Spartanburg Magazine Feature and CRBR

I was recently SO VERY honored to be featured in the Spartanburg Magazine for their fall issue! When I saw the feature I was blown away by the very kind and generous 

write up on my design company, Tamagrams. See below:

Also, I thought John Byrum, the photographer for the Herald Journal/Sptbg Mag did a great job capturing the essence and overall feel of my studio office. Thanks John!

Life is moving SO quickly as my husband and I are raising two little girls and all that activities that accompany work, church, trying to sell a house and making plans to build another all while trying to live life to the FULLEST and take advantage of all the special moments that come day by day. All while trying to be intentional to carve out "windows" of time to just simply be. As a culture it is just so easy to slip into being overly busy and I try so hard to avoid that even though that does seem to be life in this stage of living. So much happening that my time to blog is less and less these days. During the summer on a last minute whim, my husband kept encouraging me to enter the Cooper River Bridge Design Contest as I hadn't been planning on it. I ended up designing this piece the day before we left for a week vacation to Charleston, which also happened to be the last week to enter the contest in June. How was that for timing?? I was overwhelmed by the Bridge Run's response when I turned it in and so many faithful Facebook fans that the piece seemed to resonate with.

The design ended up not being the one that was chosen for the 2015 design and to be honest was really disappointed but once again reminded through that process to surrender the "gifts" that the Lord gives us and trust Him with the details of the rest. The Lord does and continues to teach me so much through the vehicle of art. Charleston being my home town and the place I spent my childhood years, holds an extra special meaning to me. I was able to go to Charleston for the reveal party in August and was once again so encouraged by people's responses to the piece. AND, how crazy is it that out of almost a full container of people's raffle tickets my mother won my design!!! Wild!! Thank you to my amazing hubby for encouraging me to go to the reveal and for holding down the fort while I was gone. Also, thanks to my mom for making the trip with me and my awesome longtime childhood friend Krissy for coming to the party. Such a good and encouraging night. I was encouraged by staff at the Bridge Run and friends and family to enter again next year. I'm already sketching artwork for next year's submission.  (I know, I'm a dork and way ahead of schedule!) I just really do enjoy it that much.

Charleston will forever be one of my most favorite places on earth. It's such a special city like no other. As an artist, I bask in all of the colors, textures, smells and charming and enchanting architecture - not to mention the peaceful coast line that I could spend days at a time on. Now, it's going to make us all want to walk the beautiful cobblestone streets with all of these wonderful reminiscent thoughts! ;) 

Happy Fall Y'all!

xo, Tamara

Tamagrams Wedding Collections & Kleinfeld Paper

Anyone familiar with the TLC show, "Say Yes to the Dress"? Tamagrams wedding invitation collections will be available through Kleinfeld Paper and supported by national advertising in Brides, The Knot, Martha Stewart and others starting January 2013...continuing to thank God for opening doors for this passion He has given me. 

On the note of passions and dreams...I wanted to end this post with an excerpt to share with you as it encourages me - I love to think about this... "I AM WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF. Bring Me all your concerns, including your dreams. Talk with Me about everything, letting the Light of My Presence shine on your hopes and plans. Spend time allowing My Light to infuse your dreams with life, gradually transforming them into reality. This is a very practical way of collaborating with Me. I, the Creator of the Universe, have deigned to co-create with you. Do not try to hurry this process. If you want to work with Me, you have to accept My time frame. Hurry is not in My nature. Abraham and Sarah had to wait many years for the fulfillment of My promise, a son. How their long wait intensified their enjoyment of this child! Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses." - Jesus Calling 

Interview/Feature on Sorry You're Happy Blog

One of the things I have loved about exhibiting at shows in the past have been the amazing people I meet. No seriously, just awesome.  It is so neat to be around and connect with other creatives who share a similar passion.  I have been lucky enough to also have some beautiful friendships blossom and still talk to on a regular basis, years later. (both were next door booth neighbors)

On the note about booth neighbors...do you remember back in the spring when I shared our experience exhibiting at the Surtex show in NY? Well, while we were there we were blessed once again in meeting a neat couple from Canada named Jen and Kyle. They were our booth neighbors and featured us on their fun company blog called Sorry You're Happy! So nice of them! To read the interview and feature, Click here!

Not saying Good-bye, but see you soon...

Hey y'all! Hope each of you are having a fabulous start to the Christmas season. It feels like a lot has gone on over the past month or so in the Brown household.

Not to be a downer, but I thought I'd share with you something I've been walking through. We got pretty sudden news several weeks ago that my grandfather had only a couple hours to a couple days to live. My grandfather has been my father figure through out my life so it felt as if I was loosing a parent. He would have been 100 years old on December 8th.  He has been married to my sweet grandmother for 72 years. Despite how old someone is, I don't think you can ever fully prepare yourself for the finality of knowing you will never see them again on this Earth. I am so very thankful for the one on one time I had with him the day before he died. He was in his room at home and I was able to hold his hand while talking and reminiscing over my memories with him. I sung him some of my favorite songs and got to pray over him.  He already had one foot in heaven and was unresponsive but the hospice nurse told me he was definitely able to hear, as hearing is the last sense that goes. As I hugged good bye, I was reminded once again just how fleeting our lives are. Jesus said to not get too attached of the things of this world because our lives are vapors, fleeting and a bleep in the scheme of eternity. I am so thankful that I don't have to say good bye forever but know I will see him again when it is my turn to enter the gates. I can't help but rejoice for him in what he is experiencing now. Meeting our Savior face to face, being united with loved one that have entered before him and being in the most beautiful and breathtaking place. No sin. No pain. No brokenness that we experience here on Earth. Thanks for letting me share a tribute and my last hours with him. He was one special man who shaped me in more ways than he will ever know. He loved me and my family so well. I love and miss you Pop.

A picture of him when he was about 30 years old, so handsome...

This sobering reminder of the delicacy of life makes me want to be sure that I am living every SINGLE day to the fullest. Utilizing every gift and ability that God has so kindly entrusted to me. I want to share it with others in hopes that it can in some way bring encouragement and/or inspiration to others. It is a neat thought to think if we all were tapping into these sweet gifts we have received how each and every one of us DOES add more joy and beauty to this world.  Join me as we can ask ourselves, "Am I living each day to the fullest?", "Am I sharing these awesome gifts to touch others lives and make a difference?" If there is any bit of hesitation holding us back, my hope is that we would shine brightly through the light He graciously gives to us! Amen.

New Partnership!

Isn't it cool when we can walk at times blindly not sure what will happen but all we can do is trust God, listen to His direction that he places on our hearts and begin to take steps...one at a time...AND then seeing His plans unfold before us? I think it is truly amazing and what gives me the strength to preserver.  One of the ways He has blessed Tamagrams lately is creating a partnership with LookLoveSend. I am so excited to be working with this company and have loved the challenge of designing Wedding Invitation Collections. I will also be designing Party Invitations, Birth Announcements and Christmas cards that can be completely customized and personalized online. Here is our first Wedding Invitation Collection called "Wedding Cake (Words)" that also features corresponding cards such as Save the Date w/ and w/o photo, response, menu, program, directions, reception and thank you.

I love that the feel is whimsical yet very sophisticated and how the special wedding words deliciously blend into the different layers of icing on the cake. The elegant textures and artwork give a unique look that I hope adds an extra touch of beauty and makes an extraordinary statement for the bride and groom's special day. All invitations and cards will be available directly through LookLoveSend.

Here is the link to see Wedding Cake (Words) that is now available! 

Many Blessings,
Tamara

Surtex 2012 Wrap-Up!

Our time spent in New York City last week for the Surtex show was a great experience...filled with meeting many amazingly talented artist and making contacts and connections from companies that I am looking forward to following up with! (Excited to share more about that soon!) After exhibiting last year for the first time at the National Stationery Show I was glad to have had that show under my belt as it made me more aware of the planning process, accommodations, logistics, and everything that goes into it. However, it was our first time to exhibit at Surtex which I was really excited about. So many of the opportunities and blessings that have come over the last year kept us honing into the world of licensing my art. In a way preparing to exhibit reminds me of planning a wedding...there are months and months of preparation, behind the scenes work to make it all happen for the big day! After I registered for Surtex last fall, I wanted to expand beyond the greeting card designs that I've created over the 4 past years and start designing for other products such as fabric collections, giftwrap, giftbags, tabletop concepts, etc. I must say...it has been thrilling!! I have LOVED the new challenge of learning about design for other categories!

Last year I kept having this urge to learn to sew. I am sure having two young little girls influenced that as I see so many cute dresses and think to myself, "gosh, I wish I could make this!"...so after enough thought, I bought myself a sewing machine and started teaching myself how to sew by looking at sewing blog tutorials online. As I was planning for Surtex, I hadn't even connected the two (sewing). But then it donged on me...sewing mock-up samples for my booth so companies that were walking the show could see what my patterns could look like on a pair of little girl pajamas, a backpack, pillows, aprons, and hand towels would be a neat visual! 

My husband Taylor (my best friend, hero and biggest encourager) plays such a vital role for the show as well as just every day life. His support and encouragement for me to spread my wings with my creativity has definitely been a big factor in order for me to be where I am today. Also, my cousin/friend Elizabeth who now lives in NYC graciously helped us set up our booth again this year...so so helpful! Thank you Elizabeth!! It did take us less time this year to set up, but one thing I have found is setting up always takes me longer than I anticipate as well as experiencing things you may not have planned for. When it was complete, I was really excited to see the booth come to life...such a gratifying feeling!

Ta-da!

First day of Surtex! 

 

Remember when I said there are some things that will happen that you don't plan on during a show? This would be one of them.  Despite the leaks coming in from the rain, it ended up not being a big deal since it was just one spot...who knew an umbrella could have so many functions! ;)

 biz postcards...

 candy anyone?

 Meeting Bella Pilar was definitely a cool experience as I have admired her work for years...

 Setting up...

 Elizabeth and Taylor helping set up...

 crazy to see how a booth can come to "life" with some dashes of design, color and some TLC...

 

 
Also, got to meet up for dinner one night with a good friend I used to work with at my previous job when I sold building materials. (Yes, you heard me right, I used to sell building materials in corporate america) - Isn't it cool how every step we take are stepping stones for us to listen, learn and grow? Feeling so thankful that God has led me to this sweet place...and that He continues to fill me with inspiration, ideas and also uses my little girls, my husband and a community of incredible friendships that add such joy in my life. Excited to see what unfolds next!