Over the Rainbow: Dreams You Dare to Dream Really Do Come True

Someday I’ll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
A dark cloud has been looming.  Not only did this month mark the anniversary date of my life-altering accident, but fertility continues to elude me, and a few weeks ago, I discovered a dreadful lump.

To read more about my personal scare with Breast Cancer, you can check out this revealing Facebook post – Sugarluxe Loves Boobs.

Since that time, I’ve had surgery and I’m on the mend.  I am so thankful that we were able to detect this sizable mass early enough to eliminate it before it became unruly.  I feel extremely fortunate.

It’s no use screaming at a time like this! No one will hear you… Help! HELP!
But honestly, even the little stuff adds up.  Like when the unique building that housed my big, fabulous studio was condemned this summer and we were given less than two weeks to completely relocate and try to remain operational. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but unexpected and exhausting.

If you were really great and powerful, you’d keep your promises!
Or the following month, when I realized that the publisher of Rare Magazine, Taylor Perkins, was going to be in willful breach of our contract – essentially stealing money right out of my pocket and making the huge miscalculation that I would sit back and take it.

Little men behind the curtain, bad, mean witches and flying monkeys aside, I try my hardest to stay focused on following my own yellow brick road. 

This is why I love the Wizard of Oz. Like the movie, life itself is an epic journey. And I, like Dorothy, am a dreamer. I believe anything is possible.

Yet, there is no doubt – to overcome your detractors, to survive, to be successful – takes heart, requires brains, and massive amounts of courage.

That’s the beauty of this tale:  You don’t need to be given these traits; you just have to find them within yourself. They’re already there.

—————————————————  70th Anniversary Celebration ————————————————–

And it’s why I so thoroughly enjoyed creating this Sugarluxe interpretation over the last few months.  In the midst of any turmoil, I find refuge in painting a world filled with hope and happy moments.

I’m thrilled to complete and present my piece for the Warner Bros. Anniversary celebration. 2009 marked the 70th Anniversary of this classic movie and as the year draws to a close, I’m excited to unveil my tribute to the wonderful Wizard of Oz.

In fact, over a month ago, while I was still working on the conceptualization of Dorothy and Toto in my signature style, I decided to play a game on Facebook with Sugarluxe Fans.

It was so much fun and Tiffany Bymaster was our big winner.  I’ve since learned more about Tiffany who is an incredible pro-celebrity/movie makeup artist in Los Angeles.  How fitting that she would win the piece dedicated to one of the most beloved movies ever made!

She has also waited patiently to receive the VERY first signed and numbered piece. And now that it’s on the way to her, I finally get to make these giclee artist’s prints available to you, too.

• Title:  Dreamgirl
• Collector’s Edition: Signed, Dated, and Numbered Limited Edition of 70
• Media:  Pigment and Metallic Inks with Watercolor on Archival Museum Grade Fine Art Paper

Can be ordered as ready to frame in black or white mat:
8 ply (very thick) 16 x 20, Beveled Edge, Premium Mat with Acid-Free Mounting Board

If you love the Wizard of Oz like I do, or know someone who does, this vibrant 70th Anniversary Artwork will be sure to please for years to come.  Exclusive to Sugarluxe, you can find out more details at www.sugarluxe.com.

Until next time…I’m off to find some place where there isn’t any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place?

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!

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!

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…

Win Weekly Giveaway #1 – Art & Soul Swarovski Crystal Mirror Compact

WIN this dual mirror compact for yourself or your girlfriend - just in time for Valentine’s Day!

This design, originally created for the Art & Soul Showcase to benefit the Austin Children’s Shelter, has never before been offered on one of our Sugarluxe Compacts.

I have ONLY made THREE of these compacts for this very special occasion…and these pretty little accessories will go to THREE LUCKY WINNERS in this week’s current giveaway contest to celebrate our 4th Anniversary at Sugarluxe.

Sugarluxe launched on February 14th, 2005 and it sure has been a wild world filled with sweet surPRIZES ever since.

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.

This week’s FREEBIE is a Limited Edition (of 3).  How do ya like that for super limited – Hot Pink Tattoo Heart Mirror Compact.

Each compact is made right here in the Sugarluxe Studio and is meticulously crafted and dipped in silver.  The double mirror cosmetic compact is then coated with a protective layer of lacquer to help prevent tarnish.

The artwork is created using soft luster pigments and fired into a durable glass-composite.

Your FREE PRIZE will arrive wrapped in tissue, placed in a plastic sleeve, inserted into a white Sugarluxe Logo gift box with a velvet drawstring pouch for safe keeping.  Retail Value is $34 USD.

Made just for you – with all my Art & Soul.

Oh yes – and be sure to subscribe via email and leave a comment if you’d like to win.  This week’s contest will end at midnight on February 7th.  Winners will be listed on this post on Sunday.  THANKS!

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

It’s Sunday night and the Winner’s Names have been drawn!

But first, I had to make my way over to my Facebook page.  I made a wall post and requested that someone (who did not enter the contest) pick three numbers between 1 and 93.

1. That’s officially the number of entries we had including comments here, extra credits for blog entries and facebook posts.
2. Thank goodness my diplomatic friend, Melanie Spencer, who just left the Austin American Statesman last week for her new job as Press Secretary to Texas First Lady, Anita Perry – responded to my request and posted three random numbers on my Facebook Wall.
3. Here’s what she wrote:  2, 6, and 60.

And with that – here are the Winners of the Art & Soul Compacts:

1. Elisa B. – Austin, TX
2. Stacy C. – New York, NY
3. Deb D. – Dublin, OH

Please use our Contact Form to send us your shipping information!

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

Barbie Loves Stila Cosmetics | Mattel and the Makeup Industry

Barbie is at it again…she (or at least Mattel) seems to love makeup as much as I do.  Stila just announced that they have joined forces with the iconic brand to celebrate Barbie’s 50th Birthday. Exclusive to Sephora, the line is slated to launch in February…just in time to get all dolled up for Valentine’s Day.

Regardless of how much ’she’ is demonized by hard-core feminists – Barbie is a brilliant brand. I’m biased and pro-Barbie because I played with these ‘girls’ like crazy when I was little.  And, if you know anything about me…you can hardly say that these toys thwarted my independence, stunted my intellect, or destroyed my self-image in any way WHATSOEVA.  In fact, I would go so far as to say that Barbie Dolls enhanced my creativity and confidence in countless ways.

I used to design Barbie clothes, every one of my Barbies were GREAT gymnasts, none of my Barbies were domestic (obvious foreshadowing – yes, I’m lucky I married a fantastic guy who does all the grocery shopping and cooking!)  My Barbies were a diverse group of girlfriends; mine were even motivational speaker Barbies…inspiring a captive audience of Fisher Price People.

But I hardly need to try to sell people on Barbie.  Looks like Mattel is doing just fine without me.  But that does make me think…hmmm?  I’d love to design a Barbie.  A Sugarluxe Barbie would be so awesome!

If you want more details on the actual product line, be sure to go visit Musings of a Muse.  But the real reason that I’m talking about Barbie today is because of this new gig with Stila.  As an artist who has licensed my work to major retailers and manufacturers, here’s the most interesting part to me about this new partnership:

When Barbie did the Limited Edition MAC line last year (which was actually to die for if you like bright, poppy colors like I do) – I thought that was the last of licensed Barbie Cosmetics.  I thought a deal like that would have been like signing your life over to Coke…you’re not going to get a contract to do Pepsi after that.  There’s no way you can endorse competing brands.

Further, Estee Lauder no longer owns Stila Cosmetics…which if they did, it would make more sense because Estee Lauder owns MAC…so if they were the parent company to both I could understand that the deal would present little if any conflict of interest.  But since they sold Stila (I only recently learned the line is now available at Ulta and even Walgreens, too) to Sun Capital back in 2006 – which is fascinating considering Sun Capital also owns Hickory Farms and Souper Salad (quite the diverse portfolio) – I can only conclude that the cosmetics industry is not as particular when it comes to requiring brand loyalty licensing in perpetuity.

Which you might ask matters to me why?

Well, because one of my secret goals has always been to do a project with a cosmetics company.  I often lay awake thinking about packaging, how I might illustrate the brand, what the color palette would look like, getting to apply the new goodies on my girlfriends (years ago, I perfected my painting skills by practicing applying makeup for fun and eventually for profit) – so, Sweet Sugarluxe Dreams are made of these.

And now I’m even more excited with this recent revelation…because that opens me up to do what might be a smaller cosmetics line first….and makes it so I don’t necessarily have to wait until Estee or Sun Capital come calling.

So, what about doing something with this astoundingly successful independent line – Rae Cosmetics? This is a great company founded by a women who I would totally love to work with; her name is Rochelle Rae.

Rochelle is a Fine Artist, turned Hollywood Makeup Artist, turned amazing Cosmetics Manufacturer.  We first met in 2006 and have remained in touch ever since – supporting and cheering each other on every step of the way.

We are truly fans of one another’s work.  Which is why when she wrote me the other day after I emailed her to congratulate her on her recent onslaught of well-deserved press coverage, she wrote back something that really got me to thinking about this whole idea.  She said:

I was just in San Francisco and saw some of your work. Everything you do is always fabulous.  Please let me know if there is ever anything I can do for you.  Someday I would love to do a Sugarluxe makeup palette. I will keeping on working and make it happen I hope.

First Rochelle – right back at ya!!!  Second – that would be so cool!!!

As two artistic, entrepreneurial women, I think it would be so fun to collaborate with Rochelle.  And now that I see that Barbie can work with whomever she wants and is in no way precluded from keeping her options open…I too, will be exploring all the ways that I may one day create a Limited Edition licensed line of Sugarluxe Cosmetics.

So, thank you Barbie and by the way, Happy 50th Birthday. Who ever said you weren’t a good role model?  See ya at Sephora…

Form, Function and the Field of Dreams

The BRAND NEW Sugarluxe Website is live, lookin’ good and I sure hope you LOVE it like we do!  If you’re on our private VIP list, you already know about the improved site.

If you stumbled onto Sugarluxe for the first time this past month, you already know about it too…and because we outperformed all forecasts for new traffic and direct sales, even in slumpy economic times, I think every single minute of the 784 hours to complete the migration is going to be totally worth it!

Few people know that our original site was all hand-coded.  We didn’t have a shopping cart platform and the site didn’t pull from any pre-fab templates.  That means every single page (over 900) had to be changed one at a time if we wanted to add a product or category, or make any updates to the navigation.  It was such a nightmare.

Not to mention, the back-end was totally chaotic.  In retrospect, I don’t know how we handled our volume of sales with such little automation.

But the idea of developing a new site right before the holidays was a nothing short of insane!  A week into the project (back in October), it looked practically impossible to go live by December.  For some ridiculous reason, my life is full of self-imposed deadlines that make me nutty.  I think I might work on doing that a little less in the New Year.

Yet, when it comes right down to it…the foundation of this company was built upon the importance of signature imagery and usability.  Whether we are talking about product development or a website overhaul – it can’t just look fantastic, it has to be functional.

It was time for an update.

Despite the intense amount of work, I am so, so happy that we are now on such a sophisticated, user-friendly software system.  It’s heavenly!

Here are some of the things that I am just so excited about:

1. We’ve built a back-end customer database so anyone can create a personal Gift Registry.
2. We finally have a site-wide search mechanism with thousands of programmed terms.
3. Our shipping is fully integrated, so you can log onto your Sugarluxe Account for tracking.
4. We’ve designed a breadcrumb trail in all categories for much easier navigation.
5. We now have the functionality for every customer to provide their opinion with Product Reviews.
6. Sugarluxe Partners can now log in to see their special pricing without waiting until checkout.
7. We now offer Sugarluxe Gift Certificates in multiple denominations for convenient gift giving options.
8. We’ve posted new product lines including the SMART Collection Cufflinks and Collectible Paper Prints.
9. The entire Sugarluxe Website loads much more quickly…saving you time when shopping.
10. Specials are so much easier to update, so we will be offering many more deals to our VIPs!

Today, it’s pretty easy for someone who wants to launch an online store to start within a matter of days.  Technology has come a long way.  With portable shopping widgets, blog plugins, sites like Poketo, Etsy, Zazzle, and more…anyone can sell their stuff online.  But even with progress and all these portals, I still believe that if you want to create a real brand…you SHOULD build your own retail website (at least in addition to your pages on the crowdsourced sites).

My vision has always been to compete with some of the biggest shopping sites online.  Not in terms of sales (although that wouldn’t suck). I’m not aiming to be the size of Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus, but that doesn’t mean I won’t try really hard to emulate the experience.

Like most of the undertakings at Sugarluxe, this was no easy task.  But I hope you find that as we continue to grow, we make every single improvement with you in mind.

I feel pretty good about all of the enhanced features, the project was certainly a good investment.  But the best part is – I’m actually now a firm believer that if you build it – they will come!

What is your favorite part?  Have you explored the new site?  Have you left a review?  It would be great to get your feedback…

Stand Out in a Crowd: Being Unique like Cool Designer Cufflinks

Don’t you love cool little cufflinks? I think they’re totally sexy and for something so small, they sure can make a big statement. Huge compliments to avid cufflink collectors.  I really like accessories that provide a little insight into an individual’s personality. 

Cufflinks do that. 

So, I’ve been trying my hand at making cufflinks for almost a year and a half. In fact, I have cufflink prototypes (hundreds of pairs) strewn about the studio and stashed in drawers.  Part of the fun for my friends to come into the studio is trying to get a sneak peek at the multiple experiments I have going on at any given time…

In today’s world of manufacturing and overseas sourcing, it’s rare that a company will manufacturer and sell their own products.  It’s cost prohibitive and for the most part, I don’t know if people even care anymore about where something is made.

But I do.

I find satisfaction in doing both manufacturing and distribution. I can have control over quality and I get the opportunity to connect directly to customers.  I think that’s the best of both worlds.  But maybe that’s just me.

I enjoy taking ideas and turning them into something tangible.  I like developing the prototypes, working with so many materials, and figuring out how to perfect a process.  Art to me is more than painting or illustrating…it’s about creating something out of nothing.

But guess what?

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