Happy Holidays...Desktop Joy.

Hello all! I hope you are all enjoying the end of 2007 and looking forward to 2008 and the surprises it will undoubtedly bring. I'm uploading some images in this post...just some patterns I'm particularly fond of. They are big enough to use as a desktop screensaver...so click, save and enjoy!



This has been a really incredible year for me, for so many reasons. I am home now in Boston visiting my family, and have some time to reflect. I'm thankful for all of my friends, family and loved ones who have made this year so special for me. Their support and encouragement has been incredibly edifying.



I'm really inspired and encouraged every day by my creative peers, my great customers...some of whom are new friends...and by the art/craft community in general. I hope we all continue to enjoy ourselves...not losing sight of why we make what we do and why it's so important. love, Susy

Handmade Styling Concepts...

It's funny how sometimes something you design for one purpose accidentally turns into another...

I've been experimenting with some new ideas, as far as products go, and I'm really excited about some of them, although they are not *quite* where I want them to be yet. I'm hoping to introduce a small selection of home decor items...different interpretations of everyday household wares with a clever handmade touch. Behind the necktile in these photos is one idea I'm working on for a bound vase.



I love the way the string (just basic butcher's twine) becomes something completely different, when it's wrapped around the...beer bottle...in this instance; creates almost a faux-thrown look. I'm hoping to get a better bottle, next time...but, this is the basic idea.

For now, though, it's a happy accident that this makes a great texture to put behind a product! I love the way it looks behind the NeckTiles, especially and you'll see more of these wrapped shapes in some of my other photos, too.

Sample Packs...

The Scrappers Batch. I think that name is hysterical...but hey, that's what these are. Bits of yummy paper and pattern that are meant to be used in new ways.

Another way of making use of extra samples...I hate throwing printed paper away. Actually, I hate throwing most things away. Lately, figuring out how to re-use items in my studio has really been in the front of my mind.

It's mainly trimming that I have lots of extra pieces of...long strips of paper. But sometimes...I end up with sheets that were a little misprinted, or that just didn't get used up completely...and so, I've been saving them up, cutting them up, and creating little giveaways, goodies, and bundles like you see above.

Long Overdue...

I've always been a believer that if you open your mind to creativity, syncronicity will follow...meaning, that the world begins to read your mind, and show you things that you've been pondering...in a beautiful reality.

I've been meaning to to post these incredible images of artwork and illustration done by Francesca of Birdie, who was kind enough to send a link to these beautiful pieces created with her Dotty Dots.

A while ago, Francesca ordered some dotty dots...and this is what she came up with...her interpretation of the wonderful Parisian film The Red Balloon.

Anyway-- to return to my original point...Synchronicity. The Red Balloon is one of my favorite movies of all time. I used to sneak into the children's library screenings of it...as an adult! So...I found it very wonderful that somehow, somewhere, some way, those dots contained that for both Francesca and me.

Look.

Look at these messages I found hidden in the New York Times this morning! I know there's lots of buzz about the Craft Community article ...especially for Etsians. Cool.

NOW GET BACK TO WORK!

Etsy Love

So...with most of my, I think all of my, packages, I include something extra. A little gift tag, a bookmark, a clip, a coupon. I like to try out different things, and this is how I use a lot of my scraps and trimmings-- to print up little goodies on.

A while ago, I included a little matchbooklet with a package...and then forgot all about it. Well, the buyer who received it emailed me and asked if that was an item I was going to carry in my shop.

Actually, it was...but, with all the xmas orders, I hadn't had time to make any up...although I had the template ready. So...without further ado, I went to work, making a batch for her. To be honest, they were a very pleasant surprise...I really loved the way they looked, so yummy, all those bright patterns stacked together. So...soon, they will be offered in the store.

Anyway, this is what I love about Etsy, and selling online in general. It's really fun to communicate with buyers. Making custom orders is not something I want to do a ton of...because then I'd never get to design more products! But, when it works out, it can be really great, and what they call in the corporate other-world...a win-win.

CUT+PASTE

A couple of journals are featured on the front page of CUT + PASTE....the handmade consignment shop which, in my humble opinion, was one of the pioneers in craft, handmade, and diy retail. There are lots and lots of amazing gifts over at C+P, so make sure and head on over...Personally, I love the dress in this image. It would look really cute with colored tights and a pair of vintage booties.

In other news...orders are going out for the holidays! I've been very, very busy filling all of them, but I'm on top of it, and having a great time preparing and sending off packages. A couple of new products are in the works, so that's exciting...I can't wait to put them up. Response to the calendar has been really, really great...and I'm thrilled because a great deal of effort went into designing it. I'm thrilled to think that people are looking forward to seeing some of my work all year round. What a compliment.

Save The Date! New Clip Design

Unfortunately, she forgot all about her date with Ted, he had asked her on Monday if he could see her again on Thursday...but, when Thursday rolled around, well, she was so busy that Ted flew out of her mind and into the stratosphere. If she had had these clips, things *could* have been different.

Just...hello

There are lots of orders to fill....that's why no blog post lately...Above...Photographic proof that I have been a busy bee.
More soon...back to work!

It's a Mini!

Ok, soon, I will stop posting about the calendar...but I had to do one...more...because the calendar now comes in a mini size, so I wanted to let people know. It's about 1/2 the size, all other features are the same. Great to hang in a small space, or...separate the pages and hang up a few months at a time.

More on the way...I have some orders to fill, but then, design resumes! I hope you all are well, and enjoying the holidays, so far!

Sketches and Treasures

Doin' some sketching on Sunday, and this is what I came up with...I found a huge paper supply store in NYC this weekend...so I have some cool new binder rings to play with. Planning on some long books that are hangable...not sure if it will work, but I certainly am excited to explore.

Also, yesterday a nice feature of the calendar on Omiru which is a fun shopping blog. So...that was an extra perk for 'Cyber Monday' as it's now called.

I also have a treasury going on Etsy called Fa + La x 8...for anyone who is interested, there are some rich picks for the holidays!

ANNUALS

Ok. Here it is. It's up!
Finally, the first Deluxe 2008 Calendar has been listed in my etsy store. Since I've been under the weather all week, it was put on hold, but today, I finally got the light for the photos and was alert enough to take them. Anyway, I do hope people will enjoy this. It's definitely been a hard process-- harder than I thought it was going to be. But, I'm happy to see it come together.

On view at SusyJack on Etsy.

Love and Headcolds, and Calendar Progress

I may have a stuffy nose, but I will not be stopped! Ok. Yes I will...if there's a Project Runway marathon on...

But anyway...I'm working on filling some orders, taking photos of my new necktile designs, and recovering from the TRAUMA of the bindery and what they did to my precious calendars. Thankfully, I had only brought a sample, rather than a whole bunch of calendars to them because they butchered them. Oh well. So, back to the drawing board on how to actually bind these suckers so they can hang.

Thank heavens for screw posts. In reality, they are the most attractive option...but they require a little more work to change the month. However, I don't think it will be a problem. The pages can easily be torn off, or moved to the back. Plus, the screw posts give a little bit of a high-end industrial feel to the whole affair.

Categorically Speaking

Adding categories to the website...and making a few changes that will make it much easier to add new products. Since the website has been up for a while, I'm finding out what I should change and what is working. So, some changes are on the way...but like everything else...will take a while. I'm pessimistic today. I have a bad cold and I'm just generally mopey because of it.

Calendar Progress

Well, I've had some really wonderful, edifying comments on the calendar, so...I thought I'd post a shot of the progress...I was not happy with the binding job on the samples I brought to the binder, so...today, it's off to try and find another solution. Somehow, a basic spiral binding just doesn't cut it b/c all the pages get uneven when they are folded over. So, today I shall try wire-o...which is a little more reliable as far as neatness. Learning as I go is my modus operandi, in general.

Oh...and here's a pic of a new necktile that I will list shortly. I was at the Japan Society the other night, and they had a speaker talking on a mustard yellow podium. I was so struck by the color that I knew I had to work it into a piece, somehow. I'm really enjoying making these. It's fun to switch up media, and interesting to adapt and work with the patterns and motifs into other shapes and purposes.

If you can...

If you can cover it in paper, I'm gonna try. That's pretty much what I think about what I'm doing lately. I wake up at night, and dream of covering things in paper. I walk through Home Depot like a mental patient...silently cataloguing anything that can be covered in paper or made into a product...and it feels so GOOD.

A few weeks ago I posted about some pendants I was beginning to experiment with...and now, after a little while of plugging away at it, I've finally put my first one up on Etsy. I'm calling them NeckTiles, because I like that they look like little paper tiles. Each one comes with it's own felt pouch, handmade by yours truly. At first, my pendants looked a little globby and the color wasn't coming the glaze enough. But, I stuck to it, and now I'm quite happy with them. I'm even making my own bases for them, using my trust revlon nail file and a little patience.

I hope you enjoy these. I'll be listing more soon, in different designs and with different pouch colors.

More New: Calendar Progress! I am on my way to the bindery (scary) today with my printed calendars. There will be a large size (about 17" long) and a wee size (about 10" long) for sale shortly. So, I hope the binder doesn't mess em up. Holding breath.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow

I feel a bit like my mom when it comes to this calendar. She has this quilt she's been working on for about 30 years...and it's this family joke that it will never really be finished (actually, we joke that it will be her funeral shroud at the rate she's going) but that's what you do when you come from a family who can't resist the dark humor.

Anyway-- I feel a little like that, because I keep getting *close* to finishing this...but just can't quite make it all the way. I'm a little closer today...the dates are plugged in. But, the artwork needs to be refined a bit...and the color needs work. The cover needs to be done...and, oh...they need to be printed and bound. Right.

Anyway-- I guess I could always put this out for 2009, but I was *SO* hoping to have my first calendar be for this coming year.

Some ideas for prints...Hoping to get to this after I finish making up orders today, or over the weekend...There are definitely many ideas floating around in my head...but I haven't really gotten to them yet. This is just a sketch.

Thursday Thoughts...

ooh. that post title sounds like the name of a self-help column. Well, I guess that's pretty accurate. I feel frazzled. But, things are moving along...I'm working on some new ideas...and filling some large orders that have me pretty much paralyzed til I get them done. My mind is racing because once I set into production mode, my mind generally starts to wander into new territory. I hope this finds all of you fine and dandy!

Sets of 3 and new Pencil Cups

Just listed a bundle of 3 journals on etsy...so, you can pick your favorites and get them as a nicely wrapped set. I love the way that patterns look together-- and one of the things I love to do the most is take a bunch of my favorites and start combining them. I thought this was a fun way to get that to happen. A set of 3. Plus, this set is a bit of a deal, since the journals are usually $8.5 each, this works them down to $7.33 each.

Also on the way... PYOP Pencil cups...and Cup o' Clips. Still working on the necklaces. I'm out of goo, so I need to get some more. Believe it or not, I can't find this stuff anywhere in NYC. Frustrating. Mystery Goo.

FYI I have started going to the gym in the morning and I feel like I have 2 additional hours in my day. So nice!