Fly Manchester

This morning I got a up a bit earlier than a normal weekday. That is because rather than my standard 45 minute drive in to Portland for work, I headed an hour and a half in the opposite direction to The Manchester New Hampshire airport.

While the drive was a bit long, it was worth it as I was going there to pick up my mother. She lives in Ecuador where she is a full time missionary, but she is in town here for a few days.
When I arrived I was very surprised with the area available to watch the runway. It is amazing, there are plants and wooden rocking chairs in a circular deck flooded with sun from 180 degrees of windows. I sat and rocked and watched her plane land. Pretty cool.
So if you are planning to visit the upper New England area, consider the Manchester Airport as it is a great place to see, and it is cheaper than flying to Boston.

Distressed Logo

I have expressed often that I feel cohesiveness and consistency are very important in marketing. I have tried to make J.Crabbit that way. Given that I am basically starting over after taking a year off, I think that a makeover is in order.

I want the lettering in my logo and banner to be distresses like my work is. I have several options but have yet to decide. That is where you come in. Take a look at the following 5, and let me know which you like the best. If you feel that the one you like the best is not the one that best suites my business, then let me know that as well.































I am looking forward to seeing what you think.

31 Day Blog Challenge

Join the 31 day Blog challenge

What
Blog at least 1 new post every day in March

Who
Anyone with a blog new or old that would like to build up some traffic and history. Mine is all about my Etsy shop. And I would love to see what you are all making!


Why
If you post your blog here and accept the challenge, I will read your blog every day and comment as it is relevant to do so. Also I encourage anyone else participating to view the other blogs at least once a day. This will increase your visibility, and your blogs credibility. (if your blog is already visible and credible, then do it just for fun)

Obviously it isn’t easy, and it is called a challenge, because it will be challenging. I am committing to it, I work full time, and do Etsy and other projects in the evenings. I have a Wife 2 kids and a dog, so I know there is other stuff happening, but I promise to read your blog and update my own for the next 31 days regardless…

If you would like to participate just post your blog here… please try to read as many of the other blogs as possible as well and let’s get a jump start on those spring sales.

My Workspace

While from 8-5 Monday through Friday, I do sit in a cubicle staring at a computer screen on the 6th floor of an office building, I have found my escape on the weekends in the form of my new workshop.

The building itself was a farm at one time (or so I am told) The first floor houses several small businesses, the owners of which are friendly and always ready with a prompt “hello”, and “how is your day going?”. The second floor is our apartment. But the basement is where the fun begins. It is a granite foundation and the joists holding the old floor boards of one of the businesses above allow only 6 feet of headroom. As I am 6’4 I stand between them, and am very careful when I am moving around a lot.

I noticed once that there was an old home made workbench there, but it was completely covered with the accumulation of 50 years of stuff from all the businesses and past tenants. As I started to uncover it, I quickly realized that it was very well built, and had some great features not the least of which was style.

Once I had it uncovered, I had to do something about light. The flood of natural sunlight from the half window above was fantastic, but it only lasts a few hours a day this time of year. Between the lights that were there already that I was able to position as I wanted, and a broken lamp that still worked just had no base, I was able to get acceptable light into the workspace, and it was now ready to be worked in.



I was very excited yesterday to get down a base coat onto 22 frames. That means I should be able to reopen even sooner than I thought. Keep an eye out, with this new found space, who knows where my creativity will take me, and the best part is that you get to see it all at www.jcrabbit.etsy.com .

Caught a new Listing

I have always wanted to see something I listed on etsy show up in the recently listed section. trouble is I always forget to look. so a few hours later when I think of It I go back and of course its gone. Well today I decided to list something durning the day, and it worked I remembered to check, and FINALLY for the first time since September I saw my item "recently listed. I was so excited that I remembered, that I decided to share.



you can even buy it... ok well at least look at it here http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27588267