Infringement is no fun!

I prefer to be the bigger person in situations like these (unfortunately this has happened a few times before) but yet again someone is selling my works and has the audacity to claim them as their own. What is different about this case is the rude, unintelligent response I received from this seller... usually people will fess up and admit their mistake, maybe even apologize (like a decent person should). But not this lady.

So now I'd like to share with you So Cal Swagger an Etsy shop selling copyright/intellectual property infringing works of other Etsy artists and photographers, including myself. I don't even understand how this person even sells anything?! If she takes my tiny web based photos that are low quality, what could they possibly look like when printed at size 8x10? They must be pixelated and just awful.

I politely asked the seller to remove my items and compensate me for the two prints of my work she had illegally sold and received this response: (note the typos are original)
'I dsesigned these myself there is no signature on my prints that belong to you. I created these prints and would like for you to take them off your site immediately! LOL.....
Oh sure let me just refund you $24 to your paypal accountt. I am not sure if you think im stupid or what maybe someone in sweden would let you make such demands but where im from AMERICA land of the free that is not going to happen. Get a life honey! Who is this anyway Coco Chanel maybe you should emil chanel lol......'
Oh look there are two of my works in the featured section!

I have now taken action with Etsy's legal department. I've sent in a proper notice of infringement, as well as contacted a few of the other Etsy sellers I recognized in the shop, who are also taking legal action. I hope her shop will be shut down tonight. 

But I'm thinking this is a problem I'm going to have to deal with for the rest of my career. Whatever am I to do? I don't want to place nasty ugly distracting watermarks on my works, but what other choice do I have? Such a bummer! I would like to send a shout out thank you to all my gorgeous fans that give me the heads up every time this happens. (Hopefully not too much in the future.)

Update: My work has now been removed from her shop. Etsy took this matter very seriously and was quick to remove my work with in an hour of my claim. I'm very pleased! Also very pleased about all the support I've gotten from you all. Nice to know you all have my back! xoxo

custom

I've completed a few new custom works lately (I got quite a few more to finish too, eek!) Have I told you how much I adore doing custom pieces? I love love love it!

Want to see?

One of my favorite SATC quotes too.

For http://nottinghillgirl.blogspot.com/ ... all of her favorite things

and a sweet pet portrait, a puppy named Maddie 

Back to work! I've got sooo sooo soo much to do. I'm so glad my work days are busy... sometimes I don't know what to do with myself if I have nothing to do. (Though I of course always have something to do/create new work.)

Tuesday!

This time next week I'll be sitting on a plane escaping the slush of Stockholm, on my way to sunny Florida for 3 whole weeks! I am more than a little excited!!!! Wouldn't you be? I haven't started really packing yet, but my suitcase has made it's way out of storage... first step. I'm also trying to plan out what to wear when I see my parents for the first time in 2 years. (What does one wear? I of course want to look more beautiful and radiant than ever... but not sure if it's possible after 10 hours or so of travel, blah) I've also picked up a few items my parents crave from Sweden that they can't get their hands on in the States, like canned chanterelle mushrooms, veal stock, swedish butter knives, oh I'm bringing a new treat they haven't had before... salty liquorice ice cream sauce. (So yummy! bet you think I'm nuts, haha)

More Succulents

Inspired by my friend Jamie's gorgeous succulent creations, I decided to make my own as a gift for my Aunt's 60th birthday. I chose a rather fancy oblong silvery boat and filled it with stones I hand picked from the beach in Nynäshamn... as well as a few mini succulents of course. I think it turned out gorgeous! (My Aunt of course loved it too!)

Problem is, now I'm jealous, and would like one of my own. Just gonna have to make myself one too!

28!

Today is my 28th birthday! Happy Birthday to me!

(via Pinterest)

How is this possible that I'm already 28? I'm by no means afraid of getting older. (I find it exciting actually, each year just gets better and better. So bring it on 30!) But 10 whole years have past since High School... this is what is really amazing. 10 years since I lived in Maine where I grew up. It's almost becoming forgotten. Sweden is my new home... and I've already celebrated 4 birthdays here. My 4 college years are with in these 10. Oh how much fun I had, made lots of great friends, made mostly good decisions, really grew into my skin, and learned a bit too.

Oh and then I get to share my special day with the newest member of the Swedish Royal House. Crown Princess Victoria had a baby girl today! A Princess Birthday, doesn't that sound nice?!

O'Berry's Succulents!

Another one of my talented lovely friends, Jamie, has opened an Etsy shop, O'Berry's Succulents! Isn't this exciting? Plus I designed her super cute header! Lots of lovely teeny tiny succulents in tiny tea cups and mini planters. They are very reasonably priced too, I'd say cheap. I love the teacups best! You should all go over for a visit and favorite her store of course.

All Packed up and Ready to Go

As you all know (or at least I hope so) I got another shipment of scarves last week. Now all my designs are back in stock. woo hoo! This weekend I took the time to package them all up gorgeously.... with hang tags, limited edition number stickers, tissue paper wrapping, and a lovely wrap around matching info tag. I even finish each one with my signature!

A few behind the scenes photos perhaps?!

I love working on the floor

I think my hang tags are so cute.

A few all finished

Limited Editions of 100... a little tricky to keep track of.

This is how they arrive from the English sewing factory. All ironed, perfectly sewn and folded.

I love their matching wrap around tags. My aunt came up with the idea. Smarty pants!

Wow that was exciting... just a little maybe.

Frosty

This would not be the view from my workspace today... no sir. Today we've got nasty rainy gray gross 'I don't want to go outside' weather in Stockholm. So because of this, we must look back to one of our past snowy gorgeous mornings. (I think these were taken just last week.) Such a difference to wake up to frosty white trees and the glittering of newly fallen snow. So pretty!

Rain rain go away.... you make me feel like a grump.

At least I get lots of work done when the weather is like this. 

14 Days!

Hello Tuesday! What happened to Monday? who knows, I was major busy I suppose.

Since I'm going on 'vacation' in just 2 weeks (just twwwoooo weeks, yessss!!!) I all of a sudden got tons and tons of custom projects to complete. This is super fun of course and a little stressful too, as it would be best if I could complete the majority before flying to sunny Florida. I will still be working on a few projects while on vacation of course (I am self employed non the less and can never be completely free) but it would be nice to have a lot of free time so I can spend it with my family and friends... who I don't get to see very often. sigh.

Well anyhow, you can only imagine how excited I am. Found my self cursing at the slushy yucky snow this weekend and then the refrozen slush yesterday. Can't wait to walk on dry sidewalks with out fear of constantly falling and breaking my drawing arm. (haha!... but seriously)

Plus I'm insanely excited to get a little shopping done in the States. With the dollar so low my hard earned Swedish Crowns are gonna get me far, woo hoo. I'm dreaming of tons of new pretty dresses, stocking up on makeup favorites and even investing in a few computer accessories (a drawing tablet perhaps?) Can not wait! Everything is sooo cheap in America!

Plus Plus I can't wait to cuddle with this guy, Geordie...



... and his brother Jack too of course.

Just 14 more days.

More Pink!

Today is Friday! (how did that happen?!)

I'm making fried chicken tonight for dinner. I've never made it before, and I think I've only ever eaten fried chicken a few times; definitely not since moving to Sweden. I'm just strangely craving crispy fatty food today. Going to serve it with sweet potato home fries and a warm pineapple salsa. (No nasty smooth white mashed potatoes and that creepy white gravy for this girl, ewww) I can't wait! Hope it'll turn out delicious.

Anyways... I think my shop needs more pink, so today I listed an old print in pretty pink. You like?

I love pink!

Happy Friday. Have a fantabulous weekend!

Pattern Making!

Since visiting Svenskt Tenn last weekend, and drooling over Josef Frank's gorgeous textiles I've been obsessing about pattern making. I want to create my own complex gorgeous repeat fabric/wallpaper type patterns! I didn't really know how, but now with the help of several youtube tutorials and studying Josef Frank's design sketches (I loaned a book of his work from the library) I finally figured it out! Not at all hard, just requires a little math, and lots of patience. The computer helps a lot too. Pattern making by hand is fun, but of course takes a little while longer... lots of small details to measure correctly. But that's the part I really like.

I've been collecting tons of inspiration on Pinterest! I love love love Josef Frank's designs, but also William Morris' and plenty others. I think it would be really fun to do a modern Toile design too. It's on my dream todo list.

See all my inspiration here...


I've already started work on one design with ribbons, pearls, chains and lipsticks... of course!

Here's a peek!

So much fun!

Scarves!

I got my shipment of scarves today! yay! Now all of my scarves are back in stock, such a wonderful feeling. Both in my Etsy shop and on Meinto.se. (May even be popping up somewhere else real soon too, shmaybe ;) )

These three (Red Coral, Fuchsia Floral and Glamour) seem to have been the favorites of my first collection, they sold out really quick!

 I'm so proud of all the great responses I got on the first collection! I already can't wait to launch the next collection (just have to get some more designs finished, eek, get to work Kristina!)

Giveaway!

I've got a giveaway going on right now, hosted by the lovely L.A. in the Bay! I think you should all head over to her newly redesigned gorgeous blog and enter to win one of my prints. Fun huh! I wish I could giveaway a print to each of you, but I unfortunately have to pay rent and buy food and other such important things. sigh.

Good luck!

Valentine's Day everyday!

Why should Valentine's Day be celebrated just once a year when one can celebrate it everyday! I certainly like to make my boyfriend and my family feel very very loved everyday (or every time I speak with my family.)

I suppose this was the idea in mind when this wonderfully playful pink and red, heart filled apartment was decorated. Valentine's Day everyday! (I'm not so sure my bf would be too excited about this scheme, but it surely makes me giggle and a little extra happy.)

Found via Coco+Kelley, designed by Jennifer Brouwer.