grisham, a sequel to "A Time to Kill," and I am hoping that they will do a movie with Matthew McConaughey again in the leading role. Music As I stated earlier, I love contemporary or smooth jazz. I have designed five album covers for Eric Essix and two for Roman Street; both are favorites. I also love Acoustic Alchemy, Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, David Benoit, David Sanborn, Boney James, Walter Beasley, Fourplay, Larry Carlton, Chuck Loeb, Paul Jackson, Jr., Chieli Minucci, Jeff Golub, Joyce Cooling, Brian Simpson, Brian Culbertson, Euge Groove, Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, and a whole lot more. Once upon a time, I worked in radio and I guess that was my other job about which I was passionate at the time. That was many years ago. i also play the piano, organ, keyboard, and clarinet. Photography I love to take photographs and often use my own photography in my work. For example, if a client has a piece of real estate they want to sell, I can go onsite and take really good photos to include in a flyer or brochure. I also shoot pictures of events and create videos with musical backgrounds. You can see some examples of my work on the website of the Oneonta Business Association. I also have a hi-def video camera and have also incorporated video into some of these productions. My house is decorated with many framed photographs I have taken and had enlarged. Family I am a big proponent of the importance of family and tradition. I love my family. I was blessed with absolutely amazing grandparents. I love nothing more than planning family reunions and gatherings. When something happens to us, we gather in great numbers at the hospital to show our support. We love to eat and fellowship with one another. Act goofy. Laugh a lot. Rejoice with one another. I have two adorable grandsons, Westin Ray Jackson and Wade Nicholas Jackson. Their mother, Natasia Jade Stephens Jackson, is the sunshine of my life! She is my only child! She is married to Nick and I am blessed that they live just a short distance from me. I also appreciate and love my hubby, Dwight! TV & Film I am what I have heard called an "appointment television" watcher. Thankfully, the DVR has helped me with that. I love "Little House on the Prairie" and "The Waltons." I also love "Ray Donovan," "Shameless," "Survivor," "Designated Survivor," "The Good Doctor," "Chicago Med," and more. Favorite films include "The Goodbye Girl," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "The Shawshank Redemption," "The Green Mile," "Frankie and Johnny," "It Happened One Night," "Now, Voyager," "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Our Vines Have Tender Grapes," and "Night of the Hunter" to name a few... Pets I have a nine-year-old Australian silky terrier named "Jazzy" that I adopted from a shelter in January 2012. I should have included him up under "Family." I have lost one pet, a red-haired dachshund named "Jackson" who unfortunately had to be put down for wanting to bite people so much, including yours truly five times. He is the reason the end of my bird finger on my right hand is missing. However, I still miss him terribly to this very day! |
CLIENTS, PAST & PRESENT
Austin Baptist Church, Austin, TX Austin Pregnancy Resource Center, Austin, TX Davidoff Heritage Diamonds, Houston, TX Houston Beautiful Homes Realty, Houston, TX First Baptist Church, Oneonta, AL Leitman-Perlman, Homewood, AL AquaMassage Chiropractic, Cleveland, AL Stone Bridge Farms, Cullman, AL Town of Highland Lake, Highland Lake, AL Blount County Fair Blount County/Oneonta Agri-Business Center Blount County Pro Rodeo Oneonta Business Association Merle Norman Cosmetics Studios North Alabama Court Referral Services RAM Tax Accounting (Darlene Wilson, CPA) Frank Horton, CFP, Oneonta, AL Hueytown Quarterback Club/ Hueytown High School Magic City Smooth Jazz/Jazz in the Park Preserve Jazz Festival Eric Essix Roman Street Blount County Revenue Commission Mid-South Vacuum, Oneonta, AL Miller's Soda Shoppe, Oneonta, AL Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Blountsville, AL Oneonta Church of Christ, Oneonta, AL TLC Nursing Center, Oneonta, AL Jackson Heating & Cooling, Cleveland, AL Classic Collision, Oneonta, AL Precision Maintenance, Hueytown, AL Q&A Concessions, Eastaboga, AL J. C. Standridge Printing Trussville Civic Center, Trussville, AL Ashville Band Boosters Community Arts Council of Blount County Blount County Sav-a-Life Downtown Antiques 2 Junk Kim Lee State Farm Insurance Magnolia House, Oneonta Piggy Patch Farm Blount County Children's Center, Inc. PLUS MANY MANY MORE!!! Affiliations Oneonta Business Association |