Official Store Launch – merch to support Bitter Grounds
I finally followed through on a project I started last year – merch to support the site. I spent a few months working on several design ideas, fussing over them, and looking at various online stores. Then all hell broke loose, and it was put on the back burner. Well, it is time to put all that work … er … to work.
Take a look at my merch ➦ Redbubble
After looking at a few stores, I settled on Redbubble for a number of reasons – the most important being I’d already seen their products and liked them. A percentage of each sale goes directly to me. Shipping is available worldwide, so no matter where you are, you will be able to support Bitter Grounds and get something cool to show for it.
I haven’t had the store up long and already sold 4 items. A friend purchased 2 masks and was pleased with both the quality and design, so I feel comfortable recommending you “buy my stuff”. No idea who purchased the other items, but let me tell you, I was tickled when I woke up and found a pillow and mask sold during the night.
I have a few designs that will be up for Christmas only, so you might want to pop in now and then to see if anything tweaks your interests. What’s available? Lots of different items, like shirts, graphic ts, bathmats (I have a thing for cool bathmats), sweatshirts, socks, journals, magnets, stickers and of course masks. To see everything, you need to click the Redbubble link above,
Sampling of what merch is in the store
Masks? Yes, we have masks
 Vintage images on masks look surprisingly good |  Cat contemplating taking over the world |  Friend bought this one! |
Canadian Maple Leaf Flag masks -> https://www.redbubble.com/people/BitterGrounds/shop?asc=u
Most of the designs worked on masks. I’ve begun to focus on a lot of vintage stamps and aviation, so if you have a collector in your family, check out the store in a week for more philately and aviation related items. In the new year, I’m going to go heavy on both topics.
Shirts and sweatshirts too!
 I have a couple “Coffee Stain Carl” images on the back burner |  Came up with this one after I dropped a bottle of ink on the floor. |  Show your Canadian pride with a sweatshirt |
Most of the above designs were created over the summer months, while I was hiding out from the world. They started as doodles and sketches that gradually morphed into full-fledged shirt designs. I especially like Coffee Stain Carl (the first image). The original, was a coffee-stained note that I doodled eyes and a lightbulb on, giving me a bad case of the giggles. After refining the stain, tidying it up and finding the perfect lightbulb, CSC was born. A couple new images are in the works for the new year.
How about throw pillows?
Vintage etiquette labels
One of the pillows sold shortly after it went up on the site! Colour me impressed.
Or journals
I designed quite a few journals because I use them all the time.
I have hardcovered journals scattered around the apartment. Each one is assigned a different task, so you can never have too many. You can grab soft covered notebooks as well.
Stickers, magnets, and water bottles
 Lots of stickers and magnets too |  Dizzying optical illusions |
Not sure if my fridge can hold any more magnets. Or maybe the magnets are holding the fridge together?
Bags of all sorts
 Dragon flies are popular |  Or a knapsack? |
 Took hours to get this design right |  Duffle bags look best with lots of colours |
It’s been fun thinking of how to adapt my designs to viable products. The best part is how I can add and remove items whenever I want to make a change, so nothing will become stale on the store page. Drop by Bitter Grounds’ Shop and support the magazine. If you purchase anything, send me a photo when you get it. I’d love to hear from you.
Oh, and I have a truly ugly shirt design just in time for Christmas. A gift no one will re-gift back to you.