Giveaway from Pretty & Lucky!

I'm here now with an exciting giveaway from a new up-and-comer in the Etsy world: Pretty & Lucky Etsy shop! This beautiful and inspiring shop just opened recently and has the most trendy graphic pieces I have ever seen! The owner and operator, Maki Miller, is the cutest, sweetest, most fashionable girl and her shop is no different!

Maki has generously donated a few items for the blog party giveaway today including a set of 12 adorable graphic gift tags and 5 drawstring gift bags! One lucky winner will win this graphic holiday prize package!

To win, comment below with your name & favorite color combination for the holidays! These will be the perfect addition to your gift wrapping arsenal! I know I want some for myself! :) I'll post the winner of the giveaway tomorrow afternoon!

Also be sure to go visit the Pretty & Lucky Etsy shop and add it to your favorites. I'm sure Maki will be adding more incredible pieces to her shop soon!

<3
E

Gift Idea: Waterstone Succulents

In light of the holiday spirit, I wanted to feature this incredible etsy shop I came across, Waterstone Succulents! I randomly found this beautiful shop during some late night etsy shopping (don't pretend like you don't do it too!). I seriously couldn't believe how beautiful and simple the pieces were and now I'm obsessed. I thought this would make the most incredibly unique gifts for friends this Christmas and I had to share!

Waterstone Succulents is owned and operated by the lovely Michelle Weddle and after clicking through all the designs, I realized what an eye she has for true beauty. These pieces take the pure and simplistic beauty of nature and makes it into a lasting piece for your home. I love the limited color palette (especially the metallics and neons!), en-pointe trend, and quality of her plaster-cast succulent sculptures! There are so many shapes to choose from and they're all incredibly affordable.

Is there anything better than a special, handcrafted gift? Especially one as gorgeous as these. I die. So if you're looking for a pretty present for the girl who has everything, grab one of these for your friends! Michelle even offers 10% off orders of 3 or more! Use the coupon code: 10percent at checkout.

So make sure to visit the Waterstone Succulents etsy shop and look at all the dreamy things. :) Merry Christmas, indeed!
<3
E

P.s. Next up is an awesome Christmas card idea roundup, so stay tuned!

Feature: Arcadia graphic

I'm here today with an interview with Claire, the shop owner of Arcadia graphic on etsy! She's got some of the cutest prints on the web and I can't wait to share some of these beauties and inspiration from Claire with my readers! You know I've already got some coming my way, so check it out below, visit Arcadia graphic, and leave her some love!

1. Tell us a little about the person behind the artistic genius!
"I just graduated from Ball State University with a double major in Urban Planning and Economics (thank goodness!), and I'm attending University of Illinois at Chicago this fall for graduate study in Urban Planning and Policy. I’ve always been very creative-minded (I originally went to Ball State with the intent to study architecture). So when I fell in love with the less design-oriented field of urban planning, I started looking for other creative outlets. I went through a phase of jewelry making, completed a number of DIY projects from Pinterest, of course, and then somehow landed on digital design, which combined the academic design training I had received with my desire to create somewhat offbeat, funky design prints."

2. What kind of artistry do you focus on in your shop Arcadia graphic? How would you describe your brand?
"I definitely say my focus is on poster prints (though hopefully I will also have photography up soon). I would say by brand involves creative, quirky humor as well as custom prints for the home and gifts."

3. How did you come up with your shop name?
"I live next to a town called Arcadia, where my high school was. And my shop focuses on graphic art. Therefore, Arcadia graphic!"

4. You've had QUITE a few sales for the short time you've been open! That must feel fantastic, right?
"Yes! I had no idea how the shop was going to do. Of course I liked my work, but you never truly know how everyone else feels about it until you get some feedback. I’ve been creating things for years, so it feels amazing that other people actually value my work enough to even pay money for it!"

5. What made you decide to open an etsy shop and sell your pieces?
"I essentially started creating these prints to decorate my new apartment in Chicago. My original plan was to combine typography prints, sketches, and photographs I’ve taken in my travels to Haiti and Southeast Asia in a multi-frame collage over my bed. I’d been thinking about opening an etsy shop for a while, wanting to sell various creations. It wasn’t until around February/March of this year that I considered doing poster prints, similar to the ones I sell now. But of course school work picked up as always, and the etsy thing got put on the back burner.

I finally found a little time this summer as I was working as a waitress at a local restaurant that wasn’t doing so hot, and my hours got cut dramatically. Around this time, I paid the deposit on my apartment for the fall, and I saw my summer savings vanish! Luckily I have an assistantship to cover many of my grad school costs, but I was definitely still in need of funds, so I thought the etsy thing might be worth pursuing. I still had a lot going on, but I just decided to suck it up and open shop!"

6. Where do you look for inspiration in your work?
"Everyday things that are essential (coffee) or almost essential (wine). Or things that I love (lake houses, martinis, ice cream). Or things that make me chuckle (potatoes with hipster glasses, penguins, sloths, narwhals, etc)."

7. Would you consider accepting requests or custom orders?
"Absolutely. I recently did a custom order for a friend. The tricky part about setting up such a shop is knowing what people are looking for. When someone requests a custom order, they remove all the guess work and uncertainty."

8. What are some art goals or things you want to accomplish with your shop?
"Ultimately I’m hoping to add some of my photography from Haiti, India, and Nepal. So far I haven’t had time to get all of the logistics figured out for the photography prints. I also want to offer larger sizes of my current prints. Similarly, I’m still working on getting all of the details worked out."

9. Can you share any secrets about upcoming prints?
"I’m hoping to do more custom prints, such as the wedding prints and the lake house prints. I just sold my first lake house print yesterday, so I’m pretty excited about that! Customized prints make great gifts (some of which I plan on using for upcoming weddings and showers that I’m going to), and I’m hoping to further develop my offerings in this category."

10. Anything else you'd like the indie art community to know!?
"I love custom orders, ideas for prints, requests, etc. If there is something you would like to see, please don’t hesitate to ask!"

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Thanks for stopping by and meeting Claire! (Isn't she a doll?) What's your favorite print?! I hope everyone's having a beautiful and inspiring day!

<3
E

Feature: Interview with Miss Lacey!

Today I have an extra special post! I'm interviewing my favorite little girl and next-door neighbor Lacey. She & I have been great friends for the past 7 months and I wanted everyone to meet her! She's SUCH a cool girl and she's going to be an awesome artist one day. Heck!-- she already is! So here's a little interview with Miss Lacey!

Name: Lacey Mya A.
Age: 10
Birthday: June 10
Favorite Color: purple

How did you meet Elaine? "I brought heart Valentine cookies over to her apartment."

What's your favorite thing to do when you hang out with Elaine? "I like helping her water her plants and watching movies with her. Plus I like to play with her cat Phoebe."

What do you do with Phoebe? "I crumple up receipts, throw them, and she chases them. I'm like her aunt!"

What are your favorite things to do when you're not at school? "Dress up my Chipmunk dolls, draw in my notebook, listen to my CDs!"

What's your favorite thing about summertime?! "I get to go swimming! I always just jump right in! I'm good at swimming."

What are your favorite animals? "Zebras and Giraffes."

What are your favorite books to read? "Dr. Suess books. I have Fox in Socks, Cat in the Hat, and Are you my Mother? My favorite is Fox in Socks."

What kind of media do you listen to and watch? "At my dad's work I listen to Michael Jackson and watch the videos. I also look up the lyrics. I like to watch kid movies and scary movies like Spongebob, Dispicable Me, and Gnomeo & Juliet. The music in Gnomeo & Juliet is by Elton John. It's so cute I just want to break the TV!"

Do you have any pets? "I have a pug named Steve, Jewel is my mouse, & I have 2 fish named Goldie and Rockstar. One of them looks like it has a mohawk!"

Do you have any special talents? "I'm good at Michael Jackson moves! I'm not kidding! I can even do the tippy-toes thing. And I can bird call. I can do a quail sound."

What do you want to be when you grow up? "A famous singer! I sing every day. I also might be an art teacher or cartoon artist."

What kind of art do you like to make? "Flowers & outdoor stuff. I draw mostly. It's my specialty."

How would you describe yourself to someone who didn't know you? "I'm smart, I'm cool, and I'm funny. I'm all of those."

Do you have any catch phrases? "I say 'Oh my gosh!' a lot. I also always talk to Steve. I use nicknames for him like Mister Mans."

What else do you think people should know about you? "How much I love animals. LOVE em! I can't even watch those commercials about abused animals. Makes me cry every time. I also think people should know how much I want to be an artist!"



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Thanks for the interview, Lacey! Say hello to the newest up and coming crafter on the block!
<3
E

Pose Perfect

Today I'm photographing a wedding, but as a second shooter this time! Usually I'm the main photographer, but I'm on the assistant end of things today for my friend Caroline from Sweet Caroline Photography! It's going to be a gorgeous wedding and tons of fun! Recently I actually helped Caroline out with a little modeling posing for a college assignment she did and I thought I'd show off some of the awesome images from the shoot!

Dress: vintage/thrifted

Lace fedora: Claire's

Cowboy boots: vintage/thrifted

Braided belt: Target

Gold watch & bangles: Target

Check out her website or her facebook page to see more of her work! Well I'm off for a 10-hour wedding job, so I'll see you all later!

<3
E

Shop Feature: Manzanita

I'm here today to do a little shop feature shout-out to one of my very favorite etsy shops: manzanita by Rebecca Caridad. She makes the CUTEST crochet-couture assecories! From cocktail hats to laurels, this shop has the most handmade-chic accessories I have ever seen.




The last time I purchased from manzanita, I had questions about my order and she responded RIGHT away and was so kind. She went above and beyond to make sure that I was satisfied with my order. Her customer service is impeccable! Her products are SO high quality as well. They are all made to last and are INCREDIBLY sturdy. When I received my flower crown, I was so surprised at the durable quality of crochet!!!

Here are a few photos I've taken modeling the pieces I own from her shop:



A few of her pieces are very versatile too! The Elsie can be worn as a headband OR a necklace!

So pop on by her shop and swoon over the romantic fashion or swing by her blog and say hi! I love this seller! This is what the handmade community is all about!
<3
E

Artist Feature: Malinda Locke

Here's a little feature on someone that's near to my heart: my little cousin Malinda! She's a young aspiring fashion designer and spends her days off of homeschooling making pretty branded creations in her Florida bedroom! I love her so much and she's such an inspiring person! (Plus she does a PERFECT Tim Gunn impression! HA!)

1. Name and age: Malinda Locke, Age 13

2. Something awesome about yourself:
I can do anything. :)

3. Tell a little bit about what kind of artistry you focus on!
Hmmm what do i do?... I sew practical things that I use everyday like clothes, accessories, and some things for my room. I made a few blankets even though I really despise quilting. haha


4. Describe your personal line or "brand" of design.
My studio, Studio Minda, is half of my bedroom closet! haha I have all my sewing and crafting supplies all in one place and my sewing machine named Brody. She is a Project Runway special edition. And my dress form, Lucy Mae. She stays in my room and wears my every whim!

5. How would you describe your personal style?
I would describe it as easy going... effortless. Like I just rolled out of bed and "Don't I look fabulous?" I love shopping at Goodwill and thrifting in general. It's very one-of-a-kind, my style. :)

6. What are your current obsessions?
I like to try new things with makeup that are very expressive. I also use a lot of shiny fabric. It's fabulous and I'm a shiny person! I'm also obsessed with designing my own line of duct tape bows that I splatter paint with my large collection of colored duct tape!

7. What kinds of specific crafts and hobbies are your favorites?
Knitting, sewing, jewelry making mostly.

8. What/Who inspires you most in your art, wardrobe and home decor?
I love Betsey Johnson! She is SUCH the bomb. Vera Wang's simplicity as well. So simple and elegant. I want to paint my walls white!

9. Describe what you do on your perfect free day:
Watch some TV like Project Runway or America's Next Top Model and craft. Oh and maybe some 19 Kids and Counting! I love that show... I usually make clothes or jewelry.

10. What are some style goals or things you want to accomplish soon?
I want to completely re do my bedroom and buy an entire new wardrobe because a lot of my stuff is too small now. I also need to make some simple summer dresses to wear around. My very next project is to make some clothes for Elaine's Blythe!

11. If you lived in another decade, what would it be?
Probably the 30s because all their stuff was so pretty. I wish I could still dress like them because it's so old fashioned and timeless.

12. How do you come up with your designs on a day to day basis?
Inspiration from everything, like something I see for 700 bucks, I say "Oh gosh. I could make that SO easily!" I sketch out my fashion designs and keep them in my fabulous swirly notebook.

13. Where do you plan to continue your design career in the future?
I want to go to SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). They seem to have an excellent design program. My DREAM is to go to Parson's School of Design, but that most likely won't happen. A perk of Savannah is that I will be closer to home.

Artist Spotlight: Travis Falls

As any other artist, not only do I appreciate fine art, but graphic design has my heart as well. Since one of my degrees is in Graphic Design, I really appreciate a layout of graphic perfection! Travis Falls is the next artist I want to feature here. He is the fiancé of one of my very best friends and I am just in love with the work he does with typeface above all. Here are a few of his designs to inspire you:






All artwork pictured above is Travis' work. I wish I had a link to give you, but I couldn't find any on his profile. He is very talented and I'm glad he's marrying one of my best friends!

NOTE: PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR ANOTHER POST ON THE LIFE OF ELAINE! <3

<3
E

Artist Showcase: David Petersen

So many of you know that my fiancé Ian is a HUGE comic book nerd. He's obsessed, haha. Hence, I spend a lot of time collecting certain series myself and going to different comic book shops with him. It's actually really interesting and fun. I tend to focus on and collect mainly indie comics because i love the artwork. Well this past Saturday was Free Comic Book Day nationwide, so Ian and I made the rounds at all the local comic shops and collected our free promotional issues. SO much fun! My favorite piece that I collected from the day was Mouse Guard which is written and illustrated by David Petersen.

I love his style of artwork and those little mice are so cute! Armed and powerful, his little mice battle whatever challenge they might encounter each season. After getting this comic, I decided to research David Petersen a little bit and his art is even better than I imagined. He does MANY different characters and projects as well as commissions. So I just wanted to share a little of his art with you all because I think it's beautiful. <3







So you can check out his blog or his artwork and feast your eyes on the yummy lines and interpretations of different characters. His perception is simply comic-like and magical.
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E