Retro Pool Fashions

Pool Party Fashion

Inspired by the Pin-up Era

You may naturally turn to Etsy, the online mecca of all things handmade, when you want an unusual piece of jewelry, but have you considered swimsuit shopping there? Creativity abounds in the Etsy world when it comes to pool fashions. I'm particularly drawn to some of the retro designs. Here are a couple that I've added to my wish list.

The Audrey by Fables by Barrie
Fables by Barrie was born on a perfect sunny day in April 2007, created with the goal to bring super stylish, whimsical, and head turning clothing to gals and their greatest friends.

Skipper top and bottoms by Fables by Barrie
Fables by Barrie is designed, developed, and manufactured in San Diego, California USA and takes pride in being American made and most definitely sweatshop free.

Black Hawaii Printed Vintage Style by Janna Drakeed
Janna is a Swedish designer who creates suits by picking the best from every period to create special up-to- date flattering clothes and accessories.

 Pin-up Vintage Inspired Skirted Suit by Miss Fancypants
Miss Fancpants handmakes retro, pinup and vintage inspired underwear, swimwear, activewear and resortwear. All lovingly handmade by Miss Fancypants herself in Newcastle, NSW, Australia from both new and vintage fabrics.

So many choices! So little summer :(

Photography: Preserving the Fruits of Summer

Fruit Photography

Celebrate the taste of summer all year long.

Expect the unexpected in your photo shoot! Who knew Lucy was a fan of peaches?

Each summer, Mother Nature rewards those of us who have survived a long snowy winter with a host of amazing local fruits; raspberries, blackberries, and the lesser known gooseberry. And while we focus on their taste, they are quite incredible in their beauty as oh-so-temporary art objects.  So before you slice, dice, puree, or just pop them in your mouth, why don't you capture that beauty to remember during the colder months.

Tips for Fruit Photography

1. Get close: Use the macro setting and get in close to capture the most detail. Take lots of photos at different angles.
2. Fresh or prepared: Raw fruit is gorgeous, but your favorite recipe may be a work of art too.
3. Lighting: Morning and evening light work well. Indirect light from a window is also good. Bright light will wash out the detail. And remember: no flash!
4. Get it wet: Freshly washed fruits has lots of water beads to catch the light. Mouthwatering!

photo of a wet peach taken in the light of the kitchen skylight about 5 p.m.

Need a little inspiration?

There is a great inspiration gallery at BetterPhoto.com that you might want to check out. This site has seven full pages of clever fruit and vegetable photos by various photographers.

Art from Magazines

If taking photos isn't your thing, you can still have some great fruit photography in your home. These pieces are framed covers from Gourmet magazine. Gourmet has such delicious photos. The oranges and purples in these ones play perfectly against the dreamsicle and lilac color scheme in my dining room and adjoining living room  

Share your summer photos.

Do you have a great example of some tasty fruit photography or other photography that captures the essence of summer?

Labor Day Weekend Eye Candy

Art Freebie from June

I love art with a sense of humor. Wouldn't this be the perfect graphic for a picnic invite? Too bad I'm not hosting anything. Maybe I'll keep it tucked away for next year.

I found this photo on a lovely blog that I frequent,  Art Freebies, where the author, June, shares images from her vintage collection. June is gracious enough to allow us to choose from an amazing assortment of free vintage images that we can use in our own art even if we plan to sell it.

June also has a sister blog, Dezinaworld, where she offers digital arts sheets for sale and showcases the amazing artwork that her customers create. So if you need something to occupy your time on this long holiday weekend, June has some creative inspiration for you.

Tickling the Muse

Bleeding Heart Necklace Set

The quickest way to come up with an idea is to stop trying to come up with an idea. At least that is how my muse rolls.

When I sit down with a blank sheet of paper to try to come up with new product ideas, the sheet tends to stay pretty blank. When my mind leaves the task, and I allow my thoughts drift toward something pleasurable, the connections start to appear. This necklace is a perfect example.

My garden is most gorgeous during May and June. One of the things that makes it so gorgeous are the mounds of bleeding hearts that trim out the paths. As I sat admiring one this spring, the flowers started to remind me a of dainty charms dangling from a delicate necklace. A product idea was born.

One rainy afternoon, I played around with sculpting flowers like the ones in my garden. They turned out lovely, but I no idea how I wanted to string them. Mind was blank again. It took several weeks and a trip to my Mom's house to rummage through her bead collection for my muse to return.

It took a while for everything to come to fruition, but this bleeding heart necklace and earring set is now finally listed in my store.

Does your muse show up on command, or is she fickle like mine?