Stitchable States on Southern Weddings blog

I'd just like to thank the kind folks at Southern Weddings for featuring my Stitchable States poster kits on Part 1 of their National Stationery Show recap!

                   

                                       

NSS Show Recap and Photos

Well I'm back and (somewhat) rested now from my debut NSS show. The whole experience was fun, educational, and memorable! I read a lot of blog posts from other NSS exhibitors before the show and it really, REALLY helped me prepare for this first show. When I think about what I can share that might be different or helpful to others, this is what I came up with:

1. PR/Media Kits: Have plenty of those both in your booth and in the press room at the show. I placed about 20 in the press room but am really glad I had 10 more in my booth because I ended up giving every one of those away to press who visited my booth.
2. Booth help: First off, my good friend Paula Joerling (http://www.paulajoerling.com) was kind enough to offer to help me hang my booth and I really did need that help--we "procured" an extension ladder and it was great to have someone to hold it steady, as well as another opinion on what should go where. I had a printout of my booth layout but things did change a bit after seeing the actual booth-for instance, I hung my lettering too high but couldn't really change that after it was burnished down. Then during the show, I had my awesome friend Michael Letzig (who is a wonderful painter in his own right) to help me with anyone who had questions or wanted to place an order. He was a fantastic help and it was also great to have someone to watch your booth when you needed to take a break or eat.
3. Catalogs: I've read this elsewhere but it bears repeating--I didn't need nearly as many catalogs as I had ordered. I ordered 500 but probably gave out somewhere around 175 or so.
4. Shipping: In the past, I've used FedEx or UPS and have had varying hassles with paying extra trade show fees, having my boxes thrown away, wondering whether the trucks would be there and get my stuff before leaving, etc. etc. This time I used GES shipping through the show and it was so much simpler. They picked up from my house and will deliver back to my door also plus it was just quicker and easier at the show itself. I filled out my bill of lading and that was that. As far as cost goes, I don't think there was much of a difference between the two after everything was figured in.
5. Booth walls: I bought the art wall booth package. I figured the cost of shipping large walls was probably going to be higher than the booth package cost, and then I'd still have to assemble them once they got to the show. I've done other trade shows in the past where I've shipped and assembled my walls and the cost was not that different, plus when you're not traveling with anyone who will help you assemble, this just seemed easier overall. The one thing I wish I had done was paint the walls. They were pretty scratched and marred and could have used a coat of paint.

That's all I can think of for now but if you have any questions, please let me know. Here's some photos from the show:

Yay! My boxes were waiting when I got to my booth

The first things I put up were the adhesive lettering and my back wall, including my wire sculptures. 

 I used a laser level that we taped on the wall (to avoid making a hole in the wall) to hang all my stitchable posters and other product. Here's where I wished I had put the lettering down about 6" lower.

Here's one of my finished product groupings: the Famous Buildings group.

Here's the Stitchable States poster kits with state postcards below. 

Here's the finished back wall with my pillow kits displayed on chairs and IKEA table. (The colors were not THIS vivid-just a bad photo!)

the Famous Bridges product grouping:notepads, tea towels, stitchable posters, postcards, and embossed poster

the Famous Bohemians grouping

and lastly, the Famous Babes grouping, including the perpetual Babes and Bohemians calendar

See You At The Show!

I can't believe that several months of planning, designing, mocking up, etc. are already at an end and it's finally time for the NSS show! Super excited to launch my new line and I also can't wait to open the retail side of my website right after the show. Oh and to all the retailers out there-I'm offering FREE SHIPPING on all show orders!

Media Kits for National Stationery Show 2014

Things are ramping up around my studio in a serious way today and tomorrow in preparation for my debut at the National Stationery Show! I can't wait in some ways and in others, I'm slightly terrified. (Ok, maybe terrified is too strong a word but let's just say mightily anticipatory.) I thought I'd take a minute to give you a look at what I've chosen to put in my media kits this year. I'm making about 25 of these and they'll be put in the press room at the show. I've never created a kit before for my own line, so it's a bit different than doing Surtex. I've decided to include one of my catalogs so that whoever gets this can see my entire line (and hopefully write about it in the future!), one of my Famous Babes and Bohemians perpetual calendars, an embossed card, a postcard mailer (because it also has my booth number on it) and of course, my business card. Since some of my line is printed on fabric and most of my pieces begin with wire, I wanted to include that in my package in some way. I thought that putting everything in a fabric bag and securing my business card with a wire holder would be different and hopefully an eye and spark interest! These photos are not the best, as we haven't had much sun here in the Midwest for days now, but hopefully you can get the idea.

My media kit includes: 2 product examples (perpetual calendar and embossed greeting card), postcard mailer with booth number, and catalog

My business card secured with wire to the front of a hand-sewn fabric envelope that 

prominently displays my booth number

Thanks to: the stationery place

Many many thanks to Lyndsey at the stationery place for featuring some of my work on her awesome blog today! If you've never been to her site, click on the link here to go check it out! She chronicles all things stationery and paper craft related and is also a co-founder of SEATTLE BLOGGERS UNITE, an informal monthly meet up group.
Each of these cards shown below is embossed with a raised gloss varnish in strategic spots to add a fun tactile quality.

Famous Buildings postcard set of 10

Famous Bridges postcard set of 10

Famous Babes card set of 8

Famous Bohemians card set of 8

Embossed poster giveaway at the show!

Hey if you'll be at the National Stationery Show on May 18-21, please be sure to stop by booth 2955 and pick up one of my giveaways: this one is my 11 x 14 Marie Antoinette embossed poster.

Best New Product Competition!

Just got the fantastic news that 4 of my products have been accepted for submission into the Best New Product Competition at the National Stationery Show this year! So happy to hear that as I was doing that little mental dance between semi-self confidence and manic second-guessing. Here's one of the products that was accepted into the competition: my Famous Bridges tea towel.

From Sea to Shining Sea

I can hardly contain my excitement for my newest product group that I'll give you a peek of today: the Famous Bridges notepad collection. These are only 3 of the bridges in my collection of 5 and there is a whole line of products to go with: stitch kits, pillow kits, postcards, and posters just to name a few. If you haven't gotten the message here--stop by booth #2955 to check out the entire collection at the National Stationery Show coming up May 18-21 in NYC!

Tres Fridas Friday-First New Product Peek!

Hi! This is my first time posting via FB from my Instagram feed so hope it all loads for you quickly. I'd compose a completely new post but I'm honestly working day and night getting ready for the Stationery Show so I thought I'd try it. Please follow me on Instagram or Like my page on Facebook to see ALL my product sneak peeks (plus, full disclosure: more than a few photos of my cat and dog.) Just click on the page below to get to FB.

Post by Tammy L. Smith.

Photos From A Photo Shoot and Jumping The Fence From Surtex to National Stationery Show

A little before the end of 2013 I made the decision to change my business from doing only licensing and freelance illustration to designing and producing my own line of products. The decision to do this had been rolling around in my head for a few months but I never really considered it seriously until I realized one day that it was EXACTLY the direction I wanted to go in. I have some ideas for some products that I'm really excited about and I'd like to be in charge of having them made and getting them to market, so for the last few months I've been spending lots of time in front of my computer! I'm having a completely new website made, along with a catalog for the show. Below are some of the shots from the catalog shoot that we did last week. I can't wait to show you all the products but for now, here's a teaser of some of the items I've been working on. Stay tuned!

Layout for the cover

Abby Campbell straightening up the tea towels

The talented Ben Pieper moving in for a closeup shot

Ben and his assistant Annika (who is modeling one of my new tote bags)

Setting the mood for happy hour!

And last but not least, a grouping of several of my pillows