Last Day, First Day March 31, 2008

This is it. My last day at Scripps (HGTV). I know I will miss the people I have spent the last 2 1/2 years with, but I am also very excited about what’s to come. My job with CITYVIEW starts tomorrow and I am already working on my first assignment. It feels really good to get back to my publishing roots…styling, photo shoots, writing. Seems like only yesterday I was at Cooking Light doing my thing. Plus, I will have more time for Kat in the Hat! And I am greatly encouraged on that end….my customer base is growing and people are so kind and complimentary. I think I’m finally doing what I am meant to do.

Since I haven’t written in ages I have a  motley assortment of tidbits. First some pics of Sassy Pants…who turns 4 this weekend (sniff).

 

 She is having a Ballerina party (we are giving her lessons as her gift) and a real, true live ballerina is coming to dance for- and with- the little monkeys. We are playing pin the tutu on the ballerina, and making paperdoll ballerinas too. Here is a fuzzy pic of her invite and the tees she is giving as party favors.

These are the new Patchwork Tees which have taken off with a bang. They are a little more complex to produce but something a little different–the look of a fabric applique only it’s not!

And finally. My poor basement has undergone so many transformations in 3 years. It was going to be a playroom when we first finished it, but I painted it a grown up color and stuffed it full of what looked like living room furniture (which included a giant leather sofa with pull out bed for guests.) There was virtually no room to PLAY. So, I sold all of the furniture, painted the walls lime green, and put up an actual bed, because on occasion guests do stay there. But that seemed weird to have a bed in the basement/playroom… plus, by now the basement was being over run by the ever-growing Kat in the Hat factory and quickly filling up with with equipment and tees. The bed had to go. But I had a BRILLIANT idea…a murphy bed! Remember those things? The fascinating bed that folds out of the wall? So hubby built THE coolest cabinet from old barn wood, and at last, problem solved–a bed within, and hardly takes up any space at all. The room is now whimsical and fun, bright and cheery for me to work in, fun (and roomy) for the kids, AND someone can sleep here…amid tees, mannequins, toys, fitness equipment and machinery…doesn’t it sound cozy?

Birdie Blue March 21, 2008

This is a painting for a child’s room in Charlotte. NC. Every now and then I really enjoy breaking out the paints–and last weekend I had a ball. It’s a strange thing. When I was in college I had to paint for 2 hours every day and would stand in front of my canvas without a CLUE what to paint…and definitely no desire. My mind was on the next party, riding my mountain bike, lying in the sun…anything but art class! Now, what I would GIVE to have two hours a day to paint, and to have an instructor on hand to help me learn new techniques. To take photography, illustration, pottery, wood carving, print making, design, figure drawing again…all of the classes I took for granted…what I would GIVE! Youth really IS wasted on the young, but I sure did have a good time. I guess there’s something to be said for that!

Horse Crazy March 19, 2008

The girlies LOVE horses. My equestrian tee is one of my most popular,
so today I designed a new option…

Necessity Breeds Creativity… March 18, 2008

Well, something like that anyway. And in this case, I was forced to break out the paints. I decided that both my kitchen and my living room needed a jolt of color, so I whipped these up. I wanted to try oils–I hadn’t used them in years. But I wimped out and used acrylics like I always do. They aren’t the greatest by any stretch, but they’ll work until I do some I like more.

 

Sample Sale! March 15, 2008

Yep, we goof up sometimes (no surprise there!) so occasionally we have tees that were made in the wrong size or color, a name is misspelled etc. But our loss just may be your gain. See if we have something you can use…

$10 plus shipping (locals can pick up)! These can be purchased directly from our site, or you can email us: kathryn@clarabelleandthehen.com to order.

Here’s what we have RIGHT NOW:

Women’s Girly Fit:
XL Choco: Mod Mono in green, initials “HFL”

Youth Standard Short Sleeve Tees:
4 White: Square and Sideways in bright blue and red, “b/brooks”
4 Chocolate: Snake, “wells”
4 White: Goldfish, “edward”
4 Sky: Giraffe, “brody”
6 Sky: Shark Duo, “cayden”
8 White: Surf’s Up, “connor”
8 Pink: PW Elephant (Bubblegum Dot), “olivia”

10 White: Square and Sideways in bright blue and red, “g/graham”

SS Ruffled Tees:
12-18 mos. White: Funky Flower “claudia”
6 White: Funky Fower, “mary slayden”

SS Onesie:
6-12 mos. White: Skywriter, “jacob”

Tanks:
10 White: Skully (Green Design, Not Pink) “Sarah Kate”

LS Girly Fit Youth Tee:
8 Lime: Funky Flower, “k

“SS Girly Fit Youth Tee:
6 White: We All Scream for Icecream, “beverly”

Kat in the Hat is Expanding! March 15, 2008

We are so pleased and excited to offer a new, boutique-quality line of knit apparel—the thickest, softest cotton in an array of great colors, from itty bitty sizes to grown up sizes. Plus, in coming season’s we’ll be rolling out even more styles. Below are the fun new styles we are currently offering and you’ll be able to place orders online VERY SOON! (We just have to figure out the best way to get them to the website.) Until then, just email us at kathryn@katinthehatdesigns.com if you need something NOW. Additionally, on pants and shorts you can even add artwork to match your tee! We’ve already sold this new line in several test markets and the response has been fantastic so we look forward to offering it to YOU!

A New Chapter March 7, 2008

I am beyond excited. I have done it. Taken a major leap of faith. I put in my notice at HGTV this week. I have a very exciting new part-time job with City View magazine doing what I love–writing for fashion and homes and art directing/styling photo shoots. In addition I have some wonderful steady freelance gigs lined up for illustration work and tee design, and then of course Kat in the Hat, which will now get the attention it deserves. It’s all a dream come true. As they say, “good things come to those who wait” and the good Lord knows I’ve waited.

Some may say, “duh, who quits their job on the verge of a recession” but I believe I have made a “calculated” decision, as my business-savvy brother would say and that I will be using my gifts to a far greater degree. Not to mention, that I can get back to running more frequently and do some fun things with the kiddos on occasion. Geez, maybe I’ll even start cooking. Ha. That one remains to be seen. Anyway…I’m walking on air. But if you should see me on the exit ramp with a cardboard sign…I really will work for food.

Snow in Tennessee March 6, 2008

It wasn’t any more than a dusting…but nothing like a layer of white to make everything look fresh and clean. Hubby’s family in New England get this much in a few minutes every day and have to dig out of the house with shovels. They make the most of it and snow shoe, cross country ski…down the drive way to get the mail! Us? Barely a ground cover (Thank you Jesus!) but it shore is purty, aint it? (The little bird-house-y box is my new drop-off/pick up box for Kat in the Hat. The mail man had had enough….one day he finally just took the packages I had crammed in the mailbox for pickup and taught me a lesson. It worked!

America’s Next Top Model March 3, 2008

C’mon, you know it’s true! This is a SIX year old child. Is she a young Michelle Pfifer or what? And just as sweet as she is pretty. What’s more, she has a totally different look in every picture. I’m going to submit these to some NYC agencies (mom is all for it). I KNOW we will see this child in the glossies one day. Plus, she WANTS to be an actress. Oscar, anyone?

and here she looks like the little girl that she is.

I want to play with some of these a little more…desaturate the background so she pops a bit more…but she’s so darn cute there’s nothing you could do to get a bad shot of her.

 

I went for that faded old look here…it would work better if you couldn’t see the brighter one above it. Anyway…this was such a fun shoot and such a delightful little girl. Thank you LL!