Hi There!

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve posted here, since there’s been some new work  brewing in the studio, and I’ve been preparing to make a big jump!

For seven years, Susy Jack* has lived pretty much exclusively in the stationery category. Very soon, I’m finally going to bring my product and pattern design sense into some new categories. I’ve been sharing some of my ideas and tests on instagram, for the past couple of weeks. While Susy Jack* won’t be participating in the National Stationery Show this year, my line will be growing in other directions, using online media and this website. By returning to working on smaller batches, I’m moving back into the artistic space…where I began so many years ago. These past few weeks, experimenting again, freeing myself up to really explore, have been incredible.

I’ve asked myself “What do I really want?” and “What is success, to me?” and “What kind of products do I personally use, love, and give?” and the answers have taken time to arrive at, and been a revelation. My dream is for Susy Jack* to be a place where my creative vision thrives and takes the shape of a variety of beautiful, quality items, made with heart and soul, shared in an inspiring, fulfilling way. Not to hold back…to explore and try new things, to allow process back into the picture.

Anyway, that is the news fit to print, for now. Up above is an image of some of the materials I’ve been experimenting with. It will take a little while to refine what I’m working on, and can’t wait to share the first real designs with you. The second image is a recent portrait by my friend Brandi Schaffran-Webb, an amazing photographer here in NYC. I think she captured my mood right now so well. I wanted to share her incredible talent with you.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you’ll “stay tuned”.

xo

Susy

First up, Trohv.

Trohv is an independently owned home goods and gift shop with two locations, one in Baltimore, one in Washington D.C.

Purveyors of local artistry, Trohv also does their part to carry products made in the United States, and makes a point of scouring the world for great gifts for the home.  They’ve just started carrying our Temporary Tattoo sets, so if you’re in the D.C. or Baltimore area, go ahead and check them out!

Next up: Park Life.

This San Francisco location is part art gallery, showcasing a rotating cast of local and worldwide artists, and part retail space, with hard to find, limited edition, and unique items. They’ve got a few of our items in stock, including the aforementioned tattoos, so for an experience both artistic and shopaholic, give them a visit!

We’ve come out with a new collection of temporary tattoos, all based on love, for the Valentine’s Season.

Hearts and Arrows, XOXO, Lock and Key, Safety Pins ‘n Tiny Hearts: The tattoos are truly sweet – and impermanent – ways to put your heart on your sleeve. Literally!

Knuckle Tattoos for the tougher lover. XOXO and True Love: Place each letter on all of your fingers, or share half to create a message only two can make.

All sets, available here & here,  are perfect for tucking into a Valentine’s Day card or gift: Give some with roses…or forget the flowers and ink yourself up!

We are proud to say that the first ever Unique NYC was a rousing success!

Above… A shot of our booth,  featuring recipe boxes, 2013 wall calendars, and notebooks.

A close-up of our table with boxed note sets, 2013 desk calendars, and grand plan pads.

Attending sellers included (clockwise from top left) DeadBuryDead, Uppercase Magazine, Brooklyn Taco, Carolyn Zucchero, and M.Brulée.

So many great people, buyers and sellers alike, came out to participate, including one of my favorites, Uppercase Magazine.  They were kind enough to feature Susy Jack on their blog this weekend. (!) We were also featured in a post on Design*Sponge this past week, and were so excited to tell everyone who came to the show to check it out… many of Grace’s readers had attended the show, and it was amazing to connect with them, too.

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One last note: now that we’ve found ourselves very close to the full swing of the Holiday season, be sure to sign up for our newsletter for great Black Friday and Holiday deals. (We’ll be sending one out shortly!)

Sign up by entering your e-mail on the left hand margin of this page, under “Mailing List”, and you’ll be sure to stay up to date on all our Holiday happenings!

We are proud to announce that SusyJack* will be a part of the Unique NYC Shopping Event this year!

A little about Unique from their site:

The largest independent design show in the country, attendees get the rare chance to meet and shop directly from hundreds of hand-selected designers and artists. The exciting two-day shopping event makes it easy for you to buy local and support NYC’s economy, discover great design and deals, join in the community, and have a blast. The products at the show are proudly made right here in the USA so you’re putting your dollars right back into our economy and local community! With fun for everyone plan to spend the day with us…

With an open bar, free workshops, and two full days of products available from hand selected independent New York designers, Unique NYC promises to be a fantastic weekend of shopping.

Come visit us and check out the other New York based designers. This year’s participants include: All Spice Cafe, Hecho in Brooklyn, Kiki Designs, Brooklyn Taco, MaeMae Jewelry, Matt Snow Design, and many more! Check out the full list of New York based participants here.

Unique NYC is Saturday, November 17th and Sunday, November 18th, 11am – 6pm

at Center 548 (548 West 22nd Street) in Art Gallery District in Chelsea.

Click here to purchase tickets (or $10 at the door), and join in on a great way to give back to the community while enjoying great design!

Design Studio Assistant (Part Time)

Susy Jack is seeking a Design Studio Assistant. This is a great opportunity for the right person and offers hands on experience in a supportive role at a creative business, and room to grow professionally, as our business grows.

The  ideal candidate will be a motivated, polite, creative, teachable and organized individual who likes to multitask, and wants to work in a design-focused, creative environment.  A great phone and email manner, and ability to focus on the daily details involved in making a creative, product-focused business successful are essential. A general background in graphic design, and/or illustration, and experience with Adobe CS Illustrator, inDesign and Photoshop are a plus, but not required.

Responsibilities will include:
Correspondence with stores, media, vendors, etc.
General admin – phone, email, ordering supplies etc.
Packing and shipping small web orders and samples
Assisting with creation of print and online marketing materials
Mailing list and design catalog maintenance
Website updates (no coding required)

Hours are 12 PM - 5 PM  Two to three days weekly. There can be some flexibility on which days, week to week. We are located in Bushwick, Brooklyn, on the L train, Jefferson St. Stop.

To apply/inquire, please send your resumé and cover letter to info@susyjack.com using the subject heading “Studio Assistant”. Thank you.

August has arrived! With it, some time on press with my 2013′s. Can you believe we’re already into the 8th month?  This year’s design features more a swatch sampler layout style that I really thought went well with the types of patterns I’ve explored this year. Also, the format is printed on the back of each month, so when you’re done, you’ll have a set of 12 lovely flat notecards to re-use. They’ll be in the shop soon, soon.

I thought this was kind of a fun post to follow up to my last blog about pattern inspiration. Working to get just the right mix of designs was really interesting, and I love the mood of the entire desk calendar- it literally feels like walking through a cool fabric store. Lots of allover pattern.

In other news, Susy Jack* has a new studio! It’s yet to be decorated, located in Bushwick. Looking forward to work in what is an amazing and unrefined area of the city. I can feel the creative electricity there – do you know what I mean? Kind of a vibe in the air that feels like home, but also feels uncharted and invigorating. Like something *wants* to happen.  xo for now. Sus

I always find inspiration by looking at shapes in nature, which is something I did a great deal of over the past week Upstate. While I can’t stand the idea of stunting a great moment with the constant urge to document (imho there is a lot more to be see and experience when you’re not focused on taking pictures), Sometimes, I take texture shots like these to preserve the idea and amazement that I had while I was so focused on what was in front of me…

The plants in the shot up top had such great sculptural depth and energy – lush! You could just feel the cool air coming off of them. The bottom shot is of lichens on wood after a heavy rain….like a gorgeous ceramic glaze. Aren’t the pops of acid yellow great against that ebony?

]]> http://susyjack.com/blog/allover-pattern-inspiration/feed 0 http://susyjack.com/blog/allover-pattern-inspiration http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Susyjack/~3/oCIuNCnbnBk/new-items-launch-at-target http://susyjack.com/blog/new-items-launch-at-target#comments Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:22:40 +0000 Susan http://susyjack.com/blog/?p=194

Some great news to share – the newest installment of our Home Series for Blue Sky is now on the shelves at a Target near you. A selection is also available for purchase online at Blue Sky.

This collaborative collection features items that help women stay organized in the space where work and life meet. Designed to be at once functional and great-looking, all of the dated items are organized around a July year – so summer to summer, you’ll have a crisp space to keep track of important notes and dates. Also, we’ve got some fantastic formats that aren’t available anywhere else – my personal favorites are the horizontal planner pads, and the large month calendar – see above!

One of the greatest things about being able to collaborate with a planner-specific company like Blue Sky are the thoughtful, quality features we can work into our designs. Laminated tabs, notes pages that are actually useful, and great tools and resources to help you plan for travel, errands, and events, are features I’m especially proud to be able to offer.

Find these items at a Target near you – or, visit the Blue Sky site to order. Thanks for reading, all! x S

Originally, I told myself I would only use this blog as “strictly business”, but I’ve been thinking lately, perhaps it should be about more than that. After all, my work is about more than that.

On Thursday morning, I read this article, where the quote up there is from. I highly recommend reading this little gem. It’s an inspiring break from the news of the day. Personally, I enjoyed the image it painted. In a way, it answered many of the questions I’ve been asking myself lately.

I’ve been reading a book called “How Successful People Think” (thanks, Mom!) and one chapter is devoted to “The Bottom Line”. To my surprise, the author is clear that a bottom line might not be financial – and maybe should not be. That was a surprise to me. I put down the book and thought “What’s my bottom line?” I’m still thinking about that question.

As a business owner, and especially as an “army of one”, it’s easy to let financials, costs, and production realities overwhelm the true nature of the work. Coming across the pesto article and  the “bottom line” idea just days apart were really serendipitous for me.

“I want to walk to work,” she said. “Barefoot.”

That seemed to be a great bottom-line statement, and for me, an inspiring one, worth keeping in mind, as I explore and reacquaint myself with my own values. Anyway, feel free to share any thoughts of interest to you on the topic, below…I’d love to hear them. Thanks for reading – have a great weekend. x S