Etsy Artist Shoutout = tastesorangey

Undercover

So Cozy

tastesorangey is a shop created by Clare Elsaesser of Bodega Bay, CA. Most of her paintings show people wrapped up in sheets, squeezing pillows, sitting with ruffled hair. They are so simple yet each one manages to convey something I relate to. She adds a nice touch by stitching the prints onto paper for easy framing. 

In a Nutshell

In October of 2009 I left my job in downtown LA for one closer to home on the west side. Although I am happy with this decision, downtown was amazing and it took leaving to realize the experience of working there was the catalyst for my passion for photography. The commute, as agonizing and time consuming as it sometimes seemed, was the perfect introduction to the city for a newcomer. In one day I would travel by foot and bus from the beach community of Santa Monica and hour east to central Los Angeles. It forced me to pass through parts of the city I wouldn't have seen otherwise. At the loneliest time in my life, I would find myself surrounded by strangers in a bustling urban environment and swimming in my own thoughts. I was forced to look outward to the streets, the people, the culture, the architecture. Slowly I fell in love with the city passing by. In April of 2009 I got an iPhone, and in June I started using the camera, my only camera, to take pictures of what I saw. What followed was the creation of a sort of photo journal I called "In a Nutshell". I just took pictures of everything I saw, everywhere I went, and tried to capture the essence of each moment. This effort was incredibly meaningful to me, and was extremely well received by my family and friends that were featured in many "Nutshells" as we began to affectionately call them.  I attempted to keep track of it in a blog format, but really that wasn't the point for me. At the time I didn't have anything to say. My feelings were too raw, and the images helped translate my experiences into something that I could share. I posted them on Facebook and created a portfolio on Carbonmade and left them alone. As things go, my life started to grow in different directions and the Nutshells dwindled over Spring. That doesn't mean they have lost any meaning to me. Recently, I have thought about taking new Nutshells even though it wouldn't be as constant as before, or incorporating them into this blog, or perhaps creating an Etsy shop of my favorite Nusthells. I don't know if they make sense in my current shop, or if I should make another one all together (Titled "In a Nutshell")?? Hmm...I don't know. Anyways, I will work on making up some prints this weekend and see how they look....

Septober - Treasury on Etsy!



Septober is the best time of year



Chair #2 was featured in a fun treasury here by AdeleBeeAnn recently which was incredibly flattering as well as a lovely introduction to the treasury feature of Etsy. At the heart of the treasury is people who love to curate lists. Often it's favorites grouped into interesting categories (seasons, colors, materials). I imagine it is a challenging yet fun experience, a unique blend of window shopping and artistic expression. It's also a great way to support other sellers and network within the Etsy community. I'm inspired to make my own treasury now! I'm loving the current change of seasons and might create a list of all things cozy...I would probably start with these fabulous mugs from the AdeleBeeAnn shop. They have me thinking of hot chocolate and cozy winter days :)



1967 Happy Hippy Handmade Bennington Pottery Mugs

Chair #1 Featured in Moncy3!

Thanks to Claudia for featuring my chair on her blog Moncy3!!! She's dreaming of my chair in her studio. That's what I do people...make dreams into reality. That is a joke. But seriously, it's awesome that someone is wishing for something I made...even more motivation to get working on #2 this weekend.

I love this card I found in her Etsy shop. Pretty mail is her business and I love me some pretty mail. I could give it to Eric in my ongoing plot to relocate him to LA....also a joke...kinda :)

P.S. Welcome to Blush

So clearly this is the new blog home of BlushVintageRevival (also on Etsy!). Maybe that should have been my first post...oh well. I hope I chose a name that explains my mission and portrays my individual style. I did play with a lot of ideas and create some mock-ups to get opinions on the matter (thanks friends!). Ultimately, when I think of my personal style I think of my little garden, of pink walls and white sheets, ballet flats and fresh cut flowers. I also think of freckles, my little dog, hazy days at the beach and the thick books that I keep as treasured possessions.

In the process of pinning down a concept most true to myself, it reminded me of when I moved to LA a few years ago and set out to make my humble apartment a home. I had only what fit in my car so naturally the first step was finding furniture I could afford and painting the walls, but I just couldn't decide on a color or general vibe. I carried around this page I cut out from Elle Decor magazine for a while...it was a bedroom with grey blue walls and modern mirrored furniture. It seemed like what I should aspire to as a grown woman. I went to a local furniture store and whipped out the picture thinking it would somehow explain my personal style. This woman, who I had never met before, just looks at me and says "You don't want that. What do you really want? Pick what will make you happy everyday when you open your eyes." I was taken aback by the simplicity of the advice, and those words still ring in my mind to this day. That day I bought my first piece of vintage furniture, my dresser, I painted my walls pink and I never looked back. 

I intend on using the same instinct when it comes to Blush. I'm committed to bringing beautiful vintage pieces and more to all the other lasses out there who have grown up but never grown out of loving pretty things :)