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!

Real Christmas

I may have mentioned a time or two that I have been designing products for a jillion years or so (and loving it, I tell you!) and people like me design Christmas all through the year. And when we are not designing for it, we're looking at it, thinking about and at least once a year we actually celebrate it! Or as Jim and I call it, "Real Christmas". Sometimes it's hard to drum up enthusiasm for decorating the house when really, I was working on Christmas during Easter, Memorial Day, 4th of July and yes, Labor Day.

But sometime around this time of year, I actually get a soft spot in my other-wise cold cold heart for twinkly lights, fake snow (I am in Florida after all) and the smell of ginger and cinnamon wafting from somebody's (maybe even my) kitchen. And then something big happens. I hear it. Someone singing Oh, Holy Night. Like I heard last night. And then, I drag the decorations from the loft in the garage and bore Jim with all the stories of how we acquired each one and then I'm officially In The Christmas Spirit!

Maybe I'll draw a picture about it.

Thanksgiving...

I love Thanksgiving...what's not to love about mashed potatoes and gravy as the focal point of a meal? Oh, it's the turkey, you say? Ooops, my bad. I especially love cranberry sauce-- particularly the straight from the can jellied variety, with the can marks visible when you slither it out (onto a fancy plate of course---I'm not completely without style!). My sisters and I have all become foodies over the years but I think most of us still have canned cranberry sauce on our table (right next to the whole berry, orange,walnut, brandy concoction).

But mostly I like this holiday for all that it's not...no presents, no religious affiliation, no decorating unless you include a few pine cones and candles artfully arranged (or not) about the table. I love the kid art place cards and I will never forget my nephew Nick reciting a Thanksgiving poem he learned in 1st grade (and that boy is an attorney now!). It's simple family time, and so darn American. It makes me happy to live here and happy to be in this family.

And I am so. darn. grateful. I am healthy, strong, have work that I love and am married to an amazing guy who makes me laugh every day. I am completely jazzed for what's on the horizon and still wake up every day with the notion that "I get to draw today!".

Have a wonderful day---enjoy every morsel of turkey, pie, mashed potatoes...and life!

It's Christmas at Macy's!

I'm happy to say that the new My Friend Ronnie products have debuted at Macy's in the past few weeks! They are safely tucked away in the Christmas Departments of the store as the spinners have Christmas designs and everyday sentiments included. There are really cute mini plaques that are perfect as ornaments, package decorations or hung on a wine bottle. The larger size is a great little gift ---for a friend, sister or by golly, get one for yourself!

When you make your living designing products, it's a very s-l-o-o-o-w process getting your designs to market. We first showed these designs to Macy's in May of 2009! And through a long decision making process, design approvals and manufacturing cycle they have finally made it into the stores! I am thrilled with the quality of the plaques and had a great working relationship with our client, Enesco/Department 56. We are currently working on next year's designs so I am keeping my fingers crossed that everybody stays happy and these babies fly off the shelf!

Why I love TV.

I am a child of TV, I pretty much loved it all, and still do---but I am slightly more discriminating these days. I once interrupted my Halloween candy gathering to run home to watch The Monkees. Since it was also a time when you'd send your 4th grader out with her friends and 6th grade sister (to supervise), I went out again after the show was over. After all, they were giving out candy!

I had my fill of the Law and Order franchise a long time ago and I cannot sit through any of the CSI's. Those shows either gross me out, scare me or I get stuck on things like: "Why is the coroner wearing false eyelashes?" "And why does David Caruso speak in that odd, halting manner?" But in summer reruns I have discovered "Castle", a clever over the top show that has been compared to the good years of Moonlighting. It has snappy writing, compelling characters and plots that don't make me fear for the future of humanity. So what does this have to do with anything regarding art, cartooning, or licensing? Well, in a recent episode, Rick Castle's young daughter is conflicted about studying or going to the beach with her friends, and how can she ever resolve this when she grows up? And he said;

"Find work that feels like play."

It took me a few (dozen) years to find work that didn't feel like mind-numbing, soul sucking work but now that I've found work that feels like play I can never go back. OK, I could...but I really hope the bottom doesn't fall out of the cartoon market any time soon. Because frankly, I am no longer qualified for any other work---just ask my former employers!