Coffee, PJ's and Sharp Pencils - Things We Love

 

 **UPDATE - we will be updating this blog once a month **

This week everyone has been enjoying our beautiful weather, birds singing, and our creative atmosphere here at Sherman Street Design.  Here is our list:

 Extra Sleep, Finding Money and Children Laughing

Who doesn't enjoy a few extra sleep moments! When you work hard all day and get up early in the morning, it takes it's toll on you.  We decided to hit the sack 30 minutes early this week and oh my goodness it really feels good and helps with that positive attitude.  Kyle found a dollar in a jacket pocket - our weather gets a little crazy, he needed a light jacket and wholah, a dollar.  That always make me smile.  We have the privilege of my youngest daughter and her family staying with us for a couple months - I sooo enjoy the sound of children's laughter.

Ok all you music fans out there, this is for YOU.  The Tacoma Guitar Festival is on May 14th/15th.  The festival will feature over 150 exhibit booths and live performances music.  Come to buy, trade or sell!!

Thanks everyone.  Join us next month on the first Thursday for more Coffee, PJ's & Sharp Pencils

Coffee, PJ's and Sharp Pencils - Things We Love

Never knew discussing things we love would lead to such lively discussions!  This week our list is

Rusty Things, Little Things and Vintage Cars

Kyle and I often walk along a little piece of beach just at the bottom of the hill we live on.  The first thing we look for are the sea lions - they like to rest on the logs just off shore - although we usually hear them "barking" before we see them.   Along this beach I usually look for Rusty Things, hoping for something that has come off of a ship, however with a recycle yard close by I end up finding rusty car parts.  Either way, I have a little collection in my yard.  Kyle looks for sea shells - tiny ones.  He really loves Little Things, little rocks, sea shells, miniature ANYTHING.  He has a little collection that he sells on Etsy :)  if you'd like to check it out.  Next,  Vintage Cars.  We go to most of the car shows in our area and often visit the Lemay Car Museum, and Stews Man Cave is decorated with model vintage cars along with vintage signage.

If you have not been to America's Car Museum it is worth seeing at least once if you are a car enthusiast. 

Coffee, PJ's and Sharp Pencils - Things We Love

This week for things we love our focus is on living here in the beautiful northwest.  Our state has long been associated with rain, rain and always raining.  I wont argue that we get our share of rain (sometime more than our fair share) but without it we would not be called the Emerald State.  Our list this month

Green Grass, Water and Hiking

Yip mowing season has begun.  Nearly every morning we wake to the sound of lawnmowers and the smell of freshly mowed grass.  Green Grass - mowed or long and natural is a beautiful sight -bonus, it attracts many species of wildlife - we see bunnies and birds daily enjoying lawns and parks.  

For our second favorite thing, we couldn't all agree on one source of Water - from our numerous lakes, to abundant ponds and streams to our salt enriched Puget Sound and Pacific Ocean.  We are certainly blessed with water.

For spring break we took several hikes on Mt. St. Helen's.  The nice part about hiking in the pacific northwest is you can do a small .75 mile hike - more like a walk - and see a beautiful waterfall or you can hike 3-5 miles to a beautiful secluded lake or you can hike and camp to the tops of mountains or along the pacific ocean. 

If your planning a trip to this area, check out Washington Hiking Guide -->  https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes  This guide is the most comprehensive database of hikes in Washington, and comprises content from eight guidebooks, user submitted info, and data compiled by WTA.

Join us next week for Coffee, PJ's & Sharp Pencils.

Thanks!!

Coffee, PJ's and Sharp Pencils - Things We Love

The Coffee, PJ's and Sharp Pencils weekly article has been a discussion theme at our house. We are really enjoying focusing on small, yet important, positive things we love.  This week we have chosen..

Quality,  Hummingbirds and Tin Snips  

Quality was discussed regarding our products, how we make sure our items exceed quality standards in beauty and functionality.  Quality was also discussed in regards to our family, we make our relationship a priority by spending quality time together in business, home and in relaxation.  Hummingbirds!! They are nesting and in need of extra diligence in feeding them and keeping their nectar fresh.  We've only counted 3 different birds that use our feeder, therefore I only make enough nectar to feed them for three days at a time.  Lastly, tin snips were just discovered by our son, he diligently watched me the other day cutting out flowers to add to my cork jewelry, apparently he was impressed.  Ever since he has been cutting cans to bits!!  He's always got ideas, so we are waiting to see what he comes up with.


Also, wanted to share a YouTube video on the harvesting of Cork.  Our family enjoys touring Vineyards and Winery's every summer and at Sherman Street Design we recycle wine bottles into lights and corks into pendants and earrings.  Did you know cork stoppers represent about 60% of all cork based production?  A study was conducted in 2008 concluded that cork is the most environmentally responsible stopper, compared with plastic stoppers and aluminum screw caps!

Join us next week for Coffee, PJ's and Sharp Pencils

Thanks!!


 

Coffee, PJ's and Sharp Pencils - Things We Love

Things We Love Thursday

  Introducing a new weekly blog posting on Thursdays titled

 "Coffee, PJ's and Sharp Pencils"

It's day one of  "Coffee, PJ's and Sharp Pencils" blog posts and we are happy to share a list of 3 things our family loves.  My husbands favorite this week is Coffee, he has a three cup-a-day habit!  Some mornings he adds a packet of hot chocolate and almond milk to the first cup.  Smells delish here!!  Mine would have to be PJ's, oh so comfy!!  Our son decided his number one thing he loves and appreciates is Sharp Pencils.  I never thought about it before, but he has a point (LOL)

We also want to share a local event with you, playing at the Grand Cinema is "Science on Screen: Making Water on Mars."  Sounds interesting, admission is $10 on April 4th.  For more information  visit www.grandcinema.com 

Join us every Thursday for Coffee, PJ's and Sharp Pencils.

Thanks!!

Sherman Street Design Contest and Giveaway

 

Today I decided to clean out my office.  I started with the antique dresser in the corner, where I keep my art business mailing supplies, cards, gift boxes, etc.  There in the bottom drawer I found two boxes of old business cards.  Mostly mine from my art business over the years, as my business grew so did my products, my style, even my business name.  Some are specific to particular items, others are general.  I have some that I hand colored, and others with photographs.  The point is,  just as I tossed them into the paper recycle bin, I grabbed them back out and neatly packed them into the boxes they were in.

Over the years I've designed several business cards

All office organizing and cleaning halted.  I really don't need the cards anymore, after-all I have them saved on my computer, so why cant I just toss them away?  The words CRAFT PROJECT echoed in my head.  I googled DIY projects but none of them reached out and grabbed me, they didn't speak to me on an artistic level.

This is where YOU come in to play

Calling all Artist and Crafters.  Send me your best idea for a project that recycles my old business cards.  In return the "winner" will receive one of my Glass Garden Flowers (your choice from available flowers on Etsy or from our website).

Details:

• This will be put on our Facebook wall
• You will comment on this post with your idea (You may comment here OR on our Facebook wall AND Ideas must be full and complete, with instructions and pictures)
• On November 5th I will choose my favorite idea (If only one idea is posted, this is not a guarantee of winning)
• Winner will be notified in the comments section (At that time, you'll have to message me your contact information)
• Once you choose from the available flowers I will mail it to you.  No cost to you.
• Please note:  ALL IDEAS posted will be re-posted here on my blog.  Credit will be given to you, if you have a blog and want me to link to it- it will be your responsibility to message me any information you want posted for credit.  If the idea came from another blog, please include in your comment credit to them for the idea.   If you DO NOT want your idea posted please message me that as well.

Thanks!!  Happy crafting.

It's Here- Welcome To Our New Website!

WEBSITE LAUNCH ANNOUNCEMENT

welcome to our new website and new look

Here at Sherman Street Design we’re very excited to announce the launch of our newly designed website which went live yesterday and is located at  web address www.shermanstreetdesign.com The site’s homepage features our art work, an uncluttered design as well as including our newly designed logo. A few of our goals with the new website were to make it faster, easier to navigate and more user friendly.

It was important for us to make our indoor and outdoor decor options as easily accessible as possible for our current and prospective clients.  Our new site features an entire section dedicated to examples of past art accomplishments, and a listing of new products.

We also wanted to give our clients an opportunity to know us better; who we are as a company and a family. By browsing through our About Us and Blog sections, you’ll get a pretty good idea of who we are, what we do as a company, and the quality of our work.

You’ll find our new site is divided into three main sections:  Our Store, Our Gallery, and Our Story. We shifted to a client-centric layout so our clients could easily navigate our site and locate the products they are seeking. Our Store section provides detailed descriptions of the items we proudly offer, pricing, and images. We have dedicated our new Gallery section to feature new products and a thumbnail gallery of our art over the years. Our Story section tells how we started and what we each do at Sherman Street Design.

 If you experience any problems using the new website or if you have any questions, please contact us at info@shermanstreetdesign.com.

Sherman Street Design

New Look - New Name

digital design by Charlotte for Sherman Street Design

Shop Announcement -

I've started so many sentences then back spaced out of them.  I'm shocked that I have not blogged since January, I think you'll agree that playing catch up just wont work.  So I'll just announce to you that I am no longer just Chars Wild Art.  What?  My husband and I have been kicking around the idea of working together for years and now we are jumping in with both feet (or four feet)  - drum roll please - we started a new journey together....Sherman Street Design!!

We have combined our talents to reclaim wood and glass into home decor, garden decor and wearable art. 

• Glass Garden Flowers
• Tea Cup Bird Feeders 
• Bird Baths
• Wine Signage
• Wine Racks
• Lighted Coffee Tables
• Electrical Wine Bottle Chandlers & Wind chimes
• and more

While still offering Bird Houses, Glass Etchings, and vintage inspired Jewelry.

We are also on Etsy 

What Is The Cost of "GREEN"

Many articles are talking about what being "green" will cost us.The more pressing question emerging is what will it cost you not to be green?
As businesses train their environmental consciousness' I predict criteria for the privilege of doing business will be one's green policies. Look at the number of issues highlighted by the NRDC (National Resources Defense Council) that you have within your power to positively impact:

• Global Warming

• Saving Endangered Wild Places and Species

• Building Clean Energy Economy

• Renewing The World's Oceans

• Stemming Toxic Tide of Chemicals

• Accelerating the Greening of China

You and your business practices matter. You and your family are affected. Talking and writing are positive steps. Taking action, albeit baby steps at first, is momentous. Here is one example:

Although recycling is up in the US by 32.5% compared to 5% in 1970
one small European country - Austria was recycling well before the 1970 mark
and is now at 62% with their recycling efforts.

One small aspect of this effort is the grocery bag. It would cost 25 cents or 5 shillings in the 70's if you forgot your own reusable grocery bag in Austria. Given the average of 5 shopping days there, that would cost you $65 per year or $2,535 for 39 years. Given inflation the figure would be more like $3,802 per person. Imagine that times just the women (15-64) who typically do the shopping and that is a whopping $10,479,840,000 (over 10 billion).

Remember your reusable shopping bags this week - the money you save could be your own. If it took the US 39 years to reach 32.5% hopefully we can double this percentage in less that 39 additional years.

In your professional life "The Green List" with the contacts of green companies who are certifiably using sustainable practices and materials is now complete and available for distribution. To begin anew to renew contact my colleague Charlotte at the number listed below.

charlotte.sherman@tacticalcontactsDOTcom
253.517.9177
twitter.com/CharPennyAnn

Written by: Christine Meinhart

The Green List - Get On It

Earth Day is coming up April 22nd and its theme this year is
The Green Generation.

Perhaps like me you've read articles on our progress with recycling, which is up 32.5% in 2009 from 5% in 1970 or skimmed through studies with statistics on the profitability of building green. Though I am impressed with the $48.3 billion invested in clean technologies in 2006, I went in search of inspiration to wholeheartedly embrace my efforts in Mother Earth's sustainability and share practical, reachable actions with you.

I recall an ancient proverb: "The Earth is a mother who never dies." There is comfort in that metaphor, yet I realize she has issues making her sick - big issues that I cannot fix with a band-aid or by myself. And just as token observance of Mother's Day is insincere, Earth Day - no less so. Then I observe my 3-year-old grandson at the shore captivated by the waves and the fish. Will the fish be safe to eat? Is the school he'll attend designed with green technology? Will other countries agree to reduce their carbon footprint in his lifetime?

So really now, what do we all work so hard for in business? It is our children and your children - all the children of the world - and leaving the Earth a better place for them. Unlike Mother Earth we only have a short while to impart wisdom and leave a shadow rather than a footprint.

Treat the earth well
It was not given to you by your parents
It was loaned to you by your children

Speaking of footprints and reducing our carbon one, did you know that recycling cuts global warming pollution by the equivalent of removing 39.6 million passenger vehicles from the road? That is huge and we can all do this.

Here are some practical things our company and employees do at home and at the office that might be considered insignificant alone but when done together have a huge impact over time.

* Walk or ride a bike rather than drive
* Use green cleaning products
* Telecommute several days a week
* Buy office supplies utilizing recycled materials
* Don't buy bottled water
* Office and home - landscape with drought-tolerant native plants
* Buy recycled products
* Stop printing documents: Use electronic e-mail, invoicing, etc..
* Eat less meat

One of the toughest challenges is finding truly "green" companies. My colleague, Charlotte, agreed and is taking action with the following:

In response to growing interest on behalf of our clients, we are compiling "The Green List 2009". A B2B list of companies considered pioneers in one of two categories:

* Employment of new technologies to reduce their carbon footprint

* Design, Manufacturing or Installation of Green Technology

As a country with a global mind-set we have come of age and are ready to take responsibility for our planet. What generation, if not ours - "The Green Generation" - will guard our home and keep it safe for generations to come? Whether your company is on the cutting-edge of energy saving technologies or determined to reduce your carbon footprint, people are clamoring to know where you are, who you are and want to give you their business. The list will be completed and available for mass distribution by May 15th, 2009, and will include all up-to-date, accurate contact information for the senior marketing contacts.

If your company is interested in being listed in "The Green List-2009" directory, the application process is simple: e-mail me documentation of your green status in the form of white papers, news releases, awards, etc. That information is then forwarded to our research team, they will evaluate using ETV standard for acceptance. Since documentation must be submitted prior to approval and listing please keep in mind - the deadline for submissions and payments is April 15th, 2009. That date is coming up quickly!

For more information you may contact me directly at 253.517.9177,
visit our website at: www.tacticalcontacts.com,
e-mail charlotte.sherman@tacticalcontacts.com,
and twitter.com/charpennyann.

written by Christine Meinhart in collobration with Charlotte Sherman. Christine is an author, businesswoman and green earth enthhusiast.