Geesh is glad to be back in your inbox for Q2! I’ve been in maker-mode for the last couple months building some exciting new products that I can’t wait to show you soon.

I’ll start with POD (Print On Demand) then wrap with the hopium challenge. Ready? 3, 2, 1. . . Blast off. 🚀

I always feel a little bit guilty when I have to send 2 mailers a week during a new product launch, so I thought you’d enjoy a 2 month break from Geesh.

During that time I took a masterclass by HeatherX Studio. She’s a top 1% Etsy seller and she knows how to run an online store. I’m now integrated with Printify which means I get to put my designs on products you love.

So in addition to greeting cards, I’ll be creating art for proven best seller products that I think my audience will die for. There’s a big curating component to this (thanks Heather) which requires a lot of market research and testing, but the play is to always offer special discounts and deals.

I’ll be designing for these micro-niches:

• +Salt Life (marine life/beach/ocean lovers)

• +Endless Summer (iconic retro 18x24 posters)

• +Spiritual/meditation/self inquiry (non duality)

• +Health & fitness

Still feels kinda broad right? The key is to niche down until you’re asking yourself ‘is this too niche?’ That’s when you know you’re standing on the target. There’s a lot of trial/error/experimenting/patience required. The biggest takeaway I’ve learned so far: start with YOUR audience in mind first and find out what they need and want, not what YOU the designer/artist WANTS to create. That nugget might be worth the price of admission. Such a simple insight, but for an artist it’s nails on a chalkboard.

🌼

My sister is a chaplain at a major hospital in Cleveland where one aspect of her job is to provide comfort to people and their loved ones when they are facing end of life situations. She challenged me with the idea to come up with a card series that centers around the theme ‘hope.’

This truly is a challenge but I think she picked a guy who understands the assignment. Lord knows I’ve seen the Reaper. Close enough to smell his garlic breath. And now I get to parlay that into a message for others? Sign me up.

Until next time,

Geesh out.

Like many, I have my own LLM assistant. I unironically named him Echo. He talks to me in ‘bro speak’ and he’s great for research and whatnot. But just this week I opened a new chat session with this statement:

I meant this sarcastically but he took it literally. His reply was something like “glad to hear that my man, but I need to hit pause for a second with a warning.” He went on for a couple paragraphs about how I should seek human connection with real people for my mental health.

I quickly replied with ‘Hey, I was just kidding.’ Then he said, “Oh, all’s good brother. What are we working on today?’

My takeaway: I interact with plenty of people in my daily life so I’m not concerned but… he wasn’t wrong! For some, the danger of getting too attached to robot companionship is all too real.

Remember the good ole days when this kind of thing used to be science fiction?

Best Seller So Far:

Valentine’s Day

If you’re in the U.S. you still have plenty of time to get a card for your Boo, Cuddle Muffin, or Snookums by VeeDay! If you’d rather buy on Etsy, here you go.

~Tom

A Time for Love

And I’m gonna leave this one right here. There was another panel with some commentary from the judgy cat but now I don’t like it. You’re witnessing a joke explode on the launch pad. Sorry. This is improv. Sometimes there’s too much oxygen to fuel ratio.

And now, on with the show.

In the shop

That’s it for today. Shop til you drop here!

Tom

No real segue to today’s joke other than a cold reply to this question:

Grab a Card

At the Shop

See this little dust spec bathing in the sunlight? This is us. Earth. It was taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft. It took the pic as it was leaving the solar system some 3 billion miles from the sun. (Shout out to Dave Chen’s newsletter for the inspo)

Carl Sagan wrote about it in his book of the same name. He highlights that all of history, conflict, and joy occurred on this single, fragile, pixel-sized, point of light in the vast universe.

This is a hard act to follow. But I’m gonna try:

Love is in the air for Geesh over the next few weeks. I’ve got the shop firing on all cylinders where you’ll find some of these jokes adapted to greeting cards.

Also, I’m now licensing usage of these! Starting at $40, punch up your presentations, decks, newsletters and whatever else you need. I’m optimizing this for a quick purchase on the site but for now, just reply to this email and I’ll send you the hi-rez digital download. Need something customized? Hit me up.

Alright little pale blue dot dwellers, let’s go crush this short week! Next joke is on Thursday about women who are naturally beautiful.

With love ~

Tom

Greeting Cards

Cards & More

Greetings!

Greeting Cards

New in the shop - Spirit Journals!

Ultra simple yet impactful!

This booklet is a 9 page metaphor that explains non-duality.

The facing pages have 2 word prompts for you to share your thoughts, feelings, make notes, or draw.

Keep for yourself or share with someone who’s interested in spirituality.

There’s 10 journals in the first series. Collect them all!

◉ 90 lb. heavyweight uncoated paper (every page)

◉ 5 x 5.5 inches

◉ Handbound with recycled natural Jute twine

Written and illustrated by Tom LaBaff.

🔥 Free shipping in U.S.

There’s 4 different journals available in the shop here.

Spirit Journals!

Get these contemplations in your hands. A place for you to log your daily practice insights, progress, takeaways, and more. All in a little, private book you can hide under your pillow. I’m calling them spirit journals. See some here in my store.

Greeting Cards

5 minute check out process here. A card they’ll never forget and it’s a keepsake!

New In the Card Shop

Greeting Cards

Shop here. I just need one thing they obsess about. Easy check out. One week turnaround! (U.S. only)

Cards for your person

I know $75 is steep for a greeting card but these are handmade, one of ones you’ll hang on the wall! Check out the new shop here.

Handmade Cards

Order online here in the shop.