full circle

strange bird – click for listing

Oh, phew!  For months, maybe a year now I’ve been wondering what’s missing.  Woops!  I forgot to make stuff with my hands.  And my head.  So it’s been a relief that over the last few days I’ve made some attempts to start filling the Etsy Shop with items — can’t wait for the weekend and a chance to get some daylight to photograph some things that are more physical.  Back in the saddle.

sad seagull – click for listing

For now, I’ve got some new photographs, 5″ circle images printed on 10″x10″ matted paper (perfect for standard frames) that are listed in my shop for $15.00 each.

In other news, it appears I’ve done something horribly mysterious to my knee and have been hobbling around for the last three days.  Today was the last straw and I went to the doctor only to find out what I already knew – rest, elevation, ice, naproxen sodium… pfft.  And shell out some cash to the doctor’s office while you’re at it.  Never had a knee injury before, and never want to again.  Off to elevate and ice – have a nice night, all!

Just Listed

Chicken Barrette, $6 from littleeyedesigns on Etsy

‘Ello!  If you haven’t peeked in to my Etsy shop lately (click there), you’ll be blown away at all the new items.  I’ve been hemming and hawing about new listings and I realized that when you sell tiny, little specialty objects it really is a numbers game:  the more I pack in there, the more chance there will be someone who connects with the artwork featured in the bottle cap!  Many new listings still to come, but I especially like that chicken barrette.

I’m also offering FREE SHIPPING on any order over $10, all you need to do is enter “ISPENT10” (all caps, no spaces) at checkout and the shipping charge will be removed.  That’s neat!

http://littleeyedesigns.etsy.com

Wistful Wedding News

Has anyone ever accidentally stumbled on the best wedding website ever?  OnceWed is a tasteful, aesthetic dream come true when it comes to wedding planning, inspiration and easy-to-execute craft ideas.  Click here for a circus-themed wedding that I find the cutest.  The only slightly troubling thing is when you go to the “Vendor Guide” tab at the top there is no search option in Maine.  C’mon guys!  We have some of the best backdrops, flora and fauna in the country.  New mission:  get on OnceWed, take Portland’s camera, floral and crafting talent with me.

Tara’s Gorgeous. Photo credit Kate Sullivan-Jones.

On a more personal note, Brian and Tara from the Rattlesnakes are getting married in a couple of weeks.  I’m pretty sure this is going to be the rockingest wedding I’ve been to ever.  It’s at One Longfellow in downtown Portland and Kate and I (honorary volunteer photographers) have been given explicit instructions to get drunk while we’re shooting.  Yes!

 

Photo by Audrey Hotchkiss

 

Lastly, I’m about to start putting together an album for Amanda and Dan, whose wedding I shot in August at the Regency Hotel in the Old Port.  Great space!  Outdoor ceremony and swanky indoor reception.  These two were really wonderful to work with, made me really realize why I embrace the massive undertaking that is wedding photography.  Hopefully will have some “product shots” of the album to share with you in a couple of weeks!

 

Photo by Audrey Hotchkiss

 

And here is a little vignette from Mike and Rebecca’s wedding way back in July.  Oh, Summer…see you again in 10 months or so.

 

photo credit EllanaCouture

 

As for dressing one’s self for the event, I found one endless-night-searching-for-random-things-on-Etsy successful when I found these sweet, traditional wedding dresses at EllanaCouture.  I might just sell enough necklaces to get one of these for myself and go as a debutante for Halloween.

 

Instead of a Chicken this could be Your Husband! Hmm? Hm?!

 

One thing I’ve been bouncing around in my head for some months now is the idea of making custom wedding favors for guests or members of the bridal party.  Could you see it now?  A unique little magnet stuck to every metal napkin ring…a set of 6 magnets featuring all the members of the bridal party as a post-wedding ‘thank you’ gift…a necklace with a special photograph in it as an inexpensive way to tell the bridesmaid how you appreciated her hard work and stripper-hiring.  OK depends on the wedding.  😉  Still — any feedback you want to send my way please leave a comment below!  Would love some guinea pigs to try this out on…

Vendor Spotlight: Photo Market

Hey y’all, just getting rejoining the internets here.  Seems I’ve taken the month of September (originally intended for relaxation and learning new craft skills) and turned it in to the month of being insanely busy getting ready for an art show, making jewelry to match, going on location at work and thinking far ahead in to the future (i.e. December) and figuring just how many little bottle caps I’ll be squirting epoxy resin in to for the next 60 days.

nice purple grey vines, PM!

Considering my recurrent need for them over the last several days, I want to take a minute to give all credit where its due to the folks at Photo Market at 945 Forest Ave. in Portland.

perfect September sunset gradation

I use these guys for everything.  And no matter how busy they are whenever I go in someone is bound to be good for a laugh.  Which works for me because my internal laugh-o-meter gauges how endearing others are.

this one prints perfect every time

Most importantly, the staff there has embraced (albeit reluctantly, I mean, who wouldn’t) my fickle process of shooting in film and printing digitally.  It’s born out of necessity (no darkroom access and…no time!) but they stopped making fun of me and trying to sell me digital cameras long ago.  Thanks guys.  🙂

art show at a flower shop ooh la la

So if you’re curious to see the handywork of their printers maybe you might like to stop at the gallery above Harmon’s & Barton’s on First Friday for a peek at my solo art show “Orchards and Atmospheres.”  Not only did they print the photographs but they printed the images I use in bottle cap jewelry, magnets and pins.  On Friday you’ll see these little versions alongside the large photographs…a more portable, affordable version of the real thing!

the perfect set for your friend molly

P.S.  What else is new?  I’m going to Find tomorrow to drop off some wares!  Paper Moon in Westbrook gets a visit later this week.  Meanwhile I’m plug-plug-plugging away at getting my Etsy site full of interesting listings.