Sunday, September 12, 2010

Sunday Night Mish Mash

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Do I need to say anything? Oh happy day pink zinnias! But I will add this: isn't this a great use of salt and pepper shakers? A friend bought a case of them at an auction--I don't think she spent
$ 5 for them--and what fun to turn them into instant little vases!
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On October 2nd JB and I will host the 3rd Annual Art Fair in our side yard (more on that later, for sure). I wanted to hang a vinyl banner announcing the event on our fence, which sits on a main road. But when I priced them, I couldn't justify a cost of $ 75 or more dollars for one banner.
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This kind of thing frustrates me because I wish I had the skills to create things like that. I thought about what I could do and I came up with this:
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It looks pretty darn good! I'm now working on another piece for the front fence.
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Conversation with my Mom:
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Me: How's Carmen, Mom?
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Mom: She's fine.
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Me: Do you remember her?
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M0m: (sheepish grin) Not really.
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Me: How come you're saying she's fine if you don't remember?
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Mom: (wide grin) To keep you quiet!
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This is a pretty good book for artists who have an interest or could use some help in marketing, promoting and selling their goods. It covers a good bit of blogging--a subject any one reading this already knows!--but it also has some good suggestions for giveaways, etsy, house parties, advertising, etc.
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Scribbled on a bridge: Noah & Annabelle. I look up at it and think I want to write a story about Noah and Annabelle. I just like the whole sound of it
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In Provincetown, squeezed in a corner of Commercial Street, a man named Scott began selling pink icing cupcakes for $ 2 each. He would bring about 200 in tuperware containers and within two hours he would have sold all of them ($ 400's worth).

This got JB and me thinking. A cupcake business. A sidewalk cupcake business. We are thinking enough that I am going to call our local Board of Health to ask about kitchen requirements, and then City Hall to ask about sidewalk licenses.
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I like that JB and I aren't afraid to consider ideas and possibilities. It is in this spirit that we bought our little place in Provincetown (we rented it out full time for three years so we could afford it); when we opened our short lived and shockingly successful restaurant, when we think about how we will return to the Amalfi Coast in Italy and live there for three months).
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Thinking like this reminds me of a quote I've never forgotten: A ship in the harbor is safe but it doesn't see anything.
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And finally, here again is the scene of the upcoming YART (Art plus Yard). Did I mention that SIX friends born from the blogs will be here? I find that unbelievable, amazing, and totally wonderful.
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It's autumn in New England. I think I'm ready.
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Love
kj

21 comments:

  1. Love those zonnias in salt shakers. What a great idea. And the signs you made look a lit better than a big vinyls sign.

    Can't wait!

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  2. cs, hahaha, are you typing in the dark? (can't wait too) xoxo

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  3. What a super duper sign idea!
    Clever you,,,,what's it made of?

    The salt shakers are perfect,,I love your rounded stones, (I have those too)
    and I ADORE your Mom!

    You & JB had a restaurant? How cool is that!

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  4. Ah! great!!

    the sign is brilliant, you can bet everyone will see it and love it! It is fantastic. Way to be resourceful!

    I saw that book, it looks good. You recommend it? and the cookbook looks interesting too (you know i ♥ NY now).

    perhaps you and JB will test the cupcake waters at the yart? maybe you can rent time at a licenced kitchen to bake? and then see how they fly away to happy customers.

    your mom is funny. funny.

    fun post dear.

    xoxo
    love,
    lori

    p.s. zinnias! :)

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  5. Handmade banners such as yours are much more appealing than shop-bought ones, less commercial. Salt shakers look lovely, and the zinnias give a unity to the various designs. Hope the yard sale goes well.

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  6. So Stella did leave some zinnias. Good girl she is :-) Nice idea to put them in saltshakers.
    The annual YART: I hope this will be a huge success and I am looking forward to pictures and stories about how things were.

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  7. great signs. it will be a fun time. cupcakes? exciting. you are full of adventuresome ideas. it is very nice that you have someone to plunge into these adventures with. take care, suki

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  8. I wonder if a spider shooting a single gossamer strand over eight feet long to hit a target less than an inch wide needs as much creativity as your signage?

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  9. The sign is totally awesome, kj! I love it...it's so much better than a vinyl one. I'd stop just because of the sign.

    Cupcakes are suddenly becoming quite fashionable...they're all over the tv and at the farmers market, so you may be on to a good idea there. Try them out at your art sale...and make sure you have lots in reserve because I bet they'll go quickly!!

    I love your mom.

    It snowed last night. I guess autumn has arrived in the north country...not sure I'M ready, haha!

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  10. Oh how I wish I could come, more now than ever. I love your sign and it is much more wonderful than any banner you could have bought.
    I love your mom :-). I also make wonderful cupcakes! I thought of selling mine too, but you can't have animals where you bake and in this house that is impossible. I would have to rent out a kitchen and I am afraid that would eat up the profits. In Taos you could get 3.50 each maybe even 4 dollars. Good luck with this. I love JB's studio. I need that book :-).Love. xoxo

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  11. I adore your mom. and love the salt shakers and the sign and the book and the cupcakes. But I hear that woopie pies are the new cupcakes so you'd better get on that band wagon babe. Food at the yart? Am I allowed to entice people over to my table with food???

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  12. I see your "Guest Columnist" did leave you a few Zinnias....

    I love the idea of using the crystal salt shakers for tiny, colourful blooms.... how bright and joyful they are!

    Ummmmm.....cupcakes! No more need be said....

    Sign is fantastic....much better than plastic!

    You and JB had a restaurant? I want to hear more!

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  13. P.S. Forgot to mention...that I, too, adore your sweet, witty Mum!

    MUWAH!

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  14. babs, we had a restaurant that specialized in american tapas. we called them 'piecemeals'. it was a disaster even though the restaurant got great reviews. you've triggered me to will write a post about it soon :) ps the stone card is from ms. lolo, who gives the best cards

    lori, thank you sweet friend. mwah. yes, cupcakes at the YART. but not for sale: as part of lunch. robin is going to make purple frosting to go with the pink, i'm sure of that! the book, it's good but not great. for a kickstart overview, it's very helpful. i am going to give my copy to annie but she doesn't know it yet :)

    somerset, how nice to hear from you. i'll be visiting your way soon. thank you for complimenting the sign. i am surprised how much i like how it came out. :)

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  15. wieneke, if the actual event is as much fun as the anticipation, it should be great. i'm sure there will be pictures, and not just from me! ♥ (thinking of you dear friend)

    suki, yes, it is always good to have a partner in crime. look for robin's purple iced cupcakes along with my pink ones. yum!

    mark....aww, mwah! you are so kind and sweet to me, mark. and you know what? that's how i feel about you too!

    marion, snow already? wow. i'm not ready for that. the leaves are just starting to change here. what is it that cupcakes do to our souls? they make us want to do cartwheels. interesting.... ♥

    annie, if you haven't already, please see my comment to lori because that book is coming your way. :) i wish you would be here for the YART too. xoxo

    mim, you can entice and solicit any way you want. when i had exhibit booths for my business i always had bowls of m & m's. i am emailing you because i have a baker's rack you might want to use. CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU HERE. orgasmic excitement says it all. :)

    robin, our restaurant was called tomato city. it was a 'slightly upscale american cafe'. JB and i almost killed one another. it is quite a story. you might meet my Mom. it's possible. xoxo

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  16. Thank you, sweet friend. xoxo

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  17. You Mum is funny :)

    I like your signs... they're striking.

    So much is going to be happening at your place.... have a little bit for me too.

    Great post

    love to you
    x Robyn

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  18. The signage on the fence works out G-R-E-A-T. It appears to be very readable at a distance when one is walking or driving by. Super solution!

    As to vinyl... I'm soon to experiment with drawing in sharpies on a white vinyl shower curtain. Hmm... first problem to tackle is getting out the wrinkles.

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  19. I love love LOVE you and your attitude! You and JB are so lucky to have each other.
    :0)
    Love and hugs,
    xoxoxo
    Angela

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  20. annie, you are most welcome. i now have to ready the package!

    robyn, i can imagine you being here. only too easily can i imagine that. and lori too. xoxo

    chewy, vinyl shower curtain? that is brilliant!!! you are one clever girl xoxo

    aw, angela, you can't even love me more than i love you!

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  21. Wonderful post KJ!
    Love those zinnias in those cute vases. Great idea!
    Lots of ideas going on in your head.
    Does your brain ever gets a break ;)

    Love
    >M<

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