I have to go feed my pet

After spending 2 days at the National Stationery Show and Surtex last week, I have to say I'm overwhelmed by the talent there. I go every year to buy art for the company I work for to put on journals, notecards, and you name it. I typically spend most of my time there at the Surtex Show, and after half a day, I'm typically overwhelmed, and am already forgetting half of what I've purchased! We ended up getting lots of great stuff, and meeting new and old artist friends.

One of the things that really caught my eye this year were these crazy, adorable walking pet balloons. I didn't have time to get one for Jake, but this is the type of pet I could really see us having! It was fun seeing people at the show walking around with these happy balloons. I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot more of this trend, and I know I'll be looking for one for the next addition to our family!

Super Heros Unite

(design © Heather Zschock)

As always, we've had a busy several weeks with lots of birthday fun, lots of work, and not enough time. Thus, this blog has not been updated quite as much as I would like. For one thing, I think it needs an overhaul, and I'm starting to gather a few ideas of things I'd like to do. Like most of my larger projects (like our guest bedroom, and basement), it seems that things take about 6 months to come together if I'm truly honest with my time constraints! I also have a tendency to play with Jake at any given moment. Redesign blog, or play with Jake? Clean out basement, or play with Jake? Hmmmm...which would you decide? (He is pretty cute, isn't he?)

In March, Jake turned 4, and we celebrated with a really fun Super Hero party. I had a few indoor games like "Pin the Badge on the Super Hero" planned, but I really didn't have enough to keep 11 kids reasonably happy and under control for an hour and a halaf. FORTUNATELY the weather cooperated with us. If it had been a rainy day, I would have been in big trouble!

(design © Heather Zschock)

The highlight was a visit from Spiderman himself (who wishes to be anonymous). When the children arrived, we gave them bags with capes I had made, masks that my sister graciously made, with stickers to decorate. (I made 12 capes!??! What was I thinking!?!?) When that activity was winding down, Mr. Anonymous snuck upstairs and put on his Spiderman costume (doesn't every man own one?). I announced that a "bad guy" had taken the goody bags...which may have scared a few of the kids (oops!), and then I asked them to all call for help from Spiderman. They obliged, and out popped Spiderman! Who also scared them, until we told them who he really was (can you guess?).

Spiderman led the little super heroes on a "clue finding mission" around a nature preserve by our house. We had set up clues and goody bags with "power rings", "heat ray vision" glasses, etc. At each stop, Spidey would pass out the goodies and announce that his "spider senses were tingling", and it was off to the next stop!

They all had fun, and I think this will be a memorable party for him...which for me, is the most important!

Dinos

I've been working on a couple of dinosaur kid's activity books lately. They're really fun, and I'm looking forward to the day Jake starts to take interest in dinosaurs. (Of course, he'll probably have me making him a dinosaur costume!) I remember being VERY into dinosaurs when I was in kindergarten. The first book (above) will be a learn-to-draw dinosaur activity book with step-by-step instructions. The illustrations are by Keri Barbas Steckler. It's funny, I've worked with her for over 12 years, and because we lived in different cities and only talked on the phone, we became good friends before we'd ever met in person. Has that ever happened to you? Kindred spirits, I guess?

The other project I'm working on is a create-your-own papercraft toy dinosaur activity book. I'm working with illustrator, and paper engineer Mary Beth Cryan, and I have to say, she's been amazing. I'm thrilled with each new dinosaur she sends me. It's like opening a present every couple weeks! The book will feature 24 dinosaurs to punch out, and then assemble. Here's a sneak peek:

Have a good week!

Let's get organized

Lately I've been an organizing queen. At the beginning of the year (conveniently corresponding with New Year's resolutions) I began to feel the house was imploding on me...thus began my mission. I've been straightening out every drawer, shelf, and closet I can get my hands on in the free time I have, and it feels GOOD!

In the middle of this flurry, I've been toying with the idea of what to do with several boxes of old photos I have. They're organized, but later on, the names and places will be unknown to Jake if he ever decides to look through them. I came across this photo album/scrapbook concept by Becky Higgins that looks pretty tempting. The photo page inserts come with sections to include cute cards that you can write details about the photos. Seems easy, and like a great, complete package that would actually be fun to put together.

Although the binders she has are really cute, they're not my taste for long term. I'd prefer a more classic look, either covered in cloth, or leather. These binders from the new Martha Stewart line for Avery are really nice, and perhaps would be the same size? Anyway, must get the house together before I tackle this one!

2011 Surtex Sneak Peek

OK, this is belated, but here's a sneak peek of some of the art that we bought at the Surtex Show this year...stay tuned until next year when I'll show you what we did with all this lovely art! I stuck post-its all over the holiday images as we decided which format the images will go in. Magnetic box? Acetate box? Large? Small? Laser-cut? Gift bag?

And, remember, by the time you see these images on products at your local book and gift stores next year, many of the images will be very different...for instance, the yellow holiday image on the top left will definitely not stay that color. There will be foil, glitter, uv coating...let the games begin!

Time for a design-a-thon! I guess I better get busy...

One year later...

Last year, I posted a sneak peek of some of the artwork that I purchased at the Surtex Show for the company I work for.

After each show, I like to hang the artwork up in my office, and then we gradually decide what art will go on which products. We never know at this point which piece of art will be a "winner", and which things will fall by the wayside. Everyone in the office likes to come in, and tell me their favorites, and make predictions about which will become the next big seller. Here are a few closer up views of that shot:

The following three pieces were purchased with a customer in mind who had a theme, "Everything is Coming Up Roses". At the time, we didn't have much direction from them, so we took a bit of a gamble:

It turns out the "rose" they had in mind, was actually an orchid. They wanted it big, and pink. So, with this art, by talented artist Lauren Wan:

We focused on this area:

So, that became all this:

It has turned out to be a great collection to our line, and the original customer was very pleased with it.
But, the true winner of that season, was a last minute purchase, that I had to convince a few peeps about. Turns out, customers love this bird art:

We started doing a few products, but got such favorable reviews, that it's turned into all this!

Looking for holiday images is always a challenge, it's hard to come up with something NEW! DIFFERENT! EXCITING! each year, because the holidays are seeped in traditions, and it seems that people don't necessarily want NEW! EXCITING! But, we try!

The following is an example of how we sometimes buy art as inspiration, and change it dramatically. We really liked the idea of this art, but no way would our customers go for the pink background. We also prefer horizontal images. And, no type on the front of the card. So...this...

Became this:

It's printed with gold ink, and the branches are highlighted with silver foil.

We embellish a lot of the designs with foil, gloss highlights, glitter, and debossing. This can really bring a flat piece of art to life. 

Pretty in Paper

At the Stationery Show at the Javits Center last week, they cleverly put up a "Paper Runway" connecting the two sides of the show that were separated due to construction. To highlight the relationship between paper and fashion design, exquisite paper dresses were created by such fashion designers as Lela Rose, Susan Woo, and Donald Deal. Visual merchandising and design students at NYC's LIM College participated in the competition sponsored by Kate's Paperie. The winners will be displayed in the windows of Kate's Paperie during Fashion Week.

I was amazed at the intricate detail in these dresses...if you look closely at the construction of some of these dresses, you will notice that the dresses feature a variety of trends that are popular among paper design right now... notably, butterflies:

Lasercut designs:

Gold accents:

And bold flowers:

It's hard to believe these are all made of paper! I'm curious how long it took to construct these fabulous creations! Which is your favorite? (Mine is the short dress with the butterflies...)

Mustaches...funny or tres passe?

Part of my job is to spot trends. If you look around, you can hardly miss mustaches popping up all over just about anything. My boss was surprised...mustaches? Really? Well, just look. I'm not sure if the trend is now on a downward spiral, but if you ask me, a fake mustache is usually funny. What do you think? Is there room in the market for another mustache item?

This trend has certainly covered all the major product categories...

Baby:

(From top left, clockwise: Booties: Pleasantly Plump Knits; Onesie: BK Chic Boutique; Pacifier: Piquant Designs;  Print: Sugar Fresh)

Home Decor:

(From top left, clockwise: Print: ReStyle; Digital transfer on Pillow: Black & White Designs; Glass: Bread & Badger)

Party:

(From top left, clockwise: Straws: Sew and Such; Mustaches on a Stick: Loriii; Fake Mustaches: Amazon)

Personal Style:

(From top left, clockwise: Necklace and Ring: Supermarket; Carstache: Urban Outfitters; Shirt: Red Brick Wall)

Stationery/Gift:

(From top left, clockwise: Note cards: Screw You, Martha!; Pencils: Crib Candy; Journal: Sass and Peril; Pen: Seltzer) 

P.S. Jake is lucky he's not a baby anymore. I'd definitely be pushing one of those pacifiers on him!

I can't remember

Did the ground hog see his shadow? We've been looking for signs of spring, and really, can't wait!

Cute card available here!

Sweet Treats for you!

When I first started blogging a couple years ago, I "met" a super enthusiastic woman named Kim who had just started blogging. As a career change, she started her own imprintable party business called The TomKat Studio which has really taken off in the last couple years...it's a very inspiring story! When I noticed that she had posted one of the projects I worked on, a Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake journal in her holiday gift guide, I sent her a package of cupcake projects I had worked on recently to thank her (plus, they reminded me of her and her business!). She loved the products, and asked if she could do a giveaway...(of course!)...so now you can visit her blog here for a chance to win!

Zombie Invasion

Not everyday is fairies and flowers in my design world...on the other end of the spectrum, I am currently designing The Zombie's Guide to the Holidays. The artwork came in yesterday, and I've been gleefully playing around with the gruesome art done by the very talented Lisa Fargo of Fargo Design, Co. Each illustration is more grizzly and vile than the next...I love it!

Here's an unedited sneak peek:

In stores this holiday season...read it if you dare!

The Making of a Fairy Queen

I've been working on a new Fairy Fold-Out Playset which will be similar to this project I worked on last year:

I've commissioned illustrator, Amy Saidens to create the art for the project, and we've been working on pulling together all the illustrations and characters. The project includes three fold-out scenes, and many fairy paper dolls and clothes to dress them up. One of the characters we asked her to create was a Fairy Queen. 

The first fairy she sent looked like this:

Too young I thought...too trendy. I asked Amy to try again, so she changed the fairy's hair to brown.

Hmmm, still not right. Too young, too much like the other fairies in the book. Too trendy. This fairy needs to look older, and more classic. Time to give a visual of what I'm looking for. So, I grabbed a Hollywood glam hair-do off the web, and added it to Amy's illustration in Photoshop. I also curved her figure a bit, and changed the leotard to a form-fitting dress. I suggested adding a little gray/white streaks to the fairy's hair as well.

Then, Amy reminded me that if she did this, the Fairy Queen's glam hair would be covered once the clothes were added, so she came up with this...

Perfect! Now we have a Fairy Queen! One of the trickiest things about creating a paper doll book like this, is ensuring that all the clothes will fit each doll properly, and be able to be attached in such a way that they don't fall off the doll once the user puts them on. (How frustrating is THAT...to have your paper doll's clothes fall off!?!?!). This is easier to check, and alter if necessary when the art is created digitally, but for a few of the projects like this I've worked on, the art has been created by hand w/ watercolors. Not only is the intricacy of the art difficult to reproduce, but if the clothes don't fit exactly right, I end up having to clone them in Photoshop which is absolutely beastly! The Princess project above was one such project, although, in the end, I think the results are really cute! Hopefully some little girl out there will think so too!