Studio Friday: This Is Me - Part Deux

This week's Studio Friday topic is: This is me.

OK... so I actually read the whole topic info and I was a little quick on the draw with my earlier post.

This week's topic for Friday November 17th suggested by Jill: THIS IS ME!

" How about photographing a collage of the things we work with? An arranged collection of papers and embellishments, or fabrics and trims, or paints and paintbrushes, or whatever it is we do that says "this is me." I know we did tools and supplies already, but I thought it would be fun to create a little collage of all the things we use - tools and supplies both, and even other things like a favorite cd, dvd, cup of coffee, nail polish etc that say "this is me and this is what I do".

*** My image is coming soon -- I promise! I've been having technical difficulties with my camera. I haven't forgot! ***

Studio Friday: This Is Me - Part I

This week's Studio Friday topic is: This is me.

I could go with my first thought and slap up a picture of me. I could rifle through my (now) old modeling portfolio and pick out a fabulous, strategically lit shot of me. But that wouldn't necessarily be fair because it's not like I walk around with perfectly coiffed hair and a makeup team everyday. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Then I realized that no one would want to see me in my yoga pants, with my hair in a ponytail and no makeup on - which is how I (sadly) spend most of my working days dressed. One of the beauties of owning your own business and/or working from home is the severly relaxed dress code. It is also one of my biggest frustrations, seeings as deep down I like to look remarkably cute at all times. It's somehow become a constant struggle as of late.

But anyhow... stay tuned for my entry!

Studio Friday: Studio Indulgences

Introducing: my Singer Quantum Futura!

I recently indulged a long time want (not need) of mine and purchased a new sewing/embroidery combo machine. Not that I really had the extra money, but when did that ever stop me before?! It is quite literally 100 times better than the old machine I was working with and, quite frankly, I was due for an upgrade. I cannot wait to show you all what this puppy can do. As someone who is mildly obsessed with monograms and initials, I am thrilled to get started initialing everything in sight. On the business end of things, I have had customers clamouring for intialed bows and monogramed belts and keychains and now I am all too happy to oblige. Official announcement coming soon...

PS - Yes, I am fully aware that it is Tuesday and this post is about Studio Friday. Working from home means not knowing what day it is sometimes, but I'm not that bad!

Mea Culpa...

After I recently got in touch with my inner blogger and had a renewed energy to keep up with semi-daily posts, I had to go and have family fly out for a visit and throw off my whole momentum. I missed an entire Studio Friday topic not to mention some fun new items that will be up on the site soon.

On the bright side, I got some much needed downtime and did some serious baking. Lemon sugar cookies, banoffee pie and lemon blueberry muffins made their way through our kitchen this past week along with some quick and tasty Rice Krispy treats that I cut into the shape of Texas via my handy new cookie cutter! Completely unnecessary but Mr. Cupcake couldn't help but laugh at me and my newly found Texan enthusiasm.

Speaking of which... if you live in the Dallas / Fort Worth area, be sure to check out our show schedule for some fun holiday shopping. I generally like to do quite a few shows around the holidays but the move threw our schedule off a bit, so you'll have to catch us when you can. We'll miss our loyal NJ shoppers but are really looking forward to meeting our new local friends.

A little attention for Eva!

Ever since I had my site re-designed over the summer, I have been struggling with how to incorporate Eva, my mascot of sorts, into the design. I absolutely loved her intial design when we first opened more than 2 years ago, but at the time she was relegated to a small icon at the bottom. When the initial re-design was done and she had a snazzy new outfit, she was put as an image on the front page, but she kind of interrupted the flow of what I wanted to do with that area. I didn't want to take her out, but where should I put her? It dawned on me earlier tonight and I spent some time playing around with the design and came up with my new header image:


It looks pretty pixelated here, so to see it in all it's splendor, click on the image. I may play around and tweak it a little more, but for now I'm pretty darn happy. Welcome back, Eva!

Introducing... Studio Fridays!

Part of the reason we chose the apartment we moved into was because the second bedroom was quite large which would allow me to have plenty of space for my studio. In the past, my office/studio was in what would normally have been our dining room. Well, that was the plan. By the time we moved, it overtook that entire room in addition to the better part of the living room. No matter where you went, there was no way to get away from it all. As much as I love ribbon (and fabric, and paper, and about 6,000 other supplies) sometimes I just needed to get away and I couldn't. And Mr. Cupcake would make me feel incredibly guilty by not complaining when things got so out of control that you had to practically pole vault over the back of the couch to grab a seat. But now, I have an entire room (plus rediculously large closet) all to The Creative Cupcake! I could just take pictures and show you... but that wouldn't be all that exciting, now, would it?

I came across this wonderful idea called "Studio Fridays" which has a theme each week that you (I) use as inspiration to take a picture and show off your office. For example, last week's theme was "My Collections" so I think I might have photographed my ever-growing collection of "C" letter monograms. It started with the peridot Swarovski encrusted topper I made for our wedding cake and has been added to a bit at a time as I come across one that is unique or fits with our decorating style.

So stay tuned for this week's topic and picture(s) tomorrow and every Friday!

Random Blog of The Week

I'm a blog reading junkie. I'll admit it. In the mornings I feel like I can't get my day started until I check what's going on in my favorite corners of the blogosphere. In my effort to keep you all entertained (and keep me on track in updating here regularly), I'm going to dedicate Wednesdays to sharing some of my favorite non-work related blogs.

Up this week: PerezHilton.com. I have a certain weakness for celebrity gossip and this site is essential to my daily fix. A devotee since his days running PageSixSixSix, Perez/Mario keeps the gossip coming with his own snarky and sometimes down right cruel commentary. Say what you will about him, the boy gets the inside scoops!

Rant: Business Cobwebs

And just in time for Halloween, too!

I feel like this move took over my life for 2 months. Frustratingly, I haven't been able to spend as much time as I'd like working on the parts of my business I really enjoy -- designing, creating, sharing -- and it is starting to wear me down. Even this blog, which I truly enjoy writing, has been showing signs of neglect.

My site is in bad need of an update/clean up. There are so many products that aren't even listed and mostly because my current digital camera is on the fritz... but that's another rant for another blog (right, hon?). I would love to have an individual picure of each belt, clip, bow, headband, keychain, etc. rather than working from a swatch system. With over 90 different ribbon choices and over 60 different products/variations that is way too much for me to handle.
But that's partly because I have a tendency to think BIG and I know I need to reign it in a little. For now, anyway.

[/RANT]

OK... now that that is off my chest...

Starting this week, I am going to be sending newsletters on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of every month. In order to keep up with my plans for this/next year, I'm going to be adding new items to my site twice a month. I'm excited to see what you all think of some of the products coming up in the next few weeks. There is one in particular that I'm incredibly excited about and once I am able to perfect the design you will be the first to know!

So if you are not already, be sure and sign up (link is on the right)!

IKEA & Me

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I have a certain fondness for IKEA. Actually it is a little more like an obsession. Even before I had my own place, I would wander around the model room layouts and be amazed that everything in that entire living room could be mine for less than $1,000. Of course, there are strict rules to be followed when dealing with the beast that is the Sweedish superstore.

#1 - There will be absolutely NO shopping at IKEA on the weekends or any holiday when people have off from work. Even if you get there as the doors open, you still have to fight your way past the 107 other people who woke up early to "beat the crowds" to your Swedish meetballs. Or pressboard dresser. Or wacky do-dad-decoration-thingie.

a - The exception to the holiday rule is Valentine's Day. February 14th is the BEST time to go to IKEA. Ask me how I know this and I will give you insight into Mr. Cupcake's romantic tendencies.

# 2 - You must allow time to enjoy breakfast (yummy eggs, bacon, potatoes for 99 cents!) or lunch/dinner/snack with some of the freshest tasting gravlox this side of Goteborg and some lingonberry cheesecake.

Today I spent the afternoon getting to know my new local IKEA in Frisco and what a fruitful trip it was! Besdies finally finding an inexpensive dresser that would (a) match our bedroom and (b) cost as little as possible until we can save up the money for the one I really want, I got some random stuff for the house, some new organizing drawer units for my studio... I found these:
I came across these STATIST wired tree-like things in the miscellaneous decoration area and knew instantly that I would be taking a small arboretum's worth home with me. While I stood there, coming up with 101 uses for my new forrest of STATISTS and loading them into my cart, I knew what I would ultimately do with them.

As my local customers know, I am constantly changing up my street fair display with different, random things I find that make good (but slightly random) display items. Like the metal minimalist dish racks I turned on their sides to use as keychain racks. That one always gets funny looks, but it works like a charm! These will make great necklace displays (since I never seem to have enough) and I can't wait to use them at the end of the month.

Now I'm off to find my trusty allen wrench and spend the next 17 hours putting everything I bought together!

Howdy y'all!

Well, this is my first official blog post from our new studio/home in Dallas. We have been moved in for almost 2 weeks now, but somehow it still doesn't feel like we've moved halfway across the country.

There are some definite welcome surprises, like Super Target (you mean I can buy oranges, and a bicycle all in one place? How did I live 26 years without this store in my life?!) and having a Crate & Barrel outlet less than 15 minutes away. The sheer amount of resturants and places to shop is mind blowing. And this is coming from a girl who grew up within a stone's throw of what can only be the Mall Capital of America (Paramus, NJ)! But one must truck on and shop, shop, shop.

In actual business news (isn't that what this blog was supposed to be about??)... the store is back up and you can order oodles of bows and necklaces and headbands again. My studio is still in complete disarray and not quite functional yet, but fortunately I was able to locate most of the boxes with my supplies. I may be running a day or so longer than usual to get orders out, but I'm looking forward to getting back to business as usual.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be adding quite a bit of brand new one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces that you are just going to fall in love with. I'll also be able to finish updating the bow photos for each individual size/style/pattern so my customers can better visualize what their custom-made style will look like.

Stay tuned...