weekend via instagram

Happy Thanksgiving. xo

growing the business...

Today is my 8th anniversary of marrying Aubrey, and also, the official date that I started my business. Two major life moments that have turned out to get sweeter with age.

It's fitting to me that on the anniversary of starting my company, I reveal a new development in my business. As of a few weeks ago I signed with an art publisher. An art publisher is a company that produces high quantities of art for retailers. As an artist this is an amazing opportunity because I get to create but let my publisher take care of all of the other details such as selling, printing, shipping.

Let me stop here to explain that I'm trying to write this post in a semi-professional way, but for the moment, let me stop, do a dance around my office, squeal a little bit with excitement, and I will now sit back down and compose myself.

This is something I feel is perfect for my brand. Just a few short months ago I made a decision to regroup & refocus on what I truly enjoy - creating art, and building my company. Although I'm beyond excited, I'm also somewhat nervous. For any artist reading this, that feeling should come as no surprise. Even after 8 years of creating art there are always nerves when putting work in front of a new audience.

I'll still be selling prints in my shop, but what this art publisher will be able to produce is unlike anything I can create myself - huge canvases, framed prints - it's amazing and I'm so excited. I'll be updating my website with stores where you may be able to find my work. But for now, I just wanted to announce this huge new development. Yay! xoxo Linds

friday observations

Happy Friday. Here are some shots from over the week.

1. I picked up a Hape Alphabet Puzzle from Mastermind Toys for Oscar.
2. I think it's time I admitted I have a pillow obsession
3. Anyone know where I could find a similar scarf as in this shot? Love the style. *Note, I love the length especially. I find it hard to find LONG scarfs.
4. I joined a gym. I went at 6 am each morning for one week and quickly realized I am NOT a morning person. I now workout in the evening....and I'm much happier. ;)
5. Went to a wedding and it was gorgeous. I noticed that people (like myself) didn't bring cameras - everyone whipped out their iPhones to take photos. A lot has changed since I got married.
6. Peel + Stick Moustaches are a hit over here.

Other things I've boomarked because I enjoyed:

1. I loved how Joanna's husband diffuses an argument.
2. Love the packaging of these soaps
3. Behind the scene video shoot of the 2012 Princess Margaret Showhome. Gorgeous.

xo Linds

running an online shop / prepping for the holidays

A little break from home stuff..... I'm organizing and prepping my office/studio for Christmas.

I know that sounds nuts but for the last 8 years of running my shop I've come to realize that getting ready now helps make my busiest 4 months of the year run smoothly. Although running an online store and a bricks and mortar location are very different - I think one similarity is an online store requires the same "editing" of product and attention to merchandising.  If you walk by a storefront that hasn't changed its window display in 4 months, you tend to feel as though the inside of the store hasn't had any updates either. This is why I like to try to rotate things in the store, so it continually feels fresh.

Now is the time that I start planning out the release of new products, I look over my existing inventory and remove designs that aren't selling. I'm taking product photography (like the photos above), re-evaluate the fonts I use. I look back at when I did sales in previous years and I have notes to what did well. I either plan to do the same sales, or switch things up a bit. This process can take weeks and weeks and although time consuming it is really refreshing.
In the last month there have been some cool new developments with my art. They have yet to blossom into something substantial enough to talk about but the news was enough to make me giddy about the future. This is a nice spot to be in vs, how I was feeling 2 months ago.

I thought I'd post on the process of editing & prepping for the holidays. As running your own online store becomes easier for everyone (way easier than when I started 8 years ago) I thought I'd give some insight into some of the important things to keep in mind in maintinain a store.

Anyways, back to the house. The kitchen has two things left before I can take the reveal photos. The grouting, and adding the valance by the under cabinet lighting. It's hard to finish the little stuff once a kitchen is usable and looks not so bad. You kind of keep putting things off. But I think Aubrey is grouting today, so that will be nice. :)

xo Linds

cottage life

We're back from a little getaway to the cottage. It was lovely. Here are some shots of the cottage experience itself. Later on this week I'll share some awesome antiquing spots, my finds, and an awesome craft I did that is super easy. But for now, some shots of the cottage. I'm off to do laundry. ;-)  xo Linds

PHOTOS: [1] My bedroom is right by the water - I fall asleep to the sound of light waves hitting the shoreline. It's the most relaxing sound. [2] Our family loves the water. I'm on the other hand a little terrified of boats after a boating accident as a child. One day I'll get back into it. [3] Oscar lived on our little beach while we were there - finding frogs, finding rocks, swimming [4] The carpeting is my favourite at our cottage, although Mom is talking about maybe giving the cottage a face lift (including new carpet) [5] Near the end of the stay it got rainy - no complaints here. My favourite thing is to read by a fire [6] I picked up a new light yellow duvet from HomeSense for my bedroom - I've fallen for quilts vs. duvets. And HomeSense seems to have beautiful ones lately.

happy friday

Have a great weekend from our crazy house to yours. I wanted to thank you for all of the amazing feedback that you left on my last post. I was terribly nervous to hit publish - so I appreciated not only the support but that many readers their own stories of similar realizations. I really recommend reading the comments people left, they are inspiring and heartwarming. xo Lindsay

Aubrey bought these glasses for Oscar at H&M. We now all have matching aviators. ;) Oh, and Oscar got a much needed haircut a few days after this photo was taken.

personal post | life observations

I love this photo. It was snapped two months ago on May 29th - 3 days after BlogPodium wrapped up and it was Oscar's birthday morning.  He was so excited to have balloons waiting for him in the kitchen and he kept pulling on the strings making them bounce against the ceiling. Apart from his excitement in this photo, do you notice anything else?  Take a peek at the banner.

I hadn't noticed the error on his birthday banner until later on that day. I remember initially laughing at my mistake but then quickly feeling deflated because I hadn't notice the obvious spelling mistake. I was exhausted from burning the candle at both ends for a very long time. For the past 4 months I was also mourning the loss of my Dad, running after an active two year old and running multiple businesses. It was the first moment where I realized things were catching up with me. And I obviously needed a break.
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little paintings

I'm feeling a bit like my old self again as the kitchen demolition and reconstruction has settled down and we're at the final stretch of work on the kitchen. I've decided to get back into painting. I'm thinking of hanging the top one in my living room - although Aubrey has asked that he have it for his office. I'm especially fond of the bottom one - but I'm not sure where it will go. Anyhow, I'm thinking I may do some more, it's terribly relaxing. :)

busy doesn't equate success

Sorry for the radio silence. Moving back into the house is awesome, but at nights (when I normally blog) I'm painting ceilings, tidying up, and focusing on getting my shop open. Hopefully that will end soon and I can just sit and enjoy everything.

You may have seen this New York Times article on "The Busy Trap" where Time Krieder writes about society relishing in being "busy" and Krieder advocates a more balanced lifestyle. Reading it last night I felt some comfort - I've just recently come to realize that being busy doesn't equate success. Something that I think I really believed up until this past month.

I think I have to keep reminding myself that one doesn't have to always be "busy". I haven't been bored in a long time and I think I need to make an effort to be bored. I'm cutting back a bit on work that pulls too much from my family, and putting more effort into my little shop that I adore. I'm also going to make an effort to just chill out. :) Anyhow, the New York Times article was worthwhile to share, so I thought you may enjoy. xo Lindsay
Ps., This list that I read  found it via Nicole's Blog was also a refreshing reminder as a blogger.

Photo via Mimi + Meg's Blog.

vacation mode

Oscar and I are still at my Mom's in vacation mode. As you can see from the pictures above we're having a blast (and I kind of don't want to move home) What we've been up to: Snuggling + lots of self portraits. Swimming. Exploring the Toronto Parks & ravines, and eating lots of watermelon. :) Things over at our house with the kitchen reno are progressing at a nice pace. We had the counter measured for on Friday, and we expect it to be installed in a week and a half.  More pictures soon. xo Linds

a special spot in toronto...

Taking a break from the reno talk, buying things, and shopping, here is a picture from one of my favourite places in Toronto - Alexander Muir Memorial Gardens. It's a magical garden that has twists and turns and the most amazing collection of trees, plants, herbs and flowers. As a young child I'd pick tulips from the trails and bring them home for my Mom. One winters night after a huge ice storm I remember my Dad and I braving the cold to walk to this park to do some photography. This part of Toronto holds so many memories - many of which I had forgotten until I walked back into the park with Oscar this week. Funny how that happens. I won't lie, I got a bit teary eyed while walking through it. Maybe it was how much the trees had grown, and the plants were a lot bigger than I had remembered them. It made me realize how much time had passed since I last walked through the park - and also, how much I missed this area of the city.

Toronto has some lovely spots that take you away from the hustle and bustle of it all, and this is definitely one of the gems in the city. If you're in Toronto and have yet to experience this park, I recommend that this Summer you take a little trip. It really is lovely. xo Lindsay

what didn't get blogged about

Here's what didn't get blogged about this week, documented with my iPhone.

• Last Sunday was the local schools Fun Fair. So fun.
• Went to Fairbank Lumber to pick crown moulding for above the kitchen cabinets.
• We kept talking about balloons leading up to Oscar's birthday. Although we had tons on the first floor to him, I made sure we had 1 red balloon for when he woke up in his room. He flipped out. (In a good way)
• I love this skirt I picked up at The Gap for BlogPodium. So comfy.
• Love this photobooth idea for babies. SO cute.

Have a lovely weekend! I'm packing two suitcases up for Oscar and I to move into Mom's. I have a little giveaway for you that I was going to to post prior to Oscar's Birthday but I'm a little nutty around here with the kitchen reno, so it will go up tomorrow. :) xo Linds

Thoughts on blog monetization in Canada

My mind is still working away from last Saturday and the conversation of monetizing blogs. It's a hot topic and there are a lot of varying opinions out there. For the evening read, here are two posts I really like that I think pose two unique views:  Is your Blog the Show or the Commercial and On Privilege and "Selling Out".

At BlogPodium Nicole's keynote talk was perfect - it gave a great insight into the different ways that a blogger can make some money from blogging. What I really loved was that Nicole shared that she too was struggling to find a balance with sponsored posts - asking the audience what they felt the appropriate number of sponsored posts in a month was. After Nicole we had the panel of Canadian contributors (myself included) that offered insight into the Canadian Blogging world and monetization.

Although I think the panel touched on a lot info for the new bloggers (like getting product in kind, what bloggers charge for advertising) I'm not sure the insights from the panel were deep enough well established bloggers who really want to hear how to make a living from their blogging. For that, I've written some thoughts.

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lost in a sea of boxes + selling my art

Excuse the radio silence today. I'm lost in a sea of boxes as we pack up the kitchen to prepare for demo. I'm also lost in a sea of laundry as I pack to move into my Mom's house with Oscar. (While Aubrey stays here to renovate) I've closed my shop for a few weeks which has relieved some of the pressure. I hate closing my shop but I just needed to unplug for a bit.

As I'm running around like a crazy person, I've forgotten to mention that I'm thinking of selling the huge piece of art that painted for our living room. It's 40" x 40" and although I'm slightly attached to it, it's huge, and I would love it to be in a home where someone loves it and can enjoy. I just have a really hard time staring at my own artwork. Shoot me an e-mail to lindsaystephenson[at]hotmail.com if you're interested. Sadly, I can't ship this lovely so either pick up from my house in Toronto or I could have it couriered outside of the city. xo Linds

Update: Ok, I got a crazy amount of e-mails. I'm not sure why I didn't just post the price in the post. Nothing secretive about it ... I'm selling it for $500 which I appreciate is out of budget for some but based on the size I think it's pretty fairly priced. xo

questions?

If you were at BlogPodium, you'll know I'm pretty open with sharing information about my blog, what I charge, how I monetize, whether you should always charge (I don't think you should) and so on. I don't really talk about it much on my blog because I don't know if you want to know that kind of stuff. If you do have questions, let me know. For example, how do companies find me to do product sponsorship? A lot of the time I'm reaching out to them. So there is a lot of work that goes into the brand + blogger connection. Anyhow, just throwing it out there that if you have any questions that didn't get addressed at the panel, let me know! (Either by commenting below, or you can shoot me an e-mail)  xo Linds

Photo via Mango Studios

BlogPodium wrap up....

For the past five months Jen and I have been planning our second BlogPodium and Saturday was the big day. :) This event was twice the size of our first event, and quadruple the amount of planning. The topic of this event was "The Business of Blogging" There was a panel discussion, keynote speech from Nicole from Making it Lovely, and a Vendor Meet & Greet after the event.

This time I was actually on the panel. Being on the panel was a bit funny for me as I'm by no means an expert on blogging - I actually profit very little from my blog, and I actually don't intend on making my blog my business. However I do profit enough to make my blogging worthwhile and I see huge value in having a blog. I think where I come into the discussion is that I'm also a business owner, and I know that when my product is featured on the right blog, it directly affects sales. So I know the connection of blogger + brands is a poweful relationship.

I've been enjoying reading through the twitter feed to see how people liked the event. (Which made me smile) Here are some photos from the event but you can see more on the BlogPodium Flickr site or check out Mango Studios for all of the AWESOME photobooth shots!! They are so hilarious!

And now, Aubrey and I gear up for the kitchen demo that starts this week. Because we're crazy like that.

xo Lindsay

what didn't get blogged about...

Here is what didn't get blogged about this week!

• Last weekend was the busiest weekend in Penny Paper Co. history. Photos of Aubrey and Oscar helping me out above.
• BlogPodium is tomorrow! Follow along on twitter as people tweet from the event #BlogPodium
• This was a nice interview with Jennifer over on Style at Home's blog.
• I'm going for dinner with Nicole, Jen and out of town bloggers tonight.
• I tried this last night and my face feels wonderful. I love home made beauty products. Do you have any favourites?
• Some items arrived for the kitchen that I'm SO EXCITED about. Like I may have squealed in delight when I got them. They were also gifts, so I felt really, really special this week. I'll share more soon!

I'm going to crash after Saturday. Like full out, face plant into my bed, and not wake up for a few days.
Have a lovely, lovely weekend. xo Linds

What didn't get blogged about....

Happy Friday. This week was spent with me trying to find a fabricator for our kitchen counter, finalizing our cabinetry order, getting trades lined up. We're also checking to see if Habitat for Humanity Re-Store has any interest in our cabinets. It's worth seeing if they could be donated, vs. going to the dump. Here are a few things that didn't get blogged about this week:

1. Oscar and I went to Knead Bakery yesterday and shared a cookie outside. I love our little dates. While buying our cookie (and a coffee for myself) I spotted these small cakes. They were so cute. I love neighbourhood bakeries.

2. We sat on the porch and just watched the trucks pass by. It made me think of this song by John Lennon -  "I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round"

3. Oscar and his friends went for walk to get a Popsicle one night this week. We're lucky to live in a neighbourhood that has a LOT of families, and, really nice ones too. :)

4. I'm trying to get down to the boardwalk a few nights a week to get a walk in, by myself. It helps clear my head. Aub's pretty awesome at getting me to do that. Usually he's handing me my running shoes telling me to get out of the house. I always feel like there is work to do, so I need that push.

Have a lovely weekend.

xo Lindsay

What didn't get blogged

To end off the week, here is what didn't get blogged about.

1. Leigh-Ann came over Monday and we talked about kitchen designs and more fun stuff. It's nice to have a sounding board of someone who is involved in the design world!
2. Aubrey, Oscar and I headed back to Ikea to tweak the design a little bit and make sure it's all good. The kitchen team at Ikea rocks my world. They are really, really helpful.
3. Oscar is all about "snuggles" and riding on Aubrey's shoulders.
4. We had an afternoon at the Beach - we're lucky to be walking distance but on this day we drove down and parked, which allows us more time down by the water.

That's it! Have a great weekend. I'll be in my kitchen staring at tile, counters, and cabinets. :-)
xo Lindsay

What didn't get blogged

A lot of what happened this week revolved around kitchen planning. So many small (yet expensive) details. Anyhow, I'll reveal more next week to what I found in my travels as I think they are all worthy of showing you but for now here are some sneak peeks and a few other things that happened this week....

• Photo #1: I went for dinner with my best friend that I met at University. We went for dinner to one of my favourite places here in Toronto, The Abbot. If you're go, order the Apple & Stilton Salad. It is lovely.
• Photo #2: At Ikea I fell in love with the pull out pantry. I had to snap a photo. This will be going beside our fridge. I am *so* excited.
• Photo #3: This is the style of cabinetry we are going with - Adele. Love.
• Photo # 4: I've fallen for these handles that I found at Gingers. I'll post more next week. What is a average amount for cabinetry hardware? I'm so lost.
• In other news, save 50% on business cards in my shop :-)
• BlogPodium Sold Out!
• Thinking about making money from your blog? This is a great post by Karen.

Have a lovely weekend! xo Lindsay