Sommer Designs

Finished: Hedgerow SOCKS!

 

Oh Lord. I just had to finish these before I blew my brains out. Okay, that's a little drastic overstatement. But have you ever gotten so sick and tired of something that you actually didn't want to finish it?

They started with such...eagerness. Such zest. What went wrong? It's all my fault, and I take full responsibility. I'm so angry with myself for deviating from the pattern on the instep and going to plain ribbing. I was nervous and unsure of myself, and took, what I thought to be the easy way out. While it was the easy way out, it completely changed the sock. This was a monumental lesson to me.

Also, I will probably never use ShiBui again for socks. While I think the yarn is beyond gorgeous, it knit up super dense for me. I'm sure it will be fine, and I actually wore them all day yesterday and they felt fine (they actually felt quite good).

So there you have it. Carrie actually finished a pair of socks. Woot!

ALSO!! I want to thank my friends over at Rare Bird Finds for the shout out on my Lavender Liners yesterday! Thanks kids!

Blogging for Bliss!

This is what I call, a good blogging week. Blogging doesn't always come naturally. Some days, I have a lot to share, others, not so much. Lately, I've been in extreme summer mode, and the lazy days and warm weather have inspired me to do little. I've learned, over the years, to go with it. Inspiration and productivity spark and wane. It's normal. I never wanted this endeavor to be forced.

Today, I can finally share something I've wanted to tell you for weeks, months even, but if you've been reading this blog for a while, you pretty much know I can't spill the beans until I see it in real life! Well, my darlings, I'm thrilled and honored, and oh, so humbled, to be included in Tara Frey's new book, Blogging for Bliss!

 

How gorgeous is that cover? Would you expect anything less from darling Tara? I think not.

 

When Tara asked me to be a contributor, of course I said yes (who wouldn't?). But I really had no idea what to expect - a book on blogging? I've been at it so long (this is my 5th year! I started at Blogger and moved to this platform some time ago) that at this point, it's second nature. But I still run into so many people who are interested in blogging and want to blog, but have no idea where to start. My advice is to just do it. Jump in and swim.

Tara is much more succinct and clear, and quite notably, patient. She has developed a manual with, besides interviews with a bevy of bloggers (whom I am floored to be among), advice, direction and instruction on what you actually have to do to start a blog - she reviews the different platforms, talks about finding your voice, tips on using photos, naming your blog, simple HTML code, how to get traffic to your blog and the all important blog etiquette. Tara has left no blog-stone unturned. I am impressed beyond words.

This is truly a Blog Bible.
The Good Book of Blogging.

If you have always wanted to start a blog, but have no idea where to begin, you must buy this book. Even if you already have a blog, and you want to amp it up, I would recommend this book. Even if you are a seasoned blogger, and love reading about creative women, go. get. this. book. We all read each others' blogs, but rarely to do we get the opportunity to find out what makes each other tick. It's all here. Wonderful. Congratulations Tara. You are a rock star.

Okay, there's more! Kari from ArtsyMama is hosting a book release party today! You can hop over there and read a little interview she has with Tara, as well as links to other bloggers that are participating in the release party. She's also having a giveaway - one lucky winner will win a copy of the book from her.

I want to mention that I will also be having a Blogging for Bliss book giveaway! BUT, I can only handle one giveaway at a time (I know, what a ditz!)! Plus, I want to have my publishers giveaway copy in hand when I do the giveaway (I haven't received it yet - I don't want the winner to have to wait!). Soooo, stay tuned! As soon as I get my copy, you'll be the first to know and will have the opportunity to enter.

Can't wait? I sure couldn't. Blogging for Bliss is now available at most book retailers, as well as Amazon.

Hello, we're back!

 

We had a great time - visited Pismo Beach, San Jose (Winchester Mystery House, yo) and San Francisco. Pretty much the same trip we took last year, except this time we visited San Francisco State University for the soon-to-be college attendees. Instead of boring you here with tons of photos, if you are interested, they are on my Flickr!

ALSO! Remember this? Well, apparently it aired this morning! I can't believe it, but I missed my 15 minutes of fame! Tell me I didn't make too much of an ass of myself please? I've been checking the episodes every couple of weeks and didn't see anything...and just sort of...forgot. So. Hopefully I'll catch myself on rerun. Can you believe it? It's so something I would do.

Romantic Homes Magazine! SQUEEL!

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.

Seven Totes.

 

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*

I seem to have become an insomniac.

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?

Business Talk: {Free} Promo Opportunities

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...)!

Direct link to You Tube

Making it pretty.

We spent Monday and Tuesday fanatically cleaning the house and studio. Lucky for me, Scott had so much vacation time accumulated that he had to take some time off and chose this week. We cleaned, we polished, we sorted and we dumped, and in the end, we pulled bins and boxes and piles into the kids rooms and the side yard. It just had to be out of the way! I had a reason, and an opportunity that was just too precious to pass up!

Romantic Homes Magazine came to photograph my studio and dining rooms yesterday!  The editor had contacted me a few weeks ago about using one of my aprons in another photo shoot, and in the chatty back and forth emails, asked to see pictures of my home and studio (I died.)

Getting ready was so stressful; what do I do? Should I stage? Clean everything? Will they mind the piles of paperwork? What about the boxes upon boxes that are building in my workshop in preparation for the Gift Show? I cleaned and cleared and bought huge amounts of flowers.

By the time they arrived, I was a mess. But, within minutes, calmed down, because they are just so, so, so nice. So warm, so appreciative, and so easy to be with. It was nothing like what I imagined.

Jacqueline & Jaimee were so easy to work with, and I loved watching them. Jacqueline has such an incredible eye, and pulls things from different places, groups them together and then goes for these simple, tight shots that just look amazing. Jaimee had the most amazing camera equipment that had me drooling, and I bombarded her with questions almost nonstop. She also has a great eye and I loved watching her work.

While they were here, they styled and shot what I think are the potential cover shots for an upcoming issue (that had nothing to do with my shots, but were on deadline, so they did them here). I can't wait to see those too.

I really had no idea which rooms in the house they were going to use, and even if they were going to use any of them, so I cleaned them all out! I've driven my family crazy for the past week (children: did they tell you to polish the silver? me: no. children: did they tell you clean that? me: no. children: did they tell you...?" me: no.)

I ended up setting and staging the dining tables, which they used. I think this whole shoot was for the March issue, but I'm not sure (believe me, you know I'll let you know!). They are also working on a table top book and I think some of the shots will be included there too, and that was an added bonus!

Four hours later, they breezed out of here and I was left with a house that I didn't want to put back together! Why can't it just stay this way for a little while? Seriously, the boys rooms were so packed they couldn't even get to their beds, and the side yard was filled with extra bins and boxes of...junk. Putting it all back you can't help but wonder where all this stuff comes from and why you bought it in the first place.

Well, now the tables are unset, the linens and silver put away, but the flowers remain. For a short time, they'll be a great reminder of fun day and will have me dreaming and wondering about how it will all come together. I'm sure it will be wonderful, I can't wait to see it!

My first VIDEO!

Well, I'm going to stop cringing long enough to post this. While at the Palos Verdes Street Fair a couple of weeks ago, RPV-TV Channel 33 was interviewing some vendors. And, they interviewed me. I have to admit, I had a little *in* here - my son, Colin, was the video operator that day (he also did the editing - he's so awesome!), and the interviewer was a previous customer, so all my stars were alligned in the Universe for this.

It's weird watching yourself, don't you think? I sound really nasally, and I was trying hard to speak slowly because when I'm nervous, I tend to speak fast. I did a really bad job of trying to seem relaxed and natural, and you can tell I'm uncomfortable because I can't stop moving my hands.

But, oh. Stop. It was fun, and now it's online and I've moved into the new millenium with a video. Go, see. But don't say I didn't warn you. Jeesh. There I go again. I'm leaving now.

Ink, ink.

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...