Did You Miss Me?

RECAP.

Evening everyone! What an incredible year it has been since last time we connected. Let’s run

through this fast so we can get to the even better things coming your way.

• My business has grown to over 35 wholesaler locations over 23 cities adding 11 cities 

since we last spoke and 4 within last month. *see list at bottom of new cities

                                                 

• I’ve added custom work for a selection of incredible companies including Boulevard

Brewing Company and Shatto Milk (hometown favorites!).

                                 

• I continued to add to my city collection (21 cities in total so far!) but also created 

designs around some big events here in my hometown of Kansas City, like my World 

Series champs tea towel, Plaza Lights holiday collection, a Valentine’s Day heart 

collection and more to come!

                                

REINVENT.

For the new year I'm refocusing this blog on some things I love like architecture, food, illustration,

cocktails and many more indulgences we all probably share.


REPEAT.

Stay tuned every other Wednesday to see where we go from here! A little mysterious, huh? That’s

the point!

 -T

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2015/16 City Additions 

Dublin              Little Rock            New York           New Orleans           San Francisco           San Diego 

Seattle              Portland                Boston                Dallas                        Memphis                    NEXT?

Reinventing The State Plate

I've always loved state plates and have collected them over the years. When I was into doing ceramics and mosaics I would incorporate some state memorabilia into my pieces alongside my homemade tiles.  When I decided to launch my own line of products last year, I knew that I wanted some DIY component in some of my products, both because I love to see something textural or hand made and also because I wanted to create something that was a collaboration with my customer--something that they could interact with and add their own creativity to. So when I was asked to do a piece of artwork that had to do with the Missouri River last year for KC non-profit Bridging The Gap, I decided the state plate was the perfect place to start. I purchased plates from all the states that the Missouri River runs through and filled in the gaps (or "bridged" the gaps...hahaha) with shards from my handmade tiles.
When I was working on this project, I got the inspiration to reinterpret the traditional state plate in my own illustration style for a new customer, someone who may love the ceramic versions but also want a more graphic approach with a crafty angle for those who (like me) like to embroider and hand stitch. And that's how and why the Stitchable State Plate kit was born. I have started with the 6 most populous states-California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania-but am working my way through all 50 so if you don't see your state, please email me to see when it will be done or leave a message on my FB page too. These kits are $20.00 in my shop online here and they come with 2 skeins of thread, a needle, an 11"x14" poster with stitch lines to follow and simple instructions. If you're not into embroidery, I also offer fine art prints of each of these state plate posters here. In addition, I've made embossed postcard sets for each of the 6 states that are also for sale in my shop here. The dark areas in the design are covered with a cool emboss technique that adds that little something extra to the trad postcard. They are $11.50 for a boxed set of 10 postcards.

Put A Bird On It

Okay I guess I'm showing my LOVE for the show Portlandia but who didn't think that "bird" sketch was the best? Here's another sneak peek of one of my new products debuting next month in booth 2955 at the National Stationery Show. I'm sure you know who this famous babe is! She's featured heavily in several of my new product offerings. Shown here is the poster.

Post by Tammy Smith Design.

How do you build it?

So when writing my New York post about “Art Everywhere” it inspired me to explore deeper into the art that helps spark my creativity.  So in my exploration for this post I wanted to discuss my love of architecture and the architects that inspire me.   Antioni Gaudi is one who inspires me!

Gaudi’s architecture was marked by his passions in life:
      Architecture – Casa Calvet in Barcelona’s is a great “basic” example of beautiful form, design and unique architectural details that withhold the test of time.  This building was designed for a textile manufacturer who used the space for his business and the upper floors were the residence.  Not a bad place to live I’d say!

     Nature – What a great example of architecture in nature.  Parc Güelll in Barcelona was inspired by the English Garden movement and since it is perched on a hill, it provided fresh air away from the smoky factories back in the early 1900’s.  Can you believe that during that time, the Parc was a part of an unsuccessful housing site??

Gaudi was also skilled in ceramics, stained glass and wrought iron work forging and carpentry.  Throughout the Parc Güell you can see Gaudi’s love for ceramics in the detailed mosaics and attention to detail.  Amazing colors and patterns!

     Religion  - It goes without saying that the Sagrada Familia is the most familiar and talked about Gaudi church, since it has taken 130 years to finish the construction due to his untimely death.  The detail is amazing!  Many of the details throughout the church are inspired by nature and the natural design.

Astorga Palacio Episcopal

His final passion was for the love of where he lived!  There is something to learn from that type of love.  All of Gaudi’s work shows his passion for design, inspiration from nature and curiosity in textures and patterns.  There is something to say about having passion that can take many different forms in life . . . I know what mine are! 

What is your passion?