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VOICES IN CONFLICT

The show that dh worked on last year as Coordinating Producer, 

his first production since he went out on his own,

after 25 years at a major network,

click here for original post

well the show just WON an EMMY

THAT'S RIGHT - one of these

from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

for Director, Post Production

at the 32nd Boston New England Emmy Awards Celebration

Director Post Production

Bonnie Dickinson, Director

A.J. Gundell, Director Post Production

John Ruane, Director Post Production

CPTV

Hooray and Well Done 

it's that time again

last Friday of the month

Last month, Maira Kalman started her post as follows:

"May it Please the Court"

and this week President Obama nominated a new Supreme Court Justice,

Sonia Sotomayor.

Here is a sneak peak at the latest Pursuit 

click here to read the whole post

enjoy

her inspiration was Memorial Day

Latest work 

Here are some of the 16" x 20" memento boards

that I have started to wholesale

 great response to these boards

It started by accident.

In April/May I sent out pitch pieces for my frames

to 20 stores across the country.

I included my fun mailer (artwork done by pve design).

It is pictured on most the boards in this post.

The buyers loved the frames 

but they also wanted to know about the boards.

I have been creating the boards 

on a custom basis for decorators and designers mainly.

I always do some for my boutique shows,

but I had not really thought about wholesaling them.

But with all the interest I had to do something about it.

I crunched the numbers,

got the woodworker cutting,

and I worked like crazy for the month of May.

I am pleased.

I have 6 new wholesale accounts.

A few more are on the sidelines; 

I am certain I will be able to convince them

to pick-up my line eventually.

And I still have my trusted accounts that have supported me for years.

Thanks to you all,

especially Robin of Sea Beans Studio in Wilton, Connecticut.

You gave me legs!

And thanks to all the other wonderful people who have inspired me 

along the way.

Lickety-split

This custom job made me so happy.

I just landed a new account with a store called Trappings 

in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Got the order on May 13th. 

Shipped the frames on May 14th.

A customer saw the frames in the store on May 15th

and ordered 5 custom embroidered frames.

Ribbon was embroidered and sent to me on May 19th.

Received by me May 22nd and returned to store on May 22nd.

How is that for lickety-split

Landed another store in Bronxville, New York yesterday

called Kensington Paper.

It is a terrific shop with lovely owners.

And, fingers-crossed, I may have someone interested from Dallas.

More orders waiting in the studio.

gotta go.

Happy Memorial Day.

Biking to Parade on Monday.

2009 Spring International Quilt Market - Pittsburgh - photo from juicy bits

Kaffe Fasset with a beautiful quilt

reminds me of my memento boards, especially my Sis Boom headboard.

I see aqua everywhere these days.

Just sent frames made with these embroidered ribbons

to Trappings in Wellesley, Massachusetts

I rushed them out of the studio so fast that I forgot to take pictures

but the good news is:

I got an order within 1 day for 5 more custom frames.

If you live in the area, take a peak at Trappings

and tell them Marnie sent you!

Will take pics of the next batch.

My pitch effort has been successful:

I am in six new stores!

That's a 30% success rate.

I am very pleased.

I still have more follow-up to do.

I am certain I will be able to add more stores.

Where there is a will, there is a way!

SPOTTED

Memento Board 

on the set of Gossip Girl 

Get your custom memento board 

for your own Gossip Girl Fan

from

mrr design

xoxo

or a special frame for a bff

xoxo

Use e-mail on my profile page 

or Comments section to contact me about custom work.

 Debut

of something new for Sis Boom

Remember the big project I blogged about a couple of weeks ago...

here it is, in its final form:

a headboard for Sis Boom

Jennifer Paganelli creator of Sis Boom 

designs beautiful cotton fabrics.

The colors and patterns are amazing and fun.

HAPPY IS THE WORD THAT COMES TO MIND

I use her fabrics every season

and they have become some of my best selling frames.

Check out below - big sellers this season

Relay for Life

Basket of goodies for a recent bakesale

to support

The relay starts tonight.

All funds raised support Cancer Research.

The participants walk/run/skip around the track at our high school

and sleep there - one of their team 

members is always walking the track.

Meditating on all things - not unlike walking the Labyrinth.

My daughter and friends are a team.

more on bikes

Imagine a car-free town;

in Germany, they have conceived of just such a place.

read NYTs article here:

Bike to work. 

Check out Paris:

chic cyclist in patent pumps, trench and beret

photo via Paris Breakfast's post: stalking the trench!

National Bike to Work Week

May 11 - 15

sounds like fun

Years and years ago I rode my bike to the train 

and took the train in town.

My current office is about 4 miles away from home.

If the weather is ok, I am going to try to ride to work.

The only problem, it is all uphill on the way home -

a long, steady hill....

If all goes well maybe it will become my routine for the next few months

except, of course, during inclement weather.

Added benefit: work off the excess around the middle.

This wonderful piece of artwork was done for me by PVE Design.

I had cards made to send to decorators and interior designers to advertise my custom work.

It is also used as my blog header.

Recently, I included this card with my sample package and pitch letter for my frames 

that I sent to boutiques across the country.

Funny thing, everyone is now asking me about the memento boards too.

It looks like I should wholesale both memento boards and picture frames.

So I worked in the studio all day on Sunday on wholesale prototypes

and figuring out wholesale costs etc.

Thanks Patricia

Your artwork keeps giving!

Call Patricia at PVE Design for any of your artwork needs-

for your business, for your home, for a present...

check out PVE's new blog - great new look Patricia!

Happy Mother's Day

How funny is this?

Card from "she's so creative" click here for link

Love this website:

postcards from yo mamma

and now it's a book.

Another good mother daughter book:

Every Mother is a Daughter

I am about half way through the book and enjoying it very much.

Later today we will devour the strawberry-rhubarb pie that I make every year for Mother's Day.

Anatomy of a board (again)

or

A Work in Progress

Jennifer Paganelli of Sis Boom fame layed out the fabric

took a photo

gave it to me as a template.

Then I cut up the fabric into 8 x 10 pieces,

matched the photo layout exactly,

and went to work.

Started the patchwork process;

a few goofs,

had to add an additional width of rectangles and 

another full length of rectangles 

so it would fit on the 40" x 45" board.

voila

and here is the layout on the board 

with ribbon lattice work

beautiful

and so big...

look at it next to the door

and here it is in Jennifer's kitchen

true colors are the ones in the outside photo

wait 'til you see the finished product...

oh, the suspense...

I will post a picture of the end result soon.

Oh these make me happy.

So many hats this past weekend: 

creator, worker-bee, saleswoman, shipper...

who said work wasn't fun!

another MRR DESIGN board 

in situ

I did this board for my niece

who has a newly redecorated bedroom.

This is the picture she sent to me,

taken by her computer!

But you get the idea.

How about this for a special cake for a baby shower!

I heard it tasted delicious.

Baby boy arrived 10 days ago,

following the pup who arrived last October.

and here is beautiful baby Sam

Precious!