Brenda Pinnick -news, ideas, events and more...

What does it take?

What does it take to get on HSN? I've been asked that a lot lately so I thought I would share a list of the first things that come to mind...

Believe in yourself enough to make the commitment to do your VERY BEST WORK. ever. 

Get feedback from and listen to your stakeholders. ( manufacturers, HSN buyers & anyone else who is on the team )

Research your consumer and know your market. Define their likes, wants and needs.

Identify your unique selling propostion ( USP ). What sets you apart from the others? Practice saying it out loud. Don't be shy about your achievements, your talents, your dream, your uniqueness. 

Look honestly at your work and don't be afraid to let go of the mediocre. ( Get honest feedback if you're not sure, we ALL have "off" days, trust me, not every single thing you do can be exactly right! ) 

Be commited to excellence in all aspects including your presentation. Practice in front of a mirror - many times. If you meet with the buyers, they will be judging how you present yourself to them as an indication of how you'll do on air. Be enthusiastic but not over zealous. THANK them for their time, regardless of the outcome. If it wasn't right for them this time, you may have another opportunity in the future! ( Like me )

Look at and learn from your successful competitors. ( Thank you, Anna G. )

If you are able, hire some help when it comes to crunch time. There is no glory in "doing it all", only exhaustion and possilby, some not-so-perfect work.

Say "Thank You" to everyone from the big wigs to the people who clean the restrooms. Everyone appreciates acknowlement for their work, just like you and I.

When you've done all this, you can't help but be ready. It will come naturally, without effort, from your heart. Your enthusiasm will overide your nervousness, I promise! 

 

So, here's the ugly...anyone want to come over and help clean up ??? This is my table on one side of the studio as I was preparing for my segments on March 6th.

And here's the pretty...on the other side, as I'm finishing up my samples. ( no staff...just me, in my basement, late at night, after designing products, making art and taking care of business all day. Did I mention hiring help? LOL )

If you have aspirations of getting your product designs on air, I hope this little tutorial has helped you decide if it's right for you. When you get your first feedback on the HSN site and it goes like this,

"The paper is so vibrant and the colors are so current. The purples and aquas and greens are fantastic. Really good quality paper, stickers etc. I may buy another set so I don't run out. Those Alphabet rub ons are amazing too."

well, it makes all those late night crafting sessions worth every bit of lost sleep!

Happy planning...

 

 

 

Day 6 card and giveaway with Faber Castell Design Memory Craft!

Welcome to day 6 of my 7 day card crafting / giveaway week!

Thank you for all the thoughtful comments, it's so interesting the different points of view on the floor color choices. Each suggestion could totally work in that space - I've decided on a clean, clear apple green for my floor. Green is energetic while grounding. It also invokes creative thinking and is easy to look at for long periods of time, (think of a beautiful, rolling pasture or forest). Green is considered a neutral and it is wonderful as a stand alone hue to combined with a variety of other hues...perfect for my studio! 

WINNERS -Friday's winner is Cori and yesterday's winner is Kimberlee, as chosen by random number generator. Congrats, Kimberlee and Cori, please send me an email with your mailing address! [email protected]

Today's prize- Day 6 Red Ink & Aquarelles Set, Red PITT artist Pen Set, Red/Yellow Gelatos, AND, from me, you will win a set of fabric fat quarters ( 4 ) from my last collection, Couleur Vie. Even if you don't sew, these fat quarters are great for all types of crafting including scrapbooking, card crafting and more.

Tomorrow is the grand prize and it's pretty darn wonderful!!! ****** In order to be eligible to win, you must have commented on every single day, on both blogs -here and on http://designmemorycraft.typepad.com/ 

so if you haven't already done so, go leave your comments on each day's post and you might be the LUCKY WINNER!

Today's card-

Once again, I used my Piccadilly Circus stamps and Faber Castell BigBrush Markers to create this purse card.The circle is made from a piece of diecut chipboard and metallic paper, cut from my new dies for jewelry making, found here, on the Sizzix website or in various retail outlets. If you would like this pattern, just join my mailing list today and it's yours for free! I'll email it to you personally.

Thank you for your continued visits and I so look forward to the big day tomorrow!! See you then!

Thank you Cori for pointing out that I left out my daily question! (never post before morning coffee)

Today's question- Do you feel you understand color theory and all it's complexities? If no is your answer, would you be interested in taking an on-line class to learn more about color? 

Day 5 card and giveaway with Faber Castell Design Memory Craft!

Happy Halloween! Since only one person played along on Friday-(must be everyone's busy making their costumes and cupcakes)I'm going to open Friday's giveaway to carry over onto today's contest. I will only do the giveaway is there are 10 or more people commenting so please invite your friends, personal and facebook! 

Here is today's card

 

For this card, I used my Piccadilly Circus stamp set, which is my give-away for today.

For the coloration, I used a combination of Faber Castell Big Brush markers and of course, Gelatos, both wet and dry. I simply stamped the images onto a piece of charcoal paper while overlapping the medallians. I eyeballed a pumpkin shape and cut it out free form. Embellishments include a spray painted ( Tulip ) doily and some vines and leaves drawn in with my Big Brush Green pen. How simple is that?! 

Today's give-away is awesome! From FC- Complete Assortment of Metallic PITT artist pens and Gelatos plus Stamps by Brenda Pinnick   

 

( For purchase on HSN )

 

Today's question is - If you were redoing a new studio space and wanted to paint the floor, what color would you choose? ( Three walls are glass windows and one wall is red brick ).

Answer today's question on both Faber Castell's blog and here on mine in order to qualify for the drawing. Also, scroll down to Day 4 and answer that question as well. Remember, I need 10 posts in order to validate the giveaway.

My new painting studio surroundings

Have a good weekend and we'll be back on Monday to resume my 7 days of give-aways, when Faber Castell peeps are back in their offices.

Here's a sneak peek at what surrounds my soon to be painting and workshop studio...located one short mile from my home!

I am one lucky girl!!! 

a different point of view

Over the years, I have had many different "creative spaces". These include, of course, the kitchen table, a corner in the bedroom, a work "shed" studio detached from the house, a rented 1000 ft. space in an artist's resource building and now, in my basement. Each space has it's own energy, it's advantages and disadvantages. My rented space was huge, well lit, accessible for drop in business. It was also too cold or too hot, having no hvoc system, just small appliances I used. I greatly disliked having my toys 12 miles from home and the "rawness" of it which translates to unwelcome critters. 

The outside shed hubby built for me also had no heat, water or air and where we lived at the time, we experienced the seasonal extremes of hot and cold. It was away from the house and I often felt isolated. Of course, the kitchen table is a whole different problem and the bedroom corner...totally unworkable for me – I need space!

Right now, I'm spread out in three locations in my house and for the last 3 days, I've added the back porch as number 4. I feel like I'm chasing moonbeams- well, actually it's chasing sunbeams!

 I've got a serious itch for new space...

My friend Kathy Fincher has an amazing studio room which is full of light, is spacious and comfortable, has great views while meeting all of her needs. I'm lusting after this and want desperately to create, or I should say, re-create her space, only attached to my house. So, my goal for this next year is to make this happen, one way or another. I feel that after years and years of creating, it's about time I honor and reward my hard work. 

Here's my inspiration: 

 

 

Kathy's space is filled with authenticity, warmth and positive energy. I think that's what every studio should be, a truly inspired space that reflects the respect you have for your creative energy, your spirit and your business as a professional artist. Watch out, in on a mission!

Here's some additional inspiration on the subject:

 Where Women Create - http://www.wherewomencreate.com/ Inspiring rooms in which artists, artisans, crafters create.

Valley Ridge Art Studio - http://www.valleyridgeartstudio.com/default.asp ( I LOVE this place and hope to visit it this coming year as an instructor and a student)

http://www.bohonus.com/artists/ This is a Photographer's site who went on a creative journey to photograph artist's studios.