Craft & Hobby Association Show Here I Come

Show seasons is upon us! Last week was the Atlanta Gift Show and this weekend I’m getting ready to drive down to Anaheim, CA for the Craft & Hobby Association Show.

I have spent the last couple of days printing and assembling promo packets for potential clients. My poor printer gets a good workout doing these. I am putting the new studio to good use – if you look closely above you can see a teeny tiny part of it. I am just waiting to hang my window treatments before I take “official” pictures of it for the blog.

I can’t wait to see what great creative goodies and inspiration I can find at the show. They have a great seminar program so I will be in school quite a bit of the time but my agent, Jan, at Painted Planet Licensing Group, will be showing my portfolio of artwork to manufacturers at their booth ( # 1743 ). Stop by if you’re at the show.

Wishing You All an Inspiring Weekend!

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New Office Setup for the New Year

 

 

Last year I graduated to a wide format monitor for my office and I instantly fell in love!  So since I have just finished my new Studio ( I promise to post pictures soon!) I have more room at my desk.  So, what could be better than one fabulous large monitor to work on?  Two monitors of course…..

The Hubby and I went to Frey’s yesterday and I picked up a new friend for my monitor.  Now I have twins.  They are not identical though.  The new one is smarter and brighter than the old one.  ( I know you are not supposed to have favorites among your children but I can’t help myself) 

  

Now I can put all of my tools and files one one monitor and work in Photoshop on the other without having to constantly rearrange my open files.  Hallelujah!  It is so fantastic I can’t even tell you.   The Hubby accused me of building an evil lair from which I can dominate the world.  I do feel a bit like Doctor Evil with all of my gadgetry surrounding me now.

 

Adding to the family doesn’t come without compromise though.  I now have an unbelievable huge gaggle of cords, plugs, hubs, connections and  drives.  No matter how hard I try I cannot make them look good on my desk.  It bothers me like you can’t believe.  After all I like to make things look pretty and gross metal hardware and yucky black wires don’t fit that mold.  

 

  

The cords on the floor are an even bigger problem (please don’t look at my dust – I need to sweep)

 

 

But just like with my real kids if I just look at the all of their good attributes and how adorable they are I can put up with the bad.  

     

 

Stay tuned for a tour of the new Studio.

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New Projects for the New Year

I’m starting off the New Year like I ended 2011, by working. After a great weekend with the Hubby, family and friends in Del Mar, Ca, I am back in my office working on new artwork. January 10 will be the anniversary of my decision to delve into the world of art licensing. It’s been a fun and educational year for me, culminating with my agent, Jan, from Painted Planet Licensing taking my portfolio to the Atlanta art licensing show for the first time.

After a lot of trial and error I finally feel like I am slowly defining my style after a year of bouncing all over the place with no direction. I’ve never thought of myself as an artist. I’ve always related more to the title of designer so it’s hard for me to think of my work as art. I guess I see myself more as a decorative artist or product designer. Trying to compete in an industry filled with amazingly talented “real” artists is pretty daunting but I am no stranger to rejection and failure. They have been my constant companions throughout my various careers and I have always somehow come out ahead. Probably because I am so stubborn and just work myself to death until I get it right. Practice makes perfect!!!

My next huge project for this year is the illustrating catalog for the Helser Brothers Jackie Von Tobel Collection catalog for my signature drapery hardware line!!!!

I am thrilled to be working on this and we plan to launch the line at the IWCE show in Chicago in April. I can’t wait to see it all finished. This has been a huge undertaking for Helser Brothers and they have been fantastic to work with. I can’t wait to show you all the finished product line – it is Fabulous!!!!

I hope you are all working on fabulous new creations in your lives for the new year. May 2012 see all of your dreams and aspirations come true………………………………….

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