A Dream Realized!!!

Hi Everyone,

Well I am just back from the 2009 CHA (Craft and Hobby Assn) Winter Show where I exhibited for the first time in the License and Design Section. I can report it was a very successful show for me.

If you look back in my posts you will see the models of how this booth looked in my head and to see it actually come together was such a thrill for me. I actually got a little misty when it was all set up to see it in the flesh. I had been working on this project officially since August but it really has been since June when I first started thinking about exhibiting. My booth came in second in the L&D area for best booth after my friend Sarah Hodsdon's remarkable and wickedly creative cardboard covered booth. Once I get permission I'll post a pic of her booth too. We were right across from each other and had two of the liveliest booths in the section. It's a good thing we are good friends!

Although traffic was light at the show, the people who were there were serious which was wonderful. I met a lot of great people, including manufacturers who want to have my art on many different product lines which is after all the goal of all this.



The complete thrill of the show for me is when Mary Engelbriet came to my booth. I am such a huge fan of Mary's illustration art work as well as a fan of her magazine Home Companion, which I think is one of the best creative home magazines ever published. I am not one to usually get star struck but I sure was with Mary and she couldn't have been more lovely to speak to. She has inspired me in so many ways that to hear Mary say she loved my work was about the highest compliment an artist can get, and kept me on a high throughout the show. Thanks Mary for your encouragement and hopefully not thinking I'm a dork for being a bumbling fool talking to you!

Please go to the Home Companion Magazine website and post comments that you want them to bring the magazine back. I for one will be lost without it! It is a superb magazine that truly deserves to be saved.

How did it get to be January already?!

If someone could tell me where October, November, and December went I'd really appreciate it! Time has flown as I have been in my studio cranking out art and pieces to show in my booth at the Craft and Hobby Assn Winter Trade Show in Anaheim, CA. I'll post new pics very soon.

I'm waiting for some painted glass and porcelain pieces to come out of the oven, I used a paint called Pebeo Porcelain 150 paint on plain white porcelainware you can get inexpensively anywhere. My plates and teacups came from Ikea and the water goblets came from Crate & Barrel. They are painted with a colorful spring floral pattern and accent patterns with bold colors and elegant and graceful calligraphy like scroll work. Combined it is a stunning look. My friends that have seen it love it and want to take it home with them to show to all their girlfriends! Now that I have you intriqued, you'll just have to wait for the pics!

Only 17 more days left until I leave for Anaheim for the show. I'll post pics of the booth as soon as I get home. I hope it turns out as beautiful and amazing as I think it will!

Until next time - test out your own creativity, what have you done to be creative today?

New booth number for the CHA Show in January

The License and Design Section of the CHA Winter Show, the one I'm gearing up for has been moved from it's location on the show floor to an even better spot, so my booth number has changed. Come visit me at my new booth 2631. We will be towards the front of Hall C, behind new exhibitors and in front of the International Pavillions.

Stop by early and often as I will be offering a host of mini demos and creative lifestyle tips, along with great art and products available for licensing, that can help you as my tag line says, "Create the beautiful life one project at a time!" We aim to be a destination of upscale creativity at the show!

For editors, manufacturers, TV, and Internet Press attending the show I'll also be at the Designer Showcase, the reception and meet and greet is Saturday night, January 24th and the closed door opprtunity to view showcases is on Sunday (1/25). For more details check out the CHA show website, www.chashow.org .

I've just gotten my booth number for the CHA Winter Show

I just found out late yesterday afternoon that my booth number in the License and Design Section at the CHA Winter Show will be 3189. The license and design section will be in the back of Hall C. Look for the Basic Grey Company booth and I'll be right behind it. If you'll be attending the show, please stop by and see me! I'd love to say hello.

Let's try that again!

Sorry for the photo posting error in the last post, here are the photos that I refer to in the post. The top photo is my handpainted sign for the booth. The second is a mock up of my booth for the CHA Winter Show (although it has already changed slightly). The third is my mini tablescape that will be in my booth, and the last the back tablescape.

Now I have to get back to the studio to finish cranking out all this!

15 weeks until I unveil this!

Here's what I'm working on now. My booth and everything in it for the CHA
(Craft and Hobby Assn) Winter Show in Anaheim, CA in January 2009.

Here's a sneak peek at my booth sign that I hand painted.














Here's a scale mock up what my booth will be. My booth will be located
in the License and Design area of the show, where artists and designers can
feature their artwork to be licensed by manufacturers. Art Directors, Publishers, Magazine Editors, Television, and Internet companies case this
area to discover their next big talent.











One of my passions is creative entertaining. My booth wouldn't be complete without one
of my signature creative tablescapes with my hand painted placesettings and accessories.
There will even be a floral centerpiece that is completely made out of paper and coffee filters,
yes I said coffee filters!

This is what the back table in my booth will look like. Another larger
paper flower arrangement and other products lines I have developed.

I'm really excited about the show and the opportunity. Now lets hope given
the economy the buyers will come and BUY!

I'll make sure to update you on items I've made for my booth as well as
what the actual booth really looks like when I set it all up!

Licensing my art and creating product lines are a dream come true for me,
showing at this show is the next step towards exhibiting my art and products
at such major New York shows like Surtex, The Stationery Show, and The
Licensing Show.

Wish me luck!

I'm Back!

When I first started this blog back in March I didn't imagine it would take me this long to get back to blogging but with a three year old daughter and a four month old son, you can imagine things can get crazy quite quickly!

So what's new? Lots of things. I am starting a new and forging off in new directions. Many people know me and my creative work from my columnist days for Create & Decorate magazine, one of my many freelance articles or projects, or from TV and internet video segments I have done. After dipping my toe into new waters I am now going off into the world of licensing and product development. I will be exhibiting at the Craft and Hobby Association's (CHA) Winter Show in the License and Design section where art directors, manufacturer's, publishers, editors, television, and internet companies can look at my work and experience my brand of creative lifestyle.

On the consumer front, I am moving forward with bringing my luxury stationery company Bliss Seeker Ink to the internet through a website called Etsy.com. I am currently building my online store and it should be live mid to late September. It will start by featuring my beautiful photography on premium Italian cardstock that is so beautiful to write on. They just might inspire you to ditch email for your next note or card you send. More info will be coming when the webstore goes live! Stay tuned!

I have to get back to working in the studio while I have a free five seconds to myself! Have a creative day!