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Thank you thank you thank you! for all the birthday wishes yesterday! Even with my profanity-laced gift you warmed my heart on that dark, dark day!
And really, even with my chin-up attitude, I was still having a hard time! It was just one of those days, you know? My husband was out of town (and I KNEW he would be late home! Yup - Dominoes pizza in my jammies with my kids for birthday dinner!!), I was waiting for an in-home consultation from Calico Corners (I totally didn't jive with the consultant) and it was raining.
I hit up the sale rack later at Anthropologie and then found happiness in the magazine rack at Borders! I'm so easily distracted! Remember this - way back in JULY? IT'S HERE!
Holy smokes.
The March issue of Romantic Homes magazine - a 10 page (TEN PAGES!) spread of my studio and my story - I'm blown away. (Also - the previous 4 pages are my dining rooms in another article!)
Seriously, it is more gorgeous on these pages than it ever is in real life.
This was the best birthday present EVER.
F### YEAH.
Happy Halloween! I have a lot to say, so I'm just going to plow through the list!
Sommer Designs is having a 12-hour Spooktacular Sale! Seriously, if you have your eye on something, now is your chance! 20% off sitewide, BUT, it's only from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., California time, with promo code "SPOOKY". Details, and my cute graphic, here.
Hello St. Louis! I have super exciting news - NEST was asked to set up a holiday display of some of their fabulous products at a WHOLE FOODS MARKET in St. Louis! How flipping cool is that? My Melrose Hostess Apron is part of the display! I think that means that I can say, my product is in a WHOLE FOODS MARKET??!! Holy cow! So, if you are in St. Louis, or know anyone in St. Louis, go in and check it out, and support NEST - talk up the store personnel about how cool NEST and their designers are! The store address is: 1601 S. Brentwood Blvd., Brentwood, MO
I have to deliver another bag to Cathy today, and I'm already thinking about another hank of that Malabrigo. It does that to you.
Have a great weekend my friends! XO
Yesterday I hunkered down, streamed some Pandora, and made it to the finish line. About half the bags I cut out last week are done.
I can't decide which I like better - the blue lotus, or that olive wallflower. While I find blue so soothing and sedate, the olive is so me. But I'm just blathering here, I can't keep any of these for myself; they are to be added to inventory. *sigh* But at least they're mine until they find new homes - :)
Now, to get started on the last 6...
I almost forgot: my friend Janet emailed me earlier this week to let me know that my Melrose apron was in Cottage Living's Christmas magazine! They asked for images a couple of months ago, and you never really know what's going to happen; whether they'll be used or cut. So most of the time, I'm on pins and needles - sometimes I actually forget. I was surprised that this issue was released so early, and then Janet reminded me that Christmas is 10 weeks away. Gah!
If you happen to see the issue, it's on the very last page! *happy dance*
It always seems to happen in the final days of summer. I usually can't keep my eyes open past 9 p.m. (I know, don't laugh, put me to bed with the kids. But, I do get up at 5:30, so there's that.), but the last three nights I'm laying there, eyes wide open, thinking about unfinished business. Sunday night, I gave in and went downstairs to finish 4 bags and cut out a slew of wine bags until 1 a.m. - sooooo unlike me!
Last night, it happened again. And again I tried to be productive, which I was until 12:30 a.m. The only problem is, this morning, I really and truly had to get up at 5:30 because today is the first day of school! Of course, right now, I feel like I was hit by a truck, but there's no chance of me climbing back into bed. I just don't do that sort of thing. I'll muddle through the day, have a latte later, and try to finish what I started. Hopefully, by 9 p.m. tonight, I'll be sawing zzzz's.
I'm excited that I'm well on my way to a big site update, it's long overdue! I just need to finish those pouches up there and the new wine bags; oh, and photograph, photoshop, write copy and upload, and then we're golden (nothing happens quickly when you're a one-person show).
And, speaking of wine bags; if I can share some more happy - the October issue of Romantic Homes Magazine is out. While they were here in July shooting my studio, the editor picked up one of my wine bags and said, "Hmmm." Then she went through my stash, made a little collage of fabric & a thread spool, and here you have it!
Sweet. They make everything look so pretty, don't they?
After I committed to exhibiting at the Gift Show, I started getting calls about advertising in the show directory, the new product showcase and banner ads. I was already spending a boatload of money and wanted to put my dollars towards my booth, so I opted to not pay for advertising. The show directory is nice, but when I go to a tradeshow, I don't sit down and read the ads until after I've left the show, so what good would that do me? People are too busy walking the aisles as quickly as they can, they aren't reading.
One thing I did do was prepare about 20 press kits. It's my understanding that almost all tradeshows have a press room where exhibitors can leave their press kits. It's manned by show personnel, and I believe only members of the media have access. I was surprised to see very few exhibitors taking advantage of this opportunity. There were maybe, 20 (if that?) kits on display in racks along the wall. Better for me, I figured - less competition. Almost all my press packs were gone by the last day.
The other free opportunity I took advantage of was the Fashion Show. Called Flaunt, it was staged & produced by Danny Teeson, and was comprised of four really creative vignettes. I was expecting just a (semi-boring) catwalk fashion show, but no, this was a full-on choreographed dance show!
My pictures didn't turn out very well for this either, because these dancers did not stop moving! Lucky for me, my personal videographer stopped by the show on Sunday afternoon and filmed it for us! Take a look - you might want to watch in 'high quality'. We now know you can also dance in my aprons (and do some flips, if that's your thing...)!
Seriously, I don't know what's going on here, but it's insane. So hot. So, very hot. Saturday we had to go into the Valley, of all places, because Colin was receiving an award on a Public Service Announcement he did for his Video Production class, and it won first place in a Digital Voice competition that his teacher submitted it to!
(Colin & his teacher on stage receiving their award)
It was on Water Conservation, and Colin filmed and edited the piece.
It's really pretty awesome, and can be viewed here (although the resolution is not very good). It's amazing to me that Colin has already found his passion and knows what he wants to do in life (and, of course, I love that it's something creative). He's been interning for the last year at the local cable channel here in Palos Verdes, and has had some amazing opportunities. (Last month, he filmed the Long Beach Grand Prix, and actually got to hang out in the pit! Come on, he's freaking 16!) I'm really happy for him - he's having a great time and learning a ton.
(giant Chandelier at Americana at Brand - of course, I only take pictures of Chandeliers...everything else was just a...mall)
After that, since we were already out there, we decided to check out the new outdoor mall in Glendale, Americana at Brand. It was a madhouse. Crowded like I've never seen - crowded like Disneyland. We found a place that didn't have a 2 hour wait for dinner, ate, checked out Barnes & Noble, and left.
Of course, while at Barnes & Noble, I had to find the new A is for Apron book, which has two of my aprons! I walked around with it for a while and was going to purchase, but they are supposed to be sending me a comp copy, and darn it, I'm waiting for my freebie!
I spent the rest of the weekend cutting (and pressing) this weeks' production until I couldn't stand the heat in the workshop anymore!
Oh - and did you think I've forgotten about Dinner Challenge? Well, I haven't. I've just been uninspired, dinnerwise. Yesterday, with the heat and all, it was a perfect day for a cold pitcher of Sangria and grilled Shrimp! And we found the perfect recipe! Check it out!
Back in December (you know, years ago), the editor of Art & Ink contacted me about my Tattoo apron for a future issue of Tattoos for Women. I have to admit, at first, I was a little hesitant. Not because of the magazine. I just wanted to be clear that body art wasn't a lifestyle for me; I just happened to fall in love with the fabric. And one of the things I initially loved about the pattern was (besides the totally cool imagery) that this pattern would appeal to people (like myself) who wouldn't necessarily go out and get a tattoo.
I had totally forgotten about this, but when I opened my PO box on Friday, a big smile spread on my face, and it literally made my day! There was a little interview also, and her synopsis is perfectly written! A bigger, more readable, image is on my Flickr.
Fun stuff...
Have you seen it yet? The premier issue is on the newstands. It's a little like Adorn, all about embellishing clothes and projects, and actually has some potentially fun possiblities. I'm so happy to see more magazines embracing the whole reuse, recycle and refashion philosophy. I have a major magazine obsession, and I love all the craft ideas that are being explored lately. Have you also noticed how the big-time magazines are scoping out and recognizing independent artists and crafters? I love that! It's so inspiring to me read about all the inventive women out there who are continually doing what they love and living their passions.
New magazines are still very fun (at least for me!). I had found a call for submissions to Make It Mine way back sometime over the summer - they have a little gallery on aprons, and of course, I had to submit. They did accept one of my aprons, and here it is!
I had totally forgotten about it, and Beki emailed me Sunday night that she found it, and low and behond, there it was! It's always a thrill to see one of your creations in print - sorry for bad scan, I'm not very good with that machine! There's a little bio-blurb that they kind of chopped up a bit, but you get the gist, and if you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, I think you know what I mean! So, if you see Make It Mine, pick up a copy and check it out! I'm curious to see what you think!
You can also check them out online right here - and check out the submission section right here - it looks like they are looking for how-to articles, step-by-step techniques, profiles & artists' galleries. It's always worth a query, because you just never know...you know? ;)
(*I do! I do!*) I hope that's what you said! Well then, head on over to The Apronista and enter! It's really simple! And, if you post about the giveaway on your own blog, it counts as another entry! How cool is that! Thanks girls!
