Untaxing Tax Time

image by relove on etsy

I know it's weird, but I kinda enjoy tax time.  I like adding everything up, putting all the data in its place and figuring out how well I did during the past year.   After I get all of my digits and tabulations together, I travel up to Delaware to spend some time with my folks.  My dad likes to give my calculations and paperwork a once over, make some suggestions, and gab about taxes.   I enjoy getting to spend time with my dad, we talk taxes, chat about our businesses and share what is working and what isn't.

 image by relove on etsy

Being that we have such enormously different careers, (he spent most of his career in sales, is a mechanical engineer, and consults for a living)  it's nice that we can relate and enjoy trading stories and business advice.   Being mechanically inclined, he even came up with several display ideas, that I would never have thought of, and that I can't wait to try out at shows this year!!!

Yay! It's Spring!!!

Ah finally, Spring is here!  After a long winter it's so nice to finally get the chance to enjoy the lovely weather we've been having lately!  I've relocated the studio outside for the past three days, taking full advantage of all the sunlight and fresh air.  I just got done a bunch of pieces that I will post soon, so stay tuned!

Let the growing begin!

Just got finished planting some spinach and lettuce!  It's so nice to get outside and get some gardening and yard work done.  I love the anticipation of growing things in the garden.  Hopefully this year will be bountiful!

Out of Order

Almost 30 years ago  Maryland Art Place was formed, with the intent of exposing Baltimoreans to the art and culture available to them.  One of their yearly events is coming up! Out of Order: Spring Benefit exhibition  is April 9, 2010 at 8pm.  They have lots of fantastic shows that are open to the public and usually lots of fun! Normal gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday 11 am-5 pm.  Maryland Art Place MAP's gallery space is located in Baltimore's entertainment district, Power Plant Live, just a short walk from Baltimore's famous Inner Harbor. For directions or questions call  410-962-8565.

What is a Trunk Show?

Trunk available at Caribou Creek 

According to Wikipedia, a trunk show is " a special sale in which vendors present merchandise directly to store personnel or select customers at a retail location or another unique venue. In many cases it allows store personnel to preview and/or purchase merchandise before it is made available to the public. It is particularly desirable to have the actual designer present at the event. Most small businesses do this to get more buys. Trunk Shows are particularly popular in the bridal industry. January through May is Trunk Show season. Brides can view a larger selection of a bridal designer's collection than is normally carried in a bridal salon. Trunk shows got their name from the way dresses used to be transported to these events--in trunks."

As a designer, this is one of my favorite ways of showing my collections.  I get to spend a lot of time with customers and usually end up coming home with new ideas and inspiration for new work.  How does it work? Here is an example...

Typically, a customer will pick out a time and date and invite a bunch of friends.  In the past, we have had "trunk show happy hours" where the host offers wine and hors d'oeuvres.  Although I don't show up with an actual trunk, I do show up a half hour early to set up a few trays of jewelry.  It's that easy.  The host gets to pick out a free piece of jewelry and gets a discount on all of her purchases.  All of the guests have a great time... eating, drinking, and trying on jewelry!  There's no hard sell, there's no minimum purchase, just drinks, friends, jewelry, and good times! 

SXSW!

 Poster by YeeHaw
If you're in the music, film or interactive/tech industry, you know that this is the week of all weeks happening down in Austin TX.  From March 12-21 all of these industries collide into an explosion of creativity... music, ideas, seminars and tons of networking at the South by South West Conference (SXSW). A few Baltimore folks will be down there presenting, gathering info and having a blast... would so love to be there! Here's a link to the events and fun!

Shopping Local in Baltimore Made Easy

I know most of you like to shop local, so I figured I'd share a little secret with you!   Use this resource to locate locally run businesses in our hood! Go to  Buy Local Baltimore and see what the people in your community have to offer!  *Many sales and discounts are offered through this site!

Elle Decor Shows the Sweeter Side of Baltimore

In the March issue Elle Decor spotlighted our fair city!  Writer Jill Gersten did a fantastic job sharing some of the really great places and activities that make B'more such an interesting place to live.

ACC follow up...

I was lucky enough to get a chance to stroll around the ACC show and take in a small amount of the 700+ vendors that were showing. I figured I'd do a few posts and share a few of the ones I really loved.

It was so nice to see Yasha Butler at the show.   I met her at the Holiday Heap show in Baltimore last December, and was excited to see what she had been working on.  Her work is simple and so beautiful.  I love the trademark dots she puts on her vessels. And I love the organic feel of the pieces when you hold them.  Her work is very affordable too, which is a very rare thing to find at the ACC show!

Hopefully she'll be back again this summer for Pile of Craft!

Wow!!!

So a great opportunity came my way this weekend and I ended up exhibiting my work at the American Craft Council show!  I had an amazing weekend and met some wonderful people.  If you have been before, you know that the shear size of and talent at the show is overwhelming.  It was so exciting to be a part of such a gigantic show!  If you haven't been before, be sure to try and make it next year.  Some of my favorite Baltimore crafters- SweetPepita TheBrokenPlate ElisaShereJewelry GreenStarStudio DandelionBlu Bowerbox were there beside me, helping each other get through this new exciting/exhausting show.  I will have many funny, touching, lasting memories from this experience!  Some more friends SugarPaperie LanaBella TigerLillyShop stopped by and helped out by giving us breaks, manning our booths and dropping off baked goodies! It was also comforting to see the familiar faces of Anapurna GlowGirl16 Tarabu VWStudios TheGarbologistsWife JillPopowichDesigns BethPohlman JenMenkhaus

Thanks guys for all your support and laughter!