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!

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!