New Designs- Name Plates and Monograms

Okay, so these really aren't new, exactly. I've been doing name plates and monograms for a few years now, but this is the first time I've listed them as an a la carte item!

This monogram I did almost two years ago now. I'll be doing some new samples in the next day or two. Provided my nice natural lighting cooperates with me (it's cloudy right now) I should have new pictures of my monograms to show you.

Note 12/1/10: Here they are, ready and listed on Etsy!

Where Are They Now?

I thought it would be fun to do a little posting every now and then to showcase the travels my books have made. It's been a while since I did a feature so I thought I'd show you this purple book, which is now in Scotland.

What makes this custom book different is the black pages. The customer wanted to write in silver on black pages which will look simply stunning, in my opinion!

I had never done black pages before and had to special order the paper. I ordered enough to do a few more books also. It won't be a standard offering in my shop but I might do a book here and there with black pages. Or, if anyone requests black pages I am ready!

Background Inspirations

Someone recently inquired where I find inspiration for my backgrounds I use in my photos, so I thought it might make an interesting "behind the scenes" blog post.

This is the floor of my studio, next to the window where I get some lovely natural light. I was looking for a background that was somewhat neutral to compliment my books. I looked down and voila! I was standing on it!

However, that background didn't work for this book because the book is nearly the same color as the floor. And besides that, I got tired of laying in the floor to get good shots of my books!

You'll never guess what the background in the above shot really is! (Keep reading)

I was having trouble with an orange-yellowish cast reflecting off the floor, and the whitewashed background didn't work with this book, so I took a printer's tray and turned it upside down for this lovely aged wood background!

So here is the inspiration for the whitewashed background I used. I saw it in the Jan 2010 issue of Somerset Life magazine. I wondered what I had around the house to use and my thoughts immediately turned to a little table which recently resurfaced in the garage as my hubby was straightening up.

And here it is! The background for my Tea Stained Guest Book.

My great aunt made this herself, handy lady that she was. She had it in her dining room with a potted fern on it for as long as I can remember. When she died I inherited it. It's a wonderful little shabby chic piece and has been sadly neglected for many years...I never could find a place to put it in my house. Now it has a new home in my studio and gets almost daily use. (The printer's tray I use is behind it.)

Which background is your favorite? If you do much photography, do you have a favorite background you like to use in your photos?

Hunting for Lost Things

I spend a lot of time hunting for lost things. Sometimes they are lost because I have organized them into oblivion. Some things are lost by my hubby, whose workspace looks like a tornado hit. But most frequently I spend my days hunting for treasured objects lost by my 5 year old.

Today was no exception. I spent the better part of the morning looking for George Washington. "Where did you last see him? What were you doing when you last had him?" and so on.

I'm happy to report he was finally found, under the bed. He slipped between the wall and the mattress. Same thing happened to JFK a few months ago.

Who is most apt to lose things in your family? What kinds of things do you find yourself hunting for?

A Sneak Peak at Some New Books

Just pulled these out of the book press this morning. I finally found some excellent navy, blue, and turquoise papers! And a new yellow, which is a difficult color to find also. Yay!

Guess what I'll be doing all week? (Besides getting the house ready for holiday guests!)

Housework vs Sofa Forts

I have been consciously doing a little less in my studio over the last couple of weeks and devoting more time to catching up with the house. Fun stuff like cleaning, laundry, and sorting though cabinets. But it's a good feeling to believe I'm on top of things!

That is, until my son and hubby decide to build a fort in the living room with the sofa cushions!

You're looking at the dog's back end as he invades the fort. He likes to be in the middle of things, literally.

Here's one more thing I've been working on...the framed butterfly picture. I got this lovely print from a little framing shop for $7, and the frame from Hobby Lobby on clearance for $6. It was a custom frame that must have been cut to the wrong size. Anyhow, I cut a mat for the print and it fits perfectly in the frame!

Getting the glass cut was another story. I went to AC Moore and they wanted $32--ridiculous! I don't need conservation glass for a $7 print. I ended up going to a local glass shop and got exactly what I wanted for $8. So the whole thing cost me $21. Am I frugal or what? :)

Bricks Straight From the History Books

Arched Bridge in Williamsburg

We went to Colonial Williamsburg this weekend. It was a beautiful day, wonderfully sunny, but a touch cool for my liking. However, at least we weren't sweating to death as it would have been just a short month ago!

Bruton Parish Church, Williamsburg

Headstone at the church

Little feet walk along historic sidewalks

The end of the day, walking the path home (or, to the parking lot!)

I didn't have time to walk around with my art journal sketching the sights, so my camera had to make do. Maybe I'll work on a journal page about bricks...or maybe you might be inspired by these ancient bricks to do a journal page!