Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays -

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A Day of Shopping

As the holiday season is in full swing here, I find myself with less and less "free" time throughout the week. This week I completed more orders than expected but spent more hours than hoped at work, but it is all worth it! Today I finally (after 2 weeks of procrastination) spent the afternoon shopping for our adopted "angels" sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce anually. Catie's help was much appreciated! Daphne (8), Patricia (16), Joe (13) and Tal (11) will each have some useful and fun items this holiday! Thanks to all those who have helped with those "paper angels" on the trees in the malls and who have sponsored children & families this holiday season!

Too busy....

For all those who have been watching for the updates, I have been slacking; more like focusing on your pending orders! It has been a busy week completing the line of 5.11 polo shirts for the Stratton fire department, outfitting the new Clifton Park Halfmoon Ambulance Corps personnel with their uniforms and showing off the new 5.11 Station Wear line to Ballston Lake EMS, Waterford EMS, Albany Airport and Verdoy Fire.

We are getting into our busy season as we finish off the year, (so get those holiday gift requests in early) so I may not update as often. If I don't update before the big Turkey Day, have a safe holiday!

Versacamm 101

Friday morning began with old friends and new faces! Jean & Richard C. joined us again for another training class on the Roland Versacamm, taught by none other than our very own ... (Yes, you guessed it) Steven Jackson! With Mary Anne, Laura, Irv, Paul and Eloise the chit chat began and soon we realized there was a Navy man, Army man and a Marine in the shop and it was going to be a LONG day of comparing "war stories"!

What began as simple introductions led everyone to realize the similarities in each others circumstances and business plans. Each individual was the proud new recipient of a Roland Versacamm, different models, same concepts working with similar niches and under similar conditions. Each student had started out in comparable situations to Seaglass Logowear, which led to stronger bonds and most of all the realization of future practical and successful achievements.

When planning this day, Steve thought long and hard about the struggles he encountered when we first purchased our Versacamm, and what he wished he knew then. So this is where the day began, taking a concept from a customer, creating the graphics and inputting it into Versaworks, and ultimately printing the design on numerous types of materials. It was impressive to see the versatility with this piece of equipment, as Steve had shown off a picture we had printed on canvas. (Unfortunately no picture to show right now, but I will get one for you soon.)

Another important aspect often forgotten with new equipment is the cleaning and maintenace aspect; I must say my least favorite and Steve knows it. (Thankfully one of us is mindful of the up keep on our machines!) This is imperative for any business, and thanks to Steve a little easier to understand.

Each student learned the "art of weeding", the pros and cons to numerous printable materials for apparel and the process of pressing these onto shirts. The materials each individual weeded, masked and pressed were printable reflective, metallic, opaque, clear, glitter, puff, sub block, color print and flock. The same colorful design was used on each material to show the difference in shades when pressed onto shirts.

In addition, Steve discussed the non-apparel items the Versacamm is capabale of including banners, magnets and vehicle wraps. This machine does not limit your business at all and is a valuable asset to any apparel printing business.



By the end of the day there was interest in hosting more training events and remaining in contact with each other in the event of questions and better yet, major successes with the Versacamm! By Saturday morning we had received three emails regarding the exciting trials of different students and the gratitude for hosting the class. Steve and I, as always had a wonderful time meeting new individuals in our industry and sharing our knowledge. We hope to do this again soon!

5.11 Roadshow BBQ

A long week, ended with a day of fun at Seaglass Logowear which wound down around 10:30 Friday night. Our 5.11 Roadshow BBQ went off without a hitch! The prep was done throughout the week, with Thursday being a late night. Christina and Mike (our 5.11 rep) came in to assist with weeding the promotional Hook & Ladder tees. Mike had never weeded before and found the process a bit tedious (and doesn't feel the word "weed" represents the process... although the best he could come up with was "picking" which we all agreed was unrepresentative. Any ideas?) Because the letters had some small pieces that were to remain on the print, he was pleased (as were the rest of us) when he completed the weeding of a single design, without losing a single "little extra piece". He was kind enough to show it off in the picture below. It's amazing how morale and productivity can improve with pizza and beer as a motivator! (Although, as you can see, it didn't work with Charlie!)

Friday began extremely early for Steve and I; we were at the shop by 7 cleaning up from the evening before and moving the tables and chairs around. Fernando, a rep from 5.11 who flew in from California for our event, was our chef for the day. He was dedicated enough to be out grocery shopping unil 10 pm Thursday evening...he began before noon that day! Fernando arrived just behind us and began prepping the food and assisting with the setup of the rest of the place. He was out there hovering over the grill as it was about 30 degrees that early on Friday morning, a little chillier than California!

By 10:30 Christina, Mike and Catie had arrived, banners and balloons were on display by the roadway, announcing our big day, and we had 2 phone calls for directions...a sign of our soon-to-be-success! Even Stone had his balloons in hands, as you can see here posing with Catie.

Soon we had numerous individuals shopping at Seaglass Logowear and reviewing the new Fire and EMS line. I am pretty sure the first glass of beer (Hook & Ladder Golden Ale) from the tap was poured by 10:30! Mike and Christina were showing off the Cams 40" Outbound Bag to a group while Steve was discussing the new 5.11 1/4 zip job shirts with a local fire department. (I love these new job shirts...and if you haven't seen them, stop in and take a look - no fade, no shrink - honest! They are awesome!!)

From what I heard throughout the day, unanimously, the London Broil was delicious! Fernando is welcome back any time to assist as chef for the day! He put on a tasty spread for all to enjoy! Topped with a Hook & Ladder brew, you could not go wrong!

Throughout the day I caught Mike taking a break with his feet on MY desk. I allowed it as he was working diligently throughout the day. After this he did show off his laptop wrap, courtesy of Steve!

Stone was another team player today and sold the boots off his feet (and he has big feet) .... No really....

For those who didn't see it, we had a prototype of the new Light for Life flashlight 5.11 will have available in January 2009. We took several pre-orders on Friday for these as they are set to be unavailable until mid 2009 unless pre-ordered. Here is the link to the blog created by 5.11 for these flashlights. (http://www.511tactical.com/lightforlife.html) With this new technology, this flashlight will be the only one you need!

At the end of the day, we decided the most popular items were the 1/4 zip job shirts, ATAC boots and VTAC bags for tactical operations. I was quite busy throughout the day and unable to take many pictures, so if you didn't make it in the blog I'm sorry. But I hope you enjoyed yourself nonetheless! Thank you to all of those who came to show their support and enjoy the discounts, food, beer and freebies! We could not be who we are without you!

Anatomy of a Jersey

360 degrees, set; 4 second pre-press, set; 6 second press, set; The heat press is set and warming up for the Clifton Park Mite and Mini-Mite Hockey teams jerseys. So what's next?

Each jersey initially received the front Eagles logo. These logos, although not screen-printed in house, were created using a screen printing method. We sent the image to a company who screen prints the logo onto sheets of transfer paper using plastisol inks, partially cures them and ships them to us. We generally refer to these as "tranfers". As these prints were to adhere to polyester mesh jerseys, specialty inks were used. With added opacity and durability, the prints were lightweight and had a very soft feel.

Once the prints arrived, the heat press was set and a logo was pressed onto the front of each jersey. For printing 124 jerseys, I was getting toasty standing over the heat press for 2 hours! The initial step in the mission was complete!

Now that the basics were finished, I was waiting for the names and numbers going on each jersey. The setup was to be a 2.5" tall name and 8" tall number across the back, and a 3" number on each shoulder. Since the coaches weren't going to have a final list until 3 - 4 days prior to needing the jerseys, the same transfer method used for the front logo was not going to work for the rest of the jersey!

Although this meant a bit longer process for finishing off each jersey, I ordered a 50 yard roll of white vinyl material. Each name and number was prepared in the computer using our graphics program and sent to the "cutter", a Roland GX24. As the jersey specifics arrived from the coaches, I began cutting in a somewhat organized fashion (cut a few names, weed a few names, cut a few numbers, weed a few numbers, press a few jerseys; repeat).

Once the vinyl was cut it needed to be weeded. The remaining vinyl (everything except the name or the number) was removed using a pick (a dental pick believe it or not). Once the names and matching numbers were complete, I pressed the jersey. There were 4 pressings per jersey. Each sleeve was done separately, followed by the back name and number.

With each "mini-step", the total time to complete each jersey was around 8-10 minutes. This of course, is not the most time effective way to complete a jersey, but for a coach requiring a short turn around time, this is what works. With a few stragglers joining the team, using this printing method allows us to turn around a jersey within the hour. A superior addition to our customer service!

Did You Take a Picture?

There are two versions to the story you are about to read, the truth, and Steve's extended version.

October 14th, I was working on numerous projects around the shop (as usual). Pet Lodge had placed an order for another round of t-shirts with a full color print. For these we print the logo onto opaque solutions (thin white vinyl) and weed (with a dental pick) around Lodger. (I then place a heat sensitive mask material across it to transfer the print to the t-shirt.) Well, as I was weeding, I needed to grab a box down from the back shelf. Being the multi-tasker that I am, I held the dental pick in my left hand and reached for the box. The box stuck to another and they both started to come down. Using my typical gracelessness, I put my hands out to prevent the boxes from falling and ended up impaling the dental pick into my hand.

(For those with weak stomachs, skip this paragraph.) The pick punctured the skin approximately 3/4" below my left pinky finger. With the pick about an inch and a half deep into the skin, I panicked for a second and decided to try and pull this out! Yeah, didn't work so well. Then the EMT in me kicked in and I reminded myself the rules about impaled objects....don't pull them out! So I called Steve and this is how he describes our conversation;

J - Hkjsa hskldah cdshjkfhwp shfklashgd

S - Are you okay?

J - Hkjsa hskldah cdshjkfhwp shfklashgd

S - What happened?

J - Hkjsa hskldah cdshjkfhwp shfklashgd

S - Do I need to call 911?

J - NO

So once I finally spit out what had happened, I hung up with him and went to CIS. Thankfully John and Teresa were there and John drove me to Urgent Care. Once I was in there, the pick was out within 5 minutes (and numb...boy did I appreciate that!). In my line of work, a dental pick puncturing a hand seems out of the ordinary, so I had to explain what we actually use the picks for; An intriguing concept for most! (I had a few extra faces pop into my room to check out the incident!)

Steve arrived shortly after while I was finishing with my good ol' tetanus shot. Steve had only two questions for me. Thankfully he asked the correct question first, "Are you okay?"; This was followed by the line "did you take a picture?". What a guy! The jokes started flying after this and we all had a good laugh (the doctors, nurses and Steve more than I).

Steve drove me to the pharmacy and back to work shortly after this and was disappointed upon his arrival, noticing there was no blood anywhere in the shop! The extended version he created at this point, consisting of "gushing" and "spurtting", was the big joke around Seaglass Logowear for a few days.

It has been nearly two weeks, my hand is almost back to full function without pain. I was lucky not too do more damage! Don't worry Matt, we have joked about the incident and I don't hold you or Lodger responsible! (Sorry for the delay in the shirts!)

The valuable lesson learned, don't multi task with a dental pick in your hand!

Now every time Steve, Christina, Catie or Loressa sees me walking with one in the shop, they move out of the way and tell me to put it down! Fear!

Seamstress Steven

Seamstress Steven emerged from the dark shadows of Seaglass Logowear! How did that happen, you ask?

The Clifton Park Youth Hockey Association is purchasing jerseys from us for the Mini-Mite and Mite teams, and Thursday came to us about name plates for the travel team jerseys. After a little research, we decided it was something we could do at a competitive price, quickly. We had a completed sample by Friday afternoon, the blank name plates ordered and delivered for overnight standard delivery Tuesday. With the names in hand, the setup process began Wednesday, which left Thursday for the embroidery day. What began around 3 pm Wednesday, wrapped up around 10 pm Thursday.

The lengthy process of name plates began with Steve taking the name and inputting the details/measurements into the digitizing program. Once he had all of the files setup for the cutting and stitching, he sent them along to me. I then took the cut files and uploaded themto the Roland GX24 for cutting the tackle twill (applique material). For each name, there are 4 cut files (2 different sizes per name, per name plate color - black vs. white). All names were run within 1 hour and set aside while I began the initial name plate.

Once the file was inputted to the embroidery machine, stabilizer was hooped and the design was aligned. An outline of the name plate was stitched onto the stabilizer (to which the name plate would be secured using "sticky back") allowing ease of name plate placement, matching with the lettering. Once the name plate was secured to the stabilizer, an outline of the first letter was stitched, the machine was automatically set to stop allowing the initial to be placed onto the plate. With pressure sensitive adhesive on the back of the twill, the initial was secured and then the tack down was stitched (This is the top outline securing the letter to the material.). This process is done for each letter across the bottom layer, then again on the top layer. On average, these name plates took about 35 minutes apiece, making it a long day and night!

Once Steve arrived Thursday afternoon, I continued to babysit the embroidery machine while he moved forward. Myself being a somewhat annnoying perfectionist when it comes to sewing straight lines, Steve offered to complete the hemming! With a short crash course on sewing, he was off! While Steve was on a short break, Charlie made a futile attempt at hemming these name plates; Lack of opposable thumbs was a major problem!

Light for Life

5.11 Tactical is always looking for ways to make your job easier, whether that's the creation of an entirely new product or the rejuvenation and revolution of an existing product. Only a few months ago 5.11 was approached about a new idea that sounded entirely implausible - a rechargeable flashlight, with no batteries! Unbelievable is what 5.11 thought until they met Dr. Alexander, a scientist from Flashpoint Technology who explained the technology and how their power management system could revolutionize flashlights for the public safety market. Dr. Alexander and his team have been working on this technology for more than ten years in the hybrid car market and beeen able to bring this breakthrough battery-free technology down into a handheld size.



5.11 Tactical and Flashpoint Technology have entered into an exclusive partnership to bring this patented technology to you, and at a reasonable price. The new 5.11 Light for Life flashlights have a dramatically higher return-on-investment vs. other rechargeable lights and outperform competitor lights across the board.



The 5.11 Light for Life flashlight comes with a limited lifetime warranty and its internal components are rated for a life of over 50,000 cycles (This adds up to more than 130 years if you use and recharge the light once a day!) The flashlight's body is made from a state-of-the-art polymer that is impact, abrasion and water resistant to stand up to the intense duty 5.11 knows you'll put it through.



These 5.11 Light for Life flashlights will be available in early 2009 and Seaglass Logowear is excited to offer such a versatile product for not only the public safety market, but to everyone needing an environmentally friendly, durable, long lasting, quick to recharge flashlight. With a 90 second recharge, no batteries and a lifetime of use, who doesn't need one?





53000 - Light for Life UC3.400

4 Way Power: Standard (90 Lumens)m Peak (270 Lumens), Strobe & Standby; Includes 12V DC Charger and mounting plate. 120V AC household adapter sold separately.

*Preorders are being accepted. Contact Seaglass Logowear at info@seaglasslogowear.com for your free informational packet.

Newest Employee

We introduced Catie to our new employee on Saturday. We warned her he was tall, dark and handsome, and she may just fall in love! Meet Stone! Yes, he is a full size, 6' tall, dark & handsome mannequin! She of course laughed and we were sure to take a picture with her and Stone. I have to say, dressing Stone was not very easy. Catie and I dropped his arms a couple times and the pants were difficult when he can't bend his legs, and his legs are as long as me! But a fun time nonetheless!

Last week, our 5.11 Tactical Rep Mike was kind enough to come in and help us with the point of sale display items that had arrived for the new Station Wear Line Seaglass Logowear is carrying. We have dozens of EMS pants, station pants, station cargo pants, job shirts, polo shirts, t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, etc. with minimal place to display them. Mike did wonders on the store front and now Stone is sporting the new VTAC pack from the fire/EMS (station wear) line.

What is sea glass and who are we?

Seaglass Logowear was established in 2004, originally named Just Us Embroidery. By the summer of 2005, the name had been changed to Seaglass Logowear. So now you are thinking, why did you change it, and what is sea glass? Sea glass is the glass found on ocean beaches that has been tumbled and smoothed by the water and sand, creating small pieces of smooth frosted glass. Steve and I have always loved the ocean and when walking the beaches, we would look for sea glass. At the time of renaming, we wanted something unique that would represent us while incorporating the services we offered (embroidery, screen printing, logo design, etc.), which led us to Seaglass Logowear.

What began as a part-time business quickly grew into a full-time business of 3+. In August 2007, we moved into a retail location in Clifton Park, NY and offered more services than ever before. We previously offered embroidery, screen printing, custom promotional products, digitizing and logo design. With the move and expansion, we have added trophies, awards, engraving, banners, decals, magnets and vinyl vehicle graphics. The theory behind the business; we should be your one stop shop for all of your advertising and promotional needs. Best of all, 90% of our services provided are done in house.

Meet the cast of Seaglass Logowear, (Left to right) Steven J., Christina F., Jen J. (front), Loressa P. & Megan S. (Catie F. not shown.) I am the owner of Seaglass Logowear and handle the day to day operations. Steve recreates the graphics/digitizing and enjoys the vinyl vehicle graphics. Christina is the 5.11 Tactical Series sales rep for Seaglass Logowear, working with many fire departments and EMS agencies on the new Station Wear Line. Loressa and Catie work for us per diem, assisting wherever necessary. Megan was an intern this summer. A senior graphic design student at Philadelphia University, she was able to dabble in a bit of everything, including graphics, production, sales and vehicle graphic applications.

Bottom line, Seaglass Logowear is here to provide your advertising and promotional creations!