Jonathan Adler's naked ladies

So I got to meet Jonathan Adler at the July Gift show at AmericasMart Atlanta. I had read in the show program that he would be giving a seminar during the show.  I've always really liked Adler, ever since I first run across his Quaalude Jar several years ago.  I figured anyone who would make such a thing as a Quaalude jar must have a wonderful sense of whimsy .

Seeing him in person was really big fun, he's just as fun and fabulous in real life as I imagined he would be.  He told us stories about his younger days, when  he couldn't manage to hold a job doing anything.  It just came natural that he work for himself, he apparently was not able to work for anyone else.  He basically just gave us an hour long Believe In Yourself pep talk, peppered with anecdotes and personal challenges he had met along his path.  But  he was fun to listen to, very charismatic and an engaging speaker.

I was browsing his website just today, and what did I find!  A harmless little link, called appropriately enough- Hardcore Crafts.  Little did I realize that hardcore, meant ...ahem, ... just that. Well, not really. i  mean there are boobs and butts, and phallically suggestive banana bud vases, but nothing I'd call really hardcore.   Just the same - i love it.  The naked lady pillows, the cookie jar covered in boobs with a mischievous little tongue poking out the top - way more over the top that I expected even from Adler.

I'm  loving  it...

Day One - Atlanta Gift Mart

Day one in Atlanta = tiring but very exciting. The streets and sidewalks are very very icy. The wind whipping through these tall buildings feels sub zero.

We walked most of building 2 but didn't see many things that really stood out. One happy thing I did note was the increased traafic at the show. Some of the showrooms were packed. Compared to last year when the mart halls were all but empty, things look to be picking up. 

Let's hope so for all our sakes.

Atlanta Gift Mart - january show

Time again to visit the Atlanta Gift Mart. 8mil+ sq ft of product to see - three buildings, 18 floors each, and I have no idea how many showrooms per floor. I'd guess 20-60 or so, depending on how large some of them are. Of course, there is no way to see it all. Quite a few of the floors are of no interest to me - the rugs, apparel, furniture and stuff like that. There are plenty of floors of giftware, plush, holiday decor, tabletop, stationary, kids stuff - so many exciting things to see.

I'm excited about all the great design and ideas I'll see there. It is a great place to watch for trend, not necessarily to spot emerging trend, but to confirm what your research has been telling you.

Staying at the Hyatt Place downtown, one of my favorites in the area.  It is smaller, but pretty nice and the staff are 100% top notch.

Friday night I am going to meet up with my friend DM Kirwin, a wonderful southern folk artist.   He moved to ATL recently from the Athens area; I dont get to see much of him anymore.  I love his paintings and wish I could buy more of them.   Google him to see his wonderful work.