Rare Magazine’s New Publisher Taylor Perkins Has Issues

ARTIST’S RIGHTS

A contract is a binding legal agreement that is enforceable in a court of law. That is to say, it is an exchange of promises for the breach of which the law will provide a remedy…

This summer, I’ve taken a short sabbatical from the Sugarluxe Blog so that I could dedicate ALL of my creative energy to compose my newest art series.  Perhaps my early work as a corporate trainer and curriculum developer wired my brain to want to facilitate the learning process in others.

The hardest part about teaching from experience, however, is that it often means I must expose my own personal pain to impart the lesson.

So, the question always is – do I reveal the drama with the intent and possibility of helping others?  Or should I keep it tucked away and focus solely on the needs of my company?  When you’ve built a solid reputation, these considerations are always at the forefront of your mind.

Truthfully,  it’s a bit of a dilemma. I’ve built a brand based on the proliferation of sweetness and beauty.  But the reality is  – sometimes – business is just not pretty.

Today, I made that tough decision to put myself on the line.  If it helps just one artist, or one entrepreneur, designer, musician or anyone else that will ever face the challenge of what to do when someone willfully disregards contractual obligations – then it’s worth it to me to share this with you.

INKING THE DEAL

In early January 2009, I was approached by the (former) editor of Rare Magazine, Carrie Crowe.  She wrote to me to inquire about doing a Featured Artist series for their November Fashion Issue.

Despite my affection for the magazine…I had no availability.   I was already working on some new art for 09…but I would in no way have time to do 10 new pieces.

But here’s the thing:  Carrie, a highly respected editor, and her (former) publisher and the Founder of Rare Magazine, Matt Swinney, a much-loved, media savvy entrepreneur – have a way of appealing to people through their genuine passion for their own work and for those whose work they’ve selected to feature.  It’s a very symbiotic thing for businesses when mutually beneficial, long-term relationships evolve into friendships.

After some negotiating of the terms, and Carrie skillfully, yet sweetly convincing me of the many ways in which I could use the issue to support and promote my newest work, we struck a deal.  And despite the reciprocal admiration that has developed over the years…when it comes to Sugarluxe and the rights to my work…I’m all business.

Contracts are a necessity.  Defining expectations – on paper – is a mandatory part of being a professional artist.  Reading agreements, understanding the language, negotiating terms and when necessary, seeking the advice of good counsel, are as much, if not more, the duties that fill my day, as are the creative aspects to my job.

Sound sort of un-fun?  It is.

Yet, after you get through the discomfort of considering all of the what-ifs – should things go south – the anticipation is that each party will meet their obligations as outlined in the contract…and everyone WINS.

I signed my latest contract with Rare Magazine on February 3, 2009.

THE BAD NEWS

On June 15, 2009, I received an email from Carrie.  Both Matt and Carrie were no longer with Rare Magazine.  It was with a heavy heart that I accepted their departure and then went about furiously researching online to find out what went down.

I quickly learned from a local blogger that someone by the name of Taylor Perkins bought out Matt’s share earlier in the year and that Carrie was now a casualty of Taylor’s quest to “bring in fresh blood.”  Spoken like a true ax-man.

So, within an hour of hearing the news, I wrote to introduce myself to Taylor.  100% certain that Carrie handed off all the necessary documentation because she is about the MOST organized woman I know, it was more of an inquiry to find out about the state of Rare.  Would this magazine still be in existence come November 2009?

You see, I’d already invested a month of my time just working out the sketches for the Fashion Issue.  It was not the original theme or direction I had envisioned for my newest art…until I signed that contract. So it became the required foundation upon which this new work would be created.

So I write:

Hi Taylor,

I hope your Monday is off to a great start.

I’m sure you are juggling so many things right now, but I just wanted to check in with you to see how things are going since learning of Carrie’s departure.

Sugarluxe is slated for your November issue…therefore, I thought it imperative that I find out if everything is still going ahead as planned.  Is there ANY chance that Rare won’t be around come November – or for that matter, September 1st when my work is due to you?

If you could please confirm that everything is moving forward as planned, I would be MOST appreciative.  I am very happy to complete my assignment for Rare.  I just needed to touch base for clarification.

Thank you so much and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Chandra

An hour later, Taylor responds:

Yes, everything is fine with Rare. Nothing is changing, we’re just getting some new blood in the office over here. I bought Matt out, and with changes comes changes. It’s going to be exciting to see, we have a lot of great things planned for the magazine and the events that we do.

Um …yeah, okay.  That sounded as direct and coherent as a Gary Busey quote – “Nothing changes like changes, because nothing changes but the changes”.

As the beginning of August drew near (T minus 30 days and counting until my deadline) I thought it time Taylor and I set up a date to review the work. This way, the designer at the magazine could get an idea of the look/feel and color palette of my artwork in preparation for the layout.   I wrote to Taylor on August, 1, 2009.  The email went completely unanswered.  So on Friday, August 14th, I tried reaching him by phone.

A sales rep answered, said Taylor wasn’t available to talk, told me there was a new editor in place and someone would get back to me that afternoon.

The following Monday I receive this much more polished and professional email from the new Editor, Caitlin Ryan:

Hi Chandra,

It’s great to ‘meet’ you over email!  I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you from the staff now at Rare.

Meredith sent me a note saying that you had called touching base regarding November Fashion art.  That there had been an agreement put in place previously.  When I came in (just last week!), I combed through any documents I could find and I did not see anything like this, so I went ahead and assigned November in an effort to get ahead of the game.  I am SO sorry, Chandra.  I understand that you felt a crunch for time, so perhaps this could serve as a bit of a stress reliever.  I would definitely love to feature you, however.  Just have to check and see if you were featured in last year’s fashion issue.

Again, I really apologize.  We were left with very little guidance as far as what was promised to people, and I’m doing my absolute best to do right by all of our contributors.  I know, though, that this wont come without any disappointments along the way.  Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you!

My best,
Caitlin

Despite the fact that I didn’t like the obvious direction this was heading (and at this point, I’d worked 16-18 hour days for the last 30 days straight in order to get all this work done, so was hardly in the mood to be placated) I still respected Caitlin’s diplomacy.

Hi Caitlin!

Thank you for your quick reply. You are so sweet!!

I read your email, but am forwarding my reply on an old email exchange with Taylor on June 15th. This is where I introduced to Taylor that I had a contract with Rare and was slated for your November issue – just in case there were any questions.  So, he was made aware as soon as word was out that Carrie had left her position.

My contract was signed with Rare Magazine on 2.03.09.

Yes, more time would have been great and I truly appreciate your offer.  However, so that I would not be in breach of our contract when I did not hear back from Taylor asking for an extension to complete (sent on 8.01.09 with no response back from Taylor)…I have worked around the clock to finish this series for your Nov issue.

In addition, it has already been promoted to my fan/customer base, so the time, energy and cost (in addition to our agreement in place since February) means I need to go ahead and do November as planned.

I’m sure any artist that you recently selected will understand when they realize you have a contract in place already.

Please let me know details of when we need to go to print and I look forward to receiving the interview questions…

Thanks so much!!
Chandra

And then another 7 days go by with no response from anyone at Rare.

Monday, August 24th, I’m asked to send in my artwork for review.

At first, this seems insignificant.  One might think…yay, it’s settled.  We’re moving ahead without things getting messy.  But never, ever send completed work to someone who hasn’t confirmed they are going to honor their contractual obligations.

Since they are local, I asked for a face to face meeting.

Hi Caitlin,

It’s nice to hear back from you.  I was concerned about not receiving a return response after my email last week.  So, thank you.

Given the fact that there has been some misunderstanding or miscommunication during the transition between owners at Rare, I’d greatly appreciate the opportunity to come meet with you just to have everything squared away.

I’m happy to bring copies/prints of my artwork as all are not all scanned/digitized yet.

When are you available this week?  I just returned to town from a funeral, so getting caught up and can’t do it tomorrow.  But Wednesday afternoon works for me.  What about you?

Thank you,
Chandra

The meeting was then pushed to Thursday…enough time for me to consult my advisors and prepare for whatever was ahead.  I elected to not take anyone into this meeting with me because I don’t like to get all top-heavy when it could just be a simple, friendly meeting of the minds.  The decision to go alone is probably my biggest regret.

Three on one – for the next two hours, I faced a barrage of pointless interruptions from Taylor and although I tried to joke and lighten the air, it was heavy with disdain. Particularly when he started to talk about his former partners and associates, even recent cover artists.  In fact, the things he shared were so out of line, inappropriate and unprofessional…I was shocked.

Keep in mind, this is all while he lavished upon me proclamations of love and adoration for my work.  Never let your stroked ego get in the way of seeing someone’s true colors.

I know so many artists in this town.  In fact, I know so many artists around the world.  To insult anyone in my profession is an insult to me.

I returned to the studio.  Disgusted.

By the end of the day on Friday, I expected to have confirmation that we were indeed on track.  It was less than three days from the drop dead deadline and nothing.

I write to the entire team:

Hey guys,

Thanks for your time yesterday.

To cut to the chase, I’m pretty much done killing myself on this project – so I need an answer today.  Are you going to honor the legal agreement I have with Rare Magazine?  Regardless of the change in ownership, the contract is still valid.

What is your decision?

Thank you,
Chandra

Knowing that the law is on my side, I remained hopeful that he would do the right thing.

Four hours later,  Taylor wrote back.  To summarize:

He tried to appease me with an offer for a small editorial piece and to host my art opening in Austin (please read: a thinly veiled attempt to make more money off of my work while giving me nothing provided for in our contract).  Not the cover.  Not the featured artist with 8 interior sections and the two page picture/interview profile as the agreement stipulates…

A BAD DECISION

But here’s what absolutely bothered me the most…he thinks I’m stupid.

He has the nerve to try to appear as if he’s an artist’s advocate when he writes:

The direction of the magazine is changing drastically under the new management and ownership. One of them is to not repeat a cover artist that we have already showcased, as we feel there are so many amazing artists out there that deserve a shot.

Here are THREE problems with that argument -

First, we have a contract so the point that I have been featured in the past (Dec. 2007) is irrelevant.  Nice try, though.

Second, Sugarluxe was not showcased like many winners after winning the top spot in Reader’s Poll in June 2009 when Sugarluxe was voted Best Artist (this was a fair decision on Carrie’s part due to the fact that in November, I would have a huge presence in the magazine with the Featured Artist spot and cover).

Third, the way Taylor responded in this situation demonstrates his true motives and ethics in regards to helping artists.  He can SAY whatever he wants…but actions are everything.

Popular artists or yet unproven, you start by respecting contractual obligations with ALL artists.

He was in breach of the contract.  And contracts are in place to protect people.

So it all boils down to this…

Publicity is nice.  It’s great to be recognized and I’ve worked very hard to complete my assignment for Rare Magazine.  I’m proud of the work and I’m so thankful to Carrie and Matt who provided the direction and inspiration behind the new series.

But every situation requires some strategic analysis and if you’re anything like me, you work to minimize the brain damage.

The appropriate thing here was to disengage and to do so quickly. I will not compromise my values for a little bit of press. I will not work with someone whose true motives are questionable at best.

Dear Taylor:

Your:
1. Reputation of not delivering on your promises (think about your latest events if you’re uncertain as to my reference)

2. Lack of professionalism (by speaking so negatively and out of turn about your former associates and cover artists)

3. Poor decision making (not honoring a clearly legal and binding contract)

have resulted in my immediate need to retract all permissions or rights of usage to any of my artwork/imagery.

I will no longer take the risk of associating my brand with you.

This does not in any way make you less liable for your breach and only galvanizes my resolve to seek every remedy available to me/Sugarluxe for your actions.

The magazine, according to Taylor, has been “hemorrhaging money” and you just have to thumb through the last issue to see how many advertisers have jumped ship. In a time when the print publication industry is suffering as a whole, it’s disheartening to see someone make such a selfish, costly decision.

So much so, that part of me is tempted to dismiss him as some silly trust fund kid who just doesn’t know better.

THE FACTS

But Taylor Perkins is not dumb; he knows exactly what he’s doing. He took a calculated risk.

History seems to dictate that most artists don’t have the means, the resources, or the fortitude to put up a fight. And he assumed because I am known as being a sweet, compassionate person to work with, that I was probably a total push over, too.  Guess again Taylor.

At the end of the day – the damages are demonstrable. The documentation and law both work in my favor.

His actions present a perfect case study for creatives everywhere.  It may seem like a RARE thing to have happen, but regrettably, the practice of taking advantage of artists, writers, musicians, photographers, etc. with the assumption that they don’t have much business savvy is rampant – and it is WRONG.

So, while I determine what to do next, I need a little breather from this stress and I will simply take solace in knowing that once in awhile, and perhaps at this very moment, the pen really can be mightier than the sword.

You Are What You Tweet? So Says Brand New Twitter App TweetPsych…

Not quite two weeks ago, I discussed part of the driving force behind what motivates much of my art.  My background and particularly my post grad work in cognitive psychology finds its way into everything I do. 

Also, in an interview earlier this year with Sonali Vora, who writes for VectorTuts+ (an Australian based online educational community for artists and illustrators around the world) I mentioned my father’s background in linguistics.  Essentially, linguistics concerns itself with the understanding of human language.  As such, linguists often draw on the work from the field of social sciences. 

That’s why I flipped out over TweetPsych for Twitter.  But first, a few more details…

I use imagery to communicate.  What I can’t always express through words, I can with art.  (Although I worked as both a curriculum developer and professional copywriter for years – it’s different when composing something so personal).  It’s a vulnerable place because artists are always being analyzed for what “they’re really saying” through their art.

That’s why when I first launched Sugarluxe, I didn’t belong to any social networks.  My reluctance was not because I didn’t understand the need for self-promotion as a modern day artist.  Mostly, I had just hoped my work would do the talking for me. 

Online - it’s part of my job to tell people what I’m up to.  But offline, it’s very different.  Rather than talking about what I do, I prefer to ask questions, I listen intently and I truly enjoy learning about other people.

Up Close & Personal

Then my best friend Karen began raving about Facebook last summer. After 4 semesters of college interns on Facebook all day long…I wasn’t overly thrilled that my friends were now following suit. I was already spread too thin and from the looks of things, I didn’t think I could be as passive on Facebook as I’d been on MySpace. 

But working the number of hours I do, I rarely get to spend enough time with friends.  So in hopes of remaining close and connected, I created my Facebook profile.

In less than a month, my life changed.  In conjunction with finding old friends –  I finally got to see the faces and learn about the lives of people who had been supporting and buying my art since day one.  My inspiration was renewed!

Since that time, and very recently I might add, I created a Sugarluxe Fan Page.  Despite appearances from this post, I tend to be an early adopter with technology.  Plus, I’m an avid reader of sites like TechCrunch and Mashable.  But the social networks take me a little longer to get behind only because I have to find ways in which they best suit my personality.

My goal is not to simply amass tens of thousands of followers or fans or friends.  It’s just not who I am.  I need real relationships. I would rather have 10 close friends than a million people who could give a crap.  I’ve just always been that way…

Yet, I’m so happy that I’ve reached out, connected through meaningful dialogue and learned to embrace social networks as a way to build a community with those people who share in my passion. 

Over-(Net)Worked?

Which leads me back to Twitter.

Reading, studying, and analyzing a social network may not sound like the work of a full-time artist, but as someone who has spent the last few years employing different methods to remain connected with my diverse audience, it made sense for me to investigate.

I’ve spent a year watching Twitter.  Just as I did with MySpace first and then Facebook.  I needed to figure out if it was a useful tool for me. 

Some people warned me that I would become addicted. Pro-bloggers and journalists? Yes…that makes sense.  But as someone whose livelihood depends on creating, not reporting, it’s not the type of thing to make me obsessed.

But with time and a growing user base comes new applications and developments that enhance all social media.  Thankfully, there are terrific people out there improving the functionality of these tools every day.  And that’s why it takes time for me to assess the viability of it for my own business.

The Profiler

So today, two days ago, when I read about the BETA launch of TweetPsych, I immediately felt that the evolution of Twitter was upon us.

— The system had some issues at launch time and it seems to be stabilized at this point, so now, to continue…

TweetPsych, developed by Dan Zarella, uses linguistic algorithms to analyze tweets to build a quick psychological profile.  AND – any Twitter username can be analyzed.   Dan says:

TweetPsych uses the LIWC and RID (linguistic analysis methods to profile a person based on what they write) to build a psychological profile of a person based on the content of their Tweets.

I think the possibilities of a system like this are enormous, from matching like-minded users to identifying users that exhibit certain useful or desirable traits.

Do you see the potential of a tool like this? 

After the novelty has worn off (meaning: you’ve profiled yourself and everyone else you can think of) can you imagine the implications for job seekers, recruiters, employers and possibly even health insurance providers?

Okay.  Maybe most people won’t read into the way I do.  After all, I’ve always said that I paint personalities, not portraits.  So…granted, my geeky side comes out in full force on this one. 

But I think an application like this could affect millions of people. 

1. Should we be concerned how this information might be used? 
2. Will people rethink their tweets now that we know something like this exists? 
3. How will results be interpreted and should I help to write some definitions? 

Talk about possible behavior modification on a massive scale! We are literally living in a global laboratory and it’s wild to think about what it might mean. 

Regardless, huge props to Dan for such a clever idea and implementation. 

If you’re on Twitter, too – tell us – what does it say about you?

The Facebook Quiz | Find Out: Which Sugarluxe Girl Are You?

Quite seriously? I’ve been dying to make and take this quiz for years.  Sometimes technology just has to catch up with the vision.

Before completing my undergrad degree in Psychology, I began considering what I’d like to study next (yes, I’m one of those nerdy types who loves to learn!)

Luckily, one day, bolting  across campus to gather information on both the LSAT and requirements for secondary teaching certification, I ran into one of my former professors.  He told me a little bit about his research in the Ed. Psych Department.

He was overseeing a Graduate Program with a specialty in Cognition.  After hearing just a brief description, I knew it was what I wanted to do next. 

 LEARNING and COGNITION
“Educational Psychologists who concentrate their work in these areas try to better understand the factors that influence performance and how to affect positive change.”  Quoting this description from the department itself, you can probably see how this became part of the foundation upon which I would eventually build the Sugarluxe Brand. 

Having spent two years prior to graduation helping to conduct research with another professor in the area of Abnormal Psychology, I was really looking to switch gears.  It was my last year of undergrad that most greatly impacted my direction.  I was assigned to work at a hospital about an hour and a half south of town.  I reported to the psychiatric wing once a week.  We were doing a study on schizophrenia.  I was the only female research assistant (and barely 20 years old) on an all-male patient ward.  I remember the overwhelming feeling of apprehension the first time I walked through those double doors.

ART + PSYCHOLOGY
But after acclimating to the unrelenting cat calls, it was a weirdly rewarding and life altering experience.  Namely because of one patient.

I don’t even know if this man knew I was there.  I sat next to him.  I observed him.  I tried having countless conversations with him.  But he never responded to me.  He wasn’t catatonic, he was just a bit delusional and suffering from severe hallucinations.  The deal was…he would draw the entire time.  He was quite an amazing artist and when he finished each sketch, he would talk to it as if his drawing had come to life.

Despite having a fairly profound disturbance, I found him to be fascinating and inspirational.  In fact, he affected me so deeply, I realized, I wasn’t cut out for that kind of work.  I was afraid I would never be able (and never want) to desensitize myself.

Instead of focusing on what was wrong with him, I wanted to figure out what was right. 

What had happened to this man?  Who were the people he portrayed in his art?  What motivated him to draw?  Was he always compelled to create?  How did it help him to cope with life?  Could we use his talents to facilitate treatment?

CRAZY IDEAS
Back then, I would have never dreamed that I would get to live my life doing what I do. 

In all honesty, I think I was a little scared that people might think I was delusional for thinking I could be an artist.  Or that I could build a company with very little money, based on artwork that had never been seen by anyone, with no connections in the art world, no formal art training and with the intent to spread a message of hope and optimism, especially at a time when that was so clearly against the status quo. 

Maybe THAT’S crazy?!

Just as I imagine it must have somehow helped my patient, creating art has helped me to cope with pain, confusion, and frustration.  The fact that I’ve chosen not to depict those feelings as part of the artwork itself, and merely as part of the therapeutic process it provides, doesn’t make it any less profound.  There’s far more there for those who look below the surface.

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
That’s why I’ve anxiously awaited the opportunity to implement a Sugarluxe Girl profile quiz. Even though there are probably thousands of quizzes on Facebook now, this one actually does have years of thought, understanding and analysis behind it.  Its influence is a product of my work itself.  The personalities that are infused into the art are drawn from the very people who continue to inspire each and every piece I make.

Part of my mission has always been to comprehend the complexity of the positive characteristics that make up our personalities and how those attributes contribute to our sense of self.  The way that I’ve tried to do that is by simplifying those wonderful traits into something visually iconic.

FUN on FACEBOOK
Does that sound too lofty and idealistic for a simple Facebook Application?  I hope not.  It takes less than 5 minutes and it’s also FUN!

I have a blast meeting up with friends/fans on Facebook.  I love seeing what you’re up to, learning about your families, looking at photos and watching the massive amounts of support that people provide one another there. 

Plus, I’d bet people agree – I’m actually a lot more light-hearted than I probably sound here.  This blog is like my diary and facebook is more reflective of my daily life. I guess it just depends on where I am at any given moment.

But that’s really my whole point.  Like the pictures that I paint, we have so many layers, don’t we?

I hope you like the first Sugarluxe Girl quiz.  More importantly, I hope you will share it with friends because the profiles, although definitely fun, are also meant to reinforce how wonderful you are – to me – and to all those who know you. 

The results I’ve seen, seem to be pretty spot on.  What do you think?  Which Sugarluxe Girl Are YOU?

 

—————————————————————  GET MOTIVATED —————————————————————

Our True Potential?

I greatly appreciate your help in this mission:  To understand our most positive personality traits, how they affect our outlook on life and by acknowledging and owning those characteristics, we can identify, and hopefully, bring out the best in others, too.

This is one way, TOGETHER, we help people discover that confidence and kindness are essential building blocks of a better life. 

7 Steps on How You Can Help:

1.  If you haven’t already done so, START by joining us on the Sugarluxe Facebook Page.

2.  Paste this link to your profile - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sugarluxe/85019116599

3.  Next, be sure to take the Facebook Quiz - Which Sugarluxe Girl Are You?

4.  Post or even re-publish your results to your profile and invite your friends to participate too.

5.  Leave a comment here on this Sugarluxe Blog post and share the results of your quiz.

6.  Write your Facebook App Review on the Sugarluxe Quiz Application Page.

7.  Discuss ideas with other creative, compassionate, kind, charismatic Sugarluxe Friends!

LIFE is FABULOUS (and so are Moms)!

Last week, I received great news with this subject line:  FABULOUS Sugarluxe Art is in LIFE Magazine.  As usual, I couldn’t wait to call my mom.  It was an exclusive feature on Miley Cyrus.  I mean, I may never land in LIFE Magazine myself, but it still felt pretty good to see my art in the spread. 

Anyway, the only trouble is, by the time I come here onto the blog and talk about an experience, all of the effort that went into making those moments possible get lost in the mix.  People who are just starting their careers or those looking for hope amidst the economic chaos can mistakenly believe that this kind of stuff happens overnight.  How are you supposed to get inspired if it all seems like it just comes down to some twist of fate?

My mom taught me that you have to make your own luck.

Great Expectations

First, there’s obviously more to making Fabulous Art than meets the eye.  

I oversee the behind the scenes manufacturing, day to day operations, design and direction of the Sugarluxe brand.  I’m fielding a mounting number of private commissions, juggling the exchange rate with seven countries who carry the line, and trying to ensure that we continue to deliver the top notch customer service that helped to get Sugarluxe to this point in the first place. 

Plus, I’m under contract to complete my next art series by the end of August and cannot show anyone until November 1st (ugh!), and talking to a handful of gorgeous Fine Art Galleries to discuss where I might like to showcase a few of my original paintings.

Also (telling self to breathe), I’ve been spending any spare moment possible working to help pass a bill in Congress.  In fact, a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to deliver Congressional testimony in hopes of persuading the Senate to sign this bill into law.  Last week, the bill was passed at the state level.  YAY!!! 

If , well I prefer to think – when – we get the federal bill passed, too, it will literally and positively impact millions of lives.  

It’s simple really. I believe you have to expect great things to happen.  In my first year of business, one of my friends warned me that I expected too much. 

She advised, “Expect less, so when bad situations occur, you won’t face such disappointment.  And, when good things happen, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”

Coming off of a tremendously hard blow, I could see her reasoning.  But I respectfully disagreed. 

What’s LIFE, if it’s not to wish for great things for yourself and those you love?  Lowering expectations in an effort to avoid disappointment is defeatist at best, or worse, completely without hope.

I’ve survived my share of losses.  Sacrifices have been significant.  Conversely, I’ve been greatly rewarded too.  

My mom encouraged me to focus on the blessings in LIFE and she raised me with the belief that to whom much is given, much is expected.  She smartly added, that when much is expected, much is given, too.

I don’t mean self-entitlement.  Please don’t misconstrue my message.  Fundamentally, it’s about hope and faith.  When the bad stuff happens, and it does, it will, it’s the only guarantee, you’ll find peace of mind in knowing that something good is meant to come from it.

 Possibility Through Purpose

1. Yes, the odds are stacked against us. 
2. Yes, times are tough. 
3. Yes, we are in the midst of an economic recession. 
4. AND yes, running a business is a lot less glamorous than it seems on the surface. 

However, when you have clarity of purpose, anything is possible.  

After the hit and run accident that nearly claimed my life, my mom presented my options.   She warned me that it would be easy to use this trauma as my excuse for everything. After all, the damage was extensive and permanent.  Or I could try to make sense of it and find my purpose for living.  She said,  “It may take years of hard work before your efforts pay off , but they will.  I promise”.

Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.  - Marion C. Garretty

P.S. - To My Mom, Happy Mother’s Day!

You are so loving, so generous, so beautiful and I’m so happy that you’re my mom.  You’ve provided guidance and discipline in just the right doses…while still allowing me to discover my own sense of self.

You instilled in me a confidence that I could accomplish anything I set my mind to and that’s been one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever been given.  You’ve never doubted my abilities, you continue to believe in me and you pray for me every day. 

Most importantly, you make me laugh all the time.  Proving to me that it was of utmost importance to be a great role model first and then later, my most FABULOUS friend. 

You have taught me so much…I love you, and I thank you.

What About Your Mom?

Please take a moment to share something FABULOUS about her.  I’d love to hear about a lesson your Mother has taught you that has positively affected your outlook on LIFE.

Sunshine and Sparkles Inspire a Brand New Spring Art Special

Ready for me to pour some sugar on you?  How about a Buy One Get One FREE special? 

I just love days like this.  Where I live…it’s 74 degrees, sunny and bright with a nice cool breeze.  Yes, this is definitely my kind of day.

So, I’m feeling good, despite the work overload.  The sunshine is spilling into the studio making everything that much more sparkly, too. Perhaps that explains why I thought it was time to take a break from my busy schedule.

Well, I’m not officially taking a break.  I don’t even really understand the word “break”.  But I am back here on the blog to share some Sugarluxe-y goodness again.

Since it’s my favorite time of year - I just had to come up with an idea today to spread a little of this beautiful sunshine.

In fact, I couldn’t be more pleased about the Sugarluxe website overhaul we did recently because it allows us to implement so many more fabulous offerings for our friends.

Over the past few years, we would put together about 4 VIP deals a year – one per quarter at the most.  It wasn’t that I didn’t have all kinds of things I wanted to do.  It was simply that the website was so painstakingly manual, we just didn’t have the time to make all the necessary changes required to do it more often.  Now, instead of two weeks to change everything in our programming and spread the word about our specials…we can put together something sweet in as little as one day. 

Well, honestly?  A dedicated day to any project right now is still demanding on what little time I seem to have, but if it means I get to come over to the blog and do something extra nice for the people I adore…then it is TOTALLY worth it.

 

———————————————————— HERE’S WHAT TO DO ———————————————————

Select any size Archival Art Paper Print from the Sugarluxe Website (only) and get a giclee paper print in the same size/format for free!  YAY!

If you own a Sugarluxe Gallery Wrapped Canvas and have thought about anchoring the artwork with some smaller framed pieces – NOW is the time to do it.  Or, if you haven’t started your Sugarluxe Collection yet, but you’ve been dying to get that first little piece – NOW you can get two for one.  Either way, it’s a nice little bonus.

1. Be sure to add a comment in the Customer Comments section at the bottom of the check out page – mention that you want the Spring Art Special.
2. Tell us which ADDITIONAL print you’ve selected and would like to add to your order. 
3. Complete your purchase and your TWO new prints will arrive together. 

It’s that easy!

Please note:  This special expired on 4.31.09

—————————————————  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS  ——————————————

What is an Archival Giclee Paper Print?
Unlike posters on thin stock paper (oh, and by the way, I love posters so not knocking them – these are just not posters). Our prints are genuine Sugarluxe painting reproductions created on premium archival Museum Grade Fine Art Paper. This paper has been made since 1819 by the oldest paper mill in the country.

What is the Museum Fine Art Paper like?
This smooth 100% Cotton Rag Fine Art Paper feels thick, rich and gives a deep gorgeous color to the images.  Plus, it is naturally acid and lignin free. It is also buffered for added stability and treated with a special UV protective coating to ensure that the colors remain constant over time.  In addition, it is recommended that you mat and/or frame your Sugarluxe print in order to enhance its longevity.

Why don’t you mat and/or frame these prints at Sugarluxe?
Product line decisions are often based on the wonderful feedback and input we receive from customers around the world.  Because we do ship globally, and we have stockists in a number of countries who wanted to carry Sugarluxe Art in addition to our accessories, I was determined to find a way to maintain the integrity of a valued art print, but make it so that it is easy and affordable to ship. 

And – I also like to offer flexibility.  If we mat and frame the piece for you –  it might not work for your decor and that is limiting its potential to work well within your space.  Since we are not a frame shop, we leave that work to the professionals who make a living, matting and framing art.  That way, you get exactly what you want.

I want a bigger print, but 13 inch openings on pre-made mats are sometimes hard to find. What do you suggest?
First – that’s true.  And square mats are harder to locate, too.  But the mat does make the whole piece a bit more substantial. Plus, our prints with a mat and frame look fantastic.  We have twelve pieces installed like this in the studio right now.

What I do is go to the framing section of my local Michaels (not just because that’s my last name) or once you’re familiar with what you need, better prices can be found online at Blick Art Materials (love this place the most and it’s where I buy all my canvases, supplies, mats and they have great, inexpensive frames, too). 

Then, I just pick out a piece of “Mat Board”.  If you don’t know where to find it, the good people in the frame area will show you.  Ask to have an opening cut to fit the size (should be a bit smaller than the actual print size so that it is easier to line up if you’re framing it yourself – best to take in your print if this is the first time you’ve done this and they can make sure there is a good fit when they do the cuts) and really, that’s all there is to it.  If you just get a plain white cut mat with no fancy stacking…it’s about $5-7 (which is definitely less than the pre-cut mats!)

Why not just mount the print?
You could…but if you want me to leave you a personal note on the back, you’ll never see it again…mounting can prove to be a pain in the long run because it will be fully adhered to another surface.  In archival framing, the mats are not glued to the piece or backing, but are hinged to the backing with tape.  If you want to choose a proper mat board and don’t want to spend the money on cotton fiber museum board, choose Conservation or Archival Mat Board.  It is constructed of 100% pure high alpha cellulose (wood pulp) and treated to be inert for up to 300 years. This is the highest quality paper matboard available.

Why don’t you just sign the front of the print then?
I do.  If you choose that option when ordering, I will definitely hand-sign the piece on the front.  When you select a signed piece…I often write a private, personal note on the back for you, too.  If you want my personal note to you ON THE FRONT of your print, be sure to select the option for “White Border” when choosing your print so that it leaves me some room to write you a message.  Just be sure to make that special request in the comments section when checking out. The great news is that a white border piece saves you money over ordering a full-bleed, edge to edge print.  

Can I buy more than one print with this month’s special and still get the two for one?
Absolutely.  For every print you purchase, you get another one for FREE.  No limits on quantities…but this is for retail (not wholesale) purchases only and is not retroactive to previous purchases.

Well, I guess that’s it for now…

Spring is in the air.  So, I sure hope you have a fantastic week full of sunshine!

Vote NOW for the Woman Who Should Win Soul Sista

Four weeks of contests and blogging, and FREEBIES and oh yes, by the way, running the company, managing people, creating new art, producing products, negotiating deals, meeting the needs of retailers, the demands of my publisher, doing more interviews, delivering new projects and getting ready to go to DC next week to speak in front of Congress (ooh – that’s a long, totally separate story) has me ready to explode into a million little pieces.

But then you stopped by here for a solid month…sending love, encouragement and the most excellent feedback an artist could ever want to hear. During the long hours and facing my endless list of to dos – it was such a pleasure to read the amazing comments over the past few weeks – they really kept me going.

I know without a doubt, that even though we had 10 LUCKY WINNERS last month…there are still people who will not be happy (with me) about not winning a prize.  That was the hardest thing about holding these great giveaways.  I want to reward everyone.  But I trust that you understand that isn’t feasible.  I guess what I mean…is that I hope that the generosity is contagious even if you didn’t win – this time.

You see…I believe in the Golden Rule, the Law of Reciprocity, Karma or any other cosmic, universal meme that suggests you get what you give.  Point is, you proved it to me ALL month long.  Did I seriously have time for the giveways? Not really. But what I received in return from offering these prizes is a tremendous amount of support which is very valuable to me! And so it seems – it always comes full circle.

I feel very fortunate that you helped to spread the word about what we are doing here at Sugarluxe.

This brand is more than just pretty pictures.  It is to me, above all else, about a personal, fundamental philosophy built on the belief that extreme determination coupled with kindness, confidence and consideration can be the key to success. And if you know me AT ALL, you see that message is “baked” into everything I create.  So what thrilled me the most was the support and kind competitive spirit you showed each other during this FIERCE competition.

And as MUCH as I greatly appreciate everyone’s efforts…there were a few LADIES who truly worked it like nobody’s business.  Through our analytics software, we were able to track all referring links into both the blog and our main website. These awesome ‘Sugarluxe Girls’ worked very hard (and very creatively, I might add) to spread the word about Sugarluxe and their tenacity was revealed in the results.

I couldn’t let this go unnoticed!  It’s not to take away from so many who put forth great effort too…please know that.  This last minute GIFT IDEA is just another way for me to extend my gratitude to someone who really went the extra mile.

Call me crazy…but this is something I just have to do.  So, for now…another bad ass prize!

One of the top girls will win this:

• 40″ x 40″ Gallery Wrapped Canvas – Soul Sista by Sugarluxe
• Signed & Numbered – AP 1/1
• Embedded with Six Genuine Swarovski Crystals
• With a Personal Note to Winner on the Back
• Also Includes a Certificate of Authenticity

You may have seen pictures on the website this summer when I was actually going to offer this version online.  But for those who pay closest attention…you might have noticed that it went away.  That’s because, just like the Ruby Moon | Cheers Darling piece…I decided to keep this one for the studio.  The version for sale online is the original Soul Sista – so again – this gift/giveaway is another One of a Kind!

For those of you following the updates on Facebook Saturday night…you knew that I gave out one more hint.  (Oh wait! – You didn’t know that I gave insider tips?) – That’s why it’s good to become friends on Facebook where I share lots of little secrets. It was announced on my Facebook Profile as a NOTE entitled:

If you’re playing to WIN at Sugarluxe, you should probably read this…

Well – as you know by now – Stean P. worked his butt off and earned the Grand Prize!  And those who were right on his tail?  (These names are in no particular order):

1. Ebony Y.
2. Jori B.
3. Jette M.

——————————————————–  VOTING STARTS NOW ——————————————————–

These women deserve a round of cyber-applause for their ingenuity and such genuine affection for Sugarluxe. With that said, I now leave it in your hands to choose who should win this awesome Soul Sista Canvas.  For another sneak peek… you can see this piece in the studio - remember this picture at the bottom of the post?  I sure am gonna have some bare walls after all this giveaway goodness!! Voting closes at 11:59 on Friday, March 6th.

P.S.  Ladies – I already know that you are FANTASTIC!  But in order for everyone else to get a good vibe – feel free to use the comments section below to convince your fellow commenters why the WINNER should be YOU!

Every vote is tracked to prevent fraudulent clicks and other artificial means of inflating the results.

Good Luck!

——————————————————–  AND ONE MORE THING ——————————————————–

To everyone else who participated all month long during the Sugarluxe 4 Year Anniversary Giveaways – THANK YOU AGAIN!

I never want anyone to walk away completely empty-handed.  So below I’ve included the code for an exclusive coupon worth 50% OFF any ONE item in the Sugarluxe Shop.  It’s only valid for a very limited time and it’s not a total FREEBIE – but hey – like my mom always says, it’s better than nothin’…

Plus, over the next few months we will definitely be coming up with additional contests.  So, be sure to stay in touch to take advantage of future opportunities.

GRAND PRIZE Giveaway – Cheers My Darling Canvas Art

What better way to wrap up four wonderful weeks of free prizes than to give away to ONE lucky winner – a piece from my very own collection?!

In honor of our 4 year Anniversary Celebration at Sugarluxe, I am thrilled to offer (for the first time ever) a FREE giclee canvas.  For those of you who have joined me all month long for our giveaways – I hope you’ve enjoyed our brand new items, the chance at winning these goodies, and the anticipation of seeing what comes next. I’ve had so much fun and I sure hope you have, too.

Week #1 – Sugarluxe Art & Soul Mirror Compact Winners
Week #2 – Sugarluxe SMART Collection Cufflinks Winners
Week #3 – Sugarluxe Decor Vinyl Big Wall Graphics Winners

So, let’s talk a little bit about this week’s Grand Prize…

You already know that I work on so many different things at once and I have a multitude of projects underway at any given time. That’s why it made it kind of hard to figure out exactly what I was going to do for the Grand Prize.  When I started this 4 weeks ago, I knew I wanted to give away something BIG…I just didn’t know what!

More importantly, as the clock was ticking, I realized I also wanted to offer something that is unique and meaningful to me.  When it came right down to it – I couldn’t think of anything better than this.

And here she is folks:  Ruby Moon in Cheers My Darling

But why is this piece so special?  After all, you can find Ruby Moon on our website and also a derivative at Z Gallerie.  You can even get a mini print version on our archival paper prints.

HOWEVER – there is ONLY ONE like the photo you see below.  This is a canvas like no other. 

So, this week – for our BIG GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY – someone will win this one of a kind:

• 40″ x 40″ Gallery Wrapped Canvas Art by Sugarluxe
• Signed & Numbered – AP 1/1
• Embedded with 10 Genuine Swarovski Crystals
• With a Personal Note to Winner on the Back
• Also Includes a Certificate of Authenticity

And like all of our prizes, this too, includes FREE shipping. 

If you were with me last year during our benefit to help raise money for the Austin Children’s Shelter – you may have seen the Cheers My Darling art before.  It had the honor of being on public display for two months.  But this particular piece was NOT for SALE. 

Why am I finally giving this canvas away now?  Well, it’s simply because:

1. I want it in the home of someone who I’m sure will love it like I do.
2. It’s valuable to me because it’s long been part of the Sugarluxe Studio.
3. I want the winner to receive a gift that NO ONE else will ever have. 

Ruby Moon will be around for years to come…but this is a version that I had made just for my studio.  The “my darling” part is so exquisitely old school and I just can’t wait to share it with you.

Do you want to win?  Do you?  Do you want this REALLY BAD???

If so, make sure you are familiar with the Official Rules.  You must subscribe or have already subscribed via email. 

Plus, even if you’ve already commented elsewhere, remember – you need to leave a comment on this post telling me how much you love me would love to have this canvas…and STUMBLE IT, you can BLOG ABOUT IT, or POST the LINK ON FACEBOOK (and tag me so I know about it) to earn extra entries into the Grand Prize Drawing.

Retail Value?  Priceless.

——————————————————–  WINNER ANNOUNCED ——————————————————–

UPDATE March 2, 2009:

Little did I know that last Monday would set off what would end up being both the most fun, and the most gut-wrenching giveaway to date.  With each remarkable comment, my heart sank.  I was so excited for who might win, while I often felt like I would be letting down at least 50 other people.  As someone who doesn’t much like to disappoint…it’s been tougher than I thought it would be. 

Everyone brightened my days, many people made me laugh out loud.  But in the end…this past week’s contest really came down to who could spread the word about Sugarluxe the most.  Not in a spammy, click the site all day kind of way…but by being someone who brought in MORE unique visitors, turned on MORE people to Sugarluxe, and introduced my art to MORE people than anyone else - and that person is…

wait for it

wait for it

Stean P. – YOU are the GRAND PRIZE WINNER!

You were relentless, involved, fun, relentless (did I already say that?) and you sent the MOST pageviews and MOST unique visitors to both Sugarluxe and the Sugarluxe Blog!  You did an amazing job and you certainly deserve this piece.  As much as I never thought in a million years that it would end up in the man cave we’ve all heard so much about – you definitely earned it.  You are a genuine FAN, a true FRIEND and a FANTASTIC commentator.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

P.S.  There are four other people who followed close behind Stean and deserve credit too.  Want to find out who they are?  Read more about the BONUS PRIZE in this week’s newest post.

Win Weekly Giveaway #3 – Introducing Sugarluxe Big Wall Graphics

That’s right my friends!  The Sugarluxe Big Wall Graphics have finally arrived.  And NOW I am ready to introduce them to you this week as part of our 4 Year Anniversary Celebration.  Just imagine this 4 foot long Sugarluxe Girl on one of your walls! And you actually get a whole bunch of extra goodies for FREE.

Plus, we are not just giving away this gigantic graphic – we are giving away TWO.  So, there will be two lucky winners who will have their choice of the brunette or the blonde!

I’m so excited about the giveaways this week because this particular product has been part of my secret Sugarluxe plan for some time.  It took almost two years to find the right partners.  At the onset of the vinyl wall applique craze, you could find cheap wall stickers from every sign printer on the planet.  I was asked by a handful of these big manufacturers if I would license some of my work.  But I just wasn’t compelled to jump on the bandwagon for three simple reasons:

1. I like to work with companies who appreciate art.
2. I wanted my work to be on the absolute BEST material available.
3. The color output had to be as close of a match to the original artwork as possible.

Most vinyl graphics companies gravitate toward one type of vinyl because it costs less and is easy to find.  But I wanted to work with a higher quality material so that I could be sure it was top quality like our other product lines.

Sugarluxe Big Wall Graphics are:

1. Printed on Top of the Line Premium Media – Removable Adhesive Fabric
   
2. Printed with environmentally conscious, but still totally vibrant Eco-Solvent Inks
   
3. Truly Repositional + Will Not Harm Walls  (check it out below…I just put one up in my studio)
   

This week’s BIG GIVEWAY PRIZES are brought to you by my excellent partners and producers of this super cool product – John and Tavia Doffing of START Moving Pictures and Jason Weisenthal of WallMonkeys.

But get this…

While working on the test phase, John realized that there was extra space when we did the layouts. Instead of being wasteful with the materials…the team decided to utilize that space to give customers more for their money.  That’s where the additional FREEBIES come in.

If you check around online…you will see vinyl laptop and iPhone cover art pieces often sell between $30-$40 just by themselves.  But with the purchase of Sugarluxe Big Wall Graphics (or this week – when you win) you get these extras for FREE.

I love that.

I love adding value and I love being able to create things that you might purchase for yourself…but then you also get a little extra goody you can give as a gift!

Those of you who were with me on Facebook during our final layout phase will remember our night of online design collaboration.  That was fun!

We went through a series of uploads and a few design choices for the iPhone covers specifically.  After tons of awesome feedback…we finally decided to give away three different iPhone covers (thanks to everyone who participated and gave such wonderful input to help finalize the process!)

So, here’s what you WIN on your big 50″ x 36″ sheet:

• One Superstar Sugarluxe Girl Graphic (48″ x 32″)
• One Laptop Cover Graphic (10.4″ x 8.5″)
• Three iPhone Cover Graphics (4.5″ x 2.4″)
• Small Sugarluxe Flower Graphic (3″ diameter)
• Medium Sugarluxe Flower Graphic (5″ diameter)
• Large Sugarluxe Flower Graphic (7″ diameter)
• One Sugarluxe Logo Graphic (5″ x 7″)

Plus, I added the flowers so that you can put them in her hair or maybe on your bathroom mirror.

And here’s a close up of the iPhone graphic decals so you can get an idea.  They won’t stick forever and they aren’t shiny (because I didn’t want shiny for your walls)…but I think they might be a fun, free way to dress up your iPhone.

And – I get to show off two designs that we don’t currently sell anywhere else:  Seafoam Seaweed and Mushroom Lava!  You like?

In a few weeks, these two lovely Superstar ladies will be available for purchase on the Sugarluxe Shop Website. But for now – you can win them here this week!  Or if you can’t wait to see if you win…you can head on over to visit my fabulous partners at WallMonkeys and START Moving Pictures.

If you go over to their sites, you will see that for the initial launch…they chose two additional artists  who also happen to be really amazing guys that I totally respect.

Legendary Spray Can Artist – Vulcan

and

Famous Urban Artist – Justin Bua.

So, there you have it…

I know my post is much longer this week than in the giveways for Week 1 and Week 2 – but I was just so pumped to share the story behind how these things come to be.  I hope you are pumped about the possibility of winning!

Oh yes, and this photo gives you an idea about the size:

Who wants to win?

Now look at my big, big smile…That’s because it’s so fun to hang your new wall graphic!   (Actually that’s me trying to keep it from falling on my head – you should have two people to do it right!)

If you want to win, make sure you are subscribed via email and that you leave a comment telling us what you think about the brand new Sugarluxe Wall Graphics.  Retail Value is $69.

Find out who the WINNERS were of last week’s FREEBIES.

Because I didn’t get this posted until today – entries will be accepted until midnight on Sunday, February 22nd.  And this week’s winners will be announced next Monday afternoon right before we post the final week’s grand prize giveway.

P.S. Even the top cool hunter in the country thinks these ROCK!  See what Josh Spear says about these new Big Wall Graphics.

——————————————————–  WINNER’S ANNOUNCED ——————————————————–

UPDATE February 23, 2009:

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!

This week’s winners were chosen by a computerized random number generator.  Every time you left a comment, blogged about Sugarluxe or promoted the contest to your friends, you earned extra numbered entries.  That means your name was entered once for each comment you left last week and up to ten times per any blog entry you’ve written this month highlighting the Sugarluxe Giveaways.

And with that – I’m pleased to announce this week’s lucky winners of the Sugarluxe Big Wall Graphics are:

1. Lisa M. of Tulsa, OK
2. Darby R. of Austin, TX

Please use our Contact Form to send your blonde or brunette selection and shipping information!

Your new Sugarluxe Girl will be shipped to you by our friends and manufacturers - WallMonkeys – based in Fanwood, NJ.

Thanks so much to everyone who participated. I hope you’ll check back later this evening to see our GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY.

Win Weekly Giveaway #2 – SMART Collection Designer Art Cufflinks

Win something for your sweetie or yourself for Valentine’s Day!  This week, in celebration of our 4 Year Anniversary – Sugarluxe is GIVING AWAY three, no wait, I’m feeling REALLY GENEROUS – let’s do four pairs of our designer art cufflinks. 4 Pairs for 4 Years.

In fact, if you’ve been to the Sugarluxe site recently, you’ll notice that two of the designs offered on the contest this week are NOT yet available for purchase.  So, you might be the very FIRST to sport our newest cufflinks.

All four winners selected will get one pair of Sugarluxe Cufflinks of their choice.  (Please see the image on this post for the choices available).  Offered are the two best selling pairs…and two not yet released pairs.

You get to pick whichever you like best.

It took quite a bit of time to design the perfect frame for these tiny little pieces of art. More importantly, and true to the brand, we work very hard to develop unique gift items that showcase our commitment to top quality craftsmanship with surprising affordability. No easy feat in these trying economic times.

Cufflinks are perfect for that someone who seems to have everything…

I know there won’t be enough time to get these out to the winners before Valentine’s Day.  But to help, I’m going to change it up just a bit.  This week, the contest will end on Friday the 13th at midnight.   The winners will be announced and posted here on Valentine’s Day.

As a way of thanking our super awesome friends…I thought I would do a weekly contest and give away some unique goodies that you can’t get anywhere else. No purchase is necessary to win.  And if you have any questions about HOW TO ENTER  – be sure to check out the official rules.

The cufflink artwork is created using our proprietary pro-formulated soft luster pigments and then carefully fired into a thick and durable glass-composite onto the base of a polished silver rhodium finish.

Your SMART cufflinks are presented in our custom black cufflink box with velvet lining and padded flip-top made specifically for displaying these tiny works of art.  Retail Value is $39 USD.

Find out who the WINNERS were of last week’s FREEBIES.

——————————————————–  WINNER’S ANNOUNCED ——————————————————–

UPDATE February 14, 2009:

Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!

Because I hope you are off enjoying your weekend and not working online like me (plus I need to take a little time out today, too) – I thought I would make this week’s selection of winners as easy as possible.

This week’s contest winners, often like in life, are FIRST COME – FIRST SERVED.  If you were one of the first four to respond, you WIN!

And with that – here are the winners of the SMART Collection Designer Cufflinks:

1. Juli A. – Greenville, TX
2. Shannon C. – Barrie, ON Canada
3. Stean P. – Dallas, TX
4. Chic Gal (Beth A.) – Tulsa, OK

Please use our Contact Form to send us your cufflink design selection and shipping information!

1. Love You Cufflinks (black and white floral)
2. Cocktail Cufflinks (blue martini)
3. Celebrity Pin-Up Cufflinks (sexy blonde)
4. Rock Candy Cufflinks (guitar girl)

Please allow time for the production of your new cufflinks – as they are made to order.

Thanks so much to everyone who participated. I hope you’ll check back on Monday to see the NEW PRIZES for next week’s GIVEAWAYS.  More winners to come…

Best Friends Forever: My Very Own Personal Care Bear, Karen Scott

This morning, I woke up early.  Weird.  Because it’s the weekend and I would normally sleep in until at least 8 a.m.  Of course, I remember the days when sleeping in on Sunday meant getting up at noon – but those days are definitely behind me.

Today, I was excited to get up because it’s the day that 3 WINNERS will be selected for our weekly giveaway! I’ve never done a drawing like this, so I’m pretty psyched to see who wins the first round.

After getting my coffee, I went into my home office.  Weird.  Because Sunday is the only day I usually watch a little TV first.  Some news, The Soup, and whatever trash happens to be on Vh1, like Rock of Love Bus.  But today, I wanted to get up and get online.

Checking email, I usually start with the latest and make my way down through the list.  This isn’t a great strategy and might be why I typically have over 3,000 unread emails at any given time.  But once in awhile, a subject line will catch my eye and I gravitate to it first.

Today’s attention getter?  It just read:  Post??

It was from my best friend, Karen.  Weird.  Because I thought she was at her parent’s house on vacation in Florida with her family.  I wouldn’t expect to see an email from her this morning.

I did have other emails filling my box before Karen’s:

Pavlina at Bobbi Marcus PR in LA sends out a request on behalf of the ASCAP Event Season 2009. She asks if Sugarluxe would donate work to the Pop Music Awards Show, April 22nd, at Kodak Theater / The Renaissance Hollywood Complex in Los Angeles.  I’m already overbooked on donations this year, but maybe you’d like to learn more about some of the cool things going on in the Hollywood Celebrity circles.

Jessica at Shecky’s in New York announces that their next big Girls Night Out event in Dallas has over 6000 women registered to attend.  I’ve never participated in one of their events…but if I were ever going to do a designer trade show event…this would be the one.  These girls are really awesome.

Tricia at Avalon Communications in Austin confirms high profile media outlets, like The View and E!, will feature her company’s Gift Bags.  I haven’t done Celebrity Gift Bags since I first started my company…but if I were to ever do it again, I would consider Avalon Communications because the Founder, Kristyn Hutzell is a graduate of University of Texas.  I like to support fellow alums as much as I can.

But those are the kind of emails I get every day.  So, sorting through the opportunities, I am pleased to spot something from a friend.  Weird.  Because I am a workaholic whose living depends on identifying great opportunities. But without my friends, and particularly my best friend, there would probably be no Sugarluxe.

When I opened Karen’s email, I did exactly as I do every time I read anything she writes.  I laugh.  She always makes me laugh.

Karen decided to write a blog post on the Sugarluxe Giveaways.  That’s the first part that cracked me up because she wanted to earn extra entries into the drawing with a blog post about it – ala  THE OFFICIAL RULES.

Based on how much I talk about Karen…you probably know I would do anything for her.  Including giving her anything I ever make for FREE.  Perhaps that sounds unfair…but she’s my best friend.  And that’s why I am blown away every time she buys something; she has never expected anything for free from me. She has supported my vision for years.  Long before I ever launched my company, long before anyone else knew what I really wanted to do with my life, and long before most people even knew how to pronounce my first name.

I sure hope she doesn’t mind me sharing. Here’s how her email started out…

Karen to Chandra: So, I have been wanting my 15 extra entries and have been pondering my blog post/FB post.  This is what I have come up with, and since these are details about you, I wanted to give you post approval.  Let me know if there is anything you want me to strike from the record (like the pop music crack).

Title: 25 Things Redux: Sugarluxe Edition

So this thing has been around the world and back, even garnering a snarky article in Time Magazine.  Whatever.  I find it gratifying to know details about people, no matter how inconsequential, and enjoy the order and conciseness of lists…so different from the way I actually live my life.

I am changing things up just a little here by posting a 25 Things list about someone else, specifically Chandra Michaels, the artist behind brand Sugarluxe, and a BFF from way back.  Sure, she’s done her own FB list, but this one will show how she looks through my eyes.

So, here goes:

I know.  Denied.  No outbound link.  Right now, I’m still trying to decide whether or not to link to Karen’s list.  It’s not like she needs visitors to her blog, it’s totally a personal space.  And…I feel quite conspicuous about sending anyone to see how fabulous my best friend says that I am.  I mean, clearly, there’s a bias.  So, I’m a happier person today just knowing that she feels this way.  If she REALLY wants me to link – I will.  But for now, I’m simply reveling in the sweetness by myself.

And here’s my reply…

Chandra to Karen: I have started typing this line for 45 minutes.  Erasing it every time because I just didn’t know what to say and couldn’t possibly write anything that would even come close to conveying how this made me feel.

Even with your innate talent for writing, even though you are so hilarious that funniness can’t help but be attached to whatever you say, and even though you could make a turd seem trendy and cool – I will ignore all of that and just hope for a moment that I am half as great as you make me sound.  I will keep these statements with me for the rest of my life.  I will read them every time I feel down and I want to giggle again.  I will never ever forget that you remember so much and that is a gift, in and of itself.

You need to write…all the time.  I know you’re so busy with two little ones, but I hope one day…you start writing your series of books.  The kind our girls would grow up on.  Some kind of Flowers in the Harry Potter Twilight Attic.

As a girl who knows me better than any other, this is an example of friendship at its best.  And you are always best.

My wish for every woman in the world is that we all have at least one friend in our lives like Karen.  Friendships with females aren’t always easy and seem to be more difficult to maintain the older we get. But there is just nothing that can compare to finding, keeping and loving your Best Friend Forever.

« Previous Page — Next Page »