Is it a Coincidence? The Power of Pantone’s Color of the Year

Do you ever feel like you have a knack for predicting the future? Me, too!

As long as I can remember, I’ve been struck by flashes of inspiration. Or maybe it’s just that I do a lot of wishful thinking.  Either way, I’m not one to chalk things up to coincidence. Whether it’s being in touch with our intuition, the power of prayer or even the self-fulfilling prophecy of positive thinking – I believe it’s possible to envision what you want – and then make it happen.

THE COLOR INSTITUTE

One of the best examples in my recent past is late last year when Pantone, Inc. announced their selection for Color of the Year.

If you’re a designer – fashion, graphic, web, interior – or any other creative professional, you’ve likely worked with Pantones Colors.  In fact, now that programs like Adobe Photoshop are so prevalent and accessible, more people than ever are familiar with Pantone.

In 1963, Lawrence Herbert, Pantone’s founder, developed an innovative system of identifying and matching colors to solve the problems associated with producing accurate color matches in the graphic arts community.

For more than 45 years, Pantone’s Color Institute has been the world-renowned authority on color.

Have you ever wondered why when you walk into a store and see new seasonal merchandise, it all coordinates so well?  Is it a conspiracy?  Do designers really dictate trends in color?

TREND FORECASTS

Designers do play a key role in determining color trends, and the Color Institute relies on this input.

The semiannual Pantone fashion color report surveys top designers. The Pantone team takes the information and utilizes that as a collection for their Trend Forecasts for the coming season.

Hot up and coming colors:  Pink Champagne, Chocolate Truffle, Lagoon, Red Lipstick and Oyster Gray.

But the one I love the most?  Pantone’s 2010 Color of the Year:  TURQUOISE!

Carolyn Kelly, from The Magazine Antiques writes, “Turquoise has been one of the most sought after colors in decorative arts history starting with the turquoise ground, called bleu céleste, developed in 1753 for Louis XV at the porcelain factory at Vincennes.”

Let’s start with one of my favorite kitchens ever.  Created by architectural designer Peter Napolitano and interior designer Thomas Britt, this photo, featured in Architectural Digest and first spotted on a blog I adore – House of Turquoise – serves as a constant source of inspiration.

In fact, if you’ve ever visited the Sugarluxe Studio, you’d think HGTV Designer, Judith Balis, channeled my space when she created this beautiful room below.  From the hot pink chairs and zebra print pillows, to the glossy black accents and turquoise walls, I love her balance of traditional furnishings with a totally modern flair made possible by the smart use of color.  (photo via HGTV Designer Portfolios)

Here’s another gorgeous room that pays homage to the Sugarluxe Life.  Interior Designer, Debbie Sheaf made perfect use of my fav color combo (photo via Southern Hospitality Blog)

Click below on examples from the Sugarluxe Gallery and you’ll see that I’ve been predicting the need for these upbeat, vibrant colors for years.

Pantone says they represent a psychological shift toward the need for optimism and hope.  I say – EXACTLY!

Oh, how I just LOVE color!

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Speaking of love, fashion mavens and modern designers aren’t the only ones coveting my favorite color this year.

Brides to Be are filling our inbox with orders for mirror compacts and keyrings that feature even the faintest hint of turquoise.  These items have always been great gifts for bridesmaids, but now it seems big orders for bridal parties are coming in like never before.

We are even adding more designs to our SMART Cufflinks Collection because the demand is growing. Even the grooms want in on the action.

I think that speaks to the global reach and impact of Pantone Colors which now permeate every industry.

For even more inspiration, be sure to check out some of my favorite blissful blogs:

It’s a Jaime Thing |  Cocktails & Details |   The Wedding Chicks |  Wedding Paper Divas

In addition to my personal preference, the psychology of this color helps to explain its inherently optimistic nature.

IT’S TIME FOR TURQUOISE

Color can help to build confidence.

Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, adds that by combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise inspires thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a comforting escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of well-being…

She explains that whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors.

With both warm and cool undertones, it pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum.

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT

I also believe that Turquoise is a color of compassion and inner healing.  It relates to our ability to love ourselves, as well as others.  That’s why, even before it became trendy, Turquoise has always played a dominant role in my art.

I feel so blessed that I get to do what I do.  This week, we celebrated our Anniversary at Sugarluxe. Here’s to 5 FABULOUS YEARS of trying my BEST to make the world a brighter place…

Sweet Panda Cupcake Art Print Download! Love, Sugarluxe

BABY PANDAS

There’s no proof, but I’m quite positive that Pandas would love cupcakes.

I’m also pretty sure that EVERYONE loves pandas - what, with that classic black and white fur coat, those woefully sad eyes and their playful, incredibly cute nature - they are one of the most beloved creatures on earth. 

BABY PEOPLE

What in the World? Why You Could WIN Inspire Canvas Artwork

ARE YOU INSPIRED TO WIN?

It’s almost Valentine’s Day! When you see this picture, do you have the urge to say BE MINE? Already one of the clear favorites of the A La Mode collection, I think I might be able to find someone who would love a FREE 40×36 inch Inspire gallery wrapped canvas.

But first, in true Sugarluxe fashion, the story:

DEDICATED TO THE VISION

Years ago, I gutted my downstairs bathroom.  At the time I first bought my home, I was single, living alone and due to long hours at work, had no time or real reason to do another home improvement project.

Yet, I couldn’t wait for the weekend to arrive when I would rip off the outdated paper, pull out the ugly vanity, and slather the walls with a red faux finish.

In my mind’s eye…I knew the first time I saw this bathroom, exactly what I wanted to do with it.

Unfortunately, never having torn out a sink before, I didn’t anticipate that it would take with it, huge chunks of the wall.  $%&#!  It was a complete disaster.

But large gaping holes, a dangling electrical box and no clue how to fix this mess were not reasons enough to stop me from realizing my vision.

DESIGN INSPIRATION

My weekend job turned into a an entire year’s worth of work.  After the chaos cleared, I put in a sleek white pedestal sink, a beautiful faucet with porcelain knobs, and only then, began to paint.

Layering, rubbing, and glazing for days, I created a dimensional patina of rich velvety red.

Next, I paired vintage black die-cast outdoor lanterns as lighting over an ornate beveled mirror.  It turned out stunning. And finally the moment arrived for me to hang the art:  because after all, it was a beloved framed print that had actually been the inspiration for the entire project in the first place.

The Inspire Artwork from the A La Mode Series, or at least the red, black and white color palette anway, was actually inspired by my remodel of this room years ago.  It hasn’t changed since the day it was completed.  To me, it’s timeless, kind of like your favorite little black dress.

IT’S UP TO YOU

It’s why, when I started to receive feedback on Facebook about which pieces of the collection people liked the most, I was pretty excited to see that so many felt a true affection for Inspire.

My work, especially those emblazoned with a bold message, may never be analyzed by the majority of those who view it.  But perhaps you’ve taken it a step further and pondered. Who is she looking at? Is she seducing someone or is she watching her back?  Is she turning around to say one last goodbye?  That’s up to you to decide.

But whatever the reason people are drawn to Inspire, it makes me happy that it connects with so many.

As such, it turns out, it’s a piece that is in high demand.  From big gallery stretched canvases and small archival paper prints, to daily requests to make this artwork into designer card cases and our crystal compact mirrors…it has struck a chord and that just thrills me to no end.

A SWEET ART TIME OF YEAR

In honor of Black History Month, plus with Valentine’s Day and our 5th Anniversary at Sugarluxe quickly approaching, I’ve been planning a FUN GIVEAWAY for one lucky winner.  What I thought I’d do was make and give away a brand new Inspire Card Case, the very first one of its kind.

Pretty cool, huh?

But then!

Something happened yesterday that changed my whole direction.

A large AP Giclee of my original artwork, with its top quality pine wood stretcher bars and costly high end canvas, takes weeks to complete.

The very last step before we box it up and ship it out is to take a photo to document my signature and the number of the AP as proof of authenticity to file with the purchase order paper work.

However, due to the dreary weather, we could not get enough light in the studio, and our photo lighting rig was in storage.  I always prefer natural light anyway as it brings out the truest colors, so the art scheduled for shipment yesterday needed to be shot outside.

The first one we take out is Inspire.  At almost 10 square feet of material, it is both large and lightweight.  And literally, within moments of stepping outside the studio door, the wind RIPPED the canvas from my hands and went flying across the parking lot.

I felt sick.  Not only was this going to create a delay for my client, I was out money and time.  I was reminded of the day I pulled out the sink in my bathroom and sat dumbfounded as I stared at the unbelievably big hole in my wall.

But nowadays I know there’s a reason for everything.  In fact, I even believe completed DIY projects around the home are great primers for small business owners. That kind of work:

• Teaches you to expect the unexpected.
• Prepares you for the investment of time.
• Helps you to make the most of your budget.
• Gives you the confidence that you CAN fix things.

Because in home improvement projects, as in business, things can and do go wrong.  But if you never mess things up, you never really learn how to make things right.

So, I had an idea…

THE WORK AHEAD

The upper left hand corner is obviously damaged. The edge needs repainted on two sides, and one of the support bars on the back cracked in half and poked into, but thankfully not through, the front of the canvas (look near the stenciled letter S on the third pic).

The biggest challenge will be to build up that gouged corner, followed by trying to get an exact match on the paint and the lacquer glaze protective coat.

The first picture is just to give you some detail of the canvas…the next two show you the actual damage and what I will be working feverishly to repair.

THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE

So during the remainder of the month and somehow in between the mad rush of orders for Valentine’s Day, I’m going to work to fix the canvas.  I want it to go to someone who really cares about the artwork.

I certainly know how to patch and paint.  I think I can do this.  I can make it – almost – like new again.  It will never be perfect, but I’m INSPIRED to give it my best.

And I have a feeling, that even though it has a few scars, someone will adore it more so for it having been saved.

——————————————————–  INCREASE YOUR CHANCES ——————————————————–

2 Entries – Use the Tweet This button below to retweet this blog link.

3 Entries - Comment here on the blog: why you love this art and want to win?

5 Entries - Has Sugarluxe inspired you? Write it on the main Sugarluxe Facebook Page wall.

10 Entries - For any order placed between 2/1/10 and 2/14/10 on www.sugarluxe.com.

——————————————————  INSPIRE CANVAS GIVEAWAY —————————————————

With participation you can earn anywhere from 2 to a maximum of 20 entries into the drawing.  I truly look forward to fixing her up and giving her a loving home!

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?

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!

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.

Latex Paint? Why Sugarluxe Loves Sherwin Williams

People are always asking me to give up my secrets. There is hardly a week that goes by that I don’t receive a question in regards to the paints I use and prefer.  Most of the time, it’s a young, self-taught artist seeking tips.  But every once in awhile, it’s a customer who wants to find out the paint color used in one of my pieces so that they can repaint a room to match.

Most people might think that those inquiries would yield totally different responses.  But in my case, the answer is one and the same.

I love acrylic latex.

Now, if you come into my studio…you’ll see a variety of tubes, jars and bottles of Golden Heavy Body acrylic paints.  You’ll also see glazing liquids, soft gels, and special varnishes – all designed to work in conjunction with standard acrylic artist’s paint to create the exact effect desired.

I enjoy mixing paint, creating the color and getting just the right texture.  There is something quite therapeutic about the process.  That is…until you realize you didn’t mix enough, you ran out of your perfectly mixed batch and now you must try to get the exact same color and sheen again.

With latex, I can create a swatch, bring it to the store, have a digital read out and then get a perfect match in a quart or gallon size if needed.  And since I use a lot of the same colors to tie my collection together, I save money, too.

That’s why…I love acrylic latex.

Many artists who have seen my actual paintings close up want to touch them to feel the paint.  The color is thick, smooth and the edges are precise.  They wonder how I eliminate brush strokes.  They often comment on my technical execution.  They ask how I do it?

Guess what I say?

You’re RIGHT!  I love acrylic latex.

But not just any acrylic latex paint.  And certainly not the cheap stuff.  You know I’m a budget-minded entrepreneur, but when it comes to choosing paint, I seem to have expensive tastes.

After years of frustration, not getting the exact look I wanted to achieve…I discovered that working with latex paints provided me with more control, less waste and fabulous results.

In the beginning of my experimentation,  I went for the discount paint.  Just like I did when I repainted rooms in my house.  I wanted the most bang for my buck…and it seemed that the home builder supply stores could give me gallons of latex love for rock bottom prices.  What a bargain!

But paint, whether it’s for your home or a canvas, is not something to scrimp on. Ultimately, with cheap paints, you’ll create more work for yourself and spend more money in the long run. I wish I would have realized this back when I remodeled my home years ago.

Quality paint has more pigment.  More pigment means less layers needed to get good coverage, less layers mean less labor…less labor means a happier painter.

Here’s how it works:

Of the three main paint ingredients – pigments, solvents and binders -

1. Pigment provides hiding power and gives paint its color and shading.
2. Solvents carry the paint to the surface, then evaporate, leaving behind a film of paint.
3. Binders are bonding agents that hold the paint together.

The material left on a substrate (wall, canvas, etc) after the solvent evaporates and the coating cures is its ’solids content’. When calculated as a percentage of the total gallon of paint, the solids are referred to as “Volume Solids.” A higher percentage of Volume Solids is usually an indication of a better quality paint, because more binder and pigment are left to protect the surface compared to a coating with a lower Volume Solids rating.

So, if you have more coating, more pigment, and more protection…it’s easy to see why you won’t have to buy as much paint and it is actually LESS expensive to get the good stuff from the start.

That’s why when I confirmed my assignment to complete a room for the Hotel Des Arts, the first thing I did was to make sure my favorite stores were close to the hotel.

First stop would be:  Blick Art Materials on Van Ness.  LOVE THIS STORE!  This is where I purchased all my brushes, pencils, and other supplies.  Good brushes are a must, too.

Then, I needed to find my favorite paint store.  I’ve tried them all…and this brand works the best for me.  Sugarluxe loves Sherwin Williams!

At first, I thought I was going to have trouble convincing the hotel manager to pay for these paints instead of typical artist’s paints.  But I didn’t even have to explain.  One of the many cool things about that project…they totally trust the artist to just do their thing.

The even better news is that Sherwin Williams now has a line of eco-friendly paints which make the whole acrylic latex painting process even better.  The line is called GreenSure.

All GreenSure products come in 100% post-consumer recycled packaging with labels printed in soy ink. And they are using sustainable raw materials like soy and sunflower oil in their paints.

Inhabitat reports that Steve Revnew, director of product development at Sherwin-Williams says, “At Sherwin-Williams, we believe that being environmentally responsible goes well beyond the product formulation. We have established our own sustainability initiative called “EcoVision.” EcoVision is a company-wide approach to look at all aspects of our business and see where we can become more environmentally responsible.”

For our customers who need to match a color used in one of our Sugarluxe Giclees, it’s super EASY:

1. Just take the giclee canvas to Sherwin Williams.
2. Isolate the color you want for your wall.
3. Pick your paint and a make a paint sheen selection.
4. Have them scan it for a digital color match.
5. Take home your new paint and see the difference great paint can make.

———————————————————————————————————————–

Interesting Fact:

Don’t you just love paint chips?  But did you know that the little paint chip cards are the biggest production expense to a paint manufacturer and the more customers abuse those freebies, the higher the costs of paint?  Speaking of eco-friendly…we need to reuse, recycle or not make waste of these lovely paint chips.

Here is one of my favorite ideas by fantastic graphic designer, Jessica Jones at How About Orange?

Okay…I know these are Behr paint chips, but I just love Jessica’s photo and bookmarks.  What great ideas can you share?

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…

Next Page »