Our handsome son, Kyle, turned 19 today!! Kyle was my first-born and he was also the first grandchild for my Mother and Father so you can just imagine the excitement that filled our house when we brought Kyle home. He was the most mild-mannered baby, we spent hours laughing while he entertained us....and he still has that wonderful sense of humor. Kyle is a very talented guitarist / drummer and music is his passion. The above photos were taken a few years ago during his band's photo shoot but I just had to share them because they show his playfulness. Oh, how we love you, Kyle!
Good almost afternoon y'all! Another new punchneedle design punched and ready to be made into a pattern! My goal is to have at least 6 new designs before the Columbus show in July. Two down and 4 to go! Another goal in my pattern business is to have my most popular designs translated into cross stitch patterns for the Baltimore show in September! I have a lot of work to do so off I go! Have a blessed day!
What an amazing and inspirational event! I attended my first Mary Kay career conference this past Friday and Saturday and came home recharged and ready to enrich women's lives through the Mary Kay opportunity! What impressed me the most was that every speaker gave thanks to God for their Mary Kay career!!! They proudly professed that God is their business partner and all good comes from Him. Where else in the world can you go to a business convention and hear testimonies such as this!!!!
I want to share with you some snippets of advice that I wrote in my notes from some of the speakers. This is advice that is not only for Mary Kay consultants, but anyone can apply this inspirational advice to their own lives.
Oh, first, I must tell you........I have never in my life seen more pink Cadillacs in one parking lot!!!! It was a sea of pink...very cool. Also, the National Sales Directors shared their success stories and I was blown away at how successful ANYONE can be in this business! Nicki Hill from Bay City, Michigan joined Mary Kay in 1998 and in 2000 was already a sales director. So far in her career she has earned 7 free cars (5 of them Cadillacs), a paid-in-full trip to Maui for two (plus $500 cash to spend on the trip), 4 diamond rings, 2 ipads, 2 flat screen tvs and many more prizes.
Sherril Steinman from Pigeon Michigan started her MK business in 1978. She had the good fortune of being trained by Mary Kay Ash herself!!! She even gave a facial to Mary Kay Ash in Paris one time! She has earned 4 million dollars in commissions over the past 35 years......with the highest monthly commission check being $22, 000! (Commissions are not from your own personal sales but a % of the sales your team members make)
Kym Walker of Detroit Michigan started her MK business and in 5 months earned her first car and 3 months later became a sales director. She has earned over 2 million dollars in commissions and her highest monthly commission check was $26.000!
All three of these women had obstacles they had to overcome to be where they are today. Being a wife and mother..... working their full time jobs while building their MK careers. My very own director, Lynn Spencer started her MK career while working 40-50 hours/wk in the medical/health field, 5 young children, her and her husband and children all played baseball plus she and one of her kids where in a running program twice a week......oh and she also found time to volunteer at her church. She earned her first car within her first 5 months! Amazing!
OK, enough stories, I want share with you some quotes that will hopefully inspire you and help you through the rough spots in life:
* What you think about, you bring about.
* Don't take advice from people unless they are where you want to be.
* Fix it or forget it! (Mary Kay Ash said this about your appearance, love it!)
* Find the good in everyone!
* Work smarter, not harder. (example: plan meals for the week on Sunday and make 3-4 meals at a time)
* Turn off the TV and other electronics, and instead read motivational books or watch DVDs.
* Get out of your comfort zone
* Begin with the end in mind (visualize yourself where you want to be)
* Don't make excuses!
* POOR means Passing Over Opportunities Regularly
* Fake it til you feel it! (meaning if you don't "feel" like doing something but have to do it anyway, put on a happy face, be joyful and the next thing you know you will feel happy and joyful)
* Pretend everyone you greet has a sign around their neck that reads "make me feel important"
* The golden rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated.
And the last one.......Kym Walker said during her speech......"if everyone in this hall wrote their obstacles/problems on a sticky note and then posted them up here on the wall behind me but after you posted yours, you had to take someone else's post (obstacles/problems), you'd be searching to take back your own!!" This is so true.....when you think you have it rough, there is always someone else with bigger troubles than your own!
I hope these stories where an inspiration to you and I really hope the quotes will give you a boost when you are down.
Woo-hoo! A new punchneedle done!! Actually the punching part of it was done a couple of weeks ago but it took me a while to find the time to "finish" it. The words on this one were difficult so when making the pattern, I will make the letters smaller and a little further apart so it will be easier to punch. Hope you like it! It is what we will all be doing shortly, if not already, watering the flowers!
I love this scripture verse......."For the Spirit of God has made me, the breath of the Almighty keeps me alive." Job 33:4
AMEN!!!
The color is a bit bright in this photo.....I took it in the direct sunlight......I should know better, right? Anyway, brand new and couldn't wait to share it with you!!! Have a wonderful Thursday!
Draw Something....have you heard of this app for ipod or droid??? Oh, it's an artist's dream. I am far from a gamer, but my son, Ryan, told me about this fun game yesterday and I immediately downloaded the app to my droid.
Here's how it works.....you play with other people (it can be friends/family or people you don't know from anywhere in the world) to earn coins (which I could care less about the coins). You can choose easy for 1 coin, medium for 2 coins and hard for 3 coins. The subject you have to draw is next to whichever level you choose. Using your finger, you draw a simple or detailed image, when finished, you send it to whomever you chose to play with. When they open their app they will see that you sent them something. They open it and try to figure out what you've drawn.....there are scrambled letters under the image that they use to spell out their answer. If they get it wrong they try again and again until they figure it out. It really is fun, oh and the best part is when you receive a drawing from someone and open it up, it actually draws it right then so you can see the steps the other person took in creating their drawing. FUN, FUN, FUN!!!
This probably sounds confusing......I am not good at explaining things without the use of pictures or showing you "hands on" but if you have a ipod or droid, try it!!! It's easy to learn! By the way, my username is tkogut, so if you want, draw something for me and I will do the same for you! Let's play!
Often times I want to blog but don't feel I have anything important to say....and I always think I have to post a great photo or show a new painting, etc. But by thinking this way, it keeps me from posting. In my mind, blogging is suppose to bring people closer......a way to get to know you and a way for you to get to know me, so I am re-thinking how I am running my blog. For heaven's sake, my blog description even reads "daily happenings in my lil' world", right? But sometimes I don't post for a week......so from now on, I will do my best to blog daily and keep my posts on a more personal level by sharing thoughts, opinions, beliefs, recipes, art, photos, and so on. (The above photo is kind of random, but I like it and I still feel the need to have a "visual" with each post)
Before I go.....remember the post a while back where I posted "before" pics of myself and my plan to have "abs by Easter". Oh my goodness, it's as if I was rebelling against myself! I have not lost a pound.....matter of fact I have gained a bit in the mid-section. I have continued to work out 5-6 days a week but the eating is out of control......what is my problem?!?!?!? Well, now that the weather is beautiful (in the 70s already....this early in March in Michigan is unheard of) and I would like to fit into my shorts from last year, it's on!!! I need to get serious about dropping a few pounds!
New give away challenge (this is on top of the March give away). Let's see who can get the most people to "like" my fb page. All you have to do is post a link on your fb page linking to my fb page, your friends and family click the "like" button and have them drop me a line mentioning your name. The one that gets the most to "like" me will win an 8x10 print of their choice!!!! Drawing will be April 1st, no foolin'
I have been absent a bit from updating my blog.....it is extremely busy at the studio lately....all good things though!!! I have had three projects come up just this week! I pride myself on quick responses and meeting deadlines for my licensees....basically good customer service!
I shipped half of my wholesale punchneedle pattern orders out this week as well. I am patiently waiting for my screen printer to finish printing four images so I can get the rest of the orders out hopefully by Friday.
Surtex is also looming......April 1st deadline to get all new art to my agents so they can get them in the books for the show in May. Linda McDonald, Inc will have a booth at the Surtex show in NYC where they will meet with current and potential licensees to look through new art for upcoming product programs. Busy, busy time of year and, of course, we are having an early spring this year tempting me to play hooky. Temps in the high 60s low 70s.....today is sunny with no WIND!!! Hard to stay in the studio on a beautiful day like this but I must forge ahead........
I am back to painting angels and soooooo happy!!!!! I had a weird experience with this one.....I am guessing that I put the crackle on too thick because it split the acrylic paint so deep....all the way down to the paper underneath! I have never had that happen before. I kinda like it but kinda not.... it made extra work for me because some of the splits were across her face and she looked like scarface. You can see on the wing toward the top how much the crackle split the paint...crazy....but yet those unexpected things can be wonderful too. It really makes this painting look 1,000 years old (slight exaggeration, but you know what I mean)
Since you all are loving the angel prints so much, I am offering this lil' sweetie for the March give away. The print measures 8"x10" so it will be easy to frame. All you have to do is leave a comment here or on facebook......the comment has to tell me the one thing you could not live without.......be serious or funny, it's up to you :)
The winner for the February give away is Rhonda! Congratulations! (I do not have a last name, or any way of contacting you, so I hope you see this post.....you entered the drawing with a comment on my blog). Please contact me with your address and I will ship your print right away.
My wonderful agent, Beth, finally sent me her Atlanta photos! Take a look at more Blossom Bucket and Kurt Adler angel products!
Blossom Bucket did a fantastic job creating a variety of products from my angel artwork. See the two rectangle angels with black moulding at the bottom of the picture....those are book ends!! Love them!
The resin angel figurines are precious. They really captured the sweetness of their faces. Also really love the crosses that hang on the wall.
"If God is Love and Love is Everything, then God is Everything!" stackable blocks....gotta have! And check out the tin "bucket" behind the blocks...wouldn't this be great hanging on your front door with a bouquet of flowers in it!
Another view.....the wall hangings are great. The angel in blue on the right top corner is metal and the hearts are magnets! Very cool!
These items are due to ship to your local gift shop this spring! The line is called "Teresa Kogut's Wings of Encouragement by Blossom Bucket". Hope you love it as much as I do!
Now for Kurt Adler.....
These ornaments are so beautiful in person.....hard to see the detail in these photos. I love the gold accents......they will really show up on your Christmas tree!
I cannot express how grateful I am that my angel artwork is finding much success. To be able to paint what I love while spreading the word of God is the most rewarding work I have done to date!
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The February give away drawing will be tomorrow, so if you haven't entered yet, you still have time!!!
Wouldn't you just love sunflowers this tall AND sweet little sheep grazing in the yard?!?!?! Love everything about this one....saltbox home, picket fence....ok...maybe not the black sky, but it works for punchneedle!
Available at my website! Thanks for checkin' in! Leaving next week for the TNNA show so not sure how many more posts I will get in btwn now and then! I promise to take many pictures at the show this time!
Adding two new patterns to my website today!! "Teddy in Love" is just one of them! Kevin and I are preparing for the TNNA (The National Needlearts Association) Nashville show coming up Feb 23. This is a wholesale show so we will be selling to shops. We have never been to this show before...we are very excited! Instead of a booth like at a typical trade show, we have a suite along with all the other exhibitors (I believe the show is three floors of the hotel). One room is where we sleep, the other room is where we will sell our product! The bathroom connects our sleeping quarters to our showroom!! I will make sure to take lots of pictures. Also, this is a cash and carry/order writing show......not sure how many patterns to bring?!?!?!? It will definitely be a new adventure for us.
Since the January give away had such a great response, I figured I should offer another angel print for the February give away!! So here it is......and God saw. The print measures 8" x 10" and will fit any standard 8x10 frame......wouldn't a black frame look great?!?!
All you need to do to enter is post a comment here or on my facebook page. Drawing will be held March 1st. Good luck!
I can't get enough of painting in this style...acrylic over collage papers then antiquing. It is a very long process but worth every effort. This is one of four in this group. All of them have scripture reference but I didn't write out the scripture verse......hopefully prompting people to go to their bibles and look up the verse themselves. All four of them have to do with friendship....something we all hold dear.
Blossom Bucket had a beautiful "Wings of Encouragement" Angel display on the 8th floor of the Atlanta Mart. I was sooo shocked to see this! I had no idea Cindy was doing this window display.....what a beautiful job they did making these products using my angel artwork. The translation is beautiful!
Blossom Bucket window close up
Blossom Bucket window close up
Gallerie II created these paper mache figures from my Zippity Doo Da artwork
Deb Strain and Me in Blossom Bucket's showroom for a signing (and Beth's reflection in the window)
By the vibe that was going around the market.....looks like the economy is picking up!!! Long awaited news, right?
I missed going to Atlanta for the first time in 10 years last year so I was going to do everything in my power to go this year! I hope I never miss it again because connecting with my agents, licensees and fellow artists gives me a "shot in the arm" for the new year!
This year I had the pleasure of rooming with artist Deb Strain Sunday night! We first went to dinner with my wonderful agents, Linda and Ashley (poor Beth was ill, so she went to the room for some much needed r and r), then we had a nightcap, headed for the room for some sleep but instead sat up talking half the night! Thank you Deb for making this Atlanta trip extra special!
A HUGE thank you to my agents for all the work they do at the market. All three of them have scheduled meetings over a four day period! Plus they always make the plans for dinner and schedule my signings.....all I have to do show up! So thank you, thank you, thank you for everything Linda, Beth and Ashley!
I always want to kick myself for not taking more pictures! I wish I had gotten a picture of my artist friend Beth Yarbrough, some pictures of my licensees and pictures of my agents, Linda, Beth and Ashley! Maybe they will have some pictures that they can forward to me.....if so, look for another post soon!
Lots of wonderful products coming out in 2012!!!! Thanks be to God!
I am offering this sweet print for the January give away!!! It measures 8x10 so it will fit in a standard size frame for hanging on the wall or find a frame with an easel back for standing on a shelf or table! All you need to do to enter the drawing is leave me a comment either here or on my facebook page!!! Good luck!
My wonderful brother-in-law and his wife gave this book to me on Christmas Day. They were moved by the book and thought Kevin and I might like to read it. Let me just say...once I started reading it, I couldn't put in down (although I had to in order to carry out other responsibilities).
A few chapters into the book, I spoke with my sister-in-law and asked her how she heard of the book. It was God's hand at work.......while the children were attending REP (religious education program) after church, the parents had an hour or more to do something, they would go out to breakfast or just sit and visit. One of the parents found Matthew Kelly's book among other books on a shelf at the church and began reading it. He was so moved that he had to share it with the other parents. Eventually, they formed a study group and would discuss each chapter of this wonderful and enlightening book....even if the kids didn't have REP, they would still meet after church.
They also discovered that this book, Rediscover Catholicism, could be purchased in large quantities for the low price of $2 or $3 per book. Knowing the financial stress of their own parish, a few of the families pooled their money and bought 250 books. They didn't want to just "hand them out" for fear that people would never read it.....you know how we unfortunately take things that are free for granted. So they decided to wrap them up as gifts and on each book they attached a tag writing their own words how this book has inspired them in their faith and proceeded to give them free of charge to fellow parishioners. Isn't that remarkable?!?!??!
I finished the book in just over a week.....which is REALLY good for me. As much as I love to read, I rarely make time for it. However, I just couldn't get enough (and this book has inspired me to read more.....it is just the first of many spiritual books I intend to read in 2012) Each chapter was better than the last and I was moved to tears more that a few times. I can just tell you that if you are Catholic, this is a must read. If you are not Catholic, you should still read it! There is something for every one of us amongst these pages. It explains many misunderstandings about Catholicism but it is more than just that......it will inspire you to become "the-best-version-of-yourself" by seeking the will of God. This book is full of inspirational stories and gives concrete examples of how to be more spiritual.
My dear in-laws sent us two more of these books and I plan to give one to Fr. George and our REP coordinator. My hope and prayer is that after Fr. reads this book, he will find a way for our parish to purchase these books and give one to all Holy Rosary parishioners. Great things are happening..........
