Daisy Janie

seeing | an ooey-gooey first.

How often is your first also your kid's first? M never had one, I never had one, and until last night, Peanutman never had one either. Bonding over a gooey mess takes the cake - or the smore - whatever works for ya.

Update:
Geo Grand is on a truck less than an hour from here, but delivery still says tomorrow. Zipping my lips right now - elstwise I might end up ruining this 'sweet' post with my own trucker mouth. %^$#!*#!

Have a great week!! 

the depths of determination & heights of friendship.

Yesterday, my friend Betz tweeted this insightful quote from Conan O'Brien:

"Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen."

The quote resonated with me yesterday in thinking about my business, but today, I was struck profoundly at how these words came to life in front of me in a completely different context. This morning, we set out to hike The Pinnacle on the Appalachian Trail in PA (8.5 mi round trip). Amongst the group was our good friend Chris, who, despite being confined to a wheelchair, hiked to the top of that mountain right alongside the rest of the able-bodied people. Something he has not done or had the option of doing for more than 10 years....

Armed with a mountain handcycle, unbridled determination, brute strength and a pack of very good friends, he hauled himself over some very steep and rocky terrain to get to the crest.

I can't begin to express the physical and emotional accomplishment of such a hike - cheers were whooped & tears were shed. (See the video below that M put together to get an idea..makes me bawl everytime.) Makes me think about all the little shit we let (yes, LET) get in our way everyday. Whether it's a suffocating mindset, a lack of control, laziness or fear of failure, it's ridiculous to think of all the barriers we put in our paths to sabotage our momentum and keep us from achieving our goals. Stop it. Work around your limitations, figure out a way to make it happen - and by all means, if you're not going to do something about it, don't dwell on it and don't complain about it - you lose that right when you choose paralysis. Get moving - work hard and be kind. Amazing things will happen!!!

Talkin' the talk and walkin' the walk.
When you've lived an active lifestyle and suddenly become disabled, your options for movin' & groovin' and seeing the world become quite limited. As a former Marine, Chris lives by the unofficial Marine Corps mantra: Improvise Adapt Overcome. Taking his commitment a step further, his foundation IM- ABLE is all about providing opportunities for other disabled people (esp. kids) to get up & move. (He also instructs hellaciously hard classes that keep M & me in top physical condition....a few readers have commented about my arms in other posts...credit goes to Chris!)

in my hand | a graphite leaf.

Hand-carved twisting leaf by sculptor Agelio Batle ~ given to me for my birthday last year from my sister. The detail is really incredible - the sleek flow and subtle light movement make it a very sexy piece of art. Even tho you can write with it, I wouldn't dare. Unity of form & function can sometimes be appreciated on a strictly visual or tactile level - without having to use the object to fully enjoy its concept & execution. Know what I mean?

He retires some of his graphite objects after 2 years, but his current line includes drawing hands (reminds me of Escher), a quill, an olive branch, gingko leaves, an asparagus stalk...just to name a few. He is gifted in many art forms, and his website is really a feast for the eyes - marble soda cans? Seriously wow.

note for resellers & small manufacturers interested in Geo Grand organic fabrics

Geo Grand ~ 100% GOTS-certified organic fabrics

boop ~ boop ~ boop
Interrupting our regularly scheduled program to bring this message to companies interested in wholesaling Daisy Janie's organic fabrics.

Wholesale Mailing List.
Please add your company’s email to our wholesale mailing list to stay updated on delivery dates, new collections, marketing support and more. I sent out the 3rd update last week; when you sign-up, you'll receive links to previous updates.

Delivery.
Geo Grand will be on my doorstep within 72 hours, and I will be immediately shipping out pre-orders to these fine companies. [ thank you for your support! ] Seriously cannot wait!!

Place an Order.
If you have been waiting to place a wholesale order until I had fabrics in stock and ready to ship, wait no more. You are officially cleared for take-off! The line sheet may be viewed here. Please fill out & submit an application and order form at your convenience.

Swatches.

Questions.
Send them to wholesale [at] daisyjanie.com

ebook review | confessions of a first timer (tips & tricks for surface designers exhibiting at trade shows).

I receive A LOT of emails seeking advice, suggestions, recommendations, tips & "pushes in the right direction" about how I got started, how I create my designs, how I sell my designs, how I print my fabrics, how I sell my fabrics, how, how, how...the list literally goes on and on. Lack of both time & inclination prevents me from responding to these emails, which is why I'm happy Khristian A. Howell has written a new ebook addressing some of these questions. She asked me to read, review & become an affiliate - I'm happy to do that, too, so that more up & coming surface designers might know about it.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Khristian's ebook - "Confessions of a First Timer" - is a refreshing first-hand account of her experiences with her first surface design trade show, Surtex.
:: ebook available here ::

Surtex is one of the places to exhibit if you're an artist who wishes to sell and/or license your designs to companies for use in their products. Products range from paper goods, domestics, apparel, home dec, novelty...anything that sports an artist's design, basically.

Khristian is an extraordinary talent and prolific artist who knew the next logical step in her career path was going to The Big Show. Like anyone who jumps into something this massive, there's a great deal of thinking, researching, planning and doing to prepare yourself and make the most of your investment and the opportunity you're giving yourself.

In her ebook, Khristian "breaks it down into accessible steps" - she talks about the prep work, the financial undertaking, the booth & overall presentation and, most importantly, attitude! Her insights are clearly & directly applicable to Surtex, but she speaks generally enough that you can expand her advice to other trade shows and retail craft shows - and pretty much your business approach as a whole. If your business is a business and not a hobby, you need to take it seriously by making a plan, investing in your plan & executing your plan. With intention and a smile! Thanks for the reminder, Khristian!

Read more about and/or purchase her ebook.

Here are some notable quotes found in her ebook:

On deciding to exhibit at Surtex:
"I realized if I didn’t invest in me, why the heck would anyone else?!"

On committing yourself to the financial investment:
"Think of solutions of how you can, not excuses why you cannot...Do what it takes to have a make-it-happen mentality."

On differentiating your booth display & presentation from other exhibitors:
"The question you have to ask yourself is how am I going to rise above all the noise. This is advertising 101. In a sea of billboards, how will mine stand out?"

a treat of a day.

Father's Day treats abounded today, starting with this Super Hero Kit derived from this very, very clever one done by Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day! and posted on alphamom. Peanutman and I brainstormed the treats to include in our Real World Super Hero Kit, and we came up with personalized ideas to use for each one based on habits, family jokes, hobbies (guess that's what personalized means, right?). My favorite one was a pack of mints called Vermints that we called "George-Away ~ instantly repels annoying sidekicks." George is glued to M all hours of the freaking day (he's in the dictionary next to 'get a life!') - and we often hear M saying, "George, get away! Awayawayawayawayaway....!" He could use to take his loyal master act down a few notches...

Another Father's Day treat was a 5K run we did with our second family from our gym. It was a well put together fundraiser for the IM-ABLE Foundation,organized by a friend's daughter for her senior project. Her maturity and thoughtfulness in pulling an event like this off was remarkable. I was truly impressed! One of those moments that made me pause and appreciate the micro-business aspect & the details that made it successful. More than just a better mousetrap... 

Peanutman ran this 5K, too, and he feigned exhaustion only to sprint out of my reach the last 200 yds toward the finish line! Little rascal. I wanted to be a sprinter in the Olympics when I was his age, and I enjoy seeing him learn about his own capabilites and how to harness his speed. The day is not far off where he'll be outsprinting M, too!

I reflected on the mood surrounding these treats today:
~ When someone is opening funny, kinda handmade, personal gifts, it lights up the room with laughter...and makes everyone feel good.
~ You'll rarely find participants in a bad mood at sunshine-y race/athletic event - everyone' s geared up, social  and joking around - no heavy, stressful conversations - it's a nice way to start the day!

Gifts, a good workout, lots of laughs, family & friends = treats = Happy Father's Day!

friends, four square and feet.

Sweet Peanutman graduated today from middle school, and next year, he'll be a full-fledge Jr. High guy. This is powerful for me b/c some of my dearest friends today were those friends I made in the 6th and 7th grades. I've had to step back a few times this past year and process his experiences through that lens, thinking how these kids could very well be his friends for life. How do the ups & downs of his friendships now shape the potential for lasting friendships later? How do the kids he's bound to spend most of his time with affect his personality and shape his behavior (and vice versa)? What do I think of the parents of these kids - are we on the same page? And how will loads of time spent in their homes influence my son? [ wink Corina ]

We moved to our neighborhood b/c my husband and I both LOVED our teen years growing up in a suburban area where we had instant access (via shoe leather or our bikes) to our friends, the pool, the corner market for gum, the school for activities, the library, the park, etc. Peanutman will be able to enjoy a similar easygoing, be-down-in-a-minute, freewheeling lifestyle, and I'm thrilled and a little nervous all at once. We've laid a right-proper foundation, but life deals some funny & unexpected cards sometimes.

All I can hope right now is that the fervor with which these boys grew together over common likes/dislikes {including endless games of four square} gives them each the strength they need to be courageous individuals as well as to maintain their reliable band-of-brothers friendship. I'm not even sure they sense these things forming & transforming, but as a parent, it's so obvious, isn't it?!

seeing | a rose is a rose.

"You are responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose."
~ Antoine Saint-Exupery

- - -

"The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its lovliness."
~ Therese of Lisieux

- - -

"One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon-instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today."
~ Dale Carnegie

winner(s) of fabric scrap giveaway.

Yep, that's winners plural - not just one winner as originally planned. The random number generator picked someone who had won something from my blog in the recent past - so I quickly put together a second small package of scraps to give to a 2nd winner.

Package #2 includes a hefty stack of some the same home dec fabrics (all cut into headband patterns) and a baby stack of Geo Grand squares, prewashed even! And now for the winners.

#17 - Heather B, who said:
"oh my...so many options! i love to work with scrap fabrics and with yours i think i would make either patchwork placemats or patchwork pillow covers for my couches. with my new white slipcovers your fabrics would POP with happiness"

#25 - Olivia who said:
"Scrap rhapsody meets collage meets dolls dresses... I can think in tons of uses for those!"
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Thank you to everyone who entered! The main reason I really enjoy offering giveaways on my blog is the enthusiasm of your comments! It's wildly rejuvenating to read them! I also really dig your creative ideas - sooo many ladies making sooo many things all the time!! {insert ear-to-ear smile as I stare blankly at the wall in front of me, daydreaming about women cutting, snipping, pinning, stitching, sewing, playing, wearing, enjoying.}

Have a marvelous weekend!

in search of | love. (aka wookin pa nub.)

 
1. 'let's get it on' handprinted screenprint. from linocutboy.
2. 'i'm yours' giclee print. from love sugar design.
3. 'you & me are in love' print. from virginia kraljevic.
4. mad, passionate love print. from the love shop.
5. 'home is wherever i'm with you' print. from spread the love.
6. 'this home runs on...' poster. from how fabulous.

Pulled these prints together in honor of our 16th wedding anniversary (today!). Not too sweet or mushy - just right! I would mos def say or express all of these things to my lovebird, but I would add a snarky & emphatic 'baby' to the end of each one: let's get it on, baby...i'm yours, baby...you and me are in love, baby....

Happy to report that it's a bee-you-tuh-full day! Sunrise was gorgeous - every shade of purple and orange you could imagine! To celebrate our big day, we'll be driving to ULINE to p/u boxes for Geo Grand shipments (a very sincere yeeha!) and stopping at a few Amish farms for produce along the way. Maybe even an antique shoppe - I'd like to find a wooden cubby to hang up and use for organizing some of my retail packing supplies. Hope you have a happy, zippity-doo-da day, too!!

I'll be back tomorrow with the winner of the fabric scrap giveaway. The random number generator picked someone who won something previously on my blog (loyal readers are a good thing!), so I'm going to put together a sneaky extra package of something for those who entered!