BLOG REDESIGN IN THE WORKS

I’m currently working on a redesign for this blog. Hopefully, it’ll be done in April sometime, but realistically it probably won’t be ready until May. I’m working on it sporadically while doing other design projects; that’s why it’s taking forever. I’m my own worst client. Once I’m done with the redesign I will blog more often (let's hope).

In other news, the clearance sale in the LAX TO YVR shop is still going on. Not much left!

Follow me on Instagram if you want to keep in touch!

WHY I'M CLOSING MY ETSY SHOP

I decided to shut down the LAX TO YVR shop on Etsy. I became disenchanted with being an Etsy seller when I discovered at the beginning of 2012 that someone had copied my designs and was underselling me. Throughout 2012, a few more copycat sellers cropped up. It was very disheartening, and it eventually sucked all my motivation to build up my shop.

Selling on Etsy has been both a positive and negative experience. I wouldn't write it off completely. I learned some good lessons. Etsy is a great way to explore being an entrepreneur, but I wouldn't count on it as a means to make a living.

It's become apparent that having your designs ripped off by others is typical for designers. It sucks, but it's just the way it is, so I better get used to it.

I'm currently focusing on kickstarting my web design career. I will still maintain this blog, and it will continue to evolve according to my interests.

I'm currently clearing out inventory in the shop. You can get 50% off everything in the LAX TO YVR shop - just use coupon code FIFTY at check out.

NEW! MORE LOWERCASE LETTERS

I've added new lowercase letters to the LAX TO YVR shop.

They're fun to make. I often find lowercase alphabet letters typographically more interesting than their uppercase counterparts. As all the others, these monograms are painted by hand on salvaged burlap rice bags. The edges have been reinforced with thread to prevent fraying.

I'll be off to Boston this Friday to visit the in-laws. The shop will remain open but orders will ship out next Thursday, October 4, when I'll be back in Vancouver.

Happy autumn to those in the northern hemisphere! And to the lucky ones in the southern half of the earth, happy spring!

NEW LAX TO YVR WEBSITE!

LAX TO YVR has its own website! Please check it out and let me know what you think.

Earlier this summer I took a web design class where I learned how to build websites from scratch. The first official website I built was for my business. Creating websites is fun. It's like decorating! I hope to transition into a career in web design gradually. But in order to make that happen I still have a lot more to learn.

In other news, I went in for another round of laser eye surgery last month. Hence, the long silence in my blog. I'm still recovering so I'm not on the computer as much.

And in other other news, I got a new part-time job! A while ago I realized I didn't really enjoy working at home all by my lonesome all day. It was making me quite unhappy, so I started looking for a job that would give me much needed social stimulation. After months of job hunting, I finally landed a half-time position working at a small Jewish private high school for girls as the school secretary. I'm gradually adjusting to my new job and new schedule. It's nice to have have co-workers again and to interact with the students. And because it's part-time, it allows me to continue running my Etsy shop.

Coming down the pipe on the blog: photos of decor projects I've worked on for our apartment and new products for the LAX TO YVR shop. Stay tuned!

SHOP UPDATE: FIRST ANNIVERSARY SALE!

It's been a year since I opened the LAX TO YVR shop! To celebrate I'm offering 20% off everything (excluding shipping) until Sunday, June 17. Use coupon code FIRST at checkout.

It's amazing how fast a year goes. I remember in the first month I launched the shop, Canada Post went on strike! I had to go down to the U.S. in order to ship my orders. It goes without saying that it was a pretty stressful way to begin a new business!

In this upcoming year, I'm planning on introducing more new designs. And, of course, I'll continue using environmentally friendly supplies and methods in creating my products.

Above all, I'm grateful to all my customers for supporting my creative business. It wouldn't be possible without you!

SHOP UPDATE: NEW ITEM AND A GIVEAWAY

This new item is now available in the LAX TO YVR shop. I came up with the design a while ago but it always takes a while to get new products off the ground I find.

There's a chance for you to win my latest creation in a giveaway that's going on right now on the La Chapstick Fanatique blog. Hurry to enter because it ends this Wednesday! The contest is open worldwide.

NEW IN THE SHOP: WHALES

Growing up summer and the beach were synonymous to me. So with summer coming, I can't help but think about the ocean. This inspired me to to design a new item for the LAX TO YVR shop featuring whales. Whales are such fascinating creatures. Everybody seems to be awed by them. I can't help but see them as gentle, benevolent monarchs of the oceanic kingdom. Am I the only one who thinks of whales in this way?

I think this piece would make a great addition to a nautical themed kid's room or to a beach house. It is available now in the LAX TO YVR shop.

On another note, I'll be traveling to Los Angeles this Saturday and returning next Wednesday. The shop will remain open but orders received during that time will be shipped out on Thursday, May 17. I'm looking forward to spending time with my nephew, a fun-loving adorable toddler whom I barely get to see.

SHOP UPDATE: NEW LOWERCASE LETTERS!

I'm excited to introduce new lowercase letters in the LAX TO YVR shop!

For now lowercase letters are only available in letter b, letter c, letter g, and letter i. New ones will be coming soon! So far, letter g is my favourite lowercase letter - it simply looks elegant. The lowercase i definitely looks better than its uppercase counterpart, don't you think?

To celebrate I'm offering free shipping on everything in the shop until the end of February! Use coupon code FEB12 at checkout.

SHOP UPDATE: "I'M OK" BURLAP WALL DECOR

So excited to be sharing my latest creation with you! I just added to my shop this new burlap wall decor item with the phrase "I'm OK" painted in a bold uppercase sans serif font. The inspiration for this came to me shortly after I designed the LOVE piece. I wanted to make another wall hanging with a positive, inspirational message. Every morning I read one entry from a book called Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...and it's all small stuff by Richard Carlson to remind myself that when problems arise or when I'm challenged by difficult circumstances, it's really all okay in the grand scheme of things. The book helps me to keep things in perspective so that  I don't make life to be a big emergency all the time. And today's reading was coincidentally very relevant! It was about self-acceptance and this was my favourite quote: "I may not be perfect, but I'm okay just the way I am."

You can find the "I'm OK" burlap wall decor listing in the LAX TO YVR shop.

Also, there's a chance to win this item in a giveaway contest being held on the CAMP + QUARRY blog! CAMP + QUARRY is run by fellow Vancouverite Sarah, a talented jewelry designer. I'm a big fan of Sarah's blog, and I'm so excited that she's hosting this giveaway. Be sure to also check out the lovely CAMP + QUARRY shop, which features jewelry made with raw crystals. You can enter the contest here.

SHOP UPDATE: "LOVE" BURLAP WALL DECOR

I'm happy to return to blogging after taking a much needed hiatus. My arms are feeling better, but I still need to work on a more ergonomic set-up for my workspace.

I finally added something new in the LAX TO YVR shop! Love is such a positive message to be reminded of, isn't it? It was so nice to work on a design other than alphabet letters and painting in a colour other than just black. This piece really looks great in a black frame. You find can the listing for this item here.

In personal news, we found a new place to live next month! After waffling for over a year on whether to move or not, we finally took the plunge. Our search took over two months, but hopefully this new apartment will prove to be worth all the time and trouble it took to find it. I look forward to decorating a new place! You'll see the progress right here on the blog :-)

LAX TO YVR SHOP WINTER SALE

I opened LAX TO YVR in June, and it's been so encouraging to watch it grow over the months. It makes me happy that customers have responded positively to my products. To celebrate, everything in the shop (except for gift certificates) will be 20% off (before shipping). Just use coupon code WINTER at check out.

Also, I'm just six sales away from reaching 100! Having almost 100 sales is more than I expected given that LAX TO YVR has been in business for only six months.

I'm looking forward to what 2012 will bring. There are some new products in the works that I will start rolling out come January, so stay tuned! If you'd like to stay up to date in regards to new products, special offers, and discount coupons, then sign up for the newsletter to be first in the know.

Also, in case you didn't know, gift certificates to the LAX TO YVR shop are available if you're looking for a last minute gift.

Lastly, I'll be taking a break from blogging for a couple weeks. I've been experiencing excruciating pain in my arms lately due to computer use. My right arm is especially useless due to mousing so much. Hopefully, I'll figure out a more ergonomic set up for my keyboard and mouse so I can work properly without killing my arms. Until then, enjoy the holidays!

STUFF I BUY FROM ETSY: BOOKHOU

Although Bookhou is an Etsy shop based in Toronto, I actually made my purchases at the CircleCraft Christmas market a couple weekends ago. I'd been eyeing the stuff at Bookhou, especially the bag above, for a while now. And when I found out that Arounna was going to sell her wares in Vancouver, I went to CircleCraft without hesitation. I wanted to see the products in person before buying.

I love everything about Bookhou, especially their products that feature geometric patterns. I also couldn't resist getting this 2012 tea towel calendar. It's hanging in our dining nook, which had a big empty wall until now.




Seriously, buying handmade is the best. I'm always happy to buy things that are well designed, and it feels good to support the creative efforts of a real person(s) behind the product.

While on the topic of buying stuff from Etsy, my own Etsy shop, is having a sale this Thanksgiving weekend. Because we live in Canada where we already celebrated Thanksgiving in October, it feels odd that today's Thanksgiving and we're not doing anything to celebrate. Oh, well. Every year I mean to do a Thanksgiving dinner but things get in the way (this year is Photoshop class). That's expat living for you.

I'll also be offering special discounts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. So be sure to check the shop on those days for all the details!

SHOP UPDATE: CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

I've included some Christmas-themed home decor items in the LAX TO YVR shop. One is a green and hot pink felt garland. The others are JOY and NOEL painted in green and red on burlap. Also, new in the shop are $25 and $50 gift certificates.

Can't believe Christmas is next month! Have you started decorating your home yet? I start decorating on the first Sunday of Advent, which this year falls on November 27. I usually begin by making an Advent wreath, but I think this year I'll be skipping it because the fresh pine and leaves I typically use tend to aggravate my allergies sadly. Maybe I can make one by using leaves made out of felt fabric or lots of tinsel! Both are quite flammable though, which perhaps is a bad idea for an Advent wreath...

I've already gone to one Christmas craft fair this year. I'll be attending the Got Craft? holiday craft fair on December 4. Looking forward to seeing some Etsy sellers there!

Finally, stay tuned for an announcement regarding the upcoming U.S. Thanksgiving weekend sale in the LAX TO YVR shop! If you'd like to stay up-to-date on shop sales, then sign up for the newsletter.

SHOP UPDATE: GOING ON VACATION

Halloween is going to be here before you know it. Currently there are a couple of Halloween themed items in the LAX TO YVR shop. I only have one Halloween streamer left! And I'm participating in another giveaway this month! You can check out the details over at the Rikrak studio blog.

Also, both my shops will be closed October 14-19 as we'll be traveling down to Southern California. I'm especially looking forward to getting a bit of R&R in Palm Springs. I haven't been there in ages! Our family used to go there regularly when I was a kid. Can't wait to be in the desert again.

In other news, I've been very busy renovating our living room for the last month. I finally finished painting it in Benjamin Moore Simply White. I love this shade of white. It looks so clean and bright. We're also gradually acquiring new furniture for the space. Most of it is from IKEA, which I feel conflicted about, but whatevs. I'll get over it. Most of it is for my office space anyway. The last major  piece of furniture we have to get is a loveseat. We're seriously considering one from EQ3, but I've read so many negative reviews that I'm scared to purchase anything from that store. We shall see.

My vision is still not 100% after the laser eye surgery I got last month. Hence, I'm not blogging as much as I'd like because staring at a computer screen really irritates my eyes. I've been dealing with a perpetual headache ever since the surgery due to straining my eyes constantly, so it's really affected my productivity and energy level. Hopefully, my vision will be less blurry VERY SOON.

I'm going to try to take some decent pictures during our trip (in spite of my vision) so I can share with you all the great things I love about SoCal.

SHOP UPDATE

Over the last little while, I've been gradually adding a new line of hand-painted alphabet letters to the LAX TO YVR shop. These new letters feature a stencil style serif font.

I'll also soon be adding a couple of new felt garlands. I just sewed them up yesterday and need to photograph them.

For the month of September, I'm a sponsor on the My Girl Thursday blog. You should check out Thursday's fun blog! As part of the sponsorship I'm offering 10% off everything (before shipping) in my shop until the end of September. Just use coupon code MGTSEPT11 at checkout. The other great sponsors on Thursday's blog are also offering discount coupons. Retail therapy, anyone?

In other news, I'm getting laser eye surgery today! So I'll be taking a break from blogging until I recover from the procedure. I'm a bit nervous, but I'm looking forward to taking time off and resting post-surgery.

SHOP UPDATE

I recently put up some new felt party garlands in the LAX TO YVR shop. They are so fun to make. I really love working with felt. They cheer me up just looking at them. Until Monday, September 5, all felt garlands are shipping for free to Canada and US.

Hopefully I'll have my Christmas product line ready for the shop soon. My goal originally was to have it all ready by the end of August. but I've barely even started working on it! August has been a crazy hectic month, and I'll be relieved when it's over.

Also I'll soon be announcing two giveaways I'll be participating in September. So you'll get an opportunity to score some of my products for free!

TAKING A BREAK

Meet our resident spider. He hangs out in the balcony where he feasts on the pests. His main source of food came from the impatiens. They were infested with little white bugs so I threw out the plant recently. I hope the spider is able to find other food.

I'll be away this week from Wednesday to Sunday, so both my shops are closing and I'll be taking a break from blogging. First, I'll be driving down to Yakima, WA, and then up to the Sunshine Coast. Those two places couldn't be any more different from each other. I hope to capture some good photos at both places.

Photos from our recent visit to Bowen Island:

NEW IN THE SHOP!

I added a new product line to the shop this week. They're party streamers made out of felt circles. Aren't they so festive?

They're fantastic for hanging on a wall or across a table. And they're not exclusively for parties. I think they're quite lovely to hang across the wall behind the bed. 

Ever since I became aware of the existence of felt fabric way back when, it's been one of my favourite craft materials. I love the huge range of colours they come in and their soft, fuzzy texture. 

You can see more photos and get the details in the LAX TO YVR shop.

Looking forward to my trip to SoCal this weekend to attend my cousin's wedding! I'll report about my time in L.A. early next week.

Last month when I went out to estate sales I kept finding antlers. I've been wanting to add deer antlers to our home decor for a long time so I was very excited to find them. But the Dude doesn't like having animal remnants lying around so I can't go too crazy. Though I'd love to have a pair of longhorns mounted on the wall, I think for the sake of our marriage it's best if I let that one go. I like the way antlers remind me of the great outdoors. And to boot, they are visually interesting.

I recently listed a pair of small antlers in my vintage shop. I'll be listing bigger antlers soon.

At the beginning of the month I quietly opened my second online shop LAX TO YVR on Etsy. Shortly thereafter the Canada Post strike began, then the shut-out. Yeah, a great way to begin an e-business that relies on the postal system. Nevertheless, I kept the shop open but didn't do much to promote it, thinking that I wouldn't see much action in the shop if I lay low. To my surprise, I got orders within days of opening the shop.

So ta-da! I'm announcing a new shop featuring exclusively handmade home decor by yours truly. I'm a bit obsessed with typography and I think burlap is a really cool fibre to work with so I was inspired to create a product that combines both. Jute burlap is natural, renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable so it's a very sustainable resource. My goal is to be as eco-friendly as possible in running my business.

My first online shop Sugarpush Vintage is still around. It's going to be interesting (and require a butt load of multitasking prowess) running the two shops simultaneously. I find that selling handmade is a totally different game than selling vintage on Etsy.

I'm super excited about my new venture. Now that Canada Post is operating again, I hope that business will pick up for both stores.