Latest Press Releases

DIVERSITY OF SURTEX BUYERS PAYS OFF FOR AMY FLYNN DESIGNS

Raleigh, NC (February 2008)--Amy Flynn Designs is pleased to announce two more licensing agreements---with companies that truly demonstrate the diversity of buyers attending Surtex 2007.

"Karto Oy" is a European greeting card and stationery company, marketing to Finland and Estonia.  Joining the Karto Oy line this year will be an assortment of twelve "DiVaVaVoom" designs, Amy's popular homage to big, beautiful women.  Says the artist, "I had only considered the size acceptance movement as it related to American women---I had no idea a European company would find the Divas so timely and humorous." 

A new venture with giftware company "Demdaco" has introduced Amy Flynn Designs to the realm of holiday gifts and decor.  "A representative of Demdaco visited my Surtex booth, and commented that one of my "Noel Noel" designs would make an interesting three-dimensional piece.  I ran with it, and now Demdaco will be producing line of Christmas nativity figures to be called "Born This Day", for Christmas 2009."

Amy Flynn Designs will be returning to Surtex this year with a variety of single designs for the paper product and giftware industries, as well as several new collections in addition to "DiVaVaVoom", "Pixie Chix", and "LaDiDa".  "Patisserie" features fanciful cakes and desserts in scrumptious colors.  The "Night-Time Noah" collection offers a whimsical ark and repeating patterns of birds, fish, and animals.  "Season's Greenings" and "All the Trimmings" present holiday greenery and Christmas icons respectively.  And several collections showcase religious Christmas themes, and are available in a variety of ethnicities.  All of Amy's work is exquisitely rendered in a variety of styles, both traditional and digital.

Visit Amy Flynn Designs at booth # 2223 at Surtex 2008, May 18-20, Jacob Javits Center, NYC.

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AMY FLYNN DESIGNS JOINS WITH THE LINDY BOWMAN COMPANY IN CUSTOM GIFT BAG AND BOX LICENSE 

Raleigh, North Carolina (October 2007)  Amy Flynn Designs takes great pleasure in announcing a new licensing agreement with the Lindy Bowman Company.  Six contemporary whimsical Christmas designs, along with their coordinating patterns, will appear on custom gift bags and boxes for Christmas 2008.

 “Mr. Bowman couldn’t have been more gracious” says the artist.  “I’m new to the licensing business, but Mr. Bowman, along with many of the people who visited our booth at Surtex this year, expressed a lot of interest in seeing Christmas subjects painted in a style that was fresh and contemporary, yet sweet and traditional at the same time.  I know that sounds contradictory, but it seems to be selling!”

 Also in response to customer demand, Ms. Flynn is developing a series of Christmas images for the African-American and Hispanic communities.  Expect to see them at Surtex 2008, Booth 2223.

 Further licensing agreements, most notably for the “DiVaVaVoom™” line are in the works.  In the meantime, Ms. Flynn is simply thrilled to be working with the Lindy Bowman Company.

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"DIVAVAVOOM" IS POISED TO MAKE IT BIG. REALLY BIG.

May 19, 2007, New York City--Over half the women in this country are overweight--and the other half seem to think they are. Can we safely say this is NOT a niche market? Illustrator Amy Flynn thought it was high time for designs that glorified REAL women--big beautiful divas with voluptous curves and a larger than average zest for life. She calls her collection "DiVaVaVoom", and it's appearing at the Surtex art licensing show in New York City's Javits Center, May 19-21, 2007.

There has been a growing trend to accept a standard of beauty that is not stick-figure thin. The backlash against fashion models with tiny BMI's has been front page news lately. Jennifer Hudson recently became the first full-figured woman to grace the cover of Vogue magazine. One Life to Live's Kathy Brier has won over a legion of devoted fans by playing a woman who more closely resembles her viewers than her chic co-stars. And--gasp!--her character even has a romantic storyline! Who's the plump heroine of today's hottest TV show? Golden Globe winner America Ferrera as "Ugly Betty". Rosie O'Donnell preaches the gospel of size acceptance every day on The View. Even the medical community is slowly coming around; a recent study claims that "people who are overweight (though not obese) actually have a lower risk of death than those of normal weight". After decades of Barbie tyranny, the pendelum has to swing the other way.

"A few years ago, I developed a line of greeting cards that featured tiny, twiggy little people, and I felt a bit guilty about it", says Amy. "They were fun to paint, but they didn't look anything like my friends--or, indeed, most human beings. A lot of my friends are big girls, and there wasn't anything out there they could relate to. When I started painting my Divas, they went absolutely nuts!"

The women of DiVaVaVoom are based on Amy's fabulous gal pals, and feature humorous copy, such as her favorite quote by Dawn French; "If I had been around when Rubens was painting, I would have been revered as a fabulous model. Kate Moss? Well, she would have been the paintbrush." The Divas are brassy, glamorous, sexy women who love life and know how to have a good time. The first twenty designs were published by Paramount cards, and Amy is eager to see her ladies on a variety of products.

"Beauty comes in all sizes" says Flynn, "and it's ridiculous to assume that you have to look like a supermodel in order to be attractive. Not too long ago, women who looked like my Divas would heve BEEN supermodels." As Camryn Manheim joyously proclaimed when she won her Emmy, "This is for all the fat girls!"

Those interested in DiVaVaVoom, or in Ms. Flynn's other work, can meet her at Surtex Booth #2131, Hall 1E, or through her website, www.tootoofaboo.com.

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