Another Day on the Boston Fashion Week Journey

Hello everyone!!

How are ya? Ready to hear the events of today? I had a really productive day...good thing...lots to do! I have a designer's portfolio that I use for juried shows (when I have to be judged to be accepted), but when I was asked to submit my portfolio to be considered for this event, I made a new one specifically geared toward it and today I printed copies to bring with me.

This is the PC side of my upstairs workshop.... printing pages for my portfolio.
(Using the PC's been a pain in the butt lately... the keyboard and mouse went kaput when I installed the new router last month so I'm using temp ones and I hate them.)

And this is the other side of my upstairs workshop. This is usually the jewelry-making side, but today I needed a second computer in there.... and most of the jewelry-making stuff has migrated down into the dining room.......

Getting ready to take over the dining room and turn it into another workshop

(this is actually a nightly occurrence)...LOL

  Designs by Debi Portfolio

These are all the pages of my new portfolio.

I started an album on Facebook for all the photos of this journey so you can take a look at that and it will allow you to see larger photos...and pix of each of the portfolio pages are in the album too.

You can find it here...

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150302355609296.337965.192038279295

Separating all the pages.....

This is how the inside looks when it's all put together.

These are my brochure, QR code and business card holders to display.

I had to package some jewelry I made that I want to bring Saturday.

Here are some of the new Signature Collection and Hearts Collection Earrings all ready to go :)

I hope you're enjoying this adventure. I'm very happy to have you along!! There's lots more to do tomorrow. I'll be doing a dry run set-up of my table and packing everything I need. Right now I have a date with my new Droid Bionic... I need to go learn how to use it!!! And then download the apps I need and test my new credit card processing system...no more lugging a laptop to shows... YAY!!!

Once I do that, maybe I can go get some sleep so I'll be ready to rock n roll again tomorrow ;) Have a wonderful night. I'll see you tomorrow!

♥ Debi

Follow my Journey to Boston Fashion Week

Hi everyone!!

I hope you're doing well. I've been pretty much MIA online, but I have a good reason. Wait.... I have an awesome reason!! Back in June I was contacted by someone associated with The SYNERGY Events who had seen my designs online and asked if I was interested in submitting my portfolio to be considered for an event they were putting on at Boston Fashion Week.... The Emerging Trends 2011 Boston Fashion Week. Are you kidding? Heck yeah!! To make a long story short, I submitted it and was accepted!! I had the option of showcasing my designs on the runway, at a vendor booth or both. I weighed the pros, cons and cost and decided to do a vendor booth.

The show is this Saturday, September 24th at 8pm at Cyclorama in Boston (Boston Center for the Arts). I'm VERY excited..... and very nervous! I've decided to blog about my journey leading up to the event. I thought you might enjoy tagging along ;-) You can also see the pix in an album I set up on my facebook page... The Emerging Trends 2011 ~ Boston Fashion Week.

This is totally different than other shows I've done and I'm doing a completely new set-up for it so it's been VERY busy here! I had to finish my general business brochure and have them printed. And shipped.... FAST. Well, all 500 of them arrived yesterday morning and I think they look great! I ordered them from www.OvernightPrints.com and I'm very happy with them. They got them printed, folded and here on time...

 

                 

 

I usually do a multi-level set-up for all my shows. This is a photo of my typical booth for a 10x10 foot space at a show...



For this event I have a 6 foot table to work with. I decided a tiered display would be best. My goal is to get my booth and designs noticed, create interest and make a good impression. My Dad (bless his heart) went ahead and made a wood tiered frame that will break down flat for transport. Yes, this is where I get my do-it-yourself skills!! I always do a test set-up before every show and take photos to use at the venue when I set up. I do this in the garage. So here we go...

 I'm glad you're joining my journey! There'll be much more to come :)

♥ Debi

 





Remembering 9/11 ♥ 10 Years Later

Hello Ladies!!

How is everyone? Sorry I've been MIA for awhile... lots of bad things have happened to family and friends in the last month and a half so I've been preoccupied :( And I pray I do not have to attend another wake or funeral or send a sympathy card to anyone for a LONG, LONG time!! My thoughts and prayers are still with those around me who have suffered losses and are suffering themselves... I love you!!

I was listening to the Nightly News tonite... with Brian Williams, of course :) and he and Tom Brokaw were discussing 9/11. Everyone is discussing 9/11 as we prepare to mark the 10th Anniversary on Sunday. The big question... Where were you on 9/11?

Do you remember where you were? I do. I remember exactly where I was standing, who I was with and who told me when the first plane hit the World Trade Center. I remember watching on the TV in the patient waiting area in shock as the second plane hit. And I remember going back to take care of my veteran patients with a terrified student who was afraid any government building could be next... I was working at the VA Medical Center in Providence, Rhode Island on that day.

Little did I know at the time, but there was someone I knew on the plane I had just watched crash into the WTC. Amy Jarret was a Flight Attendant on United Airlines Flight 175. I knew her from high school at Mount St Charles Academy in Woonsocket, RI. Two years younger than I and her life gone in a flash...

In honor of Amy and all of those lost on that horrible day, I designed my Remember 9/11 Memorial Bracelets last year. A portion of the proceeds from each one sold is donated to the Twin Towers Orphan Fund to help children who lost one or both parents on September 11th.

A little while  ago I decided to put together an ArtFire Curated Collection to honor those lost and the upcoming anniversary. I thought you might like it....

Remembering 9/11 ♥ 10 Years Later

Curated By: DesignsByDebi

ArtFire.com

Unique Gifts

If  you lost someone or want to share memories, please feel free to do so.... even if it's just a simple RIP comment... let's honor and remember the wonderful people lost that day ♥

♥ Debi

Bunch of Stuff ~ ArtFire Changes, A Sale and My Hibiscus :)

Hello!

Hope you're all enjoying the summer. I've got a few things for you today......

First of all...ArtFire....OMG ArtFire!! They launched a complete overaul/design change this week and there have been alot more glitches than expected so a great many thing are NOT going according to plan! They're working on issues as users tell them about them. I just want to warn you that there are also alot of broken links because of the changes they made. I'm so sorry for the aggravation! I didn't realize they were completely changing everything so I wasn't prepared. If you try to purchase or order something and you have any problems at all, please contact me and I'll take care of you. I'm working on the shopping cart for the website, but unfortunately it's not ready to go live just yet. Thank you for your patience!

Unfortunately this mess happened right as I started another sale! I threw out a pop challenge on Facebook and thanks to the 38 people who participated, I'm doing an August Bonus Sale!! From August 7th - 31st enter the code AUGUSTBONUS20 at checkout to receive 20% off your order. Jewelry for Charity Pieces and Gift Certificates are not included in this offer. However, custom designs are AND you can use the code as often as you want until August 31st. So if you missed out on the last sale, you've got another chance to save big on some really special gifts for the holidays..and taking advantage of the layaway plan will help you even more!

On a lighter note, so we can all de-stress.....Isn't this beautiful?......

That's my hibiscus out on the deck. Niko gets me one for my birthday every year...with a little help from his grandparents :) and I just love it. The hibiscus is my favorite flower so it's always a very special gift...one that I get to enjoy all summer...so I thought I'd share it with you!

Take care until next time!
♥ Debi

July Jewelry for Charity Set ~ Swirling Ocean Surf

Good morning!!
For those of you who love the ocean and ocean-themed jewelry, I've got something special for you today. My July Jewelry for Charity Set...

This one will have you daydreaming about the ocean with every glance. I named it Swirling Ocean Surf because that's exactly what these beautiful lampwork glass beads remind me of.

In an attempt to create the effect of ocean waves twinkling in brilliant sun, I used Swarovski Crystal bicone beads in Aquamarine AB2x and Montana AB2x and it worked beautifully. The photo doesn't begin to capture the effect.

I continued the swirling theme with these gorgeous Bali silver beads, twisted rings and elegantly scrolled and detailed toggle clasp. The sterling and Bali silver leverback-style earrings match the bracelet perfectly.

The donation from this month's piece is again going to the American Red Cross to help those still suffering the effects of Hurricane Katrina and those affected by the horrible outbreak of tornadoes and floods this year.

Hope you're enjoying your summer! Have a wonderful weekend!

♥ Debi

Christmas in July Sale

Hello Everyone!!

I hope you're all finding ways to keep cool during this monstrous heatwave!! In the spirit of cool... just wanted to post a reminder....

Designs by Debi is having a Christmas in July Sale!!

For the whole month of July, enter the code CHRISTMASINJULY2011 to receive 20% off your order. Jewelry for Charity Pieces and Gift Certificates are not included in this offer. However, custom designs are AND you can use the code as often as you want until July 31st.

Even though Christmas and snow is probably the last thing you want to think about in July after waiting so long for summer, it's actually the perfect time to think about your holiday shopping... especially if you combine this sale with my layaway program!

Personalized items make really special gifts and I have a whole lot of them for you to choose from...
Personalized Keepsake Bracelets in various styles:
      Name/Birthstone Keepsake Bracelets
      Pet Name Keepsake Bracelets
      Couples Keepsake Bracelets
      Family Keepsake Bracelets
      and
      Generations Keepsake Bracelets 
Memorial Bracelets
Support Your Soldier Bracelets™
Remember 9/11 Memorial Bracelets™
Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial Bracelets™
and
Awareness Bracelets

And, of course, all custom design requests are welcome and included in the sale as long as they are ordered and paid for or put on layaway by July 31st. So start thinking about your gift list and get some really special gifts for your loved ones...and yourself :)

If you have any questions or need help... just ask :)

Have a wonderful weekend!!

♥ Debi