Friday, February 12, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Identity Re-branding
Off and on since opening day, I've been kicking around various designs to suit the quirky nature of my shop items. Something playful, but not too cartoony or childish. Plus, I needed the logo to fit in a square-ish type area for versatility's sake. If you have a fairly long brand name, it can be a pain in the arse to accommodate various print and web layouts in a tasteful manner. Anywho, my friend/henchman, Myriam enthusiastically suggested a dark apple green and a faded apple green as the official colors (because hey, we both lurve green).
Font choice, however, was rather tricky. At the time, I didn't have all of my font collections transferred to my then-new Macbook Pro, so I was stuck with a limited selection. I figured, "Whip up something for now to make the shop look more legit, then edit later!" So I came up with this:

The design finally struck me almost two years later, while I was watching movies in bed with Tony. I immediately snatched up my sketchbook and scribbled it out on paper right before launching Illustrator. A couple of hours of adjusting typefaces resulted in this:
It's abbreviated to suit space issues, but includes the full title name inside the exclamation mark. The full title can be situated just outside the logo, should said logo need to be shrunk down to a small size. While just the apple green is pictured here, it can also incorporate the other two colors if desired, or even be converted to black and white without visibility problems. The typeface itself gives meets the playful vibe of the shop without being over-the-top. Plus, the 8-bit look gives it an old-school feel, which is great considering that Myriam and I are children of the 80s. :)Monday, February 1, 2010
New Years Resolutions
1) Make at least 150 sales combined from all three shops (so 50 per shop).
Actually made 84 sales combined, including off-Etsy items. Not bad, though. Could be better.
2) Lose at least 20 lbs.
>.>;;; *coughmoreliketencough*
3) Buy my first house
Well, this one was definitely a huge accomplishment, although it was a major pain-in-the-ass.
4) Adopt a Dog
Another goal that was happily achieved. :)
5) Adopt a second chinnie
Still searching for Ash's potential playmate.
6) Road trip around PA
Eh, explored some of central and western PA. Wished I had time to see Hershey and Gettysburg.
7) Pick up kenjutsu practice once more.
Never got around to it. :(
8) Learn to cook more Irish and Cajun dishes
Learned how to make a few Irish stews.
9) Start and finish RCIA
Never even started. :(
Aaaand, this year's resolutions:
1) I'll stick to the 150 sales goals
2) And stick to losing 20 lbs.
3) Start and finish RCIA (a must, if I want to have a church wedding!)
4) Be more organized and tidy
5) Acquire a steady w-2 job in design
6) Make wedding kimono
7) Finish MoH's kimono, make invitations and arrangements
8) Paint interior of house and pretty-fy, acquire much-needed furniture
9) Renovate master bath
Saturday, January 30, 2010
New Print!
Bob Corgman DOES know best, just like any other stereotypical 50s sitcom father.
8x10" print of my original ink illustration, which has been digitally colored.
Printed on MOAB Legion velvet finish paper, using archival-quality inks. Each print is signed, titled and numbered, and will be shipped in moisture-resistant packaging. Watermark will NOT be on the actual print
Artwork © Marissa Rojas. Purchase of prints do not transfer rights to buyer.
***
Holy shnikeys, Batman! It's a dog wearing a smoking jacket and glasses and smoking a pipe! Why? Who cares, it's friggin' awesome! :P
You could almost hear him say, "Son, I am disappoint."
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
"China Slated to Ban Cat and Dog Meat"
By: Sharon Seltzer
"The Chinese parliament will soon have the opportunity to outlaw the sale of cats and dogs for human consumption. Pressure to end the ancient practice is coming from a surprising source – a newly emerging, pet loving middle class.
The idea that eating dog and cat meat is repugnant to the western world is a concept that hasn’t taken hold in China until recently. The custom is centuries-old and restaurants abound throughout the country. Dog in particular, is considered to be a delicacy that is believed to have “warming properties.” It is popular in the northeastern part of China where winter months are frigid. Cat meat is more popular in southern China.
The proposed legislation, which will be reviewed by the National People’s Congress in April, is part of a larger bill to stop animal abuse in the country. If the law is passed, people who are caught eating either domestic animal will be fined as much as $730 and spend up to 15 days in jail. Restaurants and retailers involved in the practice will face fines from $1,500 to $70,000."
For the full article, click here. Please sign the petition, which can be found at the bottom of the article.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Product Review: "I'm in Love" Organic Shampoo
It all started back when I was living at my old apartment. For those who knew me long enough know that my hair was uber thick, wiry and had exceptional volume. But over the course of my time there (about a year and a half), I noticed that my hair was feeling (and looking!) thinner. Even when I was at my friend's wedding, she pointed out how thin my hair was while she was cutting it. And she was right. By that point, much of my scalp was showing. She suggested that I stay away from hot water when I shampoo, which she was also right about. I realized that I have been showering with hot water too much, combined with keeping my head wrapped in a towel for too long afterwards. I know this may sound shallow and trivial, but having thick hair is very important for me. It's one of the few things I have going for me, appearance-wise. And because I was losing said hair, I sank into depression for a while.
After collecting myself, I began researching the reversal, or at least the slowing of hair loss. Genes wasn't an issue since I inherited my dad's thick hair. Diet was obviously an important factor, which I had covered (I've been eating healthily for the most part for a while by that point). Then there was also the fact that we get nothing but hard water in our apartment. And lastly, product also plays a significant part. Most shampoos bought in your typical, big-box store contain crap ingredients like sulfates and paraben - stuff that will make your hair dry 'n' crunchy, thus making the shaft weak and break off. And what made the problem worse was that sulfate-free shampoos were difficult to come across. So I tried Etsy, and lo and behold, I stumbled on a few sellers that catered to what I needed. And Luscious Lather 's sales pitch was what won me over, so I gave her shampoo a shot.
Her "I'm in Love" shampoo (which comes in an 8 oz. squeeze bottle) is 78% organic, contains no sulfates or paraben and is vegan-friendly. Aside from aiding in the prevention of hair loss, it's also great for other scalp conditions such as eczema, dandruff, graying hair and more. It also smells loverly, too. :)
According to her suggestions, I used a small amount at a time - slightly larger than a quarter. It was substantial enough for my entire scalp, and it lathered very well. Keeping my friend's previous advice in mind, I showered with luke warm water. I lathered my hair for about fifteen seconds before I left it on for about a minute or so before rinsing. I've also read that massaging the scalp for a few minutes each day after showering help encourage blood circulation to the scalp, which in turn encourage new hair growth. Furthermore, I allowed my hair to air dry as opposed to using the blow dryer. After a month and half of this routine, I noticed that my hair started feeling fuller again. Not quite as thick as it used to be, but an improvement, nonetheless. Of course, continuous use is necessary if I want to see complete results. I'm currently on my second bottle in month four, and I'm noticing lots of new hair sprouting from my scalp. My hair is now feeling like its original thickness and my self-esteem has improved. Not only that, my hair also feels much more healthy and shiny. Definitely one satisfied customer!
I'm still keeping on my diet and exercise in conjunction with using said shampoo. On top of which, my new house has a water softener - a definite plus in this situation. I highly recommend Luscious Lather's wonderful products, and if you don't believe me, you can check out the testimonials from her other satisfied customers in her feedback!
(Photo taken from the shop listing)
Ingredients (from listing): Aloe barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Juice, Lavandula angustifolia (Organic Lavender) Distillate, Anthemis nobilis (Roman Chamomile) Distillate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Calcium d-Pantothenate (Pro-Vitamin B5), Hydrolyzed Wheat Proteins, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Rosa mosqueta (Rosehip) Seed Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Neem Oil, Essential Oil Blend.
Caution: Avoid use if you are pregnant.
Moar Marduk Photos!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Ireland + Geekery = F-IN' WIN!
Here's one for Irish geeks! Or for those who have geeky, Irish spirit in them...or LOVE those who are geeky and Irish!
This four-leaf clover is composed of binary code that translates to "Erin Go Bragh." Great for St. Patrick's Day or anytime of the year!
Size A2 (4.25x5.5") Printed on 110lbs. cardstock paper with archival inks. Blank inside. Comes with its own green envelope (not pictured).
(Click the image to head over to the listing)
Sunday, January 17, 2010
New Print!
" Sir Phinneaus Q. Hummington III" 8x10 Fine Art Illustration Print
8x10" print of my original ink illustration, which has been digitally colored.
Printed on MOAB Legion velvet finish paper, using archival-quality inks. Each print is signed, titled and numbered, and will be shipped in moisture-resistant packaging. Watermark will NOT be on the actual print
Artwork © Marissa Rojas. Purchase of prints do not transfer rights to buyer.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Marduk
Meet the new addition of the family! :DFormerly "Maverick", Marduk is an 8 month-old lab/blue tick coonhound mix. We got him from the Altoona Humane Society around 12.21. This (mostly) sweet lil' man enjoys walks, belly rubs, baths, sticks 'n' leaves and is great with everyone (including other pets). He even treed his first critter! The downside is that he suffers from separation anxiety, which we are currently working on. For more information on the condition, you can read about it in this article:
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/separation_anxiety.html
We also have a friend who's been a huge help in training Marduk. The dog already knew the "sit" command, but he still needs to master it. On top of which, we've been teaching him not to jump on people, as well as the "stay" command. So far, he's beginning to pick up both, which is rather quick for a dog his age. Soon, we're going to work on teaching him to not pull on the leash - for a medium-sized dog, he's a surprisingly strong puller!
Speaking of size, we're not entirely sure if he's going to grow anymore since his paws are proportional to his body, but who knows. Currently he's about 50-55lbs. We're guessing he must be the runt of the litter. But that's okay, we still love him!
Also, his birthday is 4/20, which makes him even more awesome. ;)
