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The business papers are now in registration. A week or so and it should be official. I’ve been reading and reading about taxes, budget planning, and everything related. It’s a good thing I love immersing myself in new things.

I also did one illustration gig last week, I will post it on my portfolio when the magazine is out. There is also a couple of other projects cooking up. It almost seems like I am attracting work!

Lately I’ve been looking around for web-based project management tools again. (I wrote something about them last year.) Preferably free ones of course. Web-based (versus notebooks and calendars) so it is easy to copy-paste relevant notes, links and email addresses in the same place.

These are the ones I tested:
- Basecamp
- Tasktoy
- Backpack
- Nozbe

Basecamp is a heavy system, suitable for big projects with multiple users. It also allows you only one project with the free account. Not for me.

Tasktoy is completely free with no maximum project amount. It’s divided in tasks, projects and links -categories. Probably very usable, but somehow very bland.

Nozbe is very task oriented and usable but the interface is really ugly. I would probably use it if it looked nicer. As for now, all accounts are free but they will start charging at some point. You can have five projects with the free account and link ‘actions’ to them.

For some reason I’ve settled on Backpack. It is very clear and simple, although I miss the linking properties on Nozbe. As with Nozbe it is five projects free, for more you have to upgrade. The next pricing category is $5/a month, and could be well worth it. With Backpack you can also use writeboards.

I will tell you how it goes. Test around or give me your tips!

typo-gallery, amsterdam

Apparently I’ve behaved like a foreigner, carrying a take-out coffee in Amsterdam. (Oft repeated occurence, since Kaisa and I need to be properly caffeinated at all times, to be able to function). We also tend to wear make-up.

I am checking out other schools for student exchange/master’s degree studies in Holland. This seems pretty interesting. I have my sights on KABK but it is very hard to get in, of course. So I need options. And I might hate living in Holland, but I need to try it out.

uploaded some pics from last summer. this photo by Sia makes me holland home-sick.

A couple of days spent just on me, doing all kinds of nurturing things. Going to yoga and swimming. Making vegan pizza and lazing on the sofa. Sleeping late and seeing friends. Recharging batteries.

From now on I try to abide to the golden productivity rule: take one day off each week. That means a day completely free from any kind of work. No computer, no work calls, emails, nothing. Preferably get out off the house, and stay out, if that is the only way to keep you from doing stuff. This also cannot be turned into a housework day. It is supposed to inspire and relax you.

To busy-inclined individuals (like me) this might seem harsh and difficult, but it is supposed to up your productivity in other days so much that you actually get more done. I guess I need to try this.

What do you do to relax?

Yesterday afternoon, sunny street, moment of peace and relief. Remember that feeling.

I’ve been feeling scattered, distracted, not good at all. My mind spent on these things, stuff I have been pushing away, but I now have to deal with. It is funny how when you start to value yourself in some aspects (work, school) it becomes impossible to ignore other things eating you up. I guess that is called good self esteem.

It’s another busy week at school. A concept for an event, then graphic design to match. Entrance ticket, flyer, probably poster next. Did I say school was easy? I take that back now. Yet I like it that way.

On monday we also had to turn in this big magazine design job, which I slaved over all weekend. That one got so much praise, I felt like blushing. I need to learn to value myself. And better yet, take care of myself.

How much can you achieve in a day? Loads.
It’s another typography -week at school and this bookcover is what I worked on all day. First drawing the texts at school and then putting it all together in photoshop and illustrator at home. I am really happy with how it turned out.

The poem verses are from Lady Lazarus, one of my favourite poems from Plath.

When things go sucky, they go sucky… I had a horrible cold for a whole week. Too sick to do pretty much anything, even read, I am even more late with work stuff and school projects. This makes me immensely stressed out, and is probably not helping me get better. Oh well…

On Friday I started to work on a promo postcard for myself. I have wanted to get some printed for the longest time but always kept putting it off. No more of that! The above pic is the first draft for the back of the card, which will have all my contact info. I’ll probably get them printed at Print100. Six hundred of them. Happy mailing!

I’ve also made the decision to register my own business. Since even my steady writing job is done with a freelancer contract and I need buy all my own hardware etc. this makes sense. The goal is to do my future illustration work via my own company, and make a living doing it, of course. Since making the decision I’ve gone back and forth between excitement and total panic, but it’s the right step. If you have any experiences, advice, pearls of wisdom to share about starting your own business I would love to hear them.

Naturally, my latest inspirations are business oriented:
Sheepdog Print and Design (these ladies blog about starting a business)
the anti 9 to 5 guide