Bear Hug Designs Blog!

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You can order by going to Amy’s Favorites, Purses and there it is!

This one, well, let’s just say YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT !!!!! Coming from someone who knows!  This one is a “have to have” adorable summer go-out-with-pals bag!  Clean, crisp, summery white grosgrain ribbon with a beautiful white seashell on a hand woven bag from Bali!  It’ s itty bitty.  Enough for your cell phone, license, some hooch  (that’s money, sillies) and of course, lipgloss.  What can be better?  I had to have one for myself and every time I wear it I’m asked where did I get it.  I’m saving you from  NO COOL BAG FOR THE SUMMER problem .  Thank me later, order now!  But, you owe me!

I love animals!  Here I am with my little friend, Mr. Lemur.

Here it is…………..the famous one and only JACOB JAVITS CENTER in New York City.  And for last week, the home of the National Stationery Show.   The hum of buyers was much improved from last year.  It seemed that most of the manufacturers were the big boys.  You know, Cranes, William Arthur, American Greetings, CR Gibson……  The little guys (like me) were not as plentiful.  That’s a little sad.  The economy has been rough on the American Dream.

It did feel good to see more serious buyers and really nice attitudes.   There seemed to be a very positive feel to the whole show.

To give you an idea of what we did, I thought I’d share some pictures.

Yep, this is what we walked up to.  Makes me want to puke just thinking about it.  Now understand there are 3 pallets filled with heavy boxes.  We (Alison and I) have to put down our puzzle-piece floor UNDER THOSE BOXES.  We’re not allowed to push them into the “hall” because Mr. Beep-Beep-Drive-You-Nuts-Union-Dude has to have total access of the “hall” to move crates back and forth.

Then of course, there are walls to put up.  There were lots of boards filled with stock that refuse to stay on the walls.  The tables were too short so the table skirts were dragging on the floor.  (We fixed that by raising the tables with  the  green oasis blocks that were meant for the flowers!)  Anyway, after a day and a half of setting up…………………….DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!!!!

Yippee!

We left exhausted, but happy with our results.   Off to dinner and a good night sleep, ready for the opening day.

Best show ever by far.  I always feel so vulnerable, but then things get going and I relax.  It was a great show! It is so much fun to meet new people, reconnect with our great customers and make contacts for new ideas. What an adrenaline rush!  We had so much fun!

So, looking back.  The set up was nothing when you consider all the positives.  Again, as I’ve said in the past, the harder you work, the more accomplished you feel.

Folded notes were HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!!!!!!! The ribbon memo pads always create a feeding frenzy! The alphabet cards flew too.

Thank you to all my family and friends who put up with me during preparation. Thanks to our loyal and new customers!  Hugs to all of you! I’m going to take a nap. :0)

All you guys who order once or keep coming back,  I just want to say thank you.  Never, never, never do I get hum drum about this.  I appreciate all of you.  Most of all, I just get such a kick out of the fact that you actually want one of my designs to help you celebrate a special occasion or want a personal note to send to someone.  It humbles me.  I love to draw and this is why I have Bear Hug Designs.   Sometimes the business side can become overwhelming. ( Remember it isn’t too far to go to be overwhelming when you color for a career)   However, really, I’m so glad you like a few of my little drawings that allow me to do this.

“You pickin up what I’m layin’ down?”  tee hee.  Jeff, (son) came home to say that and I haven’t stop saying it since.  Aren’t I cool?

The National Stationery Show, held at the Jacob Javits Center in NY, is May 16-19.

Bear Hug Designs is in Booths 2352-2354.

Why is it that I always think I have everything under control and then…………….BAMMMM!  Everything topples.  It’s not like I haven’t done this before!  Somehow those last few days before the freight truck shows up, it’s just chaos.    Kinda like when you have to do that last minute vacuuming before the guests arrive (or worse yet, go jump in the shower as they’re pulling into the driveway!)

The darling little freight man (GRRRRR!) showed up at 10:30 all jovial.  I was guaranteed between noon and 4:00.  My hair was sticking out, my white tee untucked and covered in dirt,  my stretchy pants had stretched too much from all the box jostling and needless to say, I wasn’t in the best of moods.  He stared at me with an oh so annoying, been-here-done-that superior look and started to chuckle.  Forgive me for wanting to rip his eyelashes off.

He then proceeds to tell me that he feels like he’s watching me hyperventilate right before his eyes.   I’ll show you hyperventilating, Mr!

Anyway, he did give me more time and returned later when I was beginning to remember that I even had a sense of humor.  Seeing my pallet all wrapped up in something like saran wrap gave me a giddy sense of accomplishment.

My fulfillment  company is sending all the product and stands and Fed Ex Office has their own pile.  But the most important part, is that our  booth is going to ROCK!

While I hate the packing part, I really love the show.  It’s such a blast to meet new customers, visit with old customers and feel the energy of the show. I also adore New York.  AND, I get to spend a whole week with Alison!  Yippee!  I always come back re energized.

For now, for the next hour, I’m going to sit down and enjoy a Snickers.   I deserve it.  And maybe it will hold up my stretchy pants.

Thought it would be fun to share a picture from my book about a blue-footed booby.  I’ve been working on developing my character.  I’ve named him Mogie.  This picture is when he’s trying to shake the blue off his feet!

Well, do you like him?

I have a question.  I’ve had a few requests for adorable business cards.  The kind that are premade with cute colors, maybe something like a little dragonfly or cute border that can be imprinted.  What do you think?  Do I design some or is this a stupid idea?  Please comment and let me know!  Thanks, everybody!

Do you have a special little person who is about to celebrate a birthday?  Make it extra special with one of our adorable “creatures”!  We have both imprintable and fill-in invitations, fill-in thank-yous and great big gift tags.  (For great big presents!!!)   And be sure to add our cupcake picks.  Use them in cupcakes, in a cake or even in your drink!  They also look great stapled onto goody bags.

One customer had a swimming pool party.  She used the SHARK group. She put a long tray in the middle of the table and filled it with cupcakes.  Then she put in the shark cupcake picks at a variety of heights so they looked like they were swimming down the table!  Very cute!

Another customer used the giraffe for her adult party.  She imprinted it with “Come for a TALL drink!” and used the cupcake picks as her cocktail stirrers.  Some people are very cool!

Then for the finishing touch, use our “Thank you for coming” cards stapled onto the goody bags for the kids to take with them as a special treat.

Nothing better than one-stop shopping!  It will look like you’ve been planning for weeks!

Has this ever happened to you?  I bought cute shoes and had them sent to me.  I was looking all spiffy on Easter.  Thought people were looking at my shoes and wanted to come tell me how much they loved them.  On the ride home, I’m staring at my shoes while my husband is telling me a very important story.  All of a sudden, I realized they were NOT THE SAME SHOE!!!!  Good grief.  I have to go shoot myself.