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A beautiful RockLove feature in the latest issue of Gothic Beauty Magazine - Issue 31! I'm quite excited by this showcase; not only am I an avid reader of GB, but it's been somewhat of a teenage goal to find myself within its pages. As many of you know, I never planned to be a jewelry designer... but I DID decide at an early age that whatever it was that I ended up doing, I wanted it to be dark and creative enough to be found in this zine.

Thanks to:

Photo: Steve Prue of Team Rockstar Images

Model: Marlo Marquise

Hair/MUA: Kristin Jackson

O Inspiration - I am thankful for your visits but next time not at 6 in the morning after I stayed up late reading? The past few days, I have been attending the New York International Gift Show - here fashion/accessory/home good designers from around the world gather to wholesale their lines directly to attending store buyers (who also travel from afar). This convergence is something I have wanted to begin, but prior was just not quite ready. Not only does it require a good amount of financial capital, but established branding, quality product, the ability to produce large quantity, sales assistants, and the culprit of my morning meditation: a damn fine booth display.

Adopted by the generous kaRIN of the band Collide, who has been designing in the wholesale industry for over 15 years, I was able to do a bit of reconnaissance at the event. Spending most of my time in the "Handmade" section (and by that I mean it's own huge conference space of back to back ten foot booths), other artists opened up with a few tips of the trade and gift show vending insight. Mainly the little things that you would probably not think of your first year... like what your order form should look like, and how to keep a new sheet per clip board in a basket so that if things get crazy, store owners can just start writing down style numbers and quantity themselves. Tidbits a veteran would know, but I would be up shit creek without considering my first time in the pen.

Needless to say, it was a lot to take in, and I may not even be accepted for ANY of the many wholesale gift and accessory shows across the country. Most have wait lists, so that gives me plenty of time to prepare my own fabulous RockLove showroom square. Happy to report that no one had my style, and no one had a booth like I would want to decorate! The first step in a long time (and intimidating) career move!

Don't want to give away any ideas here - another very stressed topic of discussion from the mentoring designers... NOT sharing to avoid the plethora of copying in the industry... But rest assured that my NY Comic Con booth this October will be my foray into the high end display world!

Some new press in RockLove land! A beautiful beachy six page editorial including the Anthology Collection on MMA fighter Joseph Benavidez in the Aug/Sept 2010 UFC Magazine. Click the cover to see the feature:

And actress Taylor Cole spotted at the San Diego Comic Con wearing RockLove Industrial Bangles, Wrist Wraps, and a custom Dark Cameo Necklace!

In other news, somebunny may be wearing jewelry in an upcoming magazine feature... and at some point soon, Gothic Beauty Magazine should have a RockLove spread. Meanwhile I am finishing up my new Medallion collection, inspired by the turn-of-the-century fobs awarded by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria to their courtiers. Having some trouble with the very last design... want to incorporate color, gemstones since I feel so much of my jewelry is big silver thing on chain silver thing. Looking at the prototypes now, and just ONE variation is not quite right. But quite excited nonetheless - I wear two of them daily and get frequent compliments.


EDIT: I didn't realize I missed posting a magazine article - an extensive interview of RockLove about online marketing, specifically Facebook in Art Calendar Magazine. Only thing is, the interview was many months before this issue hit newsstands, so some of the stats are embarrassingly off. At one point they exclaim at a 10 different responses by the next day... when now I get 50 within a few hours. Ahhh progress! Thankful for the inclusion!

I am dying here, absolutely dying...

I need to either:
A) get an investor
B) get a loan
C) go at it by myself

So that I may either:
D) hire a new PR agent
E) hire a sales rep
F) hire a new branding designer FIRST so that when I hire either D) or E) I have better materials

In addition I need to:
G) make and sell new merchandise (Collide, Abney Park, Sailor Twain, Repo Z-guns)
H) make market sell (and make custom boxes for) a new line of steel belt buckles
I) new RockLove Logo - for the usage of F) the branding designer and J) totes H) buckles
J) RockLove tote bag thank you gifts
K) Civilian Press workings
L) new higher end gold and diamond Medallion line so that when it comes time...
M) hire a photographer for new product shots for the F) branding designer's new materials

SO THAT ULTIMATELY:
Z) all the fancy stores and press from the D) PR agent and E) sales rep are impressed and want to carry/promote RockLove. Once they see F) branding designer's fancy look books and line sheets.

.... and this doesn't include other projects, collaborations, SEO optimizing, revamping my blog, improving the website, making/shipping jewelry, customer service, current stores ....

I would ball up and cry except it's 100 degrees precisely outside and if any part of my body touches itself, my skin will melt together permanently with the heat.

Happy Summer Everyone! Great travel and excitement at the RockLove Studios...
a few shows coming up:

Nyack Street Faire (Nyack, NY) - May 16th
Ink-N-Iron (Long Beach, CA) - June 11-13th
Nyack Street Faire (Nyack, NY) - July 18th
Nyack Septemberfest (Nyack, NY) - Sept 12th
Pecan Street Festival (Austin, TX) - Sept 25-26th
New York Comic Con (NYC) - Oct 8-10th

a sneaky peak...

It's springtime! It's SHOW TIME!

First off, thank you to all who made my birthday amazing! On March 30th, I celebrated RockLove's 2nd birthday and my 25th by having a 25% off one-day-only discount. About 100 orders cranked in (you guys know I never ever do sales that large), including an inbox-exploding influx of birthday well wishes.

Then was Viva Las Vegas -
Loads of fun with my main PinUp Angel Gals - Miss Kitty Baby (with me pictured), Marla Marachino, Becky Lee... I worked my ass off, had an amazing time, and sounded like a haggard drag queen by the end of the weekend. So spoiled being in NYC, the constant cloud of Sin City cigarette smoke really does a number to my voice. Despite it being my birthday (and Passover), I didn't have time to drink nor gamble, so it really was a tornado of diligence.

New friends from Sante Fe Vintage gifted me with a kickin' pair of 1950's black cowboy boots with green embroidered pin-striping. Rocked those around Manhattan just the other day, I love them! And the Viva Signature Necklaces sold like hot cakes (available online *here*).

This Sunday is the Nyack Springfest upstate a bit in Nyack, New York. Then soon I leave for the Old Pecan Street Festival in Austin, Texas (yes I'm bringing my new boots). Looking forwards to my first real trip down South... New Orleans is the only experience I have below Missouri and that was years ago. Wonder if my accent will sound funny to all those with a drawl?

More travel after that - LA for Ink-N-Iron plus Indiana for my brother's college graduation... in the meantime: REPO ZYDRATE GUN NECKLACES! At the moment, the powers that be are finishing up a few little business details, but I'm already casting and polishing the first few hundred. All is poised and ready for the official "go ahead!"

Soon my pretties! Along with new Press in Kink, Art Calendar, Snippets, AltNoir, and Gothic Beauty Magazine. Will post more about them as they go live... in fact, AltNoir is purchasable online right now and I have TWO fantastic editorial features. One whimsical feminine, and another a totally Gaga-inspired shoot! I'm quite impressed with the quality of this independently produced zine.

More as it comes... I'll leave you with this little goodie, a new steampunk graphic novel (visible free online but will also soon be published hardcopy). "Sailor Twain" and RockLove will be creating an exciting bit of merchandise in the future...

It's almost time for Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender! Last year was great fun, but as my first time to the event, it was quite intimidating. Though this round, surrounded by my favorite Pin Up Angels in the sunny Las Vegas Strip, it should be better than ever!

Most of the weekend I will be shopping and enjoying myself (VIP Tiki Pool Party Sunday, ooh la la!)... but Saturday only, RockLove has a booth at the Viva classique car + vendor show. And in addition to the stress of making enough merchandise to sell at the tables, I'm proudly providing the hepkat extravaganza with their own signature merch piece. New territory for me, it's made from laser cut lucite (acyrlic) with silver plated chain for maximum pin-up-ability! Quite happy with the outcome, hope everybody enjoys!

You know you're in trouble when your mum Facebook messages you that your blog hasn't been "updated in forever..."

But I do agree, mother knows best - it's time for some exciting updates!


The biggest project on the table: I finally finished the WHOLESALE CATALOGUES! For months I've been working on them myself to conserve the $5K I was quoted by numerous graphic designers; I'm quite proud of the finished product. The printed booklets look stunningly professional, and I'm currently communicating with stores internationally who are interested in carrying the line in their boutique. Today I sent out packets all over the US + Spain, Norway, Switzerland, and France. Click the link above to download an e-version and let me know what you think.

Also my press page has been revamped for a more streamline look.

In addition to juggling wholesale, I've been working on new merchandise for Inked Magazine and a few others not ready to be released. Though finally the next batch of OhGr Mr. Brownstone Pendants are done and will most likely go on sale THIS WEEKEND!

The music video that goes with it will blow your mind... I promise to post it as soon as it's online; to the song "Water" we take viewers on a creepy editorial about how the lyric necklaces are made.

Wicked Faire 2010 was last weekend, I again cameo'd as a Gentern. In addition to my notorious white bikini and high kicks, I was wearing the one and only prototype for the official Repo merch ZYDRATE GUN NECKLACE. Rarer than an albino sea turtle, it does exist! On sale asap!

In the meantime, if you have a store you think would be a great fit for RockLove, email me the information at info@rocklove.com.

Oh crap, it's almost Valentine's Day? I've been drowning in all-nighters; watching the sun rise more mornings than the entirety of my college career... January has flown by as I craft my very schnazzy new wholesale catalogues. My proof arrived in the mail today - 20 full color pages of tedious graphics and painstaking photography. It looks AWESOME!

And in the meantime, here's a few ideas for the formidable upcoming holiday. Four fabulous gifts ranging from $3 to $75 on SALE for Valentine's day:

How do I adore thee OhGr fans? Let me count the ways...

The first 100 Mr. Brownstone necklaces have been sold and shipped out to their enthusiastic new owners; recipients have been submitting photos of their unique pendant online. You can see the discussion here: *click me*








Even more exciting, the snippets of secret unreleased original lyric sheet are now being compiled on their own website made by Litany Forum member "Dreb" - and it blows my mind! Every day more bits are added, slowly filling in the new song which will finally be heard in the upcoming OHGR album. Keep an eye on the puzzle's progress... and of course a few are out of order for added complication, so once the lyrics are all found, there will be a bit of Rubix Cube shuffling for added measure.

Oh and pstt, PS - not only will we release another 100 Mr. Brownstone necklaces soon, but there is a whisper in the wind about a potential new RockLove + Repo merch piece...