SooBoo Designs

2010-07-11T17:43:00.001-04:00

I'm Selling This:

Classy Fall Fabri...
$26.00

Must See Front Door Wreaths for Fall

2010-07-11T16:19:00.022-04:00

This is what I call my Hippy Fabric Wreath

This is Camouflage Fabric Wreath to
welcome home our Troops!

This is SooBoo's gorgeous black and beige beauty!

It's not too late to support the CUBBIES!

LOVED these fabrics and could not wait to
mesh them all together to make this one of
a kind darling.

Go Blue!! Need I say more?

Lions and Tigers and Zebras, OH MY!

SooBoo's Fabric Wreaths make super fun hostess gifts, birthday gifts and hobbyist gifts. Bring a little joy and laughter to someone with one of these unusual and fun fabric wreaths!

Love Those Plates!

2010-06-02T13:22:00.011-04:00

I found this blog that has their favorite obsession today.. funny, it's along the lines of my own... she obsessed about ceramic mugs, I obsess ALWAYS about plates. I LOVE plates. If I had it my way, I would start a little brick and mortar store that had place settings of all different plates, glasses and silverware. I would have everything from plastic/melamine to fine china.
And of course, on some place settings, I would add some SooBoo designs tent place cards!

What do you think? Can you tell what is Melamine and what is not?

2010-05-18T10:09:00.004-04:00

I am adding this idea brought to me by a great customer of mine, Laura. Her girls and she are very much Lilly Pulitzer fans.. so I added this green and pink border. These are SooBoo's Photo Gift Tags! I wound up using a flower hole punch for any string they might want to use to attach to a gift.
She loved them so much she had some made for her good friend!

Perhaps it's time

2010-05-18T08:33:00.007-04:00

Hello People!
That's right! It's been forever since I have posted a blog on here. It's my loss, not keeping up this "diary" of sorts of my life and business.

It seems like forever since I've just plugging away hoping that things will turn around for the SooBoo business. Granted, I haven't been making a whole lot of new items to sell. My wreaths did pretty well during the holidays and that was a lot of fun. But this year, it's a different story. People claim, "it's the economy" and perhaps that's what it is for me(that's why I haven't been buying like I used to)... yet a bought a new printer that has gorgeous color and doesn't curl the paper like my last one did. I bought it in hopes that IF I bought it, business would come. It did, for a bit, then slacked off again. I'm now in the slack time again. So here I sit, writing about it instead of changing my work habits. Perhaps, if I write about it, it will change on its own? I don't think so, but I have a desire to scratch my writing itch.. if not just for the purpose of the diary thing.

I did a lot of research on the printer purchase. I made a decision to buy an EPSON R1900. I bought it over the phone with Epson realizing that it was an inkjet, BUT it took very heavy stock. I was sooo excited! All the reviews seems pretty promising and the cartridges weren't the expensive laser cartridges that I had been looking into or had with my former HP laser all in one. The HP had great color, but the paper curling was really grating on my nerves. My notepads were having issues and I did not want to put out another notepad like that. Anyhow, I received the inkjet, installed the software easily and then printed.. and I swear...the printing was saaaaallllloooooooowwwwww!! I thought, WTF? and the color? ickola! What were these people who rated this thing talking about? After a couple of days, I knew this was not the answer to my printing woes. So, I looked again at what I needed to do. Laser is the only way to go for me.. well, I wound up with an OKIDATA C6150. It's much smaller than the bulky slow inkjet. I learned so much about all this when I did my research.. if you want to know any particulars just contact me... I called Epson and let them know about the color and slowness of this printer. This CS chick desperately tried to get me to check the things on this inkjet to make sure it was set right. OH COME ON! She kept saying, "Perhaps" perhaps you can check this, perhaps you don't have this set correctly, perhaps you're not using the right paper.. so I perhapsed her back.. "PERHAPS I don't want this lousy product and perhaps you need to get me someone who can give me an RA# so I can send this thing back to you because I am under warranty and I know I don't want this thing in my house anymore!" Perhaps I got her attention then.. because I was quickly sent over to some guy who perhaps had been through this return process before.. ya think? sigh..

I had been in contact with some other stationery website woman who was completely fun to talk to about printers. Although, for some reason, nobody wants to say what their printer is. I can find out if it's laser, or inkjet and more recently solid ink printer, but NEVER the brand or model number. Guess if they had to do the research, so did I! Anyhow, I had told this colleague about this printer and when I emailed her about the slow printing and the color she said, hey! I think I have that one in my garage because it was so bad I couldn't use it! I was out of warranty on it so I couldn't return it.. GET RID OF IT! IT SUCKS! Sure enough, she checked her garage and it was the same Epson. Who knew?

So longer story a bit shorter, I went to my local office supply store and bought the OKI. It's actually not laser but digital. The cartridges are extraordinarily pricey, but I will choke on that when the time comes to change them out.

Meanwhile, I bought a CHEAP Lexmark injet for scanning purposes and to use for proofs and for the rest of the family to use for simple black white text prints. Perhaps it's cheaper to do that than to use the ink from the OKI..

Another big change in my life came when a stray meowed his way into my life.

A lot of you know that our beloved Rommel died a year ago May 7. I visited his grave in our backyard the day after for about 10 seconds. I brushed off his brick marker with his name and dates on it that I painted the day he died. Tootsie was by my side standing atop his grave as she usually does... and I, all choked up, breathless with the thought of him being underneath there and sadly recalling what he went through that last night of his life. I had to leave. I still cannot take it. I miss him so. But one day, God brought us a stray cat. He came from the fence right where Rommel is buried one day. Tootsie and I were out on the back deck and this fierce meowing got more and more prominent from the fence area. Then, this sickly thin kitty came slowly walking up, over the rail tie, across the yard and up the stairs to the deck. He was meowing uncontrollably. So thin and wasn't scared of Toots at all.. and Toots accepted him as a sorry sickly patient. I had NOTHING to offer this kitty except a little dog kibble. So I went inside and grabbed a small handful of dog food and laid it on the deck floor. He meowed THROUGH his eating. It was the sorriest thing I ever heard in my life. Pathetic.

I am allergic to cats.. but I was a goner now! I gave him water but he didn't want it..so I gave him milk. He lapped it up easily. Couple weeks went by and he was getting no heavier or healthier looking. My husband strongly suggested I take him to the vet to get him checked for worms. I did, he did, and after shots, tests and all that first time vet stuff, he was certainly ours.

We didn't let him in the house due to my allergies. But I started to hold him while walking through the house. My husband did NOT like this idea but suddenly, he started doing it as well and then before I knew it, GUS the Cat was in and out like a dog. He slept nights inside and came to wake us when he was ready to go out. We have no kitty litter box anymore after he used it in the screened in porch when we nursed his broken leg after perhaps being hit by a car.

The stories coinciding with that are hilarious, but maybe another time. He was ours! He took the sting out of Rommel's passing and he was fun to watch.. like a newborn baby a Mom cannot take her eyes off of... this is what it was like for me. I wanted to learn his signals, his cries, his likes and dislikes...but Gus is different because his habits change so much.. He is NOT routined.. and doesn't like routine. That is, perhaps, his routine. LOL! When he does come in to show what a freeloader he is, he STRUTS his front shoulder muscles as he walks over to his food. He is THE SEXIEST cat!. Those front muscles RIPPLE! He's strong, loving and healthy now. Rommel would have loved him...perhaps.

NOW, I need to go tend to my websites. Yes, that is a good idea...perhaps..

Seasonal Wreaths

2009-09-23T11:56:00.012-04:00

I've finally made time.. not timet to read, or get a massage or do my nails or even get a long needed pedicure. I have made time to take photos of my new fabric wreaths and post them in my handmade shops. It's easy to forget how much fun it can be to list your items when you believe in them. Colors have always impacted my life, therefore, I can't go into a fabric store and not go NUTS surrounded by coordinating materials. My custom wreaths take 5 different fabrics. Normally, I would go into the store intending to buy ONLY a quarter yard of 5 different fabrics. But the holidays creep up quickly and the craft fairs are a plenty, so I have no choice (oh, sure!) but to purchase anything I can get my hands on. I have recruited my friend's Mom, Sandra, to tag along. She more than tags along, she helps me find the perfect fabrics that will go together and offers a point of view that helps often. When we both agree, we know we have the right fabric combination! Thanks, Gigi! (her grandkids gave her that name!) I have some for the holidays, for little girls rooms, for halloween and for the glorious fall when all the rich colors come into our yards and our homes. Please take a gander and some of my colorful creations! Susie

A New Kind of Custom

2009-09-20T09:22:00.006-04:00

Hi People! I wanted to tell you a little story. I got a phone call the other day from a darling Mom who ordered a bag tag from me recently for her daughter. She had also sent me a note through my e-commerce site asking if I would be interested in creating a birthday invitation for her daughter. There were only going to be 8 invites. What did I care if there were only 8! Of course I was interested. A few days went by and I finally heard from her. (BTW, it had taken me a few days to get back to her since I had not looked on that email in quite a while.) We were gabbing away like old chums, but when she was delighting in telling me how her daughter loved to draw and how she had a nice little portfolio going already, I stopped her right there in mid conversation! "Wait!" I demanded. (quiet on the other side. She was probably thinking.. sheesh!) So I said to her, "How about if your daughter draws what she wants for her invite and you send me the art and I put it into invitation form?" She looooved the idea! I was pretty proud of myself. I don't think that this is an original idea, but it's generally not done, I don't think. I also had a big craft fair coming up and needed every free second I had. I felt it would benefit all of us if Nicole could use her own art for her Spa/Slumber Party and I could get my bearings here for this fair. I got the art.. actually 5 pieces. They are from a program called Fashion Design Pad. I think this is how it works; her daughter, Nicole, creates the face with hair color, eyes, lips, nose..the whole shebang on the computer. She then colors clothes onto the little computer models. She happened to send me a blond, a brunette and an Asian. I used all three and had them hold hands. Her wonderful Mom sent me a base for text and I changed it around a bit and then we finalized it over the phone when she got her proof. Here is the result. Isn't it cute?

AND, to save time, I made out the envelopes with green marker and added cute gift stickers next to her guests names. It turned out so adorably! This is truly why I love what I do. Personalizing things in a non- traditional manner is so much fun for me. And also, being an artist who doesn't enjoy repetition, this was right up my alley. Everyone was happy.. I can't wait for Nicole to get her envelope!

2009-09-09T08:48:00.000-04:00

Sigh~ The other night I had a choice. It should not have been a difficult one, and in the end, it unfortunately wasn't. Does this sound contrary? Well hear me out. My son, has made the soccer team at his high school. He's a sophomore. His frame is very thin, but his heart is huge. He's made every tryout time, every practice, has perfect grades, a super sense of humor, and is an all around lovely young man - yes, I have been told this by many, not in my family, but by various people with whom he has just spent some time. I was so happy he made the varsity soccer team. He ran hard, played hard and is sitting on the bench hard after all that work. It breaks my heart. We tell him to talk to his coach or assistant coach and ask then to give pointers on how he can improve his game. They've given some advice, of which he's taken gladly and respectfully...yet still, a cold butt on a cold bench with a few others who are going through it as well is the result.

I went to the pre-season tournament games, which, by the way, were away games. I went to their first game which was about 40 mins away. They lost. The next game was at home. This was just on Wednesday. I was all set to go. I had already worn in my new WalMart stadium seat that has saved one person in our family from having a cold arse.. lol.. Then.. after I fed my son a nutritious, carbolicious dinner, just in case he was called upon to defend his team, I gathered the "ingredients" to start a new project; a small birdhouse. I gathered a lot of materials from my studio and messed up my dining room (much cooler). I armed myself with glue sticks, a wooden birdhouse, gesso, sandpaper, glossy enamel paints, paint brushes of all sizes, paper towels, sea shells, jars of store bought pebbles and, hey.. isn't that enough?? I started this project. I had no clue where it would lead, what the outcome would be, when I would finish. Time was of the essence since the soccer game was at 7:00. I would need to claim my spot shortly on that dreaded aluminum bench along with my other stadium seated soccer parent buddies. Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock .. (I had already dropped him off for early warm-ups etc) The house had only the sound of Fox News chatter and distant dogs barking as the sun was readying to set. My eyes reluctantly darted with hesitance at the clock.. Oh MAN! I need to get going..but that glue gun was so much fun.. the hot glue burning my finger skin was a sensation that was I had missed, weirdly and stupidly. OUCH!.. that's %@# HOT! Crap! and then quickly back to burying my face in the small dyed sea shells of which I had bought eons ago at God knows what craft store, plucking out my next victim to be hotly burned onto the primed birdhouse.

Geeez! What am I doing? Why can't I get my body to move toward my purse and out the door to the car? What kind of Mom AM I? pluck, burn, dig, place, admire.. I just could not break away!!! This is what we crafters/artist are known for; losing sight of anything around us other than what craft is at hand. The smell, the excitement of something new and never created before. The idea that I could sell this thing at my next craft fair, the promise to myself that this birdhouse will be the start of many more natural looking homes for our feathered friends.. it was more than I could take to break away from all these sensations. Soccer? Son? Stadium Seats? Who cares? He won't be playing.. Of course, it would figure if he was put in the game and would make a game saving stop ...and I I would have missed it. Double sigh. Triple sigh! Oh well.

7:00 pm came and went but I finished my tedious, teensy shell appliques in time to go pick up my precious boy. All the regulars asked me, "Where were you? Were you sitting somewhere else tonight? How come you weren't here? We missed you! I put on my best deceitful facade and said, "OH. I wasn't here, I HAD this important art project to finish." "Oh," they replied bewilderingly. I'm certain they were wondering, what kind of Mom misses her son's HOME soccer game for an ART project?

My boy did not play, He says it was fine that I didn't go. I was simultaneously thrilled that I finished this zany birdhouse and sick and embarrassed that I could not control my urges to finish a silly home for birds to go watch my son's team win 1 zip. Maybe, maybe, JUST mayBE.. I'm bad luck at the games?. Well, I can't bring myself to say it was worth it, but boy have I gotten the compliments on this thing since I've completed it.

Next home game, though, I'll be there screaming and yelling and making up for time lost on those cold bug lit grooved stands. I cannot wait!.. Next project.. river pebbles and sheet moss. I will NOT start it on a game day. I promise!

Susie

Come n' git it!

2009-06-24T11:18:00.016-04:00

I have a dog groomer for my little Peekapoo ( I used to do Rommel myself, rest his sweet soul!) who dabbles in all sorts of things. My husband and I always seem to see her involved in something in the local paper! She's an amazing being! She gets an idea and plows ahead! I wish this to rub off on me a LOT!
Anyhow, one day I got a call from her asking if I would help her in this fair in Raleigh called Got To Be NC Festival. It was at the NC State Fairgrounds.. albeit, we were lucky that it was inside. There were many booths all with North Carolina products available to sampl, and chat with the owners or creators or both.
Her name is Jody Currin and she is the recipe creator of Mrs. Picky Fanicky's Foods. Right now, she has two items for sale. We promoted the Apple Pie MmmMarmalade and the Apple Peach Chutney.
Let me tell you.. Jody, her Mom, "Gigi" and I all donned our royal blue aprons which were embroidered with Mrs. Picky Fanicky Foods in white. Jody's husband had pins made for us that said, "I'm Picky, too!" By the way, the accent is on the i in Fanicky. Don't ask. LOL.. anyhow, here are two pictures of Gigi and Jody in the booth.

Now mind you, the booth doesn't look like much, but I think that was the secret! We had one of the busiest booths there!! I worked with these girls all of Friday and PART of Saturday because I had a wonderful old girl friend from central Illinois visit me. I had to leave them on that Saturday and it about broke my heart, it was so terribly busy. I'm telling you, that line did NOT stop. When the fair people opened the doors to this building, FLOODS of hungry Southerners came swarming to all the booths. These people waited extremely patiently in line to sample these jars of unique tastes! Maybe they saw Jody on TV! This adorable reporter carting a good sized camera a la lights et al.. came over to Jody's booth that early morning as we were setting up. She came right up and asked Jody if she could interview her. "Sure!" Jody said.. and then turned to us in a bit o panic and said, "I am soooo nervous!" We told her her products were fabulous and that she needed to just be herself... and that she did. I laughed so hard at that interview. It is so her! I loved it and apparently it made a big impact on the people who tuned into the local Time Warner cable news network that morning! Oh..the cracker packages we opened to slather the marmalade or chutney onto was a feat unto itself! Our fingers were sore as well as our throats. Mine was burning and as much as I didn't wanna leave them, I was grateful to get the break.
These dudes, I think, were bottling guys. I know the one on the right was, but I'm just not sure what the guy on the left did. Regardless, she met so many people who loved her products. One man came on Friday and said he was with the elite Edible Piedmont Magazine. He said he would tell his editor about these delicious NC products. Who thought he would actually do that? Well, Saturday (maybe Sunday) rolled around and there he was! The editor. He talked to Jody for a long while while Gigi and I ripped open large amounts of Lance Crackers and spooned on the gooey red marmalade and chutney to our desperately hungry customers. Their eyes always popped out of their sockets! It was like Christmas in your mouth! A complete surprise of flavor! The MmmMarmalade tastes like real apple pie. NO KIDDING! Our suggestions were to pour it over a cream cheese block (great for bunko night!) or, of course, use it on your morning toast or your favorite southern biscuit, or my favorite, ( I almost drooled every time I said it) heat it up a tad and drizzle it onto vanilla ice cream! YOU BET I'm going to take my own advice at Christmastime and do that!
The Apple Peach Chutney.. that was a story unto itself!! "What's Chutney?" EVERY SINGLE PERSON WOULD ASK! Ugh!! we took turns with our explanations BUT then this one Indian (india) girl came up, probably in her early 20's and was excited to see the word chutney at our booth.. we had a talk and her country makes chutney usually with herbs such as cilantro and hot spices. Jody's Apple Peach Chutney is totally different than that. It's sweeter. It's ingredients, let's see if I can recall now.. apples, peaches, onion, and apple cider vinegar to give it that "zing" as Jody puts it, into the taste. It was out of this world. We suggested smothering it on a pork roast/chops/tenderloin and cooking it slowly so all that carmelly goodness would coat the meat.. OR pour it over fish, or use as a ham glaze. It would all be so remarkable. Jody sold tons of these jars!
In July, we are going to set up a taste testing area at a family owned gourmet food store in Wake Forest, NC. That's July 11. I'll be helping Jody out with that. It'll be fun. The owner and his wife want to promote these products in their stores! Fabulous!
Also, I can't find her post now, but Jody told me that that Sunday ( I had my visitor, remember? and I didn't work on Sunday) a famous Raleigh Chef came by who has these fabulous cookbooks. She bought some chutney and was to bake it on fish that weekend and do sort of a recipe sampling of her new recipes! I hear she's going to put that recipe with Jody's Apple Peach Chutney name in the new cookbook! JOY! I'd been telling Jody that if were a big believer in Astrology, I would say that all her planets and stars were all aligned perfectly that weekend! It was a great time.
One more tidbit. I fell in love with her Mom, Sandra aka Gigi. She is the most delightful woman! I felt so comfortable with these two girls! Well, Gigi was sort of doing this nervous laugh when I said marmalade. I thought to myself.. what that heck? then she told me.. I was saying MarLAmade instead of MarMalade~ OH God! i was sooo embarrassed as I am always trying to be miss proper in my grammar! So that was so funny. I was terribly conscious of it afterward.. good thing!
Thanks Gig!
Well, here is a picture of Gigi helping out a customer on Friday, the slower of the three days. I loved the way she said pork. it was like a new jersey mob's wife saying it. It was more like Poor ahck? I'm sorry girl.. i just had to say it. But darnitall! she stopped saying it after that. I feel badly! I didn't mean to poo ak fun at her! lol!!!
Do you see a life size photo cut out of Elvis on the side there wearing a blue apron? The idea was that Elvis apparently loved marmalade spread on his peanut butter sandwiches! We got some big fans out of that Elvis! One guy even bought the pin right off of him cuz it made a great gift for his wife whom eveyrone pinned as PICKY! ha!

Anyway, click HERE to get info on her jars of yumminess!
I can't wait for July 11 to help out in hoity toity Wake Forest! Why are towns with the word forest in it seem so high falutin'? just a thought.

Order your chutney and MmmMarmalade today.. did i spell it right?

Susie

Time...

2009-06-24T09:34:00.018-04:00

Hi People!
Long time, now see. I am well intentioned but never seem to get my thoughts together enough to get this blog rolling!

Ok.. I want to start by showing off some of my new summer invitations.

Below,are my Family Reunion Invitations. The top sample is custom with whatever you want the invitations to say. The bottom sample is a fill in the blanks so if you don't think you're clever, you can just write in the information. I would also be so happy to make it what you want!
Below is my new Block Party Invitation

I also have been trying to come up with something for the posh pet! Since I do these fun and vibrant bag tags for babies, for toddlers, tweens and college bound kids, why not do some for our pets! These are super for when you're out of town and must leave your furry 4-legged baby behind with a relative, friend, kennel or pet spa! The front has the name of your adorable creature done, of course, in SooBoo fashion. The back side has all the pet's information. You can put anything on there that is relevant to the animal's well being. My Tootsie is black and white, but she is as colorful a pooch as they come. So I elected to use alternating colors in the brightest that I have to offer. The little movement marks are because she's always active. I thought these made her name move like she does! These tags are backed up with coordinating paper and then laminated in a sturdy 3M pouch. I add whatever ribbons I have that go great with your pet's name art on the front for easy ID. It also comes with a vinyl loop to attach to the pet's travel bag (to hold toys, treats, etc) or if they're in a kennel, to attach onto the kennel's fence. It's really a fun idea. I hope it catches on!

Ok.. that's about it for now. I ought to have more later. It's hot enough out to keep me inside and work!
Thanks for looking!
Susie

Brighten Your Day

2009-03-25T17:38:00.001-04:00

Today I transfered over my photos of two items I dd recently for orders.

I usually just use a jpeg of my art directly from Illustrator, but I am trying some photography, without a light box. so far... here's what I have.

I have been making these adorable laminated Personalized Bookmarks for a long time. I recently added the oval coverstock paper to reinforce the area where the ribbon's attached.

This Personalized Note Card Set of 12 is just what the Dr. ordered for sunshine in your life! These folded blank note cards are fantastic for graduates. I also make school mascot cards which are great for graduation gifts as well!

Of all places!

2009-03-18T19:31:00.002-04:00

I"m writing already because of couple of things that happened to me recently that I wanted to "put out there" in the universe. Yesterday, I had to take my teen out of school for his orthodontist appointment. It was a mid morning appt. I love the girls who work up at the desk (the others are great too, but they can escape my chatty mouth!). They are always coming up with really fun contests for the kids to enter. The last one, being that we live in North Carolina, was to be the one to guess which teams were going to be the last four College Basketball teams to play in the ACC tournament. My son apparently had guessed incorrectly. They shushed me and made me promise in their whispering voices not to say anything but the girl who won (like I can remember her name at MY age!) had not been called yet.. because... ta ta da da!! She was getting her braces off the next day and they were going to surprise her and tell her then! Well, I just thought that was precious. You know, usually, any given person can go into any given office and see lame , sad, sorry faces.. moping around, barely even looking your way, much less, giving you any attention whatsoever! Not here at Dr. Youngblade's office. Martha and Debbie are just the best. All the staff wear matching shirt's or sweater daily. They have so many from which to choose, that you hardly ever see them in the same matching tops twice! Furthermore, when Dr. Youngblade's mother passed away well over a year ago, with the sympathetic souls these women in this office have, wore black sweater sets for weeks. It was one of most compassionate, kind hearted and loving gestures you will assuredly EVER find in an office setting. His Mother painted all the landscape paintings in that office. Anyhow, one of the girls turned 50 and asked when my husband, her old schoolmate(this is how small our town is), was turning 50 as well... "not till August" I muttered.. thinking that mine was just a few months after that... bluh.. . This was Martha, a tall pretty blonde, who's as sweet as she is self-assured. I was noticing when I was up at the curved counter blabbing away, that there was another, what I thought, contest. I asked what these boxes were next to me. I saw a plastic bag in there that had unidentified stuff in it. Martha then explained to me that the church she attends volunteers at a local food bank. She volunteers, I think it was, twice a month. Her eyes showed me the empathy that she had when her boss's mother had passed.. she continued on with her explanation atop her slumping shoulders.. She was telling me that the food bank she's always worked is noticeably low. There are so many employees LOCALLY who have lost their jobs. She reminded me of all the bigger businesses that have let go of so many during this lousy time in our economy. She gave me the number of food products they had then compared to now.. it was definately hard to tell people who came for food that there was none, or not much from which to choose. SO.. the box next to me was for people to open their hearts and wallets and bring what they could in groceries to support this local food bank. I was taken with this.. that these wonderful women come up with so many good things in their little office to get people involved in their community, whether times are hard or easy.. they're always doing something to bring people closer together. To me, these are the TRUE Christians. People who LIVE their lives with constistantly kind hearts and grace. Not the ones, and you know who you are, who go to their place of worship and then go home only to talk horribly about your neigbbors and relatives. I so admire these women, and am reminded every time I go in there how lucky they are to have eachother and to get along so incredibly well (to this they admit they are always on the same page!) and how fortunate the Dr. is to be surrounded by such caring creatures. I told them I would be back to help fill their box.. it looked pretty lame so far. I had no idea when I would be back, but I did go to the store later that day and made it a point to buy some staples for some less fortunate than I. Even though my e-commerce site is not doing all that well, my husband has a job still and I have so much in my life, that it was an easy decision to go shopping for this cause. I happily and proudly gave 3 bags to that unassuming cardboard box that meant so much. And it's true, when you give, you get back.. and I will tell you about that in my next blog. But I just want to add that I will be sorry when my son gets his braces off.. because I won't be making regular visits to that office. I guess I'll make more brownies and cookies and take them to those girls like I used to when we first started going there. Then, I won't miss out on too much of their kindnesses. I saw "Hope Floats" the other night and I have always loved the line they use.. "My cup runneth over." and that's how I feel right at this moment. Stay healthy, honest and employed.. and give what you can when you can.

Susie

Some of my Favorites and New Shell Wreaths

2009-03-12T14:31:00.011-04:00

I have been searching a lot and reading a lot of blogs that love to show what attracts them. I want to start doing this as well so show readers what handmade items are out there.. whether it be on Artfire.com, 1000 Markets, or Etsy.. there are so many amazing artisans who creating wonderful pieces.. one of a kinds, that make the most special, thoughtful and spectacular gifts you can imagine. When was the last time you recieved a handmade gift other than from your 2 year old? Here are some of my favorites!!

Flying PIG!

Coffee Clutch

oil painting

cherry blossom pin cushion

Tree Hugger Turquoise Earrings

monkey book

totally cool cuff links

Sweet little clutch

I joined 1000 Markets just about 4 days ago. I've been adding hand crafted items that I love. These latest items were made from shells my Aunt (Chipper- deceased- and from whom I got my endearing SooBoo nickname!) and my ever loving Mom who searches high and low for great deals and unique and lovely items for her home collected for years on end on the Floridan Atlantic shore. These shell wreaths are glued onto 6" grapevine wreath forms and are covered on the sides but not the back. They come with a small satin ribbon attached for easy hanging.

So..that's it! Look at my last post as well!
Love you all!

Susie

Mixing it UP!

2009-03-09T11:50:00.020-04:00

Showing off my Black-eyed Pea Soup
my first time!

My son loves different soups. My Mom has made this soup before when I was a kid, but I'm pretty darn sure she didn't cut LEAKS and put them in it! They just sort of melted in the pot with the onions, carrots & celery. I had some old dried (from fresh) thyme as well. That added a lot of flavor. I combined two recipes I found on foodnetwork.com and from a southern living magazine. I didn't use a bay leaf (didn't have any!) and I didn't add kale or spinach. (that would be ugly and weird I think). Dean said, "Mom, the texture of this soup is like, like indescribable!" You can't get a better compliment than that~ and he's just about 15! I used my fabulous Le Creuset pot for this. The best kitchen gift I've ever received! (Notice I didn't say best gift ever.. I added kitchen! ha!) Also in this soup is country ham pieces. Well, I had never ever seen this item before I moved to North Carolina. I find it unrefrigerated in airtight plastic wrap. I used it first for my split pea soup, another of my boy's faves. Anyway, for all you Yankees out there, after you open the package, you peel apart this ball of ham..it's cured so its very very salty. I browned it first in the pot I was using for a little while till it looked sort of crispy, removed it and then cooked the leak, garlic and celery in that..yum! I then added the pre-soaked beans and carrots and a whole cardboard box of chicken stock. I then let it simmer for about 1.5 hrs. OMG..it was really delicious! It pays to tear out those magazine pages and then make it your own!

So, making it your own.. that's what my websites are all about.. Call it what you want, customizing, personalizing, that's what I do. It's what I love to do for you! Below is a Tea Party Invitation. Make it yours with the hostess' name in SooBoo Style Early American and let me know the colors you like as well. Add this text or any other you desire and it's done!

I also wanted to show you some older hand painted kid's lettering I have done. I think you'll like it. This lettering I can't find anymore. It was carried at Target pre-painted white.

I painted a stool to match.. and a little rocker as well, but the picture is horrible!

These letters are so cute. My customer had a quilt made in these exact colors and wanted to have the baby's name hanging with those colors as well. They turned out deliciously!

This was another commissioned stool. Very adorable for this little girl!

Unfortunately, I think this might be the last time I made these adorable goodie bags for my friend's daughter's class for Valentine's Day Gifts~ I have done many for her over the years, but her girls are growing fast. What was done for these:
Drew out the names in black outline.
Photoshopped the colors in them and added the polka dots or stripes
Added the To: on one side and on the back side, I added From: and her daughters name in the same fun design!
Filled the bags with candy
The bag topper folds over the candy bag like a tent and is stapled to hold the candy in the bag.
Fabulous..all for $1.50 per bag!
Can be done for any occasion..

Party Favors for:
Book Clubs-think the book name in SooBoo name art! and maybe a personalized SooBoo Bookmark!
Teacher Gifts- add a gift card and a thank you note!
Office Parties - add photocopied Dilbert comics and new pens!
Adult Birthday Parties- add chocolate covered strawberries and blindfolds~
Themed Parties- ie.sweet sixteen, add SooBoo's personalized keychains!
Holiday Parties- endless possibilities!
Philanthropic Events-use event colors and fill with custom m&m's and stories of how the money raised will help the cause.
Baby Showers - think adding rattles and pacifiers and pinky rings
Bridesmaid Gifts- add garters and pictures of the bridal showers
Small Store Grand Openings- add savings coupons.
Promotional Pieces- fill with coupons and candy!
Realtor Leave Behinds -fill with your business cards, local eatery bus cards, local businesses cards, an extra key.. be creative and humorous!

Thank your for reading and getting your ideas here~
To order any of the painted wood or custom party bag toppers and bags contact me at susie@sooboodesigns.com!
Susie

A new look...

2009-02-17T12:45:00.017-05:00

I have added some new look items to my repertoire!
Enjoy!

Here's a new item I just put together today! Since I adored that recently made bookmark in LIZA with the brightly colored animal print, I just thought it would be fun to make it into a flat note card~ Let's see what you think!

Here are two great items for baby shower or new baby gifts~ The little pink flowers are so adorable and were hand drawn by me and placed digitally on the blank folded note card. I just love the color combination...the colors of my first bedroom's wallpaper! The pink swoosh of color around the name adds all the whimsy could hope for.

Babies and Toddlers need to say "Thanks" too!

Still going with the PINK theme~I've added a nice brown. Everyone loves their initial!

Giving you ideas! I can make any design of SooBoo's into any format. Here-a great way NOT to lose your luggage..or at least retrieve it easier! Front and back Luggage Bag Tags.

Luggage Bag tags come with coordinating ribbon of my discretion and a vinyl loop. These make wonderful gifts. Just $12 for one and 2 for $20!

Old Ideas, New Uses!

2009-02-10T09:17:00.024-05:00

Years ago, one of my friends taught me how to make these precious pillow wreaths. Over the years, I have made several, but only for my own front door.
I would like to share these with you now.

First in line is the Valentine's Day Wreath. To my surprise, I found some of these bold prints at Hobby Lobby.. snatched them up and found some coordinating fabric elsewhere. The bold pinks, reds and soothing whites say love at your front door~!

Next is the Springtime/Easter Wreath. I used some left over pink fabric from the Valentine's Wreath because it was so perfect with these other fabulous bright fabrics! I especially love the green and white tie-dye fabric and the zigzag purple, pink and green fabric. Also, there is this totally springtime field of tulips fabric. It's a pure delight and will brighten anyone's front door.

Here is a delightful idea! I love bandannas. I put them around Rommels neck all the time.. We call them his clothes! When I spotted these blue and red bandanna fabrics and then found the blue and red ticking fabric, I knew I had a winning combination!

This black and white number was created because my son, whom I dragged to the fabric store while we were out and about, and I spotted this sheet music fabric. The more we looked the more excited I got about his idea to use this fabric to make a wreath. He thought one of the girls in his high school band might like the idea of hanging this in their room! The fabric is white and black. The dark pillows actually have a medium gray clef all over it. This dark fabric, I feel, grounds the wreath while pulling the whole thing together beautifully!

The new uses for these is a great idea my Realtor cousin had.. to purchase these as leave behinds to new buyers. These buyers in turn would remember the Realtor and recommend them to other prospective buyers! Super idea for some hard times with the housing market!

Then, I had a new facebook friend reminded me that I could do recycled pillow wreaths for Mom's who just can't part with some of her kid's baby clothes!
The idea is fun and new and what a great way to preserve the past.
On top of all that, as always, I, at SooBoo Designs, love to personalize your purchases. If there is a theme, holiday or color theme you would love to have me make up into a wreath for you child's room, I would be more than happy to make that happen. You know where to find me!

Data Entrails - Sick & Wierd: Rainbow Goodness on Art Fire News

2009-02-07T20:02:00.000-05:00

Data Entrails - Sick & Wierd: Rainbow Goodness on Art Fire News

Sharing Our Southern Storm w/Y'all~!

2009-01-20T10:53:00.028-05:00

Hi Everyone!
I just had to share some of our Southern Winter Storm with you! These were taken around 8am and ti's still comin' down! Dean is even out of school and it's finals week! I doubt he'll be going back this week, seeing that we're getting around 2"! oh brother! By the way, the photos of the backyard barns.. the left one is Jeff's and the one on the right is my hers barn/studio!
The bush to the left here is a holly bush
The photo below is taken from our front porch.
Also, the pictures were taken in color! go figure!

Toward the bottom in this blog are Rommel and Tootsie.. who is sitting in the cool ivy this past summer of 08!

2009-01-12T09:31:00.002-05:00

I just had to let everyone know that my son made the cut to be in the All-District Honors Band! Because he got 6th chair, he is also eligible to audition for the All-State Honors Band in March. I hope he makes it! Last year was a memory I will never ever forget.

Football Season

2009-01-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

I dont know about your husband, but I am so sick and tired of football being on our television ~ I could just croak. Although, I did have an order for NFL colors tied into two bag tags for two little boys who love the San Diego Chargers and the NC Panthers. I drew little footballs and used the colors of the teams, per the Mom who ordered them. The kids just love love love them and we're all happy.

And in case you haven't seen my superbowl party invites.. take a gander...

Below is a flat card invite.. blank on the back
comes with white or colored envelopes!

Below is the two-sided superbowl party invitation
The front has the cute SooBoo name art integrating the football seams in white.
The green is like the field.

Now below, is the back of the invitation and you just add your party information on the cute
fields provided!

Thanks everyone, and lets hope for a better basketball season.. GO UNC HARHEELS

UNC Tarheels Ram for a great Note Card gift idea~! Think Graduation!

I have been told that signing up and posting on Twitter and Digg is supposed to help business. So these are two things that I am trying to figure out how to do and then try to keep up with posting on them. Constantly, things need to be added, taken away and new focuses come up with the seasons! We're getting closer to spring. Here in NC, it hasn't been the lovliest of winters.. but it's a lot lot warmer and pleasant than my buddies in Michigan and Chicago are experiencing!

Susie

Where has the time gone this year?

2008-12-11T09:36:00.000-05:00

Hi People!

I know.. i know.. i don't blog enough for what is good for me.. but I will attempt again to make this sound worthwhile. I must say, this month I was completely taken off guard with the amount of BOOKMARK orders I received! I mean, they just kept coming in.. it was like a bookmark cult.. and they were from all over the country! I wound up calling it by "Bookmark Bonanza Extravaganza!" I think I have done 30 in all. I did several personalized notepads as well. My favorite being the CLEARLY notepad. The husband to whom this notepad is being given says, "Clearly..." all the time. His wife and I just cracked up thinking about how funny it would be when he opens this up. I had given the Queen notepad to his wife. I told her, this is what I want SooBoo to be.. just a lot of fun to come up with your ideas and make them into great, unique gifts! Here is the notepad~

Another fabulous design came from one of the bookmarks. SooBoo Designs has an animal print that is really cute in the typical browns and oranges and blacks.. but this customer has a daughter Liza and her favorite colors are pink, orange, yellow and red. Her request was for me to do Liza's bookmark in animal print in Liza's favorite colors. When i received this order, I thought, "What a super fun idea! Why not those colors?" I wrote the customer back and voiced my excitement over these colors for this style. So here is the final outcome. Is this not the cutest thing?

Another great order for me was a new sorority notepad for my niece who's at Iowa and joined a sorority.. Alpha Delta Pi. Online, I found the sorority mascot and hand drew it and used the computer to add the color for a uniform look. This is the notepad that was so much fun.

I also am trying something new to expose SooBoo Designs. I found this new artist's community called Artfire.com. They have a lot of things planned to make them well known for 2009 and beyond. The owner seems extremely dedicated to the artists and has a great staff, as far as I can tell. I don't have nearly what I have on this site, but here is how you find me.. http://sooboo.artfire.com OR if you want to see all the other cool things on this site, click here.

By the way, here is a cute idea for Valentine's Day!

The weather has been weird. It's been coldish, sunny, cloudy, windy, gorgeous, windy, rainy, really rainy, really cloudy, really windy and really pretty.. no wonder there's sickness all over the place!

I did my annual baking for Christmas. I gave to the one neighbor we like and sent to my family in Chicago. Mom said they arrived in perfect condition.. that's a first. Usually, the Greek cookies, koulourakia which are drenched in powdered sugar, drench all the other cookies in the tin. I finally smarted up and put them in a ziplock.. and then of course, my husband is an expert packer.. where he packed them at work and shipped them. This was Mom's gift from me....and of course Dad's as well and whomever goes to their home will experience a Greek cookie delight. I made another Greek Cookie called Koulourakia which are twisted little snappy cookies.. and another called Melomacarona??? I call them macaroons but they don't resemble any macaroons I have ever eaten. These are made with butter and OIL!!! lots of it.. and some sugar.. but are dipped in a simple syrup of water, honey and sugar.. totally outrageous! I took pictures of some which, when i figure out my new laser printer, I 'll get them posted here.. I can't wait. Oh.. the peanut brittle came out fabulously this year. I wonder if it was the Fisher peanuts or that i decided to stir the ingredients while coming to a boil for the entire 25 minutes! YIKES.. my achin' back. Anyway, it is ALWAYS worth the effort. I love baking, but am happy when it's all cleaned up, especially since I have the worlds smallest kitchen. I don't know how I would handle a big kitchen now! Everything, and I mean everything is at my fingertips.

I made this mid sized notepad for my husband, Jeff. I combined all three UNC logos/mascots in one notepad to show off his love for the school!

New Years Eve was fun with both the boys here. They love staying up late so it was easy. We watched U Party 2009 on Fox ...the cable station and Bill Hemmer and Megyn Kelly were great as usual. They were freezing, but adorable together. I bought the hats and horns at WalMart, where else?, and these poppers.. Little Tootsie Bella was freaked out and I hid her on the couch next to me under a fleece blanket with her little black nose peeking out. She finally calmed down. Rommel, the standard poodle, by the way, is fantastic to all who know and ask about him.... anyhow, he just got up from his bed and meandered into the computer room.. he said, "Who needs this noise?" He's so smart.

Through an old artist friend, Krista, who has a great business, I found this fantastic drug for Rommel that actually makes the cartilage regenerate! It's a series of shots, directly into his back thigh, twice a week for a month. At the end of the third week, Rommel was bup bup bup..UP those stinkin' 6 outside stairs by HIMSELF! We didnt have to carry all 75 lbs of him any more! His last shot was in September and we've only given him one since... as a booster. Strangly, but not surprisingly, my VET never told me about this miracle drug called Adequan. Krista uses it on her horses. There is an equine recipe and a canine recipe. Well, when I approached my then Vet ( I dumped her!!) regarding this subject and asked what they thought about us giving it to Rommel ourselves, we got a very negative response. We did it anyway and the results have been dramatic and miraculous to say the least. To think, we were seriously toying with putting him down. I look at him with such loving eyes now... thinking how sorry we would have been if we had done such a thing. His time was not up.. he was not ready.. we could see that in him, yet that Vet said that she would put him down today if we thought his quality of life was not good anymore. So, people, don't make hasty decisions regarding your pets. I happened to reconnect with Krista just a week or so before we were up in arms about Rommels future and she told me about Adequan. She was our angel. Truly.. and I thank you for being there, Krista! You Rock!

One more thing I guess before I bore you to death anymore.. My husband decided to bite the bullet and get me a spankin' brand new HP color laser printer! The blacks are black and the colors arent pixely any more and I could go on and on.. I am thrilled with this gift.. the gift of great color and speed! yipee for me!

OK.. thanks for listening..
happy NEW YEAR to ALL! May it bring all better things... constant health, patience, lots of laughter, good feelings and inspiration for a better life; a better you. or me!!

Susie

Boring Excitement

2008-11-19T10:20:00.000-05:00

Tri-fold holiday money holder $3.00

Hi People!
It's been a really long long time since I posted here. I'm sorry, although, some of you might be relieved!
I'm remembering when my family and I were traveling through the Iowa plains on one family trip, I recall being in blizzard like conditions and all we could see was snow coming at our windshield at full force in that 3-D sort of feeling. I commented painfully, "This is boring excitement!" That's what my days have felt like in the past month...boring excitement. I seem to have had a lot on my plate. When I'm eating, that's a good thing, but on the things to do life plate, I am always one to get one thing done at a time. I'm not too good at mulit-tasking..or what people call multi-tasking (you can really only do ONE thing, literally, at a time!) Anyhow, here's what's up.

I had some health issues that are all in check now, I'm happy to report. Right after that, my computer took a vacation at Best Buy where we bought the thing in 2005 and it's fortunately under warranty still. The minute after I walked out of the parking lot at BB, a nice lady reported to me, "Did you know your tire is flat?" I just sank my head into the steering and wheel and felt completely sorry for myself. It was bad enough I was sans computer (my livelihood) but another flat tire? We just bought these tires.. to make it worse, the hole was on the rim so I had to get a whole new tire! Let's just say, I had terrible biorhythms that week. To top it off, where I live, the library is open only until 5pm and only on weekdays for me to check my mail. I still can't get over that it's closed on weekends! That's when I would suspect they would have the most customers! Wouldn't you? grrrr ok..

What else? Oh, I, as you can see, got my computer back now. She's hooked up and I get to play again. At least when it was being fixed, I got to clean my house and read all my backlogged magazines that were stacked miles high. Oh yes, the election. Well, I'm sure many of you know that I'm a Republican and backed up the old man and the young woman this year. I even found myself going to the headquarters in our town, donating my time, making calls, handing out flyers, and working outside the polling place in the rain on that fateful Tuesday. It wasn't a total "wash" though. We got our local Representative to keep his job and a new judge in who's only the 2nd republican judge sitting in our county now. It was fun. I felt very strongly about this election and was terribly disappointed in the outcome nationally, yet, I am terribly curious to see how Obama will wiggle his way through of all this stuff he's inherited. In my opinion, he seems to go in the direction the wind blows. So.. one thing I know for sure, he can't blame the Republicans now that they are the majority in the House and Senate. OH!! and the other thing is that I went to grade school and high school with Rahm Emanuel.. the new Chief of Staff for BO! My old girlfriend and I concur; every time we see him televised, we chuckle. I think my husband is sick of hearing me say, "Hey, I went to school with that guy!"

(Above) Rahm in 7th grade.. whodathunkit?

(Below) Rahm in his all his high school senior year afro glory! Go 1977!

Okay now.. is that not the funniest thing ever? I just had to do it. Hopefully, I won't get in trouble by the Obama camp. I'll take that risk. I had forgotten he was a dancer.. but as I look through our old yearbooks, I see that he was in soccer and fencing and I recall him being an actor in a few high school productions as well! (I was a member of Stage Crew my senior year) Something we ought to keep in mind. I must say, though, my recollection of him was nothing but a really nice guy.. although, that's not what his reputation is now in politics! hmm.

I was reminded, as I looked on my webiste, that Halloween is done and gone (we only got about 15 little guests this year) and so I had better do some website clean up. Everyone, please, check it out and see if you need anything. The big holiday is right around the corner.. I still can't believe it! I really do love the tri-fold money holders. It's so easy to give money, and we all know that right now, that is the greatest gift to give. (Thanks, Chinsea for your order!!) At least the gas prices have gone way down...I saw as low as $1.97 per gallon of regular. What? My husband and I would have bet our lives on never seeing anything under $3 again in our remaining lifetime!!

I also traveled to my old summer stomping grounds in Traverse City, Michigan last month. I was welcomed by my cousin, Fran, who's a huge U of Michigan fan.. so I made her a little something I sent to her recently to thank her for taking such great care of me during my stay. Here it is.

I have come to realize that these make the perfect hostess gifts! There are 12 to a clear box and cost $22.00. I added her name in the sooboo black inline style.. and used the good ol' Michigan colors to fill the name in.They're even more adorable in person. With Fran being such a fan, I couldn't see how I could go wrong with these Mascot/Logo note cards!

And the last bit of boring excitement news is that I am going to try my hand at ArtFire.com! It's new launched and I like what it said.. it's a community where artisans can sell their hand-made items online. I got a deal for $7 per month to put up unlimited images to see for as long as I have the account! Although I was having one minor issue with signing up, Jessica at ArtFire helped me out faithfully and with great promise to make this work for me. I've been blogging while she's been fixing my small initial issue. When I'm done here, I'm going to go fill up my literal and then figural plate (is figural a word?) and get going on this exciting, NOT boring, new project!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! There is plenty, in these uncertain times, to be thankful for.. #1, our kids. #2 our health. #3 our family's love.
Enjoy all your boring excitement this holiday season and be careful out there!

Susie

2008-10-12T09:19:00.000-04:00

a tri-fold money holder
$3.00 per with die cut oval inside to show money or check value
white envelope, too!

Hi People!

Ok... I am not so great with routine. Maybe because I'm a Sagittarius? Free-spirited, need to be outdoors.. well, not sure if that's me or not... so..when I'm sitting at the computer on a Sunday morning, the breeze is speaking to me from the front porch by way of the softly clanging wind chimes, I am inspired to be at peace and write.
This past week has been interesting for me. First of all, I was rushing around, the procrastinator that I am, to get ready for a "home show" or "trunk show" or "showcase" of my items at a good friend's friend's home in a new and lovely suburb of Raleigh. I was delighted packing my car with my wares, showing them off to my ever supportive husband beforehand. It was a very rainy late afternoon and I was worried that the 15 for sure
responders wouldn't bother to show due to the weather. But it cleared as I drove further away from my home and I wasn't so panicked after all. I arrived at this gorgeous new home to find a table donned in red which was set up for me to place my goods upon. I wish I had taken a picture. It would have been perfect for my blog. The lighting wasn't too hot, so I wasn't sure it would show as well as I would have liked, but in the end it wasnt the light that was the issue, but i think it was the wine. The free-flowing wine. It wound up being more of a social event than a home show. I had some interested parties, but not what I had hoped for. The hostess was fabulous and wonderful and friendly and helpful. I adored her. It was so kind of her to include me in this event of which there was a popular other vendor there as well selling lucite goods and monogrammed luggage and travel accessories.. very nice stuff. My stuff looked homemade (which it is) and boring and lifeless compared. Anyway, I made a few bucks and was delighted with the creative ideas my interested customers came up with. That's what I hope for... personalized.. truly.

There is a blog to which I subscribe called, The Party Goddess. Well, right now it's so entertaining and funny because she gets spam, I guess, and can't get over who these people are who send this junk to her. Well, she is now in part four of her quest to find out about a puppy in Africa from someone called mr carlson.. who apparently is a she. It's rather hilarious and I get a complete good chuckle from her words. I recommend it highly. The writer of the blog, Marley Majcher is a popular party planner in the L.A. area who has created parties for Hollywood personalities like Katherine Heigl and Spike Lee. She wrote that she was going to be on Fox News on a Saturday morning a while back and included the link to it. I watched with wide eyes and sagging chin and complete jealousy that she was on a national cable news show chatting about the latest party ideas for football tailgating parties. It was fun. I was proud to have some association with her. I comment on her blog on occasion, and one day, after she was worried that her child's pre-school bag was not up to par with all the other kid's bags (she wrote in what I would think was a Sharpie, his name!), I commented to her that she ought to look into my personalized tags, sent the link and wella! she bought from me! It made my day. I hope she's happy with them! I look forward to reading her blog a few times a week. There's nothing like reading about other's lives and comparing them to what's going on in your own. The other thing that's come to me is an email from a sorority sister from years ago. We had a reunion last year, which was about 25 years after we all graduated. It was great. We were able to reconnect as well as we could with 40 girls all clammoring around one another in just a couple days. Well, I heard from one of them through an email a few nights ago. This email was about political issues that are affecting Americans. I couldn't let this one pass.. I had to vocalize the stripes I wear. We've allowed it to go on and on and now I can't wait to hear her response to last nights letter. In this particular forum, I am not adaptable (see previous blog). It's been loads of fun and I appreciate her honesty. I am looking forward to hearing her reasons of why she can trust her candidate, when I have made it obvious, I cannot. I have become somewhat obsessed with that particular question, since it is rarely addressed by her particular party. To be continued...

I'm getting ready for a long weekend in my former summer stomping grounds in the upper penninsula of Michigan. Dad asked me if I wanted to go. I found a great price on a flight and made the reservations to Chicago. You would think that I would take some SooBoo merchandise to give as a thank you gift, but so far, for gifts, I have shipped some homemade jellies, preserves and jams made by my wonderful neighbor, Sarah. That's with a long first A in her name. It's a Southern thang. I hope they go over well. Everyone loves a good sweet topping to their toast, or ham or bagel, right?

I also want to get a yard sale going here, but I fear I will have to wait until the spring. I have so much stuff to give.. I need to cleanse this house. I have things stashed in every nook and cranny and it's all ready to go. I just have to recall where it's all stashed! Wish me luck

The only thing I have created new are for orders from the home show. I will post new designs a customer has asked me to create. It's her son's names in alternating colors with little footballs in them. One has the SanDiego Chargers colors and the other is the Carolina Panther's colors. Cute stuff. I am going to mess around with them today. They're all sketched out and waiting to be painted. I did do some coupons for the home show for notepads and gift tags. I even bought a guest book at the suggestion of Laura Bray of Katydid Designs,master of elegant whimsey! Thanks, Laura for the tips.

Well, that's about it. I know it's not fancy or intriguing, but it's all I have right now.

Falling It

2008-09-29T08:26:00.000-04:00

October is around the corner. I'm beginning to get my act together...finally! I found myself spring cleaning yesterday after I saw the clock say 3:30 on a Sunday afternoon and all I had accomplished was walking the poochies and dicing potatoes for a nice side for the families breakfast. (I just had a few bites!) and purging unmentionables from my dresser drawers! Anyway, as we have all experienced and learned along the way, omitting clutter is a cleansing thing. Mostly, though, I emit clutter. Polar opposites. I long to be one of those clean artists. One who abides by the "touch once" rule. I'm a Sagittarius, I am not good with rules. I don't know about you all, but I can handle only one room at a a time. Same with the business; I need to get one card done, one bag tag done, one design done.. no assembly line for me in my studio..or apparently in my home...save for dinner. Adapting is good. I think growing up in a four season state is a good thing. You must adapt to the weather, the different clothes for that weather and the different personalities that emerge during those changes in weather!
SooBoo Designs is adaptable with your personalized orders. If the end product is for a person with high energy, the SooBoo style can go right along with that. Maybe the fun & funky style would be perfect. Maybe it's for a young boy... so a spike style or blended colors would be appropriate. I can add different things to the backs of diaper/luggage/bag tags like fish, flowers or frogs. I can add so many different things for boys, girls, men or women. That is the beauty of these designs; they're adaptable. And that's what personalizing really is. It's well, I just went to my college thesaurus (ooo! I spelled it right!) and I found these words synonymous with "personal."
Individualistic, defined, singular, and distinct to name a few. My delightfully optimistic Californian friend, Marianne, reminded me of how people liked to hear their own name. Here is the quote from Dale Carnegie.

“Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”

Don't forget this when looking for a gift. SooBoo Designs brings you a bunch of fun, vibrant and appealing selections from which to choose.

Recently, an adorable girl wrote me and asked if I could do something pirate like for a bachelorette party. I thought that was something I will never do again and of course, I said, "Yes!" She had something particular in mind, so with that, we came up with this.

I had started creating one which was totally different; one without the place to place map feeling. I knew it wasn't what she was looking for, so we talked some more and I adapted to her desires for this little invitation and it worked. We were both happy with the results. Another client needed some calling cards for her recently graduated son. He's into the Rastafarian thing, so she suggested incorporating the colors they use into the calling cards. This is what happened.

I know these are not in typical SooBoo form, but a business must conform to what it's public desires. I really enjoy graphics, especially placement of graphics vs. copy. For some reason, I've always been drawn to that and enjoy piecing these together to make the best visual.

This landscaping business has apparently been in business for many years...without a business card! I was so pleased that they chose me to create their first business card. Who knew? Tom & Mar... you must give these out to potential customers. Conform to the norm!

Ok... as many of you know, I went off to Austin, Texas on of all days, September 11! I know! Our other girlfriend and I decided that was the day we were going to travel. As it turns out, it was great. Even though it was the weekend of the great Hurricane IKE, Austin didn't get a drop of rain. We could not have asked for better weather. At the same time, we were worried about our Houston friends, who got hit pretty hard and turns out, were out of power for way over a week, yet were safe!
Anyhow, my hostess with the mostess girlfriend, whom I deemed "Queen" during our last days in college, got this medium sized notepad made especially for her by me, of course! Could this be any cuter? It's terribly apropos because, HER word is the ONLY word. Trust me!

So, you can see for yourself what can be done if you become creative. Imagine, just one of your ideas might evolve into an invitation, calling card, luggage tag, personalized notepad or personalized note card!
The fun holidays are creeping up on us! If you're interested in having some fun with friends and family this season but don't see what you had your eye on, email or call me . My name is Susie, aka SooBoo and I'm adaptable.

email: susie@sooboodesigns.com
or call the number on the home page of www.soooboodesigns.com

Sometimes we all need to stop and think, "What can I do to adapt to this situation?"
see you soon!

Susie

Dizzy

2008-08-31T09:59:00.000-04:00

Hi People!
I just sent on my blog to many a person. I have just hooked up my one week gone hard drive and am so happy to be back. More on that later..
I happened to look at a comment I received in my blog and she told me that the Theta symbol was the kite, NOT the arrow, which is Pi Phi's symbol. Not only that, I used the black and gold Kappa Alpha Theta colors for the Pi Phi Arrow! So, I am going to leave it on there and change it as soon as I can.. the colors, the everything.. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

Ok.. No new art since my computer issues, but I have to say, once you've been with your computer for so long and then it's ripped away, well, I had to take it to the Geek Squad, it's horrible. I was not a happy camper for quite a few days. My husband told me to call Best Buy to ask if it's ready yet after one week and it was. They were supposed to call, but I believe made up the story that the last digit in my phone number was incorrect, even though it was fine on the digital printout they sent me off with!. It had been ready for two days. The lesson: Don't trust the Geeks to call you!

Ok.. just wanted to say I'm sorry for the mis-symbol for those particular sororities.

Susie

Waste Not

2008-08-20T13:56:00.000-04:00

Hello People!
Ugh.. does anyone ever have issues like I do with your computers? I got some virus in my computer yesterday and it was a real all day effort to get it working again. I shouldn't complain, I didn't have to take it to the Geek Squad or anything like that! The issue was one virus called XPAntivirus and I'm actually a little scared to even write in on the computer for fear it might recollect itself and attack me again! It's all good now, though.

Ok... I have a good friend here who's daughter is going off to private school.. high school. All the kids have to do 20 hours of community service which is wonderful they aren't waiting for these kids to hit senior year to do that. The daughter has always wanted her community to be stronger, or even existent, with recycling.. so I was enlisted to create a new logo for this project, on which, I am very delighted to get started! Here are the ideas. If you would like to vote, please shoot me an email or leave a comment if you're a blogger as well. I would love to hear your opinions. Her project is called Waste Not Recycling Project.

This has prompted me to recycle. I was an avid recycler in my former life, er.. my "northerner" life. When I first came to our little town in North Carolina, I found it almost unbearable to throw out plastic bottles, newspapers, glass, and aluminum cans in the regular trash. Since it is not cost effective, they say, to pick up curbside, as in populated areas in the country, we have to settle here to travel to the big giant recycling bins...wherever they may be located! The newest are a couple towns over. So, I have some kitchen bags designated for all the recycled products, save the newspapers, for which, I have a spankin' new rubbermaid bin! Things have changed since I was last in recycleland... we don't have to separate the items! WOW~ I am still confused as to whether the plastic bottle caps are recycled. I have been throwing them away~ so let me know if that's not necessary any more. I have also spent a couple bucks and purchased more gusseted grocery bags which just ONE holds about 4 plastic grocery bags full of groceries! I LOVE THEM and encourage everyone to get some and REMEMBER to take them out of your car INTO the store before you shop! I have forgotten now on two occasions, but I'm getting better, even in my pre-old person state of mind!

I have some more sorority items up, too. Fun for all those lil' sis' items I hear actives are "highly encouraged" to purchase for initiation. When I inititated, I got an unforgettable blank, inscribed scrapbook! I filled it with fabulously fun pics of my college days and have it to this day. This was before all crazy scrapbooking phase began! I take full risk saying, "That was a simpler time." Now are liv in an era of being "too connected," as my buddy says, with the internet, i-phones, blogs, emails, blackberries, facebooks, and last but not least, bluetooth devices! I have no idea how to use many of these, but obviously, it's a necessity to know the basics!

Enjoy these, as I have had fun making them! I'm drawing these and coloring them in Photoshop. I like the results.

This is a 4.25" x 5.5" blank note card

Below is a notepad with twin anchors.. great for a lil sis gift!
Size is 4.25" x 5.5"

Another Personalized SooBoo Note Card. I like this font a lot!

Notepads can be personalized with your own wording!

Nice Flat Note Card on 80lb coverstock. A really great unasuming note card idea.

Another Photoshop colored but hand drawn lettering sorority note card.

Finally, I've been meaning to add some of those "other" sororities onto my site. Here is the Theta Arrow with scribble inside it. A modern feel to a simple arrow! Below is a personalized medium sized note card.

Great font on this new Kappa Alpha Theta Personalized Sorority Note Card

A medium sized Personalized Notepad for a Theta Pledge or Active

Peace Out~
Susie

Christmas in ...August?

2008-08-01T20:29:00.001-04:00

I've been busy creating some new items for Christmas. Check out the latest in
Holiday Money Holders. Each tri-fold money holder is 6.5" x 3.25" and when opened has a die cut oval so your divine monetary gift can be seen easily...
For the holder titled, "recycle the season" I thought it would be fun to give this to anyone who is interested in going greener starting the new year. Maybe pop in a gift certificate from one of many terrific "green" websites! I think it's a peach of an idea.

Everyone loves this ornament, so I made it into a money holder with a nice seasonal message.

People of all ages like to hear from someone special that they've been good. Secretly, they probably were not?

Joy, Joy, Joy.

I had so much fun making this newcomer to add to my holiday repertoire! I adore the polka dots which allow this image to become a very happy holiday holder indeed!
I used this very clever dot marker. Depending on how hard you push down on it, is how small or large the dot becomes. Plus, it's double sided. One fat end for larger dots; the other end is much smaller. Most of the dots are outlined with my old standby rapidograph pen. A very jolly design~

I have liked this Hanukkah design since I made it a while ago. It's done in the SooBoo's fun & funky style with turquoise, blue and yellow. The letters are adorned with polka dots, stripes, swirls, waves, stars and inlines! Lots to look at but the colors bring it all together.

Lots of joy below. Each JOY is topped with a cute red, blue or green ornament. This particular design makes me very happy.

Four gift wrapped holiday gifts. For YOU.

Love, Joy, Peace
A really peaceful design

Cute swirly font for a whimsical design. These 3 packages are a delight. No ink is used on these packages. They are wispy green and red gems!

A design of dancing joys. Fun & Funky design. Dots, stripes and a ray of holiday sunshine in the O.

Another use for a tree.
Christmas in July.. well maybe August.

Guess what, people?
My girlfriend, Marnie, who highly stressed me making my SooBoo Designs website, has decided to include me in a home show October 9 this fall. I can't wait! I'll have lots of things for the girls who will be gathering at Marnie's house in Apex to look at. I am gathering up notepads, holiday gift tags, holiday note cards, and of course, everyone will be able to order there as well. I have a lot to do, so I had better get going!

Our child-free month has just about totally come to a close. It's going to be back to routine starting in late August for all of us. High school is not right around the corner anymore...it's staring me in the face! I hope to make new friends during the band meetings and maybe, if we're lucky, during soccer games!

Enjoy your weekend~!

Peace Out!

susie

To Monogram or not to Monogram...

2008-07-28T14:56:00.000-04:00

Hello, People!
Here are some new ideas SooBoo Designs has come up with.
I recently got back into my rubber stamps. I have come to love cows in my time here in North Carolina. Although I love the Holsteins, I totally fallen in love with these beige and cream colored cows as well. I drive by a favorite piece of land where they congregate and
"are having a meeting!"
as my son said when he was younger passing a boat load under a tree before a big rain that we
observed driving by. It was something I'll never forget.

So, I thought this was a riot titling
this creative notepad,
"my utter list"
.

This is a shower that will be going on in my vicinity.
Another stamp..this one by New Media.
I have discovered how to easily color with my Photoshop.
When the design is this small, it's nice to have an optional way to color
since my eyes become weaker and weaker.

Thinking lately that the SooBoo Designs website doesn't have enough
for little boys and big boys, I started to think that sports are not
prevalent in my site, so I came up with this baseball notepad. I will get
started with a football design as well. The background in blue
of the baseball is with watercolor. Everything else is computerized.

A close up of the baseball. On the website, you are asked to
enter your team colors and your monogram letter.

I just love these circular monograms.
Playing with Illustrator is tons of fun. The colors here are so Lilly Pulitzer!
Precious and so feminine and are the colors of my bedroom growing up!

I have a request to try and incorporate LP colors into my name art.
This customer is suggesting that I put turtles and such into the name art.
I will get around to it, just trying to figure it out in my head first!
In the meantime, I am using these colors to get in the LP mode!

You have an option to add your personal information at the bottom of these
PERSONALIZED MONOGRAMMED NOTEPADS

A detailed view.

The use of bright vibrant colors has always been a love of mine. Here, I use Red and golden yellow. A great contrasting color combination!

A detailed view of the red and golden yellow with asterisks around the circle!

I started playing with these circles because I am trying to keep up with what is current
on the market these days. When someone see's these things online at one site, it catches
on in a big way. I don't want to miss out on any sales simply because I might be limiting
my art on my website. Versatility is a virtue!

Below is a detailed view. I love brown and pink.. and brown and blue as well!
This font is just too much. It's delightfully different and chunky.

Below is the monogram in action on the personalized monogrammed notepad.
Again, you have the option online to add your information at the bottom..even
if it's just your email address!

This is the first monogram design I made of the bunch. If you can believe it,
the dashes around the circle are this particular font's equal sign! Isn't that wild?
I added these little equal signs in a line at the bottom picking up all the
colors of the monogram itself!

Another detailed view.
The colors are tremendous and bi-gender as well.

Customers have the option of offering their own color combination on
www.sooboodesigns.com

Please pass on these delicious ideas to your friends and family! These notepads, by the way, are either 4.25" x 5.5" (Medium sized) or 5.5" x 8.5" (Large notepad). Go to www.sooboodesigns.com then click on Personalized Notepads then click on medium sized notepads. You'll see related items then. Thanks Everyone! You're the Greatest Peace Out Susie

Bridging the Generations!

2008-07-19T08:59:00.001-04:00

I just had to post this morning to show everyone this new blog which was sent to me by my beautiful friend, Marianne, who's daughter has developed an amazing and inspiring blog of her own. The passion of this 18 year old is beyond her years...she has started an organization called Bridging the Generations in which she has begun a computer class at the local retirement home in her California area. Her students are varied. She learns from them as much as they learn from her...sometimes more so. It's very comforting to know there are young adults out there these days who show a complete passion for the elderly. Nice to know, because I'm not getting any younger! It's unusual how this phenomenal girl, Carrie, couples patience with passion to understand what we all can learn from our elders. It all reminds me of how we need to keep up with our communications with our aging relatives. It's always nice to send a "thinking of you" card. Here a few examples of blank note cards to send on, just in case you're as moved as I was after reading Carrie's Blog. Rock On, Carrie! and thanks from all of us old farts out there for caring as you do.

Gotta Pool? Have a Party!

2008-07-15T09:36:00.000-04:00

Hi People!
Do you have a pool? Do you hardly ever use it? Do you have a lot of friends? Is everyone too busy to talk to one another this summer? SooBoo has the answer!

Have a COOL POOL PARTY
with this invitation

I can't believe I have not put this up on the blog. I did this a month ago and I placed it in a folder and forgot about it. How dare I?

Enjoy the party!
Peace Out
Susie

Some Inspirations

2008-07-07T10:40:00.001-04:00

Hello, People!

I know, It's been a while. I had both boys here in June and the computer was occupied most of the time. I didn't have the heart to tear them off. But, while that was going on, I created some new ideas. I felt that I was lacking in many ideas. I browse around the web and see all this varied merchandise. Here, I have decided to make a bit of a larger notepad. This notepad is sized 4.25" x 5.5". I have asked some friends and they say that this size is a great size to use for a note.
I have tried to vary the uses for these pads a bit. I drew some florals and added names. But below of, what I believe to be, a missed market - notepads with a purpose. Using fruit on the bottom of a dietitian's note pad. Why not?

Below, I used a pretty red tulip I drew, and since it's got that separated feel to it, I chose this sort of typewriter font to go with it. You would have your choice of fonts, of course, on the sooboodesigns.com website.

Here, this soft single flower is floating in the middle of the notepad. When I go to the stores, I see images all over the notepads, so I decided that I would try one out with an image in the center; light enough to write over.

Below is a sweet drawing of a china coffee cup ready to start a day with a note nearby. I love this font. As I look at this cup image now, I see that I drew it and placed it for lefties! Ha! I can turn that around in a pinch. As a matter of fact, I think I will off either way on the website! I love the soft feel of this entire notepad. Great for a co-worker's big day, whatever that happens to be.

Following, is a series of funky little ditties I love to draw. I think I have always doodled things like this on my school note papers and inside notebooks as well. These images don't mean anything, but I believe they are a fun and different way of expressing myself and passing it on to you!

A grouping of funky flowers!

I threw in a Greek name!

Suspended doodles are always fun and unexpected. Oh my! That's how I like to think of myself...

This has royalty written in the image. A little crown that is inspired by a great book I got back in the 80's for Early American Designs. Those images in that book have given me many, many ideas and can be seen on the website under Early American Note Cards

Ok...I simply adore this design. I have a good friend who travels the world with her part time flight attendant job. I thought of her when I made this notepad. Great for any traveler with a family to leave instructions to the baby-sitter!

And now there is a Sleep Over Party Invitation to match. Fantastic to make the above quarter-sized sheet notepads for party favors for the overnight party! Girls just love this stuff. By the way, I drew the luggage (it looks like mine minus the vibrant colors!) and painted it electronically. You won't see me doing that too often. My cousin has taught me a few things..all the way in Turkey!

I found grapes in that Early American Designs book, too. I have been sneaking them into my EA name art note cards for ages. I love the little hint of purple you get in these cards. Anyhow, I thought to go along with the more purposeful notepads, I would have fun with the grapes idea. Now that I think about it, I need more recipe card ideas and the grapes just might make their way onto a recipe card! Although I know there are not a lot of wineries around, this is fun for those young people who've decided to make their own wine. Don't laugh, it's how it all starts!

Onto bridal ideas. I am not sure if these invitations would or will be well received by brides, but I see so many bridal things out there that are stuffy and same ol', same ol'. This notepad is a little different. I painted the heart with India Ink..and I personally think it's sort of sexy looking. Great for a newlywed's gift.

Below are examples of the direction I am going with lightening up wedding showers. After all, they are showers and are supposed to be delightful for the bride to celebrate her upcoming union to her main man. Little hugs and kisses with polka dots and the O's sport a matching bow tie. Sweet. Hey, it's a marriage of fun and formal... who knew?

The Engagement Party Flat Card Invitation can be color modified to suit your wedding colors. Try out this delicious blue and black combo. The groom will dig it, too!

Here is an example of Early American Design into the name art. The grapes are strategically placed in the W in the word shower, and also two clusters frame the bottom of the invite. This is a larger format of 5" x 7". I felt it warranted a larger sized invitation. Don't you?

Anyone planning a Halloween Party? This flat Trick or Treat Invitation is inspired by the colors of the fall season. The stripes on the word treat mimic candy corn candy pieces. The black polka dots and the spiky outline on the word trick are a real treat to me! Note the pumpkin as the o in the word or. The bats are courtesy of clip art.

Below are some new note cards I designed. The folding card just below was, believe it or not, inspired by one of "Miranda's" dresses in the new movie "Sex And The City." I don't care much for her, but I loved that black and white number she donned as they all walked down the street early on in the movie. Black and white is always in.. and for that matter a great bridesmaid's gift as well.

Yes, the pear again! I will probably wind up making an apple, an orange and a kiwi or something to make a set of fruited note cards. But for now, all I have is this pear...hand-drawn and hand-painted.

Great font as well "paired"with this quirky illustration.

I know this is a lot of new items, but I had to do something while I was spending my June days filled with children home from school.
Below is an example of a larger sized business card I am designing for a terrific repeat customer. Because this customer's kids are getting an early lesson in becoming entrepreneurs in the pet sitting service industry, they came up with the paw print idea and the modernly used pink and brown color scheme. Perfect for these younger girls, and it made a darling card to pass out to neighbors and friends. A great start for a well thought out business!

Finally, below are some old designs incorporated into new ideas. On the left, a flat baby shower invitation. The Y in BABY has a rattle. I like the green background on both of these items. On the right is a new folded personalized note card. The pink flower and the bright chartreuse background remind me of my old room growing up with all of it's pink and green flowers on a white background. I am also reminded somewhat of all the strong, bold, bright Merimekko graphics when I was growing up. I loved all that. I have some new flowers designed by computer as well along those lines, to come!
Stay tuned!

A quick update our standard poodle, Rommel.
I guess this dog will grace our humble home for what seems a long time! I don't know if it was the medications he was on or his simple will to be amongst us that has made him so much stronger. Maybe it was all your heartfelt love many of you passed on to us.. In any event, we still carry him up the stairs to the house, although he can fly down them with the greatest of ease to chase after the squirrels hanging out in and under the "bird" feeder right outside our front door, or to go investigate our next door neighbor's new adopted stray on their back deck. "Where's the kitty?" we ask him excitedly. He could stand there for an hour waiting for it to make an appearance. Hilarious Dog!
I will never give up on that dog. He's a real force of peace in our home.

Peace Out
Susie

Thank you, People!

2008-06-10T12:11:00.000-04:00

Hello People!
SooBoo Designs truly believes in the designs on the website. I have decided to add a new format to some of the designs already on the gift tags and some new designs as well. I have been looking at designs online and also in stores and see that a bit of a larger and square format is popular. Therefore, I have incorporated some designs onto 3" x 3" white square coverstock. I love that there is room for the "to". These are personalized which is a huge selling plus. Gifts have been popularized by making so many of them either monogrammed or with the recipients name on the gift. Of course, I specialize in paper products which continues to go with my desire of keeping friends and family in touch more often.

I have found a new "Connector" as he's been deemed by other cousins recently. He is one of my younger cousins who's from Europe who carries the same interest as I in the web. He is way more knowledgeable than I and has a keener sense of what he to accomplish in his career. He has generously helped me to change some things on the sooboo website not long ago of which I appreciate greatly. It could have stopped at that, but I certainly didn't want him to think I was taking advantage of his services. I wrote one day and he responded quickly. We have kept the emails coming on a regular basis, feeding into our Mediterranean culture of love of family. I know he loves to teach and I need to learn, so it's a great reunion and discovery of lives across the world!
Thank you, Cousin. He has a fabulous website of his own called 3rd Element. It contains wonderfully informative, easy to watch and listen tutorials.

So, back to new artistic formats! I have made a couple new holiday designs.
One is happy holidays and the other is Merry Christmas. I am so crazy about these two new designs. Old wording, funky designs. When ordering, the to and from/love fonts can be decided by you. I simply chose a font which I believe best suits the design. You may also leave off the personalization so the tags may be used by anyone in the family. Whatever you decide, SooBoo gives you options. And that is important these days.

Here are some examples for my fabulous Jewish friends...

Here are some examples for everyday gift tags.. Great for gift giving, or to stock away in your wrapping station for any time usage!

Here is an example of a baby tag and a baby announcement that's new~

Here is an example of a thank you tag. I will be making more of these. Great with a wine bottle!

I recently got an order from a wonderfully creative woman in Los Angeles. She let me know that she is an Event Planner. I was thrilled to make a connection with someone in that field. She works with a woman who has twin girls who are graduating high school and off to different colleges! And guess what? They are both going to colleges I attended! U of A and Indiana U! What a small world. When I asked what colors these girls might like to see, she informed me of what brands they wear. From that, I was able to Google the brands to see what's "hip and in" and go from there. It was exciting and a bit of a challenge to decided what colors to use with what girl/school. I believe it turned out well. She also ordered a very popular item, the school's logo / mascot note cards. This customer wrote me when she received the goods and said the girls will love them. Mission accomplished!

I have also had requests to do non-name art luggage/bag tags. One of them I did twice. We decided that the name art might be too immature for this 18 year old young man off to college. Above is the sample with "name art" and below is with computerized font.

The other samples are for a junior row crew team off to their competition in Ohio this week. Best of luck kids! So, as you see, SooBoo is more versatile than what you see on the website. Just contact me and ask if it's possible. Easy!

I'm making a Greek recipe today.. even though we're in the low 100's today ....again!! It's nice for the boys to have a delicious option when they have worked hard in the pool all day with their friends! I'm making Greek Chicken with Orzo in tomato sauce and chicken broth. It's out of this world~! Want the recipe? Just ask.

Remember, people, your family is always there to help you and your friends are always there to listen. Start your summer out right by taking care of your loved ones by giving them vessels with which to communicate.. SooBoo paper products! Do it! And pass the word!

Thanks to all my customers! Each one is a delight!

Susie

Endings create beginnings

2008-06-02T13:15:00.000-04:00

Wow! Finally! There are plenty of reasons to celebrate lately. Kids graduate from middle school into high school, from high school into college and from college into the real world. Because of these graduations, SooBoo Designs was fortunate enough to have surpassed a financial milestone. The website has been up and running for 11 months, and because of other's endings, I feel that SooBoo is just beginning. Thank you for all your orders and hopefully, your kids beginnings will be successful, demanding, exciting, wondrous, and somewhat inundating! All the afore mentioned meld together when you are doing something you love. Passions run deep here, yet it has taken a long time to figure it out... yet, there is still so much more to accomplish. When I see young children pursuing their God given talent (realizing and embracing that talent is the hardest step) and using it in school is an amazing gift. My friend's children are amazing. One is realizing his dream in the Air Force Academy and doing outrageously for his freshman year there. This is the sort of young adult of whom we need more. Another is off to one of the top schools for baseball after being recruited in high school. I was fortunate enough to make some luggage tags for his baseball bags when he travels. Go Owls! Other friend's kids are superior rowers, 1st chair in youth symphony orchestra, another graduating as a member of the National Honors Society and another with theatrical honors.. and the list goes on. I was never a great student by any stretch of the imagination, so when I see these young people in this scary time in which we live, I am so hopeful of good things to come. Whether academically, athletically or artistically or all of the above, it's impossible to go on if we don't see our futures being worth something. I am starting to see positive signs coming my way with sooboo. Hard work has always been an important lesson given to me by my parents. I have always seen them work hard with good, solid, well thought out ideas and they have always been successful in their endeavors. I wish to carry on that success. I don't care if it takes years, of course, I rather it not take that long, although, "sticktoitiveness" pays off generally, and if these kids can prove themselves with their lack of knowledge in physical years , then I can, with the years of lessons learned I have acquired. We are always learning how to be the best we can be. It's not easy and nothing comes simply, especially these days. I am proud of these children, and mine, too, of course, and of myself for creating some truly fun and bright and delightful useful art. as my niece said recently to herself after an important DC lobbying trip, "Yeah ME!" So, moving forward, below are my latest ideas for gift tags. As time goes by, I'll be creating more holiday designs getting in gear for that seasonal rush. Here are some Christmas Holiday hopefuls to place on your well thought out gifts.

Holiday wreath
Jingle Bells

Ornament Hanukkah ideas
Personalize your tags for the holidays!
Personalize your tags for any occasion
Create an informational card
Create a personalized gift basket card

Anyway, these are all such precious designs. I hopeyou enjoy them. If you have any ideas that you might like, just shoot me an email and I'll work something up to suit your personalization.

I am in the midst of starting new, fresh ideas holiday ideas. Lots of cute Halloween tags, too.. great for tucking in treat bags!

Gotta run! Happy summer and I'll be in touch!
Thanks again everyone for your support. I so appreciate it!

Susie

Simple Gifts Whenever...

2008-05-15T16:13:00.001-04:00

Hello People!
The days started out as dreary. We were expecting it, yet, I dreaded the rain to come. It started off as an annoying drizzle and then actually turned into somewhat of a lovely day! I finished three orders and have one left to go. I had a couple special orders during this rush of business. One was for baby sitting business cards, and notepads. The business cards were double sided. The fronts were the SooBoo name art with an introduction of names of the three sisters who will be offering their services at the beach where they spend many weeks during the summer months. We came up with a clever little name together called Sister Sitters. The girls are seasoned baby sitters at ages 14 and 13 and employ their small sister to help out. It was a lot of fun to come up with these beachy themed cards. Yesterday, my neighbor came to our door and introduced herself and handed me a surprise party invitation for her father who lives just doors away. I would have wondered why they didn't order from yours truly, but they had no idea I offer invitation designs..besides, my stuff might not be what they're looking for.. anyway!!!.. We are so pleased to be included in this 50th birthday celebration, yet, I had to come up with a great little gift. You just cannot go empty handed to a 50th birthday party! The prank gifts are the best. I've seen some really great ideas for this sort of party, mostly over the hill items. Well, it just so happens that I have had an over the hill gift tag for quite some time now and so, I put it to work. I worked up a fun notepad utilizing the over the hill sooboo art!
~Here it is~
This notepad measures 5.5" x 8.5" and has 100 smooth white sheets of nice thicker 28lb paper. The pad is being glued as I write this and I will have it in time for Sunday's party! Hope he enjoys the light humor in this SooBoo Notepad. We can't wait to get acquainted with them all and to catch up with neighbors whom we haven't seen in a while!

Another special order I have been working on comes from California. This creative customer came up with an idea for graduation gifts combining SooBoo School Mascot Note Cards and Personalized Diaper Bag Tags! ( I have to use the wording "diaper bag tags" because my search engine optimizer people requested that key phrase!) One side displays the SooBtooo name art and the other side is graced with the mascot of the college the recipient will be attending! Great idea, and I am so happy to be able to make this possible. The only thing I regret in uploading these images below is that I can't show the precious coordinating ribbon put through the hole in the lamination! The ribbon really makes these very original and useful when finding your luggage or your back pack! A super buy, too at just $12.00 per two sided hand-drawn bag tag!

These are two examples of the mascots and the name art. Don't you just love love love this Cornell Bear? Great fun, great original gifts. Nobody else will have these!

Here is another name but this tag will be with the name on both sides. I was so scared that this long name would be difficult to read, but the customer chose a simple style which made the name a breeze to recognize!

Also, in keeping with my desire to make sure I remember my family's and friend's birthdays and special days, I rang my childhood friend while in carpool line at school today! SEE, there is time to remember and to recognize special people in your life! All the items above are proof of this.

A mother making sure her daughters are well prepared for business this summer as tweens!
A daughter throwing her father a surprise AND catered 50th birthday bash!
And, another Mom making sure that her daughter's close high school pals remember her well after 12th grade!

I just love when people do nice things for others. This all reminds me of a silly show I watched last night on television called Till Death. It was about the 22 year married couple deciding together that they should not have to celebrate their love for one another on that particular anniversary date.. that they should love each other every day! Well, the wife started buying really super clever thoughtful gifts for the husband and he started getting suspicious and thought he HAD to get her something in return. He couldn't ever swim because of some horrific childhood experience, so he took up swim lessons (that was a comedic skit if I ever saw one) given by his friend. Sure enough, the lessons went south and he quit. But in the end, the husband took his wife to a fancy dinner for two poolside where his lesson took place. The wife was seated in her pretty evening gown while this husband unzipped down to his swim trunks. He dove in, nose plugged and feet first and slapped the water as though he was drowning. She jumped in, lovely dress and all, to save him. He got the hang of it and childishly swam toward her. She couldn't have been more pleased that he did this all for her so they could finally take that scuba trip to Hawaii together and he wouldn't be afraid of the water.

So.. this is what I am talking about. Don't wait for special occasions. Just be nice. If you see a dandelion outside, even if you have the means to purchase a dozen roses, go ahead and simply pick that pretty free yellow flower and give it to your love. Simple ideas are the best ones. There IS something to the saying, "It's the thought that counts."
Indeed!

Peace OUT!
Susie

Let SooBoo be part of your life

2008-05-08T20:51:00.000-04:00

Hello People~

This week I am going to go a bit into my skills as a graphic artist. I have always loved the art of placing things on a piece of paper to make it look neat, refined and interesting. I don't always like plain, same ole, same ole, so I try to add a bit of jazz into my designs, yet always follow the customer's desires. I also take into consideration the client's personality or the event's personality. A while ago, my gal pal here in town needed church function tickets for them to sell for their one and only fundraiser for a ski trip this past winter. They were having a spaghetti dinner and she wanted the tickets to portray a fancy Italian Restaurant. So, with lots of information to put on the ticket, I was limited to the art's size I could incorporate into the ticket stub. I found this perfect border with forks wrapped in spaghetti and meatballs! How apropos!
Then, of course, the font is the most important aspect, in my opinion, of the design. If the font doesn't say it with feeling, then the entire piece falls flat. I used an easy to read script font for the "Italian" worded title. I also went to some place online for an English to Italian dictionary. It was fun to do. I have no clue if I worded it correctly, but I don't think there were any true Italians at this function to critique my translation! Anyway, I made a cute full page flyer that was sent to all the church members via email regarding this fundraiser dinner. The tickets were easily sold, the dinner was a success because the kids raised enough funds for their trip! It felt good to be a part of it.

Below is the way in which I start my designs. Since I do love font styles, I begin with the business name and just start typing it out from the computer in any font I think MIGHT be suitable for their company. Given a few choices from this group below, the client adored one of the two I thought were best, also! It's on the top left with the gray watercolor looking swoosh! I was so pleased. When the business card was made, I used a plain, sans serif font for the client's information that was easy to read at the smaller point size. She was very happy to replace her old logo/business cards with this new version. Again, it felt good to be part of it.

It's truly great fun for me to design business cards, logos, brochures and so many more things.
I love color, as is obvious from my website. Placement is a big deal, too. If you don't have the right negative space thing going on, it can make the design too crammed and hard to read. It needs to flow. Hey, these are really basic things, but they are the foundation for a great design.

More great designs. come in the form of simple notepads. I sell these notepads at my website that seem to be my best sellers so far. Just about all my orders have at least one pad in them! People ask me all the time, "How are notepads made anyway?" I take them to a little place I know at the local university and have them glued at the top. They cut the paper for me to exact specs, back it with chip board and place it in a humble old wooden contraption that is pretty small actually. It is then put between two blocks of wood and clamped down to keep the paper stack from moving and to get a nice tight notepad. It is then literally hand brushed with a special white glue. It's then left to dry for at least 5 hours. They then unclamp the stack and tear off the top sheet of plain paper they added to the top so that the notepad will have a clean top sheet with the SooBoo name art design on top! It's very simple, just like the designs. Here is the latest pad I have done. This is a gift that will be given when this customer meets with them this next weekend. I was also asked to make gift tags with the recipients first names on it. They can attach these to wine bottles, or tuck in a gift basket or stick in a plant when giving those gifts. It's a wonderful gift to give to friends. How nice is it to get unusual but useful gifts like these! Again, it's warming to be a part of it. A bit of me goes into every design, and to know that others love it like I do enough to give to their friends and family is very special to me.

This notepad is 5.5" x 8.5" and 100 sheets thick.

This is the gift tag which measures 3.5" x 2" which is business card size.

I am also going to show you some more gift certificate holders. These can be used for those handy gifts that come credit cards sized to any store imaginable! There are tons of holidays for which to give these things, yet, I LOVE YOU is one that is taken for granted. You don't even have to put a gift card in it, you can just write a little poem or sweet nothing inside for that great night that you two just had!

These holders come with a "snot glue dot." Sounds icky but it' s just what you find in the magazines that have little give away things inside their issues. It's really super sticky but not permanent. I also add a clear adhesive dot to close the card. This saves on cost for you and me by not using an envelope AND it saves on paper. SooBoo is all for that!

Birthday wishes come in the form of folded gift card holders as well.

Speaking of saving paper, I found this website, in one of the too many magazines to which I subscribe, called, Peaceful Company. I found these terrific items called Euro Cloths which supposedly save on paper towels. They claim that these last the equivalent to 17 rolls of paper towels! Well, I just had to purchase some. I decided that I would give them as gifts as well. The Republican that I am does not deter me from understanding that waste is bad. My son even has broken me from a life long habit of running the water when brushing teeth and washing dishes. NO MORE! It's very sad to me that recycling is not a way of life here in the rural areas of the south. When I first came here, I felt sick to throw away a plastic bottle or a can in the regular garbage. If these things are not picked up on a weekly basis curbside from your home, then it's very difficult to acquire a weeks worth of these recyclables in bags and boxes around the home. So.. we wait. Anyhow, I have been using ONE euro cloth for several weeks now to clean the counter tops. It really works great and to clean it, it can be either thrown in the dishwasher or can be boiled. It does NOT fall apart. I love it. A little Peaceful Company has come into my home. Just like I have come into others homes with my SooBoo designs!

There are definitely tons of influences that have come from our family members, best friends, websites and communities. We are all intermingling and aren't even fully aware of it. We touch each other's lives in ways we have no idea. To me, these are life's greatest and free gifts of all. Take time to recognize who's touched YOUR life for a while. (Especially Mom!) It's inspiring, absolutely!

Enjoy the warmer weather~
peace out!

Susie

Fixin' for School

2008-05-02T08:13:00.000-04:00

Oh boy! It's been a while since I've had a chance to write and even more so, something to say that might be interesting.
A lot has happened since I last posted a blog. We went to All State Honors Band and I just about cried throughout the entire middle school performance. It was an unforgettable day. The music was astounding and resounding and I could have listened all day to these young people coming together and in two days making these beautiful pieces of music sound professional.
I was so moved, in fact, that I was compelled to write all three conductors from that day. I let them know my appreciation for what I heard, and to the middle school conductor, a special thanks for doing such a great service to my child and all the other kids in his band. I was especially tickled when i got a short note back from him. In turn, he wrote things which made me feel good. He let me know the clarinet section came eager, prepared and interested and that his joy was greater than all the band's joy put together!. But then he wrote this, "You are a very special person to take the time to write regarding the performance." This is where life can take you, if you take the time to show appreciation for hard work done well. That one line from him allowed me to realize that everyone feels special when you write them a heartfelt thank you. That's all it takes. If I had his address, I would have hand written the note. I might have sent him this freehand note card as it has the feeling of strong wind ensemble music!

I know, I know! You're saying, "I can do that! I did that in grade school!" Yes, you most surely probably did. The difference is, that when I did my black india ink straw blown art, my Mom not only saved it, but years later framed it in a pretty rounded silver frame...yes, special ordered since it was about 20" long and only about 6" or 7" wide. It hung in our finished paneled basement for years. It was a reminder that what I made was lovely and worth framing. So, I thought, I have all these gorgeous inks in my studio.. get out the straw and get to it! I love these straw blown ink drawings. It's not as simple as it looks, try it some time, and if you do, SEND it to someone you love or to someone who did something nice or even wonderful for you in the recent past or long, long ago. Or, just buy mine online!
Recently, my good friend, great customer and all around great MOM of three and her devoted husband, made a very heavy decision. They are sending their eldest child to a private all girls school. My friend is making the best of this and asked for me to come up with, in my SooBoo designing way, special ordered stationery for her daughter. Because of privacy reasons, I will just show the flat note card I came up with displaying the school's name and using the school's colors.

I also made a notepad with the school's name, note cards with her name in wavy stripes, and luggage/bag tags with her name on one side and the schools name on the back to attach to her backpack and maybe even her instrument case. I was so pleased my friend asked me to do this for her. It makes the transition more exciting for all of them and will let her daughter know how thrilling it is to be on her own, creating new best friends and understanding who she is a bit earlier than she anticipated! I am proud to be their friends and am happy that I have a small little talent that she shares for all the world to see!

I just got an order for a Michigan folding note card! When I printed these out, they were even more true to the colors than I thought. The modulations in the ink/watercolor, really make the difference here.
I cannot wait for this Californian to get these! She will be out of her mind excited. I know they'll make the perfect graduation gift.
I just have to show you one item from another order I had recently. All of the items this customer ordered were adorable. She and her daughter chose the colors and the SooBoo styles and this is just one of them. It's slated for a luggage/bag tag. These tags have vibrant coordinating grosgrain ribbon attached as well as it coming with a vinyl loop. Another graduation gift!

Aren't these colors just fabulous? It's so bright and fun.

I am off to get notepads glued, purchase more ink and groceries while I'm out.. save gas!
Oh, Rommel is the same. Although, he's getting scabby in places. I read online that one of the meds he's on can cause sores. Wouldn't you know, with his past skin issues, this would catch up with him?

Peace out~

Susie

New Items to Show Off

2008-04-16T19:12:00.001-04:00

Ok, People! I finally started some invitations before it was too late! These new July 4th SooBoo Designs Invitations are really crisp and fun and get your guests in the mood!

This invitation above is a fill in the blank flat card. The who when where and rsvp are outlined in blue and the core letters are red. It's really cute. When an artist can take advantage of color, then we must! These invites are a larger 5" x 7" size but can be made into the smaller 4.25" x 5.5". They come with white envelopes.

Above is the corresponding "Save the Date" card for the July 4th get together! It's got a white envelope and measures 6.5" x 3.125 and also comes with a white envelope! These are really a great item..

Above is a party favor tag. It's a clever idea to add these to your party list. stick them on sparkler boxes and hand them out when it gets dark to the kiddies and the big kids, too!

These two, above and below are also party favor tags. SooBoo Designs can match them to your outrageous invitations! They come in sets of 20 ... the same quantity as the invitations and save the date cards!
Below, another take on the fill-in-the-blank invitations. I love this flag incorporated into the words! The lettering is outlined in blue!

I love plaid and so it seems others do also... so instead of the humdrum plaids you see when they are computerized, I made my own and made 3 different hue variations of them. I added existing calling cards from past orders to make them into personalized note cards! I plan on making them calling card size, too. I hope to get a lot of takers on these unique creatures~

Ok.. just wanted to show off the latest and greatest on the SooBoo site before Dean and I leave for the Honors Band Concert tomorrow am.. I forgot to start the washer, so i thought this a great time to catch up on the blog.
Oh yes, THANKS to JODY for her great order yesterday for 19, yes 19 large notepads! It is unfortunate that I will not be here this weekend to finish them, but guess what? I got all but 3 done today! I worked like a maniac and boy, did it feel TERRIFIC! thanks loads, Jody! I know they'll enjoy them on Wednesday.. we should all be that giving..

Oh yes, Rommel update.. What is with this animal? He's so peppy and wants sooooooo badly to run around like Tootsie does.. she runs circles around him and he yelps like crazy wanting to chase after her. Ooops~ gotta go give him the nitetime pills~

Have fun living and thanks for reading...and looking!

Susie

Good Intentions

2008-04-12T09:02:00.000-04:00

In keeping with the time of year, I realize that GRADUATION time is upon us. I have a nephew who is graduating this year from DePauw University and am very excited for him. I should practice what I preach (staying in touch!) and get my act together for all that is coming up in my family - 3 birthdays, and above mentioned graduation! Unfortunately, I don't live in the same state as my immediate family. Of course, I have every intention of sending off a card and giving a call, but as the time nears, my intentions seem to be forgotten. I am a bad person. My poor sister's birthday was in February, and I have yet to send her her gift. I get caught up in my own stuff. I need to make more lists...and either not lose them or remember to look at them! It's true, knocking things off a list is very gratifying. My gratification these days seems to come from making new items for my website and entering all the data, which I have mentioned in a prior blog, is painstaking. When I see the SooBoo items up there, though, I am thrilled and wish the best for myself in reaping the benefits of all that was involved in the process to get it on website.

I had a girlfriend mention to me if she could use a gift card/certificate holder for money/check for her monetary graduation gifts? I thought, "Why don't I have some of those money holders on my site?" So, I decided to make some for graduation and some will be coming for the holidays, birthdays, etc... so I INTEND!

I had a great time making a fun invitation for a repeat customer. Her daughter's 10th birthday is to be held at some place called The Bath Junkie. I love that name. Apparently, it's a place where the guests make fragrant soaps, bubble bath stuff, and maybe even lotions! I want to go!

Here is the invitation along with the coordinating party favor tags and personalized thank you
note cards. It was a fun project and I appreciate the repeat business.

Have fun, Sarah! Happy early birthday! These were a joint medium.. my watercolor and computer generated copy and circles.

Sarah's Mom is giving party favors for the girls attending the party and asked that I make matching favor tags! I added green satin ribbon for her to tie onto the favors if need be.
What a super fun idea!

Sarah's Mom was thinking ahead when she asked me to make some thank you note cards as well. In keeping with the tub theme, it was simple to come up with a cute card. I love that she is having her child write thank you notes! I have the HARDEST time getting my son to write them... he always INTENDS on doing it, yet sometimes, well, most times, it takes weeks.

My dog's attitude is much better, but still has those nasty hip and knee issues. As the weather gets lovelier and lovelier here, his desire grows to be outdoors. This means carrying him up those dreaded six stairs to our house when he needs to come inside. Since it was so nice out yesterday, I thought it the perfect time to butcher off his gorgeous coat so he wouldn't pant so much and be more comfortable. I INTENDED to do this, and actually made it happen, seizing the warm weather opportunity. To my surprise, my husband volunteered washing him..outside... after the haircut.. a first for Rommel who seemed to bask ( I just looked up the spelling of bask and was delighted to see that I was correct! But what I loved was the definition; 1. To lie in pleasant warmth. 2. To enjoy something. He basked in royal favor. This was my Rommie... He delighted in the warmth of the sun and as the breeze blew threw his cream and apricot colored long ears, he seemed a glorious royal being. What a dog!

Ok.. my INTENTION for this blog was to introduce you to some more of my designs. I hope that it worked.
Thanks for reading. I hope to be back earlier this coming week, although, my son and I will be traveling on Friday to Winston Salem to bask in the pleasing sounds of clarinets, trumpets, flutes, french horns, saxophones and percussionists for the All State Honors Band.

By the way, I will toot my own horn...my son received straight A's once again. That one B (his first) last semester MUST have been a mistake! hee hee

Bask in the joys of life!

Susie

Decision Making 2008

2008-04-06T08:48:00.000-04:00

Do we realize in a day how many decisions are made? Recently, our family has been back and forth with the deeply immense decision to put 9 years of faithful, fluffy, smart standard poodle to rest. Since Rommel's decline due to his now double issue with his hips, and now one knee, my husband and I have struggled daily for the past 2 weeks deciding what to do. Is the dog in pain? Well, we give him two pain medications; one acts like morphine and the other I have no clue. After 9 days of routinely, skillfully and sneakily hiding pills of different sizes in his american cheese slices, his attitude, I will call it, is noticeably brighter. Even though we must carry him up the 6 stairs to the house - of which he goes down as easily as ever - this is what we must do as pet owners. There is nothing wrong with Rommel other than his walking issues. I will leave it at that. The first week his head hung low, he was seemingly conscious of our discussions of the inevitable. He didn't even like to lift his head. Funny though- two days prior to our "cut off" day, he obviously made the decision to lift his head and get back in the game. He became more in tune with all of us. He started reacting to noises like he used to. He began to be interested once more in his life; accepting it for what it was now. He made the decision for us. We will wait, keep him on his medications and see how long he can go without injuring his hip or knee further. His decision led us to our decision for life. And the decision to do this was an enormous burden off our shoulders. It just wasn't the right time. We discussed this with every person we could find and all of them had experience in this predicament. "They will let you know." Not ever having to put down a pet, I was weary of this sage advise. I didn't know if I wanted to let our gorgeous 75lb beast to have to tell me how sick he was. But, alas, we will wait for that day.

Other decisions included in our lives the past several weeks have been either family oriented or work related. Family decisions have been: What shrubs were we going to find to work in our drought spent flower beds? What nursery would we go to? What kind of fertilizer do we use for our sorry excuse for a yard that has not been green in 4 years due to water restrictions? When should we get that 20,000 mile car inspection (the mechanics have been telling us for the last 3 oil changes we need to change the transmission fluids). What hotel to get for my son's All State Honors Band Concert? When will my husband meet up with us? What should we do with the dogs? Who should take care of them? What is for dinner? What grill should we purchase? The list goes on for EVERRRRR~

The work related decisions are not just mine, but my customer's as well. I ask, "What do you need your invitation to say?" Then they have to make the decision, which apparently is not too easy. Then, they have to decide if my design is what they want. It goes back and forth. I sit here and am deciding right now if what I am writing really matters to anyone out there? Or if it's just one of those insightful blogs that brings attention to our grinding, sometimes, boring, typical daily decisions, albeit tiny or life changing.

Should I start to write about my website?. ugh. duh! YES..so..

I have had some real fun making a special order invitation for my old sorority sister for her Kentucky Derby Run for the Roses Party. She asked me at our reunion in NOVEMBER to come up with an idea. Yikes, it has taken me that long to decided what to do for the design! Imagine! Fortunately, I was straightening my barn/studio (more like watching a cartoon where all you see is stuff that's not needed being tossed out the door!) and I ran across these great 8.5" x 8.5" white envelopes! They're in perfect shape and immediately thought of Dena's invitations. I love big invitations, especially for something as fun as the derby! I went online to locate mint julep cups, as I have never had nor seen one before, so I could create a rendition for this invitation. I found that these fabulous cups are all silver and have pretty beading below the rim and above the base, usually. So later, I started on the idea. I have loads of inks I use for my art. I dug a little further and found a pearlescent off-white..sort of silver-like ink. I mixed it at times with black and with chartreuse and i got this goofy looking, trying to be metallic piece of half-baked art. I thought it was going to be a redo for SURE. But, I made the decision to see how it would look to be scanned, and Photoshopped and made to size on that square format on which I was so interested and determined to put it! Well, my decision paid off! It looked pretty darned good for starting off as a mess. I added "beading" to the rim areas via Photoshop and cleaned up edges of which were not borders before. I added shading and a sprig of mint leaves and copy and as you can see for yourself, it's a lot of fun. It has power, just like the horses who run. Dena said she liked the pink and the red type and will use those two colors for the roses she will vase during her party.
I also wanted to make tribute to my all time favorite musical artist, Dan Fogelberg, who died of prostate cancer December 16, 2007. I will do so, with Dena's permission, on the back of the flat invitation. I am thrilled to be able to do this. I would like for you to click here to go to the Fogelberg Living Legacy website. It's incredible what that one man meant to so many. I have never experienced better concerts than his. My decision to remind us of this great musician, is a conscientious one, and one of which I am proud.
I guess I'll leave you all with this..

We all recognize making decisions is part of every day life. Make smart decisions-use your gut- it never lies to you. Smart decisions are learned from experience, mistakes, finances, and love. Teach your children how to make the wisest decisions they can and practice what you preach them! So now, I will wind this down quoting lyrics from Dan Fogelberg's old tune Lessons Learned:

Lessons learned are like bridges burned
you only need to cross them but once.
Is the knowledge gained
worth the price of the pain?
Are the spoils worth the cost of the hunt?

See you all later and be smart with the power of decision..it can make you or brake you.

Susie

People Who Need People

2008-03-29T17:22:00.000-04:00

Hello People!

I had a teacher in grade school who used to loudly blurt, "Attention PEOPLE!" I thought her use of people was a bit odd back then, but now I believe it was a forward thinking term... a unisex term to use for her entire class. It worked! We listened. I use it today whenever I need the attention of a group! Who knew?

OK, PEOPLE! Back to business.

I had a conversation with an old college friend today on my way to the home improvement nursery. I hope I didn't come across to her as too crass, but I just don't seem to fully grasp why many people I consider my friends and even members of my own family are too busy to pick up a phone, to pick up a pen and a piece of paper (or SooBoo note card for that matter!) or to just peck away an e-mail to keep in touch with each other (She always keeps in touch). Although, I am just as guilty in getting this done instantly with e-mails rather than a hand written note, I still try to maintain friendships and even good acquaintances during some slower times in my week. I have times where I am busy rushing kids around to soccer, dogs to the vet, grocery shopping, washing, ironing (when I do my deepest thinking), vacuuming, dusting, making beds, baking, cooking and feeding everyone, calling parents, teachers and even a principal now and then, straightening my hair (anyone who knows me knows this takes a while!) and of course, sitting at this computer pounding out ideas to add to www.sooboodesigns.com, creating them in my studio, scanning them, editing them, putting them together with my graphic software and then entering all the data that I need to sell it on my site. All of this eats up time. Yet, why do I seem to be one of the only ones who makes the effort to keep the friendships alive? I wonder when an e-mail will get answered. I wonder when a phone call will be returned. How do I have time to spend with my family and sit in front of the television at night and relax with my latest favorite prime time shows and still think of those I care about? And to think, if I was truly organized, I would write a note in long hand because I KNOW what a delight it is to get a letter in the mail. If we enjoy simple pleasures so much, why don't we make it so? Maybe this is why I love to make note cards, notepads and flat note cards. Paper and pen. Thoughts. I love to connect with people and I like to believe people like to connect with me. We are too busy. We are causing our own A.D.D.!!! When I see a blue tooth contraptions stuck on people's ears on a Saturday or Sunday, I just about want to yank it off their heads and say, "What are you thinking?" I do NOT have a traditional full time job, but I have a way of life which fulfills me and affords me time to do what is important at the time. I am one of the lucky ones. I know a lot of the lucky ones, but yet, I guess, these old college friends have found friendship beyond what I can offer them. I believe that everyone has time at some point in the week... if not to just say "hi...thinking of you." Sadly, people don't even write in their holiday cards anymore. A picture suffices. When a friend remembers a birthday these days, it's a form of a miracle. Anyway, let's think about incorporating keeping connections in our lives. Doing so creates fun, new ideas, new ways of thinking.

When my old college friend wrote me and said she had a great idea for graduation gifts using SooBoo note cards, I was so happy! My email to her must have inspired this idea. Good for both of us~ So, I started thinking that her handsome, talented son who's starting in the fall at Rice on a baseball scholarship might enjoy a quick flat note card instead. I made some of these and let her know that I offer this now, too, at SooBoo. Keeping in touch, as I said, gets you thinking, and gives you new ideas! I also recently realized that a lot of people for graduation receive gift cards. There are an abundance of these on the market these days. You can get them everywhere! So why not wrap your gift card in a SooBoo Designs gift card holder? Try Graduate, Thank You or coming up, Happy Mother's Day gift card holders. You can even order a personalized gift card holder by entering your name, style and colors you wish for me to use. OR, you pick a SooBoo gift tag from the gift tag category on the website and I can place that on the card holder! There are so many from which to choose. Holiday card holders are a great idea. You can never get those too early. Supplied with the fold over gift card/certificate holder is a piece of "snot glue" like what you see when you tear a free sample out of a magazine and there is this crazy sticky stuff which holds the product well, yet rolls off the product rather easily AND a round clear adhesive dot to place on the bottom of the holder to keep it closed. I chose to use these dots because it saves paper and is more cost effective for the customer and for me. We like that.
Well, I have to get ready for the Elite Eight NCAA Basketball Championship game - UNC vs. Louisville. It really is exciting to see these 18-21 yr olds in action. If we could just obtain an ounce of the energy they possess and use it toward communicating with old friends and relatives in any way that pleases you, surely, it would please that old friend in return!

By the way, one fascinating childhood friend of mine, Marianne McGovern Priest is one of the most creative, self taught, insightful, intelligent, giving, caring, loving and sweet women I know. I have added her website of her gorgeous, quiet, soft, warm. cold and intriguing photography, one of which I am proud to say I own, to my favorite links. Please take time to check out her talent from wintry Elk Rapids, Michigan! http://web.mac.com/mpriestphotography . I love her dearly and wish great things for the rest of her life.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Thanks for reading~ Susie

Patience is a Virtue!

2008-03-17T17:46:00.000-04:00

Hi Creative Ones!
My weekend was gladly filled with work for notepads and a cute design for a do not disturb door hanger. Everything turned out as expected...colorful and fun!
I am trying to decide on some new animals and different items I can place along with children's thank you notes, notepads and note cards. I have been trying to think of a great design and wording for a clam bake invitation. I would love to get orders from the New England area since this is where all the clam bakes usually are! This might lure them in. Also, I need to come up with some more designs for baby, wedding, showers, things like that. So keep looking at www.sooboodesigns.com for new things. I know how important it is to keep things fresh, but still keep the same design elements with the new items.
I have been having some hardships with my web designer/host. I will forego, naming names because that might just upset me again. I needed some page titles changed so my search engine organizer (SEO) can get my site seen by the major search engines, i.e. google, yahoo, aol, much easier. This is NOT an easy task.
My Web Host/Designer doesn't seem to take kindly to phone calls. Everything is done through e-mail. This infuriates me at times when I truly need to hear a person's voice to figure out what in the world they are talking about. So, I have gone through some 8 frustrating e-mails instead of one phone call. I begged, but to no avail. What is that? Patience is a virtue.. I mostly understand now what the e-mailer is talking about (I say e-mailer because I do NOT know if this is a man or a woman!). My SEO (3rd one now) is really great. He ( I can talk to him over the phone if I wish) is my third seo and seems to really be genuinely interested in getting my site more viewed. After all, it's all about being seen! He has given me instructions as to what I needed to do to enhance my visibility and now, I wait. wait wait wait! BE PATIENT! I keep telling myself.. Something good must come of it after the length of frustrating e-mails.
What I need to forewarn people out there is this: DO YOUR HOMEWORK! I thought I did. I really liked this group of individual in Florida. They offered everything I thought I needed. I loved their design of my website and thought it was an easy process. I learned a lot in the few months I had to enter all my data into the site. Again, patience paid off. I adore the ambiance of my website. It incorporates the colors of my business cards and also has a background I have used in the Early American Designs Note Cards. So, this was all great. But the longer I get into this process, the more I wonder if made the right decision. Hindsight. I have an e-commerce site which entails a very important shopping cart. It took a while to straighten out the flush right copy in this area. I didn't think that should have been an issue in the first place. Some of the copy was yellow and I e-mailed repeatedly to change this, and finally they did. I even had to purchase a wholesale "module" where I could enter wholesale pricing. I have just started this process and surely there will be issues with this area as well. What I did find out was that I even need a more detailed module for what I really want this aspect of wholesale to do. Gosh, I wish I had the patience!
Well, just beware. Even my SEO company has not lived up to the great service they claimed on having. I also researched this and made 4 phone calls to would be happy customers. They were, they all had a huge increase in business, but I, not yet. They coupled me with seo's who were either going to be fired or who just decided that they weren't going to do their job by not calling customers back. BUT, I feel that my new seo is the answer. All this time since August 2007 has been wasted. I don't get much empathy from the seo manager, either. I feel jipped for sure, and it's not over with yet. Hang tight, Susie, you must be patient!
Another story of patience paying off is this: for two days I have been playing around with a bandana design for a BBQ Invitation since summer is approaching quickly. Well, I did my little drawing then painting thing like I do. I scanned it into my Photoshop, of which going forward will be my enemy for the duration of this paragraph! Now, Photoshop is not an easy piece of software if you don't have a CLUE what you're doing. I fortunately know just enough to get me by for what I need. Well, I knew there was a way to erase the white background of this design so when I go to rotate the item to make my card design, I won't have overlapping white squares! Get it??? Well, for those two days, I must have scanned, erased and saved a zillion times, only to put it into Illustrator and see that the white squares are still there. ARGH! So, I thought, "What in the WORLD am I doing wrong?" I decided to save the image in a PSD (Photoshop document). HELLOOOOO! It worked. Later that day, I saw a gentleman who knows his Photoshop and I told him the story with my head hanging low... and this is what he said to me, "Well, DUHHH!" So patience paid off for that and here is the outcome.
Enjoy the rain!
Susie

New Items!

2008-03-14T12:21:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone!
I am excited to let you know that I have been working on getting some summery invitations on the www.sooboodesigns.com website. Also, there are plenty of new Thank you notes, Flat Note Cards, and a few Greeting Cards. Pair up any of the SooBoo Personalized Paper Products and your gifts will scream that you care and you are creative!
I am also preparing to be seen on www.writeexpressionsstudio.com in the next month or so. I am truly excited about this retail expansion to my site.

Well, yesterday I had another "what the?" days with my computer. All the connections seemingly were working, yet, I could NOT connect to the internet. After time with my ISP and the Geek Squad Rep, I lugged the hard drive to the Best Buy where the thing was purchased a few years ago. They said it was working. I brought it home and it worked again. I have no idea what happened. It was a frustrating day, yet it all worked out. If I could just grin through the aggravating times, I know it will all come out good. Think POSITIVELY!

Ok, added to the SooBoo Designs website are:
BBQ invitations,
Cook Out Invitations,
Congratulations Graduate Greeting Card,
Over the Hill Greeting Card,
Keep on Smiling Greeting Card,
Children's Thank You Notes,
Flat Note Cards,
some new Personalized Note Cards and
some new backsides to Personalized Bag Tags.

We all know seniors who are graduating from either High School or College, so gathering up your grad gifts ought to be on all of our busy minds. When paired or grouped, SooBoo's Personalized Notepads, Personalized Note Cards, Bag Tags and Personalized Calling Cards make great give aways. I'm telling you, the impact of pairing some SooBoo items is so dynamic and different from other computerized only websites.

Also, Mother's Day is coming up fast and I don't know about you, but Mom has everything and never wants anything... so I think an elegant gift is a set of your choice of 12 SooBoo Freehand Note Cards. There are so many from which to choose. You can choose all the same design, or any quantity combination of Freehand Note Cards. They come in a clear box. They are a lot of fun to send out because they are all hand done, then reproduced on very lovely 80lb smooth white cover stock.

For any of you out there with military Dad's, Mom's or siblings, SooBoo has the perfect camo style for them. Don't forget Father's Day ... maybe Camouflage Style in their 'name art'!

I had a request by Marnie, my business minded partner, to create some fill in the blank children's thank you notes. I have been meaning to give this a stab, but then I was forced to and the result is adorable. Girl's styles will be coming shortly. Check out the Flat Note Cards that are new, though, too. Lots of design choices there.

Looking forward to the warmer weather and a pretty summer. Many of my friends and relatives have been couped up in their homes due to one of the snowiest winters ever that I can recall! You're all troopers in my book!

Also, take a look at www.SuperSibs.org They are looking for donations to this very unexpected cause. I have sent a dozen greeting cards to them so they can send them out to the brothers and sisters of children with cancer. A great cause. I plan on sending more out very soon.. like the keep in smiling greeting card! You go Beth!

Enjoy your weekend!

Susie

First Day of Play

2008-03-10T09:55:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone!
Welcome to my new blog.
I always wondered where the word blog came from. I am not a big fan of the word, although, it's a way to get my website name out there in the world and hopefully increase business for SooBoo Designs! This is my first day of trying this out. It was recommended by my SEO (search engine optimizer) for whom I am grateful! Thanks, Tim~ I am feeling a little intimidated by it all, so I'll do my best.
Last week I played with a few new styles. I am aware that lots of spring and summer events are upcoming, so I need to add new designs for these events on my e-commerce site. I am trying out a bit more computer generated designs for party invitations. For instance, I entered a few BBQ invitations for summer parties. I like all of them since they are so different from each other in terms of color, placement and font style. I wonder though, if I should offer these invites in a larger format. The size as they are now is a standard A2 size of 4.25" x 5.5". I know a lot of personalized invitations are at least 5"x7". People like to find the biggest and fanciest, but my feeling is, as times get tougher, it makes better sense to go a bit smaller and save a bit of money. After all, one of my favorite quotes is, "If you show it, you owe it!" So, if anyone has feedback on this size thing (does size really matter?), please respond!

I have a wonderful and insightful friend who is trying to help promote my SooBoo personalized note cards and small personalized notepads as a package. Grouped together, these items create a very impressive and personal touch to give to new homeowners given by either their builder or their realtor! She came up with this great idea and I just love it. Like she says, builders and realtors are trying anything to keep business moving. A little personal touch added for new owners will help when a reference is given. "Oh, you should see what our builder left for us! I never thought they would have thought of something like that!" It certainly is WAY better than a pen with the builder's/realtors name on it, instead of the new homeowner's names! That is thinking out of the box! Thanks, Marnie! You are always challenging me and adding your two cents in, both literally and metaphorically! You rock!

I also want to let you guys out there know that I have done some business card and letterhead design. They turn out lovely. If you know anyone who needs a service like this, please pass on my name and or website; www.sooboodesigns.com and we can go from there.

On a personal note, my talented clarinet playing son was accepted to play in the North Carolina All State Honors Band this April in Winston-Salem, NC! We got the amazing news last night and are so so so proud of him and his new accomplishment. His nerves are getting steelier daily when it comes to playing for auditions. I surely could not have done it at his age of 13. We love you, Dean!

Ok...I have to go and visit with his band director at school to make plans for WS. Thanks for reading and talk soon~ Susie