Saturday, December 31, 2011

New Year + New Work = Happy You for a GIVEAWAY!


 Hey all!
:)
It's true....I am a happy camper today!
2011 has been such a lovely year.
Even just in the last bit of it, I've been blessed to come up with yet another idea to fulfill.
I've always enjoyed signs.
How about you?
As a senior in High School I thought I'd go to college to become involved in advertising.
Once I made it into the college realm, I decided I didn't really want to do the nose to the grindstone sort of work in advertising
(insert picture of Jerry McGuire loosing it here.)
I really wanted to work with the decorative aspect of it.
That's when I started really taking art seriously.
Once enrolled at The Art Institute of Seattle,
I had to pick an artistic pathway.
As I'd been personally addicted to home decor magazines, I decided to go into
Residential Interior Design.
What HARD work it was!
Drafting (before Computer Cad was available...yeah...I'm that old!)
wasn't any fun to me. I loved the part where we picked out patterns, styles, and "decorated" the buildings we drafted.
I now realize that all the work I did in college was a way to lead me here.
That's where my new endeavor begins....
I have a real "love" interest in graphic design (maybe I should've gone into this?) and so I've been playing around with verbage and home decor.
As you know we sell signs at our brick and mortar shop
so it isn't that difficult to know what folks are looking for in the way of sayings.
Most people don't walk in looking to buy a sign....it's usually something they never knew they wanted until it was staring them in the face!
I've been less than satisfied by the selection in the mass produced market for signage.
I work with a lovely man to produce some really great traditional signs for the store.
However,
I was really looking to find a bit more of a modern edge for our sign selection.
After researching a few different venues, I realized that I could do this myself!
I mean, why not?

So, I armed myself with some new tools and stuck my neck out there
 where it feels a little drafty and risky.
eeeeeeeeeeek!
:)
SO, NOW YOU CAN FIND THESE PRINTS FOR SALE
We'll see what happens right?
The worse that can happen is that I fail miserably....and look like a dork but....
I guess it's better to try and fail, then to sit stagnant and wish a year from now that I'd had more guts.
This year has presented its challenges....but all in all I've felt very Blessed.
I'm thrilled to start new adventures but one must always remember....

that even though all this fun work is well......so much FUN!
My family is what comes first.
I enter this new adventure with many trepidations and silly quirks....
but with excitement and giggles too!
It's all about the balance right?
:)
Just wanted to get your opinion....what do you think of these personalized signs?

I was thinking about offering these on my Etsy site
 as well.
Let me know what you think.
I was thinking something like fifteen bucks for an 8x8 personalized print?
(plus shipping)
Since you guys are such good sports at helping me out, I'd like to offer
 a giveaway
 right here on my blog for your choice of one of these 8x8 prints.
You could even choose the personalized family print.
Also choose which finish you prefer: matte or glossy.
(NOTE: My shop watermark will be removed from the sign you win.)
I would ship it right to your little door just in time for a fresh new look this New Year!
All you need to do is leave me a comment right here with your
OWN FAVORITE SAYING OR QUOTE.
(yep that's right, I want NEW ideas for NEW signs!)
Please also leave me a little bit of feedback or constructive criticism.
I've got tough skin, so go for it!
I look forward to hearing from you and getting your entries.
Winner will be randomly pulled on Saturday January 7th, and shortly thereafter announced here on the blog.
(Remember: you can comment here on blogger even if you're an anonymous user without a blog yourself. Just be sure to sign your first name and last initial in your actual post.)
Thanks in advance for participating, and be watching for more to come from this wild hair I've suddenly entertained!
I just love you guys, you mean so much to me!
HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEARS
my friends.
May you sincerely be blessed.
Love,
Trish
:)

9 comments:

  1. I LOVE the work one, My husband and I both work from home AND truly love being a family with our 4 children.
    This year is my year to find BalancE!
    I'm trying to think of something we say here...
    My sister in law has this hanging in one of their rooms:
    In this house... we do REAL, we do mistakes, we do I'm sorry, we do FUN, we do hugs, we do second chances, we do Happy, we do FORGIVENESS we do really loud, we do family, we do LOVE.
    She bought it at a local store, it's white type on black like so many of the signs you see now. I love it!
    Good Luck with your new job!
    Cheers~Ivy
    {PS, found you over at decor8}

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  2. Hey Ivy, SO nice to meet you! I love that you are able to work from home! How wonderful for you. I also think the sign/saying you're talking about is really wonderful as well. I just wanted to welcome you here, and give a shout out to Holly over at Decor8 saying thanks so much for having such a wonderful way of connecting folks! :) Thanks for your input, and I'm happy to enter you into the drawing Ivy! :)

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  3. I've said it before and I'll say it again......you are such an inspiration to me. I love your idea and what came to my mind was what David and I shared last night and that was, do you remember your mom or dads "sayings?" Like--- MOM always said AND I DON'T MEAN MAYBE!" Or Dad saying......don't make me say it AGAIN!'. I think putting a sign up like that in an unexpected place would be something that would bring a smile....perhaps JUST when you need it. Another idea would using catch phrases that your best friend uses.......I like that one! Good luck with this and I can't wait to see more. Karen

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  4. I love the most important work one. I have always loved that quote!

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  5. "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss

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  6. Trish... oh, forgot to say.... congrats on another great idea! Your cup runneth over!

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  7. Yahoo for you...what fun this is going to be for you...I love love doing graphics too...in fact it is one of my favourite thing about blogging. I love your designs...and you know the first one about the bird and french fry is one of my favourites ...but I have a few...here is one I would love to share with you..it does mean a lot to me and I would love to have this on on my kitchen wall along with my bird and french fry one....."Gratitude turns what we have into enough"....
    Isn't that so true! Oh how I love it!!! JOY JOY JOY!
    Hugs to you dear one. xoxoxoxo Happy creating.

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  8. Karen, I love your ideas! I think you are absolutely right...a well placed toungue in cheek sign is the perfect thing to brihten your day and entertain your guests too!

    Lydia, I'm so happy that you like it!

    CMK, Thanks so much for the lovely vote of confidence! :) I love your quote too! Dr. Suess was just so....RIGHT! ;)

    Miss Koralee...you know how I feel about the bird and the french fry....but I have always loved the contentment quote as well. The glass is always half full my dear...but just once in awhile, I think the glass is overflowing...especially when I'm connecting with you! ;)

    Cheers to you all, and make sure you spread the word about the giveaway...I'd love more ideas and input! Thanks in advance.....
    T.
    xoxo

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  9. Trish,
    What a GREAT idea!

    I have so many favorite sayings/quotes. I have a happiness ap on my phone even! LOL

    Dr. Seuss has some amazing ones.
    “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”
    “You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”

    and then of course there is this one that I adore:
    Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away. author unknown

    Good luck with your new idea!

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