Thankful Thursday - Last Thursday Redux Edition

I am thankful for many things this Thursday. Of course I am thankful for my family and friends and for getting through the rough spots and moving forward. 

I am also thankful to have a good job and the ability to pursue my creative passions too. I am thankful for being able to do Last Thursday in Portland for a second time and this time with my co-worker Dana! 

Check out her cute items on Etsy:  

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleBreadcrumbPdx

Stop by and see us if you can tonight! This morning I'm having to pack up for tonight's event as I won't have time to come home first... table (in van), chair and sale items, square, smart phone... what else? Hmmm... maybe I should make a checklist for this sort of thing. 

I will be doing "the reveal" of my mini canvas pieces as they are ready. They are all places in Oregon. Here is Shaniko: 

So tiny! Loving it. Now I'm gonna go attempt to get ready for work AND possibly finish up one or more of my tiny little canvas babies! Ciao for now.

Studio Sunday - Post Vacation Edition

What's in my studio today? 

The better question to ask might just be, "What ISN'T in my studio today?" 

Whatever you do however, just don't ask this question to my tween daughter, because she will quickly explain with an annoying tone that of course there are plenty of things not in my studio, such as the President, a tree, the kitchen sink, etc. So helpful in correcting me lately, she is (channeling my best Yoda there). 

I apologize to my faithful readers for letting you down over the past couple of weeks, but my mother came to visit and then we were away at the coast for a week... gosh I miss this view:  

Once we returned to "real life" I kept getting stuck in horrible traffic after work. 

Honestly I couldn't find "my creative" after two hours in bumper-to-bumper driving! 

Now I am getting back into the blogging groove (or at least working in that direction). 

But back to my studio... 

In various stages of completion are the following: 

• a card order to complete so I can ship tomorrow

• a mini-flower magnet set

• two tiny pendant necklaces 

• three cute little canvases

• a wedding sign

• a miniature framed photo

The little things are all for a show next month (hopefully) at Side Street Gallery in Portland. 

One of the photo images in the studio was taken on this year's beach vacation, can you guess which one? 

And while this isn't exactly her studio, check out what the lovely friends of Melaine over at My Sweet Savannah blog created recently: 

She also did something similar to this with mugs... so amazing. I am totally going to do this. Let me know if you wanna join me for a crafting night some time! 

You can check out more cool plates that were created over at her blog. And while you are checking out her blog, please notice the lovely advertisement near the upper left hand corner of the blog... Mama Picture This would appreciate it! 

Here at Mama Picture This, I love to share what other friends have happening in their studios as well. 

To that end, check out this awesome up-cycled chicken wire display frame by Tina over at Belou492: 

And last but by no means least, Brandy from MyEclecticCache shared with me what she's working on right now and it's gorgeous! You should check out the other items in these ladies shops. They have both been busy making pretty things lately! 

And now that I've finished my blog post for today and taken a nap, I'm going to try to channel whatever energy I have left into completing a few more projects down in my cool basement shop. Happy Sunday!

Cool ways to hang photos

Anyone can take a photo print down to the framing shop and go for the standard frame with or without a matte. That can get dull pretty quickly. 

The cool thing about the internet is that there are tons of clever and unique ideas out there to spice up your family photos or art prints for your home. 

A few photos of different members of your family, shots from a particular event or thematically-connected art prints can come together beautifully with the help of an old or antique window. This idea comes from the cottageinstincts blog which can be found at: http://cottageinstincts.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-to-do-with-old-windows.html.

I can totally see my Shaniko photo collection in a 4-pane window. 

I also found a great and easy way to connect several photos, possibly in a hallway or above a table, by using a curtain rod. 

The rod can be as modern and sleek or fancy and intricate as your style dictates. A little ribbon or wire and your photos framed as you like, and you've got a terrific look. 

More images of this idea and details can be found at the Wingledings blog: 

http://wingledings.blogspot.com/2010/09/i-love-good-challenge.html

If you have some old shutters laying around, 2 Friends & 2 Cities have a great idea of how to refinish them and turn them into a beautiful display for your photos. 

Check out their before and after tutorial at their blog here: 

http://221vision.com/2011/02/17/before-after-shutters/

I love all of these ideas and given how many bare walls we have in our house, my photo decorating wheels are turning. 

I for sure want to try both the window and the curtain rod idea. What ideas are you inspired by? 

Ciao for now. 

Mama Zuzi

Thinking ahead

Even though Mother's Day is this coming weekend, I'm already thinking beyond. 

If you are a procrastinator with regards to gifts, then this post may be a tad early for you. 

If however, you are someone who plans ahead (about a month in this case), then it may be just what you need. 

If your Dad is a fan of photography, the old west or even cars, you just might be able to find a gift for your Dad at Mama Picture This! 

Photo Prints: 

There is Wagon Wheel for the rustic-ly inclined. 

There are several other print options from the Shaniko, Oregon Ghost Town collection. You can find them here: 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MamaPictureThis?section_id=13522786

Can't make up your mind? No problem, you can special order the Shaniko Collection Collage Print (seen here -- to the right). 

"Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a Dad."

                              ~ Unknown 

Ah the old days... when I was so young

Can't find what you are looking for at Mama Picture This? 

Check out other Etsy shops for handmade gifts for the father in your life: 

https://www.etsy.com/search?q=father%20day%20gift&view_type=gallery&ship_to=US

Oh and speaking of Dads... Happy Birthday to Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick (I just realized your big day is today!) 

Ciao for now, 

Mama Zuzi 

Some times you just gotta pull over

Today I had to take photos at an event for my day job. It was nice to have a long drive in the country although I found myself wanting to pull over every other minute to take a photo for myself of something interesting. Time constraints being what they were, I did not except just once to take this picture: 

Something about this old corner market, now abandoned and in particular these doors, called me to pull over and stop. 

I have always found myself particularly drawn to images full of patterns and with a truly graphic sensibility. I often like to take photos of things as close up as I can or in a way that breaks away from the obvious "this is a building with a top, sides and a bottom." Not sure if that will make sense to everyone but it resonates with me. 

I have also always been drawn to color. But in this photo it isn't about color, but truly lack thereof that makes it beautiful... that and the interestingly diverse patterns made by the juxtapositions of the gravel road, the porch slats, the siding, doors and beam. I find this image similar in feel to the Shaniko pictures I recently added to my shop. I suppose that makes sense as Shaniko is a ghost town and what is still there is mostly aged, weathered and abandoned. 

I hope you enjoy this photo as much as I do. Have a wonderful day and I hope many wonderful doors open for you today and every day. 

Best always! 

Mama Zuzi (Sue)