I'm back...for now. I'm not exactly sure how bloggers keep up with their blogs. Sure, I have deep thoughts now and then but somehow blogging about them escapes me for...well it looks like months on end. We've been busy little cartoonists here in the studio, drawing concepts for new products, more art for the next calendar and of course writing. Writing requires solitude and focus, drawing for me requires neither. Give me a couch, a tv and a glass of wine and I'll happily draw and come up with concepts all evening long. Funny, except for the glass of wine, that's pretty much how I spent my childhood.

We just returned from the Atlanta Gift Market and if you are reading all the bloggers who actually blog, you've probably heard that it was super positive and hopefully successful for everyone. We had a few exciting launches and I never get over the thrill of seeing my work out there in the world--only surpassed by the thrill of the royalty check that comes after. I will not bore you with pictures of me standing next to all the products but I'll share this one from the awesomely cute collection from Blossom Bucket. How cute is that? It's part of a group of 12 little angels we named "Heaven Help Me".

So now, with Surtex a mere 15 weeks away (as a friend happened to mention) I must go back to drawing and writing and all the follow-up from Atlanta. See ya!

Bucket List-check!

I checked an item off my Bucket List last night. I don't really have a Bucket List written down but whenever I hear of someplace cool or something awesome that someone has done, I always say, "ooh, I should put that on my Bucket List--which I don't have." The Thanksgiving weekend in Florida seems to be the kick-off to party season---which lasts until the Snowbirds leave in April---so a girl's gotta keep her exercise and diet in check so that the excess cocktails and many, many tiny foods do not add up to well, excess.

So on the 4th party we attended over the weekend (one was our own on Wednesday night, and I'm counting Thanksgiving, because, well--- have you met my friends?), we stopped by an open house at the home of two of my fave peeps. These guys are awesome---funny, smart, passionate and very generous. They are both hair stylists and Anton is a former opera singer and Barry, an incredible pianist. So between adorable finger food and a few holiday toasts, they would break into song---beautiful renditions of hymns, Christmas Carols with a few guest singers to round out the evening. Don't worry, I did not do a "Michelle Pfeiffer on the piano in the Fabulous Baker Boys"---that's still to be checked off the list.

So what was my Bucket List moment? That was when Anton invited all of us to sing Silent Night together. I know---so simple! But I've always wanted to be one of those people hanging around the piano in someone's home singing Christmas Carols! I've seen it in a million old movies and when I was growing up we always sang together at Christmastime around the tree (and trust me, there are no opera singers in our family!). So thanks, Barry and Anton for jump starting my Christmas season and kicking my inner Scrooge to the curb!

Ignorablog

Here's what I've been up to:

1) Jim and I went to Colorado to see a few clients and we stayed two extra days and hung out in Snowmass and Aspen. I now want to sell everything and move to Colorado. But I won't.

2) I spent an amzing weekend with 3 fabulous friends from college in a picturesque cottage on a picturesque lake. I love these people...they are the ones that "fill up my cup".

3) Working.

Here's what I've been thinking:

1) Now that we live in Florida full time, the seasons mean nothing any more. Every day is summer and when they mention fall, halloween, or hearty autumn casseroles on tv or in the paper, I can't really get my head around it. But I would not say no to the occasional casserole.

2) I have an awesome life.

3) We have some awesome things coming our way and I can't wait to share!

As a matter of fact, I'm not Kim Kardashian!

But I did have a beautiful wedding a few years ago. There were beautiful seasonal flowers, our dearest friends, incredible families, a cake that left a lot to be desired (another post) and a dress I loved. I didn't change into three different dresses like I heard Kim did, but I'm sure that's the only difference between our weddings.

My dress has been hanging in the guest room closet for almost eight years now and really...what do you do with it? Pass it on to another ancient bride? Sell it on consignment (or worse...having it rejected by the consignment shop)? And since I am only one of two women in history that was fatter at my wedding than I am now (Diana was the other one), it seemed unlikely that I would wear it again---even dyed some snappy color.

Then I heard about an event called "Love That Dress", a fundraiser for the Pace Center for Girls in Fort Myers, Florida. Donated dresses are sold to raise money for their programs to keep at-risk girls in school. I donated the dress (and the matching shoes of course) to the event and I feel great knowing that someone will be wearing the dress that meant so much to me. I hope the love I felt on that day "rubbed off" a little (but it's ok, I had it dry-cleaned!) on the next women who wears it. And Kim? Well, I hope she knows the joy of having an amazing husband who makes her feel beautiful every day--- whether in jeans or a fancy lace dress.

Penguins In Vegas...

...Another reason the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas is so darn fun!

A Study in Contrasts

Well, I'm back from yet another trade show...seems like that's all I blog about these days, but it is the "season" for trade shows. We wind up this round in Atlanta next month and then not another show until next January. (there will be business travel just not the show kind,---just the visit fun clients kind) We were in Las Vegas last week for Licensing Expo 2011. And if ever there are contrasts within a city, this is the one. Balancing on the beautiful (the Bellagio Botanical gardens) vs the tacky (the constant barrage of noise, information and smoke), the noise of the casinos vs the surprisingly quiet hotel room and the beautiful people vs the...not so much.

We had a great show, always fun to see "the people" after hiding out in the studio for the weeks between this trip and Surtex in May. I think we'll see some great stuff happen as a result of those efforts and of course the enthusiasm and pluck (I love that word) of my fabulous branding agents Lisa and Mickey Marks. They are the founders of Lisa Marks Associates, a branding agency with clients like Peeps (you know you love 'em!), Martin Guitars and other biggies---and me of course! They have resumes a mile long and apparently know everyone. Really... everyone! And they are super fun too.

The biggest contrast was after racing around getting ready for the show, living in the weird world of Las Vegas for a week and being "on" for 3 straight days (and nights) at the show, Jim and I took a drive for a day and hung out at Red Rock Canyon---I highly recommend this side trip if you ever find your way off the strip. Simply beautiful, awesome and blessedly quiet too. A nice transition, I must say!
Ronnie

What day is it?

Oh, well... let me just check my handy new My Friend Ronnie wall calendar! I can only check 2012 dates, but you get the idea! This is one of those products that I have always dreamed of having my artwork on and here it is! How cool...