Welcome to my World (of Design)

I've been in the online print on demand world for quite a while. 

What is the online print on demand world? Well...a print on demand site is a place where designers all over the world can upload their photography, paintings, drawings, digital art, and more onto a website that will then print the products that consumers want with that design on it. It's a great way for artists to get their work out there without the added costs of printing and shipping the items themselves. Some popular POD sites include Cafe Press, Zazzle, RedBubble, TeePublic, Teespring, and others.

I've been on Zazzle for 16 years now. I have two shops there:

Rdwnggrl's World and RdwnggrlEquality.

I've been on RedBubble for about 14 years.

And I just recently joined TeePublic. I've purchased shirts from them before, but for some reason didn't start a shop there. But now I'm there and I'm loving it! With that, I wanted to share a few of the items you can find there. Where my Zazzle and RedBubble shops have a variety of art styles and themes, my TeePublic shop is focused solely on love, humanity, equality, and kindness - in other words, POSITIVITY! 

You may even find some odes to my favorite band there...

With the holidays coming up, it's always fun to see what you can find from independent designers. So, even if you don't like anything I have to offer in my shops, you may find something in another shop. Take a look around! You're bound to find something you like!

Thank you for reading!

Shy Socialites

Shy Socialites is the union of the graphic design and illustration passions of sisters Barbara and Tricia Wilson. They create custom invitations for all occasions, along with other special treats like cards, party kits, and custom illustrations of people, pets, and more!

I have been friends with Tricia for some time now and have followed Shy Socialites on Zazzle, Etsy, Facebook, and their own site for years. I adore the work that they do and think you will too! 

I recently had the opportunity to order a custom illustration as a Christmas gift for my best friend and her husband. The process is simple and the Wilson Sisters are professional, quick to respond, and easy to work with. And the end result is something that will be cherished forever. 

I chose the Custom Cartoon Drawing option. Here you can choose to do a single, double, or family portrait. You place your order for the option you want, then receive an email with a "Custom Character Illustration Questionnaire." If there is more than one person in the illustration, you fill out a form for each character. The questionnaire has questions about the person's personality, hobbies, interests, and favorite things, as well as the basics - eye color, hair color/type, height, etc. There is also a spot for you to include anything else you'd like to share about your subjects.
I submitted the questionnaires, along with photographs of my friends. Then Tricia did her magic. She asked me questions. We discussed the direction I wanted to go with the illustration. And what came from that was a gift that I fell in love with. And I think the recipients did too. She captured their likenesses perfectly. The extra design aspects (colors, border) were incredible. I knew the talent that this woman (both of these ladies) had. I have seen her illustrations of people before. Yet I was still surprised at just how amazingly accurate the characterization of my friends was! 

Here is the final product:

Taking their love of tropical flowers and travel destinations, as well as a love of Disney, my friends are surrounded by beautiful flowers and hidden Mickeys!

Please check Shy Socialites out! If you're getting married, if you're having a baby, if your son or daughter is graduating, or if you are looking for the perfect gift for your best friend - THIS is the place to go! Not only will you be receiving a special keepsake for your special occasions, but you will be supporting two amazing women and a fabulous small business.

2014 - My Year In Review

2014, like every year prior, was a year of highs and lows. We saw this as a country, and as a world. And it was the same for me personally. I'd like to close out 2014 on a positive note with a look back at some of my personal highs. 

2014 started off with a stellar Seattle Seahawks football season coming to a close. A regular season record of 13-3, and a NFC championship won in spectacular fashion led to something Seahawks fans had been dreaming of for nearly 40 years ~ on February 2nd we won the Super Bowl! I've watched this team through good and bad since I was a young girl. To see the city finally welcome a football championship was incredible. Now to get a baseball championship to follow in 2015...Let's go M's!

When my husband and I put our minds to something, we can usually achieve it. 2014 took us on a journey to home ownership. When we moved back home to Washington after 5+ years in Colorado, we knew we wanted a house; we wanted to establish new roots at home. And that's what we did. At the end of May we got the keys to our new home. Home ownership can be a scary thing, but to have our own home again is amazing.

In June, I participated in what I thought would just be a fun challenge. It was to create a design for Derrick Coleman's (fullback for the Seattle Seahawks) No Excuses Foundation. He challenged his Facebook followers to submit a design. The winning entry would be turned into a t-shirt to be added to the selections he had on his foundation website. My design won. It was an overwhelming moment for me. Fast forward to mid-July when I received an email from Derrick's mother informing me that they were going to incorporate my design into their foundation further by making it their logo. That email came on my birthday. What a birthday present that was!
For more information about the logo and Derrick's Foundation, please see my blog post about it here:
All Heart/No Excuses

Another July birthday treat was getting to see one of my favorite bands of all time live for the first time, thanks to two of my favorite people of all time. My dear friends Stephanie and Dale took me to see New Order on July 6th for an early birthday night out. What a night! And one I still think of whenever I hear a New Order song now. I will never be able to thank my friends enough for that incredible night.
For my original thoughts, please see my blog post: Bucket List Band - New Order 

September is a always a special month for my husband and I, as it's the month we got married. In 2014, however, it was a little more special as it found us celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. 20 years!?! How did that happen? It has been a quick 20 years. And it has been an absolute honor being married to my best friend for so long. We have our differences now and then, sure. But to be able to call this man my husband, to have him as the father of our son, it's a journey I wouldn't have wanted to taken with anyone else.

When we moved back to Washington in 2013, we decided that I wasn't going to get a job - at least not right away. With the money I make from Zazzle, we knew we'd be ok, not great, but ok financially if I chose to be a stay at home mom. Yes, we've been ok. But 2014 was tougher on us financially than we expected, especially after we bought our house. I started looking here and there for a job. But because of certain restraints we set, jobs are not easy to come by around here. I end 2014 now as an employed person (though I don't officially start my new gig until January). I was recently hired to be an agent assistant - at the same office I worked at for 6 1/2 years prior to moving to Colorado! I'm going home again and it feels great. I can't wait to get started!

That pretty much sums up the big moments in my year. There have been other milestones here and there (my son hit the double digits when he turned 10 in March), along with other positive notes and events. There were also lows ~ financially, in my family when we lost my Aunt in March, and personally (friendships ending, stress, depression, etc). But overall, this was a good year and one I can look back on fondly.

As 2015 approaches, I look forward to seeing what the universe has in store. I am excited to start my job. We are in the very early stages of planning a family vacation (our first since the summer of 2012 and much needed) that, fingers crossed, will take us to the happiest place on earth. I love watching my son grow physically, emotionally, and personally. And who knows, maybe a few other dreams will find the light of day. I also look forward to some peace and healing in this world of ours. Mother Earth and her children could use it. 

Thank you 2014. And welcome 2015!

Thank you for reading.