btw sips of eggnog and angst, will you be my test market?

[nostamj]

some of you know i'm facing unemployment next year and will be starting my own business. a *portion* of that will be a line of mugs, greeting cards, etc. (the core will be professional design/writing services).

do any of these designs catch your eye? they would be 'wrapped' on a white coffee mug (and may appear as greeting cards or other formats). i've shown some of the 'text' mugs ("mugs for liberals") but these are for a non-political audience. constructive criticism welcome. some detail (sharpness) lost in compressing the images to 'thumbnail' formats.

thanks in advance, and PLEASE don't buy anything until after the holidays... i'm dropping the markup and adding several of these images... unless everyone gives a :thumbsdown:


1

2

3

4

5

6

7

[mmm]

1. I like number six

I would buy those

[mdmc]

2. First, thanks for the cartoon threads

Now then, 7, 4, 3 and 6 have nice contrasts. #1 has a pagan appeal that some might dig. #1 could be a design for cards and letterhead, and notepads.
Good luck with the biz. :dem::kick:

[LWolf]

3. 1, 3, 4, 6

catch my eye.

I found myself intrigued by #1; stars and planets seen through a larger rebar star? At first glance my response was "what is all that rebar doing cluttering it up?" Then I found myself trying to turn it into a star, and finding stars from several angles; finally I noticed it was framing the sky view.

[nostamj]

5. rebar? interesting....

my 'working title' for that image is:

cat's cradle w/ constellation i saw coarse string (but, again, the detail in these thumbnails is not 100%

[LWolf]

9. LOL

I was married for a decade to a man who worked with rebar for a living. Even though that was almost 2 decades ago now, I still see rebar.

The cat's cradle makes more sense.

[nostamj]

12. ha!

i NEVER know where a Photoshop session will lead.

when those 'threads' emerged...

<bing!>

[Sagan]

4. I like #1 and #6

Mind you, I would not have bothered responding had you been just another Lounge Lizard. But since you are THE nostamj of editorial cartoon posting fame, I felt obligated.

:)

[nostamj]

8. gee....

didn't want anyone to feel obligated...

but, based on your response (which I THANK you for!) I will continue my B&W series.

so, until there is another nostamj...

I remain, THE nostamj

;-)

[nostamj]

6. #6

first, thanks to the early responders!

very interesting. #6 is probably the 'easiest' of the designs sampled. but, for this kind of project, simple works. it would seem.

i thought it was the weakest and almost didn't include it.

shows what I know and shows why I need this kind of open feedback!

[Philostopher]

7. I like 3, 4 & 6 as well.

And would like to see 7 on a mug -- might be even more interesting 'wrapped' than flat.

Hey, just a suggestion -- have you thought about running an ad in the back of The Nation, In These Times, Utne Reader, etc.? I don't think the rates in The Nation are prohibitive, and lots of people do a website 'storefront' then include the URL in the ad.

[nostamj]

11. thanks. marketing is the next hurdle

and one of the reasons i'm trying to focus the designs/products *before* I make that investment!

(sorry, I don't have a pic of #7 on a mug yet, or I'd post it for you!)

here's a sample (using image #3):

[brainshrub]

10. 3

[RebelOne]

13. Good designs. I'm partial to No. 4

[nostamj]

15. thanks. i call it "joyous"

and previously, "champagne"

the responses are very interesting and instructive....

[CrownPrinceBandar]

14. I like 1, 6 &7

[patdem]

16. I will go down the list with those i like and dislike

1. Appears very etheral...I like that design and would purchase something with that design.

2. I do not like that design. It appears to be a designers design. I see nothing but fuzzy colors.

3. Very interesting color design. The black seems to give the colors 'tufts'. It is interesting and colorful.

4. Nice display of color...and I expect that 'eruption' would be several times around a cup or if spread across the top of a letter head shown either several times or efussing across the page?

5. This is a designers design also, but if it is offered in any color you chose it could be a good letter head type of a design.

6. This is a nice design being in black and white. A coffee mug encased in that design would be very interesting, since black and white are colors people chose as kitchen decor...i would like to see it on the handle of the mug also...just a thought?

7. This design is very interesting. It is almost fractal, but of course it is not. It has a very scientific feal and I would purchase this mug..but I am NOT a scientist.

JMHO...Good luck...and I hope you take checks!!!(of course wait for it to clear before you ship!!!)

PS...thanks for all the toons...you are a majical person for putting them together!

edit: 'do down the list'....and the PS....

[nostamj]

18. wow!

thanks for your notes. very very helpful and interesting.

(can't control placement of the image through cafeshops... putting an image 'over' the handle is not an option)

[leftofthedial]

17. I like them all

#1 and #7 especially.

#1 would be an outstanding coffee mug.