small sweet steps

New York International Gift Fair

I attended the NY Gift Fair today with my friend Carol Maguire. Our day started off a little rough, we left the house at 8:30 for what should have been an hour and a half drive but, due to a closed road took us three hours. We were a little frazzled by the time we arrived but soon got into the fun of the show and had a great time. I first attended the gift fair in 1995 with my same friend Carol, while working for a doll manufacturing company, Little Souls, Inc. I was a buyer and designer and Carol was the design director and we loved going to the show to source ribbons, buttons, and accessories for the dolls. In recent years, I have walked the show for inspiration and always look forward to it.

I am happy to say that the show was busy, which is promising during these hard economic times. Hopefully, things are starting to look up a little bit. Some of my favorite booths today were Belle Notte, Rifle Paper Co., Karma Living, Papaya, Madison Park Greetings, and too many others to name. Over-dyed linens, beautiful muted colors, textures, leather jewelry, glitz and glitter were everywhere! I LOVE anything that is over-dyed especially linen and velvet, and the colors made me melt, it was so great! The Handmade section was my favorite, I am happy to say the handmade movement is still going strong!

Love these over-dyed pillows by Belle Notte. The colors make me so happy.

I also had fun visiting the different ribbon companies, it felt like old times. I was sourcing different ribbons for my upcoming fabric projects. I will give you a full update on fabric in the next week or two. I can't wait to share my news with you.

Overall, the show was great and full of inspiration.

Loved this bird from Mullanium.

More from Belle Notte

If you are curious about the companies exhibiting at the show you can visit the NYIGF website for a full exhibitor list and links to their websites.

My friend Carol is an amazing artist, visit here sites too!

Carol's Fine Art Website

Carol Maguire Home (check out her linens!)

Carol's Blog

BIG NEWS!!!! I Signed with a Licensing Agency

I am so excited to share this news with you! I am now being represented by MHS Licensing! Yes, I now have an agent and am so grateful and happy.

So many thoughts and emotions went into making this decision. I went back and forth so many times thinking "I should try to get an agent" to "maybe I can do it myself". There is a new trend in the industry of designers taking it into their own hands and getting their own licensing deals, which is amazing. There was a part of me that wanted to be a part of this movement, especially since I admire deeply this group of strong, independent, brave women that I love. Women that I have watched successfully grow their businesses on their own. But, as much as I wanted to be like them I had to think about what is best for me. What do I want for my life? What are my strengths and weaknesses? What are my challenges?

While I was trying to figure all of this out, I received a response from MHS Licensing letting me know that they loved my work and would like to talk with me. For a couple of months from the time MHS contacted me until about a week before signing the agreement my mind was racing trying to figure out what was best for me. Luckily, I have some pretty wonderful friends that sat patiently and listened to me run these thoughts over and over again to them and they gave me such impactful feedback. They too were split in their opinions of how I should proceed.

Then it happened, I had a moment of clarity, a stillness in the never ending noise inside my head. This is what I heard. " I don't want licensing my art to define my whole life, I want to make space for other things too."

I am not a licensing expert, I hate contracts, negotiating, and confrontation. Every time I started thinking about that side of the business I felt my energy drop. It is not what I am supposed to be doing. I decided then and there to hand that part of the business over to the experts and the time and energy I save can be used for things that will fill me up and make me happy, not stressed. So, what are these things? Along with licensing my art, I would love to write an inspirational book, get more involved with the blogging/design community, I would love to be involved in some outreach programs and someday start a NPO. Ultimately, I want to help inspire and heal others through my art. I'm not sure how or when or what any of this is yet but, I know it is what I am meant to do.

Signing with MHS Licesning marks a huge turning point in my small sweet steps journey. I am honored that such a knowledgeable and respected agency would want to partner with me. I am so grateful that I already have some licensing deals in the works and so humbled everyday for the twists and turns that have gotten me to this point in my long journey.  The ride is really starting to get interesting.

 

The Brave Girls Club

Have you heard of the Brave Girls Club? It is an amazing community created by Melody Ross and her sister Kathy Wilkens.

Brave Girls Club is a worldwide community of women who want to live the best, happiest, most productive and fabulously brave life they can possibly live…and that means something different to every single one of us.

Brave Girls Club is an online community, a portal for amazing connections, a news source for everyday heroes, a resource for great ideas, amazing endeavors, everyday problem solving, realistic recipes and unforgettable get-togethers. Brave Girls Club is a place to feel free, to feel peace, and to feel brave. Brave Girls Club is not an exclusive club…every woman is invited. Brave Girls Club is life-changing fun, life-changing truths, and life-changing friendships…read more here.

Art by Stephanie Ryan

I am so inspired by this community. What an amazing accomplishment!

I have been thinking a lot about this space that I have created here, my sweet blog that has helped me in so many ways. Blogging has opened so many doors for me, it has helped me to connected with amazing women around the world that I love and cherish. It has given me wings to follow my heart and be brave. I made the decision early on that I was going to be very open here in this space and share my deepest emotions, fears, and dreams. This blog has made me more open and confident as an artist and a stronger person. It has also helped me to figure out my purpose here.

Up to this point my blog has been about my journey. The small sweet steps I have taken to get to this point in my career, the healing of my body and nurturing of my soul. Lately, I haven't been blogging. I haven't been thinking about it either, which is very strange. Granted, I have been so busy with work and recovering from my treatment (yes, still recovering) that I am a bit distracted but, I have always made time for my blog in the past. What has changed?

I think it is time to reach outside of my life. It needs to be more about us and you. I'm not sure how I will make this happen. I guess the best place to start is as easy as a shift in my thinking.

This will happen organically. It can't be a burden, it has to feel good and not be stressful. I will start by making this intention:

This year my blog will be more about inspiration, encouragement and the nurturing of our souls, one small sweet step at a time!

This excerpt was taken from The Brave Girls Club Daily Truth. A wonderful daily email that is sent to it's members. I love how it is so personal, like it is being spoken just to me.

So great, isn't it? Head over to the Brave Girls Club and become a member with me!

I would love for this space to have more meaning... I am putting this out to the universe. YAY!

Inspiring Video

This video was shared by one of my classmates over at the Hello Soul, Hello Business e-course by Beth Nicholls and Kelly Rae Roberts. I am amazed at how connected this 95 year old woman is with her body. It really spoke to me. I need to make changes in my life.

 

My friend Maia from julia warr on Vimeo.

 

 

New Print Available at my Shop and Surtex Update!

I just posted this new print to my Etsy shop. I am excited about this new look and am interested to see what kind of response it gets. It is a mixed media piece with a mixture of my watercolor and acrylic paintings and a vintage postcard too.

Hope your having a great weekend! I am in Surtex prep mode. I am trying to get a lot of painting accomplished over the next couple of days. Once that is done, I will scan in the art, make pattern collections and central images and then some products sheets showing how the art looks on product. I hope to get at least 10 strong collections out of this painting session, after I complete all of those things I will start over again. Hopefully, I can work through that cycle several times in preperation for Surtex. I also need to design the look of my booth, execute it, put my binders together, design collateral for the show and maybe a little giveaway item. Oh God, I have so much to do!!!!!! Pretty darn exciting though! EEEEK!

" You are the fragrance of the flower, the beauty of the soul."

Ummmmmm... and some new art.

I have been having trouble blogging lately and I'm not sure why. I have been blogging for almost 6 years now and have never felt this way. I'm at a loss. So, I am just going to sit here and write. I am pretty happy these days, my health seems to be improving with some good days mixed in with the bad ones... yay! My creative life is at an all time high. I will be showing at Surtex in May and I am freaking out over it. I have so much to do! Maybe that is why I am having trouble writing? I feel like I am at a turning point in my life, I am letting go of old energies that have bound me for too long and am trying to let new lighter energy filter in. It is actually a very uncomfortable place to be. So many feelings, old and new. Uncomfortable but good, I'm really excited about life these days. I think I need to brainstorm some new ideas for the blog, I know I need to update it and I really need to revamp my website. So many things, so little time.

In an effort to redeem my sad little post, here is some new art I have been working on. I am excited about this new direction and can't wait to play with it more. Have a great weekend my friends.

Wishes, Dreams, Life and Living in the Present. My Hopes for the New Year.

I love the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. It is the perfect time to reflect on the year that is leaving you and make plans and dream of new dreams for the coming year and beyond.

This past year was filled with highs and lows, challenges and dreams come true. I left my full-time job last November and started my freelance business, my non-compete contract expired and I started my licensing business!!! I spent three months getting treated with IV antibiotics for my 12 year battle with Lyme disease, I'm still not sure if it worked and it was by far one of the hardest things I have ever done.

Since then, I have been trying to get my life back in order and it has been challenging but, it has also been filled with so many amazing things as far as my career is concerned! I have great news to share with you about licensing my art. I have to wait until I have the details all worked out. I am also talking with some licensing agents about representing me and my brand. After a decade of wishing, I finally made the leap and will be showing my work at Surtex this year. I still can't believe I am finally doing it! Oh gosh, what else?

I sent this package with my pattern design off to my top pick in the quilting fabric industry.

The creative director called me last week with some amazing news!!!! I will share all of the details with you as soon as I have a signed contract.

I am absolutely amazed over this last year. There has been so much to be grateful for, even the challenges because of the lessons and insights I have gained from them. So grateful!

I live a very simple life. I am married with two dogs, no kids because of my health challenges. We live in a little house in the country, not too far away from the city. I have amazing friends and family that I love so much. I honestly, never dreamed that amazing things like fabric deals, my own dinnerware collection and getting my art out to the world could ever happen to me. This past year as opened my eyes to the reality that great things can happen, I am worthy! Which leads me to this coming year.

This next year is going to be about nurturing my spirit and my physical body. I need to release the feelings of being less than and embrace who I am and love myself more. This may sound very self-serving but, it is a necessary step on the road of recovery. There are so many people out there that don't value themselves, that don't believe they can make a difference. Can you imagine what the world would be like if we all believed in our divinity? I am always telling other people how amazing and powerful they are, if only I could believe that for myself. Well, I am starting to see it, I am starting to feel it.

It is my dream for this coming year to be fully present with myself. To nurture and heal my wounded soul and to practice self-love in all it's forms. In doing so, I will open up the world of possibility in my own life and be able to share those lessons with others through encouragment, nurturing and inspiration. Small sweet steps to healing and helping others to heal as well. That sounds like a pretty good goal to me.

I would also like to thank all of my friends out there in the art/design/blogging world. It is through your belief in yourselves, your inspiring art and thoughtful words that have inspired me to keep pushing myself. I don't know where I would be without your beautiful lights shining and illuminating the path before me. Thanks, dear friends.

Happy New Year!

My Work Featured on Sweet Sprout Designs Blog

A big thank you to Jennifer Cox for featuring my work on her blog! Jennifer's blog is Sweet Sprout Designs and I love it. Check it out!

Thanks again, Jennifer!

Happy Holidays!

Sweet wishes for a peaceful, joy filled holiday to all of you! Be present with your family and friends, forget about work and life's stresses and enjoy each minute of your time together. Happy Holidays!

Big hugs and love to you!

 

Hello Soul, Hello Business!

I was so excited yesterday when I received this gift in the mail from the lovely Kelly Rae Roberts, and Beth Nicholls of Do What You Love for participating in their e-course, Hello Soul, Hello Business! Thanks ladies! What a nice gift, I love it!

I can't wait for the e-course to start on January 16th. Are you participating? Please, please, consider it. I would love to see you there.

Here is a small taste of what is being offered. This excerpt was taken from the Hello Soul, Hello Business website.

AND! There's more!

Go to the Hello Soul, Hello Business Website and see for yourself all of the great contributors )the list is amazing!) and content!!!! Treat yourself for the Holidays! Go for it!