So it started from my magnet bombing around the Atlanta area. El kiddo LOVES going out to 'bomb' around town with me and LOVES to hand them out to people. The people we meet think it's adorable, which is great *yay*, but I wanted this to be more than just about advertising. I wanted this to contribute to something more...

Introducing the HAVE-A-HEART accessory collection. A portion of all proceeds from the line go to charity. (You pick from: Wounded Warrior Project, American Diabetes Association or the Atlanta Humane Society)


SHOP CURRENT SELECTION & HAVE-A-HEART!

iphones. the gateway to the darkside.
I've resisted for a while now. My aversion isn't because of the technology. I think it's great all of the things you CAN do with them. It's rather how many people are sucked into some alternate dimension of total dependency of their smartphone. Read: zombies.

I like zombie stories plenty, but I don't want to become one. I've had friends tell me about first dates and the other was literally on their smartphone the whole time. Or, the best, was when my friend was interviewing a girl for a receptionist & she literally gave her potential employer the 'hold on' finger so that she could check on the message that just came on her phone. You know, during the interview. (He ended the interview immediately after that, and she didn't get the job. Surprise, surprise.)

When I came across those Square card readers about a year ago, I finally decided that I should reconsider my stance on smartphones. And I've successfully put it off for a year. Then my reliable phone that I've had for 5 years died on me finally. So, on to the dark side. And all the gadgets that go hand in hand with the turn.

hands on kind of gal.
So, of course now that I have my iphone, I get to shop for all sorts of goodies to go with it. I don't think I can ever truly not have a physical planner to write down things. I've tried only using my google calender, but it's just not the same as writing it down.

I discovered the art of Valentina Ramos when I got my planner (above). I love her designs. And you can get all of her flowers or owls or birds on iphone cases or fabrics or bedding or laptop skins, etc. You gotta go check them out HERE>>> Sooo pretty.

Those cases got me a little more excited about the iphone. Then I finally spent some time getting to know it last night (after my mourning during the day for the loss of my ol' reliable). Okay...and it IS pretty cool. Got the Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram apps done. Got the mail all tied in. Digging the compass feature (I dunno- because I'm a nerd like that).

All in all...I can see how everyone gets hooked on the things. But I will resist becoming a zombie with as much force as I can muster!

Please feel free to share your app recommendations!!

what would Karl do?
That's what a friend and I always ask. He is definitely quite the personality & he IS a creative genius. Regardless of the guests being packed in like sardines, it is an interesting concept. Even when we don't like the final result, it's always interesting to watch. Read & see more pics HERE.

And for you naysayers...remember the 2011 Fall Winter Haute Couture show? No? egads! I love the set, but then in the last minute of the show when the lights go out & the only illumination besides the set is from the shoes as all the models make their way back out. Just a personal fav...

xoxo
-Kat. 

_on the web | on facebook | on twitter | on pinterest  | on tumblr

_{image via tomboyART}

My friends and family love a good laugh at my expense.
Somehow it almost always ties in with my height. I'm 5'3"- well, almost! ;)
But they all think it's HI-LAR-I-OUS that I have a shoe obsession, sew up all of these flowers and go to the office in my skirt and heels, have a shoe obsession....and then will turn right around and throw on my fav pair of (like UFO) pants, avoid the mall like the plague, will say
'Not right now, baby' to el kiddo when action's going down during a Giant's game. [I know, I'm horrible!)
*sigh*

_
more incriminating evidence. triple whammy.
I like LEGOs and Star Wars and planes.  We are LEGO obsessed lately. My BF uses el kiddo as an excuse to buy new kits. He just wants to see what they look like. Next up will be the General Grievous Starfighter (he has a bunch of the Star Wars themed sets). And this afternoon is LEGO club at our library. Guess what the theme is?
Star Wars. *does a happy dance*
We just realized that Legoland is open now in Florida and will have to go soon. But until then, Legoland Discovery Center will open up in March at Phipps.  

Awe-wait for it-some.

And every time we visit family down in Pensacola, el kiddo wants to visit the NAS Museum to check out all the planes. obsessed. I was a military brat, so I never mind checking them out. I think it's cool. I actually have a fav plane...which I suppose some may call odd...but whatever. The LEGO model of the F14-Tomcat / VF-84 "Jolly Rogers" just goes to prove that I'm not that odd. (Isn't that a great plane & scheme?!) And, yes, it's based off an actual plane...

2012 is going to be a great year, dammit. 
• Giants are going to the Superbowl.

• Last week, I sent a bunch of goodies (Rosa Earrings) off for a wedding convention, Bridal University, in Columbia, MO on February 19th. 

• Today, I'm shipping out another round of goodies (more Rosa Earrings) for the first 50 guests at The Swoon bridal event in Dallas, TX on March 24th. 

• Giants beat the 49ers last night & are going to the Superbowl.

• Cardinal House may also be providing ICE's Wedding Day Hooray with some goodies. More info to come on this.

• Oh, and did I mention that THE GIANTS WON!!! Giants & Pats rematch (personally, I'd like another repeat of 2008 if you couldn't tell...)

Okay, okay. I'll knock it off. So, what's to come?
If the sun ever comes back out in the small window of time I have to take photos in the winter afternoons...I'll be getting the Rosa Earrings up & running in the shop. Need to nail down which sites I want to run ads on (let me know if you have any good suggestions). Then I'll be working on securing retailers (again, let me know if there are any local shops you'd like to see Cardinal House goodies in). And, I may actually participate in some of the Atlanta area shows this year.

_
No fear.
Did you know I still work a bit over 30 hours at the design office each week? 
Yup. 
And then come home to el kiddo? (there are no off-hours in motherhood) 
double-yup.   
I have been working my arse off making things, but very little in actually advertising or marketing. If customers can't find you or haven't heard of you, then what's the point?

I've been putting Cardinal house off to the side for a couple of years. It's what I'd do when I had some free-time (ha!). And for free-time, it's been pretty dang good. 

I excused not wanting to promote the site just yet because didn't feel it was ready. Or, I still need to do this or that. Next month I'll be able to finish that and then I can chat up that retailer. *sigh*

One of those resolutions for 2012...slap the perfectionist me across the face. Seriously. Wake up & go get busy just doing. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. 

I've stalked some comparable biz's for a while now. 
I've always loved this shop and have watched it grow. She's fairly religious & the mushy-mom type. Sooo not my speed. It works for her and that's great. 
This one is pretty new. She's young. I tattled on her because she literally copied above's product pictures to sell her versions with. She actually replaced me at one of my retailers (because her costs were cheaper). Pardon my snotness here but, well, the quality is cheaper. I really don't mean that to be catty as it sounds. But it's comparing apples to oranges. However, that girl's got serious game with her marketing. Not shabby at all for a teenager.

So what has my stalking led me to conclude?
I need to stop being paranoid of taking the leap. Any leap. I need to get out of my comfort zone & get to it. Stop putting things off until I have that line sheet perfected. Because I've done tons (TONS!) of research & come across plenty that keep me wondering how they were picked up by "x" retailer. You know what? They made the leap & just went after the biz. 

So. I am plan to 'bring it' in 2012.

xoxo
-Kat.

on the web | on facebook | on twitter | on pinterest  | on tumblr 

How cute are these guys?!
Thank you, Sarah, for sharing these Valentine's Day printables. These would be cute to bring in to the office with some cookies.
(download PDF printable directly HERE)

Wow. It's 2012. 2012!
Craziness.
As a quickie run-down:
1. The ICE pop-up shop inside Criminal Records (Little 5 Points, ATL) was a big hit! I dropped off a big box of goods for the month & picked up a small shopping bag's worth of remaining inventory. Awesome. And I tested out some new products that were a smash. Love it. So excited about the shop this year.
2. Hope everyone at the Live Your Legacy Summit today in St. Pete has a fantastic time & enjoys their Cardinal House goodies. Thanks, Aurea!
3. Collaborating with a couple of upcoming wedding events in Columbia, MO & in Dallas, TX.
4. Working on updates to the site, including the new SHOP BY COLOR section, and introducing new collections. Can't wait!

Can you tell that I'm excited about 2012?

xoxo.
-Kat

P.S. - In the picture, I'm sporting the Garland Necklace & Rosa Earrings in yellow. The Rosa Earrings will be available to purchase soon.Feel free to contact me if you're interested & can't wait- maybe for some bridesmaids...!

I color code like nobody's business. addicted. not being able to color code is right on up there with not eating pasta or drinking coffee. Without, is there any meaning to it all?
*sigh*
okay, enough of the melodrama. But I love these colorful pens just as much as my black Microns that I clung to throughout design school! There are worse addictions to be had, don't you think?

love this font! free download [for personal use] here at dafont.com

all the CH goodies are packaged, inventoried & ready to drop off Saturday at Criminal Records in L5P [Atlanta] for the upcoming ICE holiday pop-up shop. Goodies from over 80-something artists will be available there from December 1-24! craziness. opening party on the 1st & the first 100 guests receive swag bags [freebies are always welcome!].

actually, if you're in the first 250 people admitted each day at the holiday spectacular show this weekend, you will most likely be getting some Cardinal House goody in your swag too.

soo glad it's almost the weekend! had to pinky-swear [well, you get the idea] that i'd stop friday night to get back to our regular schedule of pizza & movie night. happy to oblige this week. but now, what to watch?

on the web | on facebook | on twitter | on pinterest | on tumblr_