Sunday, June 29, 2008

Pretty Things Spotlight: * Jessica Doyle *

Update: JANICE WRIGHT is the winner of the Sexy Red Toes print by Jessica Doyle...YAY! Thanks so much to everyone who entered...be sure to enter this week's give-a-way too {there's a link to it on the right side of this blog}.




Reminiscent of painstakingly created embroidery on the finest silk, Jessica Doyle's work is inspiring in its whimsical detail.

Drawn in by her vibrant colours and entrancing swirls, one is instantly intrigued by her curious shapes and subject matter, such as the human body, sea creatures and the world itself through her eyes.




"Drawing, painting and writing feel good to me. I can't seem to remember a time when I haven't been creating anything, something for that matter."



Spotlight: Jessica Doyle
Tell us a bit about you... I have been working in the arts & design industries since the age of 17. I have doubled in age since and still love it. I am formally trained as an illustrator, surface and graphic designer after having attended the New Brunswick College of Craft & Design and later, Langara College in Vancouver, BC. I am a collector of paper, pens, paint and all things container, tiny, metal, old or wooden.

What inspires you? Life inspires me. After three near death experiences I am happy to be amongst the breathing. Ideally the ideas would come easily and sometimes they do. Other times it through experimentation, trial and error that a final illustration is created.

Apart from creating, what do you do for fun? I hoola hoop with a home-made hoop. It is as high as my shoulders (about 5 feet in diameter). I can bring it from knee to neck lift it off my head and walk-through it twisting it in various contortions. I'm also an avid organic gardener.

What has been your most memorable moment selling your art? When a person offered to buy an original 24x24" acrylic painting and asked how much? I said $1,250 and he paid for it. At the time I was broke and it got me through the rest of the month. Living in Vancouver was not cheap. Haha!

Any advice for fellow artists... If you feel stuck and uninspired switch mediums.

If you could be a superheroine, who would it be and why? Wonder Woman for sure, mixed with a little Sylvia Plath. In grade one I wanted to be Wonder Woman. She was the "it" girl in 1980! I still have my original -now vintage (OMG)- Wonder Woman pencil case from then. And Sylvia Plath because of her brutal honesty. I have volumes of my own written journals... someday.

Where have you traveled or where would you like to travel and why? I'd like to travel back to Vancouver to live again. Dream would be to own a live/work Loft in Vancouver and a Residential Home in Saint John, New Brunswick; my hometown and where I currently live.

More about You…. While living in Vancouver for close to five years I was drawing and writing with ink so much that I was running dry 3 to 4 Pilot G-tec C4 pens a week. My goal was to eliminate the need for pencil before pen and I have. I rarely use pencil except to sign prints with. As with any muse this could change.


Etsy- http://JessicaDoyle.etsy.com
Blog- http://jessicadoyle.ca
Flickr- http://flickr.com/photos/eastvanesica


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This Give-a-Way has ended...

Now that it's warm outside, let's all celebrate and paint our toenails RED!
Jessica did...and now she wants to give-a-way one of her very favourite prints to YOU!
Her "Sexy Red Toes" Print is from an original drawing painted with watercolour. The background has been added digitally. Print size is 5 x 7" on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper.





Thanks to Everyone who entered!


Sunday, June 22, 2008

THE BIG GIVE II Continues...

Update: The winners are now posted on each of the individual give-a-way features from The Big Give II. Thanks so very much to everyone who entered each contest and Be sure to enter this week's new give-a-way feature too!
A special thank you to everyone who left a message regarding the passing of my sweet little Kiko <3.


Due to the passing of my sweet kitty, Kiko just yesterday, I am holding the Big Give-a-way over for an extra week as I just cannot concentrate on anything else right now.

But, as a special bonus for YOU, my dear Pretties, ...if you comment again this week, you will have an extra chance to win!
Note: You must comment on each feature individually to have an extra chance at that give-a-way.


"The Big Give" features FIVE ultra-talented artists for you to peruse and shop with. You can also enter their give-a-ways as each artist is giving away one of their pretties in separate random drawings!



View each of the 5 features & give-a-ways here!

Most important details: Each give-a-way must be entered separately for you to qualify for that give-a-way. If you've already entered, you may enter again for one additional chance to win, but you must enter each give-a-way individually. All entries must be received by noon on Sunday, June 29th, 2008. This contest is open to everyone around the globe, but please leave a viable way for us to contact you. Entries with no contact info and lacking the information requested will be disqualified. Winner has 3 days to contact me with their address. Give-a-way is shipped out via the artist. Each winner's name for the 5 separate give-a-ways will be selected by the old-fashioned name in a hat method.

Best of luck to you, my Pretties!

Friday, June 20, 2008

Freaky Friday... What WERE They Thinking?

Due to the abundant amount of HOT MESS material around I've had on file, I've decided this week to not focus on only one Hot Mess, but rather bring you a plethora of Things to Ponder when it comes to the world of "Celebrity Fashion".
  • Do they THINK they can get away with wearing just anything because of who they are?
  • Do they seriously think that they have style and turn a deaf ear to their stylist's suggestions?
  • Do they BLINDLY follow the fashion advice of the stylists?
  • or...
  • Are they just crazy and don't care?
The following makes us wonder...

{ Padma Lakshmi, Pink and Kelly Preston }
Padma always seems to look a bit unkempt & greasy to me, so this disheveled satin-y dress & her perpetually messy hair does nothing to help her.
Pink tries so hard these days, but fails miserably...These days, this look only works for a stripper or a prostitute, sorry!
Kelly Preston looks like she wrapped her jersey sheets around herself...and those dark tights and shoes??!??!

{ Britney Spears }
I honestly had such high hopes for Britney way back in the day, but she has just been steadily going downhill...and I feel bad for her, really. This is just a sample...the Uggs, the cigarrettes in hand, the disheveled satin outfit. She looks like 50 year old white trash...and I grew up in small town middle America, so I KNOW it when I see it.

{ Amy Winehouse }
What can we say that hasn't already been said? At this point, she's like a train wreck. You feel bad, but you just can't take your eyes away. On a brighter note, I saw a photo of her recently where she didn't have all that mess going on and she actually looked pretty good.

And, special mention goes to...

{ Courtney Love & Pal }
One has to wonder WHAT goes thru Courtney's head on a daily basis. Whatever,...I'm just happy that her daughter Frances Bean seems like she might just turn out OK.... I said "might".



Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Pretty Things...Mongrels in Common

{ { Mongrels in Common }} Mongrels in Common combines the elements of masculine severity with feminine delicacy. It is avant-garde design with a casual, classical style, creating a cultural kaliedoscope with no borders. Simple, clean, quirky, fun...

{ crazy...}

{ sexy...}
{ cool...}


Sunday, June 15, 2008

Dirty Pretty Things to Ponder : THE BIG GIVE II

Update: The winners are now posted on each of the individual give-a-way features from The Big Give II. Thanks so very much to everyone who entered each contest and
Be sure to enter this week's new give-a-way feature too!

A special thank you to everyone who left a message regarding the passing of my sweet little Kiko <3.

THE BIG GIVE-A-WAY!



Lucky You!

What a wunderful surprise you've just happened upon!
This is "The Big Give" where I've featured not just one, but FIVE ultra-talented artists for you to peruse and shop with. You can also enter their give-a-ways as each artist this week is giving away one of their pretties in separate random drawings!





Enter each of the 5 features...

Most important details: Each give-a-way must be entered separately for you to qualify for that give-a-way. If you comment on the reason WHY you love their work, you will be entered twice in that give-a-way. All entries must be received by noon on Sunday, June 29th, 2008. This contest is open to everyone around the globe, but please leave a viable way for us to contact you. Entries with no contact info and lacking the information requested will be disqualified. Winner has 3 days to contact me with their address. Give-a-way is shipped out via the artist. Each winner's name for the 5 separate give-a-ways will be selected by the old-fashioned name in a hat method.


Best of luck to you, my Pretties!


Pretty Things Big Give: * Nikii *

Update: JEAN F is the lucky winner of the super kawaii amigurumi little green bear by Nikii! Thanks so much to all who entered. Be sure to enter this week's give-a-way too!



Nikii creates the cutest handcrafted amigurumi and crocheted cuties! In fact, since she's taken up this fun craft, she's so addicted that she finds herself crocheting most every day and can't put it down! Lucky for us...because her very love of this craft creates some of the cutest eye candy we've ever seen!




Tell us a bit about yourself...
I'm Nikii. I live in Bangkok, Thailand and work full time as a graphic director at a small graphic house. I personally love Graphic Design and its various outputs...Paper-based Design, Web Design or even Multi-media design. But, my latest interesting hobby is CRAFT (Crochet/Knitting). If I have the chance, I like to go to the beach and listen to the waves whisper... I find it an incredible place for relaxing.

What inspires you?
I love amigurumi (crochet doll in Japanese), introduced to me by my close friend a while back. At the time, I wasn't interested enough to make amigurumi myself, but after seeing some inspirational creations
by others *SO CUTE* ... I was inspired to make my own. And, because I can draw, most of my amigurumi items are from my own drawings, but I also like to make some amigurumi from the Japanese pattern books, which were given to me by my friend.

Any advice for fellow artists...
Do anything that make you happy. But don't steal other people's idea :) Take others idea as for references and adjust those with your original idea then you will have your style put in there. Everyone can feel how lovely of your works. Cheers~


Shoppe: http://Nikii.etsy.com
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/iningz
Blog:
http://www.iningz.net




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This Give-a-way has ended...



Doesn't he have the cutest little face? This little green bear, handcrafted with so much love by Nikii can go home with you this week...and you can also choose to have him made into a keychain if you want to carry him everywhere you go! This cutie is approximately 6" tall and sports a designer cream shirt. He has been crocheted of 100% acrylic yarn and stuffed with fiberfill. He will look at you with love in his black bead-filled eyes and still be your very best friend when everyone else deserts you.


How to enter: Look at the little cutie pies in Nikii's shoppe or on her Flickr pages and then comment here on the cutest cutie you see! AND, if you tell us WHY you'd love to have your favourite, you'll be entered twice to win this little cute little guy!

Pretty Things Big Give: The Sea Within

Update: PAULA is the very lucky winner of The Sea Within's give-a-way of not one, but two cute little bags...a tissue holder and small zippered bag. Thanks so much to all who entered. Be sure to enter this week's give-a-way too!


Nadine of The Sea Within grew up in the Canadian Prairies with a desire to create, learning to sew when she was young.
Unfortunately, she didn't really do much with her craft until she moved to the California Bay Area and re-discovered some much needed inspiration in the beautiful fabrics at a local store. Now, she also finds inspiration for her lovely bags in some of the most simple yet unexpected places, such as a party dress, cake, postcards, sharp pencils, flea market finds and the inscriptions found in old books.

What inspires you?
I'm not sure what inspires me. Since I can remember, I could never find things I'd like in the shops and would modify
them myself (usually with the help of my mom). I think a lot of my ideas come from not being able to find things I like. I also love anything with animals and nature on it. Also all the great fabrics I find really inspire me to create.

What has been your most memorable moment selling your art?
My most memorable moment...hmmm... Probably when I sold 100 items on Etsy. I think I felt validated and that I may be a sorta good at this. I remember when I first started on Etsy all I wanted to do was sell 10 items, so hitting one hundred was huge for me. I used to look at the shops that had 100 items and thought that was so incredible.

Any advice for fellow artists...
I would advise people to do what they love. Don't worry
about wondering if it will sell or if it's the right style. I just make things I like and that I want to make. Keep it fun. Once it isn't fun anymore, it's not worth it.

Shoppe: http://TheSeaWithin.etsy.com
Flickr:
http://flickr.com/photos/theseawithin


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This Give-a-way has ended...

Nadine of The Sea Within has a very generous give-a-way for you...not 1, but 2 precious little treats! You can keep your travel tissues in the super cute tissue holder and your makeup in the small zippered bag, both made in her popular "Bears and Trees" print fabric with coordinating teal coloured fabric lining.






How to enter:
Look at the pretty little things in The Sea Within and comment here on the prettiest things you see! AND, if you tell us WHY you'd love to have your favourite, you'll be entered twice to win this little great give-a-way!



Pretty Things Big Give: Amature Capture

Update: Yay...WINDY CINDY is the winner of the sweet Dandelion photograph print give-a-way by Amateur Capture. Thanks so much to all who entered. Be sure to enter this week's give-a-way too!



Melanie of Amateur Capture describes herself as a 30ish amature photographer and artist. With a focus on photography, her emotions and things we see and things that touch our lives everyday, she explores the world around her to gain inspiration.


“My photographs cause you to look at things in a different light. Capturing the essence of the subject as well as the feeling behind it.”






Tell us about you...
My name is Melanie and I reside in Wellington, Ohio. I came to Ohio to be with my best friend, whom I met online. I love it here and have never been happier.

What inspires you?
My family and my surroundings. I also get visions that just pop in my head and they dont rest until I have created the image. Those are the photographs under "What I Imagine" in my shop sections.

What has been your most memorable moment selling your art?
Hmmm... Probably my first sale to someone I didnt know. Realizing that others do like my work and are wanting it in their homes.

Any advice for fellow artists...
Do not focus on your sales. Do what you love and the sales will come. Dont let low sales prevent you from continuing to do what you love to do. I feel too many people hold sales as the most important thing. Your love for your art/craft is what is most important.

Shoppe:
http://AmatureCapture.etsy.com
Blog:
http://www.msessions.blogspot.com


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This Give-a-way has ended...

Melanie of Amateur Capture has a love for Spring and it shows in this photograph of a beautiful dandelion, which is her give-a-way this week. This photograph is 8x10 and is professionally printed on matte photo paper. Signed and dated on the back by the artist.

How to enter: Go to the Amateur Capture shoppe and peruse the unique photographs, choosing the one you like the most. Then, comment here on your favourite! ...and, if you tell us WHY you'd love it, you'll be entered twice to win this give-a-way!

Pretty Things Big Give: * Sugarberry *

Update: FRUGALLM is the winner of the Sugarberry give-a-way and gets to pick either the juiciest strawberry earrings or a freshly picked pink handmade flower bracelet as her giftie. Thanks to everyone who entered...be sure to enter this week's give-a-way too!

Patrizia is the 19 year old wunderkind artist from Montreal behind Sugarberry who has a passion for cuteness. She confects a sweet shop full of original and unique wearable treats that are quirky, whimsical and such fun!
Patrizia loves to make jewelry and sew whenever she can and her work is noticeably inspired by nature. On any given day, you might find her crafting an owl, sculpting a pretty flower or making some yummy veggies from her garden. Super kawaii!

What inspires you?
My imagination, my mother and my sister. I usually try to make things that I think are unique and cute. I starting making clay vegetables and fruits and couldn't stop! I love rainy days.

What do you do for fun?
I love boring stuff like watching television and reading. Oh, I enjoy shopping especially for bath and beauty products. Besides those things, I create...and that's all I like to do.

What has been your most memorable moment selling your art?
Since I am new to this, I haven't sold much. Probably when I sold my first original piece on Etsy from promoting on another online forum. I told the guy who bought my work that Etsy is as awesome site and he wrote back to me saying he had spent the last hour browsing and buying more art. I spread the Etsy addiction.

Any advice for fellow artists...
Do what you love, that's pretty much all you can do.

Shoppe: http://Sugarberry.etsy.com
Flickr: http://flickr.com/photos/23288275@N06
Blog: http://milkcream.blogspot.com

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This Give-a-way has ended...

You will definitely want to take part of this sweet little give-a-way!
Patrizia of Sugarberry is graciously letting you CHOOSE one of the sweet confections shown at left if you are this week's chosen one. Pick from the juiciest strawberry earrings or a freshly picked pink handmade flower bracelet. I personally want them both!

How to enter: Look at the cute treats in the Sugarberry shoppe and then comment here regarding which you want most! ...and, if you tell us WHY you'd love to have your favourite, you'll be entered twice to win! How yummy!


Pretty Things Big Give: Lauren Alexander

Update: PINK EARED DOG is the winner of the Lauren Alexander give-a-way and wins the cutest lil' owl ACEO there ever was...Yay! Be sure to enter this week's give-a-way too!

Lauren Alexander is an artist and you can definitely tell that painting is a passion of hers. Her shoppe is full of cute and colourful little creatures- birdies, cats, whales, owls, bears...and there's even Dorothy and Toto from the land of Oz {my favourite!} What else would we expect from this super talent from Kansas? The happy colours and sweet characters in Lauren's water colour paintings are set to inspire and make you happy at every glance.

What inspires you?
My inspiration comes from everything from music and movies to books and even other artists
. I enjoy being around creative people and working collectively. Sometimes great ideas are spontaneous and sometimes they come from long periods of practice and trial and error. Whenever I sit down to create I try to focus and work hard like I know the artists I admire do.

What has been your most memorable moment selling your art?
Last year I made a series of paintings of little characters called Love Bugs. A customer bought one for her daughter. Weeks later the customer contacted me and told me
that her daughter loved the painting very much and had painted a character of her own inspired by mine. Seeing the little girl's painting made my heart so happy and has been a huge motivator to keep working.

Any advice for fellow artists...
My advice for other artists is to stick together! I think we need each other and through support and camaraderie we can continue to make amazing works of art. Whether you are just starting to get out
there or if you are already established I think getting involved with a community of creative people will only make you stronger.

Shoppe: http://LaurenAlexander.Etsy.com


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This Give-a-way has ended...


Aren't YOU the lucky one??
Lauren is graciously giving away the cutest little original ACEO ever! This ACEO depicting two very colourful owls is just full of sunshine and will make you smile everytime you look at it. AND, it has never been listed in her shoppe.

How to enter: Look at the cute little paintings and prints in Lauren's shoppe and then comment here on your most favourite! ...and, if you tell us WHY you'd love to have your favourite, you'll be entered twice to win this little ACEO give-a-way! How sweet!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Pretty Things...To the Maxi

In stark contrast to last year's mini dress, this summer's maxi dresses definitely reign supreme. Easy, breezy, beautiful...I'm definitely getting lots of wear out of mine. A minimal effort that covers a maximum amount of flaws {if you have them}.

Here are some great choices...

Top Row, Left to Right:
Bottom Row, Left to Right:

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Freaky Friday... The Towering Hive


Recent sightings of Amy Winehouse find that mess of a hairdo defying gravity by getting higher and higher.

I'm quite impressed really! I know how hard it is to keep the hair up considering I had a foot high mohawk/spikes back in my goth punk days and had to use Knox gelatin and Aqua Net Extra Super Hold to keep it up. It takes a lot of work to maximize the height and I don't think she really uses much except for hair extensions, A LOT of teasing and some spray.



It's also great to see that Amy is prepared for her future!

If people finally stop buying her music and supporting her crack habit, I'm
sure she can always get a job as one of the Royal Guard as she's already sporting the busby.






...or a fill-in for Marge Simpson.









And, behold Amy Winehouse and the "Building of the Hive" thanks to TMZ...


Behold the building of the beehive with wee soul singer Amy Winehouse, who was filmed in a British train station, piling up the rat's nest on her haid -- and it clearly takes a lot of work to look that trashy! This tireless effort may explain how she stays so thin!

At what point does she decide that looks good?!




Chain Blog: I am...

This is a chain blog.
I know, I know...we just hate any sort of chains! ...But, you have to admit that some of them contain great stories, tear jerkers even...Inspirations and Life Lessons that someone thinks you might enjoy and wants you to share with
others. Hence my reasoning for starting what I know to be the very first chain blog. :)

"I am..." was first posted by Jen of "A Girl & Her Polaroid", but I found it through JLC Studio.

Here's what you do...
1} Post this same "I am..." inspiration on your blog for all the other Pretties in the world to see.
2} Mention and link to anyone who has blogged about it before such as I have above.
3} Then, read this inspiration to yourself every single day...cuz, really Girl, you ARE ALL of these things, especially if you look beyond the material things in life.


You never know...That one person who discovers this on your blog just might be having the worst day of her life...and you could turn it all around for her. So, Share...and SMILE... This is ALL ABOUT YOU!

I am...



Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Pretty Things: Hair Club for Women

You've already seen some of these fun styles on your favourite celebrities...now is your chance to pick your fave and go for a new look too!

Which would YOU try?

{ The Bob }


{ Curly }


{ Center Part }


{ Bangs }