At right: Cyndi Lauper and Janet from Janet Jewelry.

My sweetie has fallen for another woman, although she’s married and has a kid. It appears that her business practices are what won him over, and I’ve become smitten with this woman as well. Although she’s designed jewelry for the likes of Cyndi Lauper, Janet treats us ordinary folks with the same royal treatment.

Here’s what happened: About two years ago, my sweetie purchased a few items for me from Janet’s website. One item, a necklace (seen here), was a huge hit with me. But, the chain was fragile and after I wore it everyday for over a year (even in the shower), it finally broke. When a chain was re-ordered from Janet this past week, she had the original order on file and she knew exactly which chain to deliver. When her mail pickup was interrupted, she sent an email immediately to let us know that the chain would be delayed a day. She then went to the post office personally to mail the order off to us.

When the chain arrived today, we encountered a personal note (with a smiley face drawn on it) and a real candy cane sealed with a holiday message and her business card. While some businesses would simply put the chain in an envelope, Janet packed it nicely in a little box imprinted with her logo and wrapped the box in a ribbon. She then wrapped that box in bubble wrap and sealed it with clear packing tape. You might think that Fort Knox was in that box! She also sent along three different postcards that showcased her work - a great tool for viral marketing, along with a card for a 10% discount on our next purchase.

Janet - thank you for your wonderful treatment. You know how to run a business! I had to let you know that you’ve won us over, even though your jewelry designs provide enough justification for a return visit anyway. Happy holidays!

UPDATE: This competition’s deadline has been extended to 2 April.

Enter your favorite projects for a chance to put your work and your name where everyone can see it. (And maybe find yourself on cloud nine.) This year you’ll find all-new categories that make it easier to submit your work in the HOW Promotion Design Awards. And they know you promote more than just your firm: You like to celebrate your clients’ successes, your friends’ accomplishments and your family milestones. So they’ve changed the awards from Self-Promotion — to simply Promotion — to encompass every design occasion.

They accept actual samples of annual reports, brochures, catalogs, direct mail, book and magazine covers and interior pages, invitations, announcements, greeting cards, letterhead, logos, packaging, posters, print advertising, calendars, wearables, 3D objects and other print projects. They also accept color print-outs of workspaces, signage and other environmental graphic design. They do not accept videos, CD-ROMs, DVDs, websites or other interactive work, or digital images or slides of print work. All digital work is eligible in their Interactive Design Awards. Designs may be entered in more than one category. Submit a separate entry and fee for each category. Work must have been created between Jan. 1, 2006, and March 20, 2007. All entries must be postmarked no later than 19 March 2007. Visit HOW’s PDF entry form for all the details.

Max at the Web-to-Print blog is taking on the Web-to-Print monsters with a critique about their services in “Web to Print How to beat global online print services at their own game, Part I.” I know Max. He’s one crazy man, but he knows his sh__ about printing. Let’s see who he takes on next.

If you know squat about online Web-to-Print services, you might learn something here - a good thing, because a little knowledge might save you some money.

Color Drawing: Design Drawing Skills and Techniques for Architects, Landscape Architects, and Interior Designers, third edition, has just been released. A revision of this best selling drawing book continues the tradition of offering a complete body of illustrated instruction that demonstrates the development of design ideas from initial concept through presentation drawing. Starting with simple, easy-to-grasp concepts the content builds to offer step-by-step execution of complex illustrations. Versatile enough to be used as a textbook in a course or as a self-teaching tool, this new edition presents new and more efficient ways of creating color drawings by integrating both hand drawings and computer techniques.

About the author: Michael E. Doyle (Boulder, CO) is Vice President and Senior Designer at CommArts in Boulder. He is also an architect and former instructor at University of Colorado.

Coroflot Groups space is a big open untamed space waiting to be brought to life with your work and ideas. Got a portfolio & something to say? Create a group at Coroflot and upload your design work at no charge into an online portfolio. Check out the other information available at this site, like the new salary survey results and job listings. This site is now a permanent link in the links “an eye on” list in the middle column. Visit the site.

Atlantis Found Publishing Inc. announces the launch of “Words Without Voices” (â„¢) Online Album Art Competition. The contest seeks digital visual artwork submissions to illustrate the song lyrics of Conceptual Artist James Thomas Fielding. The contest is limited to the U.S. , Canada and the U.K.

The juried art competition, which seeks to establish a new multimedia artform based on rock “Concept Albums,” offers $6,000 in cash prizes to be awarded to three finalists in two categories: Best Songbook Jacket and Best Album Jacket. Read the rest of this entry »