Free shoes!!!!

Free wedding shoe portrait that is when you purchase your custom couture bridal illustration.

 I worked very hard over the last few months to relaunch my etsy store into the vision I had for it.

And to celebrate, I am offering shoes! Shoes for everyone!

•With every purchase of a Couture Fashion Illustration, you receive a FREE Couture Shoe Illustration! That is a $300 dollar value for $200!

•This also applies with the purchase of a $200 dollar gift certificate ( the price of a Couture Fashion Illustration) !Just enter "YAY!SHOES" in the notes section of checking out.

•This offer expires July 24th, 2013 so get going!

www.etsy.com/shop/EricaCampanellaBride

And thanks for stopping by!

A new look- Learning the art of branding on etsy one step at a time!

**picture above, Kim of the popular knitting Craft Stash pod cast.

I'm not sure if all artists have this problem or if it's just me. Me and my ADD. I don't want to do one project, I want to do all projects! Right now. Right here. Let's do it all. Shockingly, I accomplish nothing from this approach.

When I first created my esty store ( the now defunct Printed and Hangable), my idea was that it would be a catch all for all my projects. Thank god for the honest people in my life. Stream line, stream line, stream line was all I heard.

It wasn't until I sat down with Katja Bartholmess visionary and co-founder of the international branding agency, The Brooklyn Family that I got it.  Katja is launching her own new exciting project I think all of us are going to love! More on that later.

But Katja told me two things I needed to hear, 1) this is an idea that can work ( something about hearing it from someone outside of my family and my artist friends made all the difference), and 2) NO ONE CAN TELL WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

My name was vague - Printable and Hangable. I finally understand why names like AAA Trucking and 123 Dry Cleaners are used. There is no guess work to what they do. And so I make some choices.

•I changed my shops name from "Printable and Hangable" to "Erica Campanella, Couture Bridal Illustration"

•I removed all products that did not fit with my new shops name. It was hard getting rid of work I really loved. But it will see the light of day again in another form.

•I took a hard look at the illustrations I already did and realized that I needed more unity in them. And it took FOREVER. I drew, and I drew. The same pictures over and over. Some were good. Some were horrible. Some we good but not realistic to create over and over. Some were so time consuming that my cost level would have been astronomical. But in the end, I developed a look that was trendy, eye-catching, and something I could build off of as I did more work. In other words, a good start.

**For instance, this is one of my new pieces. I was thrilled to do a couture bridal illustration for Kim of the popular knitting Craft Stash pod cast.

**here's a shot of the new shop. I still have some more tweaks but what a difference in the clarity of product.

And so I am starting from scratch. And I got my first two sales this week! I hope it's the start of something good.

Blossom Bands Coupon for P&H peeps!

One of the great things about having little girls in your life is DRESSING little girls. But have you seen those head bands? Those head bands that make your child look like a giant gaudy walking petunia via the real house wives of New Jersey? THESE are not those head bands. Bethany Lander, the woman behind etsy store Blossom Bands, crafts these whimsical little treats. I love the color palettes! I see them for the mom who likes fashion as opposed to the mom who just wants her little girl to dress in head to toe pink all the time (eew). I'm totally getting my niece ( the big smiley one on the right) a blossom band to go with her favorite "blossom" shirt. And now you can too! For the next week P&H peeps get a 15% discount when you enter the code- BLOSSOM401 at check out.

So shop away at Blossom Bands etsy store and while you're at it why not like their Facebook page.

Speaking of my niece, she insisted on dressing herself for this photo shoot with amazing photographer Angela Ryan You can find Angela's great work here- www.angelaryanphotography.com and check her out on Facebook too!

**** UPDATE: Bethany at Blossom Bands was nice enough to send me the link to the photographer who's work is on the left- http://melissadecastro.com/

New for Knitters with a Etsy Coupon!

I am not a knitter. In fact, I'm horrible at it. But I've been able to gain an insider appreciation, shall we say, of it through my friend Kim Cherubin (seen left), host of the podcast Craft Stash. Even if you don't knit you should check it out just to see what I get to enjoy in person from Kim, fun and informed conversation and great recommendations on everything from apps to books. It was hilarious walking around the Rhineback Sheep and Wool festival this year ( my first knitting event) with Kim. The girl was literally a celebrity. Women with bags full of yarn flying behind them came running up to Kim, they were so excited to see her in person.

Kim is a girl with discerning taste and from what I saw at the Rhinebeck festival, knitting stuff can be a bit ..whacky. But I immediately thought of Kim when I saw my friend Katy Westcott's etsy store Katrinkles. She's getting amazing press right now for her knitting and knitting inspired products. These whimsical laser cut creations are made in my home state of RI by Katy herself. Do I need a knitting needle gage? No, but it's in the shape of a whale! Must have cute whale! And a laser cut knit pendant? So clever and hip.

 For the next week P&H friends can get 15% off at Katrinkles when you enter KATRINKLES401 at check out.

You Tube videos we love- Love of the day

So this seems to a week of regrouping here at P&H. So I give you the love of the day. Think Josh Whedon meets Veronica Mars meets The Guild via Jane Austen. And if all those things were mashed together it would be the Lizzie Bennet Diaries. I totally love the creativity of one camera and limited characters while totally giving a hilarious modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice.

I spent the day creating new blog posts, for once. But in light of todays events, this seemed more appropriate to share. I love Boston so I created this. My heart goes out to the city, friends and family of the injured and lost. Marathon training is grueling. What horrific end to what should've been a triumphant achievement.

Better late then never? Free April wall paper calendar!

How about a wall paper calendar for April? Enjoy!