Tobi Fairley

Design Du Jour:

Happy Sunday, an Oh Sh*t Moment and A Getting Published Telecall

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Tobi

Happy Sunday my friends,

How many of you remember the old Carnac the Magnificent skits on Johnny Carson? I used to watch them religiously with my great-grandmother. Johnny (aka Carnac) would always hold up an envelope to his temple, say 3 random things and then he would open up the envelope to reveal what they all had in common. It was hilarious! When I wrote the title of today’s post, I suddenly felt like The Great Carnac…Happy Sunday, an Oh Sh*t Moment, and a Getting Published Telecall. LOL So what do these 3 random things have in common?

Well let’s see…Oh Boy! Did I tell you what a whirlwind I’ve been on of late. I actually wish I could give you clarity about what all these things have in common, but I can’t quite reveal all I am working on just yet! But trust me, it will all make sense really soon.

You see, I have so much to tell you about in the coming weeks. You know how just last week I wrote about change and transformations? Well even more (and BIGGER) transformations are happening in my business as we speak. I have spent the weekend in MAJOR STRATEGIC PLANNING mode and have I ever had some Ah-ha moments!!!!

And besides the Ah-ha moments, I’ve had a few “Oh sh*t” moments this weekend too. Do you ever have those? Ha! Of course you do.

Some of mine included “Oh sh*t! Tuesday is my hubby’s birthday what in the world does he want or need”, “Oh sh*t! Next Saturday I leave for an 8-day Disney vacation and cruise which I am not ready for” and “Oh sh*t! We are exactly a month away from my ALL-NEW getting published camp and I need to have a telecall so you can hear in my own words, how amazing this camp is going to be, what you will learn and why you absolutely SHOULD NOT miss it (because I am not planning on having it again!)”

Why am I suddenly hearing Fergie’s rendition of London Bridge in my head? LOL

So as you can tell, I am a bit busy! My brain is running one million miles an hour and I only wish The Great Carnac could impart his wisdom and humor on me this week. Instead, I will spend the week trying to balance it all, stay sane and relaxed (I see lots of cardio and yoga in my immediate future to make this happen), and I will be thrilled when next Saturday morning rolls around and I can turn off ALL my social media and my computer for 8 WHOLE RELAXING DAYS and really get a break.

But in the meantime, I am crossing one of my aforementioned to do’s off my list and having a FREE telecall THIS Thursday at 1:00pm CST, to tell you all about my BRAND NEW “The Journey to Getting Published” Camp. On this call you will hear about the agenda for the camp, the special guests and as a BONUS I will give you ABSOLUTELY FREE right there on the call, my “Tobi’s Top 5 Tips for Getting Your Work Published This Year!”

To sign up for the FREE call, Register HERE! And I will see you on Thursday with loads of exciting info about my new camp.

For now, I am off to find my hubby a gift, plan for my impending Disney trip and frantically working on all my other jobs for this week. Oh, plus I’m off to yoga to try and relax a wee bit. But, I have a feeling I will be seeing The Great Carnac in my head the entire class or at least in my Savasana. If only I had a fancy Carnac-style turban to wear while doing my down dog. Namaste from Carnac and me!

xo,

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And the #GetPublished Winners Are…!

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Tobi

The Olioboard #GetPublished Challenge results are in!! Hundreds of you created fabulous Olioboard designs (stripes galore, people!!), all in an effort to win one of two FREE tickets to The Journey to Getting Published!

And, let me tell, you I think the competition was tougher in this challenge than ANY other! My congratulations to ALL of you who participated (keep reading for a special offer just for YOU!), and cheers to our winners:

Sparkling Mint Bedroom

Design by Anna Lattimore

Crazy for STRIPES

Design by Jennifer Reynolds

Great work, ladies! Both of these winners will be joining me and an amazing panel of experts at The Journey to Getting Published, this April 9-11th!

A BIG thanks to the judges of this contest: Crystal Gentilello of Rue Magazine, Krissa Rossbund of Traditional Home magazine, and Ronda Carman of All the Best blog!

Krissa and Ronda will join us at The Journey to Getting Published, too, to share their insights about what it takes to push your visibility as a designer to the next level and how to do so in a way that you will be respected and valued as a key source of great content to editorial staffs for years to come!!! And, as I've mentioned, Ronda rescheduled the US launch of her book so that we can celebrate WITH her as part of this camp at a signing party celebration!

And THE professional photographer who shoots every one of my projects, Nancy Nolan, will join us to talk about how to hire a true expert, how to communicate with her or him to get great shots, and how to act as the director of a shoot without shooting yourself in the foot!!

The #1 feedback I get on ALL of these trainings (and something YOU already know about me) is that I share it all! There are NO trade secrets, NO strategies or tips I'm willing to hide, because I want you to enjoy the same fulfillment and satisfaction and deep gratitude that I have as a published designer.

So we are going NO-HOLES-BARRED with this content. We won't tell you it's easy, but we will tell you how and why it is a realistic and attainable goal!

This will be the first and only session of this Camp Tobi Fairley event, all about how to design, photograph, pitch, and sell your way to publication in virtual and print publications at local, regional, and national levels!! And THAT means you should NOT miss The Journey to Getting Published!!

If you want more details about this exciting event--the BIGGEST in Camp Tobi Fairley history--CLICK HERE!

I'm offering you two ways to pay for this camp:

#1: We have sold those 10 Bring a Friend for FREE tickets I told you about, BUT! in honor of the amazing response I got at the Design Bloggers Conference this week we are extending that offer through March 16th!! So until midnight on March 16th, you can register for the $2399 price and still bring a friend for free!! That gives you just over one week to take action on this incredible offer!

To take me up on this exciting Bring a Friend for FREE Offer: CLICK HERE!

#2: I got some feedback that April was going to be a difficult and financially tight month for design professionals to squeeze in another big event before High Point Market, so... I decided that because I want to ease your business stress and because I'm all about getting you here so that you can go home empowered to achieve all of your goals I'm offering a 3-Pay Plan!! That means that you pay the cost of your ticket out over three months: $800 at the time of registration and then $800 for each of the next two months!! To get THIS stress-free offer, buy your ticket BEFORE April 1!!

To take me up on this High Point Inspired 3-Pay Plan, CLICK HERE!

AND!!! I was so excited about the response you had in the Olioboard competition that I have decided those of you who won't be coming for FREE should get a little extra incentive to take the leap and buy that ticket you've fought so hard to win (YOU DESERVE TO INVEST IN YOURSELF!). So, if you entered a board in the Olioboard #GetPublished competition, and you buy a ticket to come to The Journey to Getting Published, you will automatically be entered to WIN a FREE ticket to an upcoming session of Tobi's MOST ACCLAIMED training of all: DESIGNER MBA!!! The value of Designer MBA is $3600, and it can be yours for free!! Designer MBA is THE course that give you ALL the business basics you'll need to thrive as a creative businessperson in a changing industry!! I think this is a no brainer!!

I know I've given you LOTS to think about, but no matter whether you're new to interior design or a veteran we believe in the HUGE value of this camp!

Xo,

Not sure what a Tobi training can do for you? Listen to what others are saying:

Kathleen: I feel so blessed to have found this group of women. Life changing for me. I came into work on Monday, and quit my professional marketing job. Kind of scary, but I’m giving myself one year to get my business off the ground and be earning profit. Like Tobi said, what’s the worst that can happen? I can always go back to marketing if it doesn’t pan out. But I know it will. If you believe it—you can achieve it.

Alison: After design school, hands down, this is the best class you can take. Tobi is so generous with her time and her knowledge. I walked in frightened about the future of my business. I knew all the mistakes I was making, but had no idea how to get out of the hole I had dug. I walked out a confident designer! I have the tools to restructure, and am rebuilding for success.

Linda: In a world, often eclipsed by negativity and jealousy among women - mostly due to personal insecurities...Tobi managed to let us all show our vulnerable sides and elevate each other by shared the experience. Thank you! I look forward to seeing you ALL again soon!

Anon: My favorite part was: how approachable and honest, helpful and generous Tobi and her staff were! [This time was] life-changing and eye-opening, especially for a small business owner. I looked into myself and business so deeply and in such a short time. [I saw] what other designers are really billing/making/struggling with. I love these women!

Camp Tobi Fairley thanks our event sponsors:

Posted in Design Business, Design Camp, Sponsors, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

A Few Laughs from Design Bloggers Conference

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Tobi

I was honored to be the emcee for the awards presentation at the Design Bloggers Conference this week, and to loosen-up the crowd I gave a little talk about how receiving the award for Best Blog in 2012 had catapulted my business to new heights! Have a look:

I got my own magazine deal!

I accompanied Mr. Clooney to the Oscars!

And I was a special guest of President Obama!

See what being an award-winning design blogger can do for you?!

So, cheers to this year’s winners!!

Best New Design Blog: Leslie Wood, Hadley Court

Best Design and Graphics: Grace Bonney, Design Sponge

Best Writing: Maryam Montague, My Marrakesh

Best Overall Blog: Stacey Bewkes, Quintessence

I hope you enjoyed my little joke just as much as the DBC folks did! More exciting things unfolded while I was there, so more to come!

Xo,

p.s.

High-profile design blogs, online mags, and websites of the top publications are another way that you can be “published.” Come learn how to know which projects should be submitted for print vs. virtual exposure and how to work with design editors for both kinds of publications! We have amazing special guests joining us, including Krissa Rossbund of Traditional Home, Ronda Carman of the blog All the Best, and acclaimed photographer Nancy Nolan! We’re now offering two easy ways to make this investment and still make all of the other events you want to in April, like High Point Market!! Come learn more: HERE.

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Bunny Williams Inspires Me!

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Tobi

Bunny Williams is, of course, one of the design icons of our time, and she is a great source of inspiration to me. If you are in or near New York City (or planning to be on March 21) I really think you should not miss Keith Grannet’s live interview with Bunny Williams at the Tishman Auditorium. She is not only a brilliant designer who can make very grand and exquisite spaces even MORE grand and exquisite; she also has a sharp business sense!

Here are some more of my personal favorite spaces designed by Bunny…enjoy!

Xo,

p.s. As you look at these designs, ask yourself…”What makes them photograph-friendly? What about the styling makes them ‘read’ well on the page?” If you want to learn how to achieve a look that will appeal to design editors of print and virtual publications, Join me along with special guests Krissa Rossbund of Traditional Home, Ronda Carman of All the Best blog, Sandy Gilbert Friedus of Rizzoli Books, and celebrated professional photographer Nancy Nolan! Lean more HERE. I’ve made two special offers that will definitely make this event a no-brainer!!