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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

June Giveaway Winners

Once again my monthly giveaway was a huge success! Thank you to everyone the commented for their chance to win!

Here are the winners...

First Prize winner: Aik
Choose ANY mouse from
my store* worth up to $40

Second Prize winner: indigohorse
Choose ANY mouse from
my store* worth up to $35

3rd, 4th and 5th Prize winners:
LindaGJ Mealy Monster Land and sheryan
Both sets of Star Wars Mice pins

Congratulations to everyone who won! Sorry if you are not one of them, there is a new chance to win tomorrow in the July Giveaway!

*My store is closed for the next week due to refurbishments going on at home, so Aik and Indigohorse can choose their mice when I reopen.

Monday, June 29, 2009

More redecoration photos

Over the last coupe of weeks we have been working so hard redecorating our home. It is still not complete, but we are very close to being done now. I thought I would share some more photos with you...

The dark skirting looks a bit weird right now, but it will work with our red carpet when it is down.

we have finished plastering, painting and putting the skirting in all 3 rooms on the middle floor. We replaced the horrible stone windowsills with real wooden ones, they look so pretty! We also repainted all the windowframes and woodwork in the hall, a huge job, but it looks so much cleaner now.

Today the carpet arrives, it will take them 2 days to fit it all on 2 staircases, a hall and 2 main bedrooms. I know it is going to feel like a new house when they are done! I also can't wait to unpack all of our stuff, we are fed up with living in a loft room with no wardrobes!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Redecoration Photos

I promised you photos and here they are. We have started work on 2 rooms at once, the master bedroom and a small box room that we use for all our computers (when you are married to a computer geek you need a whole room for them)

Here is our bedroom before we started work on it. We had very dark red walls on all 4 sides, blond parquet flooring and an imposing wardrobe... egh! I love the red on the walls, but there was too much of it.




So we stripped off the remaining wallpaper, pulled up the parquet flooring and carpet that was underneath it. We primed the walls and then plastered the lot. Plastering is so messy but the result looks great. We also boxed in the pipes for the radiator. In Holland they just leave the pipes showing in this kind of house, but being British I can't stand them so they had to be hidden away.


We painted 3 of the walls in a beautiful cream and one wall is back to being red again. I love a little drama in the bedroom ;) It will look less overpowering when it is broken up with furniture and things on the wall.

I hope you enjoyed a the little tour around our home, more photos for you soon.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Redecorations

I must apologize for neglecting my blog the last few days. We started renovating our home again, this time the entire middle floor (3 bedrooms, a bathroom and the hallway) I have been elbow deep in a mixture of dust, plaster and paint. We are completely exhausted by the end of the day. I have taken some photos as we go, so I will show some to you tomorrow. We still have at least another 2 weeks work to go!

Anyway, it is time for my Tuesday Selection! Appropriately on the theme of housewares this time. Maybe they will put you in the mood for some decorating too.

by DecorDesigns

moss terrarium No. 146
by madebymavis


three tier candle holder solid mahogany
by wudshapr


Modern Ink Blot Floral Print quilt in Red/Orange
by Dahlush


Crazy Pink Whatnot Bowls - Set of 5
by missyandme


Free Ship- Sunset Facecloths
by rebeccajay

Would you like to be featured on my blog?
Just leave a comment and tell me
which of these items you like the most.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Yay! Front Page


Thank you so much to JKphotography for including me in her beautiful treasury which got featured on the front page today.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Unwritten

I have a selection of sketchbooks on a shelf, as a means
To store my recollections, collections of ideas, my dreams

Undeniably perfect are the pages of a new book
The fresh, clean and unspoiled space
Holding untold potential for what one might write
To draw a thought that I don't wish to misplace

The touch and feel of a book,
Hard back, paperback, pink, brown or black
Leather bound or fabric covered,
It is the food for my mind for the poetic mood
Of artistry and mystery to be discovered

My sketchbooks have been filled over the years
With art on transition, cognition, ambition and fears
They are my visual diaries of thoughts unconfined
Friends who never judge, desert or condescend
Who always help me find ways to mend
My messed up head and over-thinking mind

And though my ideas that were so clear when they were wrote
on second reading become cluttered scribbled notes
I will keep building my collection of books up through the ages
And leaving my mark upon their pages

Poem by me

Vintage Leather Journal, The Magic Book
by TeoStudio


Birds on a Wire, Leather Journal, Suede
by Kreativlink


Old Style Cord Bound Book
by KarleighJae


Reptilian Steampunk
by AwakenJournaling


Fabric Covered Journal - Navy Blue Toile
by LifeStoriesBooks


peba armadillo book
by grimm

Monday, June 8, 2009

OMG, I won!


Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me in the Etsy Wedding cake topper vote! I am so happy to tell you that my Mr and Mrs Mouse won! There was some very stiff competition from some really beautiful wedding toppers, I am very surprised to have taken first place.

Read the Etsy write-up about it by clicking HERE

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Artist Interview - We've Got Paper

This weeks featured artist is We've Got Paper, Julie's shop makes me want to get out an old fashioned pen and paper and write a letter to someone special. Not only are is her letter sets beautiful and her photographs stunning, but she is such a sweet and bubbly personality too.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hello, bonjour! My name is Julie Trévily-Pigeon and I’m a 29 year old mom, stationery designer and sushi addict. I live in Québec, Canada and I speak French. I have a 4 year old son named Louis-Justin who says the most adorable things. He’s witty and creative, like his mom!

I had my first penpal when I was 7 years old. My friend moved away and we started writing to each other. We thought that our letters were fabulous, but looking back I can say that they were rather short and boring!

A few years later, I started writing letters more seriously to people around the world that I met through various penpal clubs. I was also introduced to friendship books, slams and decos. I was into swapping for years, but in the end I decided to focus solely on letter writing.

I love my "real life" friends, the ones I can meet face to face on a regular basis, but penpals have a special place in my heart. It’s magical to find a handwritten letter in your mailbox, to read about someone’s dreams, hopes, goals, fears and rituals…

I currently have about 15 penpals and I’m pretty close to most of them. Some of them I’ve been writing to for less than a year, one of them I’ve known for over 17 years! And I even met 3 of them! (One who lives in Canada, one in Belgium and one in Brazil.)

About two years ago, I decided to combine my love of penpalling with my love of paper and I started designing letter sets. I’m always happy when people buy stationery from me because it means that the art of letter writing is not dead! A lot of people prefer email because it’s faster, but there are still a lot of us who write letters the old-fashioned way.

Other than crafting what else do you do?
I write letters, eat sushi, spend time with my son (we’re going to start homeschooling soon), watch movies and series, listen to music and sing along (mostly off key), go on picnics with friends, take photos, invent new words, think about stationery, talk about stationery, dream about stationery, spend time with my boyfriend (not necessarily in that order).

Have you always been an artist?
I’ve always been interested in art. I see beauty everywhere : nature, words, music, movies, artists inspire me.

When I was younger, I used to write short stories (in French) and I played the trumpet in high school. I’ve always admired artists who could draw or paint but I unfortunately have no talent whatsoever in that area. So for my stationery, I mostly use photos that I take and artwork that I especially like. I love to support artists and am happy to feature their illustrations on my letter sets.

Tell us a bit about your creative process.
I mostly work in front of my computer in my bedroom while listening to music. (You can see what I listen to on Last.fm

I design most of my letter sets in Photoshop, but I like textures too so I sometimes start with real paper and finish with Photoshop, which is what I did with my Pinup Notecards.

Where did you learn your craft? Are you self taught?
I am! At first, my son’s dad (who I’m still excellent friends with even though we've been separated for over 2 and a half years) showed me the basics of Photoshop. I had no background in design, no knowledge about it, but when I have something in mind, don’t try to stop me! I wanted to make letter sets so I found how. My designs are simple, but I’m proud of the fact that I learned everything by myself.

Which of your creations is your favourite?
I love Swirly Ivy because it was one of the first letter sets that I designed. I didn’t have a lot of experience with Photoshop then, so it took me hours to get it to look exactly like what I had in mind. It also is a best seller in my shop, so it seems that I’m not the only one who likes it!


I also love my Cherry Grocery List… And my Panda Girl letter set / notepad and pen set. I can’t pick just one thing!

What is your number one tip for handmade sellers?
Perseverance! If you’re passionate about what you do, you can go far! Don’t give up if something doesn’t work immediately! Just keep trying and experimenting until you get results. My business wasn’t very successful for the first year and a half, but has been growing steadily for the last 6 months. You have to be in the right mindset and believe in yourself. Visualize that you’re getting a sale and everytime you do get one, get up and do a happy dance! Scream, sing, jump up and down! Celebrate every little victory!

Where can we find you online?
My Etsy shop : wevegotpaper.etsy.com
My blog : wevegotpaper.blogspot.com
My profile on InterPals
(InterPals is a wonderful website if you’re interested in finding new penpals!)

Thanks everyone! Now go write a letter – it will be fun and you’ll be sure to brighten someone’s day!

Julie xox

Friday, June 5, 2009

Gene Simmons from Kiss Mouse

A few days ago I got one of those custom order requests that just made me go "Yay!!" A returning customer asked me if I could make her a Gene Simmons from Kiss mouse! I loved the idea! Here is how he looks all finished.



I am thinking about adding him to my store as a regular, although that will have to wait until my computer is back from the shop so I can use Photoshop make the pictures look better. I am still using my sloooow laptop at the moment, although we are expecting to get my main computer back any day now.

What do you think of Gene Simmons Mouse, do you think he should become a regular in my store?

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Vote for me... I´ll give you a cookie.

My little Mr and Mrs Mouse are in the
Etsy Wedding Cake Topper Voter!


If you love them please vote for me. To vote click HERE

Thanks!!

Hand Picked Favourites - Shoes

A girl can never have too many pairs of shoes!
Here are 6 pairs I would love to have in my closet.

High Walnut Wedge Mohop Sandals

Monday, June 1, 2009

Exciting promotion announcement

Here is your chance to get more mice for your money!

I am very happy to announce a new promotion in my store.

create animated gif


I am giving away a
FREE mystery mouse

with every order* from my store
The House of Mouse

Promotion ends June 14th

*Orders must be $35 or over, not including shipping.
Offer cannot be used in conjunction with discount vouchers.

June Giveaway!

Last month I announced that
I will give away a FREE MOUSE
every month for the next year!


You commented in your HUNDREDS
to try to win a mouse for your very own!


733 comments were left for the May Giveaway and you overwhelmed me with all the love you have for my little mice, thank you so much for all your kind words.

To show you my gratitude I am
giving away even more this month!


In the June Giveaway there will be FIVE winners!!

First Prize
Choose ANY mouse from
my store worth up to $40

Second Prize
Choose ANY mouse from
my store worth up to $35

3rd, 4th and 5th Prize

Both sets of Star Wars Mice pins


To enter for the June Giveaway all you need to do is
leave a comment under this post! Easy!

Here are some other ways that you can
improve your chances to win
:
  • When you leave a comment, tell me about your favourite mouse or mice from my store The House of Mouse (you can choose more than one)
  • Leave a comment in my promotions thread on Etsy HERE
  • Mention and link to this give away on Twitter. Let me know in the comments that you tweeted.
  • Alter your “Status” on Facebook to mention this give away. Be sure to include this link http://lifecraftinessandeverythingelse.blogspot.com/2009/06/june-giveaway.html to it so that your friends can visit too. Don't forget to post a comment here telling me about your Facebook mention.
You can enter the June competition as many times you want,
the more comments you make under this post
the better your chances of winning!


The winners will be announced on June 30th.

My Store: The House of Mouse

Good luck!

Competition now CLOSED
the winners will be announced later today

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