Greetings! ...from Kimberly Shaw

Re-Routing a Package Wrongly Delivered

Last Friday I had the best morning standing up to injustice helping a customer right a very comical wrong. I know accidents happen, and I'm sure FedEx didn't intentionally deliver my package to the wrong store, but they did. Normally when a person sees a package that isn't intended for them they notify the delivery service the parcel isn't theirs. But that's not what happened. The previous Wednesday the owner of the wrong store signed for the package with her own name. She then unboxed the greeting cards and placed them for sale in her store.

My customer called me to ask if I knew when her cards would be delivered. I researched to tracking number, saw it was delivered two days prior, and who signed for it. Learning the signature belonged to the store owner across the street, I called the neighboring store to ask if she had my customer’s package. She admitted she received the package, saw the other store owner's name on the package, but thought she ordered them for herself. This is when I knew then I was talking to an irrational person. She became argumentative and oppositional to returning the cards to the rightful owner. She insisted I let her pay for the cards, but I was oppositional to her suggestion. First, that would delay my customer from receiving her order she already paid for; and second, I don’t have an account with her store. Not taking any responsibility for her mistake, she chose instead to hung up on me.

After talking to my customer again, I thought it best to accept payment from the pillaging store owner for fear the irrational woman would spitefully damage the merchandise.  I called the pilfering store owner to say I would accept her payment for the items. She replied with hostility and hung up on me a second time.

I followed this by contacting FedEx. After a good laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation, they initiated a claim. Realizing this constituted theft, I also called the local police to ask them questions. They suggested I file an incident report and gave me dispatch's phone number. Dispatch insisted on sending out an officer who would contact me, which he did, right away. He asked if I could text him an image of my cards, the invoice, and the recipients signature. Modern convinces, I love it. In a short time, the officer retrieved the cards and returned them to their rightful owner.

Maybe this wouldn't constitute a fun morning for you, but I love righting the wrongs, standing in the gap for what is right. I read a powerful statement in Norman Brown's book, "Among The Wolves," that reminded me I am not of the Christian religion, I'm of a Kingdom. This truth has given me boldness to seeing myself as a resident in His victorious Kingdom while here on earth, allowing me to stop being afraid of evil and to stand up to injustice for the greater good. 

"For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son," Colossians 1:13

Art is Work

I'm not sure this post is necessary, but maybe it is. Perhaps it will encourage another Artist to see their work as valuable. In reality, it is work. Sure, painting and drawing are enjoyable to the Artist, but isn't constructing enjoyable to the Contractor, analyzing data enjoyable to the Accountant, or teaching math for the Teacher? Is it typical to ask the Contractor, Accountant, Teacher, or other professional for free work? Probably not. Then why is the Artist?

I was approached this week by another professional asking for one of my illustrations to use on their businesses' program cover page. The person asking to use my art is a Communications Coordinator in charge of overseeing design content for the business' promotional materials and ads. My response thanked her for appreciating my work (she called it impressive) and for asking for my permission. I decided to reiterate that my design work is my profession and I wasn't willing to give it away. If the business she was representing wished to pay for my work, I'd be happy to speak with her. She responded by telling me the business was small and "so generally can't pay." I wonder if she receives payment for her work. Did the company pay her to contact me for my artwork? Does the business require payment for their products and services?

I'm not opposed to giving away free art. I love designing and creating for others. It's a way I use my abilities to bless and encourage. What I am opposed to is other working professionals asking for free work in order to promote theirs. Or in some cases, to ease their burden and time by using something someone else already created.

The artwork she asked to use was an inspirational piece found on my blog. It is an original piece that took time and materials to create. First, I researched my subject. Then I designed, sketched, and illustrated it. Finally, I photographed and edited it before posting it on my blog and other social media sights. Ironically the work in question, "Everything Has Its Time," is about the Book of Ecclesiastes which states, "There is a time for everything." There was a time I would have said yes to another business using my artwork for free. The pleasure of having my artwork grace the cover of their program would have been enough. But now is not that time.

 

A R T  I S  W O R K  (aka: Artwork)

 

Thank You From My Porch to Yours

What a joy to see God bless so many people in so many different ways. So glad to be part of a story that involves sharing, encouragement, thoughtfulness, and tea!

“Pretty Boy” Floyd is checking out the shipments.

Shipping cards in padded envelopes is my favorite way to ship due to the extra protection. Cards are placed in a white box, a free sticker sheet and delicious Harney tea tops the box, then everything is slid into the padded envelope, making sure each order arrives safely.

Thank you for each and every order. May each card be a special gift to those who receive them.

 

From Work Table to Mansion

A glimpse of my work table. The first stack of 8 cards have their delicious teas added. The next stack is receiving Peppermint, Holiday, Paris & Cinnamon Spice from Harney Teas. Once these cards are packaged with their envelopes, the teas for the next stack will be laid out any added to their cards.

I’m so excited, this set of 21 cards is going to the very gorgeous Montpelier Mansion, a Georgian style plantation house in Maryland.

May each card be a special blessing to those who receive one.

 

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Kimberly Shaw Graphics Office

One of the office walls at Kimberly Shaw Graphics displays some of Kimberly's original artwork with a little collection of vintage postcards with their own charming messages and delightful illustrations.

Teacup Shelf

Here at Kimberly Shaw Graphics, every guest is offered a cup of tea. Art Studio teacup shelf of previous models, future models, inspirations and personal favorites.

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Fraudulent Super Tono from IP Address 114.125.83.106 in Indonesia

This isn't a pretty post, but one to help other web businesses identify fraud from this user.  Notice the non-deliverable street address and phone number with New Mexico area code.  Plus, who would have a name like Super Tono? May be explained by where the order originated from (a kid's fun zone? see below).  The email address is also fraudulent, as it bounced back.  There were three unsuccessful attempts to charge a credit card. 

super tono, street avenue 89, new york city, New York, United States 10001
5757555888, [email protected]

IP Address 114.125.83.106 is from Gubengairlangga, Jawa Timur, Indonesia

(latitude -7.2729001045227, longitude 112.75730133057)

A simple latitude and longitude search revealed a name:

A click on the name revealed a kid's zone?:

This type of post has been helpful in the past, but I found it acquired some nasty responses, therefore I'm not opening this post up for comments.

If you are one who is thankful for the information, "You're very welcome." 

If you aren't thankful, "Quite frankly Scarlet ... " well, you know

 

Save

Save

Save

How to Become a Prosperous & Successful Business Woman

At my local bookstore I was browsing the clearance section when my eyes caught a glimpse of a book about how to be a successful and prosperous businesswoman. Picking it up I was disappointed at the vagueness of its contents, which explained why it was marked down. The truth is, God's word already tells us how to be prosperous and successful.

"This Book of the Law (the Bible) shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." -Joshua 1:8.

Probably not the advice you were expecting?  Not sure if this is the approach you would take, or if putting God first changes anything, or that an all powerful and all knowing God can make your way prosperous? I challenge you to try it, to put God first, not like rubbing a Genie’s bottle, but in genuine practice seeking to know who He is and how vast His love is for you. How do I know this is true? This has been my business model since the day I stepped out on a hunch with only change in a jar, trusted God, and prayed.

Celestial Sesonings Tea in Kimberly Shaw Graphics cards!

If you're looking for Celestial Seasonings tea in one of my Teacup Greeting cards, there's only one place you'll find them at:

Celestial Seasonings at 4600 Sleepytime Drive, Boulder, Colorado.

14 different Celestial Seasonings teas are used in a variety of Teacup cards.

Teas are coordinated with each card based on tea flavor and bag color.

If you are in Colorado, you can tour the amazing Celestial Seasonings tea factory in their beautiful hometown of Boulder, Colorado. They promise to Make Every Moment Celestial^® while you’re there! Tours begin every hour Monday through Saturday from 10 to 4 & Sunday from 11 to 3.

 

Exposing Online Fraud from IP Address 115.114.123.61

OK, I admit, not a glamorous post. This is me standing on my soapbox holding a large sign over my head with a warning about online fraud. THE GOOD NEWS: BigCommerce, Authorize.net, and GeoTrust block them!

From IP Address 115.114.123.61 in Mumbai, India (latitude: 18.9750003815, longitude 72.8257980347) someone has attempted to place three fraudulent orders at kimberlyshawgraphics.com using fraudulent names, USA addresses, phone numbers, and emails. 

Just so you know this is what it looks like.

Click the image to enlarge. The fraudulent info given is:

Jason Parker, davenportsmith, 101 North StreetNew York, New York 10007, United States, 548-125-7845, [email protected]

John Marks, abcde, 5 Sherman Ave., Palo Alto, California 94306, United States, 919-252-2525, john141516@gmail

Jennifer Keith, davenportsmith, 2296 Retreat Avenue, Birmingham, Alabama 35209, United States, 205-309-9372, [email protected]

Licking Stamps

It really wasn't that log ago when we used to have to lick stamps. This adorable comic brought a flood of memories of when I first began my greeting card business, back when stamps needed to be licked. Family Circus has always been my favorite comic. Find more at familycircus.com.

Kimberly Shaw Graphics New Website!

kimberlyshawgraphics.com

I hope you like the new website's look. I wanted to create a clean, easy to navigate site, with new features, like "Quick View" and "Wish List" (the little heart next to "Add to Cart" button).  Plus the new site has extra tools in your personal account settings to view or manage each time you log in.

RETURNING CUSTOMERS: Because this is a brand NEW Website, you will need to create a new account on it. Your old account information and password did not transfer from the old website. Thank You!

Spring Green

A Teacup Greeting Card in the making inspired by a small vintage saucer. Unable to locate the matching teacup, I created my own.  A wide green band on the teacup and saucer are accented with agold trim. Resting on a frilly doily the green is complimented with a warm burnt orange tabletop.  The black details were created using an old-school Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph pen, the smallest  000/.25 size, and shaded with a light watercolor wash. 

Artwork copyright Kimberly Shaw 2010

 

Aquarelle

A new card in the making.

This Royal Grafton teacup was so much fun to watercolor in its delightful aqua color, sitting on a frilly doily, against a salmon pink background. 

Working it Out

Tea is a key element in my artwork, and I have plenty to choose from.

These colorful teabags, mostly from Harney & Sons Fine Teas, become a part of each Teacup Greeting card I design. 

My mother's antique pansy teacup was the inspiration for painting for a new card.

First I start with a sketch to plan the design.

The shadows are painted first to avoid smearing the artwork later.

Next I added the gold trim, because honestly, it was an easier choice than conquering the pansies right off.

Once the pansies were finished I incorporated my grandmother's handmade table runner underneath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Space Planner

In our early 20's, my cousin and I became roommates.  She was a waitress and I was a Space Planner for a major bank designing floor plans of their offices. One Friday night she asked to go to a night club with her. Though I refused several times, she talked me into going as her designated driver. I never liked night clubs. I only met stupid boys there.

Once there, she introduced me to her friend who I'll call "Night Club Guy." She asked me to tell NCG what I did for a living (she being proud of what I did, though secretly I admired her large tip earnings).  "No, that's OK, it's not a big deal." I said.

"Come on." NCG urged, "Just tell me."

"No, really, I don't want to." I repeated. I could tell from his tussled hair and gas station uniform he might not know what a Space Planner was, and I didn’t want to explain it to him.

"Just tell me. What's the big deal? Are you afraid?" He raised his voice at me.

So I told him, "I'm a Space Planner."

"Yeah, right." he laughed, "Like in outer space?"

This space dude used to stand above my drafting table as a memorial of “night club guy’s” reply, which still makes me laugh. Finding him stowed away in a hat box I set him on the shelf above my art desk. Since it's tea time, he now has his own teacup.

New York, Here They Come

One of the ways we market to stores is to simply send them one of our Teacup Greeting Cards (a Thank You, Birthday, Thinking of You) with information on how to contact us if they are interested in carrying our line. 

Once a store owner called to request a catalog, after receiving one of our cards, and asked how we knew it was her birthday.  These Birthday cards are on there way to introduce themselves to New York stores. 

I made a cup of tea, grabbed a stack of cards, a box of teabags and my roll of double stick tape.
After inserting a teabag in each card, each is slipped into a envelope, address labels and stamps applied, and off they go.

Maybe one of these cards will surprise a New Yorker on their birthday.

Order UP!

This is how an order of 45 "Oceanside" Teacup Greeting cards are assembled.

 
First, make a cup of tea.

 

While the tea is steeping, gather a stack of Teacup cards and a box of tea bags.

 

Cross stack envelopes in sets of 6, set aside.

 

Next, lay tea bags on the table face down. 

 

Add a bit of double-stick tape to the back of each tea bag to secure them to the card.

 
Once all the tea bags are taped, insert each teabag into the die cut of each card by han d, press slightly.

Stack them in piles of six.  I like to cross stack them so they're level.

 

To bag them, add a stack of six envelopes to the bottom of each stack of cards, slide them into the bag, and secure the bag with ordinary tape to keep them safe in shipping.
 

That's it! Thanks for visiting.

 



 
  

Working at Home in My PJ's

Hello friends, I believe I promised you a funny story about working at home in my PJ's. 

When I started my stationery line from my small 1950's beach cottage, my kids were all very young.  They kept me so busy during the day that I resolved to do my work at night.  So, after putting the kids to bed, a pot of coffee was brewed while I showered then put on my comfy PJ’s. I assembled orders for shipment the next day.

When I worked in the corporate world, the owner was always the best dressed. Now that I was an owner, working in PJ’s, I thought  I should at least have some very nice PJ’s.  When the Victoria Secrets catalog came un-expectantly in the mail, I found a classic pair of pink pajamas in the back, on sale (probably because they were long pants with button down top, not typical of VS), so  I ordered them. 

When my UPS man, Vince, delivered them, I proclaimed, “Oh, yea! My work clothes are here!”  Vince’s eyes got big and his jaw dropped.  It took me a moment, but then I realize the VS logo wasn’t that discrete, and Vince had a whole different view of “work” clothes than I did.  I quickly set him straight before he left with my packages.

Benefits of a Cottage Business

There are many benefits to working from home. Your commute is very short, you have a full kitchen for serving tea or baking scones.  There are more sounds of birds in a residential area than an industrial area, and a home is more insulated than a concrete warehouse which is too hot in Summer or Freezing in Winter.  The traffic of business solicitors who just walk into your front office to bombard you with their sales pitch diminish.  At home I'm blessed with Rose bushes, Camellias, English daisies, Gardenias and fruit trees in the yard, contrasted to a black parking lot lined with low maintenance ground cover.

We've started moving our business out of our warehouse and into our home.  It's been a lot of hard work cutting 12' shelving in half, moving boxes of cards, and packing up desks. Our feet and backs are sore, we're exhausted, but filled with a sense of joy.  The benefits of simplifying and downsizing  are revealed as clutter and unnecessary items are removed.  I actually believe these benefits outweigh the loss of a large building space and wonder why I didn't make the move sooner. I may even get caught working in my PJ's, which reminds me of a funny story which I'll tell you next time.

My "Cottage Pot" Teacup card was inspired by my visit to the cottages at Loch Lamond, Scotland.

Cottage Business

Kimberly Shaw Graphics began as a cottage business in a small 1100 s.f. 1950's home close to the beach in Southern California.

As the business grew, we moved into a warehouse. Now as times change, we have to adjust again. We are moving back into our cottage. Do I feel sad, a little. Is there a blessing, I believe so. Like so many other companies in our industrial complex we are reducing our overhead uncertain of what lies ahead.  We still have plenty of Teacup Stationery to offer, only now, we'll be much cozier which I prefer.

For those who continue using Kimberly Shaw Graphics Teacup Greeting Cards and Specialtea Stationery I want to express my heartfelt "THANKS"!

TeaGuide Review

The following is a generous review by Janis Badarau, Editor & Publisher of  TeaGuide: Reviews and Ramblings.  Thank you!

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Kimberly Shaw Graphics
Retail and wholesale

Let’s be honest: tea note cards are mostly a “girl” thing. But even the toughest women like pretty things — and Kimberly Shaw’s Tea Cup Cards are about the prettiest you’re going to find.

Each note card is printed from an original watercolour, in an extensive array of colourful designs ranging from simply sweet to superbly elegant. You’re sure to find a card to please whoever you have in mind as recipient — even your Red Hatted auntie.

The extra charm, and the uniqueness, of these cards is the clever little slot in each one that holds a wrapped teabag, inviting your dear one to “share” a cup of tea with you. The top of the wrapper, in a colour coordinated to the design, peeks out to display the type of tea or infusion you’ve chosen to share. The teabags are sourced from Harney & Sons and Harrisons & Crossfield, two top-of-the-line tea suppliers.

Your words and Kimberly’s pictures: Who wouldn’t be delighted to receive (or send!) one of these? (I do hope she doesn’t mind my use of her first name, but with products this warm and friendly it feels rather stilted to refer to “Ms. Shaw.”)

Most of the note card designs are also available as greeting cards for birthdays, thank yous, holidays, and invitations. You’ll also find notepads (teabag included), a clever perpetual calendar, and sheets of tea time stickers. If you’re like me, the sticker carousel is the first place you head for in any stationery store, searching — often in vain — for anything “tea-ish.”

Additional items in the collection are teacup night lights, a variety of accessories for tea service — including several teacups that appear to have inspired the designs — and a small selection of the teas used in the cards. Order online, for yourself or for gifts, at Kimberly Shaw Graphics. Resellers can click the Wholesale link at the bottom of any page for details.

Busy Shipping Day

  

 Thank you for each of your generous orders!

I hope each person you send your cards to is cheered by your sweet sentiments and warmed with a delicious cup of tea.

Warmest regards, Kimberly

 

 

Hot Off the Press

As the first sheets come off the press, they are pulled from the stack for review. The colors can be corrected slightly to match the proof sheet, which was created from the original artwork.

Notepads at press check needed only a few color adjustments.

Sheets of my Notepads in the Printing Press. The reflection in the glass (on the front of the Press) is the Pressman making color adjustments.

Greeting Card Business Card

The traditional 2"x3-1/2" business card doesn't adiquately represent my Teacup Greeting Cards, so I created a mini version of my favorite Thank You card.

All the business information is on the back. The inside was left blank to write specific information: how to get to my office, the web address, where to meet for coffee...

Maintaining the standard 3'1/2" width but a bit taller, it it's just the right size to include a tea bag.

Woody In Charge

Woody is succesfully keeping my new kitty, Paige, off my desk. Paige left her paw print on my watercolor paper after a stroll through my paint tray.

 

 

 

 

 

Milkglass Hobnail

Besides teacups, my favorite thing to collect is hobnail milk glass. Call me old-fashioned. I love it's simple elegance and especially love it with ruffled edges. Pop calls it milk glass with goosebumps. This fan vase was his moms. I found the lamp at a garage sale and decided to use it as my new desk lamp. I think it's important to make your work space inviting. It helps to get your work done. 

Cheese Ball Battles

I was invited to sell my cards at a luxurious home boutique. I didn't want to do it, as I already knew my cards don't sell well at home boutiques. The organizer persuaded me by waving the entrance fee and allowed me to pay her a percentage of what I sold. The day before the sale, the organizer instructed me to set up my basket of hand-painted teacup cards on a long serving counter in the kitchen. I volunteered to help with the sale and would return the next day.

However, on the morning of the sale, my cards had been moved and other items took their place. I found my basket of cards moved to the breakfast table. They were sitting next to a large platter of cheese balls covered in nuts surrounded by crackers. I wasn't happy with their new placement but I didn't change it. I went elsewher to see how I might be helpful. 

Returning to check on my cards I found they had been moved again. This time they were on the floor under the table and the cheese ball display was now spread across the entire table.  With no one in sight, I gingerly shifted the cheese balls to one side and returned my basket to the table top, and looked for something else to do.

A second return to the breakfast room, I found my basket back on the floor and the cheese balls spread back across the table again.  This time I less-gingerly moved the cheese balls and placed by basket back on the table wondering who the culprit was. 

A third return I found my basket back on the floor and the cheese balls spread out across the table.  Only this time an old woman with a grey-haired bun wound tightly on the top her head sat guarding the cheese balls. 

“Are those your cheese balls?” I asked.  “Yes, I make them all by hand.” She replied in a squeaky voice.  After she told me how much effort she put into making each cheese ball and how she covered them in assorted nuts, I decided to leave my basket on the floor and give her the remaining time to sell her cheese.  I thought, maybe this time next year I’ll be in 100 stores while she will still be at Home Sales selling her cheese. 

I can’t tell you what happened to the cheese ball lady, but I am happy to report that my fleeting thought of being in 100 stores actually came true the following year. 

And, NO! I don't sell my cards at home boutiques. Don't even try to persuade me. 

Dishclothe Doily Beginnings

A basket of dishcloth doilies played a tiny part in launching me into a career I had never planned for myself.

My mom asked me to sell her dish-clothe doilies at a home boutique she signed up for but was unable to attend. Each doily had a tag attached that read, "Untie my ribbon is my wish, So I can help you wash your dish." I didn't what to sit all day at a folding table selling crocheted doilies, but she bated me with, "Why don't you make some hand-made cards and sell them at the same time?" which persuaded me. Every dish-cloth doily sold while only 2 of my greeting cards were purchased. At the time I was discouraged. However, one purchaser invited me to sell my cards at a trade show she would be attending, which I accepted.  At the trade show stores discovered my cards. As the line grew, sales reps offered to carry my cards in their territory. The rest is history. More cards have been sold in more locations than the amount of doilies in basket. I'm grateful God took an unpleasant event and used it to create a work in and through me that He continues use to bless and encourage others. 

My Warehouse

Kimberly Shaw Graphics occupied a warehouse until 2009. We moved into the larger space after we grew out of our small beach cottage. It was a typical warehouse with a front office in the front and an open warehouse space in the back, which we filled with rows of metal shelving to store boxes of Teacup Greeting cards, Things To Do After I Have Tea Notepads, Stickers, a Perpetual Calendar, and some art prints.

Welcome to my Studio

This was my studio until 2012. It was originally built as a playhouse for my children. When they grew out it, I moved in. It was a quiet spot where I was able to retreat and create for hours at a time. Our dog loved to curl up at my feet under my desk and the cat slept perched on a chair.