Thankful Thursday

Good morning to the last day of my 40's! This morning despite being inexorably sleepy, I am very thankful for so much and grateful to so many. 

First off, a big thanks to everyone who has participated (so far -- LAST DAY TO COMMENT) in my birthday blog comment contest: 

molly, judi, laurann, tina, belinda, lisa, cathy, sean, desiree, anna, bess, shulamit, sofie & celia

There is still time to enter & WIN but not much. Today IS THE VERY LAST DAY to enter. It's easy... comment on any post in the blog and you will be entered to win. I will draw winners tomorrow on my birthday!  

I am also so very thankful to my the wonderful folks who ordered from Mama Picture This in May: 

lindy, molly (& ruth & quinn), elizabeth, daren, laurie, amanda jane, valerie, sierra & bonnie! 

You helped to make it a wonderful month!

Ciao for now, 
Mama Zuzi

New blog features

Just wanted to let folks know that for now I'm going to be focussing on particular themes on particular days. Check it out: 

SUNDAY:  Studio Sunday -- organization, things to includes, supplies, design and more

MONDAY:  Mama Monday -- anything related to being a mama, mama picture this

TUESDAY:  Tutorial Tuesday -- Mine, yours, ours. DIY it baby!

WEDNESDAY:  What a shot Wednesday -- photos and more photos

THURSDAY:  Thankful Thursday -- Things I'm thankful for & appreciations

FRIDAY:  Nearly Famous Friday (moving my blog posts here) 

SATURDAY:  Self Improvement Saturday - we all do it and I'm gonna share about it

I'll start up this schedule tomorrow... my first self-improvement Saturday. Guess I better get thinking about what I am gonna do ;-) 

And if you are someone with a studio, a mama with your own blog, someone who does tutorials or just interested in contacting me, please contact me! I would love to hear your thoughts! 

Ciao for now, 

Mama Zuzi

Studio Space Evolution - In the Beginning...

So in the last blog post I showed you a couple of the many awesome studio spaces that I covet. Here's one of them: 

Color coordinated, loads of organized paper, personal style represented... ahhh that would make me happy. 

I'm not sure just what they are storing in the jars and spice bottles or the cute multi-color shelving on the wall but it looks gorgeous! It also appears to be missing the part of the room where they actually craft -- maybe a desk or work table. 

But alas, my little studio space in our basement is sad in comparison. Here it is even with a few organizational tools to help it get better: 

As you may or may not be able to tell, there are a few things that need to go away (sewing machine) and I have added a couple of organizational pieces: 

Calendar to keep track or orders

Cool photo organizer 

A file organizer + more

We are testing to see if our walls are waterproofed. Then we'll decide whether to paint or dry wall and then paint. I am contemplating various organizational pieces of furniture and want to get a new chair. Suggestions are more than welcome ... or pinterest ideas. By the way, all of these new items in my studio space were purchased in the store at www.storeables.com. I may have to go back! I hear Ikea has some good solutions although they very best one I have seen is apparently discontinued. Argh. 

Well ... since it is 8 a.m. on the West Coast and I have to get my munchkins moving on this rainy Monday-ish Tuesday, I'll be going for now.

Ciao, 
Mama Zuzi

Things I'm Liking Sunday - May 19, 2013 Edition

I can barely believe that May is nearly over - can you? 

This time next month, the kids will be out of school and every thing will be different until we get back to it again in the fall. 

You would think that I'd be liking summer goodies right about now, but I'm just not there yet. So what am I liking? Let me fill you in... 

For a while I was all about the British TV show "Doc Martin" and to be honest, I still am. I managed to watch every single episode for the total of it's five seasons thus far. I hear rumor that the series is filming Season 6 this year and I can't wait to see it. In the meantime I've been looking around for other shows I enjoy as much. 

Psych's characters Shawn Spencer and Burton Guster

And then we found "Psych!"  We don't have cable so we never even knew it existed until this year even though the show is currently in it's 7th season! That is my first LIKE for this week... the family found "Psych" Season 7 on Hulu and we are overjoyed! 

You can find "Psych" on the USA Network if you are a paid up cable kinda person. 

When I'm not watching Shawn and Gus thwarting criminals after getting into mucho messes, I'm usually working on some aspect of my Etsy Shop.

This weekend I'm working up some Kids Personalized Scrabble Pieces Name Sign and already have a a few orders! Totally fun to make these babies. I started with my daughter's name as an example and I'm also working up a possible boy version as well. There will be more. 


And last but definitely not least, I've been liking the art of my good friend, Tom Webb, aka Sir Grapefellow. His Etsy Shop is here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Webbitup and it is filled amazingly illustrated monsters, pirates, dogs, cats, rabbits and even a snake! 

I find myself most partial to the pugs and the cats. 

And one more thing. I am liking the awesome folks who have actually entered by birthday blog contest by adding a comment (it can be to any post on my blog). The rules are easy and they are here: http://mamapicturethis.blogspot.com/2013/05/blog-birthday-comment-contest.html. And I've just added a NEW rule... the more times you comment, the more times you are entered to win! Right now the entrants have a 50/50 chance of winning. I think YOU should give 'em a run for their money (or t-shirts and card sets)! 

Ciao for now! 

Mama Zuzi 

Things I'm Liking Sunday - Cinco de Mayo Edition

It's that time again. I know you've been counting the days. It's time for "Things I'm Liking" Sunday! 

To tell you the truth, the #1 thing I'm liking today is the gloriously windy and warm Portland weather. I know it is at least 85 degrees outside at 5 pm. This weather is going to make it VERY hard to go back to the office tomorrow. I'm also liking the fact that it appears our dopey puppy Olivia has yet again beat the odds and seems to be back to her old self -- as bouncy as ever. Go figure. I'm starting to call her "Super Dog." No better canine play mate for Bat Penny than Super Dog! 


It also just happens to be Cinco de Mayo and in honor of the day, I bring you my most favorite of items that marks the occasion with a great message (wish I had one right now): 

I didn't find it in time for this year, but maybe I can order and have it ready for next year! You can see more fun signs by the maker of this great one at: Kickstandsupsignco.

And speaking of celebrations, I'm trying to think of just how to celebrate my birthday which is coming up next month. Maybe I should call up Prince and ask him what he's gonna do, since we share the day ;-) Of course I'm kidding. I don't have his phone number. I do need to figure out what I want to do to mark my big day. If I was gonna have a party (which I don't really want to do), I'd  buy myself this gorgeous dish and serve something in it! Gosh help me, I have fallen in love with a bowl.

If you are into vintage, such as this beautiful bowl, and don't have the time to go out and scour the yard and estate sales for yourself, give a look at this fun Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RinnovatoVintage?ref=seller_info.

Last but not least, I'm madly in love with the process of re-taking photos for my note card listings in my shop. I went to Paper Source on 23rd in NW Portland and the reviews were all true. The staff was totally nice and helpful and I finally found gorgeous card stock and envelopes and other goodies that I needed. I'll likely post a photo essay on my process tomorrow but for today, let me just leave you with this teaser... 

To see more, just hop over to the shop. You can also see more images and get more information by following Mama Picture This on Facebook! And if you are more a twitter kinda person, there's always https://twitter.com/mamazuzi. 

Some Things I Like Sunday

I can hardly believe it is already Sunday again, but here we are! This past week has been hectic at Mama Picture This 1) because Mama had some sick kiddos on her hands and 2) because I have really started working to improve my shop and promotion of it too! I am truly hoping to find those customers who like what I do and provide photo items that they will love. 

Today as much as I want to be in my shop making up photo card sets and other fun things, I'm stretched on the coach, drinking tea, eating soup and hoping to get rid of the cold I no doubt caught from my kids. 

I have been keeping up with what is going on on Etsy today however and I have noticed that there are LOTS of new listings that happen on Saturdays. So there have been many many things for me to covet for my Sunday blog posting. 

And truly, besides looking at Etsy and laying on the couch, about the only thing I've got the strength to do is read a book. I haven't yet today (snafu with my daughter but I digress) but I probably will before I go to bed. 

One of the great things about shopping online and especially on Etsy, is you get great handmade things - yes, but also you can find something for just about anyone. Today's theme for me is perfect gifts for people who love to read. 


If you or someone you know is a fan of Edgar Allen Poe, as I have been on occasion, they may enjoy wearing this beautiful necklace from TerraNovaJewelry featuring the image of a raven and the words of Poe himself. 

"“Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears.” 

― Edgar Allan Poe

For the lover of words -- all words, each and every word -- you may enjoy this simple and charming black and white image printed right on to the page of a dictionary to make it extra special. 

The collageOrama shop has many different images of all different styles -- some black and white, some in full color -- to choose from!  



If music notes are more your style, there are options for you too. A great gift for a lover or performer of music, might be this gorgeous butterfly print on a piece of vintage sheet music by CirquedeArt

I have been pondering the printing of some of my images on to the printed page and am currently thinking about just which images and which printed pages might work best. I'll keep you up-to-date on my thoughts, process and any products that come from this particular creative process. In the meantime, enjoy a good book or a good piece of art printed on the pages of one! 

Mama Zuzi