I am enamored with the new fall pieces from Tinctory (Etsy Shop). I would never be able to choose just one though since they all look so amazing together. One of each, please!

I am a huge fan of the photography work of Sharon Montrose. In case you aren’t familiar with her, Sharon is a commercial photographer and author who specializes in photographing animals, kids, and babies. She does work for ad agencies, design firms, magazines & and book publishers. Clients include: Pedigree, Parenting Magazine, Sheba & Nikon among others. She has also put together about 1/2 dozen books of her own photographs.

But it’s her limited edition and open edition animal prints that have captured my heart, and I’m sure yours. Sharon sells large format limited edition animal prints on her website & if your budget is smaller and you have less wall space she also sells smaller open edition prints in her Etsy Shop. You will find animals from the cute & cuddly to the scaly & toothy. I’m sure you will not be able to resist!

Learn more about Sharon and her work in my interview with her below.

1. What’s the name of your business, what do create and sell and how did you get your start?

Sharon Montrose Photographs. I photograph animals for a series of images that I sell as small open editions through my Etsy shop and large, limited editions through The Animal Print Shop. I got my start selling this series by opening my Etsy shop.

2. What are your inspirations in your art and life?

These days I’m inspired by people - People who I admire and respect for various reasons.

3. What’s your favorite comfort food and why?

Oh, that’s an easy answer for me. French fries.

4. What’s something you’ve learned as an adult that you wish you knew as a kid?

To let things roll off me. My grandpa always used to say ” take it easy, take it light”. I always heard him when I was a kid, but I wasn’t able to actually understand what he meant until recently.

5. What blogs and mags do you read and what shops do you shop at?

Blogs: Pablog, A Cup of Jo & Swiss Miss.

Shops: Etsy, Amazon & Uline.

6. What are you reading, watching and listening to?

I’m still getting through the 600 page biography on William Randolph Hearst and I’m watching a whole lot of Reality TV. Yup, I admit it. I’m also listening to Ben Folds.

7. What’s new? Any products or projects you’d like to share?

I’ve got some new animals to release around the Holidays. Until then, I’m just enjoying Autumn.

I know you all know who Hannah Kopacz is…she is the designer and creator of Made With Love By Hannah, the folk inspired clothing line. Hannah has been creating her alpine chic designs since the very beginning of the whole indie online shopping scene and has been one of my faves from the beginning as well.

Hannah is also one cool chick, with one cool knick knack filled pad and I’m super pleased to be able to be to show a different side of her today for When They Were Kids. When They Were Were Kids is the new feature where I ask yours & my favorite indie artists/designers/crafters to share what they were like as kids. I also share then + now photos.

To learn more about Hannah and Made With Love By Hannah, read her blog. You can also see more of her, her home & crafty projects on flickr. Of course, to see her design, visit Made With Love By Hannah.

Hannah’s ‘then’ photo was taken in Germany, where she spent some time as a kid, and which appears to have influenced her design aesthetic. Now onto my interview with  Hannah about her childhood.

1.Why types of games & toys did you like as a kid?

- I loved to play with puppets and put on puppet shows. I also loved matchbox cars. There was a local craft store that had a matchbox display i was so excited when i would get to pick one out.

2. What was popular on TV when you were a kid and did you watch?

- We didn’t watch TV when I was little. I don’t even remember having one around for the longest time. It wasn’t until high school when I got my own TV that Istarted watching it regularly.

3. Were you a good student in school or a little rebel?

I was a little angel! Can’t you see my halo?

4. Were you a creative kid? if so, what types of things did you enjoy?

- My mother taught me how to sew and embroider and knit when i was little so I liked doing those things. I remember making a lot of little purses. I also used to like to write stories and draw pictures and make little illustrated books out of them.

5. What have you learned as an adult that you wish you knew as a kid?

- Not much! But there are a few things I’ve learned as an adult I wish I could forget!

6. Share one of the best things about your childhood.

- Swimming in Walden Pond or Crystal Lake and getting out of the water and eating the most delicious juicy peaches.

7. What did you want to be when you grew up?

A veterinarian.

8. What are you up to now?

- Working on a bunch of cute new prints for fall, and some fun project tutorials for around the house that I can’t wait to post on my blog.

Feeling a little better today, at least enough to share the latest Feed Your Soul download.

Holly Ward Bimba from Golly Bard - Holly is the artist & illustrator behind Golly Bard. She studied the fine art of printmaking, papermaking & book arts. To this day, she still love the smell of a print shop! However, watercolor painting is her favorite medium and she works almost exclusively w/ watercolor at this time. Holly designs stationery, does freelance design work, as well as create paintings for her Etsy shop from her studio in Upperville, Virginia.

Download Golly Bard’s Feed Your Soul contribution HERE!

Taking today off since my head feels like there is a giant slug attempting to eat it. Yes, that means I am feeling under the weather. Hope to be back tomorrow.

If you are like me, then you are fascinated with vintage photos, old books and other ephemera from days past. For folks like us, Potatobird Studio takes these once loved but since forgotten treasures and uses them to create mixed media art pieces in order that they can be loved once again.  Custom requests are welcome using your own old photos or other treasures and what a perfect idea for a one-of-a-kind gift, right?