So, it's official!

So, I've got a bit of exciting news to share!

1st...be on the look out for Tamagrams designs in Walmarts, Targets and Walgreens stores on the Papyrus-Recycled Greetings aisle this spring!

2nd...we are officially registered to exhibit in the Surtex Show in NYC this May. This is the national show for licensing art & design. As some of you may remember, we exhibited at the National Stationery Show this past May so I'm glad we have a show under our belt and feel a little more comfy/cozy about the process and preparation this time around.  I'm already kicking it in high gear designing for fabrics, gift wrap, bags, cards, apparel, etc.

What a journey this has been so far...so much that I have learned about pursuing a dream, the process of surrendering it over and over again and then watching God in the details of it all. It has been so powerful in my life. This verse has taken on a new meaning to me lately..."Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory forever." Ephesians 3:20

I hope all of you are having a wonderful Christmas season - we have been jing jing jingling around here and loving every minute of it! I'm trying to remind myself to stop and savor each of these days in all of it's glorious flair and splendor so hopefully this amazing season will last longer this year since it always seems to fly by in a flash.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Challenging Yourself...

This year has been one of daring myself to try my hand at learning new things...


It's interesting how so often we can go through life never thinking to attempt to try something since we have never been around it before and just don't have much comfortably or knowledge about it. For me, I never grew up around anyone who sewed and didn't really cross paths along the way with anyone who had a gift of sewing to spur on my desire to learn. Maybe perhaps now that I am a mom of two young girls, the bug to stretch myself in new ways has become increasingly strong this past year. Kind of like a light bulb turning on for the challenge. Three weeks ago I decided it was time to hunker down and get a sewing machine so off to the store I went! However, when I got home I didn't even know the first thing about threading a machine and wasn't even aware of what a bobbin was, I will admit.  After having a friends husband (yes, her husband!) show me how to get the machine to be sew ready, I was off off and away and haven't stopped since...really...it is weird to me. I have been trying to squeeze time in for sewing everyday and I think I may be having a little addition going on...My first attempt was at a little girl apron and that somehow turned out to be recognizable :)

I think I became brave too fast and decided my second sewing project would be making McKenna a fall peasant dress. I obviously have NO idea what I was getting myself into! Whewww...this thing took me 7 hours as I was teaching myself how to follow a pattern as well as the sewing side of things. I suppose the up side to being a little too ambitious in the beginning is it becomes a crash course and you end up learning SO much along the way...(in this case, also learning how to sew elastic for the waist and neck and working with bias tape). Needless to say, I was pretty elated when I was finally done as well as having a whole new appreciation for the manufacture of clothing! After tackling this bad boy, it makes sewing pillows and blankets seem like a cinch! 

So...on that note...what is it that you feel challenged by? Are you taking steps to learn whatever it may be? If not, what is stopping you? Go FOR IT...it is invigorating as you learn new skills as well as something deep down opens up new channels of creativity adding a new spice to life!

BOO!

Hope all of you are having a festive week leading up to Halloween! Can you even believe it is already here?!? What in the WORLD... Here are some new designs to enjoy as you get ready for tricks and treats!...

"Pumpkin Umbrella Raining Candy Corn"

Copyright 2011 Tamara Brown / Tamagrams.

"Candy Corn Flowers in Pumpkin Pot"

Copyright 2011 Tamara Brown / Tamagrams.

"Halloween Ghost Cupcake"

Copyright 2011 Tamara Brown / Tamagrams.

Hope you all have a very fun, safe and festive weekend!

No Sew Tutu Dress

Happy Fall to everyone!

Woohoo...I've been waiting for this time of year...I am savoring all that fall has to offer these days :) I know that I usually stick to posting news on Tamagrams, new designs and such but I thought I'd start posting some of the "new" things that I've been up to as well. For those of you with good memories you may remember when I posted a couple months back that I have been a burning desire to try and learn some new things and branch outside my normal "artsy" design. Sewing is on my list of to-do's or I should say "to-learns" but in the mean time I made a new sew tutu for my oldest daughter. Lately she wants to wear anything that resembles a princess type dress that she can twirl in. It inspired me to make a tutu dress for her that she can wear this Halloween and for her PURPLE 3rd Birthday party coming up in the beginning of November. Her love for purple is an understatement :)

For any of you who have little girls in your life, this was way easier to make than I expected. There are also a lot of no sew tutu tutorials online for those of you who want to give it a shot as well. Here is the final product...thought it turned out so cute on her and decided to make another one for my youngest daughter in pink, browns, and purple.

Wa-la!

New Season...

I must admit, when I woke up this morning and saw that it was September 1st on my cell phone, I felt an inner sigh of excitement to know fall is around the corner. Just as seasons are changing outside, Tamagrams is entering a new season itself. Over the past year licensing has just kept popping it's head up. Since the NSS this past May, the path has seemed to become even more clear that licensing is such a great direction for Tamagrams that allows me to do what I love best...design. We have been experiencing so many blessings and God continues to open doors which leaves me feeling so thankful while realizing once again just how big and how in control He is. As of this past week, this is my most recent design that has been licensed for 2012 release in 14,000 different retailers in the US, Canada and the UK. Be on the look out!

"Girlfriend Words Dress"
copyright 2011 Tamagrams / Tamara Brown. All Rights Reserved.

A Sweet Surprise

Lately, life during this hot summer has been filled with productivity in more ways than one. I have been in card design mode full swing while also slowly starting to work on design for fabric, gift bags, plates, wall art, etc. On the other hand, things have been in full swing here at the Casa de Brown! From building a pantry, additional shelving, to landscaping, painting...I'll stop there because the list goes on and on! :) We are excited about all the work we are doing but goodness, it sure does take time! We have also been busy preparing for our second daughters birthday coming up in less than a week. She turns 1...that seems crazy to me. I blink and she is 1. After all of these happenings, this mommy needed a little break and found myself browsing through Swoozies over the weekend. Saw another Tamagrams design that has been licensed (first time on the shelf!) - Always such a surreal experience to see ones work in the final stage.

"Preggo Words Dress" - Artwork and writing copyright 2011 Tamagrams / Tamara Brown.
All rights reserved.

Wishing you all wonderful weeks ahead, filled with joy in unexpected places!

Blessings!
Tamara

Inspiration...

It's funny how inspiration comes in the most unusual of packages. Lately, I find myself being inspired by the simplicity of trying new things. I have never been a seamstress (can barely sew on a button) and never hailed myself for having a green thumb (never had a garden)...but for some odd reason that I am not completely aware of, I am having such a burning desire to learn! This almost 30 year old is excited to try and learn some new skills and also excited to be able to one day pass these skills onto my daughters as they get older. I am however thankful for art...it enriches my life everyday and pumps energy through my veins. Since the NSS, like other exhibitors it has been busy with follow ups as well as designing brand new Birthday card designs to send off to a licensing company that our studio has been talking with. Crossing my fingers and said a blessing over the designs as I sealed the package and dropped them in the mail. :) Here is a little sampling of some of the newbie's...

"Ice Cream Hot Air Birthday Balloon"
Artwork & Writing Copyright 2011 Tamagrams / Tamara Brown. All Rights Reserved.

"Ice Cream Birthday Flower"

Artwork & Writing Copyright 2011 Tamagrams / Tamara Brown. All Rights Reserved.

"Kite Birthday Gift "

Artwork & Writing Copyright 2011 Tamagrams / Tamara Brown. All Rights Reserved.

"Birthday Girl In Bloom"

Artwork & Writing Copyright 2011 Tamagrams / Tamara Brown. All Rights Reserved.

"Birthday Bloom Cake"

Artwork & Writing Copyright 2011 Tamagrams / Tamara Brown. All Rights Reserved.

"Balloon Flower"

Artwork & Writing Copyright 2011 Tamagrams / Tamara Brown. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks for taking a peek, until next time!

Many Blessings,
Tamara

Tamagrams Featured in Stationary Today

Hello friends! Hope all of you had a nice relaxing weekend...

I thought I'd post another cool feature...At the NSS, Tamagrams' "Hand-picked" Faith/Cherry design was featured in Stationary Today. I introduced 3 different brand new encouragement lines as I feel the world needs more encouragement! :) These cards are blank inside for you to drop a line and send some love to those special people in your life. Thanks for taking a peek at this NSS "product peek"...



Hope this finds each of you having a very happy June!

NSS IN NYC!

What an amazing 5 days! I actually kept a journal of the time spent there...awesome to see all the incredible blessings that we experienced. As most of you know, this was our first stationery show and tried to go into with no set expectations while just stepping out in faith that God would open the doors that He wants opened.

My cousin and an old friend (co-worker from past position in building material sales) both now live in NYC. They both were so kind to offer to help Taylor (my husband) and me set up our booth. What a wonderful help they were!! Many thanks to Elizabeth and Brian!

Our Booth:BEFORE

About 2 Hours into set up...My husband is my HERO!

My friend Brian helping me hot glue to "strings" of the Bouquet Birthday Balloons (this was intended to be a visual translation of one of our card designs).

An overflow of many incredible things happened while we were there and so many opportunities for Tamagrams to grow. We were approached by several large companies that are interested in licensing our designs, a national chain retail store that is interested in custom design, acquired new accounts and had a lot of different people from the press come to talk with us in our booth.

I loved all of our booth neighbors and by the end we all had bonded so much. What a HUGE place filled with so much talent! We were also able to see friends, good eats and experience the grandeur of the city...I am so thankful for the entire experience. I'm excited to be on this journey. The most amazing part of it all has been watching His hand in every single detail and learning more and more each day what it is to trust completely.

My other half :)

This photo above shows half of the stationery show. The other half of the exhibitors were to the right. There were over 900 stationery companies that exhibited...craziness!

We were selected for Best New Product Display for category Paper Style...

Our brochure and postcard literature...

Press on display in our booth...

Turned one of the designs from the "Spirit Stamp" line into a pillow!

The Javits Center in Times Square...this shot is just 1/4 of the building...easy to get lost in there!

Wonderful husband, sweet cousin and old friend...

In the BIG apple!
What an incredible experience!

Speechless...

I have been so encouraged and touched this past week. I could hardly believe it, but on Friday I got news that Tamagrams has been picked for presentation in the National Stationary Show's "Best New Product" Display...I was speechless..... It has been so incredible watching God in the details of all of this. Feeling so very thankful...

This past week, I was notified that the "Preggo Flower Garden Dress" design was featured in the Spring Issue of "Greetings Etc. Magazine" on pg. 19 -

Also, here is the recent feature from this month's issue of "Giftware News Magazine" where they featured "Bouquet Birthday Balloons" on pg. 10 in the "Paper Power" section in loo of the NSS held on May 15-18 at the Javits Center in Time Square.


Last but not least, on the back of the Greeting Etc. Magazine, I saw a full page add for Design Design Inc. - a company that has licensed about 8 of our designs. As I was checking out the ad, I realized one of our designs was featured in their add - how neat!



It is hard to describe what an incredible journey this card adventure has been so far over the past 3 years. It is also hard to describe in words of just how humbled and thankful I feel to see how God continues to open the doors and watching His hand in all of this.

We have just about everything complete for the show except just a few loose ends which I am trying to finish in the next day or so as we are going to be shipping booth decor this week. It has been a creative challenge in itself trying to figure out the best way to display since we are working with a foam board wall which is not really made to be load-bearing. Thanks to my smart, strategic and maximizer of a husband who I sometimes refer to as McGuiver; we have figured out an efficient way of doing this. Hooray!

I hope these blog posts are also an encouragement to others and shed hope in following the desires of your heart, passions and dreams. Until next time, wishing you all beautiful days filled with unending joy!

One the count down!

Ok, wow....Easter is almost here and my mind is just now trying to wrap around that notion. This spring has been oh, so filled with busy-ness as we have been majorly preparing for the National Stationary Show. We've had this date to plan for since November when we officially registered to go and have based so much of time planning around getting ready for this. It reminds me so much of the kind of prep and planning that goes into a wedding, so many details that you don't realize until the actual planning stages. Yowzers! I must say it has been interesting and I have learned a lot. We're getting near the end of the prep and finishing the last few details as we will leave for NYC in 3 weeks. (gulp!) Our two girls (2-1/2 and 9 mo.) have been big helpers to me during the days as we spend so much time lately running errands to Hobby Lobby (as McKenna calls it "Holly Bobby"), Fed Ex Kinkos, Office Max and Target getting materials, etc. I will be sure to post pics of the booth once Taylor and I get it assembled at the show. Wish us luck as we go...

I am so thankful to be able to design and appreciate it so much as I was once confined to the bandage like walls of a 6x8 cubicle in corporate America. I so often think of the Erma Bombeck quote, "when I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I would have not a single bit of talent left and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'"

Lastly, a Tamagrams design "Bouquet Birthday Balloons" was featured in Giftware News Magazine in their April Issue. They did a featured segment on "Paper Power" and we were so very honored to be included in their wonderful magazine. To see the feature, click on the link below as we are on pg. 10 - I also just want to say thank you to all of you blog followers that show so much support as well as taking the time out of busy schedules to keep up with us.

http://www.clubjager.com/0411ggd/index.html

Here's to wish you all an extra special Easter weekend. Hoping that you all have the happiest of Easters and the springiest of springs!

As always, many blessings~
Tamara

Tamagrams on NSS Website and Preview of New Designs

It has been a while and I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying the beginning of spring like weather here lately. I find myself captivated by the white blossoms on so many of the trees...so beautiful.

I wanted to share with you as I just got word that Tamagrams is featured on the National Stationary Show's homepage today! How exciting! The link is below if you want to check it out...it is under the "Featured Products".

http://www.nationalstationeryshow.com/

I met with a mentor the other week who helped me brainstorm about ideas for the theme of the booth that we will be exhibiting in. Now that there is a plan, I've been working on building it and then once everything is just as it needs to be, we are going to ship it to the show in NYC. I'm pumped! I love the concept and think it will compliment the style of Tamagrams so well. It is so wonderful to have people in your life (mentors) that truly take interest in seeing others succeed and have their best at heart. I am beyond blessed to have several of these people in mine. I'll post pics of the booth when we get it assembled at the show.

Also, I promised you from the last blog posting that I would share with you a preview of some of the brand new designs I have been working on for the show coming up in May. Someone once told me, "creativity is the closest thing to divinity, it comes from above". I firmly believe that. There are many times after a late night of being filled with inspiration and running with it, that the next morning I wake up and look at it all and honestly have no clue where it all came from. I am humbled to be able to share with you the latest of inspirations...

"Bouquet Birthday Balloons"
copyright Tamagrams 2011

"Preggo Girl Flower Garden Dress"
copyright Tamagrams 2011


"Peacock Flower Garden"
copyright Tamagrams 2011
"Rose Petal Baby Carriage"
copyright Tamagrams 2011

"Raindrops Umbrella"
copyright Tamagrams 2011

"Bride in Bloom" (Invitation version)
copyright Tamagrams 2011

"Butterfly Tree"
copyright Tamagrams 2011

"Sweet Momma Pushing Carriage"
copyright Tamagrams 2011

"Patchwork Boy Stork"
copyright Tamagrams 2011

"Sweetheart Cupcake"
copyright Tamagrams 2011

"Butterfly Wedding Bouquet"
copyright Tamagrams 2011

The next two designs are previews of new lines of encouragement cards. I felt the need to design some fresh concepts that didn't include crosses and sunrises. (Nothing against those, just thought this would be a fresh take on encouragement...) All three lines are inspired by fruits of the spirit.

"Spirit Stamp - Peace"
copyright Tamagrams 2011

"Spirit Stamp Logo"
copyright Tamagrams 2011

"Fresh Off the Vine - Love"
copyright Tamagrams 2011

"Fresh Off the Vine Logo"
copyright Tamagrams 2011


"Handpicked - Peace"
copyright Tamagrams 2011"Handpicked Logo"
copyright Tamagrams 2011

Thanks so much for checking out some of my latest work. Wishing you all a happy Friday and wonderful spring filled weekend!