Studio? I have a Studio?

Hello? Hello? It seems like ages since I've been in the studio. It's not like I haven't been working, mind you...it just seems like it's been forever since I actually drew an actual picture. My time has been taken up with getting ready for Surtex, going to Surtex and following up on Surtex. I'm not complaining as it's just a part of the world in which I work. It's kind of like Christmas, it comes every year whether you're ready or not!

And now for the pictures. The top one is my adorable friend and spectacular artist Cathy Heck. Cathy and I have known each other for years, art buddies from way back. We shared a booth with each other at Licensing Expo waaay back, before our hair was this color. Her new collection is absolutely adorable and I can't wait to hang with her in Las Vegas next month.

The next shot is with the lovely Connie Haley, another amazing artist with a wicked sense of humor---we were booth neighbors in Atlanta and let's just say if we had been in 4th grade the teacher would have separated us immediately! And people get us confused all the time!

I get to meet new delightful people too. I met the darling Monica Lee on a shuttle bus. It's a blast to meet people you only meet through their blogs, and she is as just as cute as her artwork. Every once in a while you meet an artist and you can't believe from their personality the kind of artwork they do. Really? That's you?! But not with Monica. Cute girl, cute art.

You'll notice that I am wearing the same thing in each photo, as I suddenly remembered after the show had closed that I meant to take a bunch of pictures! So even though these shots don't show it, booths were crashing down around us and the sound of forklifts was deafening. But we're all about illusions, right?

Talk to you soon, I've got pictures to draw!
Ronnie

Bring on the Shows!

Next Friday, we leave for New York for Surtex---a trade show for people like me where we exhibit our work and meet with manufacturers of all kinds of things. We have meetings set up with stationery, fabric, giftware and greeting card companies, plus we always meet new people along the way. It's an exciting show plus it's in New York! So in the next few days, I will be doing the following: printing out portfolio pages, organizing all the supplies, tools and stuff we need to actually hang the booth, figuring out my outfits (the most important part of this whole deal, right?), designing the handouts, begging for more appointments, losing 5 pounds (ok, that's not going to happen!) and trying to continue to speak in full sentences. I know I've done these shows for over 10 years, but they do tend to somehow sneak up on you. Here's a picture from last year---I'll post new ones after we return. See ya!

Wanna have your own My Friend Ronnie?

This fun collection just came out with one of my fave clients, Personal Creations. We developed a way that you can have your own My Friend Ronnie portrait printed on notecards, address labels, stationery and a really cute note cube. You can pick your skin tone, hair style, hair color (no matter what color it is this week!) plus they are personalized with your name (or all your friend's names, of course). Oh, and you can have glasses too---See? We thought of everything!

I'm heading off to New York in a few weeks to exhibit at Surtex, an awesome venue for designers to meet with manufacturers and industry folks. Jim and I have been going for ages and we love the excitement of the show and seeing all our peeps that we only see a few times a year. So, lots to do in the studio and of course there's the whole wardrobe selection process that is an ongoing challenge. I know, it's New York...just pack all black, right? See ya soon,
Ronnie

Happy Valentines Day! Now go eat some chocolate!

Five things I love about the Atlanta Gift Market

1) The Heavenly Bed at the Westin--not that I got to spend much time there since each morning our feet hit the floor at 7 am and our heads did not hit the pillow again (with a thud, I may add) until 11 pm or so.

2) Seeing all the cute products (some of which was even mine---like these plaques from the Real Women...Real Country collection by My Friend Ronnie at Blossom Bucket) in the sparkly shiny showrooms.

3) Seeing all my wonderful, creative, audacious, hilarious business-y friends. You know who you are, but here's a few names (in no particularly order so don't get mad at me): Susan, Barb, Mary, Elise, Connie, Alan, Bobbie, Greg, Joe, Guynna, Ketra, Kim, Marty, John, Renee, BJ, Carol, Ellen and Jane. If I forgot anyone I'm sorry and I'll write your very own blog at another time.

4) Cute outfits. Everybody looks so darn cute in Atlanta, those Southern Women really know their accessories and unlike New York they actually wear something brighter than black.

5) Cocktails in Showrooms---now what better way to get people to shop than to serve them wine, margaritas and cute food?

6) Oh, what the heck--here's one more...the deals! I really like the deals!

Creative Chicks Cafe Interview

I had a cool experience being interviewed by the lovely Kate Sullivan of www.creativechickscafe.com last week. Kate's website is emerging as a creative venue for artists and she is an incredible artist herself. She works in ceramics, stained glass, fabric and she paints too. She also hosts open workshops in her to-die-for studio! Enjoy the interview...more good stuff is on the way...

May I say thank you?

So the old year is almost over and the new year is hovering suspiciously close...and now is the time for all good bloggers to thank their loyal readership and those who love them. So thanks! I know I should be writing more often and sharing my deep deep thoughts about art and life and life in art and the art of life, but certainly you can get that somewhere else, right? Aren't you here to discover a clever turn of a phrase adorable cartoons and the inside scoop on all things Ronnie? I thought so! Put away the Christmas stuff, have a fabulous New Year's celebration (I recommend the black eyed peas for luck), and yes, thanks so much for being here!