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When I grow up

Feb 282013

In my mind, I am wearing an amazing gown instead of my mothers slip (to her amazing gowns that I was not allowed to play in very often).

We all had fantasies about what we wanted to be when we grew up and most of us entertained ourselves for hours on end pretending those fantasies were true. I alternated between being a CEO (off what? I don't think I realized there was a what) and being a designer. A few years ago, I was reconnected with a childhood friend on the phone and she asked what I did. I told her I was a designer and she paused, giggled and asked if by any chance I designed under the name S & S designs. We had spent more hours then I can count creating this fictional life for ourselves as designers at this make believe place, and I think she was so amazed that I actually pursued what I wanted to be when I grew up that there was a chance that I brought that fantasy name along too.

It's kind of odd to be doing what I always wanted to do...sort of like Ross on that Friends episode when Brad Pitt reminds him of the days when they were such nerds that all they did was talk about dinosaurs all day. Oh god, does that mean I'm Ross??? Ha! But really, I was thinking today about the office I had set up in the barn when I was 12 and that the chair I used was kind of like the one I'm sitting in right now. I then realized that being a designer is an exact split between what you imagine a designer does when you're a little girl and what you imagine a CEO does. And that is pretty great, according to my 12 year old self.

Sum it up…starting the year off with a bang!

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Jan 112013

My lady and my jewels ready to go to the photographers studio

WORKING ON: The Spring/Summer 2013 Line was finished and photographed this week! Focusing on getting it ready to release and prepare for the pooltradeshow.

THINKING ABOUT: What trade show to apply for next...any suggestions for March?

ANTICIPATING: Going to NH on Tuesday to visit my dad and all my family there!

LISTENING TO: Not much at home, but Steve and I had an 80's afternoon at his studio during the photo shoot on Wednesday, it was pretty amazing.

EATING: I bought cookies. I know, but I just can't help it, they're so soft, and deliciously frosted!!

THANKFUL FOR: All of the amazing opportunities in 2013 already for Manic Trout!

PLANNING FOR: So much that if I write it down, I'll have a panic attack.

READING: Strip City by Lily Burana. Yes, its about strippers...but written by one who writes well.

WATCHING: Private Practice...it's sucked me right in...on all the time in my studio right now.

How was your week?

What’s your support system?

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Jan 102013

The amazing Steve DeMent photographing the Manic Trout Spring/Summer 2013 Line.

I have at different times in the life of Manic Trout, hired all sorts of people to help grow the business grow. From holiday help to assistants to interns to publicists, I have delegated on many levels. When I still was in the day job phase, a great deal of help was necessary as my own time to give was limited, although the last "day" job I had only took up one and half week days, it still took me out of the studio an average of 40 hours a week. So you it was necessary to have help. When I moved to Texas I obviously was not physically near all of my help from New York and as I went full time with Manic Trout, I had to get used to not having the income from my day job to help pay for it anyway. I have however, grown in the last year and a half enough to hire a PR firm again and have begun adding other professionals to my arsenal of help as well. I have so far though, avoided an assistant.

Am I crazy for not wanting an assistant again? I loved having one for many aspects of the business and I actually miss my intern who was an amazing help with jewelry production more than I can ever express, but I am avoiding having someone in the studio with me everyday. I am one of those people who is leaps and bounds more productive when alone. If you've ever been with me in person, you would know that I am a TALKER. I will talk to the checkout lady at the grocery store for 20 minutes about the weather. It's just part of who I am BUT, it means I get nothing done when someone is in the studio with me. So I just keep delegating everything else.

As I said, I have someone who does the PR for Manic Trout, a CPA who does my taxes (last year was the first year I have ever had someone else do my taxes....ummm, why the heck did I wait so long to do THAT??), a Chief Marketing Officer and a team of reps for the Sorority Collection, a cleaning woman (anyone who argues that this is not helpful for work, imagine never having tho think about cleaning your bathroom again!) and as of yesterday, I finally let a pro take my product photographs. This last one was hard to do. I have always taken my own product shots, but I realized that I was just not doing the best possible job, so it was time to pass the torch. I also eased my way into this by working with the photographer on a bunch of photo shoots over the last year so I know we work well together and he knows Manic Trout. The next addition to my arsenal will be someone to do piece work in their own home to assist with production. I am just about to the point where even doing this full time, I can't keep up with it.

It's like in You've Got Mail (my favorite movie to watch when I'm sick, so I've seen it a ridiculous amount of times) when Dave Chappelle (and how random is it that he's in this movie?) is talking about dating and he says “I always take a relationship to the next level. If that works out, I take it to the next level after that, until I finally reach that level when it becomes absolutely necessary for me to leave.” Well besides the leaving bit, it's spot on...when I get to the next level I'll begin considering how to muzzle myself.

Who do you have in your arsenal of help?

Sum it up

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Dec 072012

This is my Manic Trout booth...aka my home for most of this week.

WORKING ON: Inventory for my holiday sale on sneakpeeq which starts tomorrow and lasts one week. (and yes purchases will arrive in time for Christmas), the plethora of shows this week and getting orders out!

THINKING ABOUT: January...ahhhhh, January.

ANTICIPATING: The Cherrywood Art Fair which I am doing this weekend, and the great press coming in Jan/Feb. I want to share more about the press, but I don't want to jinx it!

LISTENING TO: Still hooked on the Bird and The Bee station on Pandora.

EATING: A lot of mini cupcakes from Hey Cupcake (Adam has been bringing them to me instead of flowers) and waaaaaaaaay too much candy.

THANKFUL FOR: My family coming to me for Christmas this year so I don't have to travel at the end of this crazy month.

PLANNING FOR: Our cookie/ugly sweater party next weekend and my family coming the week after.

READING: Lucky Everyday by Bapsy Jaine...completely absorbing and perfect for my current state of mind.

WATCHING: In Plain Sight on Netflix. Sadly only 3 seasons and I'm almost done. It's gotten me through a whole lot of production this week.

House progress…

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Nov 122012

I've been running a mad dash for the past week trying to get the house pulled together before the chaos of the holidays, and I think it's going pretty well so far. As there are only 5 weeks (5 weeks!!) of ship time left for the season at Manic Trout and a show every weekend until Christmas, it's time to chain myself to my studio. So not to leave you out of the loop, below are some pics from the house as it is now. Adam bought us both olloclips and the fish eye is perfect for capturing an entire room, so I have been snapping the progress on my phone.

photo of our bedroom courtesy of Adam Fujawa (@atomfuji)

The bonus of eloping is that instead of paying for a wedding, you can buy new furniture! We upgraded from my full to a king and added bedside tables and new lamps as well. The curtains were from my past two living rooms the trunk and chair (not show) were also in the living room. Unfortunately, the wall papered border must remain as it's a rental and the owner put it there :/ My collection of framed photos I've collected will soon grace the walls.

I'm in love with the living room mainly because the recessed ceiling lights are on two switches and have dimmers and I'm pretty obsessed with light. I have had the couches for years now but just upgraded the pillows for this move. I always configure the sectional differently for each new space I move into (this is the 6th), currently, there is one piece removed and in the bedroom. That amazing table was made for me by a friend and the rug is the only wool rug that made the move from NY, as I adore both the color and pattern. The console and TV are new, the tables behind the couch were last my bedside tables and the pink antique cupboard was last in the bedroom. I still have to set up the surround sound and we're on the lookout for the perfect sun burst mirror to hang between the two lamps. Paintings will soon hang on the other walls.

The kitchen is rather amazing. Polished granite counters, ample room for my excessive dishes and filled with light. We've already had people gathered around the island on more than one occasion, which I love as it reminds me of the house I grew up in!

My studio is up and running and about done. I hung the photos (by Jai Mayhew from a photo shoot with Electric Frenchie this past Winter) last night and they added an awesome touch. The only additions were the shelves and bins at the end of the room. Everything else is a mix of antique and ikea. My tv still has to be mounted on the wall and I have another bamboo rug to put down...otherwise it's all done. I'm loving the space and the natural light so much!

The stacks of paintings, mirrors and photographs waiting to be hung on the walls mingling with the speakers and boxed components of bookshelves. We want a bench/coat rack thing for where the paintings currently are leaning and still need to buy dining room chairs. Compared to the list I had in my hands 2 weeks ago, this is a teeny tiny to do list and should be checked off in no time!

I'll save the rest of the rooms for another day...how do you like it so far?

Sum it up

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Oct 192012

WORKING ON: Not enough of anything. Trying to get it all done. Failing. Yesterday managed to buy a new bed frame, mattress, kitchen table, couch pillows and the awesome guy above. It felt amazing to tick so much off my list at once.

THINKING ABOUT: The holidays, the spring line, packing, decorating the new house and so many tasks that are involved with it all.

ANTICIPATING: Moving into the new house (renting) in 12 days...woo hoo!!

LISTENING TO: Wild Belle. Saw them at ACL last week and fell in love.

EATING: Have fallen off the candy wagon...hard. Trying to get back on, but sugar is a bitch of a mistress.

THANKFUL FOR: Finding a home, just in the nick of time before my lease was up!

PLANNING FOR: Where to put my current furniture and the new furniture arriving when we move in!

READING: The Reluctant Metrosexual: Dispatches From An Almost Hip Life by Peter Hyman. Not sure how I feel yet, just started.

WATCHING: Last weeks episode of Grey's right now while typing...keeping an eye out for Manic Trout!

A whirl wind week

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Oct 182012

The newlyweds at ACL, waiting to see the Afghan Whigs.

Just to catch you up...Adam and I eloped last Thursday! There are photo's coming, so I'll save the story until then, but it's official, we're hitched! We woke up Friday morning and after sending off the sneak peeq orders, we headed over to ACL where we enjoyed amazing performances by Weezer, Wild Belle, Florence and The Machine and one of my all time fav bands, The Black Keys. Saturday I was at the market on South Congress where I got caught in the rain and as a result, Sunday I was taken down by a cold. Monday I set up again at the market for a rain day and still managed to make it to Monday Movie Night to see Pitch Perfect, which was hilarious! Tuesday morning we heard that we got the house we love and I tried to catch up in the studio as much as I could before a lengthy board meeting that night. Wednesday we signed the lease for the house and then I panicked thinking about how much has to be packed in the next two weeks...eeek!!

Today I finally had a few minutes to catch my breath, tidy up the house and of course blog. I however can't sit still for too long as I have a hot date at the Restoration Hardware store scoping out beds. We are finally upgrading to a king and I feel there is only so much you can tell about furniture online. I want to stand next to it and touch it. The new house is about 3 times the size of my apartment, and Adam does not have any furniture (a blessing) so the bed is the first in a list of new additions to our home we'll have to make. A tv console, kitchen table and the bed are immediate needs. The rest can be added slowly as I find pieces I love.

It's fun to shop for new furniture, but tough too as sometimes the pressure to find the "perfect piece" in a short amount of time backfires. A few years ago, I moved into an apartment which required the majority of the floors to be covered in rugs. I had to shop lightning fast as this came up only a few days before I was moving in and the result was that I bought an 11' x 13' rug that fit the space and I kind of liked. I paid a lot for and therefore made myself deal with it for the 18 months I lived there, but each day I began to detest it more and more and ended up giving it to my mom when I moved. As I had a massive purge only a year ago, I'd prefer to only buy furniture which I love at this point.

I'd love recommendations of local furniture stores here in Austin! I'm pretty set on online places, and have been obsessively following One Kings Lane, but would like to check out local shops as well.

A place to call home

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Oct 082012

'Selective Amnesia' by Ana Correal

I think we found a house to rent. Pretty excited about it, and crossing my fingers that we get it! It's not perfect, but its only a rental and if we were looking to buy, we would snatch in a second as the issues we have with it are that the kitchen needs updating and there's (new) carpeting in much of it. However, it's in a lovely neighborhood, there is an amazing fenced in back yard for Faye, a garage, a laundry room and a new addition of a master suite which is breathtaking. There also is bamboo growing in the back yard, which two days prior to seeing it, Adam declared he wanted to have in our yard.

Our lease would begin on the 15th, which would give us two weeks to move everything in...ideal as the show season has already begun for me and it will just be easier that way. Unfortunately, this next weekend I am set up at the market on Saturday, Sunday and Monday for 12 hours a day...so I don't really know when I'll have time to pack. I need a clone. Or a case of Red Bull and a few pounds of candy. Either way, I'll keep you posted!

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Collecting collections

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Sep 062012

Paper flowers as pretty as their natural muse

Amazing how few of the hours of your day are spent designing when you're a designer. There are many hours logged online...too many I'm sure that are unnecessary as I get caught up in social media. Then there is the requisite business aspects such as spreadsheets and bookkeeping, researching and sourcing new materials and all that good stuff. Don't forget photographing products, planning and co-ordinating photo shoots, editing and creating look books and line sheets. Oh and then the actual production of the jewelry once it's been designed. It's amazing I ever have time to design new pieces! Even more amazing though is how I not only do I find the time, but I get really excited about it.

I'm currently working on both the Holiday Collection and the Spring 2013 Collection. I design two big seasonal collections each year, in the spring and fall. Usually I will also release a special collection or two in addition to spring and fall. This past year the Bridal Collection actually replaced the Spring Collection and during the summer I released the Sorority Collection. The Holiday Collection is usually an expended version of that years best sellers and includes luxe editions perfect for gift giving. The Spring 2013 Collection however will go in new directions, of course including what I am know for as my signature element, the critters. As I noted yesterday, I begin the design process about six months before its release, so there are always collections at various stages in the studio. For example, I ordered most of my critters for next spring in the early summer months this year. They have been patiently hanging out since then, just waiting for their moment of glory.

I usually hold off on starting to make each sample piece until I know I have a block of days where I don't have have much to do away from the studio. I get so into it that I want to focus all of my energy and time on doing just that and tend ignore all other tasks on my to-do list. I've also learned over the years that once I begin this process, if I invite others to see what I'm working on that they will oh and ahhh and give the requisite enthusiastic approvals, but they don't really get it. They don't see and think what I do for the months before this moment, the constant conversation in my head of if I should use this clasp or that one...if the stones will slope over the clavicle smoothly if I use the super large ones I saw last month and if white marble will be too heavy and put strain on the neck. I've learned that everyone else would really rather see the completed collection all together as if they see it in progress it just looks unfinished. So I keep it to myself. Its a magical time when I am immersed in my own world and I get to make my thoughts into finished pieces and experience the never fading excitement of seeing something I have imagined come to life.

As each piece is added to the collection, I get more and more excited. It's as though a puzzle is coming together piece by piece and ever though I have all the pieces in front of me, I lost the box top and have no idea what the finished result will be. Once it's done I feel accomplished for a few days, but as with puzzles, I want to immediately move on to the next one as soon as I am done. I was never the type to keep a finished puzzle around, I just wanted to get started on the next challenge asap!

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The beauty is in the process

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Sep 052012

I've brought it up before, most likely soon after it happened with the last collection, but every time I have finished the "launch" of something, I am ready for the next thing. I'm sure you're scratching your head and thinking well duh Sierra, what the heck else is there to do. Well, for starters it would be helpful if I would tell people about it. I mean once it's all designed and planned out and the look book has been executed and I shared it on facebook once I'm kind of over it. I suppose this is artistic nature so I should leave the rest to the professionals (and believe me, I am trying to do that...Tierney and Carly, I'm winking at you!) but you'd think after this long of running Manic Trout that I would know it's part of the job.

It's just that the planning is so fun! The process of creating something from nothing and watch the ideas that began as little kernel in your head become something real is exciting. The anticipation is the best part...and the first time you see it on a model, or online, or have your customers tell you they love...all good stuff...but not as exciting as when it first moves from paper to a piece of jewelry. The truth of it is that by the time I share it with the world, I have been working on it for about 6 months and for the last 3 of those months a new collection has already begun as well.

Oh, and I'll let you in on a litle secret. I get bored pretty easily. I also love to work. This means I cover a great deal of ground fast and then like to move on just as fast. In 2012 alone, I will have release 4 if not 5 full collections. Which is ALOT of new jewelry. Part of this is because I have now been running Manic Trout as my full time job for 13 months and part of it is because I love the process!

So what is in line next for Manic Trout? Well, the Holiday collection is in the works and should be released in the beginning of November. But more exciting (well, for me anyway) is that along with the creation of the Sorority Collection came my new CMO, Tierney Peterson, who has put together a team of reps for Manic Trout who are in Sororities at Universities across the country. These reps each lead a team of ambassadors and are all working hard to introduce Manic Trout to their schools. (btw, we are still hiring reps and ambassadors. If interested please go here.) I also have signed a publicist, Carly Co. PR which will take much of the pressure on the "after the launch" lull that I seem to have.

As for beyond the holidays (and you know I am already thinking well into 2013!) well, I am gearing up for an amazing upcoming year filled to the brim with new projects!

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