New experiences, new friends, new accounts, new designs; I can’t believe how much has happened in the last month! It has been exhausting and exhilarating. My brain is feeling a little swimmy, but it’s only because I’ve learned so so much new stuff!

My first foray into the world of trade shows appears to have gone pretty well. Thanks to dear friend, Tasha McKelvey – yes, THE Tasha McKelvey whose work appears in shops and galleries around the world AND in the fabulous UnCommon Goods catalog – I felt prepared and even downright excited before the experience.
Fast forward to set up time (yeah, definitely fast forward past that part of our trip to Philadelphia where I95 was shut down) and schlepping our stuff to our booth – we had a great spot! And bonus – we were right next to indie artists and screen printers extraordinaire – Sarah and Laura!

I met an amazing number of women whose work I have long admired ( and even got to room with one, Jen from Yummy and Co.!) including Nancy Nelson and Allison Fomich. It felt like I was surrounded by artistic royalty! When I found out thesthe great Michael Michaud of Silver Seasons was in the building – I swooned, for realz!

Heather and Jim of Two Sister’s Boutique came toshow from Fredericksburg, VA and helped ease any bits of nervousness I had  - they are such good friends! And my dear sweet, sweet husband took perfect care of our little darlings and house – cleaning it from top to bottom before I got home! Amazing!!

Aside from being incredibly homesick for my family, I would say this was an absolutely successful trip! Here are a few of the most popular items from the show:

 

As the holiday season mounts to a fever pitch, please try to find a bit of peace for yourself. It seems nearly impossible sometimes, but it’s so very important and will do you much more good than stressing and rushing and completely freaking out over things left undone. It’s kind of ironic that I’m imparting this advice; I’m well known for my pre-holiday melt downs but this year I’m bound and determined not to allow the panic attack, heavy breathing, chest clutching stress get me. We’ll see how that goes. I’m not making any promises.

But I am going to really try to find a moment here and there to just be quiet. No television, no Pandora. Maybe I’ll sketch a bit or leaf through a pretty magazine. Or just snuggle Leo Babypants on the couch – I’ve found a mushy baby cheek is a fabulous stress buster.

So just try, okay? Chances are no one but you will ever know how long that list of things you didn’tmake,  pick up, or clean really is.

vintage bits destined to be taken apart and reworked - someday.

a tray of pretty flowers that will need to wait just a little longer becoming Twist Style necklaces and rings

Last summer was the first time we ever visited Charleston, SC. My brother has lived there for 17 years, but as a younger, single guy our visits usually had him traveling our way for holidays and special occasions so we never had reason to swing down that way. But, I must say, that one trip to that area and we were hooked.

Baby Leo was just a few months old on our last trip and I wasn’t really able to do much in the city, so I was really excited to go back and spend more time exploring, sightseeing, and beach-sitting. We stayed on Folly Beach, only about 15 minutes from downtown and a really awesome place – in a 60′s throw back, hippy sort of way. Not many of those MONDO beach homes. Mostly just small cottages with lush landscaping and a few little condo places – no giant structures -  except the one hotel on the island.

Aside from seeing my brother and his darling girlfriend, Lisa (we all hope she’s family soon – hint hint Jason!), eating freshly caught shrimp every night was one of our favorite parts of the trip – followed very closely by Sugar – the cupcake shop and bakery that also features popsicles like you’ve never tasted! The cupcakes were dreamy; the perfect balance of homemade cakieness and lush, sweet icing. I had a fresh brewed ice tea with honey, made with tea grown right in Chalreston, and I have been dreaming of it ever since. There is no sweet tea that can compare, in my high opinion. Bonus: The guys who run the place are just as sweet as their wares. Makes you happy to support them by buying a cupcake and a tea!

Right down the street from Sugar is one of those sort of places that makes a trip totally worthwhile for me.

Beads on Cannon is a jewelry girl’s dream. But, really the shop is so fabulous that even if you aren’t a die hard like me, you’ll find inspiration and temptation and probably walk out the door with a big bag of goodies! The shop owner is a traveler, scouring the globe for materials you are just not going to find in a run of the mill bead shop. Her picks are so insightful I truly had a hard time keeping myself from running about willy nilly grabbing random handfuls of gorgeousness. Instead, I took entirely too long (for Balin) rummaging through the little rooms, longingly sifting through strand after strand of semi precious stones and crystals.

Finally, I made some choices. But, I have to say I’m still lamenting some of the goods I left behind. I guess we’ll be vacationing in Folly Beach again next year… I can’t wait!

So, my friend Kelly? Yeah, she’s one of those gals who always seems to know what’s next. She’ll tell you she doesn’t, but rest assured her finger is on the pulse of that business she runs, Modern June, and there is no way that woman won’t outlast every other business girl I know. She’s a maniac. In a good way!

She is a mommy. With 2 kids. Who she HOMESCHOOLS! Couple that with a booming biz and she’s got her hands full, right? Well, let’s add the fact that she manages an adorable, well-followed blog, and oh yeah – she has yet ANOTHER business called Oilcloth Addict. Plus, she is the poster child of social networking. Free media and promotion has never been worked like the way this girl works it. Truthfully.

Clearly, she has her hands full with retail, wholesale, pattern making, and managing employees all while TEACHING her sweet kiddos. But, don’t you know – now she’s gone and written a dang book! She sure has and it is gorgeous. The styling is fabulous. The photos are positively beautiful (and I’m not just saying that because Little Baby Leo is one of the product models…). Her photographer definitely outdid herself. The projects will have you itching to bring home some yardage of oilcloth and laminated cotton straight away. Just flipping through for a minute while Leo napped I found at least three projects I would love to try!

Oh. And I forgot to mention. She made a film trailer for the book. It’s adorable. Look for Sewing With Oilcloth in the Crafts section of your local bookstore, or order it at www.amazon.com.

Holy schmoly. Time warp. Again. Here we are, just a few weeks from the biggest shows of the year: The Country Living Fairs! I’ve got a wee sneak peek at some of the things I’m working on to make these the biggest and best Twist Style shows ever.

First, it just wouldn’t be prudent to show up without a fresh display. We want folks to look forward to seeing what we come up with from year to year. I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve to create a look that is undeniably Twist Style, but with a very woodsy flair…

Also, leather has always been a favorite material in my studio, but for this season it is going to be moving full on, up front in the collection. I’m working on some lovely styles that will incorporate suede, cuffs, ink and and carving. Many will be one of a kind!

Finally, it’s always nice to have some super intricate, sparkly pieces that feature the best vintage components, which I collect all year and hoard until inspiration strikes.

Bonus: My daughter Balin is a junior in college and one of my studio helpers. She is infinitely artistic, usually with her camera, but definitely in other ways, too. She surprised me the other day with an awesome crystal pendant and together we came up with a beautiful design that really incorporates both of our styles. We haven’t come up with a name for this new style yet, but look for a whole line featuring it soon!

Will I see you at the fair?? Please drop me a line and let me know!

www.twiststyle.com

Just a few of the pretty new bits on www.twiststyle.com

I’m not able to keep a very high profile these days, but rest assured I’m working, working, working. It’s a little tricky to keep a business running at high speed while chasing a toddler who moves at the speed of light, but I’m doing it!

Time in the studio is spent developing new styles and shipping orders (and keeping Leo from eating beads). We are so happy to have added several new shops to the roster over the last few months. Please visit the Shows and Shops page at www.twiststyle.com to see if any are near you. Or, if you know of a great place that SHOULD carry Twist Style, please do drop a line.

On the horizon? The Country Living Fairs  in Columbus, Ohio (September) and Atlanta, Georgia (October).  We’re putting together the fall trunk show schedule and I hope to be visiting Raleigh for The Handmaiden’s Handmade Holiday in November, plus I’ll be participating in The Richmond Craft Mafia’s Handmade Holiday and The Ashland Trunk Show here in Virginia.

Starting in September we will have regular studio hours for folks who want to come see where it all happens! Please give us a ring in advance as sometimes Baby Leo decides we need to come in a bit late or leave a bit early. The studio number is 804 796 7999.

Today I saw two elementary school kids walking home after school (we live right next to the school). I think they were a brother, and his younger sister who looked to be in about second grade. She was carrying a snack in her hand and he wanted some. She refused to share so he got grabby. Boy, can that girl scream! She let out the loudest, longest shriek ever and I’m sure Iwould have run to call 911 if I hadn’t seen the whole thing and knew for a fact that she was not injured.

I’ve taken some days off this week.Well, not really off. More like out – as in out of the studio, but still working at and around home. Twist Style work is always scattered all over the house anyway so I decided it would be nice to have a few days of squishing Leo up while squeezing in just a bit of work and maybe a little domestic engineering.