Monday, December 23, 2013

Not a Creature was Stirring...

Hello Lovelies~

I hope this holiday week finds you all doing well out there! Are you ready for Christmas if you celebrate it? All those stockings hung and presents wrapped? I am so ready and I have so much to share with you all!

To start, let's talk some business. I mentioned a few posts ago that I ordered some new business cards for the new year. Well, they came in and I'm so happy with them! Moo cards does an amazing job and I chose the rounded corner, Printfinity option, which means I could pick different designs for my card backs! This is perfect for a portrait/lifestyle photographer like myself who has several different styles/skill-sets to offer. Well, here they are. I am absolutely delighted with them, you guys.

What else? Oh, for those of you who have followed the blog for awhile, I have alluded to a big secret project I've been working on for awhile. I am still hard at work on it and I am so happy with how it's going so far. I have a sneak peek to share. This shot is part of one of the final shots I'm editing. Yes, that's a Boy Scout carrying a very wee, very precious, very blonde little girl. Eeek! I can't wait to release this series!


And I also recently did a test shoot of step-by-step photography for a company called Demand Media Studios. This company uses professional contract photographers to create step-by-step photography for big-name websites like Livestrong and Martha Stewart Living. Well, great news! I was chosen to be a pro photographer who can start shooting for these sites. I am very excited to develop my professional portfolio in this way. Take a look at my test shoot. Such fun.


And STAG has been going like gangbusters for the holidays and that's just great. Getting quality vintage gifts to people all over the country (and even the world), makes me really happy. And it also frees up space in the shop for new, great things! Like, this amazing fabric that I found recently! Winter-weight tweeds, wools and plaids perfect for skirts or vests or pillows or anything, really. And more great plaid shirts will be available soon, including the two below, as well as the entire styled shot below. That is a micro-weave men's button down, with a red, wool knit necktie and a tweet jacket that's super sharp. I make it super easy to look good in vintage. All you have to do is click a button!




And I have recently come across an art opening that I wish I could attend so badly! You lucky folks out in L.A. should check out the Gallery 1988 - Required Reading show! Amazing artwork completely based on novels that are traditionally required at some point during one's education in the U.S. Some of my favorites are below, the piece from Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 by Glen Brogan and the piece from Heart of Darkness by Anthony Petrie. Such good things, you guys.





And let's wrap up with a bit of personal holiday things. To start, I thought you might enjoy these photos of my sister and I with Santa many years ago. Ha! Such fun, no? I'm glad to have these to remember those Christmases before I knew who Santa really was…




And I think I mentioned last post that I ordered my holiday cards from a wonderful design studio in the UK called Telegramme Studio? Well, those came in and I sent them to the very special people in my life. I was so delighted with them. I seldom design my own holiday cards, preferring instead to design a Halloween card to celebrate the anniversary of opening my first business. Needless to say, I have high standards in the card arena and these fit the bill and then some. Just look at them. Completely cunning.


And we've had some beautiful winter weather up here in Maine already. Several snow storms have covered the ground with white and it makes the sky look absolutely beautiful at sunset, bouncing that light right back up into the clouds. I finally got a really nice shot of what I see every day here. I am so lucky, don't you think?



That's a wrap for the week, Lovelies! On behalf of myself, The Stapelia Company, Jessica Beebe Photography & Stag Vintage, I wish you and yours a very happy and healthy holiday season!


Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Monday, December 2, 2013

Turkey with all the Trimmings...

Hello Lovelies~

I hope this week after the Thanksgiving holiday finds you all doing well! So much to share as usual over here in wintery Maine. Let's get down to the business piece first, shall we?

To start, after several years of not painting, I was doodling and got inspired to do a series of work inspired by 60's children's illustrations. The Top Crown Series, as I've named it, is now complete and listed in the shop for sale! These mini paintings are so cheery and fun and each piece is also accented with glittery details! I love them very much and I hope you do too. I think they will make some people very happy this holiday season!




What else? Oh, well STAG is also being stocked up with wonderful, unique, high-end vintage items for the holiday season! What better way to say you care to the men in your life than to give a special gift that you can't get at the mall? I even have some pretty things for the ladies out there, as well as vintage holiday decorations that will brighten the homes of the customers who snap them up! Just a few of these great items are shown below.



These golf shoes are about the craziest thing I've ever seen in men's footwear. Like clown shoes with a purpose.

For the ladies: A purple 100% wool blazer. Beautiful.
And for those of you who have a hard time thinking of things for that special someone, I am doing a Stag Item of the Day every weekday between now and December 20th to get those ideas percolating. Those will be posted on the STAG Facebook page!


It's not all work and no play around here, Lovelies! Oh, no. Thanksgiving was this past weekend and I joined some very good friends for a day of laughter, friendship and good food. (When your family lives across the country, your second family becomes as dear to you as your real one.) I did the baking, which included a lemon torte (hard to do, but I figured it out) and a pumpkin cheesecake with a candied pretzel crust (easier to do because I've practiced). Both were delicious. (Well, the whole day was delicious, frankly.) What a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. I'm a very lucky girl!




This weekend, I plan on decorating my own place for Christmas and I'm very excited! There's nothing better than sitting in your living room reading or drinking a glass of wine with just the light of the tree on, no? And I will be playing my Christmas records the entire time. Because, you can't beat Bing Crosby's voice on a record with a little hiss and some cracks and pops. Don't you agree? Happy Winter, Lovelies!


Until next time: unpleasant dreams...