I am a bibliophile...and this is my dream

I have a lot of books, thousands and thousands in fact. So many that when my ex husband and I split up amicably, he mentioned how glad he was to never have to move all of my books again, and in the past three years since then, I have only increased my collection. I do try to donate any books I no longer want, and I try to resist book gluttony...I also buy almost all of them used...(these little tidbits make me feel a little better about the bulging book shelves around my apartment)...although I am really lucky to have beautiful built in shelves in the living room, I still have 4 free standing ones taking up room.


While most people dream of gorgeous views, square footage and claw foot tubs, I have simple house dreams...a cottage by the ocean with built in book shelves in every room and a huge studio in a building of some sort a few feet from the cottage...which I would prefer to be covered in weathered shingles, but I can give on that, I also always loved old churches turned into homes, but I would really rather live in a cottage...ahhhh, one day it will be mine.



I also think I'll have to stay in the northeast, as much as I adore San Diego, I don't think I am able to deal with living any where other then the northeast, and I do love those seasons...ok I'm done daydreaming of waves and shelving, now back to work...

Today was one of THOSE days

You know those days? The ones when you realize that it really is all happening? That you are following your heart and your dreams are maybe going to happen? A taste of what you wish for each day occurs and you want to weep with joy and happiness that the years you have sacrificed having a life may actually one day result in what you have imagined in your wildest fantasies? I had one of those days. On top of that, I managed to communicate with or hear from almost all of my favorite people, some via the computer, but I'll take what I can get! Here's to good days, to good friends, to following your dreams, to the wonderful people that are supportive of you doing so...and to many more days with this many orders!

ugh...too much candy...but big plans are being made

Yes, its Thursday and I had od'd on sugar...nerds and sour gummy worms to be exact...I have gummy tummy!!!!

I am working on some new color combos of the sweet little earrings that I posted about earlier this week, yay!

Also very exciting...I have ordered 14 new styles of lockets, ranging from normal in size to super big! Which means I will have a whole new selection of necklaces coming soon! Woo Hoo!

I have been working on some plans for a few big projects here at Manic Trout recently, I am excited, nervous, and a bit scared with these plans...and also not looking forward to some heavy duty computer time ahead of me. I am planning on doing an over hall of the website...the painting section will be condensed (and updated) and I am going to add two new major sections...I want to have the limited edition and one of a kind pieces to be highlighted a more...and I plan of focusing more design time on the one of a kind pieces as well.

I also am working on a paper catalogue, mainly to start targeting larger stores and markets...this will be learning process however, as it will be my first and as I create new pieces so often...it may be that I will start releasing collections seasonally...and adding on more frequent basis to the one of a kind and limited edition lines.

I am also looking into sales reps, if you are a sales rep and interested, please contact me.

I am of coarse also working on new designs tonight, we'll see what comes of that...still on the red theme...and here's a peek at one of the new necklaces from last week...ok back to working the sugar buzz!

Delirium feeds creativity

During my last open studio it snowed all day long...this made for a slow day. I had the good fortune of scoring a great ad space in all the local papers in the area, so there was at least a trickle...but lets just say that I had some time to sit and design jewelry. I was also still recovering form my bout with the flu, so I was basically delirious...but I think it may have helped me to think outside of my normal design realm. Here is a peek at one of the new necklace designs coming soon!



I have been having a great time designing these past few weeks...I dream of a day (hopefully in July) when I no longer have to work full time and can spend more much needed time in my studio....I am so freakin' excited for that day!

Happy New Year!

I have fully enjoyed my mini self imposed vacation for the last week, but I have been itching to get back to work! I am very excited about this year, as always plans change and ideas evolve...so a few of my plans for 2008 may already have been altered. I though I might as well share a few of my goals for the year.

* Manic Trout open studios/trunk shows have been doing well and will continue on a monthly basis...the next one will be on January 12th.

* Continue to grow wholesale accounts

* Work with manufacturer to create higher volume of some lines, as well as recreate vintage pieces to reduce the amount of limited availability pieces

* Continue to create a higher end/couture line

* Add more One of A Kind pieces to the collections

* Increase online advertising

As well as things that I want to do, I realized that my planned move to Brooklyn in July may have to wait yet another year...I am enjoying being an artist in the Hudson Valley at the moment and want to become more involved here right now...plus the thought of having to shut down for a few weeks to move my studio terrifies me.

Oh and speaking of news...Manic Trout is currently in CosmoGirl Prom and Teen Prom on news stands now...woo hoo!