Archive for July, 2009

Free Icons for Your Web Designs

Posted in graphics and web design, websites on July 23rd, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment

I’m always at a loss when it comes to website icons. Most of the time, especially when I’m running on a very tight deadline, there’s just no way I can design an icon from scratch. Either I go ahead without icons or just fish through my old set of icons just to get it done. Either way, the design feels half-baked.

But thanks to these free icon resources, I don’t have to settle for anymore. Check your them out. They are all free to use to improve your website designs.

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The Icon Lab

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Icon Seeker – type any keywords for the icon that you’re looking for to see a list of very nice looking icon sets.

 

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We Love Icons

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Iconspedia

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Iconpaper

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Jumsoft icons

Things To Do

Posted in online life, work on July 23rd, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment

Before I start the day, let me post a quick to-do list so I’d be more organize and hopefully, finish half of them before 5PM.

Send quotes for dash kits to my husband.
Submit papers to the bank for our loan.
Fix our schedule for the next two weeks. Too many children parties to attend.

Setup a WordPress blog for a client. Estimate the number of hours that will be spent on the design/theme.
Start converting a mockup to WordPress theme. This is a pretty complicated layout and to be honest, I’m not sure if I can implement all the features requested by the client.

It looks short but the last one will take most of my time for two weeks so I better get started now.

Wordless Wednesday – McDonald’s

Posted in photography on July 22nd, 2009 by admin – 4 Comments

Photo Walk - Pasig

Taken by Thefogramp.

On Information Security

Posted in online life, technology on July 22nd, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment

The power of Internet will never cease to amaze me. Who would’ve thought that you can now pursue higher education from the comforts of your own home? There are plenty of online universities now that you can choose from. However, it’s the online Masters of Science in Information Security that has recently caught my attention. A friend of mine is looking into a similar program wherein he can learn more about keeping network security and systems secure. According to Lewis University website, the MS Information Security program will help you explore theories and practices IT security in the global scale. read more »

Attracting More Clients – Look and Sound Professional

Posted in graphics and web design on July 21st, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment

We all know that in order to get more clients, we need to look professional and that we mean business. But how do we do that exactly? See below:

1. So you’re an artist. That doesn’t mean you can wear anything you like when you go meet with a client. You can keep your style but try not to dress up as if you’re going to the grocery store. Flip flops are a no-no even if your toes are painted with moons and stars and shows how creative you are.

2. Invest on a hard copy of your portfolio. You can have your web sites printed and bind them or order those photobooks that are available everywhere. Some clients are traditional and would prefer browsing through a catalogue that they can touch.

3. Learn the current design rates on the market. Price your services fairly without coming off as too cheap, which usually suggests that you’re a newbie needing work to fill his/her portfolio.

4. You’ve probably heard about this tip. Don’t write like a robot listing all accomplishments and skills in bulleted list. However, if you decide to write about yourself, refrain from saying too much information. Be personal but brief. Focus on what you do as a designer and why your potential client can benefit from you.

5. Respond quickly to emails / phone calls. If you don’t like them to disturb you when you’re spending time with your family or friends, have a different number and email for work. Make sure you tell them when they can reach you and if you’re not available, have a voicemail and an email auto-responder telling them that you’ll get back to them as soon as you can.

Photohunt: Rocks

Posted in photography, what's up on July 18th, 2009 by admin – 4 Comments

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I envy these rocks sometimes. They are so near where I want to be most.

Cool Wallpapers For Your Desktop

Posted in art, graphics and web design on July 16th, 2009 by admin – 2 Comments

Loving my laptop’s wallpaper right now.

LIFE – it goes on. ~Robert Frost

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You can download nice wallpapers to inspire and fuel your creativity here. If you browse some of the sections, you’ll find wallpapers for dual monitors as well.

And incidentally enough, while browsing for ideas for Halloween party invitations that I’m working on, I came across a kick-ass tutorial on how to re-create the wallpaper above. I’ve yet to try it out but I think it’s a great idea for a clean, minimalist theme for WordPress.

Working Outside

Posted in online life on July 16th, 2009 by admin – 1 Comment

image I’ve been meaning to buy a few outdoor chaise lounges for our terrace. When I get tired from working (which is most of the time) and I badly need to step back from the computer, I find myself wanting to sunbathe. Weird I know, but I’m such a sun worshipper and dream of the beach all day long. We have enough shade outside our room where the terrace is so I can put one or two lounge chairs there. If I fix it up really nice, maybe I can work there too when I’m having designer’s block. It’s highly recommended to change work places when you are working from home anyway. Besides, that’s what laptops are for. So you can be mobile and work whenever you want. I just hope the sun won’t be too high when I decide to do this.