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In 1991, I asked my wonderfully-talented-artist husband, Roger, to hand paint a design for our 1st Christmas card. And being the wonderfully-talented-artist-sweet husband that he was, he painted a beautiful Christmas tree design for me. But, it was too perfect. I asked him to "whimsy" it up a bit. He calmly left the room and reappeared minutes later with a box of paints, brushes and paper and said "Here...You whimsy it up"! Well, I did not draw nor did I paint...a fact that was made clear to me by Professor Sorrey at the University of Oklahoma who gave me an F on an art project! Even with his Harvard degree he wasn't what I would call "objective"! His grade really crushed me...and this from a man who had a sculpture titled "Anatomy of a Woman" in the lobby of the Architecture Building that was made entirely of dirty old scrap parts from a junk yard! Anyway...I thought oh well! Why would I need to hone my art skills? I just wanted to pick out wallpaper, fabric and furniture! So, anyway I gave the card designs a whirl and came up with a few that I thought at the time were pretty cute and we sent them out that 1st Christmas. Looking back at some of those designs I just cringe! Luckily for me, I sent one of the cards to my friend and past employer, Billy Hays of Arthur Graham in Oklahoma City. Billy (a.k.a. "Mr Good Taste"~)called me in Atlanta and encouraged me to pursue this card line. He was coming to Atlanta for January market and invited me to tag along so I could see for myself just what was out there. I jumped at the chance! I had never been to market! So, I put on my cutest outfit and my highest heels and off to market with Billy I went. I was in heaven. I learned alot that day and came back really encouraged. Of course, I also came back with aching feet...(note to self...Don't wear high heels to market!) I was managing the Pierre Deux store at the time and just loved it, but I still continued to dream about the possiblilites and to work on designs. I also wanted to open my own interior design business and retail store. There were alot of dreams on the table at that time of my life! In 1993, Roger and I moved back to Muskogee, Oklahoma and opened our retail store. We specialized in interior design, art, gifts and accessories. A year later, we added imprintables to the mix and in 1995 I got up my nerve to get a booth in temporaries at the Dallas Gift Market and show my 1st collection of Lovie and Dodge imprintables. I bombed. I bombed BIG! But, I didn't give up. Over the next 4 years, I worked on designs in my past time and in 1999, shortly after our son, Callaway, was born I had an Epiphany!... In a dream like state I pictured Callaway 30 years down the road rummaging thru boxes in our attic. He comes across one with tons of drawings, doodles, paintings, and designs and asks "Mom...What is all this?" I look at him and say with a sigh..."Oh nothing honey...just a silly dream I had once upon a time...I gave up on that years ago...gosh, I had forgotten all about that stuff!" YIKES! I thought WHAT AM I DOING??? I decided right then and there that I could handle trying my best and falling on my face. But, I could not stand the thought of telling my son that I hadn't tried at all! So, I pulled my collection together, got a booth at the National Stationery Show and Lovie and Dodge was born (again). And this time we did not bomb! Quite the opposite! Now the line has grown to include invitations, calling cards, labels, luggage tags, note pads, wall art, gift tags, picture frames, door hangers, waste baskets & tissue boxes. Where it goes form here? Who knows! We are in stores coast to coast and are growing steadily. Roger is still by my side and Callaway is still my inspiration. They keep me going! Life's lesson #1?...It's all true...You know, the things your parents told you like "Find something you love and find a way to make a living at it".... Never, Never, Never give up!..."Money isn't everything!...and that it really doesn't grow on trees (dang! that one WAS true!)... Life's lesson #2?...Don't let a closed-minded art professor get you down...even if he has a Harvard degree! That reminds me...Hmmmmmm...maybe I should send Professor Sorrey a thank you note...I think I have one around here somewhere.... Life's Lesson #3....Really...Don't wear heels to market! | Roger Davis Portrait Studio | | Return Home | About Us | Contact Us | Retailers | Gifts | Paper | Our Studio | Bargain Bin | Shop Online | |
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