Daily Play

Sunday - Coffee and Cake
weekly musings, articles and mostly babble...


Daily Play I don't know what it's going to mean at the mo as it's early days but I have finally decided to give Thursdays and Saturdays their own feature on my blog. Some of you have gathered already I suppose! Thursday is a day for BLOGS, considering that every other day is either focused on handmade items or Etsy shops... I love blogs... the stories, the work, the features. They rock! And considering that in places like the Etsy forums, myself and many people create threads to scout for followers all the time to try and spread the word about what's hot on our pages and it can be long, drawn out and sometimes disappointing if you can't keep up without being buried in seconds flat (those that are familiar with the Etsy promotions forum will know what I mean). There has to be easier ways to do this that benefits larger groups of people in a less time consuming and easier way right? YES! Blog hopping! Ooooooh I love it. What a fab way for everyone to spread the word with one simple code! Awesome! I'm obviously a blog hop virgin as it's a new concept to me, but it is just genius! I've joined SOOOO many already and linked to them in my sidebar for others to check out. I plan to create a page for them as there are quite a few that I've joined and I know there will be more since I've been doing them by the day... and I need to go all the way back to Thursday again! But anyway my first is already running and you can navigate to it in my top navigation above this post! it'll run out tonight so get in whilst you can! and if you miss out a new one will start again Thursday!

Anyway I've been following blogs like a trouper, and I have to say blog hopping really does work. If you are looking for followers, I recommend giving them a go and where you can make sure you leave comments!

And Saturdays... I couldn't resist the idea of being able to host giveaways. Specifically handmade ones! At the moment I have one running which is for an item of my own making which you can see in the post below (or check out the top navigation!), but I hope to extend this out to others if they wish for me to host their giveaways in the future. I am still working out the technicalities of that idea but for now I will host my own. They run for 2 weeks at a time and you can have multiple entires for multiple chances of winning! Make sure you take part if you havent already :)

And in my land of creation, I am forever making new hats, conjuring up new designs and taking lots of new photographs for moonangelnay photography and babamoon. I have had a few orders this week so i've been pretty busy fulfilling those and trying to keep up the pace with my ever so busy family life too. My daughter is 4 months old now and is now in that "I see it, I'm going to grab it... and quite possibly try and devour it once I have given it a good gum munch" stage... She tried to take the fork out of my mouth as I ate lunch today which surprised the life outta me. Came right out of the blue! AND she has decided that she wants to roll over too so we're at a whole new level of 'eeeeek a baby' now lol!!! She's going to have to grin and bare it now when she sits by me rather than on me as i eat. Bless her she's VERY attatched to me and can be a bit grisly when she's away from me for more than a few minutes. But she's a good girl and fast learner, she'll eventually know that mommy will always come back lol! Awww she's growing up so fast and has finally got to the stage of experiementation! I can't wait to see her progress from here. My son is in love with her still and avidly insists that he knows more than I do when it comes to deciphering her grumbles, yet quickly gives up when the responsibility he puts on himself becomes too irksome lol! Bless him, he's trying ever so hard to be a grown up. He even put his daddy on the naughty step for spilling brown sauce on his own leg earlier. Hilarious! Kids are wonderful! Anyway I'd better scoot off... have a great remainder of the weekend!

Recent Altered Photography And Baby Accessories
Posted to moonangelnay.etsy.com and babamoon.etsy.com...

Bamboo Tile Collage Sheet, Urban Nature Abstract Photography

Sky High Original Photo Scrabble Glass Tile Pendant

Baby 6 to 12m Soft Rainbow Crochet Flopsy Bunny Hat

Baby 3-6m Crochet Black Spooky Pointy Little Witch Hat

Newborn Baby 3 to 6m Red Green and White Pointy Pom Pom Bobble Elf Hat

That's it for now. Have a great weekend all!


moonangelnay x

Crazy Fingers

Sunday - Coffee and Cake
weekly musings, articles and mostly babble...


Crazy Fingers I am just in LOVE with my new store! I didnt realise just how much i enjoy knitting and crocheting until i took it beyond what i make for my kids, and believe me this is my hobby and I do it all the time anyway! But wow! And I think my enthusiasm is rubbing off on my new ideas. I have been out to my local craft shop many times buying new yarns and buttons in the past week so as to increase my color palette for the animal hats, and found myself being inspired with each and every new yarn I've come into contact with.

With this inspiration have been born some SUPER cute new accessories for babys like my newest Kiki Headband which is based on the huge ensemble worn by the little witch in Kiki's Delivery Service from Studio Ghibli. And whilst making it I had a kajillion (word?) ideas for other anime inspired headwear. I made an awesome hat resembling Panny Panda from Panda Kopanda (another Ghibli) which is due to go up soon that an Etsy buyer gave me the idea for when asking for my bear hat in black and white. My son's first love was a Panda and he loves the anime by Hayao Miyazaki so I thought it'd be lovely to make a little hat in Panny's likeness... with my own take on him of course! My blog readers are the first to see Panny so I hope you like him ^_^ Keep an eye out in Babamoon for listings in various sizes for him! I should have a photo of a toddler sized one that my son wants to model. He's been super jealous since I made Panny for my daughter to model lol!

Recent Altered Photography And Baby Accessories
Posted to moonangelnay.etsy.com and babamoon.etsy.com...

Mottled Rose 5x7 Inch Fine Art Photo

Love A Cup Of Joe 5x7 Inch Fine Art Photo

The Lovers Spoke 5x7 Inch Fine Art Photo

Newborn Baby 0-3m Kiki Red Big Bow Headband Inspired by Studio Ghibli Kiki's Delivery Service

SET of 3 Animal Hats - Bear, Kitten and Flopsy Bunny

That's it for now. Have a great weekend all!


moonangelnay x

4th July

Monday Magic... 4th July!

CreativeArtCenter	divadolltutus	blackheartcherry
debschildrenboutique	MonkeyEnterprises	LilSquirtsBoutique
dollypriss	caitlinmaemarks	bagsnbeadsoregon
TheresaBCreations	BitsyBlossom	addieladawn

Introducing my 37th installment of my weekly feature, Monday Magic! These Etsy.com sellers all share something special... Fabulous work! Yet, somehow like many sellers on Etsy are wondering where all their admirers are! So this is where I feel it's time to showcase the undiscovered talent of Etsy, on Monday each week so they have a chance to shine like the best of Etsy do :)


All of the sellers names can be typed into the navigation bar on your browser followed with ".etsy.com" (dot etsy dot com) to take you to their stores. Otherwise click on an image to go directly to their listing!


I am now taking requests for next weeks Monday Magic Expo. If you would like to be a part of it, you are required to 0-19 sales in your Etsy store, and the theme is 'Summer' Contact me via convo @ http://moonangelnay.etsy.com to send in your requests, plus a link to your suitable item :)

Flag Day

Monday Magic... Flag Day!

LittleLeafLane	DeLacyDesigns	lmoliver0318
bigDAYpartyshop	mulberrylanefolkart	FlowersFromFatima
theredheadedrooster	jonesce	clinejewels
WildMountainWreaths	picperfect	BerylBlue

Introducing my 35th installment of my weekly feature, Monday Magic! These Etsy.com sellers all share something special... Fabulous work! Yet, somehow like many sellers on Etsy are wondering where all their admirers are! So this is where I feel it's time to showcase the undiscovered talent of Etsy, on Monday each week so they have a chance to shine like the best of Etsy do :)


All of the sellers names can be typed into the navigation bar on your browser followed with ".etsy.com" (dot etsy dot com) to take you to their stores. Otherwise click on an image to go directly to their listing!


I am now taking requests for next weeks Monday Magic Expo. If you would like to be a part of it, you are required to 0-19 sales in your Etsy store, and the theme is 'Trees' Contact me via convo @ http://moonangelnay.etsy.com to send in your requests, plus a link to your suitable item :)

PhotoGrunt

Friday Finds... PhotoGrunt


This is my 30th interview of the amazing not-so-well-known artists of Etsy!

Steve of PhotoGrunt on Etsy is a fabulous photographer that I have twice mentioned in past Wednesday posts due to the the kind gesture of including some of my work on his own blog. I was delighted when he agreed to do an interview for this week, and by golly it's a fabulous one too. Steve's sense of humour throughout I found made his very precise photography seem so much more intriguing! I love how his focal point is entirely dependant on the surrounding light and shadow, and his chosen frame is based on what he can capture in the moment that it all seems to come together. It's a definitive style that is beyond point and shoot, which for me captures more than just the subject in the photograph but, the artist themselves. Almost like capturing your own reflection using subconscious descriptive imagery. I hope you enjoy Steve's photography as much as I do, and dont forget to check out his store offer at the bottom of the interview!


(Just click the images to go direct to the listings)

-- Tell me a bit about you! (Name, Age, Location, and give us a random fact whilst you're at it.) My name is Steve Raley; I’m 55 and live just east of Seattle, WA, USA. I’m retired military, having spent 20 years in uniform.


-- What is your business about then? My business is all about photography. Contrast, juxtaposition, irony, new perspective; observing and capturing everyday things that are rarely noticed; presenting them in such a way as to give them new life and meaning, that is what I’m endeavoring to provide.


-- How did Etsy come into your life? My wife was into Etsy, selling vintage collectables. She started telling me I should open up a shop to sell my photography. She told me some more, and told me some more, and kept telling me. Then one day, out of nowhere, I had this idea that I should open up a photography shop on Etsy, and here I am!


-- Are you working a day job too? Oh yes! I work as an IT Support Technician at a private school for gifted students, grades Kindergarten through 8th grade.


-- How long has the artist in you been 'unleashed' for? Well, I was really into drawing when I was a kid. Then in high school I got into photography and enjoyed the creative potential of the medium. Eight of my twenty years in uniform were spent as a photographer, honing my skills. I hadn’t picked up my camera for several years when, about 3 years ago, I got the itch again. I started back with film photography, and then a couple years ago I got a DSLR outfit. So, I suppose you could say my inner artist has been properly unleashed for about 3 years.


-- What has been the inspiration behind your business? The inspiration behind my business has really been my desire to create and to express myself through my photographs. It’s just that simple.

-- If you could describe your products in three words, what would you tell me? Three words, huh? My, you don’t give much quarter do you?! Ha! Well, if I only have 3 words to work with, I choose “Light”, “Dark” and “Perspective”.

-- What would an average working day for you be like from dawn til dusk? Oh my, that will put folks to sleep! Up at 6 am, out the door by 7:30 and to work by 8 am. Fix my first of 2 coffees, then check and respond to e-mail and phone messages. Follow up on any pressing technical matters and monitor/respond to computer trouble calls and technical problems throughout the day. Home between 5 and 5:30 pm and spend the evening with my wife. I’ll catch up on the news, have dinner, and spend time doing such things as working on my photographs, check the Photographers Of Etsy (POE) forum, process any orders I might have or work on correspondence. I may even work on either my blog or the POE blog. Go to bed and do it all again the next day. Pretty humdrum, eh?



-- What's your favourite material and techniques to work with? Well, working with digital photographs, as I do, there’s not a lot of “material” that I’d be working with. But techniques, well I’d have to say my favorite technique, or at least the one I employ most often, is to pick an area and go on a bit of a “photographic walkabout”, and shoot whatever catches my eye. I’m not talking quick “snapshots” but seeing something interesting and using the resources at my immediate disposal (light, shadow, exposure and perspective) to capture the most interesting images I can.


-- What is your ideal vision for the future for you and your work? Oh, you opened up a whole can of worms with the word “ideal”! My “ideal” vision is to have my own gallery where I display fine art photography; not just my work, but the work of other new and established photographic talent. Coupled with my gallery would be a stock photo archive and photo studio. And, since this is my “ideal”, let’s throw in a cappuccino machine with attendant barista as well.


-- Away from work, what do you like to do for fun or to wind down? I enjoy a quiet evening at home with my wife. I also enjoy taking in a good movie, going out to dinner, visiting the art museums or even going on my little photographic walkabouts.


-- What are you likely to search for on Etsy? Generally, when I do a search on Etsy, it’s for photographs. Mostly I’ll be checking out the work by fellow POE members, but other times I’ll widen my search parameters.


-- Any last words? Gosh, that sounds ominous, doesn’t it?! Do I get a cigarette and a blindfold too?! ;-)

The only last words I have Nay, is to express my appreciation to you for featuring me and my shop on your blog. I’m very honored, thank you!

Oh, and how about this?! Between now and next Friday, anybody making a purchase on my shop will get a free photo of equal or lesser value if they mention that they saw this feature on your blog! Is that cool, or what?

♥ Cute and Squishy ♥

Sunday - Coffee and Cake
weekly musings, articles and mostly babble...

HandmadeSpark NEW TUTORIAL POST...

My article on Handmade Spark is Up! Finding your Spark : Product Photography - Motivation and Inspiration

You can still catch my previous posts here:
* Finding Your Spark - Product Photography - Lighting
* Finding your spark : Product Photography - Getting The Best Out Of Your Photography
* Finding your spark : Product Photography - Making A Lightbox
* Finding Your Spark - Photo Composition
* Finding Your Spark - Got The Shakes?
* Finding Your Spark - Easy Post Production - Contrast Adjustment
* Finding Your Spark - Product Photography - Layering And It's Benefits



New Plans ... I am still reeling in amusement from something my other half said last night whilst I was feeding my daughter. She had just had the biggest spit up ever all over him and I was having a general squeaky babble with her, questioning why babies had to be so darned cute (broody already!) when he responded with the fact that it's to fool us parents into accepting the vomit, poop and noise... a clever distraction from the heavens LOL... Love his sense of humour!
To be honest all of that, now the second time around isn't bothersome at all... you ACTUALLY get used to poo, vomit and the loveliest of gross cocktails being slathered over you on a daily basis. It's a funny thing, I love seeing one of my closest friends run out of the room whenever it's changing time and the look on his face when I am so calm and collected over cleaning the grime all over my son's face and body LOL. Children really do make you hardcore! ANYWAY... excuse my yuckiness lol! This week (and last too) I've been spending a bit of time looking into form instead of nature photography, and preparing to get myself up and running as a business away from the internet and my known art form. I have been waiting for the right time and always thought it would come in a few more years when my kids are older and my hands are slightly less full of things. But to be honest besides serious cabin fever, I have been ready to get out for a while. My goal is to work in wedding photography in a few years time but for now I want to work with portrait photography. I already have a sweet portfolio in the works which has been filling up nicely since my daughter entered the world.

It was a visit to a friend this week that made me feel encouraged enough to get started on this venture earlier than planned. She and her sister were browsing through my flickr profile via my phone when she started showing off a bunch of sweet pictures from a recent shoot she had with her own kids and said with an err of disappointment in her tone "why aren't YOU doing something like this???". She knows of my intentions in photography as I had offered shoots for her girls before (just never had the chance to do it). I began my long list of excuses as to why it would be more practical to do it later on but then looking on my camera at all the recent shots I had left on there I began to wonder why myself. Nothing is stopping me besides the financial implications, and I would need to register myself, not trying to blow my own trumpet, but knowing that it would definitely give me an income. So since that day I have been making plans!

It'll be good to get out and have some identity as a professional besides as an artist. It's not a certainty for now but the plans are being made and hopefully it won't be long before it all works out! I think the best thing will be knowing that my kids will be able to see a happier and more confident mother in me. I feel that the sooner I start, the sooner I'll be able to realise my dream as being a wedding photographer in the future.


Recent Photography Posted to moonangelnay.etsy.com...


That's it for now. Have a great weekend all!


moonangelnay x