Archive for October, 2011
I don’t always have a ton of time to put a cute outfit together before I run out the door to take Luna for a walk or head to the grocery store. So, I am always looking for easy pieces that I can throw on with a pair of jeans and still look like I cared enough to try. Do you know what I am talking about here?
If you are smiling right now because this is totally you, I am recommending SHE-SHE for both of us. The clothes are cool but not fussy, so you can be stylish without looking like you’re trying to hard.
You can see all the screen printed tees, hoodies, and more on www.sheshepdx.com.
This contributor post was written by Christina of Down and Out Chic.
I tend to be easily distracted when it comes to finding goods to post, hopping from shop to shop. Recently though, I found myself visiting Canadian based shop bookhou at home over and over again, wondering if I need this bag, tea towel or calendar more. I figured if a shop had me coming back for more, I’d have to share it with you all. Here are my favorite pieces but you can out the full shop here.
images: bookhou at home
Christina is the writer behind the design blog, Down and Out Chic. She’s a budget-friendly design huntress that’s passionate about art and the handmade movement. She adores all things striped and polka dotted and would spend most of her afternoons vintage shopping if her closet were big enough. Find her on Twitter or on D&OC.
I know you are a girl that loves some good photography every now and again (or all the time-who are we kidding here). So I thought would share the work of the uber talented Lauren Mitchell today. She actually hails nearby to my old stomping grounds in Florida. Yeah! And has a really cool photography shop called Wild Orange Studio.
I really am taken by her imagery. And I hope you will be too. Here’s what Lauren has to say about her photography…
I’ve had some sort of camera in my hand since I was 11, when I was signed up for my first darkroom photography class. It’s been a huge passion of mine ever since! I have an eye for all things old and neglected, for places historic and for the natural world – especially here in Florida. I hope to show everyone that there is so much beauty to this state beyond the mouse!
Love that! Gotta say, there is some serious beauty in Florida, but you have to look for it. OR you can just wait for Lauren to take a picture of it.
You can visit Lauren’s shop, Wild Orange Studio, to browse her collection of prints and additional imagery. And if you like her work, help Lauren and I spread the word by tweeting and facebooking. Is facebooking a word?
I recently asked Barry Friedland of Thumbtack Press to put together a gift guide of his favorite papernstitch products.
He ended up creating this “lover of the unusual” gift guide and I think its perfect: colorful and fun. Definitely a mix of the unusual. If you’re a fan of the quirky and unique, you’ll enjoy this guide. I promise.
And after you’ve checked that out, be sure to stop by Thumbtack Press, a site dedicated to accessible artwork for all. Just recently, the entire site went through a massive overhaul: truly re-imagined from the ground up.
So definitely stop by the site and show some love to the wonderful artists whose works are for sale. Sabrina Tibourtine and Kate Pugsley are amongst my favs there if you are looking for suggestions.
We are getting unpacked (almost done) and thinking about some new little pieces for our place: unique items that will bring it all together. Small, quirky housewares. Just fun little things.
So, let’s talk about Quivver: a shop that exclusively sells one of a kind wooden decorative arrows. Each arrow comes ready to hang with an attached cord, but I love the way they look in a vase or even taped directly to the wall too…
And at just $27 a pop, they are super affordable too. What’s not to like?
Visit Quivver now to see the entire collection of handmade decorative arrows.
So you have this awesome product that you love to create + you want to share it with the world (or just your neighbors). You want a simple way to get it online, web-shop style, but you don’t want the bother of hiring a designer or learning lots of code.
In short, Goodsie makes it simple to get your online store up and running without all the hassle. Packed with sought after features like unlimited products, the ability to promote your shop with discounts + various options, an easy to customize layout without knowledge of CSS or HTML, checkout via PayPal + Google Checkout and more, all for a flat monthly rate of $15. You can get your shop up and running in an evening and get back to focusing on your creations. Here’s an example shop, using Goodsie, that I absolutely love…
Check out Goodsie and support our sponsors who make this blog possible.
This contributor post was written by Vanessa of Thrift Core.
You just can’t do it anymore. Every time you clock in at the day job, your soul dies a little bit more. I know because until last week I was right there with you, working as a writer in a cubicle. Now I’m a freelance writer, PR assistant and artist and I want to give you advise of leaving the day job, too.
I wasn’t too hasty, you shouldn’t be, either. Here are 5 Ways to Tell You’re Ready to Quit the Day Job and become a full time Creative:
1. You’re Making Money From Your Creative Efforts
Do you have a steady revenue stream coming in from your creative endeavors? Are you positive that you can make more if you were able to transition to it completely? If so, you’re ready to go!
2. You Can See Yourself Doing Your Creative Self-Employed Work for Years
Turning your crafty hobbies into full time work could take the magic out of it for you. You need to be able to see yourself doing your creative job for years without it losing its allure.
3. You Already Have a Five-Year Business Plan Ready
A business plan is essential before you fly free. If you need help writing a business plan, I highly recommend Brittni’s Track This if you need help writing a business plan.
4. You’ve Already Put in Years of Hard Work
I didn’t blindly quit my day job without a safety net in place. I’ve been working hard at networking in the art community, building up clients, and building up my side-business for almost as long as I’ve been employed as a webmarketer. Sometimes it took working 80 hour work weeks (50 at the office, 30 more at home!) to make this happen, but it was all worth it in the end.
5. You Can’t Focus at Work; All You Think About is Your Creative Job
This is a big one. Sometimes it will get to the point that you just CAN’T cut your day job anymore. If your creative work is all you can think of, you need to put that energy into it so you can move forward.
If the five above facts apply to you it’s time to move on to becoming a full time creative. I know how you feel, you’ve completely outgrown the “nest” that was your work. It’s time to fly free.
Good luck, and remember to tackle your new creative career with the same dedication you gave to your former boss!
image Quit your Day Job
Vanessa wrote this post. She is a full time copywriter and webmarketer with a passion for art, creativity, and thrift. She writes about thrifting, creating, and saving money every weekday on her blog, Thrift Core.
