Google celebrates Martin Luther King with a Doodle
Google celebrates Martin Luther King with a Doodle
American Made products on the rise in Atlanta
American Made products on the rise in Atlanta
American Made products on the rise in Atlanta
Before the show this morning, I stopped by the American Made section of vendors in building 3. There's a wonderful growing emphasis, demand, and support of the much needed segment of our economy. Within the American Made section, I found Michelle, who is more than doing her part. Great work Michelle. I'm looking forward to seeing you and your artists on the tour.
Atlanta market registration has been slammed
Atlanta market registration has been slammed
Every time I've tried to walk through the lobby of the Americas Mart (building 1) registration has been slammed. Don't know if this is a good thing, but I've heard of buyer's waiting as long as an hour to register. Obviously, preregistering should speed this up to a few minutes.
But there's plenty of excitment in the air. Lot's of buyers. Also hearing of many vendors already sold out.
Looking like the start to a great year! Just be sure to pre-regester and the coast should be clear.
Atlanta market registration has been slammed
ShawLiving's beautiful Atlanta showroom
ShawLiving's beautiful Atlanta showroom
It's great to be back in the beautiful ShawLiving showroom. Our SuperNatural collection is a great fit up here on the 6th floor, building 1 of the Americas Mart. Although ShawLiving is a huge company, we surprisingly have a lot in common. We are both Southern. We are both American Made. And we both very environmentally / sustain ably focused.
As you walk around the corner of the 6th floor, you can't missed this SuperNatural organic oak Sofa in the window. Be sure to stop by if you're in town.
ShawLiving's beautiful Atlanta showroom
Organic oak tables - in process
Organic oak tables - in process
Wednesday morning I stopped by the studio for a couple of hours before driving to Atlanta. These are the two pieces that we have in process at the time. Both good candidates for the SuperNatural collection. Both 
Organic oak tables - in process
Amy Flurry's "Recipe for Press"
recipe for press
I think it was the first couple of days of the year, we enjoyed several Alabama sun filled days of r&r and got caught up on some reading. The first book I dove into was in preparation of Amy Flurry's upcoming presentation in Atlanta Sunday. In her new book, "Recipe for Press" Amy shares invaluable "secrets" that small I can't imagine wouldn't benefit any small business or artist attempting to build their brand and communicate with the press.
This is probably nothing new to PR agencies. The information Amy shares is the primary reason (I believe) that businesses hire PR agencies. But there are so many of us that can't afford to add significant additional expenses to our marketing budgets - particularly these last few years.
Amy's unique combination of insight as an experienced, accomplished 18 year freelance writer along with willingness and ability to share, makes for a sweet read
She shares wonderful examples of how other small artists/businesses have succeeded, most if not all of whom seem to have a southern drawl.
I've marked and highlighted the heck out of the book. Now I need to go back through it to build a game plan of just how to modify our marketing campaign's approach. My only concern is that I may not have any spare time to spare for this much needed - well - recipe.
Oh, also on the agenda is to attend Amy's presentation Sunday. Thanks again Amy for sharing this insightful, amazingly valuable wisdom.
recipe for press
back to work
Our slow studio has been in an uncomfortably high gear. Preparing and publishing the monoLOG. Preparing and sending a few press releases. Building some Super, SuperOrganic tables - primarly oak desks recently. Completeing, crating and shipping one of these SuperCool desks along with a couple more benches to Las Vegas for the upcoming market in a few weeks.
January and February are looking to be our busiest month's of the year. Here's how my ICal explain's it.
Do you believe in the SuperNatural?
Do you believe in the SuperNatural?
I generally think of myself as an "open minded skeptic". But recently, I've been experiencing incidents that seem to lean toward the SuperNatural.
We just came in from a nearby park where Sassafras retrieved a ton of frisbees. The SuperNatural occurance is that she caught her 11th and 12th frisbees of her 8 months of existance on the 1st day of the 1st month of 2012! I'm becomeing a believer. Could there be a Mayan connection?
Do you believe in the SuperNatural?
Bruce Foreman discusses planned Phil Campbell memorial
Bruce Foreman discusses planned Phil Campbell memorial
Great to see the positive attitude of the residents of the small devastated community. Here Bruce Foreman of Phil Campbell discusses the devastated community as well as the plan for their memorial park that's in progress. Want to help? They'll be needing it for years.
Bruce Foreman discusses planned Phil Campbell memorial
More odd walnut cuts out of the kiln
More odd walnut cuts out of the kiln. Another catch up post from last week in the studio. Another section of oddball off cuts from the walnut milling operation a few years ago. Recently receiving them from the kiln. I keep playing with them, but in general I don't have a game plan for them. My first thought is to try to use a few of them as legs. This larger slab is the right size to become a console table leg. There's a fine line between organic and the old western look (that I'm not very interested in). Organic with minimal modern lines is my preferred path.
We'll see how / if all these odd super rustic off cuts make their way into future furniture pieces?? If you have ideas, I'd love to hear!
More odd walnut cuts out of the kiln
Chat-N-Chew Phil Campbell has wifi
Chat-N-Chew Phil Campbell has wifi
Seems like anytime we meet with someone in Phil Campbell, it will either be in the Chat-N-Chew or next to it. Phil Campbell is such a wonderful small Southern community, but really so small, that almost anywhere you are going (as far as I can tell) in Phil Campbell, you might as well park at the Chat-n-Chew. I just love these authentic, old dives.
I was amazed to see that it now has wifi!!! I'll plan on bringing my laptop and hang out and maybe post a few blog posts from ground zero.
Right here, just to the left of Chat N Chew - to this side of the water tower, is where the upcoming Civilian Park will be located. Wonderful to see the continued support of this community. But we really haven't scratched the surface. We were amazed, driving into town seeing all of the continued devastation. So much more work to do. I'm afraid it will take years + to get our friends to the south back up on their feet.
Marketing at the Carmike Theatre
Marketing at the Carmike Theatre
We don't get to the movie theatre often, but after being totally enthralled with the gal with the tattoo, we gave it another shot the other day. Don't know what I was thinking. We purchased tickets for Mission Impossible, thinking - well I don't know. But we got up and left within a few minutes. Looking around at the next one beginning, and "We bought a zoo" seemed to be a decent choice. Maybe if we had kids. Nice little story, but not really for me.
Well, the one thing I really appreciated was the Coke and popcorn video with amazing sound of bubbles and carbination and ice and fizz and popping and butter, and salty from all directions. These theatre guys are marketing genius. Now that Steve J.'s not around, I'm looking for my next marketing mentor. I don't think it's gonna be Carmike, but they do have Coke and popcorn marketing to a science. -- I say that, and as I type, I realize that I didn't buy either. But I did hear plenty of chomping and slurping going on AFTER the commercial was over.
Marketing at the Carmike Theatre
FoxBusiness Spotlight's our SuperNatural work
FoxBusiness Spotlight's our SuperNatural work
We got a call from Kathryn Tuggle, a super nice Fox Business reporter a couple of weeks ago. She surprised us in a couple of ways. One, that if we could move quick, and get her a product shot, she had a place for us in her spotlight of a few luxury, American Made products in Lux in the Heartland. Since these are two of my favorite conversations I was certainly game.
The other surprise was that she's been following the blog for a while, and really seemed to know us. This probably should come as such a surprise since I've been a fairly regular blogger for several years, but it was. I don't receive regular feedback, and begin to wonder if anyone's out there.
I was just looking over our website analytics and it is rewarding to see that all the numbers are growing at quite a clip now. The graph bars are kinda shooting toward the sky. After several years of slow deliberate website growth, it's great to see it accelerating. And I have to feel that a spotlight with FoxBusiness has to be a good thing. Thank you Kathryn! Please stop by anytime. And don't be a stranger!
Operation Migration in Russellville
Operation Migration in Russellville
It was a beautiful Thursday, our first day off since Christmas eve, and we packed up the kids (pups) and headed due South for a meeting in Phil Campbell.
On the way back, we couldn't help but stop by and check on our new friends/mentors with Operation Migration - who have been landlocked for almost a month, due to weather, and now possibly Holiday/Family responsibilities. I was hoping to take them to one of our favorite North Alabama dives that are both right down the road in Russellville - for lunch.
These guys have quite a setup. They seemingly ride in comfort and style. Several nice vans, motor homes, also a motorcycle, a kayak, a bike (all of which seem mandatory to me- really) satellite (tv or internet??) and not one but two ultra light air planes (is that still what they are called??).
I just love what these guys are all about. I want to learn more, take notes, and see how I can become more involved. Sorry I missed you guys. Safe travels, and Godspeed.
Operation Migration in Russellville
idiot of the week
idiot of the week
I've got several blog posts to catch up on today, before the new year begins. So here goes:
I just can't "reveal" all the idiotic things that I seem to regularly perform. Maybe it's something about nearing the end of the Mayan calendar. But I just downloaded from my Iphone some good stuff, that I will be posting shortly. Had to share this one. Idiot here, was in Russellville checking on our new friends with Operation Migration. It was an amazing morning. The skies were clear, sun was brilliant. . . And the reflection on the iphone prevented me from having any view of the image on the lcd. I must have hit the wrong button, because I've got a dozen or so pics of Idiot taking pics of himself-obviously by accident.
Every onece in a while I'm a brilliant photographer. Last week, hopefully briefly, I was a brilliant idiot.
idiot of the week
Eurekazone Tracksaw System
Eurekazone Tracksaw System
This odd little business uses nothing but odd little (and big) tools. Some not even close to being used for their intended use. Here's one that, for the most part, is used for it's intended use. Without this Eurekazone track saw system, life would be much more difficult for us. You can go to their website to learn more about it. All I've got to say is, it's awesome. It's versatile. I use it almost every day. It works better than advertised. The support is great, but I rarely need it. I wouldn't want to be without it.
Thank you Dino for your amazing invention.
Eurekazone Tracksaw System
walnut slab console table - day 2
walnut slab console table - day 2
Day 2 of the walnut slab console project shows great progress. To begin with, yesterday I wasn't able to commit that this would become the planned console table. Today, I am confident that it will become a console table. And it will become a beautiful console table.
I was hoping to complete this last table before the end of the year.
At this point we have lots more sanding, as well as attaching the legs to the top, and a few more days of finishing. Looking like this will become the first finished piece of the "SuperNatural". I like the way the new year's looking.
walnut slab console table - day 2
walnut log console table perhaps
walnut log console table perhaps
This (third of a) walnut log is another unusual piece that we recently received from the kiln. This morning, it occurred to me that it might want to be a console table. Certainly one of a kind - since we only have one walnut slab this thick.
It's obvious that this walnut log had sat on the moist ground for quite a while. There is significant rot damage to one side of it. Pictured are our first few steps in preparing a piece like this to become furniture.
Typically, first we use our 20" joiner to square up the first side of the lumber. Since this is more of a log than lumber, it'll be the only side to square in this manor (meaning no planer here). The log is approximately 8' long, 5" to 6" thick, before squareing up.
To clean up the rot, if it's significant, like this is, we typically start with the claw end of a hammer. Removing all the soft deadwood we can. Then move to a screwdriver, drawknife, scraper, or one of several other tools that will work.
Once most of the soft rot is removed (and usually we might not have any rot like this), we move to flapper sanders, either air powered or electric.
walnut log console table perhaps
Louisania kumquat
Louisania kumquat
My favorite gift this year was a small bag of Louisania kumquats. Although they originate from China, these little delicacies are amazing. Poping one at a time, as I walk by the jar has been my tendency for the past few days. They are both really sweet and really tart. The best thing is that most folks around here don't really like them - leaving more for me!!!
I finished them off this morning, taking this pic of the last one.
Our world is full of little wonderful surprises. I'm looking forward to and for many more.
Louisania kumquat
Christmas eve dinner in Alabama
Christmas eve dinner in Alabama
Linda can duplicate most of her Mom's masterful southern meals, including her amazing Christmas spread. This is the "lite" version.
I relish and enjoy learning about the differences in other parts of this country and internationally. And food is usually a good place to start.
I'm really not sure how other areas of this country do "dressing", cranberry relish (ok probably prevalent), sweet potatoes, smoked chicken and turkeys, etc. -- I will say, for the moment at least, it would be difficult to beat this one.
p.s. I was sworn to secrecy re; just whose plate this is in the pic.