Sommer Designs

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...

There's a new kid on the block - Make It Mine Magazine

 

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? ;)

The weekend in pictures and links...

It's gotten brrr, chilly in sunny Southern California! I know it's nothing for the majority of you folks out there...high 60's - low 70's is probably tee shirt and shorts weather, but it's a good enough excuse for us to pull out the sweaters and scarves and bundle up. At least for me it is!

My weekend started on Friday as I sat in one of the plastic blue chairs at the DMV as my older sons took their driving tests for their drivers' permits! Hello? When did I become the parent of teenage driving boys? But I got to knit while I waited...and they both passed!

Sunday was the Special Children's League Boutique, and while the setting was a beautiful courtyard, we only got a couple hours of actual boutique-ing as it started to drizzle just after the ladies went in for their lunch!

Those doors behind me came in quite handy - it was a mad scramble to get it all indoors! But, before the drizzle started, guess what I was doing?

I'm hoping to get to end of my first skien by tomorrow so my new friends can show me how to join the yarn. My scarf is a little wider than I had hoped it would be (I am now counting at the end of each row, but I think I started with 25 or 30 stitches, and somehow I grew to 42.), but I am really liking this. I know this is ambitious, but I really want to make something like this or this. We'll see.

Oh, and this is fun! Adorn Magazine Blog picked up my doily skirt on Friday! I didn't even realize it was a project from their premier issue, and had to go dig it out! The inspiration must have been in my subconscious - I love their take on it too, and I now find myself going through those baskets of long forgotten doily's and lace at the thrifts. So many ideas and inspiration - so little time. Thanks Adorn!

Oh, gush.

I was going to come over here this morning and tell you about 4 new aprons I'll be uploading sometime today - perfect for fall, perfect for gifts, perfect for you!

But instead, you'll have to listen to me gush. I can't help it. Remember this? Well, I happened upon this yesterday!

Wow! I'm so over-the-top happy and overjoyed and humbled!Please read about the other women they are featuring...it is so inspiring, and I'm so honored to be included! The products we pitched are going to be in the November issue of Country Living, which should be out very soon - I'm running to the mailbox everyday this week!

I could go on and on about this and how hard I worked for this, but you don't need to hear that. I think we all work hard, but it's so much easier when it's something you love and believe in, right? When it feels right, you just know it. And when you are doing something you love, even though you fall into bed at the end of the day, totally and completely exhausted, you are happy.

I have amazing, fantastic, tremendous news.

This is actually a little hard for me. I hope you know I am the humblest person in the world. I cringe in the limelight, have the worst time in front of groups of people, and am just plain horrified with attention. I belong to two networking groups, and whenever we go around the room introducing ourselves and giving our 30 second elevator pitch, I typically start hyperventilating and often can be found practicing Lamaze breathing.

I know I eluded to something last Friday, and I apologize for not spilling the beans sooner, but I wanted to make sure it was okay before doing so. Imagine getting this far, only to have the carpet pulled from beneath. And all the while, I kept expecting the reply to be, "oh, we're so sorry. There has been a terrible mistake."

Can you believe how I can drag out a story? Aren't you glad you don't live with me?

Remember, back in March, when I flew to Chicago for the Country Living/Ladies Who Launch Women's Entrepreneur Conference? It was an amazing experience. What I didn't mention was that you were able to apply to 'pitch your product' to a panel of editors prior to the conference. Which I did. It was probably the singlemost scariest experience, for me. You had 5 minutes - 3 to pitch, 2 for questions, and in that short time you had to convey everything about your product, company, mission, philosophy, personality, passion and dreams.

But the two editors I met with were so genuine and so nice, and did everything to put me at ease (of course it didn't help that there was someone at the back of the room with their eyes glued to a timer, ready to tell me 'time's up'). I left that room feeling like I had done as best a job I could do, which was all I could do. I looked around the waiting room, and there was so much talent and so much ambition, I felt like such a small fish. But I was so proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone, and actually doing something instead of just thinking about it, and dreaming about it.

Jump to May, when they called and asked for samples - and I was so beside myself, I couldn't believe it. I was bursting, but couldn't say anything, not wanting to jinx anything! Then, nothing. The initial letter said participants would be notified by June 20, and the silence was killing me!

I got a call last week (June 20, of course...) letting me know that my company, my little business that I've grown organically, and put my heart and soul into, was one of the businesses chosen from that product search! I think there were 120 businesses in all that pitched, and 9 were chosen. I started to cry when I heard the news. I'm so honored. I'm so flattered. I'm so thankful. I'm so happy and I'm so scared.

It is a huge dream come true...I'm going to be in Country Living Magazine! I'm not sure, but I think it's going to be the November issue. I'm not sure, but I think I have a lot of work to do before then!

I'm so happy to be able to share this, and I want to say, it is all of you, with your nice comments and support and encouragement, that enables me to go forward. I mean that in all sincerity. There would be no Sommer Designs without the incredible network of women out there who are doing what they love every single day. You are my inspiration.

Some things are fun to share

Scott has had this entire week off. It's been so nice to have him around! Well, of course it is! We got tons done in the garage this week, and thanks to my free weekend last weekend, I haven't been sewing like a madwoman all week getting ready for tomorrow's fair. I got done what I got done, and that's all I'm getting done. I love it when I make those proclamations.

I'm so excited for this weekend! This is the third year I am doing the Palos Verdes Street Fair, and I can't believe how much has changed in those three years. The first year, I scheduled friends to help me all day long, the entire weekend! I couldn't bear the thought of being alone, and dealing with people. I felt so insecure in my ability to sell my creations, and was embarrassed when complimented.

Now, I love working the fairs. I love getting there early, meeting the other vendors, and setting up by myself. I take complete pride in the fact that I can haul all that stuff myself, and get that baby set up and torn down alone. I love my little 10 x 10 space, and I love decorating it. I love being a shopgirl for a weekend. And I love meeting the people that come into my little space! Everyone is always so nice, and I've met the greatest people, have had the most wonderful interactions, and have made the best contacts.

I remember last year being annoyed that the PV Street Fair was going to continue into the evening. I thought it was the dumbest thing in the world! But then, it was a horrifyingly hot weekend, seriously like 100 degrees, which is rare in early June here. By the time dusk rolled around, it was beautiful! And people came out and shopped! And the band was playing, and Scott came by with a cooler of Pina Coladas. That was very cool.

It's a bit cooler this year. We've had overcast skies in the morning, but it's cleared up nicely by mid-afternoon. My friend Susan is next to me again, and even if it is a bit cool, I made sure there are plenty of Bacardi Mixers in the freezer for that cooler of Pina Coladas. There will be music all day and all night - Saturday from 10 -10 p.m. and Sunday from 10 - 9 p.m. If you live nearby, I do hope you'll stop by and say hi!

Oh! And my sharing! This is fun! Look for my Aqua Cardinal Hostess Apron in the July issue of Romantic Homes Magazine! It's the Nest exclusive apron and there are still some left!

A day to remember...with HGTV

I don't even know where to start on this one! What an amazing experience! The day started early (8:00 a.m.) when the producer, cameraman & sound mixer blew into my studio to 'clean' it. Everything that had a brand name had to be covered or hidden & I had to get miked (wheee! I got to wear a wireless with a tiny, little transmitter on my fanny - okay, my belt). Then we took the dogs and went to the park for my opening and closing, and some very, very silly stunts. If you have ever seen "That's Clever!" you know they make the crafter do all sorts of silly things with a lot of ENTHUSIASM! You can look forward to me dancing in the park, doing the invisible hula hoop and shaking my booty. Disclosure: I have no rhythm and can't dance, even if my life depended on it. They didn't care. This was the first of many forthcoming embarrassing moments.

We scooted back to the studio and started a very long day of taping!

I think I had just finished making a burp cloth here and had to demonstrate its' use. Complete with a burp. Yes. That's right. There is a good possibility that I will burp, out loud, on national television. I can only imagine what my mother will say, because I'm sure all her friends will be watching and she's all about appearances, and oh, can you believe she raised a daughter like that?

Once again, they totally rearranged my studio so they wouldn't have to move the lights around all day. It was probably a good idea, but at first, it really messed up my chi (I discovered I did have one as I tried to adapt to my new set up).

The production crew had an amazing amount of patience, because I can't even begin to tell you the number of takes and retakes we had to do - everything with a lot of ENTHUSIASM! I kept saying 'we' and 'our' and 'your' instead of 'I' and 'me' and 'my', and forgetting to look at the camera (it IS unnerving!) and I think my director was ready to sock me halfway through the day. But he was so cool.

All the step outs are incredibly handy and move everything right along, luckily. And, the director kept me in line, on track, and fed me my lines constantly. I couldn't believe how professional, but how fun, these people were. Of course, I think it's their job to make it fun for the subject, but still, they were forever coming up with silly expressions and things for me to say and do.

I also have a new appreciation for these behind-the-scenes people who totally make this happen! They are moving and schlepping and jumping up and down - and when they finally left my house at 4 p.m. they went to another shoot in San Pedro! I didn't think about how tired I was until that  point - I was going on pure adrenalin. But, oh. After they left and I sat down with a cup of hot chai and a granny, my legs let me know! And it was all I could do to peel myself off the couch and climb a million stairs to my bedroom and hot shower.

They got footage of me and my doggies at the park, and in the backyard. Scott worked at home and played houseboy for me all day and took all these pictures, and provided us with our Italian deli lunch! As I've said before, he's a keeper.

Oh, and when can you expect this masterpiece to air? Set your TIVO for SPRING 2008! Gah! I can't believe I have to wait a whole year! I'm thinking I'll forget about it (fat chance) and will be surprised all over again next year! I'll keep you posted! Fingers crossed for lots of cuts!

Small steps.

Baby steps, really. That's my mantra in life and business. This week has been all about steps; step outs, as they are called, and me, trying to visualize where they will occur and what exactly needs to be done. I've tried writing it all down, making a list - because that's something I'm good at. Even my lists are confusing to me though.

The step outs are for my HGTV shoot next week, and to cut down on unneccessary time, this is the way it's done (apparently, as I'm told. Because I don't do this on a regular basis. Ever, really.). A bunch of partially completed bags - bag parts in various stages of completion. I said that, right? See? I can confuse everyone.

It's all a little esoteric for me; I like the straight shoot, working on something from beginning to end, not really just creating parts of things.

And I've had a hard time; not just because this week also happened to be spring break for my kids and they were home (and I kept having to start and stop again, never really progressing from A to B in any portion of what I was trying to do), but also because it was just hard for me to singalize (word? maybe it's singleout.) my thoughts into, something like, 1 pocket, 1 pocket pressed, 1 pocket sewn.

Because, that's theoretically three bags right there, if you do it all correctly and in order. I had to go with the bigger picture, because that's how my mind works. So, there are a lot of bags, in various stages of completion, ready for my shoot. I'm still not ready. {Most importantly, I still don't know what to wear!}

I've also had to do a major clean sweep through the area. I have to take down all my pretty artwork, which makes me sad because it is all such a big part of me and my creative process. Still working on that! I'll wait until the very last minute to remove the evidence of my personality, and will replace them with other nondescript items of inspiration; like vintage seam binding, buttons, ribbons and other effects and possessions - because no matter what, my area still has to say 'me' and be 'me'.

Mmmm. Vintage binding. Ribbon. Buttons.

Thank you for all the lovely comments and emails yesterday!

I thought I had run out of blog material.

Really, I was going to take today off. Then, I got an email from an old web design client of mine: "You are on the front page of the PV news and I haven't even read it yet but I had to e-mail you right away."

Bolted from the computer, ran outside in my pajamas, ripped the plastic from the fog-drenched publication, to find this:

Egads! Remember? It was this day, and remember how I said I was chattering away {nervously} and he (the photographer) probably got a picture of me with my mouth open? Well...

Still, I'm quite happy! Shanna did a lovely job (thanks so much!), and if they upload it to the site soon, I'll come back and provide a link!

ETA: Here it is!

Want to win this bag?

Our friends over at Rare Bird Finds have announced a nifty new contest, and our Mod Spring Malaga Bag is the first giveaway! Yay us! Head on over there to enter!

Also, thanks to Indie Fixx for the shout out on our Lavender Drawer Liners! Yes! They DO make a fabulous Mother's Day gift!