pen & paint {guest post & giveaway!}

Some of you may already know Lindsay from Pen & Paint and are familiar with her amazing work, but if you aren't then you are missing out! I was lucky enough to be given an amazing print from her (showing my Oregon pride!), and from our emails, her prompt delivery, the amazing quality of the print and the serious cuteness- I'm a legit fan of hers from here on out.

Today she is sharing a bit about herself, her business & finding inspiration.  Plus she is so graciously giving away a $25 shop credit to one of you.. so get to know her & become a huge fan like I am!

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Hi, I'm Lindsay. I'm a busy mama of two silly little boys.  I am a southern girl with a loud laugh, a sensitive heart and a little bit of sarcasm on the side.  I like to draw and paint, a lot.

After taking a bit of a break from the blogging and handmade world, at the beginning of 2012 to refocus on myself and my family, I picked up a sketchbook and an ink pen and started drawing.  The more I drew, the more ideas I developed, and I saw the need to make a change in the name of my blog and shop of three years from Paint Me a Picture, to Pen and Paint.  Now I am back gathering inspiration from the blogging and handmade community, creating happy prints.  Every now and then I still love picking up my paintbrush and creating a fun piece of art.

how long have you been an artist and shop owner?

I have been drawing since I was four years old. I began painting and selling my work in 2008, but it wasn't until I started sketching at the beginning of this year that I actually felt like I could call myself an artist.

is there any advice you would give another artist to get out there? and what are some of your favorite tips for staying inspired or getting our of creative ruts?

Yes! Three big things:

1. Connect with other artist. My artist friends have helped and encouraged me SO much. They inspire you, pull you up when you are down, and remind you your art is beautiful.

2. PLEASE put your name/site/something on your images. The internet is an amazing place but there are mean people out there who don't respect you and your hard work. You'd never write a book without putting your name on the cover so make sure to "sign" your images. It helps people find you and protects your work as well.

3. Make things for yourself, things you love. Whenever I start getting foggy-headed worrying about what people will like I stop and make something I want to make, something I may never sell. It clears my head and makes me happy.

managing a family, a passion, a shop & a blog can keep you busy.. how do you keep yourself balance?

Obviously, this was something I struggled with. I took a big break, almost to the point of deleting my blog and closing my shop. Now that I am back I constantly remind myself what matters. What matters is my faith, my family and my health. I love my art and I am so very thankful I can share it and sell it, and though it matters, it cannot get in the way of my job as a wife and mother. I blog when I can now, no schedule, no plans. If I go for a week without a post, well, then the world will keep turning. If I don't make sales or don't have a new print, oh well. I have found I will probably always struggle with balance so I just try to take it one day at a time, and when I start seeing I am not happy or my family is not happy I know something has to change.

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your mom: a day with mine via 1983

Last week I mentioned how a few of us bloggers on twitter somehow got onto the topic of our moms, if they were bloggers what it would be like.. or what their styles were like.. Sandy & Erika shared some style inspired posts, but I wanted to share a day in my moms life =)

*If my mom had a blog, this would have been her post 29 yrs ago (yikes!)*

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You must be my lucky star 'cause you shine on me wherever you are - madonna

I seriously can't get these lyrics out of my head guys, her new album comes out in July & they keep playing her songs on MTV (do you get that channel? its so cool.. music all the time on tv, this is huge!!!) anyways I think this Madonna chick will just be a one hit wonder, but I really like her right now.

Wendy (my sis) is going to pick me up later, I love riding around in her car.  The looks we get from guys is so funny, they dig it.  We usually just put Heather all the way in the back - no harm in that - I can't get over the gas prices though.. $1.24 really?! I hope they don't stay this high forever!

I think we will head to the mall I really want to get Heather's ears pierced, unless we go to the fair this weekend because they do them there too, over by the animal barn.  Anyways I really want to get an Esprit shirt, a new crimper and maybe a cabbage patch doll for Heather.  Later tonight we have to get home so we don't miss a new episode of Magnum, P.I.. Tom Selleck is like totally sexy!

I did the funniest thing last night when I was bored, I put a bowl over Heathers head and just cut around it.  You guys- bowl cuts are the easiest things to do and I hope when she is old enough she realizes how cute and stylish she was!  Well thats all I've been up too.. tomorrow we are doing a product review for this cool product Hypercolor I guess their shirts are going to be the next big thing, I will let you know how it goes!

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yes my mom loved madonna

yes she put me in the back of that blue pinto (dangerous much?!)

yep gas was cheap

ummm yeah i got my ears pierced at a fair by the animal barn

bowl cut for the win

and i'm a product of the 80s!

NOW ITS YOUR TURN!

Want to share a day in your mom's life, or even share some of her styles? Link up!

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Mani-Monday: orly ombre

Its that time of week again (yay!).  I hope you were able to have an extra day off this weekend for the holiday and take some time to focus on you!  I had about 4 polish changes this week, but only really photographed one. This ombre sorta thing I did with a bunch of clearance Orly polishes I scored on the cheap!  I really was only going to use one color, but loved them all and couldn't make up my mind.

Last week we had so many great link ups and my favorite creative ones were a tie between Anna Delores and Denissa.  However I just had to share this -matching lips & nails- post by Ma Nouvelle Mode! I really adore the way they showed off so many different shades.

Now its your turn to link up with Heather & myself each week (monday-friday the link is open) and share whatever the excuse was to take a break and be pretty.  Don't forget you can also tag #maniparty on twitter or instagram if you want to link up that way too!  

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your mom ____ .

A few days ago I was browsing some mommy blogs (don't worry they were the cool ones so its totally not weird) and I was thinking how fun it must be to basically just document your kids life and share how funny/cute/crazy they are.  It got me thinking- what if our moms had been bloggers?

One tweet out and immediately it led to something fun.  Next Tuesday there is a link up, so get those posts ready.  Some bloggers are writing about their moms style back in the day, some just sharing photos & stories.. mine well I'm writing up a post from my mommas perspective via 1983 (get ready for lots of LOL's).  Have at it, have fun.  Grab a button & join Erika from Rouge & Whimsy and myself.

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Mani-Monday: short & sweet

what? its monday again? well that was the fastest week ever, but its okay because mondays are actually my fav.  i always feel like a fresh start happens on the first day of the week. i love starting new to-do lists, watching himym (dammit for the season finale last week!), oh and mani-monday posts - a weekly link up i co-host with heather to share pretty nails and encourage you to take time for your self when you can.

my natural nails are super fragile, they have always been thin and can easily split.  not to mention i'm a picker.  i call it pick & flick. witty right? well i get overlays on top - basically acrylic painted on - to keep my natural nails super strong, and keep me from snacking like britney spears without a meal. tonight i filed them down and decided on a subtle shade with a pop of color & glitter. (yay for cellphone pics yeah?) =)

i adore seeing the link-ups so much.  not only to spy some pretty pictures & swoon over new shades or old favorites.. but to see you taking time for yourself.  for some its not realistic to do this too often, but i seriously urge you to mark one day each week on your calender for 'me time' and paint those phalanges! then of course link up here & share it with your frannnds.

each week heather and i pick our favorite link-up from the week before (so dont forget to check her post too).  i was loving this pretty polish job that amy did with the ombre set from sephora, the new black.

so before we give you a chance to link up i want to mention that the julep giveaway winner was emily (we emailed you, congrats!).. also if you can't link up you can still join in on the fun by using hashtag #maniparty on instagram and twitter to get our nail loving attention!  don't forget the links are open all week long, so its never to late to join the party.  

GRAB OUR BUTTON TO ATTACH TO YOUR POST!

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Self Portrait Saturday: being comfy in your own skin

My Canadian BFF & business partner started a series a while back called Self Portrait Saturdays.  Basically it's a fabulous way to learn some photo skills, become comfortable with your camera, and even more comfortable with your body.  I will tell you first hand, I'm so not used to taking photos of myself like this! After the challenge I seriously had soooooo much more respect for fashion bloggers and how they look so effortlessly beautiful & confident.  

Me on the other hand... I get silly.  I'm extremely self critical, as I'm not a small girl & I don't pretend to be.  As a model (of my own photo shoot) I feel like I didn't know where to start or what to do.  As a photographer though, I do know one thing and that is -details are just as important- 

Let's talk about how my pinky toes look like they are missing in the above photo.  Yikes there goes the self critiquing again!  Its hard you guys and hitting publish today is very nerve racking for me, but isn't that part of the point of this series?  Learning to be ok in your own skin, learning what looks-angles-lights work best and make you feel most beautiful.  Let's face it, if this is what I have.. I won't have it forever so I might as well be happy where things are sitting =)

If you have been able to see Dana's previous posts she gives some great tips for finding good light, new positions, indoor/outdoor photographs and so much more.  Not only are you learning how you like to photograph yourself, but it will help when photographing others to have new skills & inspiration! 

JOIN US!

- Grab your camera and take some awesome self portraits!

- Create your blog post and insert the Self Portrait Saturday banner into it so others can join in

- Link up your post below!

*Enter your blog post URL not your actual blog URL.
Anyone linking up their actual blogs and not a Self Portrait Saturday post will be removed.*

Don't forget to visit the other participants!

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Thrifting 101: 5 tips for thrifting vintage

Hi, I’m Liz. I blog over at The Blue Eyed Owl, about all things vintage, handmade and my life as mom, wife and indie business owner. I work out of my home studio, run an online vintage and handmade shop, and participate in various local shows and markets.

I am also a self proclaimed thrifting expert. Digging through other people's old junk, or as I call it, treasure hunting, is my favorite activity. I hit my local thrifts regularly looking for unique vintage treasures for my shop and home. I'm constantly asked how the heck I find such great stuff. Here are my top 5 tips for thrifting vintage.

1. Go where the old folks are.

Skip that nice clean Goodwill near that new master planned community and head for the retirement homes! It's pretty simple, older people have older things. A lot of them don't understand why us young folks want all their old junk either, so they happily donate to their local thrift thinking it's worthless.

2. Check condition.

This is especially true for vintage clothing. Inspect seams, look for stains, make sure all the parts are there, and test it out. Take this advice with a grain of salt though, sometimes the best pieces are rusty and chippy.

3. Use that smart phone.

Diamond in the rough or just rough? Do some research right there in the store to determine the history of a vintage piece. You can find out when a piece was made and how much it's worth in just a few minutes with good ol' Google.

4. Find that secret spot.

There are a couple of local thrifts that are my secret spots. They are always chock full of vintage so I know there aren't any other vintage hunters that frequent them. When you find these spots visit them often. Enjoy your gold mine before someone else discovers it. I would tell you mine, but then I'd have to kill you ;)

5. Look EVERYWHERE.

When I visit a thrift I search in every section. Sizes are always mixed up, sheets are with the skirts, seasonal items are buried under tools, etc. Some of my greatest finds have been in the wrong place so dig, dig, dig. I once found an antique hat form buried in a pile of baskets...true story!

The Blue Eyed Owl

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to be good natured

Today I want to introduce you to an adorably sweet & talented sponsor of mine Dani.  She has sponsored before and I adore her cute felted items and LOVE her ceramics.  Recently she asked if she could send me a few goodies ---uh of course!  When the package arrived full of amazing goodies, great branding and seriously thoughtful items I was really excited.  When I saw the mini Arthur she made though.. well I kinda sorta died.

Just going off a few photos she had seen from my blog Dani managed to make a little felt version of him!  His spots, his ears and his under-bite were all there!  A perk of this new little Arthur, he won't shed as much (evidence on the floor in the photo below) and probably won't slobber or eat too much either! Today she is hanging out to share a little bit about what she does & answering a couple business questions.  Enjoy!

Hi there!! I'm Dani!  I live in Missouri with my husband, Brandon, (whom I started dating in junior high!), and our two dogs, three cats and two chickens.  My full time job is a zoo educator.  I take animals to schools, daycares and other facilities and teach people about them.  It's a crazy fun job.  When I'm not at the zoo, I'm either working on projects for my shop, Good Natured, or I'm gardening, biking, reading, hiking, sewing or planning a traveling adventure! 

Good Natured started a little over a year ago after I discovered needle felting.  I found a kit on Etsy and fell in love!  I do a lot of other things also, like pottery and ceramic jewelry, so I opened a shop of my own. My husband helps too--he makes pottery and folds all of those tiny origami shapes for jewelry.  For now, my shop is just a part-time venture, but I'd love for it to grow into something bigger! 

I don't have a blog, but I love to sponsor awesome blogs like JustLove.lyThings to get more exposure than what Etsy can provide.  I also use facebook and pinterest to help market my shop.

What do you love about having a handmade business?  I love creating something special.  I love the time and thought that goes into making art with my hands.  And I really love the handmade community--you guys rock!  I can always find support among all of the amazing people in this community.

What are your favorite things to make?  I love making pin cushions like this one  and this one.  I just recently added my Tea Party Pin Cushion collection, which are made vintage teacups, wool and lace!  And it might be obvious that working with animals has inspired a lot of different felt critters in my shop!  These two are my favorites: here and here.  I also get really excited when customers come to me with custom requests.  Currently, I'm working on wool portraits of a girl's grandparents to give to her grandmother for a gift.  So cool!

Do you have any new items or fun business news in the works for this year?  I'm hoping this year to offer even more woolly variety in my shop.  I'd love to offer my wool critters in little sets, with maybe even some scenic wool playmats to go along!  I'd also love to delve into the world of framed wool pictures.  I have so many ideas, I can't wait to make them all happen!

GOOD NATURED BY DANI
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