Want

Usually I try not to repeat the very popular posts, but I seriously am thinking about getting the personality socks from Chris Ruby for my ugly stool. Since my husband like to drag it around and make loud noises, this not only will give the stool a make over, but silent the damn thing.

Not that pink is my type of color, but ever since MJ's death, I am having a major 80s flash back, so the pink leg warmer brings out all kinds fashion memories, mostly the what was I thinking kind of fashion memories. ha!

via here and here

I heart this

I love paper art and paper used as body decoration is definitely something I had been trying to figure out for a while, with the combination that you can hide yourself behind it, that's just genius in my book.

I can be really awkward in real live social situation (yup, the stereotype of people who hide behind the Internet applies to me, well, to some degree), often time I want to find something I can hide myself in, this is just something I need.

I also love the one on the right where I can create my own little love nest whenever I feel like it. This way, people can look, and sure will look, but they will never know, at least for the top half, they don't know...;P

via

True Words Tuesday

This is just the encouragement I need today, or everyday for that matter.

I found out about the Live Now project by Eric Smith, who was diagnosed with cancer, and he decided to deal with the illness with the "Live Now" thinking.

There are many great encouragement illustrations you can buy as 11" × 17" prints for $19.95.

I shall to, live now, by resting, I am over exhausted which resulted in sore throat, fever and running nose.Sigh...A couple orders is still staring at me from the metal table.

CLC Giveaway - Cable Knit Mug Cozy

Congratulations to Shrimp Salad Circus for winning the adorable giveaway from Umbrellastand last week.

This week we have my good twitter friend Jessica of Wayside Violet sponsoring a cute Pretty Pink Cable Knit Mug Cozy for the coffee and tea (me...) lovers. Even though the summer is here, but the office lady who works in central a/c building knows how cold it can be during summer time indoor. Plus, we always seems to forget (me included) the south half of globe is going through winter time. ;D So this knit mug cozy is always a welcome gift any time. The cozy has two buttons and a space for your mug handle, so thoughtful.

To enter the giveaway, take a look at Wayside Violet and tell us which is your favorite cozy by commenting to this post, you'll need to provide a working email in the comment for contact and valid entry, email linked to profile is also valid.

Also, my dear readers can enjoy free shipping during this giveaway period with the code "Yellow Goat". Use the code in the message to buyer section during checkout. ;D

Entries:

People who help to tweet about this giveaway will get extra entries. 1 entry for each tweet! Add @yellowgoatetsy to your tweets so that I know you help to spread the words and write down your twitter account along with the email in the comment for me to connect the two.

And as a thank you, people who follow this blog (see left column), gain 1 extra entry, if you're already following this blog, you have 2 entries automatically. ;D New followers are always welcome too!

This will end Sat July 4th, 5PM Hong Kong time. Winner will be picked randomly and notified by email.

Now, Click, look, comment and spread the love!

Happy Weekend

I was hoping I can be in this picture now. We were planning for a long weekend with beach and snorkeling, but typhoon Mr. Nangka decided to sort of swing by from the Philippines and brings us some rain drops....-_- So much so for going to this place.

Also, the sad news of MJ, he definitely is a big part of most of us 80s kids' memories. And Farrah too....This just illustrates no matter how brilliant or famous people can be, we're not immortal. Live life the fullest as much as we can.

So I will take a much needed break to prepare for July and August, which I have some plans and a couple projects in mind.

I hope you guys can enjoy your weekend.

photo via

Remember that the Umbrellastand giveaway ends Sat! So if you haven't entered, it's ending soon!

To Blogger,

Please fix the schedule post! Please! I desperately need it to work!

Friday Collective - Etsy Front page pick

If you're not a seller on Etsy, you probably don't know how significant it is to be on the FP, short for Front Page. I was lucky that my headband was chosen recently, and my lovely tweeps gave me a shout out and told me I was on FP, so thank you Jessica G, Jessica B and Angie, but of course I missed it, oh that 15 mins of FP.

While I was trying to capture my own FP, I got carried away by seeing what other FPs have to offer...and I have a few picks. I am always amazed by how many talented people out there and how many beautiful prints, art, painting, dress, pottery, jewelry, accessories, vintage....

Click on the image to their respective products listing. ;D Enjoy.

Artist Interview - Nina van de goor

If you haven't noticed Ninainvorm before, I am glad you landed here, because Nina is so kind to be this week's artist interview (and very quickly replying with answers!) Nina is a student (though I mess up her studying subject, sorry. ;P) from the magical place (in my mind) called Netherlands, her home and her ceramic is too gorgeous to find words to describe, they were featured by the fame Apartment Therapy, Decor 8, Design*Sponge and many others.

To me, she's the kind of super woman I want to become - great interior decorator, vintage collector, handmade artist working with many different mediums, not to mention, keeping a great blog too....I really have to whip my procrastinating behind.

So, here's Nina, answering a few questions.

I love your ceramic pieces, and they really are making me happy every time I see them, how did you come around starting to do ceramic?

I think I've always had a love for beautiful crockery and tableware. When I went living on my own at age 18, I started buying nice colorful tableware, especially bowls. At age 20 I already had huge piles of beautiful bowls... I developed a love for vintage crockery, especially 1950s (Scandinavian) stuff, and after a time of collecting I had so many ideas that I wanted to make my own. That was quite a journey, cause I had no idea how to get started with the kind of stuff I had in mind. After a few years of trying different things, I finally found a course where they could teach me how to make my own ceramics in series, and how to screen print the decorations.



Other than ceramic, I see that you also do beautiful clothing, collage, go to school, decorate a beautiful home and involved in local politics...I have the same 24/7 as you do, but I don't think I can do this much work, how do you keep your schedule and balance?

Oh that's a good one! I guess I just don't have balance and a schedule... I'm just always running behind and wanting more than I can do! So there are quite a few things that I neglect a bit, like housekeeping, and some other things, such as my university education, suffer from some delay. I feel that when you really like things, you have a lot of energy for them, but of course that also means that you have less energy left for the things you don't like. That's sometimes a struggle. I often have a lot of creative energy late at night, so then I stay up late to work on all my projects. Which isn't always so great in the morning...



I know you're very into vintage, particular the mid-century period, any particular artist that gives you most inspirations?

I particularly love the ceramic designs from Stig Lindberg and Eva Zeisel, but of course people like Charles And Ray Eames and Arne Jacobsen are also super inspiring.



Your home is absolutely picture perfect, how much time did you spend on decorating it?

Thank you! It's hard to say how much time I've spent on decorating it, cause it's an ongoing process and I regularly make changes. But in general we spent about a month full time on renovating the apartment before we moved in, and then it took us a few months till everything was in it's right place. But I always make little changes: at least once a week some things move to another place (though mainly small things!)




Any tips for us who're trying to decorate a small apartment?

That's hard to say... Probably: don't put too much furniture in a small space, but that's easier said than done when you like furniture as much as I do ;). I've tried to keep the basis of the apartment simple: mainly white walls and a simple wooden floor. When you have a simple basis, you can easily add beautiful accents with art, furniture or a bit of beautiful wallpaper. So I guess that's my tip: keep the basis simple, and then add a lot of loveliness!


I envy that you lives in Netherlands where there are countless vintage furniture and thrift stores, can you introduce us to your favorite ones?

I mainly visit the large thrift/recycling/charity shops in my city and sometimes in other cities close to mine. This is a website where you can find links to all thrift shops in the Netherlands: http://kringloopwinkel.startpagina.nl/


You said that your childhood dream was to be famous. Even though you're not movie star famous now, but you're sort of "that cool artist" kind of famous, so you think you are going to fulfill that dream?

Wow, I'm impressed you already have learnt so much about me, like that as a kid I wanted to be famous... ;) Well, that was a bit of a joke, I think at a certain age every kid wants to be famous, but it never was a very serious goal in my life... I don't feel like I'm famous in any way, and actually I wouldn't want to be cause usually I don't really like to be the centre of attention. So as a person I really don't need to be famous, but of course I'm really happy when my blog and work receive attention and are a success. In the end it's all about being able to do what you want to do.


Besides wanting to be famous, what other dreams you had when you're a kid?

Oh I don't know, I guess I wanted to be a writer and a fashion designer... And meanwhile saving the world! ;)


You're studying interior design, so when you get out of school, do you plan to pursue interior design for full time?

No, unfortunately I'm not studying interior design (I wish I did, I would like that!), but I'm studying Humanistics at university, so that's something completely different. I have no idea what I will be doing after graduating, I hope I can keep doing creative stuff in some way. Maybe a combination of writing/making/styling things, I haven't figured out exactly but I would love that.


You mentioned that you're "Blogger who artist", and your design style has evolved with you through the years of blogging. How did blogging help you progress?

Oh, a lot! Being part of the blogging community is on the one hand an enormous source of inspiration, cause you constantly see so much great work of other artists, while on the other hand it's a community and audience that stimulates you to keep going, come with new ideas and show your work. I wouldn't even be close to where I am now if I hadn't been blogging, I'm pretty sure about that. On the other hands blogging can sometimes also be a burden. Frequent updating takes a lot of time and sometimes you're insecure: is it a good blog, do people like it, how to stand out in the crowd? It can be a lot of work and a little addictive, sometimes it's good to have a day off!



How was your trip to Marrakech? It is one of the top 10 places I want to visit, and nearly did, for my honeymoon. ;P Please tell me about it! Pleeeease.

It's so funny that Marrakech seems to be on top of so many people's 'must-visit-list'! I never realized that: actually it was my boyfriend who really wanted to go there after he'd been to Morocco before. Well, Marrackech is a feast for the eye: so many colors, patterns and a constant stimulation of all your senses. It's beautiful and to me it really felt like a trip to another world and another time (it felt almost medieval). But at times the city and the people also drove me crazy: the stimulation can be a bit too much. But then there also were beautiful calm places, such as the Majorelle Gardens or the riad that we stayed in where we could relax. Oh, and you can also do great shopping in Marrakech!




Did you get any inspiration from your trip?

Definitely! The colors, the patterns... they all kept lingering in my head for a while. And I seriously considered starting a business importing beautiful leather bags, pouffes, scarves, slippers... That would be great, but I have no idea how to start something like that! (and I'm already busy enough! ;))


I'd love to own a couple of your ceramic pieces, but shipping to Hong Kong can be expensive. You said you want to scale up and put your work in stores, will your pieces come here anytime soon?

Yeah, that shipping thing bothers me too: I wish it was cheaper, but unfortunately I haven't found a way to ship cheaper so far. In the end, I would love to sell more to shops, but right now I still don't have the capacity to produce for more than just my own shop. My work will soon be sold in another shop in the Netherlands and I've had requests from other countries as well, but so far I just haven't found a way to produce more than I do right now. Maybe, maybe in a near future...



Most of the artists I interviewed here want to be a bird if they can be an animal, how about you?

Oh, then I have to come up with something more original... I once did some snorkeling in a beautiful coral reef, and the fish I saw there seemed so happy and at ease (and they were beautiful as well). So I'd love to be a colorful fish in that beautiful blue sea (though in a protected reef please... ;))


Apart from making things, creating and designing, what do you do for fun?

Hmm... that's mainly what I do for fun... But I also like to go out to a bar or restaurant, play board games, read books or magazines, go on holidays, go to flea markets... I never have enough time for all the things that I like to do for fun!


Any special plan for the future?

Finally finish my thesis and then trying to find/create a job for myself, so that I can start making some more money, preferably in a pleasant way! ;)

all picture via Nina's flickr & blog

Cute

I wonder if we can look at everything online with the 3D glasses and make them pop. That'd make a great video, imaging scenes from around the world with everybody wearing the funky 3D glasses staring at their monitor. ;D

My first experience with it was in LA Disney with the Michael Jackson show. Wow, like nearly 20 years ago. Time does fly.

Consumption Wednesday

My lovelies, I am sorry that I don't have as much updates here as I have last week, after the D*S feature, I am swamped by quite an amount of orders. So I am pretty much at my metal table all day and all night long, till my arm hurts.

Even so, I am glad that I made some consumption for the past weekend, so I can share it with you. ;D

1. This is an IKEA bedding set, I love the new ones they have, but this set is much cheaper, so I bought one home. Simple pattern, nice and subtle and I love the feeling of new pillow cover.

2. Remember those Japanese color masking tapes that were going a big round in all the blogs? They are now available here in Hong Kong! Without the shipping cost, these are still on the higher end of my stationary budgets, but my husband let me brought them after some begging. This polka dots tapes set...ooooooooOOOO.....aaaaahhhhhhh.

3. I was going crazy at the tapes and getting some strange looks thrown at me, right behind the rack I found this really cute mouse pad from Korea. I recently brought a mouse for my laptop, I know, it's weird, but prolong usage of the laptop mouse thingy pain my thumb. So this mouse pad is just too cute and too "right on time". The package has their website , and they have all sort of loveliness going on there...just have to share some in the photo below. Those scrap books....I place them on my wish list, not that I need any pretty scrap book, but.....they are pretty, please tell Mr. Fung I can have them.....

What have you bought lately? Care to share with me?

True words Tuesday

I found these two quotes just fit each other perfectly. There are always setbacks in life, but sometimes, you just need to keep trying, fearlessly. I know I am best when I just let go of the voice in my head that's telling me I can't.

You'd be surprised, how much tears were shed for making my first "perfect match" necklace.

via

CLC Giveaway - Umbrellastand

Congratulations to Jojobean for winning the vintage scarf last week. This week is a giveaway of a lovely Floral Bouquet necklace from the cute Umbrellastand. Melissa, the 16 year old behind the shop is the sweetest girl who's hoping the shop can help out on her college tuition. That's something so darling and rare from a teenage girl these days. She deserves lots of virtue kisses. When I was 16, I was really just clueless about everything, let alone planning ahead for my future.

Apart from the necklace you can win, Melissa is also offering a 10% off to Yellowgoat readers along with the free shipping that's going on in the shop. Make purchase from today till July 10th and place the code "loveyellow" in the message to seller during check out and wait for a revised PayPal invoice.

To enter the giveaway, take a look at Umbrellastand and tell us "what kind of outfit you will wear with the Floral Bouquet Necklace" by commenting to this post, you'll need to provide a working email in the comment for contact and valid entry, email linked to profile is also valid.

Entries:

People who help to tweet about this giveaway will get extra entries. 1 entry for each tweet! Add @yellowgoatetsy to your tweets so that I know you help to spread the words and write down your twitter account along with the email in the comment for me to connect the two.

And as a thank you, people who follow this blog (see left column), gain 1 extra entry, if you're already following this blog, you have 2 entries automatically. ;D New followers are always welcome too!

This will end Sat June 27th, 5PM Hong Kong time. Winner will be picked randomly and notified by email.

Click, look, comment, spread the love and enjoy the discount!

Happy Weekend

I wish you all a Happy Happy Weekends, and if you have a great father, treasure him, give him some love on Father's Day.

Great loving father is a rare gem.

photo by Josh Goleman found via

A Zillion Wows and a Gazillion Thank you

D*S features my pieces after a tip from the lovely A'duria over twitter. I have to say, Wowwwwww, and Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaank you! I was really rubbing my eyes to make sure, since I am now still sleepy and short of caffeine.

Cute.

I stumbled upon this set of really cute vintage collage. This is the perfect mix for my love of vintage illustrations and reading. Unfortunately, I am still half way through Black Swan, after like, nearly a year....I am sorry NNT, I love your book, it's just I got distracted, especially with my google reader and my jewelry saw, and sometimes, you're really hard to understand. ;P

via

New Addition

This was actually the first idea of my feel good series. It's been sitting with me for nearly 3 months. The main reason was that my sweet husband doesn't "feel" it. So I put it off, but my mind has been coming back to it again and again, and sometimes as the creator, I have to trust my own hunch. I like it.

So here it is. This is a silver price tag and the "retail suggested price" is "I AM PRICELESS". This made me happy, whenever I was down, I wore this. (This I made it for another one for myself, after being dissed by my hubby)
Feel good, it is. (yellow yoda talking here)

Complete with a hand drawn bar code. ;P Listed here.

Friday Collective - Flickr fav of the week

I was addicted to flickr for two days and adding fav left and right at random, then I look at it, it looks pretty good as a collection. ;D May be the yellow is a bit out of place here, but I can't help it! So many talents out there, so little time....

From top to bottom, left to right:

1. touch, 6 of 7, 2. J U B I L E E, 3. Smore Cupcake, 4. free, 7 of 7, 5. beginnings of an offering, 6. balloons by the sea, 7. I am at the seaside, 8. Intrusion, 9. The First Step Is Always The Hardest, 10. "desert angels would have skin like moonlight ghost gums. they would have silver eyes and dirty feet., 11. dish wall, 12. summer, 13. kg & ab, 14. Tara Donovan, 15. Lola, 16. “Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.”

I heart this

Tree Houses or Houses Tree? By Wannes Goetschalckx Exhibition: Bosman Goetschalckx Lut

via

For myself

Being a jewelry designer and maker can be a blessing and a curse, I made pieces I love but they all got sent to my lovely customers, so I rarely have the indulgence to make something for my own. From time to time, I keep a couple simple things for myself, but you won't see me walking on the street with a perfect match on my neck. I've been thinking about making one for myself, but it takes loads and loads of time to make one, so I always drag it.

When I first started out, a friend asked me if I can do any Zodiac thing, but I thought that Zodiac is an old and over done topic as jewelry, it's hard to come up with ways to say anything new, let alone interesting.

But a while back, I was inspired by the zodiac constellations, and made this one for myself. I don't know how I missed to post about it. ;P So, the only pieces you will see me walking around with is probably this, and my yellowgoat logo pendant.
I always consider myself a stay to the core Aquarian, moody, unpredictable, full of silly ideas and most obviously, love being a bit different.

Coco Avant Chanel

I got around to watch "Coco avant Chanel", and it's really inspiring. The greatest bit about the movie was that Coco, was poor, and she became ultra stylish because she cut up man's suit and being different from the overly froufrou women of that time. Flash to now, Chanel unfortunately can be too "froufrou" for my taste and not to mention, too expensive for me to even consider.

Never really a fashionista into brand names myself, but I do have a few fav.

These are my three outfits love form the movie. To achieve the look, I should be raiding my husband's closet, but my sweet won't let me utilize his only suit.

So I have to drool over the Stella McCartney man suit and the black dress. The only thing I think I can afford is the sailor top from Urban outfitters. As for the hat, I found out about Truffaux a few days ago, handmade hat from Australia. Love.

On the side note, every time I watched a French movie, I want to learn to speak French. It's been on my to do list since...hm...high school, but I am still trying to master English and Chinese...

movie images via

Consumption Wednesday

I always have soft spot for pretty pottery pieces, and these two just made me smile.

Top: I am a whale kind of girl, if you ever ask me what kind of animal I want to be, that'll be whale. The lure of swimming in deep seawater.... Whale Salt and pepper by Jonathan Adler $48. There is also a range of very cute salt and pepper pieces.

Bottom: My small apartment always has a little extra room for a small cute vase. This pear shape one from Noun is just perfect. ;D $14.

cute.

Colorfully silly. ;D

via

Love Photography

I was clicking through my marked items and discover and rediscover two Zs. Zena Holloway, top and Zhang Jingna, bottom. Just love.

I wonder if Zena does wedding photography, it'd be very dreamy with a long layered wedding dress...but then, of course, you need to be able to hold your breath.

Kindred Summer 09

If you haven't heard already, Ez and Holly of Creature Comforts and Decor8 rolled out a the summer project together call Kindred. Featuring different artists with a free downloadable wallpapers. How very cute.

Head over for your summer desktop eyecandy. ;D

Nostalgic

These 2 illustrations remind me of my school days. I was never the cool kid and never felt I can fit in. I can so feel the crying pentagon. And the Rubik's Cube...oh how my brain lacked some special brain cells to figure it out, and still can't, but these days, you can get some tutorial on youtube, I wish I have time to sit through it, and solve this vexing color cube once and for all.

The 80s, not my best decade.

via here and here

True words Tuesday Chalkboard wisdom

Life and age, all still a big mystery to me. Lately, I feel like I am 3 most of the time. ;D That should be a good thing? I hope.

via here & here

Cute.

Cute kitties from Italy. I am in love with the one with the gentleman hat. If you understand Italian, please check out the blog and tell me where to buy them.

CLC Giveaway Exclusive from JessJamesJake

Hello Lovelies, and welcome all the new subscribers and followers! It's Monday and we have another round of weekly giveaway.

Don't you just love the sheer polka dot scarf and the beauty in the above picture? This is an Exclusive vintage scarf from the generous JessJamesJake and it's up for you to win it.

A little description from Jess James:

Lovely mod 60's polka dot scarf, with fun color combo of brown, gold, saffron, navy blue, and teal! Square shape, measuring 25" long by 24" wide.

In great vintage condition, with only minor sign of age. It's very delicate, and still has lots of life left in it. For the vintage-loving lady, who knows a cute polka dot when she sees one!

So head over to her shop, name your favorite vintage piece by commenting to this post, you'll need to provide a working email in the comment for contact and valid entry.

Entries:

People who help to tweet about this giveaway will get extra entries. 1 entry for each tweet! Add @yellowgoatetsy to your tweets so that I know you help to spread the words and write down your twitter account along with the email in the comment for me to connect the two.

And as a thank you, people who follow this blog (see left column), gain 1 extra entry, if you're already following this blog, you have 2 entries automatically. ;D New followers are always welcome too!

This will end Sat June 20th, 8PM Hong Kong time. Winner will be picked randomly and notify by email.

Now, click, look, comment and spread the love.

I told you yesterday I brought some new sun dresses ready for some summer beach time, and right after I brought it, the sky started pouring down water...

So, if you wake up to a rainy day, but want to feel like you're enjoying the beach, here's my recipe:

Things you need:

1. Bathing suit

2. Your favorite sundress.

3. Beach Props. (goggle, hat, sunglasses...)

To do:

Put on your bathing suit and sun dress, go to the bathroom and get your hair wet, walk around the house all day long in this outfit.

Result:

Feel like a beach holiday on a rainy day. Invite your housemates or love ones to join you, make a party out of it. ;D

Made me happy. I wish you a happy weekend! Don't let the weather control you.

Also, if you haven't already, last chance to enter the giveaway from mumbreeze

Happy mail

My lovely Yellowgoat friends, do you find anything familiar in the above picture? ;P

I am so happy when I checked my mailbox today. I found the latest July issue of UK's Photo Pro Magazine in it, and my Good Time Ring is on page 18. ;D

The lovely Charlotte, editor of the magazine contacted me some weeks ago about this little feature, I send over the pictures, and didn't think too much about it, but when I saw it for real, I was just too happy and did a little dance in the lobby mail room, and of course, I got some looks and stares, but I really didn't care. Besides, performing silly dance move in public is part of my thing.

The magazine is really great too, pack with lots of photo tips and I learned a few "pro" tips. Hopefullly it can help to improve my photo taking skills.

Friday Collective - For the love of summer Tee

I am a white tee kind of person, and usually layered on with long necklaces or some floral accessories I made myself. This set is so cute, make me want to go out and buy some fab tee for the summer. Click image for the larger version.

scan from Spur June issue.

Cute.

I am loving this set from recovering lazyholic named need to want less. I should really discover this before I went out and brought a brunch of clothings this past Wed...I have, 2 closets of clothing and then some...but the lure of cheap sun dresses is too hard to resist.

I heart this

I've been search for a simple and colorful laptop bag, and The napbook is so cute and they can use as a pillow when you get tired form Internet browsing. ;D Check out product designer Hafsteinn Juliusson's site and his other projects, there are some nice ideas going on.

via

Yellowgoat Sponsor

Today's sponsor is Rosie Goa. She's from a special romantic place we call France. She's a long time reader here, and I am so very grateful that she decided to sponsor my blog. She makes very cute clothing for kids and babies. I am thinking a couple dresses for my niece so I can be the cool auntie getting her a dress from France. I hope the color can cheer her up, she's always too shy and need at least an hour to warm up to people. Visit Rosie's shop and say hi.

Artist Interview - Abby Try Again

There's really no way you don't know about Abby Try Again already, her blog is on tons of blogroll and her photography was featured in many many major blogs. Her photo prints are like a still life show of her daily life, and all in really beautiful color and a luring mood. Her photos feel like they're telling you a story but with simple subjects from everyday life, like a pair of rain boots, a bowl of eggs, a camera, an assortment of of vegetables...



She didn't started out as a photographer, if you visit her blog from way back, the younger Abby was just trying to find her footing together with her husband James. She fell in love with photography and decided to pursue it, and I sure am glad she did, because her photos makes me happy. They are a delightful treat to the eyes. So here's Abby from Portland, answering a few questions from this curious admirer.

How did you come to decide to become a photographer?

The whole thing just sort of happened. I love to photograph things and do it every day and then one day I guess I realized that I was doing an all right job of it. There wasn't a moment in time where it became apparent that I can remember...

What sort of cameras do you use?

I shoot mostly in film. My main camera is a broken Yashica tl-electro. I also use a Polaroid One Step, several Polaroid Automatic land cameras, and sometimes a holga. I also have some very old medium format cameras I play around with. But 97% of my shots come from that Yashica.



You take pictures with simple subjects, when view together, they look like a diary of things in your life. So, how do you come to decide the subjects of you photo? Do you plan them all out, or they just happen?

I just try to take photos of things that are in my life. I try not to "pose" them if I can help it. Some of my photos do come from shoots as I have shot professionally for some boutiques-but most of them are of things in my life.




Your photos all have a very consistent mood and tone, do you have special process with your photos? Or tweak them digitally?

I try to never tweak them digitally. I feel like I'm drawn to certain colors and certain times of the day to shoot. The overcast light here in Portland is a photographer's dream! Also, I'm showing the photos that I like-there are stacks and stacks I'm not sharing :)


I find it quite hard to find subjects for photography, is it hard to come up new things after you've been doing it for some years?

Yup! I often shoot the same things-flowers, food, dresses...it feels old and sometimes I get down on my self but I just try to keep on shooting through it.




You said you get married at 21, that's incredible, can you tell us a little about that?

Oh, that is a long story! So many things go into it-let's just say I wouldn't recommend it for anyone but I have lived an odd life and it worked perfectly for me! My husband is my best friend and though it often feels funny to have been married so young I am happy it's worked so well.




I read that you like to go to sleep by watching a documentary with your husband, what sort of documentary are you into? Can you name one favorite?

Oh all sorts of them! I really love any sort of thing about history...I especially love learning about American history in the early 1900's up to present day. I really love learning about the dust bowl era since my family lived through it. But really I will watch anything about history in general!


Are you inspired by the documentaries in any way?

Yes, all of the time! I was a journalism student and love documenting things.


Being a full time online shop owner and blogger can means very long hours, how about you?

Yes! I also work a day job :D But, I am a total geek so it works for me.


I read your old blog a little bit, it looks nothing like what you have right now, how have you charged from the old Abby try again to the current Abby try again?

Well, I guess that's what four years will do! Oh, well it's my journal so I guess it changed and grew right along with me. I was 22 I think when I started and now I'm 27 and those were some very formative years, I guess.

Your blog link to your big cartel shop, but you also have an etsy shop, what's the difference between the two shop hosting services?

I'd say almost all of my business is at bigcartel. The etsy shop I keep just in case some one is looking for me on there. I feel etsy is awesome and I loved using it years ago, but I like the freedom of big cartel.


I heard Portland has some great thrift shops, and I know you frequent them. Any recommendations?

Oh, there are so many good ones. I love "Fringe Vintage" and all of the "Goodwill" stores.




What do you usually look for in thrift shops?

I generally have a list of things I need. Right now I'm taking a bit of a break and trying to save money.


Since we're on the topic of shopping, anything that's been on your wish list forever but have yet to buy?

I am always looking for vintage pendelton blankets but haven't found any reasonable ones yet.


What's up in the future for you, any particular plan?

James (my husband) will finish school and after that I am going to try and pursue this photo thing a bit more. We'll see what actually happens.

photo via abby's flickr photostream