Well Imagosolo is on the road again! Were still Bible stories on Shirt! This is the 2011 summer tour. Most of our shows are home school conventions. This last weekend we were at Indianapolis. It turned out to be a great show when I pulled out the clearance rack. All the ladies cut shirts were marked down to $5 and then on Saturday we pulled out the Values and Switch designs for $5 as well. The ladies cut are almost gone. The Values and Switch designs are being sold at $5 as they are not selling well and once all are gone that's it for those designs. Unless I get a big order for them I will not be printing them any more! So, if you want one of those you better get on-line and order one soon!
Right now Imagosolo is in Charleston, WV and in the morning we're heading to Richmond VA. Were not in the show quite yet hoping someone won't show and we can get in. Also, my Aunt lives in Richmond and I'll get to visit with her.
This tour didn't start out good as I wasn't really in the tour mood. Traveling alone across the country and working 16 hour days gets hard. I remember the work it was last year. But then I visited a friend in Muncie who I met last year and it reminded me why I'm doing this. It's because of the people I get to meet and the relationships that can come of it. Also, I find that when I'm away from the norm of life I draw closer to God! And that has been a good thing. To be is a place where you see God show up on a regular basis is the best part of life and tours like this! Everyone should get a chance to be put to the test and watch God show up. Getting out of the comfortable and into life is what it's all about!
At least that is what has been for me. If you have been praying for me and Imagosolo thanks! I'm not sure where the road ends for Imagosolo but I know as of right now I'm on it and it's where I need to be!
Blessing!
Brent
About Me
Monday, June 6, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
new year
Well its a new year for us at Imagosolo! I have not written anything here for about 6 month or so now. May new things have happened since I have written. I have been to several big venues including the National Missionary convention which was held in Lexington, KY in November. That was a good show for us! Also, went to Christmas at wings in Kalamazoo, MI in December.
I have a new design out called Zacchaeus. It is of course about the wee little man in a tree! I have yet to purchase and put together an inventory but that will happen before my next big show. Also, I have made Polo shirt in a few of the designs as well as some sleeveless vests with the same logos. I also have Jonah and the whale in Toddler sizes which range from 2T-4T. I'm hoping to get those on the site soon!
As for venues this coming Spring and summer I'm looking to the Home schooling conventions. I'll be as far as Pennsylvania and as close as Lansing this year. It's amazing how much money you can spend trying to market a new company. I'm doing my best to make this an all cash ministry but some the vendor fees add up and that makes it hard.
Imagosolo is looking for a new van. I'm hoping to find a cargo van for my next big vehicle. I would prefer a diesel but with what funds I have I most likely will not be able to afford what I really need. So, I go with what I can and will build as I can.
This is now the third year of Imagosolo and it is definitely getting harder to do this by myself! At times I get discouraged at how much work there is to do. The traveling I have done has been great but again to do it alone is hard.
Please keep praying for Imagosolo and that this ministry will gain some national attention. Everybody keeps telling me I should have these in Family Christian Book stores but with Zondervan's criteria I cannot afford to get it there. It would take someone at Zondervan who sees them and then take it from there.
If this ministry is from God then it will go.
If its from Man then it will stop.
Bible stories on Shirts!
Wear a shirt tell a story!
Imagosolo,
Brent
I have a new design out called Zacchaeus. It is of course about the wee little man in a tree! I have yet to purchase and put together an inventory but that will happen before my next big show. Also, I have made Polo shirt in a few of the designs as well as some sleeveless vests with the same logos. I also have Jonah and the whale in Toddler sizes which range from 2T-4T. I'm hoping to get those on the site soon!
As for venues this coming Spring and summer I'm looking to the Home schooling conventions. I'll be as far as Pennsylvania and as close as Lansing this year. It's amazing how much money you can spend trying to market a new company. I'm doing my best to make this an all cash ministry but some the vendor fees add up and that makes it hard.
Imagosolo is looking for a new van. I'm hoping to find a cargo van for my next big vehicle. I would prefer a diesel but with what funds I have I most likely will not be able to afford what I really need. So, I go with what I can and will build as I can.
This is now the third year of Imagosolo and it is definitely getting harder to do this by myself! At times I get discouraged at how much work there is to do. The traveling I have done has been great but again to do it alone is hard.
Please keep praying for Imagosolo and that this ministry will gain some national attention. Everybody keeps telling me I should have these in Family Christian Book stores but with Zondervan's criteria I cannot afford to get it there. It would take someone at Zondervan who sees them and then take it from there.
If this ministry is from God then it will go.
If its from Man then it will stop.
Bible stories on Shirts!
Wear a shirt tell a story!
Imagosolo,
Brent
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Cornerstone 2010
Well Cornerstone 2010 is officially over. It was a long festival and very different than Ichthus. Not only was the music different but so was the festival attendees. About 80% of those attending had a tattoo or two or more. Not that I have any problem with a tattoo or two but 80%! It was a very different experience to say the least. The best way for anybody to experience Cornerstone is to go to Cornerstone. Words fall short in describing what goes on there.
As for Imagosolo and the booth space I was a little disappointed! There were two merchant tents there. I was in spot one in the second tent. A good location for being in tent two. One of the main issues was that not everybody knew there were two merchant tents. I sold many shirts on the last day and the first thing I would say to people was have you seen these before? And many said they didn't even know there was another tent. One Gentleman said I found this tent on accident looking for another stage. I was very disappointed in many of the responses of not knowing there was another tent. If they would have connect the two tent together so people could naturally flow from one to the other that would have been better. I think if I had been on tent one I would have done a lot better. But, who knows now. Also, majority of people who attend Cornerstone are not interested in Bible Stories on Shirts. If I had skull bones or something dark in nature on one of my shirts I might have sold out of that one.
However, with all that bad new I did manage to sell 98 shirts and was able to meet some new friends and see David Crowder play. One of the best things was I found a cornhole board and some guys who were playing. I also met a guy from South Africa who was working the tent that had the cornhole boards. Chris and I became fast friends with much in common. He was my teammate on my first game and we never lost a game when we were on the same team! It was such a blessing to meet him and hear his story about how he came to the states. He is living in IN. and I'm hoping to visit with him and his wife next weekend on my way back to MI.
As for this next week I'll be in Indianapolis for a convention. Hoping to make some contact for Imagosolo and maybe find some churches who might find Imagosolo as a great piece of curriculum for there student ministries. So pray for me if you remember to. Also, one good thing so far is that the truck and trailer have both held up. I am real thankful for that.
Blessing!
Brent
As for Imagosolo and the booth space I was a little disappointed! There were two merchant tents there. I was in spot one in the second tent. A good location for being in tent two. One of the main issues was that not everybody knew there were two merchant tents. I sold many shirts on the last day and the first thing I would say to people was have you seen these before? And many said they didn't even know there was another tent. One Gentleman said I found this tent on accident looking for another stage. I was very disappointed in many of the responses of not knowing there was another tent. If they would have connect the two tent together so people could naturally flow from one to the other that would have been better. I think if I had been on tent one I would have done a lot better. But, who knows now. Also, majority of people who attend Cornerstone are not interested in Bible Stories on Shirts. If I had skull bones or something dark in nature on one of my shirts I might have sold out of that one.
However, with all that bad new I did manage to sell 98 shirts and was able to meet some new friends and see David Crowder play. One of the best things was I found a cornhole board and some guys who were playing. I also met a guy from South Africa who was working the tent that had the cornhole boards. Chris and I became fast friends with much in common. He was my teammate on my first game and we never lost a game when we were on the same team! It was such a blessing to meet him and hear his story about how he came to the states. He is living in IN. and I'm hoping to visit with him and his wife next weekend on my way back to MI.
As for this next week I'll be in Indianapolis for a convention. Hoping to make some contact for Imagosolo and maybe find some churches who might find Imagosolo as a great piece of curriculum for there student ministries. So pray for me if you remember to. Also, one good thing so far is that the truck and trailer have both held up. I am real thankful for that.
Blessing!
Brent
Friday, June 25, 2010
Denver Part duet
So, it's Friday night and most of the other vendors here have packed up or are in the process as I type this. Over all this trip have been very beneficial! I have met some very good people with great hearts for the Lord. I have sold more shirts here than I honestly anticipated I would. I have been pleasantly surprised from that aspect alone. Also, many pastors have bought shirts to take back to their churches. I'm not exactly sure what else the Lord has in mind for this part of the trip but I'm so thankful I came to Denver!
One pastor asked me what I have have in mind for where Imagosolo is going? Honestly, I didn't have a good answer. Sure I spat some kind of answer that I think sounded good but I'm not really sure EXACTLY where Imagosolo is going. At least not in the distant future. I know where I'm going next week and the following week. But five years from now? No not really sure.
Then he followed up with the question of do I have a board? A board? I said yeah I fold shirts on it. I told him that I'm open to help and have in the past asked for it. But I don't have an official team. I have people who have helped me get to where Imagosolo is at now. So, now I ponder what a board for Imagosolo might look like and who would I ask to be on it? I have more questions than I do answers!
Well I'm off for the night.
One pastor asked me what I have have in mind for where Imagosolo is going? Honestly, I didn't have a good answer. Sure I spat some kind of answer that I think sounded good but I'm not really sure EXACTLY where Imagosolo is going. At least not in the distant future. I know where I'm going next week and the following week. But five years from now? No not really sure.
Then he followed up with the question of do I have a board? A board? I said yeah I fold shirts on it. I told him that I'm open to help and have in the past asked for it. But I don't have an official team. I have people who have helped me get to where Imagosolo is at now. So, now I ponder what a board for Imagosolo might look like and who would I ask to be on it? I have more questions than I do answers!
Well I'm off for the night.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Denver
In Denver now and the sun is shining! The mountains are rising in the west and the air is dry and wonderful. The gal across from me wants some more humidity so I told here to buy a pool or move to Michigan. Things here at the church are going well. Upon my arrival I was able to set up my booth with enough space to work with. I was a little worried that that was not going to be an option.
I was going to be staying at a camp ground about 6 miles from the Church but Hunter one of the employees of the Church said I could park the trailer in their parking lot and that they have a shower I could use! That saved me about $100 dollars and having to shower in a bath house. Then I found out they have internet access in the building! And it's free! And then they fed me dinner! I'm telling you the people here in Englewood, CO are very nice! Who wouldn't want to live her for the mountains themselves now you have people who are nice. And I hear they get about 250 days of sunshine per year! Again, moving here looks more and more promising!
I was also able to find a way to do some banking without a lot of hassles. I was thinking I was going to have to mail funds to my bank and it was looking real difficult. But I found a credit union that was able to take my funds without any problems.
So, now the booth at the 30th annual General assembly of Presbyterians is now open and have been making sales! Although, I had my first shirt lifted from me via someone who really wanted it! I have yet to have one of my shirts at a venue lifted from me. They must have really wanted to use it to share their faith. They didn't take the card that goes with it thought and it was the Pinifix design.
One thing I am excited about is I get to see an old friend tonight. She moved to Denver a few years ago and she just loves it here. I don't know why..sunshine, mountains......? It will be go go connect with an old friend.
Signing off from Denver!
I was going to be staying at a camp ground about 6 miles from the Church but Hunter one of the employees of the Church said I could park the trailer in their parking lot and that they have a shower I could use! That saved me about $100 dollars and having to shower in a bath house. Then I found out they have internet access in the building! And it's free! And then they fed me dinner! I'm telling you the people here in Englewood, CO are very nice! Who wouldn't want to live her for the mountains themselves now you have people who are nice. And I hear they get about 250 days of sunshine per year! Again, moving here looks more and more promising!
I was also able to find a way to do some banking without a lot of hassles. I was thinking I was going to have to mail funds to my bank and it was looking real difficult. But I found a credit union that was able to take my funds without any problems.
So, now the booth at the 30th annual General assembly of Presbyterians is now open and have been making sales! Although, I had my first shirt lifted from me via someone who really wanted it! I have yet to have one of my shirts at a venue lifted from me. They must have really wanted to use it to share their faith. They didn't take the card that goes with it thought and it was the Pinifix design.
One thing I am excited about is I get to see an old friend tonight. She moved to Denver a few years ago and she just loves it here. I don't know why..sunshine, mountains......? It will be go go connect with an old friend.
Signing off from Denver!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Icthus
Well the first leg of my summer tour is over and I'm on the way to my second leg. The Icthus Festival was a success. Check out my Facebook site to see some photos. It was a hot weekend with a lot of humidity added. On the last day we got rain in the early morning. It seemed like only my stand actually got wet. My display shirts ended up drying in the afternoon heat and I was able to save most of the business cards that got wet. Fortunately none of my inventory was wet as all of my shirts are in plastic bins. Over all I sold 116 shirts! I feel it was a good show. It was long but they gave us some good breaks in between.
Now I'm sitting just east of St. Louis, MO in a Panera Bread eating and trying to say cool. It was over 90 degrees today. It was so hot in fact when I stopped for fuel I decided to get some freon for the Blazer. Added it and then took off. I had cold air!!!!!! But the truck started to run a little hotter than normal. I kept my eye on the gauge when all of a sudden I heard what sounded like a tire blowing out!!!! I pulled over immediately shut off the truck and checked out all 6 tires and none were flat. So fearing the worse I check the dip stick for the oil to find out the head gasket was fine. So I was a bit stumped. I then restarted the truck to find the fan blade hitting the shroud. I then, on the side of Interstate 94, proceeded to repair the broken shroud. I think this is why the truck was getting hotter while the A/C was on. So, there I am in over 90 degree weather on the side of the Interstate with 18 wheelers zoomin by at 70 mph loosing 10lbs by the hour in sweat. I did get it repaired but was unable to us the A/C for most of the way because of fear I'd loose the head gasket to over heating.
So, here I sit at Panera waiting for the temp to fall so I can start driving again. I think I need to travel in the evenings and early morning while on this trip. I'll be in Kansas this evening and then travel to Denver in the evening tomorrow. I've been posting updates to my facebook via my phone so you can check there to see what up. That is until I get to another Panera!
Until then!
out!
Now I'm sitting just east of St. Louis, MO in a Panera Bread eating and trying to say cool. It was over 90 degrees today. It was so hot in fact when I stopped for fuel I decided to get some freon for the Blazer. Added it and then took off. I had cold air!!!!!! But the truck started to run a little hotter than normal. I kept my eye on the gauge when all of a sudden I heard what sounded like a tire blowing out!!!! I pulled over immediately shut off the truck and checked out all 6 tires and none were flat. So fearing the worse I check the dip stick for the oil to find out the head gasket was fine. So I was a bit stumped. I then restarted the truck to find the fan blade hitting the shroud. I then, on the side of Interstate 94, proceeded to repair the broken shroud. I think this is why the truck was getting hotter while the A/C was on. So, there I am in over 90 degree weather on the side of the Interstate with 18 wheelers zoomin by at 70 mph loosing 10lbs by the hour in sweat. I did get it repaired but was unable to us the A/C for most of the way because of fear I'd loose the head gasket to over heating.
So, here I sit at Panera waiting for the temp to fall so I can start driving again. I think I need to travel in the evenings and early morning while on this trip. I'll be in Kansas this evening and then travel to Denver in the evening tomorrow. I've been posting updates to my facebook via my phone so you can check there to see what up. That is until I get to another Panera!
Until then!
out!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Summer 2010 tour
Well it's the eve of my summer tour 2010! 4 weeks of living in the Imagosolo mobile! Pictures to come! I have been running continuously for the last 10 days (with short breaks here and there, for sanity's sake). I have folded over 1000 shirts. Labeled are relabeled, sorted and resorted, folded and refolded. I feel as if I'm running a small factory! In many ways I am. This moving and constantly having something to do gives a man a sense of purpose. A feeling of being that comes from his creator that transcends his understanding of life and the struggle that lie within it. To know this or that need to be done before such and such a time. To have a dead line and then to meet that line with fervor and passion. To say the the demands of life, "I see you and I welcome your challenge to live fully and to push forward in all that is required!" And so it is with that call I go to the unknown! As Captain Kirk would say, "to explore strange new worlds and new civilizations and to boldly go where no BRENT has gone before! (italics added, lol)
It seems going boldly wears a person out. Not sure I was meant to do all this alone. And I know ultimately that I don't go at it alone. For my God is ever before me and strengthens me for the task ahead. But to have a companion to share the 3000 mile journey to talk while staring at the road trying to stay awake! One with soft eyes and a winsome spirit. One made out of flesh and bones. Maybe one day that will happen but for now it's solo. As in Imago-solo!
At 9am I'll leave Grand Rapids and head for Icthus Festival in Wilmore KY. On Sunday morning I'll head for Denver for another show. I'll be in Denver until the 26th. On the 27th I'll head to Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, IL until the 3rd of July. On the 6th I'll be in Indianapolis, IN for 3 days until I drive back to GR. Four weeks of travel and hoping to find a good shower and a place to do laundry. Lots of road time and lots of God time.
So, if you are reading this. Could you do me a favor? Pray for me! Pray for safety on the road and pray my truck makes it! Pray Imagosolo blows the roof off the nation and more people will be better equipped to share Jesus using language that they feel comfortable using!
Blessing,
Brent
It seems going boldly wears a person out. Not sure I was meant to do all this alone. And I know ultimately that I don't go at it alone. For my God is ever before me and strengthens me for the task ahead. But to have a companion to share the 3000 mile journey to talk while staring at the road trying to stay awake! One with soft eyes and a winsome spirit. One made out of flesh and bones. Maybe one day that will happen but for now it's solo. As in Imago-solo!
At 9am I'll leave Grand Rapids and head for Icthus Festival in Wilmore KY. On Sunday morning I'll head for Denver for another show. I'll be in Denver until the 26th. On the 27th I'll head to Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, IL until the 3rd of July. On the 6th I'll be in Indianapolis, IN for 3 days until I drive back to GR. Four weeks of travel and hoping to find a good shower and a place to do laundry. Lots of road time and lots of God time.
So, if you are reading this. Could you do me a favor? Pray for me! Pray for safety on the road and pray my truck makes it! Pray Imagosolo blows the roof off the nation and more people will be better equipped to share Jesus using language that they feel comfortable using!
Blessing,
Brent
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