Clever comic thing

Aaargh, where has the week gone? We’re all dashing around like mad things here – not least Creative Director Emma who is gearing up to have a baby any day now. It’s true what they say about the nesting instinct – never has the office looked so TIDY.

Kudos this week to the Institute of Direct Marketing for sending me the best mailshot I’ve ever seen. They’ve used people’s names, job titles and office location to send out a personalised comic advertising the next International Direct Marketing Fair. OK, I know it's all to do with laser printing and databases - not really a magic comic at all - but nevertheless it still felt very flattering for little me to be the star of my very own cartoon strip.

Love it. But then you’d expect the IDM to be at the forefront of direct mail campaigns, wouldn’t you?

How did they know I was blonde, though? And white, come to think of it? Would love to hear from someone who’s received a mailout that’s gone a bit wrong …

Useful fun things

Oops ... good intentions never last, do they? We’ve been so busy here in the creative team (opening Valentine’s cards, of course!) that I didn’t have time to update this blog last week.

So. Here are some treasures the IceBlue magpies have picked up lately ...

Matt was drawn to those freebie cards you get in stands at the cinema, distributed by Boomerang Media. We love John McGlynn’s “Yellow” and “Freckle Face” by illustrator/ceramicist Lucinda Grace. They’re not displayed on the Boomerang website, unfortunately, but the e-cards are sweet if there’s someone in your life who’d appreciate a little hello this week.

Talking of postcards, Emma spied something tasty by the Vegetarian Society (also via Boomerang): their Seedling Showcase. It’s to promote their Seedling symbol of approval on vegetarian food. As a committed (but not militant or holy, I hasten to add) veggie myself, who unwittingly ate some lard last week on holiday in Poland*, I’m all for the Seedlings. Check out these creature-friendly postcards.

* Don’t ask.

Finally, here’s an example of a company that perhaps doesn’t have the biggest marketing budget, but who are doing good stuff with their marketing nevertheless. We got a nice leaflet from ovenu.co.uk last week, showing a leopard-print legging-clad lady with her bottom sticking out of the oven, and logged on to their website to see a video of their oven-cleaning people in action – plus a funny feature on the dirty truth about self-cleaning ovens. Just goes to show that you don’t need the most expensive website to make your marketing attractive.

That’s all for this week. Feel free to send me your thoughts and links for next time. x

Creative pretty things

Hello you. From now on, we’ve decided to use this as a bits-and-bobs drawer for all the things the IceBlue team has seen, liked, collected or admired in the past week.

Happy distractions

* Photos from a crazy Lego artist with a lot of time and bricks on his hands.

* Some engaging Tim Burton-esque urban art. Who cares if it’s Photoshop’d as some may claim – doesn’t mean it’s not clever.

* An intriguing and addictive swirly thing to play with.

Friendly online shop

* Nigel’s Eco Store has a clean design and green products – we want a Moon Jar.

Email we look forward to receiving

* StyleWillSaveUs’ self-titled Digital Magazine for a Peachy Green Lifestyle.

* Who could possibly forget old favourite Popbitch?

Stuff we got in the post

* TSG’s IT Jargon Buster booklet – Geek Speak Explained. Some of us identified with the geeks, I'm sad to say.