tranquility du jour #216: art w/ mary phillips

Bonjour.

Welcome to the 216th edition of Tranquility du Jour. Today’s show features upcOMing happenings and Making Art with Mary Phillips.

Workshops + Retreats
Consider joining moi for a true tranquilologie experience:

* Summer Tranquilologie Teleclass June 22
* Yoga in Costa Rica Retreat July 2-9
* Art Journaling 3-hr Extravaganza in DC July 23 
* Hip Tranquil Chick Retreat at Kripalu in Mass August 28-September 2
* 3-hr Women's Urban Retreat in DC September 25 + December 18
* Yoga + Creativity Lifestyle Retreat at a Farmhouse in NY October 14-16
* Yoga + Writing in DC November 6
* Hip Hop Yoga in DC December 16
* Yoga + Art Retreat in Paris + Provence May 24 - June 2 SOLD OUT, second one added June 7-16, 2012
* Yoga Retreat in India November 2012

Featured Tranquilista: Mary Phillips

Mary Phillips Designs is taking the country -- and Hollywood by storm! Celebrities like Paris Hilton and Teri Hatcher have been seen sporting the designer's popular black label tank tops that do all of the talking for you.

With Hollywood taking note, the rest of America and the world, is now doing the same. The Mary Phillips Designs product line can be found at some of the most recognizable retail stores throughout the country, including Fred Segal, Intuition, Papyrus, and Hallmark, to name a few.

Mary Phillips Designs is the perfect gift with the right dose of attitude! Pulling from an arsenal of feminine quotes, Mary Phillips Designs adds sassy sketches to artfully framed art, cocktail napkins, magnetic notepads, greeting cards, magnets, sticky notes, coffee mugs, boxed note cards, purse pads pink ribbon products, calendars, t-shirts, tanks, wine glasses, wine totes, and coozies that spice up your gift giving or receiving with just the amount of sass.

Sassy was officially trendy almost eight years ago with the launch of Mary Phillips Designs in the US. And, the inception was an unexpected twist of passion and talent. A John Lennon art exhibit back in '99 inspired Phillips to purchase a sumi ink kit and get back to painting. Her first product was the "framed art" collection. The creations came to fruition while sketching in a local coffee shop - she would combine a love for art with her collection of humorous quotes to create the framed art pieces. Phillips soon realized that her quotes needed something to go along with them, hence, the idea for the "sassy lady" "the quotes represent everything a woman should be says Phillips, "she is witty, strong, and kicks a whole lot of attitude everything a woman should possess."

Phillips initially started selling her work around town and once the buzz hit the streets, she added other products to the line, started hiring employees, set up an office, and, soon after, a warehouse and distribution center.

In 2006, Mary Phillips Designs launched a new project and, you didn't think the collection could get any sassier! Well, you can watch the wit quotient rise with the partnership between Mary Phillips and world-famous comedian, Rita Rudner. Selected as the exclusive producer of the Rita Rudner Collection, Mary Phillips Designs is launching a special line of magnetic notepads, framed art, cocktail napkins and greeting cards, all laced with the trademark humor that Rita Rudner has showcased on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Regis & Kelly, to name a few!

By 2007, Mary Phillips Designs™ distribution includes the US, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. Through Private Label work, Mary Phillips Designs custom designed pj pants exclusively for Wine Enthusiast. These wine-themed pajamas have proven a great success for the established company and a matching tee and men’s set are in the works for 2008. Also in 2007, a great relationship with American Greetings has brought many new stationary projects. Mary Phillips designed greeting cards exclusively for American Greetings, Target, and Wal-mart; 2008 projects for these powerhouses are already in the works. "It's a great thrill and source of inspiration to be working with these tremendous industry institutions." Mary Phillips explains.

Look for the latest in your local boutiques and stay in touch with the team at maryphillipsdesigns.com; they would love to hear from you!

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Au Revoir: To close out the show, we’re playing Last Birthmark by Synch Dub. You can learn more about their music at synchdub.com.

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