Questions

Well...you are the blogosphere, so I'm putting it to you. By now, you know I am a stay at home Mom. I do custom illustrating and blog design when kiddos nap. I finally came to the end of my orders. So what's a Mom to do? Well, I've decided to get together a portfolio on Istockphoto.

I already have a few illustrations to submit, but I want to do a few more while I have the time to draw. One of my questions for you is..."What kind of images would you want?" I am just looking for ideas of what to draw. Should I just stick with women on laptops...or women shopping...what else? Quite frankly in my travels through designing, most of my illustration requests are for women. I'm kind of thinking I should stick with that, but what else should they be doing? Ideas please...

My other question, which I have already put to you is..."How about (www.nwbrand.com) for my url?' I need to drop the .blogspot from my design site, and I can't deciede what the url should be:P You all gave me some great ideas...but I want to stick with "NW" I don't want to change the business name. I'm not sure why, but I don't want to spell out Nap Warden in the name? I don't want to limit myself to "blog design" since I do custom illustration work. I also want to keep the url fairly short. I know I'm over thinking this:P It is driving me crazy...I think I can live with "nwbrand.com"...Do you hate it? What do you think?

19 comments

  1. Hello! First time here. I love your illustrations. I'm jealous and I've always wished I knew how to make them!

    Illustrations? Anything! Woman scrapbooking, woman pushing grocery cart, woman throwing football, woman juggling, woman juggling babies, woman cracking whip, woman driving car, woman in lab coat, etc. Try to think of as many professions as you can and make an illustration for it.

    I'm not wild about the brand part. Too close to bland or something. Can't think of anything to suggest right now. I'll try to think on it.

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  2. I'd totally dig a woman on a Mac or :)

    I think NWbrand.com is okay. I just checked and "NWdesigns" is taken :(

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  3. What about creating an icon pack? Think of icons that women (and men, don't forget about us) could use on their blogs. For women you could make icons for makeup, hair dryers, purses, shoes, etc…you know, girly stuff. It would help grow your portfolio and they are pretty easy to use.

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  4. I like NWbrand.com, sounds great. I also think starting out with women illustrations is a great idea, then branch out later. I love the artist that drew my cartoon lady, he/she has a lot of illustrations on istock, he/she has created different categories of illustrations, like "lifestyle", "fitness and sports", etc. here's the link:
    http://www.istockphoto.com/user_view.php?id=1422459

    I think your drawings, in categories like the ones above, would be great!!! Women hanging out drinking coffee, cute SAHM with curlers in her hair, ooh, I would love a lady drinking a cool martini or glass of wine! Good luck with everything, sounds so exciting, I'm so happy for you!!

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  5. what about NWBRADER? as in nap warden brander? i like that more.

    I was actually going to talk to you at some point in the not so distant future about doing a "character" for me. I need a crunchy yet chic gal. I am coming out with a green line of home and skin care called Prissy green? like the concept? so I need a Character to go along. I think that would make an excellent addition to the portfolio. karissag at gmail.com

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  6. I know. You could help me!!! I just made the leap to my very own URL and trying to design my new(est) blog...

    There are a lot of little elements that I want, but just don't know how to get there. Do you have a "consulting fee"? :-P

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  7. IT'S BEAUTIMAS!!!!

    (((btw- THANK YOU so much for your comment on my NYC blog. you're great;-)))

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  8. I think everyone has left you good things to draw so far...women doing EVERYTHING as well as all the icons that go along with it are great ideas.

    As far as nwbrand.com...I think that's fine since nwdesigns.com is already taken. The only other thing that I could think of was nwdraws.com.

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  9. Lurking over, have to suggest! I love your illustrations and because I struggled to find something that suited my blog I am going to suggest to you that maybe you could do something thats not quite so girly girl, for example (don't ask me how to run all this thought into one picture!) I am a Solo SAHM, a mechanic by trade, a manic renovator, I work from home creating 3D house plans so people can "walk" around their virtual home before they build it as well as providing care for my friends kids three days a week. I still like to get "dressed" to go out but spend quite a bit of time in paint spattered coveralls. It might be worth looking at something that is a bit less conventional maybe?

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  10. I like the cityscape on your own page. Have you done many illustrations with floral prints or landscapes? I know it's generic, but some people don't want personal ... just pretty.

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  11. I like progressive designs personally. Like a woman with a jogger and an iPod on, it's hard to find iPod designs and they are so wonderfully graphic! Just the white cord from the headphones is what I mean by iPod.

    what about NWcreates or nwcompletedesign ...all I know is that my domain name is gone and it's a really lame webpage! LOL!

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  12. how about nwdesignz.com? with a Z. I don't think it's taken. or nwdesignsit.com LOL! I don't know.

    Do you have any drawings with women juggling kids? or playing with kids? I don't know much about designing websites so that's the best input I've got right now.

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  13. i like the nwdraws that someone else suggested but i like the nwbrand too! you need something that is easy to say and won't require too much explanation.

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  14. I like nwbrand! That works for me!

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  15. I really liked the silhouette you did for Tracing Handprints, and think you should definitely include that! As for the website name, what about just NWDI.com for NW Designs & Illustrations? It would be super easy for people to remember.

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  16. I like the url that you have picked out. As for the women can you draw anything with a mom and kids like her cooking while helping with homework and a baby on the hip? You know multitasking! Or you could do a mom in the bathroom reading with the kids on the outside of the door looking like they are trying to break it down. I don't know if you have any mom theme designs. But I'd like to see some of those...

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  17. The nwbrand sounds good. I'm always looking for graphics that are more geared toward older moms or moms with teens... just a thought.

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  18. How about NWchronicles...that way its about YOU and your design!?

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  19. I don't hate it. I am horrible at coming up with names, but I did come up with our business name (Newdae) - it's just our last name with the letters rearranged. :)

    NW Brand or NW Designs?

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