Heading off to Las Vegas tomorrow for the American Craft Retailers Expo. Basically I'm going from one heatwave in Toronto...to a whole other heatwave there. "But it's a dry heat" I'll keep telling myself while I search out air conditioning.

This show is probably two weeks too early given that we have run out of time to produce samples of our new things (although two weeks from now, who knows how hot it would be?). But...here's a little teaser of works in progress (we haven't even decided what the edge colours will be!):
Who knows? Maybe I'll make sales just from that picture. I know of a at least a few customers who have been requesting an owl design!

Wish me luck.

I'll report back on how it went.

Custom/Customer

I don't often get the opportunity, nor do I have the time, to do custom work. But, at the recent trade show in Philadelphia I was asked to create some tables for Heart to Heart Gallery in Munster, IN.
I like that they basically gave me free reign, with only minimal guidelines. I guess they trust that I will use my best judgement.
At any rate, here are the first two table tops (still a few more items to go, so they won't be in their gallery for a month or so).

I think they turned out rather well, if I do say so myself.

The first one is almost entirely (save for the tiles in the middle) made out of rejects of our Mosaic Leaves switch design. The second is, for the most part, using the pieces from the Classical Music mirror.

Too bad they won't be in store for awhile. - I bet they sell right away!

Mirror, MIrror, On the Wall...

Who was the fairest of them all?
So far it's a dead heat between these two new mirror designs:

I'm still a little undecided about which of the two is my favourite. 

The Glass Flowers (top) has the look of Spring, all pastels and color and cheerfulness.

But I might be leaning towards the  Mosaic/Sunflower (bottom). With a little more muted palette, it might suit more people's decor.  It was inspired by a mirror I made a number of years ago for our own home, one that has a prominent place in our living room. I think I'll predict that this will be the top seller.

Keep on Clocking in the Free World

I know.
A horrible pun, but I couldn't help myself (with sincere apologies to a fellow Canadian, Neil Young).

Two trade shows down, and one more that's almost done...and it looks like those new clocks are a smash hit.  Over 700 assorted clocks sold in Philadelphia alone. Look for them soon in your local retailer. If you don't see them, ask them if they know what they're missing!

Of course, it wasn't all clocks -  our bread-and-butter switchplates continue to be the bulk of our line. It's early yet, but it looks like the Art Nouveau Flower design will be the prime candidate to crack the top ten.

It's available in five sizes (and a Tall Cloquette, too). Very classy, very Art nouveau-ish. Why, even my friend, neighbouring exhibitor,  and roommate at the Philadelphia show wants this one for his guest bedroom. Although...we can't vouch for his taste given his choice of roommates!

First Showing

I've just finished the first day of the first trade show of the year (CGTA Gift Show in Toronto).
It seems that our retailers are liking these new clock sizes! Literally every order that I took included them.
Wow!
Now, of course, we have to make them!

Here are some photos of the new Cloques-Rondelle (seven-inch diameter):

Next post I'll add images of the new switch and mirror designs.

I've got the pre-tradeshow blues.

Only one week left before the back-to-back-to-back sequence of trade shows. Good news is that the samples are almost done. Bad news is that it might be spring before my next day off.
I've updated the website to show all of the new items. Here are the Tall Cloquettes:

More items to come soon!

Happy New Year!

Traditionally this is the slowest time of the year for us. Christmas is over, the trade shows have yet to begin, and we give the staff two weeks off to recuperate. Well, this year it looks like that recuperation period was  needed - we're going to be swamped when everyone returns on Monday (I know - I've been in to check orders).

On top of that, we'll have a brand new catalogue next week, and then a series of trade shows. I expect to come up for air sometime around Easter.

No time, as of yet, to update the website, but the new items will be added soon. I'd post pictures of all the new things...but it seems Blogger is refusing to accept image files as image files. Weird that.

Happy new year.
AFU