Tracy Porter Blog… be inspired!

And a Beautiful and Bountiful Christmas to you too, Tracy!
Thank you for all the inspiration, encouragement, and gorgeousness you bring to us all.
I use as many of your suggestions as I can, and just add a delicious gourmet natural candle to the arrangements to stimulate ALL the senses.
Here’s to a Fabulous Festive Season and a Memorable New Year!
Warmly,
Jacqui G.

“Scents of Abundance”
http://www.jacquelinegates.com

Merry Christmas to you Tracy! May you and your family make many cherished memories this Christmas–memories those little boys will carry into adulthood.
xoxo

you rock. happy christmas to you too!
maile
http://www.dailyrelish.squarespace.com

And so what about the horse figurine?? I am very interested in it and there is no information about it. Is it one you have done and if not, where did it come from? I am into ANYTHING horse. Talk about huntress chic…. Thanks, Paula, Inola, Oklahoma

Tracy,
I just found your blog and am thrilled to read your thoughts! You are so inspiring to me because I have 3 young boys (3, 5 & 6) and feel like it’s hard to be a girl amidst the testosterone driven house in which I reside. When I received my first catalog of yours I laughed outloud at your comments. You have an amazing sense of style and a quick wit to boot. The way you can take a gorgeous chandelier and pair it with quirky monkey pedestals speaks volumes for the way you live your life. (I am a photographer and my favorite image is of your boys with those on their heads). You have truly inspired me to embrace my feminity while still laugh at the ‘locker room’ that is my life.

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Jamie Kraus
http://www.krausphotography.com

To Paula, If Tracy doesn’t have a horse figurine for you to purchase, Target will have one after Christmas when they do their Global Bazaar. I have bought several each year when they do that… all different and all wonderful. Of course, if Tracy has one it would be even more luscious-the girl has such style!

Merry Christmas to you and yours also!!!! You all are such bright shining stars!!!!!!!

Take care,
Carrie

wow, lots of wonderful good cheer! so great of everyone to write! the horse, is our HAN HORSE pair they are so cool, asian beauties. I knowof the ones at Target as well, I actaully bought one of those last year as well, very cool too! I have this thing for horses as well, I grew up on a horse farm and you can’t help but let “all that” seep into your being.
xo

Tracy,

I stumbled upon your work a few years ago and a few months ago discovered your web site. I quickly book marked it and am now THRILLED to find that you have a blog! It is wonderful!!! (However, I am amazed….how do you find the time to blog!?!?! You are amazing!!!) Thank you so much for sharing so much of yourself with all of us. It’s like visiting with a wonderful group of girlfriends. Very cool! Thanks for the inspiration, wonderful design tips, and your sweet, cheerful self!

May you and your family be blessed with the Merriest of Memories this Christmas!

I am dying to know how you got started in business. I see some definite “thinking outside of the box”-I know that saying is a little overused. Full time mom, dental hygienist, house keeper, chef, accountant and etc.

oh…CC ….I so agree with the “group of girlfriends” thought!!…I do love all this chattter! I sneek in my bloggin’ time, I am in between bites of my luch right now, soon to go into a customer service meeting with our fabulous team, but I love this piece, this connection with all of you…..you are all so incredibly kind and truly inspire me and our whole team to just keep on keepin’ on! I love the rawness of blogging….and am greatly appreciative that you know you are getting me that way….and how you all just jump right in! LOVE IT!!!
I am ridiculously giddy today as we are goin into “xmas weekend mode”….I am going to sneek in some cookie making with the boys this weekend, amongst a whole bunch of other xmas duties…( and I really do say the gleefully!)
wishing you all well….
xoxo
p.s. we ( John and I) had a date night last night and before cocktails and appetizers we went to the bookstore ( B & N)…all the hustle and bustle was really good, I had an arm full of good books as we left…and they did a VERY COOL thing, at check out you could choose a book to donate to the local hospitals and to kids in need…what an amazing gesture…truly made me weepy.In a very good xmasy way! p.s. do you all own the Sarah Mclaughlin( sp) xmas cd and James Taylors as well…..that’s my wrapping/glass of wine music. very good.
xo

I agree…The Sarah Mclaughin CD is a MUST on your Christmas play list! The lady knows how to make beautiful music!!!

I have the James Taylor CD and love it. He takes me back to my youth. My young adult children love him too….he crosses all ages and genders. Rush to buy this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas Tracy, I’ll be thinking of you as I use your Holiday plates this year! It’s been great getting to “know” you through your blog. Have a wonderful New Year!

I echo CC’s sentiments! I have been a fan ever since I bought the book “Inspired Gatherings”. I loved all the the quirky ways that you used everyday items. Everything was so whimsical yet elegant. I was so excited to find your website as well and check it all the time for new inspiration. I am also stunned that you find the time to blog and love the fact that you respond to people’s comments. It sound like the other ladies that visit your blog are very talented as well. I look forward to hearing more from you and everyone else!

Hope your holiday was everything you wanted it to be,
Stephanie

Hope you had a wonderful holiday with your family, Tracy!

Hope you had a blessed Christmas!! Wishing you and yours a happy and prosperous 2008!!!

I have so enjoyed reading some of your posts!

Wishing you a new year filled with laughter, joy and love.
xo Lidy

Happy New Year Tracy, Waiting to hear all about your Christmas with the little ones. Your blog has become part of my busy schedule. Don’t want to miss a thing. xoxo

Happy New Year Every one!! I didn’t blog with you over the break….did lots of games with the boys ( very cute new game called CADOO) and sledding, and baking. We had a lovely xmas got see so much family. It was such a treat. I know that I am ready to jump back in as last night my dreams consisted of me organizing toys. I never did respond to the Dec. 21 blogger (mom, dental hygenist, accountant) you had asked how we got started in this. You can read more on our website if you go to the about us section. But in a nutshell….We wanted to be entrepreneurs and I had always loved creating things…you name it i was making it. We jumped in with a line of furniture and accessoires that we designed and had built locally. Beautifully handpainted goods and from there we have tried to grow in as many ways that make sense to us. I would say that we are more of a mission now than we have ever been….I got renewed vigor after we gave birth to our son Gus ( now almost 2) and we started our catalog mission and we are just really enjoying this place we are in, with the kids and the way we are growing the company. It’s easy for a company to ” just become something” you have to work very hard to not let it derail…..by this I mean stay REALLY superb~ly focused…not always easy, but it’s more clear to me now than ever. ( and I have always felt like a pretty focused girl!)….so that hopefully gives you some tidbits. As I always say…we are in constant LEARN mode! Humbling…everyday. Baby steps will get you everywhere….leaps and bounds are great too….but little steps will keep you going in life!!
Thanks again everyone for all the good cheer….really and truly I find this blogging thing to be great fun, and you are so good to communicate !!
xoxo

May I be so bold as to ask a bunch of questions?

First, do you have a recipe or a great place to (mail order) foie gras?

Also, can you tell us a bit as to how you and John came to settle in Wisconsin. Is this where you are both from? If so, how wonderful that y’all came back to start your company and your family at home.

Thanks for sharing so many wonderful tidbits with all of us!
Hugs,
CC

Hi CC, Never a problem to ask questions~ yes, foie gras….my all time favorite indulgence. And i think I told you guys that it’s what i gave my mom for her birthday…a nice grade “A” foie gras. Lots of sources…I personally like http://www.dartagnan.com
they have lots of goodies also http://www.gourmetfoodstore.com also amazing for a range of goods.
This is what we do with ours, you will read a million wasy to cook it, it’s easier than mac-n-cheese!
Cut a 3/4 ” slice and place in a pan on your stove…about medium flame. Remeber it is ALL fat so no need to add oil or anything. We then chop some shallots very finely, add those and a bit of port or sherry, I also love a few slices of pear. You want it as close to raw in the middle as possible.If thats too pink for you, go further, but not too far, it will soon melt to nothing. Let me know if you try it….expieriment a bit you’ll see how simple.
I am from Wisconsin, per your other question…I grew up about 20 minutes from we now live. John is from Evanston, IL. We do love living and raising our family in this lovely small college town. Awesome school, great down to earth people…easy to,live here. I am very “PRO” small town America…I hope that future generations will see all the wonderful things about coming back to a small town…always good to go away for a while…I certainly needed to. But this is just the thing for me~us now. I still travel quite a bit and really love that…but i must say coming home is always the best!!
xoxo
thanks for asking!!

Tracy-
You have truly inspired me to live with beautiful things each and every day. Thank you for all of your wonderful hand painted tableware. My husband and I were married in 2006(August, by the way:)) and we had vivre as our every day china. We absolutely LOVE it!!! I was first introduced to your line with the Jardinere pitcher- which I love. I believe that I have most of the pitchers you have ever made. I have noticed lately that the new collections all do not contain a pitcher, like they used to. Are you planning to include more pitchers in your tableware like you used to? I really hope so because they are FABULOUS!!!
Keep up all of the wonderful work, I can’t wait to see what you have next!!!

Tracy,
As many of your other followers, I too am truly inspired by your energy and creativity. I have been getting your electronic newsletters for some time now, but have just recently started to read the blog.

I have to tell you that you have inspired me over the years to the point that I have just left my career in the business world. I felt that it was time to let out my bottled creativity. Like you, I have lots of creativity and ambition. As of last week, I left my career and am taking a breather from the working world to stay home with my three sons (yes…boys, boys, boys) and to catch up with all of my “home” projects. I am going to try to figure out what my niche will be as I embark into a new career doing something creative. I love to decorate and I love to create. I also love to write. So, I’m not sure where this adventure will take me, but I am extremely excited about it! And, I thank you for your inspiration!

I am also from Wisconsin. This past summer on the way home from one of our family camping trips, I convinced my husband to drive past your studio…how exciting! I love your ambition, your passion and your ability to digest life. I recently hung some cute metal plaques on my wall that say “Love Deeply,” “Live with Passion,” and “Laugh out Loud.” I intend to find a deeper and more fulfilling life than the one that I was living in corporate America!

I’d love to hear any advice that you can offer as I enter the entrepeneur arena. All of the best to you, Tracy…you go girl!

Hi Julie,
Way to go!!Well….You are sweet to ask my advice. Here is what I would say.
* Be fearless….I mean this!
* believe in yourself and your concept…or you will trip…pull that conviction from somewhere!
* small steps everyday
* envision it happening
* be inspired….push yourself all the time with this!
* surround yourself with amazing people with GREAT attitudes
* read everything you can about what you are doing….take it all with a grain of salt
* Be an optomist, even on days when you have to dig for it…find it

Good luck…..You can do this. please let us know!!!
xoxo

Don’t you other ladies find it so exciting that another vibrant, creative woman has had the courage to step out of the box to explore her own vistas? Julie K, I salute you and wish you bountiful blessings.
I too made the leap to work my own business last year – I started a gourmet scented candle business – and don’t miss the retail world at all
There’s nothing like taking your power back as a woman, a mother, or just a creative being, and the more of us that can do it, the better we’ll make the world.
I would add only one thing to Tracy’s list – Start and end every single day with Gratitude. It makes all the difference in the world.
May your days be filled with abundance,
Jacqui
http://www.jacquelinegates.com

Wow!! Thank you Tracy and Jacqui! I love the advice and the support.

I do intend to keep pushing forward to find the place that makes me most happy doing what comes so naturally. You are so right about keeping yourself inspired and surrounding yourself with great people! The attitude is catching:)

What an amazing time we live in, don’t you all agree? Never has it been easier for inspired, creative, modern goddesses to network and communicate and share at the speed of light! The Internet is a beautiful thing And my thanks and gratitude to Tracy for leading the way.
I just got back from Las Vegas for a conference for my Gourmet Candle Company. What really blew me away was just how unique we all are. Each success is as individual as the woman/man achieving it, so go ahead and create your own!
I have Tracy’s Monkey Tea for One, that I have my first tea of the day every morning. It is so beautiful and fun and inspiring to me. Seriously, who else would make a monkey and goldfish into a teapot??! Also, I don’t usually splurge on things that are just for me (I know you moms out there can relate!), so my little monkey also serves as a reminder of prosperity to come when I’ll be able to have a whole Tracy Porter dinner service! And did you know that the goldfish is a symbol of wealth in Oriental cultures? Just perfect
May you all have a Bountiful and Beautiful week.
Jacqui
http://www.jacquelinegates.com

I so agree….we moms tend not to pamper ourselves…but you really must find ways!! A minute with a book or magazine….I agree with Jaqui…a good cup of tea…( so glad BTW that you have our sweet monkey!thanks!!) ……any moments you can take for you..will make you feel better and in the end your family happier! My husband John always says….”happy mama….happy family…!” Really this is the truth, balanced mama….balanced family!!
Jaqui glad to hear you had a good conference in Vegas!! Continued success to you!!! Sounds like you found a way to be inspired and to also inspire many other women as well! what a great company. I love your story! Bravo! …..and i agree with your above comment …gratitude everyday, yes, yes! …that and be a humble person….this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be confident, that is a must in this world! …just not cocky! No room for prima~donnas!!!
Have an awesome day!

xo,
T.