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Quote of the Week:

anyone else working today?

I routinely feel like Ebenezer Scrooge. Not that I'm tighter than a high-strung violin, or stingier than a pack rat, but because I find myself working on these days before holiday weekends...the days my clients and most of the rest of the country seems to be taking off.

I've stopped trying to actually go to client offices on days like these (unless I call ahead), or to schedule meetings, which is a good thing; I suffer from the small businessperson's curse of being drawn into working. all. the. time.

Having a home office as well doesn't help matters. I do have the self-discipline--most weeks--to stay away from it when the notchcode offices are "closed".

And that's what we are today, for the most part (blogging activities excluded, of course): closed.

Have a wonderful last couple of 2006 days, and we'll see you on the other side.

Labels: friday, holiday, work

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12.14.2006

Gone Skiing

Live View From Lunch Rock, Mary Jane


Well, it's that time of year again, and what kind of small business owner would I be if I didn't take advantage of the flexible hours?

You can still reach me via phone...and trust in the fact that the web monkeys are still hard at work on your project while I'm away.


See you on the slopes (or at least, on Monday)!

Labels: friday, mary jane, skiing

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12.13.2006

Why?

Someone mentioned something to me today that is worth repeating:

It's always a good idea to ask "why". Doesn't matter if you think you know the answer; to hear it directly from the person you're working with makes things clearer.

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12.10.2006

2006 is the year we write a book!

2006 is the year we write a book!
Originally uploaded by notchcode.

This little note was from my co-authors, in February. Now that the book is written, and at the publisher, it seemed fitting to post it here.

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12.06.2006

To the Publisher!

My co-authors and I are about to send our baby off to the publisher. We did an inter-continental conference call (gotta love Skype) this morning (evening for them) and ironed out the stuff that needed to be completed. I spent most of this afternoon completing a few stray graphics, collecting everything into nice, tidy packages, and checking all the items off of my to-do list, one by one.

And now it's off to Alana and Margie for one last glance, then off to California to the publisher, where it will be copyedited, typeset, proofread, and then published. More info on the book as it comes closer to being a reality. In the meantime, here are a couple of the illustrations I contributed to the book.

Labels: alana, book, design, illustration, margie

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12.05.2006

finished

Just wrapped up a nice holiday card for a new client...Printed it at Wandel Press, where I have the good fortune to work with Dave Biondi, a print rep par excellence, and a good friend to boot.

Now it just needs to be trimmed right, scored and folded correctly, boxed cleanly, and delivered to the right address. For people who thing geting something "printed" is easy-peasy, remember there are about 40 steps involved, any one of which can completely screw up your job. Eeek. Fortunately, I haven't had that happen...too often; at least no more often than any other designer. But each time something goes to press, you cross your fingers, knock on wood, and avoid walking under ladders for a while, until the client gets the finished product.

Labels: clients, design, printing

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12.01.2006

Whisky Photo

I have learned that a photo of mine will be appearing in a book about whisky (that's Scotch to you infidels), to be published by Appletree Press in 2007. Can't wait to see it in print!

The image, of a bottle of Cask-strength Glen Grant, is pictured here. Glen Grant is one of the best, and rarest, whiskys I've had the pleasure of hosting in my pantry. It's almost gone, so now you know what to get me for the holidays, eh?

Labels: book, photography, whisky

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Slowing Down

Well, the holiday slowdown is upon us. If you're in a B2B service industry, you know what I'm talking about: no one wants to work between Thanksgiving and about a week after New Year's.

Well, there's one exception to that: There is always the one or two clients I have that are desperately trying to push something out before the Christmas/NewYear's vortex (from which no productive time can escape, it seems), and EVERYTHING HAS TO BE DONE RIGHT NOW! I MEAN NOW, MISTER!!!

Yeah, so it's basically a mix of laid-back clients who may or may not return a phone call in the next six weeks, and people who want to surgically implant a Blackberry into your brain so they can have constant contact with you. Not quite enough lassitude to allow for a full-on vacation, but enough that the manic clients with the rush projects can be accommodated. Quite an equitable balance, I suppose.

I am not alone in this observation, by the way. Every shop I've ever worked in, ever printer I've talked to, has mentioned this. Businesses just want to not deal with new projects right now. But trust me, January is a whole different story.

Labels: b2b, clients, holiday, vacation, xmas

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