We’re sightseeing today in a mystery city, and I’m so excited to be exploring the architecture here.  Summer is the height of travel season, and in years past we would forego a faraway vacation - not this year!  One of my good blog friends toured Spain recently and his pictures of Barcelona took me back to our travels there many years ago.  No doubt since we’re all watching the Summer Olympics, you’re admiring the modern structures built for the event in London.

I’ve had a long time love affair with grand architecture.  We used to travel abroad a lot before the babies were born, once I even I climbed all the stairs to the top of the cupola above St. Peters in Rome (while six months pregnant!) and the stairs to the Eiffel Tower too.  Earlier this week, we took the kids to another famous monument and they loved it!  They’ve got their father’s climbing syndrome, he’s always looking up and asking “How fast can we get to the top?”  :)

We try to grab a souvenir of monuments, some are small, others are art prints still in tubes waiting to be framed someday.  We’ve seen some iconic structures over the last 15+ years, my favorites include La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Il Duomo in Florence, and the Coliseum in Rome.

Photo series via Third Floor Design on Etsy

The two l want to see in my lifetime are the Parthenon in Athens and the Taj Mahal.

watercolor by Bohemian Habitats

Today I thought I’d feature a few architectural watercolor prints and city views found on Etsy – be sure to check out the shop portfolios, they have a lot more to see!

Flatiron, NYC by Ilker Cocahan

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Hey all!  I spent the afternoon pulling together the design plan for the kids room for the Alma Project with Cristin of Simplified Bee, we’re so excited about the space taking shape and all the volunteers and vendors that have stepped forward to donate their time and products, thank you so much!  I’m so excited for the install and big reveal in a few short weeks.  (Still need more donations, so contribute what you can by clicking on the link in the sidebar!)

While online, I was shopping for artwork for the walls on Etsy and we’ve narrowed it down to a favorite series (can’t wait to show you!), but I couldn’t help but notice so many other amazing artists over there, I could be lost for hours.  I just had to share a few I stumbled across – some of these might look great on your walls or as part of your collection. 

I love Eva Juliet from Montreal, Canada.  Her shop is filled with whimsical illustrations from constellations to cupcakes, but I’m particularly fond of the culinary series, perfect framed in a grid on a kitchen wall or dining nook.

Who knows a dude who loves Star Wars? Oh, you’re all raising your hands.  Well check out the pop art series over at The Decorium Studio of Laguna Beach, California.  I want my little boy wants one too.

Visit Monorail Studio of Austin, Texas for some very fun and fresh quotable screenprints.  They are “printmakers by blood and artists by trade, ink in one hand and coffee in the other.”  I love that so much.  

Have you seen Quill and Fox?  You should, this shop from Portland, Oregon offers sweet paper goods in the form of seasonal and other post cards, my favorite it this terrarium series, send two to friends, then frame the others on your gallery wall.

Parada Creations of Bridgeport, Connecticut is another favorite for the whimsical illustration and excellent use of color, don’t miss the series of passion love prints!

Watercolor is en vogue again, and Jessica Durrant of Atlanta, Georgia does exceptional work.  I’m especially drawn to her series of multicolored world maps.

Traveled to a major city and fallen in love with its architecture?  You’ll love the colorful series of city prints by Laura Amiss of Amstelveen, Netherlands.

Hop on over to browse the art on Etsy and get lost like I did, there are so many talented artists over there.  Who’s your latest favorite? 

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Hello all, the sun is shining, and the forecast is for a perfect fall weekend, yes! The hub and I are headed to the City by the Bay on Sunday with great seats at the 49er football game, I’m so excited!! I haven’t been to a professional football game in so many years, we’re going to have a ball while the kids are home with a babysitter, woo hoo!!  

The winners of the Waverly Fabric Giveaway are #1,344 Anneke of RustiChic and #2,053 Jenny of DIY Newlyweds. The Matthew Mead Tiered Stand goes to #8 Kathy Ellis, congratulations ladies, I sent you all an email.

This weekend’s giveaway is brought to you by Purple Lemon Designs, an Etsy shop filled with delightful personalized products from customized stamps to stationery.

Five free personalized stamps are up for grabs this weekend, just in time for the upcoming holiday mailings!  Pick an everyday or Christmas version, winners choice!

Purple Lemon Designs is also offering all of you a 10% discount when you shop – simply use the code CG2011.

Eligibility to win one of five free personalized stamps from Purple Lemon Designs

1) Hop on over to Purple Lemon Designs and pick your favorite stamp, then leave your choice in a comment.

2)  For a second chance to win, link to this giveaway on either Facebook or Twitter, then leave a second comment telling where you linked (FB or Twitter).

3.  For a third chance to win, Like Purple Lemon on Facebook, leave another comment here.

Five winners chosen at random, free shipping, US and Canada only. Giveaway ends Monday October 10th, 8 p.m. PST. 

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Five winners:  #12 Anne, #210, Amanda S., #349 Cynthia, #405 Penelope, #651 Sunday.  Winners all notified via email!

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Hello my friends, I have a very special visitor today.  Many weeks ago, I had a long conversation with Gina of The Shabby Chic Cottage and I was so inspired by her story I asked her to tell it here!  I first met Gina at Blissdom and we’ve been friends ever since.  Many of you know her already, Gina is the creator behind The Shabby Chic Cottage blog and Etsy shop. 

Gina has been a comforting presence and voice for me on all topics of small business.  If you have a desire to create and sell your handmade creations in an online forum, Gina has years of experience and an inspiring story to tell. 

Please welcome my friend Gina to share her story of how she started a successful business on Etsy, one that gives her the ultimate satisfaction of creating hand crafted goods, and also a few extra dollars in the bank for her creativity and efforts!

“Hi y’all!  I’m Gina from The Shabby Chic Cottage.

I’m so very excited to be here today!  Kate is such a wonderful source of encouragement and inspiration for me, I was honored when she asked me to write up a post about how I started my business.

I didn’t start my blog with any aspirations of making money.  I had blogged for 2+ years on another blog that barely had any readers, but I’m a writer, so I wanted a place to write what I wanted instead of writing obituaries all day (part of my old “day job” duties.)  After 5 years of living in my childhood home, we finally were at a point where we could begin to remodel, and so I started The Shabby Chic Cottage in April 2009 to journal the changes as we went along, sort of a virtual scrapbook.  I had no idea where it would lead.

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