I Heart Art PDX - Workshop 2

What Is It?! Product Photography from I Heart Art: Portland on Vimeo.
Here's a description from I Heart Art PDX's website:

Lisa Gastelum of TQB Designs taught a workshop back in April about Internet Photography—that is, shooting photos of your products with their primary destination being your website, blog or online shop. She emphasizes that you don’t need fancy, expensive equipment to take great photos, giving tips about natural lighting, learning about your camera and framing your objects for maximum potential.

I Heart Art is doing some great workshops here in the Portland area. If you have some free time and want to learn more about etsy and tips and tricks on how to run your business than be sure to check out the calendar and see what is coming up next!

I really want to attend the wholesale workshop #6. I heard it's going to be awesome!

The members on this board are also friends of mine. It's awesome to see them accomplishing so much and making such a good impact on the crafting community. They are rockstars.. I don't know how they find the time or the energy to make all of this happen. There is so much exciting things going on right now in the crafting world of Portland! Etsy is behind of all this as well (officially yeah!).

Don't let these guys get off your radar. A lot of really cool events is going to be happening and a lot of learning opportunities.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/iheartartpdx
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/iHeartArtPDX
website: http://iheartartpdx.com

Is this a dream?

Yes this is real and in a few years this could be what Portland is like! I'm so glad I live in such a bike friendly city. Will cycling become the new norm? Almost there!


Cycling Copenhagen, Through North American Eyes from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Rosie The Riveter Hair!

This is how I styled my hair to be like Rosie the Riveter! The bad ass chick hairstyle.


It's actually really nice to wear in the summer because your hair is UP and off your neck. It will stay in place and it's a great way to pack away dirty hair you don't want to deal with. Cute updo!

Check out the tutorial here. Yeah for youtube tutorials!

Fairy Floss at Saturday Market

A couple of my super cute friends at the Portland Saturday Market recently started up a business called Fairy Floss!

Fairy Floss, a new spin on Cotton Candy, Organic, Fair Trade, Vegan, Nut/Dairy/Gluten Free. A Sweet Treat for all ages! I got some cute photos of them in action and tasted their popular flavor - Birthday Cake! Also Eden is wearing an apron from Lolly-tots! It's the stripped one. ;)

Check our their facebook fanpage for more info.

Double Rainbow!

This video makes me so happy!

Silly Hats at Saturday Market

Yeah it might be the middle of July but over here at lolly-tots factory we are still pumping them out and never fast enough! Fur is flying and threads are dangling from sock footsies. It's been a crazy month.

You wouldn't believe what a great mood everyone was in on Saturday. Maybe it was all the sun? Maybe it's because it's summer vacation? I think it's just summer and the BBQs and the warm bike rides and the smiles really gets to you after a while. These grumpy Portlanders couldn't help but be cheerful. They finally gave in. Everyone is DAMN HAPPY and I'm loving it.

It might also be that I'm only doing the market every couple weeks now so I get a long enough break to recover and be all smily again. Also enough time to get everything done so my etsy customers are not being forgotten. Everyone's happy and I'm out enjoying the sun. It was a good healthy boost of awesome being around my customers this weekend. Past customers stopped by. My booth neighbors were HILARIOUS. I had a grand time and finally getting into the groove of being a handmade vendor. Still the best job I've ever had. The good parts and the bad, I'll take them all!




If you have any lolly-tots inspired photos that you would like to share you can always upload them on our facebook fanpage or our flickr grouppage!

Rainbow Cocktail!

This looks like the perfect drink for a lolly-tots kind of afternoon. Sitting in the backyard with your fuzzy pink hat sipping on your colorful concotion.

Oh and there are lemon peel stars? You have GOT to be kidding me?!!

Check out the recipe here. :)

Enjoying the small things

We spend so much time planning out our next move in life. Swamped in to-do lists and endless tasks. It's important to take a step back and be thankful for where you are RIGHT NOW.

There will always be more work to be done.

There will never be enough time.

There will always be another big thing to tackle and another problem to be fixed.

Take some time to enjoy what you have accomplished. To relish in your victories. To enjoy your accomplishments. Look at what you have! You have worked so hard for this. See how far you have come. Look behind you at the mountain you have climbed. See how far up you are? Wow.

Moments are fleeting. When the sun is shinning and your mind is drifting.. maybe it's time to take a step away from your huge pile of work and just enjoy the day.

I have a lot of moments like this. I have to remind myself of how far I have come. That nothing big is done overnight. That small goals must be accomplished one at time. I have to remind myself of the BIG PICTURE. Remind myself of what I'm here for in the first place. Remind myself that this is MY life not someone else's life and I can live it how I want to. That the only person I have to prove myself to is myself.

For now I take time to be thankful for the little things. To be happy for my home. To be happy that it's summer and it's warm and sunny out. To be happy that I have something to work on that I believe in and that makes feel fulfilled. Happy to be alive and loved. Coffee and creamer and ladybugs flying in the breeze. The little things.. yeah. That's what it's all about. Right?


photo via - Cuba Gallery on flickr

Biking Adventures

I've been working a lot the last couple of weeks and I haven't had much to update on. It's just been a lot of sewing and a lot of orders shipped out. Then we got a huge heat wave last week and my motivation went out the window. It's rare to have sunny days in Portland and I feel that when they are here you really need to get out an enjoy them. So my free time has been used primarily on cycling adventures. Some days we spent just visiting bike shops and repairing and upgrading our own bikes. Jake had some flat tires and changed his tire for the first time ever!

I finally acquired a little mini bike for zoobombing. It was upgraded with brakes, handlebar, new banana seat and fuzzy seat cover! I still ride the brakes all the way down the hill. I keep trying because it is fun and a good way to blow off some steam. The climb UP the hill is a really good workout. It involves lots of whining on my part though. So many stairs! Also you carry the bike though part of it. OUCH.

Also I am working on a line of helmet covers. I made myself a unicorn one that I wore around on the 4th of July downtown. Yeah this was my holiday outfit!

Pat is turning into a bike FREAK. Look at his tiny little bike hat! This is what happens when you move to Portland. Here we are really passionate about our mode of transportation. Cycling is a way of life.. not just a way to get places.


It's been great enjoying the summer sun and being active outdoors. I'm really enjoying my summer so far and I hope all of you are too!

Friday Finds

Found via Geninne's Art Blog


via julietbannana on flickr