life won't wait forever - happy weekend

photos: lips, feathers, life, copper lights, art, chairs

this home is  stunning

listen to this

 do something fun this weekend....have a good one!

calm & collected

 

Two very pretty homes. one  + second one. 

3 years on

As I mentioned in my last post it has been 3 years since I opened a little shop on Etsy. Something that was only meant to be a hobby when on maternity leave with my daughter Anya grew slowly into a business. 

When A. was one  I made a picture for my friends wedding and a couple of others just to be creative and do something else, have a hobby. I had a few positive comments on flickr and this blog so decided to open a shop on Etsy. It was easy to set up, be part of the Etsy community and always have quick feedback. 

I was so happy when people started writing about my work on blogs and other websites. I was working myself, just a few hours a day when Anya was sleeping. 

A Few months later I joined Not On The High Street. They have been very supportive and encouraging, it was good for me. I didn't have a much of an idea what I was doing. Later that year I was very lucky and  my work was featured in Real Simple magazine in their summer gift guide. My picture was featured on a full page of the magazine. I was warned to be busy after that, but didn't realise how much work was going to be involved. I worked with the help of my family about 18 hours a day and had to close the shop a few times as I couldn't cope with my orders. I was completely unprepared, with the work load not having had this experience.

I worked as an interior designer and visual merchandiser before, but I had never sold anything, I didn't have a clue how to price items, how to deal with wholesale. I just knew how to make things pretty:)

That year I employed two part time girls to help me out with my orders. Both mums with small babies as well. 

My business has grown slowly and steadily since then. I have been learning everything myself, from photography, styling, dealing with suppliers, absolute lack of sleep and little time for my daughter. She was often playing in the background while I was packaging pictures and replying to emails. 

But she has been my inspiration, energy boost and a little friend:)

I missed on lots of opportunities due to my complete absence of business mind at the beginning but I don't mind that. I wanted to grow my shop comfortably, in speed which I could keep and stay sane. 

In last 3 years I had workspace in our kitchen, upstairs in a little studio and now outside of our home in an office. I employ 5 part time girls. I'm still learning so much, making small steps one by one. I have more responsibility not just to me but other people as well. 

I feel very happy I can be doing something what I love, work hard but also take time off when I need to. But I believe none of this would be possible without people around me, our customers and also this blog and community, you. 

I had so much unexpected support from you guys and I'm immensely grateful for that. THANK YOU!

3 years + 3 days

We are celebrating 3 years anniversary!  I started my little business back in October 2009 and the time has just flown so fast. I would like to tell you much more about it in  next post but for now.....

 ENJOY the 10% discount on anything in our shop.

The promotion is valid for 3 days - 8th-11th October. Head over here and apply this code: 3YEARS. We added few new items, cards, posters and pictures. enjoy!

what are you wearing this autumn?

For me is khaki jacket, skinny jeans, chunky scarf, trainers or my favourite husdon boots. And anything by this people. Also this shop and this one  have lovely stuff I spotted recently.
I'm going tonight to Best of Britania where I was invited by this people. 
Have a lovely Friday!
all photos from here

if I was getting married ....13.

all photos from here

Candy shop

And one more inspirational woman from Sweden.

There is a candy shop called Pärlans Konfektyr in Swedish Stockholm which you can find at Nytorgsgatan 38. Small and discreet store is run by Leyli who made this place exceptional based on a recipe from the 30s and 40s. Everything is manufactured by hand, cut by hand and packed by hand. In a pleasant atmosphere of the pre-war style interior you can buy paper packed candy bars or a gift box with decorative ribbon. Everything is focused on quality rather than quantity. When I will be heading to Stockholm it will be on my must see list.

See you next week!...Petra

video by Marcus Werner

Cia Wedin

Hi, it is Petra here today.

I like the work of the Swedish design journalist and stylist Cia Wedin. Her styling is fresh and interiors captured by great photographers have pleasant home atmosphere. Her portfolio can be found here

Petra

the best branding around

I have been very much into simplifying lately. My home, closet, tasks, photography and styling for my shop and packaging of our pictures. I will show you more about that soon. I have been collecting images of products and branding I like in one of my pinterest boards and today I came across this blog and post. So very nice...head over here for 58 Beautiful Branding Layouts

painting with A.

Not sure if you remember couple of months ago Anya and I painted  a large canvas, which is above our bed at the moment I love it a lot. This one was piece of my art for about 4 months, I repainted it about 5 times and in the end it just ended up all black. Oh artist frustration:)

I gave it to A. ( 4 years) and she made into alphabet. A- apple, B- butterfly, C- cat.....F- Frank (her granddad), M- Mark ( her dad), I - igloo.....unfortunately there wasn't enough space for me - V:)

I just love how kids creativity is so pure and without hesitation and doubts. Her hand is firm and decisive when she paints, not bothered about composition and colours just doing something she loves. 

We have a lot of DIY project to finish this weekend and cooking a large dinner for friends. 

Enjoy your one!

wonderful vintage

LOVE this home of J. Crew's menswear director. Head over here for more. 

if I was getting married ...12.

This time in early autumn. With  a bit of sunshine, crisp air, early nights and lots of candles. All images from  here. 

spring nest

Hi, it is Petra here today.

I love magazines like Livingetc full of gorgeous spacey interiors but the reality is often different. Have you got a small room and tight budget? Never mind. Such limits can lead into nontraditional solution. As is this bedroom.

At the beginning of the year a young family asked me to participate on the interior of their new village house. They just moved in with few pieces of furniture from their previous flat and a vision of orange walls ... . There was new but  poor quality spruce floor in the bedroom and no ceiling light. So I suggested to paint the floor white glaze. I chose the wall color and toned bed linen. As for light, textile lamp shades hang on a cable from the ceiling hook. This solution enables easy light intensity adjustment just by moving lights up and down. Space for clothing and books is hidden behind the patterned curtain. It is made of two different old wardrobes and shelves. We just unmounted the doors. For easy cleaning washable rug is ideal. DIY from electrical insulating tape. Just won't warm your feet :-)

When I was finishing the bedroom, trees were blooming like the textile lamp shades above bed and Veronika just released black version of "Kiss slowly" poster. It fitted there perfectly. 

And clients impressions? They are happy not having orange walls...

See you next week!

photos & styling by P.+V. Weiss

freunde von freunden

Chic bohemian apartments from Paris....listen to this .....photos from here, here

have a nice weekend!

Open Season from High Highs on Vimeo.

updates + studio heaven

Hello there! I finally moved all my stuff to a new studio/office space outside of our house, oh and it feels good! so nice not to be able to creep at 1.30am back to "that" room and start catching up on work and then at 2.30 realising, again! that 4.5 hours is probably not enough to survive in long term. So let's see if I keep to more decent sleeping hours. 

Other personal news I very reluctantly but necessarily started to drive again. After 8 years and never driving on left side, what a stupid thing, it has been challenging but so far, touch wood, ok. 

Plus I had this really exhausting virus which completely drained me and left me exhausted...so here I'm :)

No honestly, it's been very busy and stressful but it feels good. Times are changing, my small business, me and the path I'm taking. I 've made couple big steps which are scary but also necessary. 

Back to these images of wonderful work spaces. Mine unfortunatey doesn't  look like this, but one day..we can all dream ...

have  a great day!
all images from here
and check out this new shop of photos on Etsy

dining with kids

Hi , it's Petra here today....

When I was a child I often used to hear 'don't speak when eating'. Even at nursery school we said before lunch "good tasting without talking". Now at home we do talk at the table, and a lot about all sorts of things and it is a good time. But I found myself that I have one 'rule': no toys, books etc, on the table during dining. But I think the rules are to be changed, or do the exception..... For instance last weekend, I made a surprise for the afternoon tea: I drew a road on the "tablecloth" from wrapping paper and Hugo while eating was dealing with traffic jam, delivering the raspberries, moving traffic signs. ... it was different and fun dining. Try it:-) 

More inspiration for dining with kids here.

See you next week!

photos & styling by P.+V. Weiss

sunday suppers + the makers

I mentioned Sunday Suppers and project The Makers here few times. Both equally inspiring and with wonderful photography and styling. Don't you just love the flower styling and those little desserts ? mnam....

Sarjaton

Shaped by tradition, tailored for today. from Iittala on Vimeo.

Hi, it's Petra here today. I really like new Sarjaton collection by Iittala. Sarjaton, meaning ‘no series’ in Finnish, is a range that redefines the freedom of flexibility. I personally think it is simple, beatifull and poetic. My favourite is Mug Letti old rose. And yours? more about collection here