Sept Goals + August Goals Recap

I did really well on my August goals– see below.  I think reading and then posting that bit about ” ‘quick implementation’ being the key to success” was a bit of dare for me.  Like, I dare you to finish this list.  And it worked.  So I double-dog-dare me this month:

1.  Make a list of all the reasons marketing is fun. Because sometimes it is fun!  And it seems to very, very easy for me to forget that.

2. Finish drawing Fall Mailer and send it off to get printed.

3.  Get a wholesale account for Magnetic Kids.

4.  Make a list of blogs, and then contact 3 each week for both Magnetic Kids, and Other Such Things shop.  Ask if you can do a give-away for Other Such Things.

5. Be brave and buy an expensive printer.  It will be worth it.

6.  Use said printer and put some prints in Other Such Things!

7.  Make a letter mobile.  Or two. List in Other Such Things shop.

8.  Research holiday guides.  Ideas anyone?

9.  Go. to. the. beach. Contrary to popular belief, September at the beach is lovely.

10.  Get a dog.  yup, I dare me.  (The gorgeous pup modeling in the above photo is Miss Dottie, who lives in New York with her lovely parents and kitty sisters.  We miss them all the time.)

10 For real.  (c’mon we’re not gonna get a dog just cause its on my September Goals list.  We are waiting patiently for the right one to find us.  So patiently.) Think about updating portfolio site: new homepage?  add pencil drawings? new spot for them?  Add “as seen in” section?

•••••••

Here’s how I did on my August Goals:

1.  Send out new Mailers at the end of the month.

Happening tonight! In front of guilty pleasure tv brought to me by hulu!

2.  Start sketches for a fall mailer.

yup.  Though emphasis on “start”

3.  Contact 3 more agents about possibly representing me.

Just contacted one as I’ve been reading it’s rude to contact more than one at the same time…

4.  Go to the beach. Its August and I haven’t been yet.  Not even once.  And now I live in the “Ocean State.”

I cannot believe this didn’t happen.  Seriously.  Pathetic.  The hurricane really put a damper on my plans.  Well, I’m going to Martha’s Vineyard in a few weeks…

5.  Add a newsletter sign up page to my site and blog.

6. Contact Thumbtack Press to see if they’re interested in carrying any of my work as prints.

7.  Send out a newsletter announcing opening of my online shop.

Sign up for my newsletter by clicking here!  And get a little goodie!

8. Make a list of possible wholesale stores for Magnetic Kids. (what’s Magnetic Kids? My new{ish} project in the works!)

9. Finish Magnetic Kids wholesale line sheet.

10. Contact two blogs about my online shop.

Magnetic Kids!

{Re}Introducing Magnetic Kids!  We’re back!

Magnetic Kids are magnetic “paper dolls” drawn and designed by me.  This project has been on the back burner for several years due to other commitments and priorities.  But I’ve just relaunched and I’m really excited about it. So here’s a bit more about Magnetic Kids and a small goodie for my readers, as well!

Currently there are five different sets, each of which include a Kid + 3 Outfits + 1 Pet.   If you absolutely must get a kid with a different outfit or pet, let me know and we’ll talk.

It’s important to me personally to do as much as I can to produce environmentally, ethically and economically responsible products.  So I’ve kept the production close to home and I use recycled materials when possible. The magnets themselves were manufactured outside of Boston, Massachusetts.  After you order one they are  individually packaged by me, a hop and a skip over in Providence, RI.  They come wrapped up in a cute biodegradable and compost-able box made out of sugar fiber  from a company in Pennsylvania.

The hangtags are made by the wonderful MOO, Inc. also located in Rhode Island.  Soon the cello packets I use for wrapping will be recycled as well.  I find the packaging seems to be a work in progress to find the balance between being earth friendly, while pleasing to the eye, but easy for me to work with, and of course easy on the wallet.  I’m doing my best.

Through Magnetic Kids, I donate a portion of the proceeds to charitable organizations that benefit children. Currently, I find projects to fund through the wonderful DonorsChoose.org, which works with public school teachers to “provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack.”  I’ve been picking projects having to do with art for the younger elementary and preschool age set.

Right now Magnetic Kids is donating money to a New York City kindergarten class for new art supplies.  They want to work on some self portraits and I’m really looking forward to helping them do just that.  You can read more about it here.

And now for the goodie:  To mark this happy occasion you can get free shipping until September 15th if you mention …and Other Such Things blog in your checkout form.  Spread the word!  Whoo hoo!

Moleskine Exchange 2

Some images from the Moleskine Exchange, week 2:

I’ve been musing about doing a portrait series of houses in my neighborhood.   The area is called The Armory because its adjacent to what used to be a huge armory built in the early 1900s, complete with ten acres of “marching grounds”– now a park.

The houses surrounding it are mostly incredible “3 family” victorians.

Anyhow I started playing around with that idea here…  ( Above you can see a bit of Nicole’s star on the left side…I should have taken pictures of the other images in the book.  Darn.)

Though I should note these houses aren’t in my neighborhood, just random ones.

“To be a country or a city mouse…”

Ah yes.  My eternal dilemma.

Mid-Month Goal Check In

Jena from Modish Biz Tips has kindly posted a reminder that it is indeed half-way through August.  Here’s what’s up with my goals:

1.  Send out new Mailers at the end of the month. 

I have the cards, but I need to   

    •buy more stamps,

    •print out labels

   •spend an hour watching something fun and slapping it all together.

2.  Start sketches for a fall mailer. 

Um, nope. I have some ideas, but nothing on paper yet.

3.  Contact 3 more agents about possibly representing me.  

I have a couple in mind and have the materials to send.  Just gotta schedule it in.

4.  Go to the beach. Its August and I haven’t been yet.  Not even once.  And now I live in the “Ocean State.”

Sort of.  We went to one of the many beautiful state parks, and while this one was gorgeous, it definitely wasn’t indicative of your typical RI beach experience, complete with waves and soft sand and clam cakes.  I’ve got such a trip planned for this weekend though. 

5.  Add a newsletter sign up page to my site and blog.  

6. Contact Thumbtack Press to see if they’re interested in carrying any of my work as prints.

7.  Send out a newsletter announcing opening of my online shop.

Sign up for my newsletter by clicking here!

8. Make a list of possible wholesale stores for Magnetic Kids. (what’s Magnetic Kids? My new{ish} project in the works!)

9. Finish Magnetic Kids wholesale line sheet.

So close!

10. Contact two blogs about my online shop. 

I really just need to bite the bullet on this.  I hate to admit it but I think I’m just a little scared.  

But I feel good at where I’m at so far.  How is everyone else doing?

Anyhow, I’m supposed to be concentrating on a pretty fun illustration project, but I’ve got friends coming for dinner tonight, and I keep getting distracted by the cooking possibilities.  Chocolate mousse…?  Watermelon Basil Salad…?  Agggh!  Gotta get my head back in the game!

Lemon Cucumbers and Wise Words

I was reading the blog over at Lilla Rogers Studio (–an amazing illustration agency, whose roster of artists is truly impressive and always inspirational, and of course I would die to be among them, but I’m getting off subject–) and I came across this post about Lisa Congdon’s  promo card.  This sentence caught my eye:

 Here’s how it works: really good artists have lots of styles and media because they have so much talent and a delicious greed to try everything. Then, over time, the styles often morph together to become one’s own distinctive style.

That’s a breath of fresh air to me.  I feel like I definitely have those tendencies–ooh look at that, let’s try this… but as I read the post I realized I  tend to reign in my experimenting.  Like I’m getting off topic.  Or my because style isn’t cohesive enough.  This is a good reminder that experimenting is a good thing.  And that styles are evolving creatures.  And that at some point, I guess when it’s supposed to, it will all come together.  

Coming from an animation world, where you’re supposed to be able to draw anything in whatever style they throw at you, its been particularly confusing for me to find my own one style.  I feel like I’m coming into it, but it can be a little scary.  Anyhow, thank you Ms Rogers for the encouragement.

Gift Tags

The first time I ordered promotional postcards, I ordered a lot. Not only do I have a bunch leftover, but the contact information is out of date, which means they’ve been packed away for a couple years.  

But the other day I realized they would make cute gift tags.  

So they’re in the shop.  – 20 tags for $5.  Skip on over to Other Such Things to get yours!

Staycation

We’re staying in for the weekend!  And doing nothing.  Yay.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Wedding Fun

This past July, on the only sunny weekend, Austin, my friend (since nursery school!) was married in her parents’ beautiful backyard overlooking the water. 

I made a few items for the event and I’m really happy with how they came out. 

Wedding programs waiting to be cut:

Printed Pablo Neruda poem read in Spanish by Austin followed by the English translation by Oliver.

Place cards made from vintage National Geographic Maps:

Can you tell I’m a little obsessed with my round-corner-punch?  

Congratulations Austin and Oliver!

Moleskine Group week 1

I’ve been doing a “Moleskine exchange group” since July and I keep forgetting to share my drawings. It’s been super fun to do– the book has 60 accordion pages, there are ten of us, so we each draw on 6 pages and then pass it on to the next person. Sort of like Exquisite Corpse. Or a chain letter?
Anyhow I started off my moleskine with this:

My (2nd?) cousin had just been born and everyone was over-the-moon thrilled. I was in Vermont with my family when she arrived.  The coyotes were howling that night.  

Hence the baby and the coyotes.  

Its been challenging to just draw.  Right on the page.  No scanning, no rearranging, no computers.  Not much planning.  Coloring with whatever I feel like.  It feels like a good stretch.  

There are more images on Flickr if you’re interested.

Monday Goodie