Hey guys! It’s been a crazy summer! We successfully funded our Star Trek inspired First Officer’s Log Kickstarter, sold out of The Road So Far Hunter’s Journals at the Supernatural Pittsburgh con and then Ted and I split up to do simultaneous huge conventions during a single weekend: the Star Trek 50th Vegas celebration and Gen Con. It was a huge and busy summer!
Next up we head to Salt Lake Comic Con for the first time, taking all of our fandom inspired journals, tote bags and accessories! We’ll be in booth 400 and we hope to take SLCC by storm! The first 100 people to stop by our booth every day will get a free limited edition Star Trek 50th inspired sticker. It’s SO COOL!
Make sure to come and see us at SLCC!
We also have a huge announcement we will be making soon!
Here’s my photo recap of the summer shows:
Pittsburgh Supernatural!
Our tables at the Pittsburgh Supernatural con!
Ted’s booth set up at the Star Trek Vegas 50th Celebration con!
At Gen Con, it was SO HOT when we were setting up. Seriously.
We’re pretty sure those cookies my husband dropped off were like, sleepy time cookies…
Meanwhile, in Vegas, this was happening.
Jim from Geek Dads LOVED the journals!
Love Liz and Cathy! So glad they stopped by and here’s to hoping for a LARPs the Series season 3!!
Opinions Please! We’re thinking of adding a junior binder size to our line up of journals, starting with our new Gen Con design. It would be a 3 ring binder, measure about 7-1/2″ x 9-1/2″ and be 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ paper compatible. It wouldn’t work for photo ops and other 8″ x 10″ things you stick in our standard journal. What do you think? Yay or Nay? Let me know in the comments or post to Twitter or Facebook!
A couple of fantastic customers and friends (Michelle and Jessica, you know who you are!) of ours have let us use pictures they have taken of their journal pages! Many times at the conventions, customers come back several times to look through our examples for page ideas. Here are some new really cool pages and I love them all. Whether you journal and write a lot, just stick photos on the pages or stick your badges, tickets stubs and receipts to the page (hey, I paste the Jimmy John’s menu on mine often) make your journal your own. You do you. <3
Gen Con 2015 is now behind us and what an amazing show it was! In fact, it was the biggest show in our young company history! But before I go into the photos and the fun, I have to tell you one of the most iconic stories that is going to go down in infamy. That time I went to pee and missed Wil Wheaton‘s visit to my booth.
It was Thursday afternoon and we had been going strong with the pre-order pick ups and sales. Thursday ended up as our biggest day at the show. In fact, Ted and I skipped lunch that day, we just had no time. That afternoon, I finally ran to the bathroom. I left my phone in the booth, which is CRAZY because I never go anywhere without my phone. But I was in a hurry and didn’t want to drop it in the toilet. Ew. So I ran around the corner to the restroom. On my way I stopped and talked with one of my Gen Con BFFs and another exhibitor about business. Then I ran into another exhibitor who I was introducing to LARPs the Series. Finally, I went back to the booth and it went like this:
Me: Ted I’m SO SORRY I was gone so long, I know you had to go too.
Ted: No, Shelley. No. I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.
Me: What???? What’s wrong, Oh my God!
Ted: Wil Wheaton came to the booth and you missed him. I tried to call you, but your phone rang right next to me. He told his people about the journals and what a great idea they are. He hung out a little bit. He asked if I was the one who emailed him all the time and I said ‘no, that would be my business partner, Shelley.’ He left and I forgot to offer him a journal so I found him and did so. Then he was gone.
Me: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
*currently taking a few minutes to pull my shit together*
Ok. So I did not immediately start sobbing in the booth. I had customers for eff’s sakes. But I was shaken. I looked around and Ted said he was long gone. I texted my sister and my daughter about my agony.
Daughter: OH NO MOM!
Sister: Only you.
I tried to go to the Titan’s Grave panel and it was sold out. I went by Geek & Sundry a few times. But it’s hard to be gone from the booth that long for a panel or to walk the floor because we were working hard to try to sell our asses off. In fact, I lost my voice because I was pitching the journals so hard.
I sat down on Friday night and wrote him another email, thanking him for taking the time to come by the booth. That’s when I cried, just a little. You see, I think he just seems so fun. I love to watch Tabletop. I’m a fan. And I’m really into building a business around doing things that I love. Just like Wil and his wife Anne and Felicia Day. *sigh*
At the time, I tweeted that this is simultaneously the worst and best Gen Con story EVER. And that’s true. But I would rather have had the story be: THE TIME WIL WHEATON STOPPED BY MY BOOTH AND WE CHATTED AND HE SIGNED IT.
There it is. BUT we did have a fantastic show. And made some amazing connections! We didn’t sell out, but we will next year.
And John Kovalic stopped by our booth! Amazingly, I was not in the bathroom when this happened so I got a picture with him!
Famed Munchkin Illustrator John Kovalic stopped by our booth!
Thanks to Gen Con, Scott, Megan, Jen, Roy, Tracey, Michelle, Doug, Kathy, Haley, Megan, Darrin, John, Dan, Liz and so many of our friends and family, we sold more journals than ever. And we were just so proud of the beautiful Gamer’s Journals that Tracey Gurney designed. We really wanted to make something beautiful and unique as a thank you to the Gen Con Community for all of their support during our 2014 Kickstarter.
Here’s our Gen Con love letter in pictures. We can’t wait to get started on 2016!
xoxo,
Shelley
He can’t run or hide when there’s work to do, but he tries.
90 degrees and 80% humidity. So fun?
Sweaty selfie with the green king thing next to our booth
UGH
Up til midnight Wednesday making Tardis Key Necklaces. We sold out though!
Thank GOD for Jimmy John’s delivery!
Liz Neale, actress from LARPs the Series pre ordered a Gamer’s Journal!
Liz Neale from LARPs the Series. She’s so awesome!
His protection tattoo is dedicated to his friend who told him to watch Supernatural
Michelle brought us coffee and sassy pins!
This Addams Family cosplay was the hit of Gen Con
Ted should have been Wednesday
Those dice did not work that well
Tracey’s fan thingz are so rad
John Kovalic drawing in my journal – YAY!
Board Game designer Bruno Cathala drawing in my journal!
Jon Verrall from LARPs The Series
He’s holding a con journal! <3
She was a big help and brought sunshine to our booth
Famed Munchkin Illustrator John Kovalic stopped by our booth!
We love our friend Michelle and she is the BEST journaler ever.
We are making only as many leather journals as we have pre-sold and are beginning production tomorrow! These gorgeous binders are handmade using English Bridle Leather. They come with our 20 beautifully designed gamer’s pages, 4 sleeves, 2 business card pages, a pouch and a Sharpie. You can order the Warrior’s Pack and get the bag and mini journal too!
Pages to capture the Best Four Days in Gaming
Pre-order now to journal your Gen Con gaming in style.
