2015 Gifts for Progress
I started out a little bored when wife Taylor left for her international teaching semester in Kosovo (which is going marvelously, btw). So here at home, I’ve just been working double time on my little design and illustration business project. I thought I’d give you the inside scoop on what I’ve got going on.
After each of the last couple of Holiday seasons I’ve said to myself “I have got to be better prepared next time, and really bring a great, fresh collection.” So in August I decided 2015 is the year to not hold back. After a sputtering start, I found my center and went into a creative frenzy. I had a vision of what I wanted the VGoT to look like, as a collection of illustrated goods, and I just decided to take a chance and invest in myself. I created a few center pieces first. With a new edition of posters I could spin off other designed items. But the message has to be right on to carry everything forward. I knew I wanted a simple and clear idea, one that I felt passionate about personally. I was intrigued by writer Mark Bittman’s clear message: eat more plants. Add to that my personal frenzy of cooking, plus my project with the folks at OEFFA (an organic certification center in Ohio), and I knew my message had to be about organic fruits and vegetables, and cooking. America’s old “Victory Vegetables” seemed an apt vehicle to underline the importance of cooking with fresh foods, and growing them if you can.
That’s where “Organics: Today’s Victory Vegetables” came from. As well as “Soup Stock” and “Action Cabbage”. My work with the organic farm folks OEFFA resulted in “Non-GMO and so Much More”, a pastoral scene depicting an organic farm. From these centerpiece ideas, I spun off a raft of new and neat stuff.
I printed new kitchen towels, and a new tote bag. I made a neat greeting card boxset concept. They are these flap-fold little boxes with four greeting cards inside. There are these nice new “victory vegetables” printed handkerchiefs, packed in a printed envelope. And I finally made a colorful 2016 wall calendar featuring reasonably healthy snack foods.
Thank you for staying with me on this journey. I feel exceptionally lucky to continue doing what I love and what I believe in. And its an extra bonus to stay independent and keep a direct connection with my audience. Stay with me-- next year will be great!