A Look Back at 2010

Let's celebrate the new year!

2010 was a great year for me. I began my website in January, and never imagined it would take off the way it did. We moved to a new city, Chicago, in the spring. My husband and I celebrated our 5th year wedding anniversary in August, and my grandparents celebrated their 45th year as husband and wife. We met a great friend at a family get together, and lost him a few weeks later. 2010 – a year of great joys and few sorrows, but then again, that’s life.

My website went through several transformation before becoming what it is today. I love my website! It completely displays my personality in it’s colors and transparent elements. I especially love the way you can interact with my image gallery. If you haven’t seen it it’s at http://lucygraphics.com

In April, we made the best decision we could have ever made this year, and that was to move to Chicago. Within the first week, my husband and I both got great jobs. We moved into a great place. Where we later celebrated our 5th year wedding anniversary in August.

So many memories came and went in 2010. This coming year, 2011, I have set a goal for myself to expand my horizons and push myself to achieve bigger and better things. Reach new clients, learn new things, and live life to it’s fullest. No more stress, no more anxiety, no more depression! Life is full of joy and happiness, and that is what I want for 2011. I will exercise more and devote more time to my family. Thanks 2010 for giving me hopes and dreams for the new year to come!

Scarf-making Weekend

I’m averaging one scarf a day! Well, about a half day since that’s about as much time as I have when I’m not working. I just sit in front of the tv to watch my favorites shows and knit during commercials.I am so glad I learned to knit! It seems I can make scarves a lot faster that way. I don’t know may patterns yet but I’ll learn. I was even thinking of taking my needles and yarn with this holiday weekend to learn from true experts back home.

I have two aunts who love to crochet and knit. They know so many different patterns. The only ones I know I learned from my mom about 12 years ago and I’m glad I still remember most of them. I don’t even know the names of the patterns, I just call them by their shape. Like the green scarf I made could either be the zig zag weave or the sloped stitch. I do remember how to do a pattern that looks like flowers. I think I’ll put up an example later on today. I’ll just have to remember how to start it. Yet, I still prefer the look of the simplest patterns and stitches.

I love using chunky yarn for warm thick scarves. But the thinner soft yarn looks very nice for intricate patterns. Living in Chicago has inspired me to create warm fluffy scarves for freezing temperatures. Last year, when it was -30 degrees, I did not have a thick fluffy scarf at hand. I had a thin store-bought scarf that just didn’t cut it. Especially when the car didn’t start and we had to stand outside to jump start the battery. So that’s why, this year, I decided not to suffer through this winter without a scarf, and to warm up the season for my friends and family as well.

Happy Holidays!

Lost…and still not Found

What a day!

Why is it that when you turn the house upside down to look for something, it’s nowhere to be found?!

I lost something in the house the day I made my cute green scarf with pom poms. I know where I always put it, so that’s the first place I looked, but it wasn’t there. I looked everywhere. Usually, once I tidy up and put everything back where it goes, it magically reappears in the weirdest place. I hope I find it soon.

Although I’m upset about not finding it, I’m glad I did because otherwise the house wouldn’t be sparkling clean in every nook and cranny. I even re-decorated! At least my day hasn’t been too bad.

Crafty Momma!

I don’t know what it is but this past week, I spent around 6 hours just crocheting and weaving different things. I considered myself to be a crafty person, but this year, I have decided to make my gifts very personal and useful. Although I do love the idea of giving out gift cards so that you may choose a gift of your liking, this year, I will try to make, decorate, or personalize most of my gifts.

These first creations were part of my own refresher course on crocheting and weaving. The black hat and scarf are crocheted and the green scarf was hand woven. Also know as finger knitting. I created four strands and added pom-pom to the ends of each strand. Then, using a large sewing needle, I strung them together using the same yarn.

I honestly thought the finger weaving would have taken me forever, but I think it only took me a total of about 2 hours to make the green scarf. The black one must have taken me at least twice as long. I’m trying to find other variations on the finger weaving method to see what else can be made this way. Please let me know if you find anything.

Christmas Wish List

Today, my husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and of course, I said the first thing that popped into my head. Not mentioning all the other things I would also love to get. Although, it would be very selfish of me to want several gifts. So, I’ve decided to make my list of top five items I wouldn’t mind getting as gifts this holiday. Beginning with my very favorite!

 

1. Wacom Tablet – Bamboo Pen & Touch : Bamboo Pen & Touch combines the benefits of Multi-Touch with the comfort and precision of Wacom’s ergonomically-designed pen. Check out the website here http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_pen_touch.php

2. Amazon Kindle 2 : This e-reader is perfect for me! I love to read and would love to be able to download my books into this device instead of buying the paperback version. Details are here http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Generation/dp/B0015T963C/ref=dp_ob_title_def

3. Subscription to PRINT : I would love a subscription toPRINT: America’s Graphic Design Magazine filled with trends, commentary, reporting and ideas.

4. The Book BEYOND TREND : Information can be found here http://www.mydesignshop.com/product/beyond-trend/Creativity-DesignTrends

5. Wii Fit : No more Super Mario Bros! The Wii Fit will really get me to take advantage of any free time I may have. Here’s the link http://wiifit.com/buy-now/?sku=bundle

 

Ok, I had to add this one to the list:

6. Before & After Magazine Subscription: It’s a graphic design magazine online that I’ve been following that I like. Here’s the link http://www.bamagazine.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=B018

Grow Your Business With Gift Certificates

Offer Gift Certificates and Grow Your Business

Once considered the lazy shopper’s present, gift certificates and gift cards now make up more than 11% of holiday budgets, according to a 2004 survey by the National Retail Federation. Today’s hurried and finicky consumer not only enjoys these convenient gifts, but prefers them. In fact, 50.2% of consumers polled by the NRF said they hoped to receive them during the holiday season.

Great as they are for customers, gift certificates are even better for your business. Benefits include:

• Extra purchases by customers who might otherwise hesitate to buy for another person.

• New customers, as gift recipients arrive to redeem their certificates – and keep coming back for additional goods or services.

• Fewer product returns.

• Immediate cash without providing an immediate good or service, effectively serving as an interest-free loan until redemption.

Virtually any product or service can be enhanced by a gift certificate program, and Lucy Graphics offers a large array of personalized gift certificates. As you embark on your own program, here are some points to consider.

Personalizing Pays

Blank gift certificates are available everywhere, including office-supply stores. But what does a generic certificate say about your business – or the person giving it?

Your certificate must be an attractive gift people are proud to hand to their friends or loved ones. So it’s almost impossible to overstate the importance of expert personalization, quality materials and a design that fits your company image.

Lucy Graphics gift certificates are personalized free with your business name, address and phone number or other key points. Not only does this make it easy for people to find you, but it offers protection against forgery. You can even add your logo for a consistent company image, or choose one of our hundreds of free designs for extra graphic impact.

For added effect, Lucy Graphics offers a variety of special touches: heavy paper stock for luxurious feel, silver or gold foil embossing for dazzle and prestige, matching envelopes and a wide range of colorful designs for any image … fun, fashionable, lighthearted or distinguished.

Managing Your Gift Certificate Program

What kind of certificate is best for you? Options include:

• Booked certificates in handy tear-out sets of 50 or 100.

• Individual certificates with detachable stubs for details such as the recipient, purchaser, value and date of purchase.

• Spiral-bound certificates for consolidated recordkeeping.

• One-write certificates that record transactions automatically.

To help you record all gift certificates purchased, Lucy Graphics offers certificates that are numbered sequentially. Each time you make a sale, simply record the number of the certificate, the name of the purchaser, the dollar amount and the date of sale.

Later, when the certificate is used, be sure to check it against the accompanying log and record it as “Redeemed.” This prevents confusion and duplication of certificates, and allows secure replacement of a certificate if lost.

Promoting Your Program

Before you can sell gift certificates, you have to let customers and passers-by know about them. That’s why every Lucy Graphics gift certificate order includes:

• “Gift Certificates Available” display signs that can be placed at high-traffic areas such as checkout counters or display racks.

• A matching door/window decal to attract passers-by.

You’ll find that gift certificates are typically an easy sell, thanks to their convenience and flexibility. So be sure to mention them to the people you do business with. They’re the gift that keeps on giving – not only to customers, but to you!

Christmas Decoration Procrastination

Maybe one of these up on the wall somewhere...

December is here. Christmas is just around the corner, and I haven’t decorated at all. When we moved last we tossed a lot of our old decorations. They were mostly broken and old and we decided we would simply buy more before Thanksgiving. Well, I haven’t shopped around either but I really want to have an idea in mind before I go shopping. I want to choose a theme, maybe a color, and only shop for what’s necessary without going overboard.

I’ve been sitting on my couch starring at the lonely corner of the room I plan to decorate for Christmas. Yet, I don’t have a tree yet, no other decorations, and I’m just wondering, what I should start with.

With our two dogs, a Christmas tree just doesn’t sound like a good idea. Although, I do have a glass table that can hold a small tree, so that’s an option. Maybe I could even decorate the windows somehow.

I’m just stumped. I don’w know where to begin. I want something simple and dog friendly. Any suggestions?