Etsy Pop Up Shop

Way back in November, I found out that one of my items was going to the Etsy Pop Up Shop in Soho, New York in December.  My item, a sign, wasn't going to be offered for sale there, but it was part of the display.  My fellow Etsy teammate, Karen of smallearthvintage actually had some items for sale in the Etsy Pop Up shop, and was able to travel to New York to see the shop in person.  She was able to get a picture my "REGISTRY" sign on the Etsy shop's wall full of signs. It is just to the left of the "T" in the picture below.  Thanks Karen...I was thrilled to see this!  You can can read more about her trip here.

Kansas City Shopping Trip

InStyle Magazine (and a coupon!)

Bellalulu is IN November's InStyle magazine.  Wow, I can't believe it.  Printed in the magazine is a coupon code for 20% off, and I wanted to make sure and share that with you.  Use code STYLE20 for 20% off for a limited time only. 
If you are bored at the checkout lane, look for InStyle Magazine (page 272) with my friend Halle Barry on the front.  Okay, she's not really my friend, but hey, we're in the same magazine! 

FAUX fun.

Isn't FAUX fun?
A year or so ago, I came across my first Osa Johnson book at my local Flea Market.  It was I Married Adventure, and it has a faux tiger cover.  I had to have it!  Since then, I've collected a couple more (as seen above and here).  They make great photography props.  And I love them.

She also has a book called Four Years in Paradise with a faux giraffe cover, and it is equally wonderful.

Etsy has a great selection of faux deer:

1. cartbeforethehorse's cloth sculpture deer.  2. oelwein's pink antler tea towel
3. manafkamina's crochet deer head  4. and I loved these faux deer head souvenirs I sold not long ago

What is your favorite faux find?

How 4 little old bunsen burners became famous...

Almost a year ago, I sold these 4 old bunsen burners.  It wasn't a typical sale though.  The customer wanted me to overnight them.  My husband was standing near when I was reading that request.  Really?  Someone wants some old bunsen burners, and wants them overnighted?  He got a chuckle out of that. 
Well, as I convo'ed back and forth with the customer, I realized they were headed somewhere pretty neat.  To Universal City, CA.  To the set of CSI.  For Ted Danson's character's office. 

And that's exactly where they ended up (squint really hard and follow the arrow)...they're famous!  Hi there Ted!  I feel like we know each other now, you know, kind of like how I know Harrison Ford. 

Happy 4th!

Isn't she a doll? A very sweet customer purchased this old red, white and blue baton from the shop for his daughter to use in a parade. Her outfit is just darling, and I'm so glad the baton went to such a perfect home! I do love red, white and blue, don't you? All of the items below are still available in here! Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

READY, SET, GO!
Take 20% all items in the shop with code JUNE20

Photography...Who me?

How is it possible that I am writing a post about photography?
Well, after several Etsy convos asking about my photography and complimenting my photography...here goes!

First of all, I didn't start off this way. It has taken the time, learning, experience and the right camera. Honestly, I am embarrassed to look back at some of my first pictures for my shop. I soon learned how very important it is on Etsy to have really good pictures of your items. It makes a HUGE difference. Even now, I am not 100% happy with all of my pictures. There is still room for improvement.

What kind of camera do I use? Canon EOS Rebel XS

How did I learn to use it? Ashley Ann Campbell's SnapShop. I learned A TON in one Saturday at Ashley's house. Before that, I always had my camera on the automatic mode. I learned how to shoot manually, and what all of those little buttons (as seen above) on the camera mean and what they do.

I am SO blessed to live in the same area as Ashley and was able to take this class at her (amazing, fun, creative ideas everywhere) house. However, she is now offering her class online. In fact, you can sign up now for the next class- it starts September 5th.

One of the many tips that I learned at the SnapShop was to *not* have the item you are photographing be perfectly in the center. It just looks more interesting if the item is slightly to the left or right of center.
What else? Well, I get A LOT of practice. Since I am adding at least one item to the shop everyday, I take a lot of pictures. This has forced me to figure out what time of day offers the best lighting. I talk almost all of my pictures in my youngest daughter's room. It has very pale aqua blue walls, and that seems to work well. And the surface? It's a simple white table from Pottery Barn Kids...also borrowed from my daughters.

And speaking of my daughters, sometimes they help me with my pictures. They love it, and I have to admit, those little hands are pretty cute!

Whatever...

Have you heard of Whatever (the blog)? It's the home of many amazing photographs, lots of fun craft ideas and recipes, and all kinds of interesting things that Meg has to say.
I love getting glimpses of her home- it just looks like a fun place to be. She has several wonderful vintage pieces mixed in with her decor, and of course I love that. Look at this summer list. What a neat idea...and aren't those chairs below it great?

I may have mentioned a time or two that I love seeing where items from my shop end up...LOVE it. Meg recently purchased this number 5 sign from the shop, and I was so thrilled to see it in place. Do you see it- just to the left of all of the fun going on in this picture?
PS- If you need a "4" like Meg's "5", well then here you go.
Also...bellalulu vintage now has a facebook page HERE!

I Spy...(at Anthropologie!)

I have mentioned the wonderfully talented Kara Paslay here before (above picture borrowed from her blog). Her husband made my concrete table top...which we are still just loving! In fact, Kara also showed recently how she "concreted" her entry wall. Brilliant!

Well...Kara now works for our local Anthropology store as the display coordinator. What a fun job, and Kara is absolutely perfect for it! I follow her blog, and have loved seeing some of the displays she has done there.

The other day, I had a few minutes to browse through the store (quick iphone picture above). I had seen this nautical themed display on Kara's blog, but in person I noticed an exciting detail. A pulley! From my shop! Kara bought it from my shop a while back and it was so much fun to see it sitting there in the display of one of my favorite stores. So thanks, Kara, for that little thrill. ALL of your work looks great! Here's a closer look at that pulley...

The older the better...

The sign above was one of my favorite finds. It sold from my Etsy shop almost a year ago. As I was walking through Pottery Barn recently, I noticed this...

Pottery Barn, you are lovely. I have purchased some great things from you. This sign is cute, but it just isn't as good as the real deal.

I'm sitting next to Harrison Ford

Well, not really ME...but an old globe from my shop is in this Etsy Storque article, curated by Roxana of Nerd Boyfriend.

She put together 3 collections of things, and my globe was placed in the Indiana Jones collection. Is it just wrong that I've never seen an Indiana Jones movie?

A huge thank you to Roxana...she made my day (week) with the nice compliment she made about my shop in this article!

Kootoyoo...and another where are they now

I have subscribed to Kirsty's blog, kootoyoo, for a long time. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, and has a "sometimes shop" here. In a recent post she was showing this wonderful bag that she made from an old flour sack. Don't you love it?

Something else in the above picture also caught my eye, though. Actually, two somethings...those signs sitting on top of the mirror. They came from my shop. I had forgotten about them, but I was so happy to see them again. Thank you Kirsty for that unintentional peak at their new home! It's just perfect.

Just discovered: Ruti's Roots

I love Etsy...where else can you find so many things you didn't even know you needed?
Aren't these bowls wonderful? I LOVE them. Ruti is so talented...see her shop here.

This map one may be my favorite. It is, of course, already sold.
And isn't this darling? Great colors.

Pa rum pa pum pum

These guys sat on top of my mom's gift this year. Why? Well, she's never been a fan of The Little Drummer Boy song. And as you can see, the fellow on the right isn't either.

I found them at an estate sale recently and knew just where they needed to go. I'm so glad I have a mom who completely got and appreciated such a gift topper. We have always enjoyed handmade vintage Christmas people like these guys.

Oh, and what was inside the gift? This lovely creature from Bossysfeltworks. Isn't he sweet?

The Perfect Home

That little church went from my shop to this wonderful place. I think it's safe to say that it found the perfect home. I love it when that happens- and I think it usually does. I'm so glad Dawn showed me this picture.

Be sure to take a look at the other pictures from her home. They are just so beautiful and peaceful. Don't you just want to go curl up on that sofa right now?
Oh, and also, check out Dawn's shop: Kiki La Ru (temporarily closed for the holidays). She is the maker of (the original) cake bunting. Aren't they darling? If I could go back in time, I'd put one on my wedding cake.

Tick Tock...

I went to an antique mall last week and walked out with these 2 items. I sat them down side by side when I got home and laughed. Is someone trying to tell me something?
Maybe instead of hunting around at antique malls I should be Christmas shopping. After all, 2 weeks from today, that timer with go BUZZZZ and I had better be ready! I'm avoiding the real mall at all costs though. Are you ready?

Flea Finds

My local Flea Market has been OH SO good lately. These are just a few of my finds from today!

Vintage Fairy Tales

*update: Rebecka sent me another photograph of a doll from the shop (scroll to end).
Here's a fun blog to add to your reading list: Vintage Fairy Tales
Photographer Rebecka Ryberg Skött has a wonderful, whimsical style. It's always fun to see her new photographs that usually include some fun vintage characters.
In this post she shows some glimpses of her "Vintage Fairy Cottage". The image above is from that post, and if you look carefully, you'll see another bellalulu shop alumn! I do believe she found the most *perfect* home!
Rebecka kindly sent over another photograph of a former bellalulu doll. This particular photograph is in Copenhagen right now in Rebecka's exhibition, "Stop breaking down".....
The title of this picture is "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen".
So neat to hear this Rebecka! Thank you for sharing this with me!

Where are they now?

(images on left from Rue magazine; images on right are mine from the shop)

Have you read Rue yet? It's a wonderful online magazine. The first issue features Victoria Smith's home. Victoria has a must read design blog: sfgirlbybay. She has bought a couple of things from my shop and I was so thrilled to spot them in the pictures of her home tour! You can see many more pictures of her amazing home in Rue Magazine.