Saturday, September 26, 2009

Entry 4 #DesignAShirtAWeek

Okay, I have to admit I am a bit sad that of all the followers @bryanbrinkman and I (@loribjork) with Twitter (over 30,000 as I write this), we still are the only two put a design out there participants with #DesignAShirtAWeek.

That's right. No hand holding here, folks. I don't subscribe to a "this is how you blog" mentality. I just tell it like I see/feel it.

I would love more participation. I would love to share your design with the world. And here's the thing. If you put love in your design, even if only one other person...hell...even if you are the only person who thinks "it rocks!" that is enough. It has to be enough.

Take for example @bryanbrinkman 4th entry. Probably not for everyone. Reminds me of Chris Farley's "Fat man in a little coat" as it is entitled, "fatty fish". When you click to view his awesome design, you'll note he comments "this is a fat fish in a small bowl."

Personally, I didn't realize a fish could be fat or have fat on its body. But why not now that I am confronted with it? And perhaps that is the wonder of a great design, even if the designer simply thought what about a fat fish in a small bowl. Is the fish fat because there is little room for it to swim and thus, doesn't get much exercise and eats due to boredom. Or perhaps as Dorie, the forgetful fish in the Disney flik, Finding Nemo, there really isn't a need to put too much thought into it. It simply is what it is.

And simply is what it is, below is @bryanbrinkman "fatty fish" design.

Fatty Fish tee by bryanbrinkman. Available from MySoti.com.

Of course, not to be left out as the other #DesignAShirtAWeek participant, below is my week 4 design. Normally, I consider myself to be the spirituality queen. And yet, for many of my nb2c (not born 2 conform) designs, while I feel conformity is tantamount to the way Divine Love perceives us...in the past I had a lot of judgment about porn and violence and this and that that most would think I wouldn't include in my designs.

These days I understand that Everything and I mean EVERYTHING is considered divine (no judgment...for to judge something as divine and something else as not divine is the epitome of judgment). So...if you want to party however you want to party...technically, it can't ever make you less or more spiritual or Divine in the eyes of Divine Love. Of course, it may seem that way in the eyes of people who don't understand their true Divine selves, but...

nb2c Party Like A Porn Star big tee by nb2cDorkBjork. Available from MySoti.com.

So....if you had submitted a design, your design could have been "pimped" HERE. Since this isn't the case, I want to share my experience with threadless since I wrote about them in my last blogpost.

I checked them out further because of the "so far" seeming uniqueness that they actually will pay a designer before others have bought items with their designs simply based on votes about submitted designs from threadless website visitors.

I have to say that I felt a little weird that when I found out the only way I could submit a design was if I had Photoshop (which I currently did not have). Also, I felt a little bummed out that I was this t-shirt designer blogger and I didn't have Photoshop and really know very little about it and in a way am not that sure that I desire to spend my time learning more.

My inspiration to get more into the world of the internet and internet commerce is the book, "The 4-Hour Work Week" by Timothy Ferriss and instead, here I find myself spending just about 8 hours a DAY chained to my computer.

Okay, chained is an exaggeration. Sometimes I find I can sit at my computer doing this or that and especially if it is something creative that I sort of have in my mind and really want to manifest digitally and have it turn out just so...for over 8 hours at a time. And if you think I am exaggerating, I am not. Okay, 6 hours. And by that I am talking about no eating, no going to the bathroom, etc. I hydrate. Only 'cuz I keep a water filled container close to my computer. In other words, I can sit completely focused on what is going on with my computer for hours.

Now I am not trying to say this is a bad thing. Most spiritual texts will tell you that if you are doing something that you basically lose track of time doing, that is very in the moment being and one of the best things "spiritually" you can be/do.

So, again, technically it isn't bad and I don't want to put out that vibe. Not to mention that at this point in my life, I am in the process of letting go of any good/bad type of thinking/feeling. It's all good, eh?

It's simply that in the context of intention and preference, do I really want to spend at least 8 hours every day of the week at my laptop? And I would have to answer "no" if I'm honest.

Of course, for some of you, you might think it interesting to delve deeper to wonder "why?" Is this really my preference or is my feeling at least 8 hours a day on the computer seven days a week more something I think others would feel is loser geek-ness with a capital L and a capital G.?

And now that this blog post is getting long, long, long...why am I sharing this?

I felt weird about not having Adobe Photoshop and thinking how am I really going to be able to participate, when someone gifted me with Adobe Photoshop in the last couple of days.

Do what you love and the universe will support you.

Peace out my brother and sister t-shirt designers. And please, please, please submit your entries to the #DesignAShirtAWeek if you feel motivated to. Like my friend who actually wrote an entire movie script even though it will probably never, ever be made into a movie, I am going to love it simply because it was Divinely inspired in your mind and you were confident enough to put it out there in some way even if that is how far it will ever end up going.

Here's to inspiration. Here's to creativity. Here's to not letting anything excuses keep you from expressing your creativity.

Rock On!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

tweets on tees

perhaps another reason to check out threadless. That is if you tweet.

What makes a successful t-shirt designer?

What makes a successful t-shirt designer?

Seriously, what's that answer.

You've sold more t-shirts with your designs on them than anyone else?

You are in spot 1 when someone searches "t-shirt designers" on Google Search.

http://www.customink.com

So I had to check them out. Catchy slogan, "You think it. We ink it."

Okay, I'm still enthralled with MySoti if you are thinking t-shirt design purist. Custom Ink does offer the ability to put your design for purchase on a frisbee. Frisbee golf anyone? They seem very much like cafepress. Hmmm, but shorts and beer koozies too. The design lab looked inviting. Nothing about tips on what makes a good design.

So what else does google have for us?

2. http://www.coloroverload.com

3. www.threadless.com

Here we go? They pick a best of the month, called the bestee winner. July '09s winner, If you would like to see his design, click here. It actually is quite delightful, but you need to be a cat person.

And they have design challenges. Currently, threadless loves geeks sponsored by Microsoft. You can win some money, too. They are accepting designs through October 1, 2009. Want more info, click here.

Threadless also offers money if your design is chosen for print. More info about this if you click above which takes you to their homepage. If you win their annual bestee award, kapow, $22,500.

MySoti has a this week's most wanted. People may vote on each others designs. This week's most wanted:
INGREDIENTS - MENS tee by roper. Available from MySoti.com.

Okay, I checked out MySoti's blog to see if they have any design tips. Nada!

It did show some pretty awesome designs, though.

Okay, no answer to what makes a designer successful. You could probably find as many answers almost as their are designs.

If you are a t-shirt designer and would like me to dedicate a blog to you and some of your designs and your design process and inspirations and what you feel makes a successful t-shirt designer and the like, call me. Okay, don't call me 'cuz I'm not giving you my phone number. You can leave me a message via MySoti.

And, of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't use this opportunity to pimp one of my own designs.

nb2c Party Like A Porn Star big tee by nb2cDorkBjork. Available from MySoti.com.

and the same design but small

nb2c Party Like A Porn Star small tee by nb2cDorkBjork. Available from MySoti.com.

Until we meet again, may you be abundant and blessed with inspiration and may you flow an abundant amount of wealth to you for bringing your inspiration to manifestation.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Speaking of circulating the green and "Cha-Ching"


...I am not suggesting you design solely with the intention of what will I create that will bring me the most money. In my heart of hearts, I hope that you design 'cuz you almost can't not design and you design what you are inspired to design.

And as we all know by now, everything is energy and we are all energy workers. Thoughts become things and all that jazz.

So, I don't feel that it hurts to put it out there into the cosmos and the universe that even though you are designing to please you, it'd be such a win/win/win/win if you would attract buyers who were attracted to your work and happy to buy products with your designs on them and love them so much they tell their friends.

I can't take all the credit for this. One of my spiritual teachers, Rebecca Marina, shared this with me. You determine how buyers come to you. With that in mind, start repeating "I'm attracting customers in the mood to buy." Really feel the truth of this and get into whatever rhythm feels right as you repeat it to really energize the words and radiate a corresponding vibe.

This will be easy and effective for those who trust the universe to help them. If this isn't you so much, you may want to work on your trust issues while still radiating this vibe anyway.

With her inspiration (you know if I collected classic or vintage cars, I'd be the one who feels the need to modify, as opposed to being the one who feels the need to restore it to its original perfection), I sort of came up with a buyer/seller ho'oponopono. The spiritual Hawaiian ho'oponopono practice and prayer is "I love you. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you."

You might consider the following as your mantra while visioning (as much as you are capable) the your products and people happily buying them and referring you to their friends.
I love you.
I am attracting those in the mood to buy products that flow money to me.
They love the products and love sharing with their friends.
Bless them. Bless money. Bless everything.
Thank you.

Please also note, I refer to customers as much as I can as buyers. This is something I learned from Jeffrey Gitomer in his book, Little Platinum Book of Cha-Ching. Click here to find out more about the book. Heck you may even want to imagine hearing "cha-ching" sounds during the process.

As the official German word to utter when drinking beer from a stein to toast is "PROST!" and in celebration to your success, I extend the following to you, "Prost! May you be blessed with many satisfied buyers and referrals."

So, I just wouldn't feel right...


if I didn't include @bryanbrinkman's first three #DesignAShirtAWeek submissions.

Week 1
explorers club tee by bryanbrinkman. Available from MySoti.com.

Week 2 - Seriously, Bryan, my son, Chris, would love the description for this design.
Zilla Meets Boy tee by bryanbrinkman. Available from MySoti.com.

Week 3 - Seriously, maybe my son and you share the same brain. Bravo!
Castronaut Mittens tee by bryanbrinkman. Available from MySoti.com.

I've also created a squidoo lens for nb2c and one nb2c 4 adults. Both are, yes, 1. dedicated to getting my designs out there, but B. also about sharing the design experience, inspirations, and possible ways we can help each other flow and circulate more of that green. I know you know what I mean.

Happy designing to all.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Welcome

Inspiration.

September 12, 2009 (technically...since it is on at 12:35 AM) I saw an episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The second one already with that guy who was in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and hosted the VMAs. The first time he was on the show, as a Twitter experiment they picked someone out of the audience and encouraged everyone to follow him on Twitter and see how many followers he'd get.

The second time that guy was on the show, they again mentioned @BryanBrinkman and that everyone should send him a nice tweet...probably to be sure to watch the VMAs.

So I tweeted him. When I viewed his profile page to see how many followers he had and what he'd been tweeting, I saw a tweet for #DesignAShirtAWeek. Well, I design shirts and I wanted in. And then there were two.

What was fun about this is that Bryan uses a website called MySoti, which is blog friendly.

And so while I haven't really decided exactly what direction to take this blog in, my initial inspiration is to invite more people to tweet with the #DesignAShirtAWeek hash tag and then pick one or two or three to share their design for the week and their inspiration for creating the design.

So, again welcome.

I plan on most of my submissions coming from my nb2c or what I consider text-speak for not born 2 conform. To me this is the attitude where originality is embraced and uniqueness reigns. And if this makes me a dork (thus my MySoti moniker, nb2cdorkbjork), so be it. I figure dorks, geeks, nerds and the like actually have it best because we tend to shun the status quo, collective consciousness and think outside the box.

In this first blog, I include my week 1 design, which was my original nb2c design. And I'll be honest, part of why it includes a skull and crossbones is 'cuz that seems to be quite a popular icon with the younger crowd.

nb2c originality reigns tee by nb2cDorkBjork. Available from MySoti.com.

My week two entry comes from loving the lips and coming up with something that uses them and incorporates the nb2c attitude.

nb2c Not Born 2 Kiss UR BLEEP tee by nb2cDorkBjork. Available from MySoti.com.

And even though entry three is a little early (we'll consider every Friday official entry day), this is also one of my favorite designs 'cuz I love the glasses with the tape on the bridge and I love the idea of those who buy it having the "stones" to put it out there and tell it like it is.

nb2c original Born2Peep Porn BIG tee by nb2cDorkBjork. Available from MySoti.com.

It was after a couple of days that I got the idea to create two web pages for each design. One I call BIG, which as you can see above puts the design out there on full display over most of the front of the shirt.

The one I call small. Not everyone likes a design that big. Some are more subtle and like the idea of smaller with placement over the heart. And that is probably another thing that I hope to come out of this are possible tips. So here is the same design as the one above, just placed over the heart.

nb2c original Born2Peep Porn heart placement tee by nb2cDorkBjork. Available from MySoti.com.

So, I encourage you to submit your designs via twitter and I trust that if I check out your design and love it, you'll agree to allow me to promote it in this blog.

Happy t-shirt designing and wearing.