I thought January was the month where I could catch up? Where has it gone and why are things so chaotic and busy??? And by busy, I mean the behind the scenes stuff...lots of stuff in the works...new blog home, upgraded my merchant account...which required an in depth application process and business review...as it turned out, they believe in my growth, yay!!!! I am dreading, but am investigating a more involved system, which will be a great deal of work up front...but less programming for me in the future shopping cart. I have received the first few calls on my snazzy new 866 number...that's toll free people! Oodles of samples and borrowed pieces have been pouring out of the studio...to magazines, tv shows and celebs...and that's all I can say about that for now...but I am so jittery from it all that I have to share with those who care enough to come here and read about the behind the scenes stuff in the first place. I also just sent off an order to another new wholesale account today...woo hoo! I have also been having conversations and meals with people that have the knowledge to help me grow to whole new heights, and big heights at that...which all together sends me flailing helplessly back forth from ecstatic to terrified...hmmm what else...oh yes, I am teaching another week long jewelry seminar at my alma mater in 6 weeks, very excited about that and have been starting to plan it out! Through all of this I have also been hard at work on the Spring Line which will out later then I expected but while there is still snow on the ground here in the Hudson Valley!
How am I dealing with all of this you ask? Well I go to my "day" job on the week ends where I get to chat with people, feel very accomplished within the instant (or with a 5 hour shift) gratification world of managing a fine dining restaurant...and I get to dress up...which brings me to a random fact... I wear skirts and dresses all summer long...I tend to wear a pretty boring jeans + cashmere sweater all winter and this had to stop...this past fall I vowed to wear dresses and skirts as often as I could this winter and after a couple of months of black tights and stockings...I found mecca last week...colored tights!!!! Holy happiness...an other wise conservative outfit turned bright with fuschia tights and red mary jane heels...I wish I had a phot, sorry...so I went online and searched and low and behold, I found oodles of colors...I ordered 4 to start, but see for yourself how great the colors are!
I am so excited to wear a skirt! In case you want yor own awesome tights: Ok, back to work missy...
Bursts of Color in all the Chaos…
There is so much going on behind the scenes of Manic Trout right now that its a bit overwhelming. I can't really openly talk about most if it yet, so I have been being a naughty blogger recently...oops! I can share a few tidbits...Manic Trout now has a toll free phone number...which is listed on the website...there are oodles of new designs in the works...including 8 new Past in Present necklaces and 4 Paris in The Springtime necklaces! To be the first to know when the new pieces are available, please sign up for the newsletter on the right. I am updating manictrout.com right now as well, but mostly back end stuff which you won't really notice so I'll move on from that...and all the really juicy stuff is still in the works, so I can't share yet...I know, such a tease, but I'm really, really, really excited about it all!!!! I promise I'll share as soon as I can...
I am trying to see January this year as something to appreciate instead of the month that I want to spend under the covers with a pile of books, movies and a boy toy. I start the year out wanting to rush ahead to spring...which I love so dearly and never take advantage of the slower business in both jobs by hanging with friends and relaxing...so this week I have allowed myself some down time and spent my evenings catching up with good friends. I can't go to many pre holiday gatherings with the holiday shopping at Manic Trout, so I consider this time to see everyone, and the best part is that as its the slowest going out month of the year, most everyone is available sit around and act silly with me for a night.
Tomorrow however I planned my favorite Thursday night activity...big bags of candy and designing jewelry all night, I am really excited! Oh, aaaand I started a new painting!!!!!
Photo by Tony Duran
Snow Day…er, Night!
There is no better feeling then a snow day...you are giving the gift of time essentially and tonight the restaurant has closed due to the snow so I have a Snow Night! The most logical solution as anyone who works in a restaurant knows, would be to gather a group of friends later on tonight and trek around to all of the bars in the village...one of the very best perks of living in a village is that you are not kept inside in bad weather...so hopefully this plan works! Before all of the merriment however I am going to sit down at my jewelry desk and put some serious work into the new line...yay for snow!
by
Loving LaChapelle
As its snowing...again...I thought I would bring a splash of color to an otherwise dreary night...who better to give a shock of color then ?
Its official...the Manic Trout blog has a new home...please update all of your links and make yourself comfy...
A few years ago, I sent out Happy New Years cards and I still love them, so I thought I would share the card with you all virtually this year!
