Fresh Watches and New Product Types

Zazzle offers hundreds and hundreds of different products, from countless Makers. Of those, there are perhaps 30 or so that I typically place each of my drawings on. Why? Well, mostly because they are “everyday” items that I am familiar with; items that many people, and many homes, already have–albeit in much plainer and less personable forms! And so, I have mugs and mousepads; pillows and light switch covers; keychains and compact mirrors; gift wrap and gift bags; stamps and stickers; and so on. Naturally, not every drawing is a good fit for all these items, and some are even specific to just a handful (like “Moonlit Dreams” for my Moonlit Dreams Nursery and Shower items; “Star Back” for my Star Back Playing Cards; or “Hazards and Limits” for the Hazards and Limits Anti-Speeding Bumper Sticker). Nonetheless, they are, in general, the “set” of items I draw for.

Hazards and Limits Anti-Speeding Bumper Sticker, product at The Draw on Zazzle

Hazards and Limits Anti-Speeding Bumper Sticker
© 2015 Darren Olsen

Early on, in fact, I would often alternate between posting a new drawing (one drawing on several types of products), and posting a new product (most of my existing drawings on a new product type). But eventually, I had reached a limit in terms of items I generally wanted to design for, and so with the exception of miscellaneous items that truly are suited to specific drawings (like the bottle and can coolers and such in my Ms. Deal Progressive Nostalgia Soda Set, or the Miracle of Hanukkah Remembrance Drop Earrings and Necktie and such), for a long time, no new product types had appeared in my store … and certainly not a product type featuring the bulk of my drawings.

Well, just a few days ago, for the first time in many, many months … I once again added such a product type. Indeed, one of my standard items happens to be watches, and with all the styles Zazzle offers, imagine my surprise when I realized there was actually a distinct watch (from a different Maker) that I had previously been unaware of. One that, I feel, actually suits my drawings much better than the “standard” ones! Indeed, the styles of the standard watches look like those you might find in a jewelry or sports store, and while my drawings do look nice on said watches, the “new” ones are so colorful and contemporary that, to my own colorful and festive drawings, they are quite the match.

Take, for instance, the Ring of Flowers on Sharp White Watch, versus the new Ring of Flowers on Sharp White May28th Watch (the Maker / company of my new watches is May28th):

Ring of Flowers on Sharp White Watch, product at The Draw on Zazzle

Ring of Flowers on Sharp White Watch
© 2015 Darren Olsen

Ring of Flowers on Sharp White May28th Watch, product at The Draw on Zazzle

Ring of Flowers on Sharp White May28th Watch
© 2015 Darren Olsen

Although the former is still quite lovely, I, for one, cannot help but see the latter as even better. The appearance of the watch itself is simply less formal–less like an athletic or jewelry-style watch–and the option to color the bands in corresponding color(s) is just wonderful. (After all, my work is quite colorful, and therefore not particularly formal.)

Of course though, even with 13+ colors available for the bands (and keeper), not every drawing needs colorful bands to go along with it. Consider, for instance, the Colorful Cuts and Facets Watch and May28th Watch:

Colorful Cuts and Facets Watch, product at The Draw on Zazzle

Colorful Cuts and Facets Watch
© 2015 Darren Olsen

Colorful Cuts and Facets May28th Watch, product at The Draw on Zazzle

Colorful Cuts and Facets May28th Watch
© 2015 Darren Olsen

With all the colors already present in the drawing, coloring the bands as well would be a bit overboard. (Or would it? Fortunately, prospective customers can decide for themselves, for like most of my items, customization is readily available!)

And then, for some drawings, a neutral color is good, or even no color at all:

The Gathering Colorful Songbirds Watch, product at The Draw on Zazzle

The Gathering Colorful Songbirds Watch
© 2016 Darren Olsen

The Gathering Colorful Songbirds May28th Watch, product at The Draw on Zazzle

The Gathering Colorful Songbirds May28th Watch
© 2016 Darren Olsen

Festive Days Under the Sun Watch, product at The Draw on Zazzle

Festive Days Under the Sun Watch
© 2015 Darren Olsen

Festive Days Under the Sun May28th Watch, product at The Draw on Zazzle

Festive Days Under the Sun May28th Watch
© 2015 Darren Olsen

I guess brown is not exactly neutral, of course–though it is not particularly colorful. In any case, to The Gathering Colorful Songbirds May28th Watch and the Festive Days Under the Sun May28th Watch, these “neutral” colors seem quite suited. And, as with all the May28th watches, the simple, contemporary look has quite an elegance about it.

Speaking of which, as the option for the clear bands reveals, the May28th watches feature plastic bands–either glossy (for the clear and color options) or matte (for the black and white). Thus, along with the contemporary look comes a deviation from the leather or metal that many of the athletic / jewelry-style watches have, and this is a reason why some customers may prefer the latter ones. (Fortunately, I have no intention, of course, of “switching over” to the May28th watches; both types of watch will remain and continue to be added to my store, even though I, personally, favor the May28th ones.)

Overall though, even as the standard watches remain nice, the May28th ones really are quite lovely … contemporary, colorful, and fresh. And with so many style options available for the standard watches, and so many color choices for the bands and keepers on the Math28th ones, well, all of these really are some pretty neat watches … perfect for gifts, or simply for one’s self!

In closing then, here are a few more of my favorites:
(Just scroll through to see them all!)