Back in Business

It's been quite a while since I've posted anything.  My store on GCU has been reopened, although I haven't designed much for them lately.  I will be uploading designs soon.

"August Stripes" Design ©2013 R. T. Freeman

The really big news is that I have an amazing printer and I am about to market my pet sympathy cards the old-fashioned way: to folks who own gift shops, pet stores, feed stores, veterinary practices and maybe even good-old fashioned convenience stores.  The printer is J&S Printing of Bloomfield, CT. They printed the ensemble above (my niece Jane's wedding invitations- shout out to Jane here for her help in giving me everything I needed to get the right "vibe" ...) and they did an amazing job.  The entire stationary ensemble for the wedding exceeded my expectations in terms of quality, and the bride was delighted.  They also printed the invitations for the Granby Pony Club 50th Anniversary Party (which I designed.)  Beth over there at J&S is knowledgeable, realistic and savvy plus she's a delight to work with.

I will be setting up a table and card display at The Horses and Hounds 7th Annual Ladies Night, December 5, 2013, 6:30-9:30 p.m.  It's an event that's put on by Horses and Hounds, 15 Mill Pond Dr., Granby, CT to showcase women business owners and entrepreneurs.

Here's a sample of my work, and some of the cards J&S will be printing for me. (These cards currently reside at my GCU shop):

It's good to be back in business.

Wedding Stationary Ensemble

I will unveil the wedding ensemble I just finished designing in a few weeks.  The inspiration came from my niece Jane, for whom this ensemble was created.  Although I have a picture now, I will not post it until Jane's invites have been sent out into the world and enough time has passed for them to be opened.

Just to fill space and bide time, here's a spin on the "Keep Calm" meme for all you summer sweethearts and lobster eaters ...

You can find this card here

Best Regards!

FIREWORKS!

I just watched an awesome less-than-five-minute YouTube video on how to make fireworks in Photoshop CS5.  Ryan, of Operation Photoshop, who did the video sounds like he's maybe fifteen, but he is one of the best "Tutorial Teachers" I've heard yet.

I designed a couple Fourth of July cards last night ... they all involve eating lobster.  Our founding fathers did NOT eat lobster, as it was considered pauper's food.  Here is an excerpt form a fantastic article in Mother Jones Magazine:
"Indeed, it's no exaggeration to say that people were downright ashamed to eat lobster. “Lobster shells about a house are looked upon as signs of poverty and degradation,” wrote American observer John Rowan in the mid-19th century. Peddlers in Portland, Maine carried lobsters around in wheelbarrows, selling them on the street to working class Irish immigrants. In one Massachusetts town, a group of indentured servants became so upset at their lobster-heavy diet that they took their masters to court and won a judgment protecting them from having to eat it more than three times a week."

Quick!  Bury those shells in the backyard before the neighbors find out we've been eating ... lobster ... oh, the shame! Oh, and you'd better hide the butter wrappers, too."

I'll have all the new Fourth of July designs here on the blog as soon as they are approved by Greeting Card Universe.

You can find this card here

Best Regards!

Graphic Design Done Here ... Too Much Too Late

Working on my darling niece's wedding invitations ... what a learning experience!  Saw my first Pantone book today, quite the eye-opener. At first I called it the "Pantene book."  Ordered my first envelope liners, paper for belly bands, monogram stickers, address stamps and now I have to find those dinky little tissues.

I need to get back to greeting card design (what I love to do best!)  My shop on Greeting Card Universe has really been growing over the last few weeks.  Right now they are working on a printing problem with some cards for PhD and Doctoral grads ... you know, the ol' doctoral robes ... all that black fabric with black stripes on the sleeves and black stripes down the front.  Oy.  Apparently, it's pretty hard to print.

Okay ... first post.  Necessary, since I had some business cards printed up today with this blog on them.

Best regards, everyone.  Send greeting cards, the people you love love to get them.

Father's Day card on Greeting Card Universe.  There are also versions for Husband, Brother and Uncle.