We got an office!!!

Posted on by Jennifer Heller

I’ve dared to day dream of an office lately.

After 2 1/2 years plus of working out of my living room and running Artsy Geek via Skype and coffee shop meetings, I felt life was passing me by.

It wasn’t that I didn’t get out…I did.  But not as much as I wanted to.

It’s funny the strange packages answers to dreams come in.  I met with a potential client last week.  We instantly hit it off and she was telling me about how she needed to get an office space immediately.  I asked her what she was looking for in the office space.  When her words echoed my needs exactly, I ventured to mention my interest.

Not two days later she had found us an affordable office space with room to entertain clients and interns housed in one of the coolest art gallery / warehouse spaces I had ever visited on my Oakland Art Murmur wanderings.

Yesterday we sealed the deal. Warehouse 416 is the new home to both Artsy Geek and Sarahbek Images.

An office with a balcony?? OK!
Should there be an earthquake, the landlord insists that we are safe despite the gorgeous brick exterior.
No shortage of inspiration working amongst this awesomeness!
Sarah is chilling in our client area soon to be filled with tea and cookies.
Outside our new home!
Someday soon I’ll have a desk area around here.

The whole walk back to my home office, my head sang, “Let’s put a new coat of paint on this lonesome old office…”

sometimes my cat serves the same purpose as an inkblot

Posted on by Jennifer Heller

Look at what a cutie he is!

Lately, he’s been looking to me like a crawfish:

You can see the resemblance right?

I suppose that means I want to eat him. I mean, he is pretty cute.

The boyfriend mentioned last night that to him Gus looks a lot like Louis CK.

Now, there is no way that Gus looks more like a man than a crayfish.  Sure he’s got the right coloring, but where are the whiskers?? They are both fairly crotchety old men, though.  I have to concede a resemblance there.
Continue Reading

I love Mannequins

Posted on by Jennifer Heller

I have a bit of a collection.

Apropos of nothing, I spotted a couple of pairs of men’s mannequin legs in some strange places recently.

Perched outside of my old stomping grounds, Cloyne Court Hotel & Casino:

And adorning some majorly cool person’s desk at the offices of the East Bay Express:

I’m thinking it might be time to add some men’s legs — complete with junk — to my collection as well. Continue Reading

I didn’t realize the finding a roommate would be so hard!

Posted on by Jennifer Heller

Somehow we managed to write the best Craigslist ad ever. Or maybe it’s just the time of year. Joey says that people move a lot in November because of Mercury being in retrograde or something.

Regardless, we have had an overwhelming response to our ad.  I’ve filled the available room twice and never had this experience.  Every other time there was a clear winner — the lesser of the evils.  This time, I love everyone.  I want to live with everyone.  They are all so intriguing and so chill.

Living in the SF Bay. So many cool people. Most of the time it’s a blessing but today it’s a curse. Continue Reading

Life Lessons: Pumpkins Rot

Posted on by Jennifer Heller

I carved a fantastic cocktail glass (GLOAT!) in a pumpkin the day before Halloween. That was a Sunday. I put it on a shelf in my kitchen, and could not wait to display it at our Lushes in Love Cocktail Lounge Salon that coming Friday. Could not wait.

Friday came. My house guest and great friend Jen E. called me while I was out running errands. “The pumpkin is rotted!” she proclaimed. “And there are flies everywhere!!”

“But it’s for tonight!! OH NO!” I was perplexed. I hate flies, but I loved my pumpkin.

“It has to go outside.” She was not going to budge. I growled into the phone for a little bit and then finally agreed.

Thank god I did. It’s five days later and we’re still battling the flies everywhere.

GROSS. No wonder people normally keep them outside. Continue Reading

Myron.com. Sounds like moron.com, appropriately enough.

Posted on by Jennifer Heller

I received a stuffed envelope addressed to “MS. Jenniffer Heller” in the mail last week. Ms. Jenniffer Heller of “Artsy Greek Designs.”

OK, so it’s a promotional letter from some people who managed to get both the spelling of my first name and the name of my company wrong. It’s not the first time it’s happened, though it is the first time I’ve caught wind of “Artsy Greek.” Normally it’s “Artsy Geeky” or some such.

I open up the package and double over with laughter.

“Dear Ms. Heller,”

Yes!  They got that part right!

“Surprised to see the Artsy Greek Designs name on the enclosed Regatta Horizons Duo Diary sample?  Looks impressive, does it?”

I inspected the sample more closely.

Wait, that's not our name or our phone number!

I was definitely impressed.  The letter went on…

“Why just send a pocket calendar when you can make a really big impression?  The Duo Diary is two gifts in one – a pocket calendar and notepad.”

The question they didn’t address that’s worth asking…why send a pocket calendar at all??

But, you know, these pocket calendars are printed with erroneous information in gold.  I do like gold.

I received this letter dated "August 2011" with its limited time offer in October.

Only $1.99 each??  What a steal.  What do you think?  Essential tax-deductible purchase or the most essential tax-deductible purchase ever??