Sunday, August 31, 2008

A Question and a Giveaway


I am getting ready to build my own website, but with a link back to this etsy shop. I checked domain names and sure enough pumpkinlights.com is taken. Also a few weeks ago, someone mentioned that Pumpkin Lights didn't seem like a good name for a baby boutique, as it made them think I sold candles. So I am not sure how to proceed from here.

1.Do I want to keep the Pumpkin Lights etsy shop and just get a different domain name? I was thinking of PumpkinLightsBaby?

2.Use PumpkinLightsBaby as my domain name, plus open a new etsy shop also called PumpkinLightsBaby so they totally match?

3.Or totally change it from PumpkinLights and use something that seems more baby-like? One reason I didn't want something overly baby sounding is because a lot of my items are more just for kids in general and not just babies.

That is where the giveaway comes in. I am looking for suggestions. Leave a comment with your choice, either 1, 2, or 3, before next Sunday morning, Sept. 7. I will have my daughter randomly pick a name of the commenters and they may pick anything from my shop normally priced at $20 or less for free!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Featured Artist: Lauren Alexander


I came across an artist with such adorably amazing work that I had to share it. Her name is Lauren Alexander and I found her at http://laurenalexander.etsy.com/. I instantly was drawn to her use of color as well as her animal subjects. I recently had a chance to find out a little more about the artist behind those creations.

Me: When do you first remember being interested in art?
Lauren: "For as long as I remember, I have had an interest in art. One of my earlier artistic endeavors involved using crayons on the outside of a house my family rented - fully believing my mother would be pleased. She wasn't - but has otherwise always encouraged my desire to create."

Me: Where do you find inspiration for what you create?
Lauren: "My inspiration comes from teaching, working with kids, reading children's stories, and imaginaing how I would like to illustrate a story or a character."

Me: What do you see yourself doing artistically in the next 5 years?
Lauren: "I sure hope that in five years I have furthered a professional career as an artist. My ultimate goal would be to illustrate an amazing and unique children's picture book."

I encourage you all to check out her work. You can also find her at http://laurenalexanderart.blogspot.com/