Saturday, December 31, 2011

Friday, December 30, 2011

the nelou & laura show + week 21 = "holiday cheer"

It maybe a little late but here's some holiday cheer for you!
nelou . me

Thursday, December 29, 2011

black & white ... in nature!

One of the many things i have been working in recent months is my black & white & i've remembered how much i love it. The feel is so completely different to that of my colour work, it has a classic & timeless feel, reminiscent of my film days. My original photography shop on etsy is now solely for black & white ... & whilst it has a limited selection of images available right now i plan on adding many more in the not too distant future!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

around the world with fPOE ... this week it's Gothenburg, Sweden

So i know this is called around the "world" with fPOE but right now it's feeling much more like around "Europe" with fPOE ... & i can't lie i kinda like. Being english, & living in Germany i love to see the many creative & talented photographers we have in Europe & in my mind it seems as if we've had them flocking (don't you love my choice of words) to fPOE in recent months. It brings fresh inspiration & a new perspective to everyone's work & i for one love it! Anyways so our whirlwind tour of Europe has taken in the sights of England, (not so sunny) Germany, & Latvia in recent weeks & now we're heading up to Scandinavia to check out the gorgeous photography of Karin Andersson. & no that's not Gothenburg in the photograph!  

When i think Sweden i can't lie i think IKEA & thank fully i don't get that with Karin's work. There's nothing "mass produced" in her style, it's not something you would find hanging on the walls over every tom, dick & harry (although it would be wonderful it you could) because it is a little more unique. To me Karin's work is incredible pretty, her use of pastels & subdued tones, & small details such as the incorporation of textures bring something seemingly boring to life. I find myself at peace looking at her work, infused with calm & quiet moments. & i love her wonderful composition especially within her fruit pictures. It's as if she found them just sitting there patiently waiting for the right person to come along & photograph them. 

a plate strawberries in the grass ...

... a lonely bicycle ...

& a pair of cherries all waiting for Karin's magic touch!

As usual you can view more or Karin's stunning photography in her Etsy shop (where all these gorgeous images are available for purchase), on her website, her blog or flickr

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

nick & nikki ...

Meet Nick & Nikki ... they were the cutest couple, i swear they laughed the entire session! Prior to arriving in Germany 2 weeks back to visit Nikki's sister who's stationed here Nick had been seeing the sights of the sandbox where he has been working as a contractor. They saw each other at the airport for the first time in 7 months. & Nick had surprised Nikki with the shoot! They were gorgeous & so much fun. 

Monday, December 26, 2011

chevrons are everywhere ...

Have you noticed how recently everywhere you look there are chevrons? Ok so when i say everywhere i mean you know etsy, & style blogs & fashion & well those kind of places (basically places i would look but the hubby not so much) ... so i figured i'd share some of my recent favourite chevron finds over on etsy!  Just in case you were considering a belated christmas present for yourself!

it's the simple thing's in life that make me happy ...

my munchkin's first Christmas ...
santa went crazy nuts in photojojo ...
messing with old photographs ...
i want this ...
new ideas, plans & all the rest for 2012!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

new (ish) listings ...

I was lucky enough to travel a little this past year & here are some of my favourite new (ish) listings from my travels ... interested in purchasing some of these or other images then just head over to ooh pretty shiny ...

 
~ E.B. White


~ Jerzy Kosinski


& a couple of new sets ... 



ps. i will be updating my other etsy shop in the next couple of weeks so stay tuned!

Friday, December 23, 2011

the nelou & laura show + week 20 = "baby it's cold outside"

Yes we're super late again & we were so close to being back on schedule ... but i'm blaming the weather. It's been horrible & not even close to putting me in the christmas spirit, in fact i simple want to hibernate! So here is our interpretations of "baby it's cold outside" ...
me . nelou

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Monday, December 5, 2011

the nelou & laura show + week 18 = "thankful"

there are so many many things to be thankful for this holiday season ... what are yours?
me . nelou

Friday, December 2, 2011

free december wallpaper ...

So i've been working the fabulous Kristen of Ahoy Graphics, incredible talented graphic designed (& booker binding guru) to produce some downloadable wallpapers for your ipad & iphone. & here is this months ... something sure to get you in the holiday spirit! 

Click on the link that applies to you ...




p.s. there is a free downloadable version without the calender for every day of the year ...

Sunday, November 27, 2011

...

Friday, November 25, 2011

the nelou & laura show + week 17 = "guilty pleasures"

So thanksgiving is over & the count down to christmas has officially begun (30 days in case you were wondering) & we are almost caught up on our 52 week project (yay us)! So here is last weeks theme "guilty pleasures" ...
me . nelou

& this weeks theme is "thankful" & we'd love see you interpretations over on facebook

Monday, November 21, 2011

the nelou & laura show + week 16 = "alone"

So yes we are totally behind ... again ... life has this way of happening ... but (& yes i've used this cliche before) ... better late than never right? So here are our interpretations of "alone" ...
nelou . me

& head on back to the blog in a few days for week 18 (that would be last week) & some "guilty pleasures" & then this weeks theme which is "thankful" & we would love to see your interpretations of "thankful". Just post your photo along with a blog link to my facebook page & we will include it in our blog posts next week. 

it's the simple thing's in life that make me happy ...

hot winter foods ... 
loving this cowl ... 
a new coat ...
almost christmas market season ...

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

the nelou & laura show + week 15 = "wednesday"

So i meant to post this a week ago ... don't ask ... but better late than ever right? & yes we are totally behind on posting but we will catch up i promise. So happy hump day ...
me . nelou

Monday, October 31, 2011

it's the simple thing's in life that make me happy ...

stouffurs mac & cheese ...
perfect for Jacob's room ...
animal crackers ...
discovering a wonderful bookstore ... 
Jacob!

Sunday, October 30, 2011

the nelou & laura show + week 14 = "light"

can you believe we're over a quarter of the way into this project, seriously time has flown ... 
being back in the same time zone makes life so much easier when it comes to project & posting ... 
we are back on schedule people (whoop whoop) ... 
anyways this weeks theme was "light" which is a much antidote to the 40 degree temperature drop i experienced when returning to grey & dark & winter like germany (yes i miss the sunny warmth of california) ... 
so here's our interpretation of "light"! 
nelou . me

& next week's theme ... drum roll please ... "wednesday"! 

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

the nelou & laura show + week 13 = "celebration"

This weeks episode of the nelou & laura show ... celebrating someone's birthday & someone's favourite time of the year! 
me . nelou

Monday, October 17, 2011

the nelou & laura show + week 12 = "a little fall inspiration"

& as promised ... this weeks theme ... "fall"! Yes with all the craziness that has gone on in our little worlds we decided to keep it simple but hey simple can be gorgeous right! So here's a little fall inspiration for you all!
me . nelou

& next weeks theme ... "celebrations" ... since we had a "6 month" birthday & a not so 6 month birthday coming up!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

the nelou & laura show + week 11 = "the colour orange"

due to illness ... & my traveling through various states we have only just gotten around to posting last weeks theme ... & hopefully tomorrow we're posting this weeks theme! phew ... just don't ask us what the theme for next week is because we haven't made it that far, instead just enjoy a little of the colour orange followed by a little fall inspiration! Happy October peoples & now i'm off to the zoo!
nelou . me

Saturday, October 8, 2011

giveaway ... WINNER

& the giveaway winner (the number was generated by random.org) was ... drum roll please ... 


Thank you to all those who entered & i hope you're in the midst of a wonderful weekend! This morning i did a ceramics class (going back on monday so much fun) & now we're off down to the "valley fest" for you know burgers & stuff!

Monday, October 3, 2011

the nelou & laura show + week 10 = "balance"

yes i know a day late ... but totally worth the wait!
nelou . me

Friday, September 30, 2011

it's giveaway time ...

So as some of you may know (& i still get a little giddy thinking about it) but i have collaborated with the fabulous Kat of Polarity (& Olive Bites fame) to turn 3 of my favourite prints into a locket:


& these aren't just any old lockets but (& in Kat's very own words): 


"This amazing magnetic locket set is created from a recycled steel auto part that I have fabricated with love and propane into a magical, interchangeable locket set!"


Anyways of course i have one, & i love it. Ok maybe love isn't strong enough a word about how i feel when it comes to this because it's so unique & different & special. 


So of course i have decided to give one away ... & now the hard part (although i think it's pretty easy) ...

For one entree each ...

one ~ head over to "ooh pretty shiny ...", take a look around & come back here, leave me a comment about your favourite print, or a memory you associate with one of my pictures or well just something interesting.

two ~ tweet about my giveaway (@levansphoto) & leave me a comment back here.

three ~ head over to my facebook page, like it (we're all about sharing the love here) & leave me a comment (over there &/or back here).

four ~ tell the world about my giveaway ... on facebook, your blog or where ever. & of course come back here & leave me a comment.

& for an extra 5 entrees ...

five ~ purchase something from my shop & in the message to the seller let me know you've entered the giveaway. 

So many many ways to win. The giveaway ends on friday October 7th  & i will be announcing the winner chosen from random on the 8th! 

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

around the world with fPOE ... this week it's Riga, Latvia

I'm loving all the new places we're getting to visit right now ... since i began this series last year fpoe has grown in numbers dramatically with members spanning the globe & you're seeing it as once again we're outside of the united states. Europe has many many talented photographers, & recently we visited England, last week Germany & now we're off to Riga, Latvia. Are you excited? I'm excited!! So anyways let me introduce you to Rita Pētersone - Lazdiņa & monography.
Everything about Rita's work screams feminine to me ... soft, pretty, calm ... & we're not just talking pink here. I'm including her urban landscapes & those with tones typically considered masculine. It's easy to see why Rita fits right in with the group, producing wonderful fine art that i feel says so much about her. Here again we have a photographer who haves a great simplicity to her work ... full of details without being over the stop, we are left to imagine what happens next. I love this in photography, i love the beginning of a story, the question mark left hanging in the air of what happens next. I love that you can dream when you look at her photographs of people & places & memories. I know i know i say this a lot, it could just be the kind of person i am (my blog is called "ooh pretty shiny over there ... ") but any image that inspires me as a person is a great picture. It's what makes my world go round. 
Love me some roof tops ...
... 2 wheels are way cuter than 4 ... 
... who knew colouring pencils could be so pretty!
As usual all photos here can be purchased on etsy ... & you can always head over to Rita's blog to check out more of her work & insights.