Gee How Quaint

And the winner is...

 

Jackie!  Thanks everyone for your comment and for joining in the fun. 

The website has changed!

If you have re-visited the www.geehowquaint.com website, you may have noticed the new look.  Please do not be alarmed!  In the name of growth and progress, we have had to re-create the website to say 'Hey world!  Look at us in our Solea octagon healed shoes!' Bigger.  Better.  New and improved.  The 'In the News' section is now chalk full of magazine covers and US t.v. stars toting the trademark Gee How Quaint swim bag.  Yeah.  We've sold out.  But we'll make more.

We will be updating some of the empty spaces during the next several weeks.  Keep an eye on us.  We are expanding weekly! (I can barely fit into my skinny jeans.  Am  having to use the lay-on-bed-and-hold-breath-until-I become-faint method)

Imperfection doesn't sell

 

What's a girl to do when an order goes terribly wrong?  For some reason, the print did not come out clearly on the fabric AND the bag has been made too small.  I won't sell it.  At all.  At any discount.  I have my good name and Gee How Quaint's reputation to keep in mind.  So, the only thing that I can do, am willing to do, is give it away for free.

Here's your chance to win a FREE imperfect Florie Shoe Bag and matching Knicker Bag!  Whoo hoo!  Simply make a little comment at the end of this entry.  I will be left with your email info and will contact the winner on Friday.  It's as easy as that.  And you don't even need to be based in the UK.

As seen on The Art Works Galleries invite for Feb. exhibitions

 

Oh yeah.  Who's your daddy!

On display at The Art Works Galleries February 2009, along with it's further examples of Star Spangled Baltics and Newcastle City Living.

Gocco Thermal Imaging Machine of Possibilities and Great Delight

 

The word around town is...Gocco accessories are dying out.  Word around town is... some changes need to be made in the Gocco printing processes.  And the other word around town is... busy little beavers have been working behind the scenes, experimenting, having great successes and annoying failures in their ongoing endeavour to find solutions to the problem of dwindling supplies. 

My  big piece of advice goes a little like this:  Join the Gocco forum at Yahoo.  If you want to know, you will find it there.

I recently talked to my supplier of all things Gocco and I have been convinced that I should upgrade to the Thermal Imaging Machine of Possibilities and Great Delight.  As I use my Gocco skills for commercial use, I need something more robust...a little something that is going to be around for quite some time. 

The best online suppliers I have found are PrintAddict found at www.etsy and northwood studios.

Travel-tastic Pitotubes

 

Recently, I got my hands on these incredibly hip looking travel tubes.  You know the scene: You've somehow mis-read the several paragraphs regarding what can and cannot be taken on your flight. You've got your lotions and potions in small bottles, but darn it all...the bottles still do not follow those tricksy rules.  Or perhaps... In your rush, you brought along your Toni&Guy/Aveda/Expensive hair care products inside your travel bag and alas, none of it can be taken on.  If you're really organised, you could have dashed out to Asda and bought yourself ugly little plastic bottles.  OR why not put your pre-planning cap on and just go ahead and get yourself some Pitotubes.  The branding alone was enough to convert me.

 

What's very clever about these is that they are stored inside TSA compliant clear plastic bags.  On the back side of the bag '1 Quart' is clearly printed for easy security varification. The kit pictured includes 6 Pitotubes 2 of each size engraved with oz and ml for Domestic and International requirements.

 

Pitotubes can be found at Crewise Emporium.

Playing the Sick Card

As one of many hundreds of 'Partners' belonging to a MASSIVE UK internet shopping site, I was asked if I had any interesting stories about overcoming adversity to start my business.  Was my business inspired by a redundancy or perhaps defeating cancer or something like that.  I offered a couple of sentences regarding my story, however, I don't expect for them to follow it up.  It's just too strange, too different.  Not enough people can relate.

The other day my friend mentioned that she thought it odd that I never play the Sick Card.  Honestly, it's both denial and also not wanting to live life dictated by illness.  Although I have overcome the biggest obstacles regarding it, I will always deal with the aftermath. I will never be 'normal.'  I will always have 'a problem.'  I will always have to carry my medical kit and the fear that it could go terribly wrong again.

I remember when I was 15 and trying to get through high school.  This was when my illness began to rear its ugly head.  My teachers were calling my parents asking what was wrong with me.  During that time, the wife of one of my teachers was diagnosed with cancer.  We both fell ill about the same time.  We were both in and out of hospital.  We both looked pale whilst putting brave faces on a bad scene.  She died.  I didn't.  And I remember her husband looking at me and what I read in his eyes was unmistakable.  Why her and why not me?  Really, it's only natural that he should think this.  After all, I was only an annoying teenager that could draw.  She had sons.  She lead a Sunday school class.  She was a leader in the church.  After that, he never did give me eye contact. 

I sometimes wonder if he were to look in on my life now, would he think it worth God's decision to save me and not her?

Celebratin' the inauguration...in the UK

Tonight my America born (British parented) friend and I are going to celebrate Obama's inauguration with the consumption of tasty Cosmopolitans. Whilst parties are going on in London, I haven't heard of any happenings my way, so have made the plan for a mini celebration.  I mean, to not acknowledge this historic event would be tragic.  Plus, I am ecstatic that the guy got voted in.

There are many reasons for my joy, but one very selfish reason is that I will hopefully no longer be frowned upon for being an American.  Yes, I may still be loud and blurt out hideous and embarassing things (even 6 years of living in the UK have not shaken out that habit) but at least I will be from a nation with a respected leader.  Obama stands for many things.  I respect him for his intelligence, commanding presence and the fact that he has already been busy working behind the scenes getting stuff done.

The progeny of Remus

Life as I have known it has changed forever.  Gone are the days of starting my day with 15 minutes of knitting ( I use this time to mentally plan for the day).  Gone are the nights when I slept straight through from 11:30 to 7:00.  Gone.  Gone.  Gone.

The progeny of Remus has changed all that.  Now there are hourly tramps through the sodden garden, with Josey in tow.  Convincing her to stay out in the rain just a few minutes more in my ongoing efforts to get her to do outside what she accidentally does inside.  I have read that this is my fault.  I have been shamed by the experts.  With so many Field Trial Champions in her ancestery (there are 10) you'd think she's learn quicker.  Again, the experts blame me for her indoor mishaps and ability to chew everything.

My schedule of work now happens in 45 minute chunks.  Instead of quitting at 6 I now work until I go to bed just to catch up on everything. 

But it's worth it.  I mean.  Look at that mug. (May or may not be referring to myself).

... but this one is my favourite

 

Earlier this week I collected my artwork from the framers.  Weeks ago, when I had my little bundle of artwork carefully tucked away inside the pages of a large 'Design your own knitting' book, I had decided that I did not so very much like the apple green one.

But now.  Well.  I think the colours look rather stunning. 

On Sale NOW!  By me.  Or you can wait to see it on display at The Art Works Galleries in February.