Show Prep

I am knee deep in creating pieces for the upcoming International Quilt Market in Minnesota. You know all the pieces we created for the Paris show? Well, those were out of the last collection, Olivia's Holiday, so here we go again creating all new samples, quilts and fun stuff around the new fabric collection, Opal Owl! But get this, I didn't get the fabrics until Friday of last week... the show is May 21st.... the booth gets filled with finished pieces out of the new collection. Imagine 60 different fabrics within the collection ( 6 cottons in 5 different colorways, flannels and a project panel - more on the panel later)... and we want to show it off.
So, then I start creating - well it's no surprise I love to sew for children... so I have a whole selection of goodies for kids.... then I have bags, adult pieces and of course quilts.... So because the fabrics were delayed in production, many of my seamstresses pulled out, or went on scheduled trips or something or other... so we have a skeleton crew including myself. I am very hands on in the development of the shows. Again, we start with the whole list of items... but of course, when I get my hands on the fabrics... well a whole new world opens up... it's amazing to me that as I design, paint, create the collection, select each and every color.... review each approval stage of the development of the fabric you'd think I'd be close enough to it that I can say, yip... this is what we are making for the show. Well, only half true! I get it, and my whole world explodes....
The list gets ticked off but I start throwing new items into the mix.... have a good giggle, change all the paint colors for the booth... change the logo color, request new shelving... a new pattern spinner for the sewing patterns.... and revise all the decor from earthy bird cages and tree branches. Instead, for Opal Owl... it seems that the story for the show is now this sparkling but magical rock and roll glam for kids..... here's a few items... my new toddler jacket is now the Rock n' rolla jacket, fedoras for small people, cool bags for kids, magical wands, rhinestone chic, a superb silver owl money-bank, berets and goodies galore to inspire the retail buyers.... in fabulous rich color of Opal Owl! The tricky part is to be loud without losing the sophistication.... a fine line let me tell you.
Let's see if I pull it off... I promise pictures and more pictures... you tell me!

See Opal Owl on the site here!

t i n y p r o s e

You can hardy see them here but these are the sweetest greeting cards ever.... I have always wanted to put words to my cards and this is just my 'cup a' tea'... Small and sweet, I named the greeting cards 't i n y p r o s e'... little ivory cards with little perfect motifs and a sweet message on the inside... Yummy delicious... and for stores who want a 'spinner' we have one to show off at National Stationery Show... it fits 40 of these delightful little sentiments and messages... choose between tiny, wedded, holiday and baby prose! Cute for words!!!
Tee hee. Booths 3254,3252 May 17-21 '09 see you next week!

National Stationery Show

I am busy prepping for the National Stationery Show.... we skipped last year due to the fabric shows, and this year committed to returning! I love doing this show... there is much fuss, prep and highly enthusiastic competition for everyone! The creativity that goes into each booth, or in European and Australian terms, each 'stand', that it simply boggles my mind. At the International Quilt Markets we have won best booth twice in different categories... but at the Stationery Show, even we have not won the infamous award of best booth!!! It brings me back to our very first booth 5 years ago, with a pink flokati rug, chocolate brown fabric walls and sweetly framed pink felt to show off our hot off the press recently printed invites and cards.... down in the basement in our last minute booth space.... and wow were our heads spinning at the rush of stationers from around the world clammering for our sweet little collection, Cid Pear. Now we have walls and perfect lighting and manage a key space each time among Anna Griffin, Vera Wang, Kate Spade, the lovely Jack & Lulu, Stacy Claire Boyd (a veteran in the business) and even unbelievable Elum the perfectly delicious letter press designers!
Times have changed and each year we have seen changes in buying habits from both consumer and of course retailer, and again recent changes with the awareness of a changing economic climate.... so we must change! We must, or we will not be able to bring our beautiful invites to the market... thus the new Tina Givens stationery collection.... it's perfectly lovely, very sophisticated and whimsical again all at the same time, but unlike Cid Pear's classic high-end price - point, we are able to bring this new collection at unbelievable prices. This means our stationers and book sellers and gift shops around the world will be able to introduce a Tina flavored collection to everyone! Not just those lovely fans of Cid who can afford Cid Pear. I am even encouraged to tell you, our most influential Cid Pear buyers are lining up for the new lower priced collection not because of the amazing price point, but the quality and design of the line. This is a wonderful compliment.
And for those of you who are fabric buyers and collectors of my fabrics.... you'll love this collection because it has a connection to the textiles I design for Westminster Fibers. They're pretty and full of mischief and those florals and fairies are all invited to the stationery party! So join us, come to the National Stationery Show next month. It's at the Javits in New York (trade only sorry) ... May 17th to the 20th.... We're booths 3252 and 3254..... I hope to see you there, and if you mention Tina's Blog password, which is 'BLOGGEDY BLOG BLOG' you will receive 20% off your show purchase! Big yeah! I will continue to post and will post through the show to give you folks who can't attend a flavored peek into the world of the stationery show!