Wow! No posts on the new site until now. I’ve been plenty busy with all the latest projects will also be featured in my latest newsletter (sign up if you already haven’t!). I have had the opportunity to do some site redesigns for Broadway Brewhouse and I am currently working on one for PatCoil.com which will also feature some e-acommerce/online store features so folks will be able to buy more products that are now offered as well as get them instantly via download. Check out new portfolio images for ISS Knives, Chad Ray Crochet, Broadway Brewhouse, and more coming soon.

User Friendly WordPress Sites 

 I also have a couple of sites that are maintained by their owner such as SouthernSupertsock.com in which the owner told me time and time again he is not computer savvy, I assume to prepare me for all the problems and tech support calls  he was going to need to make. However, he made very few real “help me” calls, but wanted to add pages to the site which actually increases the need for him to update his site. I have to say he has easily been able to update the site on a regular basis and really hasn’t needed me to provide support at all. Just another case where self doubt was defeated using the WordPress system. I am so happy that those customers whom have the need to update regularly have been able to do just that with little or no help from me because the WordPress sytem has been so easy to implement and use by the beginner to moderate computer user. It cuts down on any update charges I may have normally had to bill and given the customer great flexibilty to update the news on their website all the way to running a full web store such as the judthbdesigns.com site.

 The Look, the Feel, the Price of Cotton

For those customers that I  print t-shirts, hats & similar merchadise for, please be aware of the fluctuations in the cotton markets. Most know that cotton prices have skyrocketed in the past year for a variety of reasons from the usual weather  fluctations & natural diasters that can affect any agricultural commodity to U.S. and internatioanal policy, regulations, trade and other social & economical anomalies. Also, many believe that moving to a blend material such as a 50/50 cotton/poly shirt will aid in hedging against this, not so fast. Polyester is petroleum based so is tied to oil prices (as are most all plastics). The only advice I have to avert this is to stock up now while prices are at the current level to avoid more price increases rumored to hit this spring probably at the end of the first quarter.

Vehicle Wraps

   I designed and wrapped a Harley-davidson for the owner of The red Door Saloon and can’t wait to unveil it, the entire bike is being redone so we’ll have to wait for the bike to be reassembled for the unveil. In addition to that, and the past couple of vehicle wraps I’ve designed for Red Door, I just got the go-ahead on a new wrap design for them on a 2011 GMC terrain. I’ll probably unveil these at the same time even thouyght e bike has been dione since December 2010. The image included is a sneak peak at the bike wrap showing the bezel between the split tanks.

 I also completed a rear window graphic for Custom Tile Innovations for the back window of one of their vehicles. this was done in window perf which allows you to see out while limits view from the outside, so it not only conveys a message but acts as window tint to some degree. It was much cheaper to design, print & install this full color rear window graphic than the traditional vinyl lettering (also available!) and looks great!

Just wanted to say…I Voted! If you did not and don’t plan on doing so I’d like to say I’ve chosen some great representatives for you! Please make sure and vote, it’s our civil duty to do so. I don’t care for whom you vote just make sure you do and encourage others to do so.

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