Indie Trunk Show: The Recap

Well, the first Loops & Belles show of 2015 has come and gone. Over the weekend, I participated in the Indie Trunk Show at the State Fairgrounds.

With it being May in Oklahoma, weather is always a concerning factor - especially for a Carolina girl who gets crazy nervous whenever "severe weather" is mentioned. Luckily, I'm a "plan ahead" Carolina girl and had my car packed and ready to go before the thunderstorms rolled in the evening before our load-in day!

My mom flew in from North Carolina to help me with the show, and you guys, I couldn't have done it without her. Being so close to my product, it's hard for me to be able to stand back and be objective - and while I'm usually a pretty decent problem solver, when it comes to my own solution creation, I'm at a loss.

Can I just tell you how awesome it is to be able to stand in my booth - or in the middle of Michael's (you'll read about that in a minute) - and say, "Moooooom, I just don't knooooow what to doooooo! What do you think?!"

And then... the ever calm Millie knocks it out of the park and comes to the rescue!

[Sidnote: Please notice that she is serving as a helper in my booth, playing Fairway on her iPad, and texting my dad about one of her students who had just won the state championship game in baseball. She's not just their tutor, she's an integral player in these kids' lives. #ProudDaughter #Multitasker]

The two shows that I've done each had a "crisis situation" for Momma to solve.

1. Deluxe Winter Market: the mailbox garland that almost got scrapped, because, well, I couldn't get it to look exactly how I wanted. Enter Millie with her patient persistence - and boom, it was perfect.

2. Indie Trunk Show: the three prints that almost didn't make their debut. I was in a pickle with how to display the prints so they'd be readable and fit on the display rack that I was using. Long story short, three of the prints almost didn't make the cut because I couldn't figure out how to elevate the row 2 inches. After an hour spent walking the aisles in Michael's to brainstorm a solution, Millie had it all figured out. Thank goodness for wooden slats and white Duck Tape. (It really does fix anything!)

This was my first time doing a 10x10 booth - my booth at Deluxe Winter Market was half the size - and I'm really happy with how it turned out! Naturally, as I was sitting there, I had about 5 ideas pop into my head of how I want to change things up for next time. But that's one of the best parts of doing these shows and growing this business, it's a constant opportunity to think creatively!

This show was also particularly fun because I got to see my friend Tara and meet the lovely Natalie from Freckles Creative Studio, as well.

The next Loops & Belles show will be on June 6th in Bricktown at Rock the Boat. Put on that sunscreen and come out and see me!

xoxo, E

Announcing... (I'm so crazy excited!)

I have been so (insanely) eager to make this announcement for the last few weeks - and the time is finally here!!

It was my plan to wait until this weekend at the Indie Trunk Show to do the grand reveal, but I'm just too giddy and impatient. So here we go...

::drum roll::

I'm excited to unveil and share with you all the new line of 8x10 prints from Loops & Belles!

When I was in college, I kept a note card posted on my bathroom mirror with Philippians 4:6 written on it so that I could start and end every day with those words. Even now, five years post-college, you'll still find sticky notes around my desk with verses and quotes to keep me inspired and encouraged. (And what do you know, that verse is now one of our prints!)

Visit our website to see the full line of Loops & Belles prints.

These prints are designed to add some color to your space and affirmation for your heart. The watercolor backgrounds are a collaboration with one of my very best friends and created specifically for this project.

And they are now available for purchase online!

I hope that these words will find a home in your dorm room, on your office wall, or even your bathroom mirror to inspire and empower you to go out into the world and pursue your purpose!

xoxo, E

Stories Behind the Cards, Part I

The "About" page on my website was one of the most difficult - and painstaking - parts of starting my business. Oh yes, that's right. Writing 3 paragraphs was harder than learning how to use Illustrator and working up the courage to ask my family and friends for design feedback.

I really struggled to eloquently summarize why I started Loops & Belles. 

What I wanted to write was: I'm super duper passionate about snail mail - like I for-real squeal when I get good mail, not bills. And I love greeting cards - I feel like they are tiny representations of all kinds of big love and monumental celebrations!! And my cards are funny - I really think you're going to love them!!

::Buzzer:: Fail.

So, here's why I love Loops & Belles -- my cards are inspired by real life. They are the things we really want to say - true sentiments. There are stories behind these cards, and I've decided to start sharing them with you!

Introducing: "Stories Behind the Cards, Part I"

When I was in the "dreaming" phase of Loops & Belles, I would keep a list in my phone of card ideas and add to the list whenever inspiration struck. I had one baby card in the line at the time, and it was 1000% based off yours truly. (You can see it here.)

So, when I booked a baby store as the first retail location to carry Loops & Belles, it was time to add to the collection. My mom was a huge help here - and I also polled all my friends who had little ones and asked for some common parenting "problems." 

Enter Miss Cameron Claire. 

She is the beautiful inspiration behind our "Going Potty Alone" card. Her mom shared a few stories with me about Cam that had me rolling on the floor. Let me tell you, it was then and there that I started appreciating the fact that I get to go potty alone... 

And then the card was born!

This little girl packs some serious sass and is my favorite zoo buddy!

Thank you Cam - and Bobbie - for being the story behind one of our best selling baby cards!

xoxo, E