Sunday, September 13, 2020

Naughty Blonde Redux Has Been a Thing for 10 Years!!!

Welp, our 10 year anniversary as Naughty Blonde entrepreneurs was back in June, and we completely forgot to celebrate. It's understandable, given that 2020 has been the shitshow that no one could have possibly imagined. Are you sick of hearing "unprecedented" yet? Yep, same here. Still, 10 years is a pretty important milestone, and I think it deserves a little better-late-than-never recognition. Hey, 10 Year Anniversary! I see you!!! This also seems like a great time to reflect on how it all started, how far we've come, and where we see NBR going from here. 

Once upon a time, way back in 2009, Anna Stump and I had studios in the same building in North Park/San Diego. We had met a few times before, but we weren't really friend friends yet, you know? One afternoon, she knocked on my door and invited me to go to the wine bar downstairs for happy hour. (I sometimes can't believe how perfect it was to have a wine bar just steps below my studio back then!) We talked about our kids, our failed/failing marriages, the work we were making, and the local art scene. The friendship grew from there, and we would often meet up to chat, look at each other's work, and go to art openings together. Towards the end of that year, my then-husband and I separated, and I was no longer able to afford my studio. As I was packing up, I asked Anna if she would consider a studio mate. She was willing to give it a try and cautiously took me in on a provisional basis. Well, I made it through the trial period, and we ended up sharing 4 different studios over the next 7+ years! We would surely be sharing one now if I hadn't moved to Tennessee, but more on that later. 

Anna and I were both teaching at local colleges at the time, and when the summer of 2010 rolled around, that meant no school and no paycheck. We started Naughty Blonde Redux as a way to generate some income in those lean weeks between semesters but quickly saw that there was interest in the product year-round. Anna's boyfriend, Ted, had a studio in The Brewery in Los Angeles, and we were able to set up an NBR display just outside his kitchen for the 2 big open studio events held each year in the spring and fall. We started to get a little following, and people would come back year after year to see what was new with NBR. The Artwalk was always so much fun (though exhausting!) and I was planning to fly back to participate this past April, but...well, you know the rest. 

NBR eventually lead to larger-scale projects, and our collaborative painting venture, Hill&Stump, was born in late 2011. While we were putting more of our time and energy into the painting business, we still kept making Naughty Blonde product for the Artwalk and special orders. Anna and I work really well together, respecting each other's aesthetic while working towards a common goal. As anyone who has ever tried collaborating (especially on something as personal as a work of art) can tell you, it is not always easy to work with others. Egos get bruised, tempers flare, and it can be difficult to keep the collaboration going. This was never a problem for us, as we considered every piece a conversation where each artist had their say. As 2017 was winding down, painting together was going really well, and I for one saw us building our two businesses for years to come. 

That December, my husband, Gustaf, and I were vacationing in Tennessee to celebrate Christmas with family. We had gotten married in a tiny ceremony in Las Vegas only 2 months prior, and we took advantage of the visit to have a little reception for family that had not been able to make the trip west. My brother and sister-in-law hosted a lovely party in their home, it was an exceptionally happy event, and we even took a group photo before my parents and the rest of the guests started heading home. I am so grateful for that evening, as my father died suddenly and unexpectedly in his sleep the next morning. This was a tremendous loss for my family, and Gustaf and I immediately made the decision to move here to help and support my mother. While it was painful to leave friends and family behind on the West Coast, neither of us has ever regretted this choice. As a matter of fact, my father always wanted me to move back to Tennessee, and I know he would be happy that Gustaf and I are now here to stay. ❤

Moving 2,000+ miles away has thrown a bit of a wrench in the Hill&Stump collaboration, and the pandemic has added another level of difficulty, but we are figuring it out. The Naughty Blonde Redux collab, however, is quite a bit easier to keep going - even during the pandemic. No, make that ESPECIALLY during the pandemic. I recently quit my non-art-related day job (COVID concerns) and have more time to dedicate to NBR than ever before. I believe this is what is referred to as a "pandemic pivot." COVID has brought me back full circle to the thing I love doing more than anything else - creating. Honestly, I wonder why I didn't do this sooner. I finally feel like myself again. 

So, there you have it. A not-so-brief 10 year history of NBR, with a little Hill&Stump history thrown in for good measure. Anna and I are excited to see how far we can actually take our little business. I have some pretty outrageous dreams and hope to introduce people all over the world to Naughty Blonde buckles, bits, and cock rings. What's that? You don't know about the cock rings? Oh, those are fun! Maybe we'll cover those next time.
😉


Here's to 10 more years! 
xoxo 



Saturday, November 17, 2012

Museum of Photographic Arts Shop!

Naughty Blonde Redux is please to announce we are now represented at the Museum of Photographic Arts Shop in Balboa Park, San Diego. Please stop by and see our specially created work for this amazing gift shop.

Holiday Naughtiness

New Pendants

New Pill Boxes. Get it, an apple a day...

Fall colors on our leather straps, with buckles to match!

Friday, May 4, 2012

Naughty and Tired on Mother's Day

Some thoughts on mothering:

We are tired. We are in constant motion. We work outside the house (teaching and in the studio) and inside the house. We drive kids around for hours each day. We manage homework, we settle fights, we comfort and entertain.

So on Mother's Day, let us rest. Be with us gently. Kids, cook us something nice, rub our necks, be sweet to your siblings.

Thanks!
Anna and Daphne





ps... We are showing at the Talmadge Art Show on Sunday, May 6 in Liberty Station, Point Loma. 10-4pm, free and there's lots of parking. Come and buy something naughty for your mom.


Friday, February 24, 2012

Santorum Series and Other New Rings

Santorum Series
Birth Control Pills Suspended in Glittery Color Fields

Flat Rings
Some Naughty, Some Not

Soft Blue Series
Sweet!

Dazzling New Cock Rings
Round and Square, Silver Overlay and Bronze Settings

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Daphne's Exhibition

Daphne's current painting exhibition got mentioned in the San Diego Union-Tribune blog. See it here!


Thursday, January 19, 2012

Butterfly Florals




Blonde Redux is pleased to present its new series of paintings, "Butterfly Florals." Acrylic color and metallics float between epoxy resin layers, creating depth and shifting brilliance. With references to Japanese prints and screens, Rococo foliage, and Impressionist movement, these paintings compliment contemporary interiors both residential and commercial.

Specially constructed panels can be commissioned in any color combination, with gold, silver, copper and/or pearlescent metallics. Edges are woodgrain, 2" thick. Sizes available range from 2'x2' to 4'x8'.

Wholesale prices upon request.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

New Studio!

Daphne and Anna are moving into a new, bigger studio...
This is the entrance. Gold wall came from a former tenant.
To the left is a reception/office area.
To the right will be our Mini-Showroom for Naughty Blonde Redux.
In the back is our big painting room. Lots of light!



Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Local Consignment




These lovely piles-o-stuff will soon be on consignment at local shops in San Diego:
Art of Framing
and
Striving Artist

See something you like? We can get it for you, or something near.
Kiss!

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Some Things ARE Black & White



Need clarity in this world of gray? Need those politicians to decide? Yes, some things are black and white, and some are a bit naughty...

Please email, call, comment, or yell to talk to us about any of our buckles/straps, pendants, rings, or compacts. We ship! We deliver!

We also make custom pieces for your company, party, or special someone. Have an idea? We'd love to talk...

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Current Pinups and Other Pretty Girls


Pictured is our current stock of babes... belt buckles, pendants, rings, and compacts. Most are from pinup calendars from the 50s and 60s.

Send us an email or call to order, we'll ship it right out for your next fabulous event!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Renegade Craft Fair Los Angeles



Naughty Blonde Redux is excited to participate in the Renegade Craft Fair in Downtown LA on July 16 and 17. The location is at the Los Angeles State Historic Park, otherwise known as the Cornfields, just northeast of Downtown, 11am - 7pm both Saturday and Sunday.

The event is totally free. You can bring kids, dogs, your grandma, everyone! Tons of crafters, artists, free activities, and those famous LA food trucks.

Please look for us with Blonde Peacock--two blonde companies together!



Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Tee & Cocks





We've got new cock rings to go with our company t-shirt. Perfect for a bachelorette party or class reunion. No reason to be shy these days!

T-shirts are American Apparel, available in Sm, Med, and Lg. $25, or $20 with purchase of a cock ring...

Cock rings are hand painted by starving artists (us...) and each is unique. Square, round or rectangle.

Cock a Doodle Doo!!!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

THREAD Show L.A. - June 12th

Hey, baby!


This Sunday is the big THREAD Show in L.A. at the Cooper Design Space (860 South Los Angeles Street Los Angeles, CA 90014). Anna and I have been working hard to get ready for this event, and have some fun new things for your perusal. Naturally, we will have some new cock rings. That's a given. We also have a limited number of t-shirts (so naughty, fun, amazing!) which you can either purchase separately for $20, or with a cock ring for $40. Please look for us 11:00am-noon (VIP access - $25), noon-6pm (general admission - $10 @ the door).

Gonna be in L.A. Sunday and this is right up your alley? Follow this link and RSVP by 12:00 noon Saturday, 6/11, for $5 tickets: http://threadshow.com/show_info.php?show_id=127&show=rsvp. Even better, the first 3 requests in the comment section of this blog will receive a FREE pair of tickets. Hurry! We have to alert THREAD of our winners by noon Friday. Good luck!

xoxo Anna and Daphne 
Naughty Blonde Redux



Sunday, May 29, 2011

Pendants




These are some of our new pendants--sassy women, suave men, and cocktails--quite the combo. Each pendant comes with a cord for $40. 

A word about our stuff: we at NBR have made the decision to only use vintage publications and one-of-a-kind imagery in our work. Therefore, we only make ONE of each object. However, we do create "families" of work, and if a piece is already sold, we can get you something close, just ask!

Isn't the antique mannequin fabulous? She now lives with Daphne...