Dear Jon...

Dear Jon,

Does Cosmo Cricket have a design team? How can I become a part of it? Any inside information you could give me would be greatly appreciated!

Sincerely,
Cosmo DT Wanabe

PS: Does anyone at Cosmo take bribes?

Dear Cosmo DT Wanabe,

I think to answer your letter will require some secret agent lurking in the office of Julie Comstock. While I was in there the other day, pretending to be interested in her stickers, I noticed a paper with words scribbled on it like, designers, submit, DT members, post, publish and then lots of doodles of the word Eric inside of hearts (what's up with that?). I think if I can get my hands on that paper, I'll be able to help you.

Keep watching, I'll let you know what I find.

Sincerely,
Jon

PS: I don't know how to answer that until I know what you're offering.

Quilting Meets Scrapbooking

At the textile show in Portland, I met this fabulous artist named Virginia Cole. She makes these beautiful, framed pieces that incorporate fabric and paper all in one that I think are really cool. Take a look. She has more stuff on her blog.

Cory's Revenge

So, I got this email from Cory Ashworth last night.

A party? Why would I be so cruel?

Don't check out this link:

http://www.clipperstreetonline.com/Commerce.Web/product.aspx?id=8363&catID=112

Cory

Dear Jon.....

Dear Jon,

Who do you think should win the American Idol competition? Why? Who do you think WILL win the competition?

Awaiting your reply,
Can't scrap 'til I know


Dear Can't scrap 'til I know,

For the good of America, David Archuleta should win. Why? He fits the American Idol mold perfectly.

Look at David Cook, ex-bartender, guitar slinging rocker, scruff sporting dude in his mid-twenties. Do you really think he wants to attend AI events into the next decade playing to the same family friendly, clever sign-sporting audience that watches AI every night? He’s a rocker, he wants to play guitar, sing songs with a little more edge and curse here and there without the scrutiny of America. He’s gotten everything he needs out of American Idol. He’s proven that he has enough talent to get to the finals, and he doesn’t need this contest to propel him to a career, because he’ll already have one. I’d be willing to bet that record labels have already called with “generous” offers of up to 2% of record sale revenue. They’ll probably even be so “kind” as to meddle in every possible creative aspect of his work. He’s gonna be fine on his own. Let him go be a rocker, and (slowly) shed his AI skin so that he can gain a little “street cred.”

Archuleta, on the other hand, will continue to look like a scared kitten in the spotlight well into the foreseeable future. He is the very essence of American Idol. He is a strong vocalist without aspirations to become a rocker. He attracts the tween and 30+ crowd. He’s family friendly. He’s Miley Cyrus without the risqué photos. He’ll be there to attend AI events and promote the AI brand. He’s cute and barring a drug problem in the future should continue to be cute well into his late 20’s. If he ever learns to act, he’ll be prime to play a high school sophomore role at age 27. It’s even possible that he needs the American Idol win to help him get a record deal. Archuleta should win.

Who do I think WILL win the competition?

Archuleta. American heckles Simon and pretends to hate him, but they hang on his every word.

Final Note: It’s probably in my personal best interest for DA to lose. That way the local Utah news can stop doing hour long segments about him. If he wins, I expect this will continue for at least another week.

Now, get scrapping,
Jon the Warehouse Guy

Want Jon's advice? Send your Dear Jon letters to jonthewarehouseguy@cosmocricket.com

Farewell Old Friends!

This post is really for Cory Ashworth. Cory has teased me about these shoes since the dawn of Cosmo Cricket. He noticed that I wore them at our debut show and repeated them at our second show. I told him that they were the coolest shoes ever (he is not convinced) and were my signature piece........ you know, like Jackie O's pearl necklace. He thinks they are old, worn out and dated, but you have to consider that although he might have a point, this criticism is coming from a man that wore a grey winter-type sweater in California..... two days in a row! He has given me such a bad time about these shoes that I have been determined to wear them more and more. Well, he won in the end because after more than 6 years, 7 trade shows and 3 countries they are breaking in half. You can sort of see it in the photo. I think I might have them bronzed. Or, better yet, maybe I'll send them special delivery to Cory.

Cool Business Card

I just got back from the Textile Show in Portland, Oregon. I met a cute designer there named Melissa Averinos, and this is her business card. I think it is the coolest business card I've ever gotten. Not only is it a 6" x 15"piece of canvas, but it is silk screened with that really fun design! She has great stuff on her site too, check it out!

Where Did Those Extra Paper Images Come From Anyway?

I had lots of you email or post that you thought I was tricking with the sneak peek game and that all three options would be released because as someone said, "you had to get those images from somewhere." I did get them from somewhere. My own little head.

When I sit down to design I usually have an idea in mind of how I want the art to turn out. I had this great idea in mind when I started on what was to be the May release. I did three papers then got stuck (these three were not shown because I think I might get unstuck soon). Getting stuck means that I couldn't find a way to develop the beginning set of work into a full release...... or in other words, I was out of ideas.

I started idea number two. This is shown in option C of the game. I actually designed about 12 different papers in this look just trying to get a complete working line. Lindsay thought the first pattern looked like a tsunami hitting a village (he didn't intend this as a compliment). Eric didn't like all the yellow. So, I started over again.

I tried a formal looking line (not shown). I got stuck after two beautiful papers. Then, I tried a completely flat look (this means no texture, distressing, etc). Eric, didn't like it. His sister didn't like it. Lindsay was too afraid at this point to tell me he didn't like it either. I added some distressing and this became what you saw as option A. Still nobody liked it, including myself.

I started over again. I was actually at church (yes I do believe in blessings from heaven) when I noticed a girl sitting slightly behind and to the side of me with a great skirt. It became the inspiration for the line Hello Sunshine.

I guess the moral to the story is try, try, try again and if that fails seek divine inspiration!

Say Hello to Hello Sunshine!

We Have Winners!!!

We have four winners. Congratulations!!!

The correct answer was B. We are working as fast as we can to get all the images up. Keep checking. We are also updating the website for retailers that would like to order online. We will begin shipping May 14th. If you would like to sign up for our auto ship program, and you are a retailer, send Lindsay an email at lindsay@cosmocricket.com.

If you were lucky enough to win, send your address to kristen@cosmocricket.com and she will make sure you get your prizes! Thanks for playing!!

Grand Prize Winner (A Complete Paper Crafting Kit from Cogsmo, Get Happy, Fleuriste, Honey Pie and Hello Sunshine)
teresa (aka tmom)
I am torn between B and C, but if I must pick I will go with B. I love the all!

First Place Winner (Complete Hello Sunshine Collection)
crystal (3:21)
I guess 'B' but I want them all!

Second Place Winner (Hello Sunshine Paper Crafting Kit)
Pegg S
My guess is B ! Pretty patterns!

Third Place Winner (Hello Sunshine 8" Paper Pad)
Scrap addict
I'm guessing B...I'd guess d all of the above but it wasn't an option

Guessing Game

Jon is too busy with his new baby to get into any trouble with this sneak peek. But, to keep it fun....... we are going to play a game. If you can guess which of the following choices is the real sneak peek, we will enter your name into a drawing. There will be four winners!

The first name picked will be our Grand Prize winner and will receive a Paper Crafting Kit from Get Happy, Cogsmo, Honey Pie, Flueriste and the new line! The next name drawn will get a complete set of the new line. Third name will get a Paper Crafting Kit from the new line and the last name picked will get an 8" pad.

So, give us your best guess. Check back Wednesday for the full sneak peek and to see who wins! Then, get ready because it all starts shipping May 14!