2010 Resolution Head Start

So I've realized that most people don't know that I do illustrations ... so to expand my portfolio I'll be adding at least 12 new images containing a calendar to my portfolio.

I've already completed the first one ... (ps. still need a name for my new girl so send me your suggestions!) michael@michaelalbee.com

My little ode to Chanel Apres Ski!  ENJOY!!!

Random holiday gift guide

This is a purely random list of some things that I think will make great holiday gifts from unexpected places:

COOKIES!!!

Wackym’s Kitchen bakes delicious cookies and treats from original artisanal recipes using only fresh, natural ingredients. We pride ourselves on delivering products where you are able to taste the real butter, cane sugar, and other natural ingredients that we use.  http://www.wackymskitchen.com/

CLOTHING!!!
Veritas creates and nourishes the kind of relationship and diversity of human contact that builds into the essence of the city. The Veritas brand is designed and created to bring community together through a combination of the Arts; one shirt, one painting, one sound, one film, and one word at a time.  http://www.liveveritas.com/

PHOTOS!

Innovative, edgy & fresh, professional Dallas photographer, J. Mathew Butler has worked in all aspects of the entertainment industry and knows how to get you your best headshot. Mathew has made a name for himself as a cutting edge photographer shooting many professional musicians, actors, singers and authors. http://www.jmathewinc.com/

HOLIDAZZLE 2009 brings together the shining stars of the Dallas/Fort Worth Musical Theatre scene in a compilation of holiday songs, ranging from the traditional to the contemporary. Each track features a different solo or group performance by some of the most highly acclaimed and admired performers to appear on our local stages. Proceeds from the CD will be going to local children’s charity Jonathan’s Place.  http://dfwactorsgiveback.org/

BOOKS!

Fred is a lovable, young frog with a big heart and a bigger problem. Fortunately, Fred has wonderful, imaginative friends who each offer humorous, well-meaning suggestions to solve Fred's dilemma.

Apples For Fred will leave you with a smile as the friends band together with a charming mix of support and perseverance.

A 10% donation of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be made to the Crohns & Colitis Foundation of America to support research for a cure.

ART WORKS!
If you have been waiting to buy some work, now is the time.  I have marked all of these pieces down.  Shipping is not included in the price.  If you are interested in purchasing a piece please email me at tyclark@liveveritas.com for payment and shipping options.  If you are in the DFW or Austin area I do not mind delivering and helping hang the work.  All the artwork is marked down 40-60%.
http://samo4prez.com/Site/Fine_Art/Pages/Art_Sale.html 

More Clothes!
The name Color It Purple probably doesn't do a very good job of telling what my store is all about, but it does tell a lot about what we love to celebrate in our children, and that's their uniqueness! When my oldest daughter was 3 and 4, she loved to paint and she spent a lot of time at her easel. She ALWAYS chose purple paint and she always painted a solid purple painting. The shades varied, but it was always solid purple! At first I worried why she didn't use other colors or draw trees or flowers, but I soon realized that she had her own way of doing things . . . she was unique in her own way . . . all of my children are. She reminded me that there is not always a "set" way of doing things and that it's okay to be different. In such a simple way, her solid purple paintings celebrated her uniqueness . . . and so I introduce coloritpurple.com!

4:41am ... still awake ... and still workin' ... that's dedication!

What a different a day makes ...

So lately I've been working on quite a few custom print jobs ... and all I can say is the print industry is completely nutz!

I've had the same job quoted by 5 different companies now.  They were all provided with the Optimum Specs as well as a Proof File and example image of what I am going for (my poor client is still on hold for printing due to all this).

I've had bids come in from all 5 companies and the prices vary by almost $800 from high to low.  Now for a larger company they might not even notice the difference if I was to just choose one of the companies.  My clients on the other hand are mostly start up businesses and custom print jobs with limited funding. 

So I've spent most of the day today trying to figure out WHY there is such a discrepancy.  

Hopefully tomorrow, with a clear head, I'll be able to make the most informed and beneficial choice for my clients.

Quality is worth spending the extra money for ... but with each company having the same print specs there has to be something going on in the background.

When it rains it pours ...

When it rains it pours ...

and I'm not JUST talking about the weather.

So Mathew and I have both been freelancing for just over 6 weeks now and the business has been slowly and steadily coming in.  But wow ... this week has just been crazy.  He and I both have had a surge of possible new clients and even a few Full-Time positions thrown at us.  I'm not sure whether or not either of us is interested in going back to work full-time for someone else but it's nice to have the options. 

Some of my more recent works have included:

packaging design for Kenny's Woodfire Grill - Kenny is doing a "giftable" steak and I'm doing the design work for the packaging.  This is a really fun project that will be added to my online portfolio really soon.

Sydney-Kane.com - Sydney Kane and her parents David and Marlo have both been fantastic about throwing work at both Mathew and I.

Thompson Harper Agency - a PR, Event, and Lifestyle company has hired me to do a few print ads for them.  If you're in need of PR ... definitely check them out ... Davika Thompson is a friend from my days at Neiman Marcus and she is GREAT!!! http://www.thompsonharper.com/

I've also done a few Myspace designs and some other smaller projects... so all I can say is  keep it coming!

has a busy day today ... and mathew is in Florida ...

is thinkin' that he needs to clean his office to be more productive

is going to bed before 2am tonight!

because everyone needs a gucci icon pac ... http://ping.fm/yA4OL

WOW! I think I went all day yesterday without updating my status ... and now it's 6:06am and I'm headed to bed for a few hours. Need Sleep!

Is finally finishing up a few projects today !!!

it's an icky Sunday ... but True Blood later tonight so that's a good thing. Now to finish up some of these projects!

can't believe it's friday night already ... where did this week go!

Latest BitchBlog is up ... OMG ...it's SO Wrong. http://bitchblog.us

If you're bored tomorrow ... September 12 from 2 – 4PM at West Mesquite High School for the 2009 Recycling Fashion Show! The cost is FREE!

is going to watch some mindless television (i'm sure there some teen angst to torture mathew with) and then back to the grindstone

is proud of http://bitchblog.us/ ... she's doing a great job for her first ever blog. Check her out and follow her!

well today was definitely productive ... of course I'm no where close to going to bed.

Just a few little things ...

Okay ... so I'm totally swamped (which is great in this economy and even better for a freelancer just starting out).  But ... I thought I'd give you a few places to check out online until I have time to post something more substantial:

• http://bitchblog.us - Suburban Jewish Mom ranting about the day to day of everyday life... gotta love it.
• http://coloritpurple.com - a friends' online boutique that just started up. (even if i didn't get to do the logo)
• http://conceptfeedback.com - great place to get feedback on designs from designers ... so glad I found this.
• http://applesforfred.com - Diane Shapley-Box Children's Author/Illustrator
• http://dfwactorsgiveback.org - Non-profit organization of DFW Actors ... they are making a holiday cd.  Check it out.

There's a few links that should keep you busy for the next 30 minutes or so. 

-m-

http://michaelalbee.com had TONS of visitors yesterday ... hmmm ... what what I did differently.

back to the drawing board ... (literally) have some drawings that I have to finish up tonight.

has decided that he must dedicate at least 1.5 hours 3 days a week to bringing in new business... Do facebook postings count?

wow! ping.fm went down for a bit today!

happy labor day ... hope you are all takin' it easy.

has a brainache ... must lay down for a bit

http://ping.fm/5RDHM ... great organization, great people, and now a site to go along with their greatness ... just finished (Kinda).

I'm pretty darn amazed right now ... lots going on and hopefully it will keep going!

my latest blog ... http://ping.fm/3yRMp

List of sites I visit multiple times a day ...

So I work from home and find myself looking for inspiration online quite often... I mean there are only so many times you can go for a walk in the blazing heat of a Texas summer.

So here's 10 to get you started:


http://smashingmagazine.com
http://facebook.com - (never know what my friends are saying that will inspire me)
http://deviantart.com
http://conceptfeedback.com
http://psd.tutsplus.com/
http://ilovetypography.com
http://justcreativedesign.com/
http://www.logosauce.com
http://cameronmoll.com/
http://logofaves.com/

-m-

Thanks

Just wanted to say thanks to Kristie and Michael Chad for becoming my very first followers!  hehe ... it's amazing what  little begging will do.

Basically, I will be posting rantings of my crazed life of freelance here.  What I'm working on and how i'm getting it done. 

Eventually should turn out to be a good list of design information.

-m-

is being very productive for 3 hours of sleep!

finds it ironic that I'm sitting here watching Top Chef and I'm eating left over tacos from Jack in the Crack

someone humor me and follow me on my blog (i'm actually trying to write something everyday) http://ping.fm/XtGV9

Sleep is overrated!

So it's now 5:40 am and I've been working on the http://applesforfred.com web site all day.  But I think it's to a point that I can step away from it for a while.

What did I learn doing this site:

A few little javascript functions - used typeface.js for the first time on this site.  Nice font replacement javascript ... took less than 2 minutes to figure it out and have it live.

Also worked in a few behaviors on the landing page to spruce it up a bit and add a little movement.

check it out!

I'm heading to bed now.

-m-

okay ... got 1 logo done ('ish) ... put a ton more info on a web site ... doodled up a character sketch (which still needs work) ... got 2 ftp account set up ... blah blah blah ... been productive

is going to complete at least 2 projects today ... I'm 1/2 way on soooo many ... that finishing 2 is going to happen!

is going to torture Mathew with the season premiere of GREEK on ABCFamily... I love teen angst Mondays!

has realized that working for himself = a ridiculous increase in emails.

is Very BUSY ... which is definitely a good thing ... so keep it coming! http://michaelalbee.com

has a very busy week ... but got some good sketching done today!

Plan of attack

So today ... JMB has a meeting at the workplace so I'm pretty sure I'm grabbing the pencils and a sketch pad and working on some of the designs that I've got to get completed.

On the list:

DFW Actors - Logo & Web Site - http://DFWactorsgiveback.org
Apples for Fred - Web Site - http://ApplesforFred.com
B-Blog - Logo & Blog
Sydney Kane - Web Site
Baylee Kuss - Web Site
Karla Bowman - Web Site & Logo

I'm sure there's more but I'll be happy if I can get some sketches done for each of those today.

I mean it is Sunday and all.

So ... grabbin' coffee, pencil sharpener, pencils, sketch book, and snacks... will update you all on progress later in the day.

-m-

Probably sketching ... lots of designing to do.

had a great time at altar boyz tonight ... then round up ... (even though mathew only danced with me once) ... now getting ready for bed i guess.

Off to see altar boyz ... http://ping.fm/LTqpm then maybe out? who knows what the night will bring!

... so today should be a pretty busy one ... we have a meeting about a photoshoot for a new clothing line.

hannah ... it's http://ping.fm ...

Snow leopard install complete ... went off without a hitch ... guess that's one good thing about freelancing ... took almost an hour for the install in the middle of the day.

Snow Leopard

Well ... it's all good ... snow leopard for mac

Arrived a few hours ago ... took about 45 minutes to install and so far so good.  Gotta love apple!


-m-

Has a busy day ... couple of logos and a few web sites to really get crackin' on ... let the inspiration begin!

Breakdown of the day

So today has been an interesting one:

Revamped the entire Print portion of my portfolio because JMB thought that it was confusing that the lightbox feature didn't show the arrows immediately.

Added all kinds of profile links on my contact page so that people can find me in just about any capacity.

Started reworking the DFW Actors Give Back Logo (which still isn't done yet) ... but it's getting there.

Added some more adsense on my sites.

Found a UV Spot Printing Place online that is inexpensive and looks like they do quality work. Will keep you posted on that one. 

Project Runway in a bit then gotta finish up the DFW Actors logo.

ttyl,

-m-

Love http://ping.fm it has totally made my day. Off to watch some project runway ... then go for a run ... then back to work.

has made even more adjustments to http://michaelalbee.com

Does this ping.fm thing really work?

Well it's official

Today I got paid my first official deposit for some freelance graphic design work!

I'm totally stoked about getting to work on these projects and so far the best thing about freelancing is the fact that I'm able to take on the jobs and work with the clients that I want or feel passionate about.  It has got to produce some quality work.

Keeping my pencil to the paper,

michael

Circular, Rounded, or Die-Cut Business Cards

So today I'm off looking for something interesting in business card shapes.

Yes I understand the attractiveness of a "standard" business card.

• It fits in your wallet (never to be seen again).
• It fits in your rolodex (do people still have those ... never to be seen again)
• It fits in with the rest of the 3"x2.5" standard business cards that will ... never been seen again.

Isn't the idea of a business card to attract attention to yourself and/or your business.  Make an impression long enough for people to at least read the few lines on your card and make them think ... hmmm I wonder if he could do ***insert project here*** for me?

Well today I'm stumbling around looking particularly for some Circular, Rounded, or Die-Cut Business Card options and thought I'd share a few of the sites that I find.

http://Uprinting.com 
http://www.58x.com/store/
http://www.lakeland-printing.com
http://www.premiumcards.net/business_cards/cosmo-card-c-21_105.html
http://www.shineboxprint.com/ - i think this could be a really cool portfolio business card idea.
http://www.psprint.com/die-cut-cards

Well that should get you started.  Many of these places also offer specialty processes uv coating, soy inks, recyclable materials, plastic cards, foil stamping etc.

-m-

Freelancing is a lot of work

So ... I've always said I'm not much of a writer; so this is my very sad attempt at letting you know what's going on.

Recently became unemployed and as of today I've decided that it's a good thing. I'm going to be working for myself and here are just the initial steps I've taken to start drumming up some business.

1. Revamped my web site - http://michaelalbee.com
2. Joined a ton of social networking sites and/or updated all my profile information
3. Joined a few freelancing job boards and built some online portfolios
4. Got everyone I know to let everyone they know that I'm doing freelance graphic design work.
5. and the most grown up of all ... signed up for an online invoicing system.

Initial steps taken ... so now let's bring on the jobs!