CalligraphyPets: A Giveaway!!

On CreativeGoddess, I'm hosting my first giveaway:
A CalligraphyPets Embroidered Towel.


Contest ends August 28, enter now!!

Home Depot Disappointment

While Andrew and I were running errands tonight, we had to stop by Home Depot tonight to pick up wood to build frames for my upcoming show. Because HD carried the wood that he really likes, Andrew -despite my dubious angst- insisted that we stop and pick up a sheet of it and get it cut. After 20 minutes of waiting and several calls to have someone help us at the mammoth electric saw and no response, we walked out... well, not quietly.

I'm sure you know how frustrating it is to get help; more so when a bunch of unresponsive, frosty employees stand around ringing their hands with seemingly nothing to do. Well, I won't be returning for a loooong while. Lowe's has always been my preferred lumberyard and they always will be. Be wary of those masking arrogance with helpfulness.

While returning home and fuming in the car (both of us quietly seething) I announced that instead of writing the title: Home Depot Sucks!, I decided I would do something a little more constructive. The Zagats were a couple who began writing restaurant reviews in NYC several decades ago, so I decided I would do the same for the locals, but in areas where we know a great deal -namely areas where we do the bulk of our shopping. Stay tuned for a links list!

There are several stores and services that we frequent and we make appoint of it to get to know them and form a relationship. Yes, it's tougher to do at a mega-warehouse, although, those said businesses keep a tap on the 'net and all things said, so they'll find this post soon enough.

Meanwhile, I'll let you know that among all the Home Depots in Raleigh, the one on Strickland (conveniently across the street from Goodberry's) is one of the most responsive ones. The HD in Cary (Crossroads Village) is one of the worst!

A Lowe's in any location beats them (HD) hands down.

Weekend Update

Sheeeeew! For a relaxing weekend, it was busy!

After keeping my nose to the grind stone, I find that my list continues to grow. Art shows, product designs and development, plus I also realized that there was much that I wanted to create for my family before we head up to meet them next weekend. I view this weekend as a birthday catch-all weekend gathering because unfortunately, I rarely see my nieces and nephew. Perhaps once a year... if that? Moreover, I want to create birthday presents from my studio, not buy them a giftcard and call it a day, although, they'd probably prefer it!

Anyhow, while I can't say much (everything's a surprise!) and I'm not sure just how much of my blog they doooooo read, I promise to take photos. I will say that I've been playing with leather, canvas, sterling silver, paints, wood, paper, and who knows what else?

If there's a cat fight among the kids, I know I've done my job well. Pray for a cat fight! Pray for a cat fight!

Movie recommendation from Chez Hayden's:
The Triplets of Bellevilleresides in our permanent library and definitely belongs in everyone's collection -especially if you're an artist, a cyclist, or both!

Licensed!

Woo-hoo! I've managed to license two of my Renaissance snowflake images as holiday greeting cards. Naturally, I was inspired by the classic styles within the Renaissance period and of course, the blustering scenes outside of Hogwarts leaded glass windows. I just couldn't help myself -such a romantic period!

The press release has more info.

Advice for the Young

Keith Ferrazzi has posted a question on his site about basic things you wished you had done as a teenager to boost your career and life.

I know that I wish I had learned early to recognize the people who cared and learned trust them. I did embody a fierce dedication to trust myself as I got my hands dirty learning as many skill sets as possible so that I would always have the power to make money and never get bored.

Here are my tips to the young (I'll probably add more later):

1. Try absolutely everything (within legal reason)
2. Embrace your invincibility.
3. Decide your passions.
4. Develop hobbies.
5. Continue to build your skill sets that will support your future endeavors
6. Learn to support your friends
7. Learn how to say thank you
8. Learn how to take a compliment
9. Learn how to be a good winner (I've seen some pretty bad behavior after colleagues won a match)
10. Become a musician (it's a meditative & powerful brain stimulant)
11. Become a painter (this balances the bias of the left brain)
12. Read voraciously
    
13. Read a variety
    
14. Read philosophy
15. Form your own opinion. (If you don't know how, ask a trusted mentor/teacher how she feels about the article.)
16. Be a perpetual student of life
17. Help others
18. Become a confidant
19. Beome a mentor
20. Embrace karma
21. Embrace humor (life is too short for sour grapes)
22. Travel
23. Embrace other lifestyles
24. Embrace other cultures
    
25. Above all: Trust yourself.

Obviously, this is a WIP (work-in-progress) list. What would you add?

Contacts: Skills, Building, & Maintaining Your Network

I'm a huge fan of Keith Ferrazzi and his book "Never Eat Alone." I highly recommend this book, specifically to artists who'd rather sit in the corner and create art because they fear rejection.

I'm an introvert -I'm also professionally shy. There, I said it! Yes, that's right, I'm shy. If you're an artist, chances are pretty good that you're shy as well, to a degree. Remember, being an introvert is different than being shy. Being both can be paralyzing, and that can be detrimental to your business as an entrepreneur.

Keith has created (what some call) a 'playbook' for the executive art of building a network of powerful relationships and it has helped me immensely. He's helped me shed the insecurities that prevent my personal success, he's provided scripting to parlay my shyness with my potentially affronting effervescence, and provided insight to the powerful figures of today like Bill Clinton and the Dalai Lama.

Bonus: Webcast!
Skills & Techniques for Building & Maintaining Your Network of Contacts
If you haven't bought the book but would like a little more insight, you can watch Keith's online event. This webcast reveals one of the most common mistakes people make when building relationships for career success, as well as the importance of showing your contacts that you are not only professional, but human.

Once you watch the video (watch thru to the end of the Q&A, too), you'll want the book.

Additionally, more free webcasts on Microsoft's site to boost your potential.
http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/small-business-summit/2006.mspx

Raleigh: Open Arts Market?

Well! It looks like City Market in Raleigh is trying to compose an open arts market in Moore Square. In theory, the idea is fine, the application however, needs more work... and I'm still disappointed.

City Market Extends An Invite to Artists

Raleigh still will not allow artists to participate in the weekly farmer's market held on Wednesday's due to the fact that the bureaucrats believe art will conflict with organic foods. Oy! I guess this is Raleigh's pitiful answer to the artists screaming for open arts.

Andrew and I cruised thru Moore Square today and it was dead except for one artist who was positioned under an awning in the sweltering 95º. It might have been hot, but there wasn't an ongoing venue within the square that would encourage folks to -at the very least- come downtown. The farmer's market is still is a better option because the traffic from lunchtime white collars are the artist's optimal customers.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Andrew and I took the day off and played together. We found ourselves lunching at our wedding venue, the NC Museum of Art and collecting our fabulous anniversary cake made by our original cake designer, Jennifer Hicks. It's become tradition (because it's so darn tasty!) as that chocolate cake/chocolate mousse layer is addictive, so it got special place in our fridge while we ran out and played s'more.



After our day of play, Andrew cooked dinner for the 2 of us: halibut with broccoli and a nice little bottle of Regusci Chardonnay. Upon one of his solo trips to Napa, he picked up this gem to add to his collection. Nine years later, we enjoyed it on our anniversary.

The legs were just gorgeous and the color was devine. What a fantastic nose with a splendid after finish -very light!

Simpsons Avatar

I found the SimpsonMovie link among those who have discovered how to create their own personal avatar in the form of a Simpson character. This happens to be both Andrew's & mine:

The Fourth: A Holiday, Right?

Let's see...

Andrew is busy playing demolition man with my bathroom. The former double vanity used to bite me each time I'd move or I could never fully open the closet inside the bath then doorknobs would punch me- -ugh! I'm pretty tired of the bruises on my hips! One day we'll bull-doze this house, but until then...



I almost became a widow over the weekend because of this damn house.

You can see some of the progress Andrew is making on the bath here: andrewhayden.com/renov

When he's not busy trying to electrocute himself, he actually finds time to make me gourmet dindin!! I love that man of mine!


Ahi Tuna on a bed of mango salsa & edamame.

NYC Signage

Many a folk ask us why we enjoy and why we prefer NYC to recharge our batteries rather than a remote cabin or beach... Frankly, it's for the daily life that exists.



It's real, it's gritty, it's alive.

As transplants, the South is nice, but it's becoming homogenous -well, it has for awhile. NYC offers surprises around every corner. I've snapped a few of them because they were charming or alarming.


NY City Subway -always has innovative advertising series. This is features Perrier Water.

Licensing Show

We gave ourselves 2 hours to walk the Fine Art section of the Licensing Show to determine if this was a right fit for our work. We noticed that most of the conglomerates were the same as Surtex, but pulled out character driven illustrations to license -something we don't have... yet.

The Branding section was interesting, much like wild Las Vegas in only 10,000 sqfeet. I would akin an experience walking this show to getting into an amusement park and not being able to enjoy any of the rides or entertainment. All the big guys (WB, Mattell, Seasame Street, American Greetings) had gated areas where their clients came to eat, drink, and be entertained by celebrity music. Someone had a Bad Emily bag and it was on my list to go see, but we forgot because we were getting hungry and Andrew was waiting for Claire's call. Plus, we generally can't get anything from those booths -can't even take photos to show you what is going to hit the market this next year. Drat.

Studio Report: Strokes of Genius!!

Weeks prior to it's original release date, Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing is now on bookshelves!!

Last year at Surtex, the publisher came by my booth and we talked for some time about the initial submission process. Evidently, there were over 3000 submissions world wide and only ~100 artists got admitted. Most of them got 1 or 2 at best. Nine out of my eleven submissions were accepted!! Holy smokes! Nine!!

I still can't believe it.

Tonight, I received an email from the publisher asking me to write a book or two on my work. I'll probably wait a few years before I consider such an endeavor -need to make some money first!! Who said authors were rich, anyway?

Meanwhile, I'm searching out ways to purchase books at bulk so that I can pass the savings on to friends and family.

Who wants an autograph?

Woo-hoo! Nine!

Designer Watch: SUVAWear & Natalya

Each time we walk NYC, we have to head back to a favorite shopping spot in NOHO called EDGE*ny. Two years ago, we found within, an innovative designer, Natalya Bagrova of SUVA who provides wearable photography on hip clothing.



















When we first met Natalya (complete with Siberian accent), I picked up a zippered-front black jacket donned with a vibrant peacock (looks a bit Star Trekkish) that I absolutely love. Each article is attached with a story of where she and her beau took the photographs from around the world. It's too bad, however, it seems as though she's phasing out the jackets -they're so comfy!!

Last week, I had to continue the peacock line (New Zealand) with a tank and a new image of sterling charms on red background (India). I should have picked up the sexy v-neck shown below, but you can still see from the photo above, I was laiden with that damn head cold. My head not work.

Surtex: Day 3

Final Day

While cyclical, the last day [at Surtex] was good. There were a number of folks who were refreshed looking at my work that was utterly different than others and believed they could use my work to transition out of the 'rest of the crap.' (Yes, we've actually had mfg say this directly to us!) So, it's a matter of nursing the headcold, not do a damn thing over the weekend and then hit them hard over the next 2 weeks to get into their review cycles.

One series in particular that I created per the need of one mfg was really impressed with the amount of information I amassed during my research over the past year. They wanted me to sign a contract right there at the show and I told them because I wasn't really thinking well because my head was swimming, that I'd have to consider their proposal when I started feeling well. Andrew kicked in with this business savvy and helped to massage the conversation. Yeah, Andrew! I just love that man of mine! There were several mfg who loved the same series I created and it was a hot ticket this year.

Upon our return to the room, I checked my email and received an invitation for another submission after talking with a mfg on Monday. Yee-haw!!!!

Had dinner with good friends of ours who live outside NYC and who are going to be new parents. Looks like the aspect of parenthood and twins is settling in. Yikes!

Surtex: Day 2

This morning, upon arrival to Javits, my stomach was giving me issues -thought I had the flu. Now it's just a freakin miserable cold. Nasty sore throat ALL day, I just wanted to crawl under the table. The only thing that kept me going were the potential clients coming into the booth and collaborating on their projects -very exciting. Then I'd sit down and conserve my energy and send Andrew off to fetch more hot tea.

Despite my misery, we made several great leads that I need to follow-up with their immediate projects!

Enjoyed dinner at our favorite Malaysian restaurant: Penang with Amy & Phil and my exhausted body turned in early.

Surtex: Day 1

Surtex: Day 1

The showroom was very warm (they finally turned on the air!), but we saw a few folks wander in aimlessly from the ICFF not completely knowing what they were walking into. Let me just say (without jinxing myself) that this was a pleasantly good day. The show opened at 9am and by noon, I was extremely pleased. Many of the conglomerates were talking of how this day was so slow for them -me, it was one right after another. Yee-haw! One Brit that we've become friends with over the past 4 years (he reps a very large print firm in the UK) took a look at my stuff and said, "Hey! We might be interested in some of that! Stop by tomorrow!" Yee-haw!

Tonight, we were scheduled for a cruise around Manhattan and it was a blast!! The weather was perfect, top deck was warm and breezy; got lots of photos of the skyline and each other plus some of my good artists friends -even while dancing- what a hoot!

Self portraits of Andrew & Moi -one of those must photos one takes with the arm stretched out on every trip. [We take many to make sure I don't get the Jay Leno chin! :) ]

NYC: Saturday - ICFF Party at the MOMA

After completing our booth installation, we walked ICFF and I made a few good contacts with mfg who do really cool stuff. I mean, out of this world stuff that's only found in designer magazines. Hard to believe that I can be among them... collaborating.

Not knowing how big the show was, my first reaction was to walk it fast, ascertain the size and return to some of the neat showrooms that we made note of. We became decidedly jealous when we happened across this fabulous space within the show (imagine ribbons hanging from the ceiling made of car seat belt material) that were taught from ceiling to floor enclosing a wet bar -we were jealous that they had a wet bar -making this the hippest show to be scene at. Walking past, the ribbons of seat belts with channels of ghostly lighting being emitted from tiny channels in the floor made the folks sitting on benches inside appear as though they were in a hellish jail. The folks were calm, hanging out, texting their friends and sipping beers and martinis.

So exhausted, we found a little french bistro that we discovered a year ago across the hotel (we usually head to Greenwich Village -much cheaper, much more delish!) due to the nasty rain and the fact that we didn't want to head out very far and expend any more energy than we had to.

The exhaustion forced us to skip one party for which I had registered and move on to the next -our first real NYC party at the MOMA (one block down from the hotel). It's everything you imagine from the movies. Requisite black blazers for straight guys and velvet jackets for the gays. Women wore mostly black, I was the only one in a blue sexy sweater. Lifting hor d'oeurves from waiter's trays and snagging wine from the bar -it was an experience. Seriously, it was a fun party (lots of rude, tall, "I live the bulemic lifestyle, so screw you" types) as we traversed the schools of wannabes and made it to some of the fascinating exhibits.

Currently, there is an exhibit by Dan Perjovschi, a Romanian -I call 'the wall of scribbles'- that was almost 40 feet high -can't wait to upload photos- remarking the absurdity of US life.

Spring Endeavors: Surtex 2007

Our Summer endeavors our a direct result of Springtime madness and preparing for Surtex, our annual tradeshow. I'm going to transfer postings from CreativeGoddess, a blog that combines ECStewart Collections, CalligraphyPets and my creative life.

Surtex: Install Day

I know I should be more talkative about the annual tradeshow we participate in (SURTEX), but I get so darn busy from February to Mid-May that I don't give myself time to think - much less work out at the gym that my body craves.

It's Friday Night and my husband, Andrew has accompanied me to NYC for the said tradeshow as he has always done the past 4 years. We drove up from Raleigh yesterday, arrived ~10pm last evening exhausted. We unloaded the Element with most of our important IP collateral (imagery + prototypes) and brought them up to the room -I even asked the Bellman to allow me to accompany him up the back elevators due to my over protective nature. After all, I did spend hours upon hours creating and developing them. ;)

This morning, we transported the collateral back down to the Element and drove them to Javits; most of the booth is now installed with minor inconveniences. Mainly, we destroyed our brand new soft cork flooring with a cool new trolley we borrowed -the feet continuously poked holes thru-out the edge as we thoughtfully moved it from one panel to another, climbing up, installing, climbing down. Damn. We were both excited to have this foam core flooring to stand on (esp Andrew since he's recently had his infamous back surgery). Andrew tried to encourage me with statements like, "It'll pop back up." "It doesn't look that bad."

Pftsth!

Later, when Andrew was installing the nightly wall coverings (one must do this to prevent easy image theft) I asked him if we were going to remove the floor each time -especially when our calendar is booked to bolt out of the doors to the parties and dinners we have planned -he acquiesced. Too bad, the floor would have been dynamite to use and we're out over $100 due to our negligence.

We missed lunch today and we were starved, so for dinner, we headed to our favorite Italian Restaurant: Focacceria (Greenwich Village) for Chicken Ravioli & Chocolate moltan lava cake. Tomorrow, we must rise early (O Wicked Sun, You Bring Bags to my Eyes), get back to the booth to eagerly complete it so that we can walked ICFF and attend a few parties at night.

Wish us luck!

Bring Out Your... Snot

I've just discovered that Kleenex has created a personal design opportunity for you. If you're anything like me, you dicker over daisies versus butterflies versus 'there-must-be-something-else-on-the-shelf-that-I-can buy' on a tissue box. Your toes stretch to help your hands reach the back of the shelf as you toss one box aside for another and your armpit scrapes against the metal shelf.

"Nuts, maybe I'll just go for color and not worry about the motif, I shouldn't be so picky over a tissue box, anyway! Must be my neuroses kicking in again," you mutter to yourself as you finally toss in one or two into the cart.


Well, bring out your snot and feed that neuroses as much as you want. Kleenex is offering a personalized opportunity to comfort your nose as well as your desktop.
Kleenex

Better Business Savvy for Artisians

Dear Fellow Artisians-

I'm going to lead you to the key of good business sense -and hopefully success will soon follow. Remember the cash and sex job I referred to months ago? (Cash is your day job supporting your sexy job you love to get home to) Well, Niche Magazine talks about Donald Clark's Book, "Making a Living in Crafts" by combining business and beauty to assist artists understand the value of recognizing trends. Simply, one just cannot continue the prima donna attitude of forcing others to adhere to one's artistic world, unless that's the sexy counterpart of cash.

Back in design school, we understood from the starting gate that there would be parameters -budget being a big one, if not the biggest. Budget also opens the door to creativity with parameters and with parameters, limitations are understood. Knowing one's limitations help to quell anxieties and my suggestion? Go shopping -for yourself and for your customer.

Budgets, no matter how big or small, have restrictions. In this example, I'd equate small with that of a couple shopping in a gallery for a new piece in their home vs a corporate client looking to fill the office buildings within their business park. Clark talks about "wanting craftspeople to shift their attitudes, to see themselves not just as artists, but more as business people who produce art. Artists "have to price correctly, market correctly, break down all facets of the business," he says. "The competition is huge. We're competing with the mug made in any number of places on this planet."

Clark continues by indicating that "retailers can help by demanding of craft artists both professional business practices and competitively priced work. "Artists need to go shopping and discover the range that people are paying for items-shawls, bowls, mugs, earrings. Customers are doing that; they know what things cost." Further, "Artists may not want to compete with the low end, but they need to know where the low end is." Clark's new book, Making a Living in Crafts, includes charts to help artists keep track of materials and time in order to develop a product line they can make at a price that competes in the marketplace.

It's imperative that artisians make a conscious decision to participate in the system [of understanding SWOT: Strengths, Weakneses, Opportunities, & Threats] in order to thrive as business professionals. Wanting to jump on the bandwagon with the next big craze is fun, but be sure you aren't selling what all the hobbyists are selling. Getting serious about your art will transform your afternoon hobby into a business that profits and you you have to ask yourself just how far will it [your art] get you in terms of authenticity and uniqueness? It's just not enough to use a different color.

When you do begin to see a consistent profit from your work, then take a moment and do some experimental work -and this becomes sexy side of your job enriching your self-made 'day job.'

Niche: Combining Business & Beauty