Anna Delores.

Anna Delores video interview from RAW:Hollywood

2012-02-27T10:11:00.003-08:00

The camera adds 10 lbs. :)

cloudy day.

2012-02-24T15:54:00.000-08:00

Cool, cloudy days are fast disappearing! I will be sure to celebrate the spring as we move into March, but for now, I wanted to showcase some AMAZING stormy goodies I've encountered -- those of you who love rainy days like I do will appreciate some of these accessories to cool you down (at least in spirit!) during hot summer months.

White concrete with crushed glass in a stainless steel pendant necklace

"Hoping for Clouds" rain boots from Shop Ruche

No kids here, but mark my words, if I ever have a baby, I'm snatching one of these!

This might as well be an illustration of me in the rain! By nidhi on Etsy.

Rainy day in Paris. Sigh. By Rebecca Plotnick.

Umbrella necklace by Emilina Ballerina.

SUPER CUTE Hepburn rain trench jacket by katherinemcconnell

Etsy Item of the Day

2012-02-24T10:38:00.000-08:00

Anna Delores is currently featured on Etsy Item of the Day! Many thanks to Jackie for featuring "Spoons" in black and white from Anna Delores Photography.

"Spoons" featured as Etsy's Item of the Day

Luck of the Irish.

2012-02-21T12:06:00.000-08:00

I canNOT believe it's late February. 2012 is already flashing before our eyes.

C'est la vie. In the meantime, here is some early St. Patrick's Day inspiration for ya! I already have my green food coloring for beer this year... ;)

Luck of the Irish by AnnaDelores on Etsy

Giveaway winner!

2012-02-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Jenny Sangster for winning the $50 gift certificate to Anna Delores Photography! And thank you to ALL of you for participating! Check your e-mail inboxes for a big-ass "thank you" coupon. :)

Giveaway reminder!

2012-02-16T11:59:00.000-08:00

Anna Delores giveaway!: Remember to enter to win a $50 gift certificate from Anna Delores Photography by this Sunday, February 19! Follow this link to the blog post to enter. :)

valentine swap!

2012-02-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

This is my third time participating in a handmade lovin'-inspired swap (the first one was a photography swap with the lovely ladies of FPOE, and the second a post-holiday celebration coordinated by Leonora of Yellow Heart Art), and I was so very lucky to be paired up with Krystal of Krystal's Kitsch! Krystal sent me a lovely snail-mail surprise bundle of goodies (and I sent her some love, too!). Many thanks to Alissa and Caroline for organizing this event.

Check out the rad Valentines I got from my V-Day swap pal! Thanks again, Krystal!!

Anna. Delores. GIVE. A. WAY!

2012-02-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

I am SUPER excited to host another giveaway for Anna Delores Photography! Check this out: winner gets $50 to blow on whatever his/her heart desires from my shop on Etsy! Not too shabby, right?

Winner of this giveaway gets fifty bucks to use at www.annadelores.etsy.com!

So whatcha gotta do? Enter with Rafflecopter below!

Mandatory entry: You must also be a follower of this blog--use Rafflecopter to tell me your GFC info! LOTS of optional entries below!

Giveaway entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 19. Winner will be selected and announced on Monday, February 20!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

my paper heart.

2012-02-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

One of my newest boards on Pinterest is called "Paper Love" and it's devoted to my favorite paper products. I am in LOVE with paper, letterpress, typography, lettering, stamps, fonts... So, this post is an ode to my adoration of all. things. PAPER.

FareWell Paperie also has a "Cranky Pants" version that I NEED to frame...!

How lovely are these envelopes? I got a stamp from seller Calligraphy Girl.

What happened to old-fashioned letters? Oh, the Internet. Photo by skippydesigns.

Another GORGEOUS hand-calligraphy stamp! By Primele.

Paper flowers. Just exquisite! By ilovethis.

Lovely letterpress wedding invitations from Anon-Y-Mouse Prints.

Y'all sick of Yellow Heart Art yet? Good, me neither.

This lovely piece of art is hanging in my new bedroom! Thanks, Suhita!

How CUTE is this? Origami heart garland by jikits

unique LA

2012-02-09T10:43:00.000-08:00

I've tentatively decided to take a break from house prep this coming weekend to visit my first "Unique LA" event -- what seems like a super-cool ode to handmade right here in my hometown!

The event was shared with me by fellow Angeleno Jonathan Ventura (recently featured right here!) and is boasting a few of my faves (like Nan Lawson! Or Neena Creates!) so I decided I'd cruise downtown on Saturday OR Sunday to take a peek. If you're in the area, I recommend you do the same; here is some of the awesome talent you'll discover.

I already mentioned that the lovely Nan Lawson will be selling her wares at the event!

I had a heck of a time selecting an image to add to the blog for The Poster List (though I thought this one most appropriate). I have a big crush on these guys; I've happened upon them before at the Melrose Trading Post and they seriously rock. Only click on this link to their site if you're ready to drop some cash (but not too much, because they are totally affordable).

The Poster List will be at Unique LA Feb. 11-12

There are also accessories aplenty to whet your fashionable appetite. I LOVE Yellow Wallpaper's wallets and Vintage Remade's recycled bags.

Super-cute wallets from Yellow Wallpaper at Unique LA this weekend.

I've also fallen head-over-heels for Selina Vaughen's amazing bags made from vintage fabrics!

One of many bags you'll discover from local artisans at Unique LA this weekend.

Another favorite of mine, someone I found on Etsy months ago, is Neena Creates (from whom I ordered a SUPER cute, SUPER comfy tank over the summer). Her Shakespearean, French, and Italian quotes and sayings c'est magnifique, and the designs are simply to die for!

Apparel from Neena Creates at Unique LA this weekend! Great V-day gift ideas!

My only complaint about Sass&Peril is that they don't make these T-shirts in BIG kid (i.e. adult) sizes!

Check out these and MANY MORE exciting vendors at Unique LA this weekend! Maybe I'll see you there. ♥

decorating my new home.

2012-02-07T16:39:00.000-08:00

As I hope you now know, only because I've been blabbing so much about it, I recently moved into a new home (with my boyfriend! Eeek! It's been an adjustment). Anyway, one of my favorite parts about getting into a new space is the REDECORATING. Yeah, sure, I end up broke, but I have a lot of fun getting there. The Etsy fanatic that I've become this past year, of COURSE I've gotten a handful of home decor goodies from the likes of some great Etsy sellers. Here's just a sampling of what I've either already ordered or have in my Etsy favorites or Pinterest lists for making my new home feel, well, like home.

Switch plate cover

One of my first orders of business when we moved in was to eliminate the presence of old switch plate covers; I don't know why anyone would settle for those ugly plastic covers when they can snatch something like this gem from Atelier Yumi. I have also become a fan of Turn Me On Art and Funky Chicken Design.

Okay, okay -- so light switch covers don't impress you (in which case, shame on you -- you should know that the little details can make a big difference!). How about wall decor?

When we first started talking about moving in together, I asked my boyfriend if we could hang my photographs on our walls. I will still add a few of my own creations to our currently-blank space, but I've also found that I get tired of looking at my own images (since I'm already looking at them all the time as part of my Etsy business). So I'm rotating in a few of my favorites from OTHER talented Etsy photographers like Slight Clutter, JPG Photography, You Anchor Me, SSC Photography... the list goes on and on.

Katya Horner of Slight Clutter photographs trees like nobody's business.

Still life vintage tea cups from Amelia Kay Photography

I have this gorgeous image from SSC Photography by Shannon Clark!

We already know how much I adore Julie Parker Garza's owl photography!

And I'm sorry, but I have to give a shout-out to these lovelies; I haven't decided what I want to do with them yet which is my ONLY reason for holding back on purchase... I will say they've been quite popular on Tophatter auctions!

wall mount knobs from The Door Stop

Side note, and not from Etsy: I'm also in love with these curtain pull-backs from Urban Outfitters:

Door knob curtain tie back from Urban Outfitters

I also scored myself an antique mason jar soap dispenser from The Country Barrel -- so very cool and retro but still in pristine condition. Highly recommended. They also sell solar-powered outdoor lamps made out of the same jars! A future fixture on my patio, to be sure.

Century-old mason jars with zinc lids as soap dispensers! Mega score.

I'm also pretty smitten with my new felt rosette stems, courtesy of Cole Franke of handmade colectibles (not a typo -- that's how Cole's shop name is spelled!). I got a rad custom assortment of colors that I'm splitting between the bedroom and the bathroom (thanks Cole!!).

Rosette blooms from handmade colectibles

More to come. I am WAY too obsessed with home decor for this to be the end. Looking for more? Check out my boards on Pinterest for more of my favorites.

Anon-Y-Mouse :: GIVEAWAY winner

2012-02-07T14:27:00.000-08:00

Many congratulations to Suzanne Gregg for winning the Anon-Y-Mouse Prints giveaway -- a set of eight super-cute Valentine's Day cards from Jonathan Ventura of Anon-Y-Mouse.

Suzanne is the happy new owner of Anon-Y-Mouse V-Day cards!

my picks for my valentine.

2012-02-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

If I thought Etsy was fantastic for Christmas shopping, then I'm all but overwhelmed for Valentine's Day! My birthday is the same week as V-Day so I don't usually celebrate (whether single or coupled or whatever), but some of this stuff is too darn cute! Here are my faves for Cupid's b'day.

I love the lens-play on this photo notecard by Irina Photography

Such a sweet print from UUPP :: "Happy Art for Happy Walls"

Another adorable print from Leonora over at Yellow Heart Art

The loveliest little kraft hearts (for scrapbooking! Duh!)

Cute shoe clips for date night? YES PLEASE!

Need a cute top to go with your new shoes? YES PLEASE!

Burlap heart garland. Just 'cuz. C'mon, it's pretty!

Lovely & romantic photographs from Evie Marie Bee

Break free from the typical gemstone or heart-shaped locket jewelry!

Pick up some flowers that will last past President's Day!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Happy Valentine's Day to you!

moving into a new home.

2012-01-30T15:03:00.001-08:00

I might be a little MIA this week, and here's why! I ask in advance for your forgiveness!

lost angeles: setting up.: Moving is a crazy, crazy time. Z and I moved all our stuff (furniture, boxes, puppies and all!) on Saturday (2 days ago) and YIKES! ...more...

My pooch, Mickey, getting settled in our new digs. Read more!

Elixir Soap giveaway winner!

2012-01-30T11:54:00.000-08:00

Many congrats to Lindsay for winning the set of three "Bicycle Love" travel soap bars from Dyani at Elixir Soap! Thanks to everyone for participating and entering the giveaway -- it's always so much fun! :)

Lindsay won some awesome "Bicycle Love" travel soaps!

Anon-Y-Mouse :: Angeleno Series + GIVEAWAY

2012-01-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

Jonathan Ventura of Anon-Y-Mouse Print & Design wants to change the way you think about wedding invitations and print design. Relatively new to Etsy (Jonathan set up shop in September 2011) but in the business of wedding paper for over two years, Jonathan and his team challenge themselves to produce innovative designs and clever packaging for wedding stationary and other paper goodies.

"Jessica" save-the-dates from Anon-Y-Mouse

When Jonathan and I “met” on Etsy last year, I was excited about his products (and of course, I still am) – with a background in graphic design and photography, Anon-Y-Mouse’s invitations are equal parts simple beauty and modern elegance. To my delight, Jonathan agreed to answer some questions about Anon-Y-Mouse AND sponsor a giveaway (keep reading for more details!).

What has been your biggest inspiration as an artist/crafter?

People. I want to create art that inspires other people, just like I have been inspired. I love to know about artists that came before me, whether they are print designers, painters, or photographers. It’s neat to see how things were done before Photoshop and Illustrator. They inspire me to get better and never stop learning.

Can you describe your work space and/or work process?

I am very messy and sporadic, tending to work on whatever is in front of me, then getting distracted by another project, until I end up back where I started. I deliberately try not to be organized; I feel I work better this way. It keeps me from feeling "bored" or burning out.

Who would you say influences you the most as an artist/crafter?

Alvin Lustig. He, for me, is the epitome of print design and the person that inspired me to create things on paper, and still influences my use of shapes and simple text. I have a good collection of his work at my home that I constantly look to for inspiration. He was a multi-dimensional artist, working not just on book covers but business identity and even interior design. I try to model myself after that—I work on different art forms such as print design as well as photography.

How did you come up with the name of your business?

Well, “Anon-y-Mouse” is a play on the word "anonymous.” For the longest time I didn't have an Internet presence at all. I struggled to put my work online. I preferred my work to be found by other means, like word of mouth. I didn't want to use my name for that reason the work should speak for itself. The company should be known for the work, not me.

The "Eliza" invitation by Anon-Y-Mouse

What is your personal favorite item for sale in your shop?

The Eliza Invitation. I think it’s a very unique wedding invitation, something you don't see every day. I love the way the whole thing came together, the font and compositions seem to be made for each other. The design lends itself to be printed. It looks great in your hands.

What is your most cherished possession?

It's a three-way tie between my iMac, camera, and book collection. My iMac holds every design project and photo I have ever created. My camera is special because photography is my first love. It's what I went to school for and what started my artistic journey. And I just can't live without my books. I have been an avid collector for about eight years. They inspire me and I also love to read. It’s one of my favorite things to do.

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?

I hate to admit it, but there is nothing in my fridge because I eat out all the time. I prefer to eat out at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant and discover great new foods. I know I don't have time to cook so I don't buy many groceries, when I do they just sit there and spoil.

Where would you like to be in five years? Ten years?

Well, first, I would hope to be in a studio at least twice as big as what I have now with a lot more natural light. I find I work best when it’s bright and it helps me get better product photos. I’d like to be out of Los Angeles and living somewhere semi-rural. I'm in love with nature and want to be closer to it. In ten years i hope to be doing the same type of work, just bigger and better. Hopefully my design/photography skills continue to improve. Even now, I learn new things every day and will continue to find ways to make my products better. There’s always room for expanding my product line, as it is now I only have about 50% of my work up on Etsy.

WIN a set of 8 Valentine's Day cards!

And now (drumroll, please!) I am pleased to announce that Jonathan has ALSO generously decided to host a giveaway for a set of eight Valentine's Day cards, just in time to share with your favorite Valentines. The winner chooses the style (winner receives eight of the SAME style).

To enter the giveaway, visit the Anon-Y-Mouse shop on Etsy and add it to your favorites. Leave us a comment here to let us know you added Anon-Y-Mouse to your Etsy faves and mention the set of V-day cards that YOU would choose if you win!

For extra entries (leave a comment for each additional entry):

"Like" Anon-Y-Mouse Prints on Facebook (leave a comment with your Facebook name)
Follow this blog (leave a comment with your GFC username)
Share this giveaway on Twitter; suggested text for your Tweet: "I just entered to win #Valentine cards from Anon-Y-Mouse Prints @annadeloresLA: http://annadeloresphoto.blogspot.com" (leave a comment with your Twitter handle)
"Like" Anna Delores Photography on Facebook (leave a comment with your Facebook name)
Sign up for the Anna Delores newsletter

The deadline to enter the giveaway is one week from today: Thursday, February 2, at 11:59 p.m. PST.

You Anchor Me.

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I posted about Nan Lawson and her fabulous illustrations as part of my Angeleno shop owner series. What I DIDN'T know ahead of time was that Nan also runs a photography shop on Etsy: You Anchor Me. I started to peruse and I quickly fell in love! This is a digression from "regularly-scheduled programming," if you will, but I wanted to show y'all some of Nan's photography from Paris -- shot on 35mm film and oh-so-dreamy!

Absolutely my favorite -- I'm going to order one for my new place!

"Eye Full" from You Anchor Me photography

"Simply French" from You Anchor Me photography

"Pink Paris Sky," a view of the city from La Tour Eiffel!

nan lawson illustrations :: angeleno series feature

2012-01-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

When I stumbled across Nan Lawson's shop in my search for fellow Angelenos to feature in January, I knew I'd struck gold. Nan's illustrations are simply awesome: charming, quirky, a little bit hipster, and a whole lot of style for perfect home decor. Self-described "cute, quirky, nerdy" art in Nan's shop is great for any gift-giving occasion, especially if you know someone who's moving (HINT, HINT!).

The perfect art gift for your favorite photographer. :)

Nan Lawson (the artist's nickname, Nan, plus her middle name, Lawson) is influenced by a variety of artists and crafters all around her; she's inspired by different people all the time.

"I find myself inspired by so many things!" Nan told me. "I think I'm most inspired by fashion lately. I've been drawing a lot of characters and paying attention to the details of their clothing a lot. I love experimenting with my own personal clothing style, but drawing can take my ideas to whole new level."

Nan shacks up in Silverlake (super-cool neighborhood in L.A.) with her boyfriend and two kitties. Her work has appeared in tons of places online and in print, including Apartment Therapy, Decor8, and the illustrations included in the book Geek Girls Unite.

Reading Nan's response to my inquiry about her work space makes me wish I could draw: "I draw sitting on my couch, usually with a cup of coffee and some music or a movie playing. I work all around my apartment," she said. I'm jealous; it sounds relaxing! "For printing and shipping orders I have a small office nook, but I also take up most of the dining room table when I have a big shipment to go out." (Same here!)

I also wanted to know what Nan's personal favorite piece might be. "It changes all the time," she told me, "but right now it's my newest print called 'Music Is All Around.'"

Nan's current personal favorite: "Music is All Around"

Since this is my blog, after all, I now reserve the right to showcase MY favorites from Nan's shop! I love "The Piemaker" as I presume it is an homage to Ned from "Pushing Daisies," a fabulous show cancelled before it should have been!

"The Piemaker" from Nan Lawson

Nan does a ton of other pop culture reference drawings, too! What I actually really enjoy is that she doesn't explain her inspiration in her Etsy shop listings, which means you have to already know what she's alluding to (or make an educated guess). My personal faves (I'm going to give away some of Nan's references here!) are Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Royal Tenenbaums, and The Life Aquatic (Steve Zissou!).

I have to list this one, too, per my obsession with typewriters (I might snap this one up for display in my new home office!):

"Grunge Typewriter" illustration from Nan Lawson

Nan also does custom portraits, but she doesn't do them all the time; be sure to sign up for her newsletter if you're interested in more info the next time Nan is accepting commissions for rad portraits like this one!

Awesome custom portraits by Nan Lawson -- sign up for more info to get one of your own!

Now, in Nan's own words...

What is your most cherished possession?
This might sound lame, but it's probably my Macbook Pro. I use it all the time. I run my business from it, I create my artwork with it, and I've connected with so many other artists through it.

If Hollywood made a movie about you, who would be cast in the lead role as you?
One of my favorite actresses is Carey Mulligan. I'd love to see her play me; she'd have to put on a few pounds though. :)

Where would you like to be in five years? Ten years?
Five years from now I'd love to be illustrating for magazines and book covers. I think that's where I would like to see my career heading. But, I'd be very happy if I was still running a successful Etsy shop and living off of my art the way I am now. In ten years I'd love to have written and illustrated a book of my own! But for right now I am happy to live in the moment, because who knows how long this will last?

Thanks,
Nan

Thank YOU, Nan! Check out Nan Lawson's shop (you WON'T be disappointed -- she has something for EVERYONE!) and her other places in cyberspace:

Elixir Soap :: Angeleno Series Feature + Giveaway

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

New house = new soap.

I'm moving next week, and that means PACKING. It also means cleaning out my shower. I have TONS of shower goodies: soaps, body wash, and about six different kinds of shampoo and conditioner. Maybe I'm exaggerating a little. What I do know is that bars of soap are one of those questionable items for relocation: is it worth it to throw half-used soaps into a Ziploc baggie to transport to my new house?

For me, that answer is NO. My boyfriend would probably beg to differ. He has one of those soap savers (I actually bought it for him on Etsy) into which he combines all his almost-gone slivers of soap so he can suds every penny of the 99 cents he spent on a bar of Dial. But I digress.

My point is, I'm on the hunt for new goodies for my shower. And that means shopping local + shopping handmade = Elixir Soap! What a lead-in, eh?

I LOVE Dyani Brunner's collection of fun soaps in her Etsy shop, Elixir Soap. I even love the packaging, which means the soap itself will have an extended shelf life (literally) -- lovely packaging deserves to be on display, if only for a little while before I need to actually use the soap contained inside. Take the Parisian Garden soap set from Elixir! That wrapping is way too awesome to be discarded, and the lovely seafoam green shade of ribbon is a great complement to the blue tile of the new bathroom I'm inheriting.

Wow, I am spending a LOT of time talking about soap. Sort of embarrassing. :) I'll let Dyani do the talking from here on out! Make sure you read all the way through for giveaway information!

"Cute as a Button" shea butter soap!

What has been your biggest inspiration as an Etsy artisan?
I try to surround myself with highly creative, inspirational people. I think that the economic recession has fueled a creative renaissance of sorts. Faced with unemployment, more people are taking a chance on their own artistic ventures and crafts of all kinds are just flourishing right now. I also admit to spending a fair amount of time on Pinterest, which is essentially an inspiration machine.

Can you describe your work space and/or work process?
My work room is a prime example of organized chaos. To the outside observer it’s a jumble of crock pots, scales, molds, shea butter, a million little bottles of essential oils and a bulletin board with orders tacked up; but I know where everything is. Every once in a while I’ll go through and meticulously organize everything, but I think I work better when I’m not busy trying to make my work space look like an Anthropologie display.

Who would you say influences you the most as a crafter?
Definitely my boyfriend. When I met him seven years ago he was a struggling comic book artist with a mountain of student loans and many part-time jobs. The easiest thing for him to do would have been to just give up on art, but instead he chose the path of plugging away tirelessly, making connections, and honing his skills constantly. Now he makes a living just on his art, works from home, and has enough spare time to work on personal projects -- a lifestyle that wouldn’t have been possible if he had taken the expected path, or given up when it must have been tempting to do so. Having him around makes it harder for me to be lazy.

Awesome guy gift: Ninja wasabi soap!

How did you come up with the name of your business?
An elixir is essentially a substance that is said to sustain life and cure all ills. While I’m not going to make any claims of magic soap, I will say that it can certainly improve your day. There isn’t a better way to wake up, in my opinion, than a warm shower and a bar of soap infused with exhilarating eucalyptus spearmint, it wakes you right up and leaves you in a good mood. I like the idea that a good bar of soap can, in some ways, be an experience.

What is your personal favorite item for sale in your shop?
Definitely the apple jack peel goat’s milk soap. I leave some out in my bathroom at all times for guests. It smells clean, but subtly spicy, and goat’s milk is so good for your skin.

What is your most cherished possession?
My Bichon Frise Dexter, although I guess a dog isn’t technically a possession. He’s just the most clever, sweet, funny little thing ever. Yesterday in my absence he went into the closet and chewed on my left shoe. I would have been mad, but I couldn’t get past being impressed, because to hide what he did he retrieved the right shoe as well, and arranged them together perfectly by the couch as though I had just taken them off.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast in the lead role as you?
There’s nothing quite as boring as a biography of a youngish person, so my hope would be that Hollywood would be willing to wait a few years to make this movie, until I have a bit more life experience behind me. With that in mind, Dakota Fanning should be about the right age to play me when my theoretical movie comes out, and she’s a very talented actress.

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
An unreasonable amount of organic produce mostly, some of which may have gone bad. I signed up for a farm delivery service with lofty ambitions of cooking healthy meals every night, but I live in downtown Los Angeles, and there are just so many good restaurants… You will also find four Stellas, some blueberry pomegranate juice, and soda. Nothing too exciting.

Where would you like to be in five years? Ten years?
I’ve spent a good percentage of my adult life managing retail stores, and would love to eventually put that experience to good use by opening a boutique. The goal would be to showcase a curated mix of mid-century furniture, soap and body products, of course, and handmade clothing by talented local artisans. Everything I’m doing at this point is sort of a step toward that goal.

Giveaway from Dyani: Bicycle Love Travel Soaps!

Thanks for sharing your shop and a bit of your life with us, Dyani! I didn't edit down any of her answers because I thought everything was so interesting and I couldn't bear to make cuts. I also didn't have to edit for grammar or spelling, which is always refreshing -- just like Dyani's soaps! See what I did there? :)

Now, Dyani has ALSO offered to bestow a set of her super-adorable set of three bicycle travel soaps upon one lucky Anna Delores reader! I wish I could participate!!

To enter, head on over to Dyani's shop, Elixir Soap, and add it to your Etsy faves! Leave me a comment here to let me know you've done this so I can be sure to enter you in the giveaway! For extra bonus entries, add Anna Delores to your favorites shops (+1 entry), like Anna Delores on Facebook (+1 entry), follow Anna Delores on Twitter (+1 entry), and be sure to follow my blog on Google Friend Connect (+1 entry). :) Leave a comment for each completed task so your entries are counted accordingly.

Your mission (should you choose to accept) is get entries in by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, January 27 (that's one week from today!). Good luck! ♥

Fancy Dodo :: Angeleno Series Feature

2012-01-19T11:30:00.000-08:00

Fancy Dodo's awesome avatar

"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?"

This quote by Lewis Carroll from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass starts OUR adventures with Lorelai (Rory) from Fancy Dodo; it's also the quote that Rory uses to introduce the world to both her Etsy shop and her Facebook profile. The shop name Rory chose for herself also echoes her admiration of the classic Alice in Wonderland story (and some of its goofy characters).

"'Fancy' was a nickname of mine and dodos are just plain cool. I love the pop icons of dodos (Alice in Wonderland and Ice Age). Most of my work is upcycling and working with found items no longer wanted by someone else. It's taking something unique yet extinct, like the dodo, and making it fancy again." Hence, Fancy Dodo.

Plaid bottle cap earrings by Fancy Dodo

Items in Rory's Etsy shop (as well as most of her items for sale on Amazon and eBay) involve giving former treasures a new life. Her Etsy shop focus is on bottle cap earrings: super-cute, upcycled accessories with retro flair.

On top of selling her wares all over the Internet, Rory co-hosts a crafty blog called Adorning Schemes with BFF and fellow crafter Rachel. The two lovely ladies also just created a "Sh*t Crafters Say" video that'll make Etsy sellers everywhere giggle with recognition.

Check out Rory and Rachel's crafty blog!

Rory also entertained a couple of questions about her crafting, life in L.A., and contents of her refrigerator. Read on!

What has been your biggest inspiration as an artist/crafter?

Honestly, it's the blog and the Etsy community that has formed around crafting. Just being able to browse tons of shops run by people just like me gives me tons of great ideas for my own and is a constant reminder that I can be successful just doing what I'm doing.

Can you describe your work space and/or work process?

Right now? A complete and total wreck. I moved to L.A. from Boston in September and haven't quite gotten a system down. My boyfriend just moved in as well and he really likes his space empty and clean. I keep nothing on the desk and in turn he is not allowed to mess with my box fort a.k.a. work space. As for my process, I usually have 6-7 different projects going on and I pick them up as I feel like it. I'm starting to get more organized and I made a weekly calendar with a different craft (i.e. knitting, beading, bottle cap earrings, etc.) on each day that I must complete before fun.

Who would you say influences you the most as an artist/crafter?

My college animation teacher was a huge influence on my creative work process. One thing she told me was, "if you take the time to redo your art, you will never be done. Instead, take what you learned and make your next project better."

Red and blue polka dot earring

What is your personal favorite item for sale in your shop?

Currently, it's the retro red and blue polka dotted bottle cap earrings. I just love the pin up look of them!

What is your most cherished possession?

Aside from the electronics I can't live without (iPhone, macbook, sewing machine, xbox), I'd have to say it's a tie between my vintage Olympus om-1 35mm camera and my DVD of the 60s Broadway version of Peter Pan. It was my favorite thing to watch when I was little and I wore out a few VHS recordings of it!

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast in the lead role as you?

Well, I'm always told my celebrity look-a-like is Nicole Kidman, but personality-wise I'm compared to Zooey Deschanel. My vote would be for Zooey.

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?

After investigating, I found milk, shredded cheese, GF beer, eggs, chili, pancakes, butter, roasted squash, and Greek yogurt.

Rory and Rachel, partners in crime.

Where would you like to be in five to ten years?

I would hope to be more grounded where I am. I'd love to still be with my boyfriend only maybe out of debt and living in our own place. Within ten years I'd love to be starting a family. But I hope through everything, I continue to gain support for my crafting and blogging.

Thanks for taking the time to share with us!

♥

More places to find Rory + Fancy Dodo:

:: Fancy Dodo on Etsy ::

:: Fancy Dodo's Facebook page ::

:: Adorning Schemes blog ::

:: Fancy Dodo Crafts on Amazon ::

:: Fancy Dodo on eBay ::

3 Little Finches :: Angeleno Series Feature

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

Love favor tags by 3 Little Finches

This next shop owner actually splits her time between Southern California and London, England, so I suppose I'm cheating a little bit by featuring her in the Angeleno Series! But her goodies are just too darn cute for me to resist. She's also offering a special discount to Anna Delores readers! Keep cruising the article for your coupon code!

Pauline of 3 Little Finches says her workspace is currently a mess -- "...but I can't work when everything is too organized. I travel back and forth from London to California every month, so I work out of two studio rooms: one in the flat I share with my husband in London, and the other one in my mother's home in Pasadena, CA." That's one busy lady!

Rainbow paper cardstock hearts!

The name "3 Little Finches" came from Pauline's desire for a whimsical, upbeat shop title and was inspired by the three sweet little birds in her home: "I wanted to think of a name that was lighthearted and playful -- something that represents the products that I sell. I had three zebra finches in my London flat (now I have four), and the dynamics between the three original finches was hilarious because there were two males and one female and they were constantly bickering. I thought '3 Little Finches' would be a perfect name for a slightly comical Etsy shop."

Striped goodie bags!

The sense of charm sparked by its name is certainly furthered by the products at 3 Little Finches. Pauline offers a super-cute assortment of goodies, mostly for wedding but also for working some magic into everyday life. And, of course, Pauline has some comedy (albeit eco-friendly comedy) infused: "My favorite item would be the eco-friendly '3D Pop-Up Caricature Cards' available in my shop," Pauline told me. "I draw each customer's face and hand-punch them before attaching them onto custom cards with 3D dots. The best part is that they are printed on elephant dung card stock: 'Ellie Poo' cards, so they're eco-friendly and really special items, too."

Pocket-sized programs!

And NO, they do NOT stink of poop! Pauline also offers many products in other eco-friendly materials, such as banana fiber tags and recycled kraft stock menus.

I also wanted to know who most inspires Pauline; it's her mother. "She has always been a crafty person -- a domestic goddess for sure! She can knit, sew, craft, cook, and fix anything broken. She is the most well-rounded person I know, and has always encouraged me to create and always keep busy. My mom is the Asian Martha Stewart! I was a fashion designer for five years and went to art school for fashion design for another four years, but her sewing skills put mine to shame."

Pauline keeps her own bits of inspiration handy, especially while she's jetting back and forth from Los Angeles to London. "I always keep inspirational magazine clippings, quotes, and beautiful photos around and stored in my laptop so I always have some pretty things to look at while creating new ideas for my shop."

Gold metallic paper cardstock hearts!

Some of the fun stuff:

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as lead role?
I look absolutely nothing her, but I have always had a bit of a girl-crush on Kate Hudson. And Amanda Bynes is pretty hilarious too. :)

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
Fage Strawberry Greek yogurt, C2O coconut water, my mom's Chinese food, and LOTS and LOTS of eggs!

Candy-striped wedding favor tags!

Where would you like to be in five years
It's funny because if you asked me this question two years ago, I would probably say [I'd like to be] living in New York City with my own fashion label. But now I have become a lot more family-oriented and a bit of a homebody! I would love to settle down with my husband, have a couple of kids, and live in a real house (finally!) with a huge studio space for me to craft and sew. Sounds boring, but currently, my idea of a great weekend night is watching Netflix on my iPad and knitting!"

Here, here, Pauline! A woman after my own heart.

More places to find the lovely Pauline:

Etsy :: for 10% off, readers can use coupon code NEWLYWED
Facebook

leonora's swag swap starts NOW!

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

we. are. HERE.

the long awaited swag swap week is going on right now :)

Cliff Notes: All shops participating in the swap get to trade their swag with swag in other shops too!

Not participating in the swap? No Worries! Our shop owners have graciously offered you fine folks COUPON CODES so you too can go all "click, add to cart" crazy on these awesome handmade shops!

Are you participating in swag swap week? Make sure to re-read all the rules and contact your swapper via email! Please make sure your swapper is actually participating in swag swap week by referring to this list :)

Now what are you waiting for? Browse our shops, go swapping, use their coupon codes, and check back later in the week at YellowHeartArt.blogspot.com for group giveaways from some participating shops happening this Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday AND Friday!

[shop] [blog] [twitter] [facebook]

COUPON CODE: homegirl is giving 15% off ALL items in her shop with the code "CELEBRATE", works worldwide too! Go on our friends in Europe and Canada, get shopping!

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[shop] [blog] [twitter]

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[shop] [blog] [twitter] [facebook]

COUPON CODE: enter SWAPLOVE at checkout for 15% off!

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[shop] [twitter] [facebook]

COUPON CODE: enter SWAGER at checkout for 20% off!

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[shop] [blog] [twitter] [facebook]

COUPON CODE: score yourselves 20% off EVERYTHING in the shop with SWAG20 at check out

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[shop] [blog] [twitter] [facebook]

COUPON CODE: Enter SWAG20 to get 20% off all these hair lovelies! GO GO GO!

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[shop] [blog] [facebook]

COUPON CODE: Enter SWAGSWAP20 to nab yourself 20% off! (WOOT!)

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[shop] [twitter] [facebook]

COUPON CODE: If you enter SWAGSWAP12 at checkout you get 15% off on ANYTHING in the shop! ((US & Canada only please)) ((good till end of swap Jan 21st, 2012))

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[shop] [blog]

COUPON CODE: Enter SWAG10 at checkout for 10% off! ((US only please))

[shop] [blog] [twitter] [facebook]

COUPON CODE: Enter SWAPWEEK for 30% off (WOWZAS!)

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[shop] [blog] [twitter] [facebook]

COUPON CODE: Enter SWAPWEEK and get 10% off anything your heart desires <3

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[shop] [blog] [twitter] [facebook]

COUPON CODE: Enter SWAGSWAP at checkout for 10% off ANYTHING! (holla)

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[shop] [blog] [twitter] [facebook]

COUPON CODE: Enter SWAGSWAP10 and get 10% off any and all items in the shop!

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[shop] [blog] [twitter] [facebook]

PROMOTION: Free Shipping on all prints until December 20th. No coupon code necessary- all print shipping is already discounted. Free shipping available on U.S. print orders only with discounted shipping rates internationally.
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[shop] [blog] [twitter] [facebook]

COUPON CODE: Enter "SWAGSHOP" at check out for FREE domestic shipping!

[shop] [blog] [twitter] [facebook]

COUPON CODE: Enter SWAGWEEK for 20% off anything in the shop! (she also has items for big people too! Fun iPad sleeves and purses)

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[shop] [blog] [twitter] [facebook]

***IMPORTANT NOTICE*** Kristina had to put her shop in vacation mode during this week, please visit her "sold" section to see what items she has. She will be available for contact. She apologizes for any inconveniences!

[shop] [blog] [twitter]

COUPON CODE: Enter SWAG15 for 15% off these ADORABLE purses!

[shop] [blog] [twitter] [facebook]

COUPON CODE: Enter "SAVE10" at checkout for 10% off anything you want!

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[shop] [blog] [twitter] [facebook]

COUPON CODE: Enter "SWAPIT" for 15% off these hand stamped lovelies

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[shop] [blog] [twitter]

COUPON CODE: Enter "SWAPWEEKLOVE" for 20% off ANYTHING in her shop! (aww yeah!)

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[shop] [blog] [twitter] [facebook]

COUPON CODE: Enter SWAGSWAP20 for 20% off these lovely rosies!

[blog] [twitter] [facebook]

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[blog] [twitter] [facebook] [shop]

Swag Swap Week is going on from January 16th 2012 - January 21st 2012. Coupon codes will expire once the week is over.

Featured in Muses Magazine

2012-01-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

Anna Delores Photography is featured on the COVER of Muses Magazine this weekend! I think it looks pretty good, don't you? ;)

Muses Magazine :: Anna Delores Photography

myan soffia ROCKS my SOCKS off!

2012-01-13T13:55:00.000-08:00

I just couldn't resist sharing with you my awesome buying + swapping experience with Myan of Sixth & Main + Myan Soffia Photography. Myan and I have been "online pals" for a few months, sharing Etsy adventure stories and our love of Los Angeles. When I came up with the idea of doing an Angeleno feature series, Myan was at the top of my list!

I snagged this print, one of my faves, plus boy-friendly for my new home.

After featuring her here last week, I noticed Myan was having a sweet 50% off sale on some of her 5x5" and 5x7" prints, so I decided to snag some of the images of hers I've been coveting for weeks. Turns out she had her eye on a couple of my prints as well (um, FLATTERED!) so we ended up doing a little swap!

I got my package from Myan in the mail today. Oh. My. God. She totally spoiled me. It's like Christmas all over again!

My prints were packaged so beautifully, I almost didn't want to open them! ALMOST.

First of all, the prints I ordered are SIMPLY. GORGEOUS. I adore them and I can't wait to find places for them in my new home!

"Ink Slinger no. 1" is definitely going in my new home office. :)

I also got a sweet, personalized note from Myan on the back of one of her lovely photo postcards. The whole presentation was just so lovely, I had to share my delight!

My goodies from Myan Soffia!

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Myan! I love it all and you made my day with your thoughtful delivery. ♥

Myan is still having her sale on 5x5" and 5x7" prints! They're only $5.00 -- a total steal! Check out her shops for yourself and scoop up some lovely art to refresh your winter walls, now through the holiday weekend (sale ends January 16).

:: Myan Soffia | Sixth & Main ::

♥ ♥ ♥

go GREEN this valentine's day!

2012-01-12T07:00:00.001-08:00

Flower necklace made from recycled fabrics! Go green!

Next up in the Angeleno Feature Series is Go Green Treasures, a lovely Etsy shop headed by LA resident Rebecca Leon. Go Green has a great assortment of goodies with one very important thing in common: they're all green (and by green, we mean the eco movement, not the color).

Rebecca traces the foundations of her shop name to her time in college, learning about sustainable building practices. "I was in college learning to build design and structures; we learned a lot about the wastefulness of building materials and the many new incentives to 'go green.' In my designs I would always incorporate recycled hardwood or energy efficient electronics -- small things that add up to make a big difference. This practice stuck with me and the desire to help sustain our natural resources and not be wasteful. So I thought, why not do this with my art as well? I started asking friends if they had any broken jewelry or an earring that didn’t have a match or just stuff they never wore and would throw out. I grew a large collection of unwanted items and started designing from there. If I needed something particular I would go to garage sales and find hidden 'treasures' amongst the junk."

Super-cute custom wreaths from Go Green Treasures by Rebecca Leon on Etsy!

And there you have it! A shop name is born.

Rebecca is further inspired by her education in the sense that she "went to school to study interior design and architecture. I think Frank Lloyd Wright probably had an impact in my design style: clean lines, modern style, taking an old traditional design and giving it a modern twist."

MY personal favorite from Rebecca's shop (and hers too!)

Los Angeles is definitely a great place to study and learn architecture and modern design, but maybe not the best for having an expansive studio space! "I live in a tiny apartment in LA so my workspace is somewhat spread throughout my house," Rebecca told me. "I turned my current shop items into art themselves in my house... I separate all of my knicknacks in cute little photoboxes and decorate my bookshelves with them. I work on my dining room table, but if you came and visited me you would have no idea."

Rebecca's personal favorite in her shop is a newbie and won't be sticking around for long: "It’s my custom color and design Valentine’s day wreath ... I like to make [custom] things for people, and knowing my customers are getting exactly what they want makes me happy!

I bugged Rebecca about some of the more personal components of her life as well:

Go Green earrings!

What is your most cherished possession?
I don’t know if this is a politically correct answer, but my three-month-old son! He’s not technically a possession, but he does belong to me! I love him so much and it makes my heart happy to see him enjoying me making art!

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast in the lead role as you?
For no particular reason but that I think she is such a doll, Jennifer Aniston.

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
Not a whole lot! Amongst the random items, brown eggs, almond milk, acai juice, string cheese, oranges, chicken, and a huge box of chocolates -- yum!

Where would you like to be in five years? Ten years?
I want to be right when I am. I don't aspire to be a huge business women or live in some mansion. I love my hubby and my baby boy and I am fully content staying home with my little man, taking care of my family, making art, listening to music, and loving life.

Many thanks to Rebecca for sharing her shop and self with me! Be sure to check out Go Green Treasures on Etsy for a Valentine's day gift that keeps on giving: recycled materials (plus felt flowers that won't perish!).

Go Green Treasures on Etsy

moving on up... and over to monterey park.

2012-01-11T11:24:00.000-08:00

A glimpse into my very exciting personal life... early alert, this also means I might go through a period of "missing in action" as we're packing and moving our sh!t in mid-to-late January, so bear with me. :)

Also a great excuse for a MOVING SALE at Anna Delores Photography! The entire shop is 25% off.

lost angeles: Took a big step yesterday, so big it hasn't hit me yet: I signed a lease on a house I'll be moving into with my boyfriend. Yikes!

Not much to look at... yet...

julie ann art

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

Stylish Julie gets her brunch on!

The lovely and inspiring Julie Ann is another fellow resident of Los Angeles who rocks my Etsy socks off. I *think* I first happened upon Julie Ann Art via Heartsy last year (that Heartsy has managed to introduce me to a LOT of my favorite shops!).

I'll jump right into this interview without too much fanfare, though Julie certainly deserves all the fanfare I could possibly muster: her work is adorable, her blog is addictive, and I totally covet her delightful sense of style. Which brings us to Julie's response to my first question...

What has been your biggest inspiration as an artist?
Other artist and crafters! There are so many amazing, creative people out there. I find a new shop or a new blog every day that I fall in love with. It constantly inspires me to try to become to others what they are to me.

A peek into Julie Ann's office & workspace!

Can you describe your work space and process?
One of the rooms in our house is used as the office/studio space for Julie Ann Art. I always start my work process there, working on my computer and printing out card. Once I have my cards printed I tend to bring my supplies to the living room so I can package my orders next to my boyfriend on the couch.

Who would you say influences you the most?
Elsie Larson of A Beautiful Mess. I'm sure most of you know of her. I started following Elsie's blog a very long time ago. Watching her transition from quitting her job to pursuing her Red Velvet business full-time has been very inspiring.

How did you come up with the name of your business?
It was the first thing that came to mind and honestly, I'd like to change it. Unfortunately that comes with a large overhaul of "branding" and I'm not quite ready to take that step yet. I'm dealing for now.

Charming Valentine cards by Julie Ann Art

What is your favorite item in your shop?
My favorite card is probably the one that says "Home Is Wherever I'm With You." It's how I feel about my relationship.

What is your most cherished possession?
My first thought was my dog. As far as material things, I would probably have a heart attack if I lost my computer. It has all my artwork on it, and I'm not the *best* at staying on top of backing it all up.

If Hollywood made a movie about you, who would you like to see in the lead role?
People have told me that I look like Rachel McAdams (I don't see it but I'm flattered) so I'll say her. She seems real, and I've watched The Notebook about 100 times.

"Hello" greeting card by Julie Ann Art (my personal favorite).

What's in your refrigerator right now?
Ha! Not much! It's hard to find time to grocery shop when I'm juggling my shop, my blog, and a full-time job. I actually am hoping to get to the grocery store by tomorrow. When we actually have ingredients for dinner some of our favorites are asparagus, artichokes, salmon, and tacos. (And I LOVE olives!)

Where would you like to be in five years? Ten years?
In five years I hope to be a full-time indie business owner. I am not quite there yet and I dream of the day that I can devote more time to what I want to do for Julie Ann Art. In ten years, same thing, but with a couple kids running around.

The lovely Julie!

Many thanks to Julie Ann Art for the guest appearance on Anna Delores! Be sure to stop by Julie's shop for all your Valentines' Day card needs!

More places to find Julie Ann Art ::

* Blog :: www.julieannart.com
* Etsy :: www.etsy.com/shop/JulieAnnArt
* Facebook :: www.facebook.com/JulieAnnaEtsy
* Twitter :: http://twitter.com/julieannart
* Pinterest :: http://pinterest.com/julieannart

The Tea Rex is back!

2012-01-08T13:17:00.000-08:00

Teascha from The Tea Rex is having a new Heartsy deal! Preview today for VIPs, full feature tomorrow (Monday, January 9). Don't miss your chance to own one of Teascha's AMAZING scarves! They're my favorites.

Here's a blast from the past (November 2011) when I featured Teascha on Anna Delores; you can learn more about the lovely lady behind the shop. :)

anna delores {photography}: The Tea Rex.

tortured heart

2012-01-07T21:35:00.000-08:00

I wasn't even planning on doing any photo editing today; I've been new-home shopping all day with Z and was just cruising my favorite websites to unwind. I was suddenly compelled to peek at some of the photos I have in my "to edit" queue and decided to see where the paper heart library book image took me. I LOVE where it took me! I just fussed for a few minutes and this is what I came up with; it's a little less subtle than usual, but I adore the way it came out. What do you guys think?

"Tortured Heart" by Anna Delores Photography

Anna Delores featured on julie ann art!

2012-01-06T19:21:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday, friends! I am so honored to be featured on the lovely Julie Ann's blog today! You can win a $50 Anna Delores gift certificate, too! So check it out!

julie ann art :: Sponsor Spotlight + Giveaway :: Anna Delores Photography

I hope you all have a magnificent weekend!
xo
Emily

Angeleno Series Feature :: myan soffia

2012-01-05T11:08:00.000-08:00

I am personally very excited about the newest Etsy shop feature for Anna Delores: myan soffia photography (also of Sixth & Main -- her work is way too fabulous to be confined to just one shop!).

"Nightowl" by Myan Soffia

The lovely Myan is a fellow Los Angeles resident and this has actually been great fun for me, not only as an admirer of her work but also an admirer of her ability to capture the spirit and ambiance of the city of L.A. as well as the Southern California coast. These subjects also happen to be her inspiration; when I asked Myan what moves her to photograph, she replied, "Los Angeles and the seaside. I just can not get enough shots of either. I am always trying to capture the perfect memory of both."

Myan's images are dreamy, romantic, and somehow still modern; her photographs do a superb job of capturing Los Angeles how I imagine it looked fifty years ago, without compromising the integrity of this modern metropolis. Myan's work has been featured all OVER the place, including the Oprah Winfrey network, a multitude of books and magazines, and on the set of ABC's "Modern Family" ::

Myan's photographs featured on the set of ABC's sitcom "Modern Family"

Myan was kind enough to entertain some of my nosy questions; check out her responses below. She is also having clearance sales in BOTH of her Etsy shops RIGHT NOW so be sure to check her out!

Can you describe your work space and process?

"Trigger Happy" by Sixth & Main

My work spaces are an absolute mess! In my office I have my Mac, Wacom tablet, sofa, journals, and Post-its everywhere, plus my Bose iPod dock -- I must have music on when I work or I will go crazy. Then I have my "studio" area where I have my easels, paints, print inventory, and supplies. [She PAINTS, too!] And this is where I package orders. In my office and studio I have these tall tables my husband custom made for me so I can either stand or sit while I work.

Once I dump my pics, I edit in rounds. Whatever catches my eye first I edit. Then I go back and do another round. But I still have a ton from years back that I haven't finished. Organization and time management are not talents of mine whatsoever.

Who would you say influences you the most as an artist?
Definitely my favorite artists, GianLorenzo Bernini, Remedios Varo, Caravaggio, Camille Claudel to name a few. They keep me going and inspire me to be a better artist.

One of Myan's personal faves: "go metro" photography print

What is your personal favorite item for sale in your shop?
What a tough question! I am so emotionally attached to each image I create so this was hard! But if I had to narrow it down, it is between this photo of one of my sweeties, Dogg. He is my guy and this captures his crazy personality so well. And this one; I can't explain why, really. But when I saw her standing so still, in her cute green suit, and her surroundings, just waiting and waiting, I got so excited to catch that moment. I am such a dork, I know! [No way, Myan! I am totally the same way!]

What is your most cherished possession?

Ahh, another toughie. It is between an antique photograph from my dad's side that we think my great great grandfather took. We recently found out he was a successful photographer back in the day and is even mentioned in a book. Or it would be my engagement ring. My husband put so much thought into it, I love it so much.

"It's Not Meant to Be" by Sixth & Main

If Hollywood made a movie about you, who would you like to see in the lead role?
If I am allowed to totally be unrealistic and completely daydream [of course! That's what this question is for!], then Tina Fey or Angelina Jolie. :)

What's in your refrigerator right now?
Yikes! Okay, I just took a peek and embarrassingly I saw: dark chocolate, Starbucks Frappuccinos, clementines, limes, too much craft beer (my hubby's), Pellegrino limonatas, soy creamer, spinach, red bell peppers, iced tea. Sort of healthy, right?

Where would you like to be in five years? Ten years?
In five years, still photographing, with hopefully more travel shots and portraiture in my portfolio, and living life as an artist and mom. In ten years, all of the above but living back east with our family and friends that I miss so much.

♥

I would LOVE to go on and on and on about Myan and her work. Seriously, she's awesome. She's an Etsy seller with a lot of integrity and I really adore her work. Thanks for agreeing to be featured, Myan! Come back any time. :)

Other places to find Myan ::

Etsy :: Myan Soffia :: Sixth & Main
Facebook :: Myan Photography
Website :: Myan Art Studio
Pinterest :: Myan Soffia

RAW:Hollywood

2012-01-04T00:05:00.000-08:00

So I signed up to participate in the RAW:Hollywood artists' showcase back in November, but tickets and event information were officially posted today and I am SUPER excited for the show, coming up February 3 (happy early birthday to me! I'm an Aquarius). :)

Tickets are only $10 so check it out if you're in the Los Angeles area! Hosted by the world-famous Key Club on the Sunset Strip, it's shaping up to be a pretty rad Friday night.

Anna Delores Photography will be featured at the upcoming artists' showcase!

Angeleno Series Feature :: SweetSauce Lab

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

Customizable North Carolina necklace

When I stumbled across Maeling's shop on Etsy, I knew I wanted to feature SweetSauce Lab as part of the Angeleno series on this blog. Maeling's necklaces are charming and a lovely option for a personalized gift (but you'll have to fight the urge to buy it for yourself).

Fellow Los Angeles shop owner Maeling agreed to answer my questions about her shop, and she's also offering a discount to all Anna Delores readers -- keep reading to get to the coupon code!

I'd opt for the California state necklace!

"Color, nature, and the small moments of life are what inspire me the most," Maeling told me. "I love taking a moment of life and translating it into my work and adding a bit of whimsy to it."

I also asked Maeling to describe your work space and process; she moved right before the holiday rush began, so her workspace is a little chaotic right now. "Some of my things are still in boxes. I now work out of my apartment in L.A. in the second room. I have one really long worktable I use at my main workspace for both my ceramics and packing/shipping. Then I have my computer desk and several shelves," she explained. "My work process changes weekly. Some days I'm making new products, other days I’m just packing orders or doing computer things like gathering inspiration ideas or editing shop pictures."

Maeling's favorite piece? Ellie the Elephant

I also wanted to know what most influences Maeling and inspires her to make her pieces. "There’s so much talent out there. It’s hard not to be inspired by every single piece of it. One person that has stuck with me is an instructor I had in college; he was very inspiring and would always try to push me to do more and see things differently. One of his famous quotes was 'God is in the details,' and while designing something, I try not to forget that." She also doesn't neglect giving her hubby some credit: "My husband has a great influence on me on striving to be better in every way."

What about the name "SweetSauce Lab"? I was immediately attracted to Maeling's shop name and wanted to know how it was born. "I thought about my name for a while. I didn’t want a name that locked me into anything specific and would allow my to expand my product base. At the same time, I wanted a name that represents what I wanted to convey to my customers. 'Sweet' is pleasing to the taste, mind, or feelings , and 'sauce' means 'to cover,' so SweetSauce Lab seemed to be a perfect fit."

Massachusetts state necklace in pumpkin

What is your most cherished possession?  
"I would clearly be lost without my kiln, but one thing I would never part is my vintage typewriter I had gotten for my birthday. It is a 1940s burgundy Smith and Corona typewriter with tons of personality. I love typing in the old-fashioned way. I use it to type up notes for my customers who want to add a special something to their gifts."

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast in the lead role as you?
I guess Renée Zellweger based on solely on personality."

What would I find in your refrigerator right now? 
"I love cooking so you could probably find everything in my fridge. There are the typical things of course (eggs, milk, and greens) and then some other items like foie gras and chả lụa (Vietnamese ham), film, and batteries."

Where would you like to be in five years?
"Having my own studio/workspace and expanding my product line is definitely on top of the list. While in college, I found a love for woodworking and I miss it. I have this vision of combining wood with ceramics. Hopefully, it won’t take five years."

Ten years? 
It depends on what day you ask me. Today, having my own furniture line and being in retail store, something I wanted since college. Last week, I wanted to bake more, open up a bakery and fill the air with sweet aromas. Ten years is a long ways from now and my mind changes all the time, so who knows?"

Finally, Maeling has generously decided to offer a coupon code to my blog followers! "For Anna Delores readers, I am offering 15% off for the month of January. Just type in coupon code ANNADELORES at checkout."

Many thanks to Maeling for sharing SweetSauce Lab with us! Now get shopping and enjoy the lovely pendants this Angeleno has to offer!

Angeleno Series Feature :: 4/Four

2012-01-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Back in December (crazy 2011), I contacted Nathaniel, a fellow Angeleno (that's an LA resident) who runs super-rad card company 4/Four on Etsy. He agreed to be guinea pig #1 for my January feature series focused on other artisans and crafters (like yours truly) based in the City of Angels in sunny So-Cal! He put up with my crazy (and not-so-crazy) questions and I'm glad I got to know him -- he's a pretty cool dude.

"I find that the artwork that most resonates with me are those that are the most simple," said Nathaniel, who earned his BFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. "I'm always impressed when someone can convey a strong message with a color and a few words."

4/Four's "Sorry about the thing with the fire..."

What intrigues me about 4/Four, other than the sheer volume of awesomeness, is that Nathaniel seems to go against the grain of what so many other Etsyans are bitching about: finding an audience. "Most of the cards in the shop were designed with a specific person in mind, and a few are my attempts to find a card that nobody wants to buy. I know it sounds crazy but it's true. I never thought that 'Sorry about that thing with the fire' would ever, EVER sell, but then one day a girl ordered it with a note that said, 'I accidentally set my sister's bathmat on fire.' Sometimes it feels like Field of Dreams: 'if you design it, they will come' (and actually buy it.)."

I also asked Nathaniel about his shop name, 4/Four, and where it came from. "I am an up-and-coming composer for film and television and have been a musician my whole life. I wanted a musical name, so I took the meter 4/4 and made it the shop name."

It was a bit more difficult for Nathaniel to narrow down a favorite item in his shop (which I can totally relate to). "That's hard to answer. 'I promise not to tell anyone how we met' is up there partially because I think it's hilarious, but mostly because it was the first one that a customer told me was 'framed and prominently displayed in [their] living room.' I was rather shocked at that since I tend to view greeting cards as a disposable item. I never really thought people would want to FRAME one that I designed." Good feeling, right?

Nerd love greeting card by 4/Four

"I think my actual favorite card is the super nerdy love card 'You are my singularity.' Simply speaking a singularity exists inside a black hole and is a point which swallows everything which encounters it, even light. You, being my singularity, are so attractive to me I have no hope of escape. When I designed 'You are my singularity' my girlfriend told me that nobody would buy it, but she underestimated just how many space/physics nerds are out there and on Etsy. It's been consistently one of our best sellers."

I have to say that one of my favorite parts of interviewing Nathaniel was simply reading his laugh-out-loud answers (and I really did laugh out loud quite a few times when he e-mailed me the content for this interview). When I asked Nathaniel about what we might find in his refrigerator right now, he replied, "Zuul [the demonic spirit haunting Sigourney Weaver's character in 1984's Ghostbusters]. It's been a problem for a while. We called the Ghostbusters but they've got a four-month backlog so for now we are only buying canned goods."

I also loved his answer to my inquiry about who might play the lead role if Hollywood were to make a movie about Nathaniel's life. "Neil Patrick Harris has been contacted but his people have yet to respond to my people. We were able to get a commitment from Peter Billingsley (Ralphie from A Christmas Story) but his fee is almost 60% of our budget. Macaulay Culkin is interested as well but wants a LOT of script re-writes and a producer credit as well."

My vote is, therefore, for Neil Patrick Harris.

It's a stretch, but I'll allow it: "You [are greater than] cupcakes."

In addition to being hilarious, Nathaniel is also in tune with his priorities and gives credit where credit is due. He cites his girlfriend, Delia, as his biggest inspiration: "I couldn't do any of this without her. She has her own successful Etsy shop selling vintage housewares (Amelia Bedelia Vintage) and advised me on everything Etsy when I was just getting started. I avoided so many mistakes because of her help," Nathaniel told me. "She also proofs my designs and helps to keep everything running smoothly. Once a design is finalized, she can and does do anything from printing and cutting to shipping. We make an awesome Etsy team."

When I asked Nathaniel about his most prized possessions, he replied, "for the purposes of this article, I'm going to say my awesome printer and my super cool corner rounder. But in a more personal sense my most cherished possessions aren't things but rather the memories of people and experiences from my past that inform my daily decisions and often get me through the tough times." Awww.

My #1 pick for V-Day: "here's some bacon."

Nathaniel also shed a little light on his creative process: "[It] usually begins with either watching movies or reading books. I can never seem to sit down and say 'ok, time to make a new design.' Occasionally a design is already fully formed in my head, but usually I'll start by writing what I want to say in as many words as it takes to say it. Then I'll start trying to shorten it as much as possible by rewriting it over and over until it pops ... I try to keep things as simple as possible, so occasionally I'll toil on an image for days (or even over the course of a few weeks) only to dump it and keep just the text."

"My work space looks like the bat cave in the original batman movie with Michael Keaton," Nathaniel said. "Fewer bats and better lighting, but otherwise you might just think I'm chasing down the Joker. The Jack Nicholson Joker, not the Heath Ledger Joker." Thanks for the clarification; this helps my ability to imagine.

Finally, I challenge Nathaniel to state his five-year plan, but my efforts were rebuffed with some simple yet surprisingly wise words: "I had a five-year plan about five years ago. I'm living life by the seat of my pants these days."

Don't miss 4/Four's amazing, hilarious, affordable, any-occasion greeting cards on Etsy. You can also stalk Nathaniel on Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook (so do it!).

Big THANK YOU to Nathaniel for the entertaining interview! Back later this week with more Los Angeles residents who also reside on Etsy. Stay tuned!

happy new year!

2011-12-31T13:15:00.000-08:00

Well, people, 2012 is upon us! It sounds so strange and futuristic. I wish you all the best for your New Year's Eve fêtes and resolutions, and I hope for you a sense of peace in the new year. Of course, Thanksgiving was a few weeks ago, but I wanted to express my gratitude to each and every of my blog followers, Twitter and Facebook fans, Etsy customers, and my beloved friends and family who have been SO incredibly supportive. Anna Delores Photography was founded in early 2011 and I can say with confidence that it was a pretty solid first year for a budding photographer. For your support, I offer my sincerest thanks and I look forward to a great year with you in 2012. ♥

xoxo, Emily {anna delores}

heartsy feature!

2011-12-29T01:28:00.000-08:00

I am featured on Heartsy today! This is going to be my last promo feature for awhile, so if you're into the idea of 65% off, I recommend stopping by. :)

"Writing Machine no. 1" by Anna Delores Photography

There are some other cool finds on Heartsy today, too! Fun post-holiday shopping. Whimsy House has some super-cute vintage-inspired jewelry; I bought a couple pair of earrings from her a few months back and LOVE them!

$10 for $21 from Whimsy House

HUGE fan of the super-cute clutches by Oyeta. If I didn't already have 1.2 million purses and wallets in my life, I'd be all over this deal (I might be all over it anyway, between you and me!).

$15 for $30 at Oyeta handmade bags and purses

I've also got a big crush on Mediums to Masses' housewares! Shop owner Sarah makes some rad glass jewelry, too. How great is this sushi set? If I made sushi at home I'd have made my purchase by now; I might opt for one of the adorable soap dishes instead. :)

$12 for $35 at Mediums to Masses

Happy Heartsy shopping! Get easy access right now by signing up; there's no "waiting period" for an invitation and they have tons of fun new goodies every day.

shop spotlight – Anna Delores on taradara's blog

2011-12-28T15:19:00.000-08:00

I'm featured on Taradara's blog today. Check it out! :: Etsy Shop Spotlight – Anna Delores Photography.

after-holiday sale at Anna Delores

2011-12-26T20:13:00.000-08:00

Macaroon notecards on sale, like everything else, for 50% off

I hope everyone has had an amazing holiday! Hanukkah is still going strong and I know Christmas for me and my family was just superb. We ate a TON of food, exchanged fun gifts, and I'm now ready to bask in the glow of a work-free week!

Shameless self-promotion ahead. Ready? Okay, you've been warned.

EVERYTHING (yes, everything!) is on sale RIGHT NOW at Anna Delores Photography: 50% off calendars, photo jewelry, notecards, and (of course) photography prints. This sale is only on for a couple of days, so get your shopping on!

new photography

2011-12-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

I have a new desktop computer, something I haven't had in about 10 years -- I've had laptops since high school! I inherited my brother's desktop computer, as he's in Japan for a year and his apartment in Osaka barely fits his person, much less a 21-inch monitor plus tower plus speakers... you get the idea.

Anyway, my boyfriend installed Photoshop CS 5.1 (ish?) on my computer and last night I went a little crazy! I'm really excited about some of these and looking forward to some more. They'll go up on Etsy in full glory in January when I spruce everything up post-holiday (and hopefully have some serious progress with my new website). Some of them, though, I couldn't wait and they're already for sale. :)

I also noticed (and I imagine you will, too) that I'm feeling very dark and brooding with my photo editing lately! I LIKE it, it's fun to be so dramatic. I hope the fans like it, too. :)

Chandelier on Hollywood Boulevard

My new favorite: vintage Packard in Silverlake, Los Angeles

Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles

The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California

Vintage cash register

Stay tuned -- more coming soon!
And happiest of holidays to you all!
See you again after Christmas.
xo
E

photographing Paris

2011-12-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

I'm a little behind on this post -- it was first published over a month ago, but I felt myself falling in love with Paris all over again after reading Marisa's guest blog post over on Hip Paris. Le sigh.

Photography by Marisa Williams

I found myself caught up in the photography articles on Hip Paris; I recommend checking out this amazing blog for yourself.

You know what else makes me miss Paris? Photos of ice skating at Hotel de Ville. My cousin and I were just there in April but admitted to each other that we want to cry for having missed winter in the City of Lights.

Ice skating rink at Hotel de Ville in Paris: December through March.

revisiting Carolyn Cochrane :: blast from the past

2011-12-20T11:02:00.000-08:00

"Lookout" by Carolyn Cochrane

The lovely Carolyn Cochrane + 20% off: Carolyn Cochrane is still offering 20% off on her photography collection on Etsy! Holiday shipping deadlines have passed, but that doesn't mean you can't grab some lovely home decor for yourself at an equally-lovely price. Have I said "lovely" enough?! I can't help it; Carolyn and her work are just so LOVELY. :)

badgers + owls.

2011-12-19T14:20:00.000-08:00

Honey Badger mug - corduroy by Jen Ray.

I want EVERYTHING in Jen Ray's Etsy shop, corduroy. Everything is simply fabulous. My only complaint about Jen is that she can't clone herself and thus create twice as many amazing, quirky, awesome works of art.

Last week I received my Honey Badger mug in the mail! It says "look at that sleepy f**k" and I'm obsessed with it. It's so cute and funny and it makes me smile every time I look at it. It also makes me feel sufficiently sardonic and bitter in a good way -- like, "get out of my way; I haven't had my coffee yet, bitches."

This is a sturdy, solid, dishwasher-safe ceramic mug --well-made and looks exactly like it does in its listing on Etsy. I encourage you to scoop up your very own original Jen Ray piece before she discontinues the Honey Badger line in 2012!

Other mail goodies: I decided to buy my mom a photography print from Julie of JPG Photography for Christmas. My mother has loved owls and collected tchotchkes in their likeness for years, before I was born and thus way before it was cool and trendy to love owls. Julie's gorgeous barn owl photo series seemed the perfect gift for Mom for Christmas, despite the fact that (a) I already have plenty of gifts for her, and (b) most of those gifts are photo prints already (ones of mine that she's requested)! Still, I know she'd love it, so I purchased "Whiter Shade of Pale."

"Whiter Shade of Pale" in 8x12" photo print by JPG Photography

I got Julie's envelope in the mail this afternoon, and I. Was. Speechless. This photo is so stunning in person that I just stared at it for who knows how long -- full minutes, to be sure. THEN I noticed the AMAZING gift Julie included for me: a print of the equally-breathtaking "You Precious Thing" on metallic finish photo paper.

"You Precious Thing" 8x10" photo print by JPG Photography

Julie totally gets that feeling of surprise and excitement when you realize you've been given a special gift with your order. She made my otherwise dreary Monday quite a bit brighter. :) Thank you, Julie!!

JPG Photography :: we have a winner!

2011-12-17T18:49:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Maegan Morin, winner of the JPG Photography giveaway! Maegan has won her choice of 8x8", 8x10", or 8x12" photography print from Julie Parker-Garza. Thanks to everyone for participating in the giveaway!

The most beautiful things in the world ... are FELT

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

FIRST THINGS FIRST: Today is Free Shipping Day! All of these vendors are under oath to deliver by Christmas Eve, so this day is for YOU, last-minute shoppers!

Now, on to the obsession of the day...

I am in a phase where I love everything FELT. I'm not talking emotions here, people, I mean felted goodies -- handmade Etsy goodness, of course. Where else? I'm not obsessed with Etsy or anything... Here are some of the amazing felt lovelies I've caught myself coveting lately.

The CUTEST holiday ornaments and garlands from Fishes Make Wishes!

Ned the Brown Moose ornament from Red Marionette

Do I have to be having some kind of party to justify garland?

If so, that's cool -- I'll opt for the ornament version from SewnNatural instead.

Same goes for these fellas -- do I need a child to justify a mobile? Hmm...

More from Red Marionette -- can't get over these ornaments!

This color combo from sleepyking is just delicious.

Not usually crazy for wreaths, but Katie's HeartfeltYarnWreaths are to die for!

And I might want a this bouquet for my someday wedding! LOVE these!

P.S. when you look at a word for too long or say it too many times in a row, does it start to look or sound funny? I'm having that experience with the word "felt." :) FELT!

Please make sure you show these shops some love! They're all well worth the browse!

Yellow Heart Art + Shabby Apple {yes please!}

2011-12-15T10:14:00.000-08:00

The lovely Leonora from Yellow Heart Art has teamed up with Shabby Apple (swoon) for an AMAZING giveaway! Head on over to the YHA blog to check it out... you won't be disappointed, trust me. Follow Leo on GFC whilst you're there. She's freakin' rad.

Go now :: http://yellowheartart.blogspot.com/2011/12/shabby-apple-dress-giveaway.html

Win a Bali-Hai dress from Yellow Heart Art + Shabby Apple!

national lemon cupcake day.

2011-12-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

You read that post title correctly: today is "National Lemon Cupcake Day." Except there's really no record of it anywhere, and the adjective "national" is certainly deceiving as there is no government information to back up the legitimacy of this day.

Lemon Cupcakes by LaCoda on Etsy

BUT, lemon + cupcake = amazing. Why NOT celebrate National Lemon Cupcake Day? Really, EVERY day should be National Lemon Cupcake Day.

Best bets for snapping up the best lemon cupcake that money can buy:

Crumbs Bakery (there's one that is WALKING distance from my apartment. Dangerous.) Lemon isn't listed on their website, but if you visit one of their locations, they do have lemon for sale. They're delectable!
Dots Cupcakes (my favorite spot in Pasadena). The issue here, though, is that lemon is NOT one of their "daily flavors." They DO have a raspberry lemon on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, though, so if you can stand to celebrate this important holiday a day late, I know Dots will make it worthwhile.
Nothing Bundt Cakes. I know, I know: they're not cupcakes. But who can resist lemon bundt cake?!
Frosted Cupcakery (Long Beach & Los Angeles)

Have a favorite cupcake bakery I forgot to mention? Don't keep the information to yourself! Share it with the rest of us so we can gorge ourselves on all the lemon cupcakes we can! Happy decadence. :)

paper pastries :: confections for your correspondence

2011-12-14T12:49:00.000-08:00

Amazing "Message in a Bottle" kit from Paper Pastries

BIG note to the lovely Margaret :: I am NOT AT ALL complaining about you when I say that I have been waiting impatiently to feature the lovely Paper Pastries on the Anna Delores blog! That is mostly because it gives me an excuse to fritter away otherwise productive hours at work (sorry, boss) cruising the gorgeous Paper Pastries shop on Big Cartel.

I've been a fan of PP since I stumbled upon the CUTEST custom stamps I've seen EVER! I am itching to order one, but waiting til I move into my new place in 2012 (so that I don't get some awesome return address stamp only to render it useless after a couple months).


PP's famous "Know It All" pencil set

I solicited Margaret for a quickie Q&A and she found the time amidst her super-busy schedule accommodate me! So excited to hear from her. Here goes:

Me: Your products are so sweet and beautiful -- what is your biggest source of inspiration?

PP: Thank you! Each product inspiration comes from a different place. Take the stationery sets, for example: each one was made because I had looked for a similar set and couldn't find anything cute enough so I had to make my own. ;) Or the pencils; my sister is a teacher and requested cute pencils for her to use during class. That's where the idea for the 'Know It All' pencil set came from. The first set was so popular we just kept adding more--now we have six different sets!

Me: Nice! Can you describe your workspace and/or work process?

Super-coveting this awesome card!

PP: Well, right now, it's a disaster area! Whenever I am busy, like during the holiday season, it's crazy {insert another "thank you" for taking the time to be featured!!}. There is packaging, shipping tags, and boxes everywhere. I have to keep at least one table clear so I can package online orders. I have about four flat work spaces, a full wall of open shelving, and a desk. It works pretty well. When I started, I was working out of my home, which wouldn't be a problem except we live in a studio. Last fall it just got to be too much for my boyfriend (now my fiancé!) so we went looking for a studio space for me to work out of.

My work process really changes from week to week. Some days I'm making up products, just packing online orders, or doing something on the computer like blogging, editing shop pictures, or checking inventory. My fiancé, sister, and brother-in-law are a constant help so I couldn't do it without them.

Perfect little gift wrap kit (Valentine's Day, anyone?!)

Me: Are you offering any sales or promotions for holiday shoppers?

PP: The deadline for christmas delivery has passed, though I do send out a newsletter every season; you can sign up here http://paperpastries.bigcartel.com/newsletter-signup. And I always include a discount code.

Me: I just signed up! *Wink.* Which item in your shop is an all-around best bet (i.e. your most "giftable" item)?

PP: This season it's been the custom return address stamp. People are buying one for themselves and each of their sisters or best friends. It's really been nonstop since October.

♥

Okay, so bummer that we all (myself included) missed the holiday shipping deadline, but make sure you get yourself on that Paper Pastries newsletter for awesome-good deals in the future! Besides, do you really need a reason like Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa to give your sisters and best friends a super-rad customized stamp? I think not.

Last-minute Etsy shopping + andralynn winner!

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

I curated a treasury yesterday featuring Etsy sellers who will still ship to you in time for Christmas gifting! Hope this gives you a few ideas, those of you who've waited til the last minute!! You know who you are...

Last-Minute Gifts by Anna Delores

In other news, we have a winner for the Andralynn "good luck" owl giveaway! Drumroll, please... it's the lovely Amber, selected via "Random.org"!

Congratulations on your new, adorable, super-amazing owl from Andrea Doss!

Wayfaring Magnolia Vintage: GIVEAWAY!!

2011-12-13T11:50:00.000-08:00

Wayfaring Magnolia Vintage: Anna Delores GIVEAWAY!: Here is a new giveaway for the month of December. You have a chance to win some gorgeous photography from Anna Delores Photography.

Shipping deadlines! Finished shopping yet?!

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

Crap. I'm pretty much done with my holiday shopping, but I am still having some anxiety about shipping deadlines. Why? If I'm near complete in my shopping, what am I so worried about? First of all, Jen Ray of corduroy is discontinuing her Honey Badger products after the end of the month, so I think I feel a sense of urgency to snap up her "sleepy" mug.

And maybe because the Anna Delores Photography shipping deadline is TODAY! I want to please everyone this season so I hope, hope, HOPE that holiday orders get placed ASAP so I can ensure their delivery to customers by Christmas. {Note: "ready to ship" items from Anna Delores can be ordered until the 18th.} :)

Another good thing for those of you still shopping is the upcoming Free Shipping Day on December 16 -- all the sellers featured on this site are REQUIRED to get your items to you by Christmas Eve. Kind of a great place to wrangle all the sellers who will promise delivery by Christmas: www.freeshippingday.com.

My favorite from Heartfelt Yarn Wreaths

Anyway, to help quell my strange, somewhat unwarranted holiday shipping fears, I've compiled a quickie {and by no means comprehensive} list of my favorite Etsy sellers whose shipping deadlines are today (December 12) or later, which means you can still place orders for the holidays and rest assured they'll arrive in time to lounge under your sparkling Christmas tree. Listed in order of urgency (closest deadlines are first):

JPG Photography :: order by December 12 (today)
Heartfelt Yarn Wreaths :: order by December 12 (today)
Bedbuggs Home Decor :: order by December 12 (today)
Anna Delores Photography :: order by December 12 (today)
SSD Jewelry :: order by December 14
Caustic Threads (apparel) :: order by December 14
Brooke Arin Jewelry :: order by December 15
Gen X Boutique (great guy stuff) :: order by December 15
The Tea Rex (scarves) :: order by December 16
Andralynn Creative Designs (awesome art) :: order by December 16
No 144 (shoe clips galore!) :: order by December 16
Flower Thyme (lovely paper flower creations) :: order by December 17
Marigold & Sage (purses & ornaments) :: order by December 18
Heartworks by Lori (photo lockets) :: order by December 19
LennyMud Pottery :: order by December 19
Isette Jewelry :: order by December 19

Good start to the weekend

2011-12-10T11:50:00.000-08:00

My shop is off to a happy start for the weekend with a couple of firsts: sold TWO wall calendars and my first photo locket, created for Anna Delores by Beauty Spot. :) Happy early Christmas to me.

Still have two of these to sell. :)

Julie Parker-Garza :: photography + giveaway!

2011-12-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

"Second Star to the Right" by jpg photography

"I would have to go with my pirate ship series set of two in the metallic finish," muses Julie Parker-Garza when I ask her for her best recommendation for holiday gifting. "One customer I had gave one to her husband and one to her daughter, because they love Peter Pan so much! I think these prints evoke feelings of an epic voyage about to be embarked upon, and who doesn’t love a grand adventure?"

Indeed! Julie (JPG Photography), a San Diegan, has given her Etsy shop the apt tag line "Owl & Pirate Ship Photography," and her barn owl portraits are to die for. They are incredibly stunning and certainly comprise Julie's best sellers on Etsy, though JPG has a lovely variety of prints to offer her customers.

"You Precious Thing" by Julie Parker-Garza

"[My inspiration is] finding the beauty in the mundane," Julie says. "I am a daydreamer--always have been. I dream of cobblestone streets, faraway lighthouses, and forests brimming with creatures. Unfortunately, where I live in San Diego (while beautiful), it’s difficult to capture what I dream about. Instead, I look for what is immediately around me, and try to breathe some magic into that. An ignored flower in a parking lot is transformed into a beautiful blossom in the quiet mountain side; a crowded beach is now a dreamy sparkling seaside destination, and an old vessel in the harbor is transformed into a pirate ship, about to set sail for treasure!"

"Beaches 1" by Julie Parker-Garza

Julie's workflow and description of her space evoke similar dreamy imagery: "I hunker down in the evenings and begin the process of sorting through photos, then open up Photoshop and begin tinkering around in a very organic matter. I let the image to speak to me; often the piece will let me know how it should be transformed. I listen to music, usually something like Stars, Midlake, or Bowie. I sing along as I work. I sometimes name my pieces after a particular lyric that spoke to me. Sometimes I feel like I am transported into those magical places I have created in my head and in the image. If I am editing photos from a photo shoot, like a wedding or family shoot, my workflow is more structured. I stay true to the scene of the day, but I can't resist adding a bit of magic." :)

The magic continues for Julie's customers, too, as she likes to include a couple sweet surprises with her Etsy orders when they ship. "I like to include a small free print or two as a 'thank you.' For every order I get, I am always blown away that someone purchased my work. The feeling that someone is hanging something on their wall that I created, that in a way they are inviting a part of me into their home—it feels amazing." (I can TOTALLY relate to this!)

Win your choice of print from Julie!

Anna Delores readers can get a piece of JPG Photography's magic, as well! Julie is giving one uber-lucky reader his or her choice of image from the shop in an 8x8", 8x10", or 8x12" print (up to a $26 value). To enter the giveaway, visit JPG Photography on Facebook to give Julie a "like," plus add JPG Photography to your Etsy favorites! Added bonus? Follow the Anna Delores blog (you're already here!).

Leave us a comment here to let us know you've entered (and for fun, let us know which image you might choose if you win!). Remember to enter before 11:59 p.m. on Friday, December 16, 2011, which is when entries will close.

More places to find Julie Parker-Garza ::

Blog: http://jpgphotography.typepad.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jpgphotography.etsy
Twitter: http://twitter.com/_jpgphotography
Julie's illustration shop on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/noodlehug

holiday bokeh party

2011-12-08T13:15:00.000-08:00

Darcy of my3boybarians got me all excited about giveaways and holiday bokeh. So here's my choice for a holiday bokeh photograph:

"Sparkle" by Anna Delores Photography

Visit Darcy's blog :: my3boybarians

holiday cocktail party

2011-12-08T11:16:00.000-08:00

In honor of the cocktail party I'm hosting with my three best girlfriends tomorrow night (!!) I curated a collection of celebration-worthy holiday goodies offered by Etsy artisans. Enjoy. :)

Holiday Cocktail Party by AnnaDelores

sweet eventide :: we miss you already

2011-12-07T12:47:00.000-08:00

The dear Jess has announced her {temporary} retirement from selling fine art photography, and I was moved by the honesty and self-respect with which she made this announcement. Much love and support to you, Jess.

Jess is still selling a few calendars from her shop while supplies last.

sweet eventide by Jessica Nichols: Dearest friends, It is with a sad, but relieved, heart that I am announcing a major sabbatical for Sweet Eventide. I have poured my heart,...

the lovely Carolyn Cochrane + 20% off

2011-12-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

First order of business :: remember to enter the giveaway for Regan Daniels, as that jig is up tonight at midnight!

On to the next piece of business (and by business, I mean SUPER FUN times) :: Carolyn Cochrane! I really love, love, LOVE Carolyn's work, and she's a super-sweet gal to boot.

"The Hush of Winter"

"Thank you for your nice compliment!"

You're welcome, Carolyn! Tell us about your work.

"I honestly feel like my biggest source of inspiration comes from within. I've always had a big desire to create art since the time I was a little girl. If I have a few days where I don't do anything creative, whether it's shooting new pictures or editing them on the computer, I feel like something's missing and I don't quite feel like myself. I get so much pleasure out of creating images, it makes me feel like I'm my most authentic self."

Word! Genuine and intrinsically motivated, that Carolyn -- I love it. How about your workspace?

"Snowy Beach" from Carolyn Cochrane

"We have a small second living room in our house that I converted into my workspace. (So lucky! My workspace is still in my one and only living room.) I have a hard time keeping it tidy! I'm convinced that one of the downfalls of being a creative person is messiness. I wish this wasn't the case but I can't help it. When I'm on a mission to create new images, straightening up is the last thing on my mind."

Carolyn's lovely images are accompanied by little friends, too -- when you order from Carolyn's shop, you get some extra surprises! I am a huge fan of such surprises, myself; I love to get little unexpected goodies when I receive orders, especially from special sellers on the likes of Etsy.

Hello, gorgeous! "Sit Awhile With Me"

"I just started to include one or two free art postcards in each of my customers orders. I also include a bookmark featuring some of my beach images. I think it's fun to find a little something extra in a package that I've ordered online (what did I just say?! LOVE!), so why not do it for my customers, too? It's a small way for me to show them I really appreciate their order."

Carolyn's holiday shipping deadline is just a couple days away -- December 11 -- and she's offering all Anna Delores readers a 20% off discount! Best way to use Carolyn's generous discount? "Photo calendars make great gifts, especially my loose leaf 5x7" calendars. I offer two versions: one with my calming beach photos and one with my colorful flower photos. Every month features a different photograph from my shop. Once the month is over, your gift recipient can cut the white month area off and frame the 5x5" print. It's like two gifts in one: a calendar and frameable art!"

Thanks, Carolyn! Super psyched to go shopping! Just enter coupon code "20PERCENT" at Etsy checkout for your 20% off discount. Easy, right?!

"I Wonder As I Wander" by Carolyn Cochrane

One last note from Carolyn: "I want to wish everyone Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas!" Aww, thanks Carolyn! Same to you and more of it! :)

More places to find Carolyn ::

Etsy Shop :: http://www.etsy.com/shop/carolyncochrane

Web Site :: http://www.carolyncochrane.com

Blog :: http://www.carolyncochrane.com/fine-art-photography-blog

Facebook :: http://www.facebook.com/CarolynCochraneFineArt

Twitter :: http://twitter.com/#!/CarolynCochrane

the whimsical work of andralynn + giveaway

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

If you're way impatient for the giveaway, I understand -- impatience is part of my DNA. So I'll cut you a break and give you the 411 right off the bat. To enter this giveaway, connect with me via GFC (Google Friend Connect) and visit Andrea's blog to do the same.

Leave a comment on this post to let us know you've entered!

"New Friends" painting by Andralynn

Andrea Doss is the creative force behind Andralynn :: the cutest darn works of art and goodies for your kiddos! Just as with Abby Berkson, I totally covet Andrea's work, despite the fact that I do not have children. :) Earlier this year I was introduced to Andralynn via Quite Unique, and I've been smitten ever since. I bought some darling dragon postcards (among other goodies) that I cannot WAIT to give to my two-year-old niece for Christmas!

"In my house, there are tea parties, space exploration missions, pirate adventures, and world tours via train and horseback going on almost constantly," Andrea says, when asked to explain her inspiration for her work. "It's hard not to be inspired by all that imagination! My two girls never stop coming up with stories (and asking me to come up with stories for them!). I just paint it."

"Elephant Bath" original painting

Like many of us Etsy sellers, there is a decided disconnect between our ideal workspace and reality. "My dream work space is a huge room with lots of tables and work surface. There are drawers to put everything away, and shelves to hold all my canvases and paper. Large windows let in lots of natural light, and there's always soft, inspiring music playing in the background," Andrea describes (as I hang on every word). "What I have, however, is the kitchen table. It's small and round, and there are usually bowls of crackers and cups of juice sitting nearby left over from snack time. It's completely underwhelming, but I love it because I'm in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of the house."

One of my favorite things about Andrea's shop is that many of her listings come with the sweetest stories about the characters depicted! For one of her "felt cuties" mini-collections, for example, she tells the story of Fox:

Felt cuties: "Woodland Camping" Set

Fox is an expert woodsman and camping professional. He would be more than happy to take you on an adventure and show you all the ropes. His camping instruction includes how to brown a marshmallow perfectly over a campfire, how to doze peacefully under the shade of a pine tree, and how to sing a lively campfire tune.

I mean, come on, how cute is that? How can you not fall in love?! I adored the felt cuties BEFORE I knew there were stories to accompany them!

One more reason to fall in love with Andrea and her work: an awesome GIVEAWAY. Andrea is giving one lucky Anna Delores reader one "good luck" wooden owl. I have a couple of these myself (from my Quite Unique purchase!) and I LOVE them! She even threw in an extra with my order (she's talented AND generous!).

Win a "good luck" owl from Andralynn!

To enter this giveaway, follow me and Andrea on our blogs. Connect with me via GFC (Google Friend Connect) and visit Andrea's blog to do the same. Leave a brief comment here to let us know you've done this, and do it quick! This giveaway ends one week from today, on Tuesday, December 13, 2011. Don't miss your chance to nab one of these adorable little owls!

Other places to find Andrea Doss ::

Facebook :: http://www.facebook.com/andralynncreativedesigns
Etsy :: http://www.etsy.com/shop/andralynn
Twitter :: @andralynncd

yellow heart art!

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

One of Yellow Heart Art's best sellers!

This next chica is so fantastic I don't even really know how to best introduce her. Seriously. Her blog makes me laugh, her shop is the best thing since sliced bread, and she is one of the most charming Etsyans EVER. I want to be real-life friends with Miss Leonora of Yellow Heart Art -- she just seems like she'd be super-cool to hang out with!

Shortly after my initial acquaintance with Leonora's Etsy inventory, I told her I coveted everything in her shop and asked, "what is your biggest source of inspiration?" To which she replied, "wow, thank YOU for thinkin' my products are ballin' (you're officially my favoritest person ever) (I totally made up a word)."

My absolute favorite print from Leonora.

But really, Leo! "To be honest, I have no clue where I get my inspiration from haha! I dig things that are unconventional and quirky, so I just kinda wing it and go in that direction."

Fair enough. How does it happen? "I think of a wacky saying, come up with a color scheme, then BAM--a print is born. It's usually not THAT instant, it could take me three hours to a week to finalize a print." I gotta say, waiting just three hours and even a week for Leonora's genius is a drop in the metaphorical bucket!

As a photographer I'm obligated to love this. And I do!

"Recently I had to go on a loooong hiatus but I left my shop open for orders. Anyone who ordered from me from September till October had to wait till beginning of November for me to ship their items. (Seriously how awesome are my customers that they're willing to wait THAT LONG for something??)" Perhaps as awesome as Yellow Heart Art! Well worth the wait, I'd say.

When I asked Leonora about her recommendations for holiday gift-giving, she said, "oOOooOO good question, home girl! Hmmm I would say that my new '$15 and under' section is perfect for stocking stuffers or hostess gifts! They have 'mini prints' and printables there that people can use to decorate their gifts this holiday."

Printable goodies from Yellow Heart Art

Many thanks to Leonora for answering my questions and allowing me to pen such an obnoxious womance (female version of "bromance," thank you very much) homage to her and her shop! Please check it out -- your "oohs" and "ahhs" will help you narrow down some amazing options for holiday gifting!

And guess what? Her holiday shipping deadline is TODAY. You heard me right. So pop over to Yellow Heart Art NOW to ensure you're NOT missing out. Happy Heart-ing!

Excuse me: did I MENTION the jewelry?!

Vespa fabric pendant necklace by Leonora of Yellow Heart Art

PSST: if you miss the December 5 deadline, you can still get yourself a gift certificate! That's what we like to call a SCORE.

best mail week EVER!

2011-12-04T01:22:00.000-08:00

I had an extraordinarily lovely batch of mail this past week! I thought I'd share my delightful packages with y'all.

First up is my photography print arrival from the uber-talented Danny of Maximonstertje Photography! Danny was one of my "photo swap" partners for the holidays (an idea cooked up by the brilliant Carrie Gault) and Danny had the good sense to contact me first to see which print I wanted (a favor I reciprocated to her as well as to my other swap partner in Los Angeles!). I selected the breathtaking "A Long Time Ago" and it's even lovelier in person than it was in Danny's shop!

Danny sent me the print in lovely packaging with a sweet note.

I scored an autograph and everything! :)

Next, I got some decadent goodies from none other than Traci of Sampler Village! I contributed a handful of my photographs to Traci's December sample boxes (get one before they sell out!). Anyway, I bought my own box o' treats and was rewarded with earrings, paper crafts, and TONS of deliciously-fragranced body care! Just a peek at some of the fun stuff that greeted my mailbox:

And this is only about half of what I received in my Sampler Village box!

Last but CERTAINLY not least, I received my highly-anticipated, anxiously-awaited delivery of photo pendant necklaces from Polina & Sergey of Beauty Spot. I've been working with Polina for at least a month to create custom-made necklaces with MY photographs on them! I've ventured this before on my own, but Polina and Sergey are professionals, and it shows in the jewelry I received! I can't wait to start selling them.

New to Anna Delores :: photo necklaces! My favorite is Eerie Twilight on a locket.

That's all for now, folks! Back with the most fabulous Etsy seller features on Monday.

free cameras?!

2011-12-03T23:47:00.000-08:00

Diana F+ Daybreak camera GIVEAWAY

I'm so darn excited about these giveaways I can hardly contain myself!

I am just so inspired by these two lovely blogs that are so generous and awesome that they are giving their readers such fantastic gifts! I might be moved to such a giveaway in the near future... (foreshadowing, perhaps?).

In the meantime, check out pretty little mustache and Ivelisse's giveaway of a Diana F+ Daybreak 120 film camera ($65 value) and the amazing Alli of One Pearl Button for her Polaroid starter kit (yes, a whole kit!) giveaway! WOO HOO!

A free Polaroid, you say?

abby berkson ceramics

2011-12-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

One of my favorites from Abby Berkson!

I keep telling myself I should probably have kids before I can justify splurging on the (albeit breakable) super-cute designs of Abby Berkson Ceramics, but it's not mandatory, right? I might let my inner child do the talking this December with the whimsical creations Miss Abby whips up!

"I am very inspired by children's book illustrations, especially older illustrations from the first half of the 20th century," Abby tells me. "I am also very inspired by vintage textile design, especially juvenile prints and florals." (What a coincidence: ME TOO!)

Could this little sugar pot be any sweeter?

Abby works hard on making sure her pieces are a treasured addition to your family: "Ceramics are a bit complicated to package and ship, so I focus on making sure they are well-packed and always arrive safely at their destinations. I sometimes wish I could package more beautifully, but I do put animal stickers by the address labels to make the boxes look cute when they arrive!" LOVE this! She's also operating under strict space limitations. "I currently rent a very small space in a communal ceramic studio; it gets really tight in there! I spend a lot of time moving things around to make space for new pieces." This is Abby's way of encouraging us to take some inventory off her hands. ;) Happy to oblige!

Giraffe juice cup and bowl set for the kiddos (or grown-ups) in your life!

Abby is looking forward to the next stage in honing her craft: turning the basement of her home into her new work space. The way she describes it makes ME want to take up pottery and score such a studio myself: "It is a walkout basement with nice windows, so it will be open to the backyard in nice weather, and have some natural sunlight."

Abby's top recommendation for gift inspirations for her shop? "Mugs! Any and all mugs, from tiny espresso cups and teacups to big soup mugs and extra-large, 22-ounce coffee mugs--they all seem to be very popular as gifts." True story! Aside from the decidedly limited capacity of my tiny apartment cabinets, I adhere to the firm belief that one can never have too many mugs.

Handmade ceramic soup mug

Learn more about Abby and her craft on her website, www.abbyberkson.com. She loves to do custom work, too, and although custom requests are on holiday hiatus, I have no doubt you'll find something to love among the bunnies and owls and bears (oh my!) of her current collection.

mishmash thursday.

2011-12-01T17:13:00.000-08:00

I have a little bit of A.D.D. today and it's going to come across in this blog post. I apologize in advance, but I promise that it's compelling stuff! ;)

First, I came across a photo gallery of Stanley Kubrick's photographs of New York in the 1940s. I knew I'd like the photos even before I saw them, based on link description alone!

Some stunning black-and-whites, courtesy of Mr. Kubrick.

Next: congratulations to Kim Wedlock, winner of the 8 Days of Treasures giveaway! Kim gets to select TWO images of her choice as 5x7"prints from photographer Stephanie's shop. Another congratulations to Lyudmila, who won her choice of jewelry baubles from J.Danger Jewelry! Congrats, Kim & Lyudmila! We're all very jealous.

Reminder of current ACTIVE giveaway :: Regan Daniels' photography! Chance to score big, people.

Going to snatch this one for myself from Regan Daniels.

Another chance to score? My Etsy photographer friend Shannon Clark is currently featured on Heartsy, which means you can get up to 64% off her STUNNING photographs, mostly of the intoxicating city of San Francisco! Shannon took some nighttime photos of the Golden Gate Bridge recently that are to die for.

One of my faves! Grab a sweet deal at S.S.C. Photography on Heartsy.

Finally, I've got a current giveaway at the moment, hosted by the lovely Lesli of "Put a Little Umbrella in Your Drink." THREE winners will get an 8x8" or 8x10" print of their choice.

Phew, I think that's it! Come back tomorrow for a much more focused blog post about the next featured seller for your holiday shopping list: Abby Berkson.

GIVEAWAY from regan daniels !

2011-11-30T14:30:00.000-08:00

"Harbor at Dusk" by Regan Daniels

{Pop back in tomorrow for the WINNER of the giveaway for 8 days of treasures!}

Featured on this lovely Wednesday is the equally-lovely photography of Regan Daniels. Regan has a beautiful collection of fine art photography on Etsy and also offers portraiture and wedding photography for those of you in the Bay Area (DEFINITELY consider her for your wedding -- her images are breathtaking!).

"I try to be inspired by my daily life and constantly aware of what's around me," Regan says. "There is beauty in the every-day, and trying to live in each moment definitely helps me be inspired all the time. I am lucky to live in a beautiful area (Half Moon Bay, California) which definitely helps!"

Wedding photography by Regan Daniels

Regan also mentions that with three young kiddos, it's often a challenge to stick to a firm work schedule or office hours (here, here!). "Trying to steal a moment away for work is sometimes a challenge! I am usually working in utter chaos. I do usually get to steal a few quiet hours after bed time to really focus. What I really need is about 10 more hours in each day!" (Don't we all?!)

"Up and Away" by Regan Daniels

Asked what she recommends for holiday shoppers, Regan one of her best-sellers: "My photo 'Up And Away' has been a favorite gift this holiday season -- this image is soon to be published in the forthcoming book, 2010 Worldwide Photography Gala Awards (coming soon). It looks great in a frame but my favorite way to display it is on canvas."

Regan is also offering FREE SHIPPING (coupon code 'freeship') to help you out with your holiday shopping: "Anna Delores blog readers can take advantage of free shipping in my Etsy shop for the rest of November and the first week of December!"

www.regandaniels.com

You can also enter the giveaway for a chance to win an 8x8" or 8x10" print of the winners' choice from Regan Daniels' Etsy shop! Regan is giving prints away to TWO (2) different winners! Sounds even better now, right?!

To enter, become a fan of Regan's Facebook page and leave the comment "Anna Delores sent me" and Regan will choose two winners at random from these comments. For an extra entry, add Regan's Etsy shop to your favorites.

Giveaway entries will close at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7, 2011.

some brief thoughts on photography.

2011-11-29T03:12:00.000-08:00

"Vintage Rome" was photographed in 2009

So. I did some numbers on my photography and my two most popular prints are images I photographed before I got my big, pretty, shiny camera last year.

My initial reaction to this was one of disappointment at first, as though my decision to get more serious about photography was irrelevant and didn't really make a difference or improve my work as I'd hoped it would.

I actually focused more on the post-new-camera prints I was selling to try to make myself feel better (my 2011 typewriter series has been a solid best-seller) ... until I realized that the popularity of pre-2011 images could also be interpreted as evidence of creative talent I possess independent of fancy equipment.

I like explanation number two a bit better. :)

Separate notes:

I have been sick since Thanksgiving so my faculties are weak and I'm behind on blog posts. I'll do my best to get back up and running again by Wednesday at the latest.
This marks my 50th blog post. Happy milestone to me!

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday weekend. xoxo

celebrating cyber monday.

2011-11-27T14:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Sunday, everyone! Hope you're revving up for a fun Cyber Monday (back at work for me ... boo!). I've guest-blogged over at CCCOE (California Crafters Club of Etsy) and hope you'll stop by to check out some of the AMAZING sales my fellow team members are hosting for Cyber Monday. Enjoy!

:: Celebrating Cyber Monday at CCCOE ::

Also a big CONGRATS to giveaway winner Nadia for scoring her choice of image in an 8x8" or 8x10" photo print from ooh pretty shiny... (Laura Evans) photography!

Still time to enter the other giveaways here (check out more photography up for grabs from 8 Days of Treasures).

small business saturday

2011-11-26T02:19:00.000-08:00

COUPON ALERT! Now that y'all have gotten the Black Friday mall madness out of your system, it's time for Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday! Woo hoo! Know what that means? LOTS of Etsy coupons and specials!

50% off from The Tea Rex!

First up :: my favorite scarves on the internet! The Tea Rex is offering a 50% off coupon for Black Friday and it won't be valid for much longer, so get yours now! "Like" Teascha on Facebook for access to the coupon.

Sketch Away (the lovely Suhita) is offering FREE SHIPPING on everything, which ALSO means if you're shipping to multiple destinations for gifts, she'll do that for free, too! Score. Check her out!

20% off at ooh pretty shiny

Next up :: some FABULOUS photography shops! Stephanie of 8 Days of Treasures is offering 25% off with coupon code BLACKFRIDAY; Laura at ooh pretty shiny is offering 20% off everything with coupon code FPOE2011.

Last but not least: on Cyber Monday, Alayna from Piano Bench Designs jewelry will be offering FREE SHIPPING on everything! I dare you to wait the weekend...

Happy holiday shopping!!

danger is my {last} name + GIVEAWAY

2011-11-23T11:05:00.000-08:00

In July 2011 I went to my first-ever "peddlers' market" in Costa Mesa, CA. I brought along all my photography in hopes someone would purchase a print or two, but this crowd was much more interested in yard sale-esque fare. Which was fine, because I brought some of that, too. I'd even purchased a clothes rack for the t-shirts and dresses I'd brought to sell from my closet; unfortunately, said clothes rack was a piece of crap and kept falling over. Luckily for me, my next-door vendor neighbor was so sweet and helpful and did her best to keep my clothes off the dirty parking lot asphalt.

The lovely Ms. Danger!

That neighbor turned out to be the one-and-only Jessica Danger, and we ended up swapping clothes (mine) for handmade jewelry (hers) before the day was done. Nearly six months later, the lovely JDanger and I are great Etsy/Facebook/random street fair buddies!

Did I mention the handmade jewelry? Jess is an amazing craftswoman (how she balances her jewelry-making with three kiddos, a hubby, AND a day job, I can't figure out!).

"What first got me going with custom designs was actually finding a slew of discarded tattoo artist business cards that had been thrown out. I thought NO WAY can these go in the trash. So I took them home with me and just kind of sat on it for a red hot minute. Then I started placing them in settings and my custom designs started. I get a kick out of vintage stuff too! I could spend hours dismantling old costume jewelry and vintage pieces. I love incorporating them into a new design!"

Vibrant green & black feather earrings

And I love seeing what she creates with it! My own collection now includes incredible feather dangle earrings and a long, one-of-a-kind AWESOME crimson pendant necklace, courtesy of JDanger designs!

"I really like jewelry that moves ... longer earrings flow and move with the person that is wearing them, and bracelets can make that pretty clinking sound when you're telling a story. Sometimes, I will hear my necklace bouncing and moving when I walk and I think, how awesome is that?!"

Pretty awesome! Even more fun? Jess's work is totally off-the-cuff: "each time I make something, I am never really quite sure what it will look like until I am done with. I kind of just GO and see where it takes me..."

Hand-patina brass earrings

And remember that stuff about kids and a job I mentioned?! "Sadly, I have no definite workspace! I USED to have a workspace, then our oldest son got a computer and he needed a desk ... there went my workspace!" Jess laments. "What I do now is keep everything in baskets and haul it out every time I get a little stir-crazy! It seems like it would be a bad set-up, but actually its like a new surprise every time I take the baskets out! Surprise!! Surprise!!!"

Be sure you pop by Jessica's shop for the holidays; her stuff is truly one-of-a-kind and she'll love you forever! "I always try to include a special little something for all my customers. I never know what it is until they order ... I try to keep it unique and somewhat catered to their tastes. I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS include a hand made thank you card! My customers are THE BEST and I LOVE THEM TO PIECES and I want them to know that! My most 'giftable' item right now is definitely my feather earrings! Feathers are not going anywhere anytime soon, and we all know that those puppies look great on everyone! Don't forget--you can custom order those, too!"

All of this and a GIVEAWAY too! Jess is graciously offering WINNER'S CHOICE of bauble from her shop (up to $20 value) so find your favorite and leave a comment to let me know which one you covet! Be sure to add Jess's shop to your faves on Etsy and let the games begin!

Contest ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on Wednesday, November 30, so make sure you enter ASAP!

sketch away

2011-11-22T12:16:00.000-08:00

I'm at my desk at work in downtown Los Angeles with a cup of Earl Grey tea (it sounds a lot more relaxing and romantic than it actually is). Meanwhile, I wish Suhita would draw me into one of her lovely sketches so I could instead be amongst the warm yellows and browns in Varanasi, India or nestled in the greens and blues of New York City in springtime.

New York watercolor by Suhita of Sketch Away

The works of art created by Suhita of Sketch Away give me a sense of serenity and evoke images of long, lazy days of creative freedom (I'm awfully poetic today, eh?). But seriously -- her stuff is amazing, so I felt obligated to bring her shop to your attention so you can bask in the glow of her artwork like I have since I first stumbled upon her watercolor print of the Chrysler Building while wandering through the Etsy marketplace a few weeks ago.

"My biggest inspiration comes from travel," Suhita tells me. "It helps me look at the world around me with fresh eyes. But the great thing is that it also helps me learn to look at the everyday stuff like a traveler, which makes everything exciting and fun to draw: from a trip to India to the fire hydrant on the corner of our street." Yes, she has a print of her sketch of a fire hydrant for sale in her shop. And it's so beautiful!

"I almost completely work on location. My work is usually created in large and small watercolor sketchbooks I carry around everywhere," Suhita continues. "A small portable watercolor kit, a bunch of brushes, and pens lives in my bag. This way, I can capture life as it happens: on a vacation, on the way to work, at the aquarium with my kids..."

Sketch Away

I'm sure the way it happens is less bohemian than what I'm imagining, but in my head, Suhita's life sounds so dreamy. I can't wait to own a piece of her world, matted and framed in my own home.

And you can, too: Suhita is offering Free Shipping on all items in her store through the end of 2011. "This means you could buy stuff for friends and have it shipped directly to them at no extra cost," and she'll even include a little note to your gift recipient if you want her to. For free shipping at Sketch Away, use coupon code FREESHIPPING2011 now until December 31.

GIVEAWAY :: 8 days of treasures

2011-11-21T11:09:00.000-08:00

8daysOfTreasures on Etsy

Time for another giveaway?! You got that right!

Ms. Stephanie Tilmann of the Etsy photography shop 8 Days of Treasures is inspired by the natural elements around her, and it really shows through in her photographs.

Grab your chance to nab a couple of her lovely photographs to bring a little of that gorgeous natural whimsy into your home! Stephanie is giving away winner's choice of TWO (yes, TWO) 5x7" photography prints from her shop!

8daysOfTreasures on Etsy

SO SIMPLE to enter! All you have to do is pop by Stephanie's Facebook page and Etsy shop and add 'em both to your faves. Leave us a comment on this blog post {don't forget to include your contact info so we can connect with you if you're the winner!} and you're ready to roll!

You've got 8 days to enter {get it?!} so make sure you do what you gotta do to score Christmas goodies for yourself {or those loved ones on your shopping list} by 11:59 p.m. PST on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.

Don't forget about the fabulous Laura Evans of "ooh pretty shiny" and her amazing giveaway! Might as well enter that one too while you're here, right?

8daysOfTreasures on Etsy

And last but certainly not least -- Stephanie is offering an early Black Friday shopping discount RIGHT NOW! Visit her shop, fill up your cart, and remember to add coupon code BLACKFRIDAY for 25% off until December 6!

♥

Happy shopping!

piano bench designs

2011-11-18T11:02:00.000-08:00

"hello" necklace from Piano Bench Designs

A BIG theme for holiday gift-giving is personalization, so I couldn't resist a feature from our next guests: Piano Bench Designs. I was first drawn to the shop for its unique name, and I stuck around for the amazing jewelry they create: "wire jewelry that makes a statement," as the shop's tagline suggests. From sweet one-liners you'd expect {like "wish," "believe," and "dance"} to the cheeky and adorable "necklace" necklace, Piano Bench Designs truly has something for everyone.

"crap" necklace in sterling silver

"My biggest source of inspiration is my customers! So many of my ideas have come from custom orders. I love seeing what other people have in mind," shop owner Alayna says.

My own personal favorite is the "crap" necklace. I love the irony of the lovely, feminine script contrasted with the curse of the word it spells! {Dear Santa!}

Piano Bench Designs also offers a plethora of earrings, rings, initial pendants, and non-word wire necklaces in shapes like bicycles and music notes, so even if you're shopping for a loved one without something to say {literally}, you can still find lovely gifts for everyone on your list. Shop after Thanksgiving for a special bonus: "On Cyber Monday, I will be offering free shipping on all orders. Yay!"

5% of proceeds from purchase of "Love" necklace goes to the ACS

"The most giftable items in my shop have always been my sterling silver Love and Hope necklaces," Alayna says. "These necklaces are a sweet sentiment for any special lady in your life. Additionally, 5% of the sale price is donated to the American Cancer Society, so you know that your gift is helping to make a difference." Score!

Asked where her lovely designs are born, Alayna replies, "I do most of my work in the kitchen. My favorite piece in my workspace is an old headboard from a bed. The headboard is tall, so I am able to do some of my work standing. This is where I finish necklaces by adding pendants to chains, and carefully measuring the length of each one."

I don't think I'll be able to resist Piano Bench Designs' amazing creations for holiday gifting {and why should I? Better yet, why should you?!}. Pop on over to the shop and check out all the lovelies Alayna has to offer -- you won't be disappointed.

ooh pretty shiny ...

2011-11-17T11:29:00.000-08:00

San Diego skyline from ooh pretty shiny

{keep reading for info on a photography giveaway!}

I'm not just being cheeky with the title of this post -- that's the actual name of Laura Evans' lovely photography biz!

The lovely Laura was kind enough to answer some of my obnoxious questions in preparation for holiday shopping goodness, even though she has a new baby boy to reckon with! "Right now everything works around my son," Laura says. "It's definitely my son who inspires me; he's seven months old and my little blessing."

Which pretty much answered one of my first questions for Laura: what inspires her amazing images? She went on to say that "it's the things we see every day that inspire me ... it could be the light, or a flower, or an emotion or something out of the corner of my eye, screaming at me to photograph it. And I really do have a 'pretty shiny' complex!"

book storefront from ooh pretty shiny

Laura's workspace sounds a lot like mine right now, too: "My workspace right now is my couch. I only have a laptop and 'focusing issues' so I put the TV on and work in front of it. It drives my husband nuts but until I get a desktop {dear Santa ...} and as much as I try to have 'office hours' it doesn't happen." Here, here, Laura!

I don't know about y'all, but I also love to know about the work that goes into a final product, especially with images as stunning as Laura's. "Obviously the picture-taking comes first. Then I upload everything into Lightroom, where I do my first edit. This process is the same for both personal and client-based work. In Lightroom I get rid of everything that I 'hate' and then will make a couple of minor alterations before exporting. I then open in Photoshop for my final edit when I will get rid of a few more and put the 'Laura touch' on my work. This is the fun part which often involves a whole lot of play time and late hours!"


from Laura's other shop, levansphotography

The best part about it all for Laura? The feeling she gets when a customer contacts her about her images: "Different people are always looking for different things. I love when someone comes to me with a custom request or to let me know that a certain image brought back a memory for them--makes me giggle a little and do a little dance!"

In celebration of the holiday season, Laura has graciously agreed to host a giveaway for an 8x8" or 8x10" photo print of the winner's choice! How's that for merry?

♥

The rules for entering the giveaway are pretty standard:

1. Follow this blog. {join via Google Friend Connect}

2. Visit ooh pretty shiny and just TRY to narrow down your favorite image {go on, I dare ya to try!}

3. Leave a comment on this post about which image you'd select if you win the giveaway.

4. Please do one, some, or all of the following ::
(a) add ooh pretty shiny to your favorites on Etsy;
(b) "like" Laura Evans Photography on Facebook;
(c) follow Laura on Twitter @levansphoto.
(d) follow Laura on her blog.

Be sure to leave your contact information in your comment on this post so we know how to contact the winner!

Entries must be in by 11:59 p.m. PST on Thursday, November 24 {should be easy to remember -- it's Thanksgiving!}

Thanks so much, Laura!

♥

You can also see ooh pretty shiny on papernstitch this month!

papernstitch

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Have you heard of this fabulous website yet? Papernstitch :: it's a hand-curated monthly collection of the best artisans in the handmade community. The new exhibit debuted this morning, and I am captivated. The jewelry selection is downright dangerous for a girl with a tight pocketbook, such as myself -- exemplified by these earrings from Caposhi.{a coupon for free shipping doesn't hurt, either!}

And I think we all know from my blog feature yesterday of the magnificent Teascha that I'm pretty obsessed with scarves at the moment. This one from Fabricatedends is pretty rockin'.

I also gotta give a shout-out to my lovely Los Angeles photographer friend myan soffia, whose lovely sixth & main is also featured on Papernstitch this month! She's also got a sweet promo going on for Papernstitch customers, so you'd better pop on over and check it out to get your fix of fabulous Los Angeles photography {alas, her collection is better than mine!}. ;)

And oh. My. God. I'm obsessed with this photo and might just have to make a purchase. Photographer mkendall has taken my breath away! Her work takes the Photoshop effects I covet to the edge of extreme with results that are simply stunning. This "Lights of Paris" photo is the result of three layered images. LOVE.

And {you must've seen this coming} Anna Delores is part of the current exhibition, as well! I'm offering 30% off to all Papernstitch customers, so be sure to stop by and peruse the gallery {and scoop up the coupon}. Enjoy!

A few of my other familiar favorites are in the exhibit this month, too -- keep an eye out for september wren, belle hibou, and shannonblue.

anna delores: The Tea Rex.

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Follow this link to read all about the magnificent Teascha and her wondrous scarf collection!  

{The Tea Rex.}

This Diamond Eye and Mustard Infinity Scarf is my new fave!  Just waiting for my Black Friday coupon...!  :)

wtF are you wearing!?: Twilight

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Eerie Twilight locket featured on Gabrielle's blog today!  :)  She's hilarious, check out a couple of her posts!  Very entertaining.

Tree Photo Locket from Anna Delores

wtF are you wearing!?: Twilight: In honor of the Twilight franchise being shoved down our throats, here is some gorgeous eerie shit I found on Etsy this week, enjoy...