hello again!

Wow February has been a busy month for me!  I've been working on so many projects that I haven't had a chance to stop in here and update this blog! 

My business has been good this month... not this business, my actual career... which come to think of it, I don't think I've ever talked about it on here.  I own a design company that just celebrated it's 5 year anniversary this month.  We are the top design agency in our niche and have had literally hundreds upon hundreds of great clients every year, some I'm sure you know of, since they are quite famous in the music industry!

My fiance is a U.S. citizen and has been living in Canada with me for over 2 years now. During the entire time he's been here, we've been dealing with tons of immigration crap and it has been the most frustrating thing ever.  What makes it even more frustrating is that he is literally from right across the border a couple of hours away.  If you don't know how immigration works, basically he is not allowed to work here legally until his proper paperwork goes through. So, it's been quite a task being the sole moolah-maker for the past few years.  LUCKILY though, this march/april is when we are FINALLY supposed to hear back and I am crossing my fingers that he gets all of his papers... because if not, well, there really is no backup plan. I don't intend to leave him or have the immigration people kick him out of Canada haha, so I guess we'd just go into hiding or something.... ha.

love love love

That said, I started this photography hobby as a little side gig.  I've also finally opened up my sewing creations to the world and launched Wonder Forest, which has been great so far!  I have another blog that I post at over at www.thewonderforest.com.  And you can check out my Etsy shop here. Some of these little forest friends are based on modified vintage patterns, while the others are my own unique designs :) They are made from upcycled or eco friendly fabrics, making them all very special! please please please follow my new blog or Like the facebook page here!

Pink Flower Power Fawn

I've been crafting and creating ever since i was born, and am pretty much known for having 293801 projects going on all at once.  I thank my mom for the multitasking gene ;)

Kelly Ann did a great post about all of her February sponsor ladies, including moi! check it out here!

Once this weather warms up I will be back outside with a camera. I can't wait to go down to the boardwalk by the beach in the summer and take some fantastic photos!  Until then.....

30% off sale at my shop

I'm currently having a 30% off print sale at the CocoShack Etsy shop! Stop by and check it out!!! Prices are already marked down...

brothers from another mother...

my loves xoxo!  nugget and bear, two of my children.

speechless

how amazing is this music video?

Another Front Page Feature!

What a lovely surprise. I log onto my computer, open up Etsy and see Goodnight Rabbit on the front page! 

Reworked...

Been really busy lately with a bunch of projects, but I wanted to showcase some of my recently reworked images here!  These are new versions of some of my older shots, which I happen to like heaps better:

Etsy Favs of The Week

Set of 2 Pretty Little Clipboard Picture Frame by QueenvannaCreations
I thought this was such a cute and unique way to display photographs!

Rabbit Apple Tabby OOAK by Holli

LOVE this!!!  The cutest little figurine ever.

Custom Beach Wedding Cake Topper by Lollipopworkshop

Need to get myself one of these! Perfect for a beach wedding!

Merry Go Round 8x8 Print by ThisYearsGirl

I adore ThisYearsGirl's photo editing work.  This is surreal!

Forever Premium Hand-hammered DDOTS Greeting Card by Ddots

Love the effect these hand punched dots make!

wedding belle?

D and I have been contemplating this whole wedding thing lately, and think August 1st would be a great date since that is the date we first met each other.  It also happens to be in the summer, which would be perfect because we wanted an outdoor wedding, possibly by the beach.

We've been engaged for over a year now, and really, I'm not all that excited for a wedding. Don't get me wrong, I loooooooooove the guy and can't wait to be married to him (I would do it today if I could), it just seems like so much hassle to have an actual wedding.  I do want my family there though, and some sort of celebration would be nice.  I probably just have to start getting into planning mode and the excitement will come on it's own!

All I know is that when the day does come, it will be a small intimate event with lots and lots of turquoise!

 

Project ReStyle: Week Three!

As a part of the Project ReStyle endeavor, here is my third submission! I decided to do a bit of a random project tonight.  I had this old wooden frame that I wanted to do something with... but I wasn't sure what.  While working in my office, I kept looking over at the empty wall space beside my desk thinking I really needed a bulletin board there! So I hopped right to it...

I grabbed this big piece of styrofoam that was sitting in my garage from a recent purchase:

Then, I traced around the inside of the frame and cut the styrofoam to fit.  I used a kitchen bread knife to cut it.

After the mess was cleaned up, I wrapped the whole piece of styrofoam in saran wrap so that all of the little particle things wouldn't get everywhere:

I had this piece of vintage fabric from a sheet that was the perfect size!  I wrapped it around the front (flat side) of the styrofoam and secured it with packing tape on the back.

Then all I had to do was grab my frame, pop it in, secure it with a couple of small nails and VOILA! New bulletin board :)

A quick and easy project and a great way to use a piece of old styrofoam instead of having it end up in a landfill somewhere. What do you think? Leave a comment below :)
xo
Dana

Oh, Valentine...

Some sweet treats for your love! Special gifts for Valentines Day!

Love 5x7 Print by me

 

Sexy Love Coupon Book by thespottedsparrow

Valentines Day Hello Love Vintage Upcycled 3 Inch Hoop by thecareerscrapper

Valentine 5x5 Print by me

I Love You in Skywriting - Customizable by raceytay

Amis Des Bois art print by matilou

Project ReStyle: Week Two!

As a part of the Project ReStyle endeavor, here is my second submission! This chair was in my family for as long as I can remember, and it was always hideous.  It had the ugliest forest green velvet make-do seat on it, and was not even usable due to a broken frame. This picture was taken after I furiously ripped off the old nasty seat, and spent about 2 hours fixing the frame so it was sturdy once again. 

After sanding and painting, it needed a new seat.  I grabbed whatever cushioning I could find, and created this one with some super cute fabric that was stolen from a wrap sweater I once created.  Nail head studs were added to finish it all off.

 
This old chair now has a fresh outlook on life, and will last twice as long.  Not only does it look cute and fit my decor, but I can actually SIT IN IT!

xo
Dana

Etsy Favs of The Week

This week, I found a few items that would make great gifts for a special someone or your Valentine! They are all so different, but all so lovely!

The Way You Think by vol25

TOTORO Teak Wood Box Studio Ghibli doll figure toy 46 by cuteart

One Little Cotton Candy by scrumptiousdelight

Birch Bark and Moss Sun Flower with Love tag by NHWoodcreations

Giveaway Winner!

Congrats to Stephanie Powell, the new winner of my CocoShack photo giveaway!  Stephanie won her choice of four prints from my shop, which included: Make A Wish, Light My Path, October Snowfall and Fall Two!






Thanks to everyone who entered and for all of your support :).  Now, off to enjoy the weekend!!!

Project ReStyle: Week One!

As a part of the Project ReStyle endeavor, here is my first submission!  I acquired some french provincial style chairs from a second hand shop with a goal in mind... to make a kitchen dining set like this super expensive Italian custom made one, only much much cheaper:

There were six chairs in total, all upholstered with a dated white/pink fabric and painted an off-white colour.  I decided to "Restyle" four of the six chairs, as that would be all I needed.  I still have two left to use my creativity on!  To start this project, I had to rip the old fabric off. Thankfully, the cushioning underneath was in great shape, so I was able to reuse it when reupholstering it.  I painted the wood a deep purple colour before adding the new fabric.  I finished the cushions off with a nice gimp trim to match.

Here is how it all turned out, before and after:

I opted for a funkier green checkerboard pattern fabric as opposed to the expensive green leather in the above example.  I love it as it gives the chairs a bit more of a "custom" (almost Alice in Wonderland) feel!  I grabbed a second hand solid oak table to match, and did a little paint magic on it. 

Check back next week for another Restyle project! p.s. there is still ONE MORE DAY to enter my photo giveaway!!!

Everyone Loves to Save!

I've created a special Etsy coupon code for all of you blog followers! Just use code COCOBLOG at checkout when you're visiting my shop to save 20% off anything!!!

Enjoy!
xo
Dana

Etsy Favs of The Week

Knitted Pincushion Cupcakes! How cute are these? by handylittleme

 Perpetual Wooden Block Calendar! by QueenvannaCreations

Wooden Doily Coasters by uncommon

Cream Moon Bun! I have two of these and LOVE them :) by moonscreations