Blah,Blah,Blahg

PUMBLE BEE!

My grand dog-ter Plum.

GOLLY MISS LOLLY!

Our download today was created by the lovely Lolly of Lolly Chops.  She just started her blog three months ago to infuse a little more creativity into her days (and ours).  If you are like me and like a little d.i.y. and crafty goodness you must bookmark her blog (or whatever fancy techy thing one does these days--subscribe to rss feeds, technorati it or some such?)

LollyChops does a Friday jewelry giveaway, tons of awesome downloads of seasonal gift tags:

{Download your Tards here}


{Bird Tags! by Lolly Chops here}

What do you do with tags once you make them?  Well you make Martha worthy gifts such as this:

{Lolly Chops brownie recipe available here}

 I think one of the best parts is she describes so well how to use some of the crafty tools you may have seen and not known exactly how to use (yes, even if you own them). Thanks to Lolly I can officially really use my Marvy punch, which up until last week just kinda gathered dust in my craft drawer. 

 sewing patterns she created:

{Candy Pants owl patterns by Lolly Chops}


{Free Wendy Bird pattern by Lolly Chops}

 
and a guest host every Sunday that introduces a new recipe. It's the crafty jack pot, which is why I am so happy Lolly is our Halloween guest designer as I really feel like I have filled your virtual sacks with a plethora of goodies!

Of course she did make a special download just for you. She created two postcard size flats!  If you don't want to use them as a postcard they fit easily into a size A2 envelope.

True to Lolly form she has also recommended some craft tools to help you figure out how to cut these babies out:

What you don't own one of these thinga ma jiggers?  Well, Lolly of course provided a link of where to get one and it's the one she uses, so you know it's gotta be good. Wait, 'but Miss B. how the heck did she get those very professional looking rounded corners?'  I am glad you asked, she used one of these thingy's, aptly named a 'corner rounder', isn't that clever?

If this is not in your craft arsenal than you can pick one up here. I really love the time and care she takes explaining her projects. Even if you knew about the above tools previously, it's always nice to find new resources and find out what people use in their own craft stash.

Thank you Miss Lolly!  Wishing you all a bewitching weekend!

 LollyChops PostCards Download

LOLLY CHOPS...

Happy Halloween! come back in a lil' bit to see what all that nonsense above is about....

VACATION IN A BOTTLE...

Oh it's Wednesday and you know what that means?  That means this week is almost over and I am feeling those warm fuzzy feelings of hope, yea!  So to honor this very special hump day I want to do yet another giveaway.  I convinced one of my favorite e-tailers (and pals) Lucky Scent to do this one (not an easy feat mind you).  Today we will be giving away the new Monyette Paris Eau De Parfum!

And one of these, the cult classic Monyette Paris pure perfume oil in the beautiful new packaging:

Monyette is my idea of paradise bottled.  It is infused with Tahitian gardenia which has a very jasmine like essence to it, making it more sultry than it's American 'green' gardenia counterpart.  My idea was to capture the way Tahiti smelled at night--warm, sensual, heady with paradise found, the sparkle of the moon on aquamarine seas.  I absolutely love this scent, I don't consider it mine but something I was able to capture in order to share with others.  Conscious of what mother nature has to offer I included a beautiful mix of essential oils such as orange blossom which to me smacks of sunshine.  Everything together makes for a cashmere-esque scent, not girly and flirty but rich and classic.  This is the first time we have offered it as a parfum spray version and it only took oh I dunno 3-4 years to get it just right (I'm a little insane).  Why you ask am I working for the 'Man' (tortured) when I created Monyette Paris?  Well my Pretties, it's very expensive to create a fragrance, house it, package it, ship it and do shows and the like.  If I would have known going in I may have thought twice (or three times) but I did it for love and when you do something for love, it never feels like work. I am just proud as pie to have a product on the market and I feel successful in that I really feel the scent is true to my memory as possible.

LuckyScent.com, the premier on-line retailer for hard to find fragrances has been a Monyette champion from the very beginning and I am so very grateful to have their seal of approval since they are the WORD of what's fab in fragrance, think the Oprah of fragrance sort of thingy.  They have kindly agreed to gift (and ship!) two of the eau de parfums to two lucky winners and one pure parfum oil to another winner.  So that's right there's three opportunities to win yourself a lil' somethin'-somethin'.  Just go on and leave a comment maybe include a link to one of your fave e-tailers (just curious), I will announce the winner next Wednesday, November 5, 2008.

For those that won the Smashboox prizes, Nina the big wig at Smashbox is in NYC doing something fabulous, she will be back this week and I can get your swag and send it by next week!  Go on now, I know you're feeling lucky...

HERE'S TO A LITTLE CATHOLIC GUILT...

I wanted to get this up earlier but was having a crisis at the office.  You see, apparently my job (my boss will have you know) is on par with finding the cure for cancer and stopping world hunger.  No it's true because why else would my boss fly into such a frenzy over receiving (or not receiving) an item?  It must be very urgent business this interior design industry, I have to up hold this responsibility, I mean millions of lives could be at stake if this or that item is not in his or her possession like yesterday. Geez, the pressure...

Okay, what I really wanted to blab about today was my continued inspiration.  I really fell into this whole cyber realm quite by accident. Two years ago I had no idea that a blog even existed, nor did I know about forums or the lot.  Last week I lost my cyber virginity, I made my first purchase from Ebay, I know, I shall NEVER be the same.  I would say the proverbial 'apple' in this garden of eden was a client with a company called 'Catholic Guilt'.  I don't know if people realize how much of a difference they can make on an individual, but Delia the owner of CG lead me down a path that I may never come back from.  First she suggested The Switchboards.  If you have a small business or are thinking of starting a small business this is a great forum with super supportive (and many successful) women entrepreneurs.  It is there that I met my cyber best friend Jules of Pancakes and French fries, from Jules I found Nicole of Making it Lovely and about 1,000 other amazing time consumers.  I had no idea that there were so many fabulous individuals just a click away. 

Delia on her campaign to make me the most informed non-cyber girl in cyberspace casually mentioned the 'Pioneer Woman' in regards to improving my digital photography skills.  First of all why would a fancy city slicker like myself be interested in anything with the word 'pioneer' in it?  It didn't seem up my alley but Delia had never led me awry yet.  This time though she ruined me.  I have become completely and utterly obsessed with the PW's take on photography.  If you have any remote interest in photography and have always felt overwhelmed by the whole thing than you must make a trip over to her blog.  She has contributers like 'Miz Booshay' that break it down equally as well and take stellar images and make you feel like you, yes you, can take gorgeous images as well. Don't be dismayed if you don't have a digital SLR, she has a contributor 'Ivory Hut' that does tutorials on her point and shoot (you'll flip at how good her shots are).

These are some of the images that self-taught photographer 'The Pioneer Woman' has taken,not bad eh?

{Photo's by Ree Drummond}

Below is contributor Miz Booshay's shot.  Her muse is her adorable little girl Katie. The most inspiring thing about Miz Booshay is that she was inspired by Ree (a.k.a PW) to shoot and look at how professional these images are in such a relatively short amount of time!  I love how she breaks it all down and even gives you the number thingys to set your camera so you can re-create her shots (number thingy's, uhm, technical term, ahem...):

{Photo by Donna Boucher}

Today Pioneer Woman is doing a Giveaway of not one but THREE cameras!  Sheesh, you don't get that kinda opportunity on the Blahg now do ya?  I think it might be worth a try to wander on over there and see what I am flapping my gums about.  It's a win-win situation, even if you don't win the camera you'll be able to fill your brain up with more nonsense and that can't be bad right?  I am eternally grateful to Miss Delia for the 1st class ticket to Greedville, because I can not get enough of this whole internet thingy and now photography bug.  I find myself instead of pining for shoes and jeans like a 'normal' girl I want things like this camera that you can't get anywhere but Japan...

 

{Blackbird Fly Camera}

So if you want to contribute to the downfall of my 'real' life please feel free to let me know other sites I might find desperately engrossing.  Yes, I am easily swayed by all the creativeness out there and have been moved to do things that I never heard of or considered doing such as felting. 

Ez DOES IT...

I wanted to dedicate this Monday post to an extraordinarily talented young woman that you may know as 'Ez' of the famed 'Creature Comforts' blog.  I take extra special delight in her success as I feel like I was one of the first to 'discover' her (I just knew she was on to something..).  I never left comments but lurked since the beginning and have watched her grow and grow. I don't think it's fair though to be beautiful AND excel at so many other arenas (if I find out she has a super fast metabolism as well I am going to run into oncoming traffic!).  She's an amazing artist and photographer, she styles like nobody's business and her writing is always honest and sincere.  I always look forward to her posts because I know they will be a visual feast, albeit sometimes fiscally detrimental (she has super great taste) and of course I love all the crafty goodness that I can get my paws on.  I always notice a hesitation in her to show her wares and I am always eager to see more, so please Ez don't be shy about your work, we all love it and are inspired by your creativity...

 

{The Beautiful + Talented Ez}

I love the second shot, she wasn't feeling well and there is a sadness to it but heck, I wish I looked that good when I had the flu!

The above photo's are not only modeled by Ez but photographed by her as well! I tell you this lady is AMAZING. This is my favorite image aqua and sunshine yellow, it's just perfect.

{Photo by Ez}

This little guy was painted with tea.  Yes, tea!  Is that not completely, utterly, ridiculously creative?  It must have been difficult at best but the result is divine...

 

{Tea Bird by Ez}

For those that may have never heard of the delightful blog Creature Comforts (I dunno, maybe you just discovered this thing called the internet or have been busy working or somesuch crazy thing), this is a snapshot of her creation:

 

{Visit Creature Comforts}

And just because you are my very favorite blahg readers, I made an aqua graph paper download just for you!  It's 12" x12", 300 dpi, which is the size that most scrapbook artists like.  It's a little grunged so if you see mars on it don't be alarmed, I like my design to feel just a touch loved.  You can re-size it smaller of course, I used a variety of colors here to make the photo mats.  I hope you like it.

{AQUA GRAPH PAPER DOWNLOAD}

FRIDAY!!!!

Oh, it's Friday again!  As promised we have a very special download from one of my favorite Etsians--Piddix. I have been a fan for awhile and have purchased items such as this 'Frenchy French' beauty:

{Paris Collage Sheet by Piddix}

I still haven't done anything with it yet but I love it so.  The poster with the 'grand ballon' is so inspiring to me and the antique photo of the tour eiffel...sigh.   Corinna the very gracious proprietress of Piddix created a digital collage just for the Blahg, that's right you can't get it anywhere else (yet) but here.  This is for a limited time only, as all good things must come to end, so you only have until next Friday to get your download on. Corinna being as gracious as I mentioned is doing something EXTRA special for the Blahg readers 'get one free collage sheet with any purchase through November 30, 2008 (limit one free sheet per person). Just purchase any collage sheet through piddix.etsy.com or Piddix  and then put the sheet # that you would like free in your "message to seller" along with the code word "blahg."  Trust me you will have a terrible time choosing just one sheet so this is a really generous offer. 

What can you do with the collage sheets and why would you want them?  I can think of about 8 million things!  The collage sheet for the download has pre-sized images so you can cut them out and adhere the images to these. You can print them out on cardstock and make tags, adhesive paper and make stickers, print them on to iron transfer paper and iron on t-shirts, use them in your art projects to make your own collage masterpieces, decoupage them on to random objects, make artist trading, etc.  Really only your imagination is your limit and these here terms of use that you MUST read before you go and get yourself in trouble...

Now the part you've been waiting for the darn download already.  Okay, if you insist here is your most excellent little download.

Thank you Piddix!

Oh yes if this download goodness just isn't enough head on over to my lovely new friend Design Editors' place, she has a giveaway that's sure to give you butterflies...

MY NEW OBSSESION...

I wasn't getting very far on Facebook.  I really wasn't 'getting' it and it was making me feel like a big 'ol dum dum and I get that enough at my job so I officially give up on that little piece of cyberspace and have moved on and I am not looking back... 

I found a place that's a little more fitting for me, being a fashion-phile and all, it's called Modepass and the best way to describe it is it's like MySpace and Facebook but without the weird juju/sexual deviation and is completely style-centric.  My favorite part of it is that your 'friends' are from all over the globe and they are so very inspiring in the clothes horse department and can turn out outfits like nobody's business.  A lot of the items my 'friends' sport are vintage and are budget friendly.  It's so much better than any fashion magazine, because you could actually pull these outfits off without resorting to selling your body parts or bank robbery!  I like that 'aha' moment when someone is wearing something similar to what I own and is wearing it in a totally different and wildly fantastic way, I have about a zillion moments of 'why didn't I think of that?'.  It gives me hope that my wardrobe isn't worthless.  I have noticed a lot of members seem to have their own shops either for homemade accessories, or selling their vintage wares.  Either way you are in for something fabulous. 

I found this totally inspiring (and witty) fashion photographer via one of my favorite members Lady Coveted:

{Photo by Catherine Servel}

I think anytime you can successfully work a fat bunny into your fashion photo shoot you should...( just my two cents). This is Sally Jane, she has fabulous style. Of course she's a twig so I am sure a bed sheet would look magnificent on her but I love how she throws things together:

{SallyJane}

{LiebeMarlene}

{Elinkan}

You see bunnies are like the 'jazz hands' of fashion photography they just add that extra 'oomph'. So, if you'll excuse me I have to go, it seems life I have developed a serious eating disorder by staring at all these pin thin ladies and their fabulous wardrobes.  Just kidding, you know I am not that disciplined to maintain an eating disorder.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow though for some more pretty procrastination as our guest download is provided by Piddix and it's only available for a limited time... 

SMASHING...

I woke up this mornin' all giddy with anticipation because today is the day I announce the new winner(s).  The randomly picked winner for the Smashbox Giveaway is:

Miss Pat Trippiedi

Pat will be looking gorgeous while she does her gardening and totes her main man Ross around.  A little cyber trivia here Pat is Nicole from Making it lovely mom!  I am just thanking my lucky stars that Marie (my biological mom) doesn't have a blog.  Phew!

The second winner was going to get something from me anyway for being so wonderful but an overwhelming number of  entries were sent over by her that I had to make sure she got something extra FABULOUS, right?  That would be:

Miss Jules of Pancakes & French fries

Ladies please do not do what I did when I got my loot and wear it all at once making Mimi from the Drew Carey show look like a natural beauty next to you.  Trust me the temptation is pretty strong...

And just because sharing is caring I had a few little Smashbox treats to share with the following randomly picked winners:

Miss Kara B

Miss Mary Jenkins

Miss Chloe

Miss Danae H.

Miss Courtney
{yes the one who posted 1st and the 1st post never wins }

Just email me with your address and I will get your prizes sent off to you!  Thank you for playing along it was so much fun and I promise as soon as I can convince some more of my friends to give me free stuff I will do another give away soon!  I know Toi has suggested I try to get someone to give me a mini donk but like me the winner might live in an apartment and mini donks aren't conducive to apartment dwelling but any excuse to put a mini donl on my blahg is fine by me...

I'VE BEEN FRAMED...

Every weekend I try to stuff a weeks worth of work (and relaxation) into 48 little hours.  It's near impossible to do.  I LOVE to sleep late on the weekends, it feels so very decadent.  It's one thing I never allowed myself to do when I had my own business as I always worked 7 days a week, so even the weekends started at dawn. Now that I am gainfully employed I sleep (depressed? Just kidding).  

l do all my Bella Bella work on the weekend which isn't really work to me at all but a complete and utter pleasure.  Every order I send out feels like I am putting together a gift, which is perhaps a bit insane (I am just a little) but I love getting my orders ready for their new home.  That's one of the things I love most about Etsy when you order from an Etsy seller they usually take extra pride in their shipment and the packaging is as delightful as the actual order. Trust me I know this a little too well (I have an Etsy addiction...).

I had a laundry list of things to-do this weekend and I didn't know where to start.  Then I decided after I did the chores and the groceries I was going to do something that made me happy.  So I went to the flea market and bought a broken camera.  I didn't care that it was broken because I just needed the lens anyway:

The above isn't my actual camera.  Mine is rusted and may be some sort of germ carrier, but it was $5 and I wanted it badly.  This is how I can create more TTV loveliness, like these folks:

 

{TTV by m a r i e}

{TTV by Friendly Joe}

Then I decided since I had about 8,000 things that really needed to be done I should do what I am best at--procrastinating.  I made some digital downloads for the shop.  I wanted to make something that I couldn't find when I was searching and I figured that others might be looking for them too.  I am sure they are out there (somewhere) but I'm not the best at Googling and I am impatient.

So this is the first of the offerings:

With these babies you can make your photo's look like this:

Why?  Why not?  Sometimes a photo needs that little je ne sais quoi, or that thing you can't put your finger on...I stole this photo from Toi, I thought it was very Audrey-esque:

It was already a good photo but I knew it could be so much more..

{Framed by Moi}

Okay, so I did a tad more tweaking than adding the frame, but the frame does help, right?