Cars

So some of you may know this, but I will be going to Ducktail Run next week.
What in the world is Ducktail?? I am not supprised if you dont know, i didnt know until two years ago when my boyfriend took me to the annual show.
 Ducktail is a Car show [ Click ] in Gas City, Indiana.
 Its a four day event starting with "Early Duck Cruise-In" on Sept 22, next thursday and lasting until the 25th. It is HUGE! It is one of the largest car shows in Indiana, and possibly the midwest.

Me:  Why is it called Ducktail?
BF: ducktail was a "cool" haircut in the 50's,
 the show supposed to be classic hot rods
 and mixed with james dean rod run which is home for all mercury customs

You will see ducks everywhere, including people dressed up! 

Like any car show there are contests: 

Best Car Name

Best Neon Lights

Best Idle Drags

Best Flame Throwing

Best Muffler Rapping

Best License Plate Name

Best Duck Display

Chrome Duck Award

So with a place like that I could not pass up the opportunity to make some scarves. I am sure that most of you have seen my first scarf that I made, Classic Cars. What you may not know is that the four cars [painted twice for 8 cars on the scarf] are my bf's family's cars and they take them to shows. 

Ok so i think you know where i am going with this. 

full length car on a 14x72" fringeless scarf with purple background

Front of car on a 14x14" Silk pillowcase with Kelly Green background

So far i have made one new scarf and my first pillow case! BTW if you dont believe me: 

Me on graduation day with my favorite car

Climbing up the Ladder...

Today was big for great sales... not only did my favorite store have a 50% off store wide [which I sadly never got a chance to go to] but there where many garage sales. And it just so happens that at one of these fine sales I found the first piece of my future art booth... crossing fingers that I really do manage to get everything in place. 

I also had an opportunity to show off my scarf work to a few of my mother's colleges. [Shout out to the girls with the Blackberry Pie!] 

After a few minutes of conversation, many new ideas have risen which I share here to 

1. Get opinions... thumbs up, thumbs down
2. Give a sneak peak into what may be coming out of the Studio

So one of the first things we discussed was of course what they personally would like to have MarissaInk design for them.

Such ideas were: More cars and trucks, Food -such as summer pies, lemons and limes, watermelon; Dogs- head shots with name, mix of breads.

Second topic of the night was how to help MarissaInk branch out and reach more people.

Personalized Weddings! 

  Ok so I have been thinking about this for quite a while in the far off dream of my own wedding. [Nobody Freak.... nothing happening and you already know more than me about it... haha]  But I had thought that it would be really special for a DIY Bride, which I'm sure I will be, to make-- or have a hand in making-- the ties for groomsmen, or shawls for bridesmaids. What a unique gift for them to take from your wedding... and it might even be warn more often then that dress you promised them they could shorten and wear to another event in their life. [Its ok, I have one of those dresses in my closet too.] 

 After all, satin and silk is often a main staple at weddings, so why wouldn't I look at creating something. Even if the bride does not want the item to be worn for the wedding [Who wouldn't?] it would be able to make something completely unique to give their attendants since all MarissaInk items are handmade and thus never perfectly duplicated,.

 *since writing this I have found a great current example of a DIY Bride bringing in Hand Dyed items. In this photo, a bride in Virginia contacted Handmade by Leah to create some hand dyed fabric bags to be used as candy bag favors for her guests. (And look at the blue!!) 

 

First Special Order!

Ok, so currently I am hot and sweaty [Thank you Indiana Summer!]. I just ran across my field to deliver my first official scarf special order. [Four weeks ago I did have my special order tie, just in time for Father's Day but i will back track to that at a later time]. But anyway this is about my first Scarf special order.

My mother came to me wanting something special for her best friend Betsey [Betsey if you are reading this, Everyone was so happy to see you and thank you for joining the MarissaInk experience] So she came to me and asked if I could create something for her. I told her that it was on one condition, that even though  I have not sold any of my other scarves yet, that I could order more. [we will revisit that topic later, too]

Mom was kinda difficult to work with on the premise that she liked EVERYTHING I sketched up for her. [That's a mom for you :)] After settling on the color blue [I love working with my favorite colors, makes it even more fun to create], Mom gave me the following information about Betsey: she loves the water, boating, being outdoors, nickname Doodle.
I came up with about 6 sketches [and there are some that I will be trying out later, so keep your eyes open for more coming soon].
The final idea chosen was really simple and yet now that I have seen the finished project, I LOVE it! [I'm kinda jealous, Betsey, but I'm sure that you are enjoying it too]
Anyway, so here are some photos of the finished scarf:



Does anyone see the hidden image/word? Leave a comment if you know what it is, maybe you will win a prize.