abby try again

sponsor spotlight: plastic foliage

 

(My blog sponsors  are paid advertisers who help me pay for all my film and developing and web hosting-basically-they make this blog possible. A huge thanks to all of them! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor , I am now booking 30 day spots- please email me at abbytryagain@gmail(dot)com. The ad spots are there on the sidebar and are available for indie businesses.Thanks! All photos in "sponsor spotlight" post belong to the sponsor featured.)

It's been quite some time since I've introduced a new sponsor to you all, and I couldn't be more thrilled to introduce to you plastic foliage.

Marie Gardeski is the woman behind this lovely shop. Marie has many talents; she is a skilled seamstress, visual artist, soap maker and so much more. She crafts the items carried in plastic foliage from her current home in Indiana. I adore her use of patterns, color and line. 

Plastic foliage carries soaps, hand made women's clothing and accessories as well as the cutest kid's clothing I've seen. Marie often uses vintage or salvaged materials for her wares and I find her prices to be incredibly affordable. (Could I make a ridiculously cute tank top for $13, I doubt it.)

You can find Marie all around the web: imaginary animal is the name of her blog, her personal website is here, her flickr is here and of course-plastic foliage is right here.

From now until June 12, 2011 you can save 12% off your order from plastic foliage when you type "abbysreaders" at the checkout.

Thanks so much for your support, Marie!

sponsor spotlight: Sprout Studio

 

(My blog sponsors  are paid advertisers who help me pay for all my film and developing and web hosting-basically-they make this blog possible. A huge thanks to all of them! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor , I am now booking 30 day spots- please email me at abbytryagain@gmail(dot)com. The ad spots are there on the sidebar and are available for indie businesses.  Thanks! All photos in "sponsor spotlight" post belong to the sponsor featured.)

Sprout Studio is a one woman show run by artist and maker Jennifer Lake. Jennifer works out of her San Francisco studio and produces all kinds of goodies from bobby pins to ceramics to wearables. She loves using reclaimed and recyclable materials and even likes to dabble in photography. Jennifer has been involved in art almost her whole life and creates things with care and love.

Basically, she makes all kinds of rad things.  : )

(Um how cool is this skateboard? )

I particularly adore her artist edition necklaces. Each month she chooses an artist to collaborate with. The ones shown here feature artwork by two talented San Francisco artists, Lisa Congdon and Kerstin Svendsen.

For abby try again readers, Jennifer is offering a discount of 20% off. Just type in "abby" at the checkout.

You can find out more about Sprout Studio and Jennifer over at her fantastic blog.

She's also got a great little vintage shop called the gleaner project. She's offering free US shipping if you mention "abby" at the checkout.

Thanks so much for creating so much goodness, Sprout Studio!

 And thanks for sponsoring my blog :)

sponsor spotlight & giveaway: Collected Stories by Marina Porter

(My blog sponsors  are paid advertisers who help me pay for all my film and developing and web hosting-basically-they make this blog possible. A huge thanks to all of them! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor , I am now booking 30 day spots- please email me at abbytryagain@gmail(dot)com. The ad spots are there on the sidebar and are available for indie businesses.  Thanks! All photos in "sponsor spotlight" post belong to the sponsor featured.)

Marina Porter is Boston based artist and photogrpaher who recently quit her day job to pursue her dreams. Marina resides in the heart of Chinatown with her best friend, her child and too many cats. It's from there that she writes her interesting, beautiful blog-Collected Stories.

Marina describes her blog as small motion documentaries-piecing together moments that make up a distinct memory or mood. She's even coined a phrase for this: Momentaries.

Marina just opened her etsy shop today where she sells gorgeous fine art photographs and vintage items (I'm particularly smitten by the ostrich egg). 

Marina is offering you readers a very special giveaway. She'll create a story inspired by some background information that we'll gather from a reader.  It may include a drawing, some special vintage item, a recipe, etc. It will be a small collection of sorts that she'll post on her blog and then mail to the winning reader. The winner will receive a very special small package of hand crafted & vintage treasures from their story as well.

Isn't that a great idea? 

So here's what Marina needs from you:

 

be as vague or specific as they'd like about your favorite:

 

1. color or pattern

2. flavor or flavor combination

3. mood and/or weather condition

4. animal, vegetable or mineral

 

Leave your answers in the comment section and Marina will pick a winner on Wednesday, October 6, 2010. 

We're both excited to see your responses! Thank you for sponsoring me, Marina!

P.S. Please note that due to SPAM I moderate comments. This means I get an email that someone posted a comment and I then go to my dashboard to let it be published. So, once you've posted your comment-know that the next time I'm on my computer, I will publish it -thank you!!

sponsor spotlight: restlesshearts: handmade & vintage

 
 (My blog sponsors  are paid advertisers who help me pay for all my film and developing and web hosting-basically-they make this blog possible. A huge thanks to all of them! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor , I am now booking 30 day spots- please email me at abbytryagain@gmail(dot)com. The ad spots are there on the sidebar and are available for indie businesses. Thanks! All photos in "sponsor spotlight" post belong to the sponsor featured.)

This morning I'm happy to share with you the etsy shop restlesshearts. It's a shop filled with handmade goodies and vintage wares run by Julie, a Columbia, Missouri based artist.

Julie studied conceptual art in school but really wanted to create items that people could use in their every day lives. She creates necklaces, tea towels, brooches, headbands and wallets from recycled and reclaimed materials. Julie says she loves bringing something old and unloved back into the spotlight.  Many of her new necklaces are backed with reclaimed bike tubing which I think is just brilliant. I'm particularly fond of this necklace myself.

She also has a love of vintage and enjoys finding good homes for special vintage items.  She carries accessories, dishes, clothing and other home goods.

Thank you so much for sponsoring me, Julie and restelesshearts: handmade and vintage!

 

sponsor spotlight: Bricolage Life

 

 

(My blog sponsors  are paid advertisers who help me pay for all my film and developing and web hosting-basically-they make this blog possible. A huge thanks to all of them! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor , I am now booking 30 day spots- please email me at abbytryagain@gmail(dot)com. The ad spots are there on the sidebar and are available for indie businesses. Since it's still summertime and things can be a bit slow-I'm offering half off spots booked in August. Thanks! All photos in "sponsor spotlight" post belong to the sponsor featured.)

Bricolage Life is a sweet little etsy shop full of all sorts of pretty things including photography, textiles, jewelry and more. The creative mind behind Bricolage Life is Sandra who you may know from her fabulous blog.

Sandra describes herself as a lifelong collector and observer with a compulsion to document.  I think this definitely comes through in her work. I adore her photo printed scarf that documents the wilting of a flower. I also love her collection photos, particularly this print.

Sandra is offering a 10% discount to readers of this blog. Just shop add "abby sent me" in the note to seller at the checkout and she will refund you the difference via paypal. At the end of September she will then randomly pick one customer to win a $25 gift certificate to her shop. That's a pretty nice deal.

You can visit Sandra's shop, Bricolage Life-right here. Thank you for sponsoring me, Sandra!

sponsor spotlight: Elephantine

 

 

 

(My blog sponsors  are paid advertisers who help me pay for all my film and developing and web hosting-basically-they make this blog possible. A huge thanks to all of them! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor , I am now booking 30 day spots- please email me at abbytryagain@gmail(dot)com. The ad spots are there on the sidebar and are available for indie businesses. Since it's still summertime and things can be a bit slow-I'm offering half off spots booked in August. Thanks! All photos in "sponsor spotlight" post belong to the sponsor featured.)

If you don't already know Rachel Blakley, you should. She is the woman behind the gorgeous jewelry line Elephantine and the blogger behind the design blog of the same name.

Rachel creates her line of simple, light jewelry by hand from her home in Seattle. Specializing in items made for everyday wear, Rachel has made a collection of pieces that appeals to my heart, eyes, and pocketbook. I especially adore her modern bracelets and pretty necklaces. Rachel makes all types of adornments; from earrings to rings and almost all are well under $50.

Rachel has a degree in design and a knack for finding interesting things from around the web. Be sure to check out her blog for her latest finds.

Thanks for sponsoring me, Rachel! You can browse and shop Elephantine right here.

sponsor spotlight: Paragraph Cove

 

 

 

(My blog sponsors  are paid advertisers who help me pay for all my film and developing and web hosting-basically-they make this blog possible. A huge thanks to all of them! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor , I am now booking 30 day spots- please email me at abbytryagain@gmail(dot)com. The ad spots are there on the sidebar and are available for indie businesses. Since it's still summertime and things can be a bit slow-I'm offering half off spots booked in August. Thanks! All photos in "sponsor spotlight" post belong to the sponsor featured.)

Today I am happy to introduce to you Paragraph Cove upcycled stationary. Esther runs this little paper goods business from her home on the Oregon Coast. Wow, I know from my many trips there that the Oregon Coast is one beautiful, inspiring place to be!

Esther makes cards, envelopes, gift tags and paper goods from found vintage books and papers. I love buying goods that are both hand made and recycled-it's like a 2 for 1! I especially adore this celestial card and this mineral card.

You can find out more about Esther over at her blog here.

Esther is offering readers a 10% discount in her shop. Just type in "abby try again" at checkout and she'll refund the difference after your purchase.

Thanks so much for sponsoring my blog!

sponsor spotlight and a giveaway: Bliss in a Teacup

 

 

(My blog sponsors  are paid advertisers who help me pay for all my film and developing-basically-they make this blog possible. A huge thanks to all of them! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor in May, I am now booking spots- please email me at abbytryagain@gmail(dot)com. The ad spots are there on the sidebar and are available for indie businesses. Thanks! All photos in "sponsor spotlight" post belong to the sponsor featured.)

Today I am very happy to introduce my next sponsor, Bliss in a Teacup. 

Bliss in a Teacup's etsy shop is run by husband and wife team; Becka and Richard. The shop features a collection of treasures with everything from customized reclaimed wooden bunting, to handmade clocks, to magnets featuring vintage ephemera. They even make beautiful guitar picks which I think are a perfect gift for that musician in your life (seems like we all have one).

Becka also writes the adorable blog of the same name.

I have to say, I don't usually get personal with these sponsor spotlight posts; but Becka is just one of those kind souls. Once I was having a sort of down day and just a few days later-a nice little gift of her beautiful bookmarks arrived at my doorstep. Not only were they adorable and well made-I could tell they were sent with love and I am happy to be able to host shop owners like that here on my blog.

Anyway, Becka and Richard are giving away two bookmarks from their shop. Just leave a comment with the two you like best and I will pick a winner on Friday, April 23.

And for the rest of April, they are offering 20% off in their shop for readers of this blog. Type in "spring" at checkout and Becka will send you a revised invoice.

Thanks, guys!

sponsor spotlight: Blue Muse Jewelry

 

(My blog sponsors  are paid advertisers who help me pay for all my film and developing-basically-they make this blog possible. A huge thanks to all of them! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor in May, I am now booking spots- please email me at abbytryagain@gmail(dot)com. The ad spots are there on the sidebar and are available for indie businesses. Thanks! All photos in "sponsor spotlight" post belong to the sponsor featured.)

Good morning!

Today I am introducing one of my newest sponsors, Blue Muse Jewelry.

Blue Muse Jewelry was started by Kelly Letky and her sister, Conni Bills, about five years ago. Since then, they have been creating and selling jewelry at local art shows in Upstate New York, and just recently started selling online.

The majority of their work is created using precious metal clay; they also work with lots of handmade artisan glass and semi-precious stones. Making jewelry has become a way for these two sisters to spend lots of quality time together while adding a little beauty to life, every day!

I love the fact that this shop is owned by two sisters who connect through making. I think that is really cool.

You can check out the blog here and etsy shop over here.

Thanks Kelly and Conni!

sponsor spotlight: Eyebuzz Fine Art Online

 

 

(Images from top; Eunju Kang, Bill Mead, Bruce Habowski, Robert Larson. All available at Eyebuzz)

(My blog sponsors  are paid advertisers who help me pay for all my film and developing-basically-they make this blog possible. A huge thanks to all of them! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor in April, I am now booking spots- please email me at abbytryagain@gmail(dot)com. I'm gonna change it up a bit and offer a few different rates-so if you've inquired in the past-the rates have changed a bit.  The ad spots are there on the sidebar and are available for indie businesses. Thanks! All photos in "sponsor spotlight" post belong to the sponsor featured.)

Last month I introduced Eyebuzz Gallery as one of my very first sponsors. I feel lucky to be sponsored by such a great gallery. They feature stunning works by contemporary American artists.

This month they just opened their new online gallery space-Eyebuzz Online. You can purchase original artworks via the site. They are even offering a 20% discount if you type "COLOR" in at the checkout.

The pieces shown above are some of my current favorites-I love having blue artwork in my home, it feels so calming. I found new to me artist, Bruce Habowski and I'm adore his subject matter and colors. They also feature the works of bloggers Heather Smith Jones and Jennifer Judd McGee.

Thank you so much, Tara and Tim and everyone from Eyebuzz!