Do You Have A Favorite Color?

For those who know me.. know my  favorite color is brown.

It's one of those earthy colors that I never tire of. I have friends who love the color blue and green and most little girls, when asked, will say their favorite is pink and/or  purple. 

When I think of certain people, I can identify them with specific colors. For instance Carra Riley  is a definite purple,  Joeann Fossland   is into red and my friend Peg is turquoise.

I know people who  dislike green, yellow and orange. This warty gourd would be something they would definitely not like!

 

Do you identify people with colors?

Do You Have A Favorite Color?

This is my favorite gift from a Best Friend.

 This is my favorite gift from a Best Friend.

It is a very special book with twenty photos that chronicles our friendship over the past couple of decades. The front was done in my very special color..chocolate brown, and the opening photo was of Peg and me taken a few years ago. 

Slowly flipping through the book, good times and memories flooded in. Within moments I was on the phone turning each page and sharing those wonderful times with my friend Peg. There are photos of us at some of the many trips and excursions we did each month.

                               

 A couple ActiveRain members. See if you can name them.

                               

There was Union Station in DC. The Fairgrounds at Timonium, The ACC art show that we went each and every year. There were pictures of CyberStars ™ and Floyd Wickman gatherings along with WCR and NAWBO and me at my Auction of Tatiana's Home.    There are pictures of the day my book arrived and another of my first book signing.

                                       

 

 And lovely words through out. The cover title reads Best Friends and the book ends with...We are and will always be best friends.

This is my favorite gift from my best friend.

Saying Farewell to a Best Friend!

Saying Farewell to a Best Friend!

Anyone who knows me has read about my friend, mentor, publisher and confidant...Peg Silloway.

                                            

We have known each other for well over 20 years. We met at NAWBO -National Association of Women's Business Owners- back when I was a porcelain artist and she was a CPA. We liked each other from the beginning.

Over time we changed places...career wise. Peg went back into the arts, doing stained glass and then writing and you all know I went into real estate...HomeRome Realty.

I don't think we have missed getting together, one day each month, in the past twenty years. It was always a special day. We did trips to DC, to Philadelphia for art shows and museums. We did the ACC-American Crafts Council  show every year in Baltimore. There are blogs from each of these yearly craft shows over the past five years.

We did radio shows together and we have done book signings together. We have been intertwined in each others lives. 

I sold her first house and found her next home. 

It is a wonderful friendship.  We did numerous, and I do mean numerous restaurants, in the Baltimore and Columbia areas. And during this time Peg started Silloway Press and  published her first book.. Real Estate the Rome Way  which many of you own and have read.

Her own, very popular publication, was named  gift book of the year   The Cat Lover's Book of Days.

Many of you have followed Peg's blog and have met her at the various ActiveRain gatherings.

Today I went to a party to celebrate Peg and Phil's new adventure. They are leaving Maryland and heading to Oregon.      

Farewell my friends. Travel safe and enjoy your new adventure!

                    

The going away party invite read:

''We are going far away, to the land of Douglas fir, Nike, Intel, salmon and artisanal beer.We have very much enjoyed the past 45 or so years in Maryland, especially the many friends we have made. Still, it is time for new adventures and new friends. So this will be au revoir to old friends (we will probably visit in a couple years)."

In case you haven't been following me...here are just a few posts about my friend Peg Silloway...I know there are more and many more to come.

So Proud of My Friend, So Proud of My Publisher! -

The Baltimore Book Festival - A Signing! -


Art, Friendships, Blogging....These Are a Few Of My Favorite Things -

Interview with a Real Estate Rock Star... Margaret Rome -

The Closer It Gets, the Harder It Is to Wait!

It Was a Sunny Evening in Maryland

Baltimore Book Festival – See You There!

The Art of Marketing You and Me and Them

It's All About Friendship!

Black, White, Yellow, Red and One for Peg! ACC Baltimore Craft Show!

The Muse Medallion goes to Peg Silloway, My Publisher, My Friend!

Books and Blue Sky in Baltimore, MD

  Give and Take...Do you know how to do both? Baltimore,Maryland

  "Successful Solo-But Not Alone with Today's Technology"

And then there will be this one to add...

Saying Farewell to a Best Friend! 

Margaret Rome
Author of Real Estate the Rome Way
www.HomeRome.com
410-530-2400

Black, White, Yellow, Red and One for Peg! ACC Baltimore Craft Show!

For over 30 years the annual American Craft Council Show has been in Baltimore! American Craft Council Show Will Be in Baltimore This Weekend! February 24-27th 

As a former ceramic artist, I am not sure if I have missed an ACC show. Over the years I have gone with my friend and publisher Peg Silloway. Today was even more special. Peg's baby sister, Kathleen, joined us...and did we have fun!

Take a look at this hat marathon.

Sometimes it really pays to be the picture taker rather than the subject. This was at the end of our day. All of us were a bit tired since we started walking the show about 6 hours earlier.

I think know Kathleen really enjoyed the different colors, style and personality of each hat. The owner of Moire's Millinery seemed pleased with our modeling. And I loved taking the photos!

Watch for more photos of the ACC in the next day or so.

Thanks Peg and Kathleen for a wonderful day of friendship, eye candy, lunch and laughter.

                         

                       

    Black, White, Yellow, Red and One for Peg! ACC Baltimore Craft Show!

Spanish Coca Cola in the Afternoon

It was one of those special afternoons...lunch with my publisher and friend Peg Silloway. We do something every month. No matter how busy... if it's on the calendar .. we keep the date!

Today's choice was one of my favorite restaurants, Tio Pepe, where Lee and I  have been going since we were married 15,572 days ago.

My Best Close Ever and Forever 

Usually Lee and I go for a romantic dinner, to celebrate an anniversary or whenever we want that special feeling, great food and ambiance. But who says you can't enjoy all of this on a Monday at lunch with a good friend?

No one. So that's we did!

A glass of Sangria to start... which I  affectionately call Spanish Coca Cola..At first I said "no "..and then changed my mind.  Loved each and every drop and each and every piece of fruit.  It seemed to make each bite of our wonderful meals more outstanding. We shared an  appetizer of  shrimp in garlic butter with wonderful fresh bread for dipping and Peg had the rock-fish with crab in champagne sauce for her main meal.


                         


                                                       
I had the seafood salad platter..oh my.. it is fabulous. This plate consists of a half of a lobster topped with lump crab meat, potato salad (ha there was more crab meat than potatoes) topped with shrimp, sliced hard boiled egg, lettuce, tomato, pimento  and a smooth  creamy dressing on the side. I don't think anyone anywhere could have enjoyed a better meal. The food, the "coca cola" the ambiance, the conversation, the friendship...all made for a perfect afternoon.

When did you last have a wonderful few hours with a best friend and Spanish Coca Cola in the Afternoon?

 tio pepe: Blog...The Gift That Keeps On Giving

The Muse Medallion goes to Peg Silloway, My Publisher, My Friend!

My friend and publisher, Peg Silloway just won "The Muse Medallion".  You can read more about it on her post It's Happened Again

In Peg's words:"A week ago I sat in the ballroom at the Crowne Plaza and listened as the big names in the group and in media won awards for writing in magazines and columns, for audio, for broadcasting, for photographs and illustrations, and for a variety of books. Then it was the Gift Book category - my category. As the judge's comments were read I held my breath and my husband's hand as she concluded, "The Muse Medallion goes to Peg Silloway!" 
                                           
There is such pride in being recognized by your peers and those you admire. Don't you think her beautiful smile says it all?

I am so proud of Peg's accomplishments, after all... my book was the first published by Silloway Press. 

Check out  this  Interview   by the artist of my book cover.
                                                             

 The Muse Medallion goes to Peg Silloway, my publisher, my friend!

Eye Candy for Artists – Baltimore ACC Craft Show

Eye Candy for Artists – Baltimore ACC Craft Show

So much has happened over the past few weeks that I haven't had a chance to write about the delightful few hours spent at the American Craft Council's Baltimore Craft Show. It's an annual treat for me and my friend/publisher Peg Silloway. We both have spent part of our lives working in crafts, and this one day is a chance to recharge our creative batteries and see what's happening in the world of fine handcrafts.

There are some old favorites we always check in with, like glass artist Josh Simpson. His work is exquisite and Peg is a collector. This time while we were visiting his booth the cameraman from Channel 13 was there, and we had fun taking photos of the photographer as he worked and chatted with the artist.

Then are there are the new discoveries. This year we especially liked the familiar objects like old telephones, sneakers, and even a tricycle, that had been covered with colorful beads and turned into brilliant sculptures by Tom and Kathy Wegman. Never saw that before! And then there was Jeffrey Ohwho made the most ingenious and beautiful coffee table I've ever seen. The wooden end blocks each could move to change position and so change the shape of the table. Each of those end blocks was actually a storage cube, and the top was a seat with a pre-carved body shape " tush impression." And it was comfortable!

I was looking for a clock for the kitchen and spent time in this booth that had the shapes I love – squares – in wood, copper, and steel. Beautiful work by Leonie Lacouette.

Peg is a cat lover, of course, and liked the carved cat granite tile by Amy and Jeff Dallas, but took home a small porcelain jar with a miniature mother cat and kitten carving on the top. These were beautifully crafted by Barbara Sebastian and a good addition to her collection of small boxes and other containers. Peg had an extra copy of The Cat Lover's Book of Days with her and was able to barter with the artist toward the price of the jar. Good idea! Peg also bought a neat card holder from Carole Bowns' Buggy Whip Studio; it has a cat on it, of course.

Hanging around with Peg and Russel Ray on AR sure made me gravitate to all the feline art. Did you check out that potty seat above?

We stopped to watch a pottery demonstration (I was a ceramic artist in a former life) for a few minutes and then found some lunch before checking out more of the show. Even though we didn't get through all of it – it's immense! – it was a great day. And you can bet we'll be back again next February when the Baltimore Civic Center becomes a showplace for the best in American crafts again.

Proof That Marketing Pays

Proof That Marketing Pays!

My friend and my publisher, Peg Silloway, is going to be on the radio this Saturday January 30th beginning at 5:05PM. The live interview is on Talkin Pets Radio

Here's your chance to call in with questions about your cats. Can we keep the board lit up?

Peg is scheduled for the first 30-60 minutes. If there are too many calls, they might have to keep her on longer.

Toll free call in number: 866-606-TALK (866-606-8255)

Website - Listen online: http://talkinpets.com

Via Peg Silloway (The Silloway Press):

I realize I'm preaching to the choir on this one - the concept that it pays to market is not new to the real estate professionals that hang out in the Rain. But I got positive proof just yesterday that letting people know what you do is the first and maybe most important step to building your business.

You probably know by know that I wrote a book - The Cat Lover's Book of Days - and several folks on Active Rain have said nice things about it. (Yes, I'm talking about you, Russel and Jim!) But to meet my definition of success for this book I needed to reach a wider audience, so I chose to work with a PR professional to get the word out. She drew up a list of target media, we prepared a press release, and started to spread the news.

And it worked! In a matter of a couple of weeks we've sent review copies of the book to radio stations, magazines, and websites. Yesterday I got confirmation that I'll be interviewed on a national radio talk show, "Talkin' Pets" with Jon Patch, on this Saturday! It's going to be great fun and I would love it if Rainers called in with questions or comments. Here are the details:

"Talkin' Pets" with Jon Patch - 5:00 p.m. EST - Saturday, January 30, 2010

Toll free call in number: 866-606-TALK (866-606-8255)

Website - you can listen online: http://talkinpets.com

The show runs from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and I'm scheduled to be on during the first 1/2 to 1 hour. To find an AM station near you that carries the program, go the website and click on the "Station Info" button on the left.

Please call and say "Hi!" - I'd love to hear the friendly voices of Active Rain. This Saturday. 5:00 p.m. Fun!

So Proud of My Friend, So Proud of My Publisher

So Proud of My Friend, So Proud of My Publisher!

Look back almost a year to December 2008 when I was celebrating the publication of my book Real Estate the Rome Way - my first book, Marti's first book cover, and the first book for my friend Peg Silloway of Silloway Press.

In just twelve months we are about to have a new celebration. In that short time, The Silloway Press has published eight books including Peg's own new book, The Cat Lover's Book of Days. I think that's amazing!

Even if you are not a cat lover, you gotta look at this book. It's creative, it's fun, and it's more than just a great book.

Peg wanted her book to last, so she made it a gift-quality hardback.

Peg wanted it to be environmentally conscious, so she had it printed on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper.

Peg also wanted it to help cats and kittens, so she's contributing part of every sale to PetSmart Charities, a highly-rated 501(c)(3) charity that supports local animal shelters and rescue efforts throughout the country.

Perfect timing, don't you think? Perfect for the holidays,

The Cat Lover's Book of Days THE perfect gift for all your cat-loving friends.

Have you noticed that many ActiveRainers love their cats? Just do a search for cats and you will see what I mean.

You can order signed copies – including free gift wrapping! – Go to CatBookOfDays.com.

Peg will begin sending out the books around December 10 when the first shipment is due. I remember how hard it was to wait. The Closer It Gets, the Harder It Is to Wait!

You can also pre order (without the signature or the free gift wrapping) through Amazon.com. But better to order them right through Peg and let her know I said so.

So Proud of My Friend, So Proud of My Publisher!

Now I am wondering whose book Peg will be publishing next year! Could it be yours?

Books and Blue Sky in Baltimore, MD

Books and Blue Sky in Baltimore, MD

I watched the hourly weather the night before, and the forecast was rain all the way through 1:00 p.m., then sunshine and only a 10% chance of precipitation. Would the book signing, we had scheduled from 2:00 to 3:00 last Friday, be soggy or bright?

The day turned out to be one of those absolutely glorious gems, cool but sunny, no longer summer, but not quite fall either. A perfect day, and well deserved after last year's "Liquid Sunshine." The planned book signing of Real Estate the Rome Way was scheduled for an hour at 2:00. That hour turned into four, did not leave until after 6:00PM.. just too much going on.

The MidAtlantic Book Publishers Association booth was at the hub of the festival, near the Washington Monument, right in front of the Mt. Vernon Place United Methodist Church with its gingerbread spires. We heard the sounds of bands from the nearby stage, saw colorful people, pets, neighbors and friends.

Students from the Institute of Notre Dame strolled the festival escorting characters from children's books like the hippos George and Martha, and Frogger.

Right across the way was the LiveBaltimore booth (last year they were easy to find with their bright yellow umbrellas.) The people-watching was excellent!

My publisher and friend, Peg Silloway,was there to volunteer with me, and we had a great time talking with the MBPA President, Sheila Ruth. Last year, Sheila's husband Nick – author of The Remin Chronicles series – and her son, David, where with us, and we missed seeing them this time.

But we met and enjoyed talking with Lucinda Clark of P.R.A. Publishing who came from Georgia to help at the booth and attend the National Book Festival in Washington the next day. Bill McAllen came by with his book, Spirit of Place: Baltimore's Favorite Spaces, a wonderful collection of essays and photographs (Bill is the photographer, Sarah Achenbach is the writer.)

There was so much to see, but I was not able to take my eyes off the church that stood behind our booth.The plaque commemorates the Charles Howard mansion that stood here before the church; it was in that home that Frances Scott Key died.

A news helicopter kept circling overhead and I tried so hard to get a shot of the helicopter over the church and in between the Washington Monument column. It was tough holding the camera in the moving crowd -so eventually gave in and just took the chopper!

Camaraderie, new friends, great weather, book characters, and magnificent architecture all around. A perfect day of books and blue sky in Baltimore.

The Best Part of My Job

Now I am really happy! Two very special people..both my friends... what pleasure getting you together. Think it was better than a matchmaker. I adore you both!

Tim, I was honored to be one to preview your future best seller, Create a Great Deal. Can't wait to get my hands on the finished masterpiece. Love your writing, you wisdom, your message, your manner of teaching, your kindness...and a fabulous book for all of us to read!

Congratulations to you both.

I remember the day 12/18/2008 when my books were delivered..your smile says it all.

Via Peg Silloway (The Silloway Press):

It's the phone call – "They're perfect!" – when an author receives the first shipment of books. It's the photographs of the justifiably proud author holding the first copy out of the carton. Writing a book is hard work and takes longer than anyone thinks it will. To complete that, and then to actually publish the book, that's something to be very proud of.

Today I'm celebrating Tim Burrell's accomplishment. His book, Create a Great Deal: The Art of Real Estate Negotiating, is one of the best I've seen on the subject. It's well written and has an eye-catching cover thanks to the design skill of his wife, Judy Burrell. It's already received a very good review by Bernice Ross in Inman News on June 1, and endorsements from many of the top names in the business.

Tim knows a thing or two about marketing in addition to his formidable negotiation skills, and I expect this book will be a great success.

Yep, it's my favorite part.

Lovin' Live Baltimore

Last evening was the big Live Baltimore reception and new website debut. The venue was gorgeous – Symphony Center in downtown Baltimore, just across from the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Real estate professionals came to network and learn more about what Live Baltimore does to encourage people to live in Baltimore City. People stopped at a large city map to find their homes in one of Baltimore's more than 200 neighborhoods. And right next to the map was…me! Live Baltimore had generously offered to include a book signing in the evening's festivities, so there I was, signing and selling copies of Real Estate the Rome Way.

It was a huge success…and a lot of fun, too. Nancy Corporon was a delight as she bought the first book of the evening. Friends and colleagues stopped to chat. One nice surprise was having Activer Rainers Martha Brown and Margaret Woda stop by for a visit, especially since they took the time to drive some distance from their home area. Vito Simone who is president of the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors was there, along with Kim Jones and Helen Dellheim.

Executive Director Anna Custer gave a lively overview of the new website, and a delightfully enthusiastic young woman named Cassandra spoke of how the program had helped her buy a home – she settled earlier this month – with financial assistance and valuable counseling.

It was a great evening, and I was so proud to be next to my best friend and publisher, Peg Silloway. I think the word is qvelling. Yep, I was qvelling for both of us. I think you can see in that photo of Helen, Lee, and me that Lee was qvelling a bit too.