This year, we decided not to drive out, but instead ship a crate and fly out since we had enough air miles for two free tickets…SCORE! Although I must say, we did miss the 3 day road trip in our rented Dodge Caravan through some of the prettiest states.

Not to bore you with logistical details, but we got lots of inquiries from other artist at the show on how we shipped everything, so I thought I would share. We didn’t ship anything via the Surtex contracted services. We found them to be a lot more expensive than shipping on our own. Luckily, we could ship from my parent’s shop so we avoided any gate or forklift charges. A generous friend allowed us to ship to his warehouse in Jersey City so we didn’t have a crate storage fee. We rented a U-Haul, drove to Jersey City, and unloaded the crate ourselves to avoid the crazy “transport” fee from the warehouse to the Javits Center. We also shipped the 8′ x 10′ backdrop and another box via Southwest Cargo. We never had used this service before, but it was super easy, the Southwest folks were so very friendly and kind, and the service was sooo much cheaper than shipping via another service. The only deal-pickle with using Southwest Cargo is you have to drop off and pick up from the airport. This really wasn’t a problem for us because we live close to Dallas Lovefield, and then the Newark airport was on the way to the warehouse in Jersey City.

Okay, okay enough with the blah blah logistics…let’s get on with the show…
Please excuse the poor image quality…this chick left her camera at home, but thankfully for my trusty iphone, I had something to snap a few pics with. What ever did we do in the stone age without cellphones?

I was quite pleased how our little corner of the Javits Center came together. It might have been cold & rainy outside, but the sunshine was shining in full-force in the land of Iza Pearl.

The show went so well, and I’m so very excited about the possibilities of working with the fabulous companies that I met for the first time, and as always, it’s so very nice to meet with existing clients. I have a list of about 25 dream companies I’d love to work with with pinned up in my office, and 8 off that list stopped by or contacted me just prior to the show. Making connections and nurturing those relationships are key…and of course, most importantly, creating, creating, creating, better and better art. Fingers, toes, arms, legs, and eyes crossed some amazing partnerships happen!!
One of the best things about Surtex is chit-chatting with fellow artists. I always find it amazing how often times the emotions, fears and experiences amongst us are often so similar. I truly feel a sense of friendliness, belonging and cheerleading within this terrific tribe of artists. My little intersection was filled with crazy talent…the dynamite Diane Kappa, the darling Nicole Tamarin, the splendid Stacy Peterson, and the magnificent Megan Hain.

The National Stationary Show coincides with Surtex. It’s such a fun show to walk through…especially when one of my new products was making their debut and I was able to see the finished product in person for the first time!  These designer post-it note are triple fantastic! Be sure to check them out here!

The show was a whirlwind of excitement and all-in-all a fantastic time. It’s always bittersweet taking down the booth on the last day…you’re exhausted, but sad to see the show over and everyone going their separate ways. I never have enough time to go by and visit with everyone I want to, and hope to do a better job staying in touch with my Surtex friends throughout the year.

I’m so blessed to have family in NYC that we get to visit with when we are out for the show. I always get to
spend a little girls’ time with two of my favorite little ladies, and we’ve started a tradition of our own.

Finally, after a wonderful week, it was time to head home…Just for fun, here is a little animation of the painting process of the backdrop we used in the booth. I decided to paint instead of doing large format print this year to save a few buck-a-roos and to try something new. I totally love to paint, and don’t nearly do it enough. It was quite the undertaking, but worth every late, late night. We (ahem, Mr. Iza Pearl) built a free standing wall in our garage to paint it on, and after each color (when I remembered) I snapped a picture…sort of fun to see it come to life.

Got a bit of fun news for this fabulous Friday afternoon…now available, Iza Pearl Design cell phone cases!
I partnered with Elibrium a fantastic company that manufactures tech cases. They developed multiple color ways of  three of my prints so you have lots of dazzling options. You can choose from the Hello Gorgeous case, the Whimsy Floral case, and/or the Valencia case. The cases are available for the iPhone 4/4s, iPhone 5, and Samsung Galaxy S3. Currently, they are only available via their website, but will hopefully be in retail stores soon. So better order up your case, call your friends and make some fabulous happy hour plans!! Just got a text from my sister wanting us to join her and my sweet nephews for nachos and sangeria at one of our favorite patio spots in the city!! Have a fabulous weekend whatever your plans might be! Cheers! 

I’m so very, very, very blessed to work with such fun and wonderful manufactures. My hooked wool rugs and crewel stitched pillows debuted at the Atlanta gift show in January. I’m so pleased with how these beauties turned out. They add that perfect splash of fun & color to your home. The pillows are 18″ x 18″ and the rugs are 34″ x 47″. They should retail at boutique home and gift stores.

These babies also debuted at the Atlanta Gift Market in January, and then made an appearance on
Joss & Main for a recent sale. Like my rugs and pillows, they will be carried in boutique gift and
stationary shops and be in stores any day now.

These little guys are just plain awesome! They are paper coasters that come in book form where you can just tear them off as needed. Each coaster is different, featuring 24 total coordinating designs. They are just perfect for a splash of color to your table and completely functional to protect your surfaces…and they look FABULOUS with my aprons & tea towels.
Wanna ensure you’ll get invited to next year’s party? Better wrap your gift in my lovely gift wrap and gift bag
sold exclusively at Target. The gift bag has a little Happy Birthday tag, but can easily be removed to be used
for any occasion…hint, hint: maybe Mother’s day for your snazzy mom or use it for a “just because you’re awesome” gift for you stylish BFF.
The day is near…Hello Gorgeous, my second fabric collection with Windham Fabrics will be in stores in March.
I truly love this collection and the versatility it offers. It’s perfect for everything from quilts, to totes, to home dec projects, to fabulous frocks. I can’t wait to see what all you craft-i-nistas out there will create with it!
Okay, well, I said these should be on shelves the end of 2012…and they should have been, but I haven’t
seen them yet. They are sold exclusively at Wal-Mart, and let me tell you, the last time (last Friday) I checked
the shelves at my closest Wal-mart, they were empty! In desperate need of restocking…hopefully with my
jumbo journal and planners…and man, these journals are jumbo and ready to be filled with your deepest thoughts, meeting notes, or doodles. Remember, first one to spot them on Wal-mart shelves, take a pic and upload to my FB page gets their very own for free. So keep your eyes peeled!

Please, please let me know if you see any of my products out there in retail. I would LOVE pictures too!
Have a fabulous day!

GIVEAWAY:
I’m not exactly sure which Wal-Mart  stores or when they will be on the shelves, so I thought it might be fun to play a little game of “I Spy.”  The first person to spot the journals and planners at Wal-Mart and snap a quick pic of themselves pointing to the Hello Gorgeous items on the shelves and then post it on my Iza Pearl Design Facebook wall (or email it to me at melissa@izapearl.com) will win their very own set! The planner is perfect to slip into a binder to keep on top of your to-do’s and appointments and the journal is 340 ruled pages waiting to be filled with your dreams, memories, ideas, doodles, meeting notes or daydreams during those meetings.  :) So, on your next trip to Wal-Mart,  take a stroll down their stationary aisle and see what you can spy!! 

]]> http://izapearl.com/give-away-iza-pearl-journals-planners/feed/ 10 http://izapearl.com/give-a-way-hello-gorgeous-charm-pack-quilt-market/ http://izapearl.com/give-a-way-hello-gorgeous-charm-pack-quilt-market/#comments Tue, 30 Oct 2012 01:15:09 +0000 izapearl http://izapearl.com/?p=954 GIVE-AWAY WINNER: Drumroll please….and the winner (via random.org) of the Hello Gorgeous Charm Pack is KENNA!! Congrats darlin’!!  Please email your address to me at melissa@izapearl.com and I’ll drop the charm pack in the mail tomorrow. So excited to see what you create! Thanks to everyone who entered! Stay tuned for another fun giveaway next week!! 

Quilt Market  wrapped up today, and what a blast we had! I feel so very fortunate to have been able to attend…
and it be within driving distance. Yay, Houston! My mom, sister and I made a girls’ trip out of it and
had a great time. I met so many wonderful people, and seeing Team Windham was fabulous, as always!
I’m so very excited for Hello Gorgeous to land in stores this March and see what all you creative people out there make with this collection.

I thought I’d share a few images I snapped of my little corner in the Windham Booth. The first image is of Erin Schlosser of Schlosser Designs and I…she’s the sweet, lovely lady who made many of the beautiful projects for the booth. She’s working on writing up the sewing patterns, and those will be for sell soon!! Also, I snapped a picture of Erin and her mother holding up the beautiful Picture Perfect quilt that Erin designed and pieced. It was a dynamite hit!

Also, I want to give a huge thank you to John Kubiniec of Big Rig Quliting. He took my sketch of the Rose Petal Rumba quilt (the one hanging on the wall in the photos) and then made the actual quilt
without a pattern. It’s absolutely beautiful!

Lastly, several lovely people showed up for the charm-pack giveaway, but I know some of you fabulous peeps weren’t there…so I wanted to offer up a Hello Gorgeous charm-pack, a 5″ x 5″ square of each print in my collection.  I was only able to snag one of these little bundles of gorgeousness, but it’s your’s for the taking. There are several ways to enter…the more you do, the better your chance…and seriously folks, not many people read my blog (yet ), so your odds are pretty good. Everyone is welcome to enter!

CHARM PACK GIVE-AWAY
Ways to enter:

1) Like my Iza Pearl Design Facebook page, and then comment on my blog that you did so

2) Comment on my blog with what you’d make with the Hello Gorgeous charm pack or how you would use it (non-sewing crafts welcome as well!)

3) Share the link to my Iza Pearl blog on your Facebook Page, and then comment on my blog that you did so

4) Ask your friends to “Like” my Iza Pearl Design Facebook page, and then each of you comment separately with what you think your friend should make with the charm pack. Be sure to leave your friends’ first name and last name initial. (EX: My friend Shawnna G. liked the Iza Pearl Facebook page, and I think she should make a quilted coaster set…for me!! )

5) Head on over to my Pinterest board, Hello Gorgeous for Windham Fabrics, and re-pin your favorite Hello Gorgeous project (or two or three). Then leave a comment on the blog letting me know which project(s) you pinned.

Winner will be chosen by random.org. and announced on 11.01.12 at 8:00pm. 

Good luck!!

This delicious charm pack could be your’s!! Ready, set, go enter….

Before leaving for Peru a few weeks ago, I left you with this teaser of a few of the projects we had made…
but let me tell you folks, it’s  gotten even better! While I was vacationing in Peru, there was a slew of wonderful ladies sewing their hearts out at super lightening speed making fab-fab-FABULOUS samples for the Hello Gorgeous display. I just have to share their handiwork with you. If you’ll be at market, please stop by the Windham Fabric booth, #324, on Saturday from 3-4pm…we’ll be handing out FREE charm packs of my collection…and who doesn’t love a little FREE gorgeousness?

Words can not fully express my gratitude to all the lovely people who have crafted and created to make
these gorgeous samples!

Erin Schlosser of Schlosser Designs is truly dynamite! She is so creative, crafty, amazingly skilled and as
sweet as cotton candy! A pure joy to collaborate with…she’s got big plans for her business, so keep your
eyes on her and watch her sparkle!

Debbie Buford, did an incredible job quilting the Picture Perfect Quilt. Debbie’s son is the boyfriend of one
of my very dear friends. Over dinner with them one evening, he mentioned his mother had a long arm quilting machine…I knew at that moment he was perfect for my friend and a keeper. I’m so very thankful for her willingness to quilt for me, so very last minute as a huge rush! Thank you Debbie!

Sarah Tonemah is simply fabulous.  She’s got great style, is truly darling, and crafting skills to die for.
She did an amazing job taking my sketch of The Weekender and creating a gorgeous masterpiece.
Thanks so very much dear!!

Lastly, my husband, my big sis and mom are truly the greatest. Thank you all!!

See Saturday at Quilt Market in booth #324!! xo!

The last couple of weeks (with the help of the incredible Erin Schlosser of Schlosser Designs,  my absolutely amazing husband, my magnificent mom, and super awesome sister) we’ve been getting ready for the debut of my 2nd fabric collection with Windham Fabrics, Hello Gorgeous. Hello Gorgeous will be making it’s splash at Quilt Market  at the end of the month. I’m so very excited about this collection and can’t wait to make and share more projects!

Anyways, I wanted to show you some images of a few of the projects that we’ve been making…

Ms. Erin Schlosser designed and made the fancy Garden Party Clutch…isn’t it gorgeous?! She is designing and sewing her heart out on so many fabulous projects I can’t wait to show you!

My husband, made all the pillows, stuffed animals, and reupholstered the settee. Talk about marrying a fantastic skill set, and one of the most amazing things about him?…he doesn’t complain about my creative craziness when I think up these ideas and I ask him to help. He’s my number one fan, as am I his!

My mom, also super-hero supportive in every way, came and helped out doing everything from sewing the Rozella Ruffle Pillow, spray painting tables and walls, and acting as my photo assistant! Geesh, what a great mom, huh?

My sister, has also been such a help brainstorming and picking the fabric combinations for some of the projects. She’s sewing a few things, that will no doubt make your heart melt.

A pretty gorgeous team I have helping me, huh? I praise the Good Lord every day for blessing me with them!!

Lastly, I wanted to share the amazing transformation of the settee which we bought for a steal off of Craigslist…and oh, how I heart Craigslist!!Well folks, I better go…I have a mile long to-do list today…because tomorrow we are leaving for Peru, yup, that’s right, PERU!! I’m so very excited and will be sure to post all about our adventure when we return. (and a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE hug and thank you to my mother-in-law and sister-in-law who are coming to stay at our house to dog and house sit. Thank you!!)  Hope you all have a GORGEOUS day!!

Drum roll please…and the winner is Leo! Yay! You all are oh-so clever!  Every week, I think that I’ll stump you, but nope, someone literally solves the riddle within minutes (sometimes seconds)!  There are some serious Riddle Masters out there! (and I’m DEFINITELY not one of them!) Leo, I’ll be sure to get your Laffy Taffy to you asap so you can polish up your riddle solving skills!

In case any of you are eating light lunches (and hopefully NOT ingesting lightbulbs) so you’ll look fantastic sporting that fabulous Rosa Chá bikini, you can find it here.

Aloha all you Luau Lovelies! I just wanted to share a little sneak peek at a fun side project I’ve been working on. My oh-so sweet cousin is turning 9 and asked for me to make her birthday party invitations.  Let me tell you, this little lady is a SUPER visionary of a party planner, and started planning the details of her party back in December (her birthday is in August!). Then, when I was out in New York in May for Surtex, she asked if I would make her invitations…complete with a “hula girl whose hips really dance.” Luckily for me, her mother found the perfect springs to get the hula girl movin’ and groovin’ on the invitations. We used “Action Wobble Springs“, and man, do they have some moves!

As I was working on her invitations, I ran across this absolutely PRECIOUS, completely melts your heart, video of the birthday girl hula dancing at the age of just 3 and a half.  (Please excuse the image quality as it was filmed on my mom’s “vintage” Motorola Razor almost 6 years ago.)