Thursday, November 30, 2006

Gudrun Sjödén

I love a little window shopping and web window shopping even more. Gudrun Sjödén is a unique home and clothing company out of Stockholm, Sweden. Their designs feature colorful printed and embroidered textiles typical of Sweden and Swedish folklore. Their website and especially their catalog is full of beautiful photography. They photograph their products in unique settings with natural lighting giving the consumer a sense of quality of life along with their quality products. I love these red and white embroidered table runners and pillows. I bought all of my Christmas wrapping this year at IKEA (another Swedish company) from their ISIG line - with a very similar red on white and white on red design. I also bought some some beautiful red ornaments to dectorate the packages with. Now I just have to do some shopping and sewing...




















Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Look What I Found Under the Christmas Tree



















Jason and I decided to share our Christmas present this year and bought it for ourselves a little early. Our new Cannon digital SLR camera arrived yesterday and is quite photogenic. :) We took some shots with it last night and it is incredible. I am so excited to take the next round of product photographs with it for SimplyJune. Having so much more control over focus and lighting adds so much more depth to the photographs. I actually studied photography in college as an Art Minor, but have just fallen into the rut of using my point and shoot digital and doing my best to improve lighting and color in Adobe Photoshop. I have been pleased for the most part with my results and certainly would only use a digital camera for my website photos because of cost and ease. However, there is really a limit to what I could do with my previous camera. I will have to say that the best advice I can give when taking product photos is to get yourself a nice lightweight tripod and turn off your flash. I also use the timer on my camera for taking photographs so that I can step away from all lighting (so as to not cause shadow) and not move the camera while actually taking the photo.

I really enjoy taking product photographs and styling the photos - also a great exuse to to go to auctions and antique malls. I'm not sure if I have mentioned it before, but if you are in the Boston area you must check out The Massachusetts Antique Cooperative in Waltham. They are a really nice antique mall with over 125 dealers tucked away in an old factory building. This is the perfect destination for a rainy afternoon - though I would definitely go without little ones. You could literally browse for days in this place before you had explored every nook and crannie and discovered your favorite treasures.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

SimplyJune Newsletter - Holidays 2006






Our Holidays 2006 Newsletter went out today. If you did not receive it, your e-mail address may not be on our Mailing List - take a minute to update your information today. We have some fun surprises coming up that will only be available to those on our mailing list.

Hope that everyone had a Wonderful Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

My Adoption Thanksgiving Prayer

It was a year from today that we we received our adoption referral for our son Nikolai. It was a special day that we will never forget and I have feebly tried to put in words some of my thoughts about it. Nikolai has been home for 7 months now and he is the reason for so many wonderful blessings in our lives. Nikolai we love you and give thanks for you this day!

It was a year from today that we first heard your name
Saw your face
Heard your laugh
Allowed ourselves to dream...

In those days and weeks before we held you in our arms
Before we saw your face
Heard your laugh
Held you close and warm

We thanked God for His children
For the son he gave to us
Born half way around the world
Clearly meant for us

We thank God for you on this THANKSGIVING DAY
And we pray for the others that are still waiting today
That their forever families will soon hear their name,
See their face, hear their laugh and allow themselves to dream.

Karen Grant 2006

Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

SimplyJune and Lisa Gaumond - One Unbelievable Night of Holiday Shopping!

Simply June is joining together with artist and jewelry designer Lisa Gaumond for an evening of holiday shopping in Andover, Connecticut. This will be the one-stop place to do all of your holiday shopping. Come, relax with friends and finish your shopping before the Christmas rush begins!

If you are interested in receiving an invitation and directions, please sign up on our Mailing List.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Magnet Tins are now in the SimplyJune Online Store

Check them out now in the SimplyJune Online Store. as these little sets go fast. These fun glass magnets are great for hanging those favorite photos or helpful reminders on the fridge. They have a heavy duty magnet and will hold your things in place. Each tin of 6 is unique. Designs are hand picked from all types of printed material. These make a great gift.

A set of 6 comes packaged in a SimplyJune tin and retails for $7.50.

We are keeping busy in the SimplyJune studio photographing products, working on custom orders and preparing for our next show - stay tuned for details especially if you are in the Connecticut area!









































































Friday, November 17, 2006

Nataliya Bags now up in the Simply June Online Store

The Nataliya Bag is named after our son Nikolai's favorite caretaker at his orphanage in Moscow. She took especially great care of our son and loved him dearly. Special people inspire creativity and I can't think of anyone more special than Nataliya.

Nataliya bags feature three interior pockets, triple stitched corner and handle seams for durability and a magnetic clasp. Bags measure 12"l x 6"h x 3"d; Strap measures 24"l x 1"w and retail for $50.00

Check them out in the Simply June Online Store...

* Shoulder Strap Tucked In Bag For Photograph





































Thursday, November 16, 2006

Petticoat Note Cards are Now in the Simply June Online Store

Our collection is growing and we are updating new items every day for the holidays! Take a look at all of the new goodies in the SimplyJune Online Store.

These adorable dresses are cut from a sketch I made after seeing a cute vintage dress in a magazine. The wool part of each dress is cut from the pattern I made. I then sit down with a pile of my vintage trims and bits and baubles and make each dress unique. All of the beads and trims are sewn on by hand and each wire hanger is shaped around a bead to coordinate with the dress. Each card comes packaged in a cello sleeve with a coordinating envelope and the back of each card is stamped with our SimplyJune logo. A piece of mailing wrap is also included in the envelope to protect the card in the post. The cello bag is sealed with our SimplyJune sticker. They make a great note card for any occasion and are cute enough to frame!

Cards measure 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and are priced at $5.50 per card.





































Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Simply June Handbags Now Updated in the Online Shop

Stop by the SimplyJune Online Store to see many new bags. As I have mentioned before and as you can read on our website, there is a story behind how these stylish handbags came to be. In the summer of 2004, my husband Jason and I decided to grow our family through adoption and recently brought our son Nikolai home from Russia! These handbags were originally designed as a gift to thank all of the wonderful women working in our future child's orphanage. We have now had the honor of presenting them with these small tokens of our thankfulness for loving and caring for our son for the first 20 months of his life.









































































Flapper Hats are Now in the SimplyJune Online Store

I have now photographed the hats and they are available in our Online Shop. We are dealing with extremely rainy weather here in New England this week, so I'm not as pleased with my lighting as I would like to be. The first picture of three hats was taken at an earlier date and gives a much better representation of the Moss Green and Plum Peruvian Wool I have been using. The Turquoise, Slate and Chocolate hats are made from a super soft blend of Merino Wool, Microfiber and Cashmere. These are great cozy and stylish hats for this winter and also look great as an accessory to a cute outfit. I made a chocolate one with a pink and chocolate ribbon for myself!



















Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Antique Textile Block Gift Cards are now in the SimplyJune Online Store

I was hoping to wait for some better weather and therefore better natural lighting, but the weather forecast calls for gloomy skies all week long (stress the long). So, I got a little creative with my lighting and now have the Antique Textile Block Gift Cards up in the SimplyJune Online Store.

These unique cards are hand stamped with an antique textile block making each card unique. Hand carved wooden textile blocks were traditionally used to print beautiful fabrics. Each set includes 6 gift cards with matching envelopes and "Antique Textile Block - www.simplyjune.com" is hand written on the back of each card. Cards measure 2 5/8" x 3 1/2". Each pack of six retails for $7.50. They make a wonderful stocking stuffer or hostess gift.






































Monday, November 13, 2006

Open Studio - Holidays 2006

We had an incredible first Open Studio. My dear friends Karen and Monica as well as my husband Jason really helped me pull off this wonderful event off. (THANK YOU!) We had so much fun with old friends and new!

Here are a few photographs of SimplyJune Open Studio before everyone arrived!

If you missed Open Studio, don't worry! We are going to be photographing and adding many new products to the SimplyJune Online Store this week and in the coming weeks.

















Mailing List and Free Gifts for those who brought friends!

















Dishtowels, Petticoat Note cards, Antique Textile Block Note cards, Crocheted Hats and Embroidered Buttons






















Flapper Hats





















Simply June Handbags

















Please Inquire About Custom Orders for the Holidays

















Antique Textile Block Gift Cards





















Child's Oilcloth Aprons





















Glass Magnet Tins

























Glass Magnet Tins

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Craft Revolution - Indie Business Profile

Check us out on the Craft Revolution website. They are currently featuring a profile about me and Simply June!

New Indie Business Profile: Simply June

Meet Karen Grant, the designer behind Simply June, an online boutique that offers lovely, handmade items from handbags to embroidered buttons and crocheted hats.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Open Studio on Saturday!

I am so excited that Open Studio is this Saturday, November 11th. If you are reading this and haven't received an invitation or did not receive an e-mail reminder with this photograph, please sign up on our Mailing List and we will send you all the details!

This photograph is just a taste of what you will see at our Simply June Open Studio. We have over 150 items ready for your holiday shopping! Including our original Simply June handbag, Nataliya Bags, Children's Oilcloth Aprons, Dish Towels, Magnet Tins, Petticoat Note Cards, Embroidered Buttons and Antique Print Block Gift Cards! We also have some great free gifts if you bring a friend along!

Just a payment option reminder, we will be accepting cash, personal checks and Paypal account payments during our Open Studio.

So, please join us. We look forward to seeing you!