{Lavender Gray}: August 2014

Working in the newborn photography business is quite the solitary job. You work from home.... or a studio (if you have one). And the competition is so fierce that developing true friendships - local or not - is a slow process. I think this applies to everyone from both sides of the newborn photography business, you - the photographers and us - the vendors. So when I tell you that I have been blessed more than once with the opportunity to meet - and become friends with - these girls; it is truly amazing and I love having them in my life to work with, bounce ideas off of, vent or cry on - they're all fantastic and hopefully one day I will get lucky enough to meet them, all of them, in the real world too. (Norma I am coming back to the east coast this winter, btw, maybe this time it will work out!)

Ashlee, of Mama Knits, is pretty crazy in a fun and enjoyable kind of way. I met her quite randomly in an auction (to buy yarn of course). I knew she had excellent taste in yarn when each listing that she bid on was the exact same listing I had bid on, squishy squishy merino. When the auction ended - I bravely sent her a message asking her how many of those yarns she really wanted. Because I really only wanted 2 but I bid on all 4 hoping to get 2. Turns out she had done the exact same thing! We both ended up with exactly what we wanted and quickly became friends. In fact I'm pretty sure she's going to name her next baby after me. Since 'Erin' can really be a girl or boy's name ;) (okay, I'm just wishing here, I know). Anyway - the point is - Ashlee rocks, she's a great sponsor for our giveaway,she has the prettiest knit layers and wraps and bonnets, and you should most definitely check her shop out HERE.

So I have to tell you about Norma, of Couture Phantasies. I don't know how Norma stays up until 3 and 4 and 5am night after night to wrap up orders, but man-oh-man, thank god she does!!! Our late night chats are fun and I bust out laughing at least twice before checking to make sure I haven't woken anyone up lol. I have admired her work for as long as she has been in business - I used to be so intimidated by her. Now I don't know why I was ever intimidated because she is incredibly nice, dorky, and loads of fun to laugh with. She even convinced me to pick up needle and thread so that I could give my thumb a slow murderous death (haha, quite true). In fact, I probably own more Couture Phantasies tiebacks or halos than I have ever made and my daughter and I fight over them on a daily basis. Next baby I have will be a Couture Phantasies model child. Sunday through Saturday. If you haven't checked her shop out before, you must do so... NOW.

Sonia from milkmoney is one of the hardest working women that I know. Not only does she have her hands full with some awesome kids, the cutest gigantic dogs I have ever seen, running an A+ shop, she's also president of the PTA. How does she do it all?? She's my wonder woman!! Completely down Earth, a "tell it like it is" and is hands-down kind, calm and helpful in the most wonderful way. I love her felted layers, and those 60's style felted bows she makes are seriously the cutest thing on the planet. I even have one. My daughter does too. Our Christmas pictures are gonna be rockin' this year ;) Bet you didn't even know that she knits too....she has the cutest little sleep hats in her shop right now. Go check them out HERE.

Sondra, of Simplistic by Sondra, is one of the most driven women I have met. Whatever she does, she does well, be it her start-up photography or her amazing prop shop, she ROCKS. And she has business smarts. And she dyes and spins her own yarn. How cool is that??? I would love to take a walk through her house one day. I will need to carry a drool cloth with me, because pretty sure my tongue is gonna be plastered to the floor the entire time. IN FACT I get to meet Sondra next weekend and I am pretty excited. I feel like I need to bring her a "Welcome to Reno" gift....I wonder if yarn is appropriate...Have you seen her shop? It's beautiful...go look at it HERE.

I don't remember exactly when I started exchanging with Kerry from Kiwi and Kiki, but I remember the first time I ever saw her page and died with delight. Not only can you find some pretty sweet headbands, but the little boy sets...the bow ties...the suspenders...the fedoras....ever since I had my little boy, I go overboard with dressing him like a gentleman. Fortunately he loves it too. He won't even create artwork unless he's in his 'work clothes', which consist of nice pants, a button up shirt a tie and either a vest or suspenders.
<--- Be honest....how many of you swooned at that? Okay, back to Kerry cause this really is about her. She is kind and generous. She is always quick to help another vendor out or offer advice when you're stuck in a rut, and she hosts some pretty amazing sales and giveaways on her page. Okay...I know you're impatiently waiting to see where you can check out her darling little boy sets...so go on now, click HERE.

Anna. Oh dear, I am so happy I have met Anna from Peppy Poppy. I literally squealed when I saw her in an rts sale somewhere way back when. Her shop name is so darn cute and I just love her little props. Wouldn't you know it, about a month ago, I finally got to put a name and a face to the place. She is really pretty (not gonna lie, I even got to see her 'professional image' of herself, complete with yarn in the background!), she is sweet, and oh my word in heaven - this girl loves tea about as much as I do! So many in this world are coffee drinkers, but when you find someone who will sit and discuss which teas they like and why....LOVE IT!!! Anna, when I find a way to get to your home town, I'm bringing tea for us, please make sure you put the pot on! And for the rest of you, while you're waiting for some delicious tea (if you want coffee go find Starbucks, there's one on every corner), please please go take a peek in her shop over HERE.

I don't remember when or how it happened, but a few weeks back I was hit up by Elizabeth from Lavender Blue Baby. And I have to tell you in all honesty, I love her shop name. Yes, yes I do love lavender. Blue is one of my favorite colors (right after gray, lol).....and out of all of us in this business....WHO DOESN'T LOVE BABIES!!!!! So there you have it, I love her shop name and that's why. She is also very, very nice and a pleasure to chat with. She is also THE featured vendor from Summerana, and it's not hard to see why with her lovely selection of lace knits. So hurry on over and check her out NOW.

Let me be honest for just a minute about this particular sponsor. I may not know Ginny all that well since we operate in vastly different time zones and it's hard to chat when one of us is sleeping and the other is awake, but I. LOVE. HER. SHOP. And her shop name. Little. Ireland. Knits. Come on....how many of you are dreaming about strolling through the rolling green hills of Ireland looking for pots of gold...and dreamy men with Irish accents....and the SHEEP....have you ever seen so much wondrous wool in your whole life???? No wonder her shop is simply amazing. She takes all of that beauty from her surroundings and she puts it into her work. She creates items in a way that make us fall in love with her over and over. I am not surprised that she is wanted and loved by all. Did I mention how nice she is??? Ginny, if I make it to Ireland (it's my turn to go, my sister has already been, so it's only fair that I take a trip), you will be the first door I knock on! So go now, go HERE.

Kinga from Little Rarities, also known as that impossible to read and spell "Szydełkowe Rarytasy" but thank heavens that Facebook automatically starts filling in the rest of the words for us when we go to look her up. Her page is insanely cute, I swear she makes everything in every color imaginable (and I really do love almost all the colors of the rainbow, it's always so hard to choose JUST ONE). And did you notice that her new little knit britches have adorable little knit pockets? I died. When is my next baby FINALLY going to happen (come on overies) and can I have a pair please and thank you! Go check her shop out, right HERE and then continue reading to find out how you can be one of the luckiest fans on the planet.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoy working with these ladies. They are down to earth. They are kind. They are friendly and funny and intelligent and, over all, wonderful human beings. Together we have some of the best props in newborn photography prop business - hands down - and once you try our props you can see the care and the love with which we create. It gives us pleasure. It relaxes us. Once our kids go to bed for the night and we start creating, all of our worries slip away and we get lost in the time. And then something beautiful happens, we create a brand new beautiful prop that we just might be a tiny bit proud of. So together, we are contributing $1000's worth of props and giving them away to TWO very lucky fans. Each fan will receive 5 prop swag bags from 5 of the sponsors...that's $500 of props. Of AMAZING props from AWESOME vendors. I'm not sure if this is a blessing or a curse, because you might not be able to stay away from us after this! Okay, I'll stop talking now so you can go get entered, this giveaway will be over and done with before you know it, so get as many entries as you possibly can....and then cross you darn fingers! And maybe your toes too. I don't know - does that help with extra good luck? lol - May the force be with you - or the odds ever in your favor.