Monday, May 04, 2009

It gets really good at the end...


A little over a month ago, I was crumpled over two rejections. The first was just a little disappointing (not getting in to the Twist Fair in Northampton) and the second made me really start feeling sorry for myself (not being awarded a studio space in Artist's Row).

These bummers were followed by Jenn completing her internship requirements with me and making her graceful exit. Jenn was so helpful and efficient (and damn good company!) that her absence left me a bit disheveled. She only worked with me once a week but added much needed structure and organization as well as ambitious new ideas.

As a result, I had a couple weeks of putting Argyle Whale on autopilot while I floundered around trying to make new plans and make the best of my home workspace.

Well anyway, I thought it was time for a happy update because I am beginning to feel back on track. The opportunities I'd counted on didn't come through but (just like all of you wise ones said) new ones popped up when I needed them.

I rearranged our apartment to better suit my workspace needs (Living rooms are frivolous right?).

I bulked up my Craft Fair circuit since I wouldn't be having a storefront to maintain. I am thrilled that I was accepted to be a vendor at Renegade in Brooklyn this summer as well as Mass Market 4.

I took a little break and came out of my house to socialize a bit and made a new friend. Proof that my luck has changed; she volunteered to be my helper on printing days so that I don't lose my mind preparing for upcoming shows! Seriously, I'm always amazed (and thankful!) when people help me out so generously.

Ok... here is the grand finale! This is the big thing that I was trying to keep a secret surprise but I can't hold it in any longer because it is just that wonderful.....

I have my very first liscensing arrangement with a big fun tshirt store called SNORG TEES!
Snorgsnorgsnorgsnorgsnooooorg! I am excited because they are "kind of a big deal". I can't wait to share more details when they are carved in stone.

I'm frolicking.

I didn't think i'd be frolick-full so soon after being downtrodden.

Things work out sometimes. I'll try to remember this.

PS: That happy picture of me is part of my new initiative to not dress like a total frump. I joined the Wardrobe Remix Flickr group to get me out of a fashion rut and I'll be posting outfits with effort there regularly.

18 comments:

Jessica said...

HOLY CRAP. Snog Tees?! Really?! GoodNESS girl, I have a superstar for a sister-in-law! That is freaking AWESOME.

aimee said...

my husband is doing mass market too! I will see you there!

Amanda said...

Living room? You mean crafting room that happens to have a TV, coffee table, couch and laptops, right? :)

Congrats!

And I'm totally copying you by also joining wardrobe remix. I've been wanting to do the 365 challenge, so I'm combining the two. :)

Waxy said...

Awesome! Hooray for Snorg!

Anonymous said...

AWESOME! That is super cool news. :)

Unknown said...
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*m said...

CONGRATS on the Snorg tee haps.

And while I'm really happy for .you., I'm pretty stoked to get some argyle whale on a tee in the near future.

[and I'm going to peruse that flickr group - even though I'm so new to flickr that I don't really know all about that - because here I was thinking you always looked so snazzy and you're thinking frump?!? Oh to dress as adorably as you!]

Unknown said...

Yay! I am excited for tshirts, I most definitely need them.

brittni of papernstitch said...

SUPER congrats Elise. I am so excited for you. Will you send me a link to the shirt whenever it goes up so I can post about it on the blog?
-brittni

O'Reilly Ink said...
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idyll hands said...

Oh man! Congrats on Renegade and the Snorg tees deal. So cool :) This is how things grow... a bit at a time.

My brother is an illustrator and worked and worked and worked for a long time. Some things came through, some didn't, but for the past few years, everything he touched was gold to those who paid money for it. It just took patience and often, heartache. It's situations like his and your that keep me motivated to just try and try again :)

Megan Marie said...

love your blog, love your style.

into the trees said...

lovely spring outfit! you're as cute as those pet bunnies of yours <3

congrats on the t-shirts and all other such goodness!
xoxo

MarmeeCraft said...

Congrats Congrats!! Isn't so lovely and magical when things happen just when you need them to! :) I'm thrilled!

And what an adorable ensemble!! I love all that colour!!

ink and ginger said...

Wow, that's AWESOME. Congratulations on everything!

And this post is a good reminder to me to really haul ass with unpacking so I can get back to tending my Etsy storefront (and maybe even apply for Bazaar Bizarre).

mchen said...

Woohoo! You know what else is 'kind of a big deal'? You. I think it's important to get a 'no' once in a while, just to shake things up — and you grabbed the situation by the horns, and got a big bunch of YES's! GREAT for you. Congrats times a hundred — can't wait to see you on Snorg!!!!

Meghan said...

SnorgTees is awesomesauce! Congrats!

We don't know each other, but I just thought you should know that I ADORE your stuff. So keep creatin'.

-Random internets person

Elise of Argyle Whale said...

Thanks a ton every one! I've already failed miserably at maintaining a wardrobe remix but it was fun for a bit!