Camera Mail

Who says disposable cameras are a waste? Matthew McVickar taped a one to a piece of cardboard, and shipped it off to his friend in Hawaii. The cardboard also included instructions for Postal Workers to take pictures on the journey, and posted the results on flickr.






Double whammy because you get to see behind the scenes at USPS!

PS - more super cool uses for disposable cameras over on Photojojo. Now I want to pick one up! Do you ever use disposable - or even film - cameras anymore?

Scheduled, Ben Franklin Style

Image from Nicky Bilton, via Swiss Miss

Today I'm feeling inspired by Benjamin Franklin's daily schedule. I flirt with "early to bed, early to rise", but what I can really get behind on this is the way he schedules multiple tasks ("read or overlook my accounts, dine") into block time periods. This really allows for flexibility within the confines of a structured schedule. Much better than scheduling times for each task, non?

How do you schedule your day? Lists? Time fragments?

Etsy Finds: Plaid Mountains & pommes frites cat toys

I'm loving these plaid mountain plushies from etsy seller Bug Miscellany.

lumberjack plaid mountain plushie

grunge mountain plaid plushie

I also think I need these pommes frites "kitten krazies" - STAT. Little handmade french fries that are stuffed with catnip - and kitties will love those knots.

I love how all the items in Bug's shop are inspired by nature - and the photography reflects that, too! Perfect example of shop cohesiveness.

Etsy in Austin: BFFs IRL

Yesterday (and today) was Etsy's party in Austin, and it was such a blast! Etsy Austin had set up a "wall of wow", showcasing our wares, and were also on hand passing out business cards and telling everyone about what we do. Etsy set up mini-conferences, crafts, food, and passed out cool freebies. Squid Ink Kollective made this giant cat, Babsy, that you could take photos with.





My favorite were the little cards that said "BFFs IRL" and included an attached friendship bracelet. These were made by an etsy seller, and I was told by Morgan (an etsy admin) that Etsy had basically bought the store out from her. She said she had made them in the '70s and was glad to see them go - she was wanted to segue into more beads. How cool is that!

I also loved the sentiment behind BFF IRL - at times during SXSWi, I felt like I was at the nexus of the twitterverse. Anyone tweeting about the etsy austin event using the hashtag #etsyaustin had their tweet displayed on a flat screen right near the entrance, so sometimes you'd even see your own tweet scroll across the screen. Plus, all these panels about social media with people tweeting about twitter... very post-modern. These cards were a nice reminder that while the internet is nice, nothing beats interacting - IRL.

Meeting people from Etsy was awesome - they are all super nice, especially this lady - and it was cool to see the faces behind the orange logo. I would be lying if I said it wouldn't be a total dream come true to work for them. Maybe in a future life!

PS - today they're teaching you how to build a synthesizer! Hope to see you there!

Etsy Austin SXSW Blog Guides

Image courtesy of El Grupo/Payphone Revival Project

Etsy Austin is teaming up with Etsy for their SXSW events here in TX, and we're bringing you Austin guides over on the Etsy Austin blog! I gave the deets on my fave sections of town - Midtown / North Loop & East Side. Becka of Baby Bolt offered up some kid-friendly options for South Austin, and Lynnea of Squid Ink wrote a super awesome guide to Veg-friendly places.

Plus, there are more to come! If you're in Austin (or coming), do you have any SXSW plans?

NoLa - Your Tips Needed!

Image via Design*Sponge
This Friday, Tom and I are packing up and heading to... New Orleans! We're spending Mardi Gras in NoLa with my sister and her bestfriend, and I couldn't be more excited. I can't wait to eat King cake, go on a haunted cemetary tour, walk around the Garden District, look at all the pretty architecture, dress up in costumes, watch parades and maybe speak some French along the way. Obviously, since it's Mardi Gras, the place will be swamped with drunk revelers, but I'm looking at it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The four of us have worked out our costumes are all dressing up as a different season. The Four Seasons! I'm going to be fall, and am currently working on a costume that involves felt leaves and a trash bag-esque skirt. What do you think? (Pictures to come!)

I'd love to know if you have any tips for us. Places I can't miss? Tours that are worth it? Places to avoid at all costs? Thank you in advance!