A word on pricing

Since I opened my Etsy shop 4 years ago, I have had the same prices.  

However, over this time all of my costs have increased.  

I have tried really hard to find ways not to have to pass those on to you, my wonderful customers, 

however, the numbers just simply no longer add up.  

So as of 1 April there will be a slight increase, 

for example an 8x8" print will now be $30 USD on Etsy, $35 NZD on Felt.  

A small photo block will now be $19 USD on Etsy, $21 on Felt.  

The medium and large photo blocks will stay the same price, 

as will the large format photos, the 4x4" and 5x5" photos.  

I will also be retiring some of my older photos, as my tastes have changed.  :)

I really don't like talking about numbers and prices, 

I would much rather be out at the beach on such a gorgeous blue sky day, 

but if we all kept our head in the sand over such things, well......

So for now, until the end of March, all of Etsy is 30% off if you use the code 'March' at the checkout. 

That is my way of saying thanks for understanding!

A beach weekend

Scenes from this past weekend, 

spent on a girls weekend away with a group of my best friends, 

over at Waikanae Beach on the west coast.  

It is heavenly to have a break from 'life' ~

to sit in the sun and paint our nails while talking girlie talk, 

to drink bubbles and wine and cook together, 

to have coffee by the beach, 

easy conversation and easy silences that come from friendships 

you have cherished for more than half your lifetime.

  

It was wonderful to be at the beach again.  

There is something about the ocean ~

 the way the sun sparkles and dances on the water, 

the way it blinds you yet you cannot look away,

the way the sand feels underfoot, 

the sound of the water as it rolls and crashes,

the seagulls gliding over the sea.

The beach, it relaxes and centres.  

It is refreshing, and soothes the soul. 

New! Greeting cards through Society6

Society6 now offer gorgeous greeting cards with white envelopes, sold in sets of 3, 5 and 10.  

I have been hoping to be able to offer my photos as cards, and now, thanks to Society6, I can!  

The greeting cards are in addition to iPhone cases, skins for iPhones/Pods/Pads and laptops, canvases, and framed prints. 

A seriously cool website.  

There are so many talented artists on the site, head over and prepare to get lost!

Balloon Polaroids

 

I have been slowly using up my stash of expired polaroid film.  

I have been loving the quirks (the film expired years ago), 

and so last week when I walked around to our local park at dawn,

 and was greeted with a field full of inflating hot air balloons, 

I just could not resist taking polaroids.  

Yes, I knew there was not enough daylight, and the sky was so grey.  

But still, when something as magical as the balloons are filling up the early morning sky, 

they deserve to have the polaroid used.  

Don't you think?

My little guy and the balloons

A sneak peak, I have photos from the hot air balloon festival to edit/post, 

however I also have quite a few projects on the go at the moment, 

so this will have to do for now.

My little guy and his red balloon, 

in a field full of hot air balloons at 7am. 

It was beautiful.

A polaroid self portrait

This was a challenge for me.  

I have been wanting to take a polaroid self portrait for ages now (years?) 

but whenever I think of it I have every excuse under the sun - no time, too busy, bad hair day etc etc.  

This morning, my little guy and I got home from walking Annabel to school,

 and in between playing trains, having a tidy up 

and mentally planning all I have to do today to get ready for a market tomorrow, 

I realised that if every day is a busy/bad hair day, then I would never take the photo.  

So before I could talk myself out of it, I put down the washing basket, grabbed the polaroid, 

and here you have it.  

A selfie.  

Bad hair day and all.  

Of course I asked myself why was I posting a very real (read un-glamorous) photo here?  

And you know why?  

Because life is short.  

Life is real.  

And this is me.

March...!!!!

 I am trying not to exclaim 'is it March already?!'...

but it is really hard not to!