2018 was our biggest year yet, and between Matt and I having two small but growing businesses and what the parenting books have told me is a "spirited" 2 year old (hahaaa!) things felt slightly frantic a lot of the time. I was stretched to my max, realized I needed more help, and had the most wonderful assistant/everything person join the team in Dec. We've had fun setting up the shop, and are looking forward to bringing in the goods of some of our favorite makers as well-- and we're loving our spacious new order fulfillment area and studio in the back of the space. I'm hoping to do a lot more actual designing this year, rather than spending so much of my time working on shipping and logistics issues. It's so funny and has happened to so many creatives I know- you start a business doing what you love, and then don't get to do that thing most of the time because the actual running of the business takes all your time. So it will be a joy to get back to the colors and textures and patterns, and I love that I get to hunker down and base out of this great little neighborhood.
Here's to a calmer and more balanced 2019- and if you're in the Louisville area please stop by and say hi!!
Love, Hallie
https://graymarketdesign.com/
BEFORE PICS (late November 2018)
AFTER PICS!! JAN 2019
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Now we're back, and ready to get to work! But here are a few moments from our sweet, sweet time at the ocean......
xHallie
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Matt's booth was such a success--- as some of you might remember, he built our new booth using some self-taught basic carpentry tricks, lots of YouTubing and many conversations with Lowe's employees trying to help make his plan a reality. Below are some pictures of the booth in the making and then set up at the show. We'll definitely be using this one at the next NYNOW, which is somehow only a handful of months away!
Now we're home, trying to get organized for the busy season ahead and waiting on big shipments from India to get in so we can fill our orders. And the good news is that we've had a successful week of sleep training the little guy, so I don't feel like I'm walking around in a fog anymore:)
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Jaipur StreetsDreaming of the streets of Jaipur today... Can't wait to get back and see the crew in January! #Jaipur #India
Posted by graymarket design on Saturday, October 24, 2015
We recently became a featured designer on Cataluv, a new mobile app that curates a feed of amazing home decor and accessories from shops and designers. I thought we should call attention to it because it's AWESOME and will have you totally hooked on the never-ending stream of amazing textiles, ceramics, art and other decor in no time. It's basically like Instagram for home decor enthusiasts, and the best part is that you can tap on each picture in their feed to learn more about and buy the featured pieces in the image. Really amazing place to discover new up and coming brands and get design ideas- check them out!
]]>The Badlands
Photo credit: Barbara Ann Spengler | http://tinyurl.com/phpkagx |
The Grasslands
Photo credit: http://tinyurl.com/pae39kw |
Roughlock Falls
Photo credit: Kimon Berlin | http://tinyurl.com/oey23ar |
Outside of Spearfish
Photo credit: Debra Kelley
Birch forest near Deerfield Lake
Photo credit: Debra Kelley
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July 2015...... here we are, two years in! Cliche as it sounds, it really does feel like yesterday that Matt and I drove to our first trade show in Oakland, CA. When my first order came in, It was so crazy to me that these designs I had sketched, painted and sent to this workshop in India months ago had come back to me hand-block printed on actual fabric, and I was terrified that no one would like them. I had visions of standing at our booth as people streamed by without looking or stopping, and of us sadly packing up at the end of the day having sold nothing.
Luckily that ended up not being the case, but the first year was definitely full of a very specific kind of fear and uncertainty, and I told myself that I would give my little textile business one more year to try things out before I resigned myself to getting a real job. Two years later, I can say that starting and running a small business is certainly the hardest thing I've ever done and has tested me on pretty much every emotional, mental and physical level, but the longer I do it the more addicted I get to tackling the never-ending business/creative/logistical obstacles and pushing onward and upward. Learning more about the production process and developing a real relationship with the artisans we collaborate with has been incredibly fulfilling, and I honestly think of them as true business partners at this point. What started as a sort of textile project has turned into a little business with a big textile vision.... so no "real" job for me yet!
A lot has changed in two years, including our base of operations for order fulfillment. The Bay Area remains our part-time home and is central to our design process, but we now also spend a lot of time in a small town in Kentucky. On top of giving us our country living fix, it's incredibly affordable, and has allowed us to open a deliciously spacious order fulfillment center. The front of the space has huge windows, great light and old hardwood floors, and we're in the process of making it a little retail space and showroom. We'll also use the space for photo shoots, and I'm loving the thought of having all of our props, backdrops and inventory in one place.
This third year feels decisively like the start of a new phase of the business, and this blog will cover developments, progress and growing pains, as well as events, new collections and inspiration of all sorts. Thank you for reading along!
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