Things To Do List

I haven’t blogged for a while, but I have done an epic amount of work on Very Impressed.  So I thought id blog today about something different but how this epic amount of work was achieved. 

Always being one for lists To-Do Lists are my essential item, if anyone asked id say it’s what id take to a desert island.  

When I don't use To-Do Lists i'm unfocused and unreliable. When I do use them I experience less stress, safe in the knowledge that I haven't forgotten anything important.  More than this, prioritizing intelligently it has focused my time and energy, kept me sane & motivated.  Struggling in the day job and fighting a heavy bout of sinusitis it hasn’t been antibiotics or therapy that has pulled me through, it was my Things to Do List.  Meaning that even when i’m down in the dumps and sick I can still be productive, and valuable.  So though I may not have blogged for a while I have been Very Busy.  It has to be the first time my list has exceed more than 10 things.  This time round I produced a list of 68 things. 

I’m now on task number 25 of my list, (25. Update blog) and wish I had a PA to help with the rest, as there really are not enough hours in a day for such things as source cardboard boxes, buy tissue paper, make press packs blah blah blah…

Ill let you know how i’m getting on, but stay tuned, as last on my list is Launch Party, which i’m just a little bit excited about.

Moonfruit Review

I previously blogged about the wonderful package that Barclays Bank offers new start ups and how it included the free website builder Moonfruit. 

I may have also mention that alot of money was lost through independent web developers making a few pages from their bedrooms then running off with my money.  So, thought I would attempt this myself & after trying WIX previously, was confident with trying Moonfruit.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this postings are my own personal opinions and should not represent or reflect negatively of Barclays or Moonfruit.

I consider myself a printer - not a website developer.  Moonfruit is very simple and straight forward the site is very clear and fresh and offers some really attractive templates.  I had looked on the forums and other people’s site and it was very impressive.  With some creativity I could also have something as impressive.

I worked on my site every evening for the past 3 months, it was always a bit of a chore, eye straining and time consuming.  I almost completed my site until I needed to add my shop.  This is where it became non functional for me.  I sell greeting cards and wedding stationery so therefore need the option of my clients buying in bulk quantities.  The Moonfruit shop builder didn’t have this function and only led you to add to cart then to payments.  There was no option for my clients to choose how many they wanted, they could only buy 1, so for example if my average couple wanted to order save the dates for example, for 100 guests, they would have to keep repeating the 'add to basket' 100 times.....errrrrr NO I don’t think so.

Other friends I know have used Moonfruit to publish their work and portfolios and the results are amazing.  For me however this ecommerce platform is not adequate for me.  I upgraded my account to get full ecommerce facility, but Moonfruit responded to me through twitter and email that I could be refunded or I could wait a few weeks for updates.

When running a small business every penny counts and time is also too valuable to waste, so on this occasion I opted to invest with WebCreationUK, who offer:

"......To build a respected and trusted website design company takes time, dedication, passion and hard work! WebCreationUK are one of the UK's fastest growing web design companies and we believe that no other can match our great services at the prices we offer...."

"......Our standard & advanced e-commerce web design solutions provide you with a contemporary, fully-functional online selling platform for your products and services - all at highly cost effective prices....."

It is alot of money to fork out and another business risk after being stung before.  But they were so friendly and cooperative that I am putting my trust in them.

This is also beneficial for myself as it frees up more time for me to concentrate on my design work and get messy with my prints.

At last.................

Making my mind up

Once again the Gemini twins within had a fight and naughty twin won and took over.  I’m blaming my twin, as I woke up this morning to the hurricane in my dinning room and it definitely wasn’t me. 

'Clever Gemini' letterpress & ink artwork

SHE completely deleted the VIP website; SHE then redid a new price list, completely came off the tracks, changed the VIP logo and cancelled a prospective client order...... WHY???  Because SHE is a MAD OVER EXCITED, OVER IMAGINATIVE, OVER AMBITIOUS & PEDANTIC, NEUROTIC PERFECTIONST................

So it’s left to ME to pick up the wreck that is VIP, regain control, detain the beast within, light some candles gather my chi and calm the hell down.........

Despite this madness, not all is lost and not all is a disaster.  The only thing really lost is time…. A whole weekend of work wasted.  But seeing the silver lining I can say that that is one of the beautiful things about being a creative.  The uncontrollable motivation that comes from small ideas.  But the destructive side is that these excited ideas can become too big and unmanageable and often lead to creative blocks, when all can be done is to cry.  Luckily it hasn’t got that bad this surge has only reconfirmed to me what I already knew – walk before running and all the plans for greeting cards, favours, party invites, birth announcements etc can wait.

This was also a good time to recalculate all my expenditure, and even though it appears that the start up costs are low.  This is all starting to add up.  I have to give up on a few luxuries for the foreseeable future in order to buy inks, new typefaces, chase, cards, envelopes, work tops and storage.

Harrington & Squires

All packed and ready to go,,,, off i set.... to become the best printer in the world....... Maybe not as that would be the Adana 8 x5...hehehehe


No seriously, this Wednesday, I am very proud to say that I am off to Harrington & Squires, named after Bob Harrington and Horace Squires, compositors and letterpress tutors at Hornsey College of Art in the late 1960s.  H&S are as a small private press founded in 2002 by designer/ typographers Chrissie Charlton and Vicky Fullick.

I am very fortunate to get trained by the best in one of their exclusive workshop in Tufnell Park, London.

Will update after class!

Sam x

OH BOY!!!!!

Have hardly slept, extremely sleep deprived and frustrated…….  I've been up at the crack of dawn tinkling about with the printer and cant get my head round it as yet…

WHAT THE .....???

Tears have been shed and a lot of things flung round the room. 

This is the depth of my passion and my impatience at not being able to print.

As a beginner, I have much to learn, but I have been a tad hasting in accepting delivery so soon, as now she is covered up in the studio until the rest of my fonts, paper arrive and I complete my course at the great Harrington & Squires. 

I am also very pleased to find other people like me in the same situation - learning about an art form for which there are few teachers & supplies and tools that are expensive and difficult to come by.

Stay with me here my start up is bumpy but my dedication and perseverance remains un-dented.

Sam x

CHRISTMAS COME EARLY

Is it Christmas???? 

Maybe not for you today but it was like all my Christmases rolled into one.  Caslon delivered me my machine beautiful Adana 8 x 5.  I was so excited because this means that I am finally able to print.  Not yet christened but please allow me to introduce you to the newest member of the Very Impressed family.

AMANDA…..

The machine is ready..... but am I?