A Kingdom By The Sea

Sometimes I just forget

2010-08-25T00:44:00.001-04:00

...about blogs. I never update this anymore and I don't log in often to read all the blogs I follow. arghhh!

I have a lot of your posts to catch up on! I'm going to do that tomorrow, I skimmed through my list of new posts and I need to go through and really read them, I saw a lot of good stuff already!

As for me, I've been:

-taking photos

-learning Albanian (and I promise this is not as random as it seems)

-drawing/sketching and painting watercolors! It's been a really long time since I've done anything like this and I'm having fun getting back into it!

^ APS film, Minolta Vectis s-1

and a silly sketch, :P

Okay, that's enough for tonight! Hope you all are doing well.
More later,
♥ k.

P.S. Tali, I did fix my tripod, thanks! :)

Tripod dangers

2010-08-05T00:43:00.000-04:00

I bought a tripod the other day. It wasn't very expensive and it's a "travel" tripod so the legs pull out and can be retracted to different lengths.

I was testing it out and I had so much trouble getting one of the legs back in! I had to really force it and the palm of my hand got caught and pinched. Then I said some bad words and threw the tripod down. I guess it's got some pretty sharp edges because it cut the skin in like a half moon shape. arghhhhhhh.

It's fine now but I think I will just leave the legs at this same height and not bother with "folding" it up again! Now it's not really a "travel" tripod, but that's not a big deal anyway. It's better than hurting my hand!

I got some more film photos developed too, this one I took with the tripod;

I bought this little Dala horse at the thrift store recently. It was only a few dollars and I've always liked them;

My fabulous copy of Jane Eyre;

And this one is horribly out of focus, but I liked it anyway;

It's an old "board" type book of Little Red Riding Hood, in German! (Rotkäppchen) We got this when we lived in Germany when I was younger, and I've always loved it! It's very darling.

more later;
♥ k.

Hello world...

2010-07-30T21:26:00.000-04:00

Wow, it's been a while.

I've been busy taking lots of photos, even experimenting with film!

And then some digital as well;

more later,
♥ k.

A lazy daisy kind of day.

2010-05-27T21:19:00.003-04:00

I don't know if these are really daisies, but I like them regardless.

Took a ton of photos today, more later.

♥ k.

Truth

2010-05-17T04:41:00.000-04:00

via PostSecret.

I don't really know what to say anymore, but I feel like saying something, so here it is.

Had a nice day with my mom. And it's nearly 5 a.m. now so I should really go to sleep. (I don't like sleeping at night, yes I know that's odd.)

A people

2010-05-16T22:40:00.003-04:00

K: I don't like to tell things to people.
T: And I am a 'people'?
K: Yes.
T: Okay, who is not a people?
K: Dogs.

Please

2010-05-15T03:25:00.002-04:00

I don't even have words anymore.

Just jumbled feelings with no names.

I wish I had words.

What day is today? Today is Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T23:05:00.000-04:00

Saw this on Post Secret this morning, and it is true for me too :) ...Except I'm not British and I'm ALMOST 20, but still ;)

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers in the world!

I saw this quote once, "A daughter is a little girl who grows up to be a friend", and my mom is definitely my best friend! She means the world to me. I love you, Mom!

(And she is out of town at the moment but we did chat on the phone and she'll be back soon, so I'll be getting one of those great hugs for sure.)

♥ kelsey.

P.S. Erica, I guess we had similar ideas today ;)

"A weed is but an unloved flower."

2010-05-08T12:13:00.001-04:00

-Title quote by Ella Wheeler Wilcox.

I was recently invited by Roxana of Illuminated Perfume to participate in a blogging event called "May Flowers". (You can see the image + link in the sidebar of my blog also!)

Or click here to see the posts already this month;
http://journal.illuminatedperfume.com/2010/04/may-flowers.html

And today is my day, so here goes :)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know that the event is called "May Flowers", but it occurred to me that the "flowers" I usually end up photographing are not really flowers at all. A lot of them are little weeds!

I'm not really sure why I am so drawn to these weeds... but a lot of them are surprisingly pretty. The ones I really like are the teeny tiny ones. I shoot them in macro and (try to) capture interesting angles.

This is kind of my philosophy on photography (and art in general, really). Anybody can take a photo of something "pretty", but I think it's much more interesting to take something conventionally thought as "ugly" and make it seem beautiful.

I always end up photographing the things that other people would probably just pass by, never giving a second glance. It's funny when I go out to take photos, people always say, "What are you taking pictures of?" I probably look like an idiot kneeling down on the ground a few inches away from some weedy thing. But I just smile and say, Oh, I take pictures of everything!

It's also very satisfying when I show the photos to others and they ask what it is. When I reply that it is a tiny weed they are pretty surprised ;)

This is also actually probably my philosophy on life. People always pass by the little things and never notice them. (People also pass by other people and never notice them.) I don't know, (and this is a stretch) but it could be like I am liberating these weeds, and I always kind of felt unnoticed, so I'm just helping them out. Sharing the love :)

And as I was convo-ing Roxana on Etsy and telling her about my fascination with weeds, she shared with me this quote --

"What is a weed? I have heard it said that there are sixty definitions. For me, a weed is a plant out of place." -Donald Culross Peattie

So a thank you to Roxana, because that inspired me to search for more "weed quotes". The one I used for the title of this post was my favorite I found, here are some more I discovered while searching --

"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them." - A.A. Milne (author, of course, of Winnie-the-Pooh)

"What we call is a weed is in fact merely a plant growing where we do not want it." -E.J. Salisbury

"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Now, some of my photographs of said "weeds";

And one last quote, which is especially thought-provoking;

"Man is the only critter who feels the need to label things as flowers or weeds." -Unknown

♥ kelsey.

(P.S. I have a bunch more photos I took recently, of little blossoms, bushes, leaves, etc, which I will share later! This post was focused on the forgotten weeds.)

Post and run.

2010-05-01T01:06:00.006-04:00

Quick post because it's laaaaaaaaaaaaate, but I haven't posted in a while, so here goes :)

♥ kelsey.

You're it.

2010-04-25T22:36:00.000-04:00

Tagged by Erica of LoveErica....

You are supposed to show the 6th photo you ever posted on your blog, so here goes:

Just a silly picture with a skirt from the thrift store that was only $2.50, haha! From January 2009...

Now I will tag (and you don't have to play if you don't want to!) --

Amy (Ponder and Stitch)
Tali S (Imperfectly Perfect)
Robin (Carrie Bradshaw Made Me Do It)
& Emily (Adelaide Stayed)

Tag, you're it :)

♥ kelsey.

Composites.

2010-04-24T21:52:00.002-04:00

♥ kelsey.

A nice weekend.

2010-04-18T23:15:00.003-04:00

I had a pretty good weekend, hope all of you did too!
Here are some photos from yesterday...

♥ kelsey.

Many and many a year ago, in a kingdom by the sea;

2010-04-16T18:54:00.004-04:00

I never really posted these old photos, so here they are now. These are from November 2008, at Jacksonville beach, FL.

♥ kelsey.

A pattern emerging.

2010-04-11T15:46:00.001-04:00

Clearly, I like to take pictures of flowers.

I hope you all have had a lovely weekend :)

♥ kelsey.

Heat wave.

2010-04-05T19:39:00.002-04:00

It's getting SO hot already. It's only the beginning of April!

I much prefer cooler days...

Here's a photo from October, I think I liked the weather better then!

I don't like extreme temperatures, hot or cold, but I like the in-betweens :) I hope it gets a little cooler before we burn this summer...

♥ kelsey.

Blossoms and buds.

2010-04-05T00:22:00.002-04:00

Took this one the other day :)

♥ kelsey.

An update.

2010-04-01T20:07:00.003-04:00

Took a bunch of photos today of some TINY purple flowers. This one was my favorite :)

The weather was nice today! Getting really warm, I hope it doesn't get too hot soon though... Spent some time outside, soaking up the vitamin D ;)

And thanks for the comments on the last post! Still wishing for that new camera. (And I know I'm still not updating the blog often, but I'm hoping to be better with it!)

♥ kelsey.

Spring

2010-03-20T19:28:00.002-04:00

Just some recent photos from around here.

My friend from Maryland came down to visit me for a few a days, so that was lots of fun. So nice to see her and do some catching up :)

P.S. These are some of the only photos I've taken recently, haha. I'm also hoping to get a new camera soon, so I will definitely be taking more photos then. Not sure when/if that will happen, so I'm still going to start taking more photos with this one. Now that the weather is getting nicer, hopefully it will work out! And apparently today is the first day of Spring, so, Happy First Day of Spring :)

I need to get back on track with my jewelry-making also, that is the next step :P

♥ kelsey.

Hello world!

2010-03-03T21:48:00.003-05:00

Long time no see...

I hope you all haven't completely moved on :)

I think I've decided that I WILL start blogging again, but the Etsy shop is still closed for now... Ahh, baby steps!

I'm also keeping up on my Twitter account, so you can see what I'm up to there --

http://twitter.com/WorksInProgress

I still check Etsy conversations as well, it's just that the shop is on "vacation" :)

I hope you all are doing well! I've missed everything going on in blogland...

♥ kelsey.

Another Goodwill find.

2009-11-12T00:33:00.003-05:00

I actually got this book a while back...

It's so interesting! I believe it is written in Dutch, so I'm not very sure what it is :P

But it looks to be about art! And it's really pretty, so happy to have stumbled across it.

I'll have to look some up on Google Translate later, to learn more about it ;)

♥ kelsey.

Rollip.

2009-11-09T20:49:00.002-05:00

Wishing that I could take polaroids. *sigh* Unfortunately I don't own a camera or film... But it's still fun to make them on this site.

(I did end up editing the above "polaroid" a bit further myself, because it turned out a little dark, just fyi :P)

A gift for myself...

2009-11-09T20:16:00.003-05:00

Sometimes, I like to keep a jewelry piece for me. This is one of those times :) Love this little ring, and I'm totally wearing it now! But another one is available HERE in the shop for you ;)

Haven't you ever made something, and then you just can't bear to part with it, and you HAVE to keep it?!

♥ kelsey.

The blue balloon.

2009-11-08T15:42:00.002-05:00

A while back, I received my order from 'The blue balloon' and the prints are everything I had hoped for! Just lovely...

Marie is sweet as can be, too! She's got some other items in her shop I've got my eye on also... haha! (The above photo is one I took of my new prints, the following photos are from Marie's Etsy shop)

And these notecards have sold, which I am a little jealous of the recipient! ---

As you can tell, I'm a little in love with this shop... :)

♥ kelsey.

Happy birthday darling.

2009-11-08T14:24:00.002-05:00

Happy first birthday to WorksInProgress!! One year ago today, I joined Etsy as a seller. Time sure does fly!

Thanks to everyone who's helped me get this far :)

And hopefully this next year for WIP will be even better than the first... and many more happy Etsy-versaries to come!

♥ kelsey.

P.S.

2009-11-07T22:36:00.003-05:00

P.S. I got this little cup at Goodwill with the other ones I had posted, but just got around to taking a photo of it today :P

A frosty winter's eve.

2009-11-07T22:20:00.002-05:00

New wintry earrings added to the shop today! :)

I really love these... and only have one pair for now! ;)

Also got a new batch of supplies in the mail the other day, so I'm hoping to create some new pieces tomorrow and this next week! I was so proud of myself, I made these earrings today, photographed them, and got them listed. Woooot for productivity! :P

We were without internet for a few hours (oh the horror!) and I was thinking we wouldn't get it back until Monday, but by some miracle it is working again. Hooray! More to come...

♥ kelsey.

Busy busy!

2009-11-06T20:54:00.002-05:00

Re-doing some Etsy shots, fun fun fun!

What do you think so far? This is one NECKLACE from the shop.

P.S. Got my flickr pro account, wooot.

♥ kelsey.

Lamp shadow if you look close :)

2009-11-05T17:35:00.004-05:00

Having lots of fun with my new camera! Woot woot :)

Re-doing some Etsy jewelry shots, taking new photos to (hopefully) turn into prints for the shop, and of course self portraits ;)

And it's getting much colder here! Wearing my buffalo plaid flannel shirt, haha.

P.S. for those of you who asked, the pink moccasins from a previous post are from Target ;)

Blossoming.

2009-11-03T13:38:00.002-05:00

I got some cherry blossom shots back in early spring. And today, I got some more! :)

Cherry blossoms in November, who'd a thunk it?

Mocs, as opposed to crocs.

2009-11-02T19:01:00.003-05:00

hehe, I love moccasins :)

and I seem to be on a "let's-take-pictures-of-my-shoes" kick :P

♥ kelsey.

New toy :)

2009-11-02T13:39:00.003-05:00

I didn't get the SLR I really wanted (yet!) but I do have a new PowerShot :) Wooooot!

And it's blue ;)

Took some test shots, and the battery is charging now, so I'm gonna have lots of fun with it in a bit! :)

♥ kelsey.

P.S. I know you totally love my shoes, right? :P

Pumpkin spice and everything nice.

2009-11-01T16:31:00.002-05:00

Made a little pumpkin spice coffee treat in the sweetest little cups, thank you Goodwill! ;)

P.S. I definitely am needing a new camera... :/

Awfully 'fawned' of you.

2009-10-31T20:20:00.004-04:00

Today I received my little package from Lindsey over at Lost and Fawned!

I had ordered the "Margaux" vintage studs and they are sweet as can be! I am actually wearing them as I type this :) I could tell from the photos that I would love them --

I also ordered a little gift bag to go with it, the pattern was so cute, I couldn't resist. And it's always so fun to open up a little present like this, even if I did buy it for myself ;)

She has the sweetest little business cards too, adorable.

Sorry that the following photos are not the best, I just took them a few moments ago, and of course it is night time --

♥ kelsey.

It's Autumn.

2009-10-31T19:12:00.005-04:00

What to do?

2009-10-26T12:12:00.002-04:00

So, I've been thinking about merging my two main shops once again! I've started to list some photography back into WIP, but I keep changing my mind :P

Here's a new one I just listed :)

(I listed it in both WIP and akingdom, too. That's how wishy-washy I am!)

A saturated Autumn.

2009-10-25T03:42:00.004-04:00

New, in Treasury West on Etsy! Click before Tuesday ;)

Three posts in one day; must be a record.

2009-10-22T22:14:00.002-04:00

Today wasn't terribly eventful. I woke up and ate cookie dough. The package said bake before enjoying... I enjoyed it anyway; I'm a rebel like that.

Next I checked the schedule for the Vlabs on Etsy. I planned on attending the 4pm lab, and marked it on my metaphorical calendar. Then I spent a good 12 minutes pretending I was hosting my own Vlab. Basically this consisted of me talking to my laptop and "audience". I even answered questions and took compliments on my outfit, good times.

And before my big debut, I did some necessary primping and makeup-ing. Then of course I took pictures to document the event (Those were the ones I posted earlier. See, it's all coming together?)

Then I spent some time editing said photos (What? You think they just come out looking gorgeous?) while listening to my iTunes playlist. My mom came in and started asking something in the quiet part of a song, and was a bit startled to suddenly hear the soft voice of the girl from Camera Obscura. "Are you talking to someone?" she asks. "No, I'm talking to you, that would be rude." "Oh okay," this seems to satisfy her. Turns out she was going to the bank and some other places, I think, I wasn't really listening.

And so, this was my morning. Oh the mundane-ness of it all.

♥ kelsey.

Hi hiiii.

2009-10-22T17:59:00.002-04:00

Ahh! It's photos of the elusive Kelsey/WorksInProgress!

I seriously never post pictures of myself (well, my face!) but here are some that I thought weren't too terrible :P From today! So very recent ;)

And here's a new necklace that I have yet to finish photographing! Hopefully I can list it soon... But only time will tell.

It's a little whistle, in case you were wondering :P

Golden fleece.

2009-10-22T12:03:00.002-04:00

My current favorite necklace in the SHOP.

People make me sad.

2009-10-21T20:29:00.003-04:00

It's true.

I really don't understand some people.... Rude.

OH WELL! I'm not going to let it get to me anymore ;) Ahh, still easier said than done, but here's for trying! :)

P.S. found this lovely photo in a shop I discovered on LoveErica's Twitter :) Click the photo for listing, and see the adorable shop HERE.

Keeping you posted.

2009-10-16T21:45:00.003-04:00

So sorry for not updating this blog more...

I've been doing a little soul-searching! I've been spending the past few weeks, reliving my past. Not an easy thing to do...

People always say, "Be yourself." Well, in order to be yourself, you have to know who you are. Seems quite simple, but not really. Most people spend a great deal of time, finding themselves.

So that's what I'm working on! ;)

And there have been a lot of changes in the past year; I moved (with my family) to NC from my hometown back in MD. For much of this time, I'd been holding on to the past, and I kept thinking that things weren't done with MD. But I guess I'm finally realizing, that I don't live there anymore, and I need to make my life here. That still doesn't make it any easier though! :P

And in the past week, a close friendship with a friend from "back home" all but dissolved... I realize that as people get older, they grow apart, but still, it doesn't make it any easier.

The good thing that has come out of all of this though, is that I am finally ready (I think) to start my life in NC! I kept thinking that this stay here was only temporary, and I could just go back to MD. I've finally accepted though that I live HERE now. And I'm excited for what my future holds :)

Huzzah! It only took me a year, but I'm ready.

I'm hopefully going to find a job somewhere around here... I love my Etsy stuff, but I also need to get out there and meet REAL PEOPLE! ;) Maybe take some classes, too. :) I'm excited! woooot.

I'll keep you posted. ;)

♥ kelsey.

Antiquing brass.

2009-10-03T19:52:00.003-04:00

So! I have been super busy antiquing my own brass!

I had a bunch of raw brass pieces that I really wanted to darken, and had been putting off trying it out for a few months... I thought I didn't have the materials necessary, but I did some Googling and found a few simple ways to oxidize brass!

It's pretty fun actually :) Like a science experiment! haha. I'm mainly using heat to antique the brass, and I think it's going pretty well :) Although I did manage to burn (lightly!) a couple fingers, haha. Oh well, you have to suffer for your art! ;)

Here's my first ring that I've listed that used this process! What do you think? :)

I really like this because it's solid brass, unlike "antique brass" which is plating over a basemetal. And this raw brass (the starting point) is nickel freeeee!! yay!

You can see the ring in the SHOP!

It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to.

2009-09-29T17:08:00.003-04:00

But I'm not gonna!!! :) Happy 19th Birthdayyy to me!

Long time, no see.

2009-09-27T14:40:00.004-04:00

I've been kind of neglecting this blog, but I have been busy working on soooo many other things. So that is a good excuse, right?! ;)

Also, I am up to 95 followers here! Woooot! I think I will do something special if I hit 100 soon :)

So I've been super busy crafting up new necklaces and other jewelry pieces! I've been ordering supplies like a madwoman (the shopping is of course my favorite part) and I've got a ton of new pieces I'd like to get listed in the shop soon :) Busy busy! I find it's taking me a lot longer than I expected to photograph them and list, but ah well...

Andddd on Tuesday, it's my 19th birthday! So that is exciting :) I think what I'm most excited about actually is the fact that I get to go to Olive Garden! haha, I used to go there all the time when I lived in MD, but there isn't one close to here :/ So, we are driving a bit of a ways just to go there! hehe ;)

Hope you all are doing well! It has been a while...

♥ kelsey.

In the mail....

2009-09-15T12:28:00.004-04:00

I got my lovely dusty rose blossom from PercyHandmade! I love this hairpin... :)

(please excuse the silly picture...)

The old friends, sat on their park bench, like bookends.

2009-09-13T14:18:00.002-04:00

"Time it was and what a time it was, it was.
A time of innocence, a time of confidences.

Long ago it must be, I have a photograph.
Preserve your memories, they're all that's left you...."

-Simon and Garfunkel.

----- image from levansphotography on Etsy, click to be taken to listing! -----

Print sale!

2009-09-12T07:48:00.002-04:00

In my photography shop, I am running a special sale --

Purchase ANY print, and receive another free (equal price or lower)! Simply let me know at checkout which you would like :)

And here are some new photos I just added to the shop...

Day & Age

2009-09-11T21:23:00.006-04:00

I'm not gonna lie... I love The Killers, and Brandon Flowers.

I keep listening to the album, "Day & Age", over and over.

Perhaps my favorite song from the album, is "Dustland Fairytale". Apparently he wrote it about his mother and father, and his mom has cancer, so the lyrics do make sense. How sweet is that to write this about his parents? The lyrics follow below...

"A Dustland Fairytale beginning
Just another white trash county kiss
In '61, long brown hair, foolish eyes

He looks just like you'd want him to
Some kind of slick chrome American Prince
A bluejean serenade, and moon river, what you do to me
I don't believe you

Saw Cinderella in a party dress
But she was looking for a nightgown
I saw the devil wrapping up his hands
He's getting ready for the showdown
I saw the minute that I turned away
I got my money on a pawn tonight

Change came in disguise of revelation, set his soul on fire
She says she always knew he'd come around
And the decades disappear like sinking ships
But we persevere, God gives us hope
But we still fear what we don't know

The mind is poison
Castles in the sky sit stranded, vandalized
Drawbridges closing

Saw Cinderella in a party dress
But she was looking for a nightgown
I saw the devil wrapping up his hands
He's getting ready for the showdown
I saw the ending where they turned the page
I took my money and I ran away
Straight to the valley of the great divide

Out where the dreams are high
Out here, the wind don't blow
Out here, the good girls die
And the sky won't snow
Out here, the birds don't sing
Out here, the fields don't grow
Out here, the bell don't ring
Out here, the bell don't ring

Out here, the good girls die

Now Cinderella, don't you go to sleep
It's such a bitter form of refuge
Oh don't you know, the kingdom's under siege
And everybody needs you
Is there still magic in the midnight sun
Or did you leave it back in 61?
In the cadence of a young man's eyes
I wouldn't dream so high "

I just love it...

♥ kelsey.

Coffee or tea?

2009-09-11T19:38:00.004-04:00

I always preferred coffee... how about you?

Just had a cup, in fact, which inspired me to search Etsy for coffee/tea photography, mostly coffee, obviously! :)

Just click on a photo to be taken to its Etsy listing!

♥ kelsey.

Have you seen this movie?

2009-09-10T17:12:00.003-04:00

The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

It was very interesting! My mom and I caught it when it was on TV last week, but I did miss the beginning.

The basic premise is that Tom Baxter (played by Jeff Daniels) is a film character in a 1930's movie. Somehow he is able to jump off the screen and join the real world. He then meets and falls in love with Cecilia (Mia Farrow).

It was very cute actually. Tom was so naive as to what goes on in real life and they face a few mishaps.

The trouble starts when the actor who plays Tom in the movie becomes so upset that this character he created is out gallivanting around in the real world. But then he too meets Cecilia and falls in love...

Who will she choose?

Btw, I absolutely hated the ending. My mom and I just about screamed at the television... But other than that, it was nice. :P

I heart Nylon.

2009-09-10T09:05:00.002-04:00

nylonmag.com

♥ kelsey.

Procrastination.

2009-09-10T05:44:00.003-04:00

I really need to take some new photos... For some reason I just haven't felt like it though! I only have a simple point-and-shoot anyways (and it's about five years old) so I think that does make things more difficult for me.

I would love to get a nicer camera, maybe Christmas. My birthday is coming up soon though (the 29th) but I already kind of spent the money I would be getting for that, hehe.

The photo above was actually taken almost a year ago; November 5th, 2008. Goodness how time flies! But I only edited it this way a few minutes ago.

I always seem to just look through my computer for old pictures to make them new again! ;)

On a side note, I am going to learn how to drive! Yes, I know that I am almost 19 and have yet to learn. But! I think I am finally ready now :) So woooot for that!

♥ kelsey.

Goodwill toward men (and shopping!).

2009-09-08T13:12:00.003-04:00

I am not afraid to admit it -- I love Goodwill.

My mom and I head there fairly often and always come back with something new (to us!) and great. We don't have a lot of antique/thrift stores here but thankfully we have a really nice Goodwill. ;)

Where I used to live in MD, not gonna lie, the Goodwill was kind of gross. But here, it's another story!

I think also there must be tons of rich people around here, and then they give their stuff to Goodwill :)

Also! The local Target must be donating their leftover clearance to the Goodwill because I can go there and get a brand new Target dress (with tags still attached, but the price portion ripped off, hehe) for 5 dollars. Score! Yesterday in fact, I got *new* cute boots for 3.50! :)

And Target has some nice clothes! It is seriously one of my favorite places to shop (also not afraid to admit it, I even went there yesterday) and they have a lot of "hip" designers.

Also Goodwill is the best place to get books here! I find all kinds of little gems and even brand new books too. That is probably the favorite section for my mom and me, the books.

Seriously, this place is like no Goodwill I'd ever seen before.

I also got a really cool typewriter there a few weeks back, my mom surprised me with it since she knew I had been wanting one! 15 dollars, and it has a case, hehe.

What are some of your favorite thrift/Goodwill finds?!

♥ kelsey.

fp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-09-07T21:09:00.001-04:00

woop woop!! :)

Where I live.

2009-09-06T12:03:00.003-04:00

Super old pictures from last year, but it still looks the same :P

Mindy Strauss.

2009-09-05T20:20:00.004-04:00

Found these lovely photographs on Etsy. See more in her shop.

♥ kelsey.

What kind...

2009-09-05T16:14:00.003-04:00

...of blogs do you like to read?

I know that people inevitably get tired of the "NOW IN SHOP!!!!" posts... That's why I like to write about other things instead. Feature other sellers. Quotes. That sort of thing...

What I really would like to do is write some meaningful posts. That of course is easier said than done.

Some things I would absolutely love to write about, I am too afraid to do so. Re: "What's stopping you?"

I do kind of like the idea that blogs are so public, that the people who will be reading them don't actually "know" me. For some reason that makes it seem easier to digest the criticisms.

But then in the back of my mind, I'm always worried who is (or isn't!) reading them.

It is a bit silly to write a blog post, and hope that someone reads it. But then, call me silly. I do hope people read this.

I've been known to write as my Facebook status, "Kelsey wonders if you took the time to read this." It is a bit silly, but for some reason it matters to me. Must be partly because I often think no one at all cares. So I need some reassurance.

But with the blog, that's not really what I'm looking for. I want people to read something I write or post here, and react in some way to it. Hopefully a positive reaction! Maybe they are inspired or moved by something.

But then I also get to thinking about the reason I initially began this blog; to promote my shop. I am scared to stray too far from Etsy/jewelry/photography for fear of alienating or losing what readers I do have.

So you let me know; what kinds of things would you like to see here? Does it bother you to see things beyond the Etsy related?

Whatever your answers, I may have to go with my heart, for once, and post things beyond the standard shop related.

♥ kelsey.

oh and you may notice that the blog address now reads akingdombythesea.com! yayyy! :) I finally got it to work.

What is stopping you?

2009-09-05T15:23:00.002-04:00

My friend Erica showed me this the other day and I thought it was worth sharing it with you all also :) She posted it over on her BLOG too.

It really gets me thinking because I do have a lot of these excuses that are stopping me from doing certain things. I'm sure you can relate to at least a few of them...

If you click the picture, you are taken to its DeviantArt page, where you can see the full version. It's a bit hard to read this small.

Ones that stand out right away --
"I'm not beautiful."
"I'm not skinny."
"I'm not brave."
"My family won't allow me."
"I don't have time."

Inqy said: This interesting little blob's composition caught my attention first. Once I fully viewed and understood it, I realized just how much sense it makes -- on the peripheral, we can see the beginnings of our excuses, and they melt together until all we have is a congealed mess. This unreadable center is what stops us. It's difficult to break away once our excuses have become impossible to read or remember. What is stopping you? by ~boss13055 (Suggested by =Inqy and Featured by `ArhcamtIlnaad)

So what's stopping you?

♥ kelsey.

Standing tall.

2009-09-04T19:29:00.002-04:00

new photo in the shop.

btw this is totally post #100!

2009-09-01T20:55:00.003-04:00

So today I've been working on a new design of earrings! I really like them, what do you think? ;)

Only in blue for now, but I am hoping to get some more made in the other flower colors I have available; pink, yellow, black, purple, and a frosted white :)

I really love these!! Love the little leaves and stem...

See them in the SHOP.

♥ kelsey.

A happy girl.

2009-08-31T07:56:00.003-04:00

I recently got the MOST amazing business cards! From a shop on Etsy, --happygirlgreetings. Laura Beth was very sweet and I absolutely love my new cards! They really are fabulous. :)

They are printed on this heavy cardstock, that has a bit of a texture, kind of linen-like. So they look really elegant! I got two designs, for both my main Etsy shops --

She has lots of other paper items in your shop! I may have to pick out something else ;)

She even has moving announcements! Super cute.

♥ kelsey

Keep your eyes peeled.

2009-08-30T08:03:00.002-04:00

♥ kelsey.

Quote of the day.

2009-08-29T21:44:00.002-04:00

"To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world."

♥ kelsey.

WIP is in a rut...

2009-08-29T21:30:00.002-04:00

Yes, WIP is in a rut...

I keep listing and listing (and also renewing...), updating old photos, chatting away in Etsy chat, virtual lab-ing it (?!) in the Vlabs, etc... And not much to show for it!

On the bright side, I did sell a photo in Akingdombythesea and I have been updating that shop a TON today. I guess I just needed a little change of pace. hehe ;)

I'm really going to start stepping it up though. No more procrastinating for me!

I also hope to do some more blogging, not sure if anyone really reads this though :P

And I've been updating my Facebook fanpage more often too so hopefully this collectively will help!

I've been feeling a little blue lately also so I'm sure that's not helping the situation. Sometimes it's just like, what is the point? You know?

And I keep ordering new supplies; I owe my parents a ton of money now! haha. What keeps you all motivated to keep going when the going gets tough? I'm trying to keep on going... but it's hard!

That Weekend Deals weekend was great, but now things have slowed to a standstill again.

Sorry, just felt like ranting ;) But be sure to let me know what you all do to keep yourself motivated, I'd love to hear from you :)

♥ kelsey.

LoveErica.

2009-08-29T15:28:00.006-04:00

LoveErica is a friend I met in Etsy chat; she is a fellow photographer-turned-jewelry-maker! :) Her shops (LoveErica and LoveEricaPhotography) carry a wide variety of items.

Her shop is also your go-to place for custom handstamped muslin bags.

♥ kelsey. [that reminds me of her shop name!] ;)

busy busyyyyy.

2009-08-29T15:17:00.002-04:00

♥ kelsey.

Unexpected.

2009-08-23T01:59:00.002-04:00

"It's your gradual descent into a life you never meant". I always reference this line from one of my favorite Rilo Kiley songs ("A man/Me/Then Jim", in case you were curious) and it always gets me thinking...

Things almost never turn out the way we had planned, but I feel like they always work out in the end. Don't you think?

Sometimes your spur-of-the-moment ideas turn out to the best. Sometimes a believed "mistake" turns into an achievement.

I put this photo with this post because I think it embodies all this. I call it the "almost flower" because it's not even really a flower, but a part of a rosebush in my yard. See the thorny insides? But taken in macro and converted to grayscale, it seems like a pretty flower. And I actually took this photo almost a year ago, but it wasn't until today that I found it again. I always look through my old stuff and find new ways of looking at them. A new edit.

And everytime I write these blog posts, I never know where I am going with them ;) I just sit here with an idea, and start typing. No rough drafts. And I hate to use the backspace to delete what I've written. And sometimes, these ideas turn into something great (and sometimes not, but hey.)

There's always that question, "if you could go back in time, what would you do differently?" And many times people are quick to say they would fix a certain mistake. But then you get other people who say they wouldn't change a thing, because it's all brought them to where they are today.

Even little decisions can have a large impact on your life later on down the line.

I never knew that I would have this shop on Etsy. And if you remember, WorksInProgress started out as a photography shop, and now look at what it has morphed into! It all kind of started on a whim, but now it is so important to me.

And all the places you've been, the people you've met, etc, you might not be the person you were today if one of those things hadn't happened.

And had you not gone to some of those places you've been, you may not have met these important people! Had your parents decided to go to different colleges than where they ended up, they would not have met and you would not be here. It's so odd to think of all this though, and you can't live your life on what ifs.

There's that saying also, "everything happens for a reason".

And it may not work out like you plan, but it WILL work out. :)

♥ kelsey.

JacqleenBleu.

2009-08-23T01:38:00.002-04:00

I love love LOVE this photography shop. Each photo is just so magical....

I've been admiring her work for quite some time now! :) Absolutely lovely and very whimsical.

Take a peek at http://jacqleenbleu.etsy.com :)

♥ kelsey.

Things I've been eyeing in my Etsy favorites.

2009-08-23T01:22:00.008-04:00

Vintage orange cream blazer by throbackvintage.

Coral inspired focal pendant by AlmedaPottery.

Sit down for a cup of tea blouse by lizzybrookes

♥ kelsey.

so what's new?

2009-08-23T01:14:00.002-04:00

Lots!

I have been making tons of new things and am slowly getting them listed in the shop :)

♥ kelsey.

Jewelry Vixen.

2009-08-16T23:42:00.004-04:00

So I met JewelryVixen in chat and the virtual labs, and she seriously makes some gorgeous jewelry :) Very sweet person too!

I have these anemone, mint earrings from her. And they are soooo pretty! Really tiny too, check the third photo.

I actually featured these earrings in my mint treasury that made the front page! So happy that I could help a talented jewelry maker get some more Etsy exposure :)

Check out her shop, it's full of more pretty stuff!

♥ kelsey.

WEEKEND DEALS Results!

2009-08-12T07:40:00.003-04:00

omg omg omg omg omg.

My goal for the weekend was to hit 100 sales (I was at 90). And guess what?! I now stand at 109 :)

I got tons of new shop hearts also, about a hundred new! My goal for that was to pass 500. hehe, achieved! :)

And tons of items hearts toooooo!

Check this out -- the little copperfly got 1612 views, it was at about 300 before the weekend. Wow! :) :) :)

Thanks to everyone who sent me convos and such, haha, to tell me they saw the weekend deals banner on the FP :)

♥ kelsey.

SALEEEEEE

2009-08-07T18:45:00.002-04:00

WorksInProgress is having a sale this weekend! 25% off :) AS FEATURED IN THE WEEKEND DEALS!!!! So exciting :)

My item photo was chosen as the main image for the Storque article and also as a banner to appear at the top of the Etsy home page ;)

Yayyyyy!!!!! :)

♥ kelsey.

almost forgot...

2009-08-06T00:43:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday WIP was on the FP!!! :)

Sooo exciting, but still no sales... haha, hopefully soon though ;)

Tagged!

2009-08-05T22:02:00.002-04:00

I was tagged in the very lovely Amy's (aka Ponder & Stitch) blog post "About Me".

So, here are ten things you may or may not know about me, in no particular order...

1. I was born in an Army hospital just outside San Antonio, Texas.

2. I lived in Germany for five years when I was very young, so unfortunately I do not remember much of it!

3. My mom is my best friend. :)

4. I have struggled with depression in one form or another for about 6 1/2 years now.

5. I will be 19 on 9/29/2009.

6. My first and last initials are KF which I am pleased to say is also a perfectly balanced chemical compound, no subscripts needed, Potassium fluoride! ;)

7. I can name all 50 U.S. states in alphabetical order, haha!

8. I love languages and words. I have many favorite quotes and I take great meaning from song lyrics.

9. I always doubt myself.

10. I am amazed at the kindness of 'strangers' and am so happy to have found all these wonderfully nice people through Etsy, blogging, Twitter, etc. There are also some people who have truly made a difference in my life, and I hope to one day do the same for someone else.

Thank you to anyone who reads this! I really appreciate it, probably more than you will ever know.

And now, here are the people I am tagging! If you see your name below or you would like to post your own "About Me", please do, I would love to read them!

- Tali (a fellow photographer)

- Erica (a fellow photographer and jewelry maker)

- Trace (aka It's All Just Menagerie)

- Hannah (a fellow jewelry maker)

- steppie (the panda girl!)

- Rachel (aka Balanced, a fellow jewelry maker)

I have no idea how many people I am supposed to tag haha, but that is good for now :) Thanks for reading...

♥ kelsey.

Ponder & Stitch

2009-08-03T13:21:00.002-04:00

You may remember Ponder & Stitch from my previous post "What's In My Etsy Favorites"

And now a full feature on the shop run by the very lovely Amy. :)

Can I just say how much I love love LOVE this shop?!

Quite possibly the most amazing thing ever, is this postcard sentiment bracelet cuff. So unique and very adorable also. :)

This one you can find HERE and she also makes custom sentiments!

It even has a stitched postmark date!

Also check out her vintage/jewelry shop on Etsy HERE and her BLOG :)

Such lovely shops!! I am wishing for that peter pan collar dress and a postcard sentiment of my very own! ;)

♥ kelsey.

wooohoo! thank you Etsy :)

2009-07-29T08:03:00.004-04:00

Last night I discovered that I am in the "Classically Nautical" gift guide on Etsy! :) yayyyyyy!!!

♥ kelsey.

what I'm working on...

2009-07-28T22:50:00.006-04:00

So, I have a TON of stuff I need to list in my WIP shop! Unfortunately, procrastination and laziness have been getting the best of me :P

Today though I made a bunch of new necklaces AND listed two of them in the shop! yayyyy for productivity! :)

The first one is a sweet little retro sewing machine necklace, with a bit of vintage seam binding to accent.

The next one is a little simpler, a leaf and flower charm and vintage white glass bead.

My original version of "Time Enough at Last" sold (yay!) so I made a variation, and just need to photograph it and list! :) Also be on the lookout for some more pieces coming soon...

♥ kelsey.

Re-Spekt.

2009-07-22T09:59:00.007-04:00

I remember I bought the Regina Spektor album "Begin to Hope" a few years ago... I had heard the song "Fidelity" and loved it! The video was also so different, a bit odd, but so amazing!

I've recently come back to this album and re-discovered all of these gems!

And the lyrics in her songs are brilliant, here is one of my favorites, from "On the Radio" --

"This is how it works,

You peer inside yourself,

You take the
things you like.

And try to love the things you took.

Then you
take that love you made,

And stick it into some--

Someone else's
heart,

Pumping someone else's blood.

And walking arm in arm,

You hope it don't get harmed.

But even if it does,
You'll
just do it all again."

So lovely,

♥ kelsey.

Please don't go crazy if I tell you the truth...

2009-07-18T08:51:00.002-04:00

Why can't you shoulder the blame, because my shoulders are heavy from the weight of us both.

Dr. Jekyll is wrestling Hyde, for my pride.

-Snow Patrol

Super Special Seller Saturdays -- A Weekly Feature

2009-07-18T06:41:00.006-04:00

And here is the second installment! This week features Claire from AbsolutelySmall, enjoy! :)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Claire
a.k.a. Absolutely Small
would probably also answer to Chickenpants... ;)

Claire is a Twitter pal and she's super nice with a cute little shop... You can find her signature Chickenpants plush toys and other fun items in her Etsy shop! Such unique products with cute descriptions.

Also came across her flickr one day and spotted the Chickenpants alongside Blythe! :)

This listing is also super cute! "Two are better than one", of course! And you get the two plushies for only 20 dollars :)

You can also find Claire on ArtFire and of course Twitter!

P.S. Looks like the U.S. shipping prices were also reduced, woo!

oh and if you like you what you see, you can become of fan of the new Chickenpants FB page! :)

♥ kelsey.

Words to live by.

2009-07-18T00:57:00.007-04:00

"If you see someone without a smile, give them yours".

I love that quote, and I hope it's one that can really make you think. Something so simple like that can really brighten up someone's day.

You never know what someone else is going through, what demons they are battling. I think with everything I've been through in recent years, it has become a goal of mine to help out others who are struggling.

Making jewelry is all fine and dandy, but sometimes it just seems so trivial... I really admire those who are out there making a difference in the lives of others and I hope someday I can be counted among them.

I am also amazed at the kindness of "strangers", i.e. the Twitter friends, blog readers, and fellow Etsy sellers who are always eager to share some encouragement or a little smile. I can post on Twitter that I just sold a new locket necklace and I'm guaranteed to get a few "Congratulations!", or "Wow, that's amazing!". Or I can write a blog post about my grandmother and be flooded with kind words and comments, each one making me shed a little tear at the thoughtfulness.

It's kind of funny actually, (not funny haha, but funny ironic) because I may post these same things on my Facebook page, where "real life" friends can see them all as well. It never fails though that I get the most responses from my internet pals.

And as I said before, I think with everything I've been through, I am always trying to help others feel better, you know, share that little smile. If I see on Twiter or FB a sad status, I'll ask them if they are okay. I've been there, and I know I wanted someone to ask me if I was okay. Sometimes that's why you post those things, you want someone to read it and ask you, or tell you that it's all going to be alright. Sometimes that's all you need, just a little reassurance that you're not alone.

And it is odd that my "real life" friends don't always express it the way my internet friends do, but someone explained it to me recently. He said that in certain situations, people might not know how to react, so they simply say nothing. But the Twitter or Etsy friends, they have nothing to gain by saying nothing. Those kind of friendships are still new and reacting to the situation or posting a comment is a way of reaching out and building that friendship.

So anyways, just wanted to say "thanks" to anyone who is reading this, and to let you know I appreciate all the nice comments, convos, e-mails, and @ replies. And I also wanted to remind you all of that quote, you really never know what is going on in someone's life or what they're dealing with. And I hope that I be can as nice to others as some have been to me. That'll be my goal, to make things even just a little easier for someone else. Encouragement and reassurance are always nice...

I also challenge you all to do the same! Let me know how it goes ;)

♥ kelsey.

new look.... and QUESTIONS for youuuuu!

2009-07-16T13:24:00.003-04:00

I keep making new blog backgrounds and headers! and changing the entire layout! ;) what do you think of it??

I think I really like this one actually, but who knows, I may change my mind again! ;)

oh and I redid my website last night too! you can see it here

and I'm trying to come up with some new, interesting things to blog about. maybe some tutorials and/or tips?? what would you like to see here? let me know! oh and I will also be doing some more seller features soon :)

♥ kelsey.

polaroids ARE fun...

2009-07-16T01:54:00.004-04:00

playing around with photo editing...

ho hum.. editing photos...

2009-07-14T14:39:00.001-04:00

"the lonely little leaf".

what's in my favorites...

2009-07-14T01:53:00.003-04:00

so I was looking through my Etsy favorites and found some things I would like to share with you :) all of these in particular are from some Etsy chat peeps...

links follow below!

#1 Annabel Lee paper doll from Le Lapin Triste

#2 feedsack cuff bracelet from Ponder and Stitch

#3 little doggy striped hoodie from Ali and Al

♥ kelsey.

"omg, like totally freak me out"

2009-07-14T00:25:00.005-04:00

wow! so I made the front page of Etsy again! a big thank you to Love Erica for including me in her gorgeous treasury! <3

♥ kelsey.

"I am not a robot"

2009-07-12T23:04:00.002-04:00

haha, I recently heard this song by Marina and the Diamonds...

I really like it! ...but the video kind of freaks me out...

what do you think?? :)

What I buy on Etsy...

2009-07-12T18:15:00.013-04:00

I bought some adorable headbands recently from http://theriveriseverywhere.etsy.com/

Sam's shop is so cute and she is super nice too! She included a free ring with my order :)

I ordered the cutest flower headbands! The first one I fell in love with had a creamy beige floral fabric. I thought the contrast with my dark hair would be perfect!

Then I also got one with a navy blue striped flower, and a cute little red button. Kind of nautical, which is always a favorite of mine! :)

Sam also sent me one of these adorable mini notebook rings :)

And there are so many other things in her shop that I love as well! Such a great variety too; headbands, jewelry, tote bags, etc, and all super cute and well priced :)

haha, this is me again wearing one of my new headbands :)

♥ kelsey.

"I'm Etsy Famous"

2009-07-12T01:23:00.010-04:00

sooooo many exciting things happening for AKingdomByTheSea!! here's a recap of the past two weeks...

first off my WIP photo was featured in a Storque article (the Storque is Etsy's blog!) --

then, on the fourth of July, my little kokeshi was on the front page! :)

THEN my "creme de menthe" treasury that I curated was on the FP...

THEN today (technically yesterday, Saturday), my dusty rose treasury made FP...

and THEN MY PHOTO made the FP also!

which was SO INCREDIBLY LUCKY because I was only an alternate! but an item sold and there I went on to the FP :) and I was also lucky enough to get my first two sales in that shop!

what a fabulous week and a half! ;)

and congratulations to all the great Etsyians who were in my front-page-making treasuries, you all deserved it!

♥ kelsey.

Super Special Seller Saturdays -- A Weekly Feature

2009-07-11T01:00:00.006-04:00

I started a forum thread (which you can see here -- http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6214249) looking for talented up and coming Etsy artists. This will be a weekly (maybe even a couple times a week!) feature, the first one follows below, enjoy!

♥ kelsey.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

up first -- Stephanie of "Pretty Much Art"

http://prettymuchart.etsy.com/

Stephanie's shop features her original works in a variety of different forms. Everything starts out as a hand-drawn illustration, which is then scanned and manipulated in Photoshop.

You can purchase her art as notecards, bookmarks, pendants, coasters, or magnets. She also offers matted prints. Even more special is the fact that the 11x14 total size white matted works are one of a kind; only one of each design will be printed and sold.

Straight from 23 year old Stephanie's Etsy profile --

"My current line is 'Pretty Much Natural' consisting of plants and weeds with an occasional butterfly, dragonfly, bird, or frog. Some are on the softer, more natural side, while some have a little more wild and funky flair."

The art works in PrettyMuchArt are separated into thoughtful sections for easy shopping. Here are some of my favorites --

Little Blue Bird Pretty Pendant...

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19369035

Orange Flower, Funky Notecards (set of 4)...

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16619906

Hot Pink Dragonfly Magnets (Set of 4)...

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26353374

Be sure to check out the rest of her refreshing and bold designs! :)

{creme de menthe}

2009-07-10T07:48:00.001-04:00

so, yesterday was very exciting! the treasury I made was on the front page :)

congratulations to everyone in it and I already know there were some sales!!!!

oh happy day!

2009-07-05T00:36:00.002-04:00

I made the freaking front page of Etsy today!!! my little kokeshi print :)

yayyyy!!

How To -- Brighten up your photos quickly and easily

2009-06-20T19:41:00.007-04:00

this is the method I use to brighten up and enhance my photos.

remember, if you try to take good photos, you won't have to edit them as much! ;)

I always brighten them up a little bit though and do some minor tweaking --

first, if you don't already have it, download GIMP:

http://www.gimp.org/

GIMP is a editing program much like photoshop, but it is available for free download ;) it will take some getting used to at first, but I actually prefer it now!

now, open the photo you wish to edit. you can either do this directly from GIMP, by clicking on File > Open or you may find the photo and right click > Edit with GIMP.

I prefer to work with curves, rather than "brightness/contrast". so, go up to Colors > Curves. This is how it should look --

I have circled in red what we will adjust. simply drag an area of the line upwards, to make it look like this --

you can play around with that until it looks good with your photo. make sure to click OK! here is the after of mine --
you can stop here, but I'll show my next step...

go up to Filters > Enhance > Sharpen --

you can adjust this as well to your taste, I usually put it around 35 or so, depending on the particular photo.... click OK and you're done!

♥

2009-06-17T17:36:00.002-04:00

To my grandmother…

Thanks for everything grandma, love and miss you. ♥

Dear Gramma (as you always preferred to spell it),

I still can't believe you're gone…

This happened too soon but I'll always remember the time we shared. All the summers up in Hiawassee, taking walks, going down to the creek. Playing cards until bedtime. How you used to say you'd take me to Vegas for my 21^st birthday. We still had fun those summers, even with "no television".

The trips to Jacksonville too, I always loved that house. And I thought it was amazing that for that year in first grade, I got to live at the house my mom grew up in, in her old room.

I think the most special time we had together was that last trip to Jax, the last time I got to see you. That was in November… I wish I would have come to see you again…

You always told me how proud you were of me, whether it was for my report card of straight A's or for starting my own shop. Those first photos I took, the ones that inspired me to do all this, they were there in Jax. The "famous" works in progress print… I looked at it yesterday and it made me a little sad to see it. I will always think of you and grandpa when I look at now. And how you were so proud of that photo, that you got a print of it and hung it up in your kitchen. Right by the window, even though you could look outside to see the real thing.

And how you sent me all those vintage buttons and things for me to use in my jewelry. Those moonglow-looking ones made the prettiest rings for my shop. And guess what, I sold every last one of them :)

And when Mom called yesterday to tell me that you had gone, one of the first things she said after was that you loved me very much and you were always so proud of me. I don't know if I've ever really thanked you for that, but you and Mom were probably my biggest fans. So thanks :)

Another thing I'll never forget is what you wrote in my card for my 16^th birthday, some advice that I've still remembered these past three years. You knew all that was going on in my life then, and you wrote that you wanted me to go out and live my life, and most importantly "not be afraid of it". I cried when I read that, and I think about it pretty often.

So thanks again, you mean so much to me, and I don't know if I ever really told you that. I wish I would have gotten the chance to spend more time with you; I only got to know you for 18 ½ years. And I thought we'd have a lot more time…

We all miss you so much, and my heart just aches for all those you left behind. But Mom is right, now you're not suffering anymore. Say hi to grandpa for me, tell him I wish I'd gotten the chance to know him too. I was so little when he died that I don't really have any memories, just old photos and a couple videos. I guess I'm lucky that I did get the chance to know you better. You both left way too soon, and it makes me so sad… But I'm so thankful for the time we did get. I'll always remember.

love always,

Kelsey.

Etsy feature -- besu

2009-06-11T18:51:00.005-04:00

http://besu.etsy.com/

Beth, a.k.a. besu, has a super cute shop on Etsy! She's really nice too :)

At besu, you will find adorable zipper pouches, clutches, and card cases, as well as rings and pinback buttons. I recently purchased this little tree zip pouch from her and I love it! Cutesy little trees and a tiny red birdie! how sweet :)

this deer ring is also super cute! --

♥ kelsey.

YART saleeeeee!!

2009-06-09T21:49:00.003-04:00

art + yard sale = Yart Sale !!!! yay!

I will be participating in the second annual Etsy Yart Sale; all items in my shop will be 20 % off!!! yay!!

to read more about Yart, you may check out this Storque article:

http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/ya-gotta-yart-4049/

the sale runs from June 10-14th, see you there! :) you can also search Etsy for "Yart" to see other great sales!

GRAND OPENING SPECIAL!!

2009-06-09T14:33:00.002-04:00

check out my newly opened photography shop:

http://akingdombythesea.etsy.com/

FREE SHIPPING to the U.S. and Canada, and only $1.25 to any other country! :)

also each purchase comes with "free samples", i.e. ACEO size prints!

:)

it's your gradual descent into a life you never meant...

2009-06-02T14:32:00.004-04:00

I had been neglecting my photography for a while...

actually, I still am, but it's getting better ;)

these are actually "old" photos, but in an exciting new way! yay. and check out my new shop that I will be moving my prints to:

http://akingdombythesea.etsy.com/