Lots of Shop Orders!

Thought it might be a bit slow after Valentine's Day and then 7 shops ordered last week! Usually it takes several weeks to make an order but I was well stocked on inventory and able to get 5 out this week. Now I'm looking forward to working on some new designs in the studio today and for the next few days. 

For T. Karn in Telluride, CO

For Trinket in Burlington, VT

For The Shoe Horn, Montpelier, VT

For Nest in Brunswick, ME

For Earth and Wears in Dallas, PA

It Is Very Very Cold...

...that is all.

Finding Inspiration

It was good to get out the other day, leave the Burlington bubble. It seems like thick gray clouds have been hanging over Btown and heading south we pulled out from under it and saw a beautiful sunset. 

We headed to Fuller Hall in St Johnsbury to see two of my favorite musical acts.

I first saw Zap Mama at the old Higher Ground. Antibalas too. Both shows were mesmerizing and their music has made up much of the soundtrack to my life and infused my work. Last November I bought tix as soon as they announced this tour. I couldn't believe they were going to play together. I've never been front row center before and it was AWEsome. The show filled my cup back up. I hadn't realized how depleted it was. 

Marie Daulne is a such stunning, fierce force and bringer of positive vibrations. The combination with the huge band and rockin' sound from Antibalas made for a perfect, harmonious collaboration. Some sunshine and soul shine in the midst of a long cold winter. So many friends in the crowd feeling it too. And then we all got to pop out of our chairs and dance and then Marie joined us in the aisle and I got to dance with her. Zap! 
We even made a night of it and stayed up that way at a little B&B. The next day we awoke to crazy sunshine and blue skies.

So good to take these little breaks and rediscover yourself and the world and the things that make you happy. I felt recharged and ready to work when we got home. I finished up a ton of jewelry for a private Valentine's day show. Very excited for it and for the break that will follow... I don't really feel like last season's holiday train has stopped and I can't wait to take things slower and to work on new designs.

Checking out NY NOW

This past weekend, Nicole (of Nicole's Threads) and I headed to the big city to check out the Mothership of all wholesale trade shows: NY NOW. The first step of deciding whether you want to exhibit at a show or not is by doing a walk through to scope it out. We got to be buyers for Nicole's mom who has a lovely shop (she carries my work!) in Dallas, PA called Earth and Wears (thanks Lyn!). Still we felt totally out of our element and like we didn't belong there. Talk about being a tiny minnow in a vast sea. Everything about this seemed overwhelming. It didn't help that we flew there on the 6am flight and had to get up at 4am, setting the tone for the trip as a bit of weary one. 

Blurry eyed and heading to the airtrain at 7:30 am

It was cold and dreary but exciting to be in the city.

Our room at Yotel was like living in an Ipad. Very funky and futuristic. 

Ready to hit the show!

This awesome erector set thing is the Yobot and it will store your stuff for you at Yotel. So cool.

We enjoyed this little cafe on the way...

This is one corner of one floor of the show. The aisles go on forever and each floor of the Javits center is GIANT. Sensory overload to max.

Found my friend Tabbatha (Tabbatha Henry Designs) in the Handmade section. So cool to see her all set up there and killin' it.

Also finally got to meet and hang with Christine of Chocolate and Steel who was also killin' it. So great to spend time with her later and pick her brain. Had fun meeting up with friends Rachel and Nicolette from Sweet Lady Jane and Trinket for drinks and getting more advice from the buyer's perspective. Now Sweet lady Jane is going to be carrying Christine's work - yay for networking! 

Our plane got cancelled due to weather so we had an extra night and got to spend time chatting with friends and folks at the bar. We met Fran and Jim from Rich Frog in Winooski - small world!

Now just trying to process it all and then the decision of whether to apply to the show...

Our flight was rescheduled for an entire day later and we needed to get back so we rented a car and headed home but we did make one small (big) stop at IKEA to buy desks! I finally bought the standing/sitting desk I've been looking at and I can't wait to put it together.  Check it out:

Gonna be doing some rearranging to replace my desk and make it fit in my studio... so much to do and so much to think about!