When it's Time to Change

> I've been running my own business for...well...the fact that I can't pinpoint exactly how long without taking a minute to think about it indicates that it's been a long time! One thing I know: when you're a freelancer, you have to make time to update your web site/portfolio, and keep your brand looking fresh and current, while maintaining continuity and consistency. Seriously, if you don't do it for your own business, how can your clients know and trust you to do it for them?

> Confession: I'm guilty of not updating my web site as often as I'd like. Yeah, I know how important it is, but frankly, during the times that my client work slows down, I catch up on other things first, then more work comes in, and it's on the back burner again.

> Recently, I was doing some research for a project, and ended up bookmarking a couple sites to go back to, because it got me thinking about how I could remedy my own web presence. 

Here's what I'm considering:

• It's been almost 3 years since my last web design overhaul. It's time to completely update/redesign/refresh my web site
• Integrating my web site and blog would be a great way to make regular changes and updates to both, a LOT more easily
• I've got another blog, Q-cards, where I post a new quote design each week. I'm weighing whether to incorporate it into the new mGraphicDesign blog/web as a featured weekly blog post, or to keep it as an individual entity. Because I was invited to post the designs to a very popular Pinterest page, and my designs get a lot of repins I wonder if it might may be a new way to bring in new blog followers, and with an integrated blog and web site, perhaps new clients as well. What do you think? Can't hurt, right?

> So, now the fun part begins. What will it look like? What things will change? What things will stay, but with a facelift? That will all be be part of the surprise. However, I know you won't be surprised to hear this: expect green, and at least one oversized "m".

Inspired by...Fold

> Creativity takes a lot of forms—even those others would consider scraps. I LOVE the little creations shared on the blog called "fold." Miro Chun creates custom greeting cards fabricated with bits of wire, snips of thread, and colorful scraps of paper.

> I'd love to have any of the cards she creates—but these are not your "Hallmark variety" greeting cards (at best, those are put in a drawer never to be seen again). These little treasures deserve to be in a frame and hung on the wall, enjoyed every day.

Post Promo

> I wish I could say I've just enjoyed the longest holiday break ever known to man...however the time was spent doing something much less exciting...I had surgery at the beginning of December, and spent the holidays recovering. It's taken me much longer to be able to return to work than I had hoped, but I'm finally back.

> Just before my surgery, I mailed out my annual holiday promotion (and yes, the timing was intentional!) I've never been so on-the-ball for the holidays. I don't plan on an annual surgery, but I did like having everything done so far ahead of time!

> I sent these to my clients, vendors, and contacts, as well as family and friends who are interested in what I do. And I made sure to have extras so I can give them out to new business contacts throughout the coming year (minus the holiday greeting portion of it).

> I really had a hard time deciding if I wanted to use the pun or not...was it unprofessional...silly...witty...you never know how it's going to come off, but I got enough positive feedback about doing it that I went with it. Hopefully it's more clever than cheesy.

> If you didn't get any encourage-mints and would like them, just subscribe to my (usually) monthly email newsletter (a couple months behind for the above reason), or like me on Facebook, then email me your mailing address. If you already do both and didn't receive one, email me to let me know, and include your address.

Promo Prep

> Is it that time of year again already? The piles assembly line in my studio says yes! I've got a bag full of blank padded envelopes, a box with finished, labeled envelopes, a stack of trimmed cards, with a bigger stack of cards still needing to be trimmed, and two boxes emitting a sweet minty, fresh aroma (wintergreen, of course).

> As much work as there is in putting all the pieces together—from trying to figure out what the gift will be, then designing all the individual components, then labeling and assembling all of them, and don't even get me started on the post office...(although I have figured out a pretty good way to lessen that negative impact)—it's definitely a labor of love. 

> Here's a sneak peek of part of this year's promotion. And stay tuned...in a couple weeks, I'll share pics of the finished gift.

Wanting to do Everything

> I've read from countless sources, that if a designer's prices are acceptable to everyone who asks for a proposal, they're not charging enough. Logically, I'm sure that's true. But I hate it! I design because I love it. Because designing is a part of what makes me feel like myself. If I was doing it just for the money, I'd be working more than full-time hours at an ad agency, trying for promotions and higher pay regardless of how much (or little) I enjoyed my work.

> I hate that feeling when I learn I'm outside of a potential client's budget. Especially if I really like the sound of the project. I want to say, "Oh, I'm sorry the price is higher than you expected. Tell me what your budget is and I'll make it work out."

> I've heard about a cafe in Salt Lake that doesn't have a typical menu. Each day, the chef/owner just creates what he wants to, and serves it to the customers, who are asked to pay what they feel the meal is worth. The friend who told me about the place said it was good food, so, kind of a neat idea, huh? Hopefully people are generous, but aren't there also plenty of people who would pay less just because they could?  

> It makes me wonder, could a design business work using this kind of pricing system? Would it start to devalue what I do? Or would it simply allow me to create whatever I want and feel good about it regardless of what I'm paid. Kind of an interesting thought.

Church Tourist

> Another batch of photos from my New York trip, featuring places of worship (the first photo is obviously not a church, but as we rode past on a bus tour, I was at first intrigued by the type that ran across the side of the building, then took a photo because I loved what it said. 

> Our first day, as we were coming from Rockefeller Center to catch the train back to our hotel, we saw St. Patrick's Cathedral. Have you ever seen it? In a word: wow! Even my husband (who's not much of a shutterbug) was dying to go over and take photos. However, because I had smartly charged my camera's battery the night before, then ever-so smartly left the battery in the charger, I told him we couldn't see it just then because I wouldn't be able to take any pictures. I'd spent all day cursing myself for my mistake, and knew my phone wouldn't be able to take the pictures I'd want. Thank goodness he's a good sport—we skipped it and went back later with a fully charged battery IN my camera.

> In our wanderings over the next couple days, I came across several other churches, and while not as ornate, they were gorgeous and inspiring as well.

St. Patrick's Cathedral. There was scaffolding around the front
so it's not as great a shot as I'd like to have taken. I couldn't
get the whole thing or get closer without the construction

Love the organ

Love the stars that were intentionally designed from the intersecting ceiling trim

Everything about this place makes you look upward.
Do you get a sense of how high the ceiling is?

Such beautiful and ornate detail—everywhere

Another church—can't remember where
I love the iron window trim

Another one...

...and another...wow...love the wood door on this one 

Inspired by...Design Seeds

 > In my work, I'm constantly looking for color combinations that are new, fresh, interesting, and sometimes—depending on the project—unexpected.

> I love turning to Design Seeds when I need color ideas. The blog creator, Jessica Colaluca, pulls color swatches from stunning photographs, creating a wonderful variety of color palettes that I love to wander through (I'd love to REALLY wander through the scene in this photo).

> Even when I don't have a project that needs color options, I waste spend a lot of time browsing the pretty colors and photos.